Social networks as tools for the prevention and promotion of health among youth

The emergence of information and communication technologies (ICT) has generated a number of research questions, related to their use and potential risk, but also potentials for prevention or health promotion. Online social networks have become an important source of information for users as well as a tool for social relations. As traditional social networks, they can act as vehicles to improve the health of adolescents and youth, as well as play a key role in an educational context. The aim of this work is then to explore the theoretical relevance of ICT, particularly on online social networks, on disease prevention and health promotion of communicable diseases. Literature review points out the role of online social networks, particularly in the field of sexual health, body image, especially eating habits and overweight, as well as smoking and alcohol dependence. Data allow us to understand how online social network behavior and interaction is related to their burden and interventions developed in sexual health and addiction show positive results. More efforts in body image are needed in order to use these tools for prevention and promotion of health from early age.This research was supported by Instituto de Investigación de Drogodependencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández, and Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (strategic projects PEst-OE/FIL/UI0683/2014)

Information analisys in drug consumption and other addictions prevention

Tradicionalmente gran parte de los programas preventivos de drogas y otras adicciones dirigidos a preadolescentes y adolescentes, se han apoyado en la información como estrategia fundamental para disuadir el consumo, utilizando argumentos basados en las consecuencias del deterioro al ser consumidores de sustancias, así como en el abuso de otras conductas adictivas no químicas. El enfoque clásico se apoya en que los jóvenes toman sus decisiones de consumir, o no, en base a una elaboración racional, por tanto en el caso de estar informados de los riesgos que asumen al consumir optarían por no hacerlo. Es fundamental incidir en la importancia que adquieren tres cuestiones alrededor de la información: el nivel y calidad de la información que tienen los jóvenes, el nivel y calidad de la información que tienen los padres y la búsqueda de las fuentes de información sobre drogas y su nivel de credibilidad. Posiblemente los modelos de transmisión y contenido de información que utiliza la publicidad comercial podrían ser más adecuados y eficaces que los del recurso al miedo en el ámbito de los comportamientos de salud, y por supuesto, de las adicciones en general. La tendencia de los promotores de mensajes de salud sigue siendo la de transmitir las consecuencias y los riesgos, en la línea de la apelación al miedo. Presumimos que se alcanzaría una mayor eficiencia con mensajes positivos, reforzando los estilos de vida saludables.Traditionally a large proportion of the preventive programs focused in drugs and other addictions among adolescents and young people have drawn on the information as a core strategy to discourage the consumption, using arguments based in the consequences of the deterioration being substance consumers, as well as in the abuse of other non chemical addictive behaviors. The classical approach is based on the rational decision process among young people to do the consumption or not, therefore if they were properly informed about the risks they would choose the no consumption. Is essential to address the importance of three topics around the information issue: degree and quality information among young people, degree and quality information among parents and information source search about drugs and its credibility degree. The models of transmission and information content used by the commercial advertising may be more appropriate and effective than the ‘fear resort’ within health behaviors and addictions in general. The trend of health message promoters continue to be the communication of risk and negative consequences, following the fear resort way. We propose that would be more effective using positive messages enforcing a healthy lifestyle

Theoretical configuration of health motivation from the self-determination theory

El estudio de la motivación humana es un constructo altamente complejo y con una gran variabilidad de enfoques. La teoría de la autodeterminación (TAD) ha demostrado una relativa efectividad y consistencia en muchos aspectos relacionados con la salud, como por ejemplo el ejercicio físico, la alimentación, el sueño, el bienestar psicológico o el consumo de tabaco. Las investigaciones muestran que la motivación autodeterminada se corresponde con la motivación intrínseca y en cambio la motivación extrínseca y sus formas de regulación pueden corresponderse con comportamiento no autodeterminados, pudiendo llegar hasta la desmotivación. En este trabajo se formula una construcción teórica sobre este modelo, introduciendo la percepción de riesgo (PR) y la vulnerabilidad percibida (VP) como elementos que pueden variar el sentido final de la motivación e incluso mejorar alguna de sus regulaciones extrínsecas y la desmotivación. Una de las posibilidades teóricas que sugerimos para intentar neutralizar los tipos no autodeterminados es procurar aumentar la PR y la VP de la persona, ya que estando estas dos variables altas, la probabilidad de que la desmotivación aparezca se reduce significativamente, y las acciones forzadas de la regulación externa y la regulación introyectada pueden amortiguarse y aumentar la internalización lo que podría favorecer los comportamientos de salud.The study of human motivation is a highly complex construct with a wide variability of visions. The Self-Determination Theory (SDT) has shown a relative effectiveness and consistency in several issues related to health, such as physical activity, diet, sleep, psychological well-being or tobacco consumption. Research shows that self-determined motivation is consistent with intrinsic motivation and, in contrast, extrinsic motivation and its regulation ways can be matched to non-self-determined behaviors, reaching even a lack of motivation. The aim of this work is to draw up a theoretical construction about this model, bringing in risk perception and perceived vulnerability as elements that can change the final direction of the motivation and even improve some of its extrinsic regulations and the lack of motivation. One of the theoretical possibilities that we propose to try to neutralize the non-self-determined types is seek to increase both the personal risk perception and perceived vulnerability, as being these two variables high the likelihood of occurrence of a lack of motivation is significantly reduced, and forced actions of external regulation and introjected regulation may be buffered and increase the internalization, what could favor health behaviors

