"I'll fill in the gaps": perspectives of HHAs on promoting aging in place for older adults with low incomes.

Older adults with low incomes experience disproportionate rates of cognitive and functional impairment and an elevated risk of nursing home admission. Home health aides (HHAs) may have insight into how to optimize aging in place for this population, yet little is known about HHAs' perspectives on this topic. We conducted 6 focus groups with 21 English-speaking and 10 Spanish-speaking HHAs in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis, and three themes emerged. First, HHAs described the uniqueness of their role within multidisciplinary care teams. Second, HHAs shared concrete interventions they employ to help their clients improve their function at home. Third, HHAs discussed barriers they face when helping clients age in place. Our findings suggest that HHAs have important insights into improving aging in place for older adults with low incomes and that their perspectives should be incorporated into care planning and intervention delivery.

The block design subtest of the Wechsler adult intelligence scale as a possible non-verbal proxy of cognitive reserve.

Objectives: To investigate the potential of the Block design subtest of the Wechsler Adults Intelligence Scale as a non-verbal proxy of cognitive reserve. Method: A total of 391 cognitively unimpaired participants were included in this study. The association between the Block design subtest and the Information subtest (an established verbal proxy of cognitive reserve) from the WAIS, as well as the association of the two subtests with a Cognitive Reserve Questionnaire (CRQ) were tested. In addition, multiple linear regression models were conducted to investigate the association of the Block design and Information subtests with cognitive performance. The capacity of the Block design subtest to minimize the negative effect of an older age over cognitive performance was also assessed and this effect was compared with that of the Information subtest. The four cognitive domains included were: verbal memory, visual-visuospatial memory, executive-premotor functions and processing speed. Results: The Block design subtest correlated positively with both the Information subtest and the CRQ. A statistically significant association was observed between the Block design subtest and all four cognitive domains. Higher scores in the Block design subtest minimized the negative effect of aging on the cognitive domains of visual-visuospatial memory and executive-premotor functions, in a similar way to the results obtained for the Information subtest. Conclusion: The Block design subtest is significantly correlated with two established proxies of cognitive reserve: it correlates with cognitive performance and high scores in Block design have the capacity to minimize the negative effect of an older age on cognitive performance. Therefore, the results suggest that the corrected Block design subtest could be considered as a non-verbal proxy of cognitive reserve.

Portadores de Neisseria meningitidis, caracterización de las cepas aisladas y respuesta inmune basal a VA-MENGOC-BC / Neisseria meningitidis carriers, characterization of isolated strains and basal immune response to VA-MENGOC-BC

Con el propósito de conocer la prevalencia de portadores de Neisseria meningitidis en un grupo de adolescentes, los marcadores epidemiológicos de las cepas aisladas, así como los factores de riesgo asociados con el estado de portadory la respuesta inmune basal a VA-MENGOC-BC, se realizó un estudio transversal descriptivo de portadores en 189 estudiantes de 12-19 años de un politécnico de Ciego de Ávila, siguiendo las Normas Bioéticas establecidas. A los estudiantes se les realizó un exudado faríngeo y una extracción de sangre para la obtención de suero, así como unaencuesta relacionada con aspectos de la investigación. La identificación de N meningitidis se hizo por el sistema APINH (bioMérieux). Los serosubtipos e inmunotipos se clasificaron por ELISA de células enteras con anticuerpos monoclonales y la respuesta inmune basal se detectó por el Ensayo Bactericida del Suero. Se determinó la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana de las cepas frente a la penicilina, cloranfenicol, rifampicina, sulfadiacina sódica, ceftriaxona y ciprofloxacina. La prevalencia de portadores de N meningitidis fue del 17 por ciento. Predominaron las cepas no agrupables (84,7 por ciento), seguidas por los serogrupos B (12,5 por ciento) y Z (3,1 por ciento), destacándose la ausencia del C Prevaleció el fenotipo NA:NT:P1.NST:L3,7,9 (12,5 por ciento), las cepas resistentes a la sulfadiacina (78,2 por ciento) y sensibles a penicilina(81,3 por ciento), aunque el 18,7 por ciento mostró sensibilidad intermedia a este fármaco. Al resto de los antimicrobianos todas fueron sensibles. Se constató una respuesta inmune de memoria a la vacuna antimeningocócica (VAMENGOC-BC®), 12 años después de su aplicación, con títulos bactericidas anti C y B de 25 y 42 por ciento, respectivamente, resultados que pudieran estar influenciados por la inmunización sistemática que se realiza en Cuba con esta vacuna desde 1991(AU)

A descriptive transversal study of N meningitidis carriers involving 189 students of 12-19 years old of a Polytechnic School in Ciego de Avila province was carried out. This study aimed at knowing the prevalence of N meningitidis carriers , the epidemiological markers as well as risk factors associated to carrier state and to basal immune response to VA-MENGOC-BC in teenagers. Blood sample and pharyngeal swab tests were carried out to the students, in addition a survey was performed to find out aspects of research. Identification of N meningitidis was carried out by API NH system (bioMérieux). Sero-subtypesand immunotypes were classified by whole cell ELISA with monoclonal antibodies, and basal immune response was detected by Serum Bactericidal Assay (SBA). Antimicrobial susceptibility of strains to Penicillin, Chloramphenicol, Rifampicin, SodicSulfadiazine, Ceftriaxone and Ciprofloxacine was determined. Prevalence of N meningitidis was 17 percent. Non groupable strainswere predominant (84,7 percent), followed by serogroups B (12,5 percent) and Z (3,1 percent), serogroup C was absent. PhenotypeNA:NT:P1.NST:L3,7,9 (12,5 percent) prevailed, resistant strains to sulfadiazine (78,2 percent) and sensitive to penicillin (81,3 percent), though 18,7 percent showed intermediate sensitivity to this drug. All strains were sensitive to the remaining antimicrobial drugs. Memory immune response to meningococcal vaccine (VA-MENGOC-BC) was observed , 12 years after its application, with anti C andB bactericidal titers of 25 and 42 percent respectively. We consider that these results may be influenced by systematic immunization that is carried out with this vaccine in Cuba since 1991(AU)

Actividad antiviral de la lactoferrina de calostro humano contra el virus Herpes simple tipo 1 / Antiviral activity of human colostral lactoferrin against herpes simplex virus type 1

En el presente trabajo se evaluan la citotoxidad y actividad de una preparación local de lactoferrina de calostro humano para determinar su inocuidad y la actividad bilógica. en el modelo VHS-1 /células Vero, sta preparación de lactoferrina mostró una actividad antiviral significativa contra VHS-1 con parámetros (CC50-54,3uM, ED50 1,4uM, SI-39) Similares a los reportados para otras preparaciones comerciales de lactoferrina humana. Esta preparación de lactoferrina inhibió la actividad hemaglutinante del VHS-1 en eritrocitos de ratón. Se muestra por primera vez, que la actividad antiviral de la lactoferrina y la heparina contra VHS-1 se anulan, si ambas sustancias se mezclan antes de la infección viral(AU)