Review of interventions to improve pragmatic language skills in children with behaviour and attention problems

Pragmatic language is the socially appropriate use of language in accordance with the context in which interactions take place. In view of this, deficiencies in pragmatic skills have a significant impact on psychosocial adjustment. Recent evidence has shown that children who present behavioural problems usually display these linguistic difficulties as well. The aim of this work is to analyse different interventions intended to improve the pragmatic skills of children with behavioural and/or attention problems and discuss the evidence of the results. After a literature search, nine interventions were found: five aimed at children with behavioural problems and four intended for children with attention and hyperactivity problems. The results showed that, while the characteristics of the interventions varied considerably, they generally achieved positive results, especially when they were implemented using a systemic approach with other educational agents participating (such as the family or peer group). Even so, the lack of available evidence suggests that further research into evidence-based interventions to help children improve their pragmatic, communicative, and social competences is required.El lenguaje pragmático hace referencia al uso socialmente apropiado del lenguaje en función del contexto en que las interacciones tienen lugar. Por tanto, los déficits en las habilidades pragmáticas tienen importantes repercusiones sobre el ajuste psicosocial. Evidencias recientes han puesto de manifiesto que los niños y niñas que presentan problemas de conducta suelen experimentar también estas dificultades lingüísticas. Este trabajo tiene por objeto analizar diferentes intervenciones destinadas a mejorar las habilidades pragmáticas de niños y niñas con problemas de conducta y/o atención y discutir las evidencias de sus resultados. Tras la búsqueda bibliográfica, se localizaron nueve intervenciones, cinco dirigidas a niños y niñas con problemas conductuales y cuatro para menores con problemas de atención e hiperactividad. Los resultados mostraron que, aunque las características de las intervenciones eran muy variadas, en general se lograron con ellas efectos positivos, especialmente cuando se realizaban desde un enfoque sistémico y participaban otros agentes educativos (como la familia o el grupo de iguales). Aun así, la escasez de evidencia al respecto invita a seguir investigando sobre intervenciones basadas en la evidencia que ayuden a los niños y niñas a mejorar sus habilidades pragmáticas, comunicativas y sociales

The Challenges and Opportunities of lncRNAs in Ovarian Cancer Research and Clinical Use

[Abstract] Ovarian cancer is one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies worldwide because it tends to be detected late, when the disease has already spread, and prognosis is poor. In this review we aim to highlight the importance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment choice, to make progress towards increasingly personalized medicine in this malignancy. We review the effects of lncRNAs associated with ovarian cancer in the context of cancer hallmarks. We also discuss the molecular mechanisms by which lncRNAs become involved in cellular physiology; the onset, development and progression of ovarian cancer; and lncRNAs’ regulatory mechanisms at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational stages of gene expression. Finally, we compile a series of online resources useful for the study of lncRNAs, especially in the context of ovarian cancer. Future work required in the field is also discussed along with some concluding remarks.This work was funded by Plan Estatal I + D + I by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII, Spain) under grant agreement AES number PI18/01714, cofounded by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional-FEDER (The European Regional Development Fund-ERDF) “A way of Making Europe,” and by Xunta de Galicia (Consolidación Grupos Referencia Competitiva contract number ED431C 2016-012). M.S.M. was funded by a predoctoral fellowship from FPU-2018 (Spain)Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2016-01

Seasonal forecast of accumulated rainfall in southern Uruguay during spring and summer

Se desarrollan diferentes modelos pre-operativos de pronóstico dinámico-estadístico de precipitación estacional en el sur de Uruguay para primavera y verano. Para ello se utilizan regresiones lineales entre predicciones de variables dinámicas y observaciones de precipitación. Los pronósticos se inicializan en Agosto y Noviembre para los trimestres de Setiembre-Noviembre y Diciembre-Febrero, respectivamente. Las predicciones de las variables dinámicas son salidas de un ensamble del modelo de circulación general de la atmósfera ICTP MCGA forzado con condiciones de borde de temperatura de superficie del mar (TSM) pronosticadas por NCEP-CFSv2. Las observaciones de precipitación provienen de 10 estaciones meteorológicas ubicadas al sur del Río Negro. Los mejores índices predictores se encuentran mediante validación cruzada, utilizando ventanas de un año, con las variables dinámicas. Se concluye que el mejor índice predictor es el viento meridional en 200 hPa promediado en una región que incluye el Sudeste de Sudamérica y es tal que anomalías de componente norte están asociadas a lluvias por encima de lo normal en el sur del país. Se encuentra que para todo el sur del país los pronósticos tienen habilidad únicamente en primavera mientras que para la zona metropolitana de Montevideo los pronósticos muestran habilidad para ambas estaciones y principalmente para verano

