Investigation of the effects of Bipolar Radiofrequency Energy on the Structural Morphology of Dental Plaque.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of radiofrequency (RF) energy, applied through a power toothbrush, on the structural morphology of dental plaque and its bacteria components. Previous studies showed that a toothbrush powered by RF (ToothWave) effectively reduces extrinsic tooth stains, plaque, and calculus. However, the mechanism by which it reduces dental plaque deposits is not fully established. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multispecies plaques at sampling time points of 24, 48, and 72 hours were treated with the application of RF using ToothWave with the toothbrush bristles 1 mm above the plaque surface. Groups that underwent the same protocol but without RF treatment served as paired controls. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) was used to determine cell viability at each time point. Plaque morphology and bacteria ultrastructure were viewed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Data were analyzed statistically using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni post-tests. RESULTS: At each time, RF treatment significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the viable cells in plaque and caused a substantial disruption of plaque morphology, while the untreated plaque had intact morphology. Cells in treated plaques showed disrupted cell walls, cytoplasmic material, huge vacuoles, and heterogeneity in electron density, while these organelles remained intact in untreated plaques. CONCLUSION: The application of RF via a power toothbrush can disrupt plaque morphology and kill bacteria. These effects were enhanced by the combined application of RF and toothpaste.

An Unusual Finding of a Neurogenic Tumor of the Trachea: A Tracheal Schwannoma.

We report a rare case of a 57-year-old female patient with intraluminal tracheal obstruction caused by a benign schwannoma. She underwent successful bronchoscopic resection under general anesthesia, with no complications observed during the post-procedure follow-up. Tracheal schwannomas are exceedingly uncommon, and while conventional treatment involves surgical resection, bronchoscopic techniques, such as laser ablation, can be a valuable alternative, particularly for high-risk patients. Further studies are needed to explore the full potential of bronchoscopic interventions in managing tracheal schwannomas.

Decrease in the intensive care unit-acquired weakness with a multicomponent protocol implementation: A quasi-experimental clinical trial / Disminución de la debilidad muscular adquirida en una unidad de cuidados intensivos con la implementación de un protocolo multicomponente: ensayo clínico cuasiexperimental

Introduction: Intensive care unit-acquired weakness is a frequent complication that affects the prognosis of critical illness during hospital stay and after hospital discharge. Objectives: To determine if a multicomponent protocol of early active mobility involving adequate pain control, non-sedation, non-pharmacologic delirium prevention, cognitive stimulation, and family support, reduces intensive care unit-acquired weakness at the moment of discharge. Materials and methods: We carried out a non-randomized clinical trial in two mixed intensive care units in a high-complexity hospital, including patients over 14 years old with invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. We compared the intervention ­the multicomponent protocol­ during intensive care hospitalization versus the standard care. Results: We analyzed 82 patients in the intervention group and 106 in the control group. Muscle weakness acquired in the intensive care unit at the moment of discharge was less frequent in the intervention group (41.3% versus 78.9%, p<0.00001). The mobility score at intensive unit care discharge was better in the intervention group (median = 3.5 versus 2, p < 0.0138). There were no statistically significant differences in the invasive mechanical ventilation-free days at day 28 (18 versus 15 days, p<0.49), and neither in the mortality (18.2 versus 27.3%, p<0.167). Conclusion: A multi-component protocol of early active mobility significantly reduces intensive care unit-acquired muscle weakness at the moment of discharge.

Introducción: La debilidad adquirida en las unidades de cuidados intensivos es una complicación frecuente de los pacientes con enfermedades críticas, que puede tener un impacto negativo en su pronóstico a corto y a largo plazo. OBJETIVOS: Evaluar si la utilización de un protocolo multicomponente, que incluye movilidad activa temprana, manejo efectivo del dolor, reducción de la sedación, medidas no farmacológicas para prevenir el delirium, estimulación cognitiva y apoyo familiar, puede disminuir la incidencia de debilidad adquirida en las unidades de cuidados intensivos al momento del egreso del paciente. Materiales y métodos: Se trata de un ensayo clínico, no aleatorizado, en dos unidades de cuidados intensivos mixtas de un hospital de tercer nivel. Los participantes fueron pacientes mayores de 14 años con ventilación mecánica invasiva por más de 48 horas. Se aplicó como intervención un protocolo multicomponente y como control se utilizó el cuidado usual o estándar. RESULTADOS: Ingresaron 188 pacientes al estudio, 82 al grupo de intervención y 106 al grupo control. La tasa de debilidad adquirida en las unidades de cuidados intensivos al egreso de la unidad fue significativamente menor en el grupo de intervención (41,3 % versus 78,9 %, p<0,00001). La mediana del puntaje de movilidad al momento del alta de la unidad de cuidados intensivos fue mayor en el grupo de intervención (3,5 versus 2, p<0,0138). No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las medianas de días libres de respiración mecánica asistida, ni de unidad de cuidados intensivos al día 28, tampoco en la tasa de mortalidad general al egreso del hospital (18 versus 15 días, p<0,49; 18,2 % versus 27,3 %, p<0,167). CONCLUSIONES: Un protocolo multicomponente que incluía movilidad activa temprana tuvo un impacto significativo en la reducción de la debilidad adquirida en las unidades de cuidados intensivos al egreso en comparación con el cuidado estándar.

Disminución de la debilidad muscular adquirida en una unidad de cuidados intensivos con la implementación de un protocolo multicomponente: ensayo clínico cuasiexperimental

Introducción. La debilidad adquirida en las unidades de cuidados intensivos es una complicación frecuente de los pacientes con enfermedades críticas, que puede tener un impacto negativo en su pronóstico a corto y a largo plazo. Objetivos. Evaluar si la utilización de un protocolo multicomponente, que incluye movilidad activa temprana, manejo efectivo del dolor, reducción de la sedación, medidas no farmacológicas para prevenir el delirium, estimulación cognitiva y apoyo familiar, puede disminuir la incidencia de debilidad adquirida en las unidades de cuidados intensivos al momento del egreso del paciente. Materiales y métodos. Se trata de un ensayo clínico, no aleatorizado, en dos unidades de cuidados intensivos mixtas de un hospital de tercer nivel. Los participantes fueron pacientes mayores de 14 años con ventilación mecánica invasiva por más de 48 horas. Se aplicó como intervención un protocolo multicomponente y como control se utilizó el cuidado usual o estándar. Resultados. Ingresaron 188 pacientes al estudio, 82 al grupo de intervención y 106 al grupo control. La tasa de debilidad adquirida en las unidades de cuidados intensivos al egreso de la unidad fue significativamente menor en el grupo de intervención (41,3 % versus 78,9 %, p<0,00001). La mediana del puntaje de movilidad al momento del alta de la unidad de cuidados intensivos fue mayor en el grupo de intervención (3,5 versus 2, p<0,0138). No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las medianas de días libres de respiración mecánica asistida, ni de unidad de cuidados intensivos al día 28, tampoco en la tasa de mortalidad general al egreso del hospital (18 versus 15 días, p<0,49; 18,2 % versus 27,3 %, p<0,167). Conclusiones. Un protocolo multicomponente que incluía movilidad activa temprana tuvo un impacto significativo en la reducción de la debilidad adquirida en las unidades de cuidados intensivos al egreso en comparación con el cuidado estándar.

Introduction. Intensive care unit-acquired weakness is a frequent complication that affects the prognosis of critical illness during hospital stay and after hospital discharge. Objectives. To determine if a multicomponent protocol of early active mobility involving adequate pain control, non-sedation, non-pharmacologic delirium prevention, cognitive stimulation, and family support, reduces intensive care unit-acquired weakness at the moment of discharge. Materials and methods. We carried out a non-randomized clinical trial in two mixed intensive care units in a high-complexity hospital, including patients over 14 years old with invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours. We compared the intervention -the multicomponent protocol- during intensive care hospitalization versus the standard care. Results. We analyzed 82 patients in the intervention group and 106 in the control group. Muscle weakness acquired in the intensive care unit at the moment of discharge was less frequent in the intervention group (41.3% versus 78.9%, p<0.00001). The mobility score at intensive unit care discharge was better in the intervention group (median = 3.5 versus 2, p < 0.0138). There were no statistically significant differences in the invasive mechanical ventilation-free days at day 28 (18 versus 15 days, p<0.49), and neither in the mortality (18.2 versus 27.3%, p<0.167). Conclusion. A multi-component protocol of early active mobility significantly reduces intensive care unit-acquired muscle weakness at the moment of discharge.

Incorporation of an Intermediate Polyelectrolyte Layer for Improved Interfacial Polymerization on PAI Hollow Fiber Membranes.

In a single-step spinning process, we create a thin-walled, robust hollow fiber support made of Torlon® polyamide-imide featuring an intermediate polyethyleneimine (PEI) lumen layer to facilitate the integration and covalent attachment of a dense selective layer. Subsequently, interfacial polymerization of m-phenylenediamine and trimesoyl chloride forms a dense selective polyamide (PA) layer on the inside of the hollow fiber. The resulting thin-film composite hollow fiber membranes show high NaCl rejections of around 96% with a pure water permeability of 1.2 LMH/bar. The high success rate of fabricating the thin-film composite hollow fiber membrane proves our hypothesis of a supporting effect of the intermediate PEI layer on separation layer formation. This work marks a step towards the development of a robust method for the large-scale manufacturing of thin-film composite hollow fiber membranes for reverse osmosis and nanofiltration.

Relationships Among Motor, First, and Second Language Skills Among Bilingual Children With Language Disorders.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the significance and directions of the relationships among oral and manual fine motor skills and language abilities among Spanish-English bilingual children. If such relationships exist, this would support a shared biological influence on motor and language development. METHOD: Participants included 56 bilingual children, 24 of whom met criteria for developmental language disorder (DLD), recruited based on teacher concern for language and/or reading comprehension abilities. Students participated in a battery of baseline tests to determine motor, language, and cognitive abilities. Correlations among all variables were examined for direction of relationships. Regression models explored the predictive power of motor skills with Spanish and English language ability as the outcome measure. RESULTS: Oral fine motor abilities (diadochokinetic rate productions of /pa/ and /pata/) predicted Spanish (but not English) oral language abilities in the expected direction (i.e., faster rates were associated with better language). Manual fine motor performance on computer tapping tasks was not related to performance in either language. CONCLUSIONS: Oral fine motor abilities are related to language abilities in bilingual children, but only for the native language. We did not find reliable differences in oral and manual fine motor skills between groups of bilingual children with and without DLD. These findings support a limited role of shared biological influences on motor and language development.

Biodegradation of plastics by white-rot fungi: A review.

Plastic pollution is one of the most environmental problems in the last two centuries, because of their excessive usage and their rapidly increasing production, which overcome the ability of natural degradation. Moreover, this problem become an escalating environmental issue caused by inadequate disposal, ineffective or nonexistent waste collection methods, and a lack of appropriate measures to deal with the problem, such as incineration and landfilling. Consequently, plastic wastes have become so ubiquitous and have accumulated in the environment impacting ecosystems and wildlife. The above, enhances the urgent need to explore alternative approaches that can effectively reduce waste without causing harsh environmental consequences. For example, white-rot fungi are a promising alternative to deal with the problem. These fungi produce ligninolytic enzymes able to break down the molecular structures of plastics, making them more bioavailable and allowing their degradation process, thereby mitigating waste accumulation. Over the years, several research studies have focused on the utilization of white-rot fungi to degrade plastics. This review presents a summary of plastic degradation biochemistry by white-rot fungi and the function of their ligninolytic enzymes. It also includes a collection of different research studies involving white-rot fungi to degrade plastic, their enzymes, the techniques used and the obtained results. Also, this highlights the significance of pre-treatments and the study of plastic blends with natural fibers or metallic ions, which have shown higher levels of degradation. Finally, it raises the limitations of the biotechnological processes and the prospects for future studies.

The use of mazes over time in Spanish heritage speakers in the US.

Introduction: Mazes are linguistic disfluencies such as filled pauses, repetitions, or revisions of grammatical, phonological, or lexical aspects of words that do not contribute to the meaning of a sentence. Bilingual children are believed to increase the numbers of mazes in their native or heritage language, the minority language, as they become more proficient in the second language, the societal language. Mazes may increase over time in bilingual Spanish-speaking children as they become more proficient in English, the societal language in the United States. However, current studies have not been conducted longitudinally. Higher rates of mazes in the heritage language over time may be due to changes in language proficiency and differences in processing demands in the children as they use more complex language. Moreover, children with developmental language disorder (DLD) can also present higher rates of mazes than children with typical language. Heritage speakers, therefore, are at risk of being misdiagnosed with DLD due to high rates of mazes. Currently, we do not understand what the typical rates of mazes are as heritage speakers get older and become more proficient in the societal language. The current study examined the type and frequency of Spanish mazes longitudinally in a group of 22 Spanish heritage speakers with and without DLD and determined the changes over time. Methods: A total of 11 children with typical language development (TLD) and 11 with DLD participated in this 5-year longitudinal study. Using a wordless picture book, children completed a retelling task in Spanish during the spring of each academic year (PK to 3rd grade) as part of a 5-h testing battery. Narratives were transcribed and coded for types of mazes (filled pauses, repetitions, grammatical revisions, phonological revisions, and lexical revisions). Results and conclusion: The results of the study indicate that TLD children increased their overall percentage of mazed words and utterances. The opposite pattern was observed in the DLD group, which decreased their percentage of mazed words and utterances. In contrast, both groups demonstrated a decrease in repetitions in first grade and an increase in third grade. Additionally, the TLD and DLD children decreased in the percentage of fillers in first grade and then increased in the third grade. Results suggest that maze use is quite variable in heritage speakers and does not necessarily differentiate groups. Clinicians should not rely solely on mazes to determine ability status. In fact, high use of mazes can reflect typical language development.

Armed conflict exposure and mental health: examining the role of imperceptible violence.

Armed conflict exposure is associated with multiple mental health problems. However, more needs to be known about the differential effects of particular modalities of armed conflict violence and war methods on mental health. This study a) examined the modalities of violence employed in the Colombian armed conflict and b) assessed their association with mental health problems in armed conflict survivors. Using armed conflict data from the Colombian Armed Conflict Events Information System, we identified three violence modalities: armed confrontations, indiscriminate attacks, and selective violence. Descriptive statistics showed that selective violence generated most (86%) of the 333,219 victims of the Colombian armed conflict between 1996 and 2016. A subsample of armed conflict survivors (n = 551) from the 2015 Colombian Mental Health Survey was used to assess the association of each modality of violence with depression and anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and substance abuse. Adjusted Odds Ratios (aOR) (p < .05, 95% CI) showed that survivors of selective violence crimes such as forced disappearance of loved ones, kidnapping, sexual violence, and massacres were at increased risk of experiencing Common Mental Health Disorders, PTSD symptoms, and hazardous drinking. Identifying those at elevated risk for developing mental health problems and substance misuse among survivors of armed conflict may help to use limited resources more effectively.

Morphological and Elemental Evaluation of Investigative Mouthwashes to Repair Acid-Eroded Tooth Surface.

Purpose: Erosive tooth wear (ETW) is characterized by subsurface demineralization and tooth substance loss with crater formation. Remineralization of subsurface demineralization has previously been demonstrated; however, repair of the eroded surface is still under investigation. This study investigated the effectiveness of mouthwashes containing hydrolyzed wheat protein (HWP) in repairing ETW through promotion of organized crystal growth. Methods: Enamel Erosion was created on 210 enamel blocks by 10-minute demineralization in 1% Citric Acid (pH 3.5). Then, blocks were randomly assigned to seven groups (30/group); (A) 0.2% HWP, B) 1% HWP, (C) 2% HWP, (D) 1% HWP + 0.05% NaF, (E) Listerine™ mouthwash, (F) 0.02% NaF Crest™ Pro-health mouthwash and (G) artificial saliva (AS) only. Groups were subjected to daily pH-cycling consisting of one 5-minute erosive challenge with citric acid, three 1-minute mouthwash treatment periods, and then storage in AS for the rest of the time for 28 days. Treatment effects were assessed using SEM-EDX. Statistical analysis was by ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison. Results: In groups exposed to HWP-containing mouthwashes, there was growth of fiber-like crystals that increased in packing density in a dose-dependent manner (0.2%, 1%, 2%) on the eroded enamel surfaces, with increased calcium and phosphate contents on the treated surfaces. The non-HWP-containing groups had the eroded surfaces covered by structureless deposit layer firmly attached to the surface. Conclusion: Treating eroded enamel surface with HWP-containing mouthwash resulted in repair of the damaged tissue by formation of a protective layer of crystal deposits within and on the eroded enamel tissue.

Characterization of the dietary and sociodemographic profile of a group of Colombian vegetarian women in childbearing age during the period 2021-2022 / Caracterização do perfil alimentar e sociodemográfico de um grupo de mulheres vegetarianas colombianas em idade fértil no período 2021-2022

ABSTRACT Objective To determine the dietary and sociodemographic profile of vegetarian women of childbearing age (18 and 49 years) from the Valle de Aburrá Metropolitan Area in 2021-2022 Methods Through an online survey, 232 vegetarian and vegan women of childbearing age (18 to 49 years) from the Valle de Aburrá Metropolitan Area were surveyed regarding their sociodemographic characteristics, amount of time following this eating pattern and, type and reason for choosing vegetarianism, physical activity, use of nutritional supplements and frequency of consumption of certain food groups. Descriptive analyses, association of variables with the type of vegetarianism and multinomial regression models were performed. Results A total of 232 vegetarian women were surveyed: 60.8% were between 18 and 30 years of age and belonged mainly to the middle class. According to the type of diet, 68.1% used an ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet, 18.1% were vegan, 9.0% lacto-vegetarian and 4.8% ovo-vegetarian. Among the factors evaluated in their potential relationship with the different types of vegetarianism, it is highlighted that vitamin B12 supplementation presents a statistically significant association when using veganism as a comparison category. Conclusion According to the results, among young female adults the vegetarian eating style predominates, without significant differences as to the educational level, adequate levels of physical activity in most of the population; there was a higher prevalence of ovo-lacto-vegetarianism. Vitamin B12 supplementation was significantly higher in the vegan population, indicating that ovo-lacto and ovo-vegetarian populations may be at high risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.

