Relationship between technology acceptance model, self-regulation strategies, and academic self-efficacy with academic performance and perceived learning among college students during remote education.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the technology acceptance model, self-regulation strategies, and academic self-efficacy with academic performance and perceived learning among college students during remote education. Methods: The participants were 301 university students from Lima. Structural equation model was used to test the proposed theoretical relationships between the variables. On the one hand, the study sought to explore the relationship between academic self-efficacy and self-regulation strategies with the technology acceptance model. On the other hand, it sought to determine whether the three dimensions of the technology acceptance model are positively related to perceived learning and academic performance. Results: The results suggest the importance of improving psychological variables such as self-efficacy and self-regulation strategies to improve the acceptance of technology, which would also improve the academic performance and perceived learning of students in a virtual environment. Discussion: The discussion highlights the significance of self-efficacy and metacognitive strategies in influencing technology perception and attitudes, ultimately impacting perceived learning and academic performance in virtual education.

Quality of Life of Elderly People with Severe Intellectual Disabilities in Chile / Calidad de vida en adultos mayores con discapacidades intelectuales severas en Chile / Qualidade de vida para idosos com deficiência intelectual grave no Chile

Introduction: Currently, the concept of the quality of life (QoL) is key to defining health policies aimed at the population with intellectual disability (id). Most QoL studies in this field have been limited to people with id with higher functioning levels. This has resulted in a little interest in evaluating QoL interventions among people with id and a high need for supports, affecting their general well-being and conditioning the care they received. This study seeks to explore the QoL levels of people with severe and profound id and to examine their differences based on some variables. Material and methods: From a quantita-tive-descriptive approach, the San Martín scale, based on the eight-dimensional QoL Model of Schalock and Verdugo, has been used in 201 Chilean people with severe or profound id ages between 60 and 86 years. Results: Data show how most participants have low QoL levels, with self-determination and social inclusion being the most affected dimensions. When comparing the QoL score with sociodemographic variables, differences in the level of support needs and the type of center they are used are observed. Conclusion: Low QoL levels should be carefully considered because of a notable risk that they lead to greater vulnerability situations for this group. Likewise, a higher frequency in the support offered should be advocated, and spaces in which these people operate should be brought as close as possible to the community.

Introducción: actualmente, el concepto de calidad de vida (CdV) es clave para definir políticas de salud dirigidas a personas con discapacidad intelectual (di). La mayoría de los estudios sobre CdV en este campo se han limitado a personas con di más leves. Esto ha derivado en un escaso interés por evaluar las intervenciones sobre CdV en personas con di y grandes necesidades de apoyo, que afectan su bienestar general y condicionan la atención recibida. Este estudio busca explorar los índices de CdV de perso-nas con di severa y profunda, y examinar sus diferencias según distintas variables. Material y métodos: desde un enfoque cuantitativo-descriptivo se ha aplicado la Escala San Martín, basada en el Modelo de CdV de ocho dimensiones de Schalock y Verdugo, a 201 chilenos con di severa o profunda entre los 60 y 86 años. Resultados: los datos muestran cómo la mayoría de los participantes tienen bajos índices de CdV, de los cuales la autodeterminación y la inclusión social son las dimensiones más afectadas. Al comparar la puntuación de CdV con algunas variables sociodemográficas, surgen diferencias según la necesidad de apoyo de los participantes y el tipo de centro del que son usuarios. Conclusión: es necesario prestar atención a los bajos índices de CdV, porque existe un riesgo notable de que conduzcan a mayores situaciones de vulnerabilidad para este grupo. Asimismo, conviene abogar por una mayor frecuencia en los apoyos ofrecidos y acercar lo más posible a la comunidad los espacios en los que se desenvuelven estas personas.

Introdução: atualmente, o conceito de qualidade de vida (QdV) é fundamental para a definição de polí-ticas de saúde voltadas às pessoas com deficiência intelectual (di). A maioria dos estudos de QdV neste campo foi limitada a pessoas com di mais leve. Isso gerou pouco interesse em avaliar intervenções de QdV em pessoas com di e altas necessidades de suporte, afetando seu bem-estar geral e condicionando os cuidados recebidos. Este estudo busca explorar os níveis de QdV de pessoas com di severa e profunda e examinar suas diferenças de acordo com diferentes variáveis. Material e métodos: a partir de uma abordagem quantitativo-descritiva, a Escala de San Martín, baseada no modelo de QdV de Schalock e Verdugo em oito dimensões, foi aplicada a 201 chilenos com di severa ou profunda entre 60 e 86 anos de idade. Resultados: os dados mostram como a maioria dos participantes apresenta baixos níveis de QdV, sendo a autodeterminação e a inclusão social as dimensões mais afetadas. Ao comparar o escore de QdV com algumas variáveis sociodemográficas, surgem diferenças de acordo com o nível de necessidade de apoio dos participantes e o tipo de centro de que são usuários. Conclusão: deve-se atentar para os baixos níveis de QV, pois há um risco notável de que levem a maiores situações de vulnerabilidade para esse grupo. Da mesma forma, é aconselhável advogar por uma maior frequência no apoio oferecido e aproximar os espaços de atuação dessas pessoas o mais próximo possível da comunidade.

