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Abstract Healthcare workers (HCWs) were at high risk of experiencing psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact on HCWs’ mental health in a Spanish hospital. Cross-sectional study of HCW, active between May and June 2020. A web-based survey assessed probable current mental disorders (major depressive disorder [PHQ-8 ≥ 10], generalized anxiety disorder [GAD-7 ≥ 10], panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD; PLC-5 ≥ 7], or substance use disorder [CAGE-AID ≥ 2]). The Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS) was used to assess severe impairment and items taken from the modified self‐report version of the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C‐SSRS) assessed suicidal thoughts and behaviors. A total of 870 HCWs completed the survey. Most frequent probable mental disorders were major depressive disorder (33.6%), generalized anxiety disorder (25.5%), panic attacks (26.9%), PTSD (27.2%), and substance use disorder (5.0%). Being female, having aged 18–29 years, being an auxiliary nurse, direct exposure to COVID-19-infected patients, and pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders were positively associated with mental issues. Hospital HCWs presented a high prevalence of symptoms of mental disorders, especially depression, PTSD, panic attacks, and anxiety. Younger individuals and those with lifetime mental disorders have been more vulnerable to experiencing them.

IntroductionThe consensus on recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD) has shifted toward encompassing psychological wellbeing and quality of life dimensions. However, few studies have explored the long-term recovery process and its dimensions, timing, styles, and modes. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent, timing, and process of psychological wellbeing and quality of life recovery in alcohol use disorder (AUD) patients, as well as the relationship with classic dimensions of AUD recovery.MethodA cross-sectional study has been carried out with 348 participants with AUD, in different abstinence periods (1 month–28 years), and 171 control subjects. Participants underwent a psychological evaluation, which included self-informed measures of psychological wellbeing, quality of life, negative emotionality, and coping strategies related to alcohol consumption avoidance. Statistical analysis included linear and non-linear regression models between psychological dimensions and maintenance of abstinence, as well as matching the scores of the sample with AUD to those of controls. Scatter plots were used to explore inflection points. In addition, mean comparison tests were performed between participants with AUD and controls and by gender.ResultsIn general, according to the regression models, there were pronounced increases in indices of wellbeing and coping strategies (and pronounced decreases in negative emotionality) during the first 5 years of abstinence, followed by less pronounced improvements. The matching of AUD subjects in wellbeing and negative emotionality indices with controls occurs at different times: (a) 1 year or less: physical health; (b) 1–4 years: psychological health; (c) 4–10 years: social relationships, wellbeing, and negative emotionality; and (d) more than 10 years: autonomy and self-acceptance. There are statistically significant differences by gender for the negative emotionality and physical health variables.ConclusionRecovery from AUD is a long process that involves improvements in wellbeing and quality of life. Four stages can be described in this process, with the most pronounced changes occurring during the first 5 years of abstinence. However, AUD patients take more time to obtain similar scores to controls in several psychological dimensions.

Suicide is a serious global public health problem, with a worrying recent increase in suicide rates in both adolescent and adult populations. However, it is essential to recognize that suicide is preventable. A myriad of factors contributes to an individual’s vulnerability to suicide. These factors include various potential causes, from psychiatric disorders to genetic and epigenetic alterations. These changes can induce dysfunctions in crucial systems such as the serotonergic, cannabinoid, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axes. In addition, early life experiences of abuse can profoundly impact an individual’s ability to cope with stress, ultimately leading to changes in the inflammatory system, which is a significant risk factor for suicidal behavior. Thus, it is clear that suicidal behavior may result from a confluence of multiple factors. This review examines the primary risk factors associated with suicidal behavior, including psychiatric disorders, early life adversities, and epigenetic modifications. Our goal is to elucidate the molecular changes at the genetic, epigenetic, and molecular levels in the brains of individuals who have taken their own lives and in the plasma and peripheral mononuclear cells of suicide attempters and how these changes may serve as predisposing factors for suicidal tendencies.

**Background:** Cardiovascular (CV) diseases remain a leading and costly cause of death globally. Patients with previous CV events are at high risk of recurrence. Secondary prevention therapies improve CV risk factor control and reduce disease costs. **Objectives:** To assess the cost-effectiveness of a CV polypill strategy (CNIC-Polypill) compared with the loose combination of monocomponents to improve the control of CV risk factors in patients with previous coronary heart disease or stroke. **Methods:** A Markov model cost-utility analysis was developed using 4 health states, SMART risk equation, and 3-month cycles for year 1 and annual cycles thereafter, over a lifetime horizon from the perspective of the National Health System in Portugal (base case). The NEPTUNO study, Portuguese registries, mortality tables, official reports, and the literature were consulted to define effectiveness, epidemiological costs, and utility data. Outcomes were costs (estimated in 2020 euros) per life-year (LY) and quality-adjusted LY (QALY) gained. A 4% discount rate was applied. Alternative scenarios and one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses tested the consistency and robustness of results. **Results:** The CNIC-Polypill strategy in secondary prevention provides more LY and QALY, at a higher cost, than monocomponents. The incremental cost-utility ratio is €1557/QALY gained. Assuming a willingness-to-pay threshold of €30 000/QALY gained, there is a 79.7% and a 44.4% probability of the CNIC-Polypill being cost-effective and cost-saving, respectively, compared with the loose combination of monocomponents. Results remain consistent in the alternative scenarios and robust in the sensitivity analyses. **Discussion:** The model reflects increments in the number of years patients would live and in quality of life with the CNIC-Polypill. The clinical effectiveness of the CNIC-Polypill strategy initially demonstrated in the NEPTUNO study has been recently corroborated in the SECURE trial. The incremental cost of the CNIC-Polypill strategy emerges slightly above the comparator, but willingness-to-pay estimates and sensitivity analyses indicate that the CNIC-Polypill strategy is consistently cost-effective compared with monocomponents and remains within acceptable affordability margins. **Conclusion:** The CNIC-Polypill is a cost-effective secondary prevention strategy. In patients with histories of coronary heart disease or stroke, the CNIC-Polypill more effectively controls CV risk factors compared with monocomponents.

