Nanostructured Conducting Polymers and Their Applications in Energy Storage Devices.

Due to the energy requirements for various human activities, and the need for a substantial change in the energy matrix, it is important to research and design new materials that allow the availability of appropriate technologies. In this sense, together with proposals that advocate a reduction in the conversion, storage, and feeding of clean energies, such as fuel cells and electrochemical capacitors energy consumption, there is an approach that is based on the development of better applications for and batteries. An alternative to commonly used inorganic materials is conducting polymers (CP). Strategies based on the formation of composite materials and nanostructures allow outstanding performances in electrochemical energy storage devices such as those mentioned. Particularly, the nanostructuring of CP stands out because, in the last two decades, there has been an important evolution in the design of various types of nanostructures, with a strong focus on their synergistic combination with other types of materials. This bibliographic compilation reviews state of the art in this area, with a special focus on how nanostructured CP would contribute to the search for new materials for the development of energy storage devices, based mainly on the morphology they present and on their versatility to be combined with other materials, which allows notable improvements in aspects such as reduction in ionic diffusion trajectories and electronic transport, optimization of spaces for ion penetration, a greater number of electrochemically active sites and better stability in charge/discharge cycles.

Guía metodológica para la elaboración de un programa estructurado de educación terapéutica: del diseño a la evaluación / Methodological guidelines for preparing a structured therapeutic education program: From design to evaluation

Antecedentes y objetivo La educación terapéutica (ET) es eficaz e imprescindible en un contexto de prevalencia creciente de enfermedades crónicas, siendo necesarias herramientas para la planificación de programas estructurados. El objetivo fue elaborar una guía para el diseño y evaluación de un programa de ET. Métodos 1) Se constituyó un grupo multidisciplinario de 8 referentes en ET, cronicidad, calidad y seguridad, del hospital y la universidad. 2) Se realizó una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura científica sobre planificación de programas de ET dirigidos a pacientes crónicos, familiares o cuidadores. 3) El texto final se sometió a comentarios y sugerencias de participantes, del hospital y de atención primaria, en un curso sobre metodología de información y ET. Las recomendaciones fueron consensuadas, por unanimidad, por el grupo redactor. Resultados Se obtuvo un procedimiento normalizado de trabajo dirigido a profesionales implicados en planificación de programas de ET, basado en recomendaciones internacionales. El documento está estructurado en apartados: a) Definición del problema de salud y análisis de situación. b) Estructura del programa (recursos humanos y materiales); objetivos (salud, conducta y educativos) y metodología. c) Circuito que sigue el paciente y familia/cuidador en el programa. d) Evaluación e indicadores. La evaluación del procedimiento, en el marco de los cursos de metodología, fue favorable. Conclusiones La metodología aportada por este documento servirá de instrumento para planificar de forma homogénea y sistematizada los programas educativos, unificando criterios en su redacción. Sin embargo, requerirá su adaptación a la condición y la población a que se dirija cada programa (AU)

Background and objective Therapeutic patient education (TPE) is effective and essential in the context of the growing prevalence of chronic diseases in which tools are needed for planning structured programs. The objective of this project was to develop guidelines for designing and assessing a TPE program. Methods 1) We assembled a multidisciplinary group of 8 leaders in TPE, chronicity, quality and safety from the hospital and the university. 2) We conducted an exhaustive review of the scientific literature on the planning of TPE programs directed at chronically ill patients, their relatives and caregivers. 3) The final text underwent comments and suggestions by participants from the hospital and primary care centre during a course on information and TPE methodology. The recommendations were unanimously agreed upon by the writing group. Results We obtained a standardised work procedure targeted at professionals involved in planning TPE programs, based on international recommendations. The document is structured into sections: a) Definition of the health problem and analysis of the situation; b) Program structure (human resources and materials); objectives (health-related, behaviour-related and educational) and methodology; c) Path the patient and family/caregiver follows in the program; and d) Assessment and indicators. Assessment of the procedure, within the framework of the methodology courses, was favourable. Conclusions The methodology provided by this document serves as an instrument for the standardised and systematic planning of educational programs and unifies the criteria in their drafting. However, the document needs to be adapted to the condition and population to which each program is address (AU)

Methodological guidelines for preparing a structured therapeutic education program: From design to evaluation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Therapeutic patient education (TPE) is effective and essential in the context of the growing prevalence of chronic diseases in which tools are needed for planning structured programs. The objective of this project was to develop guidelines for designing and assessing a TPE program. METHODS: 1) We assembled a multidisciplinary group of 8 leaders in TPE, chronicity, quality and safety from the hospital and the university. 2) We conducted an exhaustive review of the scientific literature on the planning of TPE programs directed at chronically ill patients, their relatives and caregivers. 3) The final text underwent comments and suggestions by participants from the hospital and primary care centre during a course on information and TPE methodology. The recommendations were unanimously agreed upon by the writing group. RESULTS: We obtained a standardised work procedure targeted at professionals involved in planning TPE programs, based on international recommendations. The document is structured into sections: a) Definition of the health problem and analysis of the situation; b) Program structure (human resources and materials); objectives (health-related, behaviour-related and educational) and methodology; c) Path the patient and family/caregiver follows in the program; and d) Assessment and indicators. Assessment of the procedure, within the framework of the methodology courses, was favourable. CONCLUSIONS: The methodology provided by this document serves as an instrument for the standardised and systematic planning of educational programs and unifies the criteria in their drafting. However, the document needs to be adapted to the condition and population to which each program is addressed.

Relación entre contaminación atmosférica y consultas por enfermedades respiratorias en atención primaria de urgencia / Relationship between air pollution and respiratory disease consultations in primary emergency care

Resumen La presente investigación indaga la relación entre los niveles de contaminación ambiental por material particulado 2,5 y consultas respiratorias según tipo de enfermedad respiratoria y edad de los usuarios que consultaron en los Servicios de Atención Primaria de Urgencia de 2 comunas de la Región de Ñuble, Chile, entre los años 2016 y 2017 mediante un diseño de tipo ecológico. La unidad de análisis correspondió a medias agrupadas (promedios) de consultas diarias por enfermedades respiratorias y de concentración de material particulado 2,5. Los análisis estadísticos utilizados fueron Anova, test estadístico Dickey-Fuller, análisis inferencial basado en correlación de Spearman y Cross-Correlation. Se observó una correlación positiva entre los niveles de contaminación ambiental y consultas por enfermedades respiratorias registrados al día siguiente y al noveno día posterior a un episodio de emergencia ambiental. Desde la entrada en vigencia del Plan de Prevención y Descontaminación Atmosférica no se observan diferencias significativas en las concentraciones de MP2,5 entre los años 2016 y 2017. Los mayores niveles de contaminación ambiental se concentran entre los meses de abril a septiembre. En conclusión, existe relación entre los niveles de contaminación ambiental por MP2,5 con el número de consultas por enfermedades respiratorias y la edad de los usuarios.

The present investigation inquires the relation between the levels of environmental pollution by air borne particulate matter 2,5 and respiratory-related consultatons according to type of respiratory disease and age of the users who were admitted in the Primary Healthcare Emergency Services in two communes in Chile's Ñuble Region, between 2016 and 2017 through an ecological design. The unit of analysis corresponded to pooled means (averages) of daily consultations for respiratory diseases and concentration of particulate matter 2.5. The statistical methods used were: Anova, statistical test Dickey-Fuller, inferential analysis based on Spearman's correlation and Cross-Correlation. A positive correlation was observed between environmental pollution and consultations related to respiratory diseases recorded the next day and the ninth day after an environmental emergency episode. Since the entry into force of the Atmospheric Prevention and Decontamination Plan, no significant differences have been observed in the concentrations of PM2.5 between 2016 and 2017. The highest levels of environmental pollution are concentrated between the months of April to September. In conclusion, there is a relation between the levels of environmental pollution by PM2.5, the number of respiratory diseases consultatons and the age of users.

Recovering functional independence after a stroke through Modified Constraint-Induced Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Population ageing and changes in the epidemiological profile of neurological pathologies has resulted in an increase in patients with disabilities. Rehabilitation strategies such as Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMTm) play a key role in treating patients with neurologic deficiencies and motor impairments. This intervention is intended to mitigate disability, promote maximum functional independence, and optimize social and economic participation of patients with upper extremity weakness. Our goal was to assess the recovery of functional independence in patients after a stroke using to CIMTm. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Thirty-six subjects who had suffered stroke took part in a randomised clinical trial. The treatment was applied through either collective or individual modalities for three hours per day for a period of ten days. Participant's functional independence was assessed using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scale at the before and after of the intervention. RESULTS: An analysis of covariance carried out on the pre-test assessments indicates that the dependent variable presents significant differences (F1.31 = 42.78, p < 0.001, η2p = 0.72) in favour of the collective intervention modality. CONCLUSION: Both modalities of CIMTm intervention promote functional independence. However, the greatest improvements were observed in participants in the collective modality. Improvements in functional independence pursue a reduction in learned non-use behaviours through greater use of the paretic upper extremity in everyday activities.

Perfiles de drogodependientes en relación con variables y trastornos de personalidad / Profiles of drug addicts in relation to personality variables and disorders

En las últimas décadas, la investigación ha permitido identificar un conjunto de variables de personalidad impulsiva/desinhibida estrechamente asociadas a la adicción a drogas. Así mismo trastornos vinculados a estas variables, como el TDAH y los trastornos de personalidad, están siendo objeto de vigorosas líneas de trabajo en el ámbito de las drogodependencias. A pesar de que se ha acumulado mucho conocimiento sobre la relación de estas variables y trastornos, tomados aisladamente, se sabe menos acerca de cómo estos constructos permiten identificar perfiles específicos dentro de la población de drogodependientes. Este trabajo, partiendo de los datos recogidos en una muestra de drogodependientes a tratamiento, analiza cómo la impulsividad, la búsqueda de sensaciones, el autocontrol, el TDAH y los trastornos de personalidad permiten identificar tipos específicos de adictos. El análisis cluster permitió delimitar dos perfiles atendiendo a estas características de personalidad y psicopatológicas, destacando como variables que contribuyen a esta diferencia el autocontrol y la impulsividad, los trastornos de personalidad impulsivo y disocial, así como las puntuaciones en TDAH. Uno de esos perfiles (un 56.1% de los participantes) con un patrón personal de alta desinhibición, se asocia con indicadores de consumo y criminológicos de especial severidad. Estos resultados permiten subrayar el papel de la personalidad y de los trastornos asociados a la impulsividad en la identificación de perfiles distintivos dentro de la población de adictos, y sugieren la necesidad de generar estrategias de tratamiento ajustadas a las configuraciones personales/psicopatológicas de los drogodependientes

In recent decades, research has identified a set of impulsive/disinhibited personality variables closely associated with drug addiction. As well as this, disorders linked with these variables, such as ADHD and personality disorders, are being closely studied in the field of drug addiction. Although much knowledge has been accumulated about the relation of these variables and disorders taken separately, less is known about how these constructs allow identify-specific profiles within the drug dependent population to be identified. This work, on the basis of data collected on a sample of drug addicts in treatment, analyzes how impulsiveness, sensation seeking, self-control, ADHD and personality disorders contribute to identifying specific profiles of addicts. Cluster analysis allowed two profiles to be outlined according to these personality and psychopathology characteristics. Self-control, impulsiveness, impulsive and antisocial personality disorders, as well as scores in ADHD, emerge as the variables that contribute more to profile differentiation. One of these profiles (56.1% of participants) with a high disinhibition pattern, is associated with severe indicators of consumption and criminal career patterns. These results allow us to emphasize the role of personality and impulsiveness-related disorders in the identification of distinctive profiles within the addict population, and suggest the need to generate treatment strategies adapted to personal/psychopathology configurations of drug addicts

[Expectations of relatives of critically ill patients regarding medical information. Qualitative research study]. / Expectativas de los familiares de pacientes críticos respecto a la información médica. Estudio de investigación cualitativa.

OBJECTIVE: To determine and analyse the expectations, needs and experiences of relatives of critically ill patients as regards medical information and the level of their understanding. To find keys for improving communication and to draw up best practices in clinical information. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Qualitative research study through semi-structured interviews carried out in a polyvalent adult intensive care unit (ICU) in a University Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: relatives of patients who were admitted to the ICU and who were discharged alive from the Unit. Ten interviews were performed taking into account diversification variables such as, type of family relationship with patients, patient age, length of ICU stay, origin, and location at the time of the interview. RESULTS: The results of the analysis of 10 interviews focused on: the subjective position of the family in the ICU (the agonizing wait), what the ICU represents for the family (surveillance and monitoring of a situation between life and death), perceived care (complete delegation of care), and medical information (what and how they expect and what and how they receive it), as much in the first information (sincerity, hope, delicacy) as in the successive. CONCLUSIONS: There is divergence between what families expect and what they get as regards medical information. To know the expectations of the families will help to provide higher quality care and more humane treatment in the ICU.

Expectativas de los familiares de pacientes críticos respecto a la información médica. Estudio de investigación cualitativa / Expectations of relatives of critically ill patients regarding medical information. Qualitative research study

Objetivo: Conocer y comprender las expectativas, necesidades y vivencias de los familiares de pacientes críticos en relación con la información médica y el grado de comprensión de la misma. Encontrar claves para mejorar la comunicación y delinear buenas prácticas en materia de información clínica. Material y métodos: Estudio de investigación cualitativa mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas, realizado en una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) polivalente de adultos de un hospital universitario. Población: familiares de pacientes que hubieran estado ingresados y que hubieran sido dados de alta vivos de la UCI.Instrumentos: se realizaron 10 entrevistas considerando como variables de diversificación: tipo de vínculo familiar con los pacientes, edad del paciente, tiempo de estancia en la UCI, origen del enfermo y su localización en el momento de la entrevista. Resultados: Del análisis de las 10 entrevistas realizadas, los resultados obtenidos giraron en torno a: la posición subjetiva del familiar en la UCI (la espera angustiosa), lo que representa la UCI para el familiar (vigilancia y control permanente de una situación entre la vida y la muerte), los cuidados percibidos (delegación completa de cuidados) y la información médica (qué y cómo la esperan y qué y cómo la reciben), tanto en la primera información (sinceridad, esperanza, delicadeza) como en las sucesivas. Conclusiones: Existe divergencia entre lo que los familiares esperan y lo que reciben en referencia a la información médica. Conocer las expectativas de las familias nos ayudará a dar una atención de mayor calidad y un trato más humano en nuestras UCI (AU)

Objective: To determine and analyse the expectations, needs and experiences of relatives of critically ill patients as regards medical information and the level of their understanding. To find keys for improving communication and to draw up best practices in clinical information. Material and methods: Qualitative research study through semi-structured interviews carried out in a polyvalent adult intensive care unit (ICU) in a University Hospital. Participants: relatives of patients who were admitted to the ICU and who were discharged alive from the Unit. Ten interviews were performed taking into account diversification variables such as, type of family relationship with patients, patient age, length of ICU stay, origin, and location at the time of the interview. Results: The results of the analysis of 10 interviews focused on: the subjective position of the family in the ICU (the agonizing wait), what the ICU represents for the family (surveillance and monitoring of a situation between life and death), perceived care (complete delegation of care), and medical information (what and how they expect and what and how they receive it), as much in the first information (sincerity, hope, delicacy) as in the successive. Conclusions: There is divergence between what families expect and what they get as regards medical information. To know the expectations of the families will help to provide higher quality care and more humane treatment in the ICU (AU)

Disentangling the role of psychopathic traits and externalizing behaviour in predicting conduct problems from childhood to adolescence.

Child and youth conduct problems are known to be a heterogeneous category that implies different factors and processes. The current study aims to analyze whether the early manifestation of psychopathic traits designates a group of children with severe, pervasive and persistent conduct problems. To this end, cluster analysis was conducted in a sample of 138 children (27.6 % female), aged 6-11 at the first wave of the study (T1) and 12-17 in a follow-up carried out 6 years later (T2). Results allowed the identification of four distinctive clusters: Primarily externalizing, Externalizing-psychopathic, Primarily psychopathic and Non-problematic. As was expected, the Externalizing-psychopathic cluster showed the most severe and persistent pattern of behavioral, temperamental and social disruptions across the 6 years of the study. Early psychopathic traits seemed also to be relevant in predicting higher levels of conduct problems in T2, even when conduct disorders had not manifested in T1. These results highlight the role of psychopathic traits in predicting adolescent psychosocial disorders and the relevance to analyze them at early developmental stages.

Síndrome de Down y transplaste de médula ósea: un análisis desde la ética / Down syndrome and bone marrow transplantation: an analysis from ethics

En Chile, el cáncer infantil ocupa el 2° lugar en mortalidad en niños mayores de 5 años. Dentro del cáncer infantil, el más incidente es la Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda. En relación al tratamiento de la Leucemia, el Trasplante de Médula Ósea puede ser indicación en determinados casos de Leucemia como última opción terapéutica. Al trabajar en el área de la salud, podemos atender a niños con cáncer con condiciones especiales. Dentro de ellos, tenemos a los niños con Síndrome de Down (SD), que por ser portadores de la Trisomía 21, tienen mayor riesgo de desarrollar Leucemia. En el siguiente artículo analizaremos el caso de una adolescente con Síndrome de Down, que al tener una Leucemia de alto riesgo deberá ser trasplantada de médula ósea, este procedimiento es de alto riesgo, única opción curativa para la paciente. Por ser el trasplante un tratamiento que puede conllevar graves complicaciones y ser los niños con Síndrome de Down particularmente frágiles al tratamiento previo al trasplante, analizaremos el caso desde una perspectiva bioética en base a un modelo de toma de decisiones en salud del Hastings Center de Filadelfia, a partir del siguiente problema ético: Dadas las consecuencias nocivas que podría conllevar el trasplante de médula para la paciente, considerando su condición de Síndrome de Down, ¿la paciente tendrá una mejor calidad de vida postrasplante? ¿es éticamente correcto no trasplantar a la paciente?

In Chile, cancer is the second cause of mortality in children with more than 5 year old. Inside this group of patients, Acute Linfoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the most incidence type of cancer. For his treatment, the bone-marrow transplant is considered suitable as last option of therapy. Some special systemic conditions or certain previous diseases in children can increases the risk of develop ALL and, in the same time, represent a important risk-factor must be considered in the prognosis of ALL therapy. Down Syndrome (DS) is an example of this situation, because patients with DS are more susceptible of develop ALL, and the risks of treatment previous to transplant are higher in this group of patients than patients without DS. In this study we analyze the case of an adolescent with DS and ALL, with indication of bone-marrow transplant as the only option of treatment. For the high risk of this procedure, specially in patients with DS, we analyze the bioethics in relationship with this case using the Hasting Center of Philadelphia model designed for the make of decisions in health, with the next bioethics problem to analyze: in view of the potentially harmful consequences of bone-marrow transplant considering his DS condition, ¿his quality of life will be better after the treatment? ¿May be an ethic decision the choice of no realizes the transplant?

La personalidad psicopática como indicador distintivo de severidad y persistencia en los problemas de conducta infanto-juveniles / Psychopathic personality as a distinctive indicator of severity and persistence for child and youth conduct problems

Los problemas de conducta constituyen uno de los fenómenos más analizados durante la infancia y la adolescencia. Dada su heterogeneidad, durante las últimas décadas se ha planteado la necesidad de delimitar los problemas de conducta de inicio temprano a partir de la manifestación de rasgos afectivos, interpersonales y conductuales similares a los que definen la psicopatía adulta. El presente trabajo pretende analizar, desde una perspectiva transversal y longitudinal, si la manifestación temprana de rasgos psicopáticos permite distinguir a un grupo de sujetos con problemas conductuales más severos y persistentes. Para ello, se analizaron los datos obtenidos en una muestra de 192 niños de entre 6 y 11 años, de los cuales 133 fueron nuevamente evaluados en un seguimiento realizado tres años después. A partir de los resultados obtenidos en el mCPS y CBCL (padres) y en el APSD y TRF (profesores), se observó que los niños que manifestaban rasgos psicopáticos de forma temprana presentaban mayor frecuencia, gravedad y persistencia de problemas de conducta. Estos resultados sugieren la necesidad de tener en cuenta el papel de los rasgos psicopáticos, especialmente de tipo afectivo-interpersonal, como factor de riesgo con el que delimitar los patrones más severos y persistentes de conducta externalizante (AU)

Conduct problems are among the most discussed behavioral problems during childhood and adolescence. Given their heterogeneity, in recent years, researchers on this topic have called for delineation of early-onset conduct problems on the basis of affective, interpersonal and behavioral traits that resemble adult psychopathy. The present study aims to analyze, from both a cross-sectional and longitudinal perspective, whether early psychopathic traits allow identification of a group of individuals defined by severe and persistent behavioral problems. To achieve this goal, data from a sample of 192 children (aged 6 to 11) were analyzed; from this sample, 133 children were followed-up in a new data collection that took place three years later. From the data obtained with the mCPS and CBCL (parents), and APSD and TRF (teachers), we observed that children who showed early psychopathic traits, also showed greater frequency, severity and persistence of conduct problems. These results suggest the need to take into account the role of psychopathic traits (particularly, affective and interpersonal) as risk factors to delimit the most serious and persistent patterns of externalizing behavior (AU)

Actitudes de los médicos españoles hacia los pacientes inmigrantes: una encuesta de opinión / Attitudes of Spanish doctors towards immingrant patients: an opinion survey

Introducción. Se evalúan las actitudes de los médicos españoles hacia los pacientes inmigrantes.Material y método. Diseño: estudio descriptivo transversal mediante encuesta de opinión realizado en enero-junio de 2003. Población y entorno: médicos de familia y residentes de tercer año (n = 191) de 15 centros de salud de Zaragoza. Instrumento: encuesta diseñada al efecto (cuyas características psicométricas fueron evaluadas en un estudio piloto independiente) cumplimentada de forma anónima y voluntaria.Resultados. Respondieron el 62,3 % de los entrevistados. Alrededor del 75 % de los médicos había recibido formación en emigración, principalmente de tipo teórico. Casi el 25% de los inmigrantes consultan por problemas diferentes a cuestiones de salud. Los médicos piensan que los inmigrantes somatizan más que los autóctonos, pero que no presentan más patología psiquiátrica. También opinan que son peores cumplidores del tratamiento y más reivindicativos que los pacientes españoles. Están en desacuerdo en que puedan existir sesgos raciales en la práctica médica, tanto a nivel diagnóstico como terapéutico, con estos enfermos. Los médicos españoles consideran igual de difíciles de manejar a todos los grupos étnicos, pero los que presentan un estereotipo más negativo son los magrebíes.Discusión. Se discuten estos hallazgos desde una perspectiva psicológica y antropológica

Introduction. We assess the attitudes of Spanish doctors towards immigrant patients.Material and method. Design: cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in January-June 2003. Sample and setting. Family doctors and third-year residents of 15 health care centers in Zaragoza, Spain. Instrument: specifically designed interview answered in anonymously and on a voluntary basis.Results. A total of 62.3 % of the sample responded. Nearly 75 % of the doctors had received training on immigration, mainly from a theoretical point of view. Almost 25 % of immigrant consultations are not related to health matters. Doctors think that immigrant patients somatize more than Spanish ones but they do not suffer from more psychiatric illness. They also think immigrants show less treatment compliance and are more demanding. They disagree about possible racial biases in diagnosis or treatment of these patients. Spanish doctors consider that the different ethnic groups present similar management difficulties. The group with the most negative stereotype was the patients from Muslim North African countries.Discussion. These findings are discussed from a psychological and anthropological perspective

[Attitudes of Spanish doctors towards immigrant patients: an opinion survey]. / Actitudes de los médicos españoles hacia los pacientes inmigrantes: una encuesta de opinión.

INTRODUCTION: We assess the attitudes of Spanish doctors towards immigrant patients. DESIGN: cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in January-June 2003. SAMPLE AND SETTING: Family doctors and third-year residents of 15 health care centers in Zaragoza, Spain. INSTRUMENT: specifically designed interview answered in anonymously and on a voluntary basis. RESULTS: A total of 62.3 % of the sample responded. Nearly 75 % of the doctors had received training on immigration, mainly from a theoretical point of view. Almost 25 % of immigrant consultations are not related to health matters. Doctors think that immigrant patients somatize more than Spanish ones but they do not suffer from more psychiatric illness. They also think immigrants show less treatment compliance and are more demanding. They disagree about possible racial biases in diagnosis or treatment of these patients. Spanish doctors consider that the different ethnic groups present similar management difficulties. The group with the most negative stereotype was the patients from Muslim North African countries. DISCUSSION: These findings are discussed from a psychological and anthropological perspective.

[Epidemic outbreak of tuberculosis in a primary and secondary school in Granada (Spain)]. / Brote epidémico de tuberculosis en un colegio de Granada.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the diagnosis and early treatment of an epidemic outbreak of tuberculosis and determine the utility of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) compared with routine culture in gastric juice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A computer studies teacher, with clinical features suggestive of tuberculosis and caverns on X-ray, was diagnosed with bacilliferous tuberculosis. Primary health care services carried out a Mantoux test on the school's 387 students as well as on teachers and other staff. The children with a positive Mantoux test underwent laboratory, radiological, and microbiological investigations for one week in the Pediatric Respiratory Unit of Hospital Clínico in Granada. In the teaching and non-teaching staff, active tuberculosis was ruled out through bacilloscopy of sputum samples, Mantoux test, and chest X-ray. RESULTS: In the first screening, the Mantoux test was positive in 67 children. Of these, 7 children were diagnosed with tuberculosis and 60 were found to be infected. Of the 7 children with tuberculosis, five presented positive gastric juice culture in Lowenstein medium while Roche COBAS PCR was negative. In the second screening, 9 children became tuberculin positive. Of these, 8 were diagnosed with tuberculosis and one was infected. Cultures were positive in 3 and PCR was negative. In 77.6 % of the children (59/76), the Mantoux induration was equal to or higher than 18 mm. All of the 15 children with tuberculosis were aged between 9 and 14 years old, except one who was 5 years old. CONCLUSIONS: The Mantoux test remains a basic screening method in diagnosis and epidemiological research, whereas the results of microbiological investigation remain poor and in our study the results DNA were disappointing. The screening of tuberculosis and of other infectious diseases should be more closely monitored in professional groups, such as teachers, that are in contact with large numbers of children. This would identify infected adults and prevent epidemics such as that described in the present study.

Brote epidémico de tuberculosis en un colegio de Granada / Epidemic outbreak of tuberculosis in a primary and secondary school in Granada (Spain)

Objetivo: El diagnóstico y tratamiento precoz del brote epidémico de tuberculosis y comprobar la relevancia de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) frente a cultivos específicos habituales en el jugo gástrico en ayunas. Material y métodos: Tras diagnosticar a un profesor de informática de tuberculosis bacilífera, con sintomatología indicativa y radiología de caverna, se realizó Mantoux en los servicios de atención primaria, a la totalidad del colegio, que componían 387 escolares y personal docente y no docente del colegio. Los niños con Mantoux positivo fueron estudiados, en una semana, en el Servicio de Neumología Pediátrica del Hospital Clínico de Granada, mediante pruebas analíticas, radiológicas y microbiológicas. El resto del personal docente y no docente, se descartó que tuvieran una tuberculosis activa mediante baciloscopia en esputo, Mantoux y radiografía de tórax. Resultados; En el primer cribado en los 387 alumnos, 67 niños fueron Mantoux positivo, de los cuales siete se diagnosticaron de enfermedad tuberculosa y 60 de infección latente. De los 7 pacientes, cinco presentaron positividad en jugo gástrico en medio de Löwenstein, mientras que la PCR tipo Cobas de la empresa Roche fue negativa. En el segundo cribado, 9 niños experimentaron viraje tuberculínico; de ellos, ocho fueron diagnosticados de enfermedad y uno de infección, y se encontraron cultivos positivos en tres de ellos y PCR negativa en todos. La induración del Mantoux fue igual o superior a 18 mm en el 77,6 por ciento de los niños (59/76). Los 15 enfermos tenían entre 9 y 14 años, excepto uno con 5 años. Conclusiones: El Mantoux sigue siendo un método básico de detección en el diagnóstico e investigación epidemiológica, mientras que el rendimiento del estudio microbiológico sigue siendo pobre y la amplificación genómica de ADN en nuestro caso fue descorazonadora. Pensamos que el cribado de tuberculosis y otras enfermedades infecciosas debería ser más vigilado en grupos de profesionales que se relacionan con grandes comunidades infantiles, como la docente, lo que permitiría detectar adultos bacilíferos y evitar casos epidémicos como los reseñados en este trabajo (AU)

Hombre con lesión cutánea 'en coliflor' / Male patient with a cauliflower-like cutaneous lesion

No disponible

La estructura de los rasgos de personalidad en adolescentes: el Modelo de Cinco Factores y los Cinco Alternativos / The structure of personality traits in adolescents: the Five-Factor Model and the Alternative Five

En los últimos años, el Modelo de Cinco Factores ha adquirido gran popularidad como descripción estructural de la personalidad. A pesar de ello, se ha analizado muy poco su aplicabilidad en la adolescencia. Son particularmente escasos los trabajos realizados con adolescentes sobre el NEO-PI-R, el instrumento más emblemático del modelo. Igualmente escasos son los trabajos con adolescentes sobre el ZKPQ, que evalúa los 'Cinco Alternativos' de Zuckerman-Kuhlman. En el presente trabajo, el NEO-Pl-R y el ZKPQ-111 fueron aplicados a una muestra de adolescentes (15-19 años), junto con medidas de afecto positivo y negativo, conducta antisocial y fracaso escolar. Con estos datos se examina 1) las estructuras del NEO-PI-R y del ZKPQ-111, con el fin de conocer en qué medida se replican, en los adolescentes, los modelos subyacentes a estos instrumentos; 2) la relación de ambos modelos con correlatos relevantes, con el fin de explorar su red nomológica y 3) cómo convergen el NEO-PI-R y en ZKPQ-111 en un modelo integrado (AU)

In the last years, the Five-Factor Model has been object of an increasing interest as a structural description of personality. Nevertheless, the usefulness of the model in adolescence has not received enough attention. Particularly scarce are the studies examining its most representative questionnaire (the NEO-PI-R) in adolescent samples. Also scarce are the studies on the ZKPQ-III, which assesses the Zuckerman-Kuhlman «Alternative Five». In this study, the NEO-PI-R and the ZKPQ-III were administered to a sample of adolescents aged 15-19, together with measures of positive and negative affect, antisocial behavior and academic failure. These data allow examination of: 1) the structures of the NEO-PI-R and the ZKPQ-III in a young population ; 2) the relationships between both models and revelant correlates, in order to explore their nomological nets; 3) the convergence of the NEO-PI-R and the ZKPQ-III in an integrated model (AU)

Biología, personalidad y delincuencia / No disponible

El principal propósito de este trabajo es presentar una reflexión a partir de las evidencias empíricas disponibles que relacionan factores genéticos, biológicos y determinadas características de personalidad con conductas antisociales y/o delictivas. La reflexión sobre la vía explicativa que conduce desde los genes y otros factores biológicos a la conformación de estructuras de personalidad que, a su vez, configuran organismos con patrones de interacción con el entorno proclives a la aparición de conductas antisociales y/o delictivas. El análisis enfatiza la necesidad de evitar los reduccionismos deterministas en el campo y aboga por la elaboración de perspectivas integradoras (AU)

Biology, personality and criminality. The main aim of this work is to discuss the available empirical evidence relating genetic, biological and personality factors with antisocial and/or criminal behavior. This discussion underlines the explanatory path bridging genes and other biological factors with personality structures which, finally, through patterns of interaction with the environment, give place to antisocial and/or criminal behavior. This analysis emphasized the need to avoid determinist reductionisms, and claims for the elaboration of integrative perspectives (AU)

[Seroprevalence of three types of hepatotropic virus in a population of adolescents of the province of Guadalajara]. / Seroprevalencia de tres tipos de virus hepatotropos en población adolescente de la provincia de Guadalajara.

BACKGROUND: Viral forms of hepatitis are one of the most infectious disease groups most often encountered in human pathology, and although most are benign, some can evolve into chronic forms. The purpose of this study is that of ascertaining the prevalence of hepatitis C, Epstein-Barr and human herpesvirus-6 infections among eighth-graders (13-14 years of age) and to related the same to variables regarding the gender and environment (rural or urban) in which they were living. METHODS: Descriptive, transversal study of a representative sample of the eighth-grade population in the province of Guadalajara during the 1998-1999 period. Systematic random sampling layered by gender and school (multi-stage sample format). The rate of specific IgG antibodies was determined using the ELISA technique. RESULTS: A study was conducted of 268 school-age children (46.6% males). The prevalence of Epstein-Barr antibodies was of 73.5% (CI: 67.9%-78.5%); 72% (CI: 64%-80%) among the males and of 74.8% (CI: 67.7%-81.9%) among the females (NS); 65.6% (CI: 57.4%-73.8%) residing in an urban environment and 80.7% in a rural environment (p < 0.05). The prevalence of those who tested positive for the hepatitis virus was that of 0.7%--two individuals, both females, one of whom resided in an urban environment and the other in a rural environment. For herpesvirus-6, the prevalence was of 82.4% (CI: 77.9%-86.9%); 81.5% (CI: 74.7%-88.3%) among the males and of 83.2% (CI: 77.1%-89.3%) among the females (NS), 86.7% (CI: 80.4%-92.2%) residing in an urban environment and 78.5% (CI: 73.1%-86.5%) in a rural environment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of Epstein-Barr and human herpesvirus-6 and low degree as regards VHC is high, which tallies with the characteristics of the environment and age of the individuals under study.