Victimization, polyvictimization, and depression symptoms among immigrants and native children and youth in Chile.

BACKGROUND: Migration exposes children and youth to vulnerabilities, including uprooting, lack of protection, limited access to services, and violence. Previous studies have shown that victimization experiences impact the mental health of migrant children, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This study aims to examine the co-occurrence of multiple forms of maltreatment (polyvictimization) among migrant and Chilean children and youth and its association with depressive symptoms, addressing a research gap in Latin America. METHODS: Secondary data from the National Polyvictimization Survey (NPS) conducted by the Chilean Ministry of the Interior were analyzed. Measures assessing polyvictimization and depressive symptoms were administered to a sample of 1362 participants, with equal group sizes for migrants and Chilean-born individuals. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, group comparisons, correlation analyses, and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: The study revealed marked differences in experiences of conventional crime victimization and polyvictimization between migrant and Chilean-born participants, with migrants facing slightly higher incidences. Correlational analysis indicated variable strengths of association between victimization types and depressive symptoms across groups, with Chilean-born individuals showing stronger correlations for certain victimization forms. Multiple regression analysis highlighted gender, polyvictimization, child maltreatment, internet victimization, sexual victimization, and peer/sibling victimization as significant predictors of depressive symptoms across the sample. Notably, an interaction was observed between child maltreatment and migrant status, indicating a mitigated impact of maltreatment on depressive symptoms among migrant adolescents. This suggests the potential for unique resilience or coping mechanisms in this group. CONCLUSIONS: This study elucidates the varied victimization experiences of migrant children and youth in Chile, with a notable emphasis on the mitigating effect of migrant status on the relationship between child maltreatment and depressive symptoms. It highlights the resilience and potential adaptive strategies of migrant minors facing adversity. The findings underscore the necessity of developing support and intervention strategies that recognize the specific needs and strengths of migrant children and youth, advocating for policies that protect and empower this vulnerable demographic amidst new environmental challenges.

Correction: Vicencio et al. Transcriptional Signatures and Network-Based Approaches Identified Master Regulators Transcription Factors Involved in Experimental Periodontitis Pathogenesis. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24, 14835.

In the original publication [...].

Influence of Topography and Composition of Commercial Titanium Dental Implants on Cell Adhesion of Human Gingiva-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: An In Vitro Study.

The topography and composition of dental implant surfaces directly impact mesenchymal cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, crucial aspects of achieving osseointegration. However, cell adhesion to biomaterials is considered a key step that drives cell proliferation and differentiation. The aim of this study was to characterize characterize the topography and composition of commercial titanium dental implants manufactured with different surface treatments (two sandblasted/acid-etched (SLA) (INNO Implants, Busan, Republic of Korea; BioHorizonsTM, Oceanside, CA, USA) and two calcium phosphate (CaP) treated (Biounite®, Berazategui, Argentina; Zimmer Biomet, Inc., Warsaw, IN, USA)) and to investigate their influence on the process of cell adhesion in vitro. A smooth surface implant (Zimmer Biomet, Inc.) was used as a control. For that, high-resolution methodologies such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were employed. Protein adsorption and retromolar gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs) adhesion to the implant surfaces were evaluated after 48 h. The adherent cells were examined by SEM and LSCM for morphologic and quantitative analyses. ANOVA and Tukey tests (α = 0.05) were employed to determine statistical significance. SEM revealed that INNO, BioHorizonsTM, and Zimmer implants have an irregular surface, whereas Biounite® has a regular topography consisting of an ordered pattern. EDX confirmed a calcium and phosphate layer on the Biounite® and Zimmer surfaces, and AFM exhibited different roughness parameters. Protein adsorption and cell adhesion were detected on all the implant surfaces studied. However, the Biounite® implant with CaP and regular topography showed the highest protein adsorption capacity and density of adherent GMSCs. Although the Zimmer implant also had a CaP treatment, protein and cell adhesion levels were lower than those observed with Biounite®. Our findings indicated that the surface regularity of the implants is a more determinant factor in the cell adhesion process than the CaP treatment. A regular, nanostructured, hydrophilic, and moderately rough topography generates a higher protein adsorption capacity and thus promotes more efficient cell adhesion.

Adverse childhood experiences and psychopathology in adolescents from northern Chile: the moderating role of the attachment style.

