Análisis psicométrico del inventario de síntomas prefrontales abreviado: evidencias de su validez y fiabilidad en la población general venezolana / Psychometric analysis of the prefrontal symptom inventory abbreviated: evidence of its validity and reliability in the general Venezuelan population

Introducción: Existen pocas herramientas para medir objetivamente las disfunciones de origen prefrontal autoinformadas por la población general. El inventario de síntomas prefrontales (ISP) es una prueba con excelentes propiedades psicométricas que permite dicha evaluación, y hasta el momento no se han realizado análisis robustos de su versión abreviada en castellano para Latinoamérica. Objetivo: Analizar las propiedades psicométricas del ISP abreviado, en términos de fiabilidad y validez en la población general dentro del contexto venezolano. Sujetos y métodos: Participaron 300 sujetos de población general. La estructura factorial del ISP abreviado se determinó a través del análisis factorial confirmatorio; la validez de constructo se evaluó a partir del contraste de grupos con/sin riesgo de deterioro cognitivo leve y la convergencia de puntuaciones con los dominios que componen la prueba cognitiva de Montreal (MoCA). Asimismo, se estimó la consistencia interna través de la omega de McDonald y el alfa de Cronbach. Resultados: Se contrastaron cinco modelos factoriales y se obtuvo una versión del ISP compuesta por 18 ítems, que presentó excelentes indicadores de bondad de ajuste: ?2 (132) = 200,057, p < 0,001, índice de ajuste comparativo = 0,955, índice de Tucker Lewis = 0,948, raíz cuadrática estandarizada de las medias residuales = 0,042, raíz cuadrática de la media del error de aproximación = 0,041; y consistencia interna (omega = 0,9; alfa = 0,89). Asimismo, se evidenciaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre grupos y correlaciones inversas con los apartados evaluados en la MoCA a excepción de la abstracción. Conclusión: El ISP-18 es una medida válida y confiable para ser utilizada en la población estudiada. Consistentemente, estudios previos dan cuenta de su versatilidad para que se use en investigación y en contextos de salud.(AU)

Introduction: Few tools exist to objectively measure dysfunctions of prefrontal origin self-reported by the general population. The Prefrontal Symptom Inventory (PSI) is a test with excellent psychometric properties that allows such assessment and so far, no robust analysis of its abbreviated version in Spanish for Latin America has been performed. Aims To analyze the psychometric properties of the abbreviated PSI in terms of reliability and validity in the general population in the Venezuelan context. Subjects and methods: 300 subjects from the general population participated. The factor structure of the abbreviated ISP was determined through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); construct validity was assessed by contrasting groups with no risk of MCI and the convergence of scores with the domains that make up the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Likewise, internal consistency was estimated through McDonald’s w and Cronbach’s a. Results: Five factorial models were contrasted and a version of the PSI composed of 18 items was obtained, which presented excellent indicators of goodness of fit (c2 (132) = 200.057, p < 0.001, CFI=0.955, TLI=0.948, SRMR=0.042, RMSEA=0.041) and internal consistency (w = 0.90; a = 0.89). Likewise, statistically significant differences between groups and inverse correlations were evidenced with the sections evaluated in the MoCA except for abstraction. Conclusion: The PSI-18 is a valid and reliable measure to be used in the studied population. Consistently, previous studies show its versatility to be used in research and health contexts.(AU)

[Psychometric analysis of the prefrontal symptom inventory abbreviated: evidence of its validity and reliability in the general Venezuelan population]. / Análisis psicométrico del inventario de síntomas prefrontales abreviado: evidencias de su validez y fiabilidad en la población general venezolana.

INTRODUCTION: Few tools exist to objectively measure dysfunctions of prefrontal origin self-reported by the general population. The Prefrontal Symptom Inventory (PSI) is a test with excellent psychometric properties that allows such assessment and so far, no robust analysis of its abbreviated version in Spanish for Latin America has been performed. AIMS: To analyze the psychometric properties of the abbreviated PSI in terms of reliability and validity in the general population in the Venezuelan context. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 300 subjects from the general population participated. The factor structure of the abbreviated ISP was determined through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA); construct validity was assessed by contrasting groups with no risk of MCI and the convergence of scores with the domains that make up the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Likewise, internal consistency was estimated through McDonald's ? and Cronbach's a. RESULTS: Five factorial models were contrasted and a version of the PSI composed of 18 items was obtained, which presented excellent indicators of goodness of fit (?2 (132) = 200.057, p < 0.001, CFI=0.955, TLI=0.948, SRMR=0.042, RMSEA=0.041) and internal consistency (? = 0.90; a = 0.89). Likewise, statistically significant differences between groups and inverse correlations were evidenced with the sections evaluated in the MoCA except for abstraction. CONCLUSION: The PSI-18 is a valid and reliable measure to be used in the studied population. Consistently, previous studies show its versatility to be used in research and health contexts.

