Resumen En medio del acalorado debate sobre la Inteligencia Emocional, este estudio retoma el Inventario de Cociente Emocional Bar-On (EQ-i), que mide todas las dimensiones de este constructo psicológico. Con el fin de comprobar la equivalencia de medición de EQ-i, se comprueba si las declaraciones formuladas en el cuestionario EQ-i tienen un significado equivalente entre los encuestados, independientemente de su sexo y grupo de edad. Se aplicó a los 2078 participantes las tres subescalas de IE. Se halló un funcionamiento diferencial de los ítems (DIF) clínicamente significativo. Por lo tanto, las asociaciones observadas anteriormente entre la IE y la edad pueden ser espurias y merecen un estudio adicional después de eliminar o reemplazar los elementos DIF.

Abstract There has been a heated debate on emotional intelligence (EI) and, more particularly, on the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) measuring all dimensions of emotional intelligence. To ensure measurement equivalence of EQ-i, the present article evaluated whether statements phrased in EQ-i questionnaire have equivalent meaning across respondents, regardless of their sex and age group membership. For 2,078 participants, three EI subscale (item 50 in reality testing, items 4 and 19 in stress tolerance, and items 7, 52, and 82 in interpersonal) for age groups had clinically significant Differential item functioning (DIF). So previous observed associations between EI and age might be misleading and deserve further study after removing or replacing DIF items.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effect of high-dose vitamin C on cardiac reperfusion injury and plasma levels of creatine kinase-muscle/brain (CK-MB), troponin I, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: This is a double-blind randomized clinical trial study. Fifty patients (50-80 years old) who had CABG surgery were selected. The intervention group received 5 g of intravenous vitamin C before anesthesia induction and 5 g of vitamin C in cardioplegic solution. The control group received the same amount of placebo (normal saline). Arterial blood samples were taken to determine the serum levels of CK-MB, troponin I, and LDH enzymes. Left ventricular ejection fraction was measured and hemodynamic parameters were recorded at intervals. Results: High doses of vitamin C in the treatment group led to improvement of ventricular function (ejection fraction [EF]) and low Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay. The cardiac enzymes level in the vitamin C group was lower than in the control group. These changes were not significant between the groups in different time intervals (anesthesia induction, end of bypass, 6 h after surgery, and 24 h after surgery) for CK-MB, LDH, and troponin I. Hemodynamic parameters, hematocrit, potassium, urinary output, blood transfusion, arrhythmia, and inotropic support showed no significant difference between the groups. Conclusion: Vitamin C has significantly improved the patients’ ventricular function (EF) 72 h after surgery and reduced the length of ICU stay. No significant changes in cardiac biomarkers, including CK-MB, troponin I, and LDH, were seen over time in each group. IRCT code: IRCT2016053019470N33