Propiedades psicométricas de una escala de actitudes hacia la investigación científica (EACIN): Estudio en alumnos universitarios mexicanos / Psychometric properties of a scale of attitudes towards scientific research (EACIN): Study in Mexican university students

En este estudio se analizan las propiedades psicométricas de la escala de Actitudes hacia la Investigación Científica (EACIN), dirigida a la comunidad académica y propuesta por (Aldana, Caraballo, & Babativa, 2016) en Colombia. Para ello, se contó con la participación de 238 alumnos universitarios mexicanos y se realizaron análisis de consistencia interna haciendo uso de la prueba alfa de Cronbach y de validez de constructo a través de la aplicación del análisis factorial exploratorio (N=115) y confirmatorio (N=123). Los resultados indican que se obtuvo un modelo de medición bidimensional empíricamente sustentable, conformado por un total de ocho ítems y con los índices de ajuste necesarios (X2 = 21.53, CMIN/DF = 1.13, CFI = .98, RMR = .06, RMSEA = .06). Por tanto, esta escala podría ser empleada en estudiantes universitarios mexicanos. No obstante, es deseable continuar con la revisión de dicho instrumento y la confirmación de los resultados presentados e incitar la reflexión sobre los supuestos en el ámbito de la medición de actitudes

This study analyses the psychometric properties of the Scale of Attitudes towards Scientific Research (EACIN), aimed at the academic community and proposed by (Aldana, Caraballo, & Babativa, 2016) in Colombia. For this matter, 238 Mexican university students participated. Internal consistency analysis was carried out using Cronbach's alpha test, and construct validity through the application of exploratory factor analysis (N = 115) and confirmatory (N = 123). The results indicate that an empirically sustainable bidimensional measurement model was obtained, consisting of a total of eight items and with the necessary adjustment indexes (X2 = 21.53, CMIN/DF = 1.13, CFI = .98, RMR = .06, RMSEA = .06). Therefore, this scale could be used in Mexican university students. However, it is desirable to continue with this instrument and confirm the results presented and encourage reflection on the assumptions in the field of attitude measurement

Corrigendum to "Subchronic Infection of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia Stimulates an Immune Response but Not Arthritis in Experimental Murine Model".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2017/2052938.].

Subchronic Infection of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia Stimulates an Immune Response but Not Arthritis in Experimental Murine Model.

Studies have proposed that Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and Tannerella forsythia (Tf) promote a nonspecific inflammatory response that could produce systemic disease. Oral inoculation of Pg and Tf on the immune and arthritis response was evaluated in BALB/C mice divided into four groups: (1) sham; (2) food contaminated with Pg/Tf; (3) complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) + Pg/Tf; and (4) CFA alone. CFA was administered subcutaneously on days 1 and 14. The arthritis response was monitored for 21 days after day 14 of CFA administration. IL-1ß and IL-6 were determined in serum. T cell activation was evaluated by CD25 in salivary lymph nodes or mouse spleen. Pad inflammation appeared by day 19 in the CFA group, but animals with bacteria inoculation presented a delay. A significant increase in IL-6 was found in Groups 3 and 4, but not with respect to IL-1ß. We observed an increase in CD25 in cells derived from cervical nodes and in animals with bacteria inoculation and CFA. A local immune response was observed in mice inoculated with Pg and Tf (T cell activation); a systemic response was observed with CFA. Since pad inflammation was delayed by bacterial inoculation this suggests that local T cell activation could decrease pad inflammation.

Effect of Anatase Synthesis on the Performance of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

Anatase nanoparticles were synthesized from a titanium isopropoxide solution using a hydrothermal process at different pressures in an autoclave system while keeping the volume of the solution constant. As the autoclave pressure was increased from 1 to 71 atm (23 to 210 °C), the crystal size in the nanoparticles increased from 9 to 13.8 nm. The anatase nanoparticles were used to build dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). Mesoporous films of this oxide were deposited over conducting SnO2:F substrates using the screen-printing technique and then annealed at 530 °C at 1 atm of air pressure. The morphology of the mesoporous film surface of anatase, studied using scanning electron microscopy, revealed that the crystal size and pore distribution were functions of the pressure conditions. The energy band gap of the films as a function of the crystal size exhibited quantum effects below 11.8 nm. The effects of the anatase synthesis conditions and properties of the mesoporous film on the DSSC-type solar cell parameters, η%, V OC, J SC, and FF, were also investigated: the mesoporous anatase films prepared at 200 °C (54 atm of pressure in the autoclave) and annealed at 530 °C in air generated the best solar cell, having the highest conversion efficiency.

Validation of the first treatment-specific questionnaire for the assessment of patient satisfaction with allergen-specific immunotherapy in allergic patients: the ESPIA questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: Satisfaction with treatment is a patient-reported outcome shown to be associated with the patient's health-related decisions and treatment-related behavior, thereby influencing the chances of successful treatment, and is especially relevant in long-term treatment, such as allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT). OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the psychometric properties of the Satisfaction Scale for Patients Receiving Allergen Immunotherapy (ESPIA) questionnaire so as to determine the satisfaction of patients receiving AIT treatment. METHODS: An observational, longitudinal, multicenter study was performed on patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) undergoing AIT treatment. Sociodemographic, clinical, and patient-centered health outcomes data were gathered at the study visits. Feasibility, reliability, validity, and sensitivity to change of the prevalidated version of the ESPIA questionnaire were assessed. RESULTS: Four hundred twenty-nine patients were included (52.2% women, 33.6 years of age, 54.5% of the cases with intermittent AR and 62.5% with moderate AR). Low levels of missing items and ceiling/floor effects were found for the overall score of the ESPIA questionnaire. The overall Cronbach α value and intraclass correlation coefficient were 0.90 and 0.92, respectively. The overall score for the ESPIA questionnaire was strongly associated with months receiving AIT, AR type and intensity, presence of conjunctivitis, self-perceived health status, effect of AR on daily life, and expectations about the AIT treatment. The pattern of correlations obtained with other patient-centered health outcomes was consistent with expectations. The ESPIA questionnaire also showed good sensitivity to change for improved health status. CONCLUSION: The ESPIA questionnaire to assess patient satisfaction with respect to AIT treatment presented satisfactory psychometric properties for its use in clinical practice.

Influence of type of treatment on the well-being of Spanish patients with schizophrenia and their caregivers.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate quality of life and burden on caregivers in Spanish outpatients with schizophrenia, treated with different antipsychotics. METHODS: Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected for 1865 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Patients answered the EuroQol-5D questionnaire and caregivers answered questionnaires assessing caregiver burden. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Clinical Global Impression of Severity (CGI-S), and clinician's satisfaction were also recorded. The same data were also collected at months 3 and 6. RESULTS: According to EQ-5D results, usual activities (29.6%) and anxiety/depression (31.1%) were the most relevant reported problems. Good overall scores (5-7) on EQ-5D were reported by 47/118 (39.8%) of risperidone long-acting injectable (LAI) patients compared to 52/218 (23.9%) for oral conventional antipsychotics, 51/194 (26.2%) for injectable conventional antipsychotics, and 332/1110 (29.9%) for oral atypical antipsychotics. Significant benefits of risperidone LAI vs. other types of antipsychotic were also found in caregiver burden and clinician-derived outcome measures. At months 3 and 6, retention was > 85%, and score on the EQ5D improved for the overall sample. CONCLUSIONS: In Spanish patients with schizophrenia, activities of daily living and anxiety/depression were more relevant reported problems. Risperidone LAI was associated with better quality-of-life outcomes and lower caregiver burden compared to other types of antipsychotic.