Serum Hp and CRP do not appear to have value in diagnosing or predicting malignancy of mammary tumors in dogs. Higher CRP concentrations in dogs with mammary carcinoma suggest a role for inflammation in this tumor type.

High PCT and CRP values show a significant correlation with the bacterial etiology of lower respiratory tract infection. PCT and CRP show good sensitivity for distinguishing pneumococcal from other etiologies. PCT shows higher specificity than CRP. PCT and CRP can help make decisions about antibiotic therapy in children with lower respiratory tract infections.

A low PCT value at admission indicates a low risk of long term renal scarring. Increased PCT values at admission correlate with the presence of scars. PCT values have proved to be more specific than CRP and leukocyte count for identifying patients who might develop renal damage.

The aim of this study was to determine the duration of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen excretion in urine after pneumococcal pneumonia. Urinary antigen detection remained positive in nonconcentrated urine in 18 (52.9%) of the 34 patients in the first month after pneumonia diagnosis. In 12 of these positive cases, the test was still positive in the second month, in six patients after 4 months, and in two cases 6 months after the diagnosis of pneumonia. Using concentrated urine, antigenuria remained positive in all patients for at least 3 months, with antigen detected in three cases more than one year later. We did not observe a relation between age, gender, immunosuppression, underlying diseases, pneumonia severity, positive blood culture, or X-ray presentation and longer-term antigenuria excretion. However, the small number of patients evaluated is a limitation for statistical analysis. In order to correctly analyse a positive urinary antigen test result in patients with pneumonia, it is necessary to know which patients have recently had a previous episode of pneumonia.

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RESUMEN:Frente a la imagen traumática y conflictiva que se asocia tradicionalmente a la adolescencia, desde el marco de la Psicología Positiva se ofrece una nueva conceptualización que sugiere una visión más optimista y positiva de este periodo de la vida. El estudio de las fortalezas humanas, término descrito por Peterson y Seligman (2004), ofrece un contexto potencialmente útil para conocer los aspectos y cualidades positivas de los más jóvenes y apuesta por un modelo de intervención centrado en las potencialidades frente al déficit. El presente artículo realiza una revisión sobre los resultados encontrados en la literatura que, de modo directo o indirecto, apoyan la existencia y relevancia de cada una de las fortalezas señaladas en el marco descriptivo de estos autores. Finalmente, discutimos las repercusiones que el estudio de las potencialidades puede tener en el desarrollo de programas educativos, de prevención y de intervención. Palabras clave: psicología positiva, fortalezas, desarrollo humano, adolescencia.The analysis of the psychological strengths in adolescence: Beyond vulnerability models ABSTRACT: Against a traumatic and troubled image that is traditionally associated with adolescence, Positive Psychology opens a novel conceptual framework offering a more optimistic and positive view of this period of life. The study of 'human strengths', a term suggested by Peterson and Seligman (2004), offers a potentially useful tool to understand the positive aspects and features of the youth. That approach can also provide a model of intervention focusing on individual's potentials rather than on deficits. This paper reviews the results found in the literature that directly or indirectly supports the existence and relevance of each of the strengths identified in the descriptive framework of these authors. Finally, we discuss the implications that the study of human strengths may have in the development of educational, preventive and intervention programs. Key words: positive psychology, strengths, human development, adolescence.Aunque el estudio de las capacidades humanas ha sido siempre un objetivo importante de la Psicología y la Educación, en temas tan variados como la creatividad, la inteligencia, el altruismo, o el amor (ver Fernández ballesteros, 2002), desde mediados del siglo XX, y por razones históricas diversas, estas disciplinas se han centrado más en el análisis de los déficits y las fragilidades humanas que en la exploración y promoción de tales capacidades (Seligman, 2003).

Background: Protein electrophoresis is widely applied in veterinary medicine, but is not used often in reptiles, in part because of lack of reference values. Objective: The goals of this study were to compare plasma protein profiles obtained by cellulose acetate electrophoresis (CAE) and agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE), measure precision and examine interference by sample hemolysis, and establish preliminary reference intervals for 2 reptile species. Methods: Heparinized plasma samples from healthy and diseased adult female Iguana iguana (n = 40) and Trachemys scripta (n = 60) were analyzed by CAE and AGE. Total protein concentration was measured by the biuret method. Electrophoresis results were compared using Bland-Altman plots and Passing-Bablok regression analysis. Precision and the effects of sample hemolysis were determined. Results from clinically healthy animals were used to determine reference intervals. Results: Five protein fractions were identified in both species, with bisalbuminemia observed in 23/40 iguanas. High correlation was observed between the 2 methods for all fractions, with few proportional and systematic errors. Coefficients of variation were lower using AGE vs CAE and for I. iguana vs T. scripta. Two additional bands were observed in hemolyzed samples from T. scripta; 1 additional band was observed for I. iguana. Minimum and maximum values were reported for healthy I. iguana (n = 14) and T. scripta (n = 22). Conclusions: Although both methods are acceptable, the performance of AGE was slightly better than that of CAE for analysis of plasma from reptiles. Furthermore, reptile electrophoretic patterns should be interpreted based on the method used, the species analyzed, and the quality of the plasma sample.

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