Socio-Demographic Variables and Successful Aging of the Angolan Elderly

The proportion of elderly people is growing faster than any other age group. Amongst them, the group of oldest old is indeed the segment of the elderly population with the fastest growth rate. The increase in the proportion of elderly in the Angolan population makes research on this area badly needed. Within the theoretical framework of successful aging, the study aims to test for sociodemographic group differences in perceived health, life satisfaction, and social relations in Angolan elderly. The dependent variables are three of the components of what has been called successful aging. Data came from a cross-sectional survey of elderly people living in Luanda. 1003 Angolan elderly were surveyed on sociodemographic information, perceived health, life satisfaction, and social support. MANOVAs were calculated to test for mean differences in the dependent variables. Results permit to conclude that the factors associated with the largest differences on the Angolan elderly's quality of life and social relations were age (becoming oldest old) and institutionalization. The interactions of several factors with age pointed out that the oldest old were clearly a group in which the decreased quality of life due to becoming oldest old could not be compensated by other factors, as it was the case in the group of young old.

Validación de un modelo explicativo del proceso de envejecer con éxito a partir de aspectos psicológicos, físicos, relacionales y de ocio

Cada vez más, la investigación sobre el proceso de envejecimiento tiende a adoptar una doble perspectiva emic (específico a una cultura) y etic (universal), necesitándose más estudios que atiendan un enfoque transcultural. El objetivo es obtener respuesta empírica a la pregunta de si un modelo de envejecimiento con éxito planteado desde un contexto diferente como es el taiwanés, es adecuado para representar este proceso en nuestros mayores. La muestra estuvo formada por 737 personas mayores. Se recabaron datos de variables socio-demográficas y diversas escalas para evaluar satisfacción con la vida, ocio, salud y apoyo social. Se puso a prueba un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales tomado de Lee et al. (2011), en el que ocio, salud y apoyo social predecían satisfacción con la vida. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron un ajuste adecuado. En concreto, se observó que, en el marco de otros factores que teóricamente influyentes -salud y apoyo social-, este novedoso aspecto sobre cómo las personas mayores gestionan su tiempo de ocio, aunque explicativo, no es un factor tan determinante como en el estudio de referencia.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis regulates physiology and performance of Digitaria eriantha plants subjected to abiotic stresses by modulating antioxidant and jasmonate levels

This study evaluates antioxidant responses and jasmonate regulation in Digitaria eriantha cv. Sudafricana plants inoculated (AM) and non-inoculated (non-AM) with Rhizophagus irregularis and subjected to drought, cold, or salinity. Stomatal conductance, photosynthetic efficiency, biomass production, hydrogen peroxide accumulation, lipid peroxidation, antioxidants enzymes activities, and jasmonate levels were determined. Stomatal conductance and photosynthetic efficiency decreased in AM and non-AM plants under all stress conditions. However, AM plants subjected to drought, salinity, or non-stress conditions showed significantly higher stomatal conductance values. AM plants subjected to drought or non-stress conditions increased their shoot/root biomass ratios, whereas salinity and cold caused a decrease in these ratios. Hydrogen peroxide accumulation, which was high in non-AM plant roots under all treatments, increased significantly in non-AM plant shoots under cold stress and in AM plants under non-stress and drought conditions. Lipid peroxidation increased in the roots of all plants under drought conditions. In shoots, although lipid peroxidation decreased in AM plants under non-stress and cold conditions, it increased under drought and salinity. AM plants consistently showed high catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activity under all treatments. By contrast, the glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of AM roots was lower than that of non-AM plants and increased in shoots. The endogenous levels of cis-12-oxophytodienoc acid (OPDA), jasmonic acid (JA), and 12-OH-JA showed a significant increase in AM plants as compared to non-AM plants. 11-OH-JA content only increased in AM plants subjected to drought. Results show that D. eriantha is sensitive to drought, salinity, and cold stresses and that inoculation with AM fungi regulates its physiology and performance under such conditions, with antioxidants and jasmonates being involved in this process.

Exploring coumarin potentialities: development of new enzymatic inhibitors based on the 6-methyl-3-carboxamidocoumarin scaffold

Novel 6-methyl-3-carboxamidocoumarins were synthesized by an effective three step synthetic strategy and screened towards MAO, AChE and BuChE enzymes.

Propiedades psicométricas de la versión española de la Escala Temporal de Satisfacción con la Vida (Temporal Satisfaction With Life Scale, TSLS): Un estudio en mayores que acuden a programas universitarios

Para la operacionalización del bienestar se han desarrollado un gran número de medidas, destacando la Escala de Satisfacción con la Vida (SWLS). Para paliar algunos de sus problemas, se desarrolló la Escala Temporal de Satisfacción con la Vida (TSLS). El objetivo de este estudio es la presentación y primera validación de la TSLS en su versión española, en una muestra de personas mayores que acuden a programas universitarios. La muestra estaba formada por 737 personas mayores. Además de la TSLS, se empleó un indicador de satisfacción general con la vida y la SF-8. Los análisis incluyeron estudio de la validez factorial, estimaciones de la fiabilidad y de validez externa. Los resultados del análisis factorial confirmatorio fueron adecuados: χ2 (87) = 454.593 (p < .001), CFI = .973; RMSEA = .085, mostrando la adecuación del modelo de tres dimensiones propuesto. La consistencia interna de las tres dimensiones fue alta: alfas de .83 para la satisfacción con la vida pasada, .81 para la presente y .86 para la futura. También los resultados de validez externa fueron los esperados. La TSLS incorpora el eje temporal en la medida de la satisfacción con la vida, con garantías psicométricas. Sus utilidades se comentan en la discusión.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Temporal Satisfaction with Life Scale (TSLS): A study on elderly attending to university programs

