Clinical and pulmonary function analysis in long-COVID revealed that long-term pulmonary dysfunction is associated with vascular inflammation pathways and metabolic syndrome.

Introduction: Long-term pulmonary dysfunction (L-TPD) is one of the most critical manifestations of long-COVID. This lung affection has been associated with disease severity during the acute phase and the presence of previous comorbidities, however, the clinical manifestations, the concomitant consequences and the molecular pathways supporting this clinical condition remain unknown. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize L-TPD in patients with long-COVID and elucidate the main pathways and long-term consequences attributed to this condition by analyzing clinical parameters and functional tests supported by machine learning and serum proteome profiling. Methods: Patients with L-TPD were classified according to the results of their computer-tomography (CT) scan and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide adjusted for hemoglobin (DLCOc) tests at 4 and 12-months post-infection. Results: Regarding the acute phase, our data showed that L-TPD was favored in elderly patients with hypertension or insulin resistance, supported by pathways associated with vascular inflammation and chemotaxis of phagocytes, according to computer proteomics. Then, at 4-months post-infection, clinical and functional tests revealed that L-TPD patients exhibited a restrictive lung condition, impaired aerobic capacity and reduced muscular strength. At this time point, high circulating levels of platelets and CXCL9, and an inhibited FCgamma-receptor-mediated-phagocytosis due to reduced FcγRIII (CD16) expression in CD14+ monocytes was observed in patients with L-TPD. Finally, 1-year post infection, patients with L-TPD worsened metabolic syndrome and augmented body mass index in comparison with other patient groups. Discussion: Overall, our data demonstrated that CT scan and DLCOc identified patients with L-TPD after COVID-19. This condition was associated with vascular inflammation and impair phagocytosis of virus-antibody immune complexes by reduced FcγRIII expression. In addition, we conclude that COVID-19 survivors required a personalized follow-up and adequate intervention to reduce long-term sequelae and the appearance of further metabolic diseases.

Interaction of Val66Met BDNF and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms with prevalence of post-earthquake 27-F PTSD in Chilean population.

Post-traumatic stress (PTSD) disorder is a mental health condition that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The 27-F earthquake that struck Chile in 2010 was one such event that had a significant impact on the mental health of the population. A study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of PTSD and its associated factors among survivors of this earthquake. The study was a longitudinal design, involving a sample of 913 patients aged 18 to 75 years who attended 10 Primary Care Centers in Concepción, Chile. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to assess both depressive episodes (DE) and PTSD before and after the earthquake. The study also involved genotyping studies using saliva samples from the participants, specifically focusing on the Val66Met and 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. Statistical analysis was performed to examine the association between different variables and the presence of PTSD. These variables included demographic factors, family history of psychiatric disorders, DE, childhood maltreatment experiences, and critical traumatic events related to the earthquake. The results showed that the incidence of post-earthquake PTSD was 11.06%. No significant differences were found between the groups of participants who developed post-earthquake PTSD regarding the Val66Met or 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. However, a significant association was found between the concomitant diagnosis of DE and the development of post-earthquake PTSD. The presence of DE doubled the risk of developing post-earthquake PTSD. The number of traumatic events experienced also had a statistically significant association with an increased risk of developing post-earthquake PTSD. The study's limitations include the potential interference of different DE subtypes, the complexity of quantifying the degree of earthquake exposure experienced by each individual, and events entailing social disruption, such as looting, that can profoundly influence distress. In conclusion, the study found that PTSD following the 27-F earthquake in Chile was associated with a concomitant diagnosis of DE and the number of traumatic events experienced. The study did not find a significant association between PTSD and the Val66Met or 5-HTTLPR polymorphisms. The researchers recommend that mental health professionals should prioritize the detection and treatment of concomitant depressive episodes and exposure to critical traumatic events in survivors of disasters. They also suggest that further research is needed to better understand the relationship between genetic factors and post-disaster PTSD.

Estudio de calidad de vida y comportamiento adaptativo en niños y adolescentes con discapacidad intelectual / Study of Quality of Life and Adaptive Behavior in Children and Adolescents with Intellectual Disability

Introducción: Los niños y adolescentes con discapacidad intelectual (DI) requieren de evaluaciones cognitivas, adaptativas y de calidad de vida (CV) con el fin de programar estrategias integrales de intervención basadas en sus necesidades. El objetivo de este estudio es describir CV, comportamiento adaptativo y cognición en una serie de niños y adolescentes con DI. Método: Se estudiaron 28 pacientes entre 6 a 18 años con escala de CV, evaluaciones cognitivas y comportamiento adaptativo. Resultados: En escala de CV se obtuvo una puntuación promedio, rango percentil 45-50, con menor puntaje en dimensiones de desarrollo personal, relaciones interpersonales e inclusión social. En escala de comportamiento adaptativo la mayoría de los pacientes presentaron nivel adaptativo bajo, sus dominios más afectados fueron comunicación y socialización. Al relacionar CV, comportamiento adaptativo y cognición se encontró una correlación significativa entre función adaptativa general y cognición (r = ,74, p < ,01) y entre función adaptativa e índice de calidad de vida (r = ,63, p < ,01). Conclusiones: En nuestra serie de niños y adolescentes con DI se relaciona un menor comportamiento adaptativo con menor CV y menor cognición. Inclusión social, desarrollo personal y relaciones interpersonales, así como socialización y comunicación, son las líneas a considerar como planes de intervención. (AU)

Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID) require cognitive, adaptive and quality of life (QoL) assessments in order to program integral strategies of intervention based on their needs. The objective of this study is to describe quality of life, adaptive behavior and cognition in a series of children and adolescents with ID. Method: 28 patients between 6 and 18 years old were studied with QoL scales, adaptive behavior and cognitive evaluations, and their correlations. Results: On the CV scale, an average score was obtained, 45-50 percentile range, with a lower score in dimensions of personal development, interpersonal relationships and social in-clusion. On the adaptive behavior scale, most of the patients presented a low adaptive level; their most affected domains were communication and socialization. When relat-ing QoL, adaptive behavior and cognition, a significant correlation was found between general adaptive function and cognition (r = ,74, p < ,01) and between adaptive function and quality of life index (r = ,63, p < ,01). Conclusions: In our series of children and adolescent with ID, a lower adaptive behavior is associated with a lower QoL and low-er cognition. Social inclusion, personal development and interpersonal relationships, as well as socialization and communication, are the lines to consider as intervention plans. (AU)

Secretome from Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Derived Endothelial Cells Promotes Wound Healing in a Type-2 Diabetes Mouse Model.

Tissue regeneration is often impaired in patients with metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus and obesity, exhibiting reduced wound repair and limited regeneration capacity. We and others have demonstrated that wound healing under normal metabolic conditions is potentiated by the secretome of human endothelial cell-differentiated mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC-EC). However, it is unknown whether this effect is sustained under hyperglycemic conditions. In this study, the wound healing effect of secretomes from undifferentiated human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) and hMSC-EC in a type-2 diabetes mouse model was analyzed. hMSC were isolated from human Wharton's jelly and differentiated into hMSC-EC. hMSC and hMSC-EC secretomes were analyzed and their wound healing capacity in C57Bl/6J mice fed with control (CD) or high fat diet (HFD) was evaluated. Our results showed that hMSC-EC secretome enhanced endothelial cell proliferation and wound healing in vivo when compared with hMSC secretome. Five soluble proteins (angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2, Factor de crecimiento fibroblástico, Matrix metallopeptidase 9, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) were enriched in hMSC-EC secretome in comparison to hMSC secretome. Thus, the five recombinant proteins were mixed, and their pro-healing property was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Functional analysis demonstrated that a cocktail of these proteins enhanced the wound healing process similar to hMSC-EC secretome in HFD mice. Overall, our results show that hMSC-EC secretome or a combination of specific proteins enriched in the hMSC-EC secretome enhanced wound healing process under hyperglycemic conditions.

[Children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities studied with genetic tests according to their clinical phenotype]. / Estudio genético de acuerdo a características fenotípicas de niños y adolescentes con discapacidad intelectual de etiología indeterminada.

INTRODUCTION: Intellectual disability (ID) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by limitations in intellec tual and adaptive functioning, of various etiologies, including genetic causes. OBJECTIVE: to describe genetic studies carried out in a series of children and adolescents with ID of previously undetermined etiology, considering their phenotypic characteristics. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Descriptive study of a series of patients with ID aged 6 to 18 years. Clinical records, cognitive assessment results (Wechsler -TADI), and genetic study performed were reviewed. They were classified according to phenotypic characteristics into Group 1 patients without a specific phenotype, Group 2: patients with Angel- man- and Rett-like neurodevelopmental disorders phenotype, and Group 3: patients with difficult- to-control seizures. Group 1 was studied with CMA and Groups 2 and 3 with specific genetic panels. RESULTS: 18 patients were described, average age 11 years, male predominance, non-consanguineous parents, and with history of psychomotor retardation. Common comorbidities were epilepsy, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and behavioral difficulties. Most had a neurological examination without focus and had TADI with very poor developmental ages. In Group 1, there was one patient with a 16p11.2 microdeletion and in Group 3 a duplication of the IQSEC2 gene was found in a patient with difficult-to-control seizures. CONCLUSIONS: The phenotypic characteristics allow to guide the choice of specific genetic studies in children and adolescents with ID of previously undetermined etiology to approach the etiological diagnosis.

[Therapeutic use of robotics in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder]. / Uso terapéutico de robótica en niños con Trastorno del Espectro Autista.

INTRODUCTION: Robot-assisted Therapy (RAT) can improve the behavior of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a spontaneous and entertaining way. There are no previous experiences of this type of inter vention in our country. OBJECTIVE: To describe a clinical experience of using RAT and its impact on the behaviors of a group of children with ASD, in a therapeutic context. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Quasi experimental clinical experience type study. 4 children with a clinical diagnosis of ASD were selected, supported by the ADOS-2 (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule); aged between 9 and 13 years, and normal IQ according to the WISC-III (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children). This study was approved by the Central Metropolitan Ethics Committee. Patients attended 10 structured robot-as sisted therapy sessions, working collaboratively in pairs. Workshop attendance and parent and child satisfaction were evaluated through surveys, the adaptive behavior with the Vineland scale, and so cial interaction with video coding guidelines. RESULTS: Patients presented a very good adherence and satisfaction with the activity. There was an improvement in socialization behaviors and social age. Video-coding showed an increase in social interaction and improvement in the behavior of the pa tients after attending workshops. CONCLUSIONS: We observed that the experience with RAT, adapted to the context of a Chilean public health center, was highly attractive and beneficial for patients with ASD, improving core symptoms such as difficulties in social interaction and behavioral problems.