Theoretical conceptualization of psychological resilience and its relation with health

La resiliencia es un término que surge de la física en relación con la resistencia de los materiales así como con la capacidad de recuperación de los mismos al ser sometidos a diferentes presiones y fuerzas. En la actualidad consideramos que el concepto de resiliencia sigue siendo un constructo ambiguo, que necesita una mayor clarificación, sobre todo, en cuestiones referidas a su configuración teórica. Para poder llevarlo a la práctica en condiciones óptimas, necesitamos contar con un modelo que permita mejorar los resultados de las poblaciones vulnerables y de la población general en relación con la salud. En este trabajo se pretende profundizar en la configuración de la resiliencia psicosocial, estudiando las variables que empíricamente se relacionan con ella, con el objetivo de aproximarnos a una construcción más clara que permita su aplicabilidad en futuras investigaciones en el ámbito de la salud.Resilience is a term arising from physics in relationship with the resistance of the materials as well as their recoverability under different pressures and forces. We currently believe that the concept of resilience remains an ambiguous construct, needing a further clarification, especially in its theoretical configuration issues. To carry it into practice in optimal conditions, we need a model that allows improving outcomes of both vulnerable and general population in relation to health. This work intends to deepen the psychosocial resilience configuration, studying variables that are empirically related to it, with the aim of approaching a clearer construction that allows its applicability in future research within the field of health

The theory of social comparison as a promoter of health behaviours: a theoretical approach

La salud es uno de los principales activos para las personas en relación con el estado de bienestar y la calidad de vida. Desde la Psicología de la Salud se han desarrollado teorías y modelos eficaces para amortiguar los factores de riesgo de salud y potenciar la conducta de salud. Las acciones de control de las enfermedades no transmisibles pasan necesariamente por medidas preventivas. Es imprescindible actuar de forma rápida y eficaz para que las consecuencias de mortalidad se minimicen al máximo y para ello es necesario poner en marcha programas de educación para la salud e intervenciones psicosociales que potencien las conductas de salud. Se propone un postulado teórico desde la teoría de la comparación social para el aprendizaje y/o la modificación de conductas de salud y estilos de vida sanos. Entre las dimensiones de la comparación social revisadas, podemos destacar aquellas que parten de las motivaciones de auto mejora como contraste descendente y el deseo de superación como identificación ascendente para explicar teóricamente la promoción de conductas de salud.Health is a major asset for people in relation to the welfare state and quality of life. Health Psychology has developed effective theories and models to cushion health risk factors and enhance health behavior. Action to control non-communicable diseases necessarily involves preventive measures. Rapid and effective action is essential to minimize the impact of mortality, and this requires health education programmes and psychosocial interventions to enhance health behaviours. A theoretical postulate is proposed from the theory of social comparison for learning and/or modifying health behaviors and healthy lifestyles. Among the dimensions of the social comparison reviewed, we can highlight those that start from the motivations of self-improvement as a downward contrast and the desire for self-improvement as an upward identification to theoretically explain the promotion of health behaviors

Papel protector de la percepción de riesgo y las actitudes hacia la salud en conductas de consumo de alcohol

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Adaptation of scales of attitudes toward tobacco, alcohol and other drugs to Portuguese adolescents

El presente estudio muestra los resultados de la adaptación de las escalas de actitudes hacia el tabaco (López-Sánchez, Garcia-Rodriguez, Mira y Estévez, 2000), el alcohol (Garcia-Rodriguez y López-Sánchez, 2001) y otras drogas (López-Sánchez et al., 2000) en población portuguesa. Se trata de tres escalas, cada una con trece ítems, de respuesta tipo Likert con cinco opciones de respuesta, que diferencian tres sub-escalas. Para realizar el estudio de adaptación de las escalas a la población portuguesa, se han utilizado dos muestras independientes, constituidas por 329 y 443 adolescentes, alumnos de bachillerato del norte del país, a quienes se administraron los instrumentos. Los datos recogidos, después de ser sometidos a un análisis factorial exploratorio y confirmatorio, permitieron encontrar una solución adecuada para cada una de las escalas, dando como resultando una buena validez y fiabilidad. En la validez concurrente, los resultados sugieren diferencias de género con todas las sub-escalas y una relación negativa con la edad, así como diferencias en las actitudes de acuerdo con la experiencia y el consumo.This study presents results about attitudes toward tobacco scale (López-Sánchez, García-Rodriguez, Mira & Estévez, 2000), alcohol scale (García-Rodríguez & López-Sánchez, 2001) and other drugs (López-Sánchez et al., 2000) scale adaptations to portuguese population. There are three scales, 13 items each one and five points Likert response scale with three sub scales. We have used two independent samples with 329 and 443 adolescents, north country high school students. Data collected, after confirmatory and exploratoy analysis, showed a good solution to each one scale, with high validity and reliability rates. Results in concurrent validity suggest gender differences with all the sub scales and a negative relation with age, as well as attitude differences based on experience and consumption

