The Interactions of Temporal and Sensory Representations in the Basal Ganglia.

In rodents and primates, interval estimation has been associated with a complex network of cortical and subcortical structures where the dorsal striatum plays a paramount role. Diverse evidence ranging from individual neurons to population activity has demonstrated that this area hosts temporal-related neural representations that may be instrumental for the perception and production of time intervals. However, little is known about how temporal representations interact with other well-known striatal representations, such as kinematic parameters of movements or somatosensory representations. An attractive hypothesis suggests that somatosensory representations may serve as the scaffold for complex representations such as elapsed time. Alternatively, these representations may coexist as independent streams of information that could be integrated into downstream nuclei, such as the substantia nigra or the globus pallidus. In this review, we will revise the available information suggesting an instrumental role of sensory representations in the construction of temporal representations at population and single-neuron levels throughout the basal ganglia.

Beba sem moderação: motivos das denúncias dos anúncios de cerveja ao Conar / Drink it without moderation: reasons about reportings beer ad to Conar / Bébelo sin moderación: razones en quejas de la anuncios de cerveza a Conar

As propagandas de bebidas alcóolicas, além de serem mais frequentes do que outras mercadorias, também apresentam conteúdo que pode ter papel facilitador no uso dessa substância psicoativa, visto que, na maior parte delas, trazem ideias e sensações de prazer. Por isso, esta pesquisa consistiu na identificação e análise qualitativa de propagandas de cerveja que tiveram alguma denúncia feita ao ou pelo Conselho Nacional de Autorregulamentação Publicitária (Conar), nos últimos cinco anos (2015 a 2020), a partir do levantamento dessas denúncias no site do Conar e, posteriormente, foi realizada análise dos motivos condizentes com o código. Como resultado, constatou-se uma progressão nos alinhamentos entre as denúncias e as decisões, sendo encontrada maior dificuldade no alinhamento da infração em relação ao conteúdo das peças publici-tárias do que em questões técnicas.

Advertisements for alcoholic beverages, in addition to being more frequent than other goods, also present content that can play a role in facilitating the use of this psychoactive substance, since, in most of them, they bring ideas and sensations of pleasure. Therefore, this research consisted of the identification and qualitative analysis of beer advertisements that had any complaints made to or by the National Advertising Self-Regulation Council (Conar), in the last five years (2015 to 2020), based on the survey of these complaints on the website of Conar and, subsequently, an analysis of the reasons consistent with the code was carried out. As a result, there was a progression in the alignments between complaints and decisions, with greater difficulty being found in aligning the infraction in relation to the content of the advertising pieces than in technical issues.

Los anuncios de bebidas alcohólicas, además de ser más frecuentes que los de otros productos, también presentan contenidos que pueden desempeñar un papel a la hora de facilitar el consumo de esta sustan-cia psicoactiva, ya que, en la mayoría de ellos, aportan ideas y sensaciones de placer. Por lo tanto, esta investigación consistió en la identificación y análisis cualitativo de los anuncios de cerveza que tuvieron alguna denuncia realizada ante o por el Consejo Nacional de Autorregulación Publicitaria (Conar), en los últimos cinco años (2015 a 2020), a partir de la encuesta a estos. denuncias en el sitio web del Conar y, posteriormente, se realizó un análisis de los motivos compatibles con el código. Como resultado, hubo una progresión en los alineamientos entre denuncias y decisiones, encontrándose mayor dificultad en alinear la infracción con el contenido de las piezas publicitarias que en cuestiones técnicas.

Gross, organoleptic and histologic assessment of cadaveric equine heads preserved using chemical methods for veterinary surgical teaching.

