RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia worldwide. In Hispanic populations there are few validated tests for the accurate identification and diagnosis of AD. The Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale is an internationally recognized questionnaire used to stage dementia. This study's objective was to develop a linguistic adaptation of the CDR for the Puerto Rican population. METHODS: The linguistic adaptation consisted of the evaluation of each CDR question (item) and the questionnaire's instructions, for similarities in meaning (semantic equivalence), relevance of content (content equivalence), and appropriateness of the questionnaire's format and measuring technique (technical equivalence). A focus group methodology was used to assess cultural relevance, clarity, and suitability of the measuring technique in the Argentinean version of the CDR for use in a Puerto Rican population. RESULTS: A total of 27 semantic equivalence changes were recommended in four categories: higher than 6th grade level of reading, meaning, common use, and word preference. Four content equivalence changes were identified, all focused on improving the applicability of the test questions to the general population's concept of street addresses and common dietary choices. There were no recommendations for changes in the assessment of technical equivalence. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a linguistically adapted CDR instrument for the Puerto Rican population, preserving the semantic, content, and technical equivalences of the original version. Further studies are needed to validate the usefulness of the adapted CDR instrument with the staging of Alzheimer's disease in the Puerto Rican population.
Assuntos
Demência/diagnóstico , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Feminino , Grupos Focais , Humanos , Idioma , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Porto RicoRESUMO
A glucosidase inhibition assay has been used to evaluate extracts from higher plants. An enzyme inhibition of fifty percent or more correlated with the observed cytotoxicity of the extracts
Assuntos
beta-Glucosidase/antagonistas & inibidores , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Avaliação Pré-Clínica de Medicamentos/métodos , Antivirais/farmacologia , Morte Celular/efeitos dos fármacos , HIV/efeitos dos fármacos , Linfócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Extratos Vegetais/toxicidade , Porto RicoRESUMO
Extracts from higher plants were evaluated for inhibitory activity against avian myeloblastosis virus reverse transcriptase. The assay may serve as a useful prescreen for potential anti-HIV bioactives
Assuntos
Antivirais/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , DNA Polimerase Dirigida por RNA/antagonistas & inibidores , Avaliação Pré-Clínica de Medicamentos/métodos , HIV/efeitos dos fármacos , Porto Rico , Vírus da Mieloblastose Aviária/enzimologiaRESUMO
Four bacteria-derived immunopotentiators were tested for their protective effect on a P-388 mouse lymphocytic leukemia model. The microbial test products were prepared from the following bacterial strains: ATCC 35983 Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from a patient with IV catheter; ATCC 31874, a patented strain listed as Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from the urine of a cancer patient; ATCC 25615 Staphylococcus hominis obtained from a child with lymphocytic leukemia, and ATCC 25614 Staphylococcus warneri, an isolate from a patient with adenocarcinoma of the breast. A limited degree of protection and prolongation in survival time was observed in the animal group treated with the bacterial strain ATCC 31874
