Tobacco consumption and spontaneous quitting at the first trimester of pregnancy

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between pregnant women's socio-demographic characteristics, smoking-related variables and psychological symptoms (anxiety and depression) and both tobacco consumption and spontaneous quitting at the first trimester of pregnancy. In particular, we wished to examine the contribution of depressive symptoms to tobacco consumption and spontaneous quitting, while controlling for anxiety symptoms, socio-demographic and smoking-related variables.This research was supported by FEDER Funds through the Programa Operational Factores de Competitividade - COMPETE and by National Funds through FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia under the project PTDC/SAU/SAP/116738/2010 (PI Barbara Figueiredo); and also by research contract inherent to a research funded by Axudas de Apoio a Etapa Predoctoral do Plan Galego 2011/2015 (Plan 12C), to the second author (Beatriz Pereira).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Continued tobacco consumption during pregnancy and women's depression and anxiety symptoms

Objectives This study aimed to analyse depression and anxiety symptoms changes from the first to the third trimester of pregnancy in non-smokers versus quitters versus continuous smokers, and the contribution of depression and anxiety symptoms to continued tobacco consumption during pregnancy. Methods The sample comprises 850 Spanish pregnant women (595 non-smokers, 123 quitters, and 132 continuous smokers), assessed at the first and the third trimester of pregnancy with a questionnaire concerning socio-demographic, obstetric, and tobacco consumption information, and measures of depression and anxiety. Results Continuous smokers during pregnancy showed more depression and anxiety symptoms than both non-smokers and quitters and no changes from the first trimester to the third trimester of pregnancy, while both non-smokers and quitters revealed a decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms. More anxiety symptoms at the first trimester (OR 1.03) and depression symptoms at the third trimester (OR 1.14) were associated with continued smoking during pregnancy. Conclusions Anxiety and depression symptoms need to be considered to screening for women at risk of smoking during pregnancy. Future prenatal smoking cessation interventions must take into account these variables.We would like to express our gratitude to the midwives at the surveyed Primary Health Care Centers for their valuable assistance. We sincerely appreciate the support by research contract inherent to a predoctoral research training funded by Axudas de Apoio a Etapa Predoctoral do Plan Galego 2011/2015 (Plan 12C) to the second author (Beatriz Pereira). Lastly, we would like to show our gratitude especially to the pregnant women for their patience and generous collaboration in this study

Effects of tobacco consumption and anxiety or depression during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal health

This study analyzed the possible interaction effects between tobacco consumption and anxiety or depression during pregnancy on maternal and neonatal health. We recruited a sample of 807 pregnant Spanish women from public healthcare services. Women completed a questionnaire on sociodemographic variables, health status and tobacco consumption (continuous, quitting or no consumption) in the first and third trimester of pregnancy and at 2 months postpartum, and self-reported measures of anxiety and depression in the first trimester. Abstinence of tobacco consumption was verified through biochemical measurements. Interaction effects between tobacco consumption and anxiety were found for delivery (p p = 0.026) and gestational age at birth (p = 0.029). Interaction effects between tobacco consumption and depression were found for pregnancy (p = 0.032), delivery complications (p p = 0.031). This study suggests that there are different kinds of interaction effects between tobacco consumption and anxiety or depression. Smokers with high anxiety presented more delivery complications compared to quitters and non-smokers with high anxiety. There is a cumulative effect of anxiety on the effects of tobacco consumption on maternal health. The results highlighted the beneficial impact of quitting smoking during pregnancy to reduce the risk of suffering anxiety, depression and health complications.(undefined

Health-related quality of life among smoking relapsers

Background: Previous studies have shown that smoking is associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impairment. In order to evaluate HRQoL in a sample of Spanish relapsers, a cross-sectional study was conducted. Method: The sample was made up of 775 smokers who had relapsed after a period of abstinence. HRQoL was evaluated using the Euro-Qol questionnaire (EQ-5D); through the descriptive profile, the EQ-5D index and the visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Results: Higher nicotine dependence was related to worse HRQL. According to the EQ-VAS, higher daily cigarette consumption and more years smoking were related to worse perceived health. In the EQ-5D those who had quit smoking in the previous year perceived worse health. Mobility and anxiety/ depression are the dimensions affected by smoking. Those who are more nicotine dependent (OR = 2.29) and have been smoking for longer (OR = 4.12) are more likely to have mobility problems; and those who are nicotine dependent (OR = 1.85) and relapsed more than a year ago (OR = 0.63), are more likely to experience anxiety/ depression. Conclusions: Nicotine dependence demonstrated a determining effect on HRQOL deterioration in smokers who have relapsed

