Spanish affective normative data for 1,406 words rated by children and adolescents (SANDchild).

Most research on the relationship between emotion and language in children relies on the use of words whose affective properties have been assessed by adults. To overcome this limitation, in the current study we introduce SANDchild, the Spanish affective database for children. This dataset reports ratings in the valence and the arousal dimensions for a large corpus of 1406 Spanish words rated by a large sample of 1276 children and adolescents from four different age groups (7, 9, 11 and 13 years old). We observed high inter-rater reliabilities for both valence and arousal in the four age groups. However, some age differences were found. In this sense, ratings for both valence and arousal decreased with age. Furthermore, the youngest children consider more words to be positive than adolescents. We also found sex differences in valence scores since boys gave higher valence ratings than girls, while girls considered more words to be negative than boys. The norms provided in this database will allow us to further extend our knowledge on the acquisition, development and processing of emotional language from childhood to adolescence. The complete database can be downloaded from https://psico.fcep.urv.cat/exp/files/SANDchild.xlsx .

New electrical impedance methods for the in situ measurement of the complex permittivity of anisotropic skeletal muscle using multipolar needles.

This paper provides a rigorous analysis on the measurement of the permittivity of two-dimensional anisotropic biological tissues such as skeletal muscle using the four-electrode impedance technique. The state-of-the-art technique requires individual electrodes placed at the same depth in contact with the anisotropic material, e.g. using monopolar needles. In this case, the minimum of measurements in different directions needed to estimate the complex permittivity and its anisotropy direction is 3, which translates into 12 monopolar needle insertions (i.e. 3 directions × 4 electrodes in each direction). Here, we extend our previous work and equip the reader with 8 new methods for multipolar needles, where 2 or more electrodes are spaced along the needle's shaft in contact with the tissue at different depths. Using multipolar needles, the new methods presented reduce the number of needle insertions by a factor of 2 with respect to the available methods. We illustrate the methods with numerical simulations and new experiments on ex vivo ovine skeletal muscle (n = 3). Multi-frequency longitudinal and transverse permittivity data from 30 kHz to 1 MHz is made publicly available in the supplementary material. The methods presented here for multipolar needles bring closer the application of needle electrical impedance to patients with neuromuscular diseases.

Barley ß-glucan accelerates wound healing by favoring migration versus proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts.

ß-Glucans are considered candidates for the medication in different human pathologies. In this work, we have purified ß-glucan from a selected barley line and tested their effects in primary human dermal fibroblasts. Unexpectedly, we have observed that this compound promoted a short-transitory proliferation arrest at 24 h after its addition on the medium. We have determined that this transitory arrest was dependent on the cell-cycle regulator protein Retinoblastoma. Moreover, dermal fibroblasts increase their migration capacities at 24 h after barley ß-glucan addition. Also, we have described that barley ß-glucan strongly reduced the ability of fibroblasts to attach and to spread on cell plates. Our data indicates that barley ß-glucan signal induces an early response in HDF cells favoring migration versus proliferation. This feature is consistent with our observation that the topical addition of our barley ß-glucan in vivo accelerates the wound closure in mouse skin.

Treatment with cinacalcet of secondary hyperparathyroidism after renal transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The treatment of posttransplant secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHP) with vitamin D analogues is determined by their effectiveness to reverse hypercalcemia. Calcimimetics inhibit parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion by modulating the calcium-sensing receptor in the parathyroid gland. Cinacalcet, a calcimimetic drug, has proven its effectiveness for the treatment of SHP among patients in phase V of chronic renal disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective analysis included 48 patients with SHP who were treated with cinacalcet. The initial dose of 30 mg/d could be increased to 180 mg, administering calcitriol also, depending on the serum calcium and PTH levels. The objectives were a PTH level between 75 and 125 pg/mL or a decrease >40%, and a serum calcium level below 10.5 mg/dL. RESULTS: The average PTH at baseline was 244 pg/mL, decreasing to 131 pg/mL at 1 year (P < .01). The average calcium at baseline was 10.1 mg/dL descending to 9.2 mg/dL at 1 year (P < .01). Among patients with hypercalcemia, the calcium decreased from 11 to 9.6 mg/dL at 1 year (P < .01). Seventy percent of patients without hypercalcemia reached the desired value of PTH, and 100% of those with hypercalcemia. Among patients with hypercalcemia, the desired calcium level was reached in 91% of cases. Ten patients developed hypocalcemia. In 3 cases we stopped the treatment with cinacalcet due to digestive intolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with cinacalcet controlled hyperparathyroidism and hypercalcemia among patients with posttransplant SHP. It was a safe drug, with a low incidence of side effects.

La versión española de la Diabetes Attitude Scale (DAS3sp): un instrumento de medición de actitudes y motivaciones en diabetes / The spanish version of the diabetes attitude scale (DA-3sp): an instrument for measuring diabetes-related attitudes and motivation

Antecedentes. La tercera versión del Diabetes Attitude Scale (DAS-3) es un cuestionario general válido y fiable para evaluar actitudes y motivaciones relacionadas con la diabetes mellitus, apropiado tanto para efectuar comparaciones entre diferentes grupos de profesionales sanitarios o pacientes como para realizar la evaluación de programas de educación diabetológica. Este estudio presenta los resultados del proceso de traducción y adaptación transcultural del DAS-3 para su utilización en español. Métodos. La adaptación se basó en el método de traducción y retraducción. Se organizaron varias reuniones de traductores, investigadores, profesionales sanitarios y pacientes diabéticos, así como pruebas piloto en la producción de las versiones sucesivas hasta alcanzar el cuestionario definitivo (DAS-3sp). Éste fue aplicado a 52 profesionales sanitarios (28 médicos y 24 enfermeras) y 68 pacientes diabéticos, en dos ocasiones y con un intervalo de 3-6 semanas, analizando su consistencia interna (alfa de Cronbach) y reproducibilidad (prueba y reprueba). Resultados. El alfa de Cronbach global del DAS-3sp fue de 0,74 y por subescalas fue de 0,71 para necesidad de entrenamiento especial; 0,59 para percepción de la gravedad de la diabetes mellitus; 0,69 para valoración del control estricto; 0,54 para valoración del impacto psicosocial de la diabetes mellitus, y 0,60 para autonomía del paciente. El alfa de Cronbach global en los médicos fue 0,71; en enfermería, 0,84; y en pacientes, 0,66. Los coeficientes de correlación intraclase entre las dos administraciones del cuestionario oscilaron entre 0,49 y 0,69. En los médicos, dichos coeficientes oscilaron entre 0,48 y 0,78, en enfermería entre 0,31 y 0,75 y en pacientes entre 0,56 y 0,66. Conclusiones. La traducción y adaptación del DAS-3 ha permitido disponer en nuestro medio de un instrumento similar al original y con fiabilidad y reproducibilidad aceptables (AU)

Tratamiento farmacológico: la desintoxicación / Pharmacological treatment: Detoxification

El síndrome de abstinencia alcohólico se produce por la disminución brusca de la alcoholemia en individuos con neuroadaptación al alcohol. La deprivación comporta alteraciones en diversos sistemas de neurotransmisores, provocando una hiperactivación noradrenérgica, un incremento de la sensibilidad del receptor NMDA y una inhibición del GABA. El síndrome de abstinencia alcohólica puede objetivarse mediante diversas escalas (Ciwa, Soler Insa), que permiten valorar la intensidad de la abstinencia. Las pautas de tratamiento más contrastadas se ajustan en función de la severidad del cuadro. Asimismo, se exponen las pautas fijas, también utilizadas y publicadas, pero para los autores menos aconsejables. El clometiazol, el tetrabamato y las benzodiacepinas son los fármacos más utilizados y sobre los que existen más datos de eficacia y seguridad, pero también se detallan algunos estudios con otros fármacos como la carbamazepina y otros anticonvulsivantes, los beta-bloqueadores, los antagonistas alfa2, los antagonistas del calcio y otros. Finalmente se dan recomendaciones terapéuticas para casos especiales como el delirium tremens, las convulsiones durante la abstinencia o los casos de la mujer embarazada, el anciano o el paciente postquirúrgico (AU)

Alcoholic abstinence syndrome is produced by the abrupt reduction of alcoholism in individuals with neuroadaptation to alcohol. Deprivation leads to alterations in diverse neurotransmitter systems, provoking a noradrenergic hyperactivity, an increase in NMDA receptor sensitivity and GABA inhibition. Alcohol abstinence syndrome may be objectified through several scales (Ciwa, Soler Insa) that enable the intensity of abstinence to be assessed. The more contrasted treatment guidelines are adapted in accordance with the severity of the case. In addition, the set guidelines are given which are also utilised and published, but by less reliable authors. Chlormethiazole, tetrabamate and the benzodiazepines are the most used drugs and the ones on which more data exists on efficacy and safety but details are given of certain studies with other drugs such as carbamazephine and other anticonvulsivants, the beta-blockers, the alpha2 antagonists, the calcium antagonists and others. Lastly, therapeutic recommendations are given for special cases such as delirium tremens, convulsions during abstinence, cases of pregnant women, the old or the post operational patient (AU)

[Evaluation of the results of the research funded by the Health Research Fund in 1988]. / Evaluación del producto de la investigación financiada por el Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria en 1988.

BACKGROUND: To analyse the scientific product of research projects funded by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria in 1988 emphasizing its relation to money granted. METHODS: 270 out of 610 projects were evaluated in relation to the amount granted. The number of papers published to each project and the impact factor assigned to the journals where these papers were published; we also assessed the mean cost of papers and impact factor units. These projects were coded following UNESCO classifications, and papers as per ISI standards. RESULTS: A total of 95 projects out of the 270 analysed produced no papers; the other 175 projects yielded 471 articles (2.7 per project); the mean cost of each article was 1.1 million pesetas, or 0.8 million if only the productive projects were considered. These papers reached a total of 818,709 impact factor units; the mean cost of the impact factor unit is 660,796 pesetas, or 459,626 pesetas if only productive projects are considered. CONCLUSIONS: Non productive projects were those that received less funding. 33% of projects produced papers published in journals with an assigned impact factor equal or inferior to one. There are evident differences among areas of knowledge in terms of impact factor. This study must be completed with a statistical analysis of reported data.

Phosphorylation of high-mobility-group protein 14 by two specific kinases modifies its interaction with histone oligomers in free solution.

Chromosomal protein HMG14 can be specifically phosphorylated by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase at the N-terminus and by casein kinase 2 at the acidic C-terminus. Under the same conditions used for HMG14, HMG17 is not significantly phosphorylated by either of the two kinases. Further, we have studied the effect of phosphorylation by these kinases on the interaction of HMG14 with histone oligomers, using chemical cross-linking. Our results indicate that the phosphorylation of HMG14 by casein kinase 2 enhances its interaction with histone oligomers in free solution, whereas a minor effect was observed by phosphorylation with cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. In contrast, HMG17 does not interact at all with any histone oligomer in free solution under the conditions used. To gain insight into the possible effect that phosphorylation may play in vivo, the pattern of distribution among different chromatin fractions was analysed. It was found that, although phosphorylation of HMG14 by both kinases allowed reconstitution of HMG14 to chromatin, the patterns obtained showed some slight differences.

Phosphorylation of rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen synthase by casein kinase 1: evidence of phosphorylation sites specific for casein kinase 1.

Casein kinase 1 phosphorylated rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen synthase at both seryl and threonyl residues. With glycogen synthase phosphorylated up to 7.5 mol phosphate/mol subunit, about 26% of the phosphate was present in the N-terminal cyanogen bromide fragment (CB1) and 74% in the C-terminal fragment (CB2). Both fragments contained phosphothreonine (11 to 14%) in addition to phosphoserine. When 32P-labeled glycogen synthase was totally digested with trypsin and chromatographed on reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, seven phosphopeptides were observed. Peptide I eluted in the vicinity of the peptide containing site 1a, peptide II coincided with sites 4 + 5, peptides III and IV eluted in the region corresponding to sites 3a + 3b + 3c, peptide V appeared slightly after the peptide containing site 1b and peptide VII behaved as the peptide containing site 2, whereas peptide VI did not coincide with any of the known phosphopeptides. Limited trypsinization prior to analysis by HPLC led to the disappearance of peaks V and VI without altering peaks I to IV and VII. Only peaks I and VII remained when limited chymotrypsinization was performed prior to HPLC analysis. Chromatography on HPLC of the fragments derived from complete trypsinization of CB2 showed the presence of peaks II to VI. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the different peptides demonstrated the presence of quantitative amounts of phosphothreonine in peptides V, VI, and VII. These results indicate that multiple phosphorylation sites for casein kinase 1 must exist in both the N-terminal and C-terminal regions of glycogen synthase, some of which would only be labeled by casein kinase 1.

Phosphorylation of fibrinogen by casein kinase 2.

Casein kinase 2 from rat liver cytosol phosphorylated human fibrinogen in a reaction that was not stimulated by Ca2+ or cyclic AMP, but was markedly inhibited by heparin, and proceeded at a similar rate when either ATP or GTP was used as phosphate donor. Analysis of casein kinase 2 by glycerol-density-gradient centrifugation showed that the activities towards fibrinogen, casein, phosvitin, high-mobility-group protein 14 and glycogen synthase coincided. Maximal incorporation into fibrinogen by casein kinase 2 averaged 1 mol of phosphate/mol of protein substrate, most of it in the alpha-chain, although some phosphorylation of the beta-chain was also detected. Analysis of phosphorylated alpha-chain revealed that most of the phosphate was incorporated on serine. Phosphorylation of human fibrinogen was also performed by casein kinase 2 from human polymorphonuclear leucocytes, lymphocytes and platelets.

Effect of bivalent cations on rat liver cytosol casein (glycogen synthase) kinases 1 and 2. Influence of the protein substrate.

Rat liver cytosol casein kinases 1 and 2 were stimulated by free Mg2+, but the optimal concentration of cation varied with both the casein kinase and the protein substrate used. Mn2+, but neither Ca2+ nor Zn2+, could efficiently substitute for Mg2+ in forming the bivalent-cation-ATP complex used as substrate, but free Mn2+ was inhibitory. The magnitude of these effects depended on the type of casein kinase and the protein substrate used. These results support the idea that, besides the effects of Mg2+ as a component of the Mg-ATP complex, or through interaction with the protein substrate, free Mg2+ is an allosteric effector of both casein kinases.

Effect of starvation, diabetes and insulin on the casein kinase 2 from rat liver cytosol.

Starvation, diabetes and insulin did not alter the concentration of casein kinases in rat liver cytosol. However, the Km for casein of casein kinase 2 from diabetic rats was about 2-fold lower than that from control animals. Administration of insulin to control rats did not alter this parameter, but increased the Km for casein of casein kinase 2 in diabetic rats. Starvation did not affect the kinetic constants of casein kinases. The effect of diabetes on casein kinase 2 persisted after partial purification of the enzyme by glycerol-density-gradient centrifugation and affected also its activity on other protein substrates such as phosvitin, high-mobility-group protein 14 and glycogen synthase. The results indicate that rat liver cytosol casein kinase 2 is under physiological control.

Phosphorylation of fibrinogen by casein kinase 1.

Casein kinase 1 phosphorylated human fibrinogen, in a reaction that did not use GTP as phosphoryl donor and was neither stimulated by cyclic AMP or Ca2+, nor inhibited by the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor protein. Maximal incorporation averaged 4 mol of phosphate per mol of fibrinogen, most of it in the largest CNBr-fragment of the alpha-chain. Phosphoamino acid analysis revealed that phosphorylation occurred only at seryl residues. The phosphorylation of fibrinogen by casein kinase 1 was reverted by alkaline phosphatase.

Exposed hydrophobic regions in histone oligomers studied by fluorescence.

The interaction of the fluorescent hydrophobic probe 1-anilinonaphthalene-8-sulfonate (ANS) with histone oligomers and with histone H1 has been studied. The enhancement of ANS fluorescence produced by histones Hv (a roughly equimolar mixture of histones H2A, H2B, H3 and H4) in 2.0 M NaCl, pH 7.5, is higher than that produced by histone H1 under identical conditions. In addition, the fact that the wavelength of maximum emission of the H1-ANS complex is larger than that of the Hv-ANS complex indicates that histone H1 has a weaker hydrophobic character than histones Hv. The increase in ANS concentration produces a red shift of the emission maximum of the Hv-ANS complex, indicating some heterogeneity in the ANS binding sites. Both the H2A-H2B and the H3-H4 complexes cause a similar enhancement of the ANS fluorescence. Trypsin digestion of N-terminal sequences of histones Hv produces only small changes in the intensity of ANS fluorescence. This result indicates that the hydrophobic regions of histones Hv to which ANS binds are not located in the N-terminal portions of histone sequences. It is suggested that these exposed hydrophobic regions may be important in the maintenance of chromatin structure.