Several measures have been developed for the operalization of well-being, standing out the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). To cope with some of its problems the Temporal Satisfaction with Life Scale (TSLS) was developed. The aim of this study is to present and validate the Spanish version of the TSLS, in a sample elderly attending to University programs. The sample was composed of 737 elderly. Together with the TSLS, an indicator of general life satisfaction and the SF-8 Health Scale were used. Analyses included the study of factorial validity, estimations of reliability and external validity. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis were adequate: χ2(87)=454.593 (p<.001), CFI=.973; RMSEA=.085, showing appropriate fit for the three-dimension model posed. Internal consistency of the three dimensions was high: alpha values of .83 for past, .81 for present, and .86 for future life satisfaction. Additionally, results of external validity were as expected. The TSLS addresses the temporal axis in the measurement of life satisfaction, with psychometric guarantees. Its utilities are explained in the discussion.

Prediction of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being in succesful aging

Psychological well-being is a construct of maximum relevance in psychology, being the equivalent to health in medical sciences. It is a multifaceted construct, with two research traditions: the hedonic and the eudaimonic ones. On the other hand, the paradign of succesful aging is a good theoretical framework to study and understand optimal aging. Rowe and Kahn (1998) articulated this paradign proposing its three main characteristics: physcal health, cognitive functioning and being productive and socially active. The aim of this research is to develop a predictive model of well-being, both hedonic and eudaimonic, using the sucessful aging parading plus a dimension of spirituality. Main results of the model showed that social support had a significant and positive on satisfaction and to a lesser extent on well-being. Pshysical health was also a significant predictor of satisfaction. An finally, spirituality may also be considered a protector of well-being. Percentage of variance explained of life satisfaction was 23.3%, while this percentage on well-being was 10.4%.

Hematotoxicity of magnetite nanoparticles coated with polyethylene glycol: in vitro and in vivo studies

Hematotoxicity of magnetite nanoparticles with different coatings has been evaluated by determining their safety in vitro and in vivo in a rat model up to 30 days.

Predicting life satisfaction of the Angolan elderly: a structural model

Satisfaction with life is of particular interest in the study of old age well-being because it has arisen as an important component of old age. A considerable amount of research has been done to explain life satisfaction in the elderly, and there is growing empirical evidence on best predictors of life satisfaction. This research evaluates the predictive power of some aging process variables, on Angolan elderly people's life satisfaction, while including perceived health into the model. Data for this research come from a cross-sectional survey of elderly people living in the capital of Angola, Luanda. A total of 1003 Angolan elderly were surveyed on socio-demographic information, perceived health, active engagement, generativity, and life satisfaction. A Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes model was built to test variables' predictive power on life satisfaction. The estimated theoretical model fitted the data well. The main predictors were those related to active engagement with others. Perceived health also had a significant and positive effect on life satisfaction. Several processes together may predict life satisfaction in the elderly population of Angola, and the variance accounted for it is large enough to be considered relevant. The key factor associated to life satisfaction seems to be active engagement with others.

Hierarchical structure of the cognitive processes in schizophrenia: the fundamental role of processing speed

OBJECTIVE

Decreased processing speed (PS) is a key feature of schizophrenia with respect to cognition, functional outcome and clinical symptoms. Our objective was to test whether PS slowing mediates other neuropsychological deficits among patients with chronic schizophrenia.

METHOD

One hundred patients with schizophrenia and 53 healthy adults completed a series of neuropsychological measures that assess six cognitive domains. In addition to PS these included attention, verbal memory, visual memory, working memory, and executive functioning. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate the fit of the 6-factor model. The cognitive performances of both groups were compared before and after controlling for the effect of PS, but also after controlling for the effect of each cognitive factor at a time. Finally, the PS-related variance was removed and the effect of the other cognitive factors was tested again.

RESULTS

CFA supported the hypothesized 6-factor cognitive structure. As expected, the patients and controls differed on all cognitive measures. However, after controlling for the effects of PS, group differences on the other five cognitive factors decreased substantially. Controlling for other factors produced smaller attenuation of group differences, and these effects were also partially accounted for by decreased PS.

CONCLUSIONS

PS deficits account for most of the differences in cognition between patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. PS slowing appears to be a core feature of schizophrenia, one that underlies impairments of working memory, executive functioning, and other abilities.

Longitudinal changes of insight in first episode psychosis and its relation to clinical symptoms, treatment adherence and global functioning: one-year follow-up from the Eiffel study

OBJECTIVES

The Eiffel study is a longitudinal, naturalistic study of patients with first episode psychosis (FEP) designed to evaluate the predictive value of defective insight on treatment adherence and global functioning.

METHODS

Five hundred seventy-seven patients with FEP were assessed at baseline and at a 1-year follow-up. They were compared in terms of sociodemographic factors, psychopathology, insight, treatment adherence and functional outcome. Longitudinal functionality was prospectively assessed with the clinical global impression (CGI) and global assessment of functioning (GAF) rating scales.

RESULTS

At baseline, up to 50% of our sample presented with a lack of insight. Most clinical symptoms, including insight, improved over the follow-up period. Insight, education and social withdrawal significantly predicted CGI and GAF at follow-up. Insight and level of education were predictive of treatment adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

Insight significantly predicted the general clinical course, treatment adherence and functional outcome in our FEP sample after 1 year. Only education additionally accounted for the longitudinal course. Since our results suggest that better insight improves treatment adherence and consequently clinical course and functional outcome, insight could be a specific target of treatment in early intervention programs.