Moral Disengagement in Adolescent Offenders: Its Relationship with Antisocial Behavior and Its Presence in Offenders of the Law and School Norms.

This study focuses on understanding the relationship between moral disengagement mechanisms in adolescents who engage in law-breaking activities and those who violate school norms. To do so, we administered the Mechanisms of Moral Disengagement Scale (MMDS), which evaluates moral justification, euphemistic labeling, advantageous comparison, deflection of responsibility, diffusion of responsibility, distortion of consequences, dehumanization, and attribution of blame, to 366 adolescents (60.1% males (n = 220) and 39.9% females (n = 146)). Our results confirmed the hypothesis that law-breaking adolescents presented a higher degree of moral disengagement than those adolescents who violate school norms. Additionally, we found that adolescents who violated school norms displayed significantly higher levels of dehumanization than the controls, and law-breaking adolescents obtained the highest score in this domain. Our findings allow us to suggest that the presence of the dehumanization mechanism in adolescents who violate school norms could be used as an early indicator of the emergence of antisocial behaviors, since this was the only component of moral disengagement that significantly differentiated this group from the controls in the study.

Adaptación al español del Ideal Partner and Relationship Scale (IPRS): evidencias sobre propiedades psicométricas

Introducción: Los estudios de preferencias de pareja han crecido ampliamente alrededor del mundo en los últimos años; no obstante, las pruebas psicológicas utilizadas en esta área no han sido adecuadamente adaptadas a contextos hispanohablantes. En esta investigación se adaptó al español una de las pruebas más frecuentemente usadas en el campo de la selección sexual humana: Ideal Partner and Relationship Scale (IPRS). Método: Se implementaron los siguientes procedimientos: (1) Traducción por pares, (2) Evaluación por expertos, (3) Aplicación inicial/validación (149 participantes), (4) Análisis de propiedades psicométricas, (5) Análisis confirmatorios con una muestra independiente (247 participantes). Resultados: Los análisis de las propiedades psicométricas de la prueba IPRS (español), indican que el instrumento conserva una estabilidad similar a la versión inglesa. En la estructura interna se conserva una solución factorial de cinco dimensiones de preferencia: atractivo físico, calidez y confianza, estatus y recursos, inteligencia y habilidades sociales. Además, los indicadores de confiabilidad demuestran una consistencia interna y estabilidad temporal sobresaliente. Por último, los patrones de preferencia de los participantes revelan similitudes con lo reportado en investigaciones transculturales semejantes. Conclusiones: Las sobresalientes propiedades referidas a la evidencia reportada en este estudio, llevan a considerar que la adaptación de la prueba IPRS al español fue exitosa, como resultado del seguimiento de protocolos estrictos de validación.

Introduction: Mate preference studies have been growing worldwide in recent years; however, the psychological tests used in this area have not been adequately adapted to Spanish-speaking contexts. This study aims to adapt to Spanish one of the most frequently used tests in human sexual selection: Ideal Partner and Relationship Scale (IPRS). Method: The adaptation included the following procedures: (1) Translation by peers; (2) Evaluation by experts; (3) Initial application / Validation (149 participants); (4) Analysis of psychometric properties; and (5) Confirmatory analysis from an independent sample (247 participants). Results: We proceeded to create the final version of the test in Spanish through the information collected. The analysis of the psychometric properties of the IPRS test indicates that the instrument retains stability and consistency similar to the original English version. This new version conserved the factorial structure, which includes five preference dimensions (physical attractiveness, warmth and trust, status and resources, intelligence, and social skills). Similarly, reliability indicators demonstrate good internal and temporal stability. Finally, the participant's preference patterns are equivalent to what has been reported in cross-cultural mate research. Conclusions: The good properties of the collected evidence led to the conclusion that the adaptation of the Spanish IPRS test was successful, as a result of strict validation protocols.

Integración y consolidación disciplinar en la biología y la psicología. Una perspectiva comparada / Disciplinary Integration and consolidation in Biology and Psychology. A comparative Approach

Resumen En su proceso de definición y consolidación, las ciencias de la vida se enfrentaron con la dicotomía sobre si la mejor manera de aproximarse a su objeto de estudio era seguir el modelo de la física -considerado el modelo científico por excelencia- o desligarse de este. La manera en la que este debate se decantó en cada disciplina tuvo consecuencias en el desarrollo posterior y en los alcances epistemológicos de las nuevas ciencias en consolidación. La comparación de la manera en la que se dio este debate en la biología y la psicología resulta relevante para entender la trayectoria de estas ciencias y sus posibilidades de integración disciplinar: la biología consiguió la unificación disciplinar integrándose alrededor de la teoría evolutiva, mientras que la psicología no consiguió exitosamente esa integración. Esto fue en parte por el intento de conectarse con las ciencias naturales a través de la fisiología, lo que, además, supuso un obstáculo para la comprensión e integración del principio unificador de la biología.

Abstract During the XIX century, different sciences were structured or consolidated in their modern form. Until then, biology, earth sciences, social sciences, and even physics, chemistry, and mathematics did not exist as autonomous disciplines as we know them today. In that century, the notion of "science" was utterly separated from natural philosophy, theology, and other forms of traditional knowledge. The consolidation of scientific disciplines was characterized by deep debates on the possibilities and methods of knowing the natural and human worlds. In their process of consolidation, all life sciences faced a dichotomy related to the best way to approach their object of study: should they follow the model of physics -considered the scientific model par excellence- or not take that model into account? This dichotomy provoked intense debates in all disciplines. The way this debate was resolved had lasting consequences in the subsequent development and the epistemological scope of the new sciences in consolidation. Comparing how this debate took place in biology and psychology is relevant to understanding the disciplinary trajectory followed by each science and the possibilities of integration in each field of knowledge. There is a generalized assumption in the history of psychology that the experimental paradigm adopted extensively in psychology at the end of the XIX century would have placed the discipline under the scientific status of natural sciences. However, in biology and psychology, there was a tension between a physiological-experimental paradigm and a historical-evolutionary paradigm. Understanding those debates within biology, and the comprehension of how biology achieved its disciplinary integration, shows why the experimental connection of psychology with physiology did not mean an explicit connection with the whole of the natural sciences. Disciplinary integration in biology was possible because of adopting the evolutionary principle under a historic paradigm instead of a physical-chemical one. That is why the experimental connection of psychology with physiology eventually became an obstacle for psychology in adopting the unifying principle of biology, the Theory of Evolution, as their basis for disciplinary integration. The first part of this article describes how two branches emerged in the process of consolidation of biology: physiological-experimental and historical-evolutionary. Each one had a different approach to its object of study, but both were necessary to form what is now modern biology. The second part focuses on unifying biology as a field of scientific knowledge, bringing the two branches of this science together under the evolutionary paradigm. The third part outlines the central debates in the consolidation of psychology as a scientific discipline at the end of the XIX century and the beginning of the 20th century. It introduces implications of how these debates on knowledge in psychology developed, as opposed to how it happened in biology. Finally, the difficulties of psychology connecting with the theory of evolution are addressed, as are the impossibility of integrating the different branches of the discipline.

Mother-infant relationships and infant independence in wild Geoffroy's spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi).

We studied mother-infant relationships and infant independence in wild Geoffroy's spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) during the first 3 years of infant life. We used 15-min focal sampling to collect data on mother-infant interactions and infant behavior in 12 mother-infant dyads in the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico. Data were analyzed using generalized linear mixed models. Newborns spent almost all their time in proximity and in contact with their mothers. The time infants spent within one-arm reach from the mother decreased with age, and the infant was primarily responsible for maintaining proximity. The time infants spent farther than 8 m from the mother, in independent locomotion, exploration, and proximity with group members other than the mother increased with age. We identified two developmental periods associated with critical milestones of infant independence: the first at 8 to 10 months when independent locomotion and exploration began, and the proportion of time in proximity with group members other than the mother increased and the second at 19 to 21 months when the mother's rejection started, maternal carrying ended and mother's help, in the form of bridging canopy gaps, peaked. Compared with other primate species of similar size, Ateles geoffroyi have an extended dependence period, which could be related to the cognitive and developmental challenges imposed by their socioecological characteristics. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).

Long-term Mate Selection in Latin America: An Analysis of Personal Ads / Selección de Parejas a Largo Plazo en Latinoamérica: Un Análisis de Anuncios Personales

Abstract The present work aims to study which factors are relevant in long-term mate selection from a lonely-hearts personal advertisement sample of Spanish-speaking consumers of Cosmopolitan Magazine, Colombian Edition. We analyzed One thousand four hundred sixty-eight publications (made by 770 men and 698 women) using a coding system based on the theories of sexual strategies, genetic quality indicators, and the preferences classification used in personal ads studies. Initially, we found trends as a greater predilection for psychological attributes and a greater demand to require more traits than offering them. In addition, the cross-cultural pattern demonstrated that men prefer women's physical characteristics, while women require status/resources by men. Finally, men tended to be more selective in the age range of 36-45 years, while women's selectivity decreased with age. The results replicate many of the patterns found in investigations related to human sexual selection, also bring enlightenment about new preference dimensions to study in the future.

Resumen La presente investigación examina las preferencias de individuos que buscan emparejarse a largo plazo, por medio del análisis de anuncios de búsqueda de parejas, publicados por una muestra de usuarios hispanohablantes de la edición Colombiana de la Revista Cosmopolitan. Se revisaron 1468 publicaciones (de 770 hombres y 698 mujeres) utilizando un sistema de codificación construido a partir de la teoria de estrategias sexuales, indicadores de calidad genética y clasificaciones usadas en estudios de anuncios personales. Los usuarios reportaron una mayor atención por atributos psicológicos, además de una alta exigencia. Adicionalmente, los hombres solicitaron más características fisicas de las mujeres, y las mujeres más indicadores asociados al estatus y recursos de los hombres. Los hombres se mostraron más selectivos entre los 36 y los 45 anos, mientras que la selectividad de las mujeres disminuyó con la edad. Los resultados replican patrones encontrados en las investigaciones sobre emparejamiento sexual humano, y dan luces sobre nuevos dominios de preferencia para examinar en el futuro.

Effects of early social experience on sexual behavior in Japanese quail (Coturnix Japonica).

Experiences during immature phases of development, especially social experiences with individuals of the opposite sex, have implications for adult sexual behavior. Nevertheless, whether and how early experience can affect sexual learning in adulthood is still unclear. We present two experiments exploring how early experience impacts adult sexual Pavlovian conditioning in male Japanese quail. In Experiment 1, 25 male Japanese quail divided into three groups received different stimuli presentations at an early age, namely paired presentations of a conditioned stimulus (CS; a terry cloth model) and an unconditioned stimulus (US; an adult female quail), unpaired presentations of CS and US, and no exposure to stimuli. When they reached sexual maturity, we performed a sexual Pavlovian conditioning procedure with all groups using the same stimuli and tested their conditional response. In Experiment 2, we replicated the first experiment but with younger subjects and additional control variables. In the first experiment, we observed shorter approaching latencies to the CS and longer times near the CS in subjects with paired CS-US presentations compared to unpaired stimuli presentations. This was not replicated in Experiment 2. In both experiments, we found shorter approaching latencies and longer times near the CS in the groups with early exposure to the stimuli (paired or unpaired) compared to the group without this experience. Our findings indicate that the early presentations of stimuli at early stages of life can influence males' (speed of) sexual Pavlovian conditioning during adulthood.

Psychological science and COVID-19: An agenda for social action.

This report summarizes what is known about the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and proposes ways for psychology organizations to engage in addressing pandemic-related challenges. A stress and coping framework is used to describe key factors that account for mental health difficulties resulting from the stress of pandemics including the pandemic course, political leadership and public response, cumulative stressors, risk and protective factors, and coping strategies. Psychology organizations could do much to provide help particularly to vulnerable healthcare and frontline workers, the elderly, and the socially isolated. They could offer clinical services and design prevention programs, train non-professional community workers to provide mental health first aid, assist NGO's and political leaders, and translate basic research on psychological factors that influence acceptance of public health measures. The pandemic occurs at a time of advanced connectivity that provides an opportunity for (a) scientific information exchange, (b) alleviation of distress of social isolation, but also (c) infodemic, unprecedented spread of hoaxes and online incitements to non-compliance with preventative measures. Psychology's role is not limited to addressing mental health needs but also includes promoting adjustment to changes in the economy, education and employment, and developing effective communication strategies that encourage acceptance of public health measures. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Cómo el sexo moldea la evolución del comportamiento: el caso de las preferencias en la reproducción humana / How sex shapes the evolution of behavior: The case of preferences in human reproduction

Resumen La reproducción sexual es uno de los grandes hitos de la evolución de la vida en la Tierra; si bien pudo facilitar la generación de variabilidad genética, también impuso una serie de retos adaptativos en los organismos, tales como la búsqueda de parejas y las estrategias para asegurar la reproducción. La teoría de selección sexual ofrece hipótesis que permiten explicar cómo la búsqueda y la selección de parejas no son aleatorias o arbitrarias en los organismos complejos. Se plantea que existen unos criterios para seleccionar parejas reproductivas que se ven reflejados en mecanismos psicológicos denominados preferencias, las cuales pueden orientar la elección de parejas que tengan rasgos adaptativos y beneficiar o bien la supervivencia, o bien la reproducción futura de la descendencia que herede tales caracteres. El presente artículo aborda cómo las condiciones que impone la sexualidad moldean la evolución del comportamiento y cómo aquellos principios se aplican al emparejamiento humano. A partir de esto se plantean las principales preguntas que derivan de esta relación entre evolución, preferencias y selección de pareja.

Abstract Sexual reproduction is one of the greatest landmarks of the evolution of life on Earth. Although it helped the generation of genetic variability, it also imposed a series of adaptive challenges in organisms, such as the search for mates and strategies to secure reproduction. The theory of sexual selection offers hypotheses to explain that the search and selection of a mate are not arbitrary for complex organisms. It is proposed that there are criteria for selecting reproductive mates that are reflected in psychological mechanisms called preferences, which can guide the choice of partners who have adaptive traits and can benefit, either survival or future reproduction of the offspring that inherit such traits. This review addresses how the conditions imposed by sexuality shape the evolution of behavior, and how those principles apply to human mating behavior. From there, important questions arise to understand the relationship among evolution, preferences and mate selection.

Meniscal ossicle. Cadaveric and imaging cases report

Meniscal ossicles are small fragments of cancellous bone containing bone marrow surrounded by meniscal cartilage. Two cases of meniscal ossicle are reported, one found during routine dissection of the knee joint and the other as an incidental finding on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). It is a rare entity and is usually located in the posterior horn of the medial meniscus. Cases have been reported since the 1930s in imaging methods. Its association with meniscal tear is common, as it occurred in the reported case. Its origin is discussed, proposing that they may represent vestigial remnants of development or that they have a post-traumatic origin. They are usually asymptomatic, being an exceptional cause of knee pain. MRI is the method of choice for its evaluation, allowing to distinguish a meniscal ossicle from other intra-articular entities, such as a free body or an intrameniscal calcification. A review of the literature is also presented

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Desregulación emocional y conducta disocial en una muestra de adolescentes en conflicto con la ley / Emotional Dysregulation and Dissocial Behavior in a Sample of Adolescents in Conflict with the Law / Desregulação emocional e conduta dissocial numa mostra de adolescentes em conflito com a lei

Resumen Objetivo. Establecer el grado de relación entre la desregulación emocional y la conducta antisocial y delictiva en adolescentes que se encuentran en conflicto con la ley. Método. Diseño no experimental, enfoque cuantitativo, con alcance descriptivo-correlacional de temporalidad transversal. Participaron 62 adolescentes en conflicto con la ley. Se implementaron la ficha de caracterización MINI KID y la Escala de Desregulación Emocional (DERS-E). Resultados. El 54.8% de los adolescentes reportaron problemas de conducta. Según los hallazgos, la desatención emocional es diferente entre las personas con trastorno disocial y las que no lo presentan (t =4.853, p =0.031). La desatención emocional predice la aparición de trastorno disocial (β =0.030, p= 0.05, Exp(β)= 1.362). Conclusión. Los datos dan cuenta de la importancia de la revisión teórica de la conducta antisocial y de los factores asociados a ella, para establecer mejores modelos de intervención y de comprensión del fenómeno, principalmente la influencia de la regulación emocional en la aparición de la conducta disocial en adolescentes.

Abstract Objective. To establish the degree of relationship between emotional dysregulation and antisocial and criminal behavior in adolescents who conflict with the law. Method. Non-experimental design, quantitative approach, with descriptive scope - correlation of transversal temporality. Sixty-two adolescents in conflict with the law participated. The instruments used were the Characterization Sheet, MINI KID and Emotional Deregulation Scale (DERS-E). Results. 54.8% of adolescents reported behavioral problems. Emotional neglect is different between people with antisocial personality disorder and those who do not have it (t = 4.853, p = 0.031). Emotional neglect predicts the onset of antisocial personality disorder (A = 0.030, p = 0.05; Exp(-) = 1,362). Conclusion. The data showed the importance of the theoretical review of antisocial behavior and the factors associated with it in order to establish better models of intervention and understanding of the phenomenon, mainly the influence of emotional regulation on the onset of dissocial behaviour in adolescents.

Resumo Escopo. Estabelecer o grau de relação entre a desregulação emocional e a conduta antissocial e delitiva em adolescentes que estão em conflito com a lei. Metodologia. Desenho não experimental, enfoque quantitativo, com alcance descritivo-correlacional de temporalidade transversal. Participaram 62 adolescentes em conflito com a lei. Foi implementada a ficha de caracterização MINI KID e a escada de Desregulação Emocional (DERS-E). Resultados. O 54.8% dos adolescentes reportaram problemas de conduta. Segundo os achados, a desatenção emocional é diferente entre as pessoas com transtorno dissocial e as que não a presentam (t= 4.853, p= 0.031). A desatenção emocional prediz a aparição de transtorno dissocial (β = 0.030, p= 0.05, Exp(β) = 1.362). Conclusão. Os dados dão conta da importância da revisão teórica da conduta antissocial e dos fatores associados a ela, para estabelecer melhores modelos de intervenção e de compreensão do fenómeno, principalmente a influencia da regulação emocional na aparição da conduta dissocial em adolescentes.

Translation of gastric disease progression at gene level expression.

Helicobacter pylori is associated with the development of several lesions in the human stomach. This chronic infection produces gastritis, which can progress to intestinal metaplasia and gastric cancer. To date, there is very little information regarding gene-expression in the different phases of progression caused by chronic H. pylori infection. In this study, we performed a genome-wide gene-expression analysis in gastric biopsies of patients chronically infected with H. pylori, using the potential of high-throughput technologies that have not been fully exploited in this area. Here we illustrate the potential correlation of H. pylori infection with the gene expression changes in follicular gastritis, chronic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia. We also suggest its potential as biomarkers of each condition. An exploratory set of 21 biopsies from patients with follicular gastritis, chronic gastritis, and intestinal metaplasia were analyzed by gene-expression microarrays in order to identify the biological processes altered in each lesion. The microarray data was corroborated by real-time PCR, while 79 Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embeded samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Follicular gastritis exhibited significant enrichment in genes associated with glutamate signaling, while chronic gastritis showed a down-regulation in metallothionein 1 and 2 and in oxidative phosphorylation-related genes, which could be associated with the chronic infecton of H. pylori. Intestinal metaplasia exhibited an over-expression of gastrointestinal stem cell markers, such as LGR5 and PROM1, as well as messenger RNA and nucleic acid metabolism-related genes. The gene-expression patterns found in this study provide new comparative information about chronic gastritis, follicular gastritis and intestinal metaplasia that may play an important role in the development of gastric cancer.

The behavior system for sexual learning.

In this paper we review and update evidence relevant to formulating a behavior system for sexual learning. We emphasize behavioral rather than neurobiological evidence and mechanisms. Our analysis focuses on three types of responses or response modes: general search, focal search, and consummatory or copulatory behavior. We consider how these response modes are influenced by three categories of stimuli: spatially distributed contextual cues, arbitrary localized stimuli, and species-typical cues provided by the sexual partner. We characterize behavior control by these types of stimuli before and after various Pavlovian conditioning procedures in which the unconditioned stimulus is provided by copulation with a sexual partner. The results document extensive Pavlovian modifications of sexual behavior. These conditioning effects reflect new conditioned responses that come to be elicited by various categories of stimuli. In addition, the conditioning of contextual cues and localized stimuli facilitate sexual responding to species-typical cues. Thus, learning experiences enhance how the species-typical cues of a sexual partner stimulate sexual behavior. These modulatory conditioning effects not only produce significant behavioral changes but also increase rates of fertilization of eggs and numbers of offspring produced. These latter findings suggest that sexual learning can lead to differential reproductive success, which in turn can contribute to evolutionary change.

Impacto del paciente anciano en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios / Impact of the elderly patient in the emergency department

Introducción. El envejecimiento poblacional, el aumento de pacientes con enfermedades crónicas y la presencia excesiva de visitas no urgentes se consideran las grandes culpables del aumento de carga asistencial en los servicios de urgencia hospitalarios (SUH). El objetivo del estudio es analizar el impacto que ejerce el paciente anciano en los SUH, comparándolo con el resto de la población. Material y métodos. Estudio observacional, descriptivo y retrospectivo, de los 92.627 pacientes que acudieron al servicio de urgencias de los hospitales del área sanitaria iv del Servicio de Salud del Principado de Asturias durante todo el año 2009. Se analizaron el número de visitas totales, triaje de Manchester, destino al alta de los pacientes, estancia media, presión horaria durante las 24horas, pruebas complementarias, reclamaciones y consultas al servicio social. Se comparó la base de datos entre mayores y menores de 70 años. Resultados. Un total de 28.965 (31.27%) pacientes eran≥70años, con una tasa de frecuentación del 52,29% (frente a 25,70% en<70años). Los pacientes mayores presentaban una mayor prioridad en la atención por gravedad, se les realizaron más pruebas complementarias, con una mayor estancia media, tenían una mayor probabilidad de ingreso, de ser exitus y de necesidad de valoración por servicio social. Conclusiones. Los pacientes ancianos acuden de forma justificada a los SUH y con un patrón de uso significativamente diferente a los adultos jóvenes

Introduction. The aging of the population, chronic diseases, and non-urgent visits to the Emergency departments (ED) are considered the reasons for the increase of the demand of care. The aim of this study is to analyse the impact of the older population in the ED, when compared to a younger population. Material and methods. An observational, descriptive and retrospective study including an analysis of the 92,627 patients that attended the ED in Hospitals from Health Area IV belonging to the Principality of Asturias Health Services during 2009. The analysis included the number of visits, degree of urgency when arriving at the ED, length of stay (LOS), destination after ED assessment, demand of care per time of day, laboratory tests, and radiology, complaints, and social services consultation. A comparison was made between the data of patients over and below 70 years of age. Results. At total of 28,965 (31.27%) patients were over 70 years of age, with a frequency rate in the ED of 52.29% (25.70% in those less than 70 years). Patients over 70 years had a higher priority attention through the Manchester triage scale, receiving more laboratory tests, with a higher LOS. They also had a higher probability of being seen by social services, of being admitted, and death. Conclusions. Older patients consult the ED with more justifiable reasons than the younger adult population

[Impact of the elderly patient in the emergency department]. / Impacto del paciente anciano en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios.

INTRODUCTION: The aging of the population, chronic diseases, and non-urgent visits to the Emergency departments (ED) are considered the reasons for the increase of the demand of care. The aim of this study is to analyse the impact of the older population in the ED, when compared to a younger population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, descriptive and retrospective study including an analysis of the 92,627 patients that attended the ED in Hospitals from Health Area IV belonging to the Principality of Asturias Health Services during 2009. The analysis included the number of visits, degree of urgency when arriving at the ED, length of stay (LOS), destination after ED assessment, demand of care per time of day, laboratory tests, and radiology, complaints, and social services consultation. A comparison was made between the data of patients over and below 70 years of age. RESULTS: At total of 28,965 (31.27%) patients were over 70 years of age, with a frequency rate in the ED of 52.29% (25.70% in those less than 70 years). Patients over 70 years had a higher priority attention through the Manchester triage scale, receiving more laboratory tests, with a higher LOS. They also had a higher probability of being seen by social services, of being admitted, and death. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients consult the ED with more justifiable reasons than the younger adult population.

Melanoma anorrectal: a propósito de un caso / Anorectal melanoma: a case report

Introducción: El melanoma anorrectal es una neoplasia poco frecuente, que posee mal pronóstico debido a lo avanzado de la enfermedad al momento del diagnóstico, con una sobrevida a los cinco años menor al 10%. A diferencia del melanoma cutáneo, hasta el 87% de los melanomas anorrectales pueden ser amelanocíticos. Suele presentarse con sintomatología inespecífica, principalmente con rectorragia o como hallazgo incidental en colonoscopías. Caso clínico: Paciente sexo femenino de 63 años que presenta rectorragia de 4 meses de evolución. El diagnóstico fue confirmado con biopsia rectal e inmunohistoquímica con marcadores HBM 45 y S100 positivos. Estudio de diseminación resultó negativo. El tratamiento de elección fue la resección abdominoperineal. Conclusiones: Actualmente, no existe una diferencia significativa en la sobrevida en aquellos pacientes que se someten a resección abdominoperineal (Operación de Miles) en relación a aquellos que se les realiza resección local más radioterapia. Es necesario obtener siempre un margen quirúrgico adecuado, sin comprometer severamente la funcionalidad del esfínter anal. (AU)

Introduction: Anorectal melanoma is a rare, highly mlignant tumor due to its lack of early diagnosis, with a poor poor 5-year survival of 10%. About 87% of anorectal melanomas are amelanotic. Patients often present with non-specific symptoms, mainly with rectal bleeding. Case report: The following is a reported case from Felix Bulnes Hospital. A 63-year-old female patient who presented 4-month rectal bleeding. The diagnosis was confirmed with rectal biopsy and immunohistochemistry with expression of HBM 45 and S100 protein. Abdominoperineal resection was the treatment of choice. Conclusion: Patients undergoing radical surgery have no significant survival difference compared to those undergoing local excision with radiation therapy. (AU)

Novel protein interactions with an actin homolog (MreB) of Helicobacter pylori determined by bacterial two-hybrid system.

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori infects more than 50% of the world population and causes several gastroduodenal diseases, including gastric cancer. Nevertheless, we still need to explore some protein interactions that may be involved in pathogenesis. MreB, an actin homolog, showed some special characteristics in previous studies, indicating that it could have different functions. Protein functions could be realized via protein-protein interactions. In the present study, the MreB protein from H. pylori 26695 fused with two tags 10×His and GST in tandem was overexpressed and purified from Escherchia coli. The purified recombinant protein was used to perform a pull-down assay with H. pylori 26695 cell lysate. The pulled-down proteins were identified by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF), in which the known important proteins related to morphogenesis were absent but several proteins related to pathogenesis process were observed. The bacterial two-hybrid system was further used to evaluate the protein interactions and showed that new interactions of MreB respectively with VacA, UreB, HydB, HylB and AddA were confirmed but the interaction MreB-MreC was not validated. These results indicated that the protein MreB in H. pylori has a distinct interactome, does not participate in cell morphogenesis via MreB-MreC but could be related to pathogenesis.

Definición y prevalencia del deterioro cognitivo leve / Definition and prevalence of mild cognitive impairment

La cognición es la capacidad que permite al ser humano desarrollar una vida sin dificultad, resolviendo problemas y situaciones, manteniendo un correcto aprendizaje y procesando correctamente la información del ambiente, para recordarla y utilizarla posteriormente. Las personas que presenten un envejecimiento cerebral normal o fisiológico mantendrán esta capacidad durante todos sus años de vida. Sin embrago, las que sufran un envejecimiento anormal o patológico podrán verse afectadas por diferentes grados de deterioro de las funciones mentales superiores. En 1988 se introdujo el constructo deterioro cognitivo leve como un síndrome que comprendía un déficit cognitivo superior al esperado para la edad y el nivel cultural de la persona. En ese momento fue considerado como un proceso degenerativo que antecedía a la demencia. En los últimos 30 años se ha constatado que no todos los pacientes con deterioro cognitivo leve evolucionan hacia demencia. Por ello, el concepto y la definición han sido modificados en sucesivas ocasiones, a la vez que se han establecido diferentes subtipos de deterioro cognitivo leve en función del dominio cognitivo afectado. Es necesario profundizar en la definición de deterioro cognitivo leve y conocer los subtipos, con el objetivo de establecer su impacto sobre una sociedad envejecida, identificar sujetos en riesgo de conversión a demencia e implementar estrategias de intervención precoz dirigidas a mejorar la salud mental de nuestros mayores (AU)

Cognition is the ability that allows humans to carry out their lives without difficulty, resolving problems and situations, and to continue to learn and correctly process information from the environment for its subsequent retrieval and use. In persons with normal or physiological brain ageing, this ability is maintained throughout their lives. However, individuals with abnormal or pathological ageing could be affected by distinct degrees of impairment of higher brain functions. The term mild cognitive impairment (MCI) entered the lexicon in 1988 to describe a syndrome encompassing greater than expected cognitive impairment for the person’s age and cultural environment. At that time, MCI was considered a degenerative process that preceded dementia. In the last 30 years, it has become clear that not all patients with MCI will progress to dementia. Therefore, the concept and definition of this syndrome have been constantly updated, and distinct subtypes of MCI have been established according to the affected cognitive domain. There is a need to define MCI more clearly and identify its subtypes in order to establish its impact on an ageing society, identify persons at risk of progressing to dementia, and implement early intervention strategies aimed at improving the mental health of the elderly population (AU)

Functional interaction and structural characteristics of unique components of Helicobacter pylori T4SS.

The Helicobacter pylori infection of the human gastric mucosa causes chronic active gastritis and peptic ulcers and is associated with the development of gastric cancer. Epidemiological studies show that these gastric diseases are related to virulent H. pylori strains that harbor the cytotoxin-associated gene pathogenicity island (cag PAI). The cag PAI is a DNA insertion in the H. pylori chromosome that encodes ~ 27 proteins, including the oncoprotein CagA. Approximately 20 of these proteins have been designated as cag type IV secretion system (T4SS) components. However, only 11 of these proteins share function, structure, and/or sequence similarities with the prototypical VirB/VirD4 T4SS of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The VirB/VirD4 orthologs of the cag T4SS of H. pylori are required for CagA translocation and stimulate the gastric epithelial cells to produce and secrete interleukin-8 (IL-8). The cag PAI encodes eight additional proteins, such as Cag3 (Cagδ/HP0522), CagM (Cag16/HP0537), CagU (Cag11/HP0531), CagI (Cag19/HP0540), and CagH (Cag20/HP0541), which are also required for the translocation of CagA and IL-8 secretion, meanwhile CagF (Cag22/HP0543), CagG (Cag21/HP0542), and CagZ (Cag6/HP0526) are just required for the translocation of CagA. However, relatively little is known about their functions and structural organization because they exhibit a nondetectable sequence similarity with T4SS components in the current databases. In this review, we conducted an exhaustive analysis of the literature to present the biochemistry, putative role, localization, and interactions of each of these eight additional cag T4SS components.