Current studies, particularly in Arabidopsis, have demonstrated that mutants deficient in cytosolic ascorbate peroxidases (APXs) are susceptible to the oxidative damage induced by abiotic stress. In contrast, we demonstrate here that rice mutants double silenced for cytosolic APXs (APx1/2s) up-regulated other peroxidases, making the mutants able to cope with abiotic stress, such as salt, heat, high light and methyl viologen, similar to non-transformed (NT) plants. The APx1/2s mutants exhibited an altered redox homeostasis, as indicated by increased levels of H2O2 and ascorbate and glutathione redox states. Both mutant and NT plants exhibited similar photosynthesis (CO2 assimilation and photochemical efficiency) under both normal and stress conditions. Overall, the antioxidative compensatory mechanism displayed by the mutants was associated with increased expression of OsGpx genes, which resulted in higher glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in the cytosolic and chloroplastic fractions. The transcript levels of OsCatA and OsCatB and the activities of catalase (CAT) and guaiacol peroxidase (GPOD; type III peroxidases) were also up-regulated. None of the six studied isoforms of OsApx were up-regulated under normal growth conditions. Therefore, the deficiency in cytosolic APXs was effectively compensated for by up-regulation of other peroxidases. We propose that signalling mechanisms triggered in rice mutants could be distinct from those proposed for Arabidopsis.

We conducted a cross-sectional study to assess sexual and drug use risk in 161 children and youth in street circumstances in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Median age was 14 and 79% were male. Overall, 59% reported ever having had sex; a significantly higher proportion of males (66%) compared to females (30%). Overall, 39% reported illicit drug use in the last year, and only 1.2% reported injection drug use. In multivariate analyses, correlates of unsafe sex included younger age of sexual debut, and having a steady sex partner. Independent correlates of illicit drug use included lack of family contact, increased hours in the street daily, having had an HIV test, and older age. A high proportion of children and youth in street circumstances reported high risk sex and drug exposures, confirming their vulnerability to HIV/STD. Services Centers, such as where this research was carried out, offer an opportunity for interventions.

Este artigo busca, com base na revisão da literatura, articular o conceito de resiliência com questões da realidade de vida de pessoas portadoras de HIV/AIDS. Em especial, será enfatizada a análise dos fatores de proteção tradicionalmente descritos como promotores de resiliência (características individuais e rede de apoio social e afetiva). Os estudos revisados revelam que existem importantes fatores de proteção, que contribuem para a saúde e bem-estar dos portadores de HIV/AIDS, entre eles o enfrentamento cognitivo e a aceitação da infecção; a participação da família no tratamento e como fonte de apoio afetivo; o papel das organizações governamentais e não-governamentais e a religiosidade. Acredita-se que a compreensão da resiliência como uma "capacidade do ser humano de superar adversidades" é essencial ao entendimento da infecção e tratamento de pacientes com HIV/AIDS. Isso contribui para acabar com o estigma e preconceito em relação à doença e aos seus portadores. Essa perspectiva desmistifica a questão de que bem-estar e qualidade de vida são estados contraditórios à vida das pessoas infectadas, além de contribuir para a elaboração de novas perspectivas de prevenção e tratamento da infecção por HIV/AIDS.

O presente estudo investigou os sentimentos de gestantes portadoras de HIV/Aids a respeito da própria infecção, sobre a maternidade e o bebê. Participaram seis gestantes, com idades entre 26 e 35 anos, de nível sócio-econômico baixo. Elas foram entrevistadas e suas respostas foram examinadas através de análise de conteúdo qualitativa, com base em três categorias: Experiência de infecção pelo HIV/Aids, Sentimentos no contexto de gestação e HIV/Aids e Relações familiares e HIV/Aids. Os resultados revelaram comportamentos sexuais de risco e  dificuldade de assimilação do diagnóstico, com tentativas de justificar a origem da infecção. Também apareceram medos, culpas, preconceitos, frustração com a própria mãe, perda da figura materna, falta de apoio familiar e instabilidade na relação com o pai do bebê. Discute-se a importância de intervenções psicológicas com gestantes portadoras de HIV/Aids, visando à adesão ao tratamento e à prevenção da transmissão materno-infantil do HIV.Palavras-chave: HIV/Aids; gestação; maternidade; sentimentos.

Among cereal crops, rice is considered the most tolerant to aluminium (Al). However, variability among rice genotypes leads to remarkable differences in the degree of Al tolerance for distinct cultivars. A number of studies have demonstrated that rice plants achieve Al tolerance through an unknown mechanism that is independent of root tip Al exclusion. We have analysed expression changes of the rice ASR gene family as a function of Al treatment. The gene ASR5 was differentially regulated in the Al-tolerant rice ssp. Japonica cv. Nipponbare. However, ASR5 expression did not respond to Al exposure in Indica cv. Taim rice roots, which are highly Al sensitive. Transgenic plants carrying RNAi constructs that targeted the ASR genes were obtained, and increased Al susceptibility was observed in T1 plants. Embryogenic calli of transgenic rice carrying an ASR5-green fluorescent protein fusion revealed that ASR5 was localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. Using a proteomic approach to compare non-transformed and ASR-RNAi plants, a total of 41 proteins with contrasting expression patterns were identified. We suggest that the ASR5 protein acts as a transcription factor to regulate the expression of different genes that collectively protect rice cells from Al-induced stress responses.

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RESUMO -Foram investigadas percepções e sentimentos de gestantes sobre a assistência pré-natal e se as demandas emocionais eram consideradas no atendimento. Participaram 36 gestantes, 20 a 35 anos, de escolaridades variadas, que responderam a entrevistas sobre a gestação e o pré-natal. Análise de conteúdo revelou a importância do pré-natal, especialmente da ultrassonografia, na redução das preocupações sobre a própria saúde e a do bebê, e no vínculo mãe-bebê. Destacou ainda a importância dos profissionais de saúde, familiares e amigos como fontes de apoio e informação. Contudo, apareceram preocupações sobre a assistência pré-natal e quanto às demandas emocionais, que não foram atendidas. Discute-se a importância de se considerar estas demandas no pré-natal, assim como da humanização deste atendimento.Palavras-chave: gestação, pré-natal, maternidade, sentimentos. Perceptions and Feelings of Pregnant Women Concerning Prenatal CareABSTRACT -Perceptions and feelings of pregnant women regarding prenatal care were examined. The extent to which the emotional needs of women were taken into consideration in prenatal care was also investigated. Thirty-six pregnant women, with ages between 20 and 35, of different educational levels, were interviewed about pregnancy and prenatal care. Content analysis showed the importance of prenatal care, particularly obstetric ultrasound, for reducing mothers' worries about their own health and babies' health, as well as for mother-infant attachment. The importance of health professionals, family members and friends' support is also highlighted. Several worries were mentioned, related to medical assistance, and emotional needs, which were not assisted. The need for assistance and the importance of humanization in prenatal care are discussed.