Advancing Our Knowledge of ADHD in Latino Children: Psychometric and Cultural Properties of Spanish-Versions of Parental/Family Functioning Measures

The lack of available Spanish versions of assessment measures contributes to insufficient research and underutilization of mental health services for Latino children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Thus, the goal of the current study was to examine the psychometric and cultural properties of several Spanish versions of parental/family functioning measures commonly used in comprehensive ADHD assessments (i.e., the Parenting Sense of Competence Scale, Alabama Parenting Questionnaire, and Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale). Participants included 68 Spanish-speaking, Latino parents in Southeast Wisconsin. In general, the Spanish translations of the measures demonstrated good reliability and validity. Furthermore, the psychometrically-sound measures were significantly related to acculturation as predicted, suggesting that the scales are not only psychometrically valid, but also culturally valid for use with Spanish-speaking, Latino families

Effect of Chronic Inhibition of Converting Enzyme on Renal Handling of Salt and Water: A Study on a Pediatric Population

Background/Aims: The effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (ACEi) is amply documented in several pathological conditions. However, there are few reports about the effect of chronic ACEi on salt and water balance. The present work evaluates the effect of chronic ACEi on salt and water balance in a population of children receiving enalapril chronically in order to reduce albuminuria elicited by a uremic hemolytic syndrome. Methods: Nine children aged from 9 to 19 years with normal glomerular filtration rate, normotension and with urinary concentration capacity preserved were treated with enalapril with doses ranging between 0.1 and 0.30 mg/kg/day. Diuresis, urinary absolute and fractional excretion of Na+, K+ and urea, creatinine clearance, osmolal clearance and tubular water reabsorption were measured under three experimental procedures: (1) with free access to water; (2) with a water load and (3) with water restriction. In the last group urinary antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was measured. These tests were performed in a paired way, just before starting ACEi treatment and after 6 months of enalapril treatment. Results: Enalapril treatment diminished the urinary concentration capacity without affecting Na+ and K+ urinary excretion. Creatinine clearance was not modified except in the condition of water load where a fall in it was found after ACEi. ADH increased after enalapril treatment in children under water restriction. Conclusion: In these children chronic ACEi decreases urinary concentration capacity.Fil: Dieguez, S. M.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Álvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Cnepa, C. A.. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Agudos "Dr. Teodoro Álvarez"; ArgentinaFil: Amorena, Carlos Ernesto. Universidad Nacional de General San Martn; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

A new player in cartilage homeostasis: adiponectin induces nitric oxide synthase type II and pro-inflammatory cytokines in chondrocytes

SummaryObjectiveRecent studies revealed a close connection between adipose tissue, adipokines and articular degenerative inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). The goal of this work was to investigate the activity of adiponectin in human and murine chondrocytes and to study its functional role in the modulation of nitric oxide synthase type II (NOS2). For completeness, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF)-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) accumulation have been evaluated in adiponectin-stimulated chondrocytes cell culture supernatants.MethodsMurine ATDC5 cell line, C28/I2, C20A4, TC28a2 human immortalized chondrocytes, and human cultured chondrocytes were used. Nitrite accumulation was determined by Griess reaction. Adiponectin receptors (AdipoRs) expression was evaluated by immunofluorescence microscopy and confirmed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. NOS2 expression was evaluated by Western blot analysis whereas cytokines, prostanoids and metalloproteinases production was evaluated by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.ResultsHuman and murine chondrocytes express functional AdipoRs. Adiponectin induces NOS2. This effect is inhibited by aminoguanidine, dexamethasone and by a selective inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. In addition, adiponectin is able to increase IL-6, MMP-3, MMP-9 and MCP-1 by murine cultured chondrocytes whereas it was unable to modulate TNF-α, IL-1β, MMP-2, TIMP-1, PGE2 and LTB4 release.ConclusionsThese results bind more closely the interactions between fat-derived adipokines and articular inflammatory diseases, and suggest that adiponectin is a novel key element in the maintenance of cartilage homeostasis which might be considered as a potential therapeutical target in joint degenerative diseases

