LH supplementation in IVF: human nature, politics, and elephants in the room.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) is present throughout the natural follicular phase. However, the debate is still not settled on whether LH is needed during ovarian stimulation in IVF. This commentary looks at the evolution of this debate, mentioning three elephants in the room that were ignored by the Pharma industry, professional organizations, and clinicians alike: 1. The different endocrinology between the long agonist and the antagonist protocols. 2. The fixed dose of the two most widely commercially available antagonist preparations, namely cetrorelix and ganirelix. 3. The fact that most research in this area uses population-based criteria, ignoring endocrine parameters. Individual genetics of the LH receptor gene may also serve to individualize LH needs during stimulation; however, the jury is still out regarding this approach. CONCLUSIONS: Individual endocrine and genetics parameters may shed meaningful light on the question of LH supplemental during ovarian stimulation.

Um capítulo esquecido na história da psicologia? sexualidades desviantes, psicopatologia e normalidade / A forgotten chapter in the history of psychology? deviant sexualities, psychopathology, and normality / ¿Un capítulo olvidado en la historia de la psicología? sexualidades desviadas, psicopatología y normalidad

Este artigo tem como objetivo produzir uma análise histórica sobre as intersecções entre Psicologia e sexualidade desviantes da norma no Brasil, de fins do século XIX a meados da década de 1980. Esta temporalidade foi escolhida por abarcar o surgimento das pesquisas científicas sobre sexualidade e desvios sexuais, a consolidação dos estudos psicológicos sobre a temática e o processo mais recente de despatologização da homossexualidade. Em termos teóricos e metodológicos, foram adotados os pressupostos da História Social da Psicologia e da historiografia das homossexualidades no Brasil. Desse modo, buscou-se compreender como as ideias, concepções e práticas psicológicas foram mudando ao longo do tempo, em conexão com as transformações socioculturais e políticas que ocorreram durante o século XX. Para isto, foram utilizadas fontes primárias e secundárias de pesquisa com vistas à produção de interpretações sobre as conexões entre as ideias, os atores e os eventos narrados. Argumenta-se, ao longo do artigo, que as ideias e práticas psicológicas estão intrinsecamente conectadas aos contextos socioculturais e políticos de seu tempo, sendo os movimentos dinâmicos e os conflitos presentes nesses contextos fatores determinantes para a sua constituição.(AU)

This article aims to produce a historical analysis of the intersections between Psychology and sexualities that deviate from the norm in Brazil, from the late 19th century to the mid-1980s. This period was chosen because it encompasses the emergence of scientific research on sexuality and sexual deviations, the consolidation of psychological studies on the subject and the most recent process of de-pathologization of homosexuality. Theoretically and methodologically, the assumptions of the Social History of Psychology and the historiography of homosexualities in Brazil were adopted. Therefore, we sought to understand how psychological ideas, conceptions and practices have changed over time, in connection with the sociocultural and political transformations that occurred throughout the 20th century. For this, primary and secondary sources of research were used to produce interpretations about the connections between the ideas, the actors and the narrated events. It is argued, throughout the article, that the psychological ideas and practices are intrinsically connected to the sociocultural and political contexts of their time, being the dynamic movements and conflicts present in these contexts determining factors for their constitution.(AU)

Este artículo tiene como objetivo realizar un análisis histórico de las intersecciones entre la Psicología y las sexualidades desviadas de la norma en Brasil desde finales del siglo XIX hasta mediados de la década de 1980. Esta temporalidad fue elegida por abarcar el surgimiento de las investigaciones científicas sobre sexualidad y desvíos sexuales, la consolidación de los estudios psicológicos sobre el tema y el más reciente proceso de despatologización de la homosexualidad. En el marco teórico y metodológico, se adoptaron los presupuestos de la Historia Social de la Psicología y de la historiografía de las homosexualidades en Brasil. De esta manera, se pretende comprender cómo las ideas, concepciones y prácticas psicológicas han cambiado a lo largo del tiempo, en conexión con las transformaciones socioculturales y políticas ocurridas durante el siglo XX. Para ello, se utilizaron las fuentes de investigación primarias y secundarias con miras a generar interpretaciones sobre las conexiones entre las ideas, los actores y los eventos narrados. Se argumenta, a lo largo de este artículo, que las ideas y las prácticas psicológicas están intrínsecamente conectadas a los contextos socioculturales y políticos de su tiempo, y los movimientos dinámicos y los conflictos presentes en estos contextos fueron los factores determinantes para su constitución.(AU)