BACKGROUND: Identifying the underlying mechanisms through which adverse childhood experiences affect (ACEs) the mental health of adolescents is of paramount importance for disease prevention in later stages of life. OBJECTIVE: The present study examines the relationship between ACEs and psychopathology in adolescents from northern Chile and how attachment style (abandonment anxiety and intimacy avoidance) may moderate this relationship. A total of 154 schooled adolescents aged 12 to 17 (M = 15.08, SD = 1.64) completed a series of self-report questionnaires including the Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire (ACEs), Experiences in Close Relationships- Relationship Structures (ECR-RS), and Youth Self Report (YSR-18). RESULTS: The data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 25, which included descriptive analysis, one-way ANOVA, and Spearman correlation analysis. To address moderation analysis, the PROCESS macro extension version 4.1 was employed. In this process, the bootstrap method was applied to construct confidence intervals, and the pick-a-point approach was used to define the levels of the moderating variable. According to the results, 80.3% of the sample experienced one or more ACEs, and 16.4% reported experiencing at least three. Furthermore, the variables under study exhibited significant correlations with each other, except for intimacy avoidance, which showed no correlation with ACEs (rho = -0.10; p = 0.273). When considering abandonment anxiety as a moderating variable, the direct effect of ACEs on externalizing symptoms showed statistically significant changes (ß = 0.60, p = 0.03). No other moderating effects were found according to the proposed models. CONCLUSION: In childhood, the accumulation of ACEs is associated with the development of psychopathology in adolescents from northern Chile, specifically with the presence of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. These findings suggest that lower levels of abandonment anxiety could mitigate the effects of ACEs on adolescent psychopathology, while higher levels of abandonment anxiety could exacerbate these effects on psychopathology.

Transcriptional Signatures and Network-Based Approaches Identified Master Regulators Transcription Factors Involved in Experimental Periodontitis Pathogenesis.

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the progressive and irreversible destruction of the periodontium. Its aetiopathogenesis lies in the constant challenge of the dysbiotic biofilm, which triggers a deregulated immune response responsible for the disease phenotype. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying periodontitis have been extensively studied, the regulatory mechanisms at the transcriptional level remain unclear. To generate transcriptomic data, we performed RNA shotgun sequencing of the oral mucosa of periodontitis-affected mice. Since genes are not expressed in isolation during pathological processes, we disclose here the complete repertoire of differentially expressed genes (DEG) and co-expressed modules to build Gene Regulatory Networks (GRNs) and identify the Master Transcriptional Regulators of periodontitis. The transcriptional changes revealed 366 protein-coding genes and 42 non-coding genes differentially expressed and enriched in the immune response. Furthermore, we found 13 co-expression modules with different representation degrees and gene expression levels. Our GRN comprises genes from 12 gene clusters, 166 nodes, of which 33 encode Transcription Factors, and 201 connections. Finally, using these strategies, 26 master regulators of periodontitis were identified. In conclusion, combining the transcriptomic analyses with the regulatory network construction represents a powerful and efficient strategy for identifying potential periodontitis-therapeutic targets.

Psychological Distress in Young Chilean Adults Exposed to Parental Alienating Behaviors during Childhood/Adolescence.

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychological distress of young adults exposed to alienating behaviors during childhood/adolescence. Four hundred and sixteen adults responded to the online survey. A brief sociodemographic questionnaire, the Brief Symptom Scale, and a questionnaire on adverse childhood experiences were included. The analyses revealed that individuals who experienced one or more alienating behaviors exhibited higher levels of anxiety, depression, somatization, and overall psychological distress. Furthermore, even after controlling for the effect of other adverse childhood experiences, alienating behaviors had a significant impact on psychological distress in adulthood. This highlights an understudied aspect of alienating behaviors, i.e., their conjunction or parallelism with other adverse childhood experiences.

Phylogenomic analysis of the Porphyromonas gingivalis - Porphyromonas gulae duo: approaches to the origin of periodontitis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is an oral human pathogen associated with the onset and progression of periodontitis, a chronic immune-inflammatory disease characterized by the destruction of the teeth-supporting tissue. P. gingivalis belongs to the genus Porphyromonas, which is characterized by being composed of Gram-negative, asaccharolytic, non-spore-forming, non-motile, obligatory anaerobic species, inhabiting niches such as the oral cavity, urogenital tract, gastrointestinal tract and infected wound from different mammals including humans. Among the Porphyromonas genus, P. gingivalis stands out for its specificity in colonizing the human oral cavity and its keystone pathogen role in periodontitis pathogenesis. To understand the evolutionary process behind P. gingivalis in the context of the Pophyoromonas genus, in this study, we performed a comparative genomics study with publicly available Porphyromonas genomes, focused on four main objectives: (A) to confirm the phylogenetic position of P. gingivalis in the Porphyromonas genus by phylogenomic analysis; (B) the definition and comparison of the pangenomes of P. gingivalis and its relative P. gulae; and (C) the evaluation of the gene family gain/loss events during the divergence of P. gingivalis and P. gulae; (D) the evaluation of the evolutionary pressure (represented by the calculation of Tajima-D values and dN/dS ratios) comparing gene families of P. gingivalis and P. gulae. Our analysis found 84 high-quality assemblies representing P. gingivalis and 14 P. gulae strains (from a total of 233 Porphyromonas genomes). Phylogenomic analysis confirmed that P. gingivalis and P. gulae are highly related lineages, close to P. loveana. Both organisms harbored open pangenomes, with a strong core-to-accessory ratio for housekeeping genes and a negative ratio for unknown function genes. Our analyses also characterized the gene set differentiating P. gulae from P. gingivalis, mainly associated with unknown functions. Relevant virulence factors, such as the FimA, Mfa1, and the hemagglutinins, are conserved in P. gulae, P. gingivalis, and P. loveana, suggesting that the origin of those factors occurred previous to the P. gulae - P. gingivalis divergence. These results suggest an unexpected evolutionary relationship between the P. gulae - P. gingivalis duo and P. loveana, showing more clues about the origin of the role of those organisms in periodontitis.

Victimization and risk factors in children and adolescents admitted into outpatient protection center in northern Chile

The present study aimed to identify the proportion of victimization, types of victimization, and risk factors associated to children and adolescents who were admitted into an outpatient protection center for children and adolescents in northern Chile during the years 2016 and 2017. Secondary data from the database pertaining to the protection center was used. The sample was non-probabilistic and included 6,499 cases. The research was descriptive-comparative with a non-experimental retrospective cross-sectional design. The results showed a higher percentage of victimization by neglect, followed by witnessing domestic violence and child sexual abuse. The sociodemographic variables showed a higher percentage of victimization at the age of 6 to 9 and 14 to 17 years old, in children and adolescents who were in the first and second cycle of elementary school and were Chilean. It was found that children victimized by child sexual abuse and bullying also had a drug diagnosis record. Logistic regression analyses showed that gender, age, schooling, nationality, and a drug diagnosis record increase the probability of occurrence of certain types of victimization. The results showed the magnitude of the problem concerning victimizations experienced by children and adolescents in northern Chile and the need to generate prevention strategies for this population.

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar la proporción de victimización, tipos de victimización y factores de riesgo asociados a los niños, niñas y adolescentes que ingresaron a un Centro de Protección a la infancia en el norte de Chile durante los años 2016 y 2017. Se utilizaron datos secundarios de la base de datos del sistema de protección a la infancia. La muestra fue no probabilística e incluyó 6.499 casos. La investigación fue descriptiva-comparativa con un diseño no experimental retrospectivo de corte transversal. Los resultados mostraron un mayor porcentaje de victimización por negligencia, seguido por presenciar violencia doméstica y abuso sexual infantil. Las variables sociodemográficas mostraron un mayor porcentaje de victimización en la edad de 6 a 9 y de 14 a 17 años, en niños y adolescentes que cursaban el primer y segundo ciclo de primaria y eran chilenos. Se encontró que los niños víctimas de abuso sexual infantil y bullying también tenían un registro de diagnóstico de drogas. Los análisis de regresión logística mostraron que el género, la edad, la escolaridad, la nacionalidad y un registro de diagnóstico de drogas aumentan la probabilidad de ocurrencia de ciertos tipos de victimización. Los resultados evidencian la magnitud del problema de las victimizaciones que sufren los niños, niñas y adolescentes del norte de Chile y la necesidad de generar estrategias de prevención para esta población.

