La red de apoyo familiar y las relaciones intrafamiliares como predictoras de la satisfacción vital / The Family Support Network and Intra-family Relationships as Predictors of Life Satisfaction

Resumen Objetivo. Determinar la relación entre la red de apoyo familiar y las relaciones intrafamiliares con la satisfacción vital. Método. Se realizó un estudio correlacional, transversal y no experimental con una muestra de 314 estudiantes de dos instituciones de educación superior: 70 hombres (22.3%) y 244 mujeres (77.7%), con una edad promedio de 27.55 años (DT = 9.57). Resultados. El modelo conformado por la cantidad de miembros de la red de apoyo familiar, más la cercanía o intimidad de contacto entre esos miembros, más la unión y apoyo mostrado en las relaciones intrafamiliares, más la expresión y comunicación mostrada en estas predice mejor la satisfacción vital del individuo.

Abstract Objective. To determine the relationship between the elements of the family support network and intra-family relationships with life satisfaction. Method. A correlational, cross-sectional, and non-experimental study was carried out with a sample of 314 students from two higher education institutions: 70 men (22.3%) and 244 women (77.7%), with an average age of 27.55 years (SD = 9.57). Results. The model constituted by the members of the family support network, plus the closeness or intimacy in their contact with each other, plus along with the union and support shown in intra-family relationships, plus the expression and communication shown in these better predicts the vital satisfaction of the individual.

Escala de Felicidad Subjetiva: Análisis de sus propiedades psicométricas / Subjective Happiness Scale: Analysis of your psychometric properties

Resumen El análisis de las propiedades psicométricas de la Escala de Felicidad Subjetiva ha reportado datos que indican problemas con el ítem 4, lo que ha conducido a algunos autores a plantear una supresión hipotética del mismo. Este ítem, formulado en términos negativos y comparativos de manera simultánea, aparece desde la versión original de la escala; sin embargo, las anomalías psicométricas informadas plantean la necesidad de analizar la pertinencia de una versión de tres ítems de la escala. En ese sentido, el presente estudio tiene como objetivo central comparar las propiedades psicométricas de dos versiones de la Escala de Felicidad Subjetiva (una de cuatro ítems y otra de tres ítems). Para el logro de este objetivo se llevó a cabo un estudio instrumental mediante el análisis de una base de datos configurada por 372 participantes, provenientes de cuatro estudios previos donde se aplicó dicha escala. Los resultados indican una superioridad de la versión de tres ítems de la escala al presentar un mayor nivel de confiabilidad y mejores valores en el Análisis Factorial Exploratorio y el Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio. Se recomienda el uso de la versión de tres ítems en población mexicana y analizar la pertinencia de aumentar la escala de valores de la posible respuesta.

Abstract The analysis of the psychometric properties of the Subjective Happiness Scale has reported data indicating problems with item 4, which has led some authors to propose a hypothetical suppression of it. This item, formulated in negative and comparative terms simultaneously, appears from the original version of the scale; however, the psychometric anomalies reported raise the need to analyze the relevance of a three-item version of the scale. In this sense, the present study has as a central objective to compare the psychometric properties of two versions of the Subjective Happiness Scale (one of four items and another of three items). To achieve this objective, an instrumental study was carried out by analyzing a database configured by 372 participants from four previous studies where this scale was applied. The results indicate a superiority of the three-item version of the scale by presenting a higher level of reliability and better values in the Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. It is recommended to use the three-item version in the Mexican population and analyze the relevance of increasing the scale of values of the possible response.

Validación psicométrica de la versión breve del Inventario de Características Institucionales Estresoras / Psychometric validation of the short version of the Inventory of Stressor-related Institutional Characteristics

Resumen Objetivo: Realizar la validación psicométrica del Inventario de Características Institucionales Estresoras. Método: Estudio instrumental desarrollado a través de la aplicación del Inventario de Características Institucionales Estresoras a 300 alumnos de la Universidad Pedagógica de Durango, en Durango, México; de estos alumnos el 32% son del sexo masculino y el 68% del sexo femenino, la edad mínima es de 19 años y la máxima de 67 años, siendo el promedio 29 años de edad, y el 75% cursaba en ese momento la licenciatura y el 25% restante la maestría o doctorado. Resultados: Se construyó una versión breve del inventario, la cual obtuvo un nivel de confiabilidad de .71 en alfa de Cronbach; en el análisis de consistencia interna todos los ítems correlacionaron positivamente (con un nivel de significación de p< .001) con el puntaje global obtenido por cada encuestado; el análisis factorial exploratorio reporta dos componentes que explican 40% de la varianza total y el análisis factorial confirmatorio muestra un buen ajuste a dos factores (χ2 = 16,70; RMSEA = 0,000; χ2 / df = 0,49). Conclusión: Las características institucionales generadoras del estrés, en las instituciones escolares, es una de las áreas del campo de estudio del estrés menos investigada; una de las razones centrales es la falta de instrumentos que permitan medir cómo diversas variables situacionales influyen en la valoración que el sujeto hace de las demandas para considerarlas estresores. En ese sentido, esta versión breve del ICIE se vuelve una opción válida para este tipo de estudios.