Notas para decolonizar os estudos transpessoais no brasil: contribuições do pluriperspectivismo participativo / Notes for decolonizing transpersonal studies in brazil: contributions of participatory pluriperspectivism / Apuntes para la decolonización de los estudios transpersonales en brasil: aportes del pluriperspectivismo participativo

O campo dos estudos transpessoais tem avançado em diversas áreas no Brasil. Comemorou seus 40 anos com uma inserção ativa nas Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) e uma ampliação de núcleos formativos e apoiadores de ensino, pesquisa e ações sociais, além de diálogos com o Sistema de Conselhos de Psicologia. Desafios são apresentados a partir do levantamento de uma série de questões importantes e ignoradas dentro da Psicologia Transpessoal no Brasil. Apresentamos o pluriperspectivismo participativo como possibilidade de decolonizar as matrizes eurocêntricas e estadunidenses, que dão suporte ao pensamento transpessoal brasileiro, buscando honrar nossas raízes históricas e incluir outras epistemologias e ontologias, que dão continuidade à crítica à lógica cartesiana moderna. Indicamos uma breve agenda de notas temáticas que carecem de um processo decolonizador no campo transpessoal: a) crítica às perspectivas de um pensamento hegemônico, em termos globais por meio da dominação Norte-Sul ou no campo das relações sociais; b) revisão das formas de "centrocentrismo"; c) questionamento da noção de universalismo das ciências e da ética; d) aprofundamento da análise crítica da supremacia restritiva da racionalidade formal técnico-científica em relação às formas de subjetividade, de vivências holísticas e integradoras e de valorização do corpo; e) revisão da noção de sujeito moderno desprovida da cocriação do humano com a comunidade, a história, a natureza e o cosmos.(AU)

The field of transpersonal studies has advanced in several areas in Brazil. It celebrated its 40th anniversary with an active insertion in Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and an expansion of training centers and supporters of teaching, research, and social actions, in addition to dialogues with the System of Councils of Psychology. Challenges are presented based on a survey of a series of important and ignored issues within Transpersonal Psychology in Brazil. We present participatory pluriperspectivism as a possibility to decolonize the Eurocentric and North American matrices that support Brazilian transpersonal thought, seeking to honor our historical roots and include other epistemologies and ontologies, which continue the critique of modern Cartesian logic. We indicate a brief agenda of thematic notes that lack a decolonizing process in the transpersonal field: a) criticism of the perspectives of a hegemonic thought, whether in global terms via North-South domination or in the field of social relations; b) review of the forms of "centrocentrism"; c) questioning of the notion of universalism of science and ethics; d) deepening of the critical analysis of the restrictive supremacy of the technical-scientific formal rationality in relation to the forms of subjectivity, of holistic and integrative experiences, and of valuing the body; e) review of the notion of the modern subject devoid of the co-creation of the human with the community, the history, the nature, and the cosmos.(AU)

El campo de los estudios transpersonales ha avanzado en varias áreas de Brasil. Se celebró su 40.º aniversario con una inserción activa en Instituciones de Educación Superior (IES) y una ampliación de los centros de formación y promotores de la docencia, la investigación y la acción social, además de diálogos con el Sistema de Consejos de Psicología. Los desafíos se presentan a partir de una encuesta de una serie de temas importantes e ignorados dentro de la Psicología Transpersonal en Brasil. Presentamos el pluriperspectivismo participativo como una posibilidad para decolonizar las matrices eurocéntrica y americana, que sustentan el pensamiento transpersonal brasileño, buscando honrar nuestras raíces históricas e incluir otras epistemologías y ontologías que continúan la crítica de la lógica cartesiana moderna. Indicamos una breve agenda de apuntes temáticos que carecen de un proceso decolonizador en el campo transpersonal: a) crítica de las perspectivas de un pensamiento hegemónico, ya sea en términos globales a través del dominio Norte-Sur o en el campo de las relaciones sociales; b) revisión de las formas de "centrocentrismo"; c) cuestionamiento de la noción de universalismo de la ciencia y la ética; d) profundización del análisis crítico de la supremacía restrictiva de la racionalidad formal técnico-científica en relación a las formas de subjetividad, de experiencias holísticas e integradoras y de valoración del cuerpo; e) revisión de la noción de sujeto moderno desprovisto de la cocreación de lo humano con la comunidad, la historia, la naturaleza y el cosmos.(AU)

[Ethical analysis of the principle of health vulnerability]. / Análisis ético del principio de vulnerabilidad sanitaria.

