The mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between resilience and academic performance in adolescence

Background: During learning processes, some students lack the necessary skills and competences to cope with their academic demands successfully. During adolescence, emotions play a prominent role in academic and personal development. This study aims to analyse the relationship between resilience and academic performance and the possible mediating role of self-efficacy. Methods: The study comprised 2652 students with ages ranging from 12 to 19 years (M=14.55; SD=1.70), both male (N = 1368; 51.58%) and female (N = 1284; 48.41%) from 14 secondary schools in Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain. The instruments used were the Academic Self-efficacy Scale (ASES) and the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS); average marks were used to measure academic performance. Results: The results of the study revealed significant correlations between self-efficacy, resilience and academic performance. Self-efficacy was found to play a mediating role between resilience and academic performance, which explains a pattern of adaptive behaviours in adolescent students. These results have practical implications for educational policies. Conclusion: The important role of self-efficacy as mediating variable between the constructs under analysis and for the promotion of adaptive behaviours is clear. Self-efficacy is important for the psychological and personal development of students, to prevent school drop out and improve the students’ academic performance and experience

Combination of photodynamic therapy and oral antifungals for the treatment of onychomycosis

Onychomycosis accounts for 50% of nail disorders, making it one of the most prevalent fungal diseases and a therapeutic challenge. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) could constitute a therapeutic alternative, owing to its good adherence, the low probability of resistance, the lack of interaction with antimicrobials, and its favorable adverse effect profile. This retrospective observational study included all patients with a microbiological diagnosis of onychomycosis treated with PDT at Miguel Servet University Hospital, Zaragoza (Spain), between January 2013 and June 2021. The protocol con-sisted of pre-treatment with 40% urea for 7 days, followed by 16% methyl-aminolevulinate (MAL) for 3 h and subsequent irradiation with a red-light LED lamp (37 J/cm2), every 1 or 2 weeks. Combined treatment with oral and/or topical antifungals was recorded. Of the 20 patients included (mean age, 59 ± 17 years), 55% were men. The most frequently detected microorganism was Trichophyton rubrum (55%). The most commonly affected location was the feet (90%): 50% of these cases were associated with tinea pedis. The median (standard deviation) number of PDT sessions was 6 (2.8). PDT was combined with systemic terbinafine (250 mg/day) in 10 cases (in 8 cases, this was administered for only 1 month), and with topical terbinafine in 3 cases. A complete clinical response was achieved in 80% (16) of cases and microbiological cure in 60% (12). PDT is a therapeutic alternative for ony-chomycosis, and can be administered either in monotherapy or combined with antifungals, allowing for a reduction in the duration and possible adverse effects of antifungal treatment and achieving higher cure rates than those obtained with either treatment alone

Comparison of Antibacterial Activity and Wound Healing in a Superficial Abrasion Mouse Model of Staphylococcus aureus Skin Infection Using Photodynamic Therapy Based on Methylene Blue or Mupirocin or Both

Background: Antibiotic resistance and impaired wound healing are major concerns in S. aureus superficial skin infections, and new therapies are needed. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a new therapeutic approach for infections, but it also improves healing in many wound models. Objective: To compare the antimicrobial activity and the effects on wound healing of aPDT based on Methylene Blue (MB-aPDT) with mupirocin treatment, either alone or in combination, in superficial skin wounds of S. aureus-infected mice. Additionally, to evaluate the clinical, microbiological, and cosmetic effects on wound healing. Materials and Methods: A superficial skin infection model of S. aureus was established in SKH-1 mice. Infected wounds were treated with MB-aPDT, MB-aPDT with a daily topical mupirocin or only with mupirocin. No treatment was carried out in control animals. Daily clinical and microbiological examinations were performed until complete clinical wound healing. Histopathological studies and statistical analysis were performed at the end of the study. Results: MB-aPDT treatment induced the best wound healing compared to mupirocin alone or to mupirocin plus MB-aPDT. Superficial contraction at 24 h and a greater reduction in size at 48 h, quicker detachment of the crust, less scaling, and absence of scars were observed. Histopathological studies correlated with clinical and gross findings. By contrast, mupirocin showed the highest logaritmic reduction of S. aureus. Conclusions: MB-aPDT and mupirocin treatments are effective in a murine superficial skin infection model of S. aureus. One session of MB-aPDT was the best option for clinical wound healing and cosmetic results. The addition of mupirocin to MB-aPDT treatment improved antimicrobial activity; however, it did not enhance wound healing. No synergistic antibacterial effects were detected. © Copyright © 2021 Pérez, Robres, Moreno, Bolea, Verde, Pérez-Laguna, Aspiroz, Gilaberte and Rezusta

