Padres que cuidan a sus hijos con plurisdiscapacidad: estudio cualitativo sobre el cuidado y sus consecuencias

Las personas con pluridiscapacidad presentan retraso mental severo o profundo además de otros déficits orgánicos, físicos o mentales. Las vidas de las familias de niños con pluridiscapacidad transcurren en un proceso de duelo continuo para adaptarse a las constantes pérdidas del menor y tienen que prestarles cuidados para hacer frente a los síntomas que les producen las distintas discapacidades que padecen. Estudio etnográfico con el objetivo de conocer las características del cuidado que prestan los progenitores a sus hijos con pluridiscapacidad. Técnicas: observación participante y entrevistas. Participantes: progenitores de hijos e hijas entre 3 y 18 años con pluridiscapacidad de Barcelona (España), reclutados a través de las escuelas de educación especial. Los resultados muestran que los padres han aprendido los cuidados que prestan a través de su propia experiencia. Expresan la influencia positiva que les produce el cuidado de sus hijos y su deseo de seguir cuidándoles. Manifiestan su malestar por no disponer de un modelo de atención integral y reclaman un profesional que actúe como su referente.

Impact of geographical and cultural factors on clinical trials in acute mania: lessons from a ziprasidone and haloperidol placebo-controlled study

Clinical trials today are conducted in multiple countries to enhance patient recruitment and improve efficiency of trials. However, the demographic and cultural diversity may contribute to variations in study outcomes. Here we conducted post-hoc analyses for a placebo-controlled study with ziprasidone and haloperidol for the treatment of acute mania to address the demographic, dosing, and outcome disparities in India, Russia and the USA. We compared the baseline characteristics, outcomes and discontinuations in patients and explored the relationship between the outcome measures across these countries. We found substantial differences in baseline characteristics of subjects, administered dosage and disease severity in India compared to the USA and Russia. Conversely, US subjects had a higher placebo response compared to subjects in Russia and India. These results are probably due to demographic differences in patient populations and psychiatric clinical practice across countries. While we offer initial ideas to address the disparities identified in this analysis, it is clear that further research to improve our understanding of geographical differences is essential to ensure globally applicable results for clinical trials in psychiatry.

Executive dysfunction and memory impairment in schizoaffective disorder: a comparison with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and healthy controls.

BACKGROUND: Deficits in memory and executive performance are well-established features of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. By contrast, data on cognitive impairment in schizoaffective disorder are scarce and the findings are conflicting. METHOD: We used the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-III) and the Behavioural Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome (BADS) to test memory and executive function in 45 schizophrenic patients, 26 schizomanic patients and 51 manic bipolar patients in comparison to 65 healthy controls. The patients were tested when acutely ill. RESULTS: All three patient groups performed significantly more poorly than the controls on global measures of memory and executive functioning, but there were no differences among the patient groups. There were few differences in memory and executive function subtest scores within the patient groups. There were no differences in any test scores between manic patients with and without psychotic symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Schizophrenic, schizomanic and manic patients show a broadly similar degree of executive and memory deficits in the acute phase of illness. Our results do not support a categorical differentiation across different psychotic categories with regard to neuropsychological deficits.

Morfologia del basament del Pirineu oriental: evolució i relació amb els mantells de corriment

El mapa d'isobates de la base del Paleogen autocton del Pirineu oriental mostra la topografia subterrania actual del basament. Aquesta topografia presenta una gran zona de culminació a la transversal de Banyoles. Les linies d'isoprofunditats descriuen una forma cóncava vista des del S, essent les maximes profunditats cap al NW amb mes de 4.000 m i en menor importancia cap al NE. Aquestes zones de maxima profunditat coincideixen, en superfície, amb els Mantells superiors: els del Pedraforca al NW i els de L'Emporda al NE constitui'ts principalment per series mesozoiques. En el sector occidental, les línies d'isobates de la base de l'Eoce tenen gran continuitat per sota Je I'anomenada alineació del Segre. A l'est de la zona estudiada hi ha un conjunt de falles amb enfonsament del bloc oriental amb una edat mes moderna a mida que ens desplacem a I'est i lligades a la formació de la depressió de l'Emporda: Els Mantells superiors es poden dividir en dos grans grups segons la seva serie cretacica: els mantells superiors del Pedraforca i de 1'Emporda constituits per Cretaci inferior i base del Cretaci superior i els mantells inferiors del Pedraforca i de l'Emporda constitui'ts per Cretaci superior a partir del Santonià.

CoCo, a web interface for corpora compilation

CoCo is a collaborative web interface for the compilation of linguistic resources. In this demo we are presenting one of its possible applications: paraphrase acquisition.

Brief cognitive assessment instruments in schizophrenia and bipolar patients, and healthy control subjects: A comparison study between the Brief Cognitive Assessment Tool for Schizophrenia (B-CATS) and the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP)

Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia and psychosis is ubiquitous and acknowledged as a core feature of clinical expression, pathophysiology, and prediction of functioning. However, assessment of cognitive functioning is excessively time-consuming in routine practice, and brief cognitive instruments specific to psychosis would be of value. Two screening tools have recently been created to address this issue, i.e., the Brief Cognitive Assessment Tool for Schizophrenia (B-CATS) and the Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP). The aim of this research was to examine the comparative validity of these two brief instruments in relation to a global cognitive score. 161 patients with psychosis (96 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and 65 patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder) and 76 healthy control subjects were tested with both instruments to examine their concurrent validity relative to a more comprehensive neuropsychological assessment battery. Scores from the B-CATS and the SCIP were highly correlated in the three diagnostic groups, and both scales showed good to excellent concurrent validity relative to a Global Cognitive Composite Score (GCCS) derived from the more comprehensive examination. The SCIP-S showed better predictive value of global cognitive impairment than the B-CATS. Partial and semi-partial correlations showed slightly higher percentages of both shared and unique variance between the SCIP-S and the GCCS than between the B-CATS and the GCCS. Brief instruments for assessing cognition in schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, such as the SCIP-S and B-CATS, seem to be reliable and promising tools for use in routine clinical practice.

Produccion de frutos y semillas en Diplotaxis erucoides(L.) DC. sometida a diferentes tratamientos de polinizacion

En este trabajo se estudia el sistema reproductivo de Diplotaxis erucoides (L.) DC. (Brassicaceae), una especie arvense ampliamente distribuida en los cultivos y los márgenes de caminos de la región mediterránea. Mediante polinizaciones manuales con polen procedente de la propia flor (autogamia), de flores del mismo individuo (geitonogamia) y de flores de individuos de otras poblaciones (alogamia) se analiza el efecto de los diferentes tratamientos de polinización sobre la producción de frutos y semillas. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que Diplotaxis erucoides es una especie con capacidad para autopolinizarse. Hay diferencias significativas en la fertilidad y en el número de semillas por fruto entre los tratamientos que generan alogamia y los que originan autogamia. Dentro de los tratamientos con autogamia, la fertilidad disminuye progresivamente en el paso de geitonogamia a autogamia por autopolinización inducida y a autogamia por autopolinización espontánea.

Identity, non-identity, and near-identity: Addressing the complexity of coreference

This article examines the mainstream categorical definition of coreference as "identity of reference." It argues that coreference is best handled when identity is treated as a continuum, ranging from full identity to non-identity, with room for near-identity relations to explain currently problematic cases. This middle ground is needed to account for those linguistic expressions in real text that stand in relations that are neither full coreference nor non-coreference, a situation that has led to contradictory treatment of cases in previous coreference annotation efforts. We discuss key issues for coreference such as conceptual categorization, individuation, criteria of identity, and the discourse model construct. We redefine coreference as a scalar relation between two (or more) linguistic expressions that refer to discourse entities considered to be at the same granularity level relevant to the linguistic and pragmatic context. We view coreference relations in terms of mental space theory and discuss a large number of real life examples that show near-identity at different degrees.

Aqüifers costers, Intrusió marina i retirada del Plà Hidrològic Nacional

Sobre els aqüifers costers, la intrusió marina i la retirada del Plà Hidrològic Nacional

Baixada de resistencies d’un formigó provocat per les variacions de temperatura durant el seu curat i durabilitat resultant

Cada any durant els mesos d’estiu s’ha observat que molts formigons han patit baixades de resistències molt significatives fins al punt d’haver d’enderrocar l’element estructural afectat. Aquest fenomen que es repeteix periòdicament en els mesos de més calor de l’any va lligat a la variació de temperatures que experimenta el formigó en una de les seves etapes de formació més crítiques: el seu curat. En aquest període és quan reaccionen químicament els components del formigó fresc com a reacció exotèrmica que s’ha de controlar amb el manteniment d’una adequada humitat. La importància d’un bon curat és cabdal per la seva influència decisiva en la resistència i altres qualitats del formigó resultant

El problema de les argiles expansibles: el cas del pavelló polisportiu de Quart (Girona)

Solucions a adoptar per construir sobre un terreny d' argiles expansives

Projecte de recerca del Cecam-Udg-Formigons Alsina (I)

Sobre el projecte de recerca “Comportament dels nusos rígids d’estructures de formigó armat executades amb formigons de diferenta qualitat” per part del Cecam, Universitat de Girona i Formigons Alsina, i amb la col.laboració de Sika i Prefer, i amb el suport institucional d’Arquitectura i Habitatge de la Generalitat de Catalunya

Preliminary integrated magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic correlation in the Miocene Lorca Basin (Murcia, SE Spain).

The Lorca basin is one of the Neogene basins OS South Eastern Spain. The infilling Tortonian-Messinian deposits are mainly composed OS marls and reach up to 1,200 m in thickness. A biostratigraphic survey OS these deposits, assisted by the determination OS the magnetic polarity reversal pattern Sor most OS these deposits (900 m), has enabled the Tortonian-Messinian chronostratigraphy to be precised. The close sampling space for biostratigraphic determination has enabled the accurate location OS Sour main biostratigraphic events than can be correlated with charactenstic events of the Mediterranean biostratigraphic Zones. In addition, the location OS the TortonianNessinian boundary has been accurately placed at some 150 m below the main gypsurn unit outcropping in the basin. The integrated bio-magnetostratigraphic data fiom the studied section allows a tentative interpretation OS the identified magnetozones. Thus, a correlation to the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale is presented for more than 900 m of pre-evaporite Miocene stratigraphic succession fiom the Lorca basin. Moreover, about 15' OS anticlockwise rotation has been detected. Its significance is evaluated in the basin geodynamic framework.

Retinoblastoma Protein Knockdown Favors Oxidative Metabolism and Glucose and Fatty Acid Disposal in Muscle Cells.

Deficiency in the retinoblastoma protein (Rb) favors leanness and a healthy metabolic profile in mice largely attributed to activation of oxidative metabolism in white and brown adipose tissues. Less is known about Rb modulation of skeletal muscle metabolism. This was studied here by transiently knocking down Rb expression in differentiated C2C12 myotubes using small interfering RNAs. Compared with control cells transfected with non-targeting RNAs, myotubes silenced for Rb (by 80-90%) had increased expression of genes related to fatty acid uptake and oxidation such as Cd36 and Cpt1b (by 61% and 42%, respectively), increased Mitofusin 2 protein content (∼2.5-fold increase), increased mitochondrial to nuclear DNA ratio (by 48%), increased oxygen consumption (by 65%) and decreased intracellular lipid accumulation. Rb silenced myotubes also displayed up-regulated levels of glucose transporter type 4 expression (∼5-fold increase), increased basal glucose uptake, and enhanced insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation. Interestingly, exercise in mice led to increased Rb phosphorylation (inactivation) in skeletal muscle as evidenced by immunohistochemistry analysis. In conclusion, the silencing of Rb enhances mitochondrial oxidative metabolism and fatty acid and glucose disposal in skeletal myotubes, and changes in Rb status may contribute to muscle physiological adaptation to exercise. J. Cell. Physiol. 231: 708-718, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Diagnostic and prognostic value of antibodies against chimeric fibrin/filaggrin citrullinated synthetic peptides in rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction: Evidence suggests that citrullinated fibrin(ogen) may be a potential in vivo target of anticitrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We compared the diagnostic yield of three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests by using chimeric fibrin/filaggrin citrullinated synthetic peptides (CFFCP1, CFFCP2, CFFCP3) with a commercial CCP2-based test in RA and analyzed their prognostic values in early RA. Methods: Samples from 307 blood donors and patients with RA (322), psoriatic arthritis (133), systemic lupus erythematosus (119), and hepatitis C infection (84) were assayed by using CFFCP- and CCP2-based tests. Autoantibodies also were analyzed at baseline and during a 2-year follow-up in 98 early RA patients to determine their prognostic value. Results: With cutoffs giving 98% specificity for RA versus blood donors, the sensitivity was 72.1% for CFFCP1, 78.0% for CFFCP2, 71.4% for CFFCP3, and 73.9% for CCP2, with positive predictive values greater than 97% in all cases. CFFCP sensitivity in RA increased to 80.4% without losing specificity when positivity was considered as any positive anti-CFFCP status. Specificity of the three CFFCP tests versus other rheumatic populations was high (> 90%) and similar to those for the CCP2. In early RA, CFFCP1 best identified patients with a poor radiographic outcome. Radiographic progression was faster in the small subgroup of CCP2-negative and CFFCP1-positive patients than in those negative for both autoantibodies. CFFCP antibodies decreased after 1 year, but without any correlation with changes in disease activity. Conclusions: CFFCP-based assays are highly sensitive and specific for RA. Early RA patients with anti-CFFCP1 antibodies, including CCP2-negative patients, show greater radiographic progression.