Efectos derivados de la acción voluntaria: inventario de consecuencias de la acción voluntaria (ICAV)

La relación entre voluntario y sujeto beneficiario de la acción se centra en los problemas de éste, y no siempre se ofrece solución para los mismos. Es por ello, que los voluntarios que desarrollan actividades sociosanitarias puedan constituir un colectivo de alto riesgo de síndrome de burnout. Este efecto provoca una importante incidencia en los abandonos y el nivel de éstos es menor que el que puede llegar a soportar los profesionales. Añadido a este hecho, los cuestionarios sobre burnoutno son sensibles para ser utilizados en muestras de voluntarios, de ahí la necesidad de crear pruebas sensibles, válidas y fiables satisfactorias como la propuesta en el presente estudio. El primer objetivo fue comprobar las características psicométricas del instrumento antes de formar conclusiones acerca de los resultados que de él se deriven. Los criterios psicométricos son aceptables dado que, la fiabilidad ofreció un valor de 0,83, la validez convergente mediante un modelo de regresión lineal múltiple se obtuvo un coeficiente de regresión de 0,29 con F=3,07 y un nivel de significación inferior a 0,05. La prueba presenta un estructura factorial con la presencia de tres factores ortogonales (depresión, preocupación por la salud y autorrealización). De este modo el ICAV puede resultar un instrumento satisfactorio para evaluar los indicadores de burnouten un colectivo carente de instrumentos de medida y de especial relevancia en el marco asistencial como es el voluntariado. El segundo objetivo fue valorar los niveles de burnout con el cuestionario creado en una muestra de 310 voluntarios de la Asociación Española contra el Cáncer. Los resultados obtenidos apuntan a que no se producen grandes alteraciones derivadas de la relación de ayuda. Sin embargo un pequeño grupo de sujetos presentan: distanciamiento afectivo, impaciencia, irritabilidad y sentimientos de frustración. Asimismo, otro grupo de voluntarios mostraron preocupación, miedo y creencias de tener una enfermedad grave. De ello se desprende la necesidad de complementar la formación del voluntario con un adecuado proceso de selección, seguimiento y apoyo psicológico si este fuera preciso.The relationship between volunteers and the individuals who benefit from their action focuses on the latters’ problems, and solutions are not always forthcoming. As a result, volunteers who carry out socio-sanitary activities may comprise a high-risk group for burnout syndrome. This effect produces a high incidence in volunteer drop-out, although the level is lower than the one that professionals may sustain. In addition, burnout questionnaires are not sufficiently susceptible for use in volunteer samples. Hence, the need to design sensitive, valid, and reliable instruments, such as the one proposed in this study. The first goal was to verify the psychometric properties of the instrument before drawing any conclusions about the results derived from its use. The psychometric criteria are acceptable, as reliability showed a value of .83, and the criterion validity, using a multiple linear regression model, obtained a regression coefficient of .29 with F= 3.07, and a significance level lower than 0.05. The instrument yielded a factor structure with three orthogonal factors (depression, concern about health, and self-realization). Thus, the ICAVcan be considered a satisfactory instrument to evaluate burnout indicators in a collective –the volunteers–where measuring instruments are lacking, and which is especially relevant in the assistential framework. The second goal was to assess burnout levels with the questionnaire in a sample of 310 volunteers from the Spanish Cancer Association. The results obtained reveal no remarkable alterations derived from the helping relationship. However, a small group of subjects present: affective distancing, impatience, irritability, and feelings of frustration. Similarly, another group of volunteers showed worry, fear, and beliefs of suffering from a severe illness. Hence, the need to compliment volunteers’ training with an adequate selection process, follow-up, and psychological support, if necessary

Efectos derivados de la acción voluntaria: inventario de consecuencias de la acción voluntaria (ICAV)

