Spanish Cultural Adaptation and Inter-Rater Reliability of the Test of Playfulness

[Abstract] Aim. To adapt the Test of Playfulness (ToP) to the Spanish context (culturally and linguistically) and analyze the inter-rater reliability of the translated version. Methods. Following a specific methodology for cultural adaptation, direct and back translations were carried out, together with cognitive interviews with pediatric occupational therapists, to analyze the comprehensibility of the translated version. The resulting version was analyzed by a linguistic expert to determine its grammatical and linguistic adequacy. Finally, inter-rater reliability was analyzed in a sample of typically developing children aged between 4 years old and 6 years and 11 months (n = 12). Results. Direct and back translation phases showed a good conceptual equivalence with the original version. The cognitive interviews enabled the identification of difficulties surrounding the understanding and the terminology used in several items. The linguistic expert and the research team revision ensured that final grammatical and conceptual improvements were made. Inter-rater reliability analysis showed an almost perfect degree of agreement (0.82 ≤ κ ≤ 1.00; p < 0.001), as well as stability and a strong positive linear correlation (0.81; p < 0.001). Conclusions. The translated version of the ToP fits the Spanish context and can be used in the clinical setting of pediatric occupational therapy in Spain

Influence of Ideational Praxis on the Development of Play and Adaptive Behavior of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Comparative Analysis

[Abstract] Background: Traditionally, assessment of praxis skills in children with ASD has focused on the evaluation of aspects related to the planning and execution of actions. This study aimed to evaluate the ideational abilities of children with ASD and analyze possible relationships with the development of play and adaptive behaviors. Methods: 40 children between 4 to 6 years (TD = 20; ASD = 20) were evaluated with the Test of Ideational Praxis, the Revised Knox Preschool Play Scale, and the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System II. Results: Statistically significant relationships were obtained between ideational praxis and play skills development (r = 0.649; p = 0.01), adaptive leisure behavior (r = 0.338; p = 0.04) and social adaptive behavior (r = 0.319; p = 0.04). Results of multiple linear regression models found a linear relationship between ideational praxis and play development (p = 0.005) and adaptive leisure skills (p = 0.004), but not with social interaction skills (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Objective evaluation with a specific ideational praxis assessment facilitates understanding of the ideational abilities and widens understanding of praxis skills and their impact on play and adaptive behaviors in children with ASD

Is the association between health-related quality of life and fatigue mediated by depression in patients with multiple sclerosis? A Spanish cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES: To determine the mediating effects of depression on health-related quality of life and fatigue in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Tertiary urban hospital. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and eight patients (54% women) with MS participated in this study. OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic and clinical data (weight, height, medication and neurological impairment), fatigue (Fatigue Impact Scale), depression (Beck Depression Inventory-II) and health-related quality of life (Short-Form Health Survey 36) were collected. RESULTS: Fatigue was significantly associated with bodily pain, physical function, mental health and depression. Depression was associated with bodily pain and mental health. The path analysis found direct effects from physical function, bodily pain and depression to fatigue (all, P<0.01). The path model analysis revealed that depression exerted a mediator effect from bodily pain to fatigue (B=-0.04, P<0.01), and from mental health to fatigue (B=-0.16, P<0.01). The amount of fatigue explained by all predictors in the path model was 37%. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that depression mediates the relationship between some health-related quality of life domains and fatigue in people with MS. Future longitudinal studies focusing on proper management of depressive symptoms in individuals with MS will help determine the clinical implications of these finding

Balance deficiencies in women with fibromyalgia assessed using computerised dynamic posturography: a cross-sectional study in Spain

Objectives Our aims were (1) to compare the sensory organisation of balance control and balance strategies between women with fibromyalgia (FM) and healthy women; (2) to investigate which sensory component, that is, vestibular, visual or somato-sensory, is the most affected in FM and (3) to determine the associations between the functional independence measure (FIM) and balance responses in FM. Design Cross-sectional observational study. Setting Urban regional hospital and university (Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain). Participants Twenty women with FM and 20 matched healthy women. Primary/secondary outcome measures The sensory organisation test (SOT) was used to determine postural sway and balance during six different conditions with subjects in a standing position. The FIM was used to determine the level of functional independence in daily life activities (ADL). Between-group differences were analysed with analysis of covariance, and the Spearman's test was used for correlations. Results Significant differences between-groups and between-conditions were found for all SOT conditions (all, p<0.001): women with FM showed lower scores being the vestibular score the most affected. Different correlations between SOT conditions and some specific ADL were observed in the FM group: bathing activity and balance condition 6 (rs=0.541; p<0.001), bed transfers activity and conditions 2 (rs=0.491; p<0.001) and 3 (rs=0.510; p<0.001), positioning strategy six and dressing the upper (rs=0.530; p<0.001) or lower (rs=0.562; p<0.001) body, and toileting (rs=0.521; p<0.001): the greater the loss of balance, the greater the interference on some daily life activities. Conclusions Women with FM exhibited balance deficiencies and used different strategies for maintaining their balance in standing, which was associated with a negative impact on functional independence

