Maria Alice d’Ávila Becker

Psychological stress and its influence on salivary flow rate, total protein concentration and IgA, IgG and IgM titers.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and sympathetic-adrenomedullary axes are the main systems activated in response to stress. Alterations in salivary components and flow rate have been associated with oral health problems and psychological stress. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of psychological stress on salivary flow, total protein concentration and IgG, IgM and IgA concentrations. Methods: Thirty-eight medical students, average age of 21.4 ± 2.1 years and enrolled in the 2nd to 5th years of their course, took part voluntarily in the study which involved two different periods: the first after vacations and the second during the final exams (a gap of 4 months). An Oral Health Questionnaire and the Lipp Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults (ISSL) were applied during both these periods. The flow rate, total protein concentration and immunoglobulin titers of saliva samples, collected after stimulation and stored in a container with protease inhibitor, were measured. Results: Analysis of the ISSL showed that 42.1% (n = 16) of the students had stress during the post-vacation period, and 44.7% (n = 17) during the final exams. The students’ salivary flow rate was significantly lower during the latter period than during the post-vacation period (p < 0.0001), regardless of the presence or absence of psychological stress as measured by the ISSL. There was a reduction in salivary flow rate and a consequent reduction in total protein concentration during the exam period (p = 0.0058). However, during both periods of the study there was no significant difference in total salivary protein concentration between the groups of students with or without psychological stress according to the ISSL (p > 0.05). IgG predominated over IgA and IgM (p < 0.001) during both study periods, regardless of the presence or absence of psychological stress. The study period and the presence of stress influenced the secretion of salivary immunoglobulins. IgM titers during the post-vacation period (p = 0.0044), and IgA (p = 0.028), IgG (p = 0.022) and IgM (p = 0.0075) titers during the final exams were higher in students with symptoms of psychological stress. Conclusions: Although the immunoglobulin titers were high, there was a reduction in the students’ salivary flow rates and a consequent reduction in total protein concentrations.

Cell phenotyping in saliva of individuals under psychological stress

Total leukocytes, NK cells, B and T lymphocytes present in the saliva of medical students with or without stress were quantified by flow cytometry in 10,000 events. The symptoms of psychological stress were monitored with Lipps Inventory of Stress Symptoms for Adults (ISSL). No significant differences were observed in the number of cells phenotyped in students with and those without psychological stress. However, a negative correlation was observed between the number of NK cells and T lymphocytes in students with stress (r=-0.8173; p=0.0058), suggesting that innate immunity is predominant in the adaptation phase.

Identificando adolescentes em situação de rua com potencial para altas habilidades/ superdotação

The present study investigated adolescents who live in the streets for potential High Ability / Giftedness. The method used was Ecological Insertion, that addresses a contextualized perspective that looks at life histories, subject characteristics, concepts about potential in the contexts of interaction, as well as risk and protective factors for development. The participants were staff members of the Programa Municipal Crianca Urgente, four teenagers, their guardians and teachers of those who attended school during the study. The instruments used to collect data were: Renzulli-Hartman adapted scale for rating behavioral characteristics of superior students, Self-Concept Scale for Children and Youth; TAEC - Test de Abreaccion para Evaluar La Creatividad and semi-structured interviews. Crossing data enabled us to define the potentiality profiles for each adolescent participant. The results contribute to recognizing, accepting and valuing citizenship and overcoming adversities in order to achieve social benefits.

Pesquisa na área Sateré-Mawé: a descoberta de talentos indígenas

This article explores the attention given to Satere-Mawe indigenous teachers in order to identify talented or high skilled teachers among them. We take into consideration the art workshops held during the development of the integrated project on Education, Sustainability and Nutrition habits by an interdisciplinary team from the Federal University of Amazonas. Our work on high skilled students in special Education was based on laws and on a questionnaire with questions about leadership, creativity, and planning, graphic and verbal expression. Although the indigenous teachers did not pay much attention to the use of instruments they had during the integrated project, they gave suggestions for future actions. The artistic workshops were part of the project which also involved education, creation of pedagogic material for the Indigenous schools. Our methodology was based on action-research (Thiollent, 2003). The result of the research revealed that some teachers had talent to represent, through their arts, their life and their culture.

É possível encontrar talentos nas ruas e em instituições prisionais

We have read that giftedness is a phenomenon that has many facets and is manifested in the meeting of genetic potential with the environmental stimulus, appearing in various environments, situations and behaviors. Although in many studies the identification in school contexts still predominates, this communication introduces the possibility of identifying talent in populations that are excluded from service programs for high skills in our country, as young people who roam the streets and juvenile offenders who find themselves trapped, but who have been or are still involved with the school system. According to the literature, identifying giftedness should follow a systematization and use the most appropriate definition to the environment and situation that is being analysed. In addition, the ID only has meaning if a planning to meet the educational needs and development of the subject is subsequently made. What should we do after this ID, in case of young people who are showing potential and letting us see we are on the tip of an iceberg? And below the visible, the invisible field is a potential which is unknown to everyone, even the actual subject. We finish this communication with the provocation on which are the paths we must take in the coming years in this theme we are passionate about: we can imagine a research program and projects of assistance to those populations as the short and medium term? What are the most relevant topics for future research in our country?

PROPOSTA DE REDUÇÃO DA IDADE PENAL: VISÃO DOS PROFISSIONAIS DA PSICOLOGIA

O presente artigo objetiva conhecer a opiniao dos profissionais com vivencia na area da Psicologia Juridica e no atendimento de adolescentes em conflito com a lei da cidade de Manaus a respeito da proposta de reducao da idade penal, que se encontra em tramitacao no Senado Federal. O tema foi escolhido com vistas a relevância politica e social, bem como devido a sua importância academica. No curso metodologico percorrido, utilizou-se um roteiro semiestruturado que abordou a opiniao dos profissionais a respeito da mencionada proposta, bem como sobre as possiveis contribuicoes da Psicologia para o tema. Assim, sao apresentados argumentos favoraveis e contrarios a reducao da idade penal, buscando-se um debate entre as areas do Direito e da Psicologia a fim de gerar esclarecimento e espaco para reflexao sobre o efetivo resultado pela lei, tendo em vista ainda a importância da promocao de politicas publicas que ultrapassem a questao da aplicacao de medidas socio-educativas aos adolescentes em conflito com a lei, e que contemplem tambem o acesso a condicoes de vida favoraveis ao desenvolvimento psicossocial saudavel, provocando cidadania e prevencao do crime.

Research in Sateré-Mawé area: discovery of indigenous talents

This article explores the attention given to Satere-Mawe indigenous teachers in order to identify talented or high skilled teachers among them. We take into consideration the art workshops held during the development of the integrated project on Education, Sustainability and Nutrition habits by an interdisciplinary team from the Federal University of Amazonas. Our work on high skilled students in special Education was based on laws and on a questionnaire with questions about leadership, creativity, and planning, graphic and verbal expression. Although the indigenous teachers did not pay much attention to the use of instruments they had during the integrated project, they gave suggestions for future actions. The artistic workshops were part of the project which also involved education, creation of pedagogic material for the Indigenous schools. Our methodology was based on action-research (Thiollent, 2003). The result of the research revealed that some teachers had talent to represent, through their arts, their life and their culture.

Investigación en el área de Sateré-Mawé: el descubrimiento de talentos indígenas

This article explores the attention given to Satere-Mawe indigenous teachers in order to identify talented or high skilled teachers among them. We take into consideration the art workshops held during the development of the integrated project on Education, Sustainability and Nutrition habits by an interdisciplinary team from the Federal University of Amazonas. Our work on high skilled students in special Education was based on laws and on a questionnaire with questions about leadership, creativity, and planning, graphic and verbal expression. Although the indigenous teachers did not pay much attention to the use of instruments they had during the integrated project, they gave suggestions for future actions. The artistic workshops were part of the project which also involved education, creation of pedagogic material for the Indigenous schools. Our methodology was based on action-research (Thiollent, 2003). The result of the research revealed that some teachers had talent to represent, through their arts, their life and their culture.