Abstract The objective of this study was to test the efficiency of powdered coconut water (ACP-406®) base-medium without or with the addition of supplements on in vitro culture of isolated goat secondary follicles. Follicles were cultured for 18 days in α-MEM or in ACP-406®, both without supplements (referred to as α-MEM and ACP, respectively), or both supplemented with BSA, insulin, transferrin, selenium, glutamine, hypoxanthine, and ascorbic acid (referred to as α-MEM+ and ACP+). Follicular morphology, antrum formation, follicular and oocyte diameter, levels of glutathione (GSH), and chromatin configuration after in vitro maturation were evaluated. At the end of culture, ACP-406® base-medium (without or with supplements) showed a higher (P < 0.05) percentage of normal follicles than α-MEM (without or with supplements). Antrum formation was similar among α-MEM+, ACP and ACP+, and significantly higher than α-MEM without supplements. The follicular diameter was greater in ACP+ than α-MEM, and similar to other treatments. Moreover, fully and daily grown rates were higher (P < 0.05) in ACP-406® base-medium (without or with supplements) than α-MEM (without or with supplements). Levels of GSH were similar between ACP+ and α-MEM+ treatments. Both ACP+ and α-MEM+ allowed meiotic resumption without a significant difference between the two groups. In conclusion, supplemented ACP-406® base-medium maintained follicular survival and promoted the development as well as meiotic resumption of isolated goat secondary follicles cultured in vitro for 18 days.

O conhecimento, enquanto fator capaz de exercer influência sobre as atitudes, é um pré-requisito fundamental nos programas de prevenção dos comportamentos sexuais de risco. Este estudo teve como objetivo desenvolver um instrumento para avaliar os conhecimentos dos adolescentes sobre a sexualidade. O Questionário de Conhecimentos sobre Sexualidade pretende avaliar os conhecimentos num continuum de dificuldade e distinguir os alunos com diferentes níveis de saberes. A amostra foi constituída por 1545 adolescentes com uma média de 16 anos (DP=1.80) que frequentam a escola. Os resultados evidenciam que as raparigas estão mais informadas do que os rapazes, e que os jovens portugueses com mais de 15 anos, sem religião, com mais de 5 anos de educação sexual na escola e que tiveram a mãe como educadora sexual são os que têm mais conhecimentos sobre a sexualidade. As atitudes dos adolescentes em relação ao preservativo mostraram estar associadas aos conhecimentos e os adolescentes que usaram preservativo no último encontro sexual revelaram níveis mais elevados de conhecimentos.

En tant que potentiel facteur d'influence sur les attitudes, la connaissance est un préalable fondamental dans les programmes de préventions des comportements sexuels à risque. L'étude présentée ici a pour objectif de développer un instrument permettant d'évaluer les connaissances des adolescents sur la sexualité. Le Questionnaire des Connaissances sur la Sexualité permet ainsi d'évaluer les connaissances dans un continuum de difficultés et permet en outre de classer les élèves selon différents niveaux de savoir. L'échantillon utilisé est constitué de 1545 adolescents fréquentant des classes allant de la 5ème à la terminale (M=16,44 ans ; DP=1,80). Les résultats ont permis de mettre en évidence que les filles sont plus informées que les garçons, et que les jeunes de plus de 15 ans, sans religion, ayant fréquenté les cours d‘éducation sexuelle pendant plus de 5 ans et qui ont eu leur mère comme éducatrice sur les questions de sexualité sont les plus informés sur ce sujet. Les attitudes des adolescents au sujet du préservatif sont associées aux connaissances et ceux qui ont utilisé un préservatif lors de leur dernière relation sexuelle montre des niveaux plus élevés de connaissance.

Knowledge, as a factor that exerts influence on attitudes, is a fundamental prerequisite in prevention programs of risky sexual behaviours. The aim of this study was to develop an instrument that would assess the knowledge that adolescents have about sexuality. The Knowledge about Sexuality Questionnaire assesses the knowledge in a difficulty continuum and also the distinction of students with different levels of knowledge. The sample was composed by 1545 adolescents with a mean age of 16 years (SD=1.80) that attend school. The results show that girls are more informed than boys, and that Portuguese adolescents older than 15, without religion, with more than 5 years of sexual education in school and having their mothers as sexual educators are the ones with more knowledge about sexuality. The attitudes of the adolescents towards the use of condom are associated with the knowledge they have about it and the adolescents that used condom in their last sexual relation reveal higher levels of knowledge.

