[Efficacy of group reminiscence therapy for people with dementia. Systematic literature review and meta-analysis]. / Eficacia de la terapia de reminiscencia grupal en personas con demencia. Revision sistematica y metaanalisis.

INTRODUCTION: Reminiscence therapy is one of the most effective psychosocial interventions for people with dementia. AIMS: To analyse the effectiveness of group reminiscence therapy in people with dementia and to check their involvement in the design and evaluation of the interventions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: CINHAL, PubMed, Psicodoc and PsycINFO databases were searched for the period of 2004 to 2016. A systematic search was performed, as well as a quality assessment and a meta-analysis of the articles. RESULTS: The 14 studies selected had a moderate risk of bias. People with dementia who received group reminiscence therapy experienced an improvement in cognition (dMR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.11-0.40; p = 0.0006; I2 = 0%) which was larger than the one observed in the control group (dc = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.11-0.63; p = 0.005; I2 = 0%). There was no improvement in mood, quality of life, behaviour or activities of daily living. People with dementia were not included in the design nor in the evaluation of the interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Group reminiscence therapy for people with dementia has favourable effects in cognition. There is a need for the inclusion of people with dementia in the design and planning of the interventions and for more randomised controlled trials.

TITLE: Eficacia de la terapia de reminiscencia grupal en personas con demencia. Revision sistematica y metaanalisis.Introduccion. La terapia de reminiscencia es una de las intervenciones psicosociales mas eficaces para personas con demencia. Objetivos. Analizar la eficacia de la terapia de reminiscencia grupal en personas con demencia y comprobar su participacion en el diseño y evaluacion. Pacientes y metodos. Se revisaron las bases de datos CINHAL, PubMed, Psicodoc y PsycINFO, en el periodo 2004-2016, y se realizo una revision sistematica, evaluacion de calidad y metaanalisis de los articulos. Resultados. Los 14 estudios seleccionados presentaron riesgo de sesgo moderado, los participantes que recibieron terapia de reminiscencia experimentaron una mejoria leve en cognicion (dMR = 0,26; IC 95%: 0,11-0,40; p = 0,0006; I2 = 0%), y esta fue mayor que la del grupo control (dc = 0,37; IC 95%: 0,11-0,63; p = 0,005; I2 = 0%). No se encontraron mejorias en el estado de animo, la calidad de vida, las alteraciones de conducta ni las actividades de la vida diaria. Ningun estudio incluyo a las personas con demencia ni a sus acompañantes en el diseño y evaluacion. Conclusiones. La terapia de reminiscencia grupal tiene efectos favorables sobre la cognicion. Es necesaria la inclusion de las personas con demencia en el diseño y planificacion de las intervenciones, asi como la realizacion de mas ensayos clinicos aleatorizados.

[Emotion recognition rehabilitation combined with cognitive stimulation for people with Alzheimer's disease. Efficacy for cognition and functional aspects]. / Rehabilitacion del reconocimiento de emociones combinada con estimulacion cognitiva para personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer. Eficacia sobre aspectos cognitivos y funcionales.

INTRODUCTION: The ability to recognize facial emotional expression is essential for social interactions and adapting to the environment. Emotion recognition is impaired in people with Alzheimer's disease (AD), thus rehabilitation of these skills has the potential to elicit significant benefits. AIM: To assess the efficacy of a combined treatment of rehabilitation of emotion recognition (RER) and cognitive stimulation (CS) for people with AD, due to its potential implications for more effective psychosocial interventions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 36 patients were assigned to one of three experimental conditions: an experimental group (EG) that received 20 sessions of RER and 20 sessions of CS; a control group (CG) that received 40 sessions of CS, and a treatment as usual group (TAU). RESULTS: 32 patients completed the treatment (77.53 ± 5.43 years). Significant differences were found in MMSE30 (F = 5.10; p = 0.013), MMSE35 (F = 4.16; p = 0.026), affect recognition (Z = -2.81; p = 0.005) and basic activities of daily living (Z = -2.27; p = 0.018) favouring the efficacy of the combined treatment. The TAU group showed a decline in depression (Z = -1.99; p = 0.048), apathy (Z = -2.30; p = 0.022) and anosognosia (Z = -2.19; p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: The combined treatment of RER + CS was more effective than TAU and CS alone for the treatment of patients with AD. This is the first study about the rehabilitation of affect recognition in AD.

TITLE: Rehabilitacion del reconocimiento de emociones combinada con estimulacion cognitiva para personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer. Eficacia sobre aspectos cognitivos y funcionales.Introduccion. Se han encontrado deficits en el reconocimiento de emociones en personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA), pero no se ha informado de ningun tratamiento rehabilitador de esta capacidad en esta poblacion. Objetivo. Evaluar la eficacia de un tratamiento combinado de rehabilitacion del reconocimiento de emociones (RRE) y estimulacion cognitiva (EsC) sobre las funciones cognitivas, el estado de animo, la anosognosia, la capacidad funcional y el reconocimiento de emociones de personas con EA. Sujetos y metodos. En un diseño cuasi experimental, 36 pacientes con EA fueron asignados a tres condiciones: un grupo experimental, que recibio 20 sesiones de RRE y 20 sesiones de EsC; un grupo control, que recibio 40 sesiones de EsC, y un grupo que recibio tratamiento usual (GTU). Resultados. Completaron el estudio 32 pacientes, con una edad media de 77,53 ± 5,43 años. Se observo mejoria en el Minimental State Examination en su version de 30 items (F = 5,10; p = 0,013) y en la de 35 (F = 4,16; p = 0,026), reconocimiento de afectos (Z = ­2,81; p = 0,005) y actividades basicas de la vida diaria (Z = ­2,27; p = 0,018) a favor del grupo experimental. El grupo que recibio tratamiento usual empeoro en depresion (Z = ­1,99; p = 0,048), apatia (Z = ­2,30; p = 0,022) y anosognosia (Z = ­2,19; p = 0,028). Conclusiones. El tratamiento combinado de RRE y EsC fue mas eficaz que la EsC y que el tratamiento usual. Es la primera vez que se informa de un tratamiento rehabilitador del reconocimiento de emociones en personas con EA.

