Consideraciones metodológicas para el estudio de los procesos no conscientes a través del paradigma del priming enmascarado

Unconscious processes can be experimentally studied from a great variety of paradigms. One of the most widely used is the so-called “masked priming” in which a stimulus (i.e., a word) called prime is masked in such a way that it cannot be consciously perceived but still influences the response to another subsequent stimulus called target. However, because of the complexity of conscious processes, there are a number of variables that must be taken care of when applying this paradigm. Unfortunately, most of those variables are difficult to grasp and therefore it becomes a trial and error struggle for scientists attempting to scientifically study consciousness. The purpose of this paper is to make a contribution to facilitate the task for those scientists. To that extent, we will discuss about current literature of masked priming based on two main themes: The central problems that have been addressed through the use of masked priming paradigm (i.e., semantics, emotions and attention), and methodological considerations (i.e., the presentation format of the stimuli, the masks, visibility measures and the Stimulus Onset Asynchrony [SOA]). The present article might be useful for those researchers planning to utilize this paradigm to study the phenomenon of consciousness.Los procesos inconscientes pueden estudiarse experimentalmente desde una gran variedad de paradigmas. Uno de los más utilizados es el llamado “priming enmascarado”, en el que un estímulo (es decir, una palabra) llamado principal se enmascara de tal manera que no puede ser percibido conscientemente, pero aún influye en la respuesta a otro estímulo posterior llamado objetivo. Sin embargo, debido a la complejidad de los procesos conscientes, existe una serie de variables que deben cuidarse al aplicar este paradigma. Desafortunadamente, la mayoría de esas variables son difíciles de comprender y, por lo tanto, esto se convierte en una lucha de prueba y error para los investigadores que intentan estudiar científicamente la conciencia. El propósito de este trabajo es hacer una contribución para facilitar la tarea de estos científicos. En esa medida, discutiremos la literatura actual sobre el priming enmascarado sobre la base de dos temas principales: los problemas centrales que se han abordado mediante el uso del paradigma del priming enmascarado (es decir, la semántica, las emociones y la atención) y las consideraciones metodológicas (es decir, el formato de presentación de los estímulos, las máscaras, las medidas de visibilidad y el Stimulus Onset Asynchrony [SOA]). El presente artículo puede ser de utilidad para aquellos investigadores que planeen utilizar este paradigma para estudiar el fenómeno de la conciencia.Fil: Embon, Iair. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Calculo. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Calculo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas; ArgentinaFil: Bruno, Nicolás Marcelo. Universidad del Salvador. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Invest.psicologicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Díaz Rivera, Mariano Nicolás. Ministerio de Ciencia. Tecnología e Innovación Productiva. Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica; ArgentinaFil: Sainz Ballesteros, Agustín. Universidad del Salvador. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Invest.psicologicas; Argentina. Universidad Adolfo Ibañez; Chile. Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas ; Rectorado ; Universidad de San Andres;Fil: Sánchez Beisel, Jessica Mariel. Universidad del Salvador. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Invest.psicologicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Andreau, Jorge Mario. Universidad del Salvador. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Invest.psicologicas; Argentin

Consideraciones metodológicas para el estudio de los procesos no conscientes a través del paradigma del priming enmascarado

Unconscious processes can be experimentally studied from a great variety of paradigms. One of the most widely used is the so-called “masked priming” in which a stimulus (i.e., a word) called prime is masked in such a way that it cannot be consciously perceived but still influences the response to another subsequent stimulus called target. However, because of the complexity of conscious processes, there are a number of variables that must be taken care of when applying this paradigm. Unfortunately, most of those variables are difficult to grasp and therefore it becomes a trial and error struggle for scientists attempting to scientifically study consciousness. The purpose of this paper is to make a contribution to facilitate the task for those scientists. To that extent, we will discuss about current literature of masked priming based on two main themes: The central problems that have been addressed through the use of masked priming paradigm (i.e., semantics, emotions and attention), and methodological considerations (i.e., the presentation format of the stimuli, the masks, visibility measures and the Stimulus Onset Asynchrony [SOA]). The present article might be useful for those researchers planning to utilize this paradigm to study the phenomenon of consciousness.Los procesos inconscientes pueden estudiarse experimentalmente desde una gran variedad de paradigmas. Uno de los más utilizados es el llamado “priming enmascarado”, en el que un estímulo (es decir, una palabra) llamado principal se enmascara de tal manera que no puede ser percibido conscientemente, pero aún influye en la respuesta a otro estímulo posterior llamado objetivo. Sin embargo, debido a la complejidad de los procesos conscientes, existe una serie de variables que deben cuidarse al aplicar este paradigma. Desafortunadamente, la mayoría de esas variables son difíciles de comprender y, por lo tanto, esto se convierte en una lucha de prueba y error para los investigadores que intentan estudiar científicamente la conciencia. El propósito de este trabajo es hacer una contribución para facilitar la tarea de estos científicos. En esa medida, discutiremos la literatura actual sobre el priming enmascarado sobre la base de dos temas principales: los problemas centrales que se han abordado mediante el uso del paradigma del priming enmascarado (es decir, la semántica, las emociones y la atención) y las consideraciones metodológicas (es decir, el formato de presentación de los estímulos, las máscaras, las medidas de visibilidad y el Stimulus Onset Asynchrony [SOA]). El presente artículo puede ser de utilidad para aquellos investigadores que planeen utilizar este paradigma para estudiar el fenómeno de la conciencia.Fil: Embon, Iair. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Calculo. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Calculo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas; ArgentinaFil: Bruno, Nicolás Marcelo. Universidad del Salvador. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Invest.psicologicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Díaz Rivera, Mariano Nicolás. Ministerio de Ciencia. Tecnología e Innovación Productiva. Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica; ArgentinaFil: Sainz Ballesteros, Agustín. Universidad del Salvador. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Invest.psicologicas; Argentina. Universidad Adolfo Ibañez; Chile. Centro de Neurociencias Cognitivas ; Rectorado ; Universidad de San Andres;Fil: Sánchez Beisel, Jessica Mariel. Universidad del Salvador. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Invest.psicologicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Andreau, Jorge Mario. Universidad del Salvador. Facultad de Psicología. Instituto de Invest.psicologicas; Argentin

International Impact of COVID-19 on the Diagnosis of Heart Disease

BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases. Its effects on delivery of diagnostic care for cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death worldwide, have not been quantified.OBJECTIVES The study sought to assess COVID-19`s impact on global cardiovascular diagnostic procedural volumes and safety practices.METHODS The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations in cardiovascular procedure volumes and safety practices resulting from COVID-19. Noninvasive and invasive cardiac testing volumes were obtained from participating sites for March and April 2020 and compared with those from March 2019. Availability of personal protective equipment and pandemic-related testing practice changes were ascertained.RESULTS Surveys were submitted from 909 inpatient and outpatient centers performing cardiac diagnostic procedures, in 108 countries. Procedure volumes decreased 42% from March 2019 to March 2020, and 64% from March 2019 to April 2020. Transthoradc echocardiography decreased by 59%, transesophageat echocardiography 76%, and stress tests 78%, which varied between stress modalities. Coronary angiography (invasive or computed tomography) decreased 55% (p < 0.001 for each procedure). hi multivariable regression, significantly greater reduction in procedures occurred for centers in countries with lower gross domestic product. Location in a low-income and lower-middle-income country was associated with an additional 22% reduction in cardiac procedures and less availability of personal protective equipment and teteheatth.CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 was associated with a significant and abrupt reduction in cardiovascular diagnostic testing across the globe, especially affecting the world's economically challenged. Further study of cardiovascular outcomes and COVID-19-related changes in care delivery is warranted. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier on behalf of the American College of Cardiology Foundation

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Impact of early post-stress 99mTc sestamibi ECG-gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging on the detection of ischemic LV dyssynchrony: an early step in the stunning cascade

Transient alterations in ventricular conduction and synchronized cardiac performance have been reported in experimental models of myocardial ischemia. In post-stress 99mTc-sestamibi-gated-SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), the time elapsed between tracer injection and image acquisition could influence the detection of ischemic left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD). We aimed at evaluating whether early vs. delayed post-stress MPI improve ischemic LVMD detection using the phase analysis parameters standard deviation (SD) and histogram bandwidth (HB) and to assess the correlation between stress-induced changes in SD and HB and other functional parameters. We prospectively studied 32 control subjects (Group-1) and 60 ischemic patients (Group-2). Stress-induced changes were calculated as stress minus rest (Δ). LVMD was defined as post-stress increases of either SD or HB. Group-2 showed higher ΔSD and ΔHB in early than in delayed images: early ΔSD: 1.63 (− 0.37 to 4.83) vs. delayed ΔSD: − 0.39 (− 3.82 to 1.74); early ΔHB: 2.50 (− 4 to 12) vs. ΔHB delayed: − 4 (− 15.75 to 4), all p < 0.01. ΔSD and ΔHB correlated linearly with ΔLV-ejection-fraction (EF) and ΔLV-end systolic-volume (ESV) in early images, all p < 0.01. Early images detected LVMD in more patients than delayed scans (78% vs. 38%; p < 0.01) All patients with LVEF drop in early post-stress evaluation had LVMD. Early post-stress images improve ischemic LVMD detection. Ischemic LVEF and LVESV changes correlate with ΔSD and ΔHB.Fil: Cortés, Claudia Mariana. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Aramayo G, E. Natalia. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Barboza, Paula Elizabeth. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Crottogini, Alberto Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Embon, Mario Alberto. Fundación Favaloro; Argentin

Effect of poly (l-lactic acid) scaffolds seeded with aligned diaphragmatic myoblasts overexpressing connexin-43 on infarct size and ventricular function in sheep with acute coronary occlusion

Diaphragmatic myoblasts (DM) are stem cells of the diaphragm, a muscle displaying high resistance to stress and exhaustion. We hypothesized that DM modified to overexpress connexin-43 (cx43), seeded on aligned poly (l-lactic acid) (PLLA) sheets would decrease infarct size and improve ventricular function in sheep with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Sheep with AMI received PLLA sheets without DM (PLLA group), sheets with DM (PLLA-DM group), sheets with DM overexpressing cx43 (PLLA-DMcx43) or no treatment (control group, n = 6 per group). Infarct size (cardiac magnetic resonance) decreased ∼25% in PLLA-DMcx43 [from 8.2 ± 0.6 ml (day 2) to 6.5 ± 0.7 ml (day 45), p <.01, ANOVA-Bonferroni] but not in the other groups. Ejection fraction (EF%) (echocardiography) at 3 days post-AMI fell significantly in all groups. At 45 days, PLLA-DM y PLLA-DMcx43 recovered their EF% to pre-AMI values (PLLA-DM: 61.1 ± 0.5% vs. 58.9 ± 3.3%, p = NS; PLLA-DMcx43: 64.6 ± 2.9% vs. 56.9 ± 2.4%, p = NS), but not in control (56.8 ± 2.0% vs. 43.8 ± 1.1%, p <.01) and PLLA (65.7 ± 2.1% vs. 56.6 ± 4.8%, p <.01). Capillary density was higher (p <.05) in PLLA-DMcx43 group than in the remaining groups. In conclusion, PLLA-DMcx43 reduces infarct size in sheep with AMI. PLLA-DMcx43 and PLLA-DM improve ventricular function similarly. Given its safety and feasibility, this novel approach may prove beneficial in the clinic.Fil: Giménez, Carlos Sebastián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Olea, Fernanda Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Locatelli, Paola. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Dewey, Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús). Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús); ArgentinaFil: Abraham, Gustavo Abel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Montini Ballarin, Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ingeniería. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales; ArgentinaFil: Bauza, Maria del Rosario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Hnatiuk, Anna. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: De Lorenzi, Andrea. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Neira Sepúlveda, Ángela. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Embon, Mario. Fundación Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Cuniberti, Luis Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; ArgentinaFil: Crottogini, Alberto José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería. Fundación Favaloro. Instituto de Medicina Traslacional, Trasplante y Bioingeniería; Argentina. Universidad Favaloro; Argentin

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Cardiovascular Testing in Asia The IAEA INCAPS-COVID Study

BackgroundThe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly affected management of cardiovascular disease around the world. The effect of the pandemic on volume of cardiovascular diagnostic procedures is not known.ObjectivesThis study sought to evaluate the effects of the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiovascular diagnostic procedures and safety practices in Asia.MethodsThe International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey to assess changes in cardiovascular procedure volume and safety practices caused by COVID-19. Testing volumes were reported for March 2020 and April 2020 and were compared to those from March 2019. Data from 180 centers across 33 Asian countries were grouped into 4 subregions for comparison.ResultsProcedure volumes decreased by 47% from March 2019 to March 2020, showing recovery from March 2020 to April 2020 in Eastern Asia, particularly in China. The majority of centers cancelled outpatient activities and increased time per study. Practice changes included implementing physical distancing and restricting visitors. Although COVID testing was not commonly performed, it was conducted in one-third of facilities in Eastern Asia. The most severe reductions in procedure volumes were observed in lower-income countries, where volumes decreased 81% from March 2019 to April&nbsp;2020.ConclusionsThe COVID-19 pandemic in Asia caused significant reductions in cardiovascular diagnostic procedures, particularly in low-income countries. Further studies on effects of COVID-19 on cardiovascular outcomes and changes in care delivery are warranted