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Resumo: A adolescência é marcada por diversas mudanças físicas/hormonais, sociais e psicoló-gicas, podendo favorecer o desenvolvimento de diversos transtornos e sintomas mentais, como, por exemplo, a sintomatologia depressiva, sendo que a família pode influenciar o desencadeamento/manutenção de tais sintomas. O objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar a correlação existente entre sintomatologia depressiva e a percepção de suporte familiar em estudantes do ensino médio. Foram participantes da pesquisa 154 adolescentes de uma escola pública. Os materiais utilizados foram um questionário de caracterização (contendo diversos fatores de risco para a depressão)^j-o Inventário de Depressão Infantil (CDI)) e o Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), aplicados coletivamente em sala de aula. Os principais resultados demonstraram que quanto maior a simtomatologia depressiva no adolescente mais inadequado é a percepção do suporte familiar e quanto maior a freqüencia dos fatores de risco, maior é a simtomatologia depressiva no adolescente, estando o suporte familiar correlacionado negativamente com a simtomatologia depressiva nesta amostra.Palavras chaves: Depressão. Adolescentes. Suporte familiar. INTRODUÇÃOOs principais sintomas da depressão estão relacionados com o humor deprimido, perda do interesse e prazer; energia reduzida, causando aumento da fatigabilidade e diminuição de atividades; concentração, atenção, auto-estimae autoconfiançareduzidas; idéias pessimistas do futuro; ideação suicida; alteração no sono e apetite diminuído, dentre outros 1,2 .A depressão atualmente pode ser considerada um dos problemas mais comuns encontrados pelos profissionais na área de saúde mental ao diagnosticar e tratar seus pacientes. Os transtornos mentais e de comportamento correspondem a 12% das doenças mundiais 3,4 . Aproximadamente 15% a20% dos adultos já tiveram alguma sintomatologia depressiva durante suas vidas e, pelo menos 12% tiveram depressão em estado grave, a ponto de procurar ajuda psicoterapêutica e médica. A prevalência nas mulheres é duas vezes maior que nos homens, podendo chegar a 25%, a partir da adolescência e os sintomas depressivos são responsá-veis por cerca de 75% das internações psiquiátri-cas 5 . Além disso, 80% das pessoas que tentam o suicídio estão com algum nível considerável de depressão no momento da tentativa 6 . A depressão tem incidência de 10% em pacientes do atendimento médico geral e chega a 15% dos pacientes intennados no hospital geral, apesar das pesquisas serem díspares em decorrência do tipo de amostra, instrumentos e metodologias diferenciadas 7,8 .

This study aims to evaluate the effects of polymorphisms in glutathione (GSH-) related genes (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, GCLM, and GCLC) in the distribution of Hg in the blood compartments in humans exposed to methylmercury (MeHg). Subjects (n = 88), exposed to MeHg from fish consumption, were enrolled in the study. Hg species in the plasma compartment were determined by LC-ICP-MS, whereas genotyping was performed by PCR assays. Mean total Hg levels in plasma (THgP) and whole blood (THgB) were 10 ± 4.2 and 37 ± 21, whereas mean evels of plasmatic MeHg (MeHgP), inorganic Hg (IHgP), and HgP/HgB were 4.3 ± 2.9, 5.8 ± 2.3 µg/L, and 0.33 ± 0.15, respectively. GSTM1 and GCLC polymorphisms influence THgP and MeHgP (multivariate analyses, P < 0.050). Null homozygotes for GSTM1 showed higher THgP and MeHgP levels compared to subjects with GSTM1 (THgP β = 0.22, P = 0.035; MeHgP β = 0.30, P = 0.050) and persons carrying at least one T allele for GCLC had significant higher MeHgP (β = 0.59, P = 0.046). Also, polymorphic GCLM subjects had lower THgP/THgB than those with the nonvariant genotype. Taken together, data of this study suggest that GSH-related polymorphisms may change the metabolism of MeHg by modifying the distribution of mercury species iin plasma compartment and the HgP/HgB partitioning.

