Estudio de caso: Evaluación y tratamiento psicológico de una fobia específica al cáncer en un participante en consejo genético oncológico.

Genetic Counseling in Oncology has become an important tool for cancer prevention and early detection. The proccess tries to benefit people who attend specialized Units, but it can suppose a negative psychological impact due to the high risk perception of participants after the experience of oncological diagnosis of near relatives. A case of cancer phobia of a Genetic Counseling participant is exposed. A semiestructured interview and STAI and BDI questionnaires were used for the assessment. The intervention techniques included on treatment plan were: psychoeducation, cognitive reestructurig, relaxation,exposure, planning of activities, social skills training and emotion recognition and expression. Results obtained after 6 sessions showed a reduction on anxiety levels and an improvement on mood state. The utility of this techniques is guaranteed for the aims proposed with the patient

Modulation of conotoxin structure and function is achieved through a multienzyme complex in the venom glands of cone snails

pre-printBackground: Conotoxins can be utilized to investigate enzyme-assisted folding of disulfide-rich peptides. Results: Various ER-resident cone snail enzymes act in concert to accelerate the oxidative folding of conotoxins and modulate their conformation by reconfiguring disulfide connectivities. Conclusion: The folding of conotoxins is a tightly regulated multienzyme-assisted process. Significance: Modulation of the conformation of conotoxins increases their molecular and functional diversity

Identification of Conus peptidylprolyl cis-trans isomerases (PPIases) and assessment of their role in the oxidative folding of conotoxins

Journal ArticlePeptidylprolyl cis-trans isomerases (PPIases) are ubiquitous proteins that catalyze the cis-trans isomerization of prolines. A number of proteins, such as Drosophila rhodopsin and the human immunodeficiency viral protein HIV-1 Gag, have been identified as endogenous substrates for PPIases. However, very little is known about the interaction of PPIases with small, disulfide- rich peptides. Marine cone snails synthesize a wide array of cysteine-rich peptides, called conotoxins, many of which contain one or more prolines or hydroxyprolines. To identify whether PPIase-associated cis-trans isomerization of these residues affects the oxidative folding of conotoxins, we identified, sequenced, and expressed three functionally active isoforms of PPIase from the venom gland of Conus novaehollandiae, and we characterized their ability to facilitate oxidative folding of conotoxins in vitro. Three conotoxins, namely ?-GIIIA,?-SIIIA, and ?-MVIIC, derived from two distinct toxin gene families were assayed. Conus PPIase significantly increased the rate of appearance of the native form of ?-GIIIA, a peptide containing three hydroxyprolines. In contrast, the presence of PPIase had no effect on the folding of ?-SIIIA and ?-MVIIC, peptides containing no or one proline residue, respectively.Wefurther showed that an endoplasmic reticulum-resident PPIase isoform facilitated folding of ?-GIIIA more efficiently than two cytosolic isoforms. This is the first study to demonstrate PPIase-assisted folding of conotoxins, small disulfide-rich peptides with unique structural properties

Cirugía profiláctica como medida preventiva del cáncer de mama y ovario hereditario

Prophylactic surgery has become a very useful prevention tool for women at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Both prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy are considered as aggressive methods and women who are considering this procedure must have a very difficult decision making process to decide which preventive measures they choose. Both surgeries have demonstrated their efficacy to reduce cancer risk, but not to eliminate risk completely. This procedures may produce a negative impact on this women who undergone it, so it is necessary to assess every women who is considering this option and the psychological impact that it may produce.In this paper we try to review the state of art about psychological impact of prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy, and the most important issues that must be considered by women that are thinking about this surgery. Issues like efficacy, quality of life, satisfaction with the procedure and most important negative surgery effects are included in this paper.La cirugía profiláctica se ha convertido en una herramienta de prevención que se utiliza cada vez con más frecuencia en mujeres de alto riesgo de padecer cáncer de mama y ovario hereditario. Tanto la mastectomía como la ooforectomía profilácticas son medidas de prevención muy agresivas, que en muchos casos van a requerir para las mujeres a las que se les ofrece un difícil proceso de toma de decisión acerca de las medidas a llevar a cabo. Ambos tipos de cirugía han demostrado su eficacia como medidas de reducción de riesgo de cán¬cer, si bien no eliminan totalmente el riesgo de enfermedad. Sin embargo, estos procedimientos pueden provocar un impacto negativo en las mujeres que los llevan a cabo, lo que pone de manifiesto la necesidad de valorar detenidamente la realización de cirugías, así como el impacto psicológico que puede tener sobre cada mujer. En el presente artículo se pretende hacer una revisión que permita conocer el estado actual acerca del impacto psicológico de la mastectomía y la ooforectomía, así como de los aspectos más importantes que han de te¬nerse en cuenta a la hora de llevarlos a cabo. Aspectos como la eficacia del procedimiento, la calidad de vida, la satisfacción con la ciru¬gía y los aspectos negativos más importantes derivados de este procedimiento se comentan a continuación

