The European Portuguese Version of the Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory-Revised (DMPI-R).

Objectives: Meditation practice has beneficial effects on physical and mental health, and barriers to regular practice have been recognized. The Determinants of Meditation Practice Inventory (DMPI) was developed and recently revised (DMPI-R). DMPI-R is a 12-item self-report instrument encompassing four dimensions: low perceived benefit, perceived inadequate knowledge, perceived pragmatic barriers, and perceived socio-cultural conflict. The current study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties and factor structure of the European Portuguese version of the DMPI-R in a general population Portuguese sample (non-meditators). Methods: A sample comprising 154 participants completed a set of self-report measures online. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and parallel analyses were conducted to decide on the number of factors. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was computed in an independent sample (N = 229). Three models were tested and compared. Reliability and validity were analyzed. Results: The EFA and parallel analysis revealed a four-factor structure. The three models tested showed a good fit to the data. Models' comparison pointed that the four-factor model, excluding item 10, was the one with the lower Expected Cross-Validation Index. The DMPI-R factors revealed adequate reliability and test-retest stability. The DMPI-R showed correlations with experiential avoidance and perspectives on meditation. No significant differences were found between men and women on the DMPI-R four factors. No significant associations with age and years of education were found. Conclusions: The European Portuguese version of DMPI-R is a reliable and valid self-report instrument to assess perceived barriers to meditation, contributing to expand research and support meditation instructors in improving meditation programs.

Hyperthermia Enhances Efficacy of Chemotherapeutic Agents in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines.

Chemotherapy (CT) is the standard care for advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC); however, with limited efficacy. Hyperthermia (HT) treatment has been suggested as a sensitizer to improve outcomes. However, the direct effect of the HT and CT combination is not fully understood. Therefore, we aim to assess the direct cytotoxic effect of HT in PDAC cells as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapeutics. Different temperatures (37-, 40.5-, 41-, and 41.5 °C) and durations (6-, 12-, and 24 h) were tested in PDAC cell lines (BxPC-3, Capan-1, Capan-2, PANC-1, and MIA-PaCa-2). Different concentrations of gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin were also tested in these conditions. The impact on cell metabolic activity was determined by an MTS assay. Enhancement of chemosensitivity was assessed by a reduction in half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). HT and chemotherapeutics interactions were classified as antagonistic, additive, or synergistic using the combination index. HT inhibited cell proliferation in a cell type, temperature, and duration-dependent manner. The induction of apoptosis was seen after 6 h of HT treatment, eventually followed by secondary necrosis. The HT and CT combination led to an IC50 reduction of the tested CT. At 12 h of HT, this effect was between 25 to 90% and reached a 95% reduction at 24 h. The additive or synergistic effect was demonstrated in all cell lines and chemotherapeutics, although, again, this depended on cell type, duration, and temperature. HT is cytotoxic and enhances the therapeutic effectiveness of gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin on PDAC cells. This result was further confirmed by the decrease in the expression of RRM2, TS, and ERCC1 in BxPC-3 and Capan-2 cells. These observations warrant further study in specific subsets of PDAC patients to improve their clinical outcomes.

Medicines for the new coronavirus in the view of Classical Systemic Homeopathy.

INTRODUCTION: According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has 48.896.564 reported cases and 1.236.995 deaths worldwide on November 5, 2020. Despite great efforts, there is no treatment of COVID-19 up to nowadays. Therefore, it is essential to search for therapeutic alternatives to COVID-19, such as Integrative Medicine, especially Homeopathy, which was used with excellent results in the great epidemics. AIM: This study aims to describe the coronavirus Pandemic from the perspective of Classical Systemic Homeopathy and to identify the homeopathic medicine (medicines genius) that has its sphere of action in most of the symptoms involved in this pandemic. METHODS: Articles published in indexed journals and websites of medical institutions, books of homeopathic materia medica, scientific journals, and government publications were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 39 references were selected and enclosed 20 articles indexed on COVID-19, 08 references of systemic conditions, 11 articles indexed of homeopathy, 06 classic homeopathy books. After the study, the homeopathic medicine Cinchona officinalis (China officinalis) was proposed, according to pathogenesis (experimental pathophysiological study in humans) described in the materia medica books consulted, for the relief of symptoms. Its sphere of action in most of the symptoms involved in this pandemic. Moreover, acute homeopathic medicines were determined to act in the relief of symptoms of the various phases of the manifestations of the disease. CONCLUSION: Data contributes to use in homeopathic interventions during the COVID-19 epidemic as a health promotion and treatment strategy that can be used as an adjunct to all sanitary and therapeutic measures recommended by health authorities.

