Universidade Federal de Santa Maria

About: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria is a education organization based out in Santa Maria, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 21178 authors who have published 35632 publications receiving 371665 citations.

Imagem corporal em adolescentes: associação com a maturação sexual e sintomas de transtornos alimentares

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of body image (BI) with sexual maturation and symptoms of eating disorders among adolescents. METHODS: A total of 325 adolescent girls (11 to 14 years) from Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, were studied. A body silhouette scale and the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) were used. Information about menarche were recorded. RESULTS: The prevalence of BI dissatisfaction was 75.8%, with 61.5% of the girls wishing to reduce body weight. The mean age at menarche was 11.5 years (SD = 0.99). A significant association was observed between BI and menarche (p < 0.001), age at menarche (p < 0.001), and symptoms of eating disorders (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The presence of menarche and its occurrence at an early age causes adolescents show a greater desire to lose weight. In addition, girls wishing to be thinner are more likely to present symptoms of eating disorders.

Socioeconomic inequalities in the distribution of dental caries in Brazilian preschool children

Abstract: Objectives: This study assessed the inequality in caries distribution and the association between socioeconomic indicators and caries experienceof preschool children in a city in Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study in a multistage random sample of 455, 1-5-yearoldchildrenwasconductedonNationalChildren’sVaccinationDayinSantaMaria, Brazil. Calibrated examiners evaluated the prevalence of dental caries and parents provided information about several socioeconomic indicators by means of a semistructured questionnaire.Data were analyzed using Poissonregression model. Results: The caries prevalence was 23.5 percent and the means for the decayed, missing andfilled primary teeth was 0.8.A high inequality in the caries distribution with Gini coefficient of 0.8 and Significant Caries Index of 2.8 was observed. The oldest children, non-white, with mothers having low level of education and from low household income had the highest prevalence of dental caries. Conclusion: Socioeconomicfactorsarestrongpredictorsfortheinequalityincaries distribution in Brazilian preschool children.

Major Components of Energy Drinks (Caffeine, Taurine, and Guarana) Exert Cytotoxic Effects on Human Neuronal SH-SY5Y Cells by Decreasing Reactive Oxygen Species Production

Abstract: Scope. To elucidate the morphological and biochemical in vitro effects exerted by caffeine, taurine, and guarana, alone or in combination, since they are major components in energy drinks (EDs). Methods and Results. On human neuronal SH-SY5Y cells, caffeine (0.125–2 mg/mL), taurine (1–16 mg/mL), and guarana (3.125–50 mg/mL) showed concentration-dependent nonenzymatic antioxidant potential, decreased the basal levels of free radical generation, and reduced both superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, especially when combined together. However, guarana-treated cells developed signs of neurite degeneration in the form of swellings at various segments in a beaded or pearl chain-like appearance and fragmentation of such neurites at concentrations ranging from 12.5 to 50 mg/mL. Swellings, but not neuritic fragmentation, were detected when cells were treated with 0.5 mg/mL (or higher doses) of caffeine, concentrations that are present in EDs. Cells treated with guarana also showed qualitative signs of apoptosis, including membrane blebbing, cell shrinkage, and cleaved caspase-3 positivity. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed that cells treated with 12.5–50 mg/mL of guarana and its combinations with caffeine and/or taurine underwent apoptosis. Conclusion. Excessive removal of intracellular reactive oxygen species, to nonphysiological levels (or “antioxidative stress”), could be a cause of in vitro toxicity induced by these drugs.

The role of BsmI and FokI vitamin D receptor gene polymorphisms and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D in Brazilian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract: Vitamin D deficiency has been described in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). BsmI VDR (vitamin D receptor) gene polymorphism was associated with SLE in Asian patients. Studies in Brazilian populations have not been realized. A case-control study with 195 SLE patients and 201 healthy controls was conducted to investigate the influence of BsmI and FokI VDR gene polymorphisms on susceptibility to SLE. In addition, 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured in SLE patients to evaluate possible associations with VDR polymorphic variants and clinical and laboratory expressions of disease. Genotyping was performed by RFLP-PCR. The measurement of 25(OH)D was performed by chemiluminescence. There was no statistically significant difference in genotype and allelic frequencies of BsmI and FokI polymorphisms between European-derived cases and controls. The mean serum levels of 25(OH)D were 25.51 ± 11.43 ng/ml in SLE patients. According to genotype distribution, 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly higher in patients carrying the FokI f/f genotype compared with patients carrying the F/F genotype (31.6 ± 14.1 ng/ml versus 23.0 ± 9.2 ng/ml, p = 0.004), reinforcing its role in the functional activity of VDR. This feature may be considered in future clinical and experimental studies involving vitamin D measurements. Therefore, genetic-specific definitions of ideal levels of vitamin D in SLE need to be established in future studies.

Fish anesthesia: effects of the essential oils of Hesperozygis ringens and Lippia alba on the biochemistry and physiology of silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen)

Abstract: The anesthetic activities of the essential oils (EOs) of Hesperozygis ringens (EOHR) and Lippia alba (EOLA) and their effects in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) after anesthesia and recovery were investigated. Fish (32.19 ± 1.24 g) were submitted to one of the following treatments for each EO: basal group, control, or anesthesia (150, 300, or 450 μL L−1 EO). After that the anesthesia was induced or simulated and the biometric measurements were completed, fish were transferred to anesthetic-free aquaria to allow for recovery. Fish were sampled at 0, 15, 30, 60, and 240 min after recovery. At time 0 of recovery, the ventilatory rate was lower in the groups anesthetized with either EO. In comparison with the basal group, control fish showed an increase in plasma glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and Na+ levels and a reduction in Na+/K+-ATPase activity at 0 min of recovery. Plasma levels of ammonia and Na+ were lower in the fish anesthetized with EOLA (450 μL L−1) and EOHR (all concentrations), respectively, than in the control fish. Additionally, lactate, AST, alanine aminotransferase, K+ plasma levels, and gill Na+/K+-ATPase and H+-ATPase activities were higher in the fish anesthetized with either EOHR or EOLA than in the control fish. The EOs promoted slight changes in silver catfish that enabled both an adaptive response and the recovery of most of the measured parameters after 240 min regardless of concentration or EO that was used. These findings support the use of EOHR and EOLA as anesthetics for fish.