Mindfulness Initiatives for Students, Teachers, and Parents: a Review of Literature and Implications for Practice During COVID-19 and Beyond.

The use of mindfulness in schools has greatly expanded over the past 10 years. Research has demonstrated positive psychological effects of mindfulness for students as well as teachers (Emerson et al., Mindfulness 8:1136-1149, 2017; Semple et al., Psychology in the Schools 54:29-52, 2017). Similarly, studies focusing on mindfulness interventions for parents of children with disabilities and/or psychosocial difficulties have also yielded a variety of positive outcomes, including reduced parenting stress, increases in quality of life, and improved parent-child interactions (Bögels et al., 2016; Rayan and Ahmad, Research in Developmental Disabilities 55:185-196, 2016). Although there has been a proliferation of mindfulness research, and mindfulness has become a buzzword in popular culture, it has not been systematically examined or applied as an approach to improving psychosocial functioning in children, school personnel, and families during COVID-19 and in online settings. This article provides a preliminary framework for this examination by reviewing relevant research and providing practical strategies and resources for school psychologists.

Criterion Validity of a Short Food Frequency Questionnaire for Mexican American Adults.

Background: The purpose of this study was to validate the School Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for Mexican American adults (SPAN MAA). Methods: A sample of 100 Mexican American adult participants was drawn from the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort (on the Texas−Mexico border). We used Spearman rank order correlation coefficients, kappa statistics, and percent agreement to compare the SPAN MAA questionnaire to a 24 h recall collected on the same day. Results: Of 100 participants, 93 were included in the analyses. One item showed substantial (>0.6), five items moderate (>0.4), five items fair (>0.2) and three items little to no agreement (<0.2). Items with low agreement were those reported in low frequencies by study participants. Conclusions: SPAN MAA FFQ had moderate to fair agreement between instruments across both sexes, making this brief questionnaire a useful tool to quickly assess the dietary intake patterns of Mexican American adults.

A low-cost and open-source protocol to produce key enzymes for molecular detection assays.

Here, we describe a detailed step-by-step protocol for the expression, purification, quantification, and activity determination of key enzymes for molecular detection of pathogens. Based on previous reports, we optimized the protocol for LbCas12a, Taq DNA polymerase, M-MLV reverse transcriptase, and TEV protease to make it compatible with minimal laboratory equipment, broadly available in low- and middle-income countries. The enzymes produced with this protocol have been successfully used for molecular detection applications. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Alcántara et al. (2021a, 2021b).

Parental Stress and Family Quality of Life: Surveying Family Members of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities.

(1) Background. This study assesses the quality of life in families with a member with an intellectual disability using the Family Adjustment and Adaptation Response framework. (2) Methods. The study included 515 Spanish participants whose family members with disabilities range in age from infancy to adulthood. We hypothesized that it is possible to predict parenting stress by paying attention to the meaning families give to themselves and their circumstances while controlling for the impact of other variables such as family capabilities and characteristics of the family member with disabilities. We used the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale and the section on Exceptional needs of medical and behavioral support from the Supports Intensity Scale, together with other potential predictors. The subscale on parental stress from the Parenting Stress Index-Short Form was utilized as a criterion measure. (3) Results. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that 49% of parental stress was predicted by dysfunctional interaction, difficult behaviors, low emotional wellbeing, poor family interaction, as well as kinship as parents, and the severity of both the medical needs and intellectual disability. (4) Conclusions. The stress experienced by those families is mostly predicted by the meaning they give to themselves and their circumstances. Implications of these findings for service delivery are discussed.