The number of Mining Engineering courses has increased in Brazil since 2004, resulting in a significant rise in the number of graduates. However, such growth was not followed by an equivalent rise in the number of applications for professional registration as a Mining Engineer with the Regional Engineering Councils, which might indicate a shortage of professional opportunities in the marketplace. This paper addresses the current labor market scenario for mining engineers in Brazil, taking sources of formal employment data as a basis: the Labor Ministry’s CAGED and RAIS employee data systems. It was found that there has been a significant asymmetry between the number of graduates and the number of mining engineers formally registered in the country in recent years. Moreover, the number of mining engineers’ dismissals exceeds the hiring figures as of 2012, in contrast with the previous expansion forecasts in this industry, elaborated in 2010 and 2014, based on which new Mining Engineering courses had been opened.

The cognitive decline in people with substance use disorders is well known and can be found during both the dependence and drug abstinence phases. At the clinical level, cognitive decline impairs the response to addiction treatment and increases dropout rates. It can be irreversible, even after the end of drug abuse consumption. Improving our understanding of the molecular and cellular alterations associated with cognitive decline could be essential to developing specific therapeutic strategies for its treatment. Developing animal models to simulate drug abuse-induced learning and memory alterations is critical to continue exploring this clinical situation. The main aim of this review is to summarize the most recent evidence on cognitive impairment and the associated biological markers in patients addicted to some of the most consumed drugs of abuse and in animal models simulating this clinical situation. The available information suggests the need to develop more studies to further explore the molecular alterations associated with cognitive impairment, with the ultimate goal of developing new potential therapeutic strategies.

Resumen: Objetivo: Comprobar los efectos de integrar las asociaciones de ayuda mutua en el programa de continuidad de cuidados de pacientes dependientes del alcohol realizado por equipos de Atención Primaria. Emplazamiento: Equipos de Atención Primaria del área de influencia del Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre de Madrid. Participantes: Se incluyeron 207 participantes dependientes del alcohol y tratados ambulatoriamente de forma intensiva en el hospital en un programa de continuidad de cuidados llevado a cabo por los equipos de Atención Primaria durante cuatro años. Intervenciones: Los pacientes fueron aleatorizados a dos modalidades de continuidad de cuidados diferentes. Un grupo fue seguido con la modalidad de tratamiento conocida como monitorización de la recuperación (Grupo A, n = 97) y los participantes del otro grupo, además de esta intervención, acudían a las asociaciones de ayuda mutua de la Federación de Alcohólicos de la Comunidad de Madrid (FACOMA) en las que se llevaba a cabo el programa Ayúdate-Ayúdanos (Grupo B, n = 112). Mediciones principales: Abandono de las sesiones para monitorizar la recuperación de su dependencia alcohólica y de las otras patologías médicas comórbidas. Resultados: Los pacientes del grupo B tenían mayores porcentajes de adherencia terapéutica al programa (47,9% vs. 14,7%, p

Studies specifically designed to determine the profile of psychiatric symptoms among COVID-19 patients are limited and based on case series, self-report questionnaires, and surveys. The objective of the study was to identify and classify the neuropsychological symptoms of hospitalized COVID-19 patients during the first wave of the pandemic in one of the most important front-line tertiary hospitals from Spain, and to analyze its correlation with diagnosed mental disorders, as well as to explore potential risk factors associated with mental health problems. This observational, cohort study involved data from COVID-19 patients at the University Hospital 12 de Octubre (Madrid, Spain) from February to May 2020. First, patients underwent a semistructured phone interview (screening phase), based on the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Then the confirmation of the diagnosis (confirmation phase) was performed in patients who reported a mental disorder development or worsening. A factorial analysis was performed to identify groups of symptoms. A tetrachoric matrix was created, and factorial analysis, by a principal component analysis, was employed upon it. Factors showing values >1.0 were selected, and a varimax rotation was applied to these factors. Symptoms most frequently identified in patients were anosmia/ageusia (54.6%), cognitive complaints (50.3%), worry/nervousness (43.8%), slowing down (36.2%), and sadness (35.4%). Four factors were identified after the screening phase. The first (“anxiety/depression”) and second (“executive dysfunction”) factors explained 45.4 and 11.5% of the variance, respectively. Women, age between 50 and 60 years, duration in the hospital (more than 13 days), and psychiatric history showed significant higher levels (number of symptoms) in the factors. This study reports the factor structure of the psychiatric symptoms developed by patients with a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV2 during the first wave of the COVID-19. Three item domains (anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms) were loaded together on one factor, whereas sleep disturbance stood up as a separate factor. Interestingly, the item anosmia/ageusia was not captured by any factor. In conclusion, an increase in neuropsychiatric morbidity is expected in the upcoming months and years. Therefore, screening for early symptoms is the first step to prevent mental health problems associated with this pandemic.

