Mindfulness and other simple neuroscience-based proposals to promote the learning performance and mental health of students during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on education. The restrictions imposed have undoubtedly led to impairment of the psychological well-being of both teachers and students, and of the way they experience interpersonal relationships. As reported previously in the literature, adverse effects such as loneliness, anxiety, and stress have resulted in a decrease in the cognitive performance of school and higher education students. Therefore, the objective of this work is to present a general overview of the reported adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which may potentially influence the learning performance of students. Some neuroscientific findings related to memory and cognition, such as neuroplasticity and long-term potentiation, are also shown. We also discuss the positive effects of the practice of mindfulness, as well as other simple recommendations based on neuroscientific findings such as restful sleep, physical activity, and nutrition, which can act on memory and cognition. Finally, we propose some practical recommendations on how to achieve The COVID-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on education. The restrictions imposed have undoubtedly led to impairment of the psychological well-being of both teachers and students, and of the way they experience interpersonal relationships. As reported previously in the literature, adverse effects such as loneliness, anxiety, and stress have resulted in a decrease in the cognitive performance of school and higher education students. Therefore, the objective of this work is to present a general overview of the reported adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which may potentially influence the learning performance of students. Some neuroscientific findings related to memory and cognition, such as neuroplasticity and long-term potentiation, are also shown. We also discuss the positive effects of the practice of mindfulness, as well as other simple recommendations based on neuroscientific findings such as restful sleep, physical activity, and nutrition, which can act on memory and cognition. Finally, we propose some practical recommendations on how to achieve more effective student learning in the context of the pandemic. The aim of this review is to provide some assistance in this changing and uncertain situation in which we all find ourselves, and we hope that some of the information could serve as a starting point for hypotheses to be tested in educational research and their association with neuroscience.This research was funded by the Dirección de Investigación-Universidad de La Frontera (DI20-1003) and Project Covid (73) Process number: 23006.002357/2020-20—Universidade Federal do ABC. In addition, this work was partially funded by FEDER funds through the Operational Competitiveness Program—COMPETE and by National Funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT)—under the projects PTDC/CTM-TEX/28295/2017 and UID/CTM/00264/2019

Management of acute diverticulitis with pericolic free gas (ADIFAS). an international multicenter observational study

Background: There are no specific recommendations regarding the optimal management of this group of patients. The World Society of Emergency Surgery suggested a nonoperative strategy with antibiotic therapy, but this was a weak recommendation. This study aims to identify the optimal management of patients with acute diverticulitis (AD) presenting with pericolic free air with or without pericolic fluid. Methods: A multicenter, prospective, international study of patients diagnosed with AD and pericolic-free air with or without pericolic free fluid at a computed tomography (CT) scan between May 2020 and June 2021 was included. Patients were excluded if they had intra-abdominal distant free air, an abscess, generalized peritonitis, or less than a 1-year follow-up. The primary outcome was the rate of failure of nonoperative management within the index admission. Secondary outcomes included the rate of failure of nonoperative management within the first year and risk factors for failure. Results: A total of 810 patients were recruited across 69 European and South American centers; 744 patients (92%) were treated nonoperatively, and 66 (8%) underwent immediate surgery. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Hinchey II-IV on diagnostic imaging was the only independent risk factor for surgical intervention during index admission (odds ratios: 12.5, 95% CI: 2.4-64, P =0.003). Among patients treated nonoperatively, at index admission, 697 (94%) patients were discharged without any complications, 35 (4.7%) required emergency surgery, and 12 (1.6%) percutaneous drainage. Free pericolic fluid on CT scan was associated with a higher risk of failure of nonoperative management (odds ratios: 4.9, 95% CI: 1.2-19.9, P =0.023), with 88% of success compared to 96% without free fluid ( P <0.001). The rate of treatment failure with nonoperative management during the first year of follow-up was 16.5%. Conclusion: Patients with AD presenting with pericolic free gas can be successfully managed nonoperatively in the vast majority of cases. Patients with both free pericolic gas and free pericolic fluid on a CT scan are at a higher risk of failing nonoperative management and require closer observation

All-cause mortality in the cohorts of the Spanish AIDS Research Network (RIS) compared with the general population: 1997Ł2010

