Effects of internet and smartphone addiction on cognitive control in adolescents and young adults: A systematic review of fMRI studies.

BACKGROUND: Internet Addiction (IA) refers to excessive or uncontrolled behaviors related to Internet access, causing impairment or distress. Similarly, Smartphone Addiction (SPA) involves the excessive use of smartphones, disrupting users' daily lives. Cognitive control plays a relevant role in the development of IA and SPA, with executive functions and rewards processing being particularly important. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide a synthesis of scientific evidence on the differential effects of IA and SPA on cognition in young adults and adolescents, using fMRI. METHODS: Relevant articles published between 2013 and May 2023 were identified following the PRISMA protocol. RESULTS: Included studies (n = 21) revealed that both behavioral addictions were associated with impairments in cognitive control related to reward processing (ACC, insula, amygdala) and executive function (DLPFC, frontal, parietal lobes) in adolescents and young adults. CONCLUSION: These findings provide evidence for neuroanatomical similarities between IA and SPA in young adults and adolescents related to executive functions and rewards processing. However, differential effects of SPA and IA on cognitive control were not found in this study. Future research should explore the relationship between these addictions with other cognitive domains to further expand our understanding within this field. While both IA and SPA involve the excessive use of online technology, SPA could involve a higher risk, given that smartphones allow internet connectivity anytime.

[Evolution of antimicrobial resistance and mortality in Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis during 15 years in a university hospital]. / Evolución de la resistencia antimicrobiana y mortalidad en la endocarditis por Staphylococcus aureus durante 15 años en un hospital universitario.

OBJECTIVE: One of the most aggressive microorganisms in infective endocarditis (IE) is Staphylococcus aureus. We analyse the resistance of S. aureus to antibiotics and its impact on the clinical course of IE in a recent 15-year period. METHODS: Retrospective study of patients with IE in a university hospital from 2005 to 2019. Bivariate and multivariate analysis of severity at admission, comorbidities, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and mortality. RESULTS: Of the 293 IE cases, 66 (22.5%) were due to S. aureus, and 21 (7.2%) were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The prevalence of strains with a MIC to vancomycin ≥ 1mg/L increased from 4.8% to 63.6% (p <0.001) and the cases of MRSA from 38 to 27.3% (p = 0.045). Older age (p= 0.02), comorbidity (p <0.01) and nosohusial origin (p = 0.01), were factors associated with MRSA. But the antimicrobial resistance and severity on admission were not associated with exitus; predictive factors were the right-sided IE (OR = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.01-0.51), comorbidities (OR per Charlson index point = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.01-1.69) and creatinine on admission (OR per mg / dL = 1.56; 95% CI = 1.01- 2.35; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: We have experienced an increase in IE cases with MIC to vancomycin ≥ 1mg/L, without significant variation in infections due to MRSA. Antimicrobial resistance was not associated with mortality, but comorbidity and left involvement were predictive factors.

Changes in brain activity associated with cognitive-behavioral exposure therapy for specific phobias: searching for underlying mechanisms. / Cambios en la actividad cerebral asociados a la terapia de exposición cognitivo-conductual para fobias específicas: búsqueda de los mecanismos subyacentes.

INTRODUCTION: The current evidence collected consistent results about morphological and functional brain changes produced by psychological treatment. Exposure cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is currently the most effective psychological treatment for phobias. AIMS: To explore the brain activation and self-reported changes in patients with specific phobias to small animals who underwent a CBT exposure program and to prove if the CBT program made phobic patients process feared stimuli similarly to non-phobic persons. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 32 adults, of which 16 (5 males and 11 females; mean age: 38.08) had specific phobia to small animals and 16 (4 males and 12 females; mean age: 21.81) had no phobias. A univariate before-and-after treatment design were used. In addition, the scores of the non-phobic group in self-reports and brain activity were compared with the post-treatment scores of the phobic group. RESULTS: Data show significant changes in brain activity, and improvements in self-reported measures because of applying CBT to specific phobias. As a highlight, participants showed a greater activation in points of the precuneus after receiving CBT. Also, when compared with non-phobic participants, phobic patients still remain with both fear and defensive responses to phobic stimuli. CONCLUSIONS: The precuneus seems to be a regulator that reorganizes the processing of phobic stimuli. It can imply as CBT/ exposure also active acceptance, self-awareness, and self-efficacy mechanisms.

TITLE: Cambios en la actividad cerebral asociados a la terapia de exposición cognitivo-conductual para fobias específicas: búsqueda de los mecanismos subyacentes.Introducción. La evidencia disponible recoge resultados consistentes sobre cambios cerebrales morfológicos y funcionales producidos por el tratamiento psicológico. La terapia cognitivo-conductual (TCC) de exposición es actualmente el tratamiento psicológico más eficaz para las fobias. Objetivos. Explorar los cambios cerebrales y autoinformados en pacientes con fobias específicas a animales pequeños sometidos a un programa de TCC de exposición y comprobar si el programa consiguió que estos pacientes procesaran los estímulos temidos de manera similar a las personas no fóbicas. Sujetos y métodos. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 32 adultos, de los que 16 (5 hombres y 11 mujeres; edad media: 38,08 años) tenían un diagnóstico de fobia específica a animales pequeños y 16 (4 hombres y 12 mujeres; edad media: 21,81 años) no tenían dicho diagnóstico. Se utilizó un diseño univariado de tratamiento antes-después. Las puntuaciones del grupo sin fobia en autoinformes y activación cerebral se compararon con las puntuaciones del grupo con fobia posteriores al tratamiento. Resultados. Los datos muestran cambios significativos en la actividad cerebral y mejoras en las medidas autoinformadas debido a la aplicación de la TCC a la fobia específica. Tras recibir TCC, los participantes mostraron una mayor activación en puntos del precúneo. Además, comparado con los participantes sin fobia, los pacientes fóbicos mantenían las respuestas defensivas y de miedo ante los estímulos fóbicos. Conclusiones. El precúneo parece ser un regulador que reorganiza el procesamiento de los estímulos fóbicos. Puede implicar que la TCC de exposición, además, activa mecanismos de aceptación, autoconciencia y autoeficacia.

The structure of schizotypal personality traits: a cross-national study.

BACKGROUND: Schizotypal traits are considered a phenotypic-indicator of schizotypy, a latent personality organization reflecting a putative liability for psychosis. To date, no previous study has examined the comparability of factorial structures across samples originating from different countries and cultures. The main goal was to evaluate the factorial structure and reliability of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) scores by amalgamating data from studies conducted in 12 countries and across 21 sites. METHOD: The overall sample consisted of 27 001 participants (37.5% males, n = 4251 drawn from the general population). The mean age was 22.12 years (s.d. = 6.28, range 16-55 years). The SPQ was used. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Multilevel CFA (ML-CFA) were used to evaluate the factor structure underlying the SPQ scores. RESULTS: At the SPQ item level, the nine factor and second-order factor models showed adequate goodness-of-fit. At the SPQ subscale level, three- and four-factor models displayed better goodness-of-fit indices than other CFA models. ML-CFA showed that the intraclass correlation coefficients values were lower than 0.106. The three-factor model showed adequate goodness of fit indices in multilevel analysis. The ordinal α coefficients were high, ranging from 0.73 to 0.94 across individual samples, and from 0.84 to 0.91 for the combined sample. CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with the conceptual notion that schizotypal personality is a multifaceted construct and support the validity and utility of SPQ in cross-cultural research. We discuss theoretical and clinical implications of our results for diagnostic systems, psychosis models and cross-national mental health strategies.

A meta-analytic review of neuroimaging studies of specific phobia to small animals

Introduction: Neuroimaging techniques have been used to identify the neurological bases of phobias. Objective: This meta-review examines functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of individuals with specific animal phobia compared to healthy controls. Method: Searches on Medline, Psycinfo, Academic Search Complete, PubMed, PsycARTICLES, Redalyc, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were conducted. Twenty high quality studies were selected. The effect size estimation was calculated. Results: The random-effects model showed a high overall effect size for both limbic and frontal sites. Data analyses showed greater brain activity in the left amygdala and insular cortex in phobic individuals. We also observed an activation of the fusiform gyrus, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex left, and the left cingulate cortex, although these areas were less frequently involved. Healthy controls showed high heterogeneity in the brain areas activated by phobic stimuli. Conclusions: These findings suggest the possible existence of a double processing pathway in phobic stimuli: a rapid processing pathway involving limbic areas and a slow pathway involving both limbic and frontal areas

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The pivotal role of echocardiography in the assessment of multivalvular heart disease.

Multivalvular heart disease (MHD) accounts for approximately 15% of the patients undergoing valve surgery in the EuroHeart Survey and for 8.6% of all valvular surgical interventions. Most clinical studies on valvular heart disease are focused on single-valve disease and very few data stress the difficulties encountered in the diagnostic assessment and clinical decision making of multiple defects, also concerning the reciprocal hemodynamic influence or the overlap of surgical indications. Many fields related to multiple valve disease are not encountered in the European Guidelines on Valvular Heart Disease (ESC) or the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA). Increasing age and new trends of mixed population have newly aroused interest in multivalvular heart disease in the developed countries, still in need of new clinical insights. According to the high comorbidities of candidates, the appropriate diagnostic framework necessary for the correct diagnosis and best clinical outcome may still be challenging. The paper reviews multivalvular heart disease (except congenital heart disease) from aetiology and background definition to surgical outcome, with special emphasis on echocardiographic assessment and clinical interpretation.

Predisposición al consumo de alcohol y drogas en personas vulnerables a la esquizofrenia / Predisposition to alcohol and rug consumption in schizophrenia-vulnerable people

Resumen. Introducción. Gran parte de la investigación actual en el campo de la esquizofrenia se ha dirigido a comprender sus mecanismos etiológicos y a la detección de marcadores de vulnerabilidad en personas con riesgo de padecer el trastorno. Esta vulnerabilidad, denominada esquizotipia, puede identificarse en personas que no estén clínicamente afectadas. Objetivo. Comprobar si el trastorno esquizotípico de la personalidad como marcador de vulnerabilidad de los trastornos del espectro esquizofrénico predice la presencia de síntomas psicopatológicos y el consumo de alcohol y drogas. Sujetos y métodos. De una población de 442 estudiantes universitarios a los que se aplicó el cuestionario de personalidad esquizotípica, se seleccionó una muestra que incluyó el 20% superior e inferior de las puntuaciones en los factores que corresponden a síntomas positivos (cognitivo- perceptual), síntomas negativos (interpersonal) y trastorno del pensamiento (desorganizado) característicos de la esquizofrenia. Además, se evaluó la presencia de problemas y síntomas psicopatológicos y la información sobre consumo de alcohol y drogas como una estrategia de afrontamiento pasiva ante el estrés. Resultados. Los sujetos altos en trastorno esquizotípico de la personalidad, comparados con los bajos, muestran significativamente mayor presencia de problemas y síntomas psicopatológicos y mayor consumo de alcohol y drogas, principalmente en los síntomas asociados al trastorno del pensamiento y a los síntomas negativos, como el retraimiento y el aplanamiento emocional. Conclusiones. El trastorno esquizotípico de personalidad, con el apoyo de su consideración como vulnerabilidad, parece ir acompañado de un mayor volumen de síntomas, tanto somáticos como psicopatológicos, y por un mayor consumo de alcohol y drogas (AU)

Summary. Introduction. A large amount of current schizophrenia research has been centered on the understanding of its etiological mechanisms and the detection of vulnerability markers in people at risk. This vulnerability called schizotypy can be identified in people not affected by the illness at the clinical level. Aim. To check if the schizotypic personality disorder as a vulnerability marker of the disorders in the schizophrenic spectrum predicts the presence of psychopathologic symptoms and alcohol and drugs intake. Subjects and methods. From a population of 442 university students tested with the Schizotypy Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), it was selected a sample including people scoring on the 20% superior and inferior for the characteristic factors of schizophrenia corresponding to positive symptoms (cognitive-perceptual), negative symptoms (interpersonal) and thought disorder (disorganized). Furthermore, it was evaluated the presence of psychopathological problems and symptoms. Also, the participants gave information about alcohol and drugs intake as a passive coping strategy with stress. Results. Compared with the low scored, subjects with high scores in the schizotypic personality disorder showed a significant increase in the presence of psychopathological problems and symptoms and a higher alcohol and drugs intake. That occurs mainly when those scores are found in symptoms associated to thought disorder and negative symptoms as lack of interest in social activities and emotional flattening. Conclusions. The schizotypic personality disorder, in accordance with its role as vulnerability factor, seems to co-occur with a higher volume of somatic and psychopathologic symptoms, and alcohol and drugs intake(AU)

[Predisposition to alcohol and drug consumption in schizophrenia-vulnerable people]. / Predisposición al consumo de alcohol y drogas en personas vulnerables a la esquizofrenia.

