The development of episodic future thinking in middle childhood.

The ability to imagine future events (episodic future thinking-EFT) emerges in preschoolers and further improves during middle childhood and adolescence. In the present study, we focused on the possible cognitive factors that affect EFT and its development. We assessed the ability to mentally project forward in time of a large cohort of 135 6- to 11-year-old children through a task with minimal narrative demands (the Picture Book Trip task adapted from Atance and Meltzoff in Cogn Dev 20(3):341-361. doi:10.1016/j.cogdev.2005.05.001, 2005) in order to avoid potential linguistic effects on children's performance. The results showed that this task can be used to assess the development of EFT at least until the age of 8. Furthermore, EFT scores correlated with measures of phonological short-term and verbal working memory. These results support the possibility that cognitive factors such as working memory play a key role in EFT.

Brief Report: Self-Based and Mechanical-Based Future Thinking in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This brief report is a partial replication of the study by Jackson and Atance (J Dev Disabil 14:40-45, 2008) assessing nonverbal Self-based and Mechanical-based future thinking (FT) in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In a first step, these tasks were administered to 30 children with ASD. The two Self-based tasks were then modified as a verbal component could not be completely ruled out. Consequently, 77 children with ASD and 77 children with typical development received the modified Self-based FT tasks and the Mechanical-based FT tasks. We partially replicated the previous findings. Participants with ASD had impaired FT in both kinds of tasks and both groups performed better on tasks assessing Mechanical-based FT than Self-based FT. These results suggest that impairments of FT in ASD are not limited to Self-Projection.

[Homes for the aged. Are they a high risk population for hepatitis B?]. / Asilos para ancianos. Población de alto riesgo para la hepatitis B?

In a previous study we observed a high prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) among nurses and maids of the elder's home at the Lincoln Town Hospital, Lincoln, province of Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic. The purpose of this study was to know the prevalence of infection with HBV and analyze the serologic pattern found in old people of the home. We studied 38 people of both sexes, older than 60 years, who live at the home. The control group was formed with 91 people with the same characteristics but from the ambulatory clinic. In both groups anti-HBc, anti-HBs and AgHBs were detected by ELISA method. Results were: 3 subjects (7.9%) in the studied group and 6 (6.5%) in the control group presented markers repeatedly. The was no significant statistic difference between both groups (P 0.05). The old people from the elder home of this city, are not in great danger of HBV infection. We relate the high prevalence among nurses and maids with labor and extra labor factors and not with their specific work in this elder home.

[Prevalence of the hepatitis B virus markers at a rural hospital]. / Prevalencia de los marcadores del virus de la hepatitis B en un hospital rural.

It carried out an epidemiological study in blood between the personal of a country hospital, with the object to know the prevalence of the marker of the hepatitis B virus, the influence of the risk agents and to evaluate the danger areas. From the total of the people of the study (155), 13 (8.4%) showed any positive marker. Significant difference were with a group of volunteers donors. It observed a less prevalence than in an urban hospital. The most prevalent is in biochemists, technical biochemists, odontologists and the personal of geriatrics. The same increase, with the oldest in the profession and the hospital. It distinguished three areas of risk to order the program of vaccinations.

[Response of healthy subjects to plasma-derived anti-hepatitis B vaccine]. / Respuesta de sujetos sanos a la vacuna anti-hepatitis B plasmo-derivada.

71 healthy individuals were vaccinated against hepatitis B virus. Each person received 60 mcgrs of HBsAg derived from chronic carriers heat-formalin treated plasma. All the vaccinees were tested for anti-HBs and 94.4% of them reached the protective titer (greater than 10 mUI/ml). There were few and no significant side effects (15.4%). Those vaccines with antibody titers higher than 100 mUI/ml were significantly younger than those with antibody titers lower than 100 mUI/ml. There was no significant difference between the body surface means of both groups. Thus, the vaccine level response is not associated with the body surface but with people's age.

[Hepatitis B and C virus in chronic alcoholic patients: prevalence and influence on liver injury]. / Virus de Hepatitis B y C en alcoholicos crónicos. Prevalencia e influencia sobre el daño hepático.

The aim of this prospectively designed study is to analyse the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in 115 chronic alcohol abusers, their relation to epidemiological variables, and their meaning in pathogenesis and severity of alcoholic liver injury. A prevalence of 13.9% anti-HBc and 20.0% anti-HCV reactivity (EIA II) were found, significantly higher that found in blood donors (3.75 and 0.65% respectively). It is striking our finding of 69.6% "sporadic" type of HCV infection. Histological diagnostic of chronic hepatitis was done in 3 cases, all of them reactive to anti-HCV, enhancing the ethiologic role of HCV in the so called "alcoholic chronic hepatitis". No differences in histological final diagnosis were found related to HBV and HCV markers reactivity, suggesting no clear influence of viral infections on the severity of liver damage in alcoholics in our series. Neither anti-HCV positivity ratio seemed have to influence on these results. Despite a high prevalence of HBV and HCV infection in chronic alcohol abusers, our finding suggest no clear role for them in histological damage.

[Hepatitis C viruses antibodies. Prevalence and their influence on morbidity-mortality in renal transplant recipients, in the last two years of the kidney transplantation program in La Plata city]. / Anticuerpos contra el Virus de la Hepatitis C--anti HCV. Prevalencia e influencia sobre la morbimortalidad en los pacientes sometidos a trasplante renal, en los dos ultimos años del programa de trasplante renal de la ciudad de La Plata.

UNLABELLED: A small series of 34 renal transplanted patients (RTx) were studied, 18 males and 16 females in order to know the prevalence of Anti HCV in this type of patients and their influence on early morbi-mortality. The follow-up mean was 8.44 months SD 6.7, and Age 38.32 SD 13.97. All patients were under the same immunosuppressive scheme, and rejection episodes were treated with methilprednisolone pulses. The results were: 7 (20.6%) Anti HCV seroreactives (R) (EIA II Abbott and Immunoblotting of synthetic Peptides LIA TEK Organon Teknika); and 27 (79.4%) non-serorectives (NR), 14 patients received grafts from cadaveric donor; 4 (57.1%) Anti HCV (R), and 10 (37.0%) Anti HCV (NR). 20 patients have received grafts from lived-related donors: 3 (42.9%) Anti HCV (R), and 17 (63.0%) Anti HCV (NR). 6 (85.7%) of the 7 patients Anti HCV (R) had hepatitis history: 2 chronic hepatitis, 4 acute hepatitis (2HBV) and 2 no A no B (NANBV) and 6 (22.2%) of the 27 Anti HCV (NR). The mean time of hemodialysis treatment before transplantation in the Anti HCV (R) group was of 63.0 months SD27.0, and it was significantly superior (P < 0.05) to the Anti HCV (NR) group with 27.3 months SD 20.7. There were no significant differences between the Anti HCV (R) and (NR) patients with regard to rejection episodes, post-transplant hepatopathies, and survival of graft and patient. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Anti HCV prevalence is of 20.6%. 2) Time of hemodialysis prior to transplantation and an hepatitis history during hemodialysis came out to be significantly higher in Anti HCV (R) RTx. 3) Morbi-mortality is no modified by the presence of Anti HCV during a mean follow-up period of 8.44 months.

[Liver histopathological characteristics in patients with HCV-positive sera]. / Caracteristicas histopatológicas hepáticas en pacientes con sueros anti HCV reactivos.

In order to have knowledge on the histopathologic characteristics of the HCV infections in our geographical area and its relation with some epidemiologic variables, a series of 54 biopsies of Anti HCV (R) patients was analyzed. The histologic lesions found in this study correspond mostly to patients with relatively early infections, on the contrary to other studies of the some kind. The most frequent histopathologic diagnosis were chronic hepatitis 38/54 (70.4%), steatosis 4/54 (7.4%) and 12/54 (22.2%) with no changes. The presence of lymphoid follicles in the portal tracts was the most frequent histological change in this series (66.7%), followed by the alteration in bile ducts (53.7%); they occurred in a significantly higher proportion in the biopsies which had a diagnosis of chronic hepatitis (p = 0.02) (p = 0.000002). The presence of steatosis and acidophilic bodies in the acinus were found in nearly one third of the biopsies. This findings suggest that the hepatic damage in the anti HCV reactive patients might take place through immunologic mechanisms and cytopathic direct action. It was not found that histologic changes produced by HCV might differ according to epidemiologic variables (post-transfusional, drug abuse i.v. and sporadic).