The concept of vulnerability has determined multiple actions in the health field. In recent years, this concept has originated various holistic models that oscillate between considering vulnerability as a descriptive element of an accidental situation until it is considered a guiding principle of medical practice. The need to deepen this phenomenon from the point of view of moral philosophy is perceived. The moral reflection reveals an imbalance in the binomial autonomy-dependence, generating opposite solutions in decision-making. Although autonomy has so far supported much of the medical action, the dependency raises a new perspective on vulnerability, rooted in the ethics of care. This perspective allows us to overcome the consideration of vulnerability as a characteristic, an accident or a principle. Vulnerability appears as an intrinsic dimension of the human being that, far from altering its dignity or autonomy, makes it posible to demonstrate the need of others to reach their fullness.

The Connection between Charles Darwin's Evolutionary Theory of ‘Heredity of Behaviors’ and the 19th Century Neuroscience: The Influence of Neuroscience on Darwin's Overcoming of Lamarck's Theory of Evolution / 의사학

The nineteenth century neuroscience studied the instinct of animal to understand the human mind. In particular, it has been found that the inheritance of unconscious behavior like instinct is mediated through ganglion chains, such as the spinal cord or sympathetic nervous system, which control unconscious reflexes. At the same time, the theory of Inheritance of Acquired Characteristics (hereafter ‘IAC’) widely known as Lamarck's evolutionary theory provided the theoretical frame on the origin of instinct and the heredity of action that the parental generation's habits were converted into the nature of the offspring generation. Contrary to conventional knowledge, this theory was not originally invented by Lamarck, and Darwin also did not discard this theory even after discovering the theory of natural selection in 1838 and maintained it throughout his intellectual life. Above all, in the field of epigenetics, the theory of ‘IAC’ has gained attention as a reliable scientific theory today. Darwin discovered crucial errors in the late 1830s that the Lamarck version's theory of ‘IAC’ did not adequately account for the principle of the inheritance of unconscious behavior like instinct. Lamarck's theory regarded habits as conscious and willful acts and saw that those habits are transmitted through the brain to control conscious actions. Lamarck's theory could not account for the complex and elaborate instincts of invertebrate animals, such as brainless ants. Contrary to Lamarck's view, Darwin established the new theory of ‘IAC’ that could be combined with contemporary neurological theory, which explains the heredity of unconscious behavior. Based on the knowledge of neurology, Darwin was able to translate the ‘principle of habit’ into a neurological term called ‘principle of reflex’. This article focuses on how Darwin join the theory of ‘IAC’ with nineteenth century neuroscience and how the neurological knowledge from the nineteenth century contributed to Darwin's overcoming of Lamarck's ‘IAC’. The significance of this study is to elucidate Darwin's notion of ‘IAC’ theory rather than natural selection theory as a principle of heredity of behavior. The theory of ‘IAC’ was able to account for the rapid variation of instincts in a relatively short period of time, unlike natural selection, which operates slowly in geological time spans of tens of millions of years. The nineteenth century neurological theory also provided neurological principles for ‘plasticity of instinct,’ empirically supporting the fact that all nervous systems responsible for reflexes respond sensitively to very fine stimuli. However, researchers of neo-Darwinian tendencies, such as Richard Dawkins and evolutionary psychologists advocating the ‘selfish gene’ hypothesis, which today claim to be Darwin's descendants, are characterized by human nature embedded in biological information, such as the brain and genes, so that it cannot change at all. This study aims to contribute to reconstructing the evolutionary discourse by illuminating Darwin's insights into the “plasticity of nature” that instincts can change relatively easily even at the level of invertebrates such as earthworms.

Exotic species as models to understand biocultural adaptation: Challenges to mainstream views of human-nature relations.

