RESUMO
Neurological symptoms have been often reported in COVID-19 disease. In the present study, we evaluated brain damage associated with the increase of serum levels of neurological biomarkers S100B and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection, in a population from Northeastern Brazil. Thirty-six healthy control (G1) individuals and 141 patients with confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. Positive-COVID-19 patients were divided into two groups according to the severity of illness by the National Institute of Health (NIH) criteria, 76 patients with mild symptoms for COVID-19 and (G2) and 65 with acute respiratory conditions requiring supplemental oxygenation via intensive care unit (ICU) admission (G3). A follow-up study was conducted with 23 patients from G2 14 (D14) and 21 (D21) days after the onset of symptoms. Serum levels of NSE and S100B were measured using the enzyme-linked immunoassay method (ELISA). Results revealed a significant positive association between G3 patients and S100B serum expression (p = 0.0403). The serum levels of NSE were also significantly enhanced in the G3 group compared to the control (p < 0.0001) and G2 group (p < 0.0001). In addition, clinical features such as symptoms and oxygenation status were not correlated with NSE or S100B serum expression. The follow-up study demonstrated a decrease over time (21 days) in NSE serum expression (p < 0.0001). These results suggest that brain damage is followed by acute virus exposure, with no long-term effects. Future work examining COVID-19 recovery will shed light on chronic neurological damage of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Humanos , Seguimentos , Brasil , Subunidade beta da Proteína Ligante de Cálcio S100 , SARS-CoV-2 , Biomarcadores , EncéfaloRESUMO
Resumen El objetivo del presente estudio fue comparar las habilidades prelectoras en 50 preescolares uruguayos de 5 años de edad de diferente nivel socioeconómico (NSE) y analizar el impacto de estas habilidades en el aprendizaje de la lectura. Para ello, se evaluó a los niños mediante pruebas de vocabulario receptivo, conciencia fonológica, conocimiento sobre el nombre y el sonido de las letras, y denominación rápida de objetos a fin del nivel preescolar Tiempo 1 (T1). Un año más tarde, se evaluó a un subgrupo de la muestra inicial mediante una prueba de lectura de palabras Tiempo 2 (T2). Los resultados señalaron la existencia de correlaciones significativas entre los predictores (T1) y la lectura de palabras (T2) y entre todas las variables evaluadas y el nivel socioeconómico de los niños. La comparación del desempeño intergrupal señaló la existencia de diferencias significativas en todas las habilidades evaluadas a favor del nivel socioeconómico medio. Sin embargo, el desempeño en la lectura de palabras de ambos grupos fue bajo. Por otra parte, un análisis de regresión mostró que, para los niños de nivel socioeconómico bajo, el nivel de conciencia fonológica fue el que explicó la mayor parte de la varianza en la eficiencia lectora. El nivel de lectura de los niños de nivel socioeconómico medio fue mayormente explicado por el conocimiento del nombre de las letras. Los resultados ponen en evidencia la importancia de atender a las diferencias que se generan temprano en el desarrollo de habilidades lingüísticas fundamentales para aprender a leer.
Abstract Learning to read transforms lives. Reading contributes to knowledge acquisition, cultural engagement, and success in the school. The unequal distribution of literacy skills in a society is associated with economic and social inequalities as a result, children with a poor foundation in literacy before entering formal schooling are more likely to struggle academically and to drop out of school. For these reasons, there has been an intense scientific interest for decades in understanding how children learn to read. It is well established that in the early stages of reading development, phonological awareness, letter name-sounds knowledge, and the naming speed are three independent longitudinal predictors of children's later word-reading skills in alphabetic-writing systems. Phonological awareness constitutes the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds of their own language, meanwhile letter knowledge promotes the discovery of systematic relationships between writing and oral language. As early readers develop some level of phonological awareness and some level of letter knowledge, they can recognize written words through phonological recoding processes, in which graphemes are recoded as phonemes and assembled to pronounce words. In addition, rapid naming expresses the speed at which phonological information is accessed from a graphic label. Phonological processing and letter knowledge are powerfully affected by the experience, stimulation, and support that children receive before beginning formal education. Most children acquire these abilities relatively effortlessly during early childhood. However, there is a significant number of children in Latin America who experience difficulties in their pre-literacy skills development. This study examined the cognitive profiles of a total of 50 Uruguayan preschoolers from different socioeconomic backgrounds from two public schools in Montevideo, Uruguay. Twenty-six children from low-income households were compared to peers from middle-income. At the end of the pre-schooling period (time 1) receptive vocabulary, phonological awareness, letter name-sounds knowledge, and object naming speed tests were administered to children. One year later (time 2), word -reading of a subgroup of children was measured. Significant correlations were observed between all predictors at time 1; between predictors at time 1 and word reading at time 2; and between all measured abilities and socioeconomic status. Comparative analysis between children of different socioeconomic status showed that children growing up in poverty contexts performed more poorly than their peers from middle-income families in all the tests. Nonetheless, both groups performed poorly in word reading. Descriptive statistics indicated that, out of a total of 26 words, low SES children correctly read a total of 7 words per minute, and medium SES children a total of 14 words. Finally, regression analyses indicated that phonological awareness contributed 30 % variance in predicting the total score achieved in a reading-word test in children of low-income families, meanwhile letter name knowledge contributed 74 % variance in predicting the total score achieved in a reading-word test in their peers from middle-income families. In general terms, results of pre-reading skills and reading performance seem to indicate that children of different socioeconomic status use different word recognition strategies according to their level of letter-knowledge of and phonological processing. Discussion considers international literature pointing out that children who enter elementary school with limited reading-related skills are unlikely to be able to keep pace with their peers. These findings warn about the importance to elaborate systematic and high-quality educational proposals to try to reduce the gap in reading development for children from low-income families. Developing literacy and language skills before formal schooling sets a child up for success in school and life. Results also suggest the importance of analyzing the variables that affect reading development in populations that are not the majority described.
RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) may be related to brain injury. S100B protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) have been investigated as potential biochemical markers of neural cell injury in animals and humans. This study aimed to investigate the association between POCD, brain injury and serum concentrations of S100B and NSE after periodontal surgery in aged dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational animal study. ANIMALS: A total of 24 male and female dogs undergoing periodontal surgery. METHODS: Dogs were separated into two groups based on age: control group, 10 dogs ≤ 8 years and aged group, 14 dogs > 8 years. Cognitive function was measured preoperatively and on the seventh postoperative day using the Canine Cognitive Dysfunction Rating scale and the Age-Related Cognitive and Affective Disorders scale. S100B protein and NSE serum concentrations were measured before and immediately after the surgery. RESULTS: POCD was not observed after surgery in the present study. Serum concentrations of S100B and NSE were increased postoperatively in the control group but not in the aged group (p = 0.04 and 0.03, respectively). Preoperative S100B serum concentrations were significantly higher in the aged group (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: There was no association between POCD and high concentrations of S100B and NSE in dogs. However, increased postoperative serum concentrations of S100B and NSE were found in the control group after surgery, an effect that may indicate neural damage. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results suggest that anesthesia and oral surgery are associated with higher postoperative serum concentrations of S100B and NSE in dogs ≤ 8 years old, which may indicate neural damage. Serum concentrations of S100B were elevated in aged dogs before anesthesia, a finding that might be related to chronic preoperative brain damage.
Assuntos
Anestesia/veterinária , Doenças do Cão/diagnóstico , Fosfopiruvato Hidratase/sangue , Complicações Cognitivas Pós-Operatórias/diagnóstico , Subunidade beta da Proteína Ligante de Cálcio S100/sangue , Envelhecimento , Animais , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Doenças do Cão/sangue , Doenças do Cão/enzimologia , Cães , Feminino , Masculino , Complicações Cognitivas Pós-Operatórias/sangueRESUMO
BACKGROUND: A plethora of reactive cellular responses emerge immediately after a traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) and may influence the patient's outcomes. We investigated whether serum concentrations of neuron-specific enolase, interleukin-6, glial-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurotrophic growth factor reflect the acute-phase responses to different etiologies of SCI and may serve as predictive biomarkers of neurologic and functional outcomes. METHODS: Fifty-two patients were admitted to the intensive care unit after SCI due to traffic accidents, falls, and firearm wounds and had blood samples collected within 48 hours and 7 days after SCI. Thirty-six healthy subjects with no history of SCI were included as controls. Neurologic and functional status was evaluated on the basis of American Spinal Injury Association and Functional Independence Measure scores over a period of 48 hours and 6 months after SCI. RESULTS: Serum NSE increased significantly 48 hours and 7 days after SCI compared with controls, while interleukin-6 increased only at 48 hours. In contrast, the neurotrophic growth factor level significantly decreased 48 hours and 7 days after SCI. Serum glial-derived neurotrophic factor level did not differ from control at any time point. Also, there was no significant difference in biomarker concentrations between the etiologies of SCI or the level of spinal injury. There were no correlations between biomarker levels at 48 hours with neurologic or functional outcomes 7 days and 6 months after SCI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest expansive axonal damage coupled with an acute proinflammatory response after SCI. However, in our study biomarker concentration did not correlate with short- or long-term prognosis, such as survival rate or sensory and motor function.
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Traumatismos da Medula Espinal/sangue , Traumatismos da Medula Espinal/terapia , Adulto , Biomarcadores/sangue , Vértebras Cervicais/diagnóstico por imagem , Vértebras Cervicais/lesões , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , Humanos , Interleucina-6/sangue , Vértebras Lombares/diagnóstico por imagem , Vértebras Lombares/lesões , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fator de Crescimento Neural/sangue , Estudos Prospectivos , Traumatismos da Medula Espinal/diagnóstico por imagem , Vértebras Torácicas/diagnóstico por imagem , Vértebras Torácicas/lesões , Resultado do Tratamento , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of using soy protein concentrate (SPC) in pre-starter and starter diets for broilers. In the first experiment, 600 male Cobb broilers, between one and 40 days of age, were distributed in a completely randomized design, with four treatments and six replications of 25 birds each. Treatments were ofered to broilers in the pre-starter and starter diets and consisted of inclusion of soy protein concentrate (0,3,6 and 9%) in diets. The parameters evaluated were: body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, consumption of ration, enzyme production in the pancreas, villus: crypt ratio, leukocyte count and immunoglobulin A (IgA) dosage. Aimed to determine the coefficient of nutrient metabolization of feeds, 144 male Cobb chicks were distributed, between 14 and 21 days of age, with four treatments and six replications of six birds per experimental unit. Treatments were the same as in the first experiment. The use of 3 and 9% of SPC did not affect weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion or viability of the poultry. The use of 6% of SPC provided an increase in trypsin activity, villi length and crypt depth; the coefficient of dry matter metabolization increased linearly; but no differences were observed in performance or immunological parameters.
Assuntos
Animais , Alimentos de Soja , Alimentos de Soja/análise , Galinhas/metabolismo , Ração AnimalRESUMO
Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of using soy protein concentrate (SPC) in pre-starter and starter diets for broilers. In the first experiment, 600 male Cobb broilers, between one and 40 days of age, were distributed in a completely randomized design, with four treatments and six replications of 25 birds each. Treatments were ofered to broilers in the pre-starter and starter diets and consisted of inclusion of soy protein concentrate (0,3,6 and 9%) in diets. The parameters evaluated were: body weight gain, feed conversion ratio, consumption of ration, enzyme production in the pancreas, villus: crypt ratio, leukocyte count and immunoglobulin A (IgA) dosage. Aimed to determine the coefficient of nutrient metabolization of feeds, 144 male Cobb chicks were distributed, between 14 and 21 days of age, with four treatments and six replications of six birds per experimental unit. Treatments were the same as in the first experiment. The use of 3 and 9% of SPC did not affect weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion or viability of the poultry. The use of 6% of SPC provided an increase in trypsin activity, villi length and crypt depth; the coefficient of dry matter metabolization increased linearly; but no differences were observed in performance or immunological parameters.(AU)
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Animais , Alimentos de Soja/análise , Alimentos de Soja , Ração Animal , Galinhas/metabolismoRESUMO
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate and predict the value of ProGRP and NSE in therapy and survival; (2) as well as to investigate the correlation between the ProGRP mRNA expression in peripheral blood and serum ProGRP protein. METHODS: The study included 122 patients with SCLC without prior therapy. The serum levels of ProGRP and NSE were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and eletro-chemiluminescence immunoassay, respectively. The expression of ProGRP mRNA was detected by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Distribution of serum levels of ProGRP, NSE and ProGRP mRNA differed significantly according to tumor size, disease stage and distant metastasis (all P < 0.05), and no association was found between them and gender or age (both P > 0.05). After two courses of chemotherapy, patients of remission and stable groups showed a marked decrease in ProGRP and NSE concentrations (P < 0.05). The ProGRP concentration of patients in progression group was significantly higher than pretreatment level (P < 0.05), while NSE concentration was not. A linear nonparametric (Spearman) correlation test revealed that there was a significant correlation between ProGRP mRNA expression in peripheral blood and serum ProGRP protein level (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis found a statistically significant association of survival with disease stage, distant metastasis, ProGRP and NSE (P < 0.05). Gender, age and tumor size were not prognostic factors (P > 0.05). Multiple Cox regression model analysis found that only disease stage and NSE were significant predictors (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study has found that there is a potential role for ProGRP and NSE in both therapy monitoring and predicting survival in SCLC patients.
Assuntos
Biomarcadores Tumorais/sangue , Quimiorradioterapia/mortalidade , Neoplasias Pulmonares/mortalidade , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/sangue , Fosfopiruvato Hidratase/sangue , Carcinoma de Pequenas Células do Pulmão/mortalidade , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Técnicas Eletroquímicas , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Imunoensaio , Medições Luminescentes , Neoplasias Pulmonares/metabolismo , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Metástase Linfática , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estadiamento de Neoplasias , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/genética , Fosfopiruvato Hidratase/genética , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Prognóstico , Proteínas Recombinantes/sangue , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Carcinoma de Pequenas Células do Pulmão/metabolismo , Carcinoma de Pequenas Células do Pulmão/secundário , Taxa de SobrevidaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate clinical, biochemical, and neuroimaging findings as predictors of neurodevelopmental outcome in patients with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV). STUDY DESIGN: The study cohort comprised 26 patients with symptomatic congenital CMV born between 1993 and 2009 in a single center. Absolute and weight deficit-adjusted head circumference were considered. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) investigations included standard cytochemical analysis, determination of beta2-microglobulin (ß2-m), neuron-specific enolase, and CMV DNA detection. Neuroimaging was classified according to a validated scoring system comprising calcifications, ventriculomegaly, and atrophy, with findings graded from 0 to 3. Systematic long-term neurodevelopmental assessment included motor function, cognition, behavior, hearing, vision, and epilepsy. Sequelae were graded as mild/absent, moderate, or severe; adverse outcome was defined as death or moderate to severe disability. RESULTS: Three children died. The mean age at follow-up of the survivors was 8.7 ± 5.3 years (range, 19 months to 18.0 years). Neonatal findings showing a significant association with adverse outcome were relative microcephaly, CSF ß2-m concentrations, and grade 2-3 neuroimaging abnormalities (P < .05). Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis indicated that the most accurate single factor for predicting unfavorable outcome was CSF ß2-m >7.9 mg/L (area under the curve, 0.84 ± 0.08; sensitivity, 69%; specificity, 100%). The combination of CSF ß2-m >7.9 mg/L and moderate-severe neuroimaging alterations improved predictive ability (area under the curve, 0.92 ± 0.06; sensitivity, 87%; specificity, 100%). CONCLUSION: Adjusted head circumference, CSF ß2-m level, and neuroimaging studies have prognostic significance for neurodevelopmental outcome in newborns with congenital CMV. A combination of early findings improves the predictive value.
Assuntos
Infecções por Citomegalovirus/diagnóstico , Deficiências do Desenvolvimento/virologia , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso/virologia , Adolescente , Biomarcadores/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Infecções por Citomegalovirus/complicações , Infecções por Citomegalovirus/congênito , Infecções por Citomegalovirus/mortalidade , Deficiências do Desenvolvimento/diagnóstico , Feminino , Seguimentos , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Modelos Lineares , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso/diagnóstico , Neuroimagem , Testes Neuropsicológicos , Valor Preditivo dos Testes , Prognóstico , Estudos Prospectivos , Curva ROC , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
This study examined the influence of phonological processing abilities on letter knowledge and letter learning in 1st grade children growing in poverty. At the beginning of the school year, 59 first graders were evaluated with tests measuring phonological awareness, phonological memory and rapid naming. Letter knowledge was assessed at the beginning and at the end of the year. All phonological processing abilities predicted letter knowledge at time 1, with phonological awareness producing the largest effect. However, only phonological memory predicted additional letter learning during the school year, once initial letter knowledge was taken into account.(AU)
El presente trabajo busca explorar la incidencia de las habilidades de procesamiento fonológico en el conocimiento y aprendizaje de letras en niños hispanohablantes de primer año de nivel socioeconómico (NSE) bajo. Al comenzar el año se evaluó el conocimiento de letras, la conciencia fonológica, la memoria fonológica y la denominación veloz. A fin de año se evaluó el conocimiento de letras. El análisis de la relación entre las medidas administradas se realizó en el grupo total y en un subgrupo con poco conocimiento alfabético. Los resultados sugieren que la conciencia fonológica tendría un papel fundamental en el inicio del aprendizaje, en tanto el aprendizaje adicional en el marco de la enseñanza escolar estaría asociado a las diferencias individuales en memoria fonológica.(AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Criança , Aprendizagem , Linguística , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
This study examined the influence of phonological processing abilities on letter knowledge and letter learning in 1st grade children growing in poverty. At the beginning of the school year, 59 first graders were evaluated with tests measuring phonological awareness, phonological memory and rapid naming. Letter knowledge was assessed at the beginning and at the end of the year. All phonological processing abilities predicted letter knowledge at time 1, with phonological awareness producing the largest effect. However, only phonological memory predicted additional letter learning during the school year, once initial letter knowledge was taken into account.
El presente trabajo busca explorar la incidencia de las habilidades de procesamiento fonológico en el conocimiento y aprendizaje de letras en niños hispanohablantes de primer año de nivel socioeconómico (NSE) bajo. Al comenzar el año se evaluó el conocimiento de letras, la conciencia fonológica, la memoria fonológica y la denominación veloz. A fin de año se evaluó el conocimiento de letras. El análisis de la relación entre las medidas administradas se realizó en el grupo total y en un subgrupo con poco conocimiento alfabético. Los resultados sugieren que la conciencia fonológica tendría un papel fundamental en el inicio del aprendizaje, en tanto el aprendizaje adicional en el marco de la enseñanza escolar estaría asociado a las diferencias individuales en memoria fonológica.
Assuntos
Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Criança , Aprendizagem , Linguística , Fatores SocioeconômicosRESUMO
Morphological characteristics of the Synoestropsis sp. larvae (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) suggests that this species is a predator. We examined the stomach contents of 48 Synoestropsis sp. larvae collected in four savannah rivers (Arraia, Cauamé, Cotingo and Ereu) in the state of Roraima during the dry season to evaluate their feeding habits. The high frequency of animal items in the stomach content confirmed the hypothesis that this specie is a predator.
Características morfológicas sugerem que larvas de Synoestropsis sp. (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) são predadoras. Examinamos o conteúdo estomacal de 48 larvas de Synoestropsis sp. coletadas na época de estiagem de quatro rios de cerrado (Arraia, Cauamé, Cotingo e Ereu) do estado de Roraima para avaliar o hábito alimentar de larvas desse gênero. A alta freqüência de itens animais no conteúdo estomacal das larvas corrobora a hipótese de que esta espécie é predadora.