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Established fear-related memories can undergo phenomena such as extinction or reconsolidation when recalled. Extinction probably involves the creation of a new, competing memory trace that decreases fear expression, whereas reconsolidation can mediate memory maintenance, updating, or strengthening. The factors determining whether retrieval will initiate extinction, reconsolidation, or neither of these two processes include training intensity, duration of the retrieval session, and age of the memory. However, previous studies have not shown that the same behavioral protocol can be used to induce either extinction or reconsolidation and strengthening, depending on the pharmacological intervention used. Here we show that, within an experiment that leads to extinction in control rats, memory can be strengthened if rolipram, a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4), is administered into the dorsal hippocampus immediately after retrieval. The memory-enhancing effect of rolipram lasted for at least 1 week, was blocked by the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin, and did not occur when drug administration was not paired with retrieval. These findings indicate that the behavioral outcome of memory retrieval can be pharmacologically switched from extinction to strengthening. The cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway might be a crucial mechanism determining the fate of memories after recall.

Objective: Bipolar disorder is a severe, recurrent, and often chronic psychiatric illness associated with significant functional impairment, morbidity, and mortality. Creatine kinase is an important enzyme, particularly for cells with high and fluctuating energy requirements, such as neurons, and is a potential marker of brain injury. The aim of the present study was to compare serum creatine kinase levels between bipolar disorder patients, in the various phases (depressive, manic, and euthymic), and healthy volunteers. Method: Forty-eight bipolar patients were recruited: 18 in the euthymic phase; 17 in the manic phase; and 13 in the depressive phase. The control group comprised 41 healthy volunteers. The phases of bipolar disorder were defined as follows: euthymic-not meeting the DSM-IV criteria for a mood episode and scoring < 8 on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS); manic-scoring < 7 on the HDRS and > 7 on the YMRS; depressive-scoring > 7 on the HDRS and < 7 on the YMRS. Patients in mixed phases were excluded. Blood samples were collected from all participants. Results: Creatine kinase levels were higher in the manic patients than in the controls. However, we observed no significant difference between euthymic and depressive patients in terms of the creatine kinase level. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the clinical differences among the depressive, manic, and euthymic phases of bipolar disorder are paralleled by contrasting levels of creatine kinase. However, further studies are needed in order to understand the state-dependent differences observed in serum creatine kinase activity. Descriptors

Background: Ceramic industry workers are subjected to several factors, such as high temperature, dust and work in standing position, which in greater or lesser degree might cause discomfort and work-related disorders. Objective: To investigate the quality of life and functional capacity of ceramic industry workers. Methods: The present study had a quantitative cross-sectional design. A total of 189 ceramic industry workers were analyzed. Muscle strength was assessed by means of dynamometry, and the following questionnaires were applied: WHOQOL-Bref for quality of life; Nordic Questionnaire of Musculoskeletal Symptoms, pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ 2.0) and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH). Results: Overall, 115 (60.8%) participants described their quality of life as average. The lumbar spine was the body segment most often mentioned as the location of pain 68 (36.0%) participants reported occurrence of pain in the past 12 months and 38 (20.1%) in the past 7 days. A total of 107 (56.6%) participants exhibited upper limb muscle weakness. Conclusion: The results evidenced a higher prevalence of pain compared to other professional categories. Muscle weakness, mainly affecting the upper limbs, and self-perceived quality of life as predominantly average show that the state of health of a part of the sample was partially impaired, and while it was not associated with disability, it was perceived as having impact in their personal and professional lives. Keywords | musculoskeletal diseases; ceramics; occupational health; quality of life. RESUMO | Introdução: As indústrias cerâmicas estão sujeitas a uma gama de fatores, como temperatura elevada, poeira, trabalho em pé, que, em maior ou menor grau, podem levar a desconfortos e adoecimentos relacionados ao trabalho. Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida e a funcionalidade de trabalhadores de indústria cerâmica. Métodos: O presente estudo envolveu uma abordagem transversal quantitativa. Foram avaliados 189 trabalhadores de indústrias cerâmicas, aos quais foram aplicados o Questionário de Qualidade de Vida WHOQOL-Bref, a avaliação da força muscular por meio de dinamômetros, o Questionário Nórdico de Sintomas Osteomusculares (QNSO), a escala visual analógica (EVA), o Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (ODQ 2.0), bem como o Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH). Resultados: Na média geral, 115 (60,8%) responderam que sua qualidade de vida é regular. O segmento que os trabalhadores mais se referiram à dor foi a coluna lombar: 68 (36,0%) apresentaram dor nos últimos 12 meses, e 38 (20,1%) nos últimos sete dias. Em membros superiores, 107 (56,6%) exibiram fraqueza muscular. Conclusão: Os achados desvendam a presença de sintomatologia dolorosa em percentual superior ao encontrado para outras categorias profissionais. A fraqueza muscular, principalmente nos membros superiores, e a percepção sobre a qualidade de vida, que prevaleceu como regular, denotam comprometimento parcial da saúde d...