Maladaptive personality traits in patients with recent-onset psychosis: A case-control study using the Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 (PID-5).

BACKGROUND: The relationship between maladaptive personality traits and psychotic disorders in the early stages of disease has not been thoroughly investigated, even though it is essential for developing prevention and early intervention strategies. METHODS: The five domains and the 25 facets of the Personality Inventory for DSM-5 (PID-5) were compared between 102 patients with recent-onset psychosis (ROP) and 116 community subjects (C) with a general linear model including age and sex in the analyses. In addition, multiple linear regression models were used to identify which factors associated with the PID-5 domains in ROP, and correlation analyses were used to explore the relationship between personality traits. RESULTS: Patients with ROP, compared to C, exhibited higher scores in four out of the five domains with medium effect sizes (Cohen's f2 ≥ 0.15) in two of them: negative affect (NA, p = 0.013, f2 = 0.04), detachment (DET, p < 0.001, f2 = 0.15), disinhibition (DIS, p < 0.001, f2 = 0.14) and psychoticism (PSY, p < 0.001, f2 = 0.16). Significant group differences were observed in 15 of the 25 facets and the largest effects were observed in the facets of withdrawal (p ≤ 0.001, f2 = 0.20), irresponsibility (p < 0.001, f2 = 0.23) and unusual beliefs (p = 0.001, f2 = 0.22). Interestingly, being on antidepressants and high scores on the positive subscale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) were associated with high scores of NA, antagonism (ANT) and PSY. CONCLUSIONS: Maladaptive personality traits were prominent in persons with ROP. These findings suggest that personality traits might play a role in vulnerability to psychosis and highlight the importance of evaluating personality in the early stages of psychosis.

Prueba de Push-Out para Evaluar la Fuerza de Adhesión entre dos Tipos de Postes Estéticos

Posterior a un tratamiento endodóntico, muchas veces el remanente es insuficiente para la retención de un material de restauración, por este motivo es necesario la colocación de un sistema de poste-muñón para otorgar retención a la restauración final. Con la aparición de diversos materiales para las restauraciones estéticas, se utilizan actualmente resinas reforzadas con fibra de vidrio como sistemas de postes y muñones para la restauración de dientes tratados endodónticamente. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue comparar la fuerza de adhesión en la prueba push-out de dos diferentes tipos de postes de fibra de vidrio; 3M RelyX y Rebilda Post GT (VOCO) adheridos con cementos duales correspondientes a la marca de los postes; RelyX U-200® Automix (3M ESPE) y Rebilda DC (VOCO). Se llevó a cabo un análisis de ANOVA de dos vías para comparar la fuerza adhesiva con la prueba push-out entre ambos grupos de estudio. Pese a que se observó que los postes Rebilda presentaron una media de fuerza de adhesión ligeramente mayor en comparación con los postes 3M (sin diferencia estadística significativa P>0,05) los últimos son clínicamente más fáciles de colocar, lo cual pudiera ser un factor decisivo para el clínico en el momento de la elección de un poste y su sistema de adhesión.

After an endodontic treatment, many times the remnant is insufficient for the retention of a restorative material, for this reason it is necessary to place a post-stump system to provide retention to the final restoration. With the advent of various materials for esthetic restorations, fiberglass-reinforced resins are now used as post and core systems for the restoration of endodontically treated teeth. The objective of the present work was to compare the bond strength in the push-out test of 2 different types of fiberglass posts; 3M RelyX and Rebilda Post GT (VOCO) bonded with dual cements corresponding to the post brand; RelyX U-200® Automix (3M ESPE) and Rebilda DC (VOCO). A 2-way ANOVA analysis was performed to compare push-out strength between both study groups. Although it was observed that the Rebilda posts presented a slightly higher mean bond strength compared to the 3M posts (with no significant statistical difference P>0.05), the latter are clinically easier to place, which could be a decisive factor for the clinician at the time of choosing a post and its adhesion system.