'Being normal' and self-identity: the experience of volunteering in individuals with severe mental disorders-a qualitative study

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to explore the views and experiences of a group of people with severe mental disorders (SMDs) who performed volunteer services. DESIGN: A qualitative phenomenological study. SETTING: Community public mental health services of the Community of Madrid and the province of Barcelona (Spain). PARTICIPANTS: Purposive sampling techniques were used between September 2016 and April 2017. The inclusion criteria were: individuals aged 18-65 years who participated in volunteer activities during the performance of this study, based on the regulations of volunteer services in Spain and the community of Madrid; a diagnosis of non-organic psychotic disorder (F20.x, F21, F22, F24, F25, F28, F29, F31.x, F32.3 and F33) according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision; an evolution of ?2 years; and a moderate to severe dysfunction of global functioning with scores ?70 in the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. Ultimately, 23 people with SMD participated in the study with a mean age of 47 years (SD 8.23). METHODS: Data were collected through in-depth interviews and researcher field notes. A thematic analysis was performed following appropriate guidelines for qualitative research. RESULTS: Two main themes emerged to describe the experience of participating in volunteer activities: (1) rebuilding self-identity, based on the participant's experience of volunteering, of acquiring a new role and a new perceived identity that made them feel valued and respected; and (2) being a so-called normal person with a 'normal' life, based on recovering a sense of normality, unmarked by the illness, thanks to daily responsibilities and occupations. CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative research offers insight into the way people with SMD experience volunteering and may help to improve understanding of the underlying motivations that drive these individuals. These findings may be applied to improve guidance during their process of recovery and subsequent inclusion into society

Exoesqueleto actuado por SMA para movilización de la muñeca

[Resumen] La mano juega un papel fundamental en la relación del ser humano con su entorno, siendo las tareas de manipulación de enorme importancia en la vida diaria. Pero la mano es una extremidad frágil, un gran número de enfermedades y trastornos musculo-esqueléticos y neurológicos derivan en la pérdida total o parcial de la movilidad de esta extremidad. De aquí la importancia de las terapias de rehabilitación dirigidas a recuperar y/o mantener su movilidad. En este artículo se presenta el diseño preliminar de un dispositivo robótico para la rehabilitación de la muñeca con 2 g.d.l., con actuadores basados en fibras de SMA (Shape Memory Alloy). Gracias a este sistema de actuación el exoesqueleto es extremadamente ligero, de actuación silenciosa y con una estructura muy simple. El número de actuadores y el diseño preliminar se han calculado a partir de la simulación del comportamiento biomecánico del cuerpo humano con un tipo específico de pacientes.Los autores expresan su agradecimiento por los fondos recibidos a través de los proyectos RoboHealth (DPI2013-47944-C4-3-R) y RoboCity2030-III-CM project (Robótica aplicada a la mejora de la calidad de vida de los ciudadanos. Fase III; S2013/MIT-2748), financiado por Programas de Actividades I+D en la Comunidad de Madrid y cofinanciado por Fondos Estructurales de la EUComunidad de Madrid; S2013/MIT-2748https://doi.org/10.17979/spudc.978849749808

Diseño de un exoesqueleto por segmentos para evaluación y tratamiento del miembro superior

Póster presentado en: 54 Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Rehabilitación y Medicina Física (SERMEF 2016), Málaga, 11-14 de Mayo de 2016Se trata del primer exoesqueleto para codo actuado con fibras de SMA. La carencia de motores permite reducir drásticamente el peso y conseguir un funcionamiento silencioso, características que permiten aumentar la confortabilidad del sistema. Frente a otros exoesqueletos actualmente implementados en servicios especializados de rehabilitación, de elevado peso y no portátil, es factible el diseño de equipos de bajo coste guiados mediante sistemas informáticos.Los autores quieren agradecer la financiación recibida dentro del proyecto de investigación español RoboHealth (DPI2013-47944-C4-3-R) que llevó a estos resultados