Quarantine has been the most general response of all countries affected by the coronavirus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2). There are sufficient studies on the complications that quarantine causes in the population. The severity of emotional responses derived from quarantine depends on several factors, which can occur during or after the quarantine; the present work aims to analyze the consequences of the medicalization process of emotional responses during the quarantine period and its social aspects.

Antecedentes: La Sierra Madre Oriental es una Provincia Fisiográfica ubicada en el noreste de México con características geológicas, climáticas y edáficas distintivas. La flora de esta región aún no ha sido inventariada en conjunto. Preguntas: ¿Cuál es la diversidad florística de la Provincia Fisiográfica de la Sierra Madre Oriental? ¿Cuál es la afinidad geográfica de sus géneros? Sitio y años de estudio: Provincia Fisiográfica de la Sierra Madre Oriental. El trabajo se desarrolló desde agosto del 2012 a diciembre del 2020. Métodos: Se hizo una búsqueda exhaustiva de información en diversas fuentes como herbarios, bases de datos, trabajos florísticos y monografías. Para cada especie, se registró la vegetación, afinidad geográfica del género y endemismo. Resultados: Se registran 6,981 especies de las cuales 1,542 son endémicas. Las familias más ricas en especies son Asteraceae (1,000 especies), Fabaceae (495), Cactaceae (365) y Poaceae (328). Los bosques templados registran el mayor número de especies (2,906). Querétaro fue el estado con más especies (2,803), seguido de Coahuila (2,710) y Nuevo León (2,406). La Sierra Madre Oriental comprende una mayor cantidad de especies con géneros de afinidad geográfica boreal (2,742), seguidas por especies de afinidad tropical (2,020), especies endémicas de México (1,227), cosmopolitas (803) y de los desiertos del mundo (189). Conclusiones: La Sierra Madre Oriental alberga más de la cuarta parte de la flora vascular y un 13 % de las plantas endémicas del país. Es un área que reúne géneros de diferentes afinidades geográficas en su mayoría boreales, seguidos de tropicales y endémicos.

Routine outcome monitoring (ROM) uses standardized measures to both track and inform mental health service delivery. Use of ROM has been shown to improve the outcome of psychotherapy when applied to different types of patients. The present research was designed to determine the reliability and validity of the Outcome Rating Scale (ORS) and the Session Rating Scale (SRS) in a sample of Spanish patients. After a controlled process of translation into the Spanish that is spoken and written in Spain (i.e., in Europe, as distinct from, e.g., Latin American Spanish), both measures were completed by patients of an outpatient mental health unit during eight sessions of psychotherapy. Sixty mental health patients filled out the ORS and 59 the SRS. In addition, the ORS was completed by 33 people who constituted the non-clinical sample. The cut-off of the ORS was 24.52 points, and the Reliable Change Index (RCI) was 9.15 points. ORS and SRS scores exhibited excellent internal consistency. The temporal stability of the SRS was adequate. The convergent and discriminant validity of the two measures were adequate. Regarding the factorial validity of the ORS and the SRS, in the third psychotherapy session, confirmatory factor analyses evidenced the existence of a unifactorial model. The predictive validity of SRS was acceptable. The ORS was sensitive to changes in patients’ symptoms. In conclusion, compared to the original English versions of the ORS and SRS measures, the Spanish versions of the measures are also reliable and valid.

Resumen: Objetivo: El objetivo es estimar la prevalencia de consumos de riesgo de drogas y patrones de consumo en atención primaria. Diseño: Estudio multicéntrico descriptivo transversal. Emplazamiento: Cinco centros de salud del área Sur de Madrid. Participantes: Población consultante en atención primaria entre 16-100 años. Mediciones: Se utilizó el test ASSIST validado al castellano de la Organización Mundial de la Salud para el cribado de consumo de drogas. Se calculó la puntuación total para cada droga. Resultados: Se realizaron un total de 441 cribados. La edad media fue de 51,3 años y un 56,1% presentó algún consumo de riesgo moderado o grave para alguna de las 9 sustancias cribadas. Las drogas con cribado de riesgo más consumidas fueron el tabaco (41,7%), el alcohol (15,4%), los sedantes o los hipnóticos (13,7%) y el cannabis (5,7%), encontrándose algunas diferencias: los hombres consumían más alcohol y cannabis; las mujeres tenían mayor consumo de sedantes/hipnóticos que los hombres. Se observó policonsumo en un 16% de los sujetos. Conclusiones: Existen riesgos derivados del consumo tabaco, alcohol, sedantes y cannabis en atención primaria. Existe una mayor prevalencia de sedantes e hipnóticos. Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study is to estimate risky-drug use patterns of consumption of primary care patients. Design: Multicentric descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: five primary health care centers of the South of Madrid. Participants: all patients between 16-100 year-old consulting with their family physician. Measurements: Spanish-validated World Health Organization ASSIST test was use to screen risky drug use in primary care. Total points scored at the test were obtained. Results: A sum of 441 screening test were collected. Mean age was 51,3 years and 51.6% of patients presented a moderate-severe risky drug use out of the nine drugs tested. The more frequent drug use screened were tobacco (41.7%) followed by alcohol (15.4%), hypnotics (13.7%) and cannabis (5.7%). Differences were found between genders in the patterns: men had higher risky drug uses compared to women regarding alcohol and cannabis. Women had higher sedatives/hypnotics consumption prevalence. A 16% of patients presented with polyconsumption drug use patterns. Conclusions: There is risk derived from drug misuse in primary care for tobacco, alcohol, hypnotics and cannabis as detected by the ASSIST test. There is a higher rate of hypnotics than expected. Palabras clave: Cribado, Trastornos relacionados con sustancias, Atención Primaria, Alcohol, smoking and substances involvement screening test, Keywords: Screening, Substances-Related disorders, Primary Care, Alcohol, smoking and substances involvement screening test