Risk factors for metabolic syndrome in individuals with recent-onset psychosis at disease onset and after 1-year follow-up.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of parameters encompassing the most dangerous heart attack risk factors, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. It is highly prevalent in recent-onset psychosis (ROP) patients. In this pilot study, we evaluated MetS parameters (fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-c), fasting triglycerides, waist circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure), clinical symptoms, pharmacological treatment, lifestyle, and inflammatory markers in 69 patients with ROP and 61 healthy controls (HCs). At baseline, waist circumference (p = 0.005) and fasting triglycerides (p = 0.007) were higher in patients with ROP than in HCs. At the 1-year follow-up, patients showed clinical improvement, with a reduction in the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS) score (p < 0.001), dietary intake (p = 0.001), and antipsychotic medication dose (p < 0.001); however, fasting glucose (p = 0.011), HDL-c (p = 0.013) and waist circumference worsened (p < 0.001). We identified sex, age, BMI, dietary intake, physical activity, daily tobacco use, daily cannabis use, and antipsychotic doses as risk factors contributing to baseline MetS parameters. After 1-year follow-up, those factors plus the PANSS and Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS) scores were associated with MetS parameters. Further studies are needed to understand the contributions of the studied risk factors in patients with ROP at onset and during disease progression.

Lugar de la muerte de las personas tributarias de recibir cuidados paliativos en las Illes Balears / Place of death of people candidate to recive palliative care in the Balearic Islands

OBJETIVO: Describir dónde fallecen las personas tributarias de recibir atención por servicios específicos de cuidados paliativos en la Comunidad Autónoma de les Illes Balears (CAIB) en los años 2015 y 2016. MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo. Sujetos: personas fallecidas en la CAIB por causas susceptibles de requerir atención paliativa prestada por los servicios específi cos de CP. VARIABLES: lugar de fallecimiento, sector sanitario, causa, sexo y edad. Fuentes: registro de mortalidad de la CAIB y memorias de actividad de los Equipos de Soporte de Atención Domiciliaria y de la Unidad de Cuidados Paliativos Pediátricos del Hospital Son Espases. RESULTADOS: En 2015 fallecieron en el domicilio 852 personas, mientras que en el año 2016 fueron 837. Representan el 31,2 y el 28,9 %, respectivamente, del total de fallecidos tributarios de recibir cuidados paliativos específicos. El número de personas que fallecen en el domicilio es distinto entre los sectores sanitarios de las islas con porcentajes que oscilan entre el 20,6 y el 48 %. También se han hallado diferencias en función del sexo de las personas fallecidas en domicilio, siendo menor en los hombres que en las mujeres. CONCLUSIONES: Los porcentajes de fallecidos en domicilio en CAIB se encuentran alejados de las preferencias manifestadas en los estudios revisados. Existe variabilidad entre los sectores sanitarios de la Comunidad. Se han reducido los porcentajes de muerte en domicilio entre los años 2015 y 2016. Se identifi can diferencias en función del sexo y de las patologías analizadas. Necesitamos avanzar en la disponibilidad de estándares

OBJECTIVE: To describe where people candidate to receive specific palliative care (PC) services died in the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands (CAIB) from 2015 through 2016. METHOD: This was a descriptive study. Subjects: people who died in the CAIB from causes susceptible to requiring palliative care by specific PC services. VARIABLES: place of death, health care sector, cause, sex, and age. Sources: CAIB death registry and activity reports by home care suport teams (ESAD) and the pediatric palliative care unit (PPCUN) at Hospital Son Espases. RESULTS: In 2015 a total of 852 patients died in their homes, whereas in 2016 the number of home deaths was 837. These represent 31.2 % and 28.9 % of all deaths in patients candidate to receive specific palliative care, respectively. The number of patients who die in their homes varies among health care sectors in the Islands, with percentages oscillating between 20.6 % and 48 %. Differences were also found according to the gender of those who died in their homes, with numbers being lower for men as compared to women. CONCLUSIONS: The percentages of home deaths in the CAIB are far removed from the preferences reported in the studies reviewed. There is variability among health care sectors in our autonomous community. Home death percentages decreased from 2015 to 2016. Differences may be identified according to gender and health condition. We need to move forward to having some standards available

Las listas de verificación: ¿una ayuda o una molestia? / The checklists: A help or a hassle?