[Viral hepatitis infection and response to the hepatitis B vaccine in hemodialyzed patients]. / Infección por virus de hepatitis y respuesta a vacuna anti-hepatitis B en hemodializados.

Data from 219 hemodyalized patients receiving attention in our Hospital and other private centers in our city are shown. Mean age was 46.9 (range: 14-85), and 132 were male; mean time under dialysis was 20 months, and subjects received an average of 5 transfusions per patient year. Serological reactivity to HBs Ag, Anti HBs and IgG anti HBc by ELISA were investigated in all of them, and anti HCV by second generation enzimo-immunoassay (EIA II) in 73 HBe Ag/anti HBe system were determined in HBs Ag positive patients and those reactive to anti HCV (EIA II) were confirmed by LIA (immunoblotting of synthetic peptides LIA-TEK Organos Teknica). Recombinant anti HBV vaccine 40 mcg at 0-1 and six month were received by 81 cases without HBV markers in their sera and a protective response was considered when anti HBs titration of 10 mU/ml or more were obtained two months later. Prevalence for anti HBc and anti HBs were 38.8% respectively and that for HBs Ag was 21% with 78% of them reactive for HBs Ag. True reactivity for anti HCV (confirmed by LIA) was present in 35.6%, but it was 9.7% in our Hospital and 54.8% in private units (p < 0.0002). Anti HBs titration was done in 69/81 patients who received anti HBV vaccine, and a protective response in 49% were obtained; the other 12 patients underwent acute hepatitis B during the vaccination period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Hypertensive cardiac damage in heart transplantation. A noninvasive monitoring study of arterial pressure]. / Il danno ipertensivo cardiaco nel trapianto di cuore. Studio con monitoraggio non invasivo della pressione arteriosa.

This study is aimed at investigating the relationship between cardiac hypertrophy and blood pressure (BP) 24-h pattern in 34 heart transplanted patients (HTP), 9 out of them (26%) being considered as normotensives, the other ones (74%) being regarded as hypertensives under adequate treatment, via casual sphygmomanometry. The study is an attempt to explain the occurrence of at least one sign of hypertrophic cardiopathy in 20 cases (59%), hypothesizing the presence of false normotensives among the putative normotensives and presumably-cured hypertensives. The ambulatory BP monitoring was able to identify 7 hypertensives (78%) among the putative normotensives, and 17 not well-cured subjects (68%) among the presumably cured hypertensives. At least one sign of cardiac hypertrophy was found in 5 (50%) of the 10 true normotensives, who were all non-dipper, and in 15 (63%) of the 24 hypertensives. The 9 hypertensives without cardiac hypertrophy (37%) had developed hypertension very recently. These findings stress the role of the ambulatory BP monitoring as a diagnostic tool during the follow-up of HTP, in order to identify the false normotensives as well as the not well-treated hypertensives. This role can contribute to optimize the prophylaxis of hypertensive damage for the transplanted heart.

[Minimal lesion hypertensive retinopathy and arterial pre-hypertension: evidence of arterial pressure monitoring in presumed normotensive subjects at zero risk]. / Retinopatia tensiva a lesioni minime e pre-ipertensione arteriosa: evidenze dal monitoraggio della pressione arteriosa in soggetti reputati normotesi a rischio zero.