Human papillomavirus oncoproteins and post-translational modifications: generating multifunctional hubs for overriding cellular homeostasis.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are major human carcinogens, causing around 5% of all human cancers, with cervical cancer being the most important. These tumors are all driven by the two HPV oncoproteins E6 and E7. Whilst their mechanisms of action are becoming increasingly clear through their abilities to target essential cellular tumor suppressor and growth control pathways, the roles that post-translational modifications (PTMs) of E6 and E7 play in the regulation of these activities remain unclear. Here, we discuss the direct consequences of some of the most common PTMs of E6 and E7, and how this impacts upon the multi-functionality of these viral proteins, and thereby contribute to the viral life cycle and to the induction of malignancy. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly clear that these modifications, may, in some cases, offer novel routes for therapeutic intervention in HPV-induced disease.

Acquisition of a phospho-acceptor site enhances HPV E6 PDZ-binding motif functional promiscuity.

All cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 oncoproteins have a C-terminal PDZ-binding motif (PBM), which correlates with oncogenic potential. Nonetheless, several HPVs with little or no oncogenic potential also have an E6 PBM, with minor sequence differences affecting PDZ protein selectivity. Furthermore, certain HPV types have a phospho-acceptor site embedded within the PBM. We therefore compared HPV-18, HPV-66 and HPV-40 E6 proteins to examine the possible link between the ability to target multiple PDZ proteins and the acquisition of a phospho-acceptor site. The mutation of essential residues in HPV-18E6 reduces its phosphorylation, and fewer PDZ substrates are bound. In contrast, the generation of consensus phospho-acceptor sites in HPV-66 and HPV-40 E6 PBMs increases the PDZ proteins recognized. Thus, although phosphorylation of the E6 PBM and PDZ protein recognition are mutually exclusive, they are closely linked, with the acquisition of a phospho-acceptor site also contributing to an expansion in the number of PDZ proteins bound.

PDZ Domain-Containing Protein NHERF-2 Is a Novel Target of Human Papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) and HPV-18.

Cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 oncoproteins have a class I PDZ-binding motif (PBM) on their C termini, which play critical roles that are related to the HPV life cycle and HPV-induced malignancies. E6 oncoproteins use these PBMs to interact with, to target for proteasome-mediated degradation, a plethora of cellular substrates that contain PDZ domains and that are involved in the regulation of various cellular pathways. In this study, we show that both HPV-16 and HPV-18 E6 oncoproteins can interact with Na+/H+ exchange regulatory factor 2 (NHERF-2), a PDZ domain-containing protein, which among other cellular functions also behaves as a tumor suppressor regulating endothelial proliferation. The interaction between the E6 oncoproteins and NHERF-2 is PBM dependent and results in proteasome-mediated degradation of NHERF-2. We further confirmed this effect in cells derived from HPV-16- and HPV-18-positive cervical tumors, where we show that NHERF-2 protein turnover is increased in the presence of E6. Finally, our data indicate that E6-mediated NHERF-2 degradation results in p27 downregulation and cyclin D1 upregulation, leading to accelerated cellular proliferation. To our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate that E6 oncoproteins can stimulate cell proliferation by indirectly regulating p27 through targeting a PDZ domain-containing protein.IMPORTANCE This study links HPV-16 and HPV-18 E6 oncoproteins to the modulation of cellular proliferation. The PDZ domain-containing protein NHERF-2 is a tumor suppressor that has been shown to regulate endothelial proliferation; here, we demonstrate that NHERF-2 is targeted by HPV E6 for proteasome-mediated degradation. Interestingly, this indirectly affects p27, cyclin D1, and CDK4 protein levels and, consequently, affects cell proliferation. Hence, this study provides information that will improve our understanding of the molecular basis for HPV E6 function, and it also highlights the importance of the PDZ domain-containing protein NHERF-2 and its tumor-suppressive role in regulating cell proliferation.

Cyberbullying among adults with intellectual disabilities: Some preliminary data.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies show that youth with disabilities are at risk of experiencing cyberbullying. Nevertheless, the nature of this phenomenon among adults with intellectual disabilities has not been investigated. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the frequency and characteristics of cyberbullying and its correlates in individuals with intellectual disabilities attending training centers for adults with intellectual disabilities. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A convenience sample of 269 participants (54.3% men and 35.7% women), aged 18-40 years was recruited from Chile (14.1%), Mexico (32%), and Spain (53.9%). RESULTS: The findings showed that 15.2% have been cyberbullied 9.7% are currently being cyberbullied. Being different was the main reason (97.7%) for being cyberbullied. The behaviors happen in educational settings (46.67%), leisure/free time activities (31.11%), and associations for people with disabilities (15.56%). Verbal aggressions (74.53%) were the most common cyberbullying behaviors. Those who were cyberbullied reported more inadequate use of mobile phone and Internet, as well as more unhealthy behaviors and depressive mood. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These findings support the need for further studies on adults with intellectual disabilities, as well as the need for implementing primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention programs.