RESUMO Objetivo O estudo objetivou determinar a associação entre o perfil sociodemográfico e alimentar de mulheres vegetarianas em idade fértil (18 a 49 anos) na região metropolitana de Valle de Aburrá (Colômbia) em 2021-2022. Métodos Por meio de um questionário online, 232 mulheres vegetarianas e veganas em idade fértil (18 a 49 anos) pertencentes à região metropolitana de Valle de Aburrá foram entrevistadas sobre suas características sociodemográficas, tempo, tipo e motivo da escolha do vegetarianismo, atividade física, consumo de suplementos nutricionais e frequência de consumo dos grupos dos alimentos. Foi realizada análise descritiva, associação das variáveis com o tipo de vegetarianismo e modelos de regressão multinomial. Resultados Foram entrevistadas 232 mulheres vegetarianas: 60,8% tinham entre 18 e 30 anos e pertencem principalmente à classe social média. De acordo com o tipo de dieta, 68,1% tinham uma dieta ovolactovegetariana; 18,1%, vegana; 9%, lactovegetariana; e 4,8%, ovovegetariana. Entre os fatores avaliados em sua possível relação com os diferentes tipos de vegetarianismo, destaca-se que a suplementação de vitamina B12 apresenta associação estatisticamente significativa ao ter o veganismo como categoria de comparação. Conclusão De acordo com os resultados, entre mulheres adultas jovens, predomina o estilo alimentar vegetariano, sem diferença significativa observada no nível de escolaridade e níveis adequados de atividade física na maioria da população; há também maior prevalência de ovolactovegetarianismo. A suplementação de vitamina B12 é significativamente maior na população vegana, indicando um alto risco de deficiência nas populações ovolacto e ovovegetarianas.

Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia using respondent-driven sampling (RDS).

OBJECTIVES: To determine factors associated with adherence to COVID-19 mitigation measures, related symptoms and testing, as well as pandemic-related income loss among Venezuelan refugee and migrant adults in urban and border areas of Colombia. DESIGN: Phone-based respondent-driven sampling SETTING: Bogotá and Norte de Santander, Colombia. PARTICIPANTS: 605 adult Venezuelan refugees and migrants residing in Bogotá (n=305) and Norte de Santander (n=300), who arrived in Colombia after 2014 and completed the survey in August and September 2020. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Full COVID-19 compliance (vs incomplete or no compliance), any COVID-19-related symptoms (vs none) and income loss due to isolation measures in Colombia (vs no income change or increase in income). RESULTS: Older age was associated with lower odds of compliance with physical distancing measures (0.94, 0.90-0.99; p=0.01) for those in Bogotá. Nearly 15% of refugees and migrants in both locations (81 of 605) experienced at least one symptom consistent with COVID-19. Having a health condition was associated with higher odds of experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms in Bogotá (4.00, 1.22-13.06; p=0.02) and Norte de Santander (6.99, 1.95-24.99; p=0.003). Around 8% in both locations (48 of 605) were tested for COVID-19. Around 90% in both locations (537 of 605) had trouble earning an income after the introduction of isolation measures, and the median reported monthly income decreased by half in Bogotá and by 30% in Norte de Santander. A higher level of education (3.46, 1.02-11.75; p=0.05) was associated with higher odds of income loss among participants in Norte de Santander. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate high compliance with COVID-19 mitigation measures, low testing rates and high pandemic-related income loss among Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Colombia. This study provides insights into a hard-to-reach refugee and migrant population in Colombia; additional study on the effects of the pandemic on hidden populations is warranted.

Síndrome del dedo azul: de la piel a lo multisistémico / Blue digit syndrome: from skin to a multisystemic etiology

El signo del dedo azul (SDA) es una condición poco frecuente causada principalmente por la oclusión de la vasculatura periférica. Clínicamente puede manifestarse como una coloración azulada o eritrocianótica en uno o varios dedos en ausencia de traumatismo y condiciones propias de congelación. Las etiologías son múltiples e incluyen obstrucción del flujo arterial, disminución del flujo venoso y alteración en la viscosidad sanguínea. La importancia de reconocer el signo como motivo de consulta radica en encaminar un diagnóstico temprano e instaurar un tratamiento que evite la evolución natural de la enfermedad hacia la necrosis, amputación o muerte del paciente. Proponemos un algoritmo diagnóstico para reconocer los elementos de la historia clínica que guíen la etiología y los paraclínicos disponibles desde el Servicio de Urgencias.

Blue finger sign (BFS) is a rare condition caused mainly by occlusion of peripheral vasculature. Clinically it may manifest as a bluish, or erythrocyanotic discoloration of one or more fingers in the absence of trauma and freezing conditions. The etiologies are multiple and include arterial flow obstruction, decreased venous flow, and altered blood viscosity. The importance of recognizing the sign as a reason for consultation lies in the early diagnosis and the establishment of a treatment that finally avoids the natural evolution of the disease towards necrosis and finally amputation or death of the patient. We propose a diagnostic algorithm based on recognizing elements of the clinical history that guide the etiology and paraclinical available from the Emergency Department.

[Nutritional assessment of cancer patients in palliative care is a key element in comprehensive care and survival]. / La evaluación nutricional del paciente oncológico en cuidado paliativo es una pieza clave en la atención integral y de la supervivencia.

Introduction: Introduction: palliative care has been linked to the management of patients without a curative option. The detection of malnutrition allows establishing nutritional intervention strategies to make an adequate use of resources and contribute to support measures. Objective: to describe changes in nutritional status and their impact on survival in patients with cancer disease under palliative care. Methods: descriptive observational study of a retrospective cohort. The patients had stage IV cancer disease, Karnofsky index ≤70 and a survival prognosis <6 months. A complete nutritional assessment was carried out and they were followed for one year. The nutritional status and its characteristics, the presence of cachexia and the median survival at one year were described. Results: of 256 patients at the beginning of the follow-up, 60,9 % had some degree of malnutrition, which increased to 71,9 % at the end of the follow-up. There was an increase in patients with a thin body mass index (BMI) (+7.6%, p = 0.04) and a decrease in patients with excess weight (overweight -3.6%, p = 0, 24; and obesity -2.6%, p = 0.17). Overall survival at 1 year was 60 % (95% CI: 53-65). Conclusion: malnutrition was frequent in patients under palliative care (60,9 %) and increased throughout the follow-up. Differences were observed between the complete nutritional diagnosis and BMI, which can lead to a misclassification of the diagnosis and a decrease in the effectiveness of cancer treatment.

Introducción: Introducción: los cuidados paliativos han estado ligados al manejo de pacientes sin opción curativa. La detección de la desnutrición permite establecer estrategias de intervención nutricional que promueva el adecuado uso de los recursos y aporte a las medidas de apoyo en el tratamiento médico. Objetivo: describir cambios en el estado nutricional y su impacto sobre la supervivencia en pacientes con enfermedad oncológica bajo cuidado paliativo. Métodos: cohorte observacional retrospectiva. Los pacientes presentaban enfermedad oncológica estadio IV, índice de Karnofsky ≤70 y un pronóstico de supervivencia <6 meses. Se realizó evaluación nutricional por criterios GLIM y seguimiento por un año. Se identificó el estado nutricional y se describieron sus características, la presencia de los estadios de caquexia y la mediana de supervivencia a un año. Resultados: de 256 pacientes al inicio de la intervención, el 84,0 % presentaba algún grado de desnutrición, ésta cifra incrementó a 87,0 % al finalizar el seguimiento. Se observó un aumento en el número de pacientes con índice de masa corporal (IMC) delgado (+7,6 %, p=0,04) y una disminución en el número de pacientes con exceso de peso (sobrepeso -3,6 %, p=0,24; y obesidad -2,6 %, p=0,17). La supervivencia global a 1 año fue del 60 % (IC95%:53-66). Conclusión: la desnutrición fue muy frecuente en pacientes bajo cuidado paliativo y aumentó a lo largo del seguimiento. Se observaron diferencias entre el diagnóstico nutricional y el IMC, lo cual puede conllevar a una mala clasificación del diagnóstico y a una disminución en la efectividad del tratamiento oncológico.

