In utero exposure to HIV and/or antiretroviral therapy: a systematic review of preclinical and clinical evidence of cognitive outcomes

Introducion With the increasing number of children exposed to HIV or antiretroviral therapy in utero, there are concerns that this population may have worse neurodevelopmental outcomes compared to those who are unexposed. The objective of this study was to systematically review the clinical and preclinical literature on the effects of in utero exposure to HIV and/or antiretroviral therapy (ART) on neurodevelopment. Methods We systematically searched OVID Medline, PsycINFO and Embase, as well as the Cochrane Collaborative Database, Google Scholar and bibliographies of pertinent articles. Titles, abstracts, and full texts were assessed independently by two reviewers. Data from included studies were extracted. Results are summarized qualitatively. Results The search yielded 3027 unique titles. Of the 255 critically reviewed full-text articles, 25 met inclusion criteria for the systematic review. Five articles studied human subjects and looked at brain structure and function. The remaining 20 articles were preclinical studies that mostly focused on behavioural assessments in animal models. The few clinical studies had mixed results. Some clinical studies found no difference in white matter while others noted higher fractional anisotropy and lower mean diffusivity in the brains of HIV-exposed uninfected children compared to HIV-unexposed uninfected children, correlating with abnormal neurobehavioral scores. Preclinical studies focused primarily on neurobehavioral changes resulting from monotherapy with either zidovudine or lamivudine. Various developmental and behavioural changes were noted in preclinical studies with ART exposure, including decreased grooming, decreased attention, memory deficits and fewer behaviours associated with appropriate social interaction. Conclusions While the existing literature suggests that there may be some neurobehavioral differences associated with HIV and ART exposure, limited data are available to substantially support these claims. More research is needed comparing neurobiological factors between HIV-exposed uninfected and HIV-unexposed uninfected children and using exposures consistent with current clinical care

Clinical Study Hearing and Neurological Impairment in Children with History of Exchange Transfusion for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

The objective was to determine frequency of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), identified by abnormal threshold in evoked potentials, absence of otoacoustic emissions and behavioral responses, auditory neuropathy (AN) (absence of evoked potentials, with preservation of otoacoustic emissions), and neurological comorbidity in infants with hyperbilirubinemia (HB) treated with exchange-transfusion (ET). From a total of 7,219 infants, ET was performed on 336 (4.6%). Inclusion criteria were fulfilled in 102; 234 children did not meet criteria (182 outside of the study period, 34 did not have complete audiological evaluation, and 18 rejected the followup). Thirty-five children (34%) were born at-term and 67 (66%) were preterm. Children had a mean age of 5.5 ± 3.9 years. Main causes of ET were Rh isoimmunization in 48 (47%), ABO incompatibility in 28 (27.5%), and multifactorial causes in 26 (25.5%). Fifteen (15%) children presented with SNHL. Preterm newborns presented more often with SNHL. Indirect bilirubin level was higher in children with SNHL (22.2 versus 18.7 mg/dL, = 0.02). No cases of AN were documented. An increased risk of neurologic sequelae was observed in children with SNHL. In conclusion, we disclosed a high frequency of SNHL in children with neonatal HB and ET and neurological alterations. No cases of AN were observed

Correlation between sleep disorder screening and executive dysfunction in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder

Objective To compare frequency of sleep disorders (SD) and executive dysfunction (ED) in children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and a control group. Method We studied 156 children with ADHD with a mean age of 8.5 years, and a control group with 111 children with a mean age of 8.3 years. We utilized the Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) to screen SD and the working memory measurement from the Wechsler intelligence scale for children (WISC-IV) to screen ED. Results We did not observe an increased frequency of SD in children with ADHD compared with the controls. However, we did identify ED in children with ADHD; additionally a significant correlation was observed between the type of ADHD and SD and among ED, WISC-IV measurements, and type of SD in children with ADHD. Conclusion An increase of SD frequency in children with ADHD was not observed, but we did identify ED in children with ADHD. Additionally, a correlation among ADHD types, SD, ED, and WISC-IV measurements was observed in children with ADHD

DISEÑO DE ESTRUCTURAS CELULARES BASE ACERO INOXIDABLE CON PROPIEDADES SIMILARES A LAS DEL HUESO HUMANO (CELLULAR STRUCTURE DESIGN BASE STAINLESS STEEL WITH SIMILAR PROPERTIES LIKE THE HUMAN BONE)