The Systemic Inflammome of Severe Obesity before and after Bariatric Surgery

Obesity is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation. The "inflammome" is a network layout of the inflammatory pattern. The systemic inflammome of obesity has not been described as yet. We hypothesized that it can be significantly worsened by smoking and other comorbidities frequently associated with obesity, and ameliorated by bariatric surgery (BS). Besides, whether or not these changes are mirrored in the lungs is unknown, but obesity is often associated with pulmonary inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. We sought to: (1) describe the systemic inflammome of morbid obesity; (2) investigate the effects of sex, smoking, sleep apnea syndrome, metabolic syndrome and BS upon this systemic inflammome; and, (3) determine their interplay with pulmonary inflammation. We studied 129 morbidly obese patients (96 females; age 46±12 years; body mass index [BMI], 46±6 kg/m 2) before and one year after BS, and 20 healthy, never-smokers, (43±7 years), with normal BMI and spirometry. Before BS, compared with controls, all obese subjects displayed a strong and coordinated (inflammome) systemic inflammatory response (adiponectin, C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10, leptin, soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1(sTNF-R1), and 8-isoprostane). This inflammome was not modified by sex, smoking, or coexistence of obstructive sleep apnea and/or metabolic syndrome. By contrast, it was significantly ameliorated, albeit not completely abolished, after BS. Finally, obese subjects had evidence of pulmonary inflammation (exhaled condensate) that also decreased after BS. The systemic inflammome of morbid obesity is independent of sex, smoking status and/or comorbidities, it is significantly reduced by BS and mirrored in the lungs

NeuroHeal Reduces Muscle Atrophy and Modulates Associated Autophagy

Muscle wasting is an unmet medical need which leads to a reduction of myofiber diameter and a negative impact on the functional performance of daily activities. We previously found that a new neuroprotective drug called NeuroHeal reduced muscle atrophy produced by transient denervation. Aiming to decipher whether NeuroHeal has a direct role in muscle biology, we used herein different models of muscle atrophy: one caused by chronic denervation, another caused by hindlimb immobilization, and lastly, an in vitro model of myotube atrophy with Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNFα). In all these models, we observed that NeuroHeal reduced muscle atrophy and that SIRT1 activation seems to be required for that. The treatment downregulated some critical markers of protein degradation: Muscle Ring Finger 1 (MuRF1), K48 poly-Ub chains, and p62/SQSTM1. Moreover, it seems to restore the autophagy flux associated with denervation. Hence, we envisage a prospective use of NeuroHeal at clinics for different myopathies

The systemic inflammome of severe obesity before and after bariatric surgery

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation. The 'inflammome' is a network layout of the inflammatory pattern. The systemic inflammome of obesity has not been described as yet. We hypothesized that it can be significantly worsened by smoking and other comorbidities frequently associated with obesity, and ameliorated by bariatric surgery (BS). Besides, whether or not these changes are mirrored in the lungs is unknown, but obesity is often associated with pulmonary inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. OBJECTIVES: We sought to: (1) describe the systemic inflammome of morbid obesity; (2) investigate the effects of sex, smoking, sleep apnea syndrome, metabolic syndrome and BS upon this systemic inflammome; and, (3) determine their interplay with pulmonary inflammation. METHODS: We studied 129 morbidly obese patients (96 females; age 46 ± 12 years; body mass index [BMI], 46 ± 6 kg/m2) before and one year after BS, and 20 healthy, never-smokers, (43 ± 7 years), with normal BMI and spirometry. RESULTS: Before BS, compared with controls, all obese subjects displayed a strong and coordinated (inflammome) systemic inflammatory response (adiponectin, C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10, leptin, soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1(sTNF-R1), and 8-isoprostane). This inflammome was not modified by sex, smoking, or coexistence of obstructive sleep apnea and/or metabolic syndrome. By contrast, it was significantly ameliorated, albeit not completely abolished, after BS. Finally, obese subjects had evidence of pulmonary inflammation (exhaled condensate) that also decreased after BS. CONCLUSIONS: The systemic inflammome of morbid obesity is independent of sex, smoking status and/or comorbidities, it is significantly reduced by BS and mirrored in the lungs

