Death Anxiety in Caregivers of Chronic Patients

This study aimed to determine the extent to which caregivers of patients with chronic illnesses experience death anxiety, and which variables from caregivers and patients might potentially be related to their death anxiety. It also aimed to compare the levels of death anxiety between patients and caregivers. Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Psychology Database, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were searched for original studies available until December 2022 that quantitatively addressed death anxiety in family and informal caregivers of individuals with chronic illnesses. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed, and a meta-analysis was conducted using Hedges’ g as the effect size index and the DerSimonian–Laird method to analyze differences between patients and caregivers in death anxiety. The results of the 11 included studies showed moderate levels of death anxiety in caregivers, and the meta-analysis (k = 7; 614 patients and 586 caregivers) revealed non-significant differences between the death anxiety experienced by patients and caregivers (pooled Hedges’ g = −0.03, 95% CI = −0.29 to 0.25, p = 0.802). Some sociodemographic and psychological factors (e.g., gender, depression, and anxiety) might be related to the death anxiety experienced, but additional research is necessary to validate these findings

Sleep Patterns during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Spain

Background: To mitigate the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, governments around the world adopted exceptional lockdown measures. This led to the disruption of normal life routines, including sleep. The aim of this study was to analyze differences in sleep patterns and subjective variables of sleep quality before and during lockdown. Methods: A sample of 1673 Spanish adults (30% men; 82% of the total were between 21 and 50 years of age) was evaluated. The following sleep variables were evaluated: Sleep latency, sleep time, number and duration of awakenings, sleep satisfaction, daytime sleepiness, and the manifestation of symptoms related to sleep problems. Results: Although 45% of people changed their sleep schedules (resulting in 42% sleeping longer during lockdown), sleep quality (37.6% worse), daytime sleepiness (28% worse), number of awakenings (36.9% more), and duration of awakenings (45% longer) were markedly worse. Statistical analyses indicated significant differences in all the evaluated sleep variables before and during lockdown in both men and women. Women reported less sleep satisfaction, and more symptoms related to sleep problems than men. Conclusions: A deterioration in the sleep patterns of the Spanish population, especially women, because of the lockdown declared due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Sleep among presentations of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Analysis of objective and subjective measures

Background/Objective: To examine subjective and objective sleep patterns in children with different Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) presentations. Method: We assessed 92 children diagnosed with ADHD (29 ADHD-Inattentive [ADHD-I], 31 ADHD-Hyperactive/Impulsive [ADHD-H/I], and 32 ADHD-Combined [ADHD-C)]) aged 7-11 years. The Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ), Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS), and a sleep diary were used as subjective sleep measures, and polysomnography was used to objectively assess sleep quantity, quality, and fragmentation. Results: Subjective data showed impaired sleep in 12.7% of the sample. No significant differences were found between ADHD presentations in any objective and subjective sleep variable. Nevertheless, data on sleep fragmentation suggested a worse sleep continuity for the ADHD-H/I group, and correlation analyses confirmed that sleep is affected by age. Conclusions: Children with ADHD may suffer from sleep breathing problems and daytime sleepiness, as reported by their parents, even when their total sleep time and sleep efficiency are not affected. It seems that sleep in this population does not largely vary as a function of the ADHD presentation. Sleep in children with ADHD evolves with age.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economyand Competitiveness [PSI2014-58046-P]

Ranking 2019 de investigación de las universidades públicas españolas

Background: The changes produced in the Spanish university system due to the Bologna process require periodically updated evaluation reports of research activity. The objective of this study is to update the last available ranking of Spanish public universities, based on data from 2013-2018. Method: The production and productivity of each university were assessed based on seven specific indicators and a global score: articles in journals indexed in the JCR (Journal Citation Reports), research periods, R+D projects, doctoral theses, FPU (training of university professors) grants, FPI (training of personal researchers) grants, and patents. Results: Globally, the universities Complutense of Madrid, Barcelona, and Granada hold the first positions in terms of production, while the first positions in terms of productivity are held by the universities Pompeu Fabra, Autonomous of Madrid, and Autonomous of Barcelona. Conclusions: The universities that hold the top positions in this ranking remain relatively steady over time and are also the Spanish universities that stand out in international classifications.Antecedentes: los cambios producidos en el sistema universitario español con el proceso Bolonia hacen necesaria la realización periódica de informes de evaluación de la actividad investigadora. El objetivo de este estudio es actualizar el último ranking disponible de investigación de las universidades públicas españolas con los datos de 2013-2018. Método: se evaluó la producción y productividad de cada universidad, atendiendo a siete indicadores específicos y a una puntuación global: artículos en revistas indexadas en el JCR (Journal Citation Reports), tramos de investigación, proyectos I+D, tesis doctorales, ayudas FPU (formación de profesorado universitario), ayudas FPI (formación de personal investigador) y patentes. Resultados: a nivel global, las universidades Complutense de Madrid, Barcelona y Granada se sitúan en las primeras posiciones en producción, mientras que las primeras posiciones en productividad son ocupadas por las universidades Pompeu Fabra, Autónoma de Madrid y Autónoma de Barcelona. Conclusiones: las universidades que ocupan las primeras posiciones en este ranking se mantienen relativamente estables a lo largo del tiempo y son también las que destacan en clasificaciones internacionales

