Changes in the Semantic Construction of Compassion after the Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) in Women Breast Cancer Survivors

The growing body of research on compassion has demonstrated its benefits for healthcare and wellbeing. However, there is no clear agreement about a definition for compassion, given the novelty of the research on this construct and its religious roots. The aim of this study is to analyze the mental semantic construction of compassion in Spanish-speaking women breast cancer survivors, and the effects of the Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT®) on the modification of this definition, compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU), at baseline, post-intervention, and six-month follow-up. Participants were 56 women breast cancer survivors from a randomized clinical trial. The Osgood''s Semantic Differential categories (evaluative, potency, and activity scales) were adapted to assess the semantic construction of compassion. At baseline, participants had an undefined idea about compassion. The CBCT influenced subjects'' semantic construction of what it means to be compassionate. Findings could lead to future investigations and compassion programs that adapt to a specific culture or population. © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2021

Body Proportions In Children And Adolescents With Down's Syndrome

The present study aimed to evaluate the body proportions of sitting height and leg length in children and adolescents with Down's syndrome (DS). The sample consisted of 99 individuals with DS (40 girls with an average age of 11.45 ± 2.6 years and 59 boys with an average age of 12.07 ± 3.0 years). The following parameters were studied: chronological age, height, sitting height and leg length. The body proportions of each segment were calculated using body indices and the Phantom model. For the statistical analysis, the normality test and descriptive analyses of central tendency and dispersion were performed, and Student's t-test was used. For all treatments, the statistical software program SPSS version 13.0 was used, and a significance level of p < 0.05 was set. The body proportion of the upper and lower segments of children and adolescents with DS differed from those of the typical population in terms of leg length, whereas the seated height values of individuals with DS †were similar to those of individuals without DS.232198202Roizen, N.J., Patterson, D., Down's syndrome (2003) Lancet, 12 (361), pp. 1281-9Sugayama, S.M.M., Kim, C.A., Anormalidades Cromossômicas Chromosomal abnormalities In: Setian (2002) N. Endocrinologia Pediátrica - Aspectos físicos e metabólicos do recémnascido ao adolescente. São Paulo: Editora Sarvier, pp. 638-639Griffiths, A.J.F., Wessler, S.R., Lewontin, R.C., Gelbart, W., Introdução a Genética Introduction to genetics (2006) Guanabara Koogan, p. 534Licastro, F., Mariani, R.A., Faldella, G., Carpene, E., Guidicini, G., Rangoni, A., Immune endocrine status and coelic disease in children with Down's Syndrome: relationships with zinc and cognitive efficiency (2001) Brain Res Bull, 2 (55), pp. 313-17Coelho, C.R.Z., Loevy, H.T., Odontological aspects of Down's syndrome (1986) ARS Curandi Odontol, 3 (8), pp. 9-16Mugayar, L.R.F., Pacientes portadores de necessidades especiais: manual de odontologia e saúde oral [Patients with special needs: Manual of dentistry and oral health] (2000) São Paulo: Pancast, 13Cronk, C., Crocker, A.C., Pueschel, S.M., Shea, A.M., Zackai, E., Growth charts for children with Down syndrome: 1 month to 18 years of age (1988) Pediatrics, 1 (81), pp. 102-110Myrelid, A., Gustafsson, J., Ollars, B., Annerén, G., Growth charts for Down' syndrome from birth to 18 years of age (2002) Arch Dis Child., 2 (87), pp. 97-103Kimura, J., Tachibana, K., Imaizumi, K., Kurosawa, K., Kuroki, Y., Londitudinal growth and height velocity of Japanese children with Down's Syndrome (2003) Acta Paediatr, 9 (92), pp. 1039-1042Rarick, G.L., Seefeldt, V., Observations from Longitudinal Data on Growth in Stature and Sitting Height of Children with Down's Syndrome (1974) J Ment Defic Res, 1 (18), pp. 63-78Ross, W.D., Wilson, N.C., A stratagem for proportional growth assessment (1974) Acta Pediátrica, 1 (28), pp. 169-182De la Rosa, F.J.B., Rodriguez-añez, C.R., O estudo das características físicas do homem por meio da proporcionalidade [The study of the physical characteristics of men by means of proportionality] (2002) Rev Bras Cine Des Hum, 1 (4), pp. 53-66Guedes, D.T., Guedes, J.E.R.P., Manual prático para avaliação em Educação Física [Practical manual for evaluation in physical education] (2006) Editora Manole, pp. 153-4Jaswal, S., Jaswal, I.J.S., An anthropometric study of body size in Down syndrome (1981) Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 48 (1), pp. 81-84Hughes, P.C.R., Ribeiro, J., Hughes, I.A., Body proportions in Turner's Syndrome (1986) Archives of Disease in Childhood, 61, pp. 506-517Baldin, A.D., Armani, M.C.A., Morcillo, A.M., Lemos-Marini, S.H.V., Baptista, M.T.M., Maciel-Guerra, A.T., Guerra Júnior, G., Proporçñes corporais em um grupo de pacientes brasileiras com Síndrome de Turner [Body proportions in a group of Brazilian patients with Turner syndrome] (2005) Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab, 49 (4), pp. 529-535Arnell, H., Gustafsson, J., Ivarsson, S.A., Annerén, G., Growth and pubertal development in Down syndrome (1996) Acta Paediatr, 9, pp. 1102-6Annerén, G., Tuvemo, T., Carlsson-Skwirut, C., Lönnerholm, T., Bang, P., Sara, V.R., Gustafsson, J., Growth hormone treatment in young children with Down's Syndrome: effects on growth and psychomotor development (1999) Arch Dis Child, 80, pp. 334-338Gorla, J.I., Duarte, E., Costa, L.T., Fabia, F., Crescimento de crianças e adolescentes com Síndrome de Down - uma breve revisão de literature [Growth of children and adolescents with Down syndrome -a brief literature review] (2011) Rev Bras Cineantropom Desempenho Hum, 13 (3), pp. 230-23