Preclinical evidence suggests a main role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) signaling in drug addiction. Recently, we reported alterations in the plasma concentrations of LPA species in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). As there are sex differences in drug addiction, the main aim of the present study was to investigate whether relevant LPA species (16:0-LPA, 18:0-LPA, 18:1-LPA, 18:2-LPA and 20:4-LPA) were associated with sex and/or substance use disorder (SUD). This exploratory study was conducted in 214 abstinent patients with lifetime SUD, and 91 healthy control subjects. The SUD group was divided according to the diagnosis of AUD and/or cocaine use disorder (CUD). Participants were clinically assessed, and plasma samples were collected to determine LPA species and total LPA. We found that LPA concentrations were significantly affected by sex, and women showed higher concentrations than men. In addition, there were significantly lower 16:0-LPA, 18:2-LPA and total LPA concentrations in patients with SUD than in controls. Namely, patients with CUD and AUD + CUD showed lower LPA concentrations than controls or patients with AUD. In conclusion, our data suggest that LPA species could be potential biomarkers for SUD in women and men, which could contribute to a better stratification of these patients in treatment programs.

The therapeutic benefits of the current medications for patients with psychiatric disorders contrast with a great variety of adverse effects. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) components have gained high interest as potential new targets for treating psychiatry diseases because of their neuromodulator role, which is essential to understanding the regulation of many brain functions. This article reviewed the molecular alterations in ECS occurring in different psychiatric conditions. The methods used to identify alterations in the ECS were also described. We used a translational approach. The animal models reproducing some behavioral and/or neurochemical aspects of psychiatric disorders and the molecular alterations in clinical studies in post-mortem brain tissue or peripheral tissues were analyzed. This article reviewed the most relevant ECS changes in prevalent psychiatric diseases such as mood disorders, schizophrenia, autism, attentional deficit, eating disorders (ED), and addiction. The review concludes that clinical research studies are urgently needed for two different purposes: (1) To identify alterations of the ECS components potentially useful as new biomarkers relating to a specific disease or condition, and (2) to design new therapeutic targets based on the specific alterations found to improve the pharmacological treatment in psychiatry.

Patients with an alcohol abuse disorder exhibit several medical characteristics and social determinants, which suggest a greater vulnerability to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and a worse course of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) once infected. During the first wave of the COVID-19, most of the countries have register an increase in alcohol consumption. However, studies on the impact of alcohol addiction on the risk of COVID-19 infection are very scarce and inconclusive. This research offers a descriptive observational retrospective cohort study using real world data obtained from the Electronic Health Records. We found that patients with a personal history of alcohol abuse were 8% more likely to extend their hospitalization length of stay for 1 day (95% CI = 1.04–1.12) and 15% more likely to extend their Intensive Care Unit (ICU) length of stay (95% CI = 1.01–1.30). They were also 5.47 times more at risk of needing an ICU admission (95% CI = 1.61–18.57) and 3.54 times (95% CI = 1.51–8.30) more at risk of needing a respirator. Regarding COVID-19 symptoms, patients with a personal history of alcohol abuse were 91% more likely of exhibiting dyspnea (95% CI = 1.03–3.55) and 3.15 times more at risk of showing at least one neuropsychiatric symptom (95% CI = 1.61–6.17). In addition, they showed statistically significant differences in the number of neuropsychiatric symptoms developed during the COVID-19 infection. Therefore, we strongly recommend to warn of the negative consequences of alcohol abuse over COVID-19 complications. For this purpose. Clinicians should systematically assess history of alcohol issues and drinking habits in all patients, especially for those who seek medical advice regarding COVID-19 infection, in order to predict its severity of symptoms and potential complications. Moreover, this information should be included, in a structured field, into the Electronic Health Record to facilitate the automatic extraction of data, in real time, useful to evaluate the decision-making process in a dynamic context.

Addiction management is complex, and it requires a bio-psycho-social perspective, that ought to consider the multiple etiological and developmental factors. Because of this, a large amount of resources has been allocated to assess the vulnerability to dependence, i.e., to identify the processes underlying the transition from substance use to dependence, as well as its course, in order to determine the key points in its prevention, treatment, and recovery. Consequently, knowledge \from neuroscience must be taken into account, which is why different initiatives have emerged with this objective, such as the “Research Domain Criteria” (RDoC), and the “Addiction Neuroclinical Assessment” (ANA). Particularly, neuropsychophysiological measures could be used as markers of cognitive and behavioral attributes or traits in alcohol dependence, and even trace clinical change. In this way, the aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview following ANA clinical framework, to the most robust findings in neuropsychophysiological changes in alcohol dependence, that underlie the main cognitive domains implicated in addiction: incentive salience, negative emotionality, and executive functioning. The most consistent results have been found in event-related potential (ERP) analysis, especially in the P3 component, that could show a wide clinical utility, mainly for the executive functions. The review also shows the usefulness of other components, implicated in affective and substance-related processing (P1, N1, or the late positive potential LPP), as well as event-related oscillations, such as theta power, with a possible use as vulnerability or clinical marker in alcohol dependence. Finally, new tools emerging from psychophysiology research, based on functional connectivity or brain graph analysis could help toward a better understanding of altered circuits in alcohol dependence, as well as communication efficiency and effort during mental operations. This review concludes with an examination of these tools as possible markers in the clinical field and discusses methodological differences, the need for more replicability studies and incipient lines of work. It also uses consistent findings in psychophysiology to draw possible treatment targets and cognitive profiles in alcohol dependence.