The present study investigates the blood pressure (BP) 24 h pattern in 25 subjects who were found to show some incipient signs of hypertensive retinopathy, although they were diagnosed as normotensive by means of casual sphygmomanometry. BP was controlled by means of non invasive ambulatory monitoring. A comparable number of normotensive subjects without fundoscopic signs of hypertensive retinopathy was investigated as a control group. BP times series were analyzed by means of conventional and rhythmometric biometry. The biometric estimates suggest that the subjects with incipient hypertensive retinopathy show a significantly higher level of daily systolic BP even though their BP values remain below the reference limits. This finding suggests that the hypertensive retinopathy may exist in a non-zero stage characterizable as minimal change tensive retinopathy. This retinal picture occurs in subjects who show a pre-hypertensive stage in their BP 24 h pattern.

[Who are the "non-dippers": an insight from the ambulatory monitoring of arterial pressure in heart transplant patients]. / Chi sono i "non-dipper": un approfondimento dal monitoraggio ambulatorio della pressione arteriosa nei cardiotrapiantati.

This study was performed in order to define who are the "non-dippers", knowing that their present definition does not imply any explanation about the mechanisms. The investigation was performed on 34 heart transplanted patients, 28 males (mean age 52 +/- 11 years) and 6 women (mean age 35 +/- 14 years), knowing that the "non-dippers" were described as the hypertensives who are devoid of the expected nocturnal fall in blood pressure (BP). The "non-dipping" phenomenon was investigated by exploring the BP 24-h pattern via ambulatory non-invasive BP monitoring, and by applying the rhythmometric analysis for quantifying the BP circadian rhythm. The study provided evidence that the "non-dippers" can be found among the hypertensives as well as the normotensives, suggesting that high BP is not a necessary condition for the "non-dipping" phenomenon, and vice versa. Both the normotensive and hypertensive "non-dippers" were seen to show stereotypic changes in BP circadian rhythm. There are normotensive and hypertensive "non-dippers" with or without the BP circadian rhythm. The "rhythmic non-dippers" show a BP circadian rhythm which is inverted in phase or demodulated in amplitude. The "non-dippers" are, thus, a heterogeneous category.

[Prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers in dentists in a rural community]. / Prevalencia de los marcadores del virus de la hepatitis B en odontologos de una comunidad rural.

It carried out an epidemiology serum study in dentist of Lincoln with the object to know the prevalence of hepatitis B viral index and the influence of the professional and extra-professional. From the 12 integrants of the study, 3(25%) had any positive index. There are significant differences with a group of voluntary blood donars, its considered a danger group. There aren't any difference between dentist of rural and urban community. The prevalence is increased by: the oldness in the profession, the number of patients by month, the specialty, the absence of preservative measure, the age, the sex and the antecedent contact with hepatitis.

[Describing and interpreting systemic hypertension in heart transplantation with non-invasive arterial pressure monitoring]. / Descrivere e interpretare l'ipertensione sistemica nel trapianto di cuore alla luce del monitoraggio non invasivo della pressione arteriosa.

This investigation was performed in 34 heart transplanted patients (HTP), 28 males and 6 females, mean age 49 +/- 13 years. The aim of the study was to detect hypertension in HTP by casual sphygmomanometry and non-invasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). The evaluation of ABPM demonstrated that 71% out of the HTP was hypertensive because of some elevated blood pressure values scattered during the hours of the day and/or of the night. These hypertensives were found within the groups of normotensives as well as of hypertensives considered to be correctly treated. Fifty percent hypertensive HTP did not show the physiologic nocturnal decrease in blood pressure (non-dippers); 25% out of the non-dipper hypertensives showed absence of the blood pressure circadian rhythm, demonstrating that their hypertension was prevalently nocturnal and could not be detected by casual sphygmomanometry-The ABPM is recommended in clinical follow-up of HTP for a correct diagnosis of hypertension, which frequently complicates heart transplantation, and with the aim of avoiding hypertensive damage of the transplanted organ. The ABPM is useful for adjusting the antihypertensive therapy, in order to restore the blood pressure circadian rhythm.

Asilos para ancianos: población de alto riesgo para la hepatitis B? / Homes for the aged. Is a high risk population to hepatitis B?

