Genetics of phenological development and implications for seed yield in lentil.

Understanding phenology, its genetics and agronomic consequences, is critical for crop adaptation. Here we aim at (1) characterising lentil response to photoperiod with a focus on five loci: the lentil ELF3 ortholog Sn, two loci linked to clusters of lentil FT orthologs and two loci without candidates in chromosomes 2 and 5 (exp. 1: 36 lines, short and long day in phytotron); (2) establishing phenology-yield relationship (exp. 2: 25 lines, 11 field environments). A vintage perspective, where we quantify time trends in phenotype over three decades of breeding, links both experiments. Yield increased linearly from older to newer varieties at 29 kg ha-1 yr-1 or 1.5% yr-1, correlated negatively with flowering time in both winter- and summer-rainfall regimes, and decoupled from biomass in favourable environments. Time to flowering shortened from older to newer varieties at -0.56 % yr-1 in the field, and -0.42 % yr-1 (short day) and -0.99 % yr-1 (long day) in the phytotron. Early-flowering lines of diverse origin carried multiple early alleles for the five loci, indicating that at least some of these loci affect phenology additively. Current germplasm primarily features the early flowering haplotype for an FTb cluster region, hence the potential to increase phenological diversity with yield implications.

A True Reverse Anomeric Effect Does Exist After All: A Hydrogen Bonding Stereocontrolling Effect in 2-Iminoaldoses.

The reverse anomeric effect is usually associated with the equatorial preference of nitrogen substituents at the anomeric center. Once postulated as another anomeric effect with explanations ranging from electrostatic interactions to delocalization effects, it is now firmly considered to be essentially steric in nature. Through an extensive research on aryl imines from 2-amino-2-deoxyaldoses, spanning nearly two decades, we realized that such substances often show an anomalous anomeric behavior that cannot easily be rationalized on the basis of purely steric grounds. The apparent preference, or stabilization, of the ß-anomer takes place to an extent that not only neutralizes but also overcomes the normal anomeric effect. Calculations indicate that there is no stereoelectronic effect opposing the anomeric effect, resulting from the repulsion between electron lone pairs on the imine nitrogen and the endocyclic oxygen. Such data and compelling structural evidence unravel why the exoanomeric effect is largely inhibited. We are now confident, as witnessed by 2-iminoaldoses, that elimination of the exo-anomeric effect in the α-anomer is due to the formation of an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the anomeric hydroxyl and the iminic nitrogen, thereby accounting for a true electronic effect. In addition, discrete solvation may help justify the observed preference for the ß-anomer.

Effect of postpartum calcium supplementation on serum calcium and parathyroid hormone concentrations in multiparous Holstein cows.

Although postpartum Ca supplementation strategies are often employed to prevent subclinical hypocalcemia in dairy cows, these strategies have produced a mix of beneficial, neutral, and detrimental results when assessing milk yield and subsequent disease outcomes. Because the mechanisms underlying these differing results are unknown, our objectives were to determine how common postpartum Ca supplementation strategies affect blood Ca concentrations and parathyroid hormone (PTH). We conducted a randomized controlled trial with 74 multiparous dairy cows on a commercial dairy in central New York. Cows were assigned to 1 of 4 supplementation groups immediately after calving: (1) control (CON; no Ca supplementation, n = 15); (2) conventional oral Ca supplementation (BOL-C; 43 g of oral Ca bolus administered immediately after calving and 24 h later, n = 17); (3) delayed oral Ca supplementation (BOL-D; 43 g of oral Ca bolus administered 48 and 72 h after calving, n = 15); or (4) subcutaneous infusion (SQ; 500 mL of 23% Ca borogluconate infused subcutaneously once immediately after calving, n = 15). Blood samples were collected immediately after calving (0 h) and at 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 56, 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 120, and 168 h postpartum for a total of 15 blood samples per cow. Cows were excluded if administered Ca, via any route, by farm employees or if they died or were sold within 96 h following parturition, which left 62 cows for analysis. Linear mixed models, accounting for repeated measures, were created to analyze changes in serum total Ca (tCa) and PTH over the first 168 h after parturition and assess differences between supplementation groups. Serum tCa and PTH concentrations were not different at the time of calving among supplementation groups. There was a supplementation group by hour postcalving interaction for mean tCa concentration in which SQ cows had reduced tCa concentrations from 32 to 64 h compared with CON cows, 32 to 96 h compared with BOL-C cows, and 40 to 64 h compared with BOL-D cows. Mean PTH concentration did not differ among supplementation groups across 168 h after enrollment and was 158.1 pmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI] = 148.2 to 168.0) for CON cows, 164.0 pmol/L (95% CI = 154.9 to 173.1) for BOL-C cows, 158.7 pmol/L (95% CI = 149.2 to 168.1) for BOL-D cows, and 153.2 pmol/L (95% CI = 143.6 to 162.8) for SQ cows. Our findings suggest that although serum tCa does not differ between cows that receive conventional or delayed oral Ca bolus supplementation at calving and cows that receive no supplemental Ca, subcutaneous infusion of Ca at calving reduces serum tCa for a substantial period between 32 and 64 h postsupplementation. However, as PTH concentrations did not differ among groups across 168 h postpartum, the mechanism by which tCa is reduced remains unclear.

Nurses' preferences regarding MenACWY conjugate vaccines attributes: a discrete choice experiment in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: Immunisation against preventable diseases as meningitis is crucial from a public health perspective to face challenges posed by these infections. Nurses hold a great responsibility for these programs, which highlights the importance of understanding their preferences and needs to improve the success of campaigns. This study aimed to investigate nurses' preferences regarding Meningococcus A, C, W, and Y (MenACWY) conjugate vaccines commercialised in Spain. STUDY DESIGN: A national-level discrete choice experiment (DCE) was conducted. METHODS: A literature review and a focus group informed the DCE design. Six attributes were included: pharmaceutical form, coadministration evidence, shelf-life, package contents, single-doses per package, and package volume. Conditional logit models quantified preferences and relative importance (RI). RESULTS: Thirty experienced primary care nurses participated in this study. Evidence of coadministration with other vaccines was the most important attribute (RI = 43.78%), followed by package size (RI = 22.17%), pharmaceutical form (RI = 19.07%), and package content (RI = 11.80%). There was a preference for evidence of coadministration with routine vaccines (odds ratio [OR] = 2.579, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 2.210-3.002), smaller volumes (OR = 1.494, 95%CI = 1.264-1.767), liquid formulations (OR = 1.283, 95%CI = 1.108-1.486) and package contents including only vial/s (OR = 1.283, 95%CI = 1.108-1.486). No statistical evidence was found for the remaining attributes. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of coadministration with routine vaccines, easy-to-store packages, and fully liquid formulations were drivers of nurses' preferences regarding MenACWY conjugate vaccines. These findings provide valuable insights for decision-makers to optimize current campaigns.

Occurrence of common plastic additives and contaminants in raw, steamed and canned mussel samples from different harvesting areas using MSPD-HPLC methodology.

Microplastics are a complex mix of chemicals containing polymers and certain plastic additives such as bisphenols and phthalates. These particles are porous materials that can also sorb contaminants from their surroundings, and leach chemicals from the particle under certain circumstances. Aquatic animals can ingest microplastic particles, which mostly bioaccumulate in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. In terms of dietary exposure, small animals consumed whole such as mussels, contribute more to the dietary intake of microplastic particles. Plastic additives and contaminants are not chemically bound to the polymers, and certain processing methods or cooking processes result in the release of these chemicals that leach from the plastic particles, leaving them more available for absorption when ingested. Analytical methods are crucial for a better understanding of the occurrence of plastic additives and contaminants in aquatic products, and to know certain circumstances and treatments that influence human exposure. This study uses an MSPD-HPLC methodology for the simultaneous determination of 9 analytes (BPA, BPF, BPS, DEP, DBP, DEHP, DDD, DDT, and DDE) analyzing, for the first time, the occurrence of these chemicals in raw, steamed and canned mussels of two different harvesting areas (Atlantic and the Mediterranean), becoming one of the most efficient methodologies for determining the presence of these analytes in very complex food matrices, able to define the changes in cooking and processing activities. The results showed that the heat and pressure treatment could influence the migration of plastic additives from microplastic particles present in mussels to the cooking liquids.

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) as a prognostic marker in COVID-19 patients: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of the usefulness of suPAR as a prognostic marker in non-critical COVID-19 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a literature search in MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science using the following keywords: ("soluble urokinase receptor" OR "urokinase plasminogen activator receptor" OR "suPAR" OR "soluble uPAR" OR "soluble uPA receptor") AND ("COVID-19" OR "SARS-CoV-2"). We included observational studies (descriptive or analytic) that measured plasma suPAR on COVID-19 patients 18 years old or older, with non-critical disease at the beginning of the study. RESULTS: After screening and eligibility assessment, a total of 16 articles were included in the review. Most studies that measured mean differences found that suPAR levels were higher in patients with worse outcomes. The studies that measured diagnostic accuracy concluded that suPAR was highly sensitive and moderately specific to predicting bad outcomes. Studies that performed a survival analysis found that patients with high suPAR levels were more at risk of bad outcomes. Most of the studies included in this review were performed before extensive vaccination and omicron wave. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients with moderate initial disease and elevated suPAR levels are more at risk of poor outcomes. Larger prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm the results obtained in this review.

Trends in the mortality of diabetes in Mexico from 1998 to 2022: a joinpoint regression and age-period-cohort effect analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was to analyze age-standardized trends in diabetes mortality rates (DMR) from 1998 to 2022, stratified by sex and Mexican state, and the effects attributable to age, period, and cohort by sex. STUDY DESIGN: Joinpoint regression and age-period-cohort effect analysis. METHODS: Based on the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases, E11, E12, E13, and E14 codes of the death certificate, a daily record of mortality was extracted from the death certificate attributable to diabetes as the main cause. From 1998 to 2022, sexes and ages (≥20 years) were used to calculate the crude mortality rates and standardized at the national and Mexican state levels. Additionally, the age-period-cohort model was used to examine age, period, and cohort effects. RESULTS: From 1998 to 2005, the age-adjusted DMR increased by 3.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.7, 4.5) for the total population, as shown by the joinpoint regression analysis at a national level; from 2017 to 2020, it increased by 7.4% (95% CI: 0.6, 14.8). The DMR with the highest increase during the study period came mainly from states in the country's southeastern region, 2.3% to 3.7% per year. The net age and period effects showed that mortality increased with advancing age and with going time, respectively; and the net cohort effect revealed that mortality increased in more recent birth cohorts, mainly in men Rate Ratio (RR) = 2.37 (95% CI: 2.29, 2.46) vs RR = 1.13 (95% CI: 1.09, 1.17). CONCLUSION: The DMR increased among older age groups. The period effect showed that mortality increased over time. Furthermore, the cohort effect showed that mortality increased in more recent birth cohorts, especially among men.

Epidemiología y calidad asistencial de las intoxicaciones agudas en el adulto mayor de 65 años en Alicante, España / Epidemiology and quality of care of acute intoxication in people over 65 years of age in Alicante, Spain

Introducción El objetivo fue estudiar la epidemiología de las intoxicaciones agudas en el servicio de urgencias (SU) de un centro de tercer nivel y analizar el grado de cumplimiento de los indicadores de calidad (IC) en pacientes ≥65 años comparado con el resto de los adultos. Material y métodos Estudio observacional y retrospectivo, se incluyeron los casos diagnosticados de intoxicación aguda de pacientes >14 años atendidos en el SU de un hospital terciario. Se recogieron las variables demográficas, tipo de tóxicos y causa de la intoxicación, 19 IC y destino, siendo la variable de resultado el grado de cumplimiento de los IC. Resultados Se registraron 1.144 casos, 10,4% (n=119) personas ≥65 años. Hubo mayor proporción de mujeres en este grupo (72,8 vs. 60,9%; p=0,015), más intoxicación accidental (37,6 vs. 25,7% p=0,006), y menos voluntaria (35,0 vs. 49,6%; p=0,003), menos intoxicación por alcohol (5 vs. 17,8%; <0,001) y ningún caso intoxicado por drogas ilegales (p<0,001). En la mayoría de los IC tenían un alto grado de cumplimento (> 85%) en personas ≥65 años como en el resto de los adultos. De todos los IC hubo diferencias en la indicación de oxigenoterapia en el caso de intoxicación por monóxido de carbono (CO) en aquellos ≥65 años (64,2 vs. 40,9%; p=0,005). Conclusiones El perfil epidemiológico de la intoxicación en personas ≥65 años es diferente al de los más jóvenes y con un cumplimiento de los IC. Dado los resultados obtenidos no consideramos que existan diferencias en la asistencia del paciente intoxicado con respecto a su edad (AU)

Introduction The objective of this study was to examine the epidemiology of acute poisonings in the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary center and to analyze the compliance level with quality indicators (QIs) in patients 65 years and older compared rest of adults. Materials and methods This was an observational and retrospective study that included diagnosed cases of acute poisoning in patients over 14 years old treated in the ED of a tertiary hospital. Demographic variables, type of toxic substances, and cause of poisoning were collected, along with 19 QIs and patient outcomes, with the main outcome variable being the degree of compliance with the QIs. Results A total of 1144 cases were recorded, with 10.4% (n=119) being patients 65 years and older. Patients 65 years and older were more likely to be female (72.8% vs. 60.9%; p=0.015), experience more accidental poisonings (37.6% vs. 25.7%; p=0.006), and fewer intentional poisonings (35.0% vs. 49.6%; p=0.003). There were fewer cases of alcohol poisoning (5% vs. 17.8%; p<0.001), and no cases of illegal drug poisoning (p<0.001) in this age group. Most QIs showed a high degree of compliance (>85%) in both patients 65 years and older and rest of adults. However, there were differences in the indication of oxygen therapy in cases of carbon monoxide poisoning (64.2% vs. 40.9%; p=0.005). Conclusions The epidemiological profile of poisoning in patients 65 years and older differs from that of adult patients, with a similar degree of compliance with QIs. Based on the results obtained, there does not appear to be significant differences in the management of poisoned patients based on their age (AU)

Sequencing paired tumor DNA and white blood cells improves circulating tumor DNA tracking and detects pathogenic germline variants in localized colon cancer.

BACKGROUND: In the setting of localized colon cancer (CC), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring in plasma has shown potential for detecting minimal residual disease (MRD) and predicting a higher risk of recurrence. With the tumor-only sequencing approach, however, germline variants may be misidentified as somatic variations, precluding the possibility of tracking in up to 11% of patients due to a lack of known somatic mutations. In this study, we assess the potential value of adding white blood cells (WBCs) to tumor tissue sequencing to enhance the accuracy of sequencing results. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 148 patients diagnosed with localized CC were prospectively recruited at the Hospital Clínico Universitario in Valencia (Spain). Employing a custom 29-gene panel, sequencing was conducted on tumor tissue, plasma and corresponding WBCs. Droplet digital PCR and amplicon-based NGS were performed on plasma samples post-surgery to track MRD. Oncogenic somatic variants were identified by annotating with COSMIC, OncoKB and an internal repository of pathogenic mutations database. A variant prioritization analysis, mainly characterized by the match of oncogenic mutations with the evidence levels defined in OncoKB, was carried out to select specific targeted therapies. RESULTS: Utilizing paired tumor and WBCs sequencing, we identified somatic mutations in all patients (100%) within our cohort, compared to 89% using only tumor tissue. Consequently, the top 10 most frequently mutated genes for plasma monitoring were altered. The sequencing of WBCs identified 9% of patients with pathogenic mutations in the germline, with APC and TP53 being the most frequently mutated genes. Additionally, mutations in genes related to clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential were detected in 27% of the cohort, with TP53, KRAS, and KMT2C being the most frequently altered genes. There were no observed differences in the sensitivity of monitoring MRD using ddPCR or amplicon-based NGS (p = 1). Ultimately, 41% of the patients harbored potentially targetable alterations at diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The germline testing method not only enhanced sequencing results and raised the proportion of patients eligible for plasma monitoring, but also uncovered the existence of pathogenic germline variations, thereby aiding in the identification of patients at a higher risk of hereditary cancer syndromes.

Posttransplantation diabetes mellitus after liver transplant and the impact of family history of diabetes in a Mexican cohort.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is a serious long-term complication that has a negative impact on graft and patient survival. The purpose of the present study was to describe the incidence of PTDM in a Mexican cohort and evaluate its association with a previous family history of diabetes (FHD). METHODS: A retrospective single-center cohort study was conducted on patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT). The primary outcome was time from LT to PTDM. The diagnosis of PTDM was established using the ADA criteria. A mediation analysis that used adjusted Cox regression models and considered pretransplant prediabetes a mediator was performed, to determine the total effect and direct effect of FHD on PTDM. RESULTS: A total of 152 patients were included, with a median follow-up time of 41 months; 19.2% (n = 29) had pretransplant diabetes. During the follow-up time, 15% of patients developed PTDM (n = 23), with an incidence rate of 4.71 cases/100 person-years. PTDM was significantly higher in patients with FHD, compared with those with no FHD (8.72 cases/100 person-years vs 2.04 cases/100 person-years, respectively; p = 0.001). The adjusted hazard ratio of PTDM for FHD was 4.14 (95% CI 1.60-10.7), p = 0.005) and 3.48 (95% CI 1.35-9.01, p = 0.010), when further controlled for pretransplant prediabetes. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of PTDM was similar to that reported in most international studies. As with type 2 diabetes, family history plays an important role in the development of PTDM, even after accounting for pretransplant prediabetes. Patients with FHD should undergo a stricter metabolic program.

Social cognition interventions for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. A systematic review.

Early intervention during childhood in patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been strongly advocated. As adolescence is reached, new, more complex social demands emerge. These demands require a therapeutic approach that has not been widely studied. The aim of this review is to examine and synthesize the existing literature on social cognition interventions in adolescence and lay the groundwork for future interventions.

Impacto de la fragilidad en la supervivencia intrahospitalaria en pacientes mayores con infección por COVID-19: la importancia de su identificación temprana. Registro Nacional SEMI-COVID / The impact of frailty on intra-hospital survival in older patients with COVID-19 infection: The importance of early identification. SEMI-COVID National Registry

Introducción La evidencia reciente sugiere que la fragilidad puede ser un importante predictor de resultados adversos en personas mayores hospitalizadas por COVID-19. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar el valor pronóstico de la fragilidad en la supervivencia intrahospitalaria de estos pacientes. Métodos Estudio observacional, multicéntrico y de ámbito nacional de pacientes ≥70 años hospitalizados a consecuencia de la COVID-19 en España desde el 1 de marzo hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2020. Los datos de los pacientes se obtuvieron del Registro SEMI-COVID-19 de la Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna. Se utilizó la escala de fragilidad Clínica (CFS, por sus siglas en inglés) para evaluar la fragilidad. El resultado primario fue la supervivencia hospitalaria. Se realizó un modelo de riesgos proporcionales de Cox para evaluar los predictores de supervivencia. Resultados Se incluyeron 1.878 participantes (52% varones y 48% mujeres). Mil trescientos cincuenta y un supervivientes (71,9%) y 527 no supervivientes (28,1%). El grupo de no supervivientes presentaba en comparación con los supervivientes una media de edad superior (83,5 frente a 81 años), más comorbilidades (6,3 frente a 5,3 puntos en el índice de Charlson), mayor grado de dependencia (26,8 frente al 12,4% de pacientes con dependencia severa) y de fragilidad (34,5 frente al 14,7% de pacientes con fragilidad severa), sin embargo, no hubo diferencias en cuanto al sexo. Nuestros resultados muestran que un grado de fragilidad moderado-grave es el principal factor asociado de forma independiente con una menor supervivencia (HR: 2,344; 1,437-3,823; p<0,001 para SFC 5-6 y HR: 3,694; 2,155-6,330; p<0,001 para SFC 7-9. Conclusiones La fragilidad es el principal predictor de resultados adversos en pacientes mayores con COVID-19. El uso de herramientas como la CFS es fundamental para la detección precoz de fragilidad en esta población (AU)

Background Emerging evidence suggests that frailty may be a significant predictor of poor outcomes in older individuals hospitalized due to COVID-19. This study aims to determine the prognostic value of frailty on intrahospital patient survival. Methods This observational, multicenter, nationwide study included patients aged 70 years and older who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Spain between March 1 and December 31, 2020. Patient data were obtained from the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine. Frailty was assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale. The primary outcome was hospital survival. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess predictors of survival. Results A total of 1878 participants (52% men and 48% women) were included, with 1351 (71.9%) survivors and 527 (28.1%) non-survivors. The non-survivor group had higher mean age (83.5 vs. 81 years), comorbidities (6.3 vs. 5.3 points on the Charlson index), degree of dependency (26.8% vs. 12.4% severely dependent patients), and frailty (34.5% vs. 14.7% severely frail patients) compared to survivors. However, there were no differences in terms of sex. Our results demonstrate that a moderate–severe degree of frailty is the primary factor independently associated with shorter survival (HR 2.344; 1.437-3.823; p < 0.001 for CFS 5-6 and 3.694; 2.155–6.330; p < 0.001 for CFS 7-9). Conclusion Frailty is the main predictor of adverse outcomes in older patients with COVID-19. The utilization of tools such as the Clinical Frailty Scale is crucial for early detection in this population (AU)

Intervenciones en cognición social en adolescentes con Trastorno del Espectro Autista. Una revisión sistemática / Social cognition interventions for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. A systematic review

Introducción. La intervención temprana durante la infancia en pacientes con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA)ha sido fuertemente promovida. Al alcanzar la adolescencia,aparecen nuevas demandas sociales más complejas. Estas demandas precisan nuevamente un abordaje terapéutico, que no ha sido tan ampliamente estudiado. El objetivo de esta revisión es examinar y sintetizar la literatura existente sobre intervenciones en cognición social en adolescencia, y sentar las bases para futuras intervenciones. Método. Se realizaron búsquedas en las bases de datos PubMed, PsycINFO y Web of Science hasta el 20 de abril de 2023. Se incluyeron investigaciones cuantitativa o cualitativa dirigida a examinar la influencia de las intervenciones centradas en cognición social en el tratamiento del TEA en adolescencia, en lengua inglesa o española. Los estudios cuantitativos y cualitativos se evaluaron utilizando una versión modificada de la Escala de Newcastle-Ottawa y la Critical Appraisals Skills Programme checklist, respectivamente. Resultados. Se seleccionaron 19 estudios originales que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión. Los estudios seleccionados incluyeron a un total de 916 pacientes. La duración media de las intervenciones fue de 13,28 semanas. Se categorizaron en intervenciones en habilidades sociales basadas en grupos, intervenciones basadas en la experiencia e intervenciones mediadas por ordenador. Conclusiones. Resulta llamativa la escasez de intervenciones en cognición social diseñadas específicamente para adolescentes con TEA. El intervalo de neuroplasticidad entre la pubertad y la transición a la edad adulta brinda la oportunidad de mejorar la reorganización estructural y funcional dinámica. Por tanto, la adolescencia es una etapa de desarrollo única y susceptible de intervenciones específicas. (AU)

Introduction. Early intervention during childhood in patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been strongly advocated. As adolescence is reached, new, more complex social demands emerge. These demands require a therapeutic approach that has not been widely studied. The aim of this review is to examine and synthesize the existing literature on social cognition interventions in adolescence and lay the groundwork for future interventions. Methods. Searches were conducted in the PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases up until April 20, 2023. Quantitative or qualitative research aimed at examining the influence of social cognition-focused interventions in the treatment of ASD in adolescence, in either English or Spanish language, was included. Quantitative and qualitative studies were evaluated using a modified version of the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Critical Appraisals Skills Programme checklist, respectively. Results. Nineteen original studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected. The selected studies included a total of 916 patients. The average duration of the interventions was 13.28 weeks. They were categorized into group-based social skills interventions, experience-based interventions, and computer-mediated interventions. Conclusions. The scarcity of social cognition interventions specifically designed for adolescents with ASD is striking. The neuroplasticity window between puberty and the transition to adulthood provides an opportunity for structural and dynamic functional reorganization. Therefore, adolescence is a unique developmental stage that is amenable to specific interventions. (AU)

The impact of frailty on intra-hospital survival in older patients with COVID-19 infection: the importance of early identification. SEMI-COVID National Registry.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that frailty may be a significant predictor of poor outcomes in older individuals hospitalized due to COVID-19. This study aims to determine the prognostic value of frailty on intrahospital patient survival. METHODS: This observational, multicenter, nationwide study included patients aged 70 years and older who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Spain between March 1 and December 31, 2020. Patient data were obtained from the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine. Frailty was assessed using the Clinical Frailty Scale. The primary outcome was hospital survival. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess predictors of survival. RESULTS: A total of 1,878 participants (52% men and 48% women) were included, with 1,351 (71.9%) survivors and 527 (28.1%) non-survivors. The non-survivor group had higher mean age (83.5 vs. 81 years), comorbidities (6.3 vs. 5.3 points on the Charlson index), degree of dependency (26.8% vs. 12.4% severely dependent patients), and frailty (34.5% vs. 14.7% severely frail patients) compared to survivors. However, there were no differences in terms of sex. Our results demonstrate that a moderate-severe degree of frailty is the primary factor independently associated with shorter survival [HR 2.344 (1.437-3.823; p<0.001) for CFS 5-6 and 3.694 (2.155-6.330; p<0.001) for CFS 7-9]. CONCLUSION: Frailty is the main predictor of adverse outcomes in older patients with COVID-19. The utilization of tools such as the Clinical Frailty Scale is crucial for early detection in this population.