La seguridad de los pacientes se ha convertido en un componente central de la calidad asistencial. Una de las herramientas de seguridad más conocidas y extendidas en todos los ámbitos laborales son las listas de verificación (LV). Una LV es una herramienta que ayuda a no olvidar ningún paso durante la realización de un procedimiento, hacer tareas con un orden establecido, controlar el cumplimiento de una serie de requisitos o recoger datos de forma sistemática para su posterior análisis. Es una ayuda para mejorar la eficacia del trabajo en equipo, fomentar la comunicación, disminuir la variabilidad, estandarizar la atención y mejorar la seguridad de los pacientes. Se repasan las principales barreras para la implantación, como actitudes del personal, jerarquías, diseño deficiente, capacitación inadecuada, duplicación con otras listas de trabajo, sobrecarga de trabajo, barreras culturales, falta de replicación o tiempo de cierre de la LV. Finalmente se revisan sus aplicaciones en la edad pediátrica partiendo desde la más extendida, la LV de seguridad de la cirugía pediátrica, el parto y el periodo neonatal (LV de unidades de críticos neonatales, LV para el parto seguro), para procedimientos de riesgo, para cuidados intensivos pediátricos y para la patología emergente tiempo-dependiente; por ejemplo, el trauma pediátrico. Es importante remarcar el papel del liderazgo en la implantación de una LV en cualquier área de trabajo de la pediatría. Debe haber una o más personas del equipo con el apoyo de los jefes de servicio y directivos que lideren la formación del personal, dirijan la implantación de la LV, evalúen los resultados, informen al resto del equipo y puedan modificar los procesos en función de los problemas encontrados

Patient safety has become a central component of quality of care. One of the best known and most widely used security tool in all work settings is the checklist. The checklist is a tool that helps to not forget any step during the performance of a procedure, to do tasks with an established order, to control the fulfilment of a series of requirements or to collect data in a systematic way for its subsequent analysis. It is an aid to improve the efficiency of teamwork, promote communication, decrease variability, standardize care and improve patient safety. Main barriers to implementation are reviewed: staff attitudes, hierarchies, poor design, inadequate training, duplication with other work lists, work overload, cultural barriers, lack of replication or checklist closing time. Finally, its applications in Pediatrics are reviewed starting from the most widespread, the safety checklist of pediatric surgery, checklists in neonatal critical units, for safe delivery, for risk procedures, in pediatric intensive care and for pathology time-dependent emergent, e.g. pediatric trauma. It is necessary to highlight the role of leadership in the implantation of a checklist in any area of Pediatrics. There must be one or more people from the team with the support of the Heads of Service and Managers who lead the training of the personnel, direct the implementation of the LV, evaluate the results, inform the rest of the team and can modify the processes depending on the problems found

[The checklists: A help or a hassle?] / Las listas de verificación: ¿una ayuda o una molestia?

Patient safety has become a central component of quality of care. One of the best known and most widely used security tool in all work settings is the checklist. The checklist is a tool that helps to not forget any step during the performance of a procedure, to do tasks with an established order, to control the fulfilment of a series of requirements or to collect data in a systematic way for its subsequent analysis. It is an aid to improve the efficiency of teamwork, promote communication, decrease variability, standardize care and improve patient safety. Main barriers to implementation are reviewed: staff attitudes, hierarchies, poor design, inadequate training, duplication with other work lists, work overload, cultural barriers, lack of replication or checklist closing time. Finally, its applications in Pediatrics are reviewed starting from the most widespread, the safety checklist of pediatric surgery, checklists in neonatal critical units, for safe delivery, for risk procedures, in pediatric intensive care and for pathology time-dependent emergent, e.g. pediatric trauma. It is necessary to highlight the role of leadership in the implantation of a checklist in any area of Pediatrics. There must be one or more people from the team with the support of the Heads of Service and Managers who lead the training of the personnel, direct the implementation of the LV, evaluate the results, inform the rest of the team and can modify the processes depending on the problems found.

Increased blood lactate levels during exercise and mitochondrial DNA alterations converge on mitochondrial dysfunction in schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial dysfunction and an elevation of lactate are observed in patients with schizophrenia (SZ). However, it is unknown whether mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with the presence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations and comorbid clinical conditions. We aimed to identify systemic mitochondrial abnormalities in blood samples of patients with SZ that may have a high impact on the brain due to its high bioenergetic requirements. METHODS: Case/control study between 57 patients with SZ and 33 healthy controls (HCs). We measured lactate levels at baseline, during 15 min of exercise (at 5, 10 and 15 min) and at rest. We also evaluated the presence of clinical conditions associated with mitochondrial disorders (CAMDs), measured the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR, a subclinical inflammatory marker), and analyzed mtDNA variation and copy number. RESULTS: Linear models adjusting for covariates showed that patients with SZ exhibited higher elevation of lactate than HCs during exercise but not at baseline or at rest. In accordance, patients showed higher number of CAMDs and lower mtDNA copy number. Interestingly, CAMDs correlated with both lactate levels and mtDNA copy number, which in turn correlated with the NLR. Finally, we identified 13 putative pathogenic variants in the mtDNA of 11 participants with SZ not present in HCs, together with a lactate elevation during exercise that was significantly higher in these 11 carriers than in the noncarriers. CONCLUSIONS: These results are consistent with systemic mitochondrial malfunctioning in SZ and pinpoint lactate metabolism and mtDNA as targets for potential therapeutic treatments.

