Mindfulness as a protective factor against depressive symptoms in people with fibromyalgia.

Background: Depressive symptoms complicate pain management for people with FM, with adverse consequences such as a greater need for pain medications and limited pain coping strategies. Determining risks and protective factors associated with depressive symptoms in persons with FM could inform the development and implementation of mental health interventions.Aims: To formulate and test a behavioral activation model of depression with mindfulness as a protective factor for people with FM.Methods: We conducted an online cross-sectional survey with 117 adults with FM from community and clinic networks. Path analysis was used to assess the relationships of pain intensity, perceived stress, activity interference, pain catastrophizing and mindfulness with depressive symptoms.Results: Mindfulness has a negative direct association with depressive symptoms and a negative indirect association with depressive symptoms through perceived stress, activity interference and pain catastrophizing. Perceived stress, activity interference and pain catastrophizing had direct associations with depressive symptoms. Finally, perceived stress, activity interference and pain catastrophizing had indirect associations with depressive symptoms through pain intensity.Conclusions: Mindfulness seems to play an important role as a protective factor against the negative effects of stress and depression among people with FM and should be included in mental health interventions for chronic pain.

Predictors of perceived social effectiveness of individuals with serious mental illness.

OBJECTIVE: Social effectiveness continues to play a critical role in recovery of people with serious mental illness (SMI), with greater social effectiveness predicting many positive life outcomes. Despite the abundance of literature supporting the relationship between perceptions and behavior, little is known about predictors of perceived social effectiveness of individuals with SMI. METHODS: The purpose of this study is to examine the predictors of perceived social effectiveness of individuals with SMI. Cross-sectional data of 192 participants with SMI recruited from four psychiatric rehabilitation clubhouses in 2 states in the South and Midwest regions of the United States were used for this study. Self-report data on category of psychiatric disabilities, psychiatric symptoms, cognition, insight, educational attainment, empathy, interpersonal interactions and relationships, self-stigma, disability acceptance, and perceived social effectiveness were collected and analyzed using multiple regression analysis (MRA). RESULTS: MRA yielded a regression model that accounted for 56% of the variance in perceived social effectiveness, which is considered a large effect size. Controlling for all other factors, mood disorder, educational attainment, empathy, interpersonal interactions and relationships, and disability acceptance were found to be significant predictors of perceived social effectiveness of persons with SMI. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Practitioners should consider determining points of intervention and targeting specific elements that enhance perceived social effectiveness. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Personal and environmental contextual factors as mediators between functional disability and quality of life in adults with serious mental illness: a cross-sectional analysis.

PURPOSE: To examine personal and environmental contextual factors as mediators of functional disability on quality of life (QOL) in a sample of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of 194 individuals with SMI (major depressive disorder = 38.1%; bipolar disorder = 35.6%; schizophrenia spectrum disorder = 25.8%) recruited from four psychosocial rehabilitation clubhouses was undertaken to test a multiple regression model assuming that personal (i.e., resilience, social competence, and disability acceptance) contextual factors and environmental (i.e., family support, support from friends, and support from significant others) contextual factors would mediate the relationship of functional disability on QOL. The bootstrap test for multiple mediators was then used to test for the significance of the indirect effects functional disability on QOL through the mediators. RESULTS: In the simple regression model, functional disability had a strong relationship with QOL; however, after introducing the potential mediators, its effect was significantly reduced indicating partial mediation effects. The final regression model yielded a large effect, accounting for 44% of the variance in QOL. Controlling for all other potential mediating factors, social competence, disability acceptance, family support, and support from friends were found to partially mediate the relationship between functional disability and QOL. Bias-corrected bootstrap procedure results further supported the mediation model. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from the study provide good support for the inclusion of person-environment contextual factors in conceptualizing the relationship between functional disability and QOL for individuals with SMI.

Educação social e infância: atuação e formação profissional no projeto "brincadeiras com meninos e meninas de/e na rua" / Social education and childhood: practice and training at the project "playing with boys and girls from/in the street" / Educación social e infancia: actuación y formación professional en el "proyecto juegos con niños y niñas de/y la calle"