Freqüência de infecção por Toxocara em crianças atendidas em serviço público de Maringá, sul do Brasil

The lack of specific laboratorial diagnosis methods and precise symptoms makes the toxocariasis a neglected disease in Public Health Services. This study aims to determine the frequency of Toxocara spp. infection in children attended by the Health Public Service of Hospital Municipal de Maringá, South Brazil. To evaluate the association of epidemiological and clinical data, an observational and cross-section study was carried out. From 14,690 attended children/year aged from seven month to 12 years old, 450 serum samples were randomly collected from September/2004 to September/2005. A questionnaire was used to evaluate epidemiological, clinical and hematological data. An ELISA using Toxocara canis larval excretory-secretory products as antigen detected 130 (28.8%) positive sera, mainly between children from seven month to five years old (p = 0.0016). Significant correlation was observed between positive serology for Toxocara, and frequent playing in sandbox at school or daycare center (p = 0.011) and the presence of a cat at home (p = 0.056). From the families, 50% were dog owners which exposed soil backyards. Eosinophilia (p = 0.776), and signs and symptoms analyzed (fever p = 0.992, pneumonia p = 0.289, cold-like symptoms p = 0.277, cough p = 0.783, gastrointestinal problems p = 0.877, migraine p = 0.979, abdominal pain p = 0.965, joint pain p = 0.686 and skin rash p = 0.105) could not be related to the presence of anti-Toxocara antibodies. Therefore, two asthmatics children showed titles of 1:10,240 and accentuated eosinophilia (p = 0.0001). The authors emphasize the needs of prevention activities.A falta de métodos de diagnóstico laboratorial específico e sintomas específicos fazem da toxocaríase uma doença negligenciada nos serviços públicos de saúde. Este estudo teve por objetivo determinar a freqüência de infecção por Toxocara spp. em crianças atendidas no serviço público do Hospital Municipal de Maringá, sul do Brasil, e avaliar a associação com dados epidemiológicos e clínicos, em estudo observacional e transversal. De 14.690 crianças/ano atendidas, com idade entre sete meses a 12 anos, foram coletados 450 soros de setembro/2004 a setembro/2005. Um questionário foi utilizado para avaliar dados epidemiológicos, clínicos e hematológicos. Pelo teste ELISA, com antígeno de excreção/secreção de larvas de Toxocara canis, detectou-se 130 (28,8%) soros positivos, principalmente em crianças entre sete meses e cinco anos (p = 0,0016). Houve significante correlação entre sorologia positiva para Toxocara e freqüente recreação das crianças em caixas de areia da escola ou pré escola (p = 0,011) e presença do gato no domicilio (p = 0,056). Das famílias dessas crianças, 50% possuíam cachorros e o quintal com solo exposto. Eosinofilia (p = 0,776), sinais e sintomas (febre p = 0,992, pneumonia p = 0,289, resfriado p = 0,277, tosse p = 0,783, problema gastrointestinal p = 0877, dor de cabeça p = 0,979, dor abdominal p = 0,965, dores articulares p = 0,686, urticária p = 0,105) não se correlacionaram com a soropositividade. Todavia, duas crianças asmáticas apresentaram títulos de 1:10.240 (>; 1:320) e acentuada eosinofilia (p = 0.0001). Os autores enfatizam a necessidade de atividades preventivas

Human toxocariasis: contribution by Brazilian researchers

In the present paper the main aspects of the natural history of human infection by Toxocara larvae that occasionally result in the occurrence of visceral and/or ocular larva migrans syndrome were reviewed. The contribution by Brazilian researchers was emphasized, especially the staff of the Tropical Medicine Institute of São Paulo (IMT)