TITLE: Análisis psicométrico del inventario de síntomas prefrontales abreviado: evidencias de su validez y fiabilidad en la población general venezolana.Introducción. Existen pocas herramientas para medir objetivamente las disfunciones de origen prefrontal autoinformadas por la población general. El inventario de síntomas prefrontales (ISP) es una prueba con excelentes propiedades psicométricas que permite dicha evaluación, y hasta el momento no se han realizado análisis robustos de su versión abreviada en castellano para Latinoamérica. Objetivo. Analizar las propiedades psicométricas del ISP abreviado, en términos de fiabilidad y validez en la población general dentro del contexto venezolano. Sujetos y métodos. Participaron 300 sujetos de población general. La estructura factorial del ISP abreviado se determinó a través del análisis factorial confirmatorio; la validez de constructo se evaluó a partir del contraste de grupos con/sin riesgo de deterioro cognitivo leve y la convergencia de puntuaciones con los dominios que componen la prueba cognitiva de Montreal (MoCA). Asimismo, se estimó la consistencia interna través de la omega de McDonald y el alfa de Cronbach. Resultados. Se contrastaron cinco modelos factoriales y se obtuvo una versión del ISP compuesta por 18 ítems, que presentó excelentes indicadores de bondad de ajuste: ?2 (132) = 200,057, p menor de 0,001, índice de ajuste comparativo = 0,955, índice de Tucker Lewis = 0,948, raíz cuadrática estandarizada de las medias residuales = 0,042, raíz cuadrática de la media del error de aproximación = 0,041; y consistencia interna (omega = 0,9; alfa = 0,89). Asimismo, se evidenciaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre grupos y correlaciones inversas con los apartados evaluados en la MoCA a excepción de la abstracción. Conclusión. El ISP-18 es una medida válida y confiable para ser utilizada en la población estudiada. Consistentemente, estudios previos dan cuenta de su versatilidad para que se use en investigación y en contextos de salud.

Indicaciones inhabituales de trasplante hepático. resultados / Unusual indications for liver transplantation. results

Resumen Introducción: El trasplante hepático (TH), es una terapia establecida en el tratamiento de diversas enfermedades del hígado agudas y crónicas terminales y del carcinoma hepatocelular (CHC). Las principales indicaciones en nuestro medio son la cirrosis de diferentes etiologías, el CHC, la atresia de vías biliares en niños y la falla hepática fulminante (FHF). Menos del 10% corresponden a indicaciones inhabituales, que incluyen pacientes con una miscelánea de enfermedades entre las cuales están la enfermedad poliquística hepática (EPH), enfermedades metabólicas (Niemann-Pick, otras), el síndrome hepato/portopulmonar, metástasis de diferentes tumores, etc. Objetivo: Describir y evaluar los resultados obtenidos con el trasplante hepático en estas indicaciones. Materiales y Método: Estudio de cohorte no concurrente que incluyó los TH por indicaciones inhabituales realizados entre marzo de 1997 y diciembre de 2016. De 295 TH realizados, 34 (11,5%) fueron por estas indicaciones. Resultados: Las causas más frecuentes fueron el síndrome porto/hepatopulmonar en 11 (40,7%) pacientes y la EPH en 9 (26,5%). Las enfermedades metabólicas representaron la tercera indicación, con 5 (14,7%) casos. Siete (20,6%) pacientes eran menores de 18 años. Las complicaciones más frecuentes fueron biliares y la trombosis de arteria hepática en 6 (17,6%) y 4 (11,8%) casos respectivamente; estos últimos eran portadores de una EPH masiva. Cuatro (12,5%) pacientes requirieron retrasplante. La mortalidad a 90 días fue de 2 (5,9%) enfermos. Conclusión: El TH es una opción factible en este grupo de pacientes con resultados similares a los obtenidos en las indicaciones clásicas.

Introduction: Liver transplantation (LT) is an established therapy in the treatment of several acute and chronic end-stage liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The main indications worldwide are cirrhosis of different etiologies, HCC, biliary atresia in children, and fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). Less than 10% concerns unusual indications which include patients with miscellaneous diseases among which are hepatic polycystic disease (HPD), metabolic diseases (Niemann-Pick, others), portal/hepatopulmonary syndrome, metastasis of different tumors, among others. Aim: The objective of the study is to describe and asses the results obtained with liver transplantation in these indications. Materials and Method: We performed a non-concurrent cohort study that included all LT due to unusual indications between March 1997 and December 2016 in a university medical center. Of 295 TH performed, 34 (11.75%) were due to these indications. Results: The most frequent causes were the portal/hepatopulmonary syndrome in 11 (40.7%) patients and HPD in 9 (26.5%). Metabolic diseases accounted for the third indication in 5 (14.7%) cases. Seven (20.6%) patients were less than 18 years old. The most frequent complications were biliary and hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) in 6 (17.6%) and 4 (11.8%) cases, respectively. Patients complicated by a HAT suffered a massive EPH. Four (12.5%), required retransplantation. Mortality at 90 days was 2 (5.9%). Conclusión: LT is a feasible option in this group of patients with results similar to those obtained in classic indications of LT.