Psychological impact and intervention needs in genetic counseling for women with hereditary breast cancer risk

Se exponen los aspectos psicológicos del Consejo Genético Oncológico en cáncer de mama (CGO). El CGO tiene como beneficio principal para los participantes obtener certidumbre, ser capaces de estimar el riesgo de desarrollar cáncer hereditario, adoptar medidas preventivas, y ayudar a los otros familiares. El CGO mejora la percepción de riesgo en los participantes, pero en muchos de ellos persisten errores debidos a fallos en la comprensión de la información y sesgos cognitivos o emocionales. La información en CGO debe partir de que las estimaciones de riesgo son herramientas para tomar decisiones que afectan a la salud y no una mera predicción de enfermedad. Es preferible informar del riesgo en términos de probabilidades absolutas, y evitar términos de riesgo relativo. Los valores de los participantes y las consecuencias para su bienestar a largo plazo deben ser incorporados al proceso de toma de decisiones. Los participantes deben valorar sus decisiones en términos de las ventajas que pueda suponer y no como correcto/incorrecto. La participación en CGO no tiene consecuencias adversas para la salud mental de la mayoría de los participantes. La comunicación abierta entre los miembros de la familia es un importante determinante de la adaptación al proceso. La intervención psicológica es necesaria en los siguientes casos: a) los participantes que tienen problemas de comunicación familiar; b) el ser el primer probando; c) los participantes que muestran un alto nivel de estrés previo al consejo genético, ansiedad, pe simismo, o pérdida de autoestima; d) antecedentes psicopatológicos familiares; e) los participantes que han tenido experiencia negativas de cáncer en la familia durante la adolescencia (11-20 años); f) la muerte reciente por cáncer de un familiar y el duelo; g) diagnóstico reciente de cáncer o recurrencia; f) el consultante declina continuar el CGO; g). Los portadores que no esperan serlo: h) los que consideran realizar cirugía profiláctica.The psychological aspects of genetic counseling for breast cancer are reviewed. The principal profits for the genetic counseling participants are: to obtain certainty, be capable of estimating the risk of developing hereditary cancer, to take preventive measures, and to help their relatives. Genetic risk counselling has been shown to improve significantly the accuracy of risk perception, but a significant proportion of women continue to hold misperceptions, which is caused by problems to understand the information and cognitive or emotional biases. The estimations of risk should be a mean to assist in health decision-making and not a mere predictor of cancer. It is preferable to provide the estimations about cancer risk in absolute probabilities, and to avoid terms of relative risk. The values of the participants and the consequences for his well-being in the long term must be incorporated to the process of decision-making. The participants must view their decisions in terms of the advantages/disadvantages and not as correct/wrong. The participation in CGO does not have negative consequences in mental health for the most people. The open communication among relatives is an important determinant of the adjustment to the process. The psychological intervention is necessary for the following conditions: a) the participants who have problems of familiar communication; b) those who are tested first; c) high levels of distress, anxiety, pessimism, or low self-esteem prior to testing; d) having lost a relative to hereditary cancer during the adolescence (11-20 years); e) the recent death of a relative from cancer and grief; f) recent diagnosis of cancer or recurrence; g) the participants who decline genetic testing; h) carriers who do not expect to be carriers; i) those who consider to undergoing prophylactic surgery

Egg quality indicators of japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Japanska prepelica (Coturnix coturnix japonica) uzgaja se radi proizvodnje mesa i jaja, a njen uzgoj u Hrvatskoj obavlja se na malim obiteljskim poljoprivrednim gospodarstvima. U znanstvenoj literaturi postoje informacije o kvaliteti prepeličjih jaja i mesa u različitim zemljama svijeta, dok na našem području gotovo da i nema podataka. U radu su prikazani podaci kvalitete prepeličjih jaja iz dva uzgoja na području kontinentalnog dijela Hrvatske. Statistički značajna razlika (P0,05). Sadržaj kolesterola u žumanjcima prepeličjih jaja u oba uzgoja bio je ujednačen (A=9,3516 mg/g i B=9,2213 mg/g; P>0,05). Ovo istraživanje doprinosi kako znanstvenicima tako i uzgajivačima japanskih prepelica, jer daje korisne podatke o kvaliteti prepeličjih jaja, kojih na ovom području gotovo da nema.Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) is a very good source of meat and eggs, and breeding in Croatia is done on small family farms. In the scientific literature there is information on the quality of quail eggs and meat in different countries of the world, while in our area there is almost no data. The paper presents dana on the quality of quail eggs from two producers in the continental part of Croatia. A statistically significant difference (P0.05). The cholesterol content in quail egg yolks of both producers was equable (A=9.3516 mg/g and B=9.2213 mg/g; P>0.05). This research contributes to both scientists and breeders of Japanese quail, as it provides useful data on the quality of quail eggs, which are almost non-existent in this area

Prophylactic surgery as a preventive measure for breast and ovarian hereditary cancer

