Cooperative University of Colombia

We aied to examine the psychometric properties of several wellbeing scales among Latinos in the US, most of which have never been validated in a US-Latino population. We leveraged secondary baseline data from a one-arm mHealth trial on dementia caregiver support. We included 100 responses for caregiver-focused scales and 88 responses for care recipient-focused scales. Scales included the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire Severity and Distress scales, Six-item Zarit Burden Inventory, Ten-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale, Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease, and Single-item Satisfaction With Life Scale. We calculated concurrent validity using Pearson and Spearman correlations and expected correlations amongst all variables in line with the Stress Process Framework. We calculated internal consistency reliability using Cronbach’s alpha. All concurrent validity correlations followed the expected directionality, with 19/21 inter-scale correlations in the total sample reaching statistical significance ( p < .05), and 17/21 reaching at least a low correlation (.3). Cronbach’s alpha ranged from .832 to .879 in all scales in the total sample. The English and Spanish caregiver-administered scales tested in this manuscript have good psychometric properties among Latinos. These are now appropriately available for use among US Latinos in research and clinical contexts.

Background Traditional neuropsychological assessments have proved insensitive to identify the preclinical stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Such a barrier has proved more challenging when assessing individuals from underrepresented populations (Parra et al., 2018; 2020; 2022). Two memory tests have been proposed as promising to identify people at risk of AD preclinically (Costa et al., 2017; Forno et al., 2022). These are the Visual Short‐Term Memory Binding Test (VSTMBT) and the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT). These tests have never been used together to assess individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds in their communities. This was the aim of this study. Method We recruited a sample of 390 volunteers from different community settings in Southern Colombia. After applying the classical clinical criteria, 142 were classified as healthy controls (HC), and 248 received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Participants were subjected to a neuropsychological assessment using a standardized battery (Bonilla‐Santos et al., 2023) and the two memory markers for AD (i.e., VSTMBT and FCSRT). We compared groups using their background assessments and these novel memory markers. We also compared the accuracy of these tests to discriminate between cognitively unimpaired older adults and patients with MCI. Result Patients with MCI were younger [t(388) = 7.2, p <0.001], had fewer years of education [t(388) = 10.42, p <0.001], and, after controlling for age and education, showed the typical amnestic multidomain profile. The VSTMBT revealed a Group by Condition interaction [F(1,388) = 5.60, p = 0.018], whereby MCI patients had significantly larger deficits when processing bound information than individual features. The FCSRT significantly discriminated between patients and controls being free recall the most sensitive variable. None of these outcomes changed after controlling for education, sex, and comorbidities. ROC analysis revealed an AUC of 79% and 72% for the VSTMBT and FCSRT, respectively. Conclusion The VSTMBT and FCSRT proved sensitive to identifying older people with MCI who had not sought medical advice at the time of testing. These two screening tools are useful for detecting people at risk of AD in community settings of underserved populations.

Background Recent studies suggest that among cognitively unimpaired older adults, there are individuals who might present with subtle cognitive impairments suggesting the risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD; Bos et al., 2018). The Visual Short‐Term Memory Binding Test (VSTMBT) identifies older adults who are accumulating AD pathology even though they are otherwise cognitively unimpaired (Parra et al., 2024). We investigated whether community dwellers from different socioeconomic groups above their 60s and displaying subtle VSTMB impairments also present neuropsychological profiles compatible with dementia risk. Methods A sample of 235 community‐dwelling older adults were assessed with an extensive neuropsychological battery (Bonilla‐Santos et al., 2023) and a sensitive scale of functional abilities (T‐ADLQ; (Muñoz‐Neira et al., 2012). We divided the sample following recent recommendations drawn from the VSTMBT (Parra et al., 2024). We found that out of the total sample, 43 participants were classified as normal binders (performance on two VSTMBT above cut‐off), 99 were classified as suspicious binders (performance on at least one VSTMBT below cut‐off), and 93 were classified as weak binders (performance on both VSTMBT below cut‐off). Results Group comparisons revealed that relative to normal and suspicious binders, weak binders have poorer performance on cognitive screening tools (MMSE, F(2,230) = 4.01, p = 0.019; ACE‐R F(2,230) = 3.4, p = 0.035) and functional scales (T‐ADLQ, F(2,230) = 4.53, p = 0.012). Such effects were unaccounted for by years of education, gender, socioeconomic status, comorbidities, or toxic habits. Age was a significant predictor with weak binders being older (F(2,234) = 6.31, p = 0.002). Assessment of subjective cognitive experiences (SCD) revealed no group effects (F(2,202) = 0.57, p = 0.566). Standard neuropsychological tests from the CERAD revealed marginal group effects for variables previously acknowledged as markers of AD. Conclusions The VSTMB test identified AD risk profiles in community‐dwelling older adults from an underserved population. The fact that such a test proved insensitive to gender, education, socioeconomic status, comorbidities and toxic habits, suggests that this assessment tool can be reliably used to identify, in community settings, older adults who are at risk of dementia even if they have not yet complained about their cognitive abilities or sought medical help.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immunosuppressive treatment response to modified Ponticelli regimen (MPR) and oral corticosteroid (OC) plus tacrolimus (TAC) in patients with primary membranous nephropathy (PMN). METHODS: Retrospective cohort analytical study. Adults patients (>18 years old) with diagnosis of refractory PMN (>50% increase in serum creatinine or a level >1.5mg/dl or proteinuria refractory to 6 months of supportive treatment), proved by renal biopsy and immunofluorescence between 2008 and 2016 from the Nephropathy Registry of Colombia (NEFRORED©) were included. Immunosuppressive treatment response was evaluated from baseline to 6 months after the start of therapy. RESULTS: 128 patients with PMN were included, of which 74 (57%) were female. The most frequent syndromic diagnosis was nephrotic syndrome 90 (70%), followed by asymptomatic urinary disorders 31 (25%). Chronic kidney disease manifested concomitantly in 7 (5%) patients. At the end of 6 months, 86 (67%) cases achieved some degree of remission: 23 (18%) complete response (CR) and 63 (49%) cases with partial response (PR), while 42 (33%) cases did not achieved remission. In the TAC+OC group, CR and PR were seen in 14 (20%) and 33 (47%) patients, respectively; and 9 (16%) and 30 (51%) patients in the MPR group, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found when comparing the immunosuppressive treatment response rate with both treatment groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the PMN, both immunosuppressive treatments (TAC+OC vs MPR) are comparable. We suggest a clinical follow-up of the anti-PLA2R/THSD7A titres at 6/12 months to be correlated with renal function in subsequent studies.

In veterinary medicine, 1% Cyclopentolate hydrochloride (CP) has emerged as an intermediate-term cycloplegic and mydriatic agent. This study evaluated the pupillary dilation time and systemic effects related to the use of 1% CP eye drops in cats. Fifteen cats, aged 1 to 6 years and weighing 2.5 to 7 kg, were included in the study. After receiving written consent from the owners, each cat was administered two drops of 1% Cyclopentolate, 10 minutes apart, into both eyes. Data on pupil dilation, systemic symptoms, and behavioral changes were collected and analyzed using frequency and descriptive statistics. Pupillary dilation was observed 30 minutes after administering the second drop of 1% CP. The duration of pupillary dilation was 36 hours for 26.6% of the eyes, 48 hours for 53.4%, and 60 hours for 20%. Within the first hour after medication administration, seven cats exhibited episodes of salivation and vomiting, and four displayed behavioral changes, including aggressiveness and increased vocalization. Results suggest that 1% CP eye drops cause mydriasis for at least 36 hours and can lead to temporary adverse effects on the gastrointestinal and nervous systems.

Introduction Cancer health disparities among racial and ethnic populations significantly burden health systems due to unequal access to early detection, treatment, and healthcare resources. These disparities lead to worse outcomes and increased costs from delayed diagnoses, advanced treatments, and prolonged care. Genetic differences can also influence cancer susceptibility and treatment response, thus analyzing genetic ancestry is essential for uncovering genetic factors that may contribute to these disparities. Utilizing data from clinical multigene cancer panels to infer genetic ancestry offers a valuable approach to understand population structure and the impact of individual ancestries in development of complex diseases. Aim To evaluate the accuracy of global ancestry inference using genetic markers from the TruSight™ Hereditary Cancer Panel, which was used to investigate hereditary cancer syndromes in a cohort of 116 female cancer patients at the Colombian National Cancer Institute. Additionally, to compare these results with genetic ancestry estimations from traditional genome-wide markers. Results Our results demonstrate a strong correlation between global genetic ancestry inferred with markers captured from TruSightTM panel (4785 markers) and Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS, 8 million markers in admixed populations. The correlation values were 0.96 (p < 0.0001) for the Native American and European ancestry components, and 0.99 (p < 0.0001) for the African ancestry fraction. Genetic ancestry mean proportions in the Colombian cohort were 45.7%, 46.2%, and 8.11% for the European, the Native American, and the African components, respectively. Conclusion This study demonstrates the accuracy of ancestry inference from clinical panel data offering a promising approach for understanding cancer health disparities in admixed populations.

The main purpose is to provide a defense of the history of psychology at a global (worldwide); however, it is important to consider that this defense arises from Latin America. Given that this panorama is mostly unknown to a large part of psychologists, this article presents itself as an explicit action to foster this discipline by addressing three main issues. Firstly, present some milestones in the journey of the history of psychology at the global with an emphasis on Latin America. Secondly, present a series of critical reflections on the current relevance of this area within the field of psychology. Finally, establish a position in 10 sentences that acts as a defense of the importance of the history of psychology for the psychological discipline on various levels. While the majority of the content presented here is commonly recognized among individuals professionally immersed in historical research within the realm of psychology, it possesses a diminished level of accessibility for students and psychologists not specializing in historical matters. The aim here is not to convince those who are already convinced, but to have an impact beyond the community of specialists that, synergistically, can affect the vast field of psychology in general.

Aim To validate the defining characteristics (CDs) of the nursing diagnosis ‘Activity intolerance [00092]’ in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Design Cross‐sectional study. Patients over 18 years of age with a confirmed medical diagnosis of hospitalised ACS were included and those who were haemodynamically unstable, with alterations in the mental sphere or with communication limitations were excluded. The CDs were previously operationalised for standardised measurement and independently assessed by nurses. Results A total of 111 patients with ACS were studied. The CDs with prevalence > 50% were: generalised weakness (80.56 vs. 78.70%), discomfort on exertion (72.07% vs. 75.68%) and ECG changes (71.17% vs. 68.47%). Inter‐rater agreement for determining the CDs ranged from 0.69 to 1.00. Conclusions This study established the clinical validation of the CDs of the nursing diagnosis ‘Activity Intolerance [00092]’ in patients with ACS identifying three major CDs: EKG changes, generalised weakness and exertional discomfort. Patient or Public Contribution No patient or public contribution the research was developed in its entirety by the authors. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care The clinical validation of the defining characteristics of the activity intolerance diagnosis was conducted. This validation was based on operationalising each characteristic using commonly employed nursing scales and instruments. This process contributes significantly to the establishment of evidence‐based nursing practices. The customisation of nursing diagnoses gains further ground through the validation studies of NANDA‐I diagnoses. This process solidifies standardised nursing language as a valuable strategy in nursing care, providing substantial support for practical decision‐making. Among the evaluators, EKG changes, generalised weakness and discomfort on exertion emerged as the most frequently encountered defining characteristics with substantial agreement. This discovery offers crucial insights for devising individualised and collective care plans within coronary units.

COVID-19 and other pandemic viruses continue being important for public health and the global economy. Therefore, it is essential to explore the pathogenesis of COVID-19 more deeply, particularly its association with inflammatory and antiviral processes. In this study, we used the RNA-seq technique to analyze mRNA and non-coding RNA profiles of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy individuals after SARS-CoV-2 in vitro exposure, to identify pathways related to immune response and the regulatory post-transcriptional mechanisms triggered that can serve as possible complementary therapeutic targets. Our analyses show that SARS-CoV-2 induced a significant regulation in the expression of 790 genes in PBMCs, of which 733 correspond to mRNAs and 57 to non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). The immune response, antiviral response, signaling, cell proliferation and metabolism are the main biological processes involved. Among these, the inflammatory response groups the majority of regulated genes with an increase in the expression of chemokines involved in the recruitment of monocytes, neutrophils and T-cells. Additionally, it was observed that exposure to SARS-CoV-2 induces the expression of genes related to the IL-27 pathway but not of IFN-I or IFN-III, indicating the induction of ISGs through this pathway rather than the IFN genes. Moreover, several lncRNA and RNA binding proteins that can act in the cis-regulation of genes of the IL-27 pathway were identified. Our results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 can regulate the expression of multiple genes in PBMCs, mainly related to the inflammatory and antiviral response. Among these, lncRNAs establish an important mechanism in regulating the immune response to the virus. They could contribute to developing severe forms of COVID-19, constituting a possible therapeutic target.

(Methodology) The consumption statistics for each month of 2020 were used for each of the homes comprising the Benjamin José Cardoso and Sol Nascente Housing Complexes, and the fraction of drinking water that is destined in homes for nonpotable purposes was estimated. The information corresponding to the monthly rainfall records of the last 50 years was analyzed and the monthly volume of rainwater that could be harvested in each house was calculated. (Results) The average monthly volume of rainwater that could be captured through the roof area of each dwelling is 3.39 m³. During the rainy months of the year, it would be feasible to save a higher percentage of water than that allocated for non-potable purposes. Sizing a rainwater reservoir that exceeds the monthly needs for non-potable purposes would allow the surplus of collected water to supply the liquid during the dry season. (Conclusions) Since the average percentage of savings in drinking water for both neighborhoods exceeded 53%, the saving of the monthly consumption can contribute to the reduction of payments for the drinking water service and the consumption of the liquid in the municipality, particularly during drought months.

Historically the notion of resilience capability has primarily been conceptualised as a holistic construct in the domain of supply chain networks – referred to as SCRES. The field of SCRES has since evolved gaining prominence among scholars and practitioners. However, the existing SCRES literature inadequately delves into the embedded resilience harboured by their constituent components, practices, or internal routines, including the aggregate production planning (APP) process. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to examine the interplay between medium-term pure strategies for APP and the resilience of manufacturing facilities, assuming demand to be the sole source of uncertainty. To accomplish this, a realistic Monte-Carlo simulation model integrated with a robust heuristic procedure for pure strategies is merged with a factory resilience index-based Cobb–Douglas function. The results of this research suggest that manufacturing facilities achieve a higher level of resilience when certain ‘zero-inventory plans’ are implemented. Based on this key finding, production/demand planners might incorporate the resilience dimension alongside the customary manufacturing success factors. Thus, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study represents the first attempt to establish a clear linkage between the implementation of pure APP strategies and a quantitative measure of factory resilience.

Education on the selection of low-sugar ultra-processed foods (UPF) plays a crucial role in promoting good oral health. This study aimed to assess the impact of a virtual educational strategy, developed in the field of dentistry, on improve Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAPs) related to oral health and the appropriate selection of sweet-tasting UPF. A quasi-experimental study with a pre-test and post-test design was conducted, involving parents and caregivers of children and pre-adolescents. Thirteen virtual learning objects (VLO) were delivered via Facebook. To measure the impact of the strategy, a validated instrument was used before the intervention, immediately after, and again six months later to assess Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAPs) on the subject. The median scores before and after the intervention were compared using the Friedman test for related samples, followed by multiple comparisons with Dunn’s test. Participants’ KAP levels were analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-square test and multiple comparisons of column proportions with Bonferroni correction. Finally, a satisfaction and applicability survey was conducted. A significant improvement (p < 0.01) was observed in the participants’ median KAP scores both immediately after the intervention and six months later. A greater number of participants reached the highest level in knowledge (Before (B): 43.8%, Immediately After (IA): 86%, After six months (A6): 81.3%), attitudes (B: 34.2%, IA: 69.4%, A6: 65.2%), and practices (B: 22.5%, IA: 53.7%, A6: 47.3%). Most participants described the course as consistently dynamic, well-organized, and appropriate timing. They also expressed their intention to apply the knowledge in their daily lives. The implemented strategy improved participants’ KAPs concerning oral health and the appropriate selection of sweet-tasting UPF. It also resulted in participants’ children consuming fewer sweet bakery products, candies, and flavored milk. Additionally, more participants reported consistently reading food labels after the intervention, although this behavior was not adopted by the majority.

In the last decades, South American hemorrhagic fevers (HFs) caused by hantaviruses and arenaviruses have emerged. Hantaviruses in the Americas cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in humans; the primary reservoirs of these viruses are rodents of the Sigmodontinae subfamily. The genus Hantavirus belongs to the Bunyaviridae family; hantaviruses comprise a single-stranded RNA genome of negative polarity and are tri-segmented, located in a helical capsid. The three RNA segments, L, M, and S, have different sizes and functions. Except for Ecuador, in all of South America, cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome have been diagnosed. The fatality rate of hantaviruses is about 15–30%. Hantavirus disease has become an emerging health problem in Central and South America, with more than 43 genotypes reported. There are several hantaviruses distributed in the Americas: Sin Nombre virus (SNV; United States), Black Creek Canal (United States), Choclo (Panama), Calabazo (Panama), Maripa (French Guiana), Andes (Argentina, Chile, Uruguay), Bermejo (Argentina), Laguna Negra (Paraguay, Bolivia), Mamore (Bolivia), Lechiguanas (Argentina), Juquitiba (Brazil), Sabia (Brazil), and Araraquara (Brazil) between others. Hantavirus hemorrhagic fever describes a life-threatening clinical syndrome characterized by an insidious onset of nonspecific signs followed by hemorrhagic manifestations and shock. A combination of capillary leak syndrome and hemorrhagic diathesis also characterