Défices neuro-psicológicos nas perturbações internalizantes e externalizantes: Implicações para aumentar a eficácia das intervenções cognitivo-comportamentais em crianças e adolescentes

Over the past three decades, our understanding of the nature, assessment and treatment of childhood mental disorders has increased significantly. Some of the most recent advances come from transdiagnostic and neuropsychological-based approaches. While the relationship of similar neuropsychological deficits with some mental disorders, such as neurodevelopmental and severe mental disorders like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, is widely established, there is more controversy about their relationship with the so-called internalizing and externalizing disorders. In this article, our goal was to highlight the potential of incorporating cognitive strategies from integrative neuropsychological and transdiagnostic approaches to improve the effectiveness of empirically-supported cognitive-behavioral therapy for internalizing and externalizing mental disorders in childhood and adolescence. The results of the present work indicate that the vast majority of internalizing disorders, including the presence of anxiety, depressive, trauma- and stress-related, and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, as well as externalizing symptoms (corresponding to conduct disorder and ODD), present neuropsychological deficits and that their consideration may be relevant to improve the effectiveness of psychotherapeutic interventions in children and adolescents by incorporating neuropsychology-based assessment and treatment tools. The inclusion of neuropsychological support strategies in therapy for childhood mental disorders implies an advance and has clear implications for the enhancement of psychological care for childhood mental disorders.Ao longo das últimas três décadas, a nossa compreensão da natureza, avaliação e tratamento das perturbações mentais na infância aumentou significativamente. Alguns dos avanços mais recentes derivam de abordagens transdiagnósticas e neuropsicológicas. Embora a relação de défices neuropsicológicos com algumas perturbações mentais, como as perturbações neurodesenvolvimentais e com perturbações mentais graves, como a esquizofrenia e a perturbação bipolar, seja amplamente reconhecida, existe maior controvérsia acerca da sua relação com as perturbações internalizantes e externalizantes. Este artigo teve como objetivo destacar o potencial de incorporar estratégias cognitivas derivadas de abordagens transdiagnósticas neuropsicológicas integradoras para aumentar a eficácia de tratamentos cognitivo-comportamentais empiricamente validados para perturbações internalizantes e externalizantes na infância e na adolescência. Os resultados do presente trabalho indicam que tanto a vasta maioria de perturbações internalizantes (incluindo perturbações de ansiedade, perturbações depressivas, perturbações relacionadas com trauma e fatores de stress, e perturbações obsessivo-compulsivas e relacionadas) como perturbações externalizantes (como perturbação do comportamento e perturbação desafiante de oposição), apresentam défices neuropsicológicos, e que a consideração destes défices pode ser relevante para melhorar a eficácia de intervenções psicoterapêuticas com crianças e adolescentes, incorporando ferramentas neuropsicológicas de avaliação e tratamento. A inclusão de estratégias neuropsicológicas de suporte na intervenção terapêutica para as perturbações mentais infantis implica um avanço e tem implicações claras na melhoria de cuidados psicológicos a esta população

Confirmatory factor analysis and psychometric properties of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale−30 (RCADS-30) in clinical and non-clinical samples

Abstract: The 30-item shortened version of the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-30) is a self-report instrument to assess symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders. This study examined the factor structure, reliability, and construct validity of the RCADS-30, based on a sample of children and adolescents in clinical and community settings. Results provide evidence for (a) the six factors of the scale (separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and major depressive disorder), (b) reliability (alpha and omega), and (c) convergent and discriminant validity against self-report and clinical interview criteria. The RCADS-30 demonstrated sound psychometric properties and that it is a suitable instrument to assess depression and anxiety disorder symptoms. Based on established cut-off scores, the scale also showed adequate capacity to differentiate emotional disorders from other mental disorders or the absence of diagnosis.Resumen: Análisis factorial confirmatorio y propiedades psicométricas de la Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-30) en muestras clínicas y no clínicas. La versión abreviada de 30 ítems de la Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS-30) es un instrumento de autoinforme para evaluar síntomas de los trastornos de ansiedad y depresivos. Este estudio examinó la estructura factorial, la fiabilidad y la validez de constructo de la RCADS-30 en una muestra de niños y adolescentes procedentes de muestras clínicas y comunitarias. Los resultados aportan evidencia sobre (a) los seis factores de la escala (trastorno de ansiedad de separación, trastorno de ansiedad generalizada, trastorno de pánico, fobia social, trastorno obsesivo-compulsivo, y trastorno depresivo mayor), (b) fiabilidad (alfa y omega), y (c) validez convergente y discriminante sobre autoinformes y entrevista clínica. La RCADS-30 demostró poseer buenas propiedades psicométricas y ser adecuada para evaluar los síntomas de los trastornos de ansiedad y depresivos. Sobre la base de puntos de corte establecidos, la escala mostró adecuada capacidad para diferenciar los trastornos emocionales de otros problemas mentales o la ausencia de diagnóstico.

