Repercussions of the COVID-19 lockdown for autistic people in Mexico: The caregivers' perspective / Repercusiones del confinamiento por COVID-19 en personas autistas en México: Perspectiva de los cuidadores

Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 lockdown has posed new challenges for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including service suspension and reductions in support. Objective To explore the perspectives of caregivers on the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on people with ASD in Mexico. Method 126 caregivers from Mexico completed a survey on the impact of lockdown on people with ASD. Results Suspension of at least one service was reported for 38.9% of subjects, with no significant association being found between symptom worsening and service administration modality. Discussion and conclusion Service suspension for people with ASD in Mexico has been a side effect of the pandemic, negatively impacting their behavior. Results indicate that certain services could be remotely maintained and provided to individuals with ASD in underserved areas.

Resumen Introducción El confinamiento debido a la pandemia por COVID-19 ha implicado nuevos desafíos para las personas con trastorno del espectro autista (TEA), incluyendo la suspensión de algunos servicios, y la disminución de los apoyos. Objetivo Explorar las perspectivas de los cuidadores acerca de las repercusiones del confinamiento por COVID-19 en las personas con TEA en México. Método 126 cuidadores residentes de México completaron una encuesta acerca del impacto del confinamiento en personas con TEA. Resultados Aunque el 38.9% de los participantes reportó la suspensión de al menos un servicio de salud tras el confinamiento, no hubo asociaciones significativas entre retroceso y modalidad de administración de los servicios. Discusión y conclusión La suspensión de servicios a las personas con TEA en México es uno de los efectos secundarios de la pandemia, y afecta negativamente su comportamiento. Los resultados indican que algunos tratamientos pudieran ser mantenidos remotamente y brindar servicios a personas con TEA en zonas de difícil acceso.

Clinical and demographic differences by sex in autistic Venezuelan children: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Sex differences in symptom severity and adaptive function in children with ASD have been historically inconsistent and studies are predominantly from American- and European-residing populations. Alike, there is limited information on the complex interplay between sex, intelligence, adaptive function, and autism symptom severity; this is crucial to identify given their predictive value for health outcomes in autism AIM: This study aimed to identify sex differences in autism symptom severity and adaptive function in a sample of Venezuelan children. METHOD: One-hundred-and-three Venezuelan children ages 3-7 completed a comprehensive assessment for symptom severity, adaptive functioning, and intelligence. RESULTS: Sex differences were not present in any autism diagnostic domain or adaptive function.Symptom severity was not a significant predictor for adaptive function, which contrasts with studies sampling American children. CONCLUSION: This study corroborates other findings based on non-American children, where symptom severity was not a function of adaptive function. Awareness of the interplay of culture, sex-related standards, and autism symptomatology will result in better identification and diagnosis of autism regardless of sex or cultural background. What this paper adds? This paper aids the current literature on sex difference on both autism symptom severity and adaptive function. It also provides a snapshot of the relationship between symptom severity, adaptive function, and other psychological variables that influence the outcome of children with ASD.

Social Determinants of Sexual Behavior and Awareness of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Among Low-Income HIV+ or STI At-Risk Hispanic Residents Receiving Care at the U.S.-Mexico Border.

U.S.-Mexico border communities are uniquely vulnerable to sexually transmitted infection (STI) transmission given the economic and social challenges these communities face. This study examines how marginalized statuses of U.S. border residents are associated with STI awareness and sexual behaviors. We surveyed low-income residents receiving STI testing and/or HIV/AIDS care in the lower Rio Grande Valley of southernmost Texas. Respondents aged 18+ took a self-administered survey available in English or Spanish in a clinic waiting room (N = 282). Approximately 52% of respondents reported being HIV+, and 32% of respondents reported having a prior STI other than HIV. Although most respondents had heard of HPV (72%), awareness of the HPV vaccine was low across all subgroups (28%), including women (< 35%), reflecting previous findings that border residents are less knowledgeable about the HPV vaccine. Almost half of respondents reported always using a condom (45%), which is higher than elsewhere in the U.S. Male and non-Hispanic respondents had higher estimated prevalence ratios (PR) of lifetime partners [PR 1.39 (95% confidence interval 1.43-3.68), PR 1.88 (1.04-3.41), respectively] and sexual partners met online [PR 3.73 (1.00-14.06), PR 19.98 (5.70-70.10), respectively]. Sexual minority, non-Hispanic, and male respondents had higher adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of utilizing the internet to find sexual partners than their peers [AOR 2.45 (1.60-3.87), AOR 1.52 (1.11-2.07), AOR 1.97 (1.20-3.24), respectively], placing them at greater STI-transmission risk. We found diversity in dimensions of STI awareness and sexual behaviors in our sample. Results can help tailor public health interventions to the unique STI risks of marginalized groups in border communities.

Autologous tolerogenic dendritic cells derived from monocytes of systemic lupus erythematosus patients and healthy donors show a stable and immunosuppressive phenotype.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with unrestrained T-cell and B-cell activity towards self-antigens. Evidence shows that apoptotic cells (ApoCells) trigger an autoreactive response against nuclear antigens in susceptible individuals. In this study, we focus on generating and characterizing tolerogenic dendritic cells (tolDCs) to restore tolerance to ApoCells. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) from healthy controls and patients with SLE were treated with dexamethasone and rosiglitazone to induce tolDCs. Autologous apoptotic lymphocytes generated by UV irradiation were given to tolDCs as a source of self-antigens. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used as a maturation stimulus to induce the expression of co-stimulatory molecules and secretion of cytokines. TolDCs generated from patients with SLE showed a reduced expression of co-stimulatory molecules after LPS stimulation compared with mature DCs. The same phenomenon was observed in tolDCs treated with ApoCells and LPS. In addition, ApoCell-loaded tolDCs stimulated with LPS secreted lower levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-12p70 than mature DCs without differences in IL-10 secretion. The functionality of tolDCs was assessed by their capacity to prime allogeneic T cells. TolDCs displayed suppressor properties as demonstrated by a significantly reduced capacity to induce allogeneic T-cell proliferation and activation. ApoCell-loaded tolDCs generated from SLE monocytes have a stable immature/tolerogenic phenotype that can modulate CD4+ T-cell activation. These properties make them suitable for an antigen-specific immunotherapy for SLE.