It is relatively recent that tail coiling assay in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos has been proposed as an alternative method to screen for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) induced by chemicals. Despite the considerable use of the method, there is no consensus related to the most suitable age of embryos and other experimental parameters. Non-exposed embryos were videotaped for tail-coiling activity from 18 to 54 h post-fertilization (hpf) and after exposure to positive control candidates (caffeine, fluoxetine, and tricaine (MS-222)) and organic solvents (acetone, dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO), and ethanol) from 26.0 to 28.5 hpf. Results demonstrated that embryos from 22 to 29 hpf presented a constant coiling activity, with no significant differences between the activity measurements. We also found that stimulant properties of caffeine and the anesthetic effects of MS-222 induced hyperactivity and hypoactivity, respectively. Finally, even using DMSO at 1%, it seems to be safer as a solvent for neurotoxicity evaluation by tail coiling assay. The period from 26.0 to 28.5 hpf was appropriate for a fast protocol of tail coiling assay. Caffeine and MS-222 were demonstrated to be promising positive control candidates, whereas DMSO was considered the most appropriate solvent choice for tail coiling assay.

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Lead (Pb) is a metal that accumulates in the human body, inducing several adverse health effects. One of the proteins responsible for the distribution of metal in the body is metallothionein (MT), which is expressed by different genes, and it is supposed that genetic variation in the genes that encode MTs may affect the Pb body burden. The present study aimed to evaluate the genetic effects of the polymorphism of MT2A (single nucleotide polymorphism rs10636; C→G) on blood Pb levels (BLL) of workers from car battery factories who are chronically exposed to the metal. In total, 221 men participated in the study; genomic DNA from whole blood was extracted, and genotyping of MT2A was performed by TaqMan assays; BLL were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). BLL were 25 ± 14 µg/dl (range 1.9-68); BLL were positively correlated with duration of work and smoking status. Individuals who carried at least one C allele had higher BLL than those with the GG genotype (β = -0.45; p = 0.025, multivariable linear regression analyses). Taken together, our data support the hypothesis that polymorphisms in genes related to the transport of Pb, such as MTs, may modulate the concentrations of the metal in the body and, consequently, adverse health effects induced by Pb exposure.

In order to establish cut-off limits and to distinguish isolated premature thelarche (IPT) from precocious puberty (PP), we evaluated data from 79 girls with premature thelarche, comparing basal and stimulated LH and FSH serum concentrations with those from 91 healthy girls. A GnRH stimulation test was performed in 10 normal girls and in 42 with premature thelarche. Comparison among groups was performed by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's tests. LH values were significantly greater in girls with IPT than in control groups. Basal gonadotropin concentrations were higher in patients with PP than in controls, but not different from patients with IPT. Peak LH levels after GnRH stimulation distinguished those two groups, with a cut-off value of 4.0 IU/L, but still with minimal overlap. In conclusion, a girl with premature thelarche and LH peak value above 4.5 IU/L has, indeed, PP, but values between 3.5 and 4.5 IU/L point to careful follow-up. RESUMOTelarca precoce: avaliação clínica e laboratorial pelo método imunoquimioluminescente. Com o objetivo de estabelecer o valor de corte e distinguir telarca precoce isolada (TPI) de puberdade precoce (PP), avaliamos 79 meninas com telarca precoce, comparando as dosagens basais e pós-estímulo de LH e FSH com grupo-controle. O teste de estímulo com GnRH foi realizado em 10 meninas normais e em 42 com telarca precoce. Os testes de Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn foram usados na comparação dos grupos. Os níveis de LH foram significativamente mais elevados no grupo com TPI, quando comparados com controles. As gonadotrofinas basais foram mais elevadas naquelas com PP que nos controles, mas não diferiram do grupo com TPI. O pico de LH após GnRH distinguiu estes dois grupos, com valor de corte de 4,0 UI/L, apesar de pequena sobreposição. Concluímos que uma menina com telarca precoce e LH pós-estímulo acima de 4,5 UI/L apresenta PP, mas valores entre 3,5 e 4,5 UI/L requerem seguimento cuidadoso. SUBJECTS AND METHODS SubjectsThe research protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, (Brazil). Written consent to participate in this study was obtained from the subjects in the healthy control group and their parents. We compared, retrospectively, data from 79 records of girls presenting PT with 91 healthy pre-pubertal girls.Patients were distributed into two groups ( Figure 1): a) Isolated premature thelarche (IPT) -58 girls with breast enlargement and absence of other signs of pubertal development were divided into two subgroups according to the age at onset of thelarche: 40 girls ages 0.9-2.9 yr (IPT 1 ) and 18 girls between 3 and 8 years of age (IPT 2 ). b) Precocious puberty (PP) -21 girls with PT were selected and divided into two subgroups according to the time of activation of HPG axis: 9 girls ages 1.5-7.7 yr initially presented HPG axis inactivated (phase I-PP 1 ,), but during the follow-up they developed pubarche, acceleration of growth velocity, and a second GnRH test disclosed an active HPG axisThe...