Percepciones de madres y padres sobre el impacto ocupacional en niñas y niños a causa del confinamiento por COVID-19 en la ciudad de Punta Arenas, Chile / Mothers' and fathers' perceptions of the occupational impact of COVID 19 confinement on children in the city of Punta Arenas, Chile

El equilibrio ocupacional de la población en general está relacionado con la buena salud, sin embargo, la población infantil fue uno de los grupos más afectados por el confinamiento y las medidas de distanciamiento social durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo conocer el impacto ocupacional que experimentaron niñas y niños a causa del confinamiento por COVID-19 según la percepción de sus madres y padres en la ciudad de Punta Arenas, Chile. A través de un enfoque cualitativo y alcance exploratorio descriptivo se entrevistó a 25 madres y 1 padre de niñas y niños entre 6 a 12 años, estudiantes de un establecimiento educacional subvencionado que se encontraban en confinamiento en la ciudad de Punta Arenas. Según su percepción, se establece que el confinamiento ocasionó algunos cambios positivos en las actividades de la vida diaria instrumentales y negativos en las ocupaciones de juego, participación social, educación, actividades de la vida diaria de alimentación, descanso y sueño de sus hijas e hijos. Madres y padres se enfrentaron a realizar diversas adaptaciones y modificaciones como organización del tiempo, entorno e implementación de materiales, para favorecer el desempeño ocupacional. Se concluye que debido a la incertidumbre e inestabilidad emocional con relación al ambiente y sus cambios, desde la mirada de la Terapia Ocupacional, resulta relevante el apoyo de las madres y padres para reestructurar las rutinas y adaptarlas al encierro prolongado dentro del hogar, respetando y organizando horarios. El añadir actividades recreativas y fomentar el juego en el ocio y tiempo libre favoreció el equilibrio ocupacional y la sensación de satisfacción de niñas y niños junto a sus familias.

The occupational balance of the general population is related to good health; however, the child population was one of the groups most affected by confinement and social distancing measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of this research was to determine the occupational impact experienced by children as a result of COVID-19 confinement as perceived by their mothers and fathers in the city of Punta Arenas, Chile. Through a qualitative approach and descriptive exploratory scope, 25 mothers and 1 father of children between 6 and 12 years old, students of a subsidized educational establishment who were in confinement in the city of Punta Arenas, Chile, were interviewed. According to their perception, it was established that confinement caused some positive changes in instrumental daily life activities and negative changes in their children's activities of play, social participation, education, daily life activities of eating, resting and sleeping. Mothers and fathers were faced with making various adaptations and modifications such as organization of time, environment and implementation of materials, in order to favor occupational performance. It is concluded that due to the uncertainty and emotional instability in relation to the environment and its changes, from the point of view of occupational therapy, the support of mothers and fathers is relevant to restructure routines and adapt them to the prolonged confinement at home, respecting and organizing schedules. Adding recreational activities and encouraging play in leisure and free time favored occupational balance and the feeling of satisfaction of children and their families.

Immune characterization of a Colombian family cluster with SARS-CoV-2 infection / Caracterización inmunológica de un grupo familiar colombiano con infección por SARS-CoV-2

Abstract | Introduction: Immunological markers have been described during COVID-19 and persist after recovery. These immune markers are associated with clinical features among SARS- CoV-2 infected individuals. Nevertheless, studies reporting a comprehensive analysis of the immune changes occurring during SARS-CoV-2 infection are still limited. Objective: To evaluate the production of proinflammatory cytokines, the antibody response, and the phenotype and function of NK cells and T cells in a Colombian family cluster with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Materials and methods: Proinflammatory cytokines were evaluated by RT-PCR and ELISA. The frequency, phenotype, and function of NK cells (cocultures with K562 cells) and T-cells (stimulated with spike/RdRp peptides) were assessed by flow cytometry. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were determined using indirect immunofluorescence and plaque reduction neutralization assay. Results: During COVID-19, we observed a high proinflammatory-cytokine production and a reduced CD56bright-NK cell and cytotoxic response. Compared with healthy controls, infected individuals had a higher frequency of dysfunctional CD8+ T cells CD38+HLA-DR-. During the acute phase, CD8+ T cells stimulated with viral peptides exhibited a monofunctional response characterized by high IL-10 production. However, during recovery, we observed a bifunctional response characterized by the co-expression of CD107a and granzyme B or perforin. Conclusion: Although the proinflammatory response is a hallmark of SARS-CoV-2 infection, other phenotypic and functional alterations in NK cells and CD8+ T cells could be associated with the outcome of COVID-19. However, additional studies are required to understand these alterations and to guide future immunotherapy strategies.

