Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth delinquency: A discontinuous growth analysis

IntroductionThis study aimed to investigate (a) the immediate and long-term changes in youth offending rates among 138 neighborhoods within a large metropolitan area in the context of COVID-19 and (b) the extent to which the socioeconomic composition of the neighborhoods accounted for variations of the changes. MethodsDiscontinuous growth models were applied to demonstrate the changes in offenses against a person, property offenses, and drug-related offenses one-year prior to, at (March 2020), and one-year following the pandemic. ResultsAt the onset of the pandemic, we registered an immediate reduction in offenses against a person and property offenses but not in drug-related offenses. There was a steeper declining trend for property offenses one-year following the pandemic as compared with that one-year prior to the pandemic. The neighborhood concentration of affluence and poverty was not related to the immediate reduction in any type of delinquency. DiscussionWe conclude that the COVID-19 pandemic not only had an abrupt but also an enduring impact on youth delinquency.

Respectful Parenting: Child Clinical Psychology in the Protection of Children's Mental Health

Introduction: The arrival of the pandemic in our country has meant that families face a negative emotional burden and an overload of roles associated with the care and satisfaction of children and adolescents' needs;the Respectful Parenting project arises in a context where Child Clinical Psychology needed to support much more children's mental health. Objective: Promoting or restoring the psychological well-being of children and adolescents through the support and preparation of their primary caregivers. Methods: The target population is the thousands of parents and caregivers who make up the project services. The methodology is qualitative action research. Results: The main children's problems and the support requirements of their caregivers are identified. The project is structured in three services that complement each other. The systematic assessment in the sessions and the one directed to a sample of project beneficiaries show very favorable results. Conclusions: The project assesses the needs of the target public. It is designed, implemented and achieves positive results in its evaluation. It manages to promote or recover the psychological well-being of infants through the support and preparation of their main caregivers © Este material es publicado según los términos de la Licencia Creative Commons Atribución–NoComercial 4.0. Se permite el uso, distribución y reproducción no comerciales y sin restricciones en cualquier medio, siempre que sea debidamente citada la fuente primaria de publicación

Docking Simulations Exhibit Bortezomib and other Boron-containing Peptidomimetics as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease

Background: Treatment of the COVID19 pandemic requires drug development. Boron- containing compounds are attractive chemical agents, some of them act as proteases inhibitors. Objective: The present study explores the role of boronic moieties in molecules interacting on the binding site of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease. Methods: Conventional docking procedure was applied by assaying boron-free and boron-containing compounds on the recently reported crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (PDB code: 6LU7). The set of 150 ligands includes bortezomib and inhibitors of coronavirus proteases. Results: Most of the tested compounds share contact with key residues and pose on the cleavage pocket. The compounds with a boron atom in their structure are often estimated to have higher affinity than boron-free analogues. Conclusion: Interactions and the affinity of boron-containing peptidomimetics strongly suggest that boron-moieties increase affinity on the main protease, which is tested by in vitro assays. A Bis-boron-containing compound previously tested active on SARS-virus protease and bortezomib were identified as potent ligands. These advances may be relevant to drug designing, in addition to testing available boron-containing drugs in patients with COVID19 infection.

Elements of the dynamics of the immune response to sars-cov-2 infection

Introduction: COVID-19 is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Though most patients present mild or moderate symptoms, 5% develop severe respiratory syndrome. Awareness of the dynamics of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection is essential for the appropriate management of patients. Objective: Describe the essential elements of the dynamics of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: A review was conducted of updated literature contained in bibliographic databases. A total 40 publications were consulted. An analysis was performed of the quality and reliability of the papers selected. Data analysis and integration: In the initial stage of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 there is a predominance of innate defense mechanisms aimed at eliminating the virus and preventing the progress of the disease toward severity. If the immune system fails to eradicate the virus, immune dysregulation will occur and considerable damage will result from tissue inflammation. Immunotherapy should focus on stimulating the first (protective) stage and delete the second. An appropriate immune response is vital in the combat against coronavirus infections. Conclusions: The dynamics of the antiviral response in SARS-CoV-2 patients are essential elements conditioning the severity of the disease. Occurrence of the cytokine storm resulting from immune dysregulation has been cited as the primary cause of the severe respiratory syndrome developing in these patients. Better knowledge about the immunopathogenic mechanisms involved is indispensable to develop highly efficient drugs. © 2021, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.