Confirmatory factor analysis of the Brief Resilience Scale for Brazilian athletes / Análisis factorial confirmatorio de la Brief Resilience Scale para atletas / Brasileños Análise fatorial confirmatória de Brief Resilience Scale para Atletas Brasileiros

In general studies of resilience, the traumatic events, stressors and risks tend to be events that astonish the person. In the sports setting, it is not always true, since athletes actively seek for challenging situations. The pressure to perform at a high standard, worries about job security and injury, difficulties balancing sport and social life commitments, lack of coach feedback, lack of social support in competition and training are some specific stressor in sports settings. The aim of this study was to adapt cross-culturally and examine the psychometric properties of the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) for Brazilian athletes. Following the cross-cultural adaptation of the original English scale, data were collected from 330 athletes (18 - 44 years of age) of both sexes. The original model of the scale was tested, with confirmatory factor analysis, using LISREL software (version 8.51). A satisfactory fit for the Brazilian model with one factor and six items was found (χ2 = 18.32, p< 001; RMSEA = .07; GFI = .993; AGFI = .97;, NFI = .979; CFI = .993; NNFI = .986; χ2 /Df = 2.61), replicating the original structure of the scale. Satisfactory evidence of construct validity and internal consistency were also generated through analysis of factor loadings, t-values, Cronbach's alpha, and construct reliability tests. The BRS appears to be a valid and reliable scale to assess resilience among Brazilian athletes (AU)

En estudios generales de resiliencia, los eventos traumáticos, estresores y riesgos tienden a ser eventos que asombran a la persona. En el ámbito deportivo, esto no siempre es cierto, ya que los atletas buscan activamente situaciones desafiantes. La presión para desempeñarse con un alto nivel, las preocupaciones sobre la seguridad y lesiones en el trabajo, las dificultades para equilibrar los compromisos deportivos y sociales, la falta de feedback de los entrenadores, la falta de apoyo social en la competición y la formación. El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptarse culturalmente y examinar las propiedades psicométricas de la Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) para atletas brasileños. Después de la adaptación transcultural de la escala original en inglés, se recogieron datos de 330 atletas (18-44 años) de ambos sexos. El modelo original de la escala fue probado, con análisis factorial confirmatorio, utilizando el software LISREL (versión 8.51). Se encontró un ajuste satisfactorio para el modelo brasileño con un factor y seis ítems (χ2 = 18.32, p < 001; RMSEA = .07; GFI = .993; AGFI = .97;, NFI = .979; CFI = .993; NNFI = .986; χ2 /Df = 2.61), replicando la estructura original de la escala. También se generaron pruebas satisfactorias de validez del constructor y la consistencia interna a través del análisis de las cargas de factores, los valores los test alfa de Cronbach y las pruebas de confiabilidad del constructo. El BRS parece ser una escala válida y confiable para evaluar la resiliencia entre atletas brasileños (AU)

Em estudos gerais sobre resiliência, os eventos traumáticos, estressores e riscos tendem a ser eventos que surpreendem o sujeito. No cenário esportivo isso nem sempre é verdade, já que os atletas ativamente procuram por situações desafiadoras. A pressão para rendimento em alto nível, preocupações com a carreira e lesões, dificuldades em equilibrar os compromissos da vida social e do esporte, falta de feedback do técnico, falta de suporte social nas competições e treinamentos são alguns do estressores específicos do esporte. O objetivo desse trabalho foi adaptar transcultural mente e examinar as propriedades psicrométricas da Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) para atletas Brasileiros. Após a adaptação cultural da escala, os dados foram coletados em 330 atletas (18-44 anos de idade) de ambos os sexos. O modelo original da escala foi testado, usando-se análise fatorial confirmatória, por meio do software LISREL (Versão 8.51). Um ajuste satisfatório para o modelo brasileiro com um fator e seis itens foi encontrado (χ2 = 18.32, p < 001; RMSEA = .07; GFI = .993; AGFI = .97;, NFI = .979; CFI = .993; NNFI = .986; χ2 /Df = 2.61), replicando o modelo original da escala. Evidências satisfatórias de validade de constructo e confiabilidade interna também foram geradas, através da análise das cargas fatoriais, T-valores, dos testes de alpha de Cronbach e de confiabilidade de constructo. A BRS parece ser uma escala válida e confiável para avaliar a resiliência entre atletas brasileiros (AU)

A Role For Mitochondria In Antigen Processing And Presentation.

Immune synapse formation is critical for T lymphocyte activation, and mitochondria have a role in this process, by localizing close to the immune synapse, regulating intracellular calcium concentration, and providing locally required ATP. The interaction between antigen presenting cells (APCs) and T lymphocytes is a two-way signaling process. However, the role of mitochondria in antigen presenting cells during this process remains unknown. For APCs to be able to activate T lymphocytes, they must first engage in an antigen-uptake, -processing, and -presentation process. Here we show that HEL-loaded B lymphocytes, as a type of APCs, undergo a small but significant mitochondrial depolarization by 1-2 h following antigen exposure thus suggesting an increase in their metabolic demands. Inhibition of ATP synthase (oligomycin) or mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) (Ruthenium red) had no effect on antigen uptake. Therefore, antigen processing and antigen presentation were further analyzed. Oligomycin treatment reduced the amount of specific MHC-peptide complexes but not total MHC II on the cell membrane of B lymphocytes which correlated with a decrease in antigen presentation. However, oligomycin also reduced antigen presentation by B lymphocytes that endogenously express HEL and by B lymphocytes loaded with the HEL48-62 peptide, although to a lesser extent. ATP synthase inhibition and MCU inhibition had a clear inhibitory effect on antigen processing (DQ-OVA). Taking together these results suggest that ATP synthase and MCU are relevant for antigen processing and presentation. Finally, APCs mitochondria were found to re-organize towards the APC-T immune synapse. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Effects of nitric oxide on magnocellular neurons of the supraoptic nucleus involve multiple mechanisms

Physiological evidence indicates that the supraoptic nucleus (SON) is an important region for integrating information related to homeostasis of body fluids. Located bilaterally to the optic chiasm, this nucleus is composed of magnocellular neurosecretory cells (MNCs) responsible for the synthesis and release of vasopressin and oxytocin to the neurohypophysis. At the cellular level, the control of vasopressin and oxytocin release is directly linked to the firing frequency of MNCs. In general, we can say that the excitability of these cells can be controlled via two distinct mechanisms: 1) the intrinsic membrane properties of the MNCs themselves and 2) synaptic input from circumventricular organs that contain osmosensitive neurons. It has also been demonstrated that MNCs are sensitive to osmotic stimuli in the physiological range. Therefore, the study of their intrinsic membrane properties became imperative to explain the osmosensitivity of MNCs. In addition to this, the discovery that several neurotransmitters and neuropeptides can modulate their electrical activity greatly increased our knowledge about the role played by the MNCs in fluid homeostasis. In particular, nitric oxide (NO) may be an important player in fluid balance homeostasis, because it has been demonstrated that the enzyme responsible for its production has an increased activity following a hypertonic stimulation of the system. At the cellular level, NO has been shown to change the electrical excitability of MNCs. Therefore, in this review, we focus on some important points concerning nitrergic modulation of the neuroendocrine system, particularly the effects of NO on the SON.