Cognitive-behavioural coaching : applications to health and personal development contexts

© All rights reserved by Marina Carvalho., et al.Coaching programs are demonstrating their effectiveness in several contexts and populations, namely in personal development through the lifespan, and in health contexts. In the present conceptual paper, Coaching definitions, goals, procedures, benefits and limitations are described and critically discussed. Specifically, differences between Coaching and Psychotherapies are emphasized. Based on this knowledge, the structure of a Cognitive-Behavioral Coaching program is presented, and its differences in relation to Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapies are also emphasized and critically discussed. Finally, the evidences for Coaching programs effectiveness, in particular in Health and Personal Development contexts, are reported, based on meta-analytic data and on literature systematic reviews. The need for qualified training and supervision, as well as limitations and future directions are also pointed in order to contribute to diminish conceptual and practical ambiguities that may interfere with Cognitive-Behavioral Coaching and, in consequence, that may interfere with the persons’ goals for their health or personal development.Margarida Gaspar de Matos receives a Sabbatical grant from Foundation for Science and Technology – SFRH/BSAB/135160/2017.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cyberbullies, cybervictims and cyberbullies-victims : discriminant factors in portuguese adolescents

© Sociedade Portuguesa de Psicologia da SaúdeEnhancers of new and positive opportunities and learning, new technologies are also promoters of risks to the health and well-being of young people. Cyberbullying is one of those risks. The aim of this study was to analyse the differences between cyberbullies, cybervictims and cyberbully-victims for individual, relational and contextual factors. This is a Cross-sectional study. Results showed that cyberbully-victims reported higher alcohol consumption, as opposed to the increased drug use revealed by cyberbullies. Cybervictims reported more emotional symptoms, such as fear and sadness, and less night outs. Cyberbullies were more often involved in fights, and had an easier access to a larger amount of money and were more easy making friends, when compared to cybervictims. Based on the results, it is crucial to develop a greater awareness and education of parents and youth about the dangers of cyberbullying, together with the monitoring of technological development. A strong argument is also made related to the need of the inclusion of youth participation in the definition of public policies to prevent cyberbullying, as well as the need to focus not only in the prevention of cyber-peer related violence, but also to focus on violence-free, positive peer relationships, both virtual and in presence.This research was supported by the Ministry of Health. The authors would like to acknowledge the collaboration of the HBSC Portuguese team integrated in the Social Adventure Projects of the Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, for data collection. Branquinho, C. receives a PhD grant from the University of Lisbon (UL) (Grant Number 800178).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Psychosocial interventions in crisis, emergency and catastrophe

© Federação Brasileira de Terapias CognitivasAs estratégias de intervenção psicossocial em situações de crise, emergência e catástro-fe têm demonstrado controlar o impacto dos incidentes críticos e prevenir os s relacio-nados com o trauma. No presente trabalho, são descritos e apresentadas as vantagens, limitações e dados sobre a eficácia dos principais modelos de intervenção psicossocial em crise. A partir destes dados, é proposto um Modelo de Intervenção Psicossocial de Continuidade que engloba, entre outros, uma fase de preparação para a eventual ocor-rência de incidentes críticos e, em particular a intervenção após a crise, ainda antes da implementação das intervenções especializadas no Transtorno Agudo de Stresse e no Transtorno de Pós-Stresse Traumático, como forma de facilitar a recuperação e o retorno ao nível prévio de funcionamento. Neste âmbito, é apresentado um Programa de Intervenção, APÓS, baseado nos modelos cognitivo-comportamentais, contextuais e centrados no significado, que se espera venha a contribuir para facilitar o retorno às rotinas por parte das pessoas expostas a incidentes críticos e, dessa forma, prevenir os s relacionados com o trauma. Por fim, são apresentadas as limitações e questões éticas associadas à intervenção psicossocial em crise em diferentes contextos, com diferentes populações vulneráveis e as suas implicações em termos de políticas de saúde pública.Psychosocial interventions in crisis, emergency and catastrophe situations evidenced controlling for the impact of critical incidents and prevent trauma related disorders. In this paper, the main psychosocial intervention models are described and presented their advantages, limitations and data on their efficacy. Based on this, we propose a Continuity Psychosocial Intervention Model, which includes, among others, a preparation phase for the occurrence of possible critical incidents, and, specifically, after-crisis intervention, before the implementation of the specialized interventions directed to Acute Stress and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, as a way of facilitating recovery and return to the previous functioning level. In this context, we present as Intervention Program, APÓS, based on cognitive-behavioral, contextual and meaning centered models, which is expected to contribute for facilitating the return to routines by those exposed to critical incidents and, thereby, prevent trauma related disorders. Finally, the limitations and ethical issues associated to crisis psychosocial intervention in different contexts, with different vulnerable populations, and its implications for the development of public health policies, are presented.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Emotional intelligence and basic psychological needs : highlights from a teachers’ survey in Iran