Exoesqueleto actuado por SMA para movilización de la muñeca

La mano juega un papel fundamental en la relación del ser humano con su entorno, siendo las tareas de manipulación de enorme importancia en la vida diaria. Pero la mano es una extremidad frágil, un gran número de enfermedades y trastornos musculo-esqueléticos y neurológicos derivan en la pérdida total o parcial de la movilidad de esta extremidad. De aquí la importancia de las terapias de rehabilitación dirigidas a recuperar y/o mantener su movilidad. En este artículo se presenta el diseño preliminar de un dispositivo robótico para la rehabilitación de la muñeca con 2 g.d.l., con actuadores basados en fibras de SMA (Shape Memory Alloy). Gracias a este sistema de actuación el exoesqueleto es extremadamente ligero, de actuación silenciosa y con una estructura muy simple. El número de actuadores y el diseño preliminar se han calculado a partir de la simulación del comportamiento biomecánico del cuerpo humano con un tipo específico de pacientes. Exoesqueleto actuado por SMA para movilización de la muñeca (PDF Download Available).Los autores expresan su agradecimiento por los fondos recibidos a través de los proyectos Robo-Health (DPI2013-47944-C4-3-R) y RoboCity2030-III-CM project (Robótica aplicada a la mejora de la calidad de vida de los ciudadanos. Fase III; S2013/MIT-2748), financiado por Programas de Actividades I+D en la Comunidad de Madrid y cofinanciado por Fondos Estructurales de la EU

Exploring the Contribution of the Transporter AGT1/rBAT in Cystinuria Progression: Insights from Mouse Models and a Retrospective Cohort Study

More than 20 years have passed since the identification of SLC3A1 and SLC7A9 as causative genes for cystinuria. However, cystinuria patients exhibit significant variability in the age of lithiasis onset, recurrence, and response to treatment, suggesting the presence of modulatory factors influencing cystinuria severity. In 2016, a second renal cystine transporter, AGT1, encoded by the SLC7A13 gene, was discovered. Although it was discarded as a causative gene for cystinuria, its possible effect as a modulatory gene remains unexplored. Thus, we analyzed its function in mouse models of cystinuria, screened the SLC7A13 gene in 34 patients with different lithiasic phenotypes, and functionally characterized the identified variants. Mice results showed that AGT1/rBAT may have a protective role against cystine lithiasis. In addition, among the four missense variants detected in patients, two exhibited a 25% impairment in AGT1/rBAT transport. However, no correlation between SLC7A13 genotypes and lithiasis phenotypes was observed in patients, probably because these variants were found in heterozygous states. In conclusion, our results, consistent with a previous study, suggest that AGT1/rBAT does not have a relevant effect on cystinuria patients, although an impact in patients carrying homozygous pathogenic variants cannot be discarded

Can the Cytokine Profile According to ABO Blood Groups Be Related to Worse Outcome in COVID-19 Patients? Yes, They Can

Producción CientíficaSevere status of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is extremely associated to cytokine release. Moreover, it has been suggested that blood group is also associated with the prevalence and severity of this disease. However, the relationship between the cytokine profile and blood group remains unclear in COVID-19 patients. In this sense, we prospectively recruited 108 COVID-19 patients between March and April 2020 and divided according to ABO blood group. For the analysis of 45 cytokines, plasma samples were collected in the time of admission to hospital ward or intensive care unit and at the sixth day after hospital admission. The results show that there was a risk of more than two times lower of mechanical ventilation or death in patients with blood group O (log rank: p = 0.042). At first time, all statistically significant cytokine levels, except from hepatocyte growth factor, were higher in O blood group patients meanwhile the second time showed a significant drop, between 20% and 40%. In contrast, A/B/AB group presented a maintenance of cytokine levels during time. Hepatocyte growth factor showed a significant association with intubation or mortality risk in non-O blood group patients (OR: 4.229, 95% CI (2.064–8.665), p < 0.001) and also was the only one bad prognosis biomarker in O blood group patients (OR: 8.852, 95% CI (1.540–50.878), p = 0.015). Therefore, higher cytokine levels in O blood group are associated with a better outcome than A/B/AB group in COVID-19 patients.Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant COV20/00491)Junta de Castilla y León (grant 18IGOF