[Beneficios de la terapia de la risa en los niveles de depresión en niños diagnosticados con cáncer: estudio de caso.] / Benefits of laughing therapy on depression levels in children diagnosed with cancer: a case study.

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric cancer emotionally affects infants causing depression which must be intervened in a timely manner as an essential part of the treatment. Therefore, the present study sought to identify the benefits of laughter therapy on the levels of depression in children diagnosed with cancer in a foundation in Cali, Colombia. METHODS: The sample consisted of six children undergoing cancer treatment, aged between eight and twelve years. The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) and three laughter therapy workshops were applied. A descriptive analysis was performed, with measures of central tendency for quantitative variables and absolute and relative frequencies for categorical variables. RESULTS: The results indicated that 83% of the children presented an emotional problem due to the disease; favorable changes were evidenced in the depression scores after the laughter therapy interventions. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that laughter therapy is an effective non-pharmacological treatment when combined with workshops aimed at strengthening the expression of emotions, self-esteem and life project, which not only improves the health of children, but also prevents and reduces the appearance of emotional disorders.

OBJETIVO: El cáncer pediátrico afecta emocionalmente a los infantes causando depresión, la cual se debe intervenir oportunamente como parte fundamental del tratamiento. Por lo tanto, el presente estudio buscó identificar los beneficios de la terapia de la risa en los niveles de depresión en niños y niñas diagnosticados con cáncer de una fundación de Cali, Colombia. METODOS: La muestra estuvo conformada por seis niños en tratamiento oncológico, con edades entre los ocho y doce años. Se aplicó el Inventario de Depresión Infantil (CDI) y tres talleres de risoterapia. Se realizo un análisis descriptivo, para las variables cuantitativas se realizaron medidas de tendencia central y para las categóricas se reportaron frecuencias absolutas y relativas. RESULTADOS: Los resultados indicaron que el 83% de los niños presentaron un problema emocional debido a la enfermedad; se evidenciaron cambios favorables en los puntajes de depresión posterior a las intervenciones de la terapia de la risa. CONCLUSIONES: Se concluye que la terapia de la risa es un tratamiento no farmacológico eficaz al combinarse con talleres orientados a fortalecer la expresión de las emociones, autoestima y proyecto de vida, que no solo permite mejorar la salud de los infantes, sino que previne y reduce la aparición de trastornos emocionales.

Beneficios de la terapia de la risa en los niveles de depresión en niños diagnosticados con cáncer: estudio de caso / Benefits of laughing therapy on depression levels in children diagnosed with cancer: a case study

Fundamentos: El cáncer pediátrico afecta emocionalmente a los infantes causando depresión, la cual se debe intervenir oportunamente como parte fundamental del tratamiento. Por lo tanto, el presente estudio buscó identificar los beneficios de la terapia dela risa en los niveles de depresión en niños y niñas diagnosticados con cáncer de una fundación de Cali, Colombia. Métodos: La muestra estuvo conformada por seis niños en tratamiento oncológico, con edades entre los ocho y doce años. Se aplicó elInventario de Depresión Infantil (CDI) y tres talleres de risoterapia. Se realizo un análisis descriptivo, para las variablescuantitativas se realizaron medidas de tendencia central y para las categóricas se reportaron frecuencias absolutas y relativas. Resultados: Los resultados indicaron que el 83% de los niños presentaron un problema emocional debido a la enfermedad; seevidenciaron cambios favorables en los puntajes de depresión posterior a las intervenciones de la terapia de la risa. Conclusiones: Se concluye que la terapia de la risa es un tratamiento no farmacológico eficaz al combinarse con talleresorientados a fortalecer la expresión de las emociones, autoestima y proyecto de vida, que no solo permite mejorar la salud de losinfantes, sino que previne y reduce la aparición de trastornos emocionales.(AU)

