Traducción y adaptación cultural al español del cuestionario Low Vision Quality of Life (LVQOL) / Translation and cultural adaptation into Spanish of the Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire

Objetivo: El objetivo del presente trabajo consistió en la traducción al español y adaptación cultural de la versión inglesa del Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire (LVQOL). Actualmente existen algunos cuestionarios diseñados para evaluar la calidad de vida relacionada con la visión en español, pero ninguno de ellos investiga específicamente la calidad de vida relacionada con la discapacidad visual. Método: El LVQOL consta de 25 ítems y explora 4 dimensiones distintas: visión de lejos; movilidad e iluminación; adaptación, lectura y trabajo de precisión, y actividades de la vida diaria. Para la traducción y adaptación cultural se siguieron las normas de la International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes, incluyendo, entre otras fases, una traducción, una retro-traducción y un interrogatorio cognitivo con un grupo reducido de pacientes con discapacidad visual. Se contó con un comité de expertos formado por un oftalmólogo, una psicóloga especializada en Patient Reported Outcomes y un óptico-optometrista con experiencia en baja visión. Resultados: Se consideraron un total de 46 frases para traducir, de las cuales 41 (89,1%) presentaron equivalencia excelente, 3 (6,5%) equivalencia moderada y 2 equivalencia pobre. La fase del interrogatorio cognitivo evidenció un alto grado de aceptación del cuestionario por parte de la muestra de participantes con discapacidad visual. Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos sugieren que la versión española de este instrumento es comprensible para pacientes con discapacidad visual. Sus propiedades como instrumento de medida serán evaluadas en un posterior estudio para determinar su validez, su fiabilidad y su sensibilidad a los cambios

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to provide a translation into Spanish, as well as a cross-cultural adaptation, of the English version of the Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire (LVQOL). There are currently some questionnaires designed to assess vision related quality of life in Spanish, although none of them specifically examines the quality of life of patients with visual disability. Method: The LVQOL consists of 25 items and examines 4 different dimensions: distance vision; mobility and ilumination; adaptation, reading and precision work, and daily life activities. The process of translation and cross-cultural adaptation was conducted following the recommendations of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes. This included, amongst other variables, a direct translation, a back-translation, and a cognitive debriefing with a small sample of patients with visual impairment. Work was supervised by an expert committee consisting of an ophthalmologist, a psychologist with expertise in Patient Reported Outcomes, and an optician-optometrist with experience in the field of low vision. Results: A total of 46 phrases were considered for translation of which, 41 (89.1%) had excellent equivalence, 3 (6.5%) moderate equivalence, and 2 poor equivalence. The cognitive debriefing phase showed a high degree of acceptance of the questionnaire by the sample of participants with visual impairment. Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that the Spanish version of this tool is understandable for patients with visual impairment. Its properties as a measuring tool will be evaluated in a later study to determine its validity, reliability, and sensitivity to changes

Translation and cultural adaptation into Spanish of the Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire. / Traducción y adaptación cultural al español del cuestionario Low Vision Quality of Life (LVQOL).

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to provide a translation into Spanish, as well as a cross-cultural adaptation, of the English version of the Low Vision Quality of Life Questionnaire (LVQOL). There are currently some questionnaires designed to assess vision related quality of life in Spanish, although none of them specifically examines the quality of life of patients with visual disability. METHOD: The LVQOL consists of 25 items and examines 4 different dimensions: distance vision; mobility and ilumination; adaptation, reading and precision work, and daily life activities. The process of translation and cross-cultural adaptation was conducted following the recommendations of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes. This included, amongst other variables, a direct translation, a back-translation, and a cognitive debriefing with a small sample of patients with visual impairment. Work was supervised by an expert committee consisting of an ophthalmologist, a psychologist with expertise in Patient Reported Outcomes, and an optician-optometrist with experience in the field of low vision. RESULTS: A total of 46 phrases were considered for translation of which, 41 (89.1%) had excellent equivalence, 3 (6.5%) moderate equivalence, and 2 poor equivalence. The cognitive debriefing phase showed a high degree of acceptance of the questionnaire by the sample of participants with visual impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained suggest that the Spanish version of this tool is understandable for patients with visual impairment. Its properties as a measuring tool will be evaluated in a later study to determine its validity, reliability, and sensitivity to changes.

Key interindividual determinants in MDMA pharmacodynamics.

INTRODUCTION: MDMA, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, is a synthetic phenethylamine derivative with structural and pharmacological similarities to both amphetamines and mescaline. MDMA produces characteristic amphetamine-like actions (euphoria, well-being), increases empathy, and induces pro-social effects that seem to motivate its recreational consumption and provide a basis for its potential therapeutic use. Areas covered: The aim of this review is to present the main interindividual determinants in MDMA pharmacodynamics. The principal sources of pharmacodynamic variability are reviewed, with special emphasis on sex-gender, race-ethnicity, genetic differences, interactions, and MDMA acute toxicity, as well as possible therapeutic use. Expert opinion: Acute MDMA effects are more pronounced in women than they are in men. Very limited data on the relationship between race-ethnicity and MDMA effects are available. MDMA metabolism includes some polymorphic enzymes that can slightly modify plasma concentrations and effects. Although a considerable number of studies exist about the acute effects of MDMA, the small number of subjects in each trial limits evaluation of the different interindividual factors and does not permit a clear conclusion about their influence. These issues should be considered when studying possible MDMA therapeutic use.

Evaluation of fibronectin 1 in one dried blood spot and in urine after rhGH treatment.

Since the appearance of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in the 1980s, its expansion and acquisition through the black market has increased, so the detection of its abuse continues to be a challenge. New biomarkers that are more reliable and sensitive, allowing a larger detection window, are still needed. In this line, Fibronectin 1 (FN1) has been proposed as a potential genetic and protein biomarker of rhGH abuse in peripheral blood lymphocytes, serum, and plasma. However, logistic problems associated with current blood collection in sports drug testing point towards potential new alternative matrices that could be good candidates to be evaluated. Results obtained in this study showed high ELISA FN1 levels in one dried blood spot and in urine samples in ten healthy male volunteers treated with rhGH. Results showed that especially dried blood spots appear as a potential good matrix to detect rhGH abuse by means of FN1 biomarker. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Neurocognitive performance following acute mephedrone administration, with and without alcohol.

Recreational use of mephedrone, alone and in combination with alcohol, has increased over the past years. Pharmacological properties of mephedrone share similarities with methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), but its effect on neurocognitive function has not been well established in humans. The present study assessed the effect of mephedrone alone and after co-administration with alcohol on neurocognitive function. It was hypothesised that mephedrone would improve psychomotor performance but impair memory performance, when administered alone. Neurocognitive performance was expected to be impaired following mephedrone when combined with alcohol. Eleven participants received single doses of 200 mg mephedrone or placebo combined with 0.8 g/kg alcohol or placebo. Neurocognitive performance was assessed at baseline (T0), at one hour (T1) and four hours after (T2) mephedrone administration, by means of the Divided Attention Task (DAT), Critical Tracking Task (CTT), and the Spatial Memory Test (SMT). Mephedrone intoxication impaired short-term spatial memory at T1 and improved critical tracking performance at T2 Mephedrone alone did not affect divided attention, but did show an interaction with alcohol on reaction time at T2 Reaction time decreased when mephedrone was combined with alcohol as compared to alcohol alone. Alcohol intoxication impaired both short- and long-term spatial memory at T1 and divided attention at T1 and T2 Critical tracking performance was not affected by alcohol intoxication. The current findings support the hypothesis that mephedrone improves psychomotor performance, impairs spatial memory and does not affect divided attention performance. Stimulatory effects of mephedrone were not sufficient to compensate for the impairing effects of alcohol on most performance parameters.

Genetic and protein biomarkers in blood for the improved detection of GH abuse.

Human Growth Hormone (hGH, somatotropin) is one of the relevant forbidden substances to be detected in sport drug testing. Since the appearance of recombinant hGH (rhGH) in the 80's, its expansion and availability through the black market have increased, so the detection of its abuse continues to be a challenge at present. New techniques or biomarkers that are robust, reliable, sensitive and allowing a large detection time window are welcome. rhGH produces an increase of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). FN1 (fibronectin 1) and RAB31 (member of RAS oncogene family) genes have been suggested as two potential biomarkers for IGF-1 abuse. Following this line, in the present study some genetic and proteomic approaches have been performed with fourteen healthy male subjects treated with rhGH (which produces increase of IGF-1 concentrations) to study FN1 gene, FN1 protein, RAB31 gene and RAB31 protein as potential biomarkers for rhGH abuse. The results showed that both, RAB31 and FN1 genes and FN1 protein could be potential biomarkers for rhGH administration. Preliminary assessments of gender, age, acute sport activities and GHRP-2 (pralmorelin, a rhGH releasing peptide) influence suggest they are not relevant confounding factors. Thus, the selected markers present high sensitivity and a larger detection window for rhGH detection than IGF-1 itself.