Sororidad en los procesos de envejecimiento femenino / Sorority in female aging processes

Resumen La sororidad engloba las prácticas de colaboración y soporte en las relaciones entre mujeres y es el espacio propicio para la construcción de nuevas formas de significar la vejez femenina. El objetivo de este estudio cualitativo fue describir y categorizar los tipos de configuraciones vinculares que se mantienen y los que se han transformado en pro a la sororidad en los procesos de envejecimiento femenino, por medio del análisis narrativo de una entrevista profunda grupal. Los resultados muestran la necesidad de implementar políticas y acciones en aras de disminuir el ageism con relación al envejecimiento de mujeres. La construcción de la sororidad ayuda en el empoderamiento colectivo en pro de su género. La sexualidad de la mujer mayor sigue siendo un tema pendiente en la agenda de la investigación y la discusión en los estudios feministas, lo que nos lleva a concluir que, a pesar de la existencia de diferencias individuales en los propios procesos de envejecimiento, las mujeres se experimentan y comparten en una misma condición histórica, por ello es en colectivo que la acción de la sororidad se pronuncia como vía en la generación de nuevas narrativas preferidas por las mujeres. Finalmente, se expone una propuesta para trabajar la percepción del cuerpo femenino en el proceso de envejecer, y la construcción de la sororidad, desde las prácticas narrativas de White y Epston.

Abstract Sorority encompasses the practices of collaboration and support in relations between women and is the propitious space for the construction of new ways to signify female old age. We present results of a qualitative study using focus groups, which aimed to describe and categorize the types of relational configurations that remain unchanged or change towards sorority in the female aging process. Findings describe the need to implement actions to reduce ageism, not only in terms of the experiences women go through, but also towards aging in general. One of the measures we can take is undoubtedly the construction of women circle sorority, which leads to collective empowerment of gender. The female body is a focus of attention in terms of what it lives and experiences, and the right to have love and sexuality throughout life is also highlighted. We then created an intervention proposal to work on the perception of the female body and its experience in the aging process. The proposed intervention is a workshop, based on the narrative model of Michael White and David Epston.

Social Media Use, Friendship Quality, and the Moderating Role of Anxiety in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Social media holds promise as a technology to facilitate social engagement, but may displace offline social activities. Adolescents with ASD are well suited to capitalize on the unique features of social media, which requires less decoding of complex social information. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed social media use, anxiety and friendship quality in 44 adolescents with ASD, and 56 clinical comparison controls. Social media use was significantly associated with high friendship quality in adolescents with ASD, which was moderated by the adolescents' anxiety levels. No associations were founds between social media use, anxiety and friendship quality in the controls. Social media may be a way for adolescents with ASD without significant anxiety to improve the quality of their friendships.

Zirconium Phosphate Nanoplatelet Potential for Anticancer Drug Delivery Applications.

Zirconium phosphate (ZrP) nanoplatelets can intercalate anticancer agents via an ion exchange reaction creating an inorganic delivery system with potential for cancer treatment. ZrP delivery of anticancer agents inside tumor cells was explored in vitro. Internalization and cytotoxicity of ZrP nanoplatelets were studied in MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells. DOX-loaded ZrP nanoplatelets (DOX@ZrP) uptake was assessed by confocal (CLSM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Cytotoxicity to MCF-7 and MCF-10A cells was determined by the MTT assay. Reactive Oxy- gen Species (ROS) production was analyzed by fluorometric assay, and cell cycle alterations and induction of apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometry. ZrP nanoplatelets were localized in the endosomes of MCF-7 cells. DOX and ZrP nanoplatelets were co-internalized into MCF-7 cells as detected by CLSM. While ZrP showed limited toxicity to MCF-7 cells, DOX@ZrP was cytotoxic at an IC50 similar to that of free DOX. Meanwhile, DOX lC50 was significantly lower than the equivalent concentration of DOX@ZrP in MCF-10A cells. ZrP did not induce apoptosis in both cell lines. DOX and DOX@ZrP induced significant oxidative stress in both cell models. Results suggest that ZrP nanoplatelets are promising as carriers of anticancer agents into cancer cells.

Anxiety sensitivity and subjective social status in relation to anxiety and depressive symptoms and disorders among Latinos in primary care.