INTRODUCTION: A large amount of current schizophrenia research has been centered on the understanding of its etiological mechanisms and the detection of vulnerability markers in people at risk. This vulnerability called schizotypy can be identified in people not affected by the illness at the clinical level. AIM: To check if the schizotypic personality disorder as a vulnerability marker of the disorders in the schizophrenic spectrum predicts the presence of psychopathologic symptoms and alcohol and drugs intake. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: From a population of 442 university students tested with the Schizotypy Personality Questionnaire (SPQ), it was selected a sample including people scoring on the 20% superior and inferior for the characteristic factors of schizophrenia corresponding to positive symptoms (cognitive-perceptual), negative symptoms (interpersonal) and thought disorder (disorganized). Furthermore, it was evaluated the presence of psychopathological problems and symptoms. Also, the participants gave information about alcohol and drugs intake as a passive coping strategy with stress. RESULTS: Compared with the low scored, subjects with high scores in the schizotypic personality disorder showed a significant increase in the presence of psychopathological problems and symptoms and a higher alcohol and drugs intake. That occurs mainly when those scores are found in symptoms associated to thought disorder and negative symptoms as lack of interest in social activities and emotional flattening. CONCLUSIONS: The schizotypic personality disorder, in accordance with its role as vulnerability factor, seems to co-occur with a higher volume of somatic and psychopathologic symptoms, and alcohol and drugs intake.

Seasonal differences in ventricular proliferation of adult Gallotia galloti lizards.

Lizards present neuronal production throughout the telencephalon in their adult state, both naturally and after experimentally induced brain lesions. As in birds, lizards present seasonal behavioural variations. In birds, such variations have been shown to alter neuronal production. In birds and mammals, lack of stimuli or exposure to stress interferes with adult neurogenetic capacity. The effect of this type of study has not been performed with lizards. In the present study we used bromodeoxyuridine to label dividing cells in the ventricular walls of Gallotia galloti lizards during all four seasons and we investigated the effect of captivity on such proliferation. We found that G. galloti presented a particular distribution that differed from that previously described in other reptiles with respect to regions of greater or lesser proliferative rate. In addition, proliferative rate varied seasonally, with greater production of cells in Spring and low production in Autumn and Winter. Proliferative rate was significantly lower throughout the telencephalon and during all seasons in those lizards kept in captivity as compared with wild animals, even though photoperiod and temperature were similar to natural conditions. Our results indicate that cell production in lizards is species-dependent, varies with seasons and is significantly reduced in captive animals.

Inteligencia emocional en policias locales / Emotional intelligence in city police officers

El presente estudio contrastó la estructura factorial de la escala TMMS-24 en una muestra de 148 policias locales de Canarias y su relación con variables de personalidad, estrategias de afrontameinto al estrés y síntomas psicopatológicos. Los resultados confirmarion las olución de tres factores denominados. Atención emocional. Claridad emocional y Reparación de las emociones. Todos ellos cngruentes con la solución original y con una consistencia interna adecuada. Los análisis correlacionales y diferenciales mosraron relaciones directas entre la inteligencia emocional y algunos rasgos de personalidad, estrategias adecuadas de afrontameitno al estrés y salud mental. Los resultados parecen coherentes con estudios previos que meusran que la ineligenci aemocional represneta un ppel relevante cuando el desempeño laboral implica una demanda emocional intensa. En cosnecuencia, puede favorecer el bienestar psicol´goico en poblaciones similares a la estudiada(AU)

The present sutyd confirmed the factor structure of TMMS-24 and its relation with personality, coping and psychopathology with a 148 city police officers form the Caary Islands. Results confirmed the threfactor structure labelled: Emotionla Attention, Emotinal Clariy and Emotional Repair. All of then were congruent with the original solution and had adequate internal consistency. The correlational and differntial analyses showed positive relationship between emotionla intelligence and personality traits, appropriate coping strategies and mental health. REsults appeared coherent with those of previous studies that showed that emotional intelligence plays a relevant role whenever labour perfomance implies an intese emotional demand. Consequently, it can improve psychological well-being in similar populations to that used in our study(AU)

Fluid-structure interaction within realistic three-dimensional models of the aneurysmatic aorta as a guidance to assess the risk of rupture of the aneurysm.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease is a degenerating process whose ultimate event is the rupture of the vessel wall. Rupture occurs when the stresses acting on the wall rise above the strength of the AAA wall tissue. The complex mechanical interaction between blood flow and wall dynamics in a three dimensional custom model of a patient AAA was studied by means of computational coupled fluid-structure interaction analysis. Real 3D AAA geometry is obtained from CT scans image processing. The results provide a quantitative local evaluation of the stresses due to local structural and fluid dynamic conditions. The method accounts for the complex geometry of the aneurysm, the presence of a thrombus and the interaction between solid and fluid. A proven clinical efficacy may promote the method as a tool to determine factual aneurysm risk of rupture and aid the surgeon to refer elective surgery patients.