A Educação Social é uma área em expansão no Brasil; este é um estudo que trata sobre a relação entre a formação e a atuação dos profissionais envolvidos, bem como a defesa dos direitos humanos de crianças e adolescentes. O objetivo foi delineado a partir das experiências de Educadores Sociais, participantes de um Projeto de Extensão Universitária denominado "Projeto Brincadeiras com Meninos e Meninas de/e na Rua" entre os anos de 2007 a 2011. Os procedimentos metodológicos para o desenvolvimento da pesquisa foram estruturados a partir dos fundamentos da pesquisa qualitativa (TRIVIÑOS, 2011). Como técnica de coleta de dados realizou-se entrevistas semiestruturadas com os educadores que participaram do referido projeto, visando a análise de dados, através da técnica de Análise de Conteúdo, de Bardin (1977). O estudo buscou apresentar os princípios do projeto "Projeto Brincadeiras": respeito, compromisso, diálogo, inclusão e participação; através da análise das entrevistas com os educadores do projeto, apontando os fundamentos presentes na formação e atuação, contribuindo com estas reflexões sobre o trabalho com a infância e a adolescência dentro do contexto brasileiro. Os resultados apresentados demonstram que os educadores sociais se confrontam com negligências e violações de direito na realidade em que atuaram e que através de suas experiências com o Projeto desenvolveram empatia e compromisso em diferentes âmbitos de sua atuação profissional , passando a reconhecer a necessidade da luta pelos direitos humanos de crianças e adolescentes.

The Social Education is a growing area in Brazil; this is a study that deals with the relationship between training and the performance of the professionals involved, as well as the human rights of children and adolescents. The goal was designed from the experiences of Social Educators participating in a University Extension Project called "Project Playing with Boys and Girls from/in the Street" between the years 2007 to 2011. The methodological procedures for the development of the research were structured according to the fundamentals of qualitative research (TRIVIÑOS, 2011). As data collection technique was carried out semi-structured interviews with educators who participated in this project, aimed at data analysis through content analysis technique of Bardin (1977). The study aimed to present the principles of the "Project Playing": respect, commitment, dialogue, inclusion and participation; through the analysis of interviews with educators of the project, pointing out the fundamentals present in the formation and operation, contributing to these reflections about working with childhood and adolescence in the Brazilian context. The results show that social educators are faced with negligence and violations of law in reality they acted and through their experiences with the project developed empathy and commitment in different areas of their professional practice, coming to recognize the need to fight for human rights of children and adolescents.

La Educación Social es un área en crecimiento en Brasil; este es un estudio que trata de la relación entre la formación y el desempeño de los profesionales involucrados, así como los derechos humanos de los niños y adolescentes. El objetivo fue diseñado a partir de las experiencias de los Educadores Sociales que participan en un Proyecto de Extensión Universitaria llamado "Proyecto Jugando con niños y niñas de/en la Calle" entre los años 2007 a 2011. Los procedimientos metodológicos para el desarrollo de la investigación fueron estructurados de acuerdo a los fundamentos de la investigación cualitativa (Triviños, 2011). Como técnica de recolección de datos se llevó a cabo entrevistas semi-estructuradas con los educadores que participaron en este proyecto, dirigido a análisis de datos a través de contenidos técnica de análisis de Bardin (1977). El estudio tuvo como objetivo presentar los principios de la "Juega Proyecto": el respeto, el compromiso, el diálogo, la inclusión y la participación; a través del análisis de las entrevistas con los educadores del proyecto, señalando los fundamentos presentes en la formación y funcionamiento, que contribuyen a estas reflexiones sobre el trabajo con niños y adolescentes en el contexto brasileño. Los resultados muestran que los educadores sociales se enfrentan a la negligencia y violaciónes de la ley en realidad actuaron como a través de sus experiencias con el proyecto desarrollado empatía y compromiso en las diferentes áreas de su práctica profesional, llegando a reconocer la necesidad de luchar por los derechos humanos de los niños y adolescentes.

Vocational rehabilitation service patterns and employment outcomes of people with epilepsy.

This study aimed to examine the association between vocational rehabilitation (VR) services and employment outcomes of people with epilepsy (PWE), after controlling for demographic covariates. Data was retrieved from the Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report (RSA-911) database for fiscal year (FY) 2011. Multivariate logistic regression was used to predict employment outcomes of PWE. Of the 2030 previously unemployed PWE who received services, 884 (43.5%) achieved successful competitive employment. Results indicate that higher education level and cost of VR services consumed were positively related to successful employment. In contrast, having co-occurring anxiety/depression, receiving cash benefits, or increasing time spent in the VR system was negatively associated with employment. Eight specific VR services (e.g., education, vocational training, and job search and placement assistance) were also found to be significant predictors of employment. Services provided by state VR agencies were proven to be beneficial in improving employment outcomes. PWE should be encouraged to pursue VR services to increase the chances of attaining employment. Health care providers should also become familiar with the array of VR services.

State rehabilitation services tailored to employment status among cancer survivors.