Fear of COVID-19 and emotional dysfunction problems: Intrusive, avoidance and hyperarousal stress as key mediators

Background: There is mounting empirical evidence of the detrimental effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on mental health. Previous research has underscored the effects of similar destabilizing situations such as war, natural disasters or other pandemics on acute stress levels which have been shown to exacerbate current and future psychopathological symptoms. Aim: To explore the role of acute stress responses (intrusive, avoidance and hyperarousal) as mediators in the association between fear of COVID-19 and emotional dysfunction-related problems: Depression, agoraphobia, panic, obsessive-compulsive, generalized anxiety, social anxiety and health anxiety symptoms. Methods: A sample of 439 participants from a university community in Spain (age: mean ± SD: 36.64 ± 13.37; 73.1% females) completed several measures assessing their fear of COVID-19, acute stress responses and emotional dysfunction syndromes through an online survey. Data collection was carried out from the start of home confinement in Spain until May 4, 2020, coinciding with initial de-escalation measures. Processing of the dataset included descriptive and frequency analyses, Mann-Whitney U Test of intergroup comparisons and path analysis for direct and indirect effects. This is an observational, descriptive-correlational and cross-sectional study. Results: The prevalence of clinical symptoms in our sample, reported since the beginning of the pandemic, reached 31.44%. The female group presented higher scores although the effect size was small. Overall, the participants who exceeded the clinical cut-off points in emotional problems showed higher levels of fear of COVID-19 and of cognitive, motor and psychophysiological responses of acute stress, unlike the group with normative scores. In addition, the results show significant mediated effects of hyperarousal stress among fear of COVID-19 and emotional dysfunction psychopathology. However, the clinical syndromes most related to the consequences of the pandemic (e.g., social contact avoidance or frequent hand washing), such as agoraphobia and obsessive-compulsive symptoms, were in fact predicted directly by fear of COVID-19 and/or the acute stress response associated with the pandemic and had a greater predictive power. Conclusion: The present study illustrates a clearer picture of the role of acute stress on several forms of psychopathology during the COVID-19 crisis and home confinement

La bomba de mecate en abastecimientos de agua y aplicaciones para la seguridad alimentaria

El camino de la lucha contra el hambre pasa por asegurar la disponibilidad y la accesibilidad de los alimentos para todas las personas. Para poder garantizar esto se requiere de un apoyo tecnológico tanto en la mejora de la productividad, obteniendo mayor cantidad de alimentos de calidad por superficie cultivada, cómo en los recursos empleados y la accesibilidad de los mismos. Es en este punto dónde las tecnologías aplicadas al desarrollo humano juegan un papel decisivo. Este artículo plantea el empleo de la Bomba de Mecate sobrelevada (BM-II) como método para lograr la Seguridad Alimentaria y su aplicación a un caso concreto. Nacido del trabajo desarrollado en el Grupo de Cooperación Sistemas de Agua y Saneamiento para el Desarrollo y el proyecto de Innovación educativa Diseño y Tecnología para el Desarrollo Humano desde el laboratorio de Hidráulica Aplicada de la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería y Diseño Industrial (ETSIDI) de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)

Short Form of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth Self-Report (PSC-17-Y): Spanish Validation Study