BACKGROUND: Preservation of biological tissues has been used since ancient times. Regardless of the method employed, tissue preservation is thought to be a vital step in veterinary surgery teaching and learning. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to determine the usability of chemically preserved cadaveric equine heads for surgical teaching in veterinary medicine. METHODS: Six cadaveric equine heads were collected immediately after death or euthanasia and frozen until fixation. Fixation was achieved by using a hypertonic solution consisting of sodium chloride, sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate, and an alcoholic solution containing ethanol and glycerin. Chemically preserved specimens were stored at low temperatures (2°C to 6°C) in a conventional refrigerator. The specimens were submitted to gross and organoleptic assessment right after fixative solution injection (D0) and within 10, 20, and 30 days of fixation (D10, D20, and D30, respectively). Samples of tissue from skin, tongue, oral vestibule, and masseter muscle were collected for histological evaluation at the same time points. RESULTS: Physical and organoleptic assessments revealed excellent specimen quality (mean scores higher than 4 on a 5-point scale) in most cases. In some specimens, lower scores (3) were assigned to the range of mouth opening, particularly on D0 and D10. A reduced the range of mouth opening may be a limiting factor in teaching activities involving structures located in the oral cavity. CONCLUSIONS: The excellent physical, histologic, and organoleptic characteristics of the specimens in this sample support their usability in teaching within the time frame considered. Appropriate physical and organoleptic characteristics (color, texture, odor, and flexibility) of the specimens in this study support the use of the method described for preparation of reusable anatomical specimens.

Pre-prandial plasma liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2) concentration in humans is inversely associated with hunger sensation in a ghrelin independent manner.

PURPOSE: The liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2 (LEAP2) is a newly recognized peptide hormone that acts via the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) blunting the effects of ghrelin and displaying ghrelin-independent actions. Since the implications of LEAP2 are beginning to be elucidated, we investigated if plasma LEAP2 concentration varies with feeding status or sex and whether it is associated with glucose metabolism and appetite sensations. METHODS: We performed a single test meal study, in which plasma concentrations of LEAP2, ghrelin, insulin and glucose as well as visual analogue scales for hunger, desire to eat, prospective food consumption, fullness were assessed before and 60 min after breakfast in 44 participants (n = 21 females) with normal weight (NW) or overweight/obesity (OW/OB). RESULTS: Pre-prandial plasma LEAP2 concentration was ~ 1.6-fold higher whereas ghrelin was ~ 2.0-fold lower in individuals with OW/OB (p < 0.001) independently of sex. After adjusting for body mass index (BMI) and sex, pre-prandial plasma LEAP2 concentration displayed a direct relationship with BMI (ß: 0.09; 95%CI: 0.05, 0.13; p < 0.001), fat mass (ß: 0.05; 95%CI: 0.01, 0.09; p = 0.010) and glycemia (ß: 0.24; 95%CI: 0.05, 0.43; p = 0.021), whereas plasma ghrelin concentration displayed an inverse relationship with BMI and fat mass but not with glycemia. Postprandial plasma LEAP2 concentration increased ~ 58% in females with OW/OB (p = 0.045) but not in females with NW or in males. Pre-prandial plasma LEAP2 concentration displayed an inverse relationship with hunger score (ß: - 11.16; 95% CI: - 18.52, - 3.79; p = 0.004), in a BMI-, sex- and ghrelin-independent manner. CONCLUSIONS: LEAP2 emerges as a key hormone implicated in the regulation of metabolism and appetite in humans. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was retrospectively registered in clinicaltrials.gov (April 2023). CLINICALTRIALS: gov Identifier: NCT05815641.

Efectividad y seguridad de las técnicas de relajación basadas en la inducción de sensaciones corporales / Effectiveness and safety of relaxation techniques based on the induction of bodily sensations

NOMBRE DE LA TÉCNICA CON PRETENDIDA FINALIDAD SANITÁRIA: Técnicas de relajación basadas en la inducción de sensaciones corporales. DEFINICIÓN DE LA TÉCNICA E INDICACIONES CLÍNICAS: Entre las técnicas de relajación basadas en la inducción de sensaciones corporales destaca el entrenamiento en relajación autógena (o entrenamiento autógeno), que consiste en alcanzar un estado de relajación profunda a través de representaciones mentales de sensaciones físicas (e.g., calor, frío, pesadez) en diferentes partes del cuerpo. CALIDAD DE LA EVIDENCIA: La calidad de los estudios identificados sobre la efectividad del entrenamiento autógeno es baja. Existen muy pocos estudios para cada enfermedad o condición de salud evaluada, las muestras incluidas son pequeñas y el riesgo de sesgo de los estudios es alto o incierto. RESULTADOS CLAVES: Se incluyeron 13 revisiones sistemáticas (con al menos 1 ensayo controlado aleatorizado (ECA)) y 15 ECAs. La variable de salud más evaluada fue la depresión (7 estudios), seguida de la ansiedad (6 estudios) y síntomas cardiacos (4 estudios). Las poblaciones incluidas en los estudios fueron muy diversas. En comparación con la no intervención o tratamiento diferido, el entrenamiento autógeno ha mostrado efectos significativos en la reducción de los niveles de ansiedad y depresión, así como en algunos síntomas físicos (e.g., cefaleas, dermatitis atópica, síndrome de intestino irritable, fibromialgia). Muy pocos estudios evaluaron la aparición de efectos adversos, sin perjuicios observables relacionados con el entrenamiento autógeno, a excepción de un paciente que refirió moléstia. CONCLUSIÓN FINAL: El entrenamiento autógeno podría resultar beneficioso en la mejora de síntomas psicológicos y físicos en distintas condiciones de salud, pero las conclusiones no pueden ser definitivas debido al bajo número de estudios para cada condición de salud y su riesgo de sesgo alto o incierto. Es necesario seguir evaluando la seguridad de estas técnicas.

NAME OF THE TECHNIQUE WITH HEALTH PURPOSES: Relaxation techniques based on the induction of bodily sensations. DEFINITION OF THE TECHNIQUE AND CLINICAL INDICATIONS: Among the relaxation techniques based on the induction of bodily sensations, the training in autogenous relaxation (or autogenic training) stands out, which consists of reaching a state of deep relaxation through mental representations of physical sensations (eg, heat, cold, heaviness) in different parts of the body. QUALITY OF THE EVIDENCE: The quality of the identified studies on the effectiveness of autogenic training is low. There are very few studies for each disease or health condition assessed, the included samples are small, and the risk of bias in the studies is high or nuclear. KEY RESULTS: Thirteen systematic reviews (with at least 1 randomized controlled trial (RCT)) and 18 RCTs were included. The most evaluated health variable was depression (7 studies), followed by anxiety (6 studies) and cardiac symptoms (4 studies). The populations included in the studies were very diverse. Compared with no intervention or delayed treatment, autogenic training has shown significant effects in reducing levels of anxiety and depression, as well as in some physical symptoms (e.g., headaches, atopic dermatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia). Very few studies evaluated the appearance of adverse effects, without observable harm, related to autogenic training, except for one patient who reported visual discomfort that did not persist after the intervention was finished. FINAL CONCLUSION: Autogenic training could be beneficial in improving psychological and physical symptoms in different health conditions, but the conclusions cannot be definitive due to the low number of studies for each health condition and its high or uncertain risk of bias. The safety of these techniques needs to be further evaluated.

Organoleptic characteristics and compositional profile of meat of growing Japanese quail fed different levels of poultry byproducts compost.

The poultry industry generates a lot of waste, including dead birds, manure, and poultry litter. Poultry waste should never be disposed of improperly because it can seriously harm the environment. The waste can be recycled as a feedstock for use in poultry feed by composting the litter and deceased birds. The compositional profile and organoleptic properties of the meat of growing Japanese quail were examined over the course of a 4-week trial to ascertain the effect of adding compost to the diet. In a completely randomized design (CRD), 1200 newly hatched quail chicks (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were divided into five treatment groups (diets with 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% compost), each consisting of 40 birds with six replicates. The addition of compost to the diet had no noticeable effects on the organoleptic qualities of appearance, color, aroma, taste, texture, juiciness, tenderness, and acceptability (P>0.05). The compositional profile characteristics for chicks given compost at any level compared to chicks fed the control diet showed no differences (P>0.05). These findings suggest that the sensory characteristics and compositional profile of growing meat quails can be maintained when fed diets including up to 10% compost.

Effects of repetitive pinprick stimulation on preterm offspring: Alterations in nociceptive responses and inflammatory hypersensitivity in adulthood.

