Understanding School Anxiety in Italian Adolescence through an Artificial Neural Network: Influence of Social Skills and Coping Strategies.

School anxiety depends on multiple factors that occur directly or indirectly in the teaching-learning process, such as going to the blackboard in class or reporting low grades at home. Other factors that influence school climate are social skills and coping strategies. That said, the aim of this research was to analyze the sources of school anxiety, coping strategies, and social skills in Italian secondary school students through an artificial neural network. For this purpose, a quantitative and ex post facto design was used in which the Inventory of School Anxiety (IAES), the Coping Scale for Children (EAN), and the Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Social Skills student version (EHS-A) were administered. The results showed that cognitive avoidance and behavioral avoidance coping strategies, together with the lack of social skills in students, are the variables that contributed the most to school anxiety scores in the artificial neural network. The conclusions revolve around the need to develop primary prevention programs.

CLINICAL VIEW ON SUBSTANCE-INDUCED PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS IN A MEDICALLY SUPERVISED INJECTING ROOM: A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE.

Medically supervised injecting rooms (MSIRs) are extremely important facilities for people who inject drugs (PWID) as MSIRs provide a safe place for the consumption of street-sourced drugs, impacting overdose rates and viral transmitted infections.

Medellín, lecciones de un cambio en seguridad ciudadana / Medellín, lessons of a change in citizen security / Medellín, lições de uma mudança na segurança cidadã

Medellín fue considerada la ciudad más violenta del mundo durante los años noventa con una tasa de homicidios superior a 370 por cada 100 000 habitantes. En las últimas tres décadas, los asesinatos en la ciudad disminuyeron en un 90 %. Esta transformación ha sido celebrada internacionalmente como un ejemplo de gobernanza local exitosa de centros urbanos que sufren altos índices criminales. Ahora bien, este artículo sostiene que dicha recuperación ­catalogada por algunos como "milagro"­ no fue sólo producto de acciones exitosas del gobierno local, sino también el resultado de dos factores más: primero, la política del Estado colombiano a nivel nacional para fortalecer su aparato de seguridad y desmantelar grupos ilegales armados; y segundo, los acuerdos informales entre las autoridades y las bandas locales, así como la decisión de estas últimas de evitar confrontaciones violentas para facilitar la extracción de sus rentas ilegales.

Medellín was considered the most violent city in the world during the 1990s with a homicide rate of over 370 per 100 000 inhabitants. In the last three decades, murders in the city have decreased by 90 %. This transformation has been celebrated internationally as an example of successful local governance of urban centres suffering from high crime rates. However, this article argues that this recovery - labelled by some as a "miracle" - was not only the product of successful local government actions, but also the result of two other factors: first, the Colombian state's policy at the national level to strengthen its security apparatus and dismantle illegal armed groups; and second, the informal agreements between the authorities and local gangs, as well as the latter's decision to avoid violent confrontations in order to facilitate the extraction of their illegal rents.

Medellín foi considerada a cidade mais violenta do mundo durante a década de 1990, com uma taxa de homicídios superior a 370 por 100 000 habitantes. Nas últimas três décadas, os assassinatos na cidade diminuíram 90 %. Esta transformação tem sido celebrada internacionalmente como um exemplo de governação local bem-sucedida de centros urbanos que sofrem de elevadas taxas de criminalidade. Ora, este artigo sustenta que esta recuperação ­ catalogada por alguns como um "milagre" ­ não foi apenas o produto de ações bem-sucedidas do governo local, mas também o resultado de mais dois fatores: primeiro, a política do Estado colombiano no a nível nacional para reforçar o seu aparelho de segurança e desmantelar grupos armados ilegais; e em segundo lugar, os acordos informais entre as autoridades e os gangues locais, bem como a decisão destes últimos de evitar confrontos violentos para facilitar a extracção das suas rendas ilegais.