La relación entre voluntario y sujeto beneficiario de la acción se centra en los problemas de éste, y no siempre se ofrece solución para los mismos. Es por ello, que los voluntarios que desarrollan actividades sociosanitarias puedan constituir un colectivo de alto riesgo de síndrome de burnout. Este efecto provoca una importante incidencia en los abandonos y el nivel de éstos es menor que el que puede llegar a soportar los profesionales. Añadido a este hecho, los cuestionarios sobre burnoutno son sensibles para ser utilizados en muestras de voluntarios, de ahí la necesidad de crear pruebas sensibles, válidas y fiables satisfactorias como la propuesta en el presente estudio. El primer objetivo fue comprobar las características psicométricas del instrumento antes de formar conclusiones acerca de los resultados que de él se deriven. Los criterios psicométricos son aceptables dado que, la fiabilidad ofreció un valor de 0,83, la validez convergente mediante un modelo de regresión lineal múltiple se obtuvo un coeficiente de regresión de 0,29 con F=3,07 y un nivel de significación inferior a 0,05. La prueba presenta un estructura factorial con la presencia de tres factores ortogonales (depresión, preocupación por la salud y autorrealización). De este modo el ICAV puede resultar un instrumento satisfactorio para evaluar los indicadores de burnouten un colectivo carente de instrumentos de medida y de especial relevancia en el marco asistencial como es el voluntariado. El segundo objetivo fue valorar los niveles de burnout con el cuestionario creado en una muestra de 310 voluntarios de la Asociación Española contra el Cáncer. Los resultados obtenidos apuntan a que no se producen grandes alteraciones derivadas de la relación de ayuda. Sin embargo un pequeño grupo de sujetos presentan: distanciamiento afectivo, impaciencia, irritabilidad y sentimientos de frustración. Asimismo, otro grupo de voluntarios mostraron preocupación, miedo y creencias de tener una enfermedad grave. De ello se desprende la necesidad de complementar la formación del voluntario con un adecuado proceso de selección, seguimiento y apoyo psicológico si este fuera preciso

The deletion of residues 268-292 of E1 impairs the ability of HCV envelope proteins to induce pore formation

We have obtained a chimeric protein containing the ectodomains of hepatitis C virus (HCV) envelope proteins but lacking the region 268-292 of E1. All its structural properties are coincident with those of the corresponding full length chimera. The deleted and entire chimeras were compared in terms of their membrane destabilizing properties. No differences were found in their ability to induce vesicle aggregation and lipid mixing but the deleted chimera showed a reduced capacity to promote leakage. The role of the deletion was also studied by obtaining HCV pseudoparticles (HCVpp). Both E1 and E2, and also the E1 deleted mutant, were incorporated into HCVpp to a similar level. However, HCVpp containing the E1 deleted protein are almost unable to infect Huh7 cells. These results point to the involvement of the region 268-292 in the formation of pores in the membrane necessary for the complete fusion of the membranes

Study of the Putative Fusion Regions of the preS Domain of Hepatitis B Virus

In a previous study, it was shown that purified preS domains of hepatitis B virus (HBV) could interact with acidic phospholipid vesicles and induce aggregation, lipid mixing and leakage of internal contents which could be indicative of their involvement in the fusion of the viral and cellular membranes (Núñez, E. et al. 2009. Interaction of preS domains of hepatitis B virus with phospholipid vesicles. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 17884:417-424). In order to locate the region responsible for the fusogenic properties of preS, five mutant proteins have been obtained from the preS1 domain of HBV, in which 40 amino acids have been deleted from the sequence, with the starting point of each deletion moving 20 residues along the sequence. These proteins have been characterized by fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy, establishing that, in all cases, they retain their mostly non-ordered conformation with a high percentage of β structure typical of the full-length protein. All the mutants can insert into the lipid matrix of dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol vesicles. Moreover, we have studied the interaction of the proteins with acidic phospholipid vesicles and each one produces, to a greater or lesser extent, the effects of destabilizing vesicles observed with the full-length preS domain. The ability of all mutants, which cover the complete sequence of preS1, to destabilize the phospholipid bilayers points to a three-dimensional structure and/or distribution of amino acids rather than to a particular amino acid sequence as being responsible for the membrane fusion process

