Dr. PetanskY KnowS...

Travelling Imagination

2012-01-23T01:41:00.002Z

During the winter of 2011, I did a short trip around the south-east of Mexico. While my friend and I were waiting, standing up in the middle of the road from Yucatan to Campeche, we saw one of the most gorgeous skies ever in our life.

<br>During the winter of 2011, I did a short trip around the south-east of Mexico. While my friend and I were waiting, standing up in the middle of the road from Yucatan to Campeche, we saw one of the most gorgeous skies ever in our life. <br>

2011-11-23T20:00:00.001Z

I should write more in English, maybe not, maybe yes, well, I am now trying to avoid my responsibility to type some stuff for a new wiki related with the synthesis of tetra(analine) oligomers. The idea is to have a space that can be take such as reference for all that people, only members of my research group, involved with synthesis of this material.

I feel that this kind of places could be amazingly helpful to create discussions, spot problems, suggest advices and generate new ideas, nevertheless, if you are not too systematic or too clear about how to do things then this option can be total fail!

On the other hand, people should be really aware that this is a community and not only a space of reference.In my case, whoever comes to me asking for advice regarding the synthesis or characterization of this compound, rather than share just the information requested, I'm always providing extra information because I know that it would helpful for them later on, and then I expect that, maybe, they will share with me important information that can be helpful - unfortunately this is not always the case!

According with my experience, sometimes, people can be horrible, because whether they can offer their help or useful information, they are waiting to help until you ask for their their advice.

Mexican looking for couch in Oxford!!!

2011-10-28T02:36:00.000+01:00

Rare flowers somewhere along the Bristol-Bath cycle path, England

My friend and myself are looking for a friendly couch surfer (CS) that can offer a place to crash one nigh in Oxford, unfortunately we haven't been lucky. We are planning to head off around the third weekend of November, for that reason I've been writing a couple of requests and I want to share one of them:

Hi Meera and Emily!

My name is Angel, I'm from Mexico, but currently living in the amazing city of Bristol doing a PhD in Chemistry. I am writing to you because I would like to know if you can give host for one night to my friend and myself.

I just started my second year at Uni, but unfortunately, I've never been before in Oxford. A friend of mine, Mexican too, has arrived two months ago because of an academic exchange in London. Erika is leaving on December, so we think could be amazing have a travel together around to your beautiful city.

We know each other maybe since five years ago, we met in the same University studying English. We are not smokers, unfortunately, I am not veggie, only Erika, but I don't have problems if I have to stop my meatholic habits along one weekend. We don't speak french neither Indi, nevertheless we try to do our best with Spanish and English! We share the delightful pleasure of thoughtful walking in silence across green areas.

About Erika, I can say that she is not the best cook of the world, but she has always been good listener and kind with myself. Erika is a biochemist that loves read about science, exercise herself because it produce the molecules of happiness and enjoy dancing, even though she has two left feet.

Although, I am not veggie, I love read and even more expressing all the emotions and anecdotes that reading produces in myself. I enjoy myself cycling around, It has been one of the greatest experience that I ever have had here in England. Besides, I am really thankful with life because I feel a fortunate person surrounded by amazing people, either good friends or unforgettable acquaintance.

I am the only one that has done CS before. I can mention memorable moments such as the musical jam party in Manchester, two Swiss guys hang around Bristol or the last lovely summer playing Yahtzee around green areas here in Bristol.

Thank you in advance for your time to read this, I hope you can having us. You are more than welcome to come to Bristol,

Best,

Angel

Sunset in Swansea, Wales

All aboard!!!

2011-10-19T04:03:00.000+01:00

Although, I've typed postcard in the blog searching bar only to be sure that I hadn't already explained what a postcard in motion is, I'm still not sure at all, if I did it. Then, sorry for those who already know what it is. Basically, the idea is record videos, not longer than one and a half minute, of static scenes, to upload it straight in youtube without any music or fancy titles.

I had already tried to add titles and music on some postcards, nevertheless, the result seemed to be different from what I'm expecting to transmit to the viewer. This is because from my viewpoint, a postcard gets different meanings every time it is chosen by persons. I meant, a postcard has a blank backside, just ready to be filled out with personal memories using beautiful handwriting. Even although, I agree that music gives an additional emotion and emphasis to the stop-motion composition, sometimes the musical content persuades the perception of the people over the blank meaning of one of these videos. Additionally, choosing and editing music are tedious processes that take long time to achieve the desired final product.

Well, without more preambles here you have these postcards for you!!! and if you feel that you want see more then you should subscribe to my channel...

Check the difference of postcards with and without sound, please leave your comment:

With music

Without

Full Moon Orchestra

2011-10-14T00:28:00.000+01:00

Uff!!! Long, long time since my last post in this blog. I think the reason for this is because sometimes writing a duplicated entry and in two different language somehow could be bored. Anyway, I want to share with you the sounds recorded from the Full Moon Orchestra at the Arnolfini museum last night. This event is so delightful! People with any kind of instrument, I would say whatever that can be used to produce sounds, can take part or even be the conductor of the orchestra.

This event takes place every full moon, so if you want to get involved there are two more nights to go before the end of this year... The next one is on November the 10th, so just click on play to listen and enjoy!!!

Full Moon Orchestra by rck@

2011-09-11T17:04:00.001+01:00

Just a postcard from my work everyday in the lab...

The marching of the clouds...

2011-09-11T16:57:00.003+01:00

One of the things that I really enjoy is watch buildings gazing the marching of the clouds...