High frequency of clinical conditions commonly associated with mitochondrial disorders in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: It has been hypothesised that neuropsychiatric symptoms, including psychosis, can be the result of a milder brain bioenergetic defect produced by mitochondrial dysfunction; however, mitochondrial dysfunction can be present in other organs or systems. The aim of the study was to investigate whether clinical conditions associated with mitochondrial disorders (CAMDs) were frequently present in schizophrenia. METHODS: A previously used questionnaire regarding the CAMDs was administered to patients and controls in a direct interview with a trained psychiatrist. The frequencies of CAMDs in 164 patients with schizophrenia were compared to those in 156 age- and sex-matched controls. RESULTS: Severe fatigue, seizures, constipation and diabetes were significantly more frequent in patients with schizophrenia than in control subjects and apparently not related to pharmacological treatment. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that multi-systemic mitochondrial dysfunction may be an underlying mechanism involved in schizophrenia.

BK virus viral load: analysis of the requests received by the microbiology laboratory and clinical involvement of the issued results.

Automation of viral diagnosis has led to an increase of BK virus (BKV) viral load (VL) requests. The aim of this study was to assess the suitability of serum creatinine (SCr) for controlling the demand and to study the clinical characteristics of BKV infection. This is a retrospective study including patients with BKV VL request during April-July 2017. Clinical records and SCr were analyzed. Five hundred samples from 333 patients were included; 61.4% of samples were from males (55.5 ± 14.8 years), and all belonged to transplant recipients (86.4% renal). BKV VL was detectable in 40 samples (8.0%) from 23 patients (6.9%), who presented high SCr (100% vs. 90.9%, P = 0.038). Most of detectable VLs (62.5%) belonged to patients in their first year post-transplant. Six patients with detectable VL (26.1%) developed clinical manifestations, most of them (83.3%) had a first BKV VL greater than 10,000 copies/mL (P = 0.001). In conclusion, SCr would be useful to identify suitable specimens for BKV VL testing without missing cases.

Ansiedad e insatisfacción corporal en universitarios / Ansiedade e insatisfação corporal em universitários / Anxiety and body dissatisfaction in university students

Resumen La ansiedad y la insatisfacción corporal son factores de riesgo para los trastornos de conducta alimentaria y de la ingesta de alimentos. La presente investigación busca analizar los niveles de ansiedad e insatisfacción corporal, y su relación con las diferencias en función del género, curso y centro de estudios en 516 universitarios de Burgos, España -el 42.8 % fueron varones y el 57.2 %, mujeres; M = 21.7 años (DT = 4.1)-, utilizando un muestreo aleatorio estratificado. Para ello, se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en el que se aplicó el Cuestionario de Ansiedad Estado-Rasgo y la subescala Insatisfacción Corporal del Inventario de Trastornos de Conducta Alimentaria. Como resultados, alrededor del 20 % de los participantes presentó niveles altos de ansiedad, aunque no se encontraron diferencias por género, curso o centro; adicionalmente, el 61.4 % presentó alta o moderada insatisfacción corporal, principalmente si eran mujeres, personas ansiosas, o de segundo curso en la universidad. También se encontró interrelación entre estos factores, por lo cual en algunos universitarios se pudo identificar determinado riesgo para la aparición de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria y de la ingesta de alimentos.