Personal, scholar and social adaptation and familiar satisfaction of a child and adolescent population affected by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Antecedentes: Debido a la multitud de dificultades sociales y psicopatológicas presentes en la población infanto-juvenil con VIH, derivadas tanto de la enfermedad como del estigma asociado a ésta, se hace necesario conocer los posibles problemas de adaptación presentes en los menores afectados por el VIH de nuestra población. Método: Participaron 60 menores de entre 8 y 16 años divididos en dos grupos: un grupo muestral de 20 menores afectados por el VIH y atendidos en la unidad de infectología pediátrica del Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío y un grupo de comparación de 40 menores sanos pareados en sexo y edad con los participantes del grupo empírico (dos iguales sin VIH ni otras enfermedades crónicas por cada menor afectado por el VIH). Se solicitó el consentimiento informado a los padres y tutores de los menores de ambos grupos muestrales y posteriormente éstos cumplimentaron el Test Autoevaluativo Multifactorial de Adaptación Infantil (TAMAI). Resultados: Se observan diferencias significativas entre grupos para las escalas de inadaptación general, personal y escolar (p < 0,01) y las escalas de insatisfacción con el ambiente familiar, insatisfacción con los hermanos y educación adecuada de la madre (p < 0,05). Si bien las puntuaciones medias no alcanzan en ningún caso valores clínicos, se observan puntuaciones mayores en todas las variables de inadaptación e insatisfacción para el grupo muestral con VIH (exceptuando la variable de insatisfacción con los hermanos), e inferiores en las escalas de educación adecuada del padre y de la madre. Conclusiones: Si bien no se perciben grandes dificultades clínicas a nivel de adaptación e insatisfacción familiar, los menores con VIH presentan puntuaciones más cercanas al rango clínico que sus iguales sanos. Es por ello que puede considerarse esta población como un grupo de riesgo para los problemas de inadaptación, debiendo evaluarse en profundidad estas cuestiones en futuros estudios.Background: Due to the all of social and psychopathological difficulties present in children and adolescents with HIV because of both the disease and the stigma associated with this population, it is necessary to know the possible adjustment problems in the minors affected by HIV in our population. Methods: A total of 60 children from 8 to 16 years old divided into two groups: a sample group of 20 children and adolescents affected by HIV and a comparison group of 40 healthy children matched for age and gender with the participants of the empirical group (two healthy children for each child affected by HIV). Parents or caregivers and children or adolescents of both sample groups signed the informed consented and after that, they completed the self reported multifactor test of adaptation (Test Autoevaluativo Multifactorial de Adaptación Infantil, TAMAI). Results: There were significant differences between groups in the scales of general maladjustment, personal and school (p < .01) and in the scales of dissatisfaction with family, dissatisfaction with brothers and sisters and proper education of the mother (p < .05). Conclusions: Although there were not perceived clinical difficulties in adaptation and family dissatisfaction, the minors with HIV have scores closest to the clinical range than their healthy peers. That is why this population can be considered as a risk group for the problems of maladjustment. These issues should be researched in future studies

Driven progressive evolution of genome sequence complexity in Cyanobacteria

Progressive evolution, or the tendency towards increasing complexity, is a controversial issue in biology, which resolution entails a proper measurement of complexity. Genomes are the best entities to address this challenge, as they encode the historical information of a species’ biotic and environmental interactions. As a case study, we have measured genome sequence complexity in the ancient phylum Cyanobacteria. To arrive at an appropriate measure of genome sequence complexity, we have chosen metrics that do not decipher biological functionality but that show strong phylogenetic signal. Using a ridge regression of those metrics against root-to-tip distance, we detected positive trends towards higher complexity in three of them. Lastly, we applied three standard tests to detect if progressive evolution is passive or driven—the minimum, ancestor– descendant, and sub-clade tests. These results provide evidence for driven progressive evolution at the genome-level in the phylum Cyanobacteria.Generalitat Valenciana Prometeo/2018/A/133European Union (EU)Fulbright fellowship (Spanish Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities)SAF2015-65878-RAGL2017-88702-C2-2-RPGC2018-099344-B-I0

Progressive genome evolution in Cyanobacteria

Resumen del trabajo presentado a la VII Biennial Congress of Sociedad Española de Biología Evolutiva (SEBE), celebrada en Sevilla (España) del 5 al 7 de febrero de 2020.Progressive evolution, the tendency towards increasing complexity, is a controversial issue in Biology, whose resolution requires the proper measurement of complexity. To address this challenge, we consider that genomes are the best entities to measure complexity because they record the history and information gain of organisms in their ongoing biotic and environmental interactions. By recurring to six metrics that measure genome complexity, which are not primarily associated to functionality, we report the existence of progressive evolution towards higher genome complexity in the evolution of the Cyanobacteria phylum. We show that these complexity metrics plus three additional genome parameters present statistically significant phylogenetic signal in Cyanobacteria. Moreover, a ridge regression of genome complexity metrics against evolutionary age shows that three out of six present a positively driven evolutionary trend towards higher complexity. These findings support the existence of progressive genome evolution in this ancient and diverse group of organisms.Peer reviewe

IL-6 serum levels predict severity and response to tocilizumab in COVID-19: An observational study

Background: Patients with coronavirus disaese 2019 (COVID-19) can develop a cytokine release syndrome that eventually leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Because IL-6 is a relevant cytokine in acute respiratory distress syndrome, the blockade of its receptor with tocilizumab (TCZ) could reduce mortality and/or morbidity in severe COVID-19. Objective: We sought to determine whether baseline IL-6 serum levels can predict the need for IMV and the response to TCZ. Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed in hospitalized patients diagnosed with COVID-19. Clinical information and laboratory findings, including IL-6 levels, were collected approximately 3 and 9 days after admission to be matched with preadministration and postadministration of TCZ. Multivariable logistic and linear regressions and survival analysis were performed depending on outcomes: need for IMV, evolution of arterial oxygen tension/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio, or mortality. Results: One hundred forty-six patients were studied, predominantly males (66%); median age was 63 years. Forty-four patients (30%) required IMV, and 58 patients (40%) received treatment with TCZ. IL-6 levels greater than 30 pg/mL was the best predictor for IMV (odds ratio, 7.1; P < .001). Early administration of TCZ was associated with improvement in oxygenation (arterial oxygen tension/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio) in patients with high IL-6 (P = .048). Patients with high IL-6 not treated with TCZ showed high mortality (hazard ratio, 4.6; P = .003), as well as those with low IL-6 treated with TCZ (hazard ratio, 3.6; P = .016). No relevant serious adverse events were observed in TCZ-treated patients. Conclusions: Baseline IL-6 greater than 30 pg/mL predicts IMV requirement in patients with COVID-19 and contributes to establish an adequate indication for TCZ administrationThis study was funded by Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant nos. RD16/0011/0012 and PI18/ 0371 to I.G.A., grant no. PI19/00549 to A.A., and grant no. SAF2017-82886-R to F.S.-M.) and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The study was also funded by ‘‘La Caixa Banking Foundation’’ (grant no. HR17-00016 to F.S.-M.) and ‘‘Fondos Supera COVID19’’ by Banco de Santander and CRUE. None of these sponsors have had any role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publicatio

Ahora / Ara

La cinquena edició del microrelatari per l’eradicació de la violència contra les dones de l’Institut Universitari d’Estudis Feministes i de Gènere «Purificación Escribano» de la Universitat Jaume I vol ser una declaració d’esperança. Aquest és el moment en el qual les dones (i els homes) hem de fer un pas endavant i eliminar la violència sistèmica contra les dones. Ara és el moment de denunciar el masclisme i els micromasclismes començant a construir una societat més igualitària. Cadascun dels relats del llibre és una denúncia i una declaració que ens encamina cap a un món millor