El Album...: Bath panoramico II

2011-09-06T00:18:00.000+01:00

El Album...: Bath panoramico II

'Your own acts and behavior tell the world who you are and at te same time what kind of society you think it should be'

- Ai Weiwei

Brilliant ideas = better world, not more stupid wars!

2011-07-13T23:57:00.000+01:00

Such a great idea!!! The Mexican people's used to read 2.7 books per year. Then one day, the biggest bookshop in Mexico (Gandhi bookshop) took on the challenge of making people read "The Bridge" written by Franz Kafka while riding by subway. The implementation of this brilliant idea made that 600,000 people could read the full short story.

The Bridge was cut in 13 excerpts, one per each station that conforms the yellow line of Mexico City's underground. Then, each part was used to cover only one ad board located in a strategic place along the platform, so that every time the subway train stopped, people inside the wrapped carriage in yellow could read each fragment. Besides, leaflets were handing out for that people that didn't ride the entire line.

I think, in days like these where marketing campaigns are designed to create some pointless necessities around people, projects like this are highly remarkable. I agree with the idea that reading or getting close to culture are not going to magically pop up the solution for injustices, corruption, sadness, wars, and a large etc. Nevertheless, it's a good start to address problems, to come up with questions, to get criteria about what is good and what is not for ourselves, and to dream...

Check out the video to get a better picture about the project!

2666 by Roberto Bolaño (excerpts) II

2011-07-13T22:25:00.000+01:00

Johns: “Coincidence isn’t a luxury, it’s the flip side of fate, and something else besides.”

Morini: “What else?”

Johns: “Something my friend couldn’t grasp, for a reason that’s simple and easy to understand. My friend (if I may still call him that) believed in humanity, and so he also believed in order, in the order of painting and the order of words, since words are what we paint with. He believed in redemption. Deep down he may even have believed in progress. Coincidence, on the other hand, is total freedom, our natural destiny. Coincidence obeys no laws and if it does we don’t know what they are. Coincidence, if you’ll permit me the simile, is like the manifestation of God at every moment on our planet. A senseless God making senseless gestures at his senseless creatures. In that hurricane, in that osseous implosion, we find communion. The communion of coincidence and effect and the communion of effect with us"

El ALBuM is here!!!

2011-06-21T19:19:00.001+01:00

El ALBuM is here!!! If you are not aware about how many blogs I am managing with, thus perhaps you really don't know too much about this one that is fully dedicated to pictures. I'm so glad to introduce to you this special space mainly because it's one of my favourites passions in life, I mean take pictures of everything.

Actually, maybe it would be the very first and the last one for a while, mainly because I don't have an own camera, anyway I'll try to make more lively this blog - Enjoy yourselves!!!

2666 by Roberto Bolaño (excerpts)

2011-06-05T19:49:00.001+01:00

"A badulaque," said Espinoza, "is someone of no cosequence. It´s a word that also can be applied to fools, but there are fools of consequence, and badulaque applies only to fools of no consequence."

Museo Nacional de Antropologia by ~Chilangolandia on deviant ART

"Odd," said the Spaniard. "It sounds like a arning but also a threat."
"There's this, too, "said Pelletier. "Medusa is one of the three daughters of Phorcys and Ceto, the so-called Gorgons, three sea monsters. Acording to Hesiod, the other two sisters, Stheno and Euryale, were inmortal. But not Medusa."

Medusa by ~emeraldiris on deviant ART

"Have you been reading the Greek myths?" asked Espinoza.
"It's the first thing I did when I got home," said Pelletier. "Listen to this: when Perseus cut Medusa's head off, Chrysaor, father of the monster Geryon, emerged, and so did the horse Pegasus."
"Pegasus came out of Medusa's body? Fuck," said Espinoza..."

Medusa by ~monstermagnet on deviant ART

...And at this point it must be said that there's truth to the saying make your name, then sleep and reap fame...

Dont be afraid Its not real by Bissarrie

And then they went out to dinner and the three of them drank too much, happy as children, talking about jealously and its disastrous consequences. And they also talked about the inevitability of jealously. And about the need for the jealously, as if jealously were a middle-of-the-night-urge. Not to mention the sweetness and the open, in some cases, to some people, delectable wounds. And on the way out they got in a cab and the discourse went on.

Bristol University Faculty of Science: The secret behind a good cup of coffee

2011-05-19T13:24:00.002+01:00

"Coffee makers are an indispensable piece of equipment in every lab around the world, whether you are doing research with toxic chemicals or just pencil and paper. Scientists and coffee have a special and close relationship, maybe because somehow coffee carries an intellectual meaning. Nowadays, there are many issues regarding the benefical or harmful effects it may have on the health of a coffee drinker. To highlight this, the RCS has recently published an interesting article related to the following question: is coffee a guilty pleasure or a life saving elixir? But, there are many aspects to keep in mind before this beverage developes the specific oganoleptic properties that reach your palate..."

Less focused and less productive

2011-04-29T03:14:00.006+01:00

Break times are okay and I agree with the idea to have a couple during the day, but you should to be careful if you spend all your day watching videos on YouTube, checking new fancy offers, status updating on Facebook or clicking follow icons on Twitter. The thing is not really rather you do this or do not, the issue is more related on which kind of distractions increase or decrease your performance. An article published by the Neyorker reports that free on-line access to viral social networks or e-websites is helpful to enhance concentration and productivity inside companies.

