Untangling the evolution of body-part terminology in Pano: conservative versus innovative traits in body-part lexicalization.

Although language-family specific traits which do not find direct counterparts outside a given language family are usually ignored in quantitative phylogenetic studies, scholars have made ample use of them in qualitative investigations, revealing their potential for identifying language relationships. An example of such a family specific trait are body-part expressions in Pano languages, which are often lexicalized forms, composed of bound roots (also called body-part prefixes in the literature) and non-productive derivative morphemes (called here body-part formatives). We use various statistical methods to demonstrate that whereas body-part roots are generally conservative, body-part formatives exhibit diverse chronologies and are often the result of recent and parallel innovations. In line with this, the phylogenetic structure of body-part roots projects the major branches of the family, while formatives are highly non-tree-like. Beyond its contribution to the phylogenetic analysis of Pano languages, this study provides significative insights into the role of grammatical innovations for language classification, the origin of morphological complexity in the Amazon and the phylogenetic signal of specific grammatical traits in language families.

Students With High Metacognition Are Favourable Towards Individualism When Anxious.

Metacognitive ability has been described as an important predictor of several processes involved in learning, including problem-solving. Although this relationship is fairly documented, little is known about the mechanisms that could modulate it. Given its relationship with both constructs, we decided to evaluate the impact of self-knowledge on PS. In addition, we inspected whether emotional (self-reported anxiety) and interpersonal (attitudes towards social interdependence) variables could affect the relationship between metacognition and problem-solving. We tested a sample of 32 undergraduate students and used behavioural tasks and self-report questionnaires. Contrary to the literature, we found no significant relationship between metacognition and problem-solving performance, nor a significant moderating effect when including emotional and interpersonal variables in the model. In contrast, we observed a significant moderating model combining metacognition, self-reported anxiety and attitudes towards social interdependence. It was found that participants with high metacognition reported attitudes unfavourable towards interdependence when they felt high anxiety. These results suggest that already anxious individuals with high metacognition would prefer to work alone rather than with others, as a coping mechanism against further anxiety derived from cooperation. We hypothesise that in anxiogenic contexts, metacognition is used as a tool to compare possible threats with one's own skills and act accordingly, in order to maximise one's own performance. Further studies are needed to understand how metacognition works in contexts adverse to learning.

Large Amplitude Cortical Evoked Potentials in Nonepileptic Patients. Reviving an Old Neurophysiologic Tool to Help Detect CNS Pathology.

PURPOSE: Although large amplitude evoked potentials (EPs) are typically associated with progressive myoclonic epilepsy patients, giant EPs imply central nervous system (CNS) hyperexcitability and can be seen in various nonepileptic disorders. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review including history, physical examination, imaging and diagnostic studies of nonepileptic patients with large amplitude somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) during 2007 to 2013. Large amplitude EPs were defined as follows: VEPs (N75-P100) >18 µV; and SSEPs (N20-P25) >6.4 µV. Recording montage for VEPs was Oz-Cz and SSEPs C3'/C4'-Fz. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients (33 females, 19 males; age range, 9-90 years) were identified. No CNS pathology was detected in 7 patients. All remaining patients were diagnosed with new CNS disorders including: vascular (37%); myelopathies (13%); demyelinating (11%); space occupying lesions (8.7%); syringomyelia (8.7%); hydrocephalus (6.5%); Vitamin B-12 deficiency (4.3%); multiple system atrophy (4.3%); and toxins (2.2%). CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the notion that large amplitude EP implies CNS hyperexcitability and CNS disease. These results confirm the utility of EP studies in patients with suspected CNS pathology.

Nanoparticle delivery for transdermal HRT.

Nanomedicine is an emerging technology and the first nano-engineered medical products have come to light in the last decade. Transdermal drug delivery has significant advantages compared to other routes of drug administration. Nanoparticles unique physical and chemical properties enable transport of substances directly into the skin. The objective of this paper is to review different aspects of nanoparticle delivery, generally, and discuss its current use for transdermal hormone therapy. Transdermal estrogen therapy remains the most effective treatment for bothersome menopausal symptoms, particularly in those women for whom the potential adverse effects associated with "first pass" hepatic metabolism are to be avoided. Available alternatives for transdermal estrogen delivery include patches, gels, sprays and lotions. Other non-oral therapies which likewise avoid "first pass" hepatic metabolism include: subcutaneous implants and vaginal rings. Some of the transdermal products are associated with mild adverse skin effects such as redness and irritation, but more severe and bothersome consequences include blistering and tattooing. Even the mild adverse skin effects are frequently cited as reasons for discontinuation. Micellar nanoparticle estradiol emulsion (MNPEE) is a lotion-like therapy which constitutes an alternative transdermal delivery system not requiring the permeation enhancers or temporary skin digestion, both of which increase the possibility of irritation. MNPEE's advantages include low fluctuation of plasma estradiol concentrations, infrequent skin related adverse effects, and pleasant cosmetic-like moisturizing properties. The efficacy of MNPEE for management of menopausal vasomotor symptoms has been demonstrated in a randomized placebo controlled trial,(1) and the product is FDA approved for management of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms. None of the observed adverse effects in the MNPEE group were statistically different from the placebo group.(1) Studies addressing inadvertent transference of estradiol to the male partners of menopausal women using this delivery technology have demonstrated small, but real amounts of transference, which do not exceed the normal physiological male estradiol range. MNPEE is safe and effective for treatment of vasomotor symptoms and represents the commercial validation of nanoparticle technology for transdermal delivery of estrogen therapy (ET) for postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms.

Nanoparticle delivery for transdermal HRT.

Nanomedicine is an emerging technology and the first nano-engineered medical products have come to light in the last decade. Transdermal drug delivery has significant advantages compared to other routes of drug administration. Nanoparticles unique physical and chemical properties enable transport of substances directly into the skin. The objective of this paper is to review different aspects of nanoparticle delivery, generally, and discuss its current use for transdermal hormone therapy. Transdermal estrogen therapy remains the most effective treatment for bothersome menopausal symptoms, particularly in those women for whom the potential adverse effects associated with "first pass" hepatic metabolism are to be avoided. Available alternatives for transdermal estrogen delivery include patches, gels, sprays and lotions. Other non-oral therapies which likewise avoid "first pass" hepatic metabolism include: subcutaneous implants and vaginal rings. Some of the transdermal products are associated with mild adverse skin effects such as redness and irritation, but more severe and bothersome consequences include blistering and tattooing. Even the mild adverse skin effects are frequently cited as reasons for discontinuation. Micellar nanoparticle estradiol emulsion (MNPEE) is a lotion-like therapy which constitutes an alternative transdermal delivery system not requiring the permeation enhancers or temporary skin digestion, both of which increase the possibility of irritation. MNPEE's advantages include low fluctuation of plasma estradiol concentrations, infrequent skin related adverse effects, and pleasant cosmetic-like moisturizing properties. The efficacy of MNPEE for management of menopausal vasomotor symptoms has been demonstrated in a randomized placebo controlled trial, and the product is FDA approved for management of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms. None of the observed adverse effects in the MNPEE group were statistically different from the placebo group. Studies addressing inadvertent transference of estradiol to the male partners of menopausal women using this delivery technology have demonstrated small, but real amounts of transference, which do not exceed the normal physiological male estradiol range. MNPEE is safe and effective for treatment of vasomotor symptoms and represents the commercial validation of nanoparticle technology for transdermal delivery of estrogen therapy (ET) for postmenopausal women with vasomotor symptoms.

Evaluación de una intervención conductual intensa y breve para el manejo de estados emocionales: un estudio piloto / Evaluation of an intense and brief behavioral intervention for the management of emotional states: a pilot study

In the last years, the evaluation of the effectiveness of the interventions in Clinical Psychology has charged great relevance. At the present time it is has denominated therapies supported in the evidence or therapies with empiric support, who are those that show a series of minimum approaches that assure their effectiveness. In this sense, the conductual therapies are those that have more support. Among the populations with more risk to present emotional dysfunctions are the secondary professors. In the line of prevention it is has designed a group intervention in intensive and brief format of five sessions of four hours of duration. The used techniques were: Psicoeducation, Relaxation, Cognitive Restructuration, Problem Resolution, Planning of Activities and Conductual Essay. This intervention was applied in group format to ten professors without psychological dysfunction, with a 30 year-old average. The results indicated a significant statistically change in the depression variables (t=3,527; p <0.01), anxiety-state (t=4,256; p <0.001) and assertivity (t=2,280; p <0.05), they were not changes in anxiety feature and optimism.

En los últimos años la evaluación de la efectividad de las intervenciones en Psicología Clínica ha cobrado gran relevancia. En la actualidad se cuenta con terapias denominadas “Apoyadas en la Evidencia” o “Terapias con Apoyo Empírico”, las cuales cumplen con una serie de criterios mínimos que aseguran su efectividad, dentro de éstas, las terapias conductuales son las que cuentan con mayor apoyo. Entre las poblaciones con mayor riesgo de presentar trastornos emocionales, se encuentran los profesores de secundaria, por lo tanto, se hace necesario aplicar estrategias efectivas para contrarrestar las variables que amenazan su salud. En la línea de prevención y promoción de salud, se diseñó una intervención grupal en formato intensivo y breve de cinco sesiones de cuatro horas de duración con las técnicas conductuales de Psicoeducación, Relajación Muscular Progresiva, Reestructuración Cognitiva, Resolución de Problemas, Planificación de actividades y Ensayo Conductual. Fue aplicada a un grupo de 10 profesores sin trastorno psicológico con una edad promedio de 30 años para el manejo de estados emocionales. Los resultados indicaron un cambio estadísticamente significativo en las variables de depresión (t=3,527; p<0.01), ansiedad-estado (t=4,256; p<0.001) y asertividad (t=2,280; p<0.05), no se encontraron cambios en ansiedad rasgo y optimismo.