Gold-based nanospheres and nanorods particles used as theranostic agents: An in vitro and in vivo toxicology studies.

The adverse effect of gold-based nanoparticles is still an open question since it depends on several factors as shape, surface charge or route of administration. In this study, we investigated the influence of shape and human serum albumin (HSA) coating on the adverse effects of spherical (AuNP) and nanorods (AuNR) gold-based particles. F C3H (fibroblast) and HTC (hepatocellular carcinoma) cell lines both from liver were exposed to 25, 75 and 125 µg mL-1, which correspond to 109 NP mL-1. For in vivo studies, Wistar rats received these materials by oral administration in doses of 10 µg kg-1 or 40 µg kg-1. Systemic toxicity was verified after 24 h and 48 h by morphological analysis, blood parameters and myeloperoxidase enzyme activity. Our results revealed that HSA corona does not influence totally the pathway of interactions between AuNP and AuNR. In vitro results evidenced that AuNP can decrease in at least 50% viability of F C3H and cell adhesion of HTC, but corona significantly overcomes these effects. No differences between shape or corona were observed in function of cell lines. In vivo studies showed that 40 µg kg-1 of AuNP-HSA caused an enhancement of the myeloperoxidase response indicating inflammatory processes. An increase from 40% to 80% on alkaline phosphatase levels were found for all groups. Our findings suggested that gold-based particles coated or not with HSA do not cause expressive adverse effects on in vitro or in vivo systems, and their oral administration cannot cause a systemic effect in the experimental conditions used here.

Determining optimal conditions to produce activated carbon from barley husks using single or dual optimization.

When producing activated carbons from agricultural by-products, certain properties, such as yield and specific surface area, are very important for obtaining an economical and promising adsorbent material. Nevertheless, many researchers have not simultaneously optimized these properties and have obtained different optimal conditions for the production of activated carbon that either increases specific surface area but decreases yield or vice versa. In this research, the production of activated carbon from barley husks (BH) by chemical activation with zinc chloride was optimized by using a 2(3) factorial design with replicates at the central point, followed by a central composite design with two responses (the yield and iodine number) and three factors (the activation temperature, activation time, and impregnation ratio). Both responses were simultaneously optimized by using the desirability functions approach to determine the optimal conditions of this process. The findings reveal that after the simultaneous dual optimization, the maximal response values were obtained at an activation temperature of 436 °C, an activation time of 20 min, and an impregnation ratio of 1.1 g ZnCl2/g BH, although the results after the single optimization of each response were quite different. At these conditions, the predicted values for the iodine number and yield were 829.58 ± 78.30 mg/g and 46.82 ± 2.64%, respectively, whereas experimental tests produced values of 901.86 mg/g and 48.48%, respectively. Moreover, activated carbons from BH obtained at the optimal conditions primarily developed a porous structure (mesopores > 71% and micropores > 28%), achieving a high surface area (811.44 m(2)/g) that is similar to commercial activated carbons and lignocellulosic-based activated carbons. These results imply that the pore width and surface area are large enough to allow the diffusion and adsorption of pollutants inside the adsorbent particles. In summary, two responses were optimized to determine the optimal conditions for the production of activated carbons because it is possible to increase both the specific surface area and yield.

Homocisteína en niños y adolescentes. Relación con historia familiar de enfermedad cardiovascular / Serum homocysteine in children and adolescents. Relation with family history of cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent cardiovascular risk factor that depends on folate and vitamin B12 nutrition. AIM: To measure homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 serum levels in healthy children with and without a family history of cardiovascular disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty children aged 6 to 15 years with a family history of cardiovascular disease, and 40 age and sex matched children without such history were studied. Serum homocysteine, folic acid and vitamin B12 were measured in a fasting blood sample. Homocysteine was measured by a fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA), vitamin B12 by enzymatic microparticle assay, covered with intrinsic factor and folic acid by ionic capture, using commercial kits. RESULTS: Children with family history of cardiovascular disease had higher homocysteine levels than their counterparts without family history (7.9 +/- 3 and 5.8 +/- 2 mumol/l respectively, p < 0.03), but similar folic acid (5.2 +/- 1.8 and 5.5 +/- 1.4 pg/ml respectively) and vitamin B12 levels (431 +/- 213 and 445 +/- 209 ng/ml respectively). There was a negative and significant correlation between homocysteine and folic acid and vitamin B12 levels. CONCLUSIONS: Children with a family history of cardiovascular disease have higher levels of serum homocysteine than those without such history, despite having similar levels of folic acid and vitamin B12.

