Predictors of autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in a spanish sample of preterm children with very low birthweight: A cross-sectional study.

Background and Aims: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a higher likelihood of being diagnosed in preterm populations. Likewise, low birthweight has also been connected with an increased likelihood of ASD. The objectives were to study the frequency and define the relationship between ASD, gestational age, birthweight, and growth percentiles for preterm children. Methods: A sample of preterm children with very low birthweight was selected from the Spanish population at 7-10 years old. Families were contacted from the hospital, and they were offered an appointment to conduct a neuropsychological assessment. The children who showed signs of ASD were referred to the diagnostic unit for differential diagnosis. Results: A total of 57 children completed full assessments, with 4 confirmed ASD diagnoses. The estimated prevalence was 7.02%. There were statistically significant weak correlations between ASD and gestational age (τb = -0.23), and birthweight (τb = -0.25), suggesting there is a higher likelihood of developing ASD for those born smaller or earlier in their gestation. Conclusion: These results could improve ASD detection and outcomes for this vulnerable population while also supporting and enhancing previous findings.

Effect of a Focused Social and Communication Intervention on Preterm Children with ASD: A Pilot Study.

While advances in intensive neonatal care have greatly improved survival rates among preterm infants, incidence of neurodevelopmental disorders in this group is still high, with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) being one of the most frequent. To this end, we conducted a social-communication intervention aimed at investigating efficacy in social-communicative skills. Eighteen children (preterm and full-term with ASD and preterm children) aged 18 through 20 months participated in the study. Our findings indicate that most participants in the intervention groups registered significant improvements in terms of socio-communicative skills, cognitive development, and language. Accordingly, these pilot data underscore the need for further research and implementation of early interventions in young preterm children with ASD.

Bridging Cyanobacteria to Neurodegenerative Diseases: A New Potential Source of Bioactive Compounds against Alzheimer's Disease.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) represent a drawback in society given the ageing population. Dementias are the most prevalent NDs, with Alzheimer's disease (AD) representing around 70% of all cases. The current pharmaceuticals for AD are symptomatic and with no effects on the progression of the disease. Thus, research on molecules with therapeutic relevance has become a major focus for the scientific community. Cyanobacteria are a group of photosynthetic prokaryotes rich in biomolecules with confirmed activity in pathologies such as cancer, and with feasible potential in NDs such as AD. In this review, we aimed to compile the research works focused in the anti-AD potential of cyanobacteria, namely regarding the inhibition of the enzyme ß-secretase (BACE1) as a fundamental enzyme in the generation of ß-amyloid (Aß), the inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) lead to an increase in the availability of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as phenomena associated with neurodegeneration mechanisms.

Characterization of epididymal and testicular histologic lesions and use of immunohistochemistry and PCR on formalin-fixed tissues to detect Brucella canis in male dogs.

In male dogs, Brucella canis frequently causes epididymitis, ultimately resulting in testicular atrophy and infertility. Although B. canis predominantly affects the epididymis, the misleading term "orchitis" is still commonly used by clinicians. Of additional concern, diagnosis in dogs remains challenging because of variable sensitivity and specificity of serologic assays and fluctuations in bacteremia levels in infected dogs, reducing the sensitivity of blood culture. We describe here the histologic lesions in the scrotal contents of 8 dogs suspected of being infected with B. canis and clinically diagnosed with orchitis. We explored the possibility of using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real-time PCR (rtPCR) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues to detect the presence of B. canis. Epididymitis of variable chronicity was identified in all 8 dogs, with only 3 also exhibiting orchitis. Using rtPCR, the presence of B. canis was identified in 4 of 8 dogs, with 3 of these 4 dogs also positive by IHC. These results suggest that rtPCR and IHC are promising techniques that can be used in FFPE tissues to detect B. canis when other detection techniques are unavailable. Additionally, accurate recognition of epididymitis rather than orchitis in suspect cases could aid in accurate diagnosis.

Evaluating the immunogenicity of chemically-synthesised peptides derived from foot-and-mouth disease VP1, VP2 and VP3 proteins as vaccine candidates.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most contagious veterinary viral diseases known, having economic, social and potentially devastating environmental impacts. The vaccines currently being marketed/sold around the world for disease control and prevention in bovines do not stimulate the production of antibodies having crossed reactions to different serotypes. This means that if an animal becomes infected by a serotype which has not been included in a vaccine then it will develop the disease. Synthetic peptide vaccines represent a safer option and (depending on the design) can stimulate antibodies protecting against different variants. Based on the forgoing, this work was aimed at evaluating FMDV VP1, VP2 and VP3 protein-derived, modified and chemically-synthesised peptides' ability to induce an immune response for developing a vaccine contributing towards controlling the disease. VP1, VP2 and VP3 proteins' conserved regions were selected for this. Peptides from these regions were chemically synthesised; binding assays were then carried out for ascertaining whether they were involved in BHK-21 cell binding. Selected peptides' structure and location were studied. Peptides which did bind were modified and formulated with Montanide ISA 70 adjuvant; 17 animals were immunised twice with the formulation. The animals were genotyped by amplifying the BoLA-DRB3.2 gene. Blood samples were taken from 17 cattle on day 43 post-first immunisation for studying the formulation's immunogenicity. The sera were used in ELISA, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, immunoadsorption and seroneutralisation assays. The A24 Cruzeiro and O1 Campos virus serotypes were used for these assays. The results revealed that even though protein exposure and 3D structure might be different amongst serotypes, the antibodies so produced could inhibit virus entry to cells, thereby showing the selected peptides' in vitro protection-inducing ability.

Guía práctica y resultados de la implementación de un programa de auditoría y calidad en imágenes mamarias / Practical Guide and Results of the Implementation of an Audit and Quality Program in Breast Imaging

Objetivo: Describir la experiencia del Centro de Diagnóstico para la Mujer, de la Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá (FSFB), en la implementación de un sistema práctico de auditoría en imágenes mamarias y su utilidad en los procesos de calidad, basados en parámetros establecidos por el American College of Radiology (ACR). Métodos: Evaluación de los indicadores propuestos por el ACR mediante bases de datos y sistemas de información de imágenes de la FSFB (enero 2012-diciembre 2014). Se incluyeron todos los estudios mamográficos y biopsias de mama realizadas por ecografía y estereotaxia. Los resultados se compararon con los descritos en BIRADS ® 5ta. edición. Se realizó una búsqueda de la literatura en PubMed para definir el estado del arte de los procesos de auditoría en imágenes mamarias. Resultados: Incluimos 13 artículos originales y 4 guías internacionales de auditoría en imágenes mamarias. Se evaluaron 19.132 mamografías (6.060 en 2012, 6.568 en 2013 y 6.504 en 2014). El 95 % de las mamografías correspondieron a tamizaje de oportunidad. El rellamado global disminuyó 19,6 %, el VPP de las biopsias realizadas aumentó a 15,36 % y mejoró la detección de cáncer invasivo de menor tamaño con una diferencia significativa entre 2013 y 2014 (p=0,03). La detección del cáncer mínimo se encuentra en 54,23 %. Conclusión: Los programas de control de la calidad y auditoría en imágenes mamarias basados en recomendaciones internacionales permiten garantizar resultados clínicamente relevantes en pacientes que asisten a tamizaje mamográfico. Las recomendaciones de sociedades internacionales proveen un continuo mejoramiento en los indicadores.

Objective: To describe the experience of the Center of Diagnosis for Women, of the Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá (FSFB) in the implementation of a practical system of auditing in mammary images and its utility in quality processes, based on parameters established by the American College of Radiology benchmarks. Methods: We evaluated the benchmarks proposed by the ACR's audit program, based on our imaging databases and FSFB imaging information between January 2012 and December 2014. We include all mammograms, ultrasound-guided and stereotacticguided breast biopsies. The results were compared with those described in BI-RADS 5 edition. A literature review was performed using PubMed to define the state of the art of the breast imaging audit process. Results: We included 13 original articles and 4 international guidelines of breast imaging audit. We included 19132 mammograms, 6060 from 2012, 6568 from 2013 and 6504 from 2014. 95% of the mammograms belong to opportunity screening program. Recall rate decreased in 19.6%, PPV of the biopsies increased to 15,36% and the detection of smaller invasive cancer increased with significant difference between 2013 and 2014 (p=0.03). Minimal breast cancer detection corresponds to 54.34%. Conclusion: Quality Control and Audit programs in breast imaging based on international recommendations allow assuring clinical results in patients from a screening program. The recommendations of international societies provide a medium to provide a continuous improvement in the indicators.

Nucleation and growth of mineralized bone matrix on silk-hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds.

We describe a composite hydroxyapatite (HA)-silk fibroin scaffold designed to induce and support the formation of mineralized bone matrix by human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) in the absence of osteogenic growth factors. Porous three-dimensional silk scaffolds were extensively used in our previous work for bone tissue engineering and showed excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility. However, silk is not an osteogenic material and has a compressive stiffness significantly lower than that of native bone. In the present study, we explored the incorporation of silk sponge matrices with HA (bone mineral) micro-particles to generate highly osteogenic composite scaffolds capable of inducing the in vitro formation of tissue-engineered bone. Different amounts of HA were embedded in silk sponges at volume fractions of 0%, 1.6%, 3.1% and 4.6% to enhance the osteoconductive activity and mechanical properties of the scaffolds. The cultivation of hMSCs in the silk/HA composite scaffolds under perfusion conditions resulted in the formation of bone-like structures and an increase in the equilibrium Young's modulus (up to 4-fold or 8-fold over 5 or 10 weeks of cultivation, respectively) in a manner that correlated with the initial HA content. The enhancement in mechanical properties was associated with the development of the structural connectivity of engineered bone matrix. Collectively, the data suggest two mechanisms by which the incorporated HA enhanced the formation of tissue engineered bone: through osteoconductivity of the material leading to increased bone matrix production, and by providing nucleation sites for new mineral resulting in the connectivity of trabecular-like architecture.