"..if we spend lots of energy controlling our impulses in one area, it becomes harder to control our impulses in others.."

I feel that extrapolate the concept of coffee break to Internet break sounds really awesome, but in the 1920s, time of the quantum and atomic physics' effervescent, there weren't any superfast broadband or fancy smartphones, distractions were so far different. For example, physicists lodged in the Bohr's Institute, three-story stucco residence with a roof of red tile, used to work hard and discuss new experiments or mathematical topics until late. Nevertheless, pin-pong or discussions over the charm of Danish girls during the meal or reviews on the latest film of Billy the Kid, were breaks of relax and talk about non-scientific matters. Even although, some of these topics weren't excluded to be analyzed using the scientific method, for example the experimental testing, with toy pistols in hand, on the explanation of why the villain draw his gun after the hero does.

"Poor Casimir," said Rosenfeld. "He had to wait until the lovers had safely got over their troubles and married and all, before he could resume his calculations. He did not lose a second either: every time the lamps lit up, they invariably disclosed our friend bent over odd bits of paper and feverishly filling them with intricate formulae. The way he made the best of a desperate situation was truly admirable."

Excerpt from the novel: Men Who Made a New Physics: Physicists and the Quantum Theory.

Making reference about science, scientist performance is related with the creativity in creation and resolution of questions, so the necessity of non-scientific activities or distractions is something important. For example, taking time to read something not totally related with our own work or taking time to have a short walk can help to clarify, organize and bring about ideas to tackle a problem. Perhaps, this is the main reason why Albert Einstein loved to have long outdoors walks. In my case, reading about fiction and poetry or watch some pictures are helpful activities to encourage my creativity and make me feel enthusiastic about the things that human being can achieve.

Niels Bohr Institute in 2005 (wapedia.mobi)

Niels Borh Institute in1920 (Emilio Segrè Visual Archives)

At the end, I think it's important to have some breaks but the way manage time plays an important role in what can be a waste of time or something that can increase your performance during your day. Finally, If you're interested in know more about human aspects of the scientist involved in the develop of the quantum theory take a look on the book by Barbara Lovett Cline:Men Who Made a New Physics: Physicists and the Quantum Theory.

Fictional framework...

2011-04-26T01:06:00.002+01:00

Over the last weeks, I'd been dragging by non stop reading until two am, but everything changed after I finish Sputnik Sweetheart, by Haruki Murakami. The plot is not at all good, even the finale is totally disconcerting and abrupt, nevertheless the quintessence of this book is absolutely shocking and brilliant.

"Your writing has he living, breathing force of something natural flowing through it. Right now that hasn't all come together, but that doesn't mean it's time to - shut the lid on the piano."

Sumire has only one objective in her early twentieths: being a writer. So, she made the decision to drop off the school and develop her abilities to create true lies. Even although she has talent, every story doesn't makes sense to her and his best friend; the narrator. But, a twist in her life happen when she fall in love of a woman 17 years older. Miu seems to be the passion missing in her life and writing stuff, nevertheless unexpected events come up over a journey across Europe that create ravages on the lives of everyone.

One question remains, however, if this side, where Miu is, is not the real world - if this side is actually the other side - what about me, the person who shares the same temporal and spatial plane with her?

Who in the world am I?

I'm not going to talk more about the plot, and I hate to spoil stories, so you have to read it to get a conclusion for yourself. However, there's something that kept me so quiet these days, something that rise up in Sumire's essay about loneliness. Maybe I'm so affected because I use to think a lot about it, perhaps I'm afraid to. This feeling is so deep inside of me, even so strong that I can't concentrate on read other books. Altough, I don't have a clear picture about feelings that pop up inside me, maybe one day of these I can tell you or maybe I'll forget it.

A question

So what are people supposed to do if they want to avoid a collision (thud!) but still lie in the field, enjoying the clouds drifting by, listening to the grass grow—not thinking, in other words? Sound hard? Not at all. Logically, it’s easy. C’est simple. The answer is dreams. Dreaming on and on. Entering the world of dreams, and never coming out. Living in dreams for the rest of time.

In dreams you don’t need to make any distinctions between things. Not at all. Boundaries don’t exist. So in dreams there are hardly any collisions. Even if there are, they don’t hurt. Reality is different. Reality bites.

Reality, reality.

Other thing to be mentioned is that the cover of this book, or at least the published by Vintage Books, that resembles perfectly the essence or the big picture of the book. I meant, usually these pictures or illustrations don't have any notable relation with the plot that protect against hostilities of the time. A naked Japanese girl, staring at nothing with lost and melancholy sight, lying on a white sheet, in a black & white gradient...

Why do people have to be this lonely? What's the point of it all? Millions of people in this world, all of them yearning, looking to others to satisfy them, yet isolating themselves Why? Was the Earth put here just to nourish human loneliness?

I turned face-up on the slab of stone, gazed at the sky, and thought about all the man-made satellites spinning around the Earth. The horizon was still etched in a faint glow, and stars began to blink on in the deep, wine-coloured sky. I gazed among them for the light of a satellite, but it was still too bright out to spot one with the naked eye. The sprinkling of stars looked nailed to the spot, unmoving. I closed my eyes and listened carefully for the descendants of Sputnik, even now circling the Earth, gravity their only tie to the planet. Lonely metal souls in the unimpeded darkness of space, they meet, pass each other, and part, never to meet again. No words passing between them. No promises to keep.

My body as a specific place to experiment and create science...