The high heterogeneity of psychiatric disorders leads to a lack of diagnostic precision. Therefore, the search of biomarkers is a fundamental aspect in psychiatry to reach a more personalized medicine. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has gained increasing interest due to its involvement in many different functional processes in the brain, including the regulation of emotions, motivation, and cognition. This article reviews the role of the main components of the ECS as biomarkers in certain psychiatric disorders. Studies carried out in rodents evaluating the effects of pharmacological and genetic manipulation of cannabinoid receptors or endocannabinoids (eCBs) degrading enzymes were included. Likewise, the ECS-related alterations occurring at the molecular level in animal models reproducing some behavioral and/or neuropathological aspects of psychiatric disorders were reviewed. Furthermore, clinical studies evaluating gene or protein alterations in post-mortem brain tissue or in vivo blood, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were analyzed. Also, the results from neuroimaging studies using positron emission tomography (PET) or functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) were included. This review shows the close involvement of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1r) in stress regulation and the development of mood disorders [anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder (BD)], in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as in the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or eating disorders (i.e. anorexia and bulimia nervosa). On the other hand, recent results reveal the potential therapeutic action of the endocannabinoid tone manipulation by inhibition of eCBs degrading enzymes, as well as by the modulation of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2r) activity on anxiolytic, antidepressive, or antipsychotic associated effects. Further clinical research studies are needed; however, current evidence suggests that the components of the ECS may become promising biomarkers in psychiatry to improve, at least in part, the diagnosis and pharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders.

Antecedentes: Dioon angustifolium es una especie endémica que se distribuye en el extremo noreste de la Sierra Madre Oriental. Se clasifica como especie en peligro de extinción debido a actividades antrópicas como la extracción ilegal con fines comerciales. Pregunta: ¿Cuál es el estado actual de la estructura de las poblaciones de Dioon angustifolium en su área de distribución? Especie en estudio: Dioon angustifolium Miq. (Zamiaceae), especie endémica de la Sierra Madre Oriental en México. Lugar y años de estudio: El estudio se realizó en tres poblaciones de D. angustifolium en Nuevo León (DA1, DA2) y Tamaulipas (DA3) durante el verano de 2018 Métodos: Se determinó la densidad y estructura poblacional de D. angustifolium mediante transectos de 100 m de largo. Para cada una de las poblaciones analizadas se construyó una tabla de vida estática. Resultados: La mayor densidad correspondió a la población DA1 y la menor a DA3. Esta última población está dominada por individuos en fase juvenil. Las tablas de vida indican alta tasa de mortalidad en las primeras etapas del establecimiento, lo que provoca que las poblaciones se encuentren en decremento por la falta de reclutamiento de nuevos individuos. Conclusiones: La extracción de individuos para su comercialización, así como el cambio de uso de suelo disminuyen el tamaño de las poblaciones. De acuerdo con información proporcionada por lugareños, las semillas son utilizadas para elaborar tortillas y atole, sin que se tengan datos de los volúmenes de extracción para poder cuantificar el efecto sobre la dinámica poblacional.

Mobile phone abuse may be associated with health problems as well as with interferences in daily life. However, beyond the mobile as a device, the contributions of specific utilities and applications to the problematic mobile phone use remains to be analyzed. To address this important question we conducted 1,126 online interviews in Spain with participants aged 16 to 65 who are representative of the general population. The aim of the study was to analyze the patterns and differences of cell phone use based on habitual use, abuse, and problematic use, considering the most frequently used utilities and applications. Additional variables used were personal perception of cell phones, intensity of use, and participant’s lifestyle with regard to entertainment and the maintenance of healthy habits. Further, we aimed to analyze difference between problematic and non-problematic mobile phone users in the utilization of applications, controlling for additional variables such as age, gender, educational level, consumption of tobacco and alcohol and illegal drugs. Results show that problematic use is consistent with the self-perception of abuse and is related to internet browsing, social media, music, and mobile games; particular applications of interest include Facebook, music applications, and Twitter. Furthermore, among problematic users, a pattern of interference with other activities or inappropriate use in certain contexts is observed, with a differential pattern of entertainment and abandonment of healthy habits. Finally, two binary logistic regression analyses demonstrated that beyond the cell phones themselves, specific utilities and applications such as browsing, chatting, or downloading and listening to music contribute to the differences between problematic and non-problematic users. Specifically, the use of Facebook, Twitter, and music applications have the greatest power to discriminate between the two types of users.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is an endogenous lysophospholipid and a bioactive lipid that is synthesized by the enzyme autotaxin (ATX). The ATX–LPA axis has been associated with cognitive dysfunction and inflammatory diseases, mainly in a range of nonalcoholic liver diseases. Recently, preclinical and clinical evidence has suggested a role of LPA signaling in alcohol use disorder (AUD) and AUD-related cognitive function. However, the ATX–LPA axis has not been sufficiently investigated in alcoholic liver diseases. An exploratory study was conducted in 136 participants, 66 abstinent patients with AUD seeking treatment for alcohol (alcohol group), and 70 healthy control subjects (control group). The alcohol group was divided according to the presence of comorbid liver diseases (i.e., fatty liver/steatosis, alcoholic steatohepatitis, or cirrhosis). All participants were clinically evaluated, and plasma concentrations of total LPA and ATX were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Data were primarily analyzed using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) while controlling for age, body mass index, and sex. Logistic regression models were created to assess the association of the ATX–LPA axis and AUD or liver disease. LPA and ATX were log10-transformed to fit the assumptions of parametric testing.The main results were as follows: total LPA and ATX concentrations were dysregulated in the alcohol group, and patients with AUD had significantly lower LPA (F(1,131) = 10.677, p = 0.001) and higher ATX (F(1,131) = 8.327, p = 0.005) concentrations than control subjects; patients with AUD and liver disease had significantly higher ATX concentrations (post hoc test, p < 0.05) than patients with AUD but not liver disease; significant correlations between AUD-related variables and concentrations of LPA and ATX were only found in the non-liver disease subgroup (the duration of alcohol abstinence with LPA and ATX (r = +0.33, p < 0.05); and the severity of AUD with ATX (rho = −0.33, p < 0.05)); and a logistic regression model with LPA, ATX, and AUD-related variables showed an excellent discriminative power (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.915, p < 0.001) for distinguishing patients with AUD and comorbid liver disease. In conclusion, our data show that the ATX–LPA axis is dysregulated in AUD and suggest this lipid signaling, in combination with relevant AUD-related variables, as a reliable biomarker of alcoholic liver diseases.

