Mental Stress and Exercise Training Response: Stress-sleep Connection may be Involved

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Prevent Med, Ctr Mindfulness & Hlth Promot, São Paulo, BrazilWashington Univ, Sch Med, Div Cardiol, Heart Rate Variabil Lab, St Louis, MO USAUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Prevent Med, Ctr Mindfulness & Hlth Promot, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

UCEMEPA: Ubiquitous Computing Environment for Monitoring and Evaluating Physical Activity

The physical inactivity has been indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the main risk factors for the incidence of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCDs). To change this scenario WHO has stimulated regular practice of physical activities because they play an important role in preventing CNCDs. In Brazil, these activities are performed by health units which generate a large amount of data that need treatment. To deal with this problem we developed UCEMEPA, an environment that employs Ubiquitous Computing technologies and wireless communication networks, in order to monitor remotely and evaluate in real-time participants of physical activity groups. This environment automatically collects physiologic data, and provides indicators which will support and direct public policies for promoting physical activity. In this sense the UCEMEPA will contribute for the promotion of health and quality of life, and for the conduction of longitudinal studies aiming to establish correlations between the practice of physical activity and CNCDs prevention

Dinâmica familiar, morte dos pais e saúde da criança

It is well known among health professionals, especially those working in Primary Health Care (PHC), the configuration and dynamics directly influence family health conditions of each component of the nuclear family and vice versa. Some events during the family´s life cycle are crucial in this regard, including: birth of a new child, unemployment, divorce, change of residence, violence and the presence of family members with chronic health conditions. One particular event is extremely important: a family member´s death, and the death of a parent seems to be one of the worst sceneries accordingly

Terapia cognitiva basada en la atención plena en la atención clínica individual para la depresión

Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio de caso múltiple fue evaluar la aplicabilidad del protocolo grupal de un programa de terapia cognitiva basada en la atención plena de 8 semanas adaptado para la atención clínica individual de pacientes con síntomas de depresión. Método: el método utilizado fue estudiar múltiples casos, en el que 11 casos de pacientes con un diagnóstico dedepresión leve a moderada que se sometieron a una intervención adaptada de este protocolo fueron evaluados en los resultados de las medidas de depresión, ansiedad, estrés y atención plena. Resultados: los beneficios de la intervención de Terapia Cognitiva Basada en Mindfulness se pueden presentar tanto en el contexto de la atención clínica grupal, como en el individual.En este estudio, todos los participantes del estudio tuvieron una mejoría significativa en los síntomas de la depresión, así como en los niveles de ansiedad y estrés, consistente con los datos presentados en la literatura. Existe una necesidad urgente de un mayor número de estudios deesta naturaleza. Las investigaciones futuras, especialmente las de carácter empírico, controladas y aleatorizadas, consolidarán la validez externa de los resultados encontrados por estudios de naturaleza como este.Objetivo: estudo de casos múltiplos teve objetivo de avaliar a aplicabilidade do protocolo de grupo de um programa de 8 semanas de Terapia Cognitiva Baseada em Mindfulness adaptado para o atendimento clínico individual de pacientes com sintomas de depressão. Método: para o estudo de casos múltiplos, no qual 11 casos de pacientes com diagnósticode depressão leve à moderada submetidos à intervenção adaptada desse protocolo foram avaliados nos resultados de medidas de depressão, ansiedade, estresse e mindfulness.Resultados: indicaram redução significativa destes sintomas, bem como aumento de mindfulness na vida cotidiana. Conclusão: os benefícios da intervenção de Terapia CognitivaBaseada em Mindfulness podem se apresentar tanto no contexto de atendimento clínico grupal, bem como no individual. Neste estudo, Todos os participantes do estudo tiveram melhora significativa dos sintomas de depressão, bem como dos níveis de ansiedade e estresse, condizente com a os dados apresentados na literatura. É premente a necessidadede maior número de estudos desta natureza. Pesquisas futuras, especialmente as de natureza empírica, controlados e randomizados, consolidarão a validade externa dos resultados encontrados por estudos com a natureza como o deste. Objective: the aim of this multiple case study was to to evaluate the applicability of the group protocol of an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy program adapted for the individual clinical care of patients with symptoms of depression. Method: the method used was to studymultiple cases, in which 11 cases of patients with a diagnosis of mild to moderate depression whounderwent intervention adapted from this protocol were evaluated in the results of measures of depression, anxiety, stress and mindfulness. Results: the results indicated a significant reduction in these symptoms, as well as an increase in mindfulness in everyday life. Conclusion: the benefits of the Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy intervention can be presented both in the context of group clinical care, as well as in the individual. In this study, all study participants had significant improvement in the symptoms of depression, as well as in the levels of anxiety and stress, consistent with the data presented in the literature. There is an urgent need for a greater number of studies of this nature. Future research, especially those of an empirical nature, controlled and randomized, will consolidate the external validity of the results found bystudies with nature such as this one

The implementation of mindfulness in healthcare Systems: a theoretical analysis

Objective: Evidence regarding the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) is increasing exponentially; however, there are still challenges to their integration in healthcare systems. Our goal is to provide a conceptual framework that addresses these challenges in order to bring about scholarly dialog and support healthmanagers and practitioners with the implementation of MBIs in healthcare. Method: This is an opinative narrative review based on theoretical and empirical data that address key issues in the implementation ofmindfulness in healthcare systems, such as the training of professionals, funding and costs of interventions, cost effectiveness and innovative delivery models. Results: Weshowthat even in the United Kingdom,where mindfulness has a high level of implementation, there is a high variability in the access toMBIs. In addition,we discuss innovative approaches based on 'complex interventions,' 'stepped-care' and 'low intensity-high volume' concepts that may prove fruitful in the development and implementation of MBIs in national healthcare systems, particularly in Primary Care. Conclusion: In order to better understand barriers and opportunities for mindfulness implementation in healthcare systems, it is necessary to be aware that MBIs are 'complex interventions,' which require innovative approaches and delivery models to implement these interventions in a cost-effective and accessible way

Psychological Effects of a 1-Month Meditation Retreat on Experienced Meditators: The Role of Non-attachment

Background: There are few studies devoted to assessing the impact of meditation-intensive retreats on the well-being, positive psychology, and personality of experienced meditators. We aimed to assess whether a 1-month Vipassana retreat: (a) would increase mindfulness and well-being; (b) would increase prosocial personality traits; and (c) whether psychological changes would be mediated and/or moderated by non-attachment. Method: A controlled, non-randomized, pre-post-intervention trial was used. The intervention group was a convenience sample (n = 19) of experienced meditators who participated in a 1-month Vipassana meditation retreat. The control group (n = 19) comprised matched experienced meditators who did not take part in the retreat. During the retreat, the mean duration of daily practice was 8-9 h, the diet was vegetarian and silence was compulsory. The Experiences Questionnaire (EQ), Non-attachment Scale (NAS), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Temperament Character Inventory Revised (TCI-R-67), Five Facets Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), Self-Other Four Immeasurables (SOFI) and the MINDSENS Composite Index were administered. ANCOVAs and linear regression models were used to assess pre-post changes and mediation/moderation effects. Results: Compared to controls, retreatants showed increases in non-attachment, observing, MINDSENS, positive-affect, balance-affect, and cooperativeness; and decreases in describing, negative-others, reward-dependence and self-directedness. Non-attachment had a mediating role in decentring, acting aware, non-reactivity, negative-affect, balance-affect and self-directedness; and a moderating role in describing and positive others, with both mediating and moderating effects on satisfaction with life. Conclusions: A 1-month Vipassana meditation retreat seems to yield improvements in mindfulness, well-being, and personality, even in experienced meditators. Non-attachment might facilitate psychological improvements of meditation, making it possible to overcome possible ceiling effects ascribed to non-intensive practices

Quality of child health care in the family health strategy

OBJECTIVE: to verify the quality of child health care in the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in a state capital of Northeastern Brazil. METHODS: a descriptive study using a quantitative approach was carried out in 2010 with 66 primary care (PC) teams represented by their doctors and nurses. The survey used part of the Evaluation for Quality Improvement of the Family Health Strategy² (AMQ), a self-rating instrument of the Brazilian Ministry of Health which evaluates the FHS actions and services and classifies them by the following quality-based standards of care: Elementary, undergoing development, Consolidated, Good or Advanced. RESULTS: 84.1% of the FHS-teams rated themselves as providing "Elementary" actions and services, and 47.7% of them considered that they provided "Advanced" ones. The health teams with less than four years of implementation rated themselves better. CONCLUSION: these findings suggest that most of the FHC-teams are providing care with an elementary standard of quality, and indicate that better quality child care is apparently delivered with by teams with less time of implementation

Effects of single weekly bout of exercise on cell proliferation during the rat colon carcinogenesis

There is evidence that the risk of colon cancer is reduced by appropriate levels of physical exercise. However, the effects of single weekly bout of exercise are largely unknown. Our aim was to verify the effects of exercise once a week (1d-wk-1) and daily exercise training (5d-wk-1) in rats treated with the carcinogen 1-2- Dimethyl-hydrazine (DMH). Forty-two Wistar rats were used in the experiment. The groups G1 and G2 were sedentary (controls), the groups G1A and G2A were submitted 1d-wk-1 of swimming, and G1B and G2B were submitted 5d-wk-1 of swimming training for 8 weeks. The groups G2, G2A and G2B were treated with DMH two weeks after the start of exercise protocols. The rats were sacrificed three days after the swimming protocols and the colon was processed for immunohistochemistry with staining of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). A statistical analysis was performed by Anova test, followed by a post hoc Tukey’s (p\u3c0.05). The G2B presented a significant reduction of the PCNA-Li (PCNA-Labeling index) of the epithelium of the intestinal mucosa when compared with the G2 (p\u3c0.001), showing a PCNA-Li similar to the group G1. The group G2A presented a reduction of the PCNA-Li when compared with the group G2 (0.05436 to 0.01760, p\u3c0.001); however it still remained higher than group in the group G1. From our findings, we conclude that a single weekly bout of exercise significantly attenuate the DMH-related increase in epithelial cell proliferation during the rat colon carcinogenesis, but in a less intensive proportion than the daily exercise training

Perceived Stress Latent Factors and the Burnout Subtypes: A Structural Model in Dental Students

Background: Students of health-professions suffer high levels of stress and burnout. the aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between perceived stress latent factors ('tenseness' and 'frustration') and the features ('overload', 'lack of development' and 'neglect') of the three burnout subtypes ('frenetic', 'under-challenged' and 'worn-out', respectively), in a sample of Spanish dental students.Methods: the study employed a cross-sectional design. A sample of Spanish dental students (n = 314) completed the 'Perceived Stress Questionnaire' and the 'Burnout Clinical Subtype Questionnaire Student Survey'. the associations among variables were observed by means of structural equation modelling using the unweighted least squares method from polychoric correlations.Results: Strong associations among perceived stress factors and the burnout characteristics were observed, although a distinct pattern of relations was observed for each burnout subtype. the 'overload' was moderately and positively associated with both 'tenseness' (0.45), and 'frustration' (0.38) dimensions of perceived stress; the 'lack of development' was positively associated with the 'frustration' dimension (0.72), but negatively associated with 'tenseness' (-0.69); the 'neglect' showed a weaker positive associated with 'frustration' (0.41), and a small negative association with 'tenseness' (-0.20). the model was a very good fit to the data (GFI = 0.96; RSMR = 0.07; AGFI = 0.96; NFI = 0.95; RFI = 0.95).Conclusions: the stress factors of 'frustration' and 'tenseness' seems to be related in a distinct way to the burnout subtypes in Spanish dental students. This finding suggests that intervention programs specifically tailored to these subtypes may be a promising future direction.Research Network on Preventative Activities and Health Promotion, Aragon Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Health and Sports (University of Zaragoza)Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry (University of Santiago de Compostela)Fac Hlth & Sport Sci, Huesca, SpainUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Prevent Med, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Bristol, Sch Social & Community Med, Bristol, Avon, EnglandUniv New S Wales, Ctr Res Excellence Mental Hlth & Sustance Use, Sidney, BC, CanadaUniv Balearic Isl, Inst Univ Invest Ciencies Salut IUNICS, Mallorca, SpainUniv Zaragoza, Miguel Servet Univ Hosp, Zaragoza, SpainPrimary Care Prevent & Hlth Promot Res Network Re, Zaragoza, SpainUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Prevent Med, São Paulo, BrazilResearch Network on Preventative Activities and Health Promotion, Aragon Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Health and Sports (University of Zaragoza): RD06/0018/0017Web of Scienc

Subjective, behavioral, and physiological responses to the rubber hand illusion do not vary with age in the adult phase

[EN] The Rubber Hand Illusion (RHI) is a perceptual illusion that enables integration of artificial limbs into the body representation through combined multisensory integration. Most previous studies investigating the RHI have involved young healthy adults within a very narrow age range (typically 20-30 years old). The purpose of this paper was to determine the influence of age on the RHI. The RHI was performed on 93 healthy adults classified into three groups of age (20-35 years old, N = 41; 36-60 years old, N = 28; and 61-80 years old, N = 24), and its effects were measured with subjective (Embodiment of Rubber Hand Questionnaire), behavioral (proprioceptive drift), and physiological (changes in skin temperature and conductance) measures. There were neither significant differences among groups in any response, nor significant covariability or correlation between age and other measures (but for skin temperature), which suggests that the RHI elicits similar responses across different age groups in the adult phase.This study was funded, in part, by Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad of Spain (Grant BES-2014-068218) and Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (Grant PAID-10-14 and Grant PAID-10-16).Palomo, P.; Borrego, A.; Cebolla, A.; Llorens Rodríguez, R.; Demarzo, M.; Baños Rivera, RM. (2018). Subjective, behavioral, and physiological responses to the rubber hand illusion do not vary with age in the adult phase. Consciousness and Cognition. 58:90-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2017.10.014S90965