Pharmacological modification of the serotonergic transmitter system and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase activity in rats.

The enzyme activity and activation energy of plasma beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (Hex) was determined in rats whose serotonergic system had been pharmacologically altered. In the group of animals treated with 5-hydroxytryptophan, in the different dissected brain regions (brain stem, cortex and hippocampus) significantly higher levels of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid were found, and significantly lower in the group treated with p-chlorophenylalanine, than in the control group. In the total number of animals studied (n = 21), a statistically significant correlation was found between the plasma concentration of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid and the levels of this metabolite in the different brain regions (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found for the activity of Hex in the plasma, or for its activation energy, which is a marker of its isoenzyme composition, among the three groups of animals. The results obtained using our experimental model in rats do not confirm the hypothesis of other authors who suggest that the Hex responds secondary to increases or decreases of serotonin turnover, and could be a biological test to monitor the serotonin status in psychiatric patients.

Relationship between plasma ammonia concentration and beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase isoenzyme activities in liver cirrhosis.

Ammonia is known to increase the secretion of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (Hex) to the extracellular medium in cultured human fibroblasts and Hep G2 cells. We examined 35 patients with liver cirrhosis and the results revealed a significant increase for the plasma activities of total Hex and its isoenzymes Hex A and Hex B (p < 0.001). The partial correlations, with other biochemical markers of liver injury constant, between plasma ammonia concentration and the activity (r = 0.658) and the proportion in percentage of the Hex B isoenzyme (r = 0.692) were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The increased concentration of ammonia could explain, at least partially, an increased secretion of Hex B isoforms to the plasma in patients with liver disease.

Plasma beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase isoenzyme composition and temperature conversion factors.

Using the chromogenic substrate 3,3'-dichlorophenylsulfonphthaleinyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide for the activity determination of plasma beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (Hex), the temperature conversion factors (TCF) offer a highly significant positive correlation with the relative proportion of Hex B isoenzyme (P< 0.001). The calculation of TCF 37 degrees/25 degrees C allows the isoenzyme composition of Hex to be determined quickly and cheaply. The results may be superimposed over those obtained in a previously described method based on the calculation of the enzyme's activation energy using four temperatures. However, the use of TCF 37 degrees/30 degrees C does not appear to comply with the required demands.

Thermodynamic characterisation of the mutated isoenzyme A of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase in GM2-gangliosidosis B1 variant.

Here we report the determination of the activation energies of the plasma isoenzymes of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase (Hex, EC 3.2.1.52), isolated by chromatography in DEAE-cellulose, using the neutral chromogenic substrate 3,3'dichlorophenylsulfonphthaleinyl-N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminide. The activation energy of mutated Hex A isoenzyme (Ea approximately 71.5 kJ/mol) from a patient with GM2-gangliosidosis B1 variant, homozygote for the G533-->A (Arg178His) mutation, was significantly higher than that of normal Hex A (Ea approximately 41.8 kJ/mol) and analogous to that of Hex B isoenzyme (Ea approximately 75.1 kJ/mol). The determination of this thermodynamic variable of Hex in different biological specimens could allow for a straightforward biochemical characterisation of the GM2-gangliosidosis B1 variant.

Determination of immuno-cross-reactivity between Cryptosporidium parvum and Eimeria spp.

Immuno-cross-reactivity between Cryptosporidium parvum and Eimeria spp. was studied by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and Western blot procedure. Thirty-seven sera from asymptomatic (non-diarrheic) cattle, with known coprological (presence-absence of coccidia) and serological data respecting C. parvum, were tested by IFAT using Eimeria oocysts as antigen. Most sera (54%) displayed immunofluorescence around the surface of the Eimeria oocysts. Simultaneously, serum samples from rabbits naturally infected with Eimeria spp. (E. magna, E. intestinalis and E. residua), but free of C. parvum infection, were used to investigate the recognition of C. parvum oocyst antigens by the Western blot procedure. Fractions in the 11.5-94 kDa range, as well as others with molecular masses over 94 kDa, were recognized by sera from rabbits. Sera collected during patency period showed low or moderate reaction with antigenic fractions in the 11.5-25 kDa range. However, 29, 58 and 71 to 75 kDa proteic fractions were moderately or strongly recognized even after rabbits finished oocyst excretion.

Effect of a commercial disinfectant ('Virkon') on mouse experimental infection by Cryptosporidium parvum.

Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts obtained from naturally-infected calves were exposed to 1-10% 'Virkon' for 10-360 min, then inoculated intragastrically into coccidium-free neonatal mice. Prevalence and intensity of infection were determined seven days later by examination of intestinal homogenates. Although we were unable to abolish infectivity for the mice, the intensity of infection was considerably reduced after long periods of exposure (up to > 90%, depending on disinfectant concentration), indicating that this product may have some value for disinfection when extended exposure is possible (e.g., soaking laboratory glassware).