Prevention of Violence Against Children: A Qualitative Exploration of Colombian Policymakers', Programme Facilitators' and Caregivers' Perceptions.

OBJECTIVE: Violence against children (VAC) is a global public health and human rights issue that can lead to long-lasting negative consequences for individual and societal outcomes. While extensive evidence indicates that parenting programmes might be effective in preventing VAC, there are several unsolved questions on how to ensure interventions are acceptable, feasible, effective and sustainable, particularly in low- and- middle-income countries (LMICs). METHOD: In this study, we report findings from a qualitative examination of policymakers' (N = 10), early childhood and parenting programme facilitators' (N = 20) and parents' and other caregivers' (N = 38) perspectives on VAC prevention to examine the implementation ecosystem of parenting programmes in Colombia, including contextual risk and protection factors, features of existing programmes, and stakeholders' needs. We conducted interviews and focus groups using a semistructured format, along with a thematic approach, to analyse the data from each group of participants (i.e., policymakers, facilitators and caregivers) independently. RESULTS: Overall, the data revealed the critical role of intersecting and interacting factors at the micro (e.g., caregivers' capabilities and beliefs), meso (e.g., programme content and delivery approaches) and macro (e.g., policymakers' vision and existing infrastructure) levels in exacerbating risks/imposing barriers versus protecting/promoting VAC prevention. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence on the implementation ecosystem of prevention programmes to inform the design of novel strategies and programmes aimed at preventing violence and promoting families' well-being and young children's development.

Older adults' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative systematic literature review.

OBJECTIVES: Relatively little is known about the lived experiences of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. We systematically review the international literature to understand the lived experiences of older adult's experiences during the pandemic. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: This study uses a meta-ethnographical approach to investigate the included studies. The analyses were undertaken with constructivist grounded theory. RESULTS: Thirty-two studies met the inclusion criteria and only five papers were of low quality. Most, but not all studies, were from the global north. We identified three themes: desired and challenged wellbeing; coping and adaptation; and discrimination and intersectionality. Overall, the studies' findings were varied and reflected different times during the pandemic. Studies reported the impact of mass media messaging and its mostly negative impact on older adults. Many studies highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants' social connectivity and well-being including missing the proximity of loved ones and in consequence experienced an increase in anxiety, feeling of depression, or loneliness. However, many studies reported how participants adapted to the change of lifestyle including new ways of communication, and social distancing. Some studies focused on discrimination and the experiences of sexual and gender minority and ethnic minority participants. Studies found that the pandemic impacted the participants' well-being including suicidal risk behaviour, friendship loss, and increased mental health issues. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted and impacted older adults' well-being worldwide. Despite the cultural and socio-economic differences many commonalities were found. Studies described the impact of mass media reporting, social connectivity, impact of confinement on well-being, coping, and on discrimination. The authors suggest that these findings need to be acknowledged for future pandemic strategies. Additionally, policy-making processes need to include older adults to address their needs. PROSPERO record [CRD42022331714], (Derrer-Merk et al., Older adults' lived experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review, 2022).

Adolescent substance use and its association with risk and protective factors. An exploratory analysis of the large-scale school survey of Comunidades Que se Cuidan, Colombia. / Uso de sustancias en adolescentes y su asociación con factores de riesgo y protección. Un análisis exploratorio de la encuesta escolar a gran escala de Comunidades Que se Cuidan, Colombia.

Communities That Care (CTC) is a prevention system aimed at reducing antisocial behaviors in adolescents. In Colombia, this system has been developed and adapted under the name of Comunidades Que se Cuidan (CQC). Successful implementation of CQC depends on valid associations between measured risk and protective factors (RPFs) for substance use and substance use outcomes. This study assessed these associations using large-scale, school-based surveys of Colombian youth. A cross-sectional analysis was performed. Data from 23 communities in Colombia were collected between 2012 and 2016 from young people (N = 50,946) aged 10 to 19 years. Dichotomous alcohol, cigarette, cannabis, and other illegal drug use outcomes were assessed for past 30-day, past-year, and lifetime use. Logistic regression analyses, adjusting for age, gender, and age by RPF, and gender by RPF interactions, were performed for each RPF. All the associations of the 14 RPF evaluated were statistically significant (p<,001). Regarding observed effect sizes, 3.0% were considered very small (0.70 ≥ OR ≤ 1.43), 51.7% small (0.70 ≥ OR ≥ 1.43), 42.6% medium (0.40 ≥ OR ≥ 2.48) and 7.1% large (0.23 ≥ OR ≥ 4.27). Significant main effects for age and gender, and their interactions with RPFs were found for most RPFs. Findings from this study demonstrate the viability of RPFs for adolescent substance use as focal points for intervention planning, development, and evaluation of community-based prevention systems like CQC that rely on epidemiologic data for local decision making.

Communities That Care (CTC) es un sistema preventivo que busca disminuir comportamientos problemáticos en adolescentes. En Colombia, este sistema ha sido adaptado bajo el nombre de Comunidades Que se Cuidan (CQC). Este estudio validó las asociaciones entre los factores de riesgo y protección (FRP) para el uso de sustancias psicoactivas (SPA) medidos por CQC y las prevalencias de consumo de estas en adolescentes colombianos. Entre 2012 y 2016, se aplicó una encuesta a gran escala en jóvenes de 10 a 19 años (N = 50,946) pertenecientes a 23 comunidades de Colombia. Se analizó de forma transversal la asociación entre los FRP con el consumo de alcohol, cigarrillo, marihuana y otras drogas ilegales en los últimos 30 días, año y alguna vez en la vida. Se realizaron regresiones logísticas, ajustando por edad, sexo y sus interacciones con cada FRP. Todas las asociaciones de los 14 FRP evaluados fueron significativas (p<,001). De los efectos observados, 3,0% se consideraron efectos muy pequeños (0,70 ≤ OR ≤ 1,43), 51,7% pequeños (0,70 ≥ OR ≥ 1,43), 42,6% medianos (0,40 ≥ OR ≥ 2,48) y 7,1% grandes (0,23 ≥ OR ≥ 4,27). Se encontraron asociaciones significativas para edad, sexo y sus interacciones con los FRP para la mayoría de FRP. Los hallazgos demuestran la validez de los FRP estudiados para la planificación, el desarrollo y la evaluación futura de sistemas preventivos comunitarios como CQC, los cuales se basan en datos epidemiológicos para la toma de decisiones locales.

Implementation and adaptation in Colombia of the Communities That Care.

For more than two years, Corporación Nuevos Rumbos (Colombia) has been carrying out, in eight Colombian communities, a preventive system called Comunidades Que se Cuidan (CQC), an adaptation of Communities That Care (CTC), created at the University of Washington (Seattle), developed for more than 25 years in the United States of America and implemented in eight countries of America, Oceania, and Europe. The system is based on the public health approach, and the social development strategy for community empowerment. The core idea is to teach communities how to make decisions based on data regarding drugs and alcohol consumption and the identification of protective and risk factors, on the basis of the original survey validated in Colombia: these will allow communities to choose the best preventive interventions, tailored for each of them according to their needs. This paper describes the process of implementation of CQC in Colombia, its differences with CTC, the creation of Colombian cut-points, the main difficulties and how these were solved. CQC seems to be a preventive system with a wide potential applicability in other Latin American countries.

La Corporación Nuevos Rumbos (Colombia) viene implementando hace más de dos años en ocho comunidades de Colombia, el sistema preventivo Comunidades Que se Cuidan (CQC), adaptación de Communities That Care (CTC), creado en la Universidad de Washington en Seattle, que ha sido desarrollado por más de 25 años en los Estados Unidos y en ocho países de América, Oceanía y Europa. El sistema busca que, a través del empoderamiento comunitario y empleando el enfoque de la Salud Pública y en la estrategia de desarrollo social, las comunidades tomen las mejores decisiones basadas en los datos de prevalencias de consumo y en la identificación de los factores protectores y de riesgo (basada en la utilización de la encuesta original validada en Colombia) y puedan escoger las estrategias de intervención probadas que más se ajusten a sus necesidades. Este documento describe el proceso de implementación en Colombia, sus diferencias con CTC, la creación de puntos de corte propios para el país, las principales limitaciones en el proceso de adaptación y cómo se abordaron. CQC aparece como un sistema preventivo que puede tener amplia aplicabilidad en otros países de América Latina.