Test de activación de basófilos en el diagnóstico de alergia a medicamentos

In this paper we study the reliability of the basophil activation test (BAT) in the "in-vitro" diagnosis of allergy to betalactams and to metamizol, and the sensitivity and specificity of the technique are analyzed. To this end, we studied 58 patients allergic to betalactam antibiotics with a positive cutaneous test facing any derivative of penicillin and 30 healthy controls who tolerated betalactams, and 26 patients allergic to metamizol with an immediate reaction and 30 healthy controls who tolerated the medicine. Sensitivity to BAT in allergy to betalactams was 52.8%, and specificity was 92.6%. For metamizol, sensitivity was 42.3% and specificity was 100%. The positive predictive value of BAT in allergy to betalactams was 18.9% and the negative predictive value was 98.4%. For metamizol, the positive predictive value of the technique was 100% and the negative predictive value was 99.4%. The joint use of BAT and CAP (specific IgE) makes it possible to diagnose some 65% of patients allergic to betalactams. The combined use of cutaneous tests and BAT in allergy to metamizol detects 70% of the cases. BAT is a useful, non-invasive technique in the "in-vitro" diagnosis of allergy to betalactams and metamizol

Aceptabilidad del diagnóstico rápido para HIV entre hombres gay y otros hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (G&HSH) de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires

El uso del diagnóstico rápido para HIV en Argentina, así como otros países de Latinoamérica, ha sido limitado hasta el momento. Este trabajo reporta los resultados provenientes de un estudio cualitativo realizado entre hombres gays y otros hombres que tienen sexo con hombres (G&HSH) de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. El objetivo principal del mismo fue conocer las ventajas y desventajas que los hombres G&HSH perciben en relación al diagnóstico rápido casero para HIV. Se realizaron ocho grupos focales con 73 participantes en los cuales se discutió acerca de las ventajas y desventajas del uso de los diagnósticos rápidos. Las respuestas fueron codificadas utilizando un programa para análisis de datos cualitativos (NVivo) y analizadas temáticamente. Los participantes describieron numerosas ventajas sobre el uso del diagnóstico rápido casero, aunque algunos reportaron importantes preocupaciones dentro de las cuales se destaca la posibilidad de impulsos suicidas si alguien recibe un resultado positivo estando solo. En términos generales se observó una gran aceptabilidad para el uso del diagnóstico rápido si el mismo es realizado por personal de salud en lugares acondicionados para este fin.Fil: Balan, Ivan C.. Columbia University; Estados UnidosFil: Carballo Dieguez, Alex. Columbia University; Estados UnidosFil: Marone, Rubén O.. Nexo Asociación Civil; ArgentinaFil: Pando, Maria de Los Angeles. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología. Centro Nacional de Referencia del Sida; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Barreda, Victoria. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud; ArgentinaFil: Avila, Maria Mercedes. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología. Centro Nacional de Referencia del Sida; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentin

Foreign body aspiration presenting with asthma-like symptoms

Aspiration of a foreign body into the tracheobronchial tree is rare in adults. In the majority of these cases there is an underlying condition such as mental retardation, depressed mental status, impairment in the swallowing reflex, neurological impairment, alcohol or sedative abuse, or complications from dental manipulations that contributed to the aspiration. These patients are commonly misdiagnosed with asthma and typically do not respond to mainstay anti-inflammatory and/or bronchodilator therapy. We describe the case of a patient with a foreign body aspiration in the upper trachea not recognized by radiographic studies that presented with asthma-type symptoms

Foreign Body Aspiration Presenting with Asthma-Like Symptoms

Aspiration of a foreign body into the tracheobronchial tree is rare in adults. In the majority of these cases there is an underlying condition such as mental retardation, depressed mental status, impairment in the swallowing reflex, neurological impairment, alcohol or sedative abuse, or complications from dental manipulations that contributed to the aspiration. These patients are commonly misdiagnosed with asthma and typically do not respond to mainstay anti-inflammatory and/or bronchodilator therapy. We describe the case of a patient with a foreign body aspiration in the upper trachea not recognized by radiographic studies that presented with asthma-type symptoms

Computationally Guided Design of a Readily Assembled Phosphite- Thioether Ligand for a Broad Range of Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Substitutions

A modular approach employing indene as common starting material, has enabled the straightforward preparation in three reaction steps of P-thioether ligands for the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution. The analysis of a starting library of P-thioether ligands based on rational design and theoretical calculations has led to the discovery of an optimized anthracenethiol derivative with excellent behavior in the reaction of choice. Improving most approaches reported to date, this ligand presents a broad substrate and nucleophile scope. Excellent enantioselectivities have been achieved for a range of linear and cyclic allylic substrates using a large number of C-, N-, and O-nucleophiles (40 compounds in total). The species responsible for the catalytic activity have been further investigated by NMR in order to clearly establish the origin of the enantioselectivity. The resulting products have been derivatized by means of ring-closing metathesis or Pauson–Khand reactions to further prove the synthetic versatility of the methodology for preparing enantiopure complex structures