Se presentan propuestas de diseño y fabricación de estructuras celulares triplemente periódicas (TPMS), sobre giróides tipo Schoen simple y doble. El objetivo de este trabajo es poder fabricar estructuras auto-soportadas con características similares al hueso humano. Las estructuras celulares tipo giroide se pueden diseñar a voluntad para dar características de densidad y resistencia en los niveles del hueso trabecular humano. En el presente trabajo se fabricaron estructuras TPMS empleando la tecnología de sinterización de metales por láser (DMLS), empleando polvo de acero inoxidable 17-4. El diseño se realizó mediante Matlab. Se realizaron pruebas de compresión obteniendo resultados en módulo elástico (400 – 850 MPa) similares a los del hueso trabecular. Modificando desde la ecuación el parámetro t y el número de celdas, gracias a esto, fue posible controlar la densidad (1.17 - 1.99 g/cm3) y el módulo de Young resultantes de las piezas fabricadas.Palabras Clave: Prótesis, estructuras celulares, giroide, biocompatibilidad, impresión 3D. AbstractDesign and manufacturing proposals are presented for the triple periodical minimal surfaces (TPMS), mostly about Schoen’s gyroid simple and double. The goal of this paper is to can create auto-supported structures with similar characteristics to the human bone and in a personalized way. The gyroid cellular structures can be design to desire to give the density and resistant characteristics in the levels of the the trabecular bone. In this paper TPMS were built with DMLS technology, using stainless steel powder 17-4. The design was done in Matlab and some other programs. Compression test were done obtaining results in yield strength (400-850 MPa) similar to the trabecular bone. Modifiying the parameter “t” and the number of cells in the equation that describe both kinds of gyroids, it was possible to control the density (1.17 – 1.99 g/ cm3) and the young modulus in the manufactured samples.Keywords: Prosthesis, cellular structures, gyroid, biocompatibility, 3D printing

Low quality of life scores in school children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder related to anxiety

OBJECTIVE: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is an alteration that begins early in infancy and whose cardinal symptoms are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. There are few studies for specific tests to measure Quality of Life (QoL) in children with ADHD. METHODS: We evaluated QoL of 120 children from 7-12 years of age with ADHD and of a group of 98 healthy control children. To measure QoL, we utilized the Questionnaire of Quality of Life for Children in Pictures (AutoQuestionnaire Qualité de Vie Enfant Imagé, AUQUEI). We evaluated anxiety in children by the Children´s Manifest Anxiety Scale-Revisited (CMAS-R). We compared results among groups and employed the calculation of correlation between the AUQUEI questionnaire and the CMAS-R scale. RESULTS: The total average of the AUQUEI questionnaire in children with ADHD was 45.2, while in the control group it was 54.3 (p&lt;0.05). We also observed significant differences between the control group and groups of children with ADHD in the CMAS-R scale. We found significant correlations between AUQUEI questionnaire and CMAS-R scale. CONCLUSION: The main result was to the disclosure that low QoL scores in ADHD children was anxiety-related.</jats:p

Acute Stress in Health Workers during Two Consecutive EpidemicWaves of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has provoked generalized uncertainty around the world, with health workers experiencing anxiety, depression, burnout, insomnia, and stress. Although the effects of the pandemic on mental health may change as it evolves, the majority of reports have been web-based, cross-sectional studies. We performed a study assessing acute stress in frontline healthworkers during two consecutive epidemic waves. After screening for trait anxiety/depression and dissociative experiences, we evaluated changes in acute stress, considering resilience, state anxiety, burnout, depersonalization/derealization symptoms, and quality of sleep as cofactors. During the first epidemic wave (April 2020), health workers reported acute stress related to COVID-19, which was related to state anxiety. After the first epidemic wave, acute stress decreased, with no increase during the second epidemic wave (December 2020), and further decreased when vaccination started.During the follow-up (April 2020 to February 2021), the acute stress score was related to bad quality of sleep. However, acute stress, state anxiety, and burnout were all related to trait anxiety/depression, while the resilience score was invariant through time. Overall, the results emphasize the relevance of mental health screening before, during

Avances y Desafíos en la Cosecha de Agua Atmosférica: Revisión de Técnicas Pasivas para la Recolección de Niebla

Passive atmospheric water harvesting, such as fog collection, has gained attention in recent years as a sustainable solution to address water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions. This article provides a comprehensive review of passive fog collection techniques using meshes, highlighting recent technological advancements, the use of innovative materials, and the development of methodologies applied to this field. Additionally, current challenges are analysed, including collection efficiency, material durability, and the economic viability of these systems. The objective of this work is to provide an overview of emerging trends and to identify the areas of research required to optimize these technologies. Moreover, it aims to provide a solid foundation for researchers and professionals interested in the development and implementation of passive atmospheric water harvesting systems.La captación de agua atmosférica a través de medios pasivos, como la recolección de niebla mediante mallas, ha ganado atención en los últimos años como una solución sostenible para enfrentar la escasez de agua en regiones áridas y semiáridas. Este artículo ofrece una revisión exhaustiva de las técnicas pasivas de recolección de niebla por medio de mallas, destacando los avances tecnológicos más recientes, el uso de materiales innovadores y el desarrollo de metodologías aplicadas a este campo. También, se analizan los desafíos actuales, incluyendo la eficiencia de recolección, la durabilidad de los materiales y la viabilidad económica de estos sistemas. El objetivo de este trabajo es proporcionar una visión general de las tendencias emergentes e identificar las áreas de investigación requeridas para optimizar estas tecnologías. Además, proporcionar una base sólida para investigadores y profesionales interesados en el desarrollo y la implementación de sistemas pasivos de cosecha de agua atmosférica