Variação diurna do cortisol e sua relação com o estresse: otimismo e estratégias de enfrentamento em mulheres com câncer de mama

O ritmo diurno do cortisol vem sendo visto alterado nos pacientes com câncer. Fatores como o avanço da doença e os níveis de estresse estão sendo considerados para explicar essa condição; contudo, os resultados não são claros. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e determinar se existem diferenças nos níveis de cortisol em mulheres com câncer de mama de diferentes estágios, bem como analisar estratégias de enfrentamento. Foram coletadas amostras de cortisol salival durante dois dias e aplicados questionários psicológicos de estresse percebido, otimismo disposicional e estratégias de enfrentamento a 17 mulheres com câncer de mama em estágio I, II e III. Os resultados mostram que as pacientes com esse câncer nos três estágios apresentam um ritmo diurno de cortisol normal e não se diferenciam significativamente na variável de otimismo. A respeito das variáveis psicológicas, só diferem na variável de otimismo. As estratégias de enfrentamento -espírito de luta e evitação cognitiva- são as variáveis que têm mais influência nos níveis de cortisol e explicam 55% da variação. Discutem-se as implicações desses resultados.El ritmo diurno del cortisol se ha visto alterado en los pacientes con cáncer. Factores como el avance de la enfermedad y los niveles de estrés se han considerado para explicar esta condición; sin embargo, los resultados no son claros. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar y determinar si existen diferencias en los niveles de cortisol en mujeres con cáncer de mama en diferentes estadios, y analizar la relación entre los niveles de cortisol y el estrés, el optimismo y las estrategias de afrontamiento. Se recolectaron muestras de cortisol salival durante dos días, y se aplicaron cuestionarios psicológicos de estrés percibido (PSS), optimismo disposicional (LOT-R) y estrategias de afrontamiento (MAC) a 17 mujeres con cáncer de mama en estadio I, II y III. Los resultados muestran que las pacientes con cáncer de mama en los tres estadios presentan un ritmo diurno de cortisol normal y no difieren significativamente en los niveles de cortisol. Respecto a las variables psicológicas, solo difieren en la variable de optimismo. Las estrategias de afrontamiento espíritu de lucha y evitación cognitiva son las variables que tienen más influencia en los niveles de cortisol, y explican un 55% de la varianza. Se discuten las implicaciones de estos resultados.Diurnal cortisol rhythm has been altered in patients with cancer. Factors such as disease progression and stress levels are regarded as possible causes to explain this condition, however results are not clear. The aim of this study was to assess and determine whether there are differences in cortisol levels in women with breast cancer in different stages and analyze the relationship between cortisol levels and stress, optimism and coping strategies. Salivary cortisol samples were collected for two days and psychological questionnaires of perceived stress (PSS), dispositional optimism (LOT-R) and coping strategies (MAC) were administered to 17 breast cancer women in stage I, II and III of the disease. The results show that patients with breast cancer in the three stages have a normal diurnal cortisol rhythm and do not differ significantly in cortisol levels. Regarding the psychological variables, they differ only in optimism. Coping strategies such as fighting spirit and cognitive avoidance are the variables that have more influence on cortisol levels, explaining 55% of variance. The implications of these results are discussed

Factor Structure of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) in a Sample from Mexico

The aim of this study was to analyze the cultural adaptation of the European Spanish version of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS; Cohen, Kamarak, & Mermelstein, 1983), for its use in Mexican samples. Using a random sample of students, internal consistency was analyzed and the factor structure of the Spanish version of the PSS was compared with the factor structure found in the English version. Internal consistency was adequate (= .83) and confirmatory factor analysis corroborated the factor structure. Factor 1 explained 42.8% of the variance and Factor 2 accounted for 53.2%. The goodness-of fit measures also revealed an adequate fit. The cultural adaptation of the PSS was also evaluated with satisfactory results.El estudio tiene como propósito valorar la adaptación cultural realizada a la versión española de la Escala de Estrés Percibido (Cohen, Kamarak y Mermelstein, 1983), para ser utilizada en muestras de México. Se analizó la consistencia interna y la estructura factorial de la versión en español del PSS y se comparó con la estructura factorial encontrada para la versión en inglés, utilizando una muestra aleatoria de estudiantes. Los resultados indican una adecuada consistencia interna (= .83) y se confirma la estructura factorial al utilizarse análisis factorial confirmatorio; con el Factor 1 explicando un 42.8% de la varianza y el Factor 2, un 53.2%, así como estadísticos de ajuste aceptables en el AFC. Asimismo, se evaluó, con resultados satisfactorios, la adaptación cultural realizada para el PSS

DIFERENCIAS EN ESTRÉS PERCIBIDO, SALUD MENTAL Y FÍSICA DE ACUERDO AL TIPO DE RELACIÓN HUMANO-PERRO / DIFFERENCES IN PERCEIVED STRESS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND PHYSICAL HEALTH ACCORDING TO TYPES OF HUMAN-PET DOG RELATIONSHIPS