INTRODUCTION: This study investigates the effects of repetitive pinprick stimulation on preterm offspring and its impact on nociceptive responses and inflammatory hypersensitivity in adulthood. OBJECTIVES: The objective is to shed light on the potential long-term consequences of neonatal pain and prematurity on sensory processing. METHODS: Term and preterm rats were subjected to repetitive pinprick (PP) stimulation or control (CC) during the neonatal period. Adult rats received CFA injection to induce inflammatory hypersensitivity, and mechanical hypersensitivity was measured. Gender differences in inflammatory hypersensitivity were also examined. Maternal behavior, litter weight, and offspring growth were monitored to assess any potential influences of the stimulation on these parameters. RESULTS: In preterm rats, the PP stimulation did not affect baseline thresholds to mechanical stimuli, but increased mechanical hypersensitivity after CFA injection in adult rats. Females exhibited greater inflammatory hypersensitivity compared to males. Maternal behavior, litter weight, and offspring growth were not influenced by the stimulation. PP stimulation during the neonatal period led to changes in nociceptive responses in adulthood, potentially altering sensory processing. CONCLUSION: PP stimulation in preterm rats during the neonatal period resulted in changes in nociceptive responses in adulthood, leading to increased inflammatory hypersensitivity. The study emphasizes how early development can significantly impact sensory processing and further highlights the potential long-term consequences of prematurity and neonatal pain on this processing.

Infrasound tones at sensation threshold level elicit measurable Frequency-Following responses.

Even barely detectable levels of infrasound are often reported to cause annoyance and complaints. We carefully measured the individual sensation threshold of a pure tone and recorded immediately after the brain's frequency-following response (FFR) at this intensity using the same stimulator. In contrast to 87-Hz tones, 8-Hz tones elicit an FFR already at sensation threshold. Control stimuli with trains of 1-kHz tone pips having the repetition rate of the infrasound tone frequency and sensation threshold intensities evoked no significant FFR. Thus, slow periodicity, causing synchronous activation of auditory nuclei, is not explaining the FFR to low-level infrasound alone.

Ensino e aprendizagem com abordagem multissensorial na graduação em enfermagem: protocolo de revisão de escopo / Teaching and learning with a multisensory approach in undergraduate nursing education: scoping review protocol

OBJETIVO: Mapear estratégias e recursos instrucionais utilizados com abordagem multissensorial para o ensino presencial de graduandos em Enfermagem e resumir as discussões/conclusões dos autores em relação às repercussões do ensino com essa abordagem no processo de aprendizagem dos graduandos. MÉTODO: A metodologia Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) foi utilizada para o desenvolvimento deste protocolo e será empregada para conduzir e relatar a revisão. Não haverá restrição quanto ao idioma, data ou tipo de publicação. As fontes de informação incluirão PubMed, Cumulative Index in Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, Scopus, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Web of Science, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), portal da Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde (BVS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), ProQuest e cinco fontes de literatura cinzenta. Os softwares Rayyan e JBI SUMARI serão utilizados para a seleção dos estudos. A seleção dos títulos e resumos, leitura integral dos textos e extração de dados serão realizadas por dois revisores independentes, utilizando um instrumento elaborado e testado pelas autoras. Se necessário, um terceiro revisor será incluído. Os resultados serão apresentados em formato narrativo, diagramas ou tabelas.

OBJECTIVE: To describe instructional strategies and resources used with a multisensory approach for face-to-face teaching of undergraduate nursing students and to summarize the authors' discussions/conclusions regarding the impact of teaching with this approach on the student's learning process. METHOD: The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology was used to develop this protocol and will be used to conduct and report the scoping review. There will be no restrictions on language, date, or type of publication. Sources of information will include PubMed, Cumulative Index in Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, Scopus, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Web of Science, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), Virtual Health Library (VHL) portal, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), ProQuest, and five sources of grey literature. Rayyan and JBI SUMARI software are used for study selection. Title and abstract screening, full-text reading, and data extraction will be performed by two independent reviewers using a tool developed and tested by the authors. If necessary, a third reviewer will be involved. The results will be presented in a narrative format, graphs, or tables.

Chemosensory representation of first-time oral exposure to ethanol in the orbitofrontal cortex of mice.

Intermittent ethanol consumption changes the neuronal activity of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in rodents, which has been attributed to important participation in the development of addiction, particularly alcoholism. The OFC participates in gustatory sensory integration. However, it is unknown whether this region can encode chemosensory elements of oral ethanol administration independently of the consumption movement (orofacial motor response) when administered for the first time (naïve mice). To answer this question, we used a sedated mouse model and a temporary analysis protocol to register extracellular neuronal responses during the oral administration of ethanol. Our results show an increase in neuronal frequency (in the first 500 ms) when low (0.6, 1, and 2.1 M) and high (3.2, 4.3, and 8.6 M) concentrations of ethanol are orally administered. The modulatory effect of ethanol was observed from low and high concentrations and differed from the tastants. There was consistent neuronal activity independent of the concentration of ethanol. Our results demonstrate a sensory representation of oral ethanol stimulation in the OFC neurons of naïve mice under sedation.

Effect of ageing and MAP on quality of striploin from cattle of Holstein-Friesian breed

There have been determined the features of m. longissimus lumborum steaks from young cattle-for-fattening of Holstein-Friesian breed, Polish black-and-white variety. There were measured pH values, basic chemical composition and colour parameters. The meat was subjected to moist-ageing for 12 days and, next, stored in modified atmosphere for the following 10 days. The amount of heat loss in relation to the temperature of thermal processing was determined. Texture parameters were studied instrumentally and organoleptically. The studied muscles from young cattle-for-fattening characterised with proper and similar pH values. The average fat content was 4.37%. The surface colour of the studied dorsal muscle was relatively bright, the average value L*=37.97, and on the cross-section L*=32.97. The average value of the muscle surface's 'redness' was a*=18.98, whereas cross-section's a*=20.27. The amounts of heat leakages were rising along with the increase of temperature from 11.24 to 37.14%. Ageing and storing in MAP led to a significant decrease in the amounts of heat leakages. Ageing and storing in MAP had a significant influence on decreasing shear force and on increasing the organoleptic evaluation marks of the m. longissimus lumborum after thermal processing, which shows that the muscle may become culinary meat with features accepted by consumers.(AU)

A relação entre arte e vida em vigotski: uma análise conceitual / The relationship between art and life in vygotsky: a conceptual analysis / La relación entre arte y vida en vigotski: un análisis conceptual

Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a relação entre arte e vida segundo Vigotski. Para isso, foi realizada uma análise conceitual dos capítulos 1, 7, 9, 10 e 11 da Psicologia da Arte, do capítulo 13 da Psicologia Pedagógica e do texto O significado histórico da crise da Psicologia: Uma investigação metodológica. A pesquisa conceitual consiste na análise semântica dos principais conceitos de uma teoria com o intuito de elucidar seus sentidos ocultos ou confusos e desvendar possíveis contradições e ambiguidades no quadro teórico. Podemos observar que a arte é um fenômeno dialético tanto em sua criação como em seus efeitos. A influência da vida, isto é, da realidade sócio-histórica, na criação artística é indireta, pois ela é sempre mediada pelo psiquismo particular do artista. Já o efeito da arte sobre a vida possibilita que o ser humano se conscientize de sua realidade social e se engaje para mudá-la. A arte é, portanto, transformadora, pois reorganiza o psiquismo e possibilita uma mudança nas condições materiais dos seres humanos.(AU)

This study aims to analyze the relationship between art and life according to Vygotsky. Therefore, a conceptual analysis of chapters 1, 7, 9, 10, and 11 of Psychology of Art, chapter 13 of Educational Psychology and the text The Historical meaning of the Crisis of Psychology: A Methodological Investigation was carried out. Conceptual research consists of the semantic analysis of the main concepts of a theory to elucidate its hidden or confused meanings and to reveal possible contradictions and ambiguities in the theoretical framework. Results show that art is a dialectical phenomenon both in its creation and its effects. The influence of life, that is, of socio-historical reality, on artistic creation is indirect since it is always mediated by the artist's particular psyche. The effect of art on life, on the other hand, allows human beings to become aware of their social reality and engage to change it. Art is, therefore, transformative, as it reorganizes the psyche and enables a change in the material conditions of human beings.(AU)

Este proyecto tuve como objetivo analizar la relación entre el arte y la vida, según Vigotski. Para esto, fue realizado un análisis de los capítulos 1, 7, 9, 10 y 11 de Psicología del arte, del capítulo 13 de Psicología Pedagógica y del texto Él significado histórico de la crisis de la Psicología: una investigación metodológica. La pesquisa conceptual consiste en la analice semántica de los conceptos de una teoría, para aclarar sus significados ocultos o confusos y desvendar contradicciones y ambigüedades em el cuadro teórico. Pudimos observar que, el arte es un fenómeno dialéctico en su creación tanto como en sus efectos. La influencia de la vida, esto es, de la realidad socio-histórica, en la creación artística es indirecta, pues es mediada por el psiquismo particular de lo artista. Así, el efecto del arte sobre la vida habilita que lo ser humano adquiera conciencia de su realidad social y que se comprometa a cambiarla. El arte, consiguientemente, transformadora, pues reorganiza lo psiquismo y habilita un cambio en las condiciones materiales de los seres humanos.(AU)

A questão do sentido no mundo do acaso / The question of meaning in a world of chance / La cuestión del sentido en el mundo del azar

O artigo enfoca a confluência dos princípios fundamentais que norteiam a física quântica e a psicologia analítica. Destaca a questão de estarmos habituados a lidar com as aplicações práticas decorrentes de ambas as abordagens e a dificuldade de integrarmos suas implicações no que concerne a nossa visão de mundo. Compreende a experiência da sincronicidade como sendo a experiência humana da interconexão quântica e elabora a questão do sentido envolvida nessa vivência, a percepção de fazermos parte integrante de uma ordem mais ampla, a vivência paradoxal da unicidade e do cósmico.

The article focuses on the confluence of the fundamental principles that guide quantum physics and analytical psychology. Of note is the question of dealing with the practical issues arising from both approaches and the difficulty of integrating their implications in terms of our worldview. The experience of synchronicity is understood as being the human experience of quantum interconnection, and the article expounds on the question of meaning involved in this experience, the perception of being an integral part of a broader order, and the paradoxical experience of uniqueness and the cosmic.

El artículo se centra en la confluencia de los principios fundamentales que orientan la física cuántica y la psicología analítica. Destaca la cuestión de que estamos habituados a tratar con las aplicaciones prácticas derivadas de ambos abordajes y la dificultad que tenemos de integrar sus implicancias en lo que concierne a nuestra visión del mundo. Comprende la experiencia de la sincronicidad como la experiencia humana de interconexión cuántica y elabora la cuestión del sentido intrínseca en esa vivencia, la percepción de formar parte integrante de un orden más amplio, la vivencia paradojal de la unicidad y de lo cósmico.

Evaluation of altered patterns of tactile sensation in the diagnosis and monitoring of leprosy using the Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy neuropathy is the most common peripheral neuropathy of infectious etiology worldwide; it is characterized as asymmetric and focal multiple mononeuropathy. Semmes-Weinstein monofilament (SWM) test is a simple method to assess sensory nerve function. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In this prospective cohort study, a dermatologist carried out hands and feet tactile sensation test with SWM in 107 multibacillary leprosy patients at diagnosis and in 76 patients at the end of treatment from 2016 to 2019. At diagnosis, 81/107 (75.7%) patients had some degree of functional disability, and 46 (43%) of them had altered SWM-test in the hands and 94 (87.9%) of them in the feet. After one year of multibacillary multidrug therapy, the disability decreasing to 44/76 patients (57.9%) and decreasing of the percentual of patients with altered SWM-test to 18% for the hands, and to 28.7% for the feet. At the end of treatment, the number of SMW-test points presented improvement in the hands of 22 (28.9%) patients, and in the feet of 47 (61.8%). In the hands, by SWM-test, only the radial nerve point demonstrated a significant asymmetry, while in the feet, the difference between the sum of altered SWM-test points showed significant asymmetry between both sides, highlighting the tibial nerve for the establishment of asymmetric leprosy neuropathy. In Spearman's correlation analysis, a positive correlation with statistical significance was observed between the number of hands and feet SWM altered points at diagnosis and the degree of disability at diagnosis (0.69) and at the end of the treatment (0.80). CONCLUSION: The patterns of hands and feet tactile sensation at diagnosis and their consequent modifications with the anti-leprosy drugs define the bacterial etiology of neuropathy, an important tool for the clinical diagnosis and follow up of the disease, highlighting the tibial nerve findings, the most affected nerve among leprosy patients by SWM-test, with significant asymmetry and focality impairments.

TRP channels: a journey towards a molecular understanding of pain.

The perception of nociceptive signals, which are translated into pain, plays a fundamental role in the survival of organisms. Because pain is linked to a negative sensation, animals learn to avoid noxious signals. These signals are detected by receptors, which include some members of the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of ion channels that act as transducers of exogenous and endogenous noxious cues. These proteins have been in the focus of the field of physiology for several years, and much knowledge of how they regulate the function of the cell types and organs where they are expressed has been acquired. The last decade has been especially exciting because the 'resolution revolution' has allowed us to learn the molecular intimacies of TRP channels using cryogenic electron microscopy. These findings, in combination with functional studies, have provided insights into the role played by these channels in the generation and maintenance of pain.