RESUMO A vergonha, entendida como uma emoção autoconsciente, multifacetada e socialmente focada, desempenha um papel central na saúde mental dos indivíduos. Nos adolescentes, é também uma experiência frequente, sendo importante a sua avaliação para a investigação e prática clinica. Este estudo pretende validar uma medida breve de vergonha externa (Escala de Vergonha Externa - Versão breve para Adolescentes [OASB-A]). Participaram 834 adolescentes com uma média de 15 anos. O modelo final da OASB-A (8 itens), obtido por meio da Análise Fatorial Confirmatória, apresenta um bom ajustamento aos dados, invariância para o sexo, boa consistência interna e fidedignidade temporal adequada. As correlações com as experiências traumáticas de vergonha (IES-R) e sintomatologia psicopatológica (DASS-21) são significativas. A OASB-A é uma medida válida e econômica para avaliação da vergonha externa em adolescentes.

ABSTRACT Shame, as a self-conscious, multidimensional and socially focused emotion, plays a central role in the mental health of individuals. In adolescents, shame is also a frequent experience and its assessment is important for research and clinical practice. This study aims to validate a brief measure of external shame (Other as Shamer Scale - brief version for adolescents [OASB-A]). The participants were 834 adolescents with a mean age of 15 years. The final model of the OASB-A (8 items), obtained through CFA, presents a good fit to the data. The OASB-A shows a good internal consistency and an adequate temporal reliability. The OASB-A also reveals significant correlations with traumatic shame experiences (IES-R) and psychopathological symptoms (DASS-21). The OASB-A is an economic and reliable measure to assess external shame in adolescents.

Abstract: Non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs, followed by antibiotics, are the main causes of fixed drug eruption. They provoke one or several round erythematous or bullous lesions that recur in the same place after taking the causative medication. A positive patch test on residual, lesional skin can replace satisfactorily oral reintroduction. We describe the case of a 74-year-old woman with numerous, rounded, erythematous lesions on the trunk and recurrent blistering on the fifth right-hand finger, which developed a few hours after taking etoricoxib. Lesional patch testing with etoricoxib was positive and reproduced the typical pattern of a fixed drug eruption upon histopathology. We emphasize the specific reactivity of the etoricoxib patch test, and the capacity to reproduce the histologic pattern of the reaction.

A população reclusa é conhecida pela elevada prevalência de perturbações mentais, muitas delas crónicas e difíceis de tratar, sobretudo no que se refere às Perturbações da Personalidade do Grupo B, cuja prevalência em contextos forenses é superior à observada na população geral. Este estudo avaliou a prevalência das Perturbações da Personalidade numa amostra de 294 reclusos Portugueses do sexo masculino. Os participantes foram avaliados com a Entrevista Clínica Estruturada para as Perturbações da Personalidade do Eixo II do DSM-IV (SCID-II). Os resultados mostraram uma elevada prevalência global de 79.9%, sendo que a Perturbação de Personalidade Anti-Social foi identificada em 42.8% dos participantes como o diagnóstico principal. As Perturbações de Personalidade Paranóide, Passivo-Agressiva, Borderline e Narcísica foram os diagnósticos comórbidos mais frequentemente associados à Perturbação de Personalidade Anti-Social. Estes resultados sugerem que a patologia da personalidade é uma variável que deve ser tida em conta na decisão e na definição da intervenção em contexto de reclusão.

Prison inmates are known to be a population with a high prevalence of mental disorders. Most of these disorders are chronic and difficult to treat, particularly in what concerns Cluster B Personality Disorders, which prevalence in forensic samples are even higher than in the general population. This study assesses the prevalence of Personality Disorders in a sample of 294 Portuguese male prison inmates, interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis II Personality Disorders (SCID-II). The results showed a global prevalence rate of 79.9%, with 42.8% of the participants diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder as the main diagnosis. Paranoid, Passive-Aggressive, Borderline, and Narcissistic Personality Disorders were the most common comorbid diagnosis associated with Antisocial Personality Disorder. These results strongly suggest that Personality Disorders should be taken into account when deciding and planning the intervention inside prison.