Objective: A bibliometric study was undertaken of peer-reviewed publications on atypical antipsychotic drugs (AADs) from the United Kingdom and the findings are presented herein. Methods: We selected the documents from the Scopus database. We applied several production and dispersion bibliometric indicators, including Price’s law on the growth of the scientific literature, and Bradford’s law. We also calculated a so-called ‘participation index’ across different countries. The bibliometric data were thereafter correlated with social and health data from the UK, including total per capita expenditure on health and gross domestic expenditure. Results: A total of 4156 original manuscripts were published within the timeframe 1967–2015. Our results are in accord with Price’s law, with scientific output demonstrating exponential growth ( r = 0.9227, as against an r = 0.8766 after adjustment). The drugs most widely evaluated were clozapine (465 documents), olanzapine (263) and risperidone (248). Stratification into Bradford zones produced a nucleus represented by the Journal of Psychopharmacology (168 articles) and British Journal of Psychiatry (159 articles). A total of 1250 different journals were evaluated. Conclusions: Publications on AADs in the UK have shown exponential growth across the studied period, which is in line with the progressively burgeoning novel AAD releases. No evidence of a saturation point was observed.

Interest in phase change materials keeps on rising as thermal energy storage grows in popularity in the scientific community as a promising complement for renewable energies in the future. Extending the possibilities beyond pure compounds, the use of mixtures (especially eutectics) widens the range of suitable phase change materials (PCM) available in the market. However, a precise knowledge of the mixtures’ phase behavior is required, making phase diagrams the most appropriate tools to follow. The aim of this work is to collect and analyze published literature concerning the phase diagrams of fatty acid esters mixtures, which constitute promising candidates as PCM due to their attractive properties, such as high latent heat, chemical stability and the possibility of extracting them from vegetable and animal oils. The topic appears as a still open scientific field, where further studies need to be performed to complete, complement and perfect the currently available information.

Measuring thermo-physical properties of phase change materials (PCM) in a consistent and reliable manner is essential for system layout of thermal energy storages and correspondingly material selection. Only if basic properties are assessed in a comparable way a selection process leads to the top candidate for any given application and thus enhances market penetration of renewable energy sources coupled with thermal energy storage. In this study, we focus on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) as basic assessment techniques and develop consistent measurement procedures to create a database with comparable results. We show consistency of the measured results through analysis of coefficient of variation (CV), being in the mean 1.69%, 0.05%, 0.06% and 4.00% for enthalpy, melting onset, melting peak and maximum operating temperature, respectively. Overall, 23 PCM have been measured with the presented methodology, which was mainly possible due to the reduced measurement and preparation time per PCM compared to standard techniques, while achieving similar accuracy and precision.

AimsDespite alcohol being the most often used addictive substance among addicted patients, use of other substances such as cocaine has increased over recent years, and the combination of both drugs aggravates health impairment and complicates clinical assessment. The aim of this study is to identify and characterize heterogeneous subgroups of cocaine- and alcohol-addicted patients with common characteristics based on substance use disorders, psychiatric comorbidity and impulsivity.MethodsA total of 214 subjects with cocaine and/or alcohol use disorders were recruited from outpatient treatment programs and clinically assessed. A latent class analysis was used to establish phenotypic categories according to diagnosis of cocaine and alcohol use disorders, mental disorders, and impulsivity scores. Relevant variables were examined in the latent classes (LCs) using correlation and analyses of variance and covariance.ResultsFour LCs of addicted patients were identified: Class 1 (45.3%) formed by alcohol-dependent patients exhibiting lifetime mood disorder diagnosis and mild impulsivity; Class 2 (14%) formed mainly by lifetime cocaine use disorder patients with low probability of comorbid mental disorders and mild impulsivity; Class 3 (10.7%) formed by cocaine use disorder patients with elevated probability to course with lifetime anxiety, early and personality disorders, and greater impulsivity scores; and Class 4 (29.9%) formed mainly by patients with alcohol and cocaine use disorders, with elevated probability in early and personality disorders and elevated impulsivity. Furthermore, there were significant differences among classes in terms of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-4th Edition-Text Revision criteria for abuse and dependence: Class 3 showed more criteria for cocaine use disorders than other classes, while Class 1 and Class 4 showed more criteria for alcohol use disorders.ConclusionCocaine- and alcohol-addicted patients who were grouped according to diagnosis of substance use disorders, psychiatric comorbidity, and impulsivity show different clinical and sociodemographic variables. Whereas mood and anxiety disorders are more prevalent in alcohol-addicted patients, personality disorders are associated with cocaine use disorders and diagnosis of comorbid substance use disorders. Notably, increased impulsivity is a distinctive characteristic of patients with severe cocaine use disorder and comorbid personality disorders. Psychiatric disorders and impulsivity should be considered for improving the stratification of addicted patients with shared clinical and sociodemographic characteristics to select more appropriate treatments.