Una visión clínica de los síntomas psicóticos inducidos por sustancias en una sala de venopunción supervisada: Una década de experiencia / A clinical view of substance-induced psychotic symptoms in a supervised venipuncture room: A decade of experience

Introducción. Las salas de venopunción supervisadas (MSIR) son centros extremadamente importantes para las personas que usan drogas intravenosas (PWID), ya que las MSIR brindan un lugar sanitariamente seguro para el consumo de sustancias psicoativas ilícitas, teniendo un impacto importante en las tasas de sobredosis y las infecciones virales transmitidas por vía sanguínea. Métodos. Descripción de los síntomas psicóticos inducidos observados en una MSIR y su relación con la sustancia utilizada. El análisis se realizó con datos recopilados entre el 01/01/2009 y el 31/08/2021. Resultados. Se registraron 3731 autoinyecciones (68,7% heroína, 29,1% cocaína, 2,1% speedball y 0,2% otra sustancia) durante el período estudiado. Los síntomas psicóticos solo se observaron en el 7,1% del total de autoinyecciones. Sin embargo, se detectaron grandes diferencias entre las sustancias: el 23,2% de los consumos de cocaína estuvieron relacionados con síntomas psicóticos, el 20,8% de las inyecciones de speedball presentaron síntomas psicóticos y solo el 0,3% de las venopunciones de heroína se relacionaron con síntomas psicóticos (X2 =604.99; p<0.001). Además, algunas variables señalan que los síntomas psicóticos inducidos por sustancias pueden estar asociados con una mayor gravedad clínica. Conclusiones. Los sujetos con consumo de cocaína o speedball que acuden a MSIR pueden presentar síntomas psicóticos inducidos por sustancias, siendo esto un criterio de mayor gravedad clínica. Por lo tanto, los protocolos de las MSIR deben analizarse y adaptarse en función de la sustancia utilizada y la inducción de síntomas psicóticos. Además, se necesita más investigación en esta área. (AU)

Introduction. Medically supervised injecting rooms (MSIRs) are extremely important facilities for people who inject drugs (PWID) as MSIRs provide a safe place for the consumption of street-sourced drugs, impacting overdose rates and viral transmitted infections. Methods. The current paper describes more than 10 years of our MSIR experience regarding psychotic symptoms and their relationship with the substance used. The analysis was performed using data collected between 01/01/2009 and 08/31/2021. Results. 3731 self-injections (68.7% heroin, 29.1% cocaine, 2.1% speedball, and 0.2% other substance) were recorded during the studied period. Psychotic symptoms were only observed in 7.1% of the total self-injections. However, large differences were detected among substances: 23.2% of cocaine consumptions were related to psychotic symptoms, 20.8% of speedball injections presented psychotic symptoms, and only 0.3% of heroin consumptions had psychotic symptoms (X2=604.99; p<0.001). Also, some other variables highlight that psychotic symptoms induced by substances may be associated with higher clinical severity. Conclusions. subjects with cocaine or speedballuse who attend MSIRs may present substance-induced psychotic symptoms, having higher clinical severity. Thus, MSIRs’ protocols should be analyzed and adapted in terms of the substance used and the induction of psychotic symptoms. Moreover, further research is necessary on this critical issue. (AU)

Transthoracic Vertebral Distraction and Stabilization in 10 Dogs with Congenital Thoracic Vertebral Malformations.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe the surgical technique and outcomes of dogs with congenital thoracic vertebral body malformations (CTVBM) treated with unilateral vertebral distraction and stabilization with monocortical screws and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). STUDY DESIGN: Medical records of 10 client-owned dogs with CTVBM were retrospectively searched for signalment, history, neurological examination, neurological grade based on the modified Frankel scale (MFS), diagnostic method, CTVBM location, Cobb's angle, and vertebral canal angle (VCA), surgical procedure, complications and long-term follow-up. RESULTS: One dog suffered cardiac arrest 24 hours post-surgery and died. Median follow-up in nine dogs was 26.5 months (12-50 months). Cobb's angle improved from 33-83 to 10-46 degrees and the VCA ratio from 97-138 to 122-164 degrees. The MFS improved from 3 (n = 3)-4 (n = 7) to 4 (n = 2)-6 (n = 7). Seven dogs recovered full function. Nine dogs improved after surgery compared with preoperative status, recovering ambulation when lost or achieving normal neurological examination in seven cases. No complications were reported during the follow-up period (12-50 months). CONCLUSION: Unilateral transthoracic vertebral distraction and stabilization with monocortical screws and PMMA for treatment of compressive myelopathy due to CTVBM achieved long-term neurological improvement in 9 of 10 dogs.