“Mucho x vivir”. Psychosocial care for women with breast cancer

Las consecuencias psicosociales del cáncer de mama han sido ampliamente documentadas. La Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC) desarrolla desde 1987 un programa de atención integral, Mucho x Vivir, dirigido a atender las necesidades psicológicas, sociales y de rehabilitación física (linfedema) de las pacientes operadas de cáncer de mama. En la actualidad atiende a 12.000 afectadas al año en 49 provincias españolas con la participación de más de 100 psicólogos. El programa incluye atención psicológica individual y grupal, atención social, actividades de ocio y tiempo libre, prevención y rehabilitación del linfedema, inserción laboral, voluntariado testimonial e información a través de Internet (www.muchoxvivir.org y Chat Consulta). La elevada participación y la mejora en la calidad de vida mostrada por diferentes estudios realizados avalan la necesidad de continuar desarrollando este programa y lo convierten en referente a nivel estatal de intervención psicosocial multidisciplinar.Breast cancer psychosocial consequences have been extensively documented. Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (AECC) is carrying out from 1987 a comprehensive attention program, ‘Mucho x Vivir’, aimed at meeting breast cancer patients’ psychological, social, physical (lymphedema) needs. It currently attends 12.000 patients every year at 49 Spanish provinces with more than 100 psychologists taking part in it. Program includes individual and group psychological attention, social attention, leisure activities, lymphedema rehabilitation, peer support and information through Internet (www.muchoxvivir.org and Chat). Big entry and shown improvement in quality of life back necessity to go on developing this program and turn it into a multidisciplinary psychosocial intervention model at a national level

Impacto del linfedema en la calidad de vida de las mujeres con cáncer de mama

This paper revises lymphoedema impact in a sample of women’s quality of life, after breast cancer surgery, with or without lymphoedema diagnosis. 515 breast cancer patients cancer took part in this research, 253 of whom with lymphoedema diagnosis, 262 without. In a first stage, all women answered a structured ad hoc interview. In a second stage, 52 women with lymphoedema and 55 women without lymphoedema answered FACT-B+4, a specific quality of life questionnaire. Descriptive data of sociodemographic and clinical profile coming from women with or without lymphoedema diagnosis are presented. Evaluation of quality of life, degree of information about prevention and lymphoedema treatment, psychosocial associated needs and access to psychosocial resources impact is also described. Women with and without lymphoedema diagnosis did not show any differences relating sociodemographic profile, except for age item. Patients’ clinic profile did not show any difference in diagnostic stage and received treatment variables. The evaluation of quality of life showed that patients with lymphoedema diagnosis had worse physical condition than women without lymphoedema diagnosis, a significantly more negative emotional health and worse global quality of life.El presente artículo revisa el impacto del linfedema en la calidad de vida de una muestra de mujeres operadas de cáncer de mama, con o sin linfedema. Participaron en el estudio 515 mujeres con cáncer de mama, 253 a las que su médico les había diagnosticado linfedema y 262 sin diagnóstico de linfedema. A todas las mujeres se les administró una entrevista estructurada elaborada ad hoc. En una segunda fase del estudio, 52 mujeres con linfedema y 55 mujeres sin linfedema completaron el cues tionario sobre calidad de vida FACT-B+4 (4ª versión). Se presentan los datos descriptivos del perfil sociodemográfico y clínico de las mujeres con y sin linfedema, así como la valoración del impacto en la calidad de vida, del nivel de información sobre la prevención y el tratamiento del linfedema y de las necesidades psicosociales asociadas y del acceso a los recursos psicosociales. Las pacientes con linfedema y sin linfedema no se diferenciaron en su perfil socio-demográfico, a excepción de la edad. El perfil clínico de las mujeres con y sin linfedema difirió en variables como la fase de diagnóstico y el tratamiento recibido. La valoración de la calidad de vida mostró que las pacientes con linfedema tenían un peor estado físico de salud, un estado emocional significativamente más negativo y una peor calidad de vida global

Circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopic properties of the major core protein of feline immunodeficiency virus and its tryptophan mutants: Assignment of the individual contribution of the aromatic side chains

The gene coding for the major capsid protein of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) has been cloned into the expression vector pQE60, which allows protein purification by affinity chromatography on a nitrilotriacetic acid/Ni/agarose column. The gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and the resultant soluble protein (FIV-rp24) purified to electrophoretic homogeneity. The amino-acid composition of the recombinant protein is almost identical to that predicted from the DNA sequence. This protein has two tryptophan residues at positions 40 and 126 that have been replaced by phenylalanine by site-directed mutagenesis to obtain two single mutants and a double mutant. Circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy were employed to study the structural features of FIV-rp24 protein and its tryptophan mutants. The analysis of the CD spectra indicated that α-helix is the major secondary structural element (48-52%) and that the overall three-dimensional structure is not modified by the mutations. The fluorescence emission spectra showed that both tryptophan residues occupy a highly hydrophobic environment. Moreover, the different tyrosine fluorescence intensities of wild-type and mutant proteins are indicative of the existence of resonance energy transfer processes to nearby tryptophan. The individual contributions of each tryptophan residue to the spectroscopic properties of the wild-type protein were obtained from the spectra of all these proteins. Thermal denaturation studies indicate that the two tryptophan residues do not contribute equally to the stabilization of the three-dimensional structure

Identification of novel cellular proteins that bind to the LC8 dynein light chain using a pepscan technique

AbstractDynein is a minus end-directed microtubule motor that serves multiple cellular functions. We have performed a fine mapping of the 8 kDa dynein light chain (LC8) binding sites throughout the development of a library of consecutive synthetic dodecapeptides covering the amino acid sequences of the various proteins known to interact with this dynein member according to the yeast two hybrid system. Two different consensus sequences were identified: GIQVD present in nNOS, in DNA cytosine methyl transferase and also in GKAP, where it is present twice in the protein sequence. The other LC8 binding motif is KSTQT, present in Bim, dynein heavy chain, Kid-1, protein 4 and also in swallow. Interestingly, this KSTQT motif is also present in several viruses known to associate with microtubules during retrograde transport from the plasma membrane to the nucleus during viral infection

Expression and structural properties of a chimeric protein based on the ectodomains of E1 and E2 hepatitis C virus envelope glycoproteins

Hepatitis C virus encodes two enveloped glycoproteins, E1 and E2, which are involved in viral attachment and entry into target cells. We have obtained in insect cells infected by recombinant baculovirus a chimeric secreted recombinant protein, E1341E2661, containing the ectodomains of E1 and E2. The described procedure allows the purification of approximately 2 mg of protein from 1 L of culture media. Sedimentation velocity experiments and SDS-PAGE in the absence of reducing agents indicate that the protein has a high tendency to self-associate, the dimer being the main species observed. All the oligomeric forms observed maintain a conformation which is recognized by the conformation-dependent monoclonal antibody H53 directed against the E2 ectodomain. The spectroscopic properties of E1341E2661 are those of a three-dimensionally structured protein. Moreover, the chimeric protein is able to bind to human antibodies present in HCV-positive human sera. Accordingly, this chimeric soluble polypeptide chain may be a valuable tool to study the structure-function relationship of HCV envelope proteins

Fusogenic properties of the ectodomains of hepatitis C virus envelope proteins

We have used an isolated chimeric protein E1340E2661 that includes the ectodomains of the envelope proteins of epatitis C virus to study its interaction with model membranes. E1340E2661 has some of the membrane destabilization properties, vesicle aggregation, lipid mixing and the release of internal aqueous content, which have previously been ascribed to fusion proteins. The effects are preferentially produced on vesicles of acidic phospholipids which would indicate the importance of the electrostatic interactions. In fact, an increase of the ionic strength of the buffer induced a considerable decrease of the destabilizing properties. Moreover, fluorescence polarization studies show that the recombinant protein reduces the amplitude of the thermal transition of dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol vesicles and increases the transition temperature at pH 5.0 in a dose-dependent manner, indicating its insertion into the bilayer. Furthermore, a decrease of the pH induces a onformational change in the protein structure as videnced by fluorescence of tryptophan residues and 4,4-bis(1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate). A model for the fusion of hepatitis C virus with the host cell membrane can be postulated. The dissociation of E1E2 dimers would uncover the fusion peptides which can then interact with the polar lipid heads of the outer leaflet of the lipid bilayer and next insert into the hydrophobic moiety producing the destabilization of the bilayer which finally leads to fusion