Brief Sensations Seeking Scale (BSSS): Validity Evidence in Mexican Adolescents.

Sensation seeking is a construct associated with risky behaviors over a wide age range, but validation studies in Mexico are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the validity of two versions of the Brief Sensation Seeking Scale (the BSSS-8 and BSSS-4) in young Mexican individuals. The sample consisted of 2884 students (age: M = 16.6, SD = 1.5) from five preparatory schools in Morelos, Mexico. The internal structure of the BSSS was evaluated according to the structural equation modeling (SEM) parameterization, including measurement invariance (compared to the factor loadings obtained in the meta-analysis); conditional reliability; and equivalence between versions. The unidimensionality and measurement invariance (configurational, factor loadings, thresholds, intercepts, and residuals) across sex and age groups were satisfactory, and the factor loadings were highly congruent with those obtained in the meta-analysis. Reliability was suitably high (greater than 0.80), especially near the mean scores, but was lower for extreme scores. Thus, the instrument was concluded to be optimal for defining the construct of sensation seeking, consistent with the findings of previous studies.

Quality assessment of amazonian fish from fish farming stored on ice / Avaliação da qualidade de pescados amazônicos provenientes de piscicultura armazenados em gelo

The cultivation of natives Amazonian fish such as tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomus), tambatinga (female, Colossoma macropomum X Piaractus brachypomus, male) and Pintando da Amazônia (female, Pseudoplatystoma sp. X Leiarius marmoratus, male) temmoratus, increased in recent years, making studies related to the validity of these foods after processing necessary. Therefore, the aimed of the study was to evaluate the sensory, microbiological (Staphylococcus coagulase positive count and presence of Salmonella spp.) and chemical (pH and Total Volatile Bases (TVB) quality of fresh gutted fish stored on ice. Nine specimens of each species were used, all cultivated in an excavated tanks. The fasting time ranged from 16 to 48 hours, depending on the species, the fish was slaughtered by means of cold shock. The fish was gutted and stored in the fish fridge. Sensory analysis was performed by a trained team available. For other analyses, it was sent to a laboratory specializing in food analysis. The sensory analysis of fresh eviscerated tambaqui was characteristic of the species until the 15th day of storage. Fresh eviscerated pirapitinga presented until the 16th day. The fresh eviscerated tambatinga hybrid was kept until the 14th day of storage. And for the Pintado da Amazônia, the organoleptic characteristics were presentable until the 12th day of storage. The microbiological and physical-chemical analyzes were in accordance with Brazilian legislation in all specimens of the analyzed species. It was observed that the longer the fasting period, there was a numerical increase in the pH of the fish meat.(AU)

O cultivo de peixes nativos da Amazônia como tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), pirapitinga (Piaractus brachypomus), tambatinga (fêmea, Colossoma macropomum X Piaractus brachypomus, macho) e o pintado da Amazônia (fêmea, Pseudoplatystoma sp. X Leiarius marmoratus, macho) tem aumentado nos últimos anos, fazendo com que estudos relacionados a validade desses alimentos após o processamento sejam necessários. Por isso, o objetivo do estudo foi avaliar os parâmetros de qualidade senso-rial, microbiológica (contagem de Staphylococcus coagulase positiva e presença de Salmonella spp.) e química (pH e Bases Voláteis Totais (BVT)) deses pescados eviscerados frescos armazenados em gelo. Foram utilizados 9 exemplares de cada espécie, todos de origem de cultivo em viveiro escavado. O tempo de jejum variou de 16 a 48 horas, dependendo da espécie, o abate do pescado foi por meio de choque térmico. O pescado foi eviscerado e armazenado no frigorifico de pescado. Analise sensorial foi realizada por uma equipe treinada disponível. Para as demais análises foi enviado para um laboratório especializado em análises de alimentos. A análise sensorial do tambaqui eviscerado fresco estava característica da espécie até o 15°dia de estocagem. A pirapitinga evisce-rado fresco apresentou até o 16°dia. O hibrido tambatinga eviscerado fresco foi até o 14°dia de estocagem. E para o pintado da Amazônia as características organolépticas estavam apresentáveis até o dia 12° dia de armazenamento. As analises microbiológicas e físico químicas estavam de acordo com a legislação brasileira em todos os exemplares das espécies analisadas. Foi observado que quanto maior o tempo de jejum, houve um aumento numérico no pH da carne dos pescados.(AU)

Pictograms are more effective than verbal descriptors in Spanish for bloating and distension.

BACKGROUND: There is no translation for bloating in Spanish, and distension is very technical. AIMS: To evaluate pictograms for assessing bloating/distension in patients with general gastroenterology (Study 1, n = 88) and in those with irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] (Study 2: n = 144), and to correlate them with verbal descriptors (VDs) and physician's diagnosis (PDx). METHODS: Patients answered the Rome III Questionnaire with VDs and pictograms, and were consulted by two gastroenterology fellows (PDx). Correlations were conducted with Cohen's kappa, and ROC curves were used to contrast pictograms and VDs with PDx. RESULTS: "Inflammation" was the most frequent VDs, while distension was commonly interpreted as a sensation ("inflammation") and/or increased abdominal girth. In patients not reporting bloating/distension with VDs, pictograms detected these symptoms in (Study 1 and Study 2) 82.2 and 89.6% of patients. In addition, pictograms showed a positive agreement with PDx, kappa: 0.63 (p < 0.0001) and 0.8 (p < 0.0001); and a negative agreement with VD, kappa: -0.45 (p = 0.05) and -0.1 (p = 0.2), respectively, in studies 1 and 2. Pictograms were more sensitive and specific than VDs (Study 1: ROC = 0.90 (95% CI: 0.80-0.96), p < 0.0001 versus 0.74 (0.62-0.88), p < 0.0001; Study 2: 0.99 (0.98-1.00), p = 0.004 versus 0.32 (0.10-0.54), p = 0.294). CONCLUSIONS: Pictograms are more effective than Spanish VDs for bloating/distension in patients consulting for gastroenterology problems and those with IBS, supporting their usefulness in the clinic and research studies.

The Effects of Adding a Gel-Alike Curcuma longa L. Suspension as Color Agent on Some Quality and Sensory Properties of Yogurt.

Color is an important characteristic of food products. This characteristic is related to consumer acceptability. To use the entire rhizome of Curcuma longa (CL) as a food colorant, a novel gel alike stable suspension (CLS) was previously developed using cellulose nanofibers (CNFs). Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the CLS as a color additive on a stirred yogurt. Three concentrations of CLS were studied (0.1, 0.125, and 0.15 wt. %) and compared to yogurt without CLS. The obtained yogurts were characterized through the determination of pH, titratable acidity, syneresis, color and curcumin content after 1, 7, 14, and 21 days of storage. Additionally, rheological and sensory measurements were performed on the samples after one day of storage. Results show that the addition of CLS does not affect the pH and titratable acidity of the samples, but all the yogurts showed an increase in their syneresis during the storage time, showing a breakdown of the gel structure. Furthermore, the CLS suspension has the ability to impart a yellow color to yogurts, a characteristic that was stable during storage. Finally, the addition of 1 wt. % or 1.25 wt. % of CLS allows the development of a yogurt with adequate sensory perception.

The Mediating Role of Contextual Problems and Sensation Seeking in the Association between Substance Use and Mental Health in Adolescents from Northern Chile.

Substance use is a risk behavior that has been associated with adverse mental health outcomes in adolescence. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between behavioral problems, emotional problems, and substance use as well as the mediating role of contextual problems and sensation seeking in this relation. A cross-sectional study of 2277 adolescents from Northern Chile was conducted. The System for the Evaluation of Children and Adolescents (SENA) was used to assess substance use, contextual problems, sensation seeking, and emotional and behavioral problems. Through a mediational model, it was observed that substance use has a positive indirect effect on emotional and behavioral problems when both contextual problems and sensation seeking act as mediating variables. An indirect effect of substance use on contextual problems with sensation seeking as a mediator was also observed. The results suggests that context and sensation seeking are a relevant source of information in understanding adolescents and their propensity to use drugs. Interventions based on addressing contextual problems (problems with school, peers, and family) and enhancing personal resources should be implemented in order to reduce substance use in adolescents as well as the consequences it can generate in the short, medium, and long term.