The High Five Model as a predictor of academic performance over conventional psychological predictors in university students.

Introduction: The High Five Model (HFM) categorizes five positive human characteristics-erudition, peace, joviality, honesty, and tenacity-utilizing an inductive psycholexic approach. This study examines the predictive power of HFM on academic performance among university students, hypothesizing that it surpasses conventional predictors such as academic motivation, exam anxiety, and academic procrastination. Methods: A non-experimental cross-sectional correlational design was implemented using a non-probabilistic convenience sample of 1,007 Ecuadorian university students (403 females). Self-reported measures of the "high factors," academic motivation, exam anxiety, and academic procrastination were collected. Linear regression analysis was utilized to evaluate the predictive capacity of the HFM on academic performance. Results: The analysis revealed that the high factors of the HFM significantly predict academic performance, demonstrating a stronger predictive ability than traditional psychological predictors. Discussion: The findings suggest that incorporating the HFM into academic settings could enhance understanding and prediction of student performance. This could potentially inform targeted interventions that leverage these high factors, thereby fostering better academic outcomes. Further research could explore the integration of the HFM with other educational strategies and its applicability across diverse educational contexts.

Validation of a method of broth microdilution for the determination of antibacterial activity of essential oils.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to adapt and optimize a broth microdilution method and compare it to the agar dilution method for the evaluation of activity of essential oils from medicinal plants against Gram-negative bacteria. Based on bibliographic research, active and not active oils were selected. The sensitivity and specificity were established as parameters for validation. The comparison between both methods was made using contingency analysis tables, based on the observed frequencies. For both methods, the minimum inhibitory concentration was determined against Escherichia coli strains, in an essential oil concentration range between 0.03 and 0.48% (v/v). RESULTS: A stable emulsion formation was achieved with the addition of Tween 80 and constant agitation, guaranteeing the continuous contact of oil with bacteria (critical step in the microdilution method). The statistical analysis of results obtained with both methods presented a good sensitivity and specificity (100% in both cases), which let us correctly discriminate between active and non-active oils. The values obtained for the minimal inhibitory concentration were independent of the technique used. Finally, the obtained results show that the validated microtechnique allows important diminishment of time and resources for investigations dealing with essential oils or lipophilic extracts evaluation.

Caso Clínico: Enfermedad de Paget del Pezón / Clinical Case Report: Paget's Disease of the Nipple

INTRODUCCIÓN: La enfermedad de Paget del pezón es infrecuente y representa del 1 al 3 % de las neoplasias de mama. Está asociada con un carcinoma invasivo o in situ en el 82 al 94 % de los casos. Se presenta entre los 55 a 64 años de edad. CASO CLÍNICO: Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 58 años con zona de descamación de 1 cm2 indolora en pezón derecho y tumor de 4 cm2 en mama izquierda, ecografía y mamografía BI-RADS III. Biopsia incisional de pezón derecho que reportó enfermedad de Paget, con ampliación de márgenes. Se completó estudios de extensión con resonancia magnética que reportó lesión retro-areolar sospechosa en mama derecha y lesión nodular maligna en mama izquierda. EVOLUCIÓN: Se realizó cuadrantectomía central más neo-pezón en mama derecha, y en mama izquierda cuadrantectomía superoexterna con vaciamiento ganglionar axilar bilateral, el reporte de patología fue mama derecha negativa para malignidad, mama izquierda hiperplasia intraductal atípica con focos de carcinoma intraductal. Se administró 25 sesiones radioterapia, tras un año de seguimiento se mantiene sin recurrencia. CONCLUSIÓN: La enfermedad de Paget es poco frecuente, pero debe considerarse como diagnóstico diferencial en pacientes sobre los 55 años, su tratamiento estandarizado es quirúrgico, la adyuvancia con radioterapia aún es motivo de discusión. El autoexamen de mama, el acudir a controles periódicos a partir de los 40 años además de realizar una ecografía y mamografía nos lleva a diagnósticos tempranos con un elevado porcentaje de cirugías más conservadoras.(au)

BACKGROUND: Paget's disease of the nipple is uncommon and represents 1 to 3% of breast malignancies. It is associated with invasive or in situ carcinoma in 82 to 94% of cases. It occurs between 55 to 64 years old. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 58 year old woman with a painless 1cm2 scaling skin lesion in the right nipple and a 4cm2 tumor in the left breast, ultrasound and mammograghy classified as BIRADS III. Incisional biopsy of the right nipple that reported Paget's¬ disease, with extension of surgical margins of resection. MRI extension studies were made; they reported suspicious retroaereolar lesion in the right breast and malignant nodular lesion in the left breast. EVOLUTION: We performed central quadrantectomy with nipple reconstruction in the right breast, and superoexternal quadrantectomy in the left breast, with bilateral axillary lymph node dissection, the pathology report was negative for malignancy in the right breast, in the left breast atypical intraductal hiperplasia with foci of intraductal carcinoma. The patient received 25 radiotherapy sessions. After one year of follow-up there is no recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Paget's disease is rare, but should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients over 55 years, its standardized treatment is surgery, adjuvant treatment with radiotherapy is still a matter of discussion. Breast self-exam, regular checkups in people over 40 years old, ultrasound and mammogram lead to early diagnosis with a higher percentage of conservative surgeries.(au)

Caso Clínico: Tumor Phyllodes / Case Report: Tumor Phyllodes

INTRODUCCIÓN: El tumor phyllodes representa menos del 1 % de los tumores mamarios, con una incidencia de 2.1 por millón a nivel mundial, la edad de presentación es entre los 35 a 55 años. Las mujeres latinas tienen mayor riesgo de tumor phyllodes que otros grupos étnicos. En Ecuador las ciudades con mayor incidencia son Quito, Guayaquil y Loja según el Registro Nacional de Tumores; en Cuenca se presenta un caso por año. CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente femenino de 46 años, con antecedente de resección de fibroadenoma en mama derecha 2 años antes, quien hace seis meses atrás, presenta tumor multilobulado de crecimiento rápido, móvil, definido, que ocupa el 80 % de la mama derecha, ecografía BIRADS II; mamografía BIRADS 0. Biopsia con aguja fina presenta resultado histopatológico de tumor phyllodes limítrofe. EVOLUCIÓN: Con el reporte de patología de tumor phyllodes maligno de alto grado con límites negativos, se realizó mastectomía; posteriormente paciente no necesito tratamiento adyuvante, al momento con buen pronóstico. CONCLUSIÓN: El tumor phyllodes maligno es poco frecuente, pero debe considerarse como diagnóstico diferencial en pacientes mayores de 35 años, su tratamiento estandarizado es quirúrgico, sin haberse demostrado que un tratamiento adyuvante pueda disminuir la recurrencia loco regional o a distancia.

BACKGROUND: The phyllodes tumor represents less than 1 % of mammary tumors, with an incidence of 2.1 per million worldwide, the age of presentation is between 35 to 55 years. Latina women are at higher risk of phyllodes tumor than other ethnic groups. In Ecuador, the cities with the highest incidence are Quito, Guayaquil and Loja according to the National Registry of Tumors. In Cuenca, one case is presented per year. CASE REPORT: Female patient of 46-year-old woman with a history of resection of fibroadenoma in the right breast 2 years; who 6 months ago, presented a rapidly growing, mobile, defined multi-lobed tumor that occupies 80 % of the right breast, BIRADS II ultrasound; mammography BIRADS 0. Fine needle biopsy presents histopathological result of phyllodes borderline tumor. EVOLUTION: Mastectomy was performed with high-grade malignant phyllodes tumor pathology report with negative limits, the patient does not need adjuvant treatment, and it remains good prognosis. CONCLUSION: Malignant phyllodes tumor is rare, but it should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients older than 35 years, it is standardized treatment surgical, without having demonstrated that an adjuvant treatment can reduce loco or regional recurrence.