A 7-year follow-up study of the Mindfulness-Based Program for Infertility: Are there long-term effects?

The Mindfulness-Based Program for Infertility (MBPI) was developed for people facing infertility and proved effective in cultivating mindfulness skills, improving infertility self-efficacy, and decreasing depression, shame, entrapment, and defeat feelings. Fifty-five women attended the MBPI sessions and completed self-report measures of depression, anxiety, mindfulness, and experiential avoidance at post-MBPI (T1), 6-month follow-up (T2), and 7-year follow-up (T3). There were significant direct time effects regarding experiential avoidance (F = 3.81; p < 0.033; ηp 2  = 0.08), the mindfulness facets describing (F = 3.54; p = 0.037; ηp 2  = 0.13), acting with awareness (F = 6.87; p = 0.002; ηp 2  = 0.22), nonjudging of inner experience (F = 10.66; p < 0.001; ηp 2  = 0.31), and depressive symptoms (F = 4.85; p = 0.020; ηp 2  = 0.10). There was an increase in the describing facet from T1 to T3 (p = 0.036). The act with awareness facet increased from T1 to T2 (p = 0.010) and from T1 to T3 (p = 0.007), as well as the nonjudging of inner experience facet (T1 to T2 [p = 0.030] and T1 to T3 [p = 0.002]). Experiential avoidance decreased from T1 to T3 (p = 0.022) and depressive symptoms from T1 to T2 (p = 0.019). Post-MBPI scores were maintained at T2 and T3 concerning anxiety symptoms and the observing and no-reactivity mindfulness facets. There were long-term effects of MBPI on mindfulness and experiential avoidance. Moreover, therapeutic gains were maintained regarding depression and anxiety symptoms, independently of the reproductive outcome.

Processes of change in quality of life, weight self-stigma, body mass index and emotional eating after an acceptance-, mindfulness- and compassion-based group intervention (Kg-Free) for women with overweight and obesity.

This study examined the effectiveness of Kg-Free: an acceptance-, mindfulness- and compassion-based group intervention for women with overweight and obesity at post-treatment and 3-month follow-up and explored the psychological processes that underlie changes in quality of life, weight self-stigma, body mass index and emotional eating at post-treatment. Overall, 53 women completed Kg-Free. At post-treatment and 3-month follow-up, participants reported increased quality of life, mindfulness and self-compassion abilities and decreased weight self-stigma, emotional eating, shame, weight-related experiential avoidance, self-criticism and body mass index. Shame and self-criticism reductions were important mediators of changes in health-related outcomes, whereas weight-related experiential avoidance, mindfulness and self-compassion mediated changes in weight and eating-related outcomes.

Incorporating psychoeducation, mindfulness and self-compassion in a new programme for binge eating (BEfree): Exploring processes of change.

This study explores the efficacy of BEfree, a 12-session group intervention that integrates psychoeducation, mindfulness, compassion and value-based action, in a sample of overweight and obese women with binge eating disorder ( N = 31). We used repeated measures analyses of variance and explored processes of change in binge eating and eating psychopathology. At post-intervention, participants decreased in binge eating severity, eating psychopathology, external shame, self-criticism, psychological inflexibility, body image cognitive fusion and increased self-compassion and engagement with valued actions. These results were maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-up. The changes in binge eating were mediated by the changes in the psychological processes promoted by BEfree.

BEfree: A new psychological program for binge eating that integrates psychoeducation, mindfulness, and compassion.