Prevalence and genetic characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus CC398 isolates from invasive infections in spanish hospitals, focusing on the livestock-independent CC398-MSSA clade

Background: Livestock-associated (LA)-CC398-MRSA is closely related to pigs, being unfrequently detected in human invasive infections. CC398-MSSA is emerging in human invasive infections in some countries, but genetic and epidemiological characteristics are still scarcely reported. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) CC398, both MRSA and MSSA, among blood cultures SA isolates recovered in Spanish hospitals located in regions with different pig-farming densities (PD) and characterize the recovered isolates. Methods: One thousand twenty-two SA isolates (761 MSSA, 261 MRSA) recovered from blood cultures during 6–12 months in 17 Spanish hospitals (2018–2019) were studied. CC398 lineage identification, detection of spa-types, and antibiotic resistance, virulence and human immune evasion cluster (IEC) genes were analyzed by PCR/sequencing. Results: Forty-four CC398-MSSA isolates (4.3% of SA; 5.8% of MSSA) and 10 CC398-MRSA isolates (1% of SA; 3.8% of MRSA) were detected. Eleven spa-types were found among the CC398-MSSA isolates with t571 and t1451 the most frequent spa-types detected (75%). Most of CC398-MSSA isolates were Immune-Evasion-Cluster (IEC)-positive (88.6%), tetracycline-susceptible (95.5%) and erythromycin/clindamycin–inducible-resistant/erm(T)-positive (75%). No statistical significance was detected when the CC398-MSSA/MSSA rate was correlated to PD (pigs/km2) (p = 0.108). On the contrary, CC398-MRSA isolates were all IEC-negative, predominately spa-t011 (70%), and the CC398-MRSA/MRSA rate was significantly associated to PD (p < 0.005). Conclusion: CC398-MSSA is an emerging clade in invasive infections in Spanish hospitals. CC398-MRSA (mostly t011) and CC398-MSSA (mostly t571 and t1451) show important differences, possibly suggesting divergent steps in host-adaptation evolutionary processes. While CC398-MRSA is livestock-associated (lacking IEC-system), CC398-MSSA seems to be mostly livestock-independent, carrying human-adaptation markers.

The mediating role of self-esteem in the relationship between resilience and satisfaction with life in adolescent students

Background: During their school years, adolescents undergo emotional and motivational experiences that can play a key role in their personal and academic development. This study aims to analyse the relationship between self-esteem, resilience and satisfaction with life. Methods: The study comprised 1592 students. The instruments used were Rosenberg’s Self-esteem Scale (RSE), the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS) and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Descriptive statistics, correlations between the variables investigated and investigated and mediation analysis was calculated by SPSS v26.0ʹs MACRO. Results: The results of this study revealed 1) significant correlations between self-esteem, resilience and satisfaction with life. In addition, 2) it was found that self-esteem plays a mediating role in the relationship between resilience and satisfaction with life in adolescents. For all the operations, a p≤ 0.05 level of significance was adopted, with a 95% confidence level. Conclusion: The self-esteem of the students is decisive in the relationship between resilience and satisfaction with life in adolescents. These results emphasise the importance of promoting self-esteem, as mediating variable between the other two constructs, leading to the adequate personal and academic development of students

Vortex dynamics investigation using an acoustic technique

International audienceA new acoustic technique using the double time-reversal mirrors system and based on geometrical acoustics, is used to study a vortical flow. The interaction between the sound and a vortex is described in details. This technique has been applied to the study of a stretched vortex. This vortex is generated by stretching the vorticity of a boundary layer in a low velocity water channel. It is shown that the velocity field can be reconstructed from the phase distortion of an ultrasonic wave. The technique gives access to a complete characterization of the vortex dynamics, such as the temporal evolution of its size, its circulation and its position