Background: The short form, 17-item version of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist-Youth Self-Report (PSC-17-Y) is a validated measure that assesses psychosocial problems overall (OVR) and in 3 major psychopathological domains (internalizing, externalizing, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder), taking 5-10 min to complete. Prior research has established sound psychometric properties of the PSC-17-Y for English speakers. Objective: This study extends psychometric evidence for the acceptability of the PSC-17-Y in a large sample of Spanish adolescents, providing proof of its reliability and structure, convergent and discriminant validity, and longitudinal and gender invariance. Methods: Data were collected on 5430 adolescents, aged 12-18 years, who filled out the PSC-17-Y twice during 2018-2019 (7-month interval). We calculated the Cronbach alpha and the McDonald omega coefficients to test reliability, the Pearson correlation for convergent (distress) and criterion validity (well-being, quality of life, and socioemotional skills), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for structure validity, and multigroup and longitudinal measurement invariance analysis for longitudinal and gender stability. Results: Within structural analysis for the PSC-17-Y, CFA supported a correlated 3-factor solution, which was also invariant longitudinally and across gender. All 3 subscales showed evidence of reliability, with coefficients near or above .70. Moreover, scores of PSC-17-Y subscales were positively related with convergent measures and negatively related with criterion measures. Normative data for the PSC-17-Y are presented in the form of percentiles (75th and 90th). Conclusions: This work provides the first evidence of the reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the PSC-17-Y administered over the internet to assess mental health problems among adolescents, maintaining the same domains as the long version

Chiari Syndrome: Advances in Epidemiology and Pathogenesis: A Systematic Review

Arnold Chiari Syndrome; Hydrocephalus; ScoliosisSíndrome de Arnold Chiari; Hidrocefalia; EscoliosisSíndrome d'Arnold Chiari; Hidrocefàlia; EscoliosiArnold Chiari syndrome is a rare congenital disease of unknown prevalence and whose origin is still under study. It is encompassed within the posterior cranial malformations, showing a wide spectrum of symptomatology that can range from severe headache, dizziness, and paresthesia to complete asymptomatology. It is for this reason that early diagnosis of the disease is difficult, and it is usually diagnosed in adolescence. Treatment is based on remodeling and decompression of the malformed posterior cranial fossa, although the risk of residual symptoms after surgery is high. The aim of this review is to update all the existing information on this pathology by means of an exhaustive analysis covering all the scientific literature produced in the last 5 years. In addition, it has been carried out following the PRISMA model and registered in PROSPERO with code CRD42023394490. One of the main conclusions based on the results obtained in this review is that the origin of the syndrome could have a genetic basis and that the treatment of choice is the decompression of the posterior cerebral fossa

Leukotriene B4-loaded microspheres: a new therapeutic strategy to modulate cell activation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Leukotriene B₄(LTB₄) is a potent inflammatory mediator that also stimulates the immune response. In addition, it promotes polymorphonuclear leukocyte phagocytosis, chemotaxis, chemokinesis and modulates cytokines release. Regarding chemical instability of the leukotriene molecule, in the present study we assessed the immunomodulatory activities conferred by LTB₄released from microspheres (MS). A previous oil-in-water emulsion solvent extraction-evaporation method was chosen to prepare LTB₄-loaded MS.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the mice cremasteric microcirculation, intraescrotal injection of 0.1 ml of LTB₄-loaded MS provoked significant increases in leukocyte rolling flux, adhesion and emigration besides significant decreases in the leukocyte rolling velocity. LTB₄-loaded MS also increase peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα) expression by murine peritoneal macrophages and stimulate them to generate nitrite levels. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and nitric oxide (NO) productions were also increased when human umbilical vein and artery endothelial cells (HUVECs and HUAECs, respectively) were stimulated with LTB₄-loaded MS.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>LTB₄-loaded MS preserve the biological activity of the encapsulated mediator indicating their use as a new strategy to modulate cell activation, especially in the innate immune response.</p

Unidad Técnica de Biblioteca y Documentación de la Estación Experimental de Aula Dei (CSIC) (Z-EEAD)

2 Pag. A-3, 1 Fot., 1 Map.Información actualizada de la Unidad Técnica de Biblioteca y Documentación (UTBD) de la Estación Experimental de Aula Dei (EEAD-CSIC), una de las 78 Bibliotecas que conforman la Red de Bibliotecas CSIC, en consonancia con la proporcionada en reciente Plan Estratégico CSIC 2010-2013. Incluye relación de Prestaciones de servicio ofrecidas para el período 2010-2013.Peer reviewe