A program of positive intervention in the elderly: memories,gratitude and forgiveness

Objective: The main goal of this study has been to increase the quality of life in people of over 60 years through a positive psychology intervention.Method: We employed a program which consists of training based on autobiographical memory, forgiveness and gratitude. The sample consisted of 46 participants aged 60–93 years. State and trait anxiety, depression, general memory, specific memories, life satisfaction and subjective happiness were measured.Results: The results revealed that participants who followed the program (experimental group) showed a significant decrease in state anxiety and depression as well as an increase in specific memories, life satisfaction and subjective happiness, compared with the placebo group.Conclusion: Our program offers promising results and provides new evidence for the effectiveness of positive interventions in the field of psychogerontology, helping increase subjective well-being and quality of life in older adults by focusing interventions on the enhancement of personal and social resources for being happy.     

Silica Nanoparticles: Preparation,Characterization and Applications in Biomedicine

Pharmaceutical Chemistry Journal - A rapid and effective methodology has been developed in order to obtain silica nanoparticles which are broadly characterized by various techniques including...     

Inhibition of nNOS activity in rat brain by synthetic kynurenines: structure-activity dependence.

The overstimulation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptors is involved in excitotoxicity, a process participating in neurodegeneration that characterizes some neurological disorders and acute cerebral insults. In looking for compounds with neuroprotective properties, a series of kynurenine derivatives were synthesized, and their effects on both the NMDA and nNOS activity in rat striatum were evaluated. Two compounds, 15a (2-acetamido-4-(2-amino-5-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyric acid) and 15c (2-butyramido-4-(2-amino-5-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyric acid), displayed more potent activities than the other synthetic compounds tested for the inhibition of NMDA excitability and nNOS activity. Two other compounds, 18a (2-acetamido-4-(3-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyric acid) and 18c (2-butyramido-4-(3-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyric acid), that have the same structure as 15a and 15c, except the amino group in R(1), showed different effects. Whereas compound 18a showed lower electrophysiological potency than compounds 15a and 15c in the inhibition of the NMDA-dependent excitability, compound 18c showed the opposite effect. Moreover, compounds 18a and 18c were unable to modify nNOS activity. The remaining kynurenines tested behave like compound 18a. These results suggest that a structure-related activity of these synthetic kynurenines and a N-H bond in a specific direction is necessary for some kynurenine analogues to inhibit nNOS activity.     

Lipid peroxidation in Down syndrome caused by regular trisomy 21, trisomy 21 by Robertsonian translocation and mosaic trisomy 21.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that an increase in oxidative stress in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) may cause adverse effects in the cell membranes through the oxidation of polyunsatured fatty acids. METHODS: We examined erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in 100 individuals of both sexes (34 males and 66 females) with DS, aged from newborn to 29 years. The cytogenetic analysis revealed 90 individuals with regular trisomy 21, four individuals with trisomy 21 by Robertsonian (Rb) translocation, and six individuals with mosaic trisomy 21. DS individuals were divided into six age groups. The control group consisted of 100 healthy individuals of both sexes (40 males and 60 females) who were age-matched with DS subjects. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in erythrocyte MDA levels between the sexes in any of the age groups for the DS group and the control group. We confirmed significantly higher erythrocyte levels of MDA in individuals with DS compared to the control group. A significant difference was observed in erythrocyte MDA levels between DS individuals with trisomy and controls for all age groups, and in individuals with DS due to Rb translocation trisomy. However, in DS individuals with mosaicism, MDA levels depended on the percentage of diploid and trisomy cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm an increase in lipid peroxidation in patients with DS.     

Sociocultural and linguistic boundaries influencing intercultural communication between nurses and Moroccan patients in southern Spain: a focused ethnography

Background

During the last 25 years, cultural diversity has increased substantially with global migration. In more recent years this has become highly evident in the south of Spain with its steadily increasing Moroccan population. The accompanying differences in ethnocultural values and traditions between the host and newcomer populations may greatly impact healthcare interactions and thus also effective provision of care. This landscape provides for excellent exploration of intercultural communication in healthcare settings and elucidation of possible ways to overcome existing barriers to provision of culturally competent care by nurses. This study aimed to ascertain how nurses perceive their intercultural communication with Moroccan patients and what barriers are evident which may be preventing effective communication and care.

Methods

A focused ethnography was conducted with semi-structured interviews of 32 nurses in three public hospitals in southern Spain. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim before undergoing translation and back-translation between Spanish and English. Data was managed, classified and ordered with the aid of AQUAD.6 (Günter L. Huber, Tübingen, Germany) qualitative data analysis software.

Results

As an important dimension of cultural competence, findings from the interviews with nurses in this study were interpreted within the framework of intercultural communication. Various barriers, for which we have termed “boundaries”, seem to exist preventing effective communication between nurses and their patients. The substantial language barrier seems to negatively affect communication. Relations between the nurses and their Moroccan patients are also marked by prejudices and social stereotypes which likely compromise the provision of culturally appropriate care.

Conclusions

The language barrier may compromise nursing care delivery and could be readily overcome by implementation of professional interpretation within the hospital settings. Moreover, it is essential that the nurses of southern Spain are educated in the provision of culturally appropriate and sensitive care.

     

Impact of constitutional polymorphisms in VCAM1 and CD44 on CD34+ cell collection yield after administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor to healthy donors

Background

The number of CD34⁺ cells mobilized from bone marrow to peripheral blood after administration of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor varies greatly among healthy donors. This fact might be explained, at least in part, by constitutional differences in genes involved in the interactions tethering CD34⁺ cells to the bone marrow.

Design and Methods

We analyzed genetic characteristics associated with CD34⁺ cell mobilization in 112 healthy individuals receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (filgrastim; 10 μg/kg; 5 days).

Results

Genetic variants in VCAM1 and in CD44 were associated with the number of CD34⁺ cells in peripheral blood after granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration (P=0.02 and P=0.04, respectively), with the quantity of CD34⁺ cells ×10⁶/kg of donor (4.6 versus 6.3; P<0.001 and 7 versus 5.6; P=0.025, respectively), and with total CD34⁺ cells ×10⁶ (355 versus 495; P=0.002 and 522 versus 422; P=0.012, respectively) in the first apheresis. Of note, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor administration was associated with complete disappearance of VCAM1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood. Moreover, genetic variants in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (CSF3R) and in CXCL12 were associated with a lower and higher number of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mobilized CD34⁺ cells/μL in peripheral blood (81 versus 106; P=0.002 and 165 versus 98; P=0.02, respectively) and a genetic variant in CXCR4 was associated with a lower quantity of CD34⁺ cells ×10⁶/kg of donor and total CD34⁺ cells ×10⁶ (5.3 versus 6.7; P=0.02 and 399 versus 533; P=0.01, respectively).

Conclusions

In conclusion, genetic variability in molecules involved in migration and homing of CD34⁺ cells influences the degree of mobilization of these cells.     

Familial adenomatous polyposis and liver metastases from a neuroendocrine tumor

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is mainly characterized by the development of a large number of polyps in the gastrointestinal tract and by the risk of developing adenocarcinomas. We present the case of a woman diagnosed with FAP and liver metastases. Histological analysis revealed both diseases to be secondary to a neuroendocrine tumor. To date, only three cases showing the simultaneous occurrence of these two entities have been published. Currently, there is no genetic basis to explain the coexistence of these two diseases, both of which have a very low prevalence.