PURPOSE: Previous analyses of vocational rehabilitation services for unemployed cancer survivors indicated that counseling and guidance, job search assistance, and job placement services are significantly associated with increased odds for employment. However, many cancer survivors with jobs to return to may require vocational interventions that are different from unemployed cancer survivors. It is unclear whether the public rehabilitation system provides vocational services that are based on the work status of cancer survivors rather than providing the same set of services for all cancer survivors. This study examined whether differences in the types of services were indeed based on the employment status of those with a history of cancer at the time of application. METHODS: Administrative data on 1,460 cancer survivors were obtained through the US Rehabilitation Services Administration Case Service Report (RSA-911) dataset for fiscal year 2007. Data on demographic characteristics and vocational service patterns were extracted and analyzed. Multiple discriminant analysis was used to identify differential services received by cancer survivors based on employment status at time of application for vocational rehabilitation services. RESULTS: Results of the multiple discriminant analysis indicated one significant canonical discriminant function, with Wilks's λ = .92, χ (2)(19, N = 1,456) = 114.87, p < .001. The correlations between the discriminating variables and the significant canonical discriminant function were highest for diagnoses and treatment (-.526), job placement (.487), transportation (.419), job search (.403), vocational training (.384), job readiness (.344), university training (.307), and rehabilitation technology (-.287). The group centroids along the significant discriminant function (the distance of each group from the center of the canonical function) indicated that the employed applicant group (-.542) and the unemployed applicant group (.153) can be differentiated based on vocational rehabilitation services received, with the employed applicant group receiving primarily diagnostic and treatment services and rehabilitation technology/job accommodation services, while the unemployed applicant group received more vocational training, job seeking skills training, and job placement services. CONCLUSIONS: Employed cancer survivors who are at risk of losing their job and unemployed cancer survivors who are looking for a job receive different vocational services tailored to needs, suggesting that state vocational rehabilitation services for cancer survivors is responsive to individual client needs.

Crianças e suas opiniões: lazer e esportes emuma cidade brasileira / Children and their opinions: leisure and sports in a Brazilian city

O objetivo do artigo é analisar as opiniões e sugestões das crianças para o lazere os esportes na cidade de Maringá-PR (Brasil). Os resultados mostram que estão insatisfeitascom os espaços e equipamentos existentes para a prática de lazer e que estão com seus direitosviolados. Partindo das propostas das crianças, concluimos que é fundamental a ativação da Redede Atendimento e Proteção à infância na cidade para a oferta de políticas públicas de lazer e deesportes que garantam o direito de todas as crianças e que as incluam nas decisões acerca de políticaspúblicas para a infância no município.

The buffering effect of resilience on depression among individuals with spinal cord injury: a structural equation model.

OBJECTIVE: To translate the theoretical constructs from a model of resilience into a structural equation model and evaluate relationships among the model's theoretical constructs associated with resilience and the occurrence of depressive symptoms. DESIGN: Quantitative descriptive research design using structural equation modeling (SEM). PARTICIPANTS: Two-hundred and fifty-five individuals with SCI recruited from the Canadian Paraplegic Association (CPA). OUTCOME MEASURES: Outcome was measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale. RESULTS: The resilience model fit the data relatively well: χ² (200, N = 255) = 451.57, p < .001; χ²/df = 2.26; CFI = .92, RMSEA = 0.070 (90% CI: 0.062-0.079), explaining 77% of the variance in depressive symptomatology. Severity of SCI-related stressors significantly influenced perceived stress (ß = .60) and perceived stress, in turn, affected depressive symptoms (ß = .66), characteristics of resilience (ß = -.43), and social support (ß = -.26). The resilience characteristics had an inverse relationship with depressive symptoms (ß = -.29). No direct relationship was found between severity of SCI-related stressors and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide support for the resilience model and suggests characteristics of resilience "buffer" the perceptions of stress on depressive symptoms. The resilience model may be useful to guide clinical interventions designed to improve the mental health of individuals with SCI.

Alpha-synuclein aggregation induced by brief ischemia negatively impacts neuronal survival in vivo: a study in [A30P]alpha-synuclein transgenic mouse.

Alpha-synuclein oligomerization and aggregation are considered to have a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. However, despite numerous in vitro studies, the impact of aggregates in the intact brain is unclear. In vitro, oxidative/nitrative stress and acidity induce α-synuclein oligomerization. These conditions favoring α-synuclein fibrillization are present in the ischemic brain, which may serve as an in vivo model to study α-synuclein aggregation. In this study, we show that 30-minute proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion and 72 hours reperfusion induce oligomerization of wild-type α-synuclein in the ischemic mouse brain. The nonamyloidogenic isoform ß-synuclein did not form oligomers. Alpha-synuclein aggregates were confined to neurons and colocalized with ubiquitin immunoreactivity. We also found that 30 minutes proximal MCA occlusion and 24 hours reperfusion induced larger infarcts in C57BL/6(Thy1)-h[A30P]alphaSYN transgenic mice, which have an increased tendency to form synuclein fibrils. Trangenics also developed more selective neuronal necrosis when subjected to 20 minutes distal MCA occlusion and 72 hours reperfusion. Enhanced 3-nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity in transgenic mice suggests that oxidative/nitrative stress may be one of the mechanisms mediating aggregate toxicity. Thus, the increased vulnerability of transgenic mice to ischemia suggests that α-synuclein aggregates not only form during ischemia but also negatively impact neuronal survival, supporting the idea that α-synuclein misfolding may be neurotoxic.