Use of a Pressure Cooker to Achieve Sterilization for an Expeditionary Environment.

BACKGROUND: Sterilization of healthcare instruments in an expeditionary environment presents a myriad of challenges including portability, cost, and sufficient electrical power. Using pressure cookers to sterilize instruments presents a low-cost option for sterilization in prehospital settings. This project's objective was to determine if sterility can be achieved using a commercially available pressure cooker. METHODS: Presto® 4-quart stainless steel pressure cookers were heated using Cuisinart® CB-30 cast-iron single burners. One 3M™ Attest™ 1292 Rapid Readout Biological Indicator and one 3M™ Comply™ SteriGage™ integrator strip were sealed in a Henry Schein® Sterilization Pouch and placed in a pressure cooker and brought to a pressure of 103.4kPa. Sterility was verified after 20 minutes at pressure. The Attest vials were incubated in a 3M Attest 290 Auto-Reader for 3 hours with a control vial. RESULTS: Sterility using the pressure cooker was achieved in all tested bags, integrator strips, and Attest vials (n = 128). The mean time to achieve the necessary 103.4kPa was 379 seconds (standard deviation (SD) = 77). Neither the ambient temperature nor humidity were found to affect the pressure cooker's time to achieve adequate pressure, nor the achieved depth on the integrator strip (all p > .05). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that sterilization is possible with offthe- shelf pressure cookers. Though lacking US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval, the use of this commercially available pressure cooker may provide a method of sterilization requiring minimal resources from providers working in expeditionary environments.

Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases in Cuba, Half a Century of Scientific Research.

Ticks and the vast array of pathogens they transmit, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths, constitute a growing burden for human and animal health worldwide. In Cuba, the major tropical island in the Caribbean, ticks are an important cause of vector-borne diseases affecting livestock production, pet animal health and, to a lesser extent, human health. The higher number of tick species in the country belong to the Argasidae family and, probably less known, is the presence of an autochthonous tick species in the island, Ixodes capromydis. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) affecting animal and human health in Cuba. The review covers research results including ecophysiology of ticks, the epidemiology of TBPs, and the diagnostic tools used currently in the country for the surveillance of TBPs. We also introduce the programs implemented in the country for tick control and the biotechnology research applied to the development of anti-tick vaccines.

Effect of smokeless tobacco on surface roughness of dental restorations.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Surface alterations of dental restorations can result in increased plaque biofilm. This leads to increased risk of premature restoration failure. Smokeless tobacco, in common use by some US military personnel, represents a potential source for surface alteration. If smokeless tobacco causes an untoward effect, selection of a more resistant restorative material could increase restoration longevity, thus minimizing lost work time and costs associated with replacement of failed restorations. PURPOSE: Comparatively assess the effect of smokeless tobacco/salivary substitute mixture on altering surface roughness of amalgam, composite resin, and resin modified glass ionomer (RMGI) restorations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty cubic restorations (3 groups of 20) were fabricated using a 4 mm by 3 mm Teflon mold. One examiner assessed the restorations at time points representing zero days, one day, one week, 2 weeks, one month, and 3 months. The data obtained were collected using a surface profilometer, measured in micrometers. Data were statistically analyzed using 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. A difference was significant if P< .05. RESULTS: Confidence levels with a 95% overall rating received a clinically acceptable classification. The 2-way ANOVA test detected significant differences between baseline, one day, one week, 2 weeks, one month, and 3-month data for surface roughness (P<.05). With respect to time and restoration type, results proved statistically significant with P<.0001. All restorations were statistically significant with respect to change in surface roughness with RMGIs showing the greatest surface roughness alteration. CONCLUSION: Smokeless tobacco mixed with a salivary substitute altered restoration surface roughness over time. Resin-modified glass isonomer restorations demonstrate the greatest alteration of surface roughness, with amalgam restorations showing the least. Amalgam remains the preferential restorative material in patients who use smokeless tobacco.

