Predictors of excessive internet use among adolescents in Spain: The relevance of the relationship between parents and their children

Since the introduction of the concept in the late nineties, Internet addiction has been a growing phenomenon becoming a public health issue that cannot be ignored nowadays. Focusing on adolescents, previous research has analyzed the prevalence of excessive Internet use and determined several predictors such as socio-demographic characteristics, personality traits or emotions. To move on this topic, this paper draws attention to the relationship between parents and their children. Using a nationally representative sample of 37, 486 students aged 14–18 years old in Spain, an under researched European country, this study finds that care received from parents [B = -0.141, SE = -0.033] and parents'' knowledge about where [B = -0.065, SE = -0.032] and with whom [B = -0.232, SE = -0.032] the adolescent is while he/she goes out at night are associated with lower levels of excessive Internet use. In turn, fixing clear rules does not help reduce excessive Internet use. These results, together with the influence of other control variables, offer important insights and implications to prevent adolescents from excessive Internet use

Are estimated peer effects on smoking robust? Evidence from adolescent students in Spain

Adolescent smoking is one of the most pressing public health problems. The objective of this paper is to analyse the influence of peer pressure on adolescent cigarette consumption. More concretely, we explore the significance and robustness of the peer effects using several estimation methods employed in the existing literature. On the basis of the data provided by the 2004 Spanish survey on drug use in the school population, we estimate the probability of being a smoker by two-stage models. The results reveal that when we use standard errors used in the literature the class peer variable appears to be significant. However, the class peer variable is not significant when we calculate more exigent standard errors, a result that is robust across all specifications. The paper suggests the need for a more cautious interpretation of the peer effects found previously in the literature until a deeper analysis confirms the robustness of the peer effects

Predictors of driving under the influence of alcohol among Spanish adolescents

This paper aims to examine the socio-economic determinants of alcohol-impaired drinking in Spanish adolescents. In particular, we are interested in analysing the impact of the family and school environment. To do it, we used the Spanish Survey on Drug Use in the School Population for the year 2008, carried out by the Spanish Government's Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs. This survey with 30,183 students between 14 and 18 years of age (M = 15.6; SD = 1.17) constitutes a representative sample of the Spanish student population. Of these, 6.7% reported having driven under the influence of alcohol, this behaviour being more frequent among boys (10.6%) than girls (2.9%). Logistic regressions reveal that informative campaigns at school could significantly reduce the likelihood of alcohol-impaired driving (OR = 0.82), especially among males (OR = 0.73) and among younger students (OR = 0.66). Our results also suggest that although parents' education has no significant impact, parent's alcohol abuse increase notably the probability of driving after drinking (OR = 2.22 for mothers and OR = 2.81 for fathers). Este artículo pretende analizar los factores socioeconómicos que determinan conducir bajo los efectos del alcohol entre los adolescentes españoles. Particularmente, estamos interesados en analizar el impacto del entorno familiar y escolar. Para ello, utilizamos la Encuesta sobre Drogas en Población Escolar, correspondiente al año 2008, llevado a cabo por el Plan nacional sobre drogas del Gobierno de España. Este estudio con 30.183 estudiantes de edades comprendidas entre los 14 y los 18 años (M = 15.6; DT = 1.17), constituye una muestra representativa de dicha población estudiantil española. De ellos, el 6,7% afirmaron haber conducido bajo los efectos del alcohol, siendo esta conducta más frecuente entre los chicos (10,6%) que entre las chicas (2,9%). Regresiones logísticas revelan que las campañas informativas realizadas en los colegios reducen significativamente la probabilidad de conducir bebido (OR = 0,82), particularmente entre los chicos (OR = 0,73) y entre los estudiantes más jóvenes (OR = 0,66). Nuestros resultados también sugieren que aunque la educación de los padres tiene poco impacto, el consumo abusivo de alcohol por parte de los padres incrementa notablemente la probabilidad de conducir bebido (OR = 2.22 para las madres y OR = 2,81 parar los padres)

Visibility of smoking among schoolÂ-teachers in Spain and associations with student smoking: A cross-sectional study

Objective Limited research has examined the association between smoking among schoolteachers and student smoking. This paper seeks to assess whether smoking visibility on school grounds among schoolteachers is associated with student smoking. We examine both smoking behaviour and the number of cigarettes consumed. Methods We use a school-based cross-sectional survey carried out by the Spanish Government''s Delegation for the National Plan on Drugs. A total of 27 503 students between 14 and 18 years of age completed an anonymous survey in 2013. Count data regressions were used to assess the association between observed teacher smoking and adolescent smoking behaviour. Results High levels of visibility of teacher smoking on school grounds increased the odds of being a smoker among students (OR=2.09 and OR=1.64, for the highest levels of visibility), but the impact on the quantity of cigarettes smoked, although positive, was not significant. Conclusion Teacher smoking on school grounds is associated with student smoking behaviour. Consequently, smoking policies designed to prevent adolescent smoking should address this important social environment

Effect of Anapsos® in a murine model of experimental trichomoniasis

Immunomodulator effect of Anapsos® (Polypodium leucotomos extract) in NMRI (US Naval Medical Research Institute) outbred mice infected by the intraperitoneal route with 107 Trichomonas vaginalis has been tested. Gross histopathologic changes in abdominal organs and mortality rate, as a consequence of the pathogenicity of the protozoa and the immune response of the host, were evaluated. Among the different treatment regimes assayed, Anapsos® at doses of 20 mg/Kg/day administered for 10 days before infection decreases the parasite pathogenicity index (PI) in the treated animals when compared to those of the untreated control group. The immunosuppresor treatments with azathioprine (100 mg/Kg/day x 1), cyclophosphamide (100 mg/Kg/day x 1), and FK-506 (10 mg/Kg/day x 10) significantly decreased the PI, while an immunostimulant treatment with glycophosphopeptical (13 mg/Kg/day x 10) increased it. These assays have shown the usefulness of the murine model of experimental trichomoniasis for the study of immunomodulator activity of natural or synthetic drugs

Modulation by Polypodium leucotomos extract of cytokine patterns in experimental trichomoniasis model

The immunomodulating effects of Anapsos®, an aqueous hydrosoluble extract obtained from the rhizomes of the fern Polypodium leucotomos, on both pathogenicity and cytokine levels in serum (IFN-γ/IL-4) were assayed in a Trichomonas vaginalis experimental model (BALB/c mice infected with 107 trichomonads and examined at day 15 after infection). Doses of 20 mg/kg/day administered for 10 days before the infection with the parasite induced a decrease of the experimental pathogenicity approximately 10-20 % compared to controls. Gross histopathologic changes at abdominal organs and mortality rate, as a consequence of pathogenicity of the protozoa and the immune response of the host, were evaluated. IFN-y and IL-4 cytokines were determined on days -5, 0, 5, 10, and 15 postinfection by indirect ELISA. Treatment with PAL before infection modulates and downregulates the IFN-γ concentration, while anticipates and upregulates the IL-4 level. The assays performed have showed the utility of the murine model of experimental trichomoniasis for the evaluation of immunomodulatory activity of synthetic or natural products

Modulation by

The immunomodulating effects of Anapsos®, an aqueous hydrosoluble extract obtained from the rhizomes of the fern Polypodium leucotomos, on both pathogenicity and cytokine levels in serum (IFN-γ/IL-4) were assayed in a Trichomonas vaginalis experimental model (BALB/c mice infected with 107 trichomonads and examined at day 15 after infection). Doses of 20 mg/kg/day administered for 10 days before the infection with the parasite induced a decrease of the experimental pathogenicity approximately 10-20 % compared to controls. Gross histopathologic changes at abdominal organs and mortality rate, as a consequence of pathogenicity of the protozoa and the immune response of the host, were evaluated. IFN-y and IL-4 cytokines were determined on days -5, 0, 5, 10, and 15 postinfection by indirect ELISA. Treatment with PAL before infection modulates and downregulates the IFN-γ concentration, while anticipates and upregulates the IL-4 level. The assays performed have showed the utility of the murine model of experimental trichomoniasis for the evaluation of immunomodulatory activity of synthetic or natural products

Effect of Anapsos® in a murine model of experimental trichomoniasis

Immunomodulator effect of Anapsos® (Polypodium leucotomos extract) in NMRI (US Naval Medical Research Institute) outbred mice infected by the intraperitoneal route with 107 Trichomonas vaginalis has been tested. Gross histopathologic changes in abdominal organs and mortality rate, as a consequence of the pathogenicity of the protozoa and the immune response of the host, were evaluated. Among the different treatment regimes assayed, Anapsos® at doses of 20 mg/Kg/day administered for 10 days before infection decreases the parasite pathogenicity index (PI) in the treated animals when compared to those of the untreated control group. The immunosuppresor treatments with azathioprine (100 mg/Kg/day x 1), cyclophosphamide (100 mg/Kg/day x 1), and FK-506 (10 mg/Kg/day x 10) significantly decreased the PI, while an immunostimulant treatment with glycophosphopeptical (13 mg/Kg/day x 10) increased it. These assays have shown the usefulness of the murine model of experimental trichomoniasis for the study of immunomodulator activity of natural or synthetic drugs

Evaluation of a murine model of experimental trichomoniasis

By using a reference strain of Trichomonas vaginalis and the intraperitoneal route for infecting animals, the influence of the strain of mice, the time observation and the inoculation doses were followed in order to standardize the optimal conditions for the evolution of experimental trichomoniasis. Our tesults suggest that the inoculation of BALB/c mice with 107 trichomonads and the semiquantitative assessment at day 15 postinfection of the gross-pathologic changes in the abdominal cavity — peritoneum, spleen, pancreas, stomach and liver — as well as the presence of ascitic fluid and mortality, maybe a suitable laboratory model of trichomoniasis