Influencia del etiquetado nutricional en la decisión de compra de estudiantes universitarios / Influence of Nutritional Labeling on the Purchase Decision of University Students

Resumen: Antecedentes: el etiquetado nutricional permite a los consumidores tomar mejores decisiones sobre alimentación, lo que contribuye a combatir las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles. Objetivo: determinar cómo influye la interpretación del etiquetado nutricional, presente en los alimentos industrializados en Colombia, en la decisión de compra de estudiantes de pregrado del área de la salud de la Universidad CES. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo en 76 estudiantes de quinto semestre de programas de pregrado del área de la salud. Resultados: la frecuencia en el uso del etiquetado nutricional se asoció con el sexo (p = 0,036), el tipo de programa (p < 0,001) y el conocimiento de la función del etiquetado nutricional (p = 0,000). La buena interpretación del etiquetado nutricional no condicionó la frecuencia en su uso (p = 0,095); además, el nivel de interpretación del etiquetado nutricional no se asoció con el sexo ni con el tipo de programa de pregrado. Finalmente, se encontró que la decisión de compra estaba influenciada por la costumbre (p = 0,018) y la publicidad (p = 0,008) y no por la interpretación del etiquetado nutricional. Conclusiones: aunque el uso del etiquetado nutricional es más frecuente entre las mujeres, los estudiantes de Nutrición y Dietética y entre quienes conocen la función del etiquetado nutricional, la decisión de compra no está influenciada por su interpretación.

Abstract: Background: Nutritional labeling enables consumers to make better food choices, helping to fight chronic non-communicable diseases. Objective: To determine the influence of the interpretation of the nutritional labeling, present in industrialized foods in Colombia, on the purchase decision of undergraduate students in the health area of the CES University. Material and Methods: A descriptive observational study was carried out in a population of 76 fifth-semester students enrolled in the undergraduate programs of the health area. Results: The frequency of nutrition labeling use was associated with sex (p=0.036), the type of undergraduate program (p<0.001), and knowledge of the function of the nutrition labeling (p=0.000). A good interpretation of the nutrition labeling does not condition the frequency of its use (p=0,095). Additionally, the level of interpretation of the nutritional labeling was not associated with sex, nor the type of undergraduate program. Finally, it was found that the purchase decision was influenced by custom (p=0.018) and advertising (p=0,008), and not by the interpretation of the nutrition labeling. Conclusions: Although the use of nutrition labeling is more frequent among women, among students of Nutrition and Dietetics, and among those who are aware of the role of nutrition labeling, the purchase decision is not influenced by its interpretation.

Honeycomb: a template for reproducible psychophysiological tasks for clinic, laboratory, and home use

Objective: To improve the ability of psychiatry researchers to build, deploy, maintain, reproduce, and share their own psychophysiological tasks. Psychophysiological tasks are a useful tool for studying human behavior driven by mental processes such as cognitive control, reward evaluation, and learning. Neural mechanisms during behavioral tasks are often studied via simultaneous electrophysiological recordings. Popular online platforms such as Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and Prolific enable deployment of tasks to numerous participants simultaneously. However, there is currently no task-creation framework available for flexibly deploying tasks both online and during simultaneous electrophysiology. Methods: We developed a task creation template, termed Honeycomb, that standardizes best practices for building jsPsych-based tasks. Honeycomb offers continuous deployment configurations for seamless transition between use in research settings and at home. Further, we have curated a public library, termed BeeHive, of ready-to-use tasks. Results: We demonstrate the benefits of using Honeycomb tasks with a participant in an ongoing study of deep brain stimulation for obsessive compulsive disorder, who completed repeated tasks both in the clinic and at home. Conclusion: Honeycomb enables researchers to deploy tasks online, in clinic, and at home in more ecologically valid environments and during concurrent electrophysiology.

Measuring English Narrative Microstructure in Preschool Dual Language Learners.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to examine the change in specific English microstructure features according to language ability in preschool Spanish-English dual language learners. METHOD: We collected English narratives from 22 Spanish-English dual language learners with typical language development (TD) and 22 Spanish-English dual language learners with developmental language disorder (DLD) at the beginning and end of their first year in Head Start. Children came from Spanish-speaking homes and were exposed to English and Spanish in their preschool classrooms. We analyzed children's use of English microstructure across time using the Narrative Assessment Protocol. RESULTS: Both groups showed improvement in overall English microstructure use, although children with TD made greater gains than children with DLD. Phrase structure (noun phrases, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositional phrases) increased in both groups, but more so in children with TD than with DLD. Sentence structure (compound, complex, negative, and interrogative sentences) increased in both groups. Verb use, noun use (Tier 2 nouns and nouns marked with plural and possessive endings), and modifiers (adverbs and adjectives) neither changed across time nor differed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Spanish-English dual language learners who attend Head Start and come from Spanish-speaking homes, regardless of language ability, may not readily acquire verbs, nouns, and modifiers during their first year of formal English exposure, suggesting that they would benefit from explicit instruction in these areas. Preschool Spanish-English dual language learners with DLD may make less progress than their peers with TD in phrase structure use, indicating that explicit instruction in this microstructure feature may be beneficial for children with DLD.

