Omega-3 Attenuates Disrupted Neurotransmission and Partially Protects Metabolic Dysfunction Caused by Obesity in Wistar Rats.

Omega-3 (n3) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid well known for its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Obesity is linked to chronic inflammation that disrupts metabolism, the intestine physiology and the central nervous system functioning. This study aims to determine if n3 supplementation can interfere with the effects of obesity on the mitochondrial activity, intestinal barrier, and neurotransmitter levels in the brain of Wistar rats that received cafeteria diet (CAF). We examined adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, plasma, intestine, and the cerebral cortex of four groups: CT (control diet), CTn3 (control diet with n3 supplementation), CAF, and CAFn3 (CAF and n3). Diets were offered for 13 weeks, with n3 supplementation in the final 5 weeks. Adipose tissue Electron Transport Chain complexes I, II, and III showed higher activity in CAF groups, as did complexes III and IV in skeletal muscle. Acetate levels in plasma were reduced in CAF groups, and Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was higher in the CAF group but reduced in CAFn3 group. Claudin-5 in the intestine was lower in CAF groups, with no n3 supplementation effect. In the cerebral cortex, dopamine levels were decreased with CAF, which was reversed by n3. DOPAC, a dopamine metabolite, also showed a supplementation effect, and HVA, a diet effect. Serotonin levels increased in the CAF group that received supplementation. Therefore, we demonstrate disturbances in mitochondria, plasma, intestine and brain of rats submitted to CAF and the potential benefit of n3 supplementation in endotoxemia and neurotransmitter levels.

Accuracy of acute hyperglycemia as a biomarker of severe brain damage in children with traumatic brain injury.

PURPOSE: Biomarkers are substances measured at the systemic level to evaluate organic responses in certain situations, establishing diagnoses, disease staging, and prognosis. Blood glucose is a biomarker recognized as a predictor of prognosis in children victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The scope of this study was to identify the accuracy of blood glucose as a biomarker of severe brain injury. METHODS: A retrospective analytical study was conducted through the consecutive review of medical records of children and teenage victims of TBI who underwent neurological surgery between 2016 and 2023 in a level 1 trauma center. Two groups were compared: children with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤ 8 and children with GCS > 8. We calculated the predictive values to define the accuracy of blood glucose as a biomarker of brain injury. RESULTS: Ninety-two medical records were included for analysis. Hyperglycemia predominated in cases with GCS ≤ 8 (48% vs 3%; p < 0.0001; OR, 30; 95% CI, 5.9902-150.2448). The glycemic measurement considering the cutoff point of 200 mg/dL or 11.1 mmol/L showed a specificity of 97%, a positive predictive value of 86%, an accuracy of 84%, and a likelihood ratio for a positive test of 16. CONCLUSION: Victims with GCS ≤ 8 are 16 times more likely to develop acute hyperglycemia after TBI when compared to those with GCS > 8. Blood glucose is a biomarker with an accuracy of 84% to predict severe brain injury, considering the cutoff point of 200 mg/dL or 11.1 mmol/L.

RecQ helicase expression in patients with telomeropathies.

BACKGROUND: Telomeropathies are a group of inherited disorders caused by germline pathogenic variants in genes involved in telomere maintenance, resulting in excessive telomere attrition that affects several tissues, including hematopoiesis. RecQ and RTEL1 helicases contribute to telomere maintenance by unwinding telomeric structures such as G-quadruplexes (G4), preventing replication defects. Germline RTEL1 variants also are etiologic in telomeropathies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Here we investigated the expression of RecQ (RECQL1, BLM, WRN, RECQL4, and RECQL5) and RTEL1 helicase genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from human telomeropathy patients. The mRNA expression levels of all RecQ helicases, but not RTEL1, were significantly downregulated in patients' primary cells. Reduced RecQ expression was not attributable to cell proliferative exhaustion, as RecQ helicases were not attenuated in T cells exhausted in vitro. An additional fifteen genes involved in DNA damage repair and RecQ functional partners also were downregulated in the telomeropathy cells. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the expression of RecQ helicases and functional partners involved in DNA repair is downregulated in PBMCs of telomeropathy patients.

Efficacy and safety of onasemnogene abeparvovec for the treatment of patients with spinal muscular atrophy type 1: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Onasemnogene abeparvovec has been approved for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy 5q type 1 in several countries, which calls for an independent assessment of the evidence regarding efficacy and safety. OBJECTIVE: Conduct a meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of onasemnogene abeparvovec in patients diagnosed with SMA type 1, based on the available evidence. METHODS: This article results from searches conducted on databases up to November 2022. Outcomes of interest were global survival and event-free survival, improvement in motor function and treatment-related adverse events. Risk of bias assessment and certainty of evidence were performed for each outcome. Proportional meta-analysis models were performed when applicable. RESULTS: Four reports of three open-label, non-comparative clinical trials covering 67 patients were included. Meta-analyses of data available in a 12-month follow-up estimate a global survival of 97.56% (95%CI: 92.55 to 99.86, I2 = 0%, n = 67), an event-free survival of 96.5% (95%CI: 90.76 to 99.54, I2 = 32%, n = 66) and a CHOP-INTEND score ≥ 40 points proportion of 87.28% (95%CI: 69.81 to 97.83, I2 = 69%, n = 67). Proportion of 52.64% (95%CI: 27.11 to 77.45, I2 = 78%, n = 67) of treatment-related adverse events was estimated. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a potential change in the natural history of type 1 SMA, but the methodological limitations of the studies make the real extent of the technology's long-term benefits uncertain.

Cannabidiol prevents LPS-induced inflammation by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome and iNOS activity in BV2 microglia cells via CB2 receptors and PPARγ.

Neuroinflammation stands as a critical player in the pathogenesis of diverse neurological disorders, with microglial cells playing a central role in orchestrating the inflammatory landscape within the central nervous system. Cannabidiol (CBD) has gained attention for its potential to elicit anti-inflammatory responses in microglia, offering promising perspectives for conditions associated with neuroinflammation. Here we investigated whether the NLRP3 inflammasome and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are involved in the protective effects of CBD, and if their modulation is dependent on cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) and PPARγ signalling pathways. We found that treatment with CBD attenuated pro-inflammatory markers in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenged BV2 microglia in a CB2- and PPARγ-dependent manner. At a molecular level, CBD inhibited the LPS-induced pro-inflammatory responses by suppressing iNOS and NLRP3/Caspase-1-dependent signalling cascades, resulting in reduced nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) concentrations. Notably, the protective effects of CBD on NLRP3 expression, Caspase-1 activity, and IL-1ß concentration were partially hindered by the antagonism of both CB2 receptors and PPARγ, while iNOS expression and NO secretion were dependent exclusively on PPARγ activation, with no CB2 involvement. Interestingly, CBD exhibited a protective effect against TNF-α increase, regardless of CB2 or PPARγ activation. Altogether, these findings indicate that CB2 receptors and PPARγ mediate the anti-inflammatory effects of CBD on the NLRP3 inflammasome complex, iNOS activity and, ultimately, on microglial phenotype. Our results highlight the specific components responsible for the potential therapeutic applications of CBD on neuroinflammatory conditions.

Phase angle and donor type are determinants of coronary artery calcification in stable kidney transplant recipients at twelve months after transplantation.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Coronary artery calcification (CAC) partially explains the excess cardiovascular morbidity and mortality after kidney transplantation. This study aimed to investigate determinants of CAC in stable kidney transplant recipients at 12 months post-transplantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: CAC-score was quantified by the Agatston method using non-contrast enhanced computed tomography, and age- and sex-standardized CAC-percentiles were calculated. Univariable and multivariable multinomial logistic regression was performed to study potential determinants of CAC. The independent determinants were included in multivariable multinomial logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders. 203 KTRs (age 54.0 ± 14.7 years, 61.1% male) were included. Participants were categorized into four groups according to CAC percentiles (p = 0 [CAC-score = 0], n = 68; p ≥ 1%-p ≤ 50% [CAC score = 29.0 (4.0-166.0)], n = 31; p > 50 ≤ 75% [CAC score = 101.0 (23.8-348.3)], n = 26; and p>75% [CAC score = 581.0 (148.0-1652)], n = 83). Upon multivariable multinomial logistic regression, patients with a narrower phase angle and patients who had received a graft from a deceased donor had a higher risk of being in the >75th CAC-percentile. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies not only metabolic and transplant-related factors, but also phase angle, a composite marker of cell integrity, as an independent determinant of CAC at 12 months after kidney transplantation. This study offers new perspectives for future research into the value of bioelectrical impedance analysis in relation to vascular calcification in kidney transplant recipients.

Cannabidiol improves maternal obesity-induced behavioral, neuroinflammatory and neurochemical dysfunctions in the juvenile offspring.

Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder in the offspring. While numerous studies focus on preventive measures targeting the mothers, only a limited number provide practical approaches for addressing the damages once they are already established. We have recently demonstrated the interplay between maternal obesity and treatment with cannabidiol (CBD) on hypothalamic inflammation and metabolic disturbances, however, little is known about this relationship on behavioral manifestations and neurochemical imbalances in other brain regions. Therefore, here we tested whether CBD treatment could mitigate anxiety-like and social behavioral alterations, as well as neurochemical disruptions in both male and female offspring of obese dams. Female Wistar rats were fed a cafeteria diet for 12 weeks prior to mating, and during gestation and lactation. Offspring received CBD (50 mg/kg) from weaning for 3 weeks. Behavioral tests assessed anxiety-like manifestations and social behavior, while neuroinflammatory and neurochemical markers were evaluated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus. CBD treatment attenuated maternal obesity-induced anxiety-like and social behavioral alterations, followed by rescuing effects on imbalanced neurotransmitter and endocannabinoid concentrations and altered expression of glial markers, CB1, oxytocin and dopamine receptors, with important differences between sexes. Overall, the findings of this study provide insight into the signaling pathways for the therapeutic benefits of CBD on neuroinflammation and neurochemical imbalances caused by perinatal maternal obesity in the PFC and the hippocampus, which translates into the behavioral manifestations, highlighting the sexual dimorphism encompassing both the transgenerational effect of obesity and the endocannabinoid system.

Lactate Protects Microglia and Neurons from Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation/Reoxygenation.

Lactate has received attention as a potential therapeutic intervention for brain diseases, particularly those including energy deficit, exacerbated inflammation, and disrupted redox status, such as cerebral ischemia. However, lactate roles in metabolic or signaling pathways in neural cells remain elusive in the hypoxic and ischemic contexts. Here, we tested the effects of lactate on the survival of a microglial (BV-2) and a neuronal (SH-SY5Y) cell lines during oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) or OGD followed by reoxygenation (OGD/R). Lactate signaling was studied by using 3,5-DHBA, an exogenous agonist of lactate receptor GPR81. Inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) or monocarboxylate transporters (MCT), using oxamate or 4-CIN, respectively, was performed to evaluate the impact of lactate metabolization and transport on cell viability. The OGD lasted 6 h and the reoxygenation lasted 24 h following OGD (OGD/R). Cell viability, extracellular lactate concentrations, microglial intracellular pH and TNF-ɑ release, and neurite elongation were evaluated. Lactate or 3,5-DHBA treatment during OGD increased microglial survival during reoxygenation. Inhibition of lactate metabolism and transport impaired microglial and neuronal viability. OGD led to intracellular acidification in BV-2 cells, and reoxygenation increased the release of TNF-ɑ, which was reverted by lactate and 3,5-DHBA treatment. Our results suggest that lactate plays a dual role in OGD, acting as a metabolic and a signaling molecule in BV-2 and SH-SY5Y cells. Lactate metabolism and transport are vital for cell survival during OGD. Moreover, lactate treatment and GPR81 activation during OGD promote long-term adaptations that potentially protect cells against secondary cell death during reoxygenation.

The Sleep Patterns of Children and Adolescents with Chronic Conditions and Their Families: An Integrative Literature Review.

Sleep is of vital necessity for health, and it has a restorative and protective function for children and adolescents with chronic conditions and their families. The purpose of this study was to identify the scientific production on sleep patterns in children and adolescents with chronic conditions and their families. This integrative review was conducted between March and June 2022 using the databases of MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL and PsycINFO. The articles included were original papers published between January 2007 and mid-2022. Excluded were review studies that did not evaluate sleep and whose participants did not have chronic conditions or were not children, adolescents and/or their families. The searches returned 814 abstracts. After exclusions, 47 studies were selected to be read in full; of these, 29 were selected and were grouped empirically into four categories: major alterations in the sleep patterns of children and adolescents with chronic conditions; the relationship between sleep disorders and symptoms in children and adolescents with chronic conditions; the impaired sleep patterns of families of children and adolescents with chronic conditions; and sleep alterations and their relationship with other problems in families of children and adolescents with chronic conditions. All studies showed sleep pattern impairment in children and adolescents with chronic conditions as well as their families.

Pre-Transplant Hyperparathyroidism and Graft or Patient Outcomes After Kidney Transplantation.

The impact of pre-transplant parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels on early or long-term kidney function after kidney transplantation is subject of debate. We assessed whether severe hyperparathyroidism is associated with delayed graft function (DGF), death-censored graft failure (DCGF), or all-cause mortality. In this single-center cohort study, we studied the relationship between PTH and other parameters related to bone and mineral metabolism, including serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at time of transplantation with the subsequent risk of DGF, DCGF and all-cause mortality using multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses. In 1,576 kidney transplant recipients (51.6 ± 14.0 years, 57.3% male), severe hyperparathyroidism characterized by pre-transplant PTH ≥771 pg/mL (>9 times the upper limit) was present in 121 patients. During 5.2 [0.2-30.0] years follow-up, 278 (15.7%) patients developed DGF, 150 (9.9%) DCGF and 432 (28.6%) died. A higher pre-transplant PTH was not associated with DGF (HR 1.06 [0.90-1.25]), DCGF (HR 0.98 [0.87-1.13]), or all-cause mortality (HR 1.02 [0.93-1.11]). Results were consistent in sensitivity analyses. The same applied to other parameters related to bone and mineral metabolism, including ALP. Severe pre-transplant hyperparathyroidism was not associated with an increased risk of DGF, DCGF or all-cause mortality, not supporting the need of correction before kidney transplantation to improve graft or patient survival.

Cost-Effectiveness of Onasemnogene Abeparvovec Compared With Nusinersen and Risdiplam in Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1 in Brazil: Custo-Efetividade do Onasemnogeno Abeparvoveque (AVXS-101) em Comparação ao Nusinersena e Risdiplam em Pacientes com Atrofia Muscular Espinhal Tipo 1 no Brasil.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the onasemnogene abeparvovec in relation to nusinersen and risdiplam in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy type 1 from the perspective of the Brazilian Unified Health System. METHODS: A Markov model was built on a lifetime horizon. Short-term data were obtained from clinical trials of the technologies and from published cohort survival curves (long term). Costs were measured in current 2022 local currency (R$) values and benefits in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Utility values were derived from type 1 spinal muscular atrophy literature, whereas costs related to technologies and maintenance care in each health state were obtained from official sources of reimbursement in Brazil. Deterministic and probabilistic, as well as scenario, sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: Compared with the less costly strategy (nusinersen), the use of onasemnogene abeparvovec resulted in an incremental cost of R$2.468.448,06 ($975 671.169 - purchasing power parity [PPP]) and a 3-QALY increment and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of R$742.890,92 ($293 632.774 - PPP)/QALY. Risdiplam had an extended dominance from other strategies, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of R$926.586,22 ($366 239.612 - PPP)/QALY compared with nusinersen. Sensitivity analysis showed a significant impact of the follow-up time of the cohort and the cost of acquiring onasemnogene abeparvovec. CONCLUSIONS: Over a lifetime horizon, onasemnogene abeparvovec seems to be a potentially more effective option than nusinersen and risdiplam, albeit with an incremental cost. Such a trade-off should be weighed in efficiency criteria during decision making and outcome monitoring from the perspective of the Brazilian Unified Health System.

Postpandemic Rebound in Noninvasive Group a Streptococcal Disease is not Synchronous with Winter RSV and Influenza Epidemics.

An increase in invasive group A Streptococcus infections was reported in 2022, associated with intense respiratory virus circulation. We describe a marked increase of noninvasive group A Streptococcus infections. Although the rise coincided with epidemics of respiratory syncytial virus and influenza, it continued after detection of these viruses fell to low levels, suggesting that other factors have contributed to this epidemiologic change.

Daylight photodynamic inactivation of cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus by porphyrins: An alternative for the ectoparasite control.

The bovine tick Rhipicephalus microplus, a primary ectoparasite of veterinary concern, contributes significantly to disease transmission and reduced cattle productivity, resulting in substantial economic losses. The overuse of chemical acaricides has led to the emergence of resistant strains, posing a considerable challenge to veterinary medicine. Consequently, the development of alternative parasite control methods is essential to ensure livestock quality and enhance food safety worldwide. Our study introduces an innovative approach to photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of the bovine tick, harnessing natural daylight for a potential field application. Reproductive parameters (female and egg mass, egg production index, and larval hatch) were evaluated in engorged female ticks under photodynamic action using the hematoporphyrin (HP) and tetra-cationic porphyrins free-base meso-tetra-ruthenated (4-pyridyl) (RuTPyP) and its zinc(II) complex (ZnRuTPyP) as photosensitizers (PS). The results showed that there was no significant difference between the groups treated with tetra­ruthenium porphyrins and the control group. However, HP exhibits a control percentage of 97.9% at a concentration of 2.5 µmol.L-1, aligning with the expected control rates achieved by conventional chemical acaricides. Photophysical and physicochemical parameters such as the number of singlet oxygen produced and lipophilicity were discussed for each PS and related to tick control percentages. Furthermore, the interaction between HP and chitin, an important macromolecule presents in the tick's cuticle, considered as the primary target tick structure during PDI was observed by the absorption and fluorescence emission spectroscopic techniques. Therefore, the results presented here extend the potential for controlling R. microplus through photodynamic inactivation while utilizing sunlight as a source of natural irradiation.

Effects of omega-3 supplementation on anxiety-like behaviors and neuroinflammation in Wistar rats following cafeteria diet-induced obesity.

ABSTRACTObjetives: Omega-3 (n3) fatty acids have been studied as an option to alleviate the harmful effects of obesity. However, its role in obesity-related behavioral changes is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of n3 on behavior and neuroinflammation in obese animals. Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control diet (CT), CT+n3, cafeteria diet (CAF), and CAF+n3. Diet was administered for 13 weeks, and n3 was supplemented during the last 5 weeks. Metabolic and biochemical parameters were evaluated, as well as anxiety-like behaviors. Immunoblots were conducted in the animals' cerebral cortex and hippocampus to assess changes in neuroinflammatory markers.Results: CAF-fed animals showed higher weight gain, visceral adiposity, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and insulin levels, and n3 improved the lipid profile and restored insulin sensitivity. CAF-fed rats showed anxiety-like behaviors in the open field and light-dark box tasks but not in the contextual aversive conditioning. Omega-3 did not exert any effect on these behaviors. Regarding neuroinflammation, diet and supplementation acted in a region-specific manner. In the hippocampus, CAF reduced claudin-5 expression with no effect of n3, indicating a brain-blood barrier disruption following CAF. Furthermore, in the hippocampus, the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) were reduced in treated obese animals. However, n3 could not reverse the TLR-4 expression increase in the cerebral cortex.Discussion: Although n3 may protect against some neuroinflammatory manifestations in the hippocampus, it does not seem sufficient to reverse the increase in anxiolytic manifestations caused by CAF.

Clonal haematopoiesis across the age spectrum of vasculitis patients with Takayasu's arteritis, ANCA-associated vasculitis and giant cell arteritis.

OBJECTIVES: Ageing and inflammation are associated with clonal haematopoiesis (CH), the emergence of somatic mutations in haematopoietic cells. This study details CH in patients with systemic vasculitis in association with clinical, haematological and immunological parameters. METHODS: Patients with three forms of vasculitis were screened for CH in peripheral blood by error-corrected sequencing. Relative contributions of age and vasculitis on CH prevalence were calculated using multivariable logistic regression. Clonal hierarchies were assessed by proteogenomic single-cell DNA sequencing, and functional experiments were performed in association with CH status. RESULTS: Patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TAK; n=70; mean age=33.2 years), antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV; n=47; mean age=55.3 years) and giant cell arteritis (GCA; n=59; mean age=71.2 years) were studied. CH, most commonly in DNMT3A and TET2, was detected in 34% (60/176) of patients versus 18% (28/151) of age-matched controls (p<0.01). Prevalence of CH was independently associated with age (standardised B=0.96, p<0.01) and vasculitis (standardised B=0.46, p<0.01), occurring in 61%, 32% and 13% of patients with GCA, AAV and TAK, respectively. Both branched and linear clonal trajectories showed myeloid-lineage bias, and CH was associated with markers of cellular activation. In GCA, mutations were detected in temporal artery biopsies, and clinical relapse correlated with CH in a dose-dependent relationship with clone size. CONCLUSIONS: Age was more strongly associated with CH prevalence than inflammation in systemic vasculitis. Clonal profile was dominated by DNMT3A mutations which were associated with relapse in GCA. CH is not likely a primary causal factor in systemic vasculitis but may contribute to inflammation.

When to consider inherited marrow failure syndromes in adults.

The inherited bone marrow failure syndromes (IBMFS) are a heterogenous group of disorders caused by germline mutations in related genes and characterized by bone marrow failure (BMF), disease specific organ involvement, and, in most cases, predisposition to malignancy. Their distinction from immune marrow failure can often be challenging, particularly when presentations occur in adulthood or are atypical. A combination of functional (disease specific assays) and genetic testing is optimal in assessing all new BMF patients for an inherited etiology. However, genetic testing is costly and may not be available worldwide due to resource constraints; in such cases, clinical history, standard laboratory testing, and the use of algorithms can guide diagnosis. Interpretation of genetic results can be challenging and must reflect assessment of pathogenicity, inheritance pattern, clinical phenotype, and specimen type used. Due to the progressive use of genomics, new IBMFS continue to be identified, widening the spectrum of these disorders.

Desenhar, escrever e contar: qualidade de vida da criança e adolescente com condição crônica / Draw, write and tell interview: Quality of life of children and adolescents with chronic condition / Dibujar, escribir y contar: calidad de vida de niños y adolescentes con enfermedades crónicas

Objetivo: compreender por meio da técnica Desenhar, escrever e contar como a condição crônica influencia na qualidade de vida infantojuvenil; e analisar o uso da técnica nessa população. Método: estudo qualitativo, descritivo e exploratório. Participaram onze crianças e adolescentes com condição crônica entre sete e dezessete anos. A coleta de dados ocorreu mediante entrevista semiestruturada, com auxílio da técnica Desenhar, escrever e contar, em um Hospital público. Para análise dos dados utilizou-se a análise de conteúdo temática de Bardin. Resultados: emergiram três categorias que evidenciam diversas alterações na qualidade de vida dessa clientela, com destaque para o comprometimento físico, emocional e social que impacta nas de experiências que compõem a infância e a adolescência. A técnica Desenhar, escrever e contar foi um facilitador e enriqueceu a coleta de dados. Considerações finais: a técnica escolhida possibilitou identificar a qualidade de vida prejudicada da criança e adolescente com condição crônica(AU)

Objective: to understand, through the Draw, Write and Tell interview technique how chronic condition influences pediatric quality of life; To analyze the use of the technique in this population. Method: qualitative, descriptive, exploratory study. Eleven children and adolescents with chronic conditions between seven and seventeen years old participated. Data collection took place through semi-structured interviews, with the aid of the Draw, Write and Tell interview technique, in State University Hospital. For data analysis, thematic content analysis according to Bardin was used. Results: three categories emerged that show several changes in the quality of life of this clientele, with emphasis on the physical, emotional and social impairment that impact on the experiences that make up childhood and adolescence. The Draw, Write and Tell interview technique facilitated and enriched data collection. Final considerations: The chosen technique made it possible to identify the impaired quality of life of children and adolescents with chronic conditions(AU)

Objetivo: comprender, a través de la técnica de entrevista Dibujar, Escribir y Contar, cómo la condición crónica influye en la calidad de vida infantojuvenil; y analizar el uso de la técnica en esta población. Método: estudio cualitativo, descriptivo y exploratorio. Participaron once niños y adolescentes, con condiciones crónicas, de siete a diecisiete años. La recolección de datos ocurrió por medio de entrevistas semiestructuradas, con el auxilio de la técnica de entrevista Dibujar, Escribir y Contar, en un hospital público. En cuanto al análisis de datos, se utilizó el análisis de contenido temático de Bardin. Resultados: surgieron tres categorías que muestran varios cambios en la calidad de vida de esta clientela, con énfasis en el deterioro físico, emocional y social que tiene un gran impacto en las experiencias que componen la infancia y la adolescencia. La técnica Dibujar, Escribir y Contar facilitó y enriqueció la recolección de datos. Consideraciones finales: la técnica elegida permitió identificar la calidad de vida deteriorada de niños y adolescentes con condiciones crónicas(AU)