2011-04-21T01:09:00.000+01:00

Controversial and unconventional, those are the words that come up into my mind every time I remember the content of the two talks last Tuesday. As a scientist, I have been interested about the kind of concept that makes art and science relationship closer or distant. Nevertheless, my interpretation is more related with art being source of inspiration to science and not in the opposite way. Kira O’Reilly and Proffesor Paul Martin showed up their experience trying to answer scientific and philosophical questions based in the human body as a subject of research performing biotechnical techniques.

My body as a specific place to experiment and create science...

Kira O’Reilly art is able to shocking any kind of person with sense of safety, or well, conventional people dedicated to experimental science. I mean, when the artist showed pictures about injuries in her body, evocating traditional Chinese medicine, this act wasn’t anything out of conventions, many people use piercings or tattoos over their bodies. However, the idea to use her body as a material to create art and to ask oneself where the border of life begging and end sounds strange.

...decontextualization of flesh from the body as material, as living, to understand conditions to exist what is life...

Breaking every rule is a good start to ask new questions and as a consequence create new perspectives about daily activities that might to be common for each people, for example persons involved in science. Let’s use the infinity behind your eyelids, close your eyes for few seconds draw the naked body of a woman inside a fume hood in your laboratory – keep in your mind these questions: What does it mean for you? What if you are the person inside this small place used to protect you against toxic substances? To be honest, when I saw that picture I felt totally confused because the elements are familiar for me, but something inside me said: What is the aim of this? It’s wrong. The most important thing is that maybe this outrageous picture has changed something introspective about me and the lab environment.

...researching how build or rebuild tissues...

Professor Paul Martin carrying out a research in embryology, their main interest is focused on understanding the mechanism involved in the creation of human tissues. Dr. Paul Martin has the belief that there are aspects from life sciences that can inspire artists to create art. During the talk was cited the case of a woman that create some fashion designs from embryos. On the other hand, he declare that scientist has to think a little bit as an artist but the work of a scientist because they have to be a good observers.

Movie of the last 20 minutes of dorsal closure in an embryo expressing GFPactin in the advancing epithelium (Windows and Mac users). A clear actin cable and dynamic filopodia are expressed by the leading edge cells, as the epithelial sheets zipper together – made by Antonio Jacinto

These talks showed that both disciplines can interact in a dynamic dialog using different and common techniques or methods that allows the expansion of the knowledge and understanding of life.

Blogging in my iPod touch

2011-04-05T01:12:00.000+01:00

The Last Tuesday was the kick off for the first Science Faculty Blogging Course, and to be honest, I was skeptical about the idea of a blogging course, because, I've always had the idea that write a blog should be very intuitive, not too sophisticated, that you don’t need to have previous instruction - basically, such a friendly coffee talk! However, it was totally cool, because somehow the blogging experience became real with people with different background and interests. So, I would like to share my experience reading and writing blog stuff using my iPod and some exciting apps.

Google reader, one of the most popular feed readers in the web, doesn’t have an official app for iPod gadgets but there are some good third-party services, one of these is MobileRSS. This is a Google reader client with two different versions one for free, and Pro (1.79, ad free). To be honest the functionality is almost the same, the only difference is that you can’t make a search of feeds by key words, so I’m with the free one. With this client you can do the same as the Google application in your pc, you can like, starred, write a note and share the posts of your favorite blog in many different ways as a simple email, or in twitter, or in facebook and many more. It is a very intuitive application, easy to use, but there are two nice features that make it fantastic: one is the full screen viewing totally free of ads and the offline capabilities that allow you store items, with embedding pictures, and make use of the whole capabilities, as share an item or write a note, and then when you go online everything already done offline will be sync with Google reader.

If you have a blog account in the most famous host services, as blogger or wordpress, I would recommend one app which maybe is not quite intuitive or dynamic because it is a blog editor with a HTLM-like user interface: Blog Booster. However, the options to write new posts, edit old items and the preview feature are almost as the same as if you were blogging in one of those nice websites. There are two versions, the free one with ads and the Pro (ad free) with many extra fancy capabilities. One of these is the possibility to publish one post in different blog accounts with a few taps. Additionally, it has an autocontent feature that every time that you try to type a new post the program is going to look for pictures, videos and tags that can fit with the content. I use the free version, I can edit text (change color, margin, font, etc.), create hyperlinks, add pictures from my library, previewed, and all the basic things, as well as all the stuff done offline will be sync when the device is connected to the World Wide Web.

In my experience, I will always prefer edit and publish entries in a pc or laptop, but sometimes the ideas don’t pop up in the right moment, for that kind of unexpected moments, I use a text editor called Plain Text. As the same title of the app, it’s a simple editor as the default notes app, with the extra features that allows you to create and organize folders and sync everything with Dropbox. Nevertheless, the minimalist paper-like user interface makes the experience to write and create would be something simple and elegant, without distractors (for example nasty ads), only you and an entirely world to be walked and discovered.

Well, I’m at the end of this first entry, so the only thing that I have to say is that almost every app is good, maybe these that I’ve reviewed are the more boring, complex, less reliable and awful in the whole world, but all relies on the experience of each user, then, which one are the best for you?

Photo: Foto de músicos by Juan Rulfo

Un Mundo Llenode Perdedores: Gabriel Orozco en el Tate Modern...

2011-04-03T17:18:00.000+01:00

Un Mundo Llenode Perdedores: Gabriel Orozco en el Tate Modern...: "Leader of team that found Plutonium Chemist who made vinyl Long-time distiller of Bourbon Expert of psychology of prostitutes Expert in sun'..."

About me

2011-03-14T22:19:00.001Z

Writing about me is something difficult, but let's start with something easy. I was born in Mexico City in 1983, one 23 of august. Six months ago I came to the University of Bristol to study a PhD in Chemistry. I really like writing, seeing, listening music and walking.

Five years ago, I started a blog to write about different topics, most of them are short stories, poems and trips. Besides, I got the opportunity to write in an online magazine about rock music and cultural stuff around the city. I have other three blogs, one is about science and photography but I don't often used to write on them.

My passion for music and reading is recorded in two podcasts: Rompecabezas (Puzzle) and La Ciudad (the City). "Rompecabezas" was a pretty good project, every episode tackled with music and literature a specific topic. The best part was that you could listen poems or extracts reading by the authors themselves. "La Ciudad" is really new, I created this because I believe that walking around every street, alley, small place is like read an entire book or a short story. So, in this podcast you can listen music made in the streets, recorded by my iPod, at the same time that I share some memories from my city or something exciting that I have found in my leisure time around every place that I have visited.

I feel, it shows a little bit about me and my hobbies, I would like to write about my job but is complicated for me. Let's see what is going on with this blog!!!

Describing my city...

2010-07-27T03:35:00.000+01:00

Here I am, again... Unfortunately, these are not good days. I have already done TOEFL test 3 times, can you believe it? I am going to try to overcome my fears with this post. At the beginning of the test they ask you to describe your country in order to adjust the audio recording controls. My answer is described next:

Mexico City is one of the most greatest cities in the world, I say it not only because of territory size, I talk about the warm of the people who lives here. Additionally, there are too many rich cultural expressions around every corner.

People who lives in Mexico City is so kindly and warmly. One of the first impression you get from mexican people comes from the way you are treat. For example, when you meet a person the very first time, they always going to shake your hand with confidence, and maybe at the end of the conversation they will hug you.

In other hand, this is a city rich in many cultural exciting expressions. Every corner at the down town has a museum. For example, Donceles' street has two interesting museums, each one in front of the another: National Art Museum (MUNAL) and Mineralogy Museum. MUNAL is a great place to explore the history of modern art of this country. In contrast, National Mineralogy Museum is the shelter of the history of this science in a country, for example, was one of the main ore-silver exporter trough too many years.

In conclusion, Mexico City is one of the most exciting cities around the world because of their people and cultural richness. I am sure, visitors will not waste the time they can spend here.

Cristalography?...

2007-02-09T01:34:00.000Z

from Greek κρυσταλλος − (krustallos) ice, crystal + γραφειν (graphein) − to write

The branch of science devoted to the study of molecular and crystalline structure and properties, with far-reaching applications in mineralogy, chemistry, physics, mathematics, biology and materials science...

Fuente: IUCr Online Dictionary of Cristallography

¿Cómo que no te quedo claro?
Pues entonces mira esta linda animación...

¿ Qué es la ESQUIZOFRENIA?...

2007-01-08T05:54:00.000Z

La esquizofrenia se define como una alteración en el funcionamiento cerebral. El cerebro contiene miles de millones de neuronas, o células nerviosas, cada neurona tiene ramificaciones o terminales que transmiten y reciben mensajes de otras neuronas. Estas terminales producen sustancias químicas llamadas neurotransmisores, que llevan los mensajes de la punta de una terminal hasta la punta de la otra. En el cerebro de los pacientes con esquizofrenia, existe una alteración en este sistema de comunicación.

¿Cuáles son los SíNTOMAS de la Esquizofrenia?

Los médicos describen los síntomas de la esquizofrenia como "positivos" o "negativos". Los síntomas causados por la enfermedad como alucinaciones o delirios, son los llamados síntomas positivos. La pérdida de motivación o energía, indiferencia, inactividad, aislamiento se llaman síntomas negativos. Los síntomas más característicos de la esquizofrenía son:

Pensamientos desordenados

Dificultad para ordenar los pensamientos, para concentrarse o recordar cosas.

Creencias falsas

Ideas erróneas de persecución, daño, etc.

Alucinaciones

Oír, ver u oler cosas que no existen.

Negación

Falta de reconocimiento de la enfermedad.

Sentido de sí mismo alterado

Percepción falsa de su cuerpo.

Cambios emocionales

Alteración de las emociones, ausencia de expresión facial, cambios de comportamiento repentinos.

Retraimiento

Aislamiento del mundo que le rodea.

Depresión

Sentimientos de desesperanza, impotencia, tristeza.

¿Qué NO ES la esquizofrenia?

La esquizofrenia NO es una inferioridad mental o una personalidad mala.

¿Es frecuente la Esquizofrenia?

La esquizofrenia es una enfermedad común que afecta a una de cada cien personas en el mundo, independientemente de la raza, ambiente cultural, clase social o inteligencia.
La enfermedad inicia entre los 15 y 30 años de edad. Se presenta por igual en hombres que en mujeres.

¿Qué CAUSA la Esquizofrenia?

Actualmente se habla de un trastorno orgánico (bioquímico). Existe una sustancia química en el cerebro llamada dopamina, se piensa que en el cerebro de los pacientes con esquizofrenia se produce un exceso de esta sustancia, y que éste exceso da por resultado los síntomas característicos de la enfermedad.