Abstract Objective: Perform the psychometric validation of the Inventory of Stressor Institutional Characteristics. Method: Instrumental study developed through the application of the Inventory of Stressor Institutional Characteristics to 300 students of the Pedagogical University of Durango, Durango, Mexico; of these students 32% are male and 68% female, the minimum age is 19 years and the maximum of 67, with the average being 29 years of age, and 75% were studying at the time the degree and the remaining 25% the masters or doctorate. Results: A short version of the inventory was built, which obtained a reliability level of .71 in Cronbach's alpha; in the analysis of internal consistency, all the items correlated positively (with a level of significance of p <.001) with the overall score obtained by each respondent; exploratory factor analysis reports two components that explain 40% of the total variance and the confirmatory factor analysis shows a good adjustment to two factors (χ2 = 16.70, RMSEA = 0.000, χ2 / df = 0.49). Conclusion: Institutional characteristics that generate stress, in school institutions, is one of the least researched areas ; one of the main reasons is the lack of instruments that allow us to measure how various situational variables influence the assessment that the subject makes of the demands to consider them stressors. In this sense, this short version of the ICIE becomes a valid option for this type of studies.

Pharmacovigilance of psychoactive medications in a Mexican psychiatric hospital.

Pharmacovigilance is the permanent collection and assessment of the safety data of drugs in the interest of precise knowledge of the safety profile. We monitored notifications of suspected adverse reactions (AR) produced by psychoactive medications (ARPM) in a Psychiatry Hospital, during a 4-month period. Yellow cards for adverse reaction reporting were distributed to the medical personal at the Hospital Psiquiátrico Villa Ocaranza, Pachuca Hidalgo, Mexico. For each notification, the ARPM was analyzed in order to verify causality. One hundred twelve hospitalized patients entered the study (44 male and 68 female). The mean +/- SD age of the patients was 46 +/- 4.5 years. The major diagnoses found were: schizophrenia (35.7%), severe mental retardation (17 %), moderate mental retardation (MMR)/epilepsy (12.5%), MMR (8.03%), and others (26.7%). During the study there were 721 therapeutic regimens prescribed to patients on psychiatric service. Patients were receiving an average of 5.3 +/- 1.1 (range 4 to 8) psychiatric medications. The psychiatrists reported only 5 ARPMs in five patients (prevalence: 4.46%). Among the drugs involved were neuroleptics (47.8%), antiepileptic (39.1%), and others (13.04%). The organs and systems affected by the ARs were the central nervous system, skin, endocrinological and gastrointestinal. A causal association between the medication and the AR were classified as probable in three cases, as possible in one case, as doubtful in one case and as definite in no case.

Pharmacological interaction between gabapentin and glibenclamide in the formalin test in the diabetic rat.

There is evidence that local peripheral administration of gabapentin produces antinociception through the activation of the ATP-sensitive K+-channel. However, this interaction has not been evaluated systemically, nor in diabetic rat. This work was undertaken to determine whether glibenclamide has any effect on the systemic antinociception induced by gabapentin. Inflammatory pain was induced by injection of formalin in diabetic rats. Reduction of flinching behavior was considered as antinociception. Systemic administration of gabapentin (10-56 mg/kg, i.p.) produced a dose-dependent antinociception in both phases of the formalin test. Also, glibenclamide (1-10 mg/kg, s.c.) blocked the gabapentin-induced antinociception. Given alone glibenclamide did not significantly modify formalin-induced nociception in diabetic rats. Our data suggest that gabapentin is able to reduce formalin-induced nociception in streptozotocin-injected rats. In addition, these data are consistent with gabapentin-mediated activation of ATP-sensitive-K+ channels to produce systemic antinociception in the formalin test in diabetic rats.

Chemical composition and antispasmodic effect of Casimiroa pringlei essential oil on rat uterus.

The Casimiroa pringlei essential oil was analyzed to determine its chemical composition. Its effect on rat uterine smooth muscle was studied and compared with verapamil. Pure commercial piperitone, eucalyptol, and alpha-terpineol, the major constituents of C. pringlei essential oil, were tested on the uterine tonic contraction induced by high-potassium depolarizing solution (KCl 60 mM).

Evaluation of the interaction between acemetacin and opioids on the hargreaves model of thermal hyperalgesia.

It has been shown that the association of opioids analgesic agents with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can increase their antinociceptive activity, allowing the use of lower doses and thus limiting side effects. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to examine the possible pharmacological interaction between acemetacin and two opioids in the Hargreaves model of thermal hyperalgesia in the mouse. Acemetacin, codeine, nalbuphine or fixed-dose ratios acemetacin-codeine and acemetacin-nalbuphine combinations were administrated systemically to mice and the antihyperalgesic effect was evaluated using the thermal hyperalgesia test. All treatments produced a dose-dependent antihyperalgesic effect. ED40 values were estimated for all the treatments and an isobologram was constructed. The derived theoretical ED40 for the acemetacin-codeine and acemetacin-nalbuphine combinations were 55.9+/-4.9 mg/kg and 40.3+/-3.8 mg/kg, respectively, being significantly higher than the actually observed experimental ED40, 14.5+/-1.7 mg/kg and 12.7+/-2.2 mg/kg, respectively. These results correspond to synergistic interactions between acemetacin and opioids on the Hargreaves model of thermal hyperalgesia. Highest doses of the individual drugs or the combinations did not affect motor coordination in the balancing test on a rota-rod. Data suggest that low doses of the acemetacin-opioids combination can interact synergistically at systemic level and therefore this drugs association may represent a therapeutic advantage for the clinical treatment of inflammatory pain.

The peripheral antinociceptive effect of nalbuphine is associated with activation of ATP-sensitive K+ channels.

There is evidence that local peripheral administration of codeine and morphine produces antinociception through the activation of the ATP-sensitive K(+)-channel. Therefore we evaluated the participation of this channel in the antinociceptive action produced by nalbuphine in the formalin test. Female Wistar rats (160-200 g) were injected in the dorsal surface of the right hind paw with 50 microl of formalin (5%). Nociception was quantified as the number of flinches of the injected paw during 1 hr, whereas a reduction of the number of flinches was considered antinociception. Rats received a s.c. injection (50 microl) into the dorsal surface of the right hind paw of vehicle or increasing doses of nalbuphine (100-400 microg/paw) 20 min before formalin injection into the ipsilateral paw. To determine whether nalbuphine-induced peripheral antinociception was mediated by K(+)-channels, the effect of pretreatment (10 min before formalin injection) with the appropriate vehicle or the ATP-sensitive K(+)-channel inhibitor glibenclamide (25-100 microg/paw) on the antinociceptive effect induced by local peripheral nalbuphine (400 microg/paw) was assessed. Morphine was used as positive antinociceptive control. Local peripheral injection of nalbuphine produced a dose-dependent antinociception during both phases of the test. Local pretreatment with glibenclamide prevented nalbuphine-induced antinociception in a dose-dependent fashion in both phases of the test. Our data suggest that nalbuphine activates ATP-sensitive K(+)-channels in order to produce its peripheral antinociceptive effect.

Preliminary phytochemical and biological study of Cirsium ehrenbergii.

Cirsium ehrenbergii ("red thistle") is a folk medicinal plant of the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. Its flowers and roots are used to prepare an infusion for drinking or applying vaginal douches; nevertheless, neither its secondary metabolites nor therapeutic properties have been described or confirmed. Flowers of C. ehrenbergii, were collected, dried and milled. Aqueous, methanol and hexane extracts were carried out by maceration to obtain polar and non-polar secondary metabolites. The presence of alkaloids was determined by Wagner, Mayer and Dragendorff techniques; both polar and non-polar extracts yielded positive results. Toxicity was quantified by the Artemia salina mortality method, the aqueous extract showed moderate toxicity, while methanol and hexane extracts yielded a very similar and high concentration-dependent mortality. Antibacterial activity was evidenced by cellular growth inhibition of six bacterial strains, wherein the aqueous extract was inactive; the methanol extract was almost ineffective, while the hexane extract showed a high concentration-dependent antibacterial activity on all strains. An isolated organ study was performed with rings of uterus from estrogen-treated female Wistar rats to evaluate relaxing effects on uterine smooth muscle. Rings were pre-contracted with KCl (60 mM). The methanol extract inhibited contraction modestly at the highest concentration (300 pg/mL). The hexane extract markedly inhibited contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. The hexane extract was biologically more effective than the methanol extract. The traditional use of C. ehrenbergii as a medicinal plant may be supported by pharmacological actions.

Patterns of prescription and self-medication for treating primary dysmenorrhea in a Mexican population.

Dysmenorrhea is defined as cramping pain in the lower abdomen occurring just before or during menstruation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the mainstay of treatment, with the addition of oral contraceptive pills when necessary. With the widespread availability of over-the-counter NSAIDs, it is often assumed that women are treating themselves adequately. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Therefore we evaluated the use of drugs for treating primary dysmenorrhea in Mexican students. A multiple-choice questionnaire was administered to 285 psychology students (20.6 +/- 2.4 yrs; range, 17-33 yrs), to assess the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and medications employed. The reported prevalence of dysmenorrhea among these women was 67%. Dysmenorrhea was mild in 34% moderate in 43% and severe in 21%. Of the dysmenorrheic sample, only 33.5% consulted physician in 2.6 +/- 0.2 cycles per year for their problem and the most common prescriptions were an over-the-counter medication with paracetamol pamabrom and pyrilamine maleate (Syncol; 22.4%) naproxen (18.4%), metamizole plus butylhyoscine bromide (10.2%), ibuprofen (6.1%) and butylhyoscine bromide (6.1%). On the other hand, self-medication was practiced by 64.9% of the women with dysmenorrhea in 6.1 +/- 3.8 cycles per year and the most common drugs by self-medication were Syncol (35.5%), naproxen (16.9%), metamizole plus naproxen butylhyoscine bromide (13.7%), an over-the-counter medication with adiphenine and propyphenazon (Espasmo-cibalgina; 10.5%), paracetamol (5.6%) butylhyoscine alone (4%) and ibuprofen (4%). Our data suggest that dysmenorrheic women use numerous drugs by self-medication for pain but infrequently accessed formal medical care.

Relaxant effect of xanthomicrol and 3alpha-angeloyloxy-2alpha-hydroxy-13,14z-dehydrocativic acid from Brickellia paniculata on rat uterus.

Brickellia paniculata has been used as spasmolytic in Mexican traditional medicine. Xanthomicrol and 3alpha-angeloyloxy-2alpha-hydroxy-13,14Z-dehydrocativic acid (AAHDD) are two of the main leaf components with antispasmodic activity. However, their mechanism of action remains unknown. An in vitro comparative study between xanthomicrol and AAHDD on rat uterus precontracted by either KCl (60 mM) or oxytocin (10 mIU/ml) was carried out to investigate the mechanism of action of these compounds on smooth muscle. Relaxant effect was measured as median inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) and maximal effect as maximal relaxant response (R(max)). Xanthomicrol was significantly more potent than AAHDD in inhibiting contractions induced by KCl 60 mM, whereas AAHDD was more potent than xanthomicrol in inhibiting contractions induced by oxytocin 10 mIU/ml. These results suggest that xanthomicrol induces a greater blocking effect on voltage-operated calcium channels than on receptor-operated gates.

Red prototipo para dispositivos empotrados

Los sistemas de Tiempo Real deben tener Atributos de Calidad de Servicio durante un intervalo extendido de tiempo, es por esto que deben ser distribuidos y tolerantes a faltas. Una arquitectura de Tiempo Real distribuida, tiene un Sistema de Comunicacion de Tiempo Real que debe cumplir con requerimientos especificos de Tiempo Real en la reparticion de informacion de estado. Segun el tipo de disparo de las acciones de comunicacion se distringuen los sistemas de comunicacion disparados por eventos y por tiempo cuyos representantes mas significativos son los protocolos CAN y TTP/A respectivamente. El protocolo CAN implementa la mayor parte de las dos capas inferiores del Modelo de Referencias ISO/OSI. El controlador CAN envia a la red tramas de datos y detecta cinco tipos de errores en el dominio del valor. El protocolo TTP/A no sigue el Modelo de Referencia ISO/OSI, porque tiene un control de fluijo implicito. Transmite rondas que comienzan con un byte de inicio y continuan con ranuras. La ejecucion del protocolo es guiada por la progresion del tiempo, por lo que la Deteccion de Errores en el dominio del tiempo es un factor importante. El prototipo CAN es implementado con un controlador independiente en modo CAN basico, mientras que el protocolo TTP/A se implementa en un mismo microcontrolador que dispone de una UART y un temporizador.