Abstract Background: Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has produced significant changes in mortality of HIVinfected persons. Our objective was to estimate mortality rates, standardized mortality ratios and excess mortality rates of cohorts of the AIDS Research Network (RIS) (CoRIS-MD and CoRIS) compared to the general population. Methods: We analysed data of CoRIS-MD and CoRIS cohorts from 1997 to 2010. We calculated: (i) all-cause mortality rates, (ii) standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and (iii) excess mortality rates for both cohort for 100 personyears (py) of follow-up, comparing all-cause mortality with that of the general population of similar age and gender. Results: Between 1997 and 2010, 8,214 HIV positive subjects were included, 2,453 (29.9%) in CoRIS-MD and 5,761 (70.1%) in CoRIS and 294 deaths were registered. All-cause mortality rate was 1.02 (95% CI 0.91-1.15) per 100 py, SMR was 6.8 (95% CI 5.9-7.9) and excess mortality rate was 0.8 (95% CI 0.7-0.9) per 100 py. Mortality was higher in patients with AIDS, hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection, and those from CoRIS-MD cohort (1997. Conclusion: Mortality among HIV-positive persons remains higher than that of the general population of similar age and sex, with significant differences depending on the history of AIDS or HCV coinfection

Evolving trends in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 waves. The ACIE appy II study

Background: In 2020, ACIE Appy study showed that COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) worldwide, with an increased rate of non-operative management (NOM) strategies and a trend toward open surgery due to concern of virus transmission by laparoscopy and controversial recommendations on this issue. The aim of this study was to survey again the same group of surgeons to assess if any difference in management attitudes of AA had occurred in the later stages of the outbreak. Methods: From August 15 to September 30, 2021, an online questionnaire was sent to all 709 participants of the ACIE Appy study. The questionnaire included questions on personal protective equipment (PPE), local policies and screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection, NOM, surgical approach and disease presentations in 2021. The results were compared with the results from the previous study. Results: A total of 476 answers were collected (response rate 67.1%). Screening policies were significatively improved with most patients screened regardless of symptoms (89.5% vs. 37.4%) with PCR and antigenic test as the preferred test (74.1% vs. 26.3%). More patients tested positive before surgery and commercial systems were the preferred ones to filter smoke plumes during laparoscopy. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was the first option in the treatment of AA, with a declined use of NOM. Conclusion: Management of AA has improved in the last waves of pandemic. Increased evidence regarding SARS-COV-2 infection along with a timely healthcare systems response has been translated into tailored attitudes and a better care for patients with AA worldwide

The global retinoblastoma outcome study : a prospective, cluster-based analysis of 4064 patients from 149 countries

DATA SHARING : The study data will become available online once all analyses are complete.BACKGROUND : Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular cancer worldwide. There is some evidence to suggest that major differences exist in treatment outcomes for children with retinoblastoma from different regions, but these differences have not been assessed on a global scale. We aimed to report 3-year outcomes for children with retinoblastoma globally and to investigate factors associated with survival. METHODS : We did a prospective cluster-based analysis of treatment-naive patients with retinoblastoma who were diagnosed between Jan 1, 2017, and Dec 31, 2017, then treated and followed up for 3 years. Patients were recruited from 260 specialised treatment centres worldwide. Data were obtained from participating centres on primary and additional treatments, duration of follow-up, metastasis, eye globe salvage, and survival outcome. We analysed time to death and time to enucleation with Cox regression models. FINDINGS : The cohort included 4064 children from 149 countries. The median age at diagnosis was 23·2 months (IQR 11·0–36·5). Extraocular tumour spread (cT4 of the cTNMH classification) at diagnosis was reported in five (0·8%) of 636 children from high-income countries, 55 (5·4%) of 1027 children from upper-middle-income countries, 342 (19·7%) of 1738 children from lower-middle-income countries, and 196 (42·9%) of 457 children from low-income countries. Enucleation surgery was available for all children and intravenous chemotherapy was available for 4014 (98·8%) of 4064 children. The 3-year survival rate was 99·5% (95% CI 98·8–100·0) for children from high-income countries, 91·2% (89·5–93·0) for children from upper-middle-income countries, 80·3% (78·3–82·3) for children from lower-middle-income countries, and 57·3% (52·1-63·0) for children from low-income countries. On analysis, independent factors for worse survival were residence in low-income countries compared to high-income countries (hazard ratio 16·67; 95% CI 4·76–50·00), cT4 advanced tumour compared to cT1 (8·98; 4·44–18·18), and older age at diagnosis in children up to 3 years (1·38 per year; 1·23–1·56). For children aged 3–7 years, the mortality risk decreased slightly (p=0·0104 for the change in slope). INTERPRETATION : This study, estimated to include approximately half of all new retinoblastoma cases worldwide in 2017, shows profound inequity in survival of children depending on the national income level of their country of residence. In high-income countries, death from retinoblastoma is rare, whereas in low-income countries estimated 3-year survival is just over 50%. Although essential treatments are available in nearly all countries, early diagnosis and treatment in low-income countries are key to improving survival outcomes.The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust and the Wellcome Trust.https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/homeam2023Paediatrics and Child Healt

