Centrality evolution of the charged-particle pseudorapidity density over a broad pseudorapidity range in Pb-Pb collisions at root s(NN)=2.76TeV

Peer reviewe

Niveles de autoestima en pacientes con diagnóstico de lupus eritematoso sistémico

Introducción: el lupus eritematoso sistémico es una enfermedad autoinmune de origen desconocido. Diversos factores ambientales se han relacionado con el debut  y  la exacerbación de esta enfermedad entre los que se encuentra el estrés. Objetivo. determinar los niveles de autoestima, como variable moduladora del estrés, en estos pacientes y su relación con algunas variables sociodemográficas. Método: se estudiaron 36 pacientes  cubanos que cumplieran al menos 4 criterios del Colegio Americano de Reumatología de 1997 para lupus eritematoso sistémico,  que  acudieron a consulta de  Psiconeuroinmunología  del Instituto de Nefrología. Se identificaron algunas variables sociodemográficas (edad, sexo, estado civil, escolaridad y ocupación)  y se le aplicó el Inventario de autoestima de Coopersmith para evaluar los niveles de  autoestima (alto, medio o bajo). Resultados. los pacientes presentaron, en su mayoría, niveles  medios y bajos de autoestima  (p<0.05).Resultó significativa la correlación de los niveles de autoestima obtenidos solo  con   la escolaridad (p = 0.002).  Conclusión. los pacientes con lupus eritematoso sistémico presentan afectación  en los niveles de autoestima, por lo tanto en el manejo integral de estos pacientes se debe tener en cuenta esta variable

Psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrinology and COVID-19

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Clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of peripheral neuropathy in Cuban systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Background: Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is one of the most heterogeneous and poorly understood or characterized manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and electrophysiological features, and neuropathic disease associations, in Cuban SLE patients. Patients and methods: One hundred and two consecutive SLE patients admitted to the Psychoneuroimmunology service at the National Institute of Nephrology were included in the study. Patients with other disorders known to cause neuropathy were excluded. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were obtained using a pre-defined questionnaire. Nerve conduction studies were carried out in both upper and lower limbs. Neuropathy was defined as the presence of clinical symptoms and/or signs and bilateral abnormal nerve conduction study parameters. Results: The 102 patients were 99 females and 3 males with mean age of 46 ± 12 years and disease duration 8 ± 9 years. PN was found in 55/102 (53.9%) patients; 48 (87.3%) had clinical peripheral neuropathy manifestations and 7 (12.7%) were asymptomatic. Nerve conduction studies suggested asymmetric axonal-demyelination neuropathy pattern. Mixed sensory-motor neuropathy was the most common involvement in 23(41.8%) cases. The most frequent pattern was polyneuropathy. Compared to those without neuropathy, SLE-related polyneuropathy patients were significantly older, but had no other significant associations with demographic, disease duration or serological/immunological data. Conclusion: Peripheral nervous system manifestations are common in SLE; may be related to an increased susceptibility of peripheral nerves to effects of aging. Nerve conduction studies are recommended, therefore, for inclusion in the follow-up of SLE patients especially in the older population

Niveles de plomo y daño en el ADN en niños con trastornos del espectro autista Lead levels and DNA damage in children with autistic spectrum disorders

Introducción: los trastornos del espectro autista se consideran una familia de alteraciones del neurodesarrollo, caracterizada por dificultades en la comunicación y la interacción social, así como la existencia de un comportamiento estereotipado y repetitivo. Aunque existen varias hipótesis que involucran a factores genéticos y ambientales en su etiopatogenia, la verdadera contribución de estos aún se desconoce. En este estudio se explora la relación entre los niveles séricos de plomo, el daño del ADN y la severidad del autismo. Métodos: se estudiaron 15 niños con el diagnóstico de trastornos del espectro autista entre 4 y 11 años de edad y un grupo control del mismo rango de edad. El coeficiente de inteligencia fue evaluado mediante la prueba de Terman-Merrill y los niños fueron clasificados en dos grados de retardo mental (ligero y moderado/severo). Los niveles de plomo en sangre fueron medidos por espectrometría de masa, mientras que el daño del ADN fue determinado en linfocitos de sangre periférica con el empleo de un ensayo de electroforesis alcalina (ensayo del cometa). Resultados: no se mostró diferencia significativa en los niveles de plomo entre los grupos. El daño del ADN fue mayor en los pacientes autistas en relación con el grupo control, cuya diferencia fue significativa (pIntroduction:autistic spectrum disorders are considered to be a family of neurodevelopmental alterations characterized by difficulty to communicate and interact socially, as well as stereotyped, repetitive behavior. Though several hypotheses involve genetic and environmental factors in the etiopathogeny of this condition, their actual participation is still unknown. The present study explores the relationship between serum lead levels, DNA damage and the severity of autism. Methods: a study was conducted with 15 children 4-11 years old diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorders and a control group from the same age range. The intelligence quotient was measured by the Terman-Merrill test, and children were classified into two degrees of mental retardation (mild and moderate/severe). Blood lead levels were measured by mass spectrometry, whereas DNA damage was determined in peripheral blood lymphocytes using the alkaline electrophoresis assay (the comet assay). Results: this study did not show any significant difference in lead levels between the groups. DNA damage was greater in autistic patients than in the control group, and the difference was significant (p<0.05) when mental retardation severity was considered. Patients with a moderate/severe disorder showed significantly greater DNA damage than those with mild disorders and the control group. Conclusions: results confirm the presence of DNA damage in patients with autistic spectrum disorders, suggesting that this factor could be related to mental retardation severity

Peripheral inflammatory markers contributing to comorbidities in autism

This study evaluates the contribution of peripheral biomarkers to comorbidities and clinical findings in autism. Seventeen autistic children and age-matched typically developing (AMTD), between three to nine years old were evaluated. The diagnostic followed the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th Edition (DMS-IV) and the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) was applied to classify the severity. Cytokine profile was evaluated in plasma using a sandwich type ELISA. Paraclinical events included electroencephalography (EEG) record. Statistical analysis was done to explore significant differences in cytokine profile between autism and AMTD groups and respect clinical and paraclinical parameters. Significant differences were found to IL-1 , IL-6, IL-17, IL-12p40, and IL-12p70 cytokines in individuals with autism compared with AMTD (p < 0.05). All autistic patients showed interictalepileptiform activity at EEG, however, only 37.5% suffered epilepsy. There was not a regional focalization of the abnormalities that were detectable with EEG in autistic patients with history of epilepsy. A higher IL-6 level was observed in patients without history of epilepsy with interictalepileptiform activity in the frontal brain region, p < 0.05. In conclusion, peripheral inflammatory markers might be useful as potential biomarkers to predict comorbidities in autism as well as reinforce and aid informed decision-making related to EEG findings in children with Autism spectrum disorders (ASD)