Copyright © 2017 Asian Journal of Humanities and Social StudiesPurpose: Psychological needs, as the foundation for a wide range of human behaviors, provide requirements for psychological growth, psychological integrity and well-being. Emotional intelligence is also a general structure that can be the related to success in various aspects of life. The present study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence with the dimensions of basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence and relatedness). Participants: The population of this research consisted of all teachers of Urmia city (n= 6441). To achieve our aim, 365 teachers of Urmia city were selected using stratified random sampling methods. Results: In general, a significant relationship was obtained between the components of emotional intelligence and the components of basic psychological needs. Canonical analysis presented a significant set of relationships between emotional intelligence and basic psychological needs: problem-solving, happiness, independence, stress tolerance, self-actualization, emotional self-awareness, realism, interpersonal relationship, optimism, self-esteem, assertiveness, flexibility and social responsibility showed positive relationships with sense of autonomy, competence and relatedness (p <0.05); however, the relationship between empathy and these needs was negative. Conclusion: The results showed that components of emotional intelligence are able to predict basic psychological needs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bioorthogonal Strategy for Bioprocessing of Specific-Site-Functionalized Enveloped Influenza-Virus-Like Particles

Virus-like particles (VLPs) constitute a promising platform in vaccine development and targeted drug delivery. To date, most applications use simple nonenveloped VLPs as human papillomavirus or hepatitis B vaccines, even though the envelope is known to be critical to retain the native protein folding and biological function. Here, we present tagged enveloped VLPs (TagE-VLPs) as a valuable strategy for the downstream processing and monitoring of the in vivo production of specific-site-functionalized enveloped influenza VLPs. This two-step procedure allows bioorthogonal functionalization of azide-tagged nascent influenza type A hemagglutinin proteins in the envelope of VLPs through a strain-promoted [3 + 2] alkyne-azide cycloaddition reaction. Importantly, labeling does not influence VLP production and allows for construction of functionalized VLPs without deleterious effects on their biological function. Refined discrimination and separation between VLP and baculovirus, the major impurity of the process, is achieved when this technique is combined with flow cytometry analysis, as demonstrated by atomic force microscopy. TagE-VLPs is a versatile tool broadly applicable to the production, monitoring, and purification of functionalized enveloped VLPs for vaccine design trial runs, targeted drug delivery, and molecular imaging.The authors acknowledge funding from the European Union (EDUFLUVAC project FP7-HEALTH-2013-INNOVATION), the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal; project HIVERA/0002/2013 and FCT Investigator to G.J.L.B.), EPSRC (to G.J.L.B.), the European Commission, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), and RISE project grant 644167. S. B. C., J. M. F., F. M., and D. G. acknowledge FCT for fellowships SFRH/BD/52302/2013, SFRH/BD/70423/2010, SFRH/BD/70139/2010, and SFRH/BPD/73500/2010, respectively. The authors acknowledge Ricardo Silva for all his help in fluorescence analysis implementation and fruitful discussions. The authors also acknowledge Patrícia Gomes-Alves for her help for mass spectrometry analysis. Mass spectrometry data was obtained by the Mass Spectrometry Unit (UniMS), ITQB/iBET, Oeiras, Portugal. G. J. L. B. is a Royal Society University Research Fellow and the recipient of a European Research Council Starting Grant (TagIt)

Comparative fitness analysis of D-cycloserine resistant mutants reveals both fitness-neutral and high-fitness cost genotypes

Drug resistant infections represent one of the most challenging medical problems of our time. D-cycloserine is an antibiotic used for six decades without significant appearance and dissemination of antibiotic resistant strains, making it an ideal model compound to understand what drives resistance evasion. We therefore investigated why Mycobacterium tuberculosis fails to become resistant to D-cycloserine. To address this question, we employed a combination of bacterial genetics, genomics, biochemistry and fitness analysis in vitro, in macrophages and in mice. Altogether, our results suggest that the ultra-low rate of emergence of D-cycloserine resistance mutations is the dominant biological factor delaying the appearance of clinical resistance to this antibiotic. Furthermore, we also identified potential compensatory mechanisms able to minimize the severe fitness costs of primary D-cycloserine resistance conferring mutations

Hyperoside Supplementation in Preservation Media Surpasses Vitamin C Protection Against Oxidative Stress-Induced Damages in Human Spermatozoa

Background/Aims: Oxidative Stress (OS) is reported as one of the main causes of male infertility. Infertile couples often resort to assisted reproductive technology (ART) to achieve parenthood. However, preparation for ART protocols increases the exposer of gametes to OS. Thus, it is crucial to find suitable preservation media that can counteract the OS-induced damages in spermatozoa. In this work, we tested and compared the efficiency of vitamin C (VC) and hyperoside (HYP) as potential antioxidant supplements for sperm preservation media. Methods: We evaluated the cytotoxicity of HYP (0, 5, 50, 100, and 500 µM) in spermatozoa. After incubation of sperm cells with VC (600 µM) and HYP (100 and 500 µM), in the presence and absence of H2O2 (300 µM), the following parameters were assessed: total sperm motility and vitality, OS biomarkers expression, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the media, percentage of DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and metabolite quantification of the media by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). Results: The supplementation with VC (600 µM) and HYP (100 and 500 µM) did not induce any deleterious effects to the physiology and metabolism of the spermatozoa, after 1-hour of treatment. In the presence of H2O2 (300 µM), both VC and HYP were able to prevent some of the deleterious effects of H2O2 in sperm, which were represented by an increase in sperm motility, a decrease in DNA fragmentation, and a decreasing trend in lipid peroxidation levels. However, these antioxidants were not able to prevent the decrease of MMP associated with H2O2 treatment, nor were able to prevent the conversion of pyruvate into acetate (a reaction promoted by H2O2). Conclusion: The supplementation of sperm preservation media with VC and HYP could be beneficial for the preservation of sperm physiology. From the antioxidant conditions tested, the supplementation of media with HYP (100 µM) demonstrated the best results regarding sperm preservation, evidencing the higher antioxidant capacity of HYP compared to VC. Nevertheless, none of the antioxidants used was able to prevent the metabolic alterations promoted by H2O2 in spermatozoa.This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia - FCT to Sara C. Pereira (2021.05487.BD); David F. Carrageta (SFRH/BD/136779/2018); Marco G. Alves (IFCT2015 and PTDC/MEC-AND/28691/2017); LAQV-REQUIMTE (UIDB/50006/2020); UMIB (UIDB/00215/2020, and UIDP/00215/2020); ITR - Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (LA/P/0064/2020). Pedro F. Oliveira was funded by national funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the Scientific Employment Stimulus - Institutional Call - reference CEECINST/00026/2018

PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF EDIBLE STARCH FILMS WITH BARBADOS CHERRY (Malphigia emarginata DC)

PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF EDIBLE STARCH FILMS WITH BARBADOS CHERRY (Malphigia emarginata D.C.). Edibles films are an alternative to synthetic materials used for packing food products. Barbados cherry is rich in vitamin C and carotenoids. The aim of this study was to characterize and develop films by casting from cassava starch, lyophilized Barbados cherry pulp and glycerol. The films were characterized with respect to thickness, water vapor permeability (WVP), water solubility, vitamin C. carotene and mechanical properties. The interaction of pulp and glycerol reduced film thickness. An increase in pulp concentration up to 60% increased WVP but beyond this concentration reduced both WVP and solubility leading to an increased level of vitamin C and carotene in the films.35354655

International standards for fetal brain structures based on serial ultrasound measurements from the Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project.

OBJECTIVE: To create prescriptive growth standards for five fetal brain structures, measured by ultrasound, from healthy, well-nourished women, at low risk of impaired fetal growth and poor perinatal outcomes, taking part in the Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study (FGLS) of the INTERGROWTH-21st Project. METHODS: This was a complementary analysis of a large, population-based, multicentre, longitudinal study. We measured, in planes reconstructed from 3-dimensional (3D) ultrasound volumes of the fetal head at different time points in pregnancy, the size of the parieto-occipital fissure (POF), Sylvian fissure (SF), anterior horn of the lateral ventricle (AV), atrium of the posterior ventricle (PV) and cisterna magna (CM). The sample analysed was randomly selected from the overall FGLS population, ensuring an equal distribution amongst the eight diverse participating sites and of 3D ultrasound volumes across pregnancy (range: 15 - 36 weeks' gestation). Fractional polynomials were used to the construct standards. Growth and development of the infants were assessed at 1 and 2 years of age to confirm their adequacy for constructing international standards. RESULTS: From the entire FGLS cohort of 4321 women, 451 (10.4%) were randomly selected. After exclusions, 3D ultrasound volumes from 442 fetuses born without congenital malformations were used to create the charts. The fetal brain structures of interest were identified in 90% of cases. All structures showed increasing size with gestation and increasing variability for the POF, SF, PV and CM. The 3rd , 5th , 50th , 95th and 97th smoothed centile are presented. The 5th centile of POF and SF were 2.8 and 4.3 at 22 weeks and 4.2 and 9.4mm at 32 weeks respectively. The 95th centile of PV and CM were 8.5 and 7.4 at 22 weeks and 8.5 and 9.4mm at 32 weeks respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We have produced prescriptive size standards for fetal brain structures based on prospectively enrolled pregnancies at low risk of abnormal outcomes. We recommend these as international standards for the assessment of measurements obtained by ultrasound from fetal brain structures

Differential effects of antigens from L. braziliensis isolates from disseminated and cutaneous leishmaniasis on in vitro cytokine production

BACKGROUND: Disseminated leishmaniasis is an emerging infectious disease, mostly due to L. braziliensis, which has clinical and histopathological features distinct from cutaneous leishmaniasis. METHODS: In the current study we evaluated the in vitro production of the cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-5 and IL-10 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 15 disseminated leishmaniasis and 24 cutaneous leishmaniasis patients upon stimulation with L. braziliensis antigens genotyped as disseminated leishmaniasis or cutaneous leishmaniasis isolates. RESULTS: Regardless of the source of L. braziliensis antigens, PBMC from cutaneous leishmaniasis patients produced significantly higher IFN-γ than PBMC from disseminated leishmaniasis patients. Levels of TNF-α by PBMC from cutaneous leishmaniasis patients were significantly higher than disseminated leishmaniasis patients only when stimulated by genotyped cutaneous leishmaniasis antigens. The levels of IL-5 and IL-10 production by PBMC were very low and similar in PBMCs from both disseminated leishmaniasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. The immune response of each patient evaluated by the two L. braziliensis antigens was assessed in a paired analysis in which we showed that L. braziliensis genotyped as disseminated leishmaniasis isolate was more potent than L. braziliensis genotyped as cutaneous leishmaniasis isolate in triggering IFN-γ and TNF-α production in both diseases and IL-5 only in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that antigens prepared from genotypically distinct strains of L. braziliensis induce different degrees of immune response. It also indicates that both parasite and host play a role in the outcome of L. braziliensis infection