Heterogeneous contributions of change in population distribution of body mass index to change in obesity and underweight NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC)

From 1985 to 2016, the prevalence of underweight decreased, and that of obesity and severe obesity increased, in most regions, with significant variation in the magnitude of these changes across regions. We investigated how much change in mean body mass index (BMI) explains changes in the prevalence of underweight, obesity, and severe obesity in different regions using data from 2896 population-based studies with 187 million participants. Changes in the prevalence of underweight and total obesity, and to a lesser extent severe obesity, are largely driven by shifts in the distribution of BMI, with smaller contributions from changes in the shape of the distribution. In East and Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, the underweight tail of the BMI distribution was left behind as the distribution shifted. There is a need for policies that address all forms of malnutrition by making healthy foods accessible and affordable, while restricting unhealthy foods through fiscal and regulatory restrictions

Asociación de preeclampsia grave y daño vascular valorado por marcadores no invasivos de rigidez arterial

Resumen: Antecedentes: La preeclampsia (PE) es un trastorno hipertensivo del embarazo asociado a una elevada morbimortalidad materna y fetal, y un mayor riesgo futuro de complicaciones cardiovasculares. Objetivo: Analizar si las mujeres que han tenido PE grave en su embarazo presentan parámetros de rigidez arterial (RA) superiores a las de aquellas cuya PE cursó sin signos de gravedad. Métodos: Se evaluaron 65 mujeres que habían desarrollado PE durante su gestación, divididas en 2 grupos: grupo de PE sin criterios de gravedad o PE no grave (n = 30) y grupo de PE con criterios de gravedad o PE grave (n = 35). Se determinó la velocidad de onda de pulso carótida-femoral (VOPcf), el índice de aumento central normalizado a 75 latidos por minuto (IAc75) y presión de aumento central (PAc) al mes y a los 6 meses posparto. La comparación de proporciones se llevó a cabo mediante la prueba de Chi-cuadrado, la comparación de medias entre grupos se utilizaron la prueba t de Student o la prueba de Mann-Whitney, y la comparación de medias de un mismo grupo en momentos evolutivos diferentes, la prueba t para o el test de Wilcoxon. La correlación, con y entre parámetros hemodinámicos, se llevó a cabo con el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman y la asociación entre variables demográficas, antecedentes personales y parámetros hemodinámicos, y valores alterados de RA se llevó a cabo mediante modelos de regresión lineal y logística. Resultados: Las mujeres con PE grave presentaban, al mes y a los 6 meses posparto, valores de presión arterial, tanto central como periférica, así como parámetros de RA y amplificación de pulso, superiores a aquellas mujeres cuya PE no revistió gravedad. Los valores del índice de aumento central (IAc) al mes y a los 6 meses posparto fueron superiores, aunque no de forma significativa, en el grupo de PE grave respecto al grupo de PE no grave (24,0 [16,5-34,3] vs. 19,0% [14-29] y 24,0 [14,0-30,0] vs. 20,0% [12,3-26,8], respectivamente). La velocidad onda de pulso carótida-femoral (VOPcf) fue superior de forma significativa, tanto al mes como a los 6 meses posparto en el grupo de PE grave respecto al grupo de PE no grave (10,2 [8,8-10,7] vs. 8,8 m/s [8,3-9,6] y 10,0 [8,8-10,6] vs. 8,8 m/s [8,3-9,3], respectivamente). La amplificación de la presión sistólica central y de la presión de pulso central fueron también superiores, aunque no de forma significativa, en el grupo de PE grave respecto al de PE no grave. Conclusión: Las mujeres que han tenido PE grave presentan parámetros de RA más acusados que los de aquellas en las que la PE no revistió especial gravedad. Debiera evaluarse la conveniencia de incluir de forma rutinaria entre las mujeres que han tenido PE la determinación del IAc y especialmente la VOPcf, como estrategia de evaluación del riesgo cardiovascular. Abstract: Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy associated with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality and increased future risk of cardiovascular complications. Objective: To analyze whether women who have had PE with severe features in their pregnancy have higher arterial stiffness (AS) parameters than those whose PE course was without signs of severity. Methods: Sixty-five women who developed PE during their gestation were evaluated, divided into two groups: PE group without severe features or non-severe PE (n = 30) and PE group with severe features or severe PE (n = 35). Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), central augmentation index corrected to a heart rate of 75 beats per minute (AIxc75) and central augmentation pressure (cAP) were determined one month and six months postpartum. Comparison of proportions was carried out using the chi-square test, comparison of means between groups using the Student's t-test or the Mann-Whitney test, and comparison of means of the same group at different evolutionary moments, using the t-test or the Wilcoxon test. Correlation, with and between hemodynamic parameters, was carried out with Spearman's correlation coefficient and the association between demographic variables, personal history and hemodynamic parameters, and altered arterial stiffness parameters was carried out using linear and logistic regression models. Results: Women with severe PE presented, both at 1 and 6 months postpartum, higher values of blood pressure, both central and peripheral, as well as AR and pulse amplification parameters, than those women whose PE was not severe. Central augmentation index (cAIx) values at 1 month and 6 months postpartum were higher, although not significantly, in the severe PE group compared to the non-severe PE group (24.0 (16.5-34.3) vs. 19.0% (14-29) and 24.0 (14.0-30.0) vs. 20.0% (12.3-26.8), respectively). Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was significantly higher at both 1 and 6 months postpartum in the severe PE group compared to the non-severe PE group (10.2 (8.8-10.7) vs. 8.8 m/s (8.3-9.6) and 10.0 (8.8-10.6) vs. 8.8 m/s (8.3-9.3), respectively). Central systolic pressure and central pulse pressure amplification were also higher, although not significantly, in the severe PE group in comparison with the non-severe PE group. Conclusions: Women who have had severe PE have more pronounced arterial stiffness parameters than those in whom PE was not particularly severe. The determination of cAIx and cfPWV, as a strategy for the assessment of cardiovascular risk, should be evaluated among women who have had PE

Efecto del uso de prebióticos sobre la microbiota cecal en pollos parrilleros (Gallus Gallus)

p. 37-52Los prebióticos pueden tener efectos positivos sobre las aves, no solo a nivel intestinal sino también sistémico. Se utilizaron 198 pollos parrilleros machos, separándolos en tres grupos. A dos grupos se suple- mentó el alimento con prebióticos diferente, B1 (Fructooligosacárido) y B3 (Cynara más Colina), provistos por Bedson S. A. Se realizaron faenas a los 7, 14 y 45 días. Se registró peso corporal, y se recolectaron diferentes muestras: bazo y bolsas de Fabricio; plasma, y se determinaron proteínas, albúminas, transaminasas; ciegos, para determinar el número de microorganismos cecales. El recuento de bacterias mesófilas y lácticas fue mayor en B3, luego en B1 y por último en el grupo control. El número de bacterias coliformes fue similar en los tres grupos, aunque valores de E. coli fueron menores con B1, luego con B3, y por último el grupo control. La mínima mortandad y la mayor conversión alimenticia fueron alcanzadas por el grupo tratado con B1. Los dos prebióticos mejoraron en forma sistémica a las aves, siendo mejor el B1.Fil: Vilte Aramburu, María Emilia. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Villazón, Macarena. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: San Juan, Valentina. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Pereyra, Rodrigo. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Jiménez, Pablo. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Vaira, María Julia. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Díaz Critelli, María Emilia. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Sánchez Negrette, Olga. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Mazzuca Pizzeti, Analía Josefina. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Ocaña, José Guillermo. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina

Efecto del uso de prebióticos sobre la ganancia de peso y sanidad de pollos parrilleros (Gallus gallus)

p. 17-22Los prebióticos son definidos como ingredientes alimentarios no digeribles que producen efectos beneficiosos al huésped. Para realizar esta investigación se suplementó al alimento balanceado de los pollos parrilleros con dos prebióticos diferentes: Fructooligosacárido (FOS) y Cynara más Colina, a fin de evaluar sus efectos. Se trabajó con 198 pollos parrilleros machos recién nacidos de la línea cobb. Para los ensayos se separaron en 3 lotes, 2 experimentales y uno, control (B2). Un grupo experimental se suplementó con FOS (B1) y el otro se suplementó con Cynara más Colina (B3). Se observó un peso levemente mayor, 57 gramos, en los pollos suplementados con B1, y de 18 gramos en los pollos suplementados con B3 respecto al control. La mortandad, de los pollos B1 fue del 1.3%, la de los pollos B3 fue del 3.3% al igual que la mortandad de los pollos del lote control. Como conclusión podemos decir que a través de este trabajo, y desde el punto de vista del proceso enseñanza- aprendizaje, se pudo lograr la participación de los alumnos en la cría de aves desde el comienzo, en la construcción de un galpón experimental para pollos, el manejo y la faena. Asimismo, como evidencia preliminar se puede decir que FOS causó efectos beneficiosos en las aves.Fil: Ocaña, José Guillermo. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Vilte Aramburu, María Emilia. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Villazón, Macarena. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: San Juan, Valentina. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Pereyra, Rodrigo. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Jiménez, Pablo. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Díaz Critelli, María Emilia. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Sánchez Negrette, Olga. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Sarmiento, Ricardo Oscar. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Baís, César Eugenio. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Mazzuca Pizzeti, Analía Josefina. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina

Indicadores inmunológicos del efecto de dos prebióticos en la producción de pollos parrilleros (Gallus gallus)

p. 29-35Los prebióticos pueden tener efectos positivos sobre las aves, no sólo a nivel intestinal sino también sistémico. Se realizó la cría de 198 aves separándolas en tres grupos desde el primer día de crianza. A dos grupos se les adicionó los prebióticos determinados al alimento para cada uno: L1 (Fructooligosacárido) y L3 (Cynara + Colina). Se realizaron 3 faenas, a los 7, 14 y 45 días. Se pesaron las aves vivas y se recolectaron diferentes muestras. Se pesaron bazo y bolsas de Fabricio. Del plasma obtenido en la última faena, se determinó Proteínas, Albúminas, Transaminasas: ASAT y ALAT. La relación albúmina/globulina fue menor en L3, el cual presentó un perfil electroforético con disminución de pre-albúmina y con aumento de alfa 1 y gammaglobulinas, lo que sumado a los valores de ASAT aumentados indicaría procesos infecciosos y daño hepático. L2 mostró leve aumento de las fracciones alfa 1, beta y un mayor incremento de gammaglobulinas. Éstas se encontraron en menor concentración en L1, lo que mostraría que no estuvo sometido a infecciones ni a daño hepático. Comparando estos indicadores, con los resultados microbiológicos, y los índices zooténicos encontrados, se concluye que el prebiótico L1 (Fructooligosacárido) mejoró el estado sistémico de las aves.Fil: Vilte Aramburu, María Emilia. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Villazón, Macarena. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: San Juan, Valentina. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Pereyra, Rodrigo. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Jiménez, Pablo. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Díaz Critelli, María Emilia. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Baís, César Eugenio. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Vaira, María Julia. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Ocaña, José Guillermo. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Sarmiento, Ricardo Oscar. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Sánchez Negrette, Olga. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina.Fil: Mazzuca Pizzeti, Analía Josefina. Universidad Católica de Salta; Argentina