Daily stress and sleep associations vary by work schedule: A between- and within-person analysis in nurses.

Nurses experience poor sleep and high stress due to demanding work environments. Night shift work is common among nurses and may exacerbate stress-sleep associations. We examined bidirectional associations between daily stress and sleep, and moderation by recent shift worker status and daily work schedule among nurses. Participants were 392 nurses (92% female; 78% White, mean age = 39.54, SD = 11.15) who completed 14 days of electronic sleep diaries and actigraphy. They simultaneously completed assessments of daily stress and work schedule upon awakening (day shift vs. night shift [work between 9 p.m.-6 a.m.] vs. off work). Participants were classified as recent night shift workers if they worked at least one night shift during the past 14 days (n = 101; 26%). In the entire sample, greater daily stress predicted shorter self-reported total sleep time and lower self-reported sleep efficiency that night. Shorter self-reported and actigraphy total sleep time and lower self-reported sleep efficiency predicted higher next-day stress. Compared with recent night shift workers, day workers reported higher stress after nights with shorter total sleep time. Stress-sleep associations mostly did not vary by nurses' daily work schedule. Sleep disturbances and stress may unfold in a toxic cycle and are prime targets for tailored interventions among nurses. Night shift workers may be less susceptible to the effects of short sleep on next-day stress. Research is needed to understand the short- and long-term effects of shift work and address the unique sleep challenges nurses face.

What goes around comes around: Nightmares and daily stress are bidirectionally associated in nurses.

Nurses may experience frequent nightmares due to stressful work environments. Nightmares may also exacerbate stress among nurses, although this has yet to be tested empirically. We examined daily bidirectional associations between stress severity and nightmares, and moderation by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. 392 nurses (92% female; 78% White) completed 14 days of sleep diaries to assess previous-day stress severity and nightmare occurrence and severity. PTSD symptoms were assessed at baseline. Multilevel models were used to examine bidirectional, within-person associations between daily stress and nightmares, and cross-level moderation by baseline PTSD symptoms. 47.2% of nurses reported at least one nightmare across the two weeks. Days with greater stress were associated with higher odds of experiencing a nightmare (OR = 1.22, p = 0.001), as well as greater nightmare severity (b = 0.09, p = 0.033). Nightmare occurrence was associated with greater next-day stress severity (b = 0.15, p < 0.001). Daily stress and nightmare associations were similar for those with and without PTSD symptoms. Nightmares and stress may occur in a bidirectional fashion. Nurses face intense occupational demands and frequent exposure to potentially traumatic events. Studies should explore whether targeting nightmares and stress may improve nurses' health and well-being.

Estudio Descriptivo: Niveles de 25 ­ Hidroxi Vitamina D en la Población que Acude al Servicio de Endocrinología del Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social, Azogues ­ Ecuador, 2017 / Restrospective Research: Levels of 25 - Hydroxy Vitamin D in the population that goes to the Endocrinology Service of the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security, Azogues - Ecuador, 2017

INTRODUCCIÓN: La Vitamina D es considerada una hormona, siendo químicamente liposoluble y se le relaciona con enfermedades inmunológicas, cardiometabólicas y cáncer. El objetivo es evaluar los niveles de 25 hidroxi vitamina D en los pacientes que acudieron al servicio de endocrinología. MÉTODOS: Se trata de un estudio retrospectivo, se tomaron 122 pacientes que acudieron al servicio de endocrinología del Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social, durante el periodo durante el periodo de julio a septiembre del 2017. RESULTADOS: El promedio de vitamina D 23.99 ± 9.12 ng/ml, el 22 % presentaron vitamina D en rango normal (≥ 30 ng/ml) y el 78 % en insuficiencia/deficiencia (< 30 ng/ml). Los niveles de calcio y paratiroides no presentaron correlación con las disminuciones de vitamina D. CONCLUSIONES: Existe una importante disminución de la vitamina D en la población que acudió al servicio de Endocrinología durante el periodo estudiado, pese a la exposición solar directa que reciben los pobladores de la zona.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is considered a hormone, being chemically lipid soluble and is related to immunological, cardiometabolic and cancer diseases. This aim to evaluate the levels of 25 hydroxy vitamin D in the patients who attended the endocrinology service. METHODS: This was a retrospective study, taking 122 patients who attended the endocrinology service of the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute, during the period during the period from July to September 2017. RESULTS: The average of vitamin D was 23.99 ± 9.12 ng / ml, 22 % of vitamin D in normal range (≥ 30 ng / ml) and 78 % of insufficiency / deficiency (≥ 30 ng / ml). Calcium and parathyroid levels show no correlation with decreases in vitamin D. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant decrease in the population in the population that went to the Endocrinology service during the period studied, to the direct solar incidence that the inhabitants of the area.

La tarea docente en el desarrollo de las habilidades profesionales en el estudiante de Medicina / The teaching task in the development of professional skills in the medical student

Durante enero a julio de 2015, en la Facultad de Medicina de Guantánamo, se sistematizan referentes teóricos relacionados con la tarea docente como una vía que facilita la labor del profesor encaminada a la preparación del estudiante de Medicina para resolver problemas de salud mediante una atención médica integral. Se define un sistema de tareas para el logro de este propósito(AU)

During January to July 2015, in the Faculty of Medicine of Guantánamo, theoretical referents related to the teaching task are systematized as a way that facilitates the work of the teacher directed to the preparation of the student of Medicine to solve problems of health through a medical attention integral. A task system is defined for the achievement of this purpose(AU)

Molecular spectrum of ß-thalassemia mutations in the admixed Venezuelan population, and their linkage to ß-globin gene haplotypes.

In order to establish the spectrum of ß-thalassemia (ß-thal) mutations in the Venezuelan population for the first time, 127 unrelated subjects either with a suspicion of ß-thal trait or with a clinically recognized ß-thal syndrome of different degrees of severity, were studied. DNA from these subjects was analyzed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based reverse dot-blot method or amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS). Prototype ß-globin gene sequencing of relevant DNA was performed to confirm the mutations. Fifteen different mutations were identified accounting for 92.0% of the mutant alleles explored, revealing a significant genetic heterogeneity at the ß-globin gene locus in this population. The most frequent mutations were codon 39 (C >T) 34.1%, IVS-I-1 (G >A) 11.1%, IVS-I-6 (T > C) 6.6%, IVS-I-110 (G >A) 6.6%, IVS-II-849 (A >G) 6.6%, -88 (C >T) 6.0%, -29 (A >G) 5.2%, followed by the less common IVS-I-5 (G >A) 3.7%, the 1,393 bp deletion 3.0%, IVS-II-1 (G >A) 3.0%, -86 (C >G) 2.2%, IVS-II-1 (G >T) 1.5%, codons 41/42 (-TCTT) 1.5%, IVS-II-745 (C >G) 0.7% and deletional δß-thal 0.7%. Overall, these data demonstrate that the major sources of ß-thal alleles in Venezuela, as expected, are of Mediterranean and African origins. This is the first large study defining the molecular spectrum of ß-thal in the highly admixed population of Venezuela and lays the foundation for genetic counseling as well as implementing comprehensive clinical care programs. Diversity of haplotypes associated with some of the ß-thal mutations can be explained by in situ recombination events in Venezuela.

Necesidad de integrar habilidades comunicativas en la enseñanza de ingles en carreras medicas / Necessity to integrate talkative abilities in English's teaching in medical careers

Este trabajo valora la integración de las habilidades comunicativas en la enseñanza del inglés donde se analizan las opiniones más significativas de varios pedagogos de diferentes partes del mundo. Se explican además, las ventajas de esta integración, las formas de explotarlas y sugerencias específicas que contribuyan al logro de las mismas en las carreras de ciencias médicas(AU)

Impacto de una estrategia para el logro de la comunicación participativa / Impact of one strategy for the participative communication achievement

Se muestran los logros de un curso de lengua inglesa, a partir de una nueva concepción y estrategia, donde se da la dinámica: de la reflexión individual a la grupal y de ésta a la individual enriquecida. Se requieren cinco momentos: Diagnóstico, Definición de lo interesante y de lo conveniente (Expectativa), Aprendizaje grupal, Clima afectivo favorable y Enseñar a aprender. El cursista es el centro de atención, construye o reconstruye conocimientos, habilidades, y valores en un régimen de comunicación participativa y en un clima que propicia la comunicación. Los objetivos responden a las exigencias para el profesional. Lo novedoso es que no se imponen, sino que se trazan por convenio, según las necesidades e intereses de los alumnos, y ese conjunto constituye sus expectativas, lo que hace que el cursista se involucre en su propio proceso de aprendizaje. Se combina inteligentemente y con flexibilidad lo que el profesor interpreta como conveniente y lo que el cursista siente como interesante, lo que implica a ambos emocionalmente en el proceso. La clave de la estrategia es el optimismo, la confianza en la perfectibilidad del ser humano, la creencia en las aptitudes y en los talentos del otro, la fe en la interacción humana como base de transmisión de conocimientos y la valoración del aprendizaje significativo(AU)