Encouraging Emotional Conversations in Children With Complex Communication Needs : An Observational Case Study

Ajuts: A research grant by the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT, reference: 692379-440601) to GR-R supported this study.Children with complex communication needs (CCN) regularly have barriers to express and discuss emotions, and have fewer opportunities to participate in emotional conversations. The study explores and analyzes the changes after a training program focused on offering an interactive home learning environment that encouraged and modeled emotion-related conversations between a parent and a child with CCN within storybook-reading contexts. An observational design (nomothetic/follow-up/multidimensional) was used to explore and analyze the changes in the communicative interaction around emotions between mother-child. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technologies were used to provide the child access to emotion-related vocabulary. The training program resulted in the mother providing more opportunities to engage her child in emotional conversations, suggesting that when opportunities and resources to talk about emotions were promoted, the child showed more engagement in emotion-related conversations using his AAC system. The mother-child communicative patterns and behavioral relationships observed during the phases are also presented. This case study illustrates the importance of a primary communication partners' role in facilitating emotional conversations, and the promising efficacy of a training program implemented in a storybook interactive learning environment to promote conversations about emotion-related events while encouraging children with CCN to learn, explore, express, and discuss emotions

Ras-transfected human mammary tumour cells are resistant to photodynamic therapy by mechanisms related to cell adhesion

Aims: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment modality for several cancers involving the administration of a tumour-localising photosensitiser (PS) and its subsequent activation by light, resulting in tumour damage. Ras oncogenes have been strongly associated with chemo- and radio-resistance. Based on the described roles of adhesion and cell morphology on drug resistance, we studied if the differences in shape, cell-extracellular matrix and cell-cell adhesion induced by Ras transfection, play a role in the resistance to PDT. Materials and methods: We employed the human normal breast HB4a cells transfected with H-RAS and a panel of five PSs. Key findings: We found that resistance to PDT of the HB4a-Ras cells employing all the PSs, increased between 1.3 and 2.5-fold as compared to the parental cells. There was no correlation between resistance and intracellular PS levels or PS intracellular localisation. Even when Ras-transfected cells present lower adherence to the ECM proteins, this does not make them more sensitive to PDT or chemotherapy. On the contrary, a marked gain of resistance to PDT was observed in floating cells as compared to adhesive cells, accounting for the higher ability conferred by Ras to survive in conditions of decreased cell-extracellular matrix interactions. HB4a-Ras cells displayed disorganisation of actin fibres, mislocalised E-cadherin and vinculin and lower expression of E-cadherin and β1-integrin as compared to HB4a cells. Significance: Knowledge of the mechanisms of resistance to photodamage in Ras-overexpressing cells may lead to the optimization of the combination of PDT with other treatmentsAC thanks to ANPCyT (Argentina) PICT 2014-0727 and CONICET (Argentina) PIP 2014 number 11220130100237CO. Lorena Rodriguez acknowledges CONICET fellowships, Bunge & Born Foundation Argentina and Jorge Oster, Argentina, for financial support. FS and AC acknowledge Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores y Cooperación and Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo (A/ 015883/08), Spain, for financial support. MAR is supported through a Junior Faculty Scholar Award from the American Society of Hematolog

Abnormalities in amphibian populations inhabiting agroecosystems in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

The occurrence of abnormalities in amphibians has been reported in many populations, and its increase could be related to environmental pollution and habitat degradation. We evaluated the type and prevalence of abnormalities in 5 amphibian populations from agroecosystems with different degrees of agricultural disturbance (cultivated and reference areas). We detected 9 types of abnormalities, of which the most frequent were those occurring in limbs. The observed prevalence of abnormality in assessed populations from cultivated and reference areas was as follows: Rhinella fernandezae (37.1 and 10.2%, respectively), Leptodactylus latrans adults (28.1 and 9.2%) and juveniles (32.9 and 15.3%), and Hypsiboas pulchellus (11.6 and 2.8%). Scinax granulatus populations did not show abnormalities. Pseudis minuta, which was only detected in the reference area, exhibited a prevalence of 13.3%. For R. fernandezae, L. latrans, and H. pulchellus, generalized linear mixed models showed that prevalence of abnormalities was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in cultivated than in reference areas. L. latrans juveniles were more vulnerable to abnormalities than adults (p < 0.05). The presence of abnormalities in some species inhabiting different agroecosystems suggests that environmental stress factors might be responsible for their occurrence. While we detected pesticides (endosulfan, cypermethrin, and chlorpyrifos) and lower dissolved oxygen levels in ponds of the cultivated area, no data are currently available on how other factors, such as injuries from predators and parasite infections, vary by land use. Further research will be necessary to evaluate possible causes of abnormalities detected in the present study mainly in the context of factor interactions.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Usefulness of discriminability and response bias indices for the evaluation of recognition memory in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease

Background: Most studies examining episodic memory in Alzheimer disease (AD) have focused on patients' impaired ability to remember information. This approach provides only a partial picture of memory deficits since other factors involved are not considered. Objective: To evaluate the recognition memory performance by using a yes/no procedure to examine the effect of discriminability and response bias measures in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI), AD dementia, and normal-aging subjects. Methods: We included 43 controls and 45 a-MCI and 51 mild AD dementia patients. Based on the proportions of correct responses (hits) and false alarms from the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), discriminability (d′) and response bias (C) indices from signal detection theory (SDT) were calculated. Results: Results showed significant group differences for d′ (F (2) = 83.26, p < 0.001), and C (F (2) = 6.05, p = 0.00). The best predictors of group membership were delayed recall and d′ scores. The d′ measure correctly classified subjects with 82.98% sensitivity and 91.11% specificity. Conclusions: a-MCI and AD dementia subjects exhibit less discrimination accuracy and more liberal response bias than controls. Furthermore, combined indices of delayed recall and discriminability from the RAVLT are effective in defining early AD. SDT may help enhance diagnostic specificity

Flagellin delays spontaneous human neutrophil apoptosis

Neutrophils are short-lived cells that rapidly undergo apoptosis. However, their survival can be regulated by signals from the environment. Flagellin, the primary component of the bacterial flagella, is known to induce neutrophil activation. In this study we examined the ability of flagellin to modulate neutrophil apoptosis. Neutrophils cultured for 12 and 24 h in the presence of flagellin from Salmonella thyphimurim at concentrations found in pathological situations underwent a marked prevention of apoptosis. In contrast, Helicobacter pylori flagellin did not affect neutrophil survival, suggesting that Salmonella flagellin exerts the antiapoptotic effect by interacting with TLR5. The delaying in apoptosis mediated by Salmonella flagellin was coupled to higher expression levels of the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1 and lower levels of activated caspase-3. Analysis of the signaling pathways indicated that Salmonella flagellin induced the activation of the p38 and ERK1/2 MAPK pathways as well as the PI3K/Akt pathway. Furthermore, it also stimulated IBα degradation and the phosphorylation of the p65 subunit, suggesting that Salmonella flagellin also triggers NF-B activation. Moreover, the pharmacological inhibition of ERK1/2 pathway and NF-B activation partially prevented the antiapoptotic effects exerted by flagellin. Finally, the apoptotic delaying effect exerted by flagellin was also evidenced when neutrophils were cultured with whole heat-killed S. thyphimurim. Both a wild-type and an aflagellate mutant S. thyphimurim strain promoted neutrophil survival; however, when cultured in low bacteria/neutrophil ratios, the flagellate bacteria showed a higher capacity to inhibit neutrophil apoptosis, although both strains showed a similar ability to induce neutrophil activation. Taken together, our results indicate that flagellin delays neutrophil apoptosis by a mechanism partially dependent on the activation of ERK1/2 MAPK and NF-B. The ability of flagellin to delay neutrophil apoptosis could contribute to perpetuate the inflammation during infections with flagellated bacteria.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Human embryonic stem cells and derived contractile embryoid bodies are susceptible to Coxsakievirus B infection and respond to interferon Iβ treatment