Además del trastorno orgánico, se ha encontrado que la susceptibilidad a la esquizofrenia sea parcialmente heredada. Es más probable que se presente la esquizofrenia en personas que tengan un pariente en primer grado afectado.

¿ Como EVOLUCIONA la enfermedad?

La evolución de la enfermedad es diferente en cada caso. Un pronóstico seguro no es posible.
Sin embargo se puede observar mejoría incluso en casos de enfermedades prolongadas durante años. Los síntomas pueden, en poco tiempo, variar, aumentar o disminuir, desaparecer o ser sustituidos por otros.

Un 60% de los pacientes pueden vivir la mayor parte del tiempo fuera del hospital. Tendrán algunas dificultades o alteraciones por lo que necesitarán ayuda temporal o constante.

¿Existen diferentes TIPOS de esquizofrenia?

Hay diferentes categorías de esquizofrenias. Prácticamente la diferencia esencial es que el paciente tenga ideas de persecución o no.

Para atender adecuadamente al paciente es importante diferenciar entre episodios agudos (trastornos de comportamiento, ideas delirantes, alucinaciones) y estados crónicos (aislamiento, indiferencia e inactívidad).
Los episodíos agudos requieren tratamiento hospitalario.

¿ Cómo se hace el DIAGNÓSTICO de Esquizofrenia?

El diagnóstico se basa en síntomas y signos, es decir, en lo que dice el paciente, la familia y lo que observa el médico.

Para hacer un diagnóstico de esquizofrenia el médico tiene que excluir otras posibles enfermedades físicas o problemas que presentan síntomas parecidos como abuso de drogas, epilepsia, tumor cerebral o trastornos metabólicos. Es difícil hacer un diagnóstico de esquizofrenia, y muchas veces se requiere mucho tiempo para establecerlo.

¿Qué TRATAMIENTO debe recibir un paciente con Esquizofrenia?

El manejo de la esquizofrenia requiere de tratamiento médico y rehabilitación psicosocial. Las medicinas pueden ayudar a controlar algunos de los síntomas, y en ciertos casos puede ser necesaria por lo menos una corta estancia en el hospital. Algunas personas se recuperan bien y pueden llevar una vida normal; pero es frecuente que otros tengan problemas continuos con los síntomas y necesiten seguir tomando medicamentos durante mucho tiempo, y quizá durante el resto de su vida.

El tratamiento médico es importante pero no "cura" la enfermedad, los pacientes necesitan apoyo y comprensión.

¿Pueden los medicamentos causar ADICClÓN?

Los medicamento para los pacientes con esquizofrenia (antipsicóticos) NO causan adicción. Es importante seguir exactamente las instrucciones del médico en cuanto al horario y dosis del medicamento.

¿Qué hacer durante una CRISIS?

En general, las crisis se presentan debido a la recurrencia de síntomas agudos de la enfermedad. A menudo suceden cuando el paciente está sin medicamento, aunque pueden presentarse en otras circunstancias. Por lo tanto, es común que el paciente presente alucinaciones, delirios, trastornos del pensamiento y/o alteraciones del comportamiento y la emoción y que esta situación, que alarme a la familia tanto como al paciente.

En estos casos se recomienda que acuda al médico para seguir un tratamiento, cabe la posibilidad que el paciente necesite ingresar al hospital.

Para crear una atmósfera que favorezca el tratamiento se sugieren las siguientes pautas:

Recuerde que es imposible razonar frente a una crisis aguda.
No muestre irritación o enojo; mantenga la calma y control.
Disminuya de inmediato otras distracciones: apague la televisión, el radio, etc.
Con calma pida a los presentes (amigos, familiares, etc) que se retiren.
Hable tranquila, firmemente y con sencillez.
Manifieste comprensión, frente a lo que el paciente esta experimentando.

Si la crisis es violenta, es posible que no haya tiempo de seguir las estrategias anteriores, no dude en llamar al hospitalo a su médico. Ya que rara vez se puede predecir una crisis, es necesario recopilar los nombres y números telefónicos de todos los que pueden ayudar de alguna manera y tenerlos a la mano cuando sea necesario.

¿ Cómo COMPORTARSE frente a la enfermedad?

El paciente y la familia necesitan ayuda para enfrentarse a la enfermedad, es más fácil convivir con la enfermedad si:

Se acepta la enfermedad tal como es.
Se recibe información objetiva.
Se sigue el tratamiento médico adecuada-mente.
Se lleva con regularidad un control médico.
Se asiste a un grupo de apoyo periódicamente
Se evita el aislamiento del paciente.

INFORMES Grupo de Autoayuda
Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía MVS Departamento de Grupos de Apoyo Coordinadora: M en C. Yaneth Rodríguez.
Tel. 56063822 ext.2016 e-mail:gpo_apoyo@innn.edu.mx

¿Qué es la PARÁLISIS FACIAL?...

2007-01-08T04:38:00.000Z

¿Qué es el NERVIO FACIAL?
El nervio facial es el encargado de proporcionar los impulsos necesarios para que los músculos de la expresión de la cara tengan movimiento y así sea posible realizar todos los gestos y acciones propias de la cara, además de participar en el sentido del gusto (identificación de los sabores) y el sentido de la audición (mecanismos de protección del oído).

Específicamente hablando, se encarga de movimientos como elevar las cejas, cerrar los ojos, fruncir el ceño, arrugar la nariz, mover la boca, sonreír, soplar e inflar las mejillas entre otros.

En colaboración con otro nervio, ayuda a distinguir los sabores de los alimentos que tienen contacto con la lengua.

Por último, es el responsable del movimiento de un pequeño músculo dentro del oído con lo cual se evita que sonidos intensos lleguen hasta la porción más interna y puedan dañarlo.

Cada individuo tiene un nervio facial para el movimiento independiente de cada una de las mitades de su cara, derecha e izquierda, y la acción coordinada de ambos da origen al movimiento adecuado de la cara.

El nervio se inicia desde el cerebro, atraviesa al oído, y sale abajo de la oreja hacia la cara donde se divide en múltiples ramas, cada una destinada en forma especial para cada músculo de la cara.

¿Qué es la PARÁLISIS FACIAL?

Es la lesión o enfermedad del nervio facial, la cual puede ocurrir en cualquier parte de su trayecto.

Según la gravedad del daño puede afectarse todo o parte del nervio.

¿Cómo se ORIGINA la parálisis facial?

Existen diversas causas de parálisis facial como infecciones, problemas circulatorios, golpes, tumores o asociado a malformaciones durante el embarazo.
Sin embargo, en muchas ocasiones no es posible determinar la causa, por lo que se denomina idiopática.

¿QUIÉN PUEDE PADECER parálisis facial?

Es una enfermedad relativamente frecuente Los adultos son el grupo más comunmente afectado, sobre todo entre los 20 y 50 años de edad. Ocurre con igual frecuencia en hombres que en mujeres. Las embarazadas pueden padecer esta alteración, en la mayoría de los casos sin afección al feto.

Generalmente causa alteración del nervio de un solo lado de la cara, aunque en algunas ocasiones pueden lesionarse ambos nervios al mismo tiempo.

¿ Cuáles son los SíNTOMAS de una parálisis facial?

Dependiendo de la causa que lo origino serán los síntomas, sin embargo, la mayoría de los casos inicia de manera repentina, con dolor detrás de la oreja y posteriormente imposibilidad para cerrar el ojo, escurrimiento de los líquidos al momento de beberlos, alteración en la elevación de la ceja y pliegues de expresión en la mitad de la cara afectada.

También ocurre desviación de la boca hacia el lado contrario a la lesión, ésto sucede porque los músculos del lado sano de la cara tienen mayor fuerza que los músculos del nervio enfermo, dando como resultado que haya mayor tracción hacia el lado sano.
Con menor frecuencia, los pacientes se quejan de disminución del sabor de los alimentos y dolor al escuchar sonidos intensos. Los síntomas empeoran durante los primeros días, para posteriormente iniciar una lenta y progresiva recuperación.

¿En cuánto TIEMPO se cura una parálisis facial?

La evolución es lenta. Se requiere de mucha paciencia por parte del enfermo. En la mayoría de los casos la cara vuelve a la normalidad después de 2 a 3 meses, presentando una recuperación total en aproximadamente un 90% de los casos.

La participación del Médico Especialista es muy importante para detectar los casos en que puede presentarse mala evolución o en los que la causa de la parálisis requiere un tratamiento especial, como lo son los tumores o los traumatismos. Los pacientes diabéticos o hipertensos presentan una evolución menos favorable.

¿Es posible que pueda volver
a REPETIRSE una parálisis facial?

Aproximadamente de 2 a 5% de los pacientes pueden volver a tener uno o más cuadros de parálisis facial, del mismo lado de la cara o del lado contrario. En estos casos, la recuperación cada vez es más difícil.

¿Es HEREDITARIA?
Realmente no es hereditaria, pero sí existe una predisposición en aquellas familias en que alguno de sus miembros ya padeció parálisis facial, o en los casos en que se asocia a síndromes específicos o malformaciones durante el embarazo.

¿Es CONTAGIOSA?
La parálisis facial NO es contagiosa.

¿ Cómo se hace el DIAGNÓSTICO de una parálisis facial?
Los síntomas que presenta el paciente son la base del diagnóstico. Dependiendo del caso podrán requerirse estudios de laboratorio, rayos X, electrofisiologia, audiología o hasta de resonancia magnética.

¿Qué TRATAMIENTO debe recibir
un paciente con una parálisis facial?

Primeramente tratar de determinar su origen y dar un tratamiento específico al problema que la originó.
La protección alojo es básica mediante gotas, pomadas, parches y lentes.
Etapas posteriores requieren de realización de diversos tipos de ejercicios de rehabilitación.
La cirugía está reservada para casos especiales.
La psicoterapia de apoyo tiene un papel fundamental para el estado de ánimo de los pacientes.

¿En quiénes deja DAÑO PERMANENTE?

Aproximadamente un 5% de los pacientes no se recuperará completamente, dejando desde anormalidades poco visibles hasta deformidades importantes. Los casos tumorales y los infecciosos o de origen desconocido, así como en los pacientes diabéticos o hipertensos tendrán mayor riesgo de dejar daño permanente.

¿La parálisis facial podrá EVOLUCIONAR a otra enfermedad o lesión?

Es falso que de origen a embolias, parálisis de alguna otra parte del cuerpo o alteraciones mentales, a menos que el origen de la enfermedad como lo puede ser un tumor, aumente de tamaño y dañe otras estructuras.

¿ Cómo se puede PREVENIR?

No existe alguna forma específica. No sabemos cuando una infección de la garganta o la naríz puede complicarse con una parálisis facial, sin embargo, el tratamiento oportuno de estas infecciones disminuye el riesgo de lesión. El manejo adecuado en casos de traumatismos y la detección oportuna de tumores serán puntos importantes para una mejor evolución.

¿Qué es lo que NO se debe de hacer en casos de parálisis facial?

No es recomendable la utilización de tratamientos de estimulación eléctrica, acupuntura y masajes con vibradores, los cuales pueden contribuir a dejar daño permanente de parálisis o de contracciones involuntarias de la cara.

¿Qué es la MIGRAÑA?...

2007-01-08T03:57:00.000Z

La migraña se refiere a una enfermedad crónica, de causa no conocida que se manifiesta por crisis o, ataques repetitivos de cefaleas (dolor de cabeza o jaqueca), que suelen tener ciertas características en cuanto a su duración (entre 4 y 72 horas), tipo de dolor (punsátil), asociación con náusea, fotofobia (molestia a la luz) y fonofobia (molestia al ruido) o empeoramiento con la actividad física.

Es más frecuente en mujeres y puede existir una predisposición hereditaria.

TIPOS de migraña

Migraña sin aura (común)

Se trata de una cefalea benigna periódica. El dolor inicia en un solo lado y posteriormente se expande. El dolor es "palpitante" de moderado a intenso y aumenta con la actividad física. Puede presentarse además náusea, vómito y molestias intensas con la luz. Los episodios duran de 4 a 72 horas. Hay una historia previa de ataques similares y no hay evidencia de enfermedad orgánica.

Migraña con aura (clásica)

El aura es un "aviso" que puede ocurrir desde varias horas y hasta dos días antes del inicio del dolor de cabeza y dura menos de 60 minutos, dejando el paso al propio dolor de cabeza. Los síntomas más comunes son los visuales y tiene dos formas: un área de pérdida visual o la presencia de brillos en zig-zag.

Migraña carotidinia

También conocida como cefalea de la mitad inferior de la cara o migraña facial, es más frecuente en pacientes adultos (entre los 50 y 70 años de edad). El dolor se localiza generalmente en la mandíbula o en el cuello, aunque algunas veces puede ser periorbitario o maxilar.

Migraña Basilar: Este tipo de migraña presenta síntomas como vértigo (mareo), disartría (dificultades para hablar) y diplopía (visión doble).

SíNTOMAS que pueden acompañar a los episodios migrañosos

Náuseas
Fotofobia (molestia hacia la luz)
Sensación de aturdimiento
Dolor con la palpación del cuero cabelludo
Vómitos
Trastornos visuales
Parestesias (sensación de adormecimientos)
Vértigo

CAUSAS de la migraña

La causa de la migraña es desconocida, aunque se pueden relacionar tres hallazgos principales. 1) hay un fenómeno de constricción y dilatación de las arterias dentro y fuera del cerebro; 2) existe una zona disparadora en una área cerebral llamada mesencéfalo; 3) la liberación de sustancias (neuropéptidos vasoactivos) en el tallo cerebral que terminan en las paredes de las arterias.

DESENCADENANTES de los episodios migrañosos:

Consumo de vino tinto
Periodo menstrual
Hambre
Desvelo
Exposición a luces deslumbrantes
Exposición a algunos perfumes

TRATAMIENTO

El primer factor importante para el éxito de la terapéutica es tener un diagnóstico claro y preciso del tipo de cefalea. Existe una gran variedad de medicamentos que se utilizan para el tratamiento de la migraña.

Pueden ser por vía oral, rectal, subcutánea, parenteral e intravenosa de acuerdo a la intensidad del episodio y al tipo de migraña. Por lo que es conveniente seguir las instrucciones que el médico indique.

Otra técnica es la de relajación por "Biofeedback", la cual consiste en aprender a controlar algunas funciones corporales con el fin de disminuir el efecto de la tensión emocional sobre dichas funciones.

RECOMENDACIONES ante un episodio

Mantenerse en reposo sin ruidos en un lugar oscuro.
Poner compresas de agua fría y caliente, alternando, en la frente y base del cuello.
Tomar un baño de agua tibia
Realizar masajes en cuello y nuca.

PREVENCiÓN

La prevención de los dolores de cabeza se considera más importante que el tratamiento. Por lo que es importante evitar algunas de las causas que son conocidas:

Ingerir agua abundante cada día
Hacer ejercicio regular
Evitar alimentos disparadores
Evitar situaciones de estrés
Dormir lo suficiente
Evitar alcohol y tabaco

Es importante mencionar que existen otros dolores de cabeza (cefaleas) que no son migraña y pueden ser de dos tipos: primarios y secundarios.

Los dolores de cabeza primarios están localizados alrededor o detrás de un ojo.

Aparecen de pronto en una sucesión rápida de dolor, más comúnmente en hombres. Se caracteriza por un dolor intenso de un solo lado en el ojo y puede haber sudoración de frente y cara.

Los dolores de cabeza secundarios pueden deberse a:

Hemorragia subaracnoidea
Meningitis
Rotura de un aneurisma
Tumores cerebrales

Un dolor de cabeza intenso en una persona sin antecedentes de cefalea puede estar indicando la existencia de otra enfermedad.

Las señales que sugieren una cefalea secundaria son:

Dolor de cabeza intenso en un paciente mayor de 50 años, sin antecedentes de cefalea.
Rigidez de nuca
Diplopia o visión doble
Hemorragia de retina
Fiebre
Elevación de presión arterial
Vómito inexplicable
Antecedentes de un traumatismo