Prophylactic surgery has become a very useful prevention tool for women at high risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Both prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy are considered as aggressive methods and women who are considering this procedure must have a very difficult decision making process to decide which preventive measures they choose. Both surgeries have demonstrated their efficacy to reduce cancer risk, but not to eliminate risk completely. This procedures may produce a negative impact on this women who undergone it, so it is necessary to assess every women who is considering this option and the psychological impact that it may produce.In this paper we try to review the state of art about psychological impact of prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy, and the most important issues that must be considered by women that are thinking about this surgery. Issues like efficacy, quality of life, satisfaction with the procedure and most important negative surgery effects are included in this paper

Voice onset time (VOT) characteristics of esophageal, tracheoesophageal and laryngeal speech of Cantonese

Also available in print.Thesis (B.Sc)--University of Hong Kong, 2007.A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Science (Speech and Hearing Sciences), The University of Hong Kong, June 30, 2007.published_or_final_versionSpeech and Hearing SciencesBachelorBachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Science

Necesidad de tratamiento psicológico en personas con riesgo de cáncer hereditario que inician consejo genético. Estudio de variables predictoras

A study of Oncological Genetic Counseling (CGO) participants is realized, previously to begin the process, with the following aims: a) to provide descriptive data about cancer risk perception, Anxiety-Trait, coping competence, anxiety/depression, cancer-specific worries, previous psychological disorders, stressful life events during last 3 year, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, b) to determine if there are differences between 3 hereditary cancer risk syndromes: breast/ovarian, colon and others on those variables; c) to evaluate psychological intervention needs; d) to determine if those variables (risk perception, Anxiety-Trait, cancer previous, number of cancer relatives and stressful life events) can predict the need of psychological treatment. 155 participants were assessed on CGO Unit at Hospital Cl?nico San Carlos with hereditary risk of cancer (breast/ovarian: 77; colon: 53; others: 35). The sample characteristics were: 76.8% women, age mean: 44 years, 70% were married with children, and hight educational level (40% universitary studies). There were 37% with previous cancer diagnostic. Risk perception was moderately high: there were 34% that considered his/her risk higher than 50% and 20% considered that risk was higher than 75%. Most participants considered themselves with good ability to cope with cancer risk (91%), but 40% report anxiety/depression and worries cancer-specific. 65% has suffered stressful live events in the last 3 years. 28% have received psychological treatment in the last two years. The scores on Anxiety-Trait (STAI-R) were on normal range for Spanish population. MANOVA gender x hereditary syndromes (breast/ovarian, colon and others) showed higher scores of colorectal cancer participants on STAI-R (p=0.009); Moreover, women with previous cancer have a higher score on STAI-R than women without previous cancer diagnostic. There were 33 (25%) of 133 participants assessed that need psychological attention. AMOS 5 regression model with observed variables: STAI-R, previous cancer diagnostic, risk perception, number of cancer relatives, and stressful life events, explained 51% of the variance of psychological treatment needs. The analysis of ROC Curve using as contrast STAI-T variable to classify participants as positive or negative for need of psychological treatment showed that the STAI-R is a useful screening tool for psychological treatment needs. It is concluded that psychological intervention is necessary for a significative number of CGO participants

Consecuencias y necesidades de la intervención psicológica en consejo genético para mujeres en riesgo de cáncer de mama hereditario

Se exponen los aspectos psicológicos del Consejo Genético Oncológico en cáncer de mama (CGO). El CGO tiene como beneficio principal para los participantes obtener certidumbre, ser capaces de estimar el riesgo de desarrollar cáncer hereditario, adoptar medidas preventivas, y ayudar a los otros familiares. El CGO mejora la percepción de riesgo en los participantes, pero en muchos de ellos persisten errores debidos a fallos en la comprensión de la información y sesgos cognitivos o emocionales. La información en CGO debe partir de que las estimaciones de riesgo son herramientas para tomar decisiones que afectan a la salud y no una mera predicción de enfermedad. Es preferible informar del riesgo en términos de probabilidades absolutas, y evitar términos de riesgo relativo. Los valores de los participantes y las consecuencias para su bienestar a largo plazo deben ser incorporados al proceso de toma de decisiones. Los participantes deben valorar sus decisiones en términos de las ventajas que pueda suponer y no como correcto/incorrecto. La participación en CGO no tiene consecuencias adversas para la salud mental de la mayoría de los participantes. La comunicación abierta entre los miembros de la familia es un importante determinante de la adaptación al proceso. La intervención psicológica es necesaria en los siguientes casos: a) los participantes que tienen problemas de comunicación familiar; b) el ser el primer probando; c) los participantes que muestran un alto nivel de estrés previo al consejo genético, ansiedad, pe simismo, o pérdida de autoestima; d) antecedentes psicopatológicos familiares; e) los participantes que han tenido experiencia negativas de cáncer en la familia durante la adolescencia (11-20 años); f) la muerte reciente por cáncer de un familiar y el duelo; g) diagnóstico reciente de cáncer o recurrencia; f) el consultante declina continuar el CGO; g). Los portadores que no esperan serlo: h) los que consideran realizar cirugía profiláctica