Adaptable Ultraviolet Refl ecting Polymeric Multilayer Coatings of High Refractive Index Contrast

A synthetic route is demonstrated to build purely polymeric nanostructured multilayer coatings, adaptable to arbitrary surfaces, and capable of effi ciently blocking by refl ection a targeted and tunable ultraviolet (UV) range. Refl ection properties are determined by optical interference between UV light beams refl ected at the interfaces between polystyrene layers of different porosity and hence refractive index. As no dopant absorber intervenes in the shielding effect, polymer degradation effects are prevented. Alternated porosity results from the modulation of photochemical effects at the few tens of nanometers length scale, combined with the collective osmotic shock induced during the processing of the precursor diblock copolymer fi lm. Experimental evidence of the application of this method to coat rough surfaces with smooth and conformal UV protecting fi lms is providedEuropean Union’s Seventh Framework Programme 307081Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad MAT2011-2359

Guía para la introducción de la perspectiva de género en la docencia de la Universidad Pablo de Olavide

Universidad Pablo de Olavid

Chronic Melatonin Administration Reduced Oxidative Damage and Cellular Senescence in the Hippocampus of a Mouse Model of Down Syndrome

Previous studies have demonstrated that melatonin administration improves spatial learning and memory and hippocampal long-term potentiation in the adult Ts65Dn (TS) mouse, a model of Down syndrome (DS). This functional benefit of melatonin was accompanied by protection from cholinergic neurodegeneration and the attenuation of several hippocampal neuromorphological alterations in TS mice. Because oxidative stress contributes to the progression of cognitive deficits and neurodegeneration in DS, this study evaluates the antioxidant effects of melatonin in the brains of TS mice. Melatonin was administered to TS and control mice from 6 to 12 months of age and its effects on the oxidative state and levels of cellular senescence were evaluated. Melatonin treatment induced antioxidant and antiaging effects in the hippocampus of adult TS mice. Although melatonin administration did not regulate the activities of the main antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione S-transferase) in the cortex or hippocampus, melatonin decreased protein and lipid oxidative damage by reducing the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyls (PC) levels in the TS hippocampus due to its ability to act as a free radical scavenger. Consistent with this reduction in oxidative stress, melatonin also decreased hippocampal senescence in TS animals by normalizing the density of senescence-associated â-galactosidase positive cells in the hippocampus. These results showed that this treatment attenuated the oxidative damage and cellular senescence in the brain of TS mice and support the use of melatonin as a potential therapeutic agent for age-related cognitive deficits and neurodegeneration in adults with DS

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Prevalence of postpartum major depression and depressive symptoms in Spanish women: A longitudinal study up to 1 year postpartum

Objective Depression is a prevalent mental disorder in the postpartum period, with consequences for both the mother and her offspring. However, longitudinal studies determining the moments of greatest vulnerability and severity of depression during the postpartum period are scarce. The aims of this research were to determine the prevalence and trajectories of probable depression and major depression during the first year postpartum. Design Longitudinal study. Setting Interviews were conducted personally at three times: 2 months, 6 months and 1 year postpartum. Participants 561 postpartum women. Measurements and findings Depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID) for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Descriptive and comparative analyses have been carried out. The prevalence of probable depression at 2 months, 6 months and 1 year postpartum, using a cut-off point ≥ 10, was 30.3%, 26.0% and 25.3%, respectively; and that of major depression using SCID was 10.3%, 10.9% and 14.8, respectively. The prevalence of probable depression was highest at 2 months postpartum and that of major depression at 1 year postpartum. Probable depression followed a downward trajectory and major depression followed an upward trajectory. Key conclusions and implications for practice The clinical relevance of this research is that it has made it possible to demonstrate that depression is very prevalent in the first year postpartum and that, far from subsiding, the prevalence remains very high even at 1 year postpartum. Our findings highlight the importance of taking mental health care into account throughout at least the first year postpartumS