Adverse childhood experiences and psychopathology in adolescents from northern Chile: the moderating role of the attachment style

Abstract Background Identifying the underlying mechanisms through which adverse childhood experiences affect (ACEs) the mental health of adolescents is of paramount importance for disease prevention in later stages of life. Objective The present study examines the relationship between ACEs and psychopathology in adolescents from northern Chile and how attachment style (abandonment anxiety and intimacy avoidance) may moderate this relationship. A total of 154 schooled adolescents aged 12 to 17 (M = 15.08, SD = 1.64) completed a series of self-report questionnaires including the Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire (ACEs), Experiences in Close Relationships-Relationship Structures (ECR-RS), and Youth Self Report (YSR-18). Results The data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 25, which included descriptive analysis, one-way ANOVA, and Spearman correlation analysis. To address moderation analysis, the PROCESS macro extension version 4.1 was employed. In this process, the bootstrap method was applied to construct confidence intervals, and the pick-a-point approach was used to define the levels of the moderating variable. According to the results, 80.3% of the sample experienced one or more ACEs, and 16.4% reported experiencing at least three. Furthermore, the variables under study exhibited significant correlations with each other, except for intimacy avoidance, which showed no correlation with ACEs (rho = −0.10; p = 0.273). When considering abandonment anxiety as a moderating variable, the direct effect of ACEs on externalizing symptoms showed statistically significant changes (β = 0.60, p = 0.03). No other moderating effects were found according to the proposed models. Conclusion In childhood, the accumulation of ACEs is associated with the development of psychopathology in adolescents from northern Chile, specifically with the presence of internalizing and externalizing symptoms. These findings suggest that lower levels of abandonment anxiety could mitigate the effects of ACEs on adolescent psychopathology, while higher levels of abandonment anxiety could exacerbate these effects on psychopathology.

Victimization by Caregivers: Prevalence and Risk Factors in Chilean Children and Adolescents.

This study examined the prevalence and risk factors associated to victimization by caregivers in a national large sample of Chilean children and adolescents. 19,687 children and adolescents aged 12-17, selected by random probability sampling of 699 public schools in Chile who were surveyed by trained interviewers. Victimization by Caregivers was evaluated through a module of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire (JVQ). The prevalence (12 months) for physical abuse were (12.9%), for emotional abuse (27.9%), neglect (5.3%) and parental interference (3.5%). The results suggest as risk factors, sex, age, migration status, disability, geographical location, and type of school. The findings highlight the urgent need to address the issue of child maltreatment and victimization by caregivers in Chilean society and minimize its impact.

c-Abl Activation Linked to Autophagy-Lysosomal Dysfunction Contributes to Neurological Impairment in Niemann-Pick Type A Disease.

Niemann-Pick type A (NPA) disease is a fatal lysosomal neurodegenerative disorder caused by the deficiency in acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity. NPA patients present severe and progressive neurodegeneration starting at an early age. Currently, there is no effective treatment for this disease and NPA patients die between 2 and 3 years of age. NPA is characterized by an accumulation of sphingomyelin in lysosomes and dysfunction in the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. Recent studies show that c-Abl tyrosine kinase activity downregulates autophagy and the lysosomal pathway. Interestingly, this kinase is also activated in other lysosomal neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we describe that c-Abl activation contributes to the mechanisms of neuronal damage and death in NPA disease. Our data demonstrate that: 1) c-Abl is activated in-vitro as well as in-vivo NPA models; 2) imatinib, a clinical c-Abl inhibitor, reduces autophagy-lysosomal pathway alterations, restores autophagy flux, and lowers sphingomyelin accumulation in NPA patient fibroblasts and NPA neuronal models and 3) chronic treatment with nilotinib and neurotinib, two c-Abl inhibitors with differences in blood-brain barrier penetrance and target binding mode, show further benefits. While nilotinib treatment reduces neuronal death in the cerebellum and improves locomotor functions, neurotinib decreases glial activation, neuronal disorganization, and loss in hippocampus and cortex, as well as the cognitive decline of NPA mice. Our results support the participation of c-Abl signaling in NPA neurodegeneration and autophagy-lysosomal alterations, supporting the potential use of c-Abl inhibitors for the clinical treatment of NPA patients.

Senescent CD4+CD28- T Lymphocytes as a Potential Driver of Th17/Treg Imbalance and Alveolar Bone Resorption during Periodontitis.

