Evaluation of the susceptibility of Tritrichomonas foetus to extracts of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) by flow cytometry.

Bovine Trichomonosis (BT), a sexually transmitted disease endemic in countries with extensive cattle farming and natural service, is one of the most common causes of reproductive failure. 5-nitroimidazoles and their derivatives are used for its treatment, mainly metronidazole. The emergence of drug resistance mechanisms and treatment failures raise the need to investigate the effectiveness of new active compounds that contribute to parasite control. In this regard, extracts of Lantana camara (Verbenacea) have shown high biocidal potential against isolates of Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania braziliensis in vitro assays, although their effect on Tritrichomonas foetus has not been demonstrated yet. The available information on in vitro susceptibility of trichomonicidal drugs comes from the use of a diversity of methodologies and criteria, especially the observation of parasite motility under the optical microscope to assess their viability. Recently, in our laboratory, the use of flow cytometry has been described for the first time as a rapid and efficient method to evaluate the viability of T. foetus against metronidazole. The present study aimed to evaluate the cytostatic effect of L. camara extracts against T. foetus isolates by flow cytometry. Under aerobic conditions, IC50 values of 22.60 µg/mL were obtained on average. Under anaerobic conditions, the IC50 oscilated around 29.04 µg/mL. The results obtained allowed describing the susceptibility exhibited by these protozoa, being a valuable information for the development of potential BT treatments.

Brainstem auditory-evoked responses among children afflicted by severely hypoxic CHD.

MAIN AIM: To electrophysiologically determine the impact of moderate to severe chronic hypoxia (H) resulting from a wide array of CHD (HCHD) conditions on the integrity of brainstem function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Applying brainstem auditory-evoked response methodology, 30 chronically afflicted HCHD patients, who already had undergone heart surgery, were compared to 28 healthy control children (1-15 yo) matched by age, gender and socioeconomic condition. Blood oxygen saturation was clinically determined and again immediately before brainstem auditory-evoked response testing. RESULTS: Among HCHD children, auditory wave latencies (I, III and V) were significantly longer (medians: I, 2.02 ms; III, 4.12 ms, and; V, 6.30 ms) compared to control (medians: I, 1.67ms; III, 3.72 ms, and; V, 5.65 ms), as well as interpeak intervals (HCHD medians: I-V, 4.25 ms, and; III-V, 2.25ms; control medians: I-V, 3.90 ms and, III-V, 1.80 ms) without significant differences in wave amplitudes between groups. A statistically significant and inverse correlation between average blood oxygen saturation of each group (control, 94%; HCHD, 78%) and their respective wave latencies and interpeak intervals was found. CONCLUSIONS: As determined by brainstem auditory-evoked responses, young HCHD patients manifestly show severely altered neuronal conductivity in the auditory pathway strongly correlated with their hypoxic condition. These observations are strongly supported by different brainstem neurological and image studies showing that alterations, either in microstructure or function, result from the condition of chronic hypoxia in CHD. The non-altered wave amplitudes are indicative of relatively well-preserved neuronal relay nuclei.

Direct Mass Measurements to Inform the Behavior of

Nuclear isomer effects are pivotal in understanding nuclear astrophysics, particularly in the rapid neutron-capture process where the population of metastable isomers can alter the radioactive decay paths of nuclei produced during astrophysical events. The ß-decaying isomer ^{128m}Sb was identified as potentially impactful since the ß-decay pathway along the A=128 isobar funnels into this state bypassing the ground state. We report the first direct mass measurements of the ^{128}Sb isomer and ground state using the Canadian Penning Trap mass spectrometer at Argonne National Laboratory. We find mass excesses of -84564.8(25) keV and -84608.8(21) keV, respectively, resulting in an excitation energy for the isomer of 43.9(33) keV. These results provide the first key nuclear data input for understanding the role of ^{128m}Sb in nucleosynthesis, and we show that it will influence the flow of the rapid neutron-capture process.

Changes in brain activity associated with cognitive-behavioral exposure therapy for specific phobias: searching for underlying mechanisms. / Cambios en la actividad cerebral asociados a la terapia de exposición cognitivo-conductual para fobias específicas: búsqueda de los mecanismos subyacentes.

INTRODUCTION: The current evidence collected consistent results about morphological and functional brain changes produced by psychological treatment. Exposure cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is currently the most effective psychological treatment for phobias. AIMS: To explore the brain activation and self-reported changes in patients with specific phobias to small animals who underwent a CBT exposure program and to prove if the CBT program made phobic patients process feared stimuli similarly to non-phobic persons. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 32 adults, of which 16 (5 males and 11 females; mean age: 38.08) had specific phobia to small animals and 16 (4 males and 12 females; mean age: 21.81) had no phobias. A univariate before-and-after treatment design were used. In addition, the scores of the non-phobic group in self-reports and brain activity were compared with the post-treatment scores of the phobic group. RESULTS: Data show significant changes in brain activity, and improvements in self-reported measures because of applying CBT to specific phobias. As a highlight, participants showed a greater activation in points of the precuneus after receiving CBT. Also, when compared with non-phobic participants, phobic patients still remain with both fear and defensive responses to phobic stimuli. CONCLUSIONS: The precuneus seems to be a regulator that reorganizes the processing of phobic stimuli. It can imply as CBT/ exposure also active acceptance, self-awareness, and self-efficacy mechanisms.

TITLE: Cambios en la actividad cerebral asociados a la terapia de exposición cognitivo-conductual para fobias específicas: búsqueda de los mecanismos subyacentes.Introducción. La evidencia disponible recoge resultados consistentes sobre cambios cerebrales morfológicos y funcionales producidos por el tratamiento psicológico. La terapia cognitivo-conductual (TCC) de exposición es actualmente el tratamiento psicológico más eficaz para las fobias. Objetivos. Explorar los cambios cerebrales y autoinformados en pacientes con fobias específicas a animales pequeños sometidos a un programa de TCC de exposición y comprobar si el programa consiguió que estos pacientes procesaran los estímulos temidos de manera similar a las personas no fóbicas. Sujetos y métodos. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 32 adultos, de los que 16 (5 hombres y 11 mujeres; edad media: 38,08 años) tenían un diagnóstico de fobia específica a animales pequeños y 16 (4 hombres y 12 mujeres; edad media: 21,81 años) no tenían dicho diagnóstico. Se utilizó un diseño univariado de tratamiento antes-después. Las puntuaciones del grupo sin fobia en autoinformes y activación cerebral se compararon con las puntuaciones del grupo con fobia posteriores al tratamiento. Resultados. Los datos muestran cambios significativos en la actividad cerebral y mejoras en las medidas autoinformadas debido a la aplicación de la TCC a la fobia específica. Tras recibir TCC, los participantes mostraron una mayor activación en puntos del precúneo. Además, comparado con los participantes sin fobia, los pacientes fóbicos mantenían las respuestas defensivas y de miedo ante los estímulos fóbicos. Conclusiones. El precúneo parece ser un regulador que reorganiza el procesamiento de los estímulos fóbicos. Puede implicar que la TCC de exposición, además, activa mecanismos de aceptación, autoconciencia y autoeficacia.

Estudio de carcinomas agresivos a través de metástasis orbitarias / Study of aggressive carcinomas through orbital metástasis

Se presentan dos casos clínicos de metástasis orbitaria. El primero es el de un varón de 63 años con pérdida de agudeza visual reciente asociada a diplopía binocular. Las pruebas de neuroimagen revelan una tumoración de características agresivas con extensión intraconal e invasión ósea. El estudio sistémico nos lleva al diagnóstico de carcinoma broncogénico microcítico en estadio IV. El segundo caso corresponde a una mujer de 69 años con cáncer de mama en estadios precoces que presenta alteraciones de motilidad ocular y proptosis. Mediante tomografía computarizada se evidencia infiltración tumoral de musculatura extraocular. El estudio anatomopatológico confirma el diagnóstico de metástasis orbitaria. La enfermedad metastásica orbitaria es una entidad relativamente infrecuente, con presentación clínica variada y pronóstico desfavorable. Constituye un reto diagnóstico que se debe sospechar en pacientes con factores de riesgo para enfermedad tumoral y recurrir a las técnicas de imagen para definir la extensión y severidad del cuadro

Two clinical cases of orbital metastasis are presented. The first is a 63 year-old male with a recent loss of visual acuity associated with binocular diplopia. Neuroimaging tests revealed a tumour of aggressive features with intraconal extension and bone invasion. The systemic study led to the diagnosis of stage IV small cell bronchogenic carcinoma. The second case is a 69 year-old woman with breast cancer in early stages that showed alterations in ocular motility and proptosis. Computed tomography showed tumour infiltration of extraocular musculature. The anatomo-pathological study confirmed the diagnosis of orbital metastasis. Orbital metastatic disease is a relatively infrequent entity with varied clinical presentation and an unfavourable prognosis. It constitutes a diagnostic challenge that should be suspected in patients with risk factors for tumour disease and imaging techniques used to define the extent and severity of the condition

Retinopatía vasoproliferativa secundaria a enfermedad de Waldenström / Vasoproliferative retinopathy secondary to Waldenström's disease

Paciente de 66 años en seguimiento por retinopatía diabética refractaria a múltiples modalidades de tratamiento a pesar del buen control metabólico que refiere pérdida de peso progresiva. Por este motivo se decide realizar un estudio sistémico, detectándose anemia, elevación de la velocidad de sedimentación globular e hiperproteinemia a expensas de un pico monoclonal de IgM. Posteriormente, mediante la biopsia de médula ósea y el estudio genético, se llega al diagnóstico de macroglobulinemia de Waldenström. La macroglobulinemia de Waldenström es una patología linfoproliferativa de escasa frecuencia cuya principal manifestación es a través del síndrome de hiperviscosidad. Este puede producir signos oftalmológicos detectables mediante funduscopia y pruebas de imagen. El estudio multimodal es útil en el diagnóstico y seguimiento de la afectación retiniana. La incorporación de la angiografía por tomografía de coherencia óptica permite un estudio más preciso de los trastornos microvasculares que se pueden presentar a nivel del polo posterior

A 66 year-old patient, monitored for diabetic retinopathy refractory to multiple treatment methods despite a good metabolic control, referred to progressive weight loss. For this reason, a systemic study was performed, detecting anaemia, elevation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and hyperproteinaemia due to elevated serum levels of monoclonal IgM. Subsequently, by performing a bone marrow biopsy and genetic study, the diagnosis of Waldenström macroglobulinaemia was made. Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia is a low frequency lymphoproliferative disease, for which the main manifestation is a hyperviscosity syndrome that can produce ophthalmological signs detectable by funduscopy and imaging tests. A multimodal study is useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of retinal involvement. The incorporation of angiography by optical coherence tomography allows a more precise study of the microvascular disorders that may occur at the posterior pole level

Iron therapy substantially restores qEEG maturational lag among iron-deficient anemic infants.

OBJECTIVE: To use quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) to assess the impact of iron-deficiency anemia on central nervous system maturation in the first year of life. METHOD: Twenty-five infants (3-12 months old) presenting ferropenic anemia (IDA) and 25 healthy controls (CTL1), matched by age/gender with the former, were studied in two stages. Electroencephalogram during spontaneous sleep was recorded from all participants; the fast Fourier transform was calculated to obtain absolute power (AP) and relative power (RP) qEEG measures. In the first stage, a qEEG comparison between CTL1 and IDA was performed. Second stage consisted in comparing qEEG of the IDA infants before and after supplementation with iron (IDA-IS group), and comparing qEEG of the IDA-IS group with another control age-matched group (CTL2). Non-parametric multivariate permutation tests (NPT) were applied to assess differences between CTL1 and IDA groups, as well as IDA vs. IDA-IS, and IDA-IS vs. CTL2. RESULTS: More power in slow frequency bands and less power in fast frequency bands in 64% of IDA babies were observed. NPT evinced higher alpha AP and RP (P < 0.001), less theta AP, and less delta and theta RP in CTL1 than in IDA. After iron-restoration therapy, alpha AP and RP increased while theta AP and theta and delta RP decreased, reaching almost normal values. DISCUSSION: This work reveals CNS developmental delay through the study of qEEG (less rapid and more slow frequencies) which recovered significantly with iron supplementation. It is concluded that IDA constitutes a high risk factor for a lag of CNS maturation.

Vasoproliferative retinopathy secondary to Waldenström's disease. / Retinopatía vasoproliferativa secundaria a enfermedad de Waldenström.

A 66 year-old patient, monitored for diabetic retinopathy refractory to multiple treatment methods despite a good metabolic control, referred to progressive weight loss. For this reason, a systemic study was performed, detecting anaemia, elevation of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and hyperproteinaemia due to elevated serum levels of monoclonal IgM. Subsequently, by performing a bone marrow biopsy and genetic study, the diagnosis of Waldenström macroglobulinaemia was made. Waldenström's macroglobulinaemia is a low frequency lymphoproliferative disease, for which the main manifestation is a hyperviscosity syndrome that can produce ophthalmological signs detectable by funduscopy and imaging tests. A multimodal study is useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of retinal involvement. The incorporation of angiography by optical coherence tomography allows a more precise study of the microvascular disorders that may occur at the posterior pole level.

Study of aggressive carcinomas through orbital metastasis. / Estudio de carcinomas agresivos a través de metástasis orbitarias.

Two clinical cases of orbital metastasis are presented. The first is a 63 year-old male with a recent loss of visual acuity associated with binocular diplopia. Neuroimaging tests revealed a tumour of aggressive features with intraconal extension and bone invasion. The systemic study led to the diagnosis of stage IV small cell bronchogenic carcinoma. The second case is a 69 year-old woman with breast cancer in early stages that showed alterations in ocular motility and proptosis. Computed tomography showed tumour infiltration of extraocular musculature. The anatomo-pathological study confirmed the diagnosis of orbital metastasis. Orbital metastatic disease is a relatively infrequent entity with varied clinical presentation and an unfavourable prognosis. It constitutes a diagnostic challenge that should be suspected in patients with risk factors for tumour disease and imaging techniques used to define the extent and severity of the condition.

Substance P and Calcitonin gene-related peptide expression in human periodontal ligament after root canal preparation with Reciproc Blue, WaveOne Gold, XP EndoShaper and hand files.

AIM: To quantify Substance P (SP) and Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expression in healthy human periodontal ligament from premolars after root canal preparation with Reciproc Blue, WaveOne Gold, XP EndoShaper and hand files. METHODOLOGY: A total of 50 human periodontal ligament samples were obtained from healthy mandibular premolars where extraction was indicated for orthodontic reasons. Prior to extraction, 40 of these premolars were equally divided into four groups, and root canals were prepared using four different systems: Reciproc Blue, WaveOne Gold, XP EndoShaper and a hand instrumentation technique. The remaining 10 healthy premolars were extracted without treatment and served as a negative control group. All periodontal ligament samples were processed, and SP and CGRP were measured by radioimmunoassay. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to establish significant differences between groups and LSD post hoc comparisons were also performed. RESULTS: Greater SP and CGRP values were found in the hand instrumentation group, followed by the XP EndoShaper, WaveOne Gold and the Reciproc groups. The lower SP and CGRP values were for the healthy periodontal ligament group. The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed significant differences between groups (P < 0.05). Post hoc Least Significant Difference (LSD) tests revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) in SP and CGRP expression between all the comparisons except for the Reciproc Blue and WaveOne Gold group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: All the root canal preparation techniques tested increased SP and CGRP expression in human periodontal ligament, with hand files and XP EndoShaper instruments being associated with greater neuropeptide release compared to Reciproc Blue and WaveOne Gold files.

Supplementation of arachidonic acid rich oil in European sea bass juveniles (Dicentrarchus labrax) diets: effects on growth performance, tissue fatty acid profile and lipid metabolism.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary arachidonic acid (ARA) levels (from 1 to 6% of total fatty acids) on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles' growth performance, tissue fatty acid profile, liver morphology as well as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) biosynthesis, triglyceride and cholesterol synthesis and lipid transport. A diet with total fish oil (FO) replacement and defatted fish meal (FM) containing a 0.1-g ARA g-1 diet was added to the experimental design as a negative control diet. Dietary ARA inclusion levels below 0.2 g ARA g-1 diet significantly worsened growth even only 30 days after the start of the feeding trial, whereas dietary ARA had no effect on fish survival. Liver, muscle and whole body fatty acid profile mainly reflected dietary contents and ARA content increased accordingly with ARA dietary levels. Tissue eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels were positively correlated among them. Hepatic lipid vacuolization increased with reduced dietary ARA levels. Expressions of fatty acyl desaturase 2 and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme genes were upregulated in fish fed the negative control diet compared to the rest of the dietary treatments denoting the influence of ARA on lipid metabolism. Results obtained highlight the need to include adequate n-6 levels and not only n-3 LC-PUFA levels in European sea bass diets.

A meta-analytic review of neuroimaging studies of specific phobia to small animals

Introduction: Neuroimaging techniques have been used to identify the neurological bases of phobias. Objective: This meta-review examines functional magnetic resonance imaging studies of individuals with specific animal phobia compared to healthy controls. Method: Searches on Medline, Psycinfo, Academic Search Complete, PubMed, PsycARTICLES, Redalyc, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were conducted. Twenty high quality studies were selected. The effect size estimation was calculated. Results: The random-effects model showed a high overall effect size for both limbic and frontal sites. Data analyses showed greater brain activity in the left amygdala and insular cortex in phobic individuals. We also observed an activation of the fusiform gyrus, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex left, and the left cingulate cortex, although these areas were less frequently involved. Healthy controls showed high heterogeneity in the brain areas activated by phobic stimuli. Conclusions: These findings suggest the possible existence of a double processing pathway in phobic stimuli: a rapid processing pathway involving limbic areas and a slow pathway involving both limbic and frontal areas

No disponible

Ixodicide activity of Eysenhardtia polystachya against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the acaricidal effect of 2 compounds extracted from Eysenhardtia polystachya in vitro, namely coatlines and matlalines. Each extract was obtained by aqueous extraction in a nitrogen atmosphere. Engorged adult females of an amitraz-resistant strain of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus were used to produce larvae and to carry out the adult immersion test (AIT), while larvae were assayed using the larval packet test (LPT). After exposure to coatlines or matlalines, the mortality of larvae and engorged females, as well as the reproductive parameters of adult ticks were assessed. Coatlines were not lethal against larvae and did not decrease reproductive parameters. Conversely, matlalines showed a 90 to 100% efficacy against adults and larvae at all concentrations tested and a reduction of 76.41 to 80.64% oviposition and a 48.02 to 54.86% reduction in egg hatchability. Therefore, the acaricidal activity of matlalines was more efficient. Further studies are required to elucidate both the mode of action of matlalines as well the structure-activity relationships responsible for the observed differential efficacy between these 2 related isoflavans against the cattle tick.

Neoatherosclerosis causing edge in-stent restenosis: optical coherence tomography findings.

A patient presenting with 'edge' in-stent restenosis 12 years after the implantation of a bare-metal stent in the mid-left anterior descending coronary artery is described. Optical coherence tomography disclosed the presence of ruptured neoatherosclerosis at the stent edge. The value of this imaging technique to unravel this unique underlying anatomic substrate is discussed. The therapy of choice for patients presenting with edge in-stent restenosis (ISR) is reviewed.

Molecular mechanisms of cognitive impairment in iron deficiency: alterations in brain-derived neurotrophic factor and insulin-like growth factor expression and function in the central nervous system.

OBJECTIVE: The present review examines the relationship between iron deficiency and central nervous system (CNS) development and cognitive impairment, focusing on the cellular and molecular mechanisms related to the expression and function of growth factors, particularly the insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I/II) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), in the CNS. METHODS: Nutritional deficiencies are important determinants in human cognitive impairment. Among these, iron deficiency has the highest prevalence worldwide. Although this ailment is known to induce psychomotor deficits during development, the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying these alterations have not been properly elucidated. This review summarizes the available information on the effect of iron deficiency on the expression and function of growth factors in the CNS, with an emphasis on IGF-I/II and BDNF. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Recent studies have shown that specific growth factors, such as IGF-I/II and BDNF, have an essential role in cognition, particularly in processes involving learning and memory, by the activation of intracellular-signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. It is known that nutritional deficiencies promote reductions in systemic and CNS concentrations of growth factors, and that altered expression of these molecules and their receptors in the CNS leads to psychomotor and developmental deficits. Iron deficiency may induce these deficits by decreasing the expression and function of IGF-I/II and BDNF in specific areas of the brain.

[Electroencephalographic and neurodevelopmental disorders in toddlers with severe congenital heart diseases. Preliminary study]. / Alteraciones electroencefalográficas y del neurodesarrollo en niños portadores de cardiopatías congénitas severas. Estudio preliminar.

UNLABELLED: Within the field of pediatric heart disease, congenital cardiopathology is the most important issue due to the fact that in these patients a delay of neurodevelopment is the most frequent morbidity. The major aim of this work was to determine the impact of severe congenital cardiopathology (SCC) on the central nervous system (CNS) through the study of the electroencephalogram (EEG) and the assessment of neurodevelopment. POPULATION AND METHODS: Children under 3 years old, 41 of them presenting SCC and 15 healthy controls (C) were studied. Conventional EEG recording and assessment of neurodevelopment were performed. RESULTS: In twenty children presenting SCC (48.8%) the EEG was found abnormal (paroxysmal of spikes and sharp waves). Forty of them (97.6%) presented neurodevelopmental alterations, including hypotonia and a delay in gross motor skills. When comparing EEG between SCC and C children, odds ratio was 13.33 (1.602-111) and comparing neurodevelopment delay, it was 35 (3.769-235). Both were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.00039 and p ≤ 0.00038, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of children suffering from SCC exhibited EEG patterns with abnormal epileptic-like activity although without clinical manifestation of seizures. These children also showed delay features in different areas of neurodevelopmental. The assessment of new born carrying some type of severe cardiopathology indicated that they were under high risk of suffering from CNS altered development.

Neurobehavioral assessment of children presenting diverse congenital cardiopathologies.

Brain maturation in 1-36 month old children suffering from congenital cardiopathologies was assessed after a study of psychomotor development. The Rogers' test (Rogers et al., Developmental programming for infants and young children. Volume 2. Early intervention developmental profile, Revised edition, ESL/ELT Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1981) was applied to 65 children, of whom 21 presented with simple cardiopathologies (CpS) and 22 with complex cardiopathologies (CpC). All children were matched by age, sex and socioeconomic status to 22 healthy children in a control group (C). Mean differences between the three groups were established by applying the Kruskal-Wallis test, and mean differences between the C and CpS/CpC groups were determined using the Mann-Whitney test. The proportion of cases evaluated as "low" in each group was calculated by applying the Rogers' test, and a test of proportion differences was applied between the C and CpS/CpC groups. CpS children performed similarly to the C, whereas CpC children scored significantly lower than C children on all variables. It is highly likely that the suboptimal psychomotor performance observed in CpC children was due to compromised hemodynamics and related to subclinical immaturity of cerebral development.

Screening of neurodevelopmental delays in four communities of Mexico and Cuba.

OBJECTIVE: Nursing personnel applied a computerized evaluation instrument, Neuropediatric Development (NPED), and compared the prevalence of deviations from normal neurodevelopment in four communities of two Latin American countries, Mexico and Cuba. At the same time the feasibility of introducing this tool into Mexican local health centers was assessed. DESIGN AND SAMPLE: The NPED screening tool was applied to 400 children 1-60 months old from two suburban and one urban communities of Mexico and one urban community of Cuba. MEASURES: The NPED instrument was developed at the Neurosciences Centre of Cuba (Santos, & Pérez-Ábalo, 2011; Santos, Pérez-Abalo, & Álvarez, 2007), and explores three neurodevelopmental areas: language/communication, psychomotor, and sensory maturation (hearing/vision). RESULTS: Global (21.5%), language (16.5%), psychomotor (5.8%), and sensory (vision/audition; 2.3%/7%) failures were observed. Among Mexican communities, apart from the hearing test in which the urban community showed a significantly higher percentage of failures (p < .001), there were no other significant differences. When compared, the Cuban community showed a significantly higher proportion of audition failures in relation to the Mexican communities. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of deviations from normal neurodevelopment was highly similar between both countries, and the NPED system fulfils the necessary requisites for mass screening to be applied by nursing staff at a primary care level.

QEEG norms for the first year of life.

BACKGROUND: QEEG allows a more objective evaluation of cerebral electrical activity as well as the production of topographical maps for easier comprehension. Here we have developed qEEG norms for the first year of life using methods previously published for other age ranges, including for example, regression for Gausssianity before Z transformation. These norms constitute a non-invasive and low cost tool for the functional evaluation of the infant's brain. RESULTS: Developmental equations were obtained from 101 healthy infants recording at spontaneous quiet sleep stage II. Polynomial regression equations, with age as independent variable, were calculated for full Broad Band Spectral Parameters (BBSP) using the Least Squares technique. Interpolated maps of the BBSP values or their Z transformation were constructed for linked-ear reference, average reference and Laplacian montages. All montages produced similar tendency curves and Z maps of absolute and relative power, and mean frequency at all frequency bands. The norms obtained were validated against an independent group of 50 healthy infants and some pathological cases. 91-98% of cases were well classified as normal across all measures and montages. To exemplify, two pathological cases are presented of which their qEEG maps show resemblance to CT and MRI. CONCLUSIONS: These qEEG norms are highly useful as an aid to visual interpretation and for the study of pathology further evolution as well as for assessment of infants showing brain risk factors. To our knowledge this is the first normative qEEG study for the initial year of life with such large sample and validation-group.