Binge eating disorder (BED) is associated with several psychological and medical problems, such as obesity. Approximately 30% of individuals seeking weight loss treatments present binge eating symptomatology. Moreover, current treatments for BED lack efficacy at follow-up assessments. Developing mindfulness and self-compassion seem to be beneficial in treating BED, although there is still room for improvement, which may include integrating these different but complimentary approaches. BEfree is the first program integrating psychoeducation-, mindfulness-, and compassion-based components for treating women with binge eating and obesity. OBJECTIVE: To test the acceptability and efficacy up to 6-month postintervention of a psychological program based on psychoeducation, mindfulness, and self-compassion for obese or overweight women with BED. DESIGN: A controlled longitudinal design was followed in order to compare results between BEfree (n = 19) and waiting list group (WL; n = 17) from preintervention to postintervention. Results from BEfree were compared from preintervention to 3- and 6-month follow-up. RESULTS: BEfree was effective in eliminating BED; in diminishing eating psychopathology, depression, shame and self-criticism, body-image psychological inflexibility, and body-image cognitive fusion; and in improving obesity-related quality of life and self-compassion when compared to a WL control group. Results were maintained at 3- and 6-month follow-up. Finally, participants rated BEfree helpful for dealing with impulses and negative internal experiences. CONCLUSIONS: These results seem to suggest the efficacy of BEfree and the benefit of integrating different components such as psychoeducation, mindfulness, and self-compassion when treating BED in obese or overweight women. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE: The current study provides evidence of the acceptability of a psychoeducation, mindfulness, and compassion program for binge eating in obesity (BEfree); Developing mindfulness and self-compassionate skills is an effective way of diminishing binge eating, eating psychopathology and depression, and increasing quality of life in women with obesity; Integrating psychoeducation, mindfulness, and compassion seem to be effective in diminishing binge eating, with results maintained up to 6-month postintervention.

Exploring the efficacy of an acceptance, mindfulness & compassionate-based group intervention for women struggling with their weight (Kg-Free): A randomized controlled trial.

This randomized-controlled trial aims to test the efficacy of a group intervention (Kg-Free) for women with overweight or obesity based on mindfulness, ACT and compassion approaches. The intervention aimed to reduce weight self-stigma and unhealthy eating patterns and increase quality-of-life (QoL). Seventy-three women, aged between 18 and 55 years old, with BMI ≥25 without binge-eating seeking weight loss treatment were randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. Kg-Free comprises 10 weekly group sessions plus 2 booster fortnightly sessions, of 2h30 h each. The control group maintained Treatment as Usual (TAU). Data was collected at baseline and at the end of the Kg-Free intervention. Overall, participants enrolled in Kg-Free found the intervention to be very important and helpful when dealing with their weight-related unwanted internal experiences. Moreover, when compared with TAU, the Kg-Free group revealed a significant increased health-related QoL and physical exercise and a reduction of weight self-stigma, unhealthy eating behaviors, BMI, self-criticism, weight-related experiential avoidance and psychopathological symptoms at post-treatment. Results for self-compassion showed a trend towards significance, whereas no significant between-groups differences were found for mindfulness. Taken together, evidence was found for Kg-Free efficacy in reducing weight-related negative experiences and promoting healthy behaviors, psychological functioning, and QoL.

Mindfulness-Based Program for Infertility: efficacy study.

OBJECTIVE: To present and determine the impact of the Mindfulness-Based Program for Infertility (MBPI). DESIGN: Controlled clinical trial. SETTING: University research unit. PATIENT(S): Fifty-five infertile women completed the MBPI, and 37 infertile women were assigned to a control group. INTERVENTION(S): The MBPI includes 10 weekly sessions, in a group format, with a duration of about 2 hours each (men attend three sessions). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Standardized measures of depression, state anxiety, entrapment, defeat, internal and external shame, experiential avoidance, mindfulness, self-compassion, and infertility self-efficacy were endorsed pre- and post-MBPI. RESULT(S): The MBPI group and the control group were shown to be equivalent at baseline. By the end of the MBPI, women who attended the program revealed a significant decrease in depressive symptoms, internal and external shame, entrapment, and defeat. Inversely, they presented statistically significant improvement in mindfulness skills and self-efficacy to deal with infertility. Women in the control group did not present significant changes in any of the psychological measures, except for a decrease in self-judgment. CONCLUSION(S): Increasing mindfulness and acceptance skills, as well as cognitive decentering from thoughts and feelings, seem to help women to experience negative inner states in new ways, decreasing their entanglement with them and thus their psychological distress. Data suggest that the MBPI is an effective psychological intervention for women experiencing infertility.

Child and adolescent mindfulness measure (CAMM): estudo das características psicométricas da versão portuguesa / Child and adolescent mindfulness measure (CAMM): study of the psychometric properties of the portuguese version

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar a versão portuguesa da Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) e o estudo da sua estrutura fatorial e características psicométricas numa amostra de 410 adolescentes com uma média de idades de 15,18 anos. Este estudo permitiu concluir que a CAMM constitui um instrumento de autorresposta que revela uma estrutura unidimensional, uma adequada consistência interna (α = 0,80; FC = 0,85) e fidedignidade teste-reteste (r = 0,46). Apresentou ainda correlações negativas com medidas de depressão, ansiedade, inflexibilidade psicológica e correlações positivas com uma medida de comparação social. O valor destas correlações, apesar de diminuir, manteve-se significativo quando controlado o efeito da inflexibilidade psicológica (processo associado ao mindfulness). Na generalidade, a CAMM é uma medida válida e fidedigna para avaliação de competências de mindfulness em crianças e adolescentes.(AU)

The aim of this study is to present the Portuguese version of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) and examine its factorial structure and psychometric properties in a sample of 410 adolescents with mean age of 15.18 years. Results show that the CAMM is a single-factor self-report measure, presenting an adequate internal consistency (α = .80; CR = .85) and test-retest reliability (r = .46). Negative correlations were found with measures of depression, anxiety and psychological inflexibility. On the other hand, positive correlations were found with measures of social comparison. Even when psychological inflexibility effects (process associated with mindfulness) were controlled, the correlations were still significant. Overall, findings suggest that the CAMM is a reliable and valid measure for the assessment of mindfulness skills in children and adolescents.(AU)

Child and adolescent mindfulness measure (CAMM): estudo das características psicométricas da versão portuguesa / Child and adolescent mindfulness measure (CAMM): study of the psychometric properties of the portuguese version

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar a versão portuguesa da Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) e o estudo da sua estrutura fatorial e características psicométricas numa amostra de 410 adolescentes com uma média de idades de 15,18 anos. Este estudo permitiu concluir que a CAMM constitui um instrumento de autorresposta que revela uma estrutura unidimensional, uma adequada consistência interna (α = 0,80; FC = 0,85) e fidedignidade teste-reteste (r = 0,46). Apresentou ainda correlações negativas com medidas de depressão, ansiedade, inflexibilidade psicológica e correlações positivas com uma medida de comparação social. O valor destas correlações, apesar de diminuir, manteve-se significativo quando controlado o efeito da inflexibilidade psicológica (processo associado ao mindfulness). Na generalidade, a CAMM é uma medida válida e fidedigna para avaliação de competências de mindfulness em crianças e adolescentes...

The aim of this study is to present the Portuguese version of the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) and examine its factorial structure and psychometric properties in a sample of 410 adolescents with mean age of 15.18 years. Results show that the CAMM is a single-factor self-report measure, presenting an adequate internal consistency (α = .80; CR = .85) and test-retest reliability (r = .46). Negative correlations were found with measures of depression, anxiety and psychological inflexibility. On the other hand, positive correlations were found with measures of social comparison. Even when psychological inflexibility effects (process associated with mindfulness) were controlled, the correlations were still significant. Overall, findings suggest that the CAMM is a reliable and valid measure for the assessment of mindfulness skills in children and adolescents...

Text anxiety in adolescents: the role of self-criticism and acceptance and mindfulness skills.

The current study sets out to explore test anxiety in adolescent students. The effect of sociodemographic variables on test anxiety was controlled for and the relationship between test anxiety and other psychological constructs, such as self-criticism, social anxiety, acceptance and mindfulness, was examined. In addition, the predictive effect/power of these variables was analyzed and a comparative study between high and low test anxiety adolescents was conducted. Participants in this study were 449 high school students, 211 boys and 238 girls, with a mean age of 16.28 years. These participants completed a battery of self-report questionnaires composed by the Portuguese versions of Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), Child Acceptance and Mindfulness Measure (CAMM), Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale (FSCRS), and the Social Anxiety and Avoidance Scale for Adolescents (SAASA). Results showed that gender, self-criticism and competencies for acceptance and mindfulness had a significant and an independent contribution on the prediction of test anxiety. The comparative study revealed that adolescents with high test anxiety score significantly higher in negative forms of self-criticism, social anxiety and lower in self-reassurance, acceptance and mindfulness, when compared to those with low test anxiety. Despite its exploratory nature, the current study adds to the existing knowledge on the influence of psychological processes, such as self-criticism and acceptance, on test anxiety. These findings might constitute a relevant contribution to psychological intervention with adolescents.

Estimulação elétrica neuromuscular em cães submetidos à imobilização rígida temporária da articulação fêmoro-tíbio-patelar / Neuromuscular electrical stimulation in dogs submitted to rigid temporary immobilization of femmoral-tibial-patellar joint

Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da estimulação elétrica neuromuscular (EENM) de baixa freqüência sobre o músculo vasto lateral, foram utilizados 11 cães, agrupados aleatoriamente em três grupos, denominados de I ou controle, de II (EENM após imobilização) e de III (EENM durante e após imobilização). A articulação fêmoro-tíbio-patelar direita foi imobilizada por 30 dias pelo método de transfixação percutânea tipo II. Os cães do grupo III iniciaram as sessões de eletroterapia, três vezes por semana, durante (30 dias) e após a imobilização (60 dias); e os cães dos grupos II após a remoção da imobilização rígida temporária. Foram avaliadas a mensuração da circunferência da coxa, a goniometria do joelho, os graus de claudicação, as enzimas creatina-quinase (CK) e a aspartato-amino-transferase (AST) e a morfometria das fibras musculares longitudinais do vasto lateral. A análise clínica dos graus de claudicação foi realizada diariamente. A medida da circunferência de coxa, a goniometria e a biópsia do músculo vasto lateral foram realizadas nos tempos zero, 30, 60 e 90 dias após imobilização. As amostras de sangue para avaliação da CK e da AST foram coletadas antes, imediatamente depois, em 6, 24 e 48 horas após a EENM, nos dias zero, 1, 7, 30, 45, 60, 75 e 90. A EENM foi empregada no músculo quadríceps femoral numa freqüência de 50Hz, com duração de pulso de 300 milisegundos e relação "on time/off time" de 1:2. Não houve diferença significativa nos graus de claudicação, nos valores de circunferência da coxa, na goniometria e no comportamento das enzimas CK e AST entre os grupos. Foi observada maior hipertrofia das fibras musculares longitudinais nos cães do grupo II (P=0,0005), seguidos pelos cães do grupo III. Pode-se concluir que a EENM de baixa freqüência ocasiona hipertrofia do músculo vasto lateral em cães após a imobilização rígida temporária da articulação do joelho, recomendando-se o seu uso em animais com atrofia muscular.

This study was aimed at evaluating the effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of low frequency on the vastus lateralis muscle. Eleven dogs were randomly placed in 3 groups: I (control), II (NMES post immobilization), and III (NMES during and post immobilization). The right femoral-tibial-patellar joint was immobilized for 30 days by the percutaneous transfixation type II method. The dogs from group III were placed on electrotherapy 3 times a week during (30 days) and post-immobilization (60 days) and the dogs from group II post-removal of the temporary rigid immobilization. The parameters evaluated consisted of: measurement of thigh circumference, joint motion using a goniometer, gait analysis, creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and morphometry of the longitudinal muscle fibers of vastus lateralis muscle. The gait analysis was performed daily and the circumference of the thigh, joint motion, and muscle biopsy were performed on days 0, 30, 60 and 90 post-immobilization. The blood samples for CK and AST were collected before and immediately after 6, 24 and 48 hours post-NMES on days 0, 1, 7, 30, 45, 60, 75 and 90. The NMES was employed on the femoral quadriceps muscle group with a frequency of 50Hz post-duration of 300msec on an on-time/off-time ratio of 1:2. There was no significant difference on the gait analysis, thigh circumference, joint motion, and CK and AST values. The greatest hypertrophy change was observed on longitudinal fibers of the dogs from group II (P=0.0005), followed by the dogs from group III. NMES of low frequency causes hypertrophy of the vastus lateralis muscle in dogs post-temporary immobilization of the stifle joint, recommending its use in animals with muscular atrophy.