Psychological Distress, Burnout, and Academic Performance in First Year College Students.

Background: The first years of university can be very challenging for students. Previous research has focused on the study of the prevalence of burnout and of psychological distress in medical students. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of psychological symptoms and burnout reported by first-year students, the relationship between these variables and their academic performance, and the differences between health and non-health sciences students.

Usefulness of knockout mice to clarify the role of the opioid system in chronic pain.

Unlabelled: Several lines of knockout mice deficient in the genes encoding each component of the endogenous opioid system have been used for decades to clarify the specific role of the different opioid receptors and peptide precursors in many physiopathological conditions. The use of these genetically modified mice has improved our knowledge of the specific involvement of each endogenous opioid component in nociceptive transmission during acute and chronic pain conditions. The present review summarizes the recent advances obtained using these genetic tools in understanding the role of the opioid system in the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying chronic pain.

Benefits of using a hybrid problem-based learning curriculum to improve long-term learning acquisition in undergraduate biology education.

Although problem-based learning (PBL) has been used for over 40 years, with many studies comparing the benefits of PBL versus other educational approaches, little attention has been paid to the effectiveness of hybrid PBL (H-PBL) curricula. Here we aimed to compare the learning outcomes of two groups of undergraduate biology students working towards a bachelor's degree: one group used an H-PBL approach, while the second used a lecture-based learning (LBL) approach. Specifically, the H-PBL group used a PBL module with interdisciplinary problems, which represented 20% of the entire curriculum.

The endocannabinoid system and neuropathic pain.

The research of new therapeutic strategies for neuropathic pain represents a major current priority. Important drawbacks to advance in the development of these therapies are the limited translational value of the animal models now available and the elucidation of the complex neuronal and immune pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain. One of the neurotransmitter systems participating in neuropathic pain control that has recently raised a particular interest is the endocannabinoid system.

Neuropathic pain is enhanced in delta-opioid receptor knockout mice.

We have evaluated the possible involvement of delta-opioid receptor (DOR) in the development and expression of neuropathic pain. For this purpose, partial ligation of the sciatic nerve was performed in DOR knockout mice and wild-type littermates. The development of mechanical and thermal allodynia, as well as thermal hyperalgesia was evaluated by using the von Frey filament model, the cold-plate test and the plantar test, respectively.

[Nocebo effect: the other side of placebo].

Administration of drugs is often followed by beneficial (placebo effects) and harmful (nocebo effects) effects that are not always related to their mechanism of action. Nocebo effects are rather unknown even when may be the source of many adverse reactions which could be erroneously attributed to drug therapy. Some mechanisms have been postulated which might be associated with the development of nocebo effects.

How does the general population treat their pain? A survey in Catalonia, Spain.

Several epidemiological studies have shown that pain is a very common complaint in patients who seek medical care. However, the characteristics of how pain is treated in the general population have been studied less. The present survey was conducted to describe and analyze how the general population of Catalonia (Spain) approaches the treatment of their pain complaints.