Resumen | Introducción. Se han descrito diferentes marcadores inmunológicos durante la COVID-19, los cuales persisten incluso después de la convalecencia y se asocian con los estadios clínicos de la infección. Sin embargo, aún son pocos los estudios orientados al análisis exhaustivo de las alteraciones del sistema inmunológico en el curso de la infección. Objetivo. Evaluar la producción de citocinas proinflamatorias, la reacción de anticuerpos, y el fenotipo y la función de las células NK y los linfocitos T en una familia colombiana con infección por SARS-CoV-2. Materiales y métodos. Se evaluaron las citocinas proinflamatorias mediante RT-PCR y ELISA; la frecuencia, el fenotipo y la función de las células NK (en cocultivos con células K562) y linfocitos T CD8+ (estimulados con péptidos spike/RdRp) mediante citometría de flujo, y los anticuerpos anti-SARS-CoV-2, mediante inmunofluorescencia indirecta y prueba de neutralización por reducción de placa. Resultados. Durante la COVID-19 hubo una producción elevada de citocinas proinflamatorias, con disminución de las células NK CD56 bright y reacción citotóxica. Comparados con los controles sanos, los individuos infectados presentaron con gran frecuencia linfocitos T CD8+ disfuncionales CD38+HLA-DR-. Además, en los linfocitos T CD8+ estimulados con péptidos virales, predominó una reacción monofuncional con gran producción de IL-10 durante la fase aguda y una reacción bifuncional caracterizada por la coexpresión de CD107a y granzima B o perforina durante la convalecencia. Conclusión. Aunque la reacción inflamatoria caracteriza la infección por SARS-CoV-2, hay otras alteraciones fenotípicas y funcionales en células NK y linfocitos T CD8+ que podrían asociarse con la progresión de la infección. Se requieren estudios adicionales para entender estas alteraciones y guiar futuras estrategias de inmunoterapia.

Collagen as a source of bioactive peptides: a bioinformatics approach

BACKGROUND: Collagen is the most abundant protein in animals and can be obtained from residues of the food industry. Its hydrolysate has many desirable properties that make it suitable as an additive in foods and cosmetics, or as a component of scaffold materials to be used in biomedicine. RESULTS: We report here the characterization of type I collagen from five different sources, namely bovine, porcine, chicken, trout and salmon, as well as their hydrolysates by means of bioinformatics tools. As expected, the results showed that bovine and porcine collagen, as well as trout and salmon collagen, can be used interchangeably due to their high identity. This result is consistent with the evolution of proteins with highly identical sequences between related species. Also, 156 sequences were found as potential bioactive peptides, 126 from propeptide region and 30 from the central domain, according to the comparison with reported active sequences. CONCLUSIONS: Collagen analysis from a bioinformatic approach allowed us to classify collagen from 5 different animal sources, to establish its interchangeability as potential additive in diverse fields and also to determine the content of bioactive peptides from its in silico hydrolysis.

Identification of a type I nitroreductase gene in non-virulent Trypanosoma rangeli

ABSTRACT Trypanosomatid type I nitroreductases (NTRs), i.e., mitochondrial enzymes that metabolise nitroaromatic pro-drugs, are essential for parasite growth, infection, and survival. Here, a type I NTR of non-virulent protozoan Trypanosoma rangeli is described and compared to those of other trypanosomatids. The NTR gene was isolated from KP1(+) and KP1(-) strains, and its corresponding transcript and 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) were determined. Bioinformatics analyses and nitro-drug activation assays were also performed. The results indicated that the type I NTR gene is present in both KP1(-) and KP1(+) strains, with 98% identity. However, the predicted subcellular localisation of the protein differed among the strains (predicted as mitochondrial in the KP1(+) strain). Comparisons of the domains and 3D structures of the NTRs with those of orthologs demonstrated that the nitroreductase domain of T. rangeli NTR is conserved across all the strains, including the residues involved in the interaction with the FMN cofactor and in the tertiary structure characteristics of this oxidoreductase protein family. mRNA processing and expression were also observed. In addition, T. rangeli was shown to be sensitive to benznidazole and nifurtimox in a concentration-dependent manner. In summary, T. rangeli appears to have a newly discovered functional type I NTR.