Relationship between sensory processing patterns and gross motor function of children and adolescents with Down syndrome and typical development: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Children and adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) may experience impairments in sensory and motor skills that can be interrelated. The purposes of this study were (i) to compare the sensory processing patterns and gross motor function between children and adolescents with DS and with typical development (TD) and (ii) to explore associations between these areas in both DS and TD groups. METHOD: This cross-sectional study involved a sample size of 25 participants with DS (mean age 10.24 ± 2.04 years) and 25 participants with TD (mean age 10.04 ± 2.82 years). The sensory processing patterns were assessed using the Sensory Profile Second Version questionnaire, and the gross motor function was measured with the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) dimensions (D) standing, and (E) walking, running, and jumping. Differences between groups were tested using the Mann-Whitney test, and the relationship between the variables was examined using Spearman's correlation tests, with a significance level set at 5%. RESULTS: Children with DS showed greater difficulties with sensory processing than TD children in Seeker (P < 0.001), Avoider (P < 0.001), Sensitivity (P < 0.001), Registration (P < 0.001), Auditory (P < 0.001), Touch (P = 0.001), Movements (P = 0.001), Oral (P = 0.028), Conduct (P = 0.005), Socioemotional (P < 0.001), and Attentional (P < 0.001) domains. Additionally, children with DS presented lower gross motor function than TD in GMFM-88, standing (P < 0.001) and walking, running, and jumping (P < 0.001). Correlations were found between greater difficulties with sensory processing in Touch and lower gross motor function in walking, running, and jumping for the DS group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest there are more difficulties in sensory processing patterns and gross motor function in children with DS than in TD. Also, there is a single association between more difficulties in sensory processing and less well-developed motor function in the DS group. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of all these aspects should be performed in children and adolescents with DS, along with the provision of relevant interventions addressing specific needs.

Genome-wide identification of copy number variations in Holstein cattle from Baja California, Mexico, using high-density SNP genotyping arrays.

Copy number variations (CNVs) are an important source of genomic structural variation, and can be used as markers to investigate phenotypic and economic traits. CNVs also have functional effects on gene expression and can contribute to disease susceptibility in mammals. Currently, single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping arrays (SNP chips) are the technology of choice for identifying CNV variations. Microarray technologies have recently been used to study the bovine genome. The objective of the present study was to develop CNVs in Holstein cows from the Northwest of Mexico using the Affymetrix Axiom Genome-Wide BOS 1 Array, which assays 648,315 SNPs and provides a wide coverage for genome-wide studies. We applied the two most widely used algorithms for the discovery of CNVs (PennCNV and QuantiSNP) and found 56 CNV regions (CNVRs) representing 0.33% of the bovine genome (8.46 Mb). These CNVRs ranged from 1.5 to 970.8 kb with an average length of 151 kb. They involved 103 genes and showed a 28% overlap with CNVRs already reported. Of the 56 CNVRs found, 20 were novel. In this study we present the first genomic analysis of CNVs in Mexican cattle using high-density SNP data. Our results provide a new reference basis for future genomic variation and association studies between CNVs and phenotypes, especially in Mexican cattle.

Programa de control de calidad de Discos antibióticos / Quality of control program of antibiotics disks

La prueba de Antibiograma se usa rutinariamente para medir la susceptibilidad a los antibióticos de las bacterias aisladas en muestras clínicas. Asegurar la calidad de los discos de antibióticos es indispensable para que se produzcan resultados confiables y oportunos en el Antibiograma. Para ello se estableció un programa de control de calidad de los discos antibióticos. Se realizaron 336 mediciones durante 6 meses, con sólo 5(1,2 por ciento) resultados fuera del rango establecido y 27(8,0 por ciento) resultados en los límites. De los 5 resultados obtenidos fuera de los rangos, 4 de ellos fueron valores por debajo del límite inferior, todos ocurrieron el mismo día, lo que sugiere algún error en la técnica. De los 14 antibióticos probados, 9 de ellos tuvieron tendencia a la baja y 5 con tendencia a la alta. Debido a resultados en los límites inferiores o por debajo se descartaron 6 viales. El programa de Control de Calidad de los discos de Antibióticos ha sido un éxito, todo el personal ha tomado conciencia de que el control de calidad en un laboratorio es una obligación en beneficio del paciente

Sporotrichosis in the Orinoco river basin of Venezuela and Colombia.

Six cases of sporotrichosis from the Orinoco river basin of Venezuela and Colombia are described; two are of the localized cutaneous type and four are lymphocutaneous. Diagnosis was based on the patient's clinical history and mycological culture. Epidemiology and distinctive cultural habits of the patients are discussed in connection with disease etiology.

Caracterizacao das diversas fases do ciclo estral da cobaia. (Cavia porcellus). / Characterization of the various phases of the estrous cycle of the guineapig.(Cavia porcellus)

Sao analisados varios aspectos do ciclo estral da cobaia, tendo como designio fundamental caracterizar suas diversas fases.Conclui-se que, para maior rigor, devemos nos valer do exame dos genitais externos, dos testes colpocitologicos e das modificacoes estruturais do epitelio vaginal e dos ovarios. Separadamente, o metodo mais preciso foi o da analise histologica dos ovarios, enquanto a colpocitologia so tem valor quando empregada com outros metodos. Pela sua praticidade, a observacao dos genitais externos e a colpocitologia mostraram-se suficientes na caracterizacao das fases do ciclo estral da cobaia