We have carried out a bibliometric study about the international scientific publications on clozapine. We have used the EMBASE and MEDLINE databases, and we applied bibliometric indicators of production, as Price’s Law on the increase of scientific literature. We also calculated the participation index (PI) of the different countries. The bibliometric data have also been correlated with some social and health data from the 12 most productive countries in biomedicine and health sciences. In addition, 5607 original documents dealing with clozapine, published between 1970 and 2013, were downloaded. Our results state non-fulfilment of Price’s Law, with scientific production on clozapine showing linear growth (r = 0.8691, vs. r = 0.8478 after exponential adjustment). Seven of the 12 journals with the highest numbers of publications on clozapine have an Impact Factor > 2. Among the countries generating clozapine research, the most prominent is the USA (PI = 24.32), followed by the UK (PI = 6.27) and Germany (PI = 5.40). The differences among countries on clozapine research are significantly related to economic variables linked to research. The scientific interest in clozapine remains remarkable, although after the application of bibliometric indicators of production, a saturation point is evident in the growth of scientific literature on this topic.

In some people, problematic cell phone use can lead to situations in which they lose control, similar to those observed in other cases of addiction. Although different scales have been developed to assess its severity, we lack an instrument that is able to determine the desire or craving associated with it. Thus, with the objective of evaluating craving for cell phone use, in this study, we develop and present the Mobile Phone Addiction Craving Scale (MPACS). It consists of eight Likert-style items, with 10 response options, referring to possible situations in which the interviewee is asked to evaluate the degree of restlessness that he or she feels if the cell phone is unavailable at the moment. It can be self-administered or integrated in an interview when abuse or problems are suspected. With the existence of a single dimension, reflected in the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the scale presents adequate reliability and internal consistency (α = 0.919). Simultaneously, we are able to show significantly increased correlations (r = 0.785, p = 0.000) with the Mobile Phone Problematic Use Scale (MPPUS) and state anxiety (r = 0.330, p = 0.000). We are also able to find associations with impulsivity, measured using the urgency, premeditation, perseverance, and sensation seeking scale, particularly in the dimensions of negative urgency (r = 0.303, p = 0.000) and positive urgency (r = 0.290, p = 0.000), which confirms its construct validity. The analysis of these results conveys important discriminant validity among the MPPUS user categories that are obtained using the criteria by Chow et al. (1). The MPACS demonstrates higher levels of craving in persons up to 35 years of age, reversing with age. In contrast, we do not find significant differences among the sexes. Finally, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis allows us to establish the scores from which we are able to determine the different levels of craving, from the absence of craving to that referred to as addiction. Based on these results, we can conclude that this scale is a reliable tool that complements ongoing studies on problematic cell phone use.

The identification of growth factors as potential biomarkers in alcohol addiction may help to understand underlying mechanisms associated with the pathogenesis of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). Previous studies have linked growth factors to neural plasticity in neurocognitive impairment and mental disorders. In order to further clarify the impact of chronic alcohol consumption on circulating growth factors, a cross-sectional study was performed in abstinent AUD patients (alcohol group, N = 91) and healthy control subjects (control group, N = 55) to examine plasma concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF-1 binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3). The association of these plasma peptides with relevant AUD-related variables and psychiatric comorbidity was explored. The alcohol group was diagnosed with severe AUD and showed an average of 13 years of problematic use and 10 months of abstinence at the moment of participating in the study. Regarding common medical conditions associated with AUD, we observed an elevated incidence of alcohol-induced liver and pancreas diseases (18.7%) and psychiatric comorbidity (76.9%). Thus, AUD patients displayed a high prevalence of dual diagnosis (39.3%) [mainly depression (19.9%)] and comorbid substance use disorders (40.7%). Plasma BDNF and IGF-1 concentrations were significantly lower in the alcohol group than in the control group (p

Problematic cell phone use has alarmingly increased in industrialized countries in the past 10 years. For many perpetrators, it can turn into a behavioural addiction, although this is not a recognized medical condition. Although there are many tools for evaluating this use, one of the most widely used tools is the Mobile Phone Problematic Use Scale (MPPUS), which we test on a representative sample of the population in Spain to obtain an estimate of the prevalence of problematic cell phone use in our midst. The age range consists of 16-65 years, with 1,126 surveys conducted. In this population, we verify that the reliability and internal consistency of the MPPUS (α = 0.939) are maintained. Additionally, the construct validity, considering the derived factors (Abuse and Dependence, Craving and Loss of Control, and Dependence on the Social Environment) are aligned with other research and with diverse external criteria of addiction. We establish four categories of users (Casual, Regular, At Risk, and Problematic) and obtain a prevalence of 15.4% among At Risk Users and 5.1% among Problematic Users. This finding implies a total of 20.5% of Users with Problems. A binary logistic regression analysis shows that age, gender, level of education, and daily cell phone use predict problematic cell phone use. The results, based on multiple criteria, show that such problematic use shares features of recognized addictions, affecting large segments of the population and not only adolescents.

