Optimal attainment, high performance standards and flow in health professionals, professors and university students. An introductory approximation

Optimizar el rendimiento personal, académico o profesional y ser competitivos en un marco de excelencia, tanto en la vida personal como laboral, puede ser un reto gratificante o por el contrario, convertirse en una experiencia que afecte a la salud o se viva con estrés y afectividad negativa. En el entorno laboral y académico, con el desarrollo de la inteligencia social y emocional, entender que puede aspirarse a rendimientos óptimos o altos desempeños no solo sin perjudicar la salud, sino incluso incrementando los niveles de satisfacción personal y bienestar psicológico, es una interesante aportación. En este trabajo se presenta una aproximación inicial teórica, centrada en los constructos psicológicos de rendimiento cumbre, patrones de alto desempeño y flow. Igualmente se expone una investigación experimental con diseño ex post facto cuyo objetivo es estudiar la calidad de la experiencia en distintos colectivos profesionales y universitarios y explorar las relaciones entre el constructo flow y otras variables psicológicas afines: afecto positivo, bienestar psicológico, autoeficacia, autoconcordancia, absorción, placer e interés intrínseco. La muestra está compuesta por 294 sujetos, profesionales sanitarios y estudiantes universitarios. Los resultados obtenidos muestran altas correlaciones con las variables afines al flow y que algunas de estas, son capaces de predecir parte de la varianza del mismo, del placer y de la absorción. Estos resultados se pueden considerar interesantes para delimitar la naturaleza del flow y sus relaciones con otros constructos afines.To optimize personal, academic or professional performance and remain competitive amid standards of excellence, both in personal life and at work, can be a gratifying challenge or lead to stress and a negative impact on a person's health and overall productivity. It is interesting, however, with the development of social and emotional intelligence, to consider that in professional and academic spheres it is possible to aspire to optimal performance not only without generating negative health outcomes but actually increasing personal satisfaction and psychological wellbeing. This revision presents an initial research and theoretical approximation to the hypothesis concentrating on psychological constructs of optimal attainment, high performance standards and flow. It also presents an experimental research with ex post facto design whose goal is to study the quality of the experience in different professional and university groups and explore the relations between the flow construct and other related psychological variables: positive fondness, psychological wellness, self-efficacy, self-concordance, absorption, pleasure and intrinsic interest. The sample consists of 294 subjects, health professionals and university students. The results obtained show high correlations with the variables related to flow, and some of these are able to predict part of its variance, in pleasure and in absorption. These results can be considered interesting in order to determine the nature of flow in different professionals and its relationship with other related constructs

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Visual Performance of Eyes with Residual Refractive Errors after Implantation of an Extended Vision Intraocular Lens

Background. To analyze the tolerance on distance vision of different combined residual astigmatic situations in patients implanted with a novel wavefront shaping extended depth of focus (EDoF) intraocular lens (IOL). Methods. The study included patients implanted with the Acrysof® IQ Vivity® IOL. Uncorrected (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) were measured three months after surgery, considering CDVA as the reference situation of the study. Distance VA was also measured in different refractive situations: (A) with 0.50 diopters (D) of positive (myopization) and negative (hyperopization) defocus and (B) with a residual mixed astigmatic refraction induced by adding a combination of −0.25 D spherical and 0.50 D cylindrical lenses placed in vertical (against the rule-ATR), oblique, and horizontal (with the rule-WTR) positions. Results. The study included 30 eyes of 30 patients. UDVA and CDVA were −0.04 ± 0.05 and −0.05 ± 0.05 logMAR, respectively. VA values with +0.50 D and −0.50 D of defocus were 0.01 ± 0.06 and 0.00 ± 0.04 logMAR, respectively. VA was better with distance correction (p<0.001) and no differences were found between the myopic and the hyperopic situations (p=0.09). Distance VA for the ATR, oblique, and WTR astigmatic situations was 0.01 ± 0.05, 0.01 ± 0.06, and 0.01 ± 0.04 logMAR, respectively. VA was better for the reference situation (p<0.001) and no differences were found among the three astigmatic situations (p=0.21). Conclusions. Low residual defocus and mixed astigmatic errors, regardless of its orientation, seem to be tolerated by patients implanted with the studied EDoF IOL. This trial is registered with NCT05392998. Registered 26 May 2022-Retrospectively registered

Spectrum of MLH1 and MSH2 mutations in Chilean Families with suspected Lynch syndrome

PURPOSE: Lynch syndrome is the most common inherited syndrome of colorectal cancer, caused principally by germline mutations in MLH1 and MSH2. We report our experience with genetic screening in the diagnosis of Lynch syndrome in Chile, a country previously underserved in the capacity to diagnose hereditary colorectal cancer. METHODS: Families from our Familial Colorectal Cancer Registry were selected for this study if they fulfilled either Amsterdam I/II or Bethesda criteria for classification of Lynch syndrome. Analysis of colorectal tumors from probands included a microsatellite instability study and immunohistochemical evaluation for MLH1 and MSH2. Screening of germline mutations was performed by single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing. RESULTS: A total of 21 families were evaluated, 14 meeting Amsterdam criteria and 7 meeting Bethesda criteria. Tumors in 20 families (95%) showed microsatellite instability (19 high and 1 low) and 9 of these 20 families (

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome in Chile: clinical features, evolution and prognostic factors

Background: Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by acute renal failure, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. Aim: To describe the characteristics of patients with the diagnosis of HUS in Chile, and to identify the most reliable early predictors of morbidity and mortality. Material and methods: The clinical records of patients with HUS aged less than 15 years, attended between January 1990 and December 2003 in 15 hospitals, were reviewed. Demographic, clinical, biochemical, hematological parameters, morbidity and mortality were analyzed. Results: A cohort of 587 patients aged 2 to 8 years, 48% males, was analyzed. Ninety two percent had diarrhea. At the moment of diagnosis, anuria was observed in 39% of the patients, hypertension in 45% and seizures in 17%. Forty two percent required renal replacement therapy (RRT) and peritoneal dialysis was used in the majority of cases (78%). The most frequently isolated etiological agent was Escherichia coli. Mortality rate was 2.9% in the acute phase of the disease and there was a positive correlation between mortality and anuria, seizures, white blood cell count (WCC) >20.000/mm3 and requirements of renal replacement therapy (p <0.05). Twelve percent of patients evolved to chronic renal failure and the risk factors during the acute phase were the need for renal replacement therapy, anuria, WCC >20.000/mm3, seizures and hypertension. Conclusions: The present study emphasizes important clinical and epidemiological aspects of HUS in a Chilean pediatric population

Conditional cash transfer programmes: the recent experience in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes BibliographySpanish version available at the LibraryForeword Alicia BárcenaThis document summarizes experience with conditional cash transfer or "co-responsibility" (CCT) programmes in Latin America and the Caribbean, over a period lasting more than 15 years. During this time, CCTs have consolidated and spread through the region's various countries as a tool of choice for poverty-reduction policy. This document, which it is hoped will serve as a basis and input for discussion and progress in building social-protection systems premised on inclusion and universal rights, provides detailed information on the different components of CCTs. It also reviews their main characteristics in terms of the definition and registration of programme users, the targeting mechanisms used, the various types of benefits provided, and the conditionalities attached to them. It then analyses the historical trend of the indicators of CCT investment and coverage, and the information available 8 ECLAC on their effects in different domains. Lastly, it makes an assessment of the experience and the main challenges that these programmes pose in terms of their sustainability, legal framework, accountability, participation, institutionality and inter-sectoral characteristics