Finite-size scaling analysis of the distributions of pseudo-critical temperatures in spin glasses

Using the results of large scale numerical simulations we study the probability distribution of the pseudo critical temperature for the three-dimensional Edwards-Anderson Ising spin glass and for the fully connected Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model. We find that the behavior of our data is nicely described by straightforward finite-size scaling relations.Comment: 23 pages, 9 figures. Version accepted for publication in J. Stat. Mec

Correlated Domains in Spin Glasses

We study the 3D Edwards-Anderson spin glasses, by analyzing spin-spin correlation functions in thermalized spin configurations at low T on large lattices. We consider individual disorder samples and analyze connected clusters of very correlated sites: we analyze how the volume and the surface of these clusters increases with the lattice size. We qualify the important excitations of the system by checking how large they are, and we define a correlation length by measuring their gyration radius. We find that the clusters have a very dense interface, compatible with being space filling.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures. Version accepted for publicatio

Are peripheral biomarkers determinants of eating styles in childhood and adolescence obesity? A cross-sectional study

Disturbances in eating behaviors have been widely related to obesity. However, little is known about the role of obesity-related biomarkers in shaping habitual patterns of eating behaviors (i.e., eating styles) in childhood. The objective of the present study was to explore the relationships between several biomarkers crucially involved in obesity (ghrelin, insulin resistance, and leptin/adiponectin ratio) and eating styles in children and adolescents with obesity. Seventy participants aged between 8 and 16 (56.2% men) fulfilled the Spanish version of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire for Children to measure external, emotional, and restrained eating styles. In addition, concentrations of ghrelin, leptin, adiponectin, insulin, and glucose were obtained through a blood test. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses controlling for age and sex were computed for each eating style. Results indicated that individuals with higher ghrelin concentration levels showed lower scores in restrained eating (beta = -0.61, p < 0.001). The total model explained 32% of the variance of the restrained pattern. No other relationships between obesity-related biomarkers and eating behaviors were found. This study highlights that one of the obesity-risk factors, namely lower plasma ghrelin levels, is substantially involved in a well-known maladaptive eating style, restraint eating, in childhood obesity

Long-term effect of 2 intensive statin regimens on treatment and incidence of cardiovascular events in familial hypercholesterolemia : The SAFEHEART study

Funding: This study was supported by Fundación Hipercolesterolemia Familiar; Grant G03/181 Grant 08-2008 Centro Nacional de Investigaci?n Cardiovascular (CNIC).Background: Maximal doses of potent statins are the basement of treatment of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Little is known about the use of different statin regimens in FH. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to describe the treatment changes and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) goal achievement with atorvastatin (ATV) and rosuvastatin (RV) in the SAFEHEART cohort, as well as to analyze the incidence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular events (ACVEs) and changes in the cardiovascular risk. Methods: SAFEHEART is a prospective follow-up nationwide cohort study in a molecularly defined FH population. The patients were contacted on a yearly basis to obtain relevant changes in life habits, medication, and ACVEs. Results: A total of 1939 patients were analyzed. Median follow-up was 6.6 years (5-10). The estimated 10-year risk according the SAFEHEART risk equation was 1.61 (0.67-3.39) and 1.22 (0.54-2.93) at enrollment for ATV and RV, respectively (P <.001). There were no significant differences at the follow-up: 1.29 (0.54-2.82) and 1.22 (0.54-2.76) in the ATV and RV groups, respectively (P =.51). Sixteen percent of patients in primary prevention with ATV and 18% with RV achieved an LDL-C <100 mg/dL and 4% in secondary prevention with ATV and 5% with RV achieved an LDL-C <70 mg/dL. The use of ezetimibe was marginally greater in the RV group. One hundred sixty ACVEs occurred during follow-up, being its incidence rate 1.1 events/100 patient-years in the ATV group and 1.2 in the RV group (P =.58). Conclusion: ATV and RV are 2 high-potency statins widely used in FH. Although the reduction in LDL-C levels was greater with RV than with ATV, the superiority of RV for reducing ACVEs was not demonstrated

Implementation of a roadmap for the comprehensive diagnosis, follow-up, and research of childhood leukemias in vulnerable regions of Mexico: results from the PRONAII Strategy

The main objective of the National Project for Research and Incidence of Childhood Leukemias is to reduce early mortality rates for these neoplasms in the vulnerable regions of Mexico. This project was conducted in the states of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Tlaxcala. A key strategy of the project is the implementation of an effective roadmap to ensure that leukemia patients are the target of maximum benefit of interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers, clinicians, surveyors, and laboratories. This strategy guarantees the comprehensive management of diagnosis and follow-up samples of pediatric patients with leukemia, centralizing, managing, and analyzing the information collected. Additionally, it allows for a precise diagnosis and monitoring of the disease through immunophenotype and measurable residual disease (MRD) studies, enhancing research and supporting informed clinical decisions for the first time in these regions through a population-based study. This initiative has significantly improved the diagnostic capacity of leukemia in girls, boys, and adolescents in the regions of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Tlaxcala, providing comprehensive, high-quality care with full coverage in the region. Likewise, it has strengthened collaboration between health institutions, researchers, and professionals in the sector, which contributes to reducing the impact of the disease on the community

Evaluation of the safety, efficacy, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of implantable Holter for prolonged monitoring in patients with previous stroke: a systematic review

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF), which is associated with cryptogenic stroke, is the most common sustained arrhythmia in the general population. Because AF is asymptomatic and intermittent, its detection rate increases with the duration of monitoring. The objective of this study is to review the available evidence on the safety, efficacy, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of AF diagnosis by prolonged monitoring with an implantable Holter monitor in adult patients with idiopathic or cryptogenic stroke of suspected cardioembolic origin, compared to conventional monitoring.Methods: Two independent reviewers performed a systematic review of the literature, identifying relevant studies through a structured search of Medline (Ovid), EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library and the databases of national and international health technology assessment agencies. The quality of the included studies was assessed with AGREE-II, AMSTAR-2 and CHEC. GRADE criteria were used to summarise the evidenceResults: Four of the 211 papers identified were included: 1 clinical practice guideline, 2 systematic reviews, and 1 economic evaluation. The quality of the evidence reviewed was low. An implantable Holter monitor might be more effective in detecting AF than conventional monitoring. Serious adverse events were similar in both groups. The economic evaluation suggests that the technology is cost-effective. Conclusions: The available evidence suggests the diagnostic superiority of the implantable Holter monitor over the traditional Holter monitor. Due to the low quality of the evidence, further and higher quality studies on these technologies are needed before solid conclusions can be drawn

Dropping out of a transdiagnostic online intervention: A qualitative analysis of client's experiences

Introduction: An important concern in Internet-based treatments (IBTs) for emotional disorders is the high dropout rate from these protocols. Although dropout rates are usually reported in research studies, very few studies qualitatively explore the experiences of patients who drop out of IBTs. Examining the experiences of these clients may help to find ways to tackle this problem. Method: A Consensual Qualitative Research study was applied in 10 intentionally-selected patients who dropped out of a transdiagnostic IBT. Results: 22 categories were identified within 6 domains. Among the clients an undeniable pattern arose regarding the insufficient support due to the absence of a therapist and the lack of specificity of the contents to their own problems. Conclusions: The analyzed content has direct impact on the clinical application of IBTs. A more tailored manage of expectations as well as strategies to enhance the therapeutic relationship in certain clients are identified as the two key elements in order to improve the dropout in IBTs. Going further, in the mid and long run, ideographic interventions would be vital. The present study permits to better grasp the phenomenon of dropout in IBTs and delineate specific implications both in terms of research, training and practice

Comparison Between and Exergaming Platform and Traditional Physical Activity: Acceptability and Use Preferences in Overweight and Normal Children Samples

[EN] Physical Activity is a fundamental component in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. Problems are posed by low mot ivation and adh erence to guidelines proposed by clinicians. The use of new technologies like videogames (Exergaming) in the treatment of childhood obesity can be useful to facilitate the adherence to physical act ivity tasks. Exergaming refers to the use of videogames to improve health and the fitness. The objective of this study is to compare the acceptability and use preferences of an Exergaming platform in two samples of childr en, over weight and a normal weig ht in a laboratory setting. This stu dy i s in prog ress. I t is expected to find better acceptance and use preferences of this platform compared to a traditional system in both gro ups, al though the difference will be larger for th e overweight group of children.CIBERobn is an initiative of ISCIII. This research it has been realized ,in part, supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica, Desarrollo e Innovación Tecnológica 2008- 2011), in the project (PSI2008-04392/PSIC), and the Excelence Research Program PROMETEO (Generalitat Valenciana. Conselleria de Educación; 2008/157).Cebolla, A.; Baños, R.; Guixeres Provinciale, J.; Álvarez, J.; Torros, I.; Botella, C.; Alcañiz Raya, ML. (2011). Comparison Between and Exergaming Platform and Traditional Physical Activity: Acceptability and Use Preferences in Overweight and Normal Children Samples. JOURNAL OF CYBERTHERAPY & REHABILITATION. 4(2):248-249. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/93279S2482494

Development and validation of the openness to the future scale: a prospective protective factor

Abstract Background Most of the research on psychopathology has provided an incomplete picture of mental health by focusing on vulnerability factors and omitting the transversal processes that may explain human adapted functioning. Moreover, research has not sufficiently addressed prospective protective factors for mental health. New theoretical and empirical endeavors aim to incorporate this perspective, particularly in the realm of emotional disorders. A positive view of the future is an indispensable process in attaining desired goals and wellbeing. Openness to the Future is a construct characterized by positive affectivity towards the future, which can be a protective factor for mental health. Although some scales assess future orientations, the complexity of this concept has not yet been captured; therefore, there is a need for new instruments. This study presents the development and validation of a scale for measuring Openness to the Future in clinical (n = 412) and community (n = 890) samples. Methods Psychometric properties of the OFS were analyzed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Item Response Theory (IRT) analyses, establishing cut-off points to better classify these two groups. Moreover, convergent and discriminant validity were examined by correlating the OFS with theoretically related constructs. Results Results support a unidimensional structure and indicate that the items function similarly across clinical and community samples. Moreover, the Openness to the Future scale shows good convergent and discriminant validity. Conclusions These findings suggest that the Openness to the Future scale is a valid and brief measure of openness to the future for use with clinical and community samples, and it could help to fill a gap in the literature regarding attitudes towards the future and their implications. Openness to the Future is presented as an empirically feasible and theoretically consistent construct that includes both prospective and protective factors in the psychopathological chart

Electronic PDA Dietary and Physical Activity Register in a Weight Loss Treatment Program for Children: A Study on Acceptability and Satidfaction

Oliver, E.; Baños, R.; Cebolla, A.; Botella, C.; Zaragozá Álvarez, I.; Alcañiz Raya, ML.; García-Palacios, A. (2011). Electronic PDA Dietary and Physical Activity Register in a Weight Loss Treatment Program for Children: A Study on Acceptability and Satidfaction. JOURNAL OF CYBERTHERAPY & REHABILITATION. 4(2):275-276. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/91880S2752764