Factorial Composition of a General Self-Efficacy Scale in Mexican University Students

The present study aims to investigate whether the psychometric results proposed by (Sanjuan, Perez, & Bermúdez, 2000) for general selfefficacy scale replicate. The total sample was of 282 subjects; 142 women and 140 men, college students from the city of La Paz Baja California Sur Mexico, with an mean age of 20.3 years (SD = 1.6) for women and 20.9 years (SD = 1.6) for men. The factorial structure of the questionnaire was analyzed by confirmatory factor analysis. The analysis shows a feasible and appropriate factor structure. The structure of a one factor, based on statistical and substantive criteria, has shown adequate fit indicators of reliability and validity. In addition, the factor obtained a Cronbach´s alpha coefficient of .914. Future research should replicate these findings in larger samples

Ultramicroscopic changes observed in sperm cats (Felis Catus) frozen-thawed

Los procesos de criopreservación seminal producen alteraciones estructurales en la célula espermática provocando disminución de la fertilidad al descongelado. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar las alteraciones ultramicroscópicas observadas en los espermatozoides felinos congelados-descongelados. Se utilizaron 16 gatos (n=16) mestizos, de entre 24 y 36 meses de edad, sanos, con un peso entre 3 y 5 Kg, los cuales fueron sometidos a orquiectomía bilateral para la obtención de espermatozoides a partir de la cola del epidídimo con la técnica de cutting. Los espermatozoides epididimales se congelaron con dos diluyentes diferentes: un DIL Tris Base y un DIL Tris con el agregado de 0,5% de Dimetilformamida y 4,5% de glicerol. Las muestras de espermatozoides epididimales frescos y congelados descongelados se procesaron y observaron en un microscopio electrónico de transmisión JEM 1200 EX II. Se evaluaron 100 cabezas y 100 colas por cada tratamiento. El porcentaje de espermatozoides sin daños ultramicroscópicos fue significativamente mayor en el semen fresco que en el semen descongelado (80,75±5,64 vs 10,25±1,24; 91,75±2,13 vs 59,27±3,92; p<0,05). Los procesos de congelación-descongelación producen alteraciones espermáticas ultraestructurales.Cryopreservation procedure causes sperm structural disorders decreasing fertility. The aim was to study ultramicroscopic damage observed in frozen-thawed sperm. Mixed breed tomcats (n=16) that underwent bilateral orchiectomy at a municipal public pet shelter were used in the study. Sperm samples were obtained by cutting the cauda epididymis and frozen using Tris base extender with dimetilformamide 0.5% and 4.5% of glycerol or without dimetilformamide and 5% glycerol. Sperm samples were observed in a transmission electron microscope JEM 1200 EX II. For each treatment 100 heads and 100 tails were evaluated. The percentage of intact sperm was higher in fresh spermatozoa than frozen-thawed sperm (80.75±5.64vs10.25±1.24; 91.75±2.13vs59.27±3.92; p<0.05). Frozen-thawed procedure produce ultrastructural damage.Fil: Bonaura, María Candela. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Teriogenología. Cátedra de Reproducción Animal; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Jurado, Susana Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Nuñez Favre, Romina de Los Angeles. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Teriogenología. Cátedra de Reproducción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Praderio, Romina Gisele. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Teriogenología. Cátedra de Reproducción Animal; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Tittarelli, Claudia Marcela. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Teriogenología. Cátedra de Reproducción Animal; ArgentinaFil: Stornelli, María Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Teriogenología. Cátedra de Reproducción Animal; Argentin

Effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral intervention in patients with medically unexplained symptoms: cluster randomized trial

BACKGROUND: Medically unexplained symptoms are an important mental health problem in primary care and generate a high cost in health services.Cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy have proven effective in these patients. However, there are few studies on the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions by primary health care. The project aims to determine whether a cognitive-behavioral group intervention in patients with medically unexplained symptoms, is more effective than routine clinical practice to improve the quality of life measured by the SF-12 questionary at 12 month. METHODS/DESIGN: This study involves a community based cluster randomized trial in primary healthcare centres in Madrid (Spain). The number of patients required is 242 (121 in each arm), all between 18 and 65 of age with medically unexplained symptoms that had seeked medical attention in primary care at least 10 times during the previous year. The main outcome variable is the quality of life measured by the SF-12 questionnaire on Mental Healthcare. Secondary outcome variables include number of consultations, number of drug (prescriptions) and number of days of sick leave together with other prognosis and descriptive variables. Main effectiveness will be analyzed by comparing the percentage of patients that improve at least 4 points on the SF-12 questionnaire between intervention and control groups at 12 months. All statistical tests will be performed with intention to treat. Logistic regression with random effects will be used to adjust for prognostic factors. Confounding factors or factors that might alter the effect recorded will be taken into account in this analysis. DISCUSSION: This study aims to provide more insight to address medically unexplained symptoms, highly prevalent in primary care, from a quantitative methodology. It involves intervention group conducted by previously trained nursing staff to diminish the progression to the chronicity of the symptoms, improve quality of life, and reduce frequency of medical consultations. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01484223 [http://ClinicalTrials.gov].S

Nutrición en Salud Pública

La salud pública es uno de los esfuerzos colectivos organizados de la sociedad para prevenir la muerte prematura, la enfermedad, las lesiones y la discapacidad, y para promover la salud de las poblaciones. La Nutrición es la ciencia que estudia el conjunto de procesos por los cuales un organismo utiliza la energía de los alimentos para mantenerse y crecer; o, expresado de forma más operativa, la ciencia que estudia los alimentos, nutrientes y otras sustancias relacionadas, su interacción y balance en relación con la salud y la enfermedad y los procesos por los cuales el organismo ingiere, digiere, absorbe, transporta, utiliza y extrae las sustancias alimenticias. A partir de estas definiciones, podemos conceptualizar la nutrición en salud pública o la salud pública nutricional (public health nutrition) como la ciencia que estudia la relación entre dieta y salud a nivel poblacional y el desarrollo de intervenciones nutricionales a nivel comunitario con el objeto de mejorar el estado de salud de las poblaciones

Diversidad genética en variedades tradicionales de melocotonero (Prunus persica) (póster)

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Sperm abnormalities in domestic cat (Felis Silvestris Catus)

El gato doméstico ha sido clasificado como teratospérmico en relación al alto porcentaje de anormalidades espermáticas presentes en el semen de gatos sanos y fértiles. El objetivo fue estudiar el tipo de anormalidades espermáticas en el gato doméstico. Se utilizaron 50 gatos (n=50) mestizos. Los espermatozoides epididimales obtenidos fueron procesados para estudio de microscopía óptica y electrónica. El estudio de microscopía óptica permitió observar alteraciones acrosomales (quistes, hinchamientos), de la cabeza (macro y microcefalia, cabezas globosas, piriformes, alargadas y dobles), de la pieza intermedia (doble, deshilachada, doblada, gotas distales e inserción excéntrica), de la cola (cola doble, enrollada, Dag y falta de la porción terminal). El estudio de microscopía electrónica permitió observar alteraciones acrosomales, defecto de “Dag”, colas dobles, cabezas dobles, axonemas incompletos. Nuestros resultados muestran gran variedad de anormalidades espermáticas tanto en el estudio de microscopía óptica como en el de microscopía electrónica. En el presente trabajo se describen por primera vez en felinos las anormalidades espermáticas observadas al microscopio electrónico y se las relaciona con las observadas al microscopio óptico.The domestic cat is classified as teratospermic in relation to the high percentage of abnormal sperm in semen of healthy and fertile cats. The aim was to study the kind of sperm abnormalities in the domestic cat. Fifty short-hair mixed breed male cats were used (n = 50). The epididymal sperm were processed using light and electronic microscopy. Microscopically study allowed to observe acrosomal abnormalities (cysts, swelling), head disorders (macro and microcephaly, heads globose, pyriform, elongated and double), sperm midpiece abnormalities (double, frayed, bent, and insertion distal eccentric drops) and tail disorders (tail double coiled Dag and lack terminal portion). Ultramicroscopical study allowed to observe acrosomal disorders, Dag, double tails, double heads and incomplete axonemes. Our results show a variety of sperm abnormalities. Our results showed severals sperm abnormalities in cat epididymal sperm. In this paper we describe for first time ultramicroscopic sperm abnormalities and relate them to sperm microscopic abnormalities.Fil: Bonaura, María Candela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Jurado, Susana Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Nuñez Favre, Romina de Los Angeles. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: García Mitacek, María Carla. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Sarmiento, P.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; ArgentinaFil: Stornelli, María Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentin

Reward processing in obesity, substance addiction and non-substance addiction

Similarities and differences between obesity and addiction are a prominent topic of ongoing research. We conducted an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis on 87 studies in order to map the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response to reward in participants with obesity, substance addiction and non-substance (or behavioural) addiction, and to identify commonalities and differences between them. Our study confirms the existence of alterations during reward processing in obesity, non-substance addiction and substance addiction. Specifically, participants with obesity or with addictions differed from controls in several brain regions including prefrontal areas, subcortical structures and sensory areas. Additionally, participants with obesity and substance addictions exhibited similar blood-oxygen-level-dependent fMRI hyperactivity in the amygdala and striatum when processing either general rewarding stimuli or the problematic stimuli (food and drug-related stimuli, respectively). We propose that these similarities may be associated with an enhanced focus on reward – especially with regard to food or drug-related stimuli – in obesity and substance addiction. Ultimately, this enhancement of reward processes may facilitate the presence of compulsive-like behaviour in some individuals or under some specific circumstances. We hope that increasing knowledge about the neurobehavioural correlates of obesity and addictions will lead to practical strategies that target the high prevalence of these central public health challenges

An intensive lung donor treatment protocol does not have negative influence on other grafts: a multicentre study.

Competing requirements for organ perfusion may call for antagonistic strategies such as fluid replacement or high positive end-expiratory pressure. We recently proposed an intensive lung donor treatment protocol that nearly tripled lung procurement rates and validated it in a multicentre study. The next step was to evaluate the impact of our proposal on the other organ grafts recovered from lung donors and on the recipients' outcome after transplantation of those grafts. A quasi-experimental study was conducted in six Spanish hospitals during 2013 (2010-12 was historical control). Organ donor management was led by a trained and experienced intensive care staff. A total of 618 actual donors after brain death (DBDs) were included, 453 DBDs in the control period (annual average 151) and 165 in the protocol period. No baseline differences were found between the periods. Heart, liver, kidney and pancreas retrieval rates were similar in both periods, and heart, liver, kidney and pancreas recipients' survival at 3 months showed no differences between both periods. Our lung donor treatment protocol is safe for other grafts obtained from donors undergoing these procedures with the aim of increasing lungs available for transplantation. It has no negative impact on the recovery rates of other grafts or on early survival of heart, liver, pancreas or kidney recipients

Reward processing in obesity, substance addiction and non-substance addiction

Similarities and differences between obesity and addiction are a prominent topic of ongoing research. We conducted an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis on 87 studies in order to map the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response to reward in participants with obesity, substance addiction and non-substance (or behavioural) addiction, and to identify commonalities and differences between them. Our study confirms the existence of alterations during reward processing in obesity, non-substance addiction and substance addiction. Specifically, participants with obesity or with addictions differed from controls in several brain regions including prefrontal areas, subcortical structures and sensory areas. Additionally, participants with obesity and substance addictions exhibited similar blood-oxygen-level-dependent fMRI hyperactivity in the amygdala and striatum when processing either general rewarding stimuli or the problematic stimuli (food and drug-related stimuli, respectively). We propose that these similarities may be associated with an enhanced focus on reward – especially with regard to food or drug-related stimuli – in obesity and substance addiction. Ultimately, this enhancement of reward processes may facilitate the presence of compulsive-like behaviour in some individuals or under some specific circumstances. We hope that increasing knowledge about the neurobehavioural correlates of obesity and addictions will lead to practical strategies that target the high prevalence of these central public health challenges