Genetic Variants Associated with Suicide Risk in the Mexican Population: A Systematic Literature Review.

Suicide is defined as the action of harming oneself with the intention of dying. It is estimated that worldwide, one person dies by suicide every 40 s, making it a major health problem. Studies in families have suggested that suicide has a genetic component, so the search for genetic variants associated with suicidal behavior could be useful as potential biomarkers to identify people at risk of suicide. In Mexico, some studies of gene variants related to neurotransmission and other important pathways have been carried out and potential association of variants located in the following genes has been suggested: SLC6A4, SAT-1, TPH-2, ANKK1, GSHR, SCARA50, RGS10, STK33, COMT, and FKBP5. This systematic review shows the genetic studies conducted on the Mexican population. This article contributes by compiling the existing information on genetic variants and genes associated with suicidal behavior, in the future could be used as potential biomarkers to identify people at risk of suicide.

The Relationship Between CYP46A1 Polymorphism and Suicide Risk: A Preliminary Investigation.

Suicide is a global public health issue, with a particularly high incidence in individuals suffering from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The role of cholesterol in suicide risk remains controversial, prompting investigations into genetic markers that may be implicated. This study examines the association between CYP46A1 polymorphisms, specifically SNPs rs754203 and rs4900442, and suicide risk in a Mexican MDD patient cohort. Our study involved 188 unrelated suicide death victims, 126 MDD patients, and 144 non-suicidal controls. Genotypic and allelic frequencies were assessed using the Real Time-polymerase chain reaction method, and associations with suicide risk were evaluated using chi-square tests. The study revealed significant differences in allelic and genotypic frequencies in rs754203 SNP between suicide death and controls. The CYP46A1 rs754203 genotype G/G was significantly linked with suicide, and the G allele was associated with a higher risk of suicide (OR = 1.370, 95% CI = 1.002-1.873). However, we did not observe any significant differences in genotype distribution or allele frequencies of CYP46A1 rs4900442. Our study suggests that carriers of the CYP46A1 rs754203 G allele (A/G + G/G) may play a role in suicidal behavior, especially in males. Our findings support that the CYP46A1 gene may be involved in susceptibility to suicide, which has not been investigated previously. These results underscore the importance of further research in different populations to elucidate the genetic underpinnings of the role of CYP46A1 in suicide risk and to develop targeted interventions for at-risk populations.

A Scoping Review of the Influence of Mindfulness on Men's Sexual Activity.

Mindfulness practice and mindfulness-based interventions are widely known, especially for women's sexuality. However, it is currently unknown how this practice affects the experience of male sexuality, possibly due to the existence of pharmacological treatments that are usually the first choice of treatment for men. The objectives of this study are to explore the influence of mindfulness on different components of men's sexuality from a scoping review of relevant scientific articles existing in the literature. A literature search from 2010 to 2022 was carried out in the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Dialnet, SciELO Citation Index, and Redalyc. Out of the 238 studies, 12 that met the defined selection criteria were selected. The analysis of these studies seems to indicate that the practice of mindfulness favours different variables of male sexuality, such as satisfaction and sexual functioning or genital self-image. Mindfulness-based interventions represent a valuable and promising contribution. No adverse effects were detected from the review of scientific articles considered in this work. Nevertheless, more randomized studies with active control groups are necessary to establish the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions in sex therapy for men.

[Effectiveness of anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies in the preventive treatment of migraine: A prospective study of 63 patients]. / Efectividad de anticuerpos monoclonales anti-PRGC en el tratamiento preventivo de la migraña: estudio prospectivo de 63 pacientes.

INTRODUCTION: Calcitonine Gen-Related Peptide (CGRP) established a revolution in migraine pathophysiology knowledge and has led to the development of new drugs specifically targeting this disease. METHODS: We present a prospective study in which 63 episodic and chronic migraine patients have been treated with anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies describing their efficacy, security and relapses after their interruption. Response predictors have been analyzed such they can help us to create a better treatment plan. RESULTS: Average age was 48.3 ± 11.81 years old, 84.1% of them being women. The average was of 15.59 migraine days per month (MDM). 63.5% of all patients suffered chronic migraine. The initial dose of Erenumab in all patient was 70 mg subcutaneous. This was increased to 140 mg in 47.6% of the patients. An MDM reduction between 49.85% and 59.53% was obtained within three to twelve months from the start of treatment. Constipation was present in 17.5% of the patients and 4.8% suffered injection site reaction. The treatment was changed to Galcanezumab in 17.9% of the patients. After interrupting the treatment, 23 patients relapsed with a good response on reintroduction of the treatment. It was not possible to establish a clear response predictor, however a statistically significant increase in the number of days of improvement was observed with more MDM at baseline level (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies are effective, safe, and well tolerated drugs. We have observed that their discontinuation, in some cases can lead to frequent and early relapses so we strongly recommend to extend the treatment in those patients with a higher MDM.

Apolipoproteins and Suicide: A Potential Psychiatric Biomarker.

Every year around 800,000 people commit suicide, this represents one death every 40 s. In the search for possible biological biomarkers associated with suicide and/or psychiatric disorders, serum cholesterol levels have been extensively explored. Several studies indicate that cholesterol and associated proteins, especially apolipoproteins (Apos), may play an important role in the diagnosis, prognosis, and susceptibility of suicidal behavior. Here, we describe the current knowledge and findings in the relationship between apolipoproteins and suicide.HIGHLIGHTSThis is the first systematic review of Apos in relation to suicidal behavior.Dysregulations of Apos expression has been observed in patients with suicidal behavior.Apos seem to be associated with cognitive dysfunction in suicide attempters.ApoE is a potential biomarker regarding suicidal behavior.

[Mindfulness in the sexual health and psychological well-being of professionals and caregivers of people at risk of social exclusion]. / Mindfulness en la salud sexual y bienestar psicológico de profesionales y cuidadores/as de personas en riesgo de exclusión social.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of the study was to explore the effect of the Mindfulness-based program (MBSR) on the sexual health and psychological well-being of professionals and volunteers of Doctors of the World who care for people at risk of social exclusion. METHOD: The entire population of a NGO in southern Spain was chosen because it receives a large number of vulnerable people. Quasi-experimental study with pre and post-test measurements. The intervention lasted 8weeks plus an introductory session, with sessions of 2.5h. Seven instruments were applied before and after the intervention: (a) Mindfulness Scale (MAAS); (b) Body Connection Scale; (c) Compassion Questionnaire (SCS); (d) Ryff's psychological well-being scale; (e) Hurlbert's Fantastic Sexuality Index; (f) Wilson's Sexual Fantasy Scale, and (g) Hudson's Sexual Satisfaction Index (ISS). RESULTS: Most of the post-test scores were better compared to the pre-test. On the MAAS scale, the score was higher in the post-test than in the pretest (Wilcoxon=-2668, P<.05) and, in the ISS, the score was also higher in the post-test than in the pre-test (Wilcoxon=-2.201, P<.05). However, in the Bodily Dissociation subscale, the score was lower (Wilcoxon=-2.670, P<.05). All effect sizes were moderate to high. CONCLUSIONS: The application of the MBSR protocol can increase the degree of sexual satisfaction, decrease body dissociation, promote mental health and self-compassion in people who treat vulnerable people, which may have an impact on a higher quality of approach to them.

Expression of Oxytocin/Neurophysin I and Oxytocinase in the Equine Conceptus from Day 8 to Day 21 Post-Ovulation.

Leucyl and cystinyl aminopeptidase (LNPEP/oxytocinase) is an enzyme that metabolizes oxytocin in serum and tissues. The presence of oxytocin/neurophysin I (OXT), oxytocin and LNPEP and their relationship to other genes is unknown in the equine conceptus. Our objective was to characterize gene expression of LNPEP and OXT on D8, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 21 conceptuses in relationship to other genes. Immunohistochemistry, western blot and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) were used for identification of oxytocin and LNPEP in D15, 16 and 18 conceptuses. LNPEP was increased at D15 compared to D10, was immunolocalized in the equine trophectoderm and endoderm, and protein was confirmed by LC-MS/MS. Maximal abundance of OXT was at D21, and lowest on D12 and D14, but no protein was identified. OXTR abundance was highest on D14 and D21. LNPEP was correlated with PTGFR and PTGES on D12 and D14-D15, and high expression of PTGES, PTGS2 was found on D14, D15 and D21; PTGFR was found on D8 and D12-21. LNPEP may have a role in prostaglandin regulation and conceptus fixation by decreasing the availability of oxytocin. Further investigation on the role embryonic LNPEP during pregnancy is warranted.

The role of damage associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs) and permeability of the blood-brain barrier in depression and neuroinflammation.

Depression is a heterogeneous mental disorder characterized by feelings of sadness and loss of interest that render the subject unable to handle basic daily activities such as sleeping, eating, or working. Neurobiological traits leading to depression include genetic background, early life abuse, life stressors, and systemic and central inflammatory profiles. Several clinical and preclinical reports documented that depression shows an increase in pro-inflammatory markers such as interleukin (IL-)1ß, IL-6, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interferon (IFN)-γ; and a decrease in anti-inflammatory IL-4, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß species. Inflammatory activation may trigger and maintain depression. Dynamic crosstalk between the peripheral immune system and the central nervous system (CNS) such as activated endothelial cells, monocytes, monocyte-derived dendritic cells, macrophages, T cells, and microglia has been proposed as a leading cause of neuroinflammation. Notably, pro-inflammatory cytokines disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and serotonergic, noradrenergic, dopaminergic, and glutamatergic neurotransmission. While still under investigation, peripheral cytokines can engage brain pathways and affect the central synthesis of HPA hormones and neurotransmitters through several mechanisms such as activation of the vagus nerve, increasing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), altered cytokines transport systems, and engaging toll-like receptors (TLRs) by pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). However, physiological mechanisms that favor time-dependent central inflammation before or during illness are not totally understood. This review will provide preclinical and clinical evidence of DAMPs and the BBB permeability as contributors to depression and neuroinflammation. We will also discuss pharmacologic approaches that could potentially modulate DAMPs and BBB permeability for future interventions against major depression.

Is Protecting Older Adults from COVID-19 Ageism? A Comparative Cross-cultural Constructive Grounded Theory from the United Kingdom and Colombia.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted people's lives all over the world, requiring health and safety measures intended to stop the virus from spreading. This study explores whether an unintended consequence of these measures is a new form of ageism. We explore, using qualitative methods, the experiences of older adults living through the pandemic in the United Kingdom and Colombia. Although there were some small differences between countries, for the most part, the experiences were similar. We found that older adults reported that they were seen as a homogenous group and experienced both benevolent and hostile ageism and a loss of autonomy as a consequence of COVID-19 protection measures. Participants from both countries expressed anger and frustration, and increased anxiety, and felt that their individuality was ignored. We recommend that policy-makers, the media, and wider society consider the impact of such health and safety measures on older adults in preparing for future pandemics and health challenges.

Mindfulness in Sexual Activity, Sexual Satisfaction and Erotic Fantasies in a Non-Clinical Sample.

The goal of this study is to better understand the relation between the practice of Mindfulness and the sexual activity, sexual satisfaction and erotic fantasies of Spanish-speaking participants. This research focuses on the comparison between people who practice Mindfulness versus naïve people, and explores the practice of Mindfulness and its relation with the following variables about sexuality: body awareness and bodily dissociation, personal sexual satisfaction, partner and relationship-related satisfaction, desire, subjective sexual arousal, genital arousal, orgasm, pain, attitudes towards sexual fantasies and types of sexual fantasies. The sample consisted of 106 selected adults, 32 men and 74 women, who completed six measures on an online survey platform: (a) Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), (b) Scale of Body Connection (SBC), (c) New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS), (d) Scale of Sexual Activity in Women (SSA-W) and Men (SSA-M), (e) Hurlbert Index of Sexual Fantasy (HISF), (f) Wilson's Sex Fantasy Questionnaire. In the MAAS, Body Awareness subscale (SBC), NSSS, SSA-W and SSA-M, HISF and intimate fantasies subscale (Wilson's questionnaire), people in the Mindfulness condition showed higher scores and these differences were statistically significant. These results may have relevant implications in the sexuality of clinical and non-clinical samples.

A Comparison of Cut Points for Measuring Risk Factors for Adolescent Substance Use and Antisocial Behaviors in the U.S. and Colombia.

As the identification and targeting of salient risk factors for adolescent substance use become more widely used globally, an essential question arises as to whether U.S.-based cut points in the distributions of these risk factors that identify "high" risk can be used validly in other countries as well. This study examined proportions of youth at "high" risk using different empirically derived cut points in the distributions of 18 measured risk factors. Data were obtained from large-scale samples of adolescents in Colombia and the United States. Results indicated that significant (p < 0.05) differences in the proportions of "high" risk youth were found in 38.9% of risk factors for 6th graders, 61.1% for 8th graders, and 66.6% for 10th graders. Colombian-based cut points for determining the proportion of Colombian youth at "high" risk were preferable to U.S.-based cut points in almost all comparisons that exhibited a significant difference. Our findings suggest that observed differences were related to the type of risk factor (e.g., drug specific vs. non-drug specific). Findings from this study demonstrate the need for collecting large-scale national data on risk factors for adolescent substance use and developing country-specific cut points based on the distributions of these measures to avoid misidentification of youth at "high" risk.

Effects of the Glucosinolate Sinigrin in Combination With a Noniodine Supplemented Diet on Serum Iodine and Thyroid Hormone Concentrations in Nonpregnant Mares.

Exposure to plants containing glucosinolates (GSLs) affects thyroid function in many species, in horses is implicated in the birth of foals with congenital hypothyroidism. The present study was performed to determine the effect of feeding a GSL (sinigrin) in combination with a low-iodine diet for 12 weeks on thyroid hormones and serum iodine concentrations in nonpregnant mares. Nineteen mares aged 2-14 years were divided into control (n = 6), low (20 mmol/day) (n = 7) and high GSL (35 mmol/day) (n = 6) groups. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation tests and serum iodine measurements were performed at 0 and 12 weeks. Total triiodothyronine (TT3), total thyroxine (TT4), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations were measured at the baseline and in post-TRH samples. The post-TRH value minus the basal value (Delta Δ) and fold change (FC) were calculated for TSH, TT3, and TT4. Data were analyzed at P < .05. Highlights included Delta Δ and FC TT4 and TT3 concentrations having a group and week interaction (P < .001) with week 12 control mares having higher values than mares in week 12 low and high GSL groups. TT4 FC values had a group (P < .001) and group by week interaction (P < .001) with week 12 control concentrations higher (P < .006) than all groups. Iodine concentrations decreased (P < .002) over time in GSL mares. In conclusion, feeding mares a low-iodine diet with 20 and 35 mmol sinigrin/day resulted in lower serum iodine concentrations.

Self-audits as alternatives to travel-audits for improving data quality in the Caribbean, Central and South America network for HIV epidemiology.

INTRODUCTION: Audits play a critical role in maintaining the integrity of observational cohort data. While previous work has validated the audit process, sending trained auditors to sites ("travel-audits") can be costly. We investigate the efficacy of training sites to conduct "self-audits." METHODS: In 2017, eight research groups in the Caribbean, Central, and South America network for HIV Epidemiology each audited a subset of their patient records randomly selected by the data coordinating center at Vanderbilt. Designated investigators at each site compared abstracted research data to the original clinical source documents and captured audit findings electronically. Additionally, two Vanderbilt investigators performed on-site travel-audits at three randomly selected sites (one adult and two pediatric) in late summer 2017. RESULTS: Self- and travel-auditors, respectively, reported that 93% and 92% of 8919 data entries, captured across 28 unique clinical variables on 65 patients, were entered correctly. Across all entries, 8409 (94%) received the same assessment from self- and travel-auditors (7988 correct and 421 incorrect). Of 421 entries mutually assessed as "incorrect," 304 (82%) were corrected by both self- and travel-auditors and 250 of these (72%) received the same corrections. Reason for changing antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen, ART end date, viral load value, CD4%, and HIV diagnosis date had the most mismatched corrections. CONCLUSIONS: With similar overall error rates, findings suggest that data audits conducted by trained local investigators could provide an alternative to on-site audits by external auditors to ensure continued data quality. However, discrepancies observed between corrections illustrate challenges in determining correct values even with audits.

Characterization of Fungal Endophytes Isolated from the Metal Hyperaccumulator Plant Vachellia farnesiana Growing in Mine Tailings.

Heavy metal pollution has become an environmental and health problem worldwide. With the aim of finding novel strategies for metal bioremediation, endophytic fungi from the heavy metal hyperaccumulator plant Vachellia farnesiana were isolated and characterized. The plants were growing in mine tailings, rich in Zn, Pb, and Cu. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses indicated that the fungal strains belonged to Neocosmospora and Aspergillus genera. The Neocosmospora isolate belongs to the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) that groups phytopathogen species. However, in this case the plants from which it was isolated did not show any signs of disease. Both fungal strains were able to remove significant amounts of heavy metals from liquid cultures, either in a mixture of the three metals or each metal in a single culture. In response to lead exposure, the Neocosmospora sp. strain secreted specific novel phenolic compounds other than anthraquinones or naphtoquinones, which have been described in similar situations. The Aspergillus sp. dropped the pH in the medium. High-performance liquid chromatography determinations indicated that this strain secreted mainly glutamic acid in response to lead, a novel mechanism, which has not been reported elsewhere. Malic and succinic acids were also produced in response to lead exposure. Possibly, glutamic and succinic acids (synthesized in the Krebs cycle) can be used to cope with metal toxicity due to the plant providing photosynthates to the fungus. These fungi showed the potential to be used for bioremediation or restoration of metal-polluted environments.

Evidencias de validez del Inventario NEO-FFI en adultos mayores colombianos / Validity evidence of the Inventory NEO-FFI in Colombian older adults

Resumen El uso de instrumentos para evaluar la personalidad es una práctica común en psicología, de ahí que su validación y adaptación a diferentes grupos poblacionales sea fundamental. El objetivo de la presente investigación fue evaluar la validez de constructo del NEO Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) en un grupo de 617 personas adultas mayores en Bogotá, Colombia. Se realizaron análisis factoriales confirmatorios, así como un análisis bifactorial. Los resultados mostraron que el inventario no logra un ajuste adecuado en ninguno de los modelos de primer orden, ni en el modelo bifactorial, como tampoco en el análisis de los factores por separado. Solamente, presentó un ajuste adecuado en los modelos AFC modificados que evalúan cada factor como individual, a excepción del factor Amabilidad. Precisamente, los ítems que tuvieron bajas cargas factoriales son aquellos ítems negativos o reversos, y, dado que la comprensión de este tipo de ítems requiere de mejores habilidades lingüísticas, se infiere que el bajo nivel educativo de las personas que conformaron la muestra pudo interferir en el logro de un ajuste adecuado de los modelos; en consecuencia, se recomienda estudiar este aspecto en futuras investigaciones.

Abstract The use of instruments to assess personality is a common practice in psychology, therefore its validation and adaptation to different population groups is fundamental. The aim of the current research was to evaluate the construct validity of the NEO-FFI Inventory in a group of 617 elderly people in Bogotá, Colombia. First ordered confirmatory factor analyses and bi-factor models were performed. The results showed that the Inventory does not achieve an adequate adjustment in any of the first-order models, nor in the bi-factorial model, nor in the analysis of the factors separately. Only in the modified CFA models that evaluate each factor individually, with the exception of Agreeableness, an adequate fit was achieved. The items registering low factor loadings are especially those negative or reverse items, and since the understanding this type of items requires better linguistic skills, it is inferred that the low educational level of the sample could interfere in achieving an adequate adjustment of the models. Consequently, it is recommended to study this aspect in future research.