Spanish university students' uses of the social network Tuenti and their addiction levels: the protective role of the positive attitude toward mothers' presence as contact

El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar, desde el paradigma de usos y gratificaciones, el uso que los estudiantes universitarios españoles (N = 221) hacen de la red social Tuenti, y en qué medida estos usos se asocian con sus niveles de adicción a dicha red social. Además se analizó el papel que los progenitores tienen como facilitadores o inhibidores de dichas tendencias adictivas y el impacto del género. Los resultados muestran cuatro categorías de usos de la red Tuenti: entretenimiento, comunicación a través del muro, comunicación a nivel privado e información social. Además, la actitud positiva hacia la presencia de la madre en la red Tuenti se muestra como un factor de protección de las tendencias adictivas a la red. Por último, se han encontrado diferencias estadísticamente significativas en función del género, tanto en los usos que realizan chicos y chicas, como en sus patrones de adicción a la red Tuenti, de tal manera que los chicos informan de niveles de adicción superiores a los informados por las chicas en el uso de esta red social.The present work aimed to study, from the uses and gratifications paradigm, the uses that Spanish university students (N = 221) do of the social networking site Tuenti, and the relationship between these uses and young's self-reported levels of addiction towards Tuenti. Also, the students' attitudes towards the presence of their parents as contacts in Tuenti, and the impact of gender were analyzed. The results showed four different categories of uses: entertainment, public communication, private communication and social information. Also, young's positive attitude toward the presence of the mother in Tuenti played a protective role in their addition levels towards this social networking site. Finally, statistically significant gender differences in the uses of Tuenti and also in their addiction levels toward Tuenti were found

Él tuitea. Ella tuitea. Diferencias de género en el uso de twitter en las elecciones municipales de España

Twitter ha provocado una revolución en el tipo de información que se pretende transmitir a los ciudadanos con los que se intenta interactuar. Aunque este fenómeno ha sido analizado en las elecciones presidenciales de diferentes países, apenas tenemos información sobre cómo se utilizan en el ámbito de las elecciones municipales. En el presente trabajo, se pretende abordar dicha laguna en la literatura, analizando si existen diferencias entre candidatos y candidatas de 2011 en cuanto a la temática, numero de mensajes enviados y el uso de los hashtag. Se comentan los principales resultados obtenidos así como futuras líneas de investigación

El acoso psicológico desde una perspectiva organizacional: papel del clima organizacional y los procesos de cambio

El estudio del acoso psicológico ha sido abordado desde diferentes enfoques y perspectivas, en los últimos años. Desde un enfoque organizacional el presente trabajo pretende analizar en qué medida el tipo de clima organizacional -apoyo, reglas, metas e innovación- y la presencia de procesos de cambio organizacional se relacionan con la incidencia de prácticas de acoso psicológico en el trabajo. En el estudio han participado 211 empleados/as de diferentes organizaciones de servicio, públicas y privadas. Los resultados han mostrado que la presencia de prácticas de acoso resulta contingente, tanto al tipo de clima que predomina en dicho entorno, como a los procesos de cambio organizacional que se dan en el mismo. Específicamente se ha encontrado que el clima de apoyo y el clima de reglas se relacionan con una menor presencia de las prácticas de acoso, mientras que el clima de metas y los procesos de cambio parece ser entornos más propicios para el desarrollo de las prácticas de acoso

Qualitative research about the impact of strict enclosure in entities of the Spanish third sector related to rare diseases

A raíz de la pandemia producida por el impacto del nuevo coronavirus, se adoptaron medidas de confinamiento estricto en España desde el 15 de marzo de 2020. Las medidas afectaron, entre otros sistemas, a la actividad y gestión de las entidades del tercer sector dedicadas a la atención a las personas con enfermedades raras. En este estudio se trató de conocer este impacto, mediante el uso de metodología cualitativa y el software MAXQDA a partir de una muestra de 81 entidades participantes en el estudio. Del análisis de la información obtenida se pudo extraer que el confinamiento no ha supuesto un impacto homogéneo en la gestión de las entidades. Destaca la reducción de sus actividades de visibilidad con el consiguiente impacto social y psicoafectivo. Ello pone de manifiesto una debilidad estructural previa que con esta situación se ha visto agravada. Este estudio también profundiza en los ajustes que estas entidades han realizado para poder seguir prestando sus servicios de apoyo, así como el impacto que ha tenido en sus escasas plantillas y equipos directivos.As a result of the pandemic caused by the impact of the SAR-Cov-2 orthocoranavirus, strict containment measures were adopted in Spain from March 15, 2020. These measures affected, among other systems, the activity and management of third sector entities dedicated to the care of people with rare diseases. In this study we tried to know this impact, using qualitative methodology and MAXQDA software from a sample of 81 entities participating in the study. From the analysis of the information obtained, it was possible to draw the conclusion that confinement has not had a homogeneous impact on the management of the organizations. The reduction of their visibility activities stands out, with the consequent social and psycho-affective impact. This highlights a previous structural weakness that has been aggravated by this situation. The study also delves into the adjustments that these entities have made in order to be able to continue providing their support services, as well as the impact this has had on their scarce staff and management teams

The impact on activity of relatives and those affected with rare diseases during the Covid-19 lockdown in Spain

La pandemia de la COVID-19 se ha convertido en una crisis sanitaria, con amplias repercusiones. Los servicios de atención a las enfermedades raras (ER) se han visto afectados por los cambios derivados de las medidas para su gestión. En el presente estudio se ha analizado cuál ha sido el impacto del confinamiento estricto en los servicios y en la actividad de las entidades vinculadas a las ER. En el estudio han participado un total de 81 entidades ER en España. Los resultados mostraron que se ha producido un efecto negativo en el número de actividades y servicios que las entidades han podido prestar durante este periodo. Tanto debido a la eliminación de dichas actividades y servicios, como a los cambios que han debido realizarse para poder prestar los mismos.The Covid-19 pandemic has evolved into a health crisis with far-reaching repercussions. Healthcare for rare diseases (RD) has been affected by the changes deriving from the measures put in place for such management. In this article we analyse the impact of a strict lockdown on the services and activity of those entities associated with such diseases. A total of 81 RD en-tities in Spain participated in the study. The results show a negative effect on the number of activities and services performed by these entities during this period of time, both as a consequence of eliminating such activities and servi-ces and also on account of the changes undertaken in order to carry them out

A data mining based clinical decision support system for survival in lung cancer

Background: A clinical decision support system (CDSS) has been designed to predict the outcome (overall survival) by extracting and analyzing information from routine clinical activity as a complement to clinical guidelines in lung cancer patients. Materials and methods: Prospective multicenter data from 543 consecutive (2013–2017) lung cancer patients with 1167 variables were used for development of the CDSS. Data Mining analyses were based on the XGBoost and Generalized Linear Models algorithms. The predictions from guidelines and the CDSS proposed were compared. Results: Overall, the highest (> 0.90) areas under the receiver-operating characteristics curve AUCs for predicting survival were obtained for small cell lung cancer patients. The AUCs for predicting survival using basic items included in the guidelines were mostly below 0.70 while those obtained using the CDSS were mostly above 0.70. The vast majority of comparisons between the guideline and CDSS AUCs were statistically significant (p < 0.05). For instance, using the guidelines, the AUC for predicting survival was 0.60 while the predictive power of the CDSS enhanced the AUC up to 0.84 (p = 0.0009). In terms of histology, there was only a statistically significant difference when comparing the AUCs of small cell lung cancer patients (0.96) and all lung cancer patients with longer (≥ 18 months) follow up (0.80; p < 0.001). Conclusions: The CDSS successfully showed potential for enhancing prediction of survival. The CDSS could assist physicians in formulating evidence-based management advice in patients with lung cancer, guiding an individualized discussion according to prognosis.Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI16/02104Junta de Andalucía PIN-0476-2017Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad FPAP13-1E-242

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

Familial hypercholesterolaemia in children and adolescents from 48 countries: a cross-sectional study

Background: Approximately 450 000 children are born with familial hypercholesterolaemia worldwide every year, yet only 2·1% of adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia were diagnosed before age 18 years via current diagnostic approaches, which are derived from observations in adults. We aimed to characterise children and adolescents with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH) and understand current approaches to the identification and management of familial hypercholesterolaemia to inform future public health strategies. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, we assessed children and adolescents younger than 18 years with a clinical or genetic diagnosis of HeFH at the time of entry into the Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Studies Collaboration (FHSC) registry between Oct 1, 2015, and Jan 31, 2021. Data in the registry were collected from 55 regional or national registries in 48 countries. Diagnoses relying on self-reported history of familial hypercholesterolaemia and suspected secondary hypercholesterolaemia were excluded from the registry; people with untreated LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) of at least 13·0 mmol/L were excluded from this study. Data were assessed overall and by WHO region, World Bank country income status, age, diagnostic criteria, and index-case status. The main outcome of this study was to assess current identification and management of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia. Findings: Of 63 093 individuals in the FHSC registry, 11 848 (18·8%) were children or adolescents younger than 18 years with HeFH and were included in this study; 5756 (50·2%) of 11 476 included individuals were female and 5720 (49·8%) were male. Sex data were missing for 372 (3·1%) of 11 848 individuals. Median age at registry entry was 9·6 years (IQR 5·8-13·2). 10 099 (89·9%) of 11 235 included individuals had a final genetically confirmed diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia and 1136 (10·1%) had a clinical diagnosis. Genetically confirmed diagnosis data or clinical diagnosis data were missing for 613 (5·2%) of 11 848 individuals. Genetic diagnosis was more common in children and adolescents from high-income countries (9427 [92·4%] of 10 202) than in children and adolescents from non-high-income countries (199 [48·0%] of 415). 3414 (31·6%) of 10 804 children or adolescents were index cases. Familial-hypercholesterolaemia-related physical signs, cardiovascular risk factors, and cardiovascular disease were uncommon, but were more common in non-high-income countries. 7557 (72·4%) of 10 428 included children or adolescents were not taking lipid-lowering medication (LLM) and had a median LDL-C of 5·00 mmol/L (IQR 4·05-6·08). Compared with genetic diagnosis, the use of unadapted clinical criteria intended for use in adults and reliant on more extreme phenotypes could result in 50-75% of children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia not being identified. Interpretation: Clinical characteristics observed in adults with familial hypercholesterolaemia are uncommon in children and adolescents with familial hypercholesterolaemia, hence detection in this age group relies on measurement of LDL-C and genetic confirmation. Where genetic testing is unavailable, increased availability and use of LDL-C measurements in the first few years of life could help reduce the current gap between prevalence and detection, enabling increased use of combination LLM to reach recommended LDL-C targets early in life