ACT-based stress management training aimed at improving workers' mental health in an Intensive Care Unit: a mixed methods study1 / Entrenamiento en el manejo del estrés laboral basado en TAC dirigido a la mejora de la salud mental de trabajadores de una UCI médica: un estudio con método mixto

This study aimed to explore whether an acceptance and commitment (ACT) approach to stress management training improved the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress among a group of twenty-two health professionals from an intensive care unit. Questionnaires were administered before and after training, and follow-up was carried out one month after training, including semi-structured interviews with nine participants. The results reflected that the quasi-experimental group reduced their depression and stress levels significantly and showed improvements in stress in the follow-up. A qualitative thematic analysis of interviews showed that nurses were seeking a tool that would help them to cope more effectively with stressful situations and increase their knowledge of stress management. The themes in the professionals' comments claimed specific improvements in their health, well-being, relationships, and psychological processes. In conclusion, ACT-based trainings offer a possible framework for mental health promotion in health care organizations. (AU)

Este estudio tiene como objetivo explorar si un enfoque de aceptación y compromiso (TAC) para el entrenamiento en el manejo del estrés mejora los niveles de depresión, ansiedad y estrés en un grupo de 22 profesionales de la salud de una unidad de cuidados intensivos. Los cuestionarios se administraron antes y después del entrenamiento y el seguimiento se llevó a cabo un mes después del mismo, incluyendo entrevistas semiestructuradas con 9 de los participantes. Los resultados reflejaron que el grupo cuasiexperimental redujo sus niveles de depresión y estrés significativamente y mejoró el estrés durante el seguimiento. Un análisis temático cualitativo de las entrevistas mostró que los profesionales de enfermería buscaban una herramienta que les ayudara a hacer frente más eficazmente a las situaciones de estrés aumentando el conocimiento en su manejo. Los comentarios de los profesionales reflejaban mejoras específicas en su salud, bienestar, relaciones y procesos psicológicos. En conclusión, los entrenamientos basados en TAC ofrecen un posible marco para mejorar la salud mental en las organizaciones de atención médica. (AU)

Synthesis of unnatural amino acids from serine derivatives by beta-fragmentation of primary alkoxyl radicals.

The fragmentation of primary alkoxyl radicals has been scarcely used in synthesis since other competing processes (such as oxidation or hydrogen abstraction) usually predominate. However, when serine derivatives were used as substrates, the scission took place in excellent yields. Tandem scission-allylation, -alkylation, or -arylation reactions were subsequently developed. This one-pot methodology was applied to the synthesis of unnatural amino acids, which are useful synthetic blocks or amino acid surrogates in peptidomimetics.

Genotoxic activity of halogenated phenylglycine derivatives.

The discovery of genotoxic amino acids derived from phenylglycine, and possessing halogen substituents, is described. The utility of hypervalent iodine reagents in the synthesis of this class of compounds is highlighted. The mechanism of action of the (haloaryl)glycines was studied in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

[Assessment of corticoid local injections at a health care center]. / Evaluación de las infiltraciones locales con corticoides en un centro de salud.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of corticosteroid infiltrations in osteoarticular and tendinous pathology in Primary Care. DESIGN: Observational and descriptive study. SETTING: La Unión Health Center, a town of 14,000 inhabitants in Murcia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: All patients older than 14 years subjected to one or more infiltrations from 1-1-1997 to 1-5-1998 were included. The following variables were analysed using information obtained from the patient's medical records: age, sex, condition treated, evolution time, previous treatment, number of infiltrations, results and complications. Descriptive statistics including frequency and distribution tables were calculated. The 70.3% of the 138 cases are women, the mean age is 57.7 years. Most infiltrations were performed for shoulder conditions (60.1%). The mean time of evolution in these cases was 90.9 +/- 13.9 days. Only 10.9% of patients hadn't received any previous treatment. The mean number of infiltrations is 1.5 +/- 0.7 and the middle is 1. Symptoms improved in 82.62% of the cases, just completely (40.6%) or partially (42%). Only in 17.4% cases failed the intervention. Only a complication was registered, one case of residual pigmentation. CONCLUSIONS: The local corticosteroids infiltration is a useful technique in primary care because of a high effectivity, easy management, low cost and few complications.