Senescent cells express a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) with a pro-inflammatory bias, which contributes to the chronicity of inflammation. During chronic inflammatory diseases, infiltrating CD4+ T lymphocytes can undergo cellular senescence and arrest the surface expression of CD28, have a response biased towards T-helper type-17 (Th17) of immunity, and show a remarkable ability to induce osteoclastogenesis. As a cellular counterpart, T regulatory lymphocytes (Tregs) can also undergo cellular senescence, and CD28- Tregs are able to express an SASP secretome, thus severely altering their immunosuppressive capacities. During periodontitis, the persistent microbial challenge and chronic inflammation favor the induction of cellular senescence. Therefore, senescence of Th17 and Treg lymphocytes could contribute to Th17/Treg imbalance and favor the tooth-supporting alveolar bone loss characteristic of the disease. In the present review, we describe the concept of cellular senescence; particularly, the one produced during chronic inflammation and persistent microbial antigen challenge. In addition, we detail the different markers used to identify senescent cells, proposing those specific to senescent T lymphocytes that can be used for periodontal research purposes. Finally, we discuss the existing literature that allows us to suggest the potential pathogenic role of senescent CD4+CD28- T lymphocytes in periodontitis.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Peer Victimization in a National Sample of Chilean Children and Youth.

This research aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of peer victimization (PV) in a national sample of Chilean children and youth. We worked with secondary data of Encuesta Nacional de Polivictimización (2017). The sample was probabilistic and included 19,684 participants between 12 and 18 years (M = 14.7, SD = 1.59) from all Chilean regions. The participants answered an adapted version of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire to assess different violence forms. However, for the present study, only five items related to PV were considered. The results showed that a lifetime and the last 12 months' prevalence of PVwerevery high. More than half of the adolescents (60.3%) reported at least one type of victimization by peers throughout a lifetime. Gender differences were found; females have the highest rates of PV than males. These results have discussed the magnitude of this issue and promote the generation of prevention strategies.

Contribution of -Omics Technologies in the Study of Porphyromonas gingivalis during Periodontitis Pathogenesis: A Minireview.

Periodontitis is a non-communicable chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the progressive and irreversible breakdown of the soft periodontal tissues and resorption of teeth-supporting alveolar bone. The etiology of periodontitis involves dysbiotic shifts in the diversity of microbial communities inhabiting the subgingival crevice, which is dominated by anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria, including Porphyromonas gingivalis. Indeed, P. gingivalis is a keystone pathogen with a repertoire of attributes that allow it to colonize periodontal tissues and influence the metabolism, growth rate, and virulence of other periodontal bacteria. The pathogenic potential of P. gingivalis has been traditionally analyzed using classical biochemical and molecular approaches. However, the arrival of new techniques, such as whole-genome sequencing, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, allowed the generation of high-throughput data, offering a suitable option for bacterial analysis, allowing a deeper understanding of the pathogenic properties of P. gingivalis and its interaction with the host. In the present review, we revise the use of the different -omics technologies and techniques used to analyze bacteria and discuss their potential in studying the pathogenic potential of P. gingivalis.

Un modelo para favorecer la ética y las buenas prácticas en investigación global e intercultural: aplicaciones en méxico y chile / A model to promote ethics and good practices in global and intercultural research: applications in méxico and chile / Um modelo para favorecer a ética e as boas práticas em pesquisa global e intercultural: aplicativos no méxico e no chile

Resumen La investigación intercultural plantea desafíos éticos complejos. Por ello, en el año 2019 se desarrolló un modelo de análisis de conflictos éticos en colaboración con más de 200 investigadores de más de 30 países. Este modelo parece pertinente para América Latina. El modelo propone que los desafíos éticos (y sus soluciones) dependen de cuatro factores presentes durante todo el proceso de investigación: el lugar donde se realiza la investigación, las personas involucradas, los principios éticos relevantes y los precedentes de investigaciones pasadas. En este artículo hacemos un análisis de la aplicabilidad de dicho modelo mediante dos análisis de casos referidos a la investigación con pueblos originarios en Chile y al trabajo con latinos migrantes en la frontera México-Estados Unidos.

Abstract Intercultural research poses critical ethical challenges. In 2019, in collaboration with more than 200 researchers from more than 30 countries, a group of researchers developed an ethical conflict analysis model that seems relevant for Latin America. The model proposes a flexible frame of reference where ethical challenges (and their solutions) depend on four factors present throughout the research process: the place where the research is carried out, the people involved, the relevant ethical principles, and the precedents from previous research. This article discusses the applicability of this model through two case analyses: one study with Indigenous peoples in Chile and the other with Latin-American migrants on the border between Mexico and US.