Internet and cell phone usage patterns among young adults with intellectual disabilities.

BACKGROUND: The risks and opportunities associated with the use of technologies are of growing research interest. Patterns of technology usage illuminate these opportunities and risks. However, no studies have assessed the usage patterns (frequency, duration, and intensity) and related factors in young people with intellectual disabilities. METHODS: Questionnaires on Internet and cell phone usage patterns, the Internet Over-Use Scale and the Cell-Phone Over-Use Scale, as well as the Beck Depression Inventory were filled out in one-on-one interviews of 216 youth with intellectual disabilities. RESULTS: Young people with disabilities make more social and recreational rather than educational use of these tools, and show higher rates of excessive use of both technologies than a comparison group of 410 young people without disabilities. Also, their overuse is associated with other unhealthy behaviors. CONCLUSION: The framework of support needs of people with disabilities should be considered to promote healthy Internet and cell phone use.

Identification of the support needs of individuals with severe mental illness using the Supports Intensity Scale.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the intensity of the support needs of individuals with severe mental illness. METHODS: Quantitative and descriptive study that applied the Supports Intensity Scale to a sample comprising 182 individuals. RESULTS: The supports intensity profile identifies groups, individuals, and areas with different needs of support relative to the domains of home living, health, community living, learning, employment, and social living. As a whole, the intensity level of support needs found was low, and the domains with greater needs were employment and social. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of the intensity of support needs is helpful in planning integral care and detecting professional training needs. The support provision-centered approach, associated with the person-related outcomes perspective, has been sparsely applied to individuals with mental illness, and this represents the main contribution of the present study. In addition, this study introduces novel approaches to assessment that are both concordant and an innovation in nursing because they might provide a tool for understanding other disabilities.

Identification of the support needs of individuals with severe mental illness using the Supports Intensity Scale / Identificacao das necessidades de apoio em pessoas com doenca mental grave utilizando a Escala de Intensidade de Apoios / Identificacion de necesidades de apoyo en personas con enfermedad mental severa utilizando la Escala de Intensidad de Apoyos

OBJECTIVE: to characterize the intensity of the support needs of individuals with severe mental illness. METHODS: quantitative and descriptive study that applied the Supports Intensity Scale to a sample comprising 182 individuals. RESULTS: the supports intensity profile identifies groups, individuals, and areas with different needs of support relative to the domains of home living, health, community living, learning, employment, and social living. As a whole, the intensity level of support needs found was low, and the domains with greater needs were employment and social. CONCLUSIONS: identification of the intensity of support needs is helpful in planning integral care and detecting professional training needs. The support provision-centered approach, associated with the person-related outcomes perspective, has been sparsely applied to individuals with mental illness, and this represents the main contribution of the present study. In addition, this study introduces novel approaches to assessment that are both concordant and an innovation in nursing because they might provide a tool for understanding other disabilities. .

OBJETIVO: caracterizar o perfil da intensidade das necessidades de apoio em indivíduos com doença mental grave. METODOLOGIA: quantitativa, no contexto de um estudo descritivo que utilizou a escala de intensidade de apoios como instrumento, sendo aplicada a amostra constituída por 182 pessoas. RESULTADOS: o perfil de intensidade de apoio identifica grupos, pessoas e áreas com diferentes níveis de necessidades de apoio na vida no lar, saúde, comunidade, aprendizagem, emprego e vida social. De modo geral, o perfil identificado foi de baixa intensidade, sendo que as áreas que apresentaram as maiores necessidades foram aquelas correspondentes a emprego e vida social. CONCLUSÕES: essa identificação contribui para o planejamento do cuidado de modo integral e, além disso, permite a identificação de necessidades na formação profissional. Essa abordagem, centrada na proporção de apoios combinada com a perspectiva de resultados referidos à pessoa, tem sido pouco utilizada no caso de indivíduos com doença mental e nisso consiste a contribuição singular do presente estudo. Além disso, este estudo possibilita a inclusão de novas formas de avaliação que são consistentes e inovadoras na área de enfermagem, porque podem representar uma ferramenta para a compreensão de outras deficiências. .

OBJETIVO: caracterizar el perfil de intensidad de necesidades de apoyo de personas con enfermedad mental severa. METODOLOGÍA: cuantitativa desarrollando un estudio descriptivo, utilizando como instrumento la escala de intensidad de apoyos que se aplicó a una muestra de 182 personas. RESULTADOS: el perfil de intensidad de apoyos identifica grupos, personas y áreas con diferentes niveles de necesidades de apoyo en las áreas de vida en el hogar, salud, comunidad, aprendizaje, empleo y vida social. De forma global, el perfil identificado es bajo, mostrando necesidades más elevadas en las áreas de empleo y vida social. CONCLUSIONES: esta identificación ayuda a planificar el cuidado de forma integral permitiendo además identificar necesidades en la formación profesional. Este enfoque centrado en la proporción de apoyos, y relacionado con la perspectiva de resultados referidos a la persona ha sido poco utilizado en personas con enfermedad mental, es ahí donde radica la aportación de este estudio. Además posibilita contar con nuevas formas de valoración que son concordantes y novedosas para la Enfermería porque pueden constituir una herramienta para comprender otras discapacidades. .

[Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents who consult with obesity]. / Prevalencia de síndrome metabólico en niños y adolescentes que consultan por obesidad.

BACKGROUND: The higher prevalence of childhood obesity has led to search for metabolic syndrome (MS) in this age group. AIM: To study the prevalence of MS in obese children and adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross sectional study of 255 obese children and adolescents aged 11.3 ± 2.4 years, 45% males, 60% pubertal, with a body mass index (BMI) z score of 2.7 ± 0.6, who were evaluated for obesity. MS was defined as the presence of at least three of the following criteria, according to Ferranti: fasting glucose (FG) ≥ 100 mg/dl, triglycerides (TG) ≥ 100 mg/dl, HDL < 50 mg/dl, waist circumference (WC) > percentile (p) 75 and blood pressure (BP) > p90. Patients were also classified using Cook criteria: FG ≥ 100 mg/dl, TG ≥ 110 mg/dl, HDL < 40 mg/dl, WC > p 90, BP > p 90. RESULTS: MS was observed in 45 and 22.7% of patients, according to Ferranti and Cook definitions, respectively. WC was the most frequent criteria and glucose was the most uncommon. Males had higher body mass index, WC and TG levels than females. According to Ferranti and Cook definitions, MS prevalence was 53.5 and 28% in males and 37.6 and l8.4% in females (p < 0.05). Fifty and 26.1% of pubertal patients exhibited MS vs 36.9 and 17.5% in pre-pubertal subjects (p < 0.05) using Ferranti and Cook criteria, respectively. The frequency of MS increased along with a higher BMI. CONCLUSIONS: MS is a prevalent condition in obese children and adolescents, especially in males and pubertal children. It is necessary to have a better and universal definition for MS in pediatrics including all ages, in order to be focused in obesity prevention and treatment.

Utilization of the supports intensity scale with psychiatric populations: psychometric properties and utility for service delivery planning.

In agreement with the new paradigm of supports, this study examines the adequacy and psychometric properties of the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) in a sample of 182 participants with severe mental illness (mean Global Assessment of Functioning [GAF] score = 60.2). The measure focuses on identifying the profile and intensities of support needs and on the planning and service delivery rather than on weaknesses and limitations. Internal consistency indexes ranged from .83 to .97; interrater reliability indexes ranged from .67 to .98. Intercorrelations among SIS subscales supported its construct validity. SIS scores correlated to GAF scores and length of disease. Discriminant analysis correctly classified 60.9% of participants. Therefore, the SIS demonstrated adequate reliability and validity, and it can be used by nursing professionals to plan for required supports in this population.

Prevalencia de síndrome metabólico en niños y adolescentes que consultan por obesidad / Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents who consult with obesity

Background: The higher prevalence of chüdhood obesity has led to search for metabolic syndrome (MS) in this age group. Aim: To study the prevalence of MS in obese children and adolescents. Material ana Methods: Cross sectional study of 255 obese children and adolescents aged 11.3 ± 2.4 years, 45 percent males, 60 percent pubertal, with a body mass Índex (BMI) z score of 2.7 ± 0.6, who were evaluated for obesity. MS was defined as the presence of at least three of the following criteria, according to Ferranti: fasting glucose (FG) ≥ 100 mg/dl, triglycerides (TG) ≥ 100 mg/dl, HDL < 50 mg/dl, waist circumference (WC) > percentile (p) 75 and blood pressure (BP) > p90. Patients were also classified using Cook criteria: FG ≥100 mg/dl, TG ≥ 110 mg/dl, HDL < 40 mg/dl, WC > p 90, BP > p 90. Results: MS was observed in 45 and 22.7 percent of patients, according to Ferranti and Cook definitions, respectively. WC was the most frequent criteria and glucose was the most uncommon. Males had higher body mass Índex, WC and TG levéis than femóles. According to Ferranti and Cook áefinitions, MS prevalence was 53.5 and 28 percent in males and 37.6 andl8.4 percent in fernales (p < 0.05). Fifty and 26.1 percent of pubertal patients exhibited MS vs 36.9 and 17.5 percent in pre-pubertal subjects (p < 0.05) using Ferranti and Cook criteria, respectively. The frequency of MS increased along with a higher BMI. Conclusions: MS is a prevalent condition in obese children and adolescents, especially in males and pubertal children. It is necessary to have a better and universal definition for MS in pediatrics including all ages, in order to be focused in obesity prevention and treatment.

Partial motor status epilepticus as a clinical manifestation of carotid stenosis.

Limb shaking (LS) is often confused with focal motor seizures. Distinguishing between both is crucial, because LS may represent an indicator of severe carotid occlusive disease and patients are at high risk of stroke. We report the case of a patient with occlusive carotid stenosis without definite stroke who develops partial motor status epilepticus (SE). Clinical, neuroimaging and electroencephalographic findings are provided. We conclude that focal motor seizures should be distinguished from LS based on clinical and electroencephalographic findings.

Oral anticoagulation in elderly patients as secondary prevention of cardioembolic strokes.

BACKGROUND: Stroke incidence increases with age. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an important risk factor for ischemic stroke and its incidence also increases with age. However oral anticoagulant therapy (OAT) tends to be underused in the elderly population. METHODS: Elderly patients (> = 80 years) with an ischemic stroke admitted in our department between 1/7/2003 and 31/6/2005 were prospectively evaluated. Baseline characteristics, risk factors, treatment and etiology according to TOAST criteria were recorded. Patients treated with OAT were followed up in order to assess any side effect and stroke recurrence. Mean follow-up was of 19.5 months (7-45) from discharge. RESULTS: Sixty four out of a hundred and fifty nine elderly patients (40.25%) were classified as cardioembolic; mean age was 84.5 years (80-97) and 64.6% were women. AF had been previously identified in 60% of them (16.9% were on OAT and 40.6% on antiplatelet therapy). At discharge, 32 patients (49.2%) were on OAT. In the follow-up 4 patients (12.5%) suffered systemic haemorrhages (3 urinary, 1 gastrointestinal bleeding), with no change in their functional status. Mean INR in this group was 5.9 34567891011 and, in 3 of them, OAT was cancelled. No brain haemorrhages were recorded. Ischemic stroke recurred in 4 patients (INR < 1.8 in 3 of them; the other, INR 2.35). Three patients had died at the end of the follow-up, one of them as a consequence of ischemic stroke recurrence. DISCUSSION: Twenty eight point eight of stroke patients admitted in the period of study were >80 years. The high proportion of cardioembolic strokes in this age segment contrasts with the general underuse of OAT as antithrombotic prophylaxis. Our study suggests that OAT is a safe strategy when carefully prescribed, even for elderly patients.

Predicting sexual aggression: the role of pornography in the context of general and specific risk factors.

The main focus of the present study was to examine the unique contribution (if any) of pornography consumption to men's sexually aggressive behavior. Even after controlling for the contributions of risk factors associated with general antisocial behavior and those used in Confluence Model research as specific predictors of sexual aggression, we found that high pornography consumption added significantly to the prediction of sexual aggression. Further analyses revealed that the predictive utility of pornography was due to its discriminative ability only among men classified (based on their other risk characteristics) at relatively high risk for sexual aggression. Other analyses indicated that the specific risk factors accounted for more variance in sexual aggression than the general risk factors and mediated the association between the general risk factors and sexual aggression. We illustrate the potential application of the findings for risk assessment using a classification tree.

Spontaneous recanalization of acute internal carotid artery occlusion.

Little is known about the natural course of internal carotid artery occlusion and its possible recanalization. We present here a case of spontaneous recanalization of an acutely occluded internal carotid artery, angiographically reported, which later allowed the patient to benefit from surgical treatment. These and other similar cases raise the possibility of a more frequent recanalization of this artery than previously considered. We suggest routine follow-up of these patients to detect this eventuality, which could influence clinical outcome and secondary prophylaxis strategies.