Impulsivity: A view from the behavioral neuroscience and developmental psychology

Impulsivity has been linked to three main factors: performing without direct involvement of the frontal lobe functions, an increase in the speed of response, and the acquisition of immediate gratification. This behavioral inhibition deficit involves a variety of behaviors including aspects of hyperexcitability, behavioral disinhibition and higher order decision making. Although by tradition, the definition of this executive function has been conceptualized from a psychopathological view, currently, the wide variety of neuropsychological, developmental and animal models assessment techniques encourage us to establish dialogues that integrate the knowledge of these theoretical perspectives for the interpretation and understanding of impulsivity.

Influence of the lateral pterygoid muscle on the growth of the mandibular condilar cartilage

At the end of the last century, a model to explain clinical observations related to the mandibular growth was developed. According to it, the lateral pterigoid muscle (LPM) was one of the main modulators of the differentiation of mesenquimal cells inside the condyle to condroblasts or osteoblasts, and therefore of the growth of the mandibular condilar cartilage (CCM). The main components of the model were the humoral and the mechanical. Nowadays, the humoral would include growth factors such as IGF-I, FGF-2 and VEGF, which seem to be involved in mandibular growth. Since skeletal muscle can secrete these growth factors, there is a possibility that LPM modulates the growth of CCM by a paracrine or endocrine mechanism. The mechanical component derived from the observations that both the blood flow inside the temporomandibular joint (ATM) and the action of the retrodiscal pad on the growth of the CCM, depend, in part, on the contractile activity of the LPM. Despite the fact that there are some results suggesting  hat LPM is activated under conditions of mandibular protrusion, there is no full agreement on whether this can stimulate the growth of CCM. In this review, the contributions and limitations of the works related to mandibular growth are discussed and a model which integrates the available information to explain the role of the LPM in the growth of the CCM is proposed.

Analysis of the alveolar recruitment maneuvers applied at seven intensive care units

Introduction: During the past years, alveolar recruitment maneuvers (RM) have produced growing interest due to their beneficial potential in pulmonary protection, and have been introduced in clinical practice. Objective: To describe and analyze the knowledge of MR and its application at seven intensive care units in the city of Cali, Colombia. Methods and materials: Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study with an intentional sample of 64 professionals working in seven intensive care units and who apply MR. The self-completed survey was made up of thirteen questions, and the application period was two months. Results: Out of 64 professionals surveyed, 77.8% of them follow a protocol guide; 54.7% employes during RM the ideal Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), which maintains a saturation > 90% and a PaO2 > 60 mmHg; 42.1% tolerates airway pressures between 35 and 50 cmH2O; 48.4% perform RM with a progressive increase of the PEEP and a low tidal volume. Conclusions: Regarding the knowledge related to RM, heterogeneity was found in the answers. There is currently no consensus about which is the most effective and secure way to implement an MR. This study can be the starting point to create awareness towards the revision of knowledge, capacities and abilities that are required to perform RM.

La restauración del orden democrático en Paraguay. Apuntes para entender el triunfo de Fernando Lugo dentro de una larga transición inconclusa

Entender la relevancia que adquiere el triunfo de Fernando Armindo Lugo Méndez en Paraguay implica realizar un repaso de la vida política de dicho país, para comprender el funcionamiento que el Partido Colorado –opositor al ex obispo en las elecciones del 2008– adquirió en los previos 61 años en el poder; 35 de los cuales conformaron una dictadura (liderada por Alfredo Stroessner).Realizando una breve caracterización de la historia política del Paraguay, comenzando con las Guerras Patrias, prosiguiendo con una descripción de los gobiernos colorados que presidieron entre 1947 y 2008, y profundizando el análisis de los años de transición a la democracia (iniciada en 1989), este artículo intentará dar una aproximación interpretativa sobre los factores que confluyeron para lograr el triunfo electoral del ex clérigo Fernando Lugo en el año 2008, quien derrocó al Partido Colorado (Asociación Nacional Republicana, ANR).Consiguientemente, se describirá la conformación de los poderes legislativos y judiciales, con la finalidad de observar continuidades y rupturas en estas instituciones durante la transición y en el gobierno actual.Finalmente, se hará un breve comentario referido a la actualidad del país, a dos años de haber consagrado como primer mandatario a un ex obispo.---The restoration of the democraticorder in Paraguay. Notes to understand Fernando Lugo’s victory inside a long incomplete transitionUnderstanding the relevancy that acquires the victory of the ex clergyman of the Catholic Church Fernando Armindo Lugo Méndez in Paraguay, implies realizing a revision (brief but conscientious) of the political recent life of the above mentioned country, to understand the characteristics that the Party Colorado –opponent to the ex-bishop in the 2008 elections– had during 61 years before; 35 of which shaped a dictatorship (led by Alfredo Stroessner).Making a brief characterization of the political history of Paraguay, starting with the Patriotic War, continuing with a description of the Colorado governments that presided between 1947 and 2008 and deepening the analysis the years of transition to democracy (begun in 1989), this article will attempt to give an interpretative approach to the factors that came together to achieve electoral victory of former priest Fernando Lugo in 2008, who overthrew the Colorado Party (Asociación Nacional Republicana, ANR).Accordingly, it will be to characterize the conformation of the legislative and judicial powers, in order to observe continuities and discontinuities in these institutions during the transition and now.Finally, a brief comment will be referred to the country today, two years after he established himself as a former president bishop.Key words: Paraguay, democratic transition, Colorado Party’s presidency, Lugo’s victory.---A restauração da ordem democrática no Paraguai. Anotações para entender o triunfo de Fernando Lugo dentro de uma longa transição inconclusaEntender a relevância que adquire o triunfo de Fernando Armindo Lugo Méndez no Paraguai implica realizar um repasso da vida política de dito país, para compreender o funcionamento que o Partido Colorado –opositor ao ex-bispo nas eleições do 2008–adquiriu nos prévios 61 anos no poder; 35 dos quais conformaram uma ditadura (liderada por Alfredo Stroessner).Realizando uma breve caracterização da historia política do Paraguai, começando com as Guerras Pátrias, prosseguindo com uma descrição dos governos colorados que presidiram entre 1947 e 2008, e aprofundando a análise dos anos de transição à democracia (iniciada em 1989), este artigo tentará dar uma aproximação interpretativa sobre os fatores que confluíram para lograr o triunfo eleitoral do ex-clérigo Fernando Lugo no ano 2008, quem derrocou ao Partido Colorado (Associação Nacional Republicana, ANR).Conseguintemente, se descreverá a conformação dos poderes legislativos e judiciais, com a finalidade de observar continuidades e rupturas nestas instituições durante a transição e no governo atual.Finalmente, se fará um breve comentário referido à atualidade do país, a dois anos de haver consagrado como primeiro mandatário a um ex-bispo.Palavras chave: Paraguai. Transição democrática. Governos Colorados. Triunfo de Lugo.

Venezuela en Unasur: integración regional y discurso político

La actuación de Venezuela en la Unión de Naciones Sudamericanas ―Unasur― puede entenderse a partir del análisis de la política de integración venezolana y del lugar de Unasur en el discurso político de su gobierno, desde la creación de la Comunidad Sudamericana de Naciones ―CSN―, embrión de Unasur,hasta el 2012. La política de integración permite identificar sus intereses y si estos convergen o divergen de los de un actor clave en Unasur: Brasil. El discurso muestra las ideas que inspira esa política y ayuda a evaluar en qué medida han sido incorporadas a Unasur. Ambos elementos arrojan luz acerca de la evolución institucional del proyecto de integración sudamericana y de algunos cambios de visión que se observan en la actualidad.