Brincadeiras e espaços urbanos: um estudo da prática lúdica de crianças de diferentes classes sociais da cidade de Maringá ? PR / Jokes and urban spaces: a study practice of the entertaining children of different social classes from Maringá- PR

Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo analisar como crianças de diferentes classes sociais da cidade de Maringá-PR brincam nos espaços urbanos de seus bairros. O trabalho caracteriza-se como qualitativo com o uso de técnicas etnográficas. A pesquisa de campo englobou observações nos bairros Vila Emília (classe baixa) e Jardim Novo Horizonte (classe alta) e entrevistas com as crianças do bairro pobre. Constatamos que uma das principais diferenças é que as crianças ricas não são lá encontradas e estão, possivelmente, em suas casas ou em outros lugares fechados e institucionalizados, enquanto as crianças pobres brincam constantemente nas ruas, calçadas e terrenos baldios, As primeiras são afastadas de viver suas brincadeiras na vida comunitária onde moram, já as crianças pobres estão se apropriando dos espaços do bairro para suas práticas lúdicas.

This study aims to examine how children of different social classes of Maringá city, PR play in urban neighborhoods. The work is characterized as qualitative with the use of ethnographic techniques. The of study observations encompassed the neighborhoods Villa Emilia (low class) and Jardim Novo Horizonte (upper class) and interviews with the children in the poor neighborhood. We noticed that one major difference is that the rich children are not found in there and they are possibly in their homes or other closed places and institutionalized, while poor children play constantly in the streets, sidewalks and vacant lots. The former are far from leaving their play in community life where they live, on the other hand poor children are already appropriating the spaces of the neighborhood to play their practices.

As Crianças de Hitler: Testemunhos de uma Geração Manipulada / The Hitler's children: testimonies of a manipulated generation / Los niños de Hitler: retrato de una generación manipulada

Essa resenha descreve e analisa As crianças de Hitler, de Guido Knopp, por meio de fatos históricos, documentos e relatos de uma geração seduzida e doutrinada segundo a ideologia nazista. Atenta, ainda, para o processo de formação dessas crianças, especialmente no tocante ao papel assumido pelas atividades de lazer, pelo esporte e pela ginástica na educação ariana

This review describes and analyzes The Hitler's Children, of Guido Knopp, through aut historical facts, documents and reports of a seduced and indoctrinated generation according to the Nazi ideology. Yet, taking the attention to the process of children's formation, especially the concerning about the role assumed by the leisure activities, sport and gymnastic in the Aryan education

Esta reseña describe y analiza Los niños de Hitler, de Guido Knopp, partiendo de hechos históricos, documentos y relatos de una generación seducida y adoctrinada en el seguimiento de la ideología nazi. Atenta al proceso de formación de la niñez y de la juventud, especialmente en todo lo que se refiere al papel asumido por las actividades recreativas, el deporte y la gimnasia en la "educación aria"

Protection of wistar furth rats from chronic renal disease is associated with maintained renal nitric oxide synthase.

Wistar Furth (WF) rats do not develop renal injury after severe reduction of renal mass. Because clinical and animal studies suggested that nitric oxide (NO) deficiency occurs and may contribute to chronic renal disease (CRD), the status of the NO system in WF versus Sprague Dawley (SD) rats was examined with the 5/6 renal ablation/infarction (A/I) model of CRD. Eleven weeks after A/I, SD rats developed proteinuria, severe kidney damage, decreased renal function, and marked decreases in total and renal NO synthase (NOS), specifically neuronal NOS. In contrast, WF rats exhibited elevated baseline and maintained post-A/I total NO production, with no decrease in renal cortex NOS activity despite a decrease in remnant neuronal NOS abundance. When low-dose chronic Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester treatment was added for WF A/I-treated rats, rapid progression of CRD was observed. In conclusion, elevated NO production in WF rats was associated with protection from the progression of CRD after renal mass reduction. The protection might be attributable to greater total and renal NO-generating capacity and increased nephron number, compared with SD rats. NOS inhibition rendered WF rats susceptible to progression, suggesting a possible critical threshold for NO production, below which renal injury occurs.