Testing the efficacy of INtegral Cognitive REMediation (INCREM) in major depressive disorder : study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

Given the limitation of pharmacological treatments to treat cognitive symptoms in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), cognitive remediation programs has been proposed as a possible procognitive intervention but findings are not conclusive. This study investigates the efficacy of an INtegral Cognitive REMediation (INCREM) that includes a combination of a Functional Remediation (FR) strategy plus a Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) in order to improve not only cognitive performance but also the psychosocial functioning and the quality of life. A single blind randomized controlled clinical trial in 81 patients with a diagnosis of MDD in clinical remission or in partial remission. Participants will be randomized to one of three conditions: INCREM (FR + CCT), Psychoeducation plus online games and Treatment As Usual (TAU). Intervention will consist in 12 group sessions, of approximately 110 min once a week. The primary outcome measure will be % of change in psychosocial functioning after treatment measured by the Functional Assessment Short Test (FAST); additionally, number of sick leaves and daily activities will also be recorded as pragmatic outcomes. To our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled clinical trial using a combination of two different approaches (FR + CCT) to treat the present cognitive deficits and to promote their improvements into a better psychosocial functioning. Clinical Trials . Date registered 10th of August 2018 and last updated 24th August 2018

Factores socio-demográficos implicados en la relación entre la ansiedad hacia las matemáticas y el rendimiento matemático: una revisión paraguas

Introduction: several studies provide evidence on the negative association between mathematics anxiety and mathematics achievement. However, there is no consensus on the factors that moderate this relationship. The present research synthesized the results in relation to the association between mathematics anxiety and mathematics achievement, as well as certain variables that influence this link.Methods: an umbrella review of meta-analyses conducted between 2015-2022, including a total of 505 studies.Discussion: the results confirm the negative association between math anxiety and mathematics achievement. This relationship extends from elementary school to adulthood, and is not specific to the academic context. Weaker correlations are established during primary school samples, while the strongest correlations are identified in secondary school and pre-university groups. This association is not influenced by gender, and varies between geographic regions. Specifically, it was stronger in Asian students, compared to European and American students.Conclusions: the results suggest the need of future research efforts to design actions for the early identification of children at risk of math anxiety and support them, in order to increase their performance in this domain of knowledge in academic and everyday life settings where Mathematics is relevant for decision making and individual success. It also contributes elements to the debate on MA as a specific anxiety disorder and its inclusion in the diagnostic manuals of mental disorders.Introducción: diversos estudios proveen evidencias sobre la asociación negativa entre la ansiedad hacia las matemáticas y el rendimiento matemático. Sin embargo, no hay consenso sobre los factores que moderan esta relación. La presente investigación sintetizó los resultados en relación al vínculo entre ansiedad hacia las matemáticas y rendimiento matemático, así como determinadas variables que influyen en dicho vínculo. Métodos: se realizó un estudio de revisión paraguas de meta-análisis realizados entre los años 2015-2022, que incluyeron un total de 505 estudios.Discusión: los resultados confirman la asociación negativa entre ansiedad hacia las matemáticas y el rendimiento matemático. Esta relación se extiende desde la enseñanza primaria hasta la adultez, y no es específica del contexto académico. Durante la enseñanza primaria se establecen correlaciones más débiles, mientras que las correlaciones más fuertes se identifican en secundaria y preuniversitario. Dicha asociación es similar para ambos sexos, y varía entre regiones geográficas. Específicamente, fue más fuerte en estudiantes asiáticos, que en estudiantes europeos y estadounidenses. Conclusiones: los resultados recomiendan realizar futuros esfuerzos de investigación para desarrollar acciones de identificación temprana de niños en riesgo de sufrir ansiedad hacia las matemáticas y apoyarlos para incrementar su rendimiento en este dominio del conocimiento en escenarios docentes y de la vida cotidiana donde este dominio del conocimiento es relevante para la toma de decisiones y el éxito individual. Asimismo, aporta elementos al debate sobre la AM como un trastorno específico de ansiedad y su inclusión en los manuales de diagnóstico de los trastornos mentales

Testing the efficacy of INtegral Cognitive REMediation (INCREM) in major depressive disorder: study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

Background: Given the limitation of pharmacological treatments to treat cognitive symptoms in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), cognitive remediation programs has been proposed as a possible procognitive intervention but findings are not conclusive. This study investigates the efficacy of an INtegral Cognitive REMediation (INCREM) that includes a combination of a Functional Remediation (FR) strategy plus a Computerized Cognitive Training (CCT) in order to improve not only cognitive performance but also the psychosocial functioning and the quality of life. Methods: A single blind randomized controlled clinical trial in 81 patients with a diagnosis of MDD in clinical remission or in partial remission. Participants will be randomized to one of three conditions: INCREM (FR + CCT), Psychoeducation plus online games and Treatment As Usual (TAU). Intervention will consist in 12 group sessions, of approximately 110 min once a week. The primary outcome measure will be % of change in psychosocial functioning after treatment measured by the Functional Assessment Short Test (FAST); additionally, number of sick leaves and daily activities will also be recorded as pragmatic outcomes. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first randomized controlled clinical trial using a combination of two different approaches (FR + CCT) to treat the present cognitive deficits and to promote their improvements into a better psychosocial functioning. Trial registration: Clinical Trials NCT03624621 . Date registered 10th of August 2018 and last updated 24th August 2018

Proposta de metodologia a seguir per la presa de decisions davant les diferents alternatives de millora en l'accessibilitat d'una estació