Abstract Multiple minute digitate hyperkeratosis is a rare, non-follicular dermatosis, with fewer than 30 cases described worldwide. It can be either acquired or inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. We describe the case of an 83-year old patient with life-long, multiple, digitate, milimetric lesions, and a positive family history for the same dermatosis.

Objective: War veterans are at high risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the development of brief self-report instruments that enable screening for PTSD in this population is crucial. The PTSD Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M) is widely used for this purpose. This study sought to explore the diagnostic utility of the Portuguese version of the PCL-M. Methods: The participants were 86 Portuguese Colonial War veterans (42 with a PTSD diagnosis and 44 without PTSD). Participants completed a self-report instrument designed to collect sociodemographic data, the PCL-M, and the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS). Results: The area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve showed excellent discriminant ability between subjects with and without PTSD (AUC = 0.94). To achieve a positive PTSD diagnosis, an optimal cutoff point of 49 for the PCL-M total score and cutoff points for each of its 17 items are recommended. Conclusions: This work is a relevant contribution for research and clinical practice in the vast population of Portuguese Colonial War veterans. Use of the PCL-M as a screening tool for PTSD symptoms will allow easier, resource-aware targeting of subjects with a potential PTSD diagnosis, adding to the improvement of public health in Portugal.

Applying the theories of Materials Science and Engineering to describe the composition and hierarchy of microstructures that comprise biological systems could help the search for new materials and results in a deeper insight into evolutionary processes. The layered microstructure that makes up the freshwater bivalve Limnoperna fortunei shell, an invasive specie in Brazil, was investigated utilizing SEM and AFM for the determination of the morphology and organization of the layers; and XRD was used to determine the crystalline phases of the calcium carbonate (CaCO3) present in the shell. The presence of the polymorphs calcite and aragonite were confirmed and the calcite is present only on the external side of the shell. The shell of L. fortunei is composed of two layers of aragonite with distinct microstructures (the aragonite prismatic layer and the aragonite sheet nacreous layer) and the periostracum (a protein layer that covers and protects the ceramic part of the shell). A new morphology of the calcite layer was found, below the periostracum, without defined form, albeit crystalline.

Introdução: Os recém-nascidos (RN) internados em unidades de cuidados intensivos (UCIN) apresentam um risco acrescido de infeções associadas aos cuidados de saúde (IACS). Na Maternidade Júlio Dinis (MJD), apos ter sido constatada uma incidência elevada de IACS, efetuaram-se alterações na pratica clínica diária. Objetivos: Avaliar a eficácia das estratégias de prevenção de infeção implementadas na UCIN da MJD. Material e métodos: Estudo prospetivo incluindo os RN internados na UCIN da MJD nos 16 meses anteriores (grupo 1) e nos 16 meses subsequentes (grupo 2) as intervenções, comparando-se os índices de infeção nestes dois períodos temporais. Resultados: O grupo 1, com 528 RN, e o grupo 2, com 593 RN, não mostraram diferença em relação ao peso, idade gestacional, taxa de utilização de cateter vascular central (CVC) e duração da nutrição parentérica e da ventilação invasiva. Verificou-se uma diminuição da incidência global de infeção: densidade de incidência de IACS - sépsis, pneumonia, enterocolite necrotizante e meningite - (10,0vs.6,3, p=0,0007), densidade de incidência de sépsis clínica e confirmada bacteriologicamente (9,6vs.5,9, p=0,0007), densidade de incidência de sépsis confirmada bacteriologicamente (6,8vs.4,6, p=0,015), taxa de incidência de sépsis associada a CVC (30,3vs.22,4; p=0,021) e taxa de isolamento de Staphylococcus coagulase-negativo (85,7%vs.71,1%, p=0,041). Embora a taxa de incidência de sépsis associada a CVC confirmada bacteriologicamente tenha diminuído (22vs.19), a diferença não foi estatisticamente significativa. Foram observadas tendências semelhantes entre os RN de muito baixo peso. Conclusões: O estudo demonstrou que uma intervenção baseada na evidência foi eficaz, tendo proporcionado uma diminuição de 37% das IACS na UCIN da MJD.

