Evaluación teleneuropsicológica en América del Sur: Una perspectiva desde los pacientes y los neuropsicólogos

Teleneuropsychology (teleNP) in Argentina was promoted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This investigation aimed to evaluate patients’ and neuropsychologists’ satisfaction with teleNP and to identify the advantages and disadvantages of its use. 41 patients with mild cognitive impairment and 35 neuropsychologists from Argentina were surveyed. Both groups were sent a questionnaire by e-mail to evaluate their satisfaction and preferences regarding teleNP. Patients were sent the survey after being cognitively evaluated by teleNP. Outcomes reflected a 91% degree of satisfaction with teleNP, with no differences between patients and specialists (p = 0.112). Regarding patients, 50% had no predilection regarding evaluation modality, and 35.7% preferred teleNP. The main benefits identified were accessibility to remote areas (72.4%), and comfort of performing the assessment at home (57.14%). Moreover, 74.3% of practitioners reported that the principal difficulty was the patient’s lack of familiarity with the technology, and 60% a deficiency in environmental control. TeleNP cognitive evaluation has a high degree of acceptability for practitioners and patients. The main obstacles identified are network connection problems and the lack of familiarity with technology. The principal advantages come from accessing isolated areas. This suggests that this practice will remain relevant beyond the pandemic context.La teleneuropsicología (teleNP) en Argentina fue promovida por la pandemia del COVID-19. Esta investigación se propuso evaluar la satisfacción de pacientes y neuropsicólogos con la teleNP e identificar las ventajas y desventajas de su uso. Se encuestaron 41 pacientes con deterioro cognitivo leve y 35 neuropsicólogos de Argentina. A ambos grupos se les envió un cuestionario por correo electrónico para evaluar su satisfacción y preferencias respecto a la teleNP. A los pacientes se les envió la encuesta después de ser evaluados cognitivamente mediante teleNP. Los resultados reflejaron un grado de satisfacción con la teleNP del 91%, sin diferencias entre pacientes y especialistas (p = 0.112). En cuanto a los pacientes, el 50% no tenía predilección por ninguna modalidad de evaluación, y el 35.7% prefería la telePN. Los principales beneficios identificados fueron la accesibilidad a zonas remotas (72.4%), y la comodidad de realizar la evaluación en casa (57.14%). Por otra parte, el 74.3% de los profesionales informaron de que la principal dificultad era la falta de familiaridad del paciente con la tecnología, y el 60% una deficiencia en el control del entorno. La evaluación cognitiva TeleNP tiene un alto grado de aceptabilidad para los profesionales y los pacientes. Los principales obstáculos identificados son los problemas de conexión a la red y la falta de familiaridad con la tecnología. Las principales ventajas provienen del acceso a zonas aisladas. Esto sugiere que esta práctica seguirá siendo relevante más allá del contexto pandémico

La Cognición Social en la Esclerosis Múltiple Temprana: Enfoque neuropsicológico y anatómico

Cognitive impairment and deficits in social cognition (SC) are frequent in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the present work is to study SC in patients with early MS and to analyze its neuroanatomical correlation. Thirty-four patients with relapsing remitting MS, with ≤ 2 years of disease progression and EDSS and ≤2, and 30 healthy control subjects matched for age, sex, and educational level were recruited. Subjects performed a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment (Rao BRB). SC was assessed using the International Affective Picture System IAPS, The Eyes in the Mind Test, the Empathy Quotient, and the Faux Pas Test. The anatomical correlation of patients with deficits in social cognition was studied through brain MRI and voxel-based morphometric for which cortical reconstruction and volumetric segmentation were performed using Freesurfer processing software. Patients showed significant deficits in executive functions, verbal memory and language tests. SC assessment showed that patients presented greater difficulties in the Faux Pas Test (p = 0.023), The Mind in the Eyes Test (p = 0.014), and presented a positive bias in the interpretation of neutral images of the IAPS (P = 0.023). Furthermore, patients with CS deficits presented less cortical thickness in areas of the right supramarginal gyrus, pars opercularis, and anterior cingulum

L. Evidence of spatial variation of the polarized thermal dust spectral energy distribution and implications for CMB B-mode analysis

Planck Collaboration.The characterization of the Galactic foregrounds has been shown to be the main obstacle in thechallenging quest to detect primordial B-modes in the polarized microwave sky. We make use of the Planck-HFI 2015 data release at high frequencies to place new constraints on the properties of the polarized thermal dust emission at high Galactic latitudes. Here, we specifically study the spatial variability of the dust polarized spectral energy distribution (SED), and its potential impact on the determination of the tensor-to-scalar ratio, r. We use the correlation ratio of the angular power spectra between the 217 and 353 GHz channels as a tracer of these potential variations, computed on different high Galactic latitude regions, ranging from 80% to 20% of the sky. The new insight from Planck data is a departure of the correlation ratio from unity that cannot be attributed to a spurious decorrelation due to the cosmic microwave background, instrumental noise, or instrumental systematics. The effect is marginally detected on each region, but the statistical combination of all the regions gives more than 99% confidence for this variation in polarized dust properties. In addition, we show that the decorrelation increases when there is a decrease in the mean column density of the region of the sky being considered, and we propose a simple power-law empirical model for this dependence, which matches what is seen in the Planck data. We explore the effect that this measured decorrelation has on simulations of the BICEP2-Keck Array/Planck analysis and show that the 2015 constraints from these data still allow a decorrelation between the dust at 150 and 353 GHz that is compatible with our measured value. Finally, using simplified models, we show that either spatial variation of the dust SED or of the dust polarization angle are able to produce decorrelations between 217 and 353 GHz data similar to the values we observe in the data.The Planck Collaboration acknowledges the support of: ESA; CNES, and CNRS/INSU-IN2P3-INP (France); ASI, CNR, and INAF (Italy); NASA and DoE (USA); STFC and UKSA (UK); CSIC, MINECO, J.A., and RES (Spain); Tekes, AoF, and CSC (Finland); DLR and MPG (Germany); CSA (Canada); DTU Space (Denmark); SER/SSO (Switzerland); RCN (Norway); SFI (Ireland); FCT/MCTES (Portugal); ERC and PRACE (EU). The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Research Council under the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) / ERC grant agreement No. 267934.Peer Reviewe

Un estudio exploratorio acerca de las características y motivos vinculados a la solicitud de nulidad matrimonial en una muestra de adultos del área metropolitana de Buenos Aires

Resumen: "La nulidad matrimonial es la invalidación de un matrimonio porque en su celebración han existido o se han producido defectos que impiden que el mismo pueda surtir efectos”. El presente trabajo se propuso realizar una descripción de las características sociodemográficas de los actores peritados, que incluye referencias a los motivos y circunstancias que los llevaron a tomar esta decisión. Las solicitantes habían contraído matrimonio en la jurisdicción correspondiente al Tribunal Interdiocesano Bonaerense. Se concluye que, resulta de vital importancia dedicarse al estudio de las nulidades matrimoniales ya que puede echar luz sobre varios aspectos de las creencias, desarrollo y formación de los individuos de nuestra sociedad, y de la conformación de las familias de la actualidad. Datos que permitirían pensar de qué manera se posiciona una persona a la hora de tomar la decisión de contraer matrimonio, que implica un compromiso para toda la vida.Abstract: “Marriage annulment is the invalidation of a marriage because in its celebration had existed or had been produced defects that do not allow it to take effect”. The aim of this paper was to make a description of the socio-demographic characteristics of the claimants assessed, which includes references to the reasons and circumstances that led them to make that decision. The petitioning party had married in the jurisdiction belonging to the Interdiocesan Tribunal of Buenos Aires. It is concluded that, it is of vital importance to bring attention to the study of marriage annulment because it can cast light on a wide array of aspects regarding the beliefs and development of the individuals of our society, as well as how family building takes place at present. Data that would allow to think how a person positions his or herself when taking the decision of getting married, which implies a lifelong commitment

Inglés

There is an urgent need for an improved understanding of the relationship between repetitive sports concussion and cognitivedecline risk. The Argentina- Sports Concussion Assessment & Research Study (Arg-SCARS) explores the link between repetitivesports concussion and cognitive function decline in rugby players. Its objective is to describe the study design and the preliminary results concerning clinical profiles of rugby players following sports concussion. The current paper is a descriptive study of select characteristics and clinical symptoms identified from concussed athletes within 72 h after the injury. The 92 participants had an average age of 22.64 years and had been playing rugby for a mean of 14.72 years. 66.3% had history of concussions, with an average number of clinical concussions of 1.94. The mean of symptoms reported on Post-Concussion Symptoms Scale was 5.41. The mean symptom severity score was 14.49. Acute concussion symptoms, Beck’s Depression Inventory and attentional composite score were significantly predictive of symptoms within the first 72h following concussion. As conclusions it was possible to recognize the full spectrum of post-concussion related situations is essential to monitor recovery and tailor interventions for specific cases. Arg-SCARS’s findings will help understand the influence of repetitive head trauma in the progress of neurological damage in athletes.RESUMEN   INTRODUCIÓN  Argentina- Sport Concussion Assessment & Research Study (Arg-SCARS) es un estudio prospectivo y observacional que analiza el vínculo entre las conmociones cerebrales reiteradas y el deterioro cognitivo en jugadores de rugby.     OBJETIVO  Describir el diseño del estudio y los resultados clínicos preliminares en deportistas tras sufrir conmociones cerebrales en el campo de juego.     DISEÑO  Se describen características y síntomas identificados en las 72 horas siguientes a una conmoción cerebral.    RESULTADOS  De 92 participantes con edad media de 22,64 años (SD=4,43) y una media de 14,72 años practicando rugby (SD=5,54; rango: 3-29), el 66,3 % (n=61) tenían antecedentes de traumatismos cerebrales, con una media de 1,94 traumatismos (SD=3,04; rango: 0-15). La media de síntomas informados en la Escala de Síntomas Posconmoción fue 5,41 (SD=4,48; rango: 0-17), y el puntaje medio, 14,49 (SD: 18,32; rango: 0-96). Los síntomas agudos, el Inventario de Depresión de Beck y el puntaje de atención fueron muy predictores de los síntomas de las primeras 72 horas tras estas lesiones.  ORIGINALIDAD  Los hallazgos ayudarán a comprender cómo influyen los traumatismos cerebrales reiterados en el deterioro neurológico.     CONCLUSIONES  Reconocer todas las situaciones posteriores a una conmoción cerebral es esencial para supervisar la recuperación y personalizar intervenciones.     Palabras clave: Conmoción cerebral, Deporte, Cognición, Cohorte, Lesión Cerebral Traumática   &nbsp