En un estudio anterior observamos una elevada prevalencia de infección por el VHB en enfermeras y mucamas del asilo para ancianos del Hospital Municipal de Lincoln, Provincia de Buenos Aires. El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer la prevalencia de infección por el VHB y analizar el patrón serológico hallado en la población geriátrica de dicho asilo. Se estudiaron 38 personas de ambos sexos, de más de 60 años de edad que viven en el asilo. El grupo control lo constituyeron 91 personas con características similares a las del grupo de estudio, provenientes de consultorio externo. Se investigaron en ambos grupos Anti-HBc, Anti-HBs y AgHBs por el método de ELISA. Resultaron con marcadores repetidamente reactivos 3 participantes (7.9//) del grupo estudiado y 6 (6.5//) del grupo tomado como control. No hubo diferencias estadísticamente signficativas entre ambos grupos (P 0.05). La población geriátrica del asilo de nuestro medio, no corresponde a población de alto riesgo para infección por el VHB. Se relaciona la alta prevalencia hallada en enfermeras y mucamas con factores de índole laboral y extralaboral y no con su tarea específica en el asilo para ancianos

Asilos para ancianos. Población de alto riesgo para la hepatitis B? / [Homes for the aged. Are they a high risk population for hepatitis B?]

In a previous study we observed a high prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) among nurses and maids of the elders home at the Lincoln Town Hospital, Lincoln, province of Buenos Aires, Argentine Republic. The purpose of this study was to know the prevalence of infection with HBV and analyze the serologic pattern found in old people of the home. We studied 38 people of both sexes, older than 60 years, who live at the home. The control group was formed with 91 people with the same characteristics but from the ambulatory clinic. In both groups anti-HBc, anti-HBs and AgHBs were detected by ELISA method. Results were: 3 subjects (7.9

) in the studied group and 6 (6.5

) in the control group presented markers repeatedly. The was no significant statistic difference between both groups (P 0.05). The old people from the elder home of this city, are not in great danger of HBV infection. We relate the high prevalence among nurses and maids with labor and extra labor factors and not with their specific work in this elder home.

Asilos para ancianos: población de alto riesgo para la hepatitis B? / Homes for the aged. Is a high risk population to hepatitis B?

En un estudio anterior observamos una elevada prevalencia de infección por el VHB en enfermeras y mucamas del asilo para ancianos del Hospital Municipal de Lincoln, Provincia de Buenos Aires. El objetivo de este trabajo fue conocer la prevalencia de infección por el VHB y analizar el patrón serológico hallado en la población geriátrica de dicho asilo. Se estudiaron 38 personas de ambos sexos, de más de 60 años de edad que viven en el asilo. El grupo control lo constituyeron 91 personas con características similares a las del grupo de estudio, provenientes de consultorio externo. Se investigaron en ambos grupos Anti-HBc, Anti-HBs y AgHBs por el método de ELISA. Resultaron con marcadores repetidamente reactivos 3 participantes (7.9//) del grupo estudiado y 6 (6.5//) del grupo tomado como control. No hubo diferencias estadísticamente signficativas entre ambos grupos (P 0.05). La población geriátrica del asilo de nuestro medio, no corresponde a población de alto riesgo para infección por el VHB. Se relaciona la alta prevalencia hallada en enfermeras y mucamas con factores de índole laboral y extralaboral y no con su tarea específica en el asilo para ancianos (AU)

Prevalencia de los marcadores del virus de la hepatitis B en un hospital rural / Prevalence of the markers of the hepatitis B virus in a rural hospital

Se efectuó un estudio seroepidemiológico en el personal de un hospital rural, con el objeto de conocer la prevalencia de los marcadores del V.H.B., la influencia de factores de riesgo y determinar áreas de riesgo. De los 155 integrantes del estudio, 13 (8.4%) mostraron algún marcador positivo. Existió diferencias significativas con respecto al grupo de donantes voluntarios. Se observó una menor prevalencia que en un hospital urbano. La mayor prevalencia se observó en bioquímicos, técnicos bioquímicos, odontólogos y personal de geriatría. Esta prevalencia aumenta con la antigüedad en la profesión y en el hospital. Se determinaron tres áreas de riesgo para ordenar un programa de vacunación