Background: Pediatric cancer emotionally affects infants causing depression which must be intervened in a timely manner asan essential part of the treatment. Therefore, the present study sought to identify the benefits of laughter therapy on the levels ofdepression in children diagnosed with cancer in a foundation in Cali, Colombia. Methods: The sample consisted of six children undergoing cancer treatment, aged between eight and twelve years. TheChildren’sDepression Inventory (CDI) and three laughter therapy workshops were applied. A descriptive analysis was performed, with measures ofcentral tendency for quantitative variables and absolute and relative frequencies for categorical variables. Results: The results indicated that 83% of the children presented an emotional problem due to the disease; favorable changeswere evidenced in the depression scores after the laughter therapy interventions. Conclusions: It is concluded that laughter therapy is an effective non-pharmacological treatment when combined with works-hops aimed at strengthening the expression of emotions, self-esteem and life project, which not only improves the health of children,but also prevents and reduces the appearance of emotional disorders.(AU)

Consecuencias de la hipertensión arterial en las funciones cognitivas / Consequences of Arterial Hypertension over Cognitive Functions

Introducción: La hipertensión arterial, por su influencia y afectación multisistémica, surge como un factor de riesgo potencial para el deterioro progresivo de las funciones cognitivas. Objetivo: Identificar las principales alteraciones cognitivas asociadas a la hipertensión arterial, específicamente en la atención y la memoria. Métodos: Se realizó revisión bibliográfica retrospectiva de 34 estudios, teniendo en cuenta los criterios de inclusión. Se estableció una ventana temporal en el período 2002 al 2019, incluyendo las bases de datos Pubmed, Scopus, Medline y SciELO. Los textos completos se sometieron a una lectura crítica y análisis documental mediante una matriz de rastreo. Conclusiones: Una de las consecuencias más importantes de esta enfermedad es la afectación en las funciones cognitivas particularmente la atención y la memoria, con una incidencia en el deterioro cognitivo leve, profundo y medio. Sin embargo, su impacto en la cognición es un área que recientemente ha despertado el interés en la neuropsicología y la neurociencia cognitiva. La hipertensión arterial está considerada como una de las enfermedades cardiovasculares que está vinculada con la demencia, proporciona en un 50 por ciento el desarrollo de dicha enfermedad(AU)

Introduction: Arterial hypertension, due to its influence and multisystemic involvement, emerges as a potential risk factor for the progressive deterioration of cognitive functions. Objective: To identify the main cognitive alterations associated with arterial hypertension, specifically in attention and memory. Methods: A retrospective literature review of 34 studies was carried out, taking into account inclusion criteria. A time window was established from 2002 to 2019, including the PUBMED, SCOPUS, MEDLINE and SCIELO databases. The full texts were subjected to critical reading and documental analysis using a tracking matrix. Conclusions: One of the most important consequences of this disease is the negative impact on cognitive functions, particularly attention and memory, with an incidence in mild, profound and medium cognitive impairment. However, its impact on cognition is an area that has recently aroused interest in neuropsychology and cognitive neuroscience. Arterial hypertension is considered one of the cardiovascular diseases linked to dementia, since it causes the development of this disease in 50 percent of cases(AU)

Calidad de vida y estrategias de afrontamiento en pacientes con cáncer ginecológico / Quality of life and coping strategies in patients with gynecological cancer

Resumen Introducción: El cáncer ginecológico impacta psicológicamente a la mujer. En este proceso las Estrategias de Afrontamiento-EA, al parecer, se asocian con la Calidad de Vida relacionada con la Salud-CvRS; sin embargo, se desconoce el valor predictivo de las EA sobre la CvRS. Este artículo tiene como finalidad identificar las diferencias y la naturaleza de la relación entre la CvRS y las EA respecto al apoyo psicológico, así como identificar si las EA predicen la CvRS. Método: Se efectuó un diseño no-experimental con 55 mujeres entre 27 y 69 años, M = 42.3, DE = 10.1, diagnosticadas con cáncer ginecológico. La CvRS se evaluó con el FACT-Cx y el SF-36; las EA, con el CAEPO. Resultados: las mujeres con asistencia psicológica tienen mejor CvRS y EA, igualmente, la CvRS se correlacionó con las EA positivas. La dimensión de salud general también es explicada por las EA positivas e inversamente por las EA negativas. Las EA que mejor predicen las CvRS son: Enfrentamiento y Lucha Activa, y Autocontrol y Control Emocional, mientras que las EA negativas afectan la CvRS. Conclusión: Los resultados resaltan la necesidad de acompañamiento psicológico que promueva EA positivas y beneficien la CvRS en mujeres con cáncer ginecológico.