Resumo A ansiedade e a insatisfação corporal são fatores de risco dos transtornos de comportamento alimentar e da ingestão de alimentos. Esta pesquisa procura analisar os níveis de ansiedade e de insatisfação corporal, bem como sua relação com as diferenças em função do gênero, do curso e do centro de estudos em 516 universitários de Burgos, Espanha - 42.8 % homens e 57.2 %, mulheres; M = 21.7 anos (DP = 4.1) -, utilizando uma amostra aleatória estratificada. Para isso, foi realizado um estudo descritivo transversal, no qual foi aplicado o Inventário de Ansiedade Traço-Estado e a subescala Insatisfação Corporal do Inventário de Transtornos de Comportamento Alimentar. Como resultados, ao redor de 20 % dos participantes apresentaram níveis altos de ansiedade, embora não se tenham encontrado diferenças por gênero, curso ou centro de estudos; além disso, 61.4 % apresentaram alta ou moderada insatisfação corporal, principalmente mulheres, pessoas ansiosas ou de segundo curso na universidade. Também foi encontrada inter-relação entre esses fatores, razão pela qual, em alguns universitários, pôde ser verificado determinado risco para o surgimento de transtorno de comportamento alimentar e da ingestão de alimentos.

Abstract Anxiety and body dissatisfaction are risk factors for eating behavior disorders (ACT). This research analyzes the levels of anxiety and body dissatisfaction, the relationship between these variables, and the differences according to gender, course and center in 516 university students of Burgos (Spain), using a stratified random sampling. 42.8 % were males and 57.2 % females, M = 21.7 years (SD = 4.1). Was carried descriptive study a cross-sectional. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the subscale Body Dissatisfaction of the Eating Disorders Inventory are applied. About 20 % of participants have high levels of anxiety, not finding differences by gender, course and center. 61.4 % present high and median body dissatisfaction, mainly women, the more anxious and those of 2nd. In addition, there is an interrelation between factors. Therefore, in some students there are conditioning factors that are risk factors for the appearance of eating behavior disorders.

Contextual determinants of psychopathology. The singularity of attachment as a predictor of mental dysfunction.

The general aim of this research is to evaluate the singular weight of attachment relationships in psychopathology, to determine the point to which these relationships cannot be subsumed by other variables that are famously related to attachment, such as experience of stressful life events, social support, and coping styles. 172 people treated in mental health centers provided data related to these four aspects and about manifestations of psychopathology. Multiple linear regression analyses determined that 51% of the variance in the level of symptomatology is explained with six variables: two related to adult attachment (fear of rejection and abandonment in romantic relationships, and the degree of similarity to the fearful prototype), one related to social support (family appreciation), one to life events (overall perceived stress), and two to coping style (cognitive restructuring and social withdrawal). Fear of rejection was the variable accounting for the most variance. The findings suggest that adult attachment is a non-redundant individual factor associated with manifestations of psychological dysfunction and highlight the desirability of taking attachment history into account in clinical practice.

Genetic and clinical evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability.

Clinical conditions commonly associated with mitochondrial disorders (CAMDs) are often present in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). Therefore, the mitochondrial dysfunction hypothesis has been proposed as a transversal mechanism that may function in both disorders. Here, we investigated the presence of conditions associated with mitochondrial disorders and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) alterations in 122 subjects who presented ASD with ID (ASD group), 115 subjects who presented ID but not ASD (ID group) and 112 healthy controls (HC group). We assessed in the three study groups the presence of the clinical conditions through a questionnaire and the mtDNA content of two mitochondrial genes, MT-ND1 and MT-ND4, by qPCR. The mtDNA sequences of 98 ASD and 95 ID subjects were obtained by mtDNA-targeted next generation sequencing and analysed through the MToolBox pipeline to identify mtDNA mutations. Subjects with ASD and ID showed higher frequencies of constipation, edema, seizures, vision alterations, strabismus and sphincter incontinence than HCs subjects. ASD and ID subjects showed significantly lower mtDNA content than HCs in both MT-ND1 and MT-ND4 genes. In addition, we identified 49 putative pathogenic variants with a heteroplasmy level higher than 60%: 8 missense, 29 rRNA and 12 tRNA variants. A total of 28.6% of ASD and 30.5% of ID subjects carried at least one putative pathogenic mtDNA mutation. The high frequency of CAMDs, the low mtDNA content and the presence of putative pathogenic mtDNA mutations observed in both ASD and ID subjects are evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction in ASD and ID.

Adolescents at Serious Psychosocial Risk: What Is the Role of Additional Exposure to Violence in the Home?

Research into the effects of interpartner violence on the psychosocial development of the children of maltreated mothers is a relatively new field. This work examines the impact of exposure to interpartner violence (EIPV) on minors in middle and late adolescence, where this vicarious maltreatment is in addition to other situations of severe psychosocial risk. A group of adolescents who had suffered various types of direct maltreatment were compared with another group who, in addition to experiencing direct maltreatment, had mothers who had also been the victims of interpartner violence. There were 276 participants in total (138 adolescents and their mothers) reporting via questionnaires about their experiences related to maltreatment and about maladaptation and psychological dysfunction. The results demonstrate significant dysfunction in the adolescents, especially as indicated in the mothers' reports. In addition, the results make it clear that the adolescents are actively and directly involved in the episodes of interpartner violence and that the additional negative impact of vicarious maltreatment is evident in almost every aspect of their lives. Only the attitude toward teachers scored worse in the no-EIPV group. EIPV minors scored higher on personal and social maladjustment and worse on adaptive skills, and showed a more marked tendency to internalize problems. This study emphasizes the importance of considering EIPV as a form of child maltreatment and including it in programs of protection and intervention.

Patología alimentaria en adolescentes: efecto del apego y de la regulación emocional / Eating pathology in adolescents: effects of attachment and emotion regulation

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Eating Pathology in adolescents: Effects of Attachment and Emotion Regulation. The aim of the present work is to explore associations between eating pathology (EP), emotion regulation (ER) and attachment in a non-clinical adolescent sample; and whether insecure attachment and difficulties in emotion regulation explain EP. A sample of 485 adolescents (240 females) aged 12-18, completed the EDI-2, DERS and EPERIC questionnaires. Sex differences were analyzed. Sex differences in EP level occur since the age of 14-15. Associations with high effect sizes between these three constructs were found. It is possible to predict EP from difficulties in emotion regulation and insecure attachment features (R2 Nagelkerke= .305 in females, and .236 in males). EP shows strong association with fear of rejection or abandonment in females and with preference for independence in males. Conclusions. There are sex differences on the associations between these three constructs considered in the present study and in EP explanation too. This has implications in prevention (AU)

Mitochondrial dysfunction in a family with psychosis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Mitochondrial impairment is hypothesized to be involved in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and schizophrenia. We performed a clinical, genetic and functional mitochondrial study in a family consisting of a female presenting schizophrenia in addition to CFS symptoms and her mother and older sister, both presenting with CFS. The three family members showed higher blood lactate levels, higher mitochondrial mass, lower mtDNA content and overall lower mitochondrial enzymatic activities and lower oxygen consumption capacities than healthy women. This family presented mtDNA depletion; however, no mutation was identified neither in the mtDNA nor in the nuclear genes related with mtDNA depletion, even though C16179A and T16519A variants should be further studied.

Apego y bienestar en mujeres en proceso de tratamiento del cáncer de mama / Attachment and wellbeing in women undergoing breast cancer treatment

Este estudio explora la contribución del vínculo de apego al bienestar de las pacientes en tratamiento por cáncer de mama. Su objetivo es aportar conocimientos sobre cómo favorecer el afrontamiento del cáncer y de las dificultades que suelen concurrir con él. Un total de 58 mujeres que iban a comenzar un tratamiento de radioterapia por cáncer de mama informaron a través de cuestionarios sobre: síntomas y disfunciones relacionados con la enfermedad y el tratamiento, afectos positivos y negativos, bienestar emocional, contrariedades diarias y vínculo de apego. El análisis de regresión revela que el componente Temor al rechazo y al abandono del apego, la presencia de contrariedades -principalmente las económicas- y la presencia de síntomas físicos predicen el grado de bienestar. Los otros dos componentes del apego (Deseo de cercanía y Preferencia por la independencia) no presentan ninguna relación significativa. Contrariamente a lo esperado, la merma de capacidad funcional no predice una disminución del bienestar. Se discute sobre el peso diferencial de las variables médicas y psicosociales en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud y se concluye la importancia de las intervenciones encaminadas a mejorar el estado emocional durante los tratamientos del cáncer a través de la mejora de las relaciones cercanas

This study investigates the contribution of the attachment to the wellbeing of patients during breast cancer treatment with the aim to provide evidence on how to enhance coping with cancer and its related difficulties. The sample consisted of 58 women who were about to begin radiotherapy for breast cancer. They completed questionnaires about: symptoms and dysfunctions related to disease and treatment, positive and negative affect, emotional wellbeing, daily hassles, and adult attachment. A regression analysis revealed that the component Fear of rejection and abandonment of attachment, the presence of daily hassles -mainly economic-, and physical symptoms predict the degree of wellbeing. The other two components of attachment (Desire for closeness and Preference for independence) show no significant relationships, and contrary to expectations, the loss of functional capacity does not predict a decrease in wellbeing. We discuss the differential weight of medical and psychosocial variables on health-related quality of life. Results emphasize the importance of interventions aimed at improving emotional state through improved relationships during cancer treatments

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants in the European haplogroups HV, JT, and U do not have a major role in schizophrenia.

It has been reported that certain genetic factors involved in schizophrenia could be located in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Therefore, we hypothesized that mtDNA mutations and/or variants would be present in schizophrenia patients and may be related to schizophrenia characteristics and mitochondrial function. This study was performed in three steps: (1) identification of pathogenic mutations and variants in 14 schizophrenia patients with an apparent maternal inheritance of the disease by sequencing the entire mtDNA; (2) case-control association study of 23 variants identified in step 1 (16 missense, 3 rRNA, and 4 tRNA variants) in 495 patients and 615 controls, and (3) analyses of the associated variants according to the clinical, psychopathological, and neuropsychological characteristics and according to the oxidative and enzymatic activities of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. We did not identify pathogenic mtDNA mutations in the 14 sequenced patients. Two known variants were nominally associated with schizophrenia and were further studied. The MT-RNR2 1811A > G variant likely does not play a major role in schizophrenia, as it was not associated with clinical, psychopathological, or neuropsychological variables, and the MT-ATP6 9110T > C p.Ile195Thr variant did not result in differences in the oxidative and enzymatic functions of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The patients with apparent maternal inheritance of schizophrenia did not exhibit any mutations in their mtDNA. The variants nominally associated with schizophrenia in the present study were not related either to phenotypic characteristics or to mitochondrial function. We did not find evidence pointing to a role for mtDNA sequence variation in schizophrenia.

Personality dimensions of schizophrenia patients compared to control subjects by gender and the relationship with illness severity.

BACKGROUND: Personality traits and schizophrenia present gender differences; however, gender has not been considered in most studies on personality and schizophrenia. This study aims to identify the different personality dimensions of schizophrenia patients and healthy control subjects by gender and to explore the relationship between personality dimensions and illness severity variables by analyzing data for males and females separately. METHODS: Temperament and Character Inventory-Revised dimensions were compared by gender between 161 schizophrenia patients and 214 healthy controls from a population-based sample using independent t-tests. We then investigated whether personality dimensions are related to illness severity variables using correlation analyses and bivariate logistic regression, also by gender. RESULTS: The patients had significantly higher scores for harm avoidance (HA) and self-transcendence (ST) and lower scores for reward dependence (RD), cooperativeness (C), and self-directedness (SD) than the controls. Similar results were obtained when the sample was stratified by gender, however the differences were higher and more significant for HA among males and for RD among females. The number of admissions to a psychiatric hospital positively correlated with novelty seeking (NS) in males and negatively with SD in females. In males, SD and ST negatively correlated with the number of suicide attempts. CONCLUSIONS: Male and female patients present difficulties for regulating and adapting behavior to achieve goals (SD) and for identifying and accepting others (C), as well as a great sense of spirituality and universe identification (ST). However, male patients are more characterized by being fearful, doubtful and easily fatigued (HA), while female patients are characterized by presenting difficulties maintaining and pursuing associated reward behaviors (RD). Furthermore, male and female patients who are frequently admitted to psychiatric hospitals and male patients who attempt suicide should be evaluated regarding their personality dimensions. Future studies assessing the relationship between personality dimensions and the clinical features of schizophrenia should consider gender differences.

Expression of KLF4 is a predictive marker for survival in pediatric Burkitt lymphoma.

Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is expressed in a variety of tissues with diverse physiological functions and activities. KLF4 can also function as a tumor suppressor or an oncogene, depending on the cellular context. Its role in hematological malignancies is controversial. This study examined the expression levels of KLF4 by immunohistochemistry in 73 pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) in a tissue microarray and also on several B-NHL cell lines. Elevated levels of KLF4 expression were detected in 66% of lymphoma cases and were more frequent in the Burkitt lymphoma (p = 0.05) subtype. There was a significant predictive power for outcome with low KLF4 expression, predicting a favorable overall survival compared to high levels. Multivariate analyses confirmed the association of KLF4 expression with unfavorable overall survival (p < 0.005). These findings were consistent with analyses in existing NHL microarray datasets. The present findings revealed that KLF4 is overexpressed in Burkitt pediatric lymphoma and is a potential biomarker for inferior overall survival.