Introduction: Neonates admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) have a substantial risk for healthcare-associated infections (HAI). A high incidence of HAI was found in Maternidade Júlio Dinis (MJD) NICU and led to changes in daily clínical practice. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of new strategies for prevention of infection implemented in the NICU of MJD. Methods: We conducted a prospective study that included all infants admitted to the NICU of MJD during the 16 months before (group 1) and 16 months after (group 2) the protocol change, comparing the rates of infection in these two time periods. Results: 528 infants were included in group 1 and 593 in group 2, with no statistical evidence of different characteristics between them (weight, gestational age, CVC utilization rate, duration of parenteral nutrition and invasive ventilation). Overall mean infection indices decreased between the two periods: incidence-density of infection - sepsis, pneumonia, necrotizing enterocolitis and meningitis - (10,0 vs. 6,3; p=0,0007), incidence-density of clinical plus laboratory-confirmed sépsis (9,6 vs. 5,9; p=0,0007), incidence-density of laboratory-confirmed sepsis (6,8 vs. 4,6; p=0,015), incidence rate of central vascular catheter (CVC)-associated sepsis (30,3 vs. 22,4; p=0,021) and coagulase-negative Staphylococcus isolation rate (85,7% vs. 71,1%; p=0,041). Although incidence rate of laboratory-confirmed CVC-associated sepsis decreased (22 vs. 19), the difference was not significant. Similar tendencies were observed considering very low birth weight neonates. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that an evidence-based intervention was effective, resulting in a decrease of 37% of the HAI in the NICU of MJD.

INTRODUÇÃO: A população brasileira tem seguido a tendência dos países desenvolvidos, cuja característica é o aumento do consumo de gorduras e sedentarismo. OBJETIVO: Investigar os efeitos da dieta hiperlipídica e do treinamento sobre o peso corporal, o consumo alimentar, a massa corporal magra, os lipídios plasmáticos, o peso do fígado e a aterosclerose em camundongos com deficiência de apolipoproteína E (apoE-/-). MÉTODOS: vinte e seis camundongos foram divididos em grupos/dieta: NS (normolipídica e sedentário), HS (hiperlipídica e sedentário), NT (normolipídica e treinamento) e HT (hiperlipídica e treinamento). Aferiu-se peso corporal (PC), consumo alimentar (CA) e peso relativo do fígado (PRF). Calculou-se a água da carcaça (A%) pela diferença do peso pré e pós-secagem, gordura (G%) por Soxhlet e proteína (P%) por Kjeldahl. Determinaram-se colesterol total (CT), triglicerídeos (TG) e HDL por método enzimático-colorimétrico e LDL e VLDL pela formula de Friedewald. Analisou-se a aterosclerose por fotomicrografia. Utilizou-se ANOVA e o método de Duncan, com P < 0,05. RESULTADOS: No PC inicial e final, não houve diferença de G% e P% entre os grupos (P > 0,05). A dieta hiperlipídica aumentou o CA (365,3 ± 5,09 vs. 340,16 ± 6,32) e LDL (452,20 ± 114,63 vs. 329,60 ± 77,54) nos animais sedentários e o CT (858,75 ± 140,84 vs. 320,87 ± 157,81) e o LDL (839,36±139,94 vs. 282,66±166,92) nos treinados (P < 0,05). Já o treinamento aumentou o CA (350,4 ± 7,81 vs. 340,16 ± 6,32) e A% (64,23 ± 2,46 vs. 62,62 ± 1,47) nos camundongos normolipídicos e diminuiu o CA (336,68 ± 6,23 vs. 365,3 ± 5,09), TG (22,75 ± 12,36 vs. 66,00 ± 21,88), HDL (14,83 ± 3,95 vs. 37,60 ± 13,12), VLDL (4,55 ± 2,47 vs. 13,20 ± 4,37) e aterosclerose (0,35 ± 0,13 vs. 0,56 ± 0,12) nos hiperlipídicos (P < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: A dieta hiperlipídica pode desencadear distúrbios no metabolismo lipídico e, com isso, desencadear doenças cardiovasculares; porém, associada ao treinamento, pode diminuir a aterosclerose.