Systemic profiles of micrornas, redox balance, and inflammation in lung cancer patients : influence of copd

Altres ajuts: This study has been supported by Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR) 2018 & 2020.Lung cancer (LC) risk increases in patients with chronic respiratory diseases (COPD). MicroRNAs and redox imbalance are involved in lung tumorigenesis in COPD patients. Whether systemic alterations of those events may also take place in LC patients remains unknown. Our objectives were to assess the plasma levels of microRNAs, redox balance, and cytokines in LC patients with/without COPD. MicroRNAs (RT-PCR) involved in LC, oxidized DNA, MDA-protein adducts, GSH, TEAC, VEGF, and TGF-beta (ELISA) were quantified in plasma samples from non-LC controls (n = 45), LC-only patients (n = 32), and LC-COPD patients (n = 91). In LC-COPD patients compared to controls and LC-only, MDA-protein adduct levels increased, while those of GSH decreased, and two patterns of plasma microRNA were detected. In both LC patient groups, miR-451 expression was downregulated, while those of microRNA-let7c were upregulated, and levels of TEAC and TGF-beta increased compared to the controls. Correlations were found between clinical and biological variables. A differential expression profile of microRNAs was detected in patients with LC. Moreover, in LC patients with COPD, plasma oxidative stress levels increased, whereas those of GSH declined. Systemic oxidative and antioxidant markers are differentially expressed in LC patients with respiratory diseases, thus implying its contribution to the pathogenesis of tumorigenesis in these patients

The HMGB1-2 Ovarian Cancer Interactome: the Role of HMGB Proteins and Their Interacting Partners MIEN1 and NOP53 in Ovary Cancer and Drug-Response

[Abstract] High mobility group box B (HMGB) proteins are overexpressed in different types of cancers such as epithelial ovarian cancers (EOC). We have determined the first interactome of HMGB1 and HMGB2 in epithelial ovarian cancer (the EOC-HMGB interactome). Libraries from the SKOV-3 cell line and a primary transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) ovarian tumor were tested by the Yeast Two Hybrid (Y2H) approach. The interactome reveals proteins that are related to cancer hallmarks and their expression is altered in EOC. Moreover, some of these proteins have been associated to survival and prognosis of patients. The interaction of MIEN1 and NOP53 with HMGB2 has been validated by co-immunoprecipitation in SKOV-3 and PEO1 cell lines. SKOV-3 cells were treated with different anti-tumoral drugs to evaluate changes in HMGB1, HMGB2, MIEN1 and NOP53 gene expression. Results show that combined treatment of paclitaxel and carboplatin induces a stronger down-regulation of these genes in comparison to individual treatments. Individual treatment with paclitaxel or olaparib up-regulates NOP53, which is expressed at lower levels in EOC than in non-cancerous cells. On the other hand, bevacizumab diminishes the expression of HMGB2 and NOP53. This study also shows that silencing of these genes affects cell-viability after drug exposure. HMGB1 silencing causes loss of response to paclitaxel, whereas silencing of HMGB2 slightly increases sensitivity to olaparib. Silencing of either HMGB1 or HMGB2 increases sensitivity to carboplatin. Lastly, a moderate loss of response to bevacizumab is observed when NOP53 is silenced.This work has been funded by the Projects Nº PI14/01031 and PI18/01714, integrated in the National Plan for Scientific Research, Development and Technological Innovation 2013–2016 of the ISCIII- General Subdirection of Assesment and Promotion of the Research – European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) “A way of making Europe”. Funding is also acknowledged from Xunta de Galicia (Consolidación Grupos Referencia Competitiva Contract no. ED431C 2016–012). Aida Barreiro-Alonso was funded by a predoctoral fellowship from Xunta de Galicia-2013 (Spain) cofinanced by FEDERXunta de Galicia; ED431C 2016–01