Enhancing dendritic cell immunotherapy for melanoma using a simple mathematical model

ABSTRACT Background: The immunotherapy using dendritic cells (DCs) against different varieties of cancer is an approach that has been previously explored which induces a specific immune response. This work presents a mathematical model of DCs immunotherapy for melanoma in mice based on work by Experimental Immunotherapy Laboratory of the Medicine Faculty in the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM). Method: The model is a five delay differential equation (DDEs) which represents a simplified view of the immunotherapy mechanisms. The mathematical model takes into account the interactions between tumor cells, dendritic cells, naive cytotoxic T lymphocytes cells (inactivated cytotoxic cells), effector cells (cytotoxic T activated cytotoxic cells) and transforming growth factor β cytokine (TGF − β). The model is validated comparing the computer simulation results with biological trial results of the immunotherapy developed by the research group of UNAM. Results: The results of the growth of tumor cells obtained by the control immunotherapy simulation show a similar amount of tumor cell population than the biological data of the control immunotherapy. Moreover, comparing the increase of tumor cells obtained from the immunotherapy simulation and the biological data of the immunotherapy applied by the UNAM researchers obtained errors of approximately 10 %. This allowed us to use the model as a framework to test hypothetical treatments. The numerical simulations suggest that by using more doses of DCs and changing the infusion time, the tumor growth decays compared with the current immunotherapy. In addition, a local sensitivity analysis is performed; the results show that the delay in time “τ ”, the maximal growth rate of tumor “r” and the maximal efficiency of tumor cytotoxic cells rate “aT” are the most sensitive model parameters. Conclusion: By using this mathematical model it is possible to simulate the growth of the tumor cells with or without immunotherapy using the infusion protocol of the UNAM researchers, to obtain a good approximation of the biological trials data. It is worth mentioning that by manipulating the different parameters of the model the effectiveness of the immunotherapy may increase. This last suggests that different protocols could be implemented by the Immunotherapy Laboratory of UNAM in order to improve their results

Social Representation of Alcohol in Perspective

Alcohol is an addictive substance that is integrated and normalized indifferent cultural contexts, and therefore has different forms of social representation. These have evolved significantly over the years, as evidenced by the changing consideration of alcohol as avice to a disease in developed societies over the last fifty years. Social representation is considered to be a way of building and interpret in reality and of integrating collective beliefs. However, a leitmotif exists in societies that have traditionally consumed alcohol, characterized by a great permissiveness that leads to increased consumption. We have reviewed some works that analyze these issues and in conclusion, we point out that social representation is a modifiable construct that may be used as a preventive action in alcohol consumption in thegeneral population and more specifically, in experimental consumption amongst young people

Duration of estrus and preovulatory surge of LH in Boer x Nubian goats synchronized with various hormones in tropical latitude of Mexico

The objective was to determine the duration of estrus, preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone (LH), fertility and prolificacy of Boer x Nubian goats in tropical Mexico (19º29’LN) synchronized with fluorogestone acetate (FGA) and prostaglandin F2 (PGF2) combined with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG). The treatments were: T1 (FGA, n = 5), T2 (FGA + GnRH, n = 7), T3 (FGA + eCG, n = 8), T4 (PGF2 + GnRH, n = 5) and T5 (PGF2 + eCG, n = 7). The responses measured were percentage of animals showing estrus, duration of estrus (h), fertility (%), prolificacy (kids/parturition); intervals (h) from end of treatment til estrus and til peak preovulatory LH concentration, from onset of estrus til peak LH; duration of peak LH (h), and LH concentration (ng/mL). Duration of estrus was longest in goats of T3 (35.2 ± 1.4). Onset of estrus differed (P<0.05) between T2 and T3 (27.9 ± 1.2 vs. 17.2 ± 1.2). Use of PGF2 (T4 and T5) delayed onset of estrus compared with T2 and T3. Interval between sponge withdrawal and onset of LH peak was shorter in T3 than T2 (P<0.05), while that from onset of estrus to LH peak was shorter (P<0.05) with eCG, injection than with GnRH. There were no differences in length and breadth neither of the preovulatory LH surge nor in fertility or litter size (P>0.05). The use of GnRH, either with PGF2 or FGA, increased the time from onset of estrus to LH peak, whereas the use of eCG shortened it