Abstract Introduction: Gynecological cancer impacts women psychologically. In this process, the Coping Strategies-CS are apparently associated with Health-Related Quality of Life HRQL; however, the predictive value of CS on HRQL is unknown. This article aims to identify the differences and the nature of the relationship of HRQL and CS regarding psychological support, as well as to identify whether CS predict HRQL. Method: A non-experimental design was performed with 55 women between 27 and 69 years old, M = 42.3, DE = 10.1, diagnosed with gynecological cancer. The HRQL was evaluated with the FACT-Cx and the SF-36; and the CS, with CAEPO (Spanish acronym). Results: Women with psychological support have better HRQL and CS, likewise, HRQL was correlated with positive CS. The general health dimension is also explained by positive CS, and inversely by negative CS. The CS that best predict HRQL are: active confrontation and fighting, and self-control and emotional control, while negative CS affect HRQL. Conclusion: The results highlight the need for psychological support that promotes positive CS and benefits HRQL in women with gynecological cancer.

Short-Term Memory Binding Distinguishing Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment from Healthy Aging: A Machine Learning Study.

BACKGROUND: Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is the most common preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD). A strategy to reduce the impact of AD is the early aMCI diagnosis and clinical intervention. Neuroimaging, neurobiological, and genetic markers have proved to be sensitive and specific for the early diagnosis of AD. However, the high cost of these procedures is prohibitive in low-income and middle-income countries (LIMCs). The neuropsychological assessments currently aim to identify cognitive markers that could contribute to the early diagnosis of dementia. OBJECTIVE: Compare machine learning (ML) architectures classifying and predicting aMCI and asset the contribution of cognitive measures including binding function in distinction and prediction of aMCI. METHODS: We conducted a two-year follow-up assessment of a sample of 154 subjects with a comprehensive multidomain neuropsychological battery. Statistical analysis was proposed using complete ML architectures to compare subjects' performance to classify and predict aMCI. Additionally, permutation importance and Shapley additive explanations (SHAP) routines were implemented for feature importance selection. RESULTS: AdaBoost, gradient boosting, and XGBoost had the highest performance with over 80%success classifying aMCI, and decision tree and random forest had the highest performance with over 70%success predictive routines. Feature importance points, the auditory verbal learning test, short-term memory binding tasks, and verbal and category fluency tasks were used as variables with the first grade of importance to distinguish healthy cognition and aMCI. CONCLUSION: Although neuropsychological measures do not replace biomarkers' utility, it is a relatively sensitive and specific diagnostic tool for aMCI. Further studies with ML must identify cognitive performance that differentiates conversion from average MCI to the pathological MCI observed in AD.

Multicentric evidence of emotional impairments in hypertensive heart disease.

The mechanisms underlying emotional alterations constitute a key research target in neuroscience. Emerging evidence indicates that these disruptions can be related to abnormal interoception (i.e., the sensing of visceral feelings), as observed in patients with cardiodynamic deficits. To directly assess these links, we performed the first multicenter study on emotion recognition and interoception in patients with hypertensive heart disease (HHD). Participants from two countries completed a facial emotion recognition test, and a subsample additionally underwent an interoception protocol based on a validated heartbeat detection task. HHD patients from both countries presented deficits in the recognition of overall and negative emotions. Moreover, interoceptive performance was impaired in the HHD group. In addition, a significant association between interoceptive performance and emotion recognition was observed in the control group, but this relation was abolished in the HHD group. All results survived after covariance with cognitive status measures, suggesting they were not biased by general cognitive deficits in the patients. Taken together, these findings suggest that emotional recognition alterations could represent a sui generis deficit in HHD, and that it may be partially explained by the disruption of mechanisms subserving the integration of neuro-visceral signals.