This study was carried out in order to assess whether the levelsof perceived stress and health differed depending on typesof human-pet dog relationships, and to evaluate the correlationbetween perceived stress and health and the frequencywith which activities are carried out with the dogs. Self-reportquestionnaires were filled out by 247 volunteers owning atleast one dog. The results show lower levels of perceived stressand higher levels of mental health in those individuals whoconsider the dog a member of the family. Furthermore, significantcorrelations were found between dog-training activitiesand stress and mental health, between playing with the dogand vitality and mental health, and between walking the dogand vitality. The conclusion was that those individuals whoconsider their dogs as members of the family and carry outmore activities with them have better physical and mentalhealth, as well as lower levels of perceived stress

Detección de macrófagos infectados con Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis en una vaca en fase clínica IV de la enfermedad de Johne. Reporte de un caso

ABSTRACT: Anamnesis: a six-year-old milking Holstein cow (Bos taurus taurus) was diagnosed with stage IV Johne´s Disease (JD). Clinical and Laboratory findings: the cow suffered intermittent diarrhea during 6 months with no response to antibiotic treatment. Consequently, the cow was subjected to euthanasia. Treatment approach: antemortem milk and peripheral blood samples and postmortem colon, mediastinic, mesenteric lymph nodes, and spleen samples were processed for macrophages isolation. Total DNA was extracted from macrophages and used to diagnose IS900 of Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) through real time PCR. The MAP IS900 segment was successfully amplified from cells of all samples, indicating that these cells were MAP-infected macrophages. Conclusion: macrophages of cows suffering from JD can be used for amplification of the MAP IS900 segment.RESUMEN: una vaca Holstein de 6 años de edad (Bos taurus taurus) presentó sintomatología de la fase IV de la enfermedad de Johne. Hallazgos clínicos y de laboratorio: la vaca presentó diarrea intermitente durante 6 meses sin respuesta al tratamiento con antibióticos. En consecuencia, la vaca fue sometida a eutanasia. Esquema de tratamiento: muestras de leche y de sangre periférica se tomaron ante-mortem; muestras de la mucosa del intestino, bazo y linfonodos mediastínico y mesentérico, se tomaron post-mortem, todas para aislamiento de macrófagos. El ADN total de los macrófagos fue usado para la amplificación del segmento IS900 de Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP) por PCR en tiempo real. Conclusión: los macrófagos de vacas con la enfermedad de Johne pueden ser usados para la amplificación del segmento IS900 de MAP

Universidades públicas, autonomia política universitária e escolha de reitores: prenúncio do campo político e universitário

AbstracThe article takes over the historical-conceptual course of university autonomy, its guidelines for the election of chancellors, and the situation appointed within an associative experience of Latin American public universities to show, in a comprehensive manner, the university political autonomy. A beginning approach of representations as political dispossession of university staff is put in evidence, and, as such, the emergence of university political field.El artículo retoma el devenir histórico-conceptual de la autonomía universitaria, sus orientaciones para la elección de rectores y la situación instituida dentro de una experiencia asociativa de universidades públicas latinoamericanas para mostrar, de manera comprensiva, la autonomía política universitaria. Posiciona un planteamiento liminar acerca de la representación como desposesión política de los universitarios y, en cuanto tal, la emergencia del campo político universitario.ResumoO artigo apresenta o quadro histórico-conceitual da autonomia universitária, as suas orientações para a eleição dos reitores e a situação de uma experiência de associação das universidades públicas da América Latina para divulgar amplamente a autonomia política universitária. Argumenta de entrada que a representação é o despojo político dos universitários e, portanto, o surgimento do campo político universitário

About Piketty’s book Capital in the Twenty-First Century: A reading from Ecuador

O libro El capital en el siglo XXI, escrito por el francés Thomas Pikett y, se ha constituido en un referente mundial para todo aquel que quiera entender, reflexionar y analizar cómo se produce la desigualdad de ingresos y la concentración de la riqueza en el capitalismo. El presente texto realiza una reseña sobre el libro del francés, poniendo de relieve los principales hallazgos y lecciones sobre qué aprender de la historia sobre la producción de la desigualdad del ingreso y la riqueza en los más de dos siglos de evidencia empírica.Palabras clave: desigualdad, capitalismo, concentración de la riqueza.The book Capital in the Twenty-First Century, written by the French author Thomas Piketty, has become a world reference for anyone who wants to understand, reflect and analyze how income inequality and concentration of wealth occur in capitalism. This paper makes a review of this book, highlighting the key findings and lessons to learn from the history of the production of income inequality and wealth in more than two centuries of empirical evidence.Keywords: inequality, capitalism, concentration of wealth

INSTITUCIONALIZACIÓN DO PREDOMINIO PRIVADO NA EDUCAÇÃO SUPERIOR COLOMBIANA. PREFIGURACIONES DO CAMPO DE POLÍTICAS

The article provides comprehensive keys on the institutionalization of the predominance of private institutional supply and the sectoral alternation in the tuition of higher education in Colombia, assuming as analytical perspective to progressively develop their policy field.El artículo suministra claves comprensivas sobre la institucionalización del predominio privado en la oferta institucional y la alternancia sectorial en la matrícula de la educación superior colombiana, asumiendo como perspectiva analítica la progresiva configuración de su campo de políticas.O artigo prevê chaves compreensivo sobre a institucionalização da predominância de privada na oferta institucional e sectorial alternância na matricula do ensino superior na Colômbia, assumindo como perspectiva analítica para desenvolver progressivamente o seu campo político