Resumo A pesquisa intercultural apresenta desafios éticos complexos. Por isso, em 2019, foi desenvolvido um modelo de análise de conflitos éticos em colaboração com mais de 200 pesquisas de mais de 30 países. Esse modelo parece pertinente para a América Latina, pois propõe que os desafios éticos (e suas soluções) dependem de quatro fatores presentes durante todo o processo de pesquisa: o lugar onde a pesquisa é realizada, as pessoas envolvidas, os princípios éticos relevantes e os precedentes de pesquisa passadas. Neste artigo, fazemos uma análise da aplicabilidade desse modelo mediante duas análises de casos referidos à pesquisa com povos originários no Chile e ao trabalho com latinos migrantes na fronteira México-Estados Unidos.

Unemployment and mental health in a community population from a border city in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: The constant changes in the global economy generate instability in the markets, favoring the closing of companies, dismissals of personnel, job losses. Unemployment has been associated with adverse psychological effects, serving as a predictor of poor mental health. OBJECTIVE: The main goal was to analyze the relation between work status and mental health. METHODS: A cross-sectional, quantitative study was carried out with a sample of community population, inhabitants of the urban area of a Mexican city. The sample consisted of 1351 participants, being 577 men (43%) and 774 women (57%) with an average age of 41.46 (SD = 17.00). The participants were selected by a quota sampling, in 13 representative points of Matamoros' city urban area. Home surveys were applied; the Spanish version of the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90) was used for mental health assessment. RESULTS: The model explaining the relation between work status and mental health (GFI) was significant (p < 0.01). Unemployment was related to higher scores in all sub-scales of psychopathologies evaluated by the SCL-90, in comparison with the rest of work status categories. CONCLUSIONS: The unemployed, followed by housewives, presented indicators of poorer mental health, while the retired and those in strikes or lockouts showed the best mental health indexes.

Online sexual harassment and depression in Chilean adolescents: Variations based on gender and age of the offenders.

BACKGROUND: Online sexual harassment in adolescence is associated with depressive symptoms. There is, however, a dearth of research investigating variability of symptom profiles in this population in relation to offender gender and age. OBJECTIVE: To identify the proportion of adolescents reporting online harassment by different types of offenders and compare their levels of depression. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Participants were 18,872 Chilean students aged 12 to 17 years (3.063 of them online sexually harassed). METHODS: The study involved a secondary analysis of self-report data on online sexual harassment, poly-victimization, and depression collected as part of the National Poly-victimization Survey. RESULTS: In 37.6% of the cases the offender was male under 18, in 22.4% an adult male, in 14.5% a female under 18, and in 2.9% an adult female. In 22.5% of cases the offender could not be identified. An ANCOVA demonstrated levels of poly-victimization across the lifespan and frequency of online sexual harassment in the last year to predict depressive symptomatology. In females, higher levels of depressive symptoms were observed among those sexually harassed by either a female under 18, an offender whose age and gender the victim could not identify, or an adult male. In males, higher levels of depression were observed among those harassed by either an adult male, an offender whose age and gender the victim could not identify, or a male under 18. CONCLUSIONS: The current study highlights the importance of offender's age and gender in predicting depression levels in adolescent victims of online sexual harassment.

Perspectivas y tendencias actuales del concepto de alienación parental: una revisión sistemática de la literatura / Current perspectives and trends of the concept of parental alienation: a systematic review of the literature

Resumen: Antecedentes: Son diversos las/os investigadoras/es que se han interesado por el fenómeno de la alienación parental. No obstante, esta compleja dinámica relacional no ha estado exenta de controversias. Objetivo: Realizar una revisión sistemática de las perspectivas y tendencias actuales del concepto de alienación parental, sus características y efectos en la población que experimentan estas circunstancias. Método: Se utilizó la metodología PRISMA-P para llevar a cabo una búsqueda bibliográfica exhaustiva de artículos publicados entre el año 2016 y junio de 2020 en revistas indexadas Scopus y/o WOS. Se contemplaron 95 estudios, de los cuales 11 fueron considerados para la revisión, de acuerdo con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión preestablecidos. Se identificó un amplio campo investigativo en el cual se circunscribe la alienación parental, como dinámica relacional. Resultados: Los 11 estudios seleccionados establecían relaciones entre la experiencia de alienación parental e indicadores de salud mental, tanto en niños, niñas, adolescentes, como adultos que experimentan o experimentaron estas dinámicas. Así también, se relacionó con maltrato psicológico. Conclusiones: La alienación parental es un fenómeno con una importante prevalencia en la población y se ha vinculado con un deterioro en la salud mental de las personas que la experimentan o la han experimentado.