INTRODUCTION: The Brazilian population has followed the trend of developed countries, whose characteristic is the increased consumption of fats and sedentary lifestyle. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of high fat diet and training on body weight, food intake, lean body mass, plasma lipids, liver weight and atherosclerosis in mice with apolipoprotein E (apoE-/-) deficiency. METHODS: 26 rats were divided into groups/diet: NS (normolipidic and sedentary), HS (high fat and sedentary), NT (normolipidic and training) and HT (high fat and training). Body weight (BW), food intake (FI) and relative liver weight (RLW) were measured in a Gehaka BG2000 scales. The water from the carcass (A%) was calculated from the weight difference between the pre-and post-drying ,the fat (% F) was calculated by Soxhlet, and the protein (P%) by Kjeldahl . We determined total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and HDL by colorimetric enzymatic method and VLDL and LDL by the Friedewald formula. Atherosclerosis was analyzed by photomicrography. We used ANOVA as well as the Duncan's method, P<0.05. RESULTS: In the initial and final BW, there was no difference in F% and P% between groups (P>0.05). The high fat diet increased the FI (365,3±5,09 vs. 340,16±6,32) and LDL (452,20±114,63 vs. 329,60±77,54) in the sedentary animals and TC (858,75±140,84 vs. 320,87±157,81) and LDL (839,36±139,94 vs. 282,66±166,92) in trained ones (P<0.05). On the other hand, training increased the CA (350,4±7,81 vs. 340,16±6,32) and A% (64,23±2,46 vs. 62,62±1,47) in normolipidic mice and decreased FI (336,68±6,23 vs 365,3 ± 5,09), TG (22,75±12,36 vs. 66,00±21,88), HDL (14,83±3,95 vs. 37,60±13,12), VLDL (4,55±2,47 vs. 13,20±4,37) and atherosclerosis (0,35±0,13 vs. 0,56±0,12) in hyperlipidic mice (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: A high fat diet can trigger disturbances in the lipid metabolism and thereby trigger cardiovascular disease, but when associated with activity may decrease atherosclerosis.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La población brasileña ha seguido la tendencia de los países desarrollados, cuya característica es el aumento del consumo de grasas y el sedentarismo. OBJETIVO: Investigar los efectos de la dieta hiperlipídica y del entrenamiento sobre el peso corporal, el consumo de alimentos, la masa corporal delgada, los lípidos plasmáticos, el peso del hígado y la aterosclerosis en ratones con deficiencia de apolipoproteína E (apoE-/-). MÉTODOS: 26 ratones fueron divididos en grupos/dieta: NS (normolipídica y sedentario), HS (hiperlipídica y sedentario), NT (normolipídica y entrenamiento) y HT (hiperlipídica y entrenamiento). Se controlaron peso corporal (PC), consumo de alimentos (CA) y peso relativo del hígado (PRH). Se calculó el agua de la carcasa (A%) por la diferencia del peso antes y después del secado, grasa (G%) por Soxhlet y proteína (P%) por Kjeldahl. Se determinaron colesterol total (CT), triglicéridos (TG) y HDL por el método enzimático-colorimétrico, y LDL y VLDL por la fórmula de Friedewald. Por fotomicrografía se analizó la aterosclerosis. Se utilizó ANOVA y el método de Duncan, con P < 0,05. RESULTADOS: En el PC inicial y final, no hubo diferencia de G% y P% entre los grupos (P > 0,05). La dieta hiperlipídica aumentó el CA (365,3 ± 5,09 vs. 340,16 ± 6,32) y el LDL (452,20 ± 114,63 vs. 329,60 ± 77,54) en los animales sedentarios, y el CT (858,75 ± 140,84 vs. 320,87 ± 157,81) y el LDL (839,36±139,94 vs. 282,66±166,92) en los entrenados (P < 0,05). Desde otro punto de vista, el entrenamiento aumentó el CA (350,4 ± 7,81 vs. 340,16 ± 6,32) y A% (64,23 ± 2,46 vs. 62,62 ± 1,47) en los ratones normolipídicos y disminuyó el CA (336,68 ± 6,23 vs. 365,3 ± 5,09), TG (22,75 ± 12,36 vs. 66,00 ± 21,88), HDL (14,83 ± 3,95 vs. 37,60 ± 13,12), VLDL (4,55 ± 2,47 vs. 13,20 ± 4,37) y la aterosclerosis (0,35 ± 0,13 vs. 0,56 ± 0,12) en los hiperlipídicos (P < 0,05). CONCLUSIÓN: La dieta hiperlipídica puede causar disturbios en el metabolismo lipídico y, con eso, producir enfermedades cardiovasculares; no obstante, si está asociada con el entrenamiento, puede reducir la aterosclerosis.

Although some animal models of food allergy in have already have been described, none of them uses the allergen in the animals' diet. This work describes the comparison between two developed models of food allergy in BALB/c mice, based in the administration of the allergen in the diet or by intragastric way. The experiment last for 28 days and the animals had been sensitized by means of subcutaneous injection in 1st and 14th days with in natura extract milk, bovine extract meat or frog extract meat. The experimental model that uses the allergen in the unbroken form presented morphometric alterations when compared with the one that used the heat treat allergen. It was noticed the existence of some more resistant proteins than others related to the denaturation, once compared the results of the two models; the differences had been more prominent for the milk and frog allergens. These results confirm the epidemiologic data of allergy incidence in the world's population.

Aunque algunos modelos animales para estudio in vivo de alergia alimentaria hayan sido descriptos, ninguno de ellos utiliza el alergeno en la dieta de los animales. Este trabajo describe la comparación entre dos modelos experimentales de alergia alimentaria desarrollados en los ratones BALB/c, inducida por la administración del alergeno en la dieta o por la vía intragastrica. El experimento fue desarrollado por un período de 28 días y los animales fueron sensibilizados por inyección subcutánea en el 1º y 14º días con extracto de leche in natura, extracto de carne de buey o extracto de carne de rana. El modelo experimental que recibió el alergeno intacto presentó las alteraciones morfométricas más evidentes cuando fueron comparadas con los que recibió el alergeno tratado térmicamente. Se evidenció la presencia de proteínas más resistentes que otras en lo que se refiere a la desnaturación, una vez que cuando fueron comparados los dos modelos, las diferencias fueron más claras para los alergenos de la leche y de la carne de rana. Estos resultados confirman los datos epidemiologicos de incidencia de alergia en la población mundial.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar a versão portuguesa da Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) e o estudo da sua estrutura fatorial e características psicométricas numa amostra de 410 adolescentes com uma média de idades de 15,18 anos. Este estudo permitiu concluir que a CAMM constitui um instrumento de autorresposta que revela uma estrutura unidimensional, uma adequada consistência interna (α = 0,80; FC = 0,85) e fidedignidade teste-reteste (r = 0,46). Apresentou ainda correlações negativas com medidas de depressão, ansiedade, inflexibilidade psicológica e correlações positivas com uma medida de comparação social. O valor destas correlações, apesar de diminuir, manteve-se significativo quando controlado o efeito da inflexibilidade psicológica (processo associado ao mindfulness). Na generalidade, a CAMM é uma medida válida e fidedigna para avaliação de competências de mindfulness em crianças e adolescentes.

The aim of this study is to present the Portuguese version of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) and examine its factorial structure and psychometric properties in a sample of 410 adolescents with mean age of 15.18 years. Results show that the CAMM is a single-factor self-report measure, presenting an adequate internal consistency (α = .80; CR = .85) and test-retest reliability (r = .46). Negative correlations were found with measures of depression, anxiety and psychological inflexibility. On the other hand, positive correlations were found with measures of social comparison. Even when psychological inflexibility effects (process associated with mindfulness) were controlled, the correlations were still significant. Overall, findings suggest that the CAMM is a reliable and valid measure for the assessment of mindfulness skills in children and adolescents.

FUNDAMENTO: A aterosclerose é uma doença inflamatória crônica de origem multifatorial que ocorre em resposta à agressão endotelial. O fungo Monascus ruber apresenta atividade hipocolesterolêmica e polifenóis presentes no resíduo de café apresentam atividade antioxidante, podendo auxiliar na prevenção de doenças cardiovasculares. O resíduo de café possui quantidade significativa de açúcares fermentescíveis, constituindo-se em substrato apropriado para o cultivo de fungos. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito dos resíduos de café seco e fermentado por Monascus ruber no metabolismo lipídico de camundongos knockout Apo E. MÉTODOS: O ensaio biológico foi realizado com 30 camundongos knockout para o gene Apo E, divididos em cinco grupos e submetidos a diferentes tratamentos. Foi realizada a prospecção fitoquímica e quantificação de compostos fenólicos dos resíduos fermentado e sem fermentar. O soro dos animais foi analisado utilizando kits enzimáticos e o tecido aórtico incluso em parafina e corado com H/E para realização da análise histopatológica. RESULTADOS: O resíduo de café sem fermentar 2%, em relação ao grupo controle, diminuiu em 42% o nível sérico de triacilgliceróis e em aproximadamente 41% a fração VLDL-c. Os grupos dos animais alimentados com 10% de resíduo não fermentado e 2% de resíduo fermentado diminuíram a área de lesão 10,5% e 15,4%, respectivamente, quando comparados ao controle. O resíduo fermentado apresentou um teor de compostos fenólicos superior ao resíduo não fermentado. CONCLUSÃO: O presente estudo mostra que a fermentação do resíduo de café apresenta potencial efeito benéfico sobre as doenças cardiovasculares, especialmente a aterosclerose.

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of multifactorial origin, which occurs in response to endothelial injury. The fungus Monascus ruber has hypocholesterolemic activity, and the polyphenols present in coffee residue have an antioxidant activity and can help prevent cardiovascular diseases. Coffee residue has a significant amount of fermentable sugars, being an adequate substrate for growing fungi. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the effect of dry coffee residue fermented with Monascus ruber on the lipid metabolism of ApoE knockout mice. METHODS: The biological assay was performed with 30 ApoE knockout mice, divided into five groups and undergoing different treatments. The phytochemical prospection and quantification of phenolic compounds of the fermented and non-fermented coffee residues were performed. The sera of the animals were analyzed by using enzyme kits, and the aortic tissue was embedded in paraffin and stained with hematoxylin and eosin to undergo histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Comparing with the control group, the group receiving 2% non-fermented coffee residue showed a reduction of 42% in the serum levels of triacylglycerols and of approximately 41% in VLDL-c. The groups receiving 10% non-fermented coffee residue and 2% fermented coffee residue showed reductions in the lesion areas of 10.5% and 15.4%, respectively, as compared with the control group. The fermented coffee residue showed a higher content of phenolic compounds as compared with the non-fermented coffee residue. CONCLUSION: The present study showed that coffee residue fermentation has a potentially beneficial effect on cardiovascular diseases, especially atherosclerosis.

A natureza das experiências de vergonha sugere que estas podem constituir-se como memórias traumáticas e autobiográficas, pontos de referência centrais para a identidade pessoal e atribuição de significado a outras experiências de vida, com consequências ao nível da psicopatologia. O presente estudo examina as propriedades psicométricas da versão portuguesa da Escala da Centralidade do Acontecimento (Centrality of Event Scale, CES; Berntsen & Rubin, 2006) numa ampla amostra da população geral. A validade de constructo foi examinada com recurso a procedimentos da Análise em Componentes Principais, cujos resultados suportaram a estrutura unidimensional subjacente à CES, explicativa de 59% da variância. Os valores de correlação item-total moderados a elevados (> .65) e um valor de alfa de Cronbach elevado (α = .96), apontam para a excelente consistência interna da escala. A validade convergente e discriminante foi sugerida pelas correlações elevadas encontradas com a Escala do Impacto do Acontecimento e das correlações moderadas encontradas com as subescalas Depressão, Ansiedade e Stress. A CES aparece como um instrumento fiável e válido para avaliar a centralidade de memórias traumáticas de vergonha para a atribuição de significados, na história de vida e na identidade pessoal.

The nature of shame experiences suggests they can function as traumatic and autobiographical memories, central to a person’s identity and life story, with an impact on the vulnerability to psychopathology. The current study explores the psychometric properties of the portuguese version of the Centrality of Event Scale (CES; Berntsen & Rubin, 2006) in a normal population sample of 811 subjects. Principal Components Analysis was conducted to examine construct validity. Results support the one dimensional structure underlying CES, explaining 59% of the variance. We found item-total correlations ranging from moderate to high (> .65) and a high internal consistency (α=.96), indicating an excellent reliability of the scale. Convergent and divergent validity was confirmed by the high correlations found with IES-R and by the moderate correlations with DASS Depression, Anxiety and Stress. The portuguese version of the CES seems to be a reliable and valid instrument to measure the extent to which shame traumatic memories form a central component to personal indentity, a turning point in the life story and a reference point to everyday interferences.