Ambra1 Shapes Hippocampal Inhibition/Excitation Balance: Role in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Imbalances between excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission cause brain network dysfunction and are central to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. Parvalbumin interneurons are highly implicated in this imbalance. Here, we probed the social behavior and hippocampal function of mice carrying a haploinsufficiency for Ambra1, a pro-autophagic gene crucial for brain development. We show that heterozygous Ambra1 mice (Ambra^+/−) are characterized by loss of hippocampal parvalbumin interneurons, decreases in the inhibition/excitation ratio, and altered social behaviors that are solely restricted to the female gender. Loss of parvalbumin interneurons in Ambra1^+/− females is further linked to reductions of the inhibitory drive onto principal neurons and alterations in network oscillatory activity, CA1 synaptic plasticity, and pyramidal neuron spine density. Parvalbumin interneuron loss is underlined by increased apoptosis during the embryonic development of progenitor neurons in the medial ganglionic eminence. Together, these findings identify an Ambra1-dependent mechanism that drives inhibition/excitation imbalance in the hippocampus, contributing to abnormal brain activity reminiscent of neurodevelopmental disorders.

[The nursing process: factors that facilitate and obstruct teaching]

The present study intends to identify how the teaching nursing process in the Graduation Schools of the São Paulo State are presented. The population was composed of 247 percents. As part of the methodology a questionnaire was elaborated. It was sent to 899 percents of the 32 public and private nursing schools of the São Paulo State. The results demonstrated that the factors that difficult the teaching of the nursing process were bigger in number than the factors that facilitate. However, the teaching of the nursing process, despite the presented difficulties, has been offered to the teachers of public and private schools of the São Paulo State.

[Touch: its actual use by nurses]

This study aims to verify the use of the touch by nurses according to LE MAY'S proposal (1986), as well as to verify when and why he uses it, according to his own perception. Thirty-seven nurses (20 teachers, 16 assistants and 01 who was attending a specialization course) were interviewed in September 1995 in the capital and other cities of the State of São Paulo, showing that the majority of the collected samples mentioned touch in an expressive manner, referring to using it mainly to demonstrate empathies and security on moments where patient's emotion were perceived.

[Communication between the patient care team and patients with hypertension]

This study aims to analyse data on hypertensive individuals and their concern about the disease as well as to verify the communication process that took place between the individuals and the health staff working with them. Sixty-six individuals were interviewed and we obtained 73 statements. The majority of them (69 narratives) expressed correlation to high blood pressure concepts even though in a poorly elaborated form. Although 95% of the patients referred to the illness, it does not mean that the orientations were understood. Nurses are expected to perform an important role in the multiprofessional team, identifying possible obstacles to the process of communication in order to enable the clients' comprehension and their self care.