Creencias limitantes a la hora de la cesación tabáquica / Limiting beliefs when quitting smoking

Objetivo: Evaluar las creencias de los fumadores yexfumadores sobre la preocupación por contagiarse deCOVID-19, las ganas de dejar de fumar y percepciónde éxito de los tratamientos efectivos en pandemia. Pacientes y métodos: Se aplicó un cuestionario, voluntario y auto-administrado, sobre las conductas encuarentena COVID-19 a mayores de 18 años, mediantedifusión por redes sociales durante abril y mayo del2020. De 1.948 encuestas, se analizaron 1.071 entreexfumadores (n= 565) y fumadores actuales (n= 506). Se consideraron las siguientes variables: comorbilidades, preocupación por ser tabaquista en época deCOVID-19, tipo de cigarrillo consumido, ganas dedejar de fumar, tratamientos elegidos para la cesacióny la decisión de dejar de fumar. Resultados: El grado de preocupación se asocia con lasganas de dejar de fumar (p <0,001). La declaración de“me preocupa bastante” se correlaciona con las ganasde dejar de fumar (p <0,001), y “no me preocupa” conla ausencia de ganas (p <0,001). La opción para dejar de fumar que presenta el mayor acuerdo generalizadoentre los fumadores con ganas de dejar de fumar ypreocupados por su condición de fumador en pandemiaes la creencia de que “La decisión de querer dejar defumar es fundamental” es “Muy efectiva”, con un 79 %de los encuestados eligiendo esta opción. Conclusión: La preocupación por contagiarse deCOVID-19 incrementa las ganas de dejar de fumar.La mayoría de los fumadores y exfumadores creen quepara dejar de fumar es suficiente con su decisión y sinprecisar tratamiento.(AU)

Objective: Evaluate the beliefs of the smokers andex-smokers on the concern about catching COVID-19,desires to stop smoking and perception of success ofthe effective treatments in the pandemic. Patients and methods: A voluntary and self-administered questionnaire was applied to those over 18years of age on the behaviors during the COVID-19quarantine, by means of dissemination through thesocial networks during April and May of 2020. Of the1,948 surveys, 1,071 were analyzed among ex-smokers(n= 565) and current smokers (n= 506). The followingvariables were considered: comorbidities, concern aboutbeing a smoker during the times of COVID-19, type of cigarette used, desire to quit smoking, treatments chosen to quit smoking and the decision to sop smoking. Results: The degree of concern is associated with thedesire to quit smoking (p <0.001). The statement that“I am quite concerned” correlates with the desire toquit smoking (p <0.001), and that of “I am not concerned” with that of no desire (p <0.001). The optionto quit smoking that showed the greatest generalizedagreement among the smokers who desired to quitsmoking and concerned about their condition of being a smoker in the pandemic is the belief that “Thedecision to want to quit smoking is fundamental” is“Very effective,” with 79 % of those surveyed choosingthis option. Conclusion: Concern about catching COVID-19increases the desire to quit smoking. Most of thesmokers and ex-smokers believe that their decisionto stop smoking is sufficient and that treatment isnot necessary.(AU)

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of anti-Müllerian hormone in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) adult testes.

Anti-Müllerian hormone (Amh) is a member of the transforming growth factor-ß (Tgf-ß) superfamily required in the regression of Müllerian ducts during gonadal sex differentiation of higher vertebrates. Teleost fish lack Müllerian ducts, but identified Amh orthologs have been shown to exert crucial functions during sex determination and differentiation of several species of teleosts. However, the function of Amh during gametogenesis in adult fish remains poorly investigated. Therefore, to expand present knowledge on the role of Amh in teleosts, the present study aimed to isolate and clone full-length amh cDNA in the common carp, Cyprinus carpio, and examine its expression levels throughout the male reproductive cycle and in response to different hormone treatments of testicular explants. Molecular cloning and characterization showed that the common carp Amh precursor amino acid sequence shared common features to other fish Amh precursors, including a conserved C-terminus (Tgf-ß domain) and a double proteolytic cleavage site (R-X-X-R-X-X-R) upstream to the Tgf-ß domain. Expression analysis showed amh dimorphic expression in the adult gonads with higher expression in the testes than ovaries. In testes, amh mRNA was detected in Sertoli cells contacting different types of germ cells, although the expression was greatest in Sertoli cells associated with type A undifferentiated spermatogonia. Expression analysis during the reproductive cycle showed that amh transcripts were down-regulated during the developing phase, which is characterized by an increased proliferation of type A undifferentiated spermatogonia and Sertoli cells and appearance of spermatocytes (meiosis) in the testes. Furthermore, ex vivo experiments showed that a 7 day exposure to Fsh or estrogens was required to decrease amh mRNA levels in common carp testicular explants. In summary, this study provided information on the molecular characterization and transcript abundance of amh in common carp adult testes. Altogether, these data will be useful for further investigations on sex determination and differentiation in this species, and also to improved strategies for improved carp aquaculture, such as inhibiting precocious maturation of males.