Salud mental en población institucionalizada mayor de 65 años en la isla de Tenerife / Mental health in an institutionalized population of elderly subjects over 65 years in the Island of Tenerife

OBJETIVO: Estimar la prevalencia de patología psíquica en una muestra de personas institucionalizadas mayores de 65 años. MÉTODO: El estudio fue realizado en dos fases. En la primera fase fueron entrevistadas 212 personas, seleccionadas al azar, con el GHQ-28, y en la segunda fase fueron entrevistadas todas las personas que puntuaron >= 5 puntos en el GHQ (probables casos) y un grupo testigo de personas que puntuaron menos de 5 puntos en el GHQ (probables no casos) con la entrevista clínica CIS y con el MEC (Mini-Examen-Cognoscitivo) por un equipo de dos psiquiatras. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia ponderada de patología psíquica fue del 45,8 por ciento (43,9 por ciento hombres y 44,08 por ciento mujeres). Según los criterios de la DSM-III-R, esta prevalencia corresponde a los siguientes diagnósticos psiquiátricos: 21,08 por ciento trastornos depresivos, 13 por ciento trastornos psicóticos, 6,33 por ciento trastornos de ansiedad y 5,28 por ciento demencias graves. La prevalencia de patología aumenta de forma significativa entre las personas que tienen hijos y se detecta una tendencia, que no es significativa, a sufrir más trastornos entre las mujeres, las personas casadas, las que no tienen algún amigo íntimo, ni familiares en la institución. CONCLUSIONES: La prevalencia de patología psíquica entre los ancianos institucionalizados es muy alta, siendo los trastornos depresivos los más frecuentes (AU)

[Relationship between psychosocial stress and mental disease: community study]. / Relación entre el estrés psicosocial y la patología psíquica: un estudio comunitario.

INTRODUCTION: We investigate the relationship between life events stress and psychiatric disorders in a random sample of urban population older than 16 in the Tenerife Island. METHOD: A two-stage cross-sectional study was conducted. In the first stage 660 persons were interviewed using the GHQ-28 as a screening questionnaire and the DSM-III-Axis IV for the psychosocial stressors valoration. In the second stage were interviewed all persons screening positive on the GHQ and similar number of the screening negative ones, using the Clinical Interview Schedule. RESULTS: The psychosocial stressors prevalence was 36,5% and the pathology psychiatric prevalence was 12, 90%: among 3.3% of the people who do not refer psychiosocial stress and 29.5% of the people who do refer. CONCLUSION: We confirmed a significant relationship between psychosocial stress and psychiatric disorders in both sexes.

Relación entre el estrés psicosocial y la patología psíquica: un estudio comunitario / Relationship between psychosocial stress and mental disease: a study the community

Introducción: En este trabajo investigamos la relación entre acontecimientos de vida estresantes y patología psíquica en una muestra de población urbana mayor de 16 años en la isla de Tenerife. Material y método: El estudio ha sido realizado en dos fases. En la primera fase se entrevistaron 660 personas con el GHQ-28 como instrumento de screening y la valoración de los agentes estresantes se realizó siguiendo la clasificación DSM-III-Eje IV. En la segunda fase se entrevistaron, con la entrevista clínica CIS, a todas las personas que puntuaron positivo (cinco puntos) y a un número similar de personas que puntuaron negativo (menos de cinco puntos) en el GHQ-28. Resultados: La prevalencia total de estrés psicosocial es del 36,5 por ciento y la de patología psíquica del 12,90 por ciento, del 3,3 por ciento entre las personas que no refieren estrés psicosocial y del 29,5 por ciento entre las personas que si refieren estrés psicosocial. Conclusiones: Se confirma una relación significativa entre haber sufrido el efecto de algún acontecimiento de vida estresante y la presencia de enfermedad mental en ambos sexos (AU)

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[Insomnia in asthmatic patients]. / El insomnio en pacientes asmatícos.

In this paper, in order to assess the prevalence and features of insomnia as a subjective complaint in a sample of asthmatic outpatients. (n = 43; mean age = 36.39 +/- 12.85), items 44, 64 and 66 (that deal with insomnia complaints) of Derogatis' SCL-90-R (Symptom Check List 90 REvised), that was applied to the patients of the sample, are studied. A high prevalence of insomnia complaints is observed in our patients; over 70% of the sample manifests complaints of some type of insomnia. Insomnia complaints were higher (p < 0.0001) than in general population. No significant differences were evidenced according to sex and no correlation with age was observed in any of the items taken into account for insomnia complaints. A high positive intercorrelation was evidenced among the three items that we considered. Various factors associated with insomnia in asthma are discussed.