Effects of spiritual change on the re-entry adjustment of Christian young adult humanitarian workers

Humanitarian work inevitably involves exposure to suffering, stress and trauma. Such exposure has a profound effect on an aid worker’s worldview and spirituality. The aim of this study was to use Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to do an in-depth analysis of how Christian young adult humanitarian workers in faith-based aid organizations experience such spiritual change and how it affects the re-entry into their faith community. Strategies for pastoral and spiritual care for the workers are provided

MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 variability in patients with essential hypertension: 1-year follow-up study

The aim of this study is to analyze MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 variability, potent predictors of cardiovascular events, in stable hypertensive patients during a 12-month followup. 234 asymptomatic patients (age 6 0 ± 1 3 , 136 male) out of 252 patients with essential hypertension were followed up. MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 were measured at baseline and after 12 months (stage I). To compare MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 levels over time interval, we used the statistical method of Bland-Altman. MMP-2 and sTNF-R1 reproducibility was good in our patients for the two intervals with a coefficient of reproducibility of 8.2% and 11.3%, respectively. The percentages of patients within 1.96 × standard deviation of the mean were 93.6% and 92.7%. An elevated coefficient of correlation was obtained for MMP-2, basal versus stage I

Red adaptativa de conmutación suave para convertidor trifásico en puente activo completo para aplicaciones de vehículos eléctricos

En éste artículo se presenta el control adaptativo de un circuito auxiliar para conseguir conmutaciones suaves en todo el rango de carga en los semiconductores principales de un convertidor cargador de baterías trifásico basado en doble puente activo. Mediante este sistema se consigue tener ZVS en todo el margen de carga, sin ser necesaria la modificación de los parámetros del circuito ni de los semiconductores principales. Los principios de operación de este circuito y su control se comprobarán experimentalmente en un convertidor cargador de baterías de características similares al utilizado en el HYBRID TOYOTA PRIU

Prevalence and Predictors of Posttraumatic Stress Symptomatology Among Burn Survivors

Burns can be a traumatic and stressful experience, although each patient may respond in very different ways. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the variability on Post-traumatic stress disorder and Acute Stress Disorder prevalence, and evaluate the specific weight of different variables on Post-traumatic stress disorder development among adult burn patients. Methods: A systematic review was carried out to explore the prevalence of acute and Post-traumatic stress disorder and identify their predictors. Meta-analytical methods were used to explore the strength of association between Posttraumatic stress disorder and the latter. From an initial pool of 190 studies, 24 were used in the systematic review, and only 19studies could be used for the meta-analysis due to different methodological limitations. Outcomes: The prevalence of Acute Stress Disorder at baseline ranged from 2 to 30% and prevalence of Post-traumatic stress disorder ranged from 3 to 35% at 1 month, 2-40% between 3 and 6 months, 9-45% in the year post-injury and ranged 7-25% more than two years later. Life threat perception was the strongest predictor for Post-traumatic stress disorder occurrence, followed by acute intrusive symptoms and pain associated with burn injuries. Conclusions: Predictive variables identified in this research may be useful in targeting burn patients who are at risk for developing post-traumatic stress symptoms and stress related psychological symptoms

The Fenix II Study: A longitudinal study of psychopathology among burn patients

Psychological symptoms are common among burn survivors. However, knowledge about epidemiology and predictors of psychopathology has shown great heterogeneity in this population. The Fenix-II Project was the first epidemiological study on the psychopathological consequences of burn injuries developed in Spain, providing a detailed analysis of the progression of psychological symptoms during the first six months after injury. Three hundred and thirty-three patients were monitored and 183 were included in this study. Posttraumatic, depression and anxiety symptoms showed a general decreasing tendency across time. At 6 months, 34 patients showed clinically significant Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms (20.5% of 166 patients reached at 6 months) as measured with the MINI Neuropsychiatric Interview. Within this group of patients, anxiety, depression and hyperarousal increased at 30 days, and avoidance 90 days after injury. The most accurate predictors of PTSD were found to be being burned in a Motor Vehicle Accident, risk of social exclusion, low body-image adjustment, anterior trunk location of the burn injury and life threat perception during the burn-shock period. Considering these factors, clinicians may identify patients at risk of PTSD development, allowing an adequate follow up and preventive interventions which may minimize the psychological consequences of burn injuries

Relationship of problematic cannabis use among youth in Spain with perceived risk, environmental factors and sociodemographic factors

This is the final version. Available on open access from Socidrogalcohol via the DOI in this record. The relationship of problematic cannabis consumption with perceived risk, socioenvironmental and sociodemographic factors among youth in Spain is not well known. The aims of this study are: 1) to describe the patterns of cannabis consumption (problematic and non-problematic) in Spanish youth, and 2) to explore whether problematic cannabis consumption is related to perceived risk, environmental factors and individual sociodemographic characteristics. A cross-sectional design based on data from the 2015/16 Spanish Household Survey on Alcohol and Drugs (EDADES) was performed. Individuals between 15 and 35 years old having used cannabis during the last year with a complete Cannabis Abuse Screening Test (CAST) were included (N = 1,674). Problematic consumption (CAST >= 7) was considered as dependent variable. Perceived risk, environmental factors (availability of the substance and exposure to consumption situations) and sociodemographic factors were taken as independent variables. Descriptive analyses of consumption patterns were performed and univariable and multivariable Poisson regression models were done. All analyses were stratified by gender. Problematic cannabis consumption was more frequent among men (38.9 %) than among women (23.2 %). While among men, problematic use was related to environmental factors and educational level, among women it was associated with perceived risk and unemployment. Problematic cannabis consumption among Spanish youth is associated with different types of gender-related factors. Due to its representativeness at the population level and the validity of the measures, these results might have important implications on the development of prevention strategies targeted at problematic cannabis consumptionCIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP