Self-medication and related terms: a conceptual reflection

Introduction: self-medication has become a growing practice in the world population. This phenomenon has been promoted as a form of self-care, with a positive impact on reducing spending in health systems, however there is concern about the potential negative effects related to inadequate diagnosis and treatment, which can affect health of individuals. This dual perception of the phenomenon is partly related to a variety of terms and concepts used, that make difficult its theoretical and empirical approach. Harmonization of the definitions involved is required in order to make adequate epidemiological comparisons. Objectives: analyze the concept of self medication and related terms from the definitions in the literature of the subject. Conclusions: in the last four decades it has been an evolution of both the wording and the definitions related to self-medication, from a very simple concept that implies the absence of prescription, to more complex ones that encompass very diverse behaviors, even those mediated by an act of prescription but not followed or not completed by the patient. Additionally the conceptual proliferation seen, justify the ordering of the terms related to self-medication. This paper presents a proposal for classification in four groups: a. self-medication, b. self care, c. pharmaceutical preparations and medicines, and d. prescription. This proposal should facilitate the exploration and analysis of the phenomenon and allow future theoretical approaches.

Hematopoietic stem cells, overview and pathways implied on their self-renewal mechanisms

Blood tissue is composed approximately in 45% by cells and its derivatives, with a life span of around 120 days for erythrocytes and 3 years for certain type of lymphocytes. This lost is compensated with the hematopoietic system activity and the presence of an immature primitive cell population known as Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs) which perform the hematopoiesis, a process that is active from the beginning of the fetal life and produces near to 2 x 1011 eritrocytes and 1010 white blood cells per day (1). Hematopoietic Stem Cells are capable of both self-renewal and differentiation into multiple lineages, are located in a particular niche and are identified by their own cell surface markers, as the CD34 antigen. Recently it has been possible to advance in the understanding of self-renewal, differentiation and proliferation processes and in the involvement of the signaling pathways Hedgehog, Notch and Wnt. Studying the influence of these mechanisms on in vivo and in vitro behavior and the basic biology of HSCs, has given valuable tools for the generation of alternative therapies for hematologic disorders as leukemias.

Regulation and self-regulation learning. 'Regulación y autoregulación de los aprendizajes'.

Este vídeo nos enseña cómo se produce el proceso de regulación del aprendizaje por el profesor y nos muestra un método alternativo: la propia autoregulación del alumno.

Self-monitoring, grupo de iguales y delincuencia juvenil : un análisis empírico.

Resumen basado en el de la revista

Errors and self-correction in narrative distinguish ADHD from ADHD with language impairments. 'Los errores y autocorrecciones en la narración distinguen el TDAH del TDAH con trastornos del lenguaje'.

Resumen basado en el de la publicación. Resumen en español

Self-access (acceso a materiales para el aprendizaje de una segunda lengua, de forma autónoma) y atención a la diversidad.

Self-access es otro modo de aprendizaje, en este caso, de una segunda lengua. Con él, el alumno puede elegir gran cantidad de materiales de aprendizaje y usarlos de forma autónoma y personalizada. Tiene como objetivos añadir un nuevo enfoque al estudio del Inglés, fomentar la responsabilidad y el control del propio aprendizaje en el alumno y favorecer la autoestima. Se usa una metodología que promueve el aprendizaje individualizado de los alumnos según sus necesidades. Las actividades consisten en la integración del self-access en la biblioteca del centro y darle así un sentido de lugar de trabajo, y participación en él de todos los alumnos, que aprenden procedimientos y estrategias para un mejor conocimiento de la lengua inglesa. La evaluación tiene en cuenta el número de usuarios que participan, la mejor actitud hacia la asignatura, la repercusión en una mejor atención a la diversidad y el fomento de un aprendizaje responsable y autónomo.