Zein Nanoparticles Improve the Oral Bioavailability of Curcumin in Wistar Rats.

Curcumin is a natural compound obtained from turmeric root with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, clinical application of curcumin has been limited due to its low solubility and bioavailability and rapid metabolism and degradation. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of curcumin incorporation in zein nanoparticles on the pharmacokinetic parameters of systemic curcumin in plasma. Wistar rats were administered a single oral dose of 250 mg/kg of standard curcumin (control) or nanocurcumin (zein-based nanoparticles, Nucaps). The proposed new formulation was also compared with two commercially available curcumin complexes. Blood samples were collected at different times, and plasma levels were determined using HPLC-MS/MS. Overall, nanocurcumin (Nucaps) formulation was well tolerated and showed a 9-fold increase in oral bioavailability when compared to the standard curcumin natural extract. In addition, the nanoparticles prepared in this study demonstrated a bioavailability profile superior to that of other bioavailability-enhanced curcumin complexes currently available in the marketplace. Thus, our nanoparticle-based formulation has shown great potential as a nutraceutical for the oral administration of curcumin.

Factores personales y sociales que protegen frente a la victimización por bullying / Personal and social factors which protect against bullying victimization

Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de ser víctima de bullying y analizar la influencia de factores personales y sociales sobre este fenómeno en una población de adolescentes. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, transversal y multicéntrico, realizado entre alumnos de 15-18 años en cinco institutos de educación secundaria de Cuenca durante el curso académico 2015-1016. Las variables de estudio se recogieron mediante un cuestionario autoadministrado que incluyó: edad, sexo, diferentes subescalas del cuestionario KIDSCREEN-52 y la escala de resiliencia CD-RISC 10.Resultados: Se recogieron datos de 844 estudiantes (54% chicas), la edad media de la muestra fue de 16,36 años. La prevalencia de víctimas de bullying fue de 29,5%. El análisis multivariante para los factores personales, mostró que ser chica, ser más resiliente, tener mejor autopercepción y bienestar psicológico, protegen frente a ser víctimas. Mientras que el modelo de factores sociales indicó que tienen también un efecto protector los recursos económicos, las relaciones con los padres, amigos y entorno escolar. Conclusión: El bullying es un fenómeno complejo de elevada prevalencia y gran repercusión social. En nuestro trabajo, las características propias de los adolescentes tales como la capacidad de resistencia y el control emocional, así como las relacionadas con su red social de apoyo, son factores protectores frente al bullying. Las políticas de prevención deben ser multisectoriales y multidisciplinares implicando a la familia, entorno escolar y asistencial y red social. Las enfermeras de atención primaria y especialmente la enfermera escolar, podrían facilitar una mayor coordinación entre los distintos sectores y aunar esfuerzos para promover entornos seguros para nuestros jóvenes

Objective: To determine the prevalence of bullying victimization and to analyze personal and social factors influence over this phenomenon in an adolescent population.Methodology: A descriptive, cross-sectional and multicenter study was carried out in 15-18 years old pupils in five secondary schools of Cuenca during the 2015-16 school year. The variables were collected through a self-administered questionnaire and included age, gender, different subscales of the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire and the resilience scale CD-RISC 10.Results: Data were obtained from 844 students (of whom 54% were girls) whose average age was 16.36 years old. The prevalence of bullying victimization was 29,5%. The multivariate analysis for the personal factors showed that being girl, more resilient, having better self-perception and psychological well-being, protect from being victims. Whereas the social factors model indicated that financial resources, parents and peers' relations and school environment do also have a protective effect.Conclusion: Bullying is a complex phenomenon with high prevalence and great social impact. In our work, adolescents' specific characteristics such as resistance capacity and emotional control, as well as the ones related to their social support, are protective factors against bullying. Prevention polices should be multisectoral and multidisciplinary involving the family, school and health environment and social network. Primary care nurses and especially the school nurse could provide greater coordination among the different sectors and join efforts to promote safe environments for our young people

Influencia de la resiliencia sobre la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en adolescentes / Influence of resilience on health-related quality of life in adolescents

OBJETIVO: Analizar la influencia de la resiliencia sobre las distintas dimensiones de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en un grupo de adolescentes escolarizados en la ciudad de Cuenca. MÉTODO: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, multicéntrico y polietápico en 5 institutos de Educación Secundaria durante el curso académico 2015-1016. Instrumentos: Cuestionario autoadministrado que incluía variables sociodemográficas y las escalas CD-RISC 10 para evaluar resiliencia y KIDSCREEN-52 para medir la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud. RESULTADOS: Se recogieron datos de 844 estudiantes, de los cuales el 54% fueron chicas y la edad media de la muestra fue de 16,36±1,05 años. Se observaron valores superiores de resiliencia en los chicos. Con respecto a la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud, fue menor en las chicas (salvo en la dimensión de aceptación social) y en el grupo de mayor edad. La resiliencia se asoció significativamente con todas las dimensiones del KIDSCREEN-52 y resultó ser un predictor relevante, especialmente en las dimensiones relacionadas con la salud mental y en todas las que miden relaciones sociales. CONCLUSIÓN: Nuestro estudio aporta evidencias sobre la sinergia calidad de vida relacionada con la salud-resiliencia en adolescentes. La resiliencia se asocia con niveles más elevados de calidad de vida en adolescentes y, al ser menor en chicas, puede ser uno de los factores explicativos de su peor calidad de vida relacionada con la salud

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of resilience on the different dimensions of health-related quality of life in a group of adolescents in Cuenca. METHOD: A descriptive, cross-sectional, multicentre and multistage study was carried out in 5 secondary schools during the 2015-2016 school year. Instruments: A self-administered questionnaire, which included sociodemographic characteristics and the CD-RISC 10 scale to assess resilience together with the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire to measure health-related quality of life. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 844 students, of whom 54% were girls and the mean age was 16.36±1.05 years. Higher resilience scores were observed in boys. Health-related quality of life was lower in girls (except in the dimension of social acceptance) and in the oldest group. Resilience was significantly associated with all KIDSCREEN-52 dimensions and proved to be a relevant predictor, especially in the dimensions related with mental health and all those that measure social relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence on the synergy between health-related quality of life and resilience in adolescents. Resilience is associated with higher levels of quality of life in adolescents and as the scores are lower in girls, it could be one of the explanatory factors for their poorer health-related quality of life

Influence of resilience on health-related quality of life in adolescents. / Influencia de la resiliencia sobre la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en adolescentes.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the influence of resilience on the different dimensions of health-related quality of life in a group of adolescents in Cuenca. METHOD: A descriptive, cross-sectional, multicentre and multistage study was carried out in 5 secondary schools during the 2015-2016 school year. INSTRUMENTS: A self-administered questionnaire, which included sociodemographic characteristics and the CD-RISC 10 scale to assess resilience together with the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire to measure health-related quality of life. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 844 students, of whom 54% were girls and the mean age was 16.36±1.05 years. Higher resilience scores were observed in boys. Health-related quality of life was lower in girls (except in the dimension of social acceptance) and in the oldest group. Resilience was significantly associated with all KIDSCREEN-52 dimensions and proved to be a relevant predictor, especially in the dimensions related with mental health and all those that measure social relationships. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence on the synergy between health-related quality of life and resilience in adolescents. Resilience is associated with higher levels of quality of life in adolescents and as the scores are lower in girls, it could be one of the explanatory factors for their poorer health-related quality of life.