Resumo O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi atualizar as propriedades psicométricas do Inventário de Habilidades Sociais Del-Prette, uma medida de desempenho sociais em situações de interação social. A amostra foi composta por 4.250 participantes de ambos os sexos com idade entre 18 e 59 anos (M = 35,85; DP = 11,33; 51,1% mulheres). A Análise de Equações Estruturais Exploratória indicou adequação da estrutura interna da versão original do instrumento, composta por cinco fatores:conversação assertiva, abordagem afetivo-sexual, expressão de sentimento positivo, autocontrole/enfrentamento e desenvoltura social. Todos obtiveram bons indicadores de precisão, alfas superiores a 0,774, e indicadores de invariância dos parâmetros da medida em função dos sexos e faixas etárias. O Modelo de Créditos Parciais forneceu os parâmetros dos itens e características dos participantes: níveis de dificuldades/theta e índices de ajuste, que se mostraram apropriados. Os resultados sugerem que o inventário é uma medida de habilidades sociais adequada para uso profissional e pesquisa.

Abstract The aim of this research was to update the psychometric properties of the Del-Prette Social Skills Inventory-2, a measure of social performance in social interaction situations. The sample consisted of 4,250 participants of both sexes aged between 18 and 59 years old (M = 35.85; df = 11.33; 51.1% woman). Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling suggested the adequacy of the internal structure of the original version of the instrument, consisting of five factors: Assertive Conversation, Affective-Sexual Approach, Expression of positive sentiment, Self-Control/Coping, and Social Resourcefulness, all of them with good reliability indicators, alphas higher than 0.774, and measurement invariance indicators across groups as a function of sex and different age ranges. The Partial Credit Model provided the item’s and participant’s parameters: difficulty level/theta and adjustment indices, which were adequate. The results suggest that the inventory is a suitable measure of social skills for professional and research purposes.

AbstractBackground More than 200 Scyphozoa species have been described, but few have been properly studied regarding their chemical and genetic characteristics.Catostylus tagi, an edible Scyphozoa and the sole European Catostylidae, occurs in summer at Tagus and Sado estuaries. Neither a systematic comparison between the two Catostyluscommunities nor a chemical approach on their nematocytes had been carried out yet.Methods In order to achieve these purposes, optimisation of DNA extraction and of histochemical staining procedures were developed.Catostylus specimens from Tagus and Sado estuaries were compared by ribosomal 18S, 28S, and ITS1 partial sequencing. The morphochemistry of nematocytes was studied by optical and electronic microscopy.Results Macroscopic and molecular results indicated that both communities belong to the same species, C. tagi. The hematoxylin and eosin staining allowed the visualisation of nematocyst genesis and indicated a basic character for the macromolecules on the shaft of euryteles and on the tubule of isorhizae and birhopaloids. By Masson’s trichrome procedure, the basic properties of the tubules were confirmed and a collagenous profile for the toxins was suggested. Results of the alcian blue staining showed that the outer membrane of nematocyte may consist of macromolecules with acidic polysaccharides, consistent with NOWA and nematogalectin glycoproteins detected in Hydra, but also with poly-gamma-glutamate complex, chitin-like polysaccharides and hyaluronic acids. Through the von Kossa assays, calcium was detected; its position suggested interactions with polysaccharides of the membrane, with proteins of the contractile system or with both.Conclusions The optimisation of sample preparation for DNA extraction may facilitate further studies on little known jellyfish species. The improvement of the smear procedure simplified the use of stained reactions in zooplankton. Moreover, it was shown that good slide images might be acquired manually. The development of specific reactions, with traditional dyes and others, can give important contributions to clarify the chemical nature of the components of nematocytes. The characterisation of nematocyst toxins by staining tests is a goal to achieve.

Fundamento: Estudos indicam que o Doppler ecocardiograma possibilita a identificação de um maior número de casos de valvopatia reumática, quando comparado ao exame clínico, em indivíduos aparentemente saudáveis. Objetivos: Determinar a prevalência de valvopatia sugestiva de envolvimento reumático segundo as avaliações clínicas e Doppler ecardiográficas em alunos de escola pública de Belo Horizonte. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado com 267 escolares entre 6 e 16 anos, selecionados de forma aleatória. Os alunos foram submetidos à anamnese e exame físico com o objetivo de estabelecer critérios prévios para o diagnóstico de febre reumática. Todos realizaram o estudo Doppler ecocardiográfico com o emprego de um aparelho portátil. Aqueles que apresentaram regurgitação valvar mitral (RM) e ou aórtica (RAo) sugestiva de não fisiológica foram encaminhados ao laboratório de Doppler ecocardiografia do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG) para a realização de novo estudo. Conforme os achados, os casos de valvopatia reumática foram classificados em definitiva, provável e possível. Resultados: Dos 267 escolares, um (0,37%) apresentou história compatível com o diagnóstico de febre reumática aguda (FRA), 25 (9,4%) apresentaram RM e/ou RAo consideradas não fisiológicas ao Doppler ecocardiograma portátil. Destes, 16 (6%) realizaram Doppler ecocardiograma no HC-UFMG, sendo evidenciadas: valvopatia reumática definitiva em um escolar; valvopatia reumática provável em três; valvopatia reumática possível em um escolar. Conclusão: Na população estudada a prevalência de casos compatíveis com envolvimento reumático foi cinco vezes maior ao Doppler ecocardiograma (18,7/1000 - IC 95%, 6,9/1000 - 41,0/1000) em relação à avaliação clínica (3,7/1000 - IC 95%).

Background: Previous studies indicate that compared with physical examination, Doppler echocardiography identifies a larger number of cases of rheumatic heart disease in apparently healthy individuals. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease among students in a public school of Belo Horizonte by clinical evaluation and Doppler echocardiography. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 267 randomly selected school students aged between 6 and 16 years. students underwent anamnesis and physical examination with the purpose of establishing criteria for the diagnosis of rheumatic fever. They were all subjected to Doppler echocardiography using a portable machine. Those who exhibited nonphysiological mitral regurgitation (MR) and/or aortic regurgitation (AR) were referred to the Doppler echocardiography laboratory of the Hospital das Clínicas of the Universidade Federal of Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG) to undergo a second Doppler echocardiography examination. According to the findings, the cases of rheumatic heart disease were classified as definitive, probable, or possible. Results: Of the 267 students, 1 (0.37%) had a clinical history compatible with the diagnosis of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and portable Doppler echocardiography indicated nonphysiological MR and/or AR in 25 (9.4%). Of these, 16 (6%) underwent Doppler echocardiography at HC-UFMG. The results showed definitive rheumatic heart disease in 1 student, probable rheumatic heart disease in 3 students, and possible rheumatic heart disease in 1 student. Conclusion: In the population under study, the prevalence of cases compatible with rheumatic involvement was 5 times higher on Doppler echocardiography (18.7/1000; 95% CI 6.9/1000-41.0/1000) than on clinical evaluation (3.7/1000-95% CI).