Los trastornos por uso de alcohol (TUA) están siendo estudiados empleando distintos paradigmas neurofisiológicos y neuropsicológicos, entre los que se encuentran el paradigma de la respuesta de sobresalto (RS) y la inhibición prepulso (IPP). En este artículo presentamos los resultados que nuestro grupo ha obtenido después de desarrollar varias líneas de investigación en relación a la RS y la IPP en pacientes con TUA. El primer estudio se realizó con 19 pacientes con dependencia de alcohol, a los que se evaluó la RS y la IPP a nivel basal y a los 14 días, después de haber completado de manera satisfactoria el proceso de desintoxicación. El segundo estudio incluyó a 60 pacientes con dependencia de alcohol y que mantenían una abstinencia de al menos un mes, que fueron testados mediante el test de sobresalto y comparados con un grupo control. En el tercer estudio, 40 pacientes procedentes del segundo estudio fueron evaluados mediante pruebas de impulsividad, correlacionando posteriormente las variables de la RS y las variables de impulsividad. Nuestros estudios han demostrado que los pacientes con dependencia de alcohol presentan una me nor magnitud de la RS y una alteración de la IPP cuando son comparados con sujetos sanos. Las alteraciones de la IPP son más marcadas cuando los pacientes presentan un consumo activo de alcohol y se encuentran en las fases iniciales del síndrome de abstinencia, tendiendo a recuperarse parcialmente una vez que se ha completado de manera satisfactoria un tratamiento de desintoxicación, aunque en ningún caso se llegan a alcanzar los porcentajes de IPP mostrados por el grupo de controles sanos. Por último, hemos encontrado que los paradigmas de la RS y las variables de impulsividad se correlacionan en pacientes con dependencia de alcohol, pero no es sujetos sanos. Se concluye que el test de la RS y la IPP pueden ser una herramienta útil a la hora de evaluar a pacientes con dependencia de alcohol, pudiendo ser consideradas como variables neurofisiológicas que podrían constituir marcadores de vulnerabilidad para el desarrollo de alcoholismo o bien el reflejo de los efectos neurotóxicos que el alcohol ejerce sobre el sistema nervioso central.

We present a review of the studies that have been published about addiction to cell phones. We analyse the concept of cell phone addiction as well as its prevalence, study methodologies, psychological features and associated psychiatric comorbidities. Research in this field has generally evolved from a global view of the cell phone as a device to its analysis via applications and contents. The diversity of criteria and methodological approaches that have been used is notable, as is a certain lack of conceptual delimitation that has resulted in a broad spread of prevalent data. There is a consensus about the existence of cell phone addiction, but the delimitation and criteria used by various researchers vary. Cell phone addiction shows a distinct user profile that differentiates it from Internet addiction. Without evidence pointing to the influence of cultural level and socioeconomic status, the pattern of abuse is greatest among young people, primarily females. Intercultural and geographical differences have not been sufficiently studied. The problematic use of cell phones has been associated with personality variables such as extraversion, neuroticism, self-esteem, impulsivity, self-identity and self-image. Similarly, sleep disturbance, anxiety, stress, and, to a lesser extent, depression, which are also associated with Internet abuse, have been associated with problematic cell phone use. In addition, the present review reveals the coexistence relationship between problematic cell phone use and substance use such as tobacco and alcohol.

El Archivo del Patrimonio Inmaterial de Navarra aloja numerosos elementos gráficos, textuales y sonoros que configuran una enorme base de datos multimedia para la investigación y el conocimiento de la riqueza cultural de Navarra y Baja Navarra. Esta base de datos, todavía, mantiene una cierta distancia con parte de su público objetivo: el alumnado de primaria y secundaria. El artículo se propone el diseño de una estrategia didáctica, basada en la narración digital y en la comunicación transmedia, capaz de tender puentes con ese público objetivo. Para ello, se analizará en primer lugar el perfil del alumnado, el entorno escolar y el contexto digital en el que vive. A continuación, se explorará la relación del patrimonio inmaterial con la narrativa digital y se estudiarán las necesidades técnicas y didácticas, para poder desarrollar esa línea de trabajo con la herramienta de programación de videojuegos e historias interactivas Scratch (MIT).

Se presenta la validación de la Escala sobre el Deseo de Beber (EDB), instrumento de medida de nueva creación, en una muestra de 126 alcohólicos en distintos tipos de tratamiento de su dependencia. Este instrumento ha reflejado una elevada consistencia interna (alfa de Cronbach de 0.917). Los factores obtenidos del análisis factorial proporcionan una estructura de contenido que permite realizar una medida holística del constructo. La EDB y los factores que se derivan de ella correlacionan de forma alta, significativa y positiva con la Escala de la Intensidad de la Dependencia Alcohólica (EIDA) y sus subescalas. Por todo ello podemos decir que este instrumento posee condiciones adecuadas para su uso en la medida del constructo "deseo de beber" y gran aplicabilidad en el ámbito clínico y de investigación.