En la presa de decisió d'execució de proj~ctes d'accessibilitat cal que intervinguin, a mes deis aspectes c1assicsde minimització de cost, nous criteris com la maximització del benefici social. Així, aquest article proposa a partir de I'avaluació individual de nivell d'accessibilitat de cada estació, un mecanisme de presa de decisions per tal d'obtenir un millor benefici social amb menys costo Amb aquest sistema es pretén aconseguir una avaluació de les diferents alternatives objectiva i quantitativa en un món de característiques qualitatives, assegurant una correcte relació cost/benefici social.Postprint (published version

Famílies botàniques de plantes medicinals

Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona. Ensenyament: Grau de Farmàcia, Assignatura: Botànica Farmacèutica, Curs: 2013-2014, Coordinadors: Joan Simon, Cèsar Blanché i Maria Bosch.Els materials que aquí es presenten són els recull de 175 treballs d’una família botànica d’interès medicinal realitzats de manera individual. Els treballs han estat realitzat per la totalitat dels estudiants dels grups M-2 i M-3 de l’assignatura Botànica Farmacèutica durant els mesos d’abril i maig del curs 2013-14. Tots els treballs s’han dut a terme a través de la plataforma de GoogleDocs i han estat tutoritzats pel professor de l’assignatura i revisats i finalment co-avaluats entre els propis estudiants. L’objectiu principal de l’activitat ha estat fomentar l’aprenentatge autònom i col·laboratiu en Botànica farmacèutica

A real-world study of the association between a brief group psychoeducation and the course of bipolar disorder

Although pharmacotherapy is considered the first-line treatment for bipolar disorders (BD), adjunctive psychoeducation has proven its effectiveness in improving self-management of the disease and reducing relapse rates. Few studies have evaluated the effect of brief group psychoeducation on pragmatic variables, such as the number of hospitalizations. The aim of the present study was to assess the mid-term effect of a four-session group psychoeducation on course-related variables in BD. Thirty-two individuals with BD were included in the study. Sixteen were exposed to psychoeducation and were matched to sixteen nonexposed individuals who received their usual treatment. Both groups were compared on insight, treatment adherence, change in the number of hospitalizations and visits to the emergency services, occurrence rate after intervention, and time to the first psychiatric hospitalization and the first urgent attendance. There was a significant reduction in the mean number of hospitalizations and urgent attendances in the exposed group in comparison to the nonexposed group. The first urgent attendance was significantly sooner in the nonexposed cohort. There were no differences between groups in any of the other variables. This intervention has shown benefits for pragmatic variables of the disease course and may be a feasible and cost-effective intervention to routinely implement in the management of BD

Proposta de metodologia a seguir per la presa de decisions davant les diferents alternatives de millora en l'accessibilitat d'una estació

En la presa de decisió d'execució de proj~ctes d'accessibilitat cal que intervinguin, a mes deis aspectes c1assicsde minimització de cost, nous criteris com la maximització del benefici social. Així, aquest article proposa a partir de I'avaluació individual de nivell d'accessibilitat de cada estació, un mecanisme de presa de decisions per tal d'obtenir un millor benefici social amb menys costo Amb aquest sistema es pretén aconseguir una avaluació de les diferents alternatives objectiva i quantitativa en un món de característiques qualitatives, assegurant una correcte relació cost/benefici social

Consumption of peanut products improves memory and stress response in healthy adults from the ARISTOTLE study: A 6-month randomized controlled trial

Background: Peanuts are rich in bioactive compounds that may have a positive impact on memory and stress response. Objective: To evaluate the effect of regular consumption of peanut products on cognitive functions and stress response in healthy young adults. Design: A three-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted in 63 healthy young adults that consumed 25 g/day of skin roasted peanuts (SRP, n = 21), 32 g/d of peanut butter (PB, n = 23) or 32 g/d of a control butter made from peanut oil (free of phenolic compounds and fiber) (CB, n = 19) for six months. Polyphenol intake, cognitive functions, and anxiety and depression scores were evaluated using validated tests. Fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and plasma and fecal fatty acids were assessed by chromatographic methods. Urinary cortisol was quantified by an enzymatic method. Results: Comparing the two interventions with the control, a significant reduction in anxiety scores was observed in the SRP compared to the CB group. After the intervention, consumers of SRP and PB had an improved immediate memory (p = 0.046 and p = 0.011). Lower anxiety scores were associated with SRP and PB (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively) and lower depression scores with SRP, PB and CB (p = 0.007, p = 0.003 and p = 0.032, respectively). Memory functions and stress response were significantly correlated with polyphenol intake, fecal SCFAs, plasma and fecal very long chain saturated fatty acids (VLCSFAs). Conclusions: Regular peanut and peanut butter consumption may enhance memory function and stress response in a healthy young population. These effects seem to be associated with the intake of peanut polyphenols, increased levels of fecal SCFAs, and unexpectedly, VLCSFAs, which were also present in the control product. Keywords: Cognition; Gut-brain axis; Polyphenols; Resveratrol; Short-chain fatty acids; Very long-chain saturated fatty acids

Proposta de metodologia a seguir per la presa de decisions davant les diferents alternatives de millora en l'accessibilitat d'una estació

En la presa de decisió d'execució de proj~ctes d'accessibilitat cal que intervinguin, a mes deis aspectes c1assicsde minimització de cost, nous criteris com la maximització del benefici social. Així, aquest article proposa a partir de I'avaluació individual de nivell d'accessibilitat de cada estació, un mecanisme de presa de decisions per tal d'obtenir un millor benefici social amb menys costo Amb aquest sistema es pretén aconseguir una avaluació de les diferents alternatives objectiva i quantitativa en un món de característiques qualitatives, assegurant una correcte relació cost/benefici social