The present investigation examined the interactive effects of anxiety sensitivity and subjective social status in relation to anxiety and depressive symptoms and psychopathology among 143 Latinos (85.7% female; Mage=39.0, SD=10.9; 97.2% used Spanish as their first language) who attended a community-based primary healthcare clinic. Results indicated that the interaction between anxiety sensitivity and subjective social status was significantly associated with number of mood and anxiety disorders, panic, social anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The form of the significant interactions indicated that individuals reporting co-occurring higher levels of anxiety sensitivity and lower levels of subjective social status evidenced the greatest levels of psychopathology and panic, social anxiety, and depressive symptoms. The present findings suggest that there is merit in focusing further scientific attention on the interplay between anxiety sensitivity and subjective social status in regard to understanding, and thus, better intervening to reduce anxiety/depressive vulnerability among Latinos in primary care.

Biological screening of select Puerto Rican plants for cytotoxic and antitumor activities.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic and anticancer activities of extracts from 7-species of endemic and native plants from Puerto Rico. METHODS: The plant species selected for this study were Canella winterana, Croton discolor, Goetzea elegans, Guaiacum officinale, Pimenta racemosa, Simarouba tulae, and Thouinia striata. The dried plant material was extracted with a 1:1 mixture of CH2CI2-MeOH. The resulting crude extract was suspended in water and extracted with solvents of different polarities. The extracts were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects against Artemia salina and 3 breast cancer cell lines. RESULTS: About 50% of the extracts evaluated against Artemia salina exhibited LC50 values of less than or equal to 200 µg/mL. The strongest activity was detected in the chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of Guaiacum officinale, with lethality values below 10 µg/mL. The extracts were further evaluated for their bioactivity as possible inhibitors of several breast cancer cell lines, with the extracts from Simarouba tulae and Croton discolor showing the highest percentages of growth inhibition. The dose- effect data analysis for the crude extracts of the different plants also confirms the high cytotoxicities of Guaiacum officinale, Simarouba tulae, and Croton discolor. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, we concluded that the Simarouba, Croton, and Guaiacum plant extracts show cytotoxic and anticancer activities that merit closer investigation in order to identify the chemical compounds responsible for these bioactivities.

[Levels of estradiol and serum testosterone in healthy postmenopausal women and its relationship with symptoms]. / Concentraciones de estradiol y testosterona en suero de mujeres climatéricas y su relación con los síntomas.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have tried to evaluate in which estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T) levels the climacteric symptoms appear, but this has not been possible at all. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in which E2 and T levels climacteric symptoms appear, as well as its relation with T/E2 ratio. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty nine healthy climacteric women [perimenopausal (n = 13) or postmenopausal (n = 16)] which have not received nor were receiving hormone therapy were studied. Age, body mass index, waist hip ratio and menstrual status were documented. An analog visual scale was used to evaluate the intensity of 13 climacteric symptoms. A blood sample was taken for the measurement of E2 and T measurement by radioimmunoassay. Pearson's correlation analysis was done between the sum of scores of all climacteric symptoms and with the score obtained from each of the climacteric symptoms and E2, T levels and T/E2 ratio. All patients gave their consent to participate in the study. RESULTS: The average age of women was 49.9 +/- 5.1 years and the time since menopause 43.9 +/- 53.2 months. The sum of the magnitudes of the symptoms was 71.2 +/- 24.9. The average level of E2 and T was 65.5 +/- 101.1 pg/ml and 14.5 +/- 10.7 ng/ml respectively. No correlation was observed between the sum of the magnitudes of the symptoms neither with the magnitude of each symptom with E2 and T levels and T/E2 ratio. CONCLUSIONS: It was not possible to determine with precision in which E2 and T levels climacteric symptoms appear and T/E2 ratio also was not useful for this purpose.

Mediational models of spirituality and depressive symptomatology among HIV-positive Puerto Rican women.

A survey of 142 Puerto Rican women living with HIV/AIDS in New York City revealed high Centers for Epidemiological Studies Depression (CES-D) scores, with 66% of the sample scoring above the conventional threshold of possible clinical depression. Most respondents (71%) were Catholic, 29% considered themselves members of a church or other place of worship, and 30% reported attending religious services 1-3 times a month. As predicted, spirituality was high and negatively associated with CES-D scores. A series of simultaneous multiple regression analyses controlling for all potentially confounding medical and sociodemographic variables demonstrated that both mastery and self-esteem scores mediated this relationship. Implications for future research and the provision of services to HIV-positive Puerto Rican women are discussed.