Presencia de cadmio y plomo en suelos y su bioacumulación en tejidos vegetales en especies de brachiaria en el magdalena medio colombiano / Presence of cadmium and lead in soil and its accumulation in plant tissue in brachiaria species in the middle magdalena colombian

En el Magdalena Medio colombiano confluyen dos actividades económicas: una ganadería intensiva y una consolidada industria petroquímica. Esta última representa un potencial peligro para la Salud Pública, como consecuencia de la emisión de metales tóxicos (plomo y cadmio) que pueden incorporarse a la cadena trófica. Por ello se realizó un inventario de pasturas en esta región en función de la distancia (100, 500, 2500 y 5000 m) al foco emisor contaminante. Así se muestrearon en zonas próximas a la refinería de crudo (Barrancabermeja, Santander), en pozos de extracción (Yondó, Antioquía) y tomando como testigo el Campus académico de la Universidad de la Paz (Barrancabermeja, Santander). Los resultados obtenidos indican una alta frecuencia de representantes de la familia Poaceae y de sus géneros de Brachiaria spp., con importantes diferencias. La información se interpretó en los tres primeros componentes, donde las variables con mayor peso fueron la profundidad del suelo a 5 y 30 cm, tipo de pastura con predominio de las especies introducidas y el transecto en relación a la distancia focal de las fuentes de contaminación. Así, en la zona de la refinería solo se han detectado dos especies de Brachiaria, mientras que en la zona de los pozos de extracción y en la zona testigo se presenta mayor frecuencia de otras especies de Brachiaria. Se concluye que los mayores niveles de bioacumulación de metales en tejidos vegetales presentó el siguiente orden: raíz > tallo > hojas, a su vez la acumulación en suelo mostró ser mayor en la profundidad de 5 cm.

In the Middle Magdalena Colombian converge two economic activities: intensive livestock and a consolidated petrochemical industry. The latter represents a potential danger to public health, resulting from the emission of toxic metals (lead and cadmium) that can enter in the food chain. Therefore pasture inventory is performed in this region depending on the distance (100, 500, 2500 and 5000 m) to the emitting source contaminant. So they were sampled near the oil refinery (Barrancabermeja, Santander) in extraction wells (Yondó, Antioquia) and sampling as witness the academic campus of the Universidad de la Paz (Barrancabermeja, Santander) areas. The results indicate a high frequency of representatives of the Poaceae family and its genera Brachiaria, with important differences. The information was interpreted in the first three components, where the variables with more weight were soil depth to 5 and 30 centimeters, type of pasture with predominance of introduced species and transect relative to the focal length of the sources of pollution. Then, in the area of the refinery were detected only two species of Brachiaria, while in the area of the extraction wells and in the control area it is presented a higher frequency of other species of Brachiaria. It’s concluded that higher levels of bioaccumulation of metals in plant tissues presented the following order: root > stem > leaves, turn the accumulation in soil was found to be higher in the depth of 5 cm

Effect of rhBMP-2 dose on bone formation/maturation in a rat critical-size calvarial defect model.

BACKGROUND: Application of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) has been associated with significant adverse events in craniofacial settings, including swelling and seroma formation. Recent work has demonstrated an inverse relationship between bone formation/maturation and rhBMP-2 dose, frequency/severity of adverse events increasing with rising dose. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the most effective dose for rhBMP-2 soak-loaded onto an absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) carrier for bone formation/maturation using an established defect model. METHODS: One hundred sixty-eight outbred male Sprague-Dawley rats, age 11-13 weeks, weight 325-375 g randomized into seven groups of 24 subdivided into groups of eight, were used to provide radiographic and light microscopy observations of bone formation/maturation and aberrant healing events at 2, 4 and 8 weeks following application of rhBMP-2/ACS into critical-size, ø8-mm, through-through, calvarial osteotomy defects for a dose of 1.25, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 µg rhBMP-2/defect, or serve as ACS or sham-surgery controls. RESULTS: rhBMP-2 dosages ≥ 2.5 µg/defect showed histological defect closure >90% within 2 weeks, and complete resolution within 4 weeks. Adverse healing events including swelling, excessive bone formation or seroma formation could not be determined with certainty in this defect model. Notably ACS control sites showed complete defect closure at the 8-week healing interval. CONCLUSIONS: rhBMP-2/ACS accelerates local bone formation in the rat critical-size through-through calvarial defect model once reaching an osteoinductive dose threshold. This threshold may already be reached at a 1.25-/2.5-µg dose in this model. No further enhancement to bone formation/maturation may be observed adding rhBMP-2 above the 2.5-µg dose. The 1.25-20.0 µg dose range did not invoke appreciable aberrant healing events.

Low-dose bone morphogenetic protein-2/stromal cell-derived factor-1ß cotherapy induces bone regeneration in critical-size rat calvarial defects.

Increasing evidence suggests that stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1/CXCL12) is involved in bone formation, though underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. Also, contributions of SDF-1ß, the second most abundant splice variant, as an osteogenic mediator remain obscure. We have shown that SDF-1ß enhances osteogenesis by regulating bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) signaling in vitro. Here we investigate the dose-dependent contribution of SDF-1ß to suboptimal BMP-2-induced local bone formation; that is, a dose that alone would be too low to significantly induce bone formation. We utilized a critical-size rat calvarial defect model and tested the hypotheses that SDF-1ß potentiates BMP-2 osteoinduction and that blocking SDF-1 signaling reduces the osteogenic potential of BMP-2 in vivo. In preliminary studies, radiographic analysis at 4 weeks postsurgery revealed a dose-dependent relationship in BMP-2-induced new bone formation. We then found that codelivery of SDF-1ß potentiates suboptimal BMP-2 (0.5 µg) osteoinduction in a dose-dependent order, reaching comparable levels to the optimal BMP-2 dose (5.0 µg) without apparent adverse effects. Blocking the CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4)/SDF-1 signaling axis using AMD3100 attenuated the osteoinductive potential of the optimal BMP-2 dose, confirmed by qualitative histologic analysis. In conclusion, SDF-1ß provides potent synergistic effects that support BMP-induced local bone formation and thus appears a suitable candidate for optimization of bone augmentation using significantly lower amounts of BMP-2 in spine, orthopedic, and craniofacial settings.

Estandarizacióndde un método analítico para extacción y cuantificación de cipeermetrina en pastos / Standardizatio oof analytical method for extraction and quantiication of cypeermetrhin in grass / Padronização demmétodo analítico para extração e quantificação de cipermetrina em pattagens

En el presente trabajo se estandarizó un método analítico para la extracción y determinación de cipermetrina en muestras de pastos utilizando microextracción en fase sólida (MEFS) en modo de inmersión con posterior desorción y determinación por cromatografía de gases con detector de ionización de llama (CG-DILL). Las condiciones óptimas para la extracción de cipermetrina en pastos por ID-MEFS fueron: 5 g de muestra se calentaron con 10 mL de solución acuosa de acetona al 1% v/v durante 10 minutos; de esta solución se tomaron 4 mL para llevar a cabo el proceso de extracción por MEFS utilizando una fibra de PDMS con exposición de 30 min a 500 rpm y 60 °C. La desorción del analito se llevó a cabo a 270 °C durante 6 minutos. El procedimiento propuesto mostró comportamiento lineal en el rango probado (5-300 µg/L) con R² de 0,999. Los límites de detección y cuantificación fueron 1,53 y 4,97 ng/mL, respectivamente, con una desviación estándar relativa de 8,57% (n = 6). El método propuesto en este trabajo permite determinar cipermetrina en muestras de pastos hasta niveles de trazas con una recuperación de 99,08%.

In this study, an analytical method has been developed to determine cypermethrin in grass matrices using direct immersion solid-phase microextraction (DI-SPME), coupled to gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). The optimized DI-MEFS experimental procedures to extract cypermethrin in grass matrix were: 5 g of the sample were heated with 10 mL of acetone 1% v/v in water during 10 min. 4 mL of this solution were used for extracting with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-coated fiber at 60 °C and 500 rpm during 30 min. The analyte desorption was performed at 270 °C for 6 min. The proposed procedure showed linear behavior in the range tested (5-300 mg/L) with R² of 0.999. The detection and quantification limits were 1.53 and 4.97 ng/ mL respectively with a standard deviation of 8.57% (n = 6). The method proposed in this paper allows determining cypermethrin in samples of grass to trace levels with a recovery of 99.08%.

No presente estudo, se padronizou um método analítico para a extração e determinação de cipermetrina em amostras de grama usando microextração em fase sólida (MEFS) no modo de imersão com dessorção subseqüentes e determinação por cromatografia gasosa com detector de ionização de chama (CG-DIC). As condições ótimas para a extração de cipermetrina em pastagens por ID-MEFS foram: 5 g de amostra foram aquecidos com 10 mL de solução aquosa de acetona a 1% v/v por 10 minutos. Desta solução, 4 mL foram tomadas para executar o processo de extração MEFS utilizando uma fibra PDMS submetida por 30 min a 500 rpm e 60 °C. A dessorção do analito foi realizada a 270 °C por 6 minutos. O procedimento proposto apresentou um comportamento linear no intervalo testado (500-300 mg/L) com R² de 0,999. Os limites de detecção e quantificação foram 1,53 e 4,97 ng / mL, respectivamente, com um desvio padrão relativo de 8,57% (n = 6). O método proposto neste trabalho possibilita determinar cipermetrina em amostras de pastagens com uma recuperação de 99,08% nos traços.

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for treatment of unilateral adrenocortical carcinomas: technique, complications, and results in seven dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility of, and outcome after, laparoscopic adrenalectomy in dogs with unilateral adrenocortical carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: Dogs (n=7) with Cushing's syndrome caused by unilateral adrenocortical carcinoma. METHODS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy with the dog in lateral recumbency on the unaffected side. Three 5-mm portals (1 laparoscopic portal, 2 instrument portals) were placed in the paralumbar fossa. A fourth instrumental portal (5-12 mm) was placed above the kidney. After dissection and hemostatic control of the phrenicoabdominal vein, the adrenal gland was carefully dissected or when there was capsule fragility, necrotic content was partially aspirated. The remaining glandular tissue was removed through the 12-mm trocar site. RESULTS: Dogs with unilateral adrenocortical carcinoma (3 right-sided, 4 left-sided) without invasion of the caudal vena cava were successfully operated by laparoscopic approach. There were no significant intraoperative complications; 2 dogs died within 48 hours of surgery because of respiratory complications. Five dogs were discharged 72 hours after surgery, and signs of hyperadrenocorticism disappeared thereafter (survival time ranged from 7 to 25 months). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is feasible in dogs with either right- or left-sided adrenocortical carcinoma not involving the caudal vena cava. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: When performed by experienced surgeons, laparoscopic adrenalectomy offers a minimally invasive alternative to open laparotomy or retroperitoneal surgery for the treatment of unilateral adrenocortical carcinoma in dogs.