Fontan Geometry and Hemodynamics Are Associated With Quality of Life in Adolescents and Young Adults.

BACKGROUND: Despite favorable short-term outcomes, Fontan palliation is associated with comorbidities and diminished quality of life (QOL) in the years after completion. We hypothesized that poor Fontan hemodynamics and ventricular function are associated with worse QOL. METHODS: This was a single-center study of Fontan survivors aged more than 12 years. Subjects completed a cardiac magnetic resonance scan and QOL questionnaire. Cardiac magnetic resonance-derived variables included Fontan geometry, and hemodynamics. Computational fluid dynamics simulations quantified power loss, pressure drop, and total cavopulmonary connection resistance across the Fontan. Quality of life was assessed by completion of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Longitudinal and cross-sectional comparisons were made between cardiac magnetic resonance and computational fluid dynamics parameters with patient-reported QOL. RESULTS: We studied 77 Fontan patients, median age 19.7 years (interquartile range, 17.1 to 23.6), median time from Fontan completion 16 years (interquartile range, 13 to 20). Longitudinal data were available for 48 patients; median time between cardiac magnetic resonance and QOL was 8.1 years (interquartile range, 7 to 9.4). Median patient-reported Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory total score was 80 (interquartile range, 67.4 to 88). Greater power loss and smaller left pulmonary artery diameter at baseline were associated with worse QOL at follow-up. Greater pressure drop was associated with worse QOL at the same time point. CONCLUSIONS: For Fontan survivors, measures of computational fluid dynamics hemodynamics and geometry are associated with worse QOL. Interventional strategies targeted at optimizing the Fontan may improve QOL.

A Reading Comprehension Intervention for Dual Language Learners With Weak Language and Reading Skills.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy of a reading comprehension intervention with dual language learners (DLLs) with documented English reading comprehension difficulties, half of whom had a developmental language disorder. The intervention EMBRACE (Enhanced Moved by Reading to Accelerate Comprehension in English) required children to move images on an iPad to both improve and demonstrate understanding of multichapter stories. Additionally, we determined the characteristics of students who most benefit from the intervention. METHOD: Fifty-six participants in second to fifth grades were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (a) Spanish support intervention or (b) Spanish support control. Outcome measures included performance on comprehension questions related to the intervention texts, two transfer texts with no strategy instruction, and the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests-Fourth Edition Reading Comprehension subtest administered pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: Multilevel hierarchical linear models were used to account for nesting of question within child within classroom. For this group of DLLs, the overall intervention effect was not statistically significant. However, the intervention was most effective with narrative (vs. expository) texts and easy (vs. more difficult) texts. DLLs with lower initial English reading abilities (decoding and comprehension) benefited more from the intervention than those with stronger reading skills. CONCLUSIONS: The EMBRACE intervention has promise for use with DLLs with low baseline decoding and comprehension skills, particularly in early elementary grades. Future research should aim to match text difficulty with child skills when introducing new comprehension strategies to maximize benefit from the intervention.

Honeycomb: a template for reproducible psychophysiological tasks for clinic, laboratory, and home use.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the ability of psychiatry researchers to build, deploy, maintain, reproduce, and share their own psychophysiological tasks. Psychophysiological tasks are a useful tool for studying human behavior driven by mental processes such as cognitive control, reward evaluation, and learning. Neural mechanisms during behavioral tasks are often studied via simultaneous electrophysiological recordings. Popular online platforms such as Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and Prolific enable deployment of tasks to numerous participants simultaneously. However, there is currently no task-creation framework available for flexibly deploying tasks both online and during simultaneous electrophysiology. METHODS: We developed a task creation template, termed Honeycomb, that standardizes best practices for building jsPsych-based tasks. Honeycomb offers continuous deployment configurations for seamless transition between use in research settings and at home. Further, we have curated a public library, termed BeeHive, of ready-to-use tasks. RESULTS: We demonstrate the benefits of using Honeycomb tasks with a participant in an ongoing study of deep brain stimulation for obsessive compulsive disorder, who completed repeated tasks both in the clinic and at home. CONCLUSION: Honeycomb enables researchers to deploy tasks online, in clinic, and at home in more ecologically valid environments and during concurrent electrophysiology.