[Optimization of formulations for dietetic pastry products]. / Optimización de formulaciones para productos dietéticos de pastelería.

Optimized formulations of dietetic pastry products such as cake and sponge cake premixes were formulated using the surface response methodology. % Emulsifier agent and baking time were the selected independent variables for cake, as well as % emulsifier agent % chlorinated flour the variables selected for sponge cake. Three different level of each variable summing up thirteen experimental formulae of each product were assessed to optimize the variables that could have some influence in the sensory characteristics of these dietetic products. The total sensory quality was determined for both dietetic products using the composite scoring test and a panel of 18 trained judges. Looking at the contour graphic and considering economic aspects the best combination of variables for cake formulation was 2% emulsifier agent and 48 minutes for baking time, With respect to sponge cake, the best combination was 6% emulsifier agent and 48% chlorinated flour. Shelf life studies showed that both dietetic formulations remained stable during storage conditions of 75 days at 30 degrees C. During this period, significant differences in sensory characteristics were not found (p < 0.05). Data of peroxide values were kept under the critical value reported for detection of organoleptic rancidity. Reported values of hedonic test showed that these dietetics pastry products had good acceptability, and open up marketing opportunities for new products with potential health benefits to consumers.

Tratamiento de verrugas vulgares múltiples y recalcitrantes con 1-cloro-2, 4 dinitrobenceno (DNCB) o placebo en pacientes pediátricos / Treatment of warts multiples and recalcitrants with 1-chlore-2, 4 dinitrobencene (DNCB) and placebo in pediatric patients

Se estudiaron en forma abierta y controlada 40 pacientes pediátricos con verrugas vulgares múltiples, resistentes a otros tratamientos. En 20 pacientes se empleó como agente terapéutico el 1-cloro-2, 4 dinitrobenceno (DNCB) y en 20 pacientes acetona como placebo. Curaron 16 pacientes tratados con DNCB y siete tratados con placebo (P < 0.025). El tiempo promedio de curación de las lesiones con DNCB fue de siete semanas. La edad, sexo, número de lesiones, localización, tratamientos previos y tiempo de evolución de las lesiones no influyeron en la respuesta terapéutica

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma phenotyping: problems in the use of heterologous and monoclonal antibodies.

Cell suspensions or frozen sections of lymph node biopsies from 32 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were studied for sheep erythrocyte (E)-binding under three conditions (Estandard, EAET, Egravity), Fc and C receptors, immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy and light chain class and reactivity with heterologous antisera to T cells (T-LCL), HLA-D (Ia-like) and common acute lymphocytic leukemia (c-ALL) antigens. Selected B and T cell lymphomas were also tested for reactivity with the monoclonal antibodies OKT 3, OKT 4, OKT 6, OKT 8, OKT 11A, Leu-1, Leu-2a, Leu-3a, Leu-4 and Leu-7. There were 26 B and 6 T lymphomas. Most B lymphomas were mu+ (81%), kappa+ (77%) and 31% were mu+ delta+. One of the T lymphomas arose in a patient with antecedent follicular small-cleaved (B) cell lymphoma. The most accurate marker for characterizing the immunologic phenotype in NHL was the clonal excess of kappa+ or lambda+ cells. Neither Estandard, EAET, Egravity or T-LCL were consistently reliable as sole reagents in identifying T-cell lymphomas, their individual scores often being lower than those of monoclonal pan-T cell reagents. HLA-D (Ia-like) antigen was noted in 89% of B and 50% of T lymphomas. The corresponding values for c-ALL antigen were 12 and 33%, respectively. The comparative scores in T-lymphomas between OKT 4 and Leu-3a for "helper-inducer" (HE) cells and OKT 8 and Leu-2a for "suppressor-cytotoxic" (SU) cells were not uniformly consistent. Four T lymphomas had a mixed HE/SU cell phenotype, one was HE, and another SU. Anti-T reactivity was detected in the neoplastic follicles of six of seven follicular lymphomas. The percentage of anti-T reactive cells within positive neoplastic follicles was usually small (5-15%) and of the same order as that noted within reactive lymphoid follicles (5-30%). High numbers (50-100%) of cells from five small lymphocytic B, three diffuse small cleaved cell B and six T cell lymphomas were also positive with one or more anti-T reagents, suggesting the presence of cross-reactive antigens that make phenotyping of lymphomas with monoclonal antibodies problematic. Reactivity with the monoclonal antibody Leu-7 (HNK-1), a putative NK-specific reagent, was seen in one of five B and three of five T lymphomas.