A central argument in the research on traditional knowledge, which persists in the scientific literature, is that the entrance of exotic plants in local medical systems is directly associated with acculturation. However, this logic has put an end for a long period to efforts to understand why such species have so successfully entered socio-ecological systems or even their real role in such systems. This study provides evidence that (1) in some socio-environmental contexts, exotic medicinal species usually confer greater adaptive advantages to local populations, and (2) despite their general importance, exotic species only excel in medical systems when cost-benefit ratio is favorable to them. Thus, in order to avoid the loss of knowledge about native plants and to ensure biocultural conservation, it is necessary to create strategies to amplify the advantages of these species.

Initial examination of characteristics of patients who are high utilizers of an established primary care behavioral health consultation service.

Obective: Although much has been studied regarding high-utilizing patients of medical services, no studies have been published regarding high-utilizing patients of integrated primary care behavioral health (PCBH) services. The primary purpose of the current study was to examine characteristics of high-utilizing patients of PCBH services and model adherence. The secondary purpose was to describe the process of conducting this research by clinicians in integrated care. METHOD: Data were obtained from electronic health records retrospectively for the study's time period, 2007-2013, for the sample of all patients who met with the behavioral health consultation team during that time. Variables include demographics, diagnoses, involvement in additional services, and scores on a patient-complexity scale for a subset of patients. Chi-square analyses, t tests and logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: The results demonstrate significant associations between key demographic characteristics, use of population-based augmentation services (i.e., consulting psychiatry, care management, substance-abuse consulting), and high-utilizing status. Model adherence was maintained over time. Logistic regression analysis, controlling for high-utilizing status and number of visits, demonstrated a significant relationship between more complex diagnostic categories and behavioral health issues. DISCUSSION: There are differences between high-utilizing patients and nonhigh-utilizing patients suggestive of increased clinical severity and appropriate use of services while maintaining PCBH model integrity. The use of the population-based augmentation services is associated with high-utilizer status, and reflects the ability of these services to target those patients who most need the clinical care. (PsycINFO Database Record

Intergroup Contact and Outgroup Humanization: Is the Causal Relationship Uni- or Bidirectional?

The attribution of uniquely human characteristics to the outgroup may favor the search for contact with outgroup members and, vice versa, contact experiences may improve humanity attributions to the outgroup. To explore this bidirectional relationship, two studies were performed. In Study 1, humanity perceptions were manipulated using subliminal conditioning. Two experimental conditions were created. In the humanization condition, the unconditioned stimuli (US) were uniquely human words; in the dehumanization condition, the US were non-uniquely human and animal words. In both conditions, conditioned stimuli were typical outgroup faces. An approach/avoidance technique (the manikin task) was used to measure the willingness to have contact with outgroup members. Findings showed that in the humanization condition participants were faster in approaching than in avoiding outgroup members: closeness to the outgroup was preferred to distance. Latencies of approach and avoidance movements were not different in the dehumanization condition. In Study 2, contact was manipulated using the manikin task. One approach (contact) condition and two control conditions were created. The attribution of uniquely human traits to the outgroup was stronger in the contact than in the no-contact conditions. Furthermore, the effect of contact on humanity attributions was mediated by increased trust toward the outgroup. Thus, findings demonstrate the bidirectionality of the relationship between contact and humanity attributions. Practical implications of findings are discussed.

Balneario de San Nicolás de Alhama (Almería). Historia y generalidades / The San Nicolás de Alhama's Spa (Almería). History and generalities

Se hace una reseña de la situación geográfica del Balneario de San Nicolás, de los antecedentes históricos del mismo y situación actual, así como de sus aguas minero‐medicinales, sus propietarios, el primer análisis realizado por un farmacéutico, la dirección médica y los pacientes que le han frecuentado (AU)

An a ccount of the geographical position of Alhama de Almería'Spa is given, including a brief history of it and its situation nowdays. An particularly reference it is made about the minero‐medicinal waters of this Spa, their proprietaries, the pharmacist who made the first chemical analysis, the sanitary direction and the patients frequented it (AU)

Una nueva vacuna: la vacuna del autoconocimiento. Bases neurobiológicas de la conducta humana. El juego entre el cerebro instintivo-emocional y el cerebro racional / A new vaccine: vaccine for self-knowledge. Neurobiological base of human behavior. The game between the instinctive-emocional brain and the rational brain

¿Por qué nos comportamos como nos comportamos? ¿Por qué repetimos conductas que sabemos nos hacen daño o hacen daño a otro? Detrás de toda conducta humana, hay un cerebro. Un cerebro, cuya función principal es velar por la supervivencia individual y de grupo. El sistema instintivo emocional (cerebro reptiliano y cerebro límbico) es la parte del cerebro que se encarga de esta función, dando lugar a conductas impulsivas, inconscientes, automáticas y rápidas, en ocasiones, dañinas. La neocorteza (en concreto, los lóbulos prefrontales) es la parte del cerebro que se encarga de las conductas más reflexivas y humanas. Pero esta zona necesita más tiempo para analizar toda la información entrante. Por lo tanto, para que la neocorteza guíe nuestras conductas es imprescindible educar al cerebro y dotarle de herramientas que le permitan modular y gestionar los primeros impulsos procedentes del sistema instintivo emocional. Todo educador (padres, profesores, pediatras) debe conocer cómo funciona el cerebro para así dotar al niño de habilidades socioemocionales que le permitan actuar bajo el mandato de los lóbulos prefrontales (AU)

Why do we behave as we behave? Why do we repeat behaviors that we know hurt us or harm others? There is a brain behind all human behavior. A brain, whose main function is to ensure the survival of the individual and group. Instinctive emotional system (reptilian and limbic brain) is the part of the brain that is responsible for this function, resulting in rapid, automatic, unconscious, and impulsive behaviors sometimes, harmful. The neocortex (specifically the pre-frontal lobes), is the part of the brain that is responsible for the more reflexive and human behaviors. But, this area needs more time to analyze incoming information. Therefore, is essential to educate the brain and provide tools that allow us manage first impulses from the instinctive emotional system. All Educator (parents, teachers, pediatricians) must know how the brain works to provide the child’s socio-emotional skills enabling them to act under the mandate of the prefrontal lobes (AU)

Concept Analysis of Healing: Focusing on Patient Health related Literatures

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify attributes of the concept of healing. METHODS: Using Walker & Avant's concept analysis framework, medical & nursing text books and, research articles about healing published between 2000 and 2014 were reviewed. RESULTS: There were four aspects of the concept of healing: natural process through spiritual and mental purification; resilience of emotions and feeling in human nature; holistic cure as well as physical and mental treatment of disease; and harmonious balance and overall well-being of mind and body. Antecedents of healing that helped to purify the mind were illness recovery and injury perception. Empirical referents of healing were purifying the mind, quality of life and health-related spirituality. The consequences of healing were effective on the physical, psychosocial, spiritual and overall well-being of the patients. CONCLUSION: This concept analysis of healing help us to understand more clearly overall health and the health of patients in the clinical field. The concept of healing could be useful to promote health and well-being.

Rasch-master's partial credit model in the assessment of children’s creativity in drawings

The purpose of the present study was to use the Partial Credit Model to study the factors of the Test of Creativity in Children and identify which characteristics of the creative person would be more effective to differentiate subjects according to their ability level. A sample of 1426 students from first to eighth grades answered the instrument. The Partial Credits model was used to estimate the ability of the subjects and item difficulties on a common scale for each of the four factors, indicating which items required a higher level of creativity to be scored and will differentiate the more creative individuals. The results demonstrated that the greater part of the characteristics showed good fit indices, with values between 0.80 and 1.30 both infit and outfit, indicating a response pattern consistent with the model. The characteristics of Unusual Perspective, Expression of Emotion and Originality have been identified as better predictors of creative performance because requires greater ability level (usually above two standard deviation). These results may be used in the future development of an instrument’s reduced form or simplification of the current correction model (AU)

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El sentido común de la bioética / Bioethics common sense

En la bioética confluyen disciplinas y tradiciones muy diversas. Podemos preguntarnos si entre ellas puede haber auténtica comunicación. Aquí se defiende la idea de que efectivamente puede desarrollarse una bioética con un sentido común, en la que puedan entenderse personas de muy distintas formaciones y culturas. Esta comunicación se puede producir gracias a que compartimos una similar naturaleza humana. Por ello, las filosofías que niegan la naturaleza humana, tanto como las que reducen el ser humano a pura naturaleza, no sirven como fundamento para una bioética común, sino que conducen probablemente al fraccionamiento de la misma. En consecuencia, se argumenta a favor de un concepto de naturaleza humana que integre los aspectos biológicos, sociales y espirituales del ser humano. Según este concepto, cada ser humano es no solo un organismo de la especie Homo sapiens, sino principalmente una persona de la familia humana, en virtud de lo cual posee dignidad inherente y derechos inalienables (AU)

Bioethics is a domain in which many academic disciplines and cultural traditions converge. Accordingly, we may wonder whether or not there could be an authentic communication among them. The present article seeks to support the idea that bioethics can effectively develop a common sense by which people of very different backgrounds and cultures can understand each other. This communication can occur only because we share a similar human nature. Therefore, the philosophies that deny human nature, as well as those that reduce the human being to mere nature, do not serve as a basis for a common bioethics, but will probably lead to the fragmentation of the bioethics. Consequently, here I will argue in favor of a concept of human nature that integrates the biological, social and spiritual aspects of human being. According to this concept, every human being is not only an organism of the species Homo sapiens, but mainly a person belonging to the human family, in virtue of which she possesses inherent dignity and inalienable rights (AU)

La genética y la dignidad del ser humano / The genetics and the dignity of the human being

Los elementos biológicos del hombre no son suficientes para afrontar las cuestiones bioéticas que se plantean en torno al concepto de persona, pero son necesarios para definir con precisión las propiedades de los seres humanos y los aspectos teológicos, filosóficos y jurídicos que son atribuibles a cada persona. El ser humano es un ser singular. En él que conviven dos dimensiones de distinta naturaleza, una material y otra espiritual, y precisamente esta es la principal de las diferencias entre el hombre y el resto de seres vivos. Pero además en el hombre aparece una nueva característica, única entre los seres vivos, la componente ética. Los valores y pautas del comportamiento moral y ético del ser humano deben considerarse de origen natural ya que han contribuido al éxito y supervivencia de la especie. El hombre no es solo Homo sapiens sino también Homo moralis. El reconocimiento de culpa, autodominio, solidaridad, amor, generosidad, altruismo y honestidad, entre otras, son cualidades innatas en los seres humanos. La antropología filosófica destaca el carácter único e irrepetible propio de cada ser humano, cada persona. Esto coincide plenamente con los datos de la ciencia, que destaca la identidad genética individual y singular de cada ser humano (AU)

The biological elements of man are not sufficient to confront the bioethical questions around the person concept, but are necessary to accurately define the properties of the human beings and the theological, philosophical and legal aspects that are attributable to each person. The human being is a singular being. Indeed, the coexistence of two dimensions of different nature, material and spiritual, is the most important difference between the man and the rest of living beings. Moreover, in man appears a new characteristic, unique between the living beings, the ethical component. The values and guidelines of the moral and ethical behavior of the human being must be considered of natural origin since they have contributed to the success and survival of the species. The man is not only Homo sapiens but also Homo moralis. The recognition of fault, self-control, solidarity, love, generosity, altruism and honesty, among others, are innate qualities in the human beings. The unit of the human species demands the respect and the consideration of the same dignity for all its members, but only for its members. The philosophical anthropology emphasizes the singularity of each human being, each person. This agrees totally with the data of the science, which emphasize the individual and singular genetic identity of each human being (AU)

Professional formation and deformation: repression of personal values and qualities in medical education.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: During medical training, students gain professional competence but may lose elements of personal humanity. Little is known about what personal qualities or values students themselves experience to be at risk or surrendered during medical school. METHODS: Medical students participating in the Healer's Art elective in the United States and internationally during 2008--2009 were asked to reflect, identify, and draw a part of themselves that they were wary about revealing, not comfortable showing, or felt may be diminished in medical school and label this part with a word. Using a team-based qualitative approach, these words were categorized into common themes and the themes analyzed using descriptive and chi-square statistics. RESULTS: Words from 673 students from 31 medical schools were analyzed. Most students were female (58.7%) and in their first year (86.3%). Eleven themes were identified: spirituality, emotional engagement, identity/self-expression, freedom/spontaneity, relationships, self-care, creativity, negative emotions, values, other, and joy/happiness. The most common individual words used were creativity, family, balance, freedom, love, peace, compassion, relationships, and reflection. There were only rare differences in distributions of themes across gender, year in school, school size, or school nationality. CONCLUSIONS: An international cadre of Healer's Art students identified core personal qualities and values that they may not reveal or feel may be diminished in medical school. Medical training involves not only professional formation but exposure to professional deformation as well. Educators must attend to both gains in professional competence and the personal qualities and values that are at risk in the course of professional development.

The role of personality and intelligence in assortative mating

Assortative mating is the individuals’ tendency to mate with those who are similar to them in some variables, at a higher rate than would be expected from random. This study aims to provide empirical evidence of assortative mating through the Big Five model of personality and two measures of intelligence using Spanish samples. The sample consisted of 244 Spanish couples. It was divided into two groups according to relationship time. The effect of age, educational level and socioeconomic status was controlled. The results showed strong assortative mating for intelligence and moderate for personality. The strongest correlations for Personality were found in Openness, Agreeableness and Conscientiousness (AU)

El emparejamiento selectivo es la tendencia de los individuos a emparejarse con aquellos que son semejantes a ellos en ciertas variables, más de lo que cabría esperar por azar. El presente estudio pretende aportar evidencia empírica acerca del emparejamiento selectivo con muestras españolas a través del modelo Big Five de la personalidad y de dos medidas de inteligencia. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 244 parejas españolas, y fue dividida por el tiempo de relación en dos grupos. Se controló el efecto de la edad, el nivel académico y el nivel socioeconómico. Los resultados mostraron un fuerte emparejamiento selectivo en inteligencia y más moderado para la personalidad. Los rasgos de personalidad con mayores correlaciones fueron Apertura, Cordialidad y Responsabilidad (AU)

Language and human nature: Kurt Goldstein's neurolinguistic foundation of a holistic philosophy.

Holism in interwar Germany provides an excellent example for social and political influences on scientific developments. Deeply impressed by the ubiquitous invocation of a cultural crisis, biologists, physicians, and psychologists presented holistic accounts as an alternative to the "mechanistic worldview" of the nineteenth century. Although the ideological background of these accounts is often blatantly obvious, many holistic scientists did not content themselves with a general opposition to a mechanistic worldview but aimed at a rational foundation of their holistic projects. This article will discuss the work of Kurt Goldstein, who is known for both his groundbreaking contributions to neuropsychology and his holistic philosophy of human nature. By focusing on Goldstein's neurolinguistic research, I want to reconstruct the empirical foundations of his holistic program without ignoring its cultural background. In this sense, Goldstein's work provides a case study for the formation of a scientific theory through the complex interplay between specific empirical evidences and the general cultural developments of the Weimar Republic.

Rasgos de personalidad, edad, cultura y restricciones hídricas y dietéticas en pacientes en hemodiálisis / Personality traits, age, culture and hydric and dietetic restrictions in patients undergoing haemodialysis

Queda mucho por investigar y comprender alrededor de la interacción entre lo físico y lo mental. Los pacientes sometidos a hemodiálisis debido a su enfermedad, deben cumplir una serie de normas dietéticas, de cuidado de su acceso vascular, etc. Pensamos que los rasgos de la personalidad, la edad, la cultura, pueden influir en la aceptación de la enfermedad de nuestros pacientes renales en tratamiento sustitutivo con hemodiálisis, y por lo consiguiente en el cumplimiento de las normas dietéticas, lo cual se vería reflejado en sus resultados analíticos pre-HD (niveles de potasio, de fósforo, ganancia interdiálisis), aunque también somos conscientes de que pueden influir otras variables, como es el nivel de afectación renal, nivel sociocultural, etc. La muestra del estudio la constituyeron 35 pacientes de la unidad de diálisis de Melilla, de diferentes edades (mayores de 18 años) y de ambos sexos. Para conocer los rasgos de personalidad de nuestros pacientes, se les realizó un cuestionario validado de personalidad. Los datos registrados fueron: edad, sexo, cultura, rasgo de personalidad, potasio, fósforo, ganancia interdiálisis. No hemos hallado correlación significativa entre los rasgos de personalidad, la cultura frente a la ganancia de peso interdiálisis, niveles de fósforo y potasio, pero sí hemos hallado correlación significativa negativa entre la variable edad frente a la ganancia interdiálisis y los niveles de fósforo, aunque no así en los niveles de potasio, dé tal manera que se ve reflejado que a mayor edad, presentan menos ganancia interdiálisis y menos niveles de fósforo (AU)

Much has still to be investigated and understood about the interaction between the physical and the mental. Patients undergoing haemodialysis because of their illness have to comply with a series of dietetic rules, care of their vascular access, etc. We think that personal traits, age, culture can influence the acceptance of the illness by our renal patients receiving substitute treatment with haemodialysis, and therefore the compliance with dietetic rules, which would be reflected in their pre-HD analysis results (levels of potassium, phosphorous, interdialysis weight gain), although we are also aware that other variables can have an influence, such as the level of renal affectation, sociocultural level, etc. The sample in the study was made up of 35 patients of the dialysis unit in Melilla, of different ages (over 18) and of both sexes. To determine the personality traits of our patients, a validated personality questionnaire was used. The data recorded were: age, sex, culture, personality trait, potassium, phosphorous, interdialysis weight gain. We have not found a significant correlation between personality traits, culture compared to interdialysis weight gain, phosphorous and potassium levels, but we did find a significant negative correlation between the age variable and interdialysis weight gain and phosphorous levels, although not in potassium levels, so that the older the patient, the lower the interdialysis weight gain and the phosphorous levels (AU)

The relevance of personal characteristics in health care rationing: what the Australian public thinks and why.

This article examines the preferences of the general public in Australia regarding health care resource allocation. While previous studies have revealed that the public is willing to give priority to particular groups of patients based on their personal characteristics, the present article goes beyond previous efforts in attempting to explain these results. In the present study, there was strong support among respondents for giving "equal priority" to people regardless of their personal characteristics. However, respondents did reveal a preference for married patients over single, for children over adults, for carers of children and the elderly, sole breadwinners, and good community contributors. Further, they would give a lower priority to those perceived as "self-harmers"­smokers, individuals with unhealthy diets, and those who rarely exercise. Variation in the answers according to broad economic and social beliefs across seven different categories ("factors") influenced the pattern of the public's attitudes towards rationing. The Principal Components Analysis (PCA) indicated that most of the items in our survey are associated with seven factors that explain or capture much of the variation. These relate to a patient's avoidance of self-harm behaviors (Safe Living), their Life Style (diet, exercise, etc.), their contribution to the community through caring for others (Caring), their talents (Gifted), their sexual behavior (Sexuality), their age and marital status (Family), and whether they are an Australian citizen or employed (Citizen). The strength of social preferences­e.g., how strongly respondents would "discriminate" against a recreational drug user or preference a person with a healthy diet­is related to the particular class of preferences.

Falseamiento y validez de las medidas de personalidad en contextos académicos / Faking and validity of personality measures in academic contexts

El falseamiento es la distorsión de las repuestas a un cuestionario por parte de los evaluados. En este artículo se examina el efecto del falseamiento, inducido en un contexto de laboratorio, sobre la validez de criterio y de constructo de un cuestionario de personalidad basado en el modelo de los Cinco Grandes Factores. Así mismo, se examina el efecto que la estrategia de advertencia, uno de los métodos que se utilizan para evitar el falseamiento, pueda tener sobre la validez del cuestionario. Los resultados indican una disminución de la capacidad predictiva del test, tanto en la condición de falseamiento, como en la de advertencia. La estructura factorial resulta, así mismo, ligeramente afectada. Las implicaciones de los resultados para la investigación y la práctica profesional son examinadas y discutidas(AU)

Faking is the distortion of responses to a questionnaire by the assessees. This study examines the effect of faking, induced in a laboratory setting, on the criterion and construct validity of a personality questionnaire based on the Five Factor Model. It also examines the effect that the strategy of warning, one of the methods used to avoid faking, may have on the validity of the questionnaire. The results indicate a decrement in the predictive ability of the test, both in faking and warning conditions. The factor structure is also slightly affected. The implications of the results for research and practice are examined and discussed(AU)