Abstract: Background: Several researchers have been interested in the phenomenon of parental alienation. However, this complex relational dynamic has not been without controversy. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of current perspectives and trends on the concept of parental alienation, its characteristics and effects on the population experiencing these circumstances. Method: PRISMA-P methodology was used to conduct an exhaustive literature search of articles published between 2016 and June 2020 in Scopus and/or WOS indexed journals. Ninety-five studies were contemplated, of which 11 were considered for the review, according to the pre-established inclusion and exclusion criteria. A broad field of research was identified in which parental alienation is circumscribed as a relational dynamic. Results: The 11 selected studies established relationships between the experience of parental alienation and mental health indicators, both in children, adolescents and adults who experience or have experienced these dynamics. Thus, it was also related to psychological maltreatment. Conclusions: Parental alienation is a phenomenon with a significant prevalence in the population and has been linked to a deterioration in the mental health of people who experience or have experienced it.

Self-Reported Sexual Victimization Among Chilean Children and Youth.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sexual victimization among a representative sample of children and youth from Chile and to analyze the sex and age differences. The First National Survey of Poly-victimization collected cross-sectional data via a self-report survey of 19,648 children and youth (aged 12-18 years). Lifetime victimization was reported by 31.9% of children and youth (23.9% of males and 39.7% of females) and 21.9% reported victimization in the past year (16.8% of males and 26.9% of females). Girls presented higher percentages of lifetime sexual victimization with and without physical contact in practically all of the items. However, boys had a higher prevalence in statutory rape. Younger participants reported a prevalence of sexual victimization of 23.1%, while older participants reported a prevalence of 40.0%. Youth between the ages of 15 and 18 years had a higher prevalence of lifetime sexual victimization in practically all its forms, except for verbal sexual harassment. The results show that Chilean children and youth are exposed to sexual victimization in an extensive way, which demands an immediate response by public policy.

Levels of low-molecular-weight hyaluronan in periodontitis-treated patients and its immunostimulatory effects on CD4+ T lymphocytes.

OBJECTIVES: During periodontitis, chronic inflammation triggers soft tissue breakdown, and hyaluronan is degraded into fragments of low molecular weight (LMW-HA). This investigation aimed to elucidate whether LMW-HA fragments with immunogenic potential on T lymphocytes remain in periodontal tissues after periodontal treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GCF samples were obtained from 15 periodontitis-affected patients and the LMW-HA, RANKL, and OPG levels were analyzed before and after 6 months of periodontal treatment by ELISA. Eight healthy individuals were analyzed as controls. Besides, human T lymphocytes were purified, exposed to infected dendritic cells, and pulsed with LMW-HA. Non-treated T lymphocytes were used as control. The expression levels of the transcription factors and cytokines that determine the Th1, Th17, and Th22 lymphocyte differentiation and function were analyzed by RT-qPCR. Similarly, the expression levels of RANKL and CD44 were analyzed. RESULTS: In the GCF samples of periodontitis-affected patients, higher levels of LMW-HA were detected when compared with those of healthy individuals (52.1 ± 15.4 vs. 21.4 ± 12.2, p < 0.001), and these increased levels did not decrease after periodontal therapy (52.1 ± 15.4 vs. 45.7 ± 15.9, p = 0.158). Similarly, the RANKL levels and RANKL/OPG ratios did not change after periodontal therapy. Furthermore, in human T lymphocytes, LMW-HA induced higher expression levels of the Th1, Th17, and Th22-related transcription factors and cytokines, as well as CD44 and RANKL, as compared with non-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: In some patients, increased levels of LMW-HA persist in periodontal tissues after conventional periodontal therapy, and these remaining LMW-HA fragments with immunostimulatory potential could induce the polarization of a pathologic Th1/Th17/Th22-pattern of immune response on T lymphocytes. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The persistence of increased levels of LMW-HA in periodontal tissues after periodontal therapy could favor the recurrence of the disease and further breakdown of periodontal supporting tissues.