We studied the susceptibility of human embryonic stem cells and derived contractile embryoid bodies from WAO9, HUES-5 and HUES-16 cell lines to Coxsackievirus B infection. After validating stem cell-like properties and cardiac phenotype, Coxsackievirus B receptors CAR and DAF, as well as type I interferon receptors were detected in all cell lines and differentiation stages studied. Real-time PCR analysis showed that CAR mRNA levels were 3.4-fold higher in undifferentiated cells, while DAF transcript levels were 2.78-fold more abundant in differentiated cultures (P5-106 plaque forming units (PFU)/ml, the highest titers were detected in undifferentiated cells. Cell viability detected by a colorimetric assay, showed inverse correlation with infectivity titers of cell culture supernatants. Treatment with 100 U of interferon Iβ significantly reduced viral replication and associated cell death during a 24-48 h observation period, as detected by reduced infectivity titers in the supernatants and increased cell viability by a colorimetric assay, respectively. We propose human embryonic stem cell and derived contractile embryoid bodies as a valid model to study cardiac Coxsackievirus B infection.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia MolecularFacultad de Ciencias Exacta

Plasma pharmacokinetics, tissue concentrations and urine elimination after cephalothin intravenous administration to cats under surgical conditions

Pharmacokinetic profile, tissue concentrations and urine elimination of cephalothin in cats under surgical conditions after a single intravenous dose (30 mg/kg) were studied. Initial plasma concentrations were high [Cp(0), 353.79±118.92 μg/mL], with fast and moderately wide distribution [T1⁄2(d) 0.14±0.10 h] [V(d(ss)) 0.19±0.03 L/kg] and rapid elimination (ClB, 0.16±0.03 L/h.kg; T1⁄2, 1.07±0.23 h; MRT, 1.16±0.21 h). Thirty to 60 minutes after intravenous administration, cephalothin tissue concentrations were in the range of 3.73 μg/g (testicle tissue) to 25.63 μg/g (uterus). Tissue/plasma concentrations rate was in a range of 0.04 (testicle) to 0.21 (uterus). Cephalothin urine elimination was 66.49% in the first 6 hours after administration. Cephalothin plasma concentrations remained above a MIC≥1 μg/mL up to 5.5 hours in all the studied cats. However, for MIC≥8 –μg/mL (MIC breakpoint) this time is reduced to 2.5 hours. This suggests that proper perioperative prophylactic use of cephalothin in cats requires a dose interval not longer than 2 hours.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Fluctuating nonlinear spring theory:Strength, deformability, and toughness of biological nanoparticles from theoretical reconstruction of force-deformation spectra

We developed the Fluctuating Nonlinear Spring (FNS) model to describe the dynamics of mechanical deformation of biological particles, such as virus capsids. The theory interprets the force-deformation spectra in terms of the “Hertzian stiffness” (non-linear regime of a particle's small-amplitude deformations), elastic constant (large-amplitude elastic deformations), and force range in which the particle's fracture occurs. The FNS theory enables one to quantify the particles’ elasticity (Young's moduli for Hertzian and bending deformations), and the limits of their strength (critical forces, fracture toughness) and deformability (critical deformations) as well as the probability distributions of these properties, and to calculate the free energy changes for the particle's Hertzian, elastic, and plastic deformations, and eventual fracture. We applied the FNS theory to describe the protein capsids of bacteriophage P22, Human Adenovirus, and Herpes Simplex virus characterized by deformations before fracture that did not exceed 10–19% of their size. These nanoshells are soft (~1–10-GPa elastic modulus), with low ~50–480-kPa toughness – a regime of material behavior that is not well understood, and with the strength increasing while toughness decreases with their size. The particles’ fracture is stochastic, with the average values of critical forces, critical deformations, and fracture toughness comparable with their standard deviations. The FNS theory predicts 0.7-MJ/mol free energy for P22 capsid maturation, and it could be extended to describe uniaxial deformation of cylindrical microtubules and ellipsoidal cellular organelles

White matter fiber density abnormalities in cognitively normal adults at risk for late-onset Alzheimer's disease

Tau accumulation affecting white matter tracts is an early neuropathological feature of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD). There is a need to ascertain methods for the detection of early LOAD features to help with disease prevention efforts. The microstructure of these tracts and anatomical brain connectivity can be assessed by analyzing diffusion MRI (dMRI) data. Considering that family history increases the risk of developing LOAD, we explored the microstructure of white matter through dMRI in 23 cognitively normal adults who are offspring of patients with Late-Onset Alzheimer's Disease (O-LOAD) and 22 control subjects (CS) without family history of AD. We also evaluated the relation of white matter microstructure metrics with cortical thickness, volumetry, in vivo amyloid deposition (with the help of PiB positron emission tomography -PiB-PET) and regional brain metabolism (as FDG-PET) measures. Finally we studied the association between cognitive performance and white matter microstructure metrics. O-LOAD exhibited lower fiber density and fractional anisotropy in the posterior portion of the corpus callosum and right fornix when compared to CS. Among O-LOAD, reduced fiber density was associated with lower amyloid deposition in the right hippocampus, and greater cortical thickness in the left precuneus, while higher mean diffusivity was related with greater cortical thickness of the right superior temporal gyrus. Additionally, compromised white matter microstructure was associated with poorer semantic fluency. In conclusion, white matter microstructure metrics may reveal early differences in O-LOAD by virtue of parental history of the disorder, when compared to CS without a family history of LOAD. We demonstrate that these differences are associated with lower fiber density in the posterior portion of the corpus callosum and the right fornix.Fil: Sanchez, Stella Maris. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Física; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Neurociencias - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Duarte Abritta, Barbara Micaela. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Neurociencias - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Abulafia, Carolina Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Física; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Neurociencias - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Neurociencias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas; ArgentinaFil: de Pino, Gabriela. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Escuela de Ciencia y Tecnología; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Neurociencias - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Bocaccio, Hernan. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Física; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Neurociencias - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Castro, Mariana Nair. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Salud Mental; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Neurociencias - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Sevlever, Gustavo. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Fonzo, Greg A.. University of Texas at Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Nemeroff, Charles B.. University of Texas at Austin; Estados UnidosFil: Gustafson, Deborah. State University of New York; Estados Unidos. University of Skövde; SueciaFil: Guinjoan, Salvador Martín. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas. Laboratorio de Neurofisiología; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Salud Mental; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Neurociencias - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Neurociencias; ArgentinaFil: Villarreal, Mirta Fabiana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Física; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia. Instituto de Neurociencias - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Neurociencias; Argentin

Abnormalities in amphibian populations inhabiting agroecosystems in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

The occurrence of abnormalities in amphibians has been reported in many populations, and its increase could be related to environmental pollution and habitat degradation. We evaluated the type and prevalence of abnormalities in 5 amphibian populations from agroecosystems with different degrees of agricultural disturbance (cultivated and reference areas). We detected 9 types of abnormalities, of which the most frequent were those occurring in limbs. The observed prevalence of abnormality in assessed populations from cultivated and reference areas was as follows: Rhinella fernandezae (37.1 and 10.2%, respectively), Leptodactylus latrans adults (28.1 and 9.2%) and juveniles (32.9 and 15.3%), and Hypsiboas pulchellus (11.6 and 2.8%). Scinax granulatus populations did not show abnormalities. Pseudis minuta, which was only detected in the reference area, exhibited a prevalence of 13.3%. For R. fernandezae, L. latrans, and H. pulchellus, generalized linear mixed models showed that prevalence of abnormalities was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in cultivated than in reference areas. L. latrans juveniles were more vulnerable to abnormalities than adults (p < 0.05). The presence of abnormalities in some species inhabiting different agroecosystems suggests that environmental stress factors might be responsible for their occurrence. While we detected pesticides (endosulfan, cypermethrin, and chlorpyrifos) and lower dissolved oxygen levels in ponds of the cultivated area, no data are currently available on how other factors, such as injuries from predators and parasite infections, vary by land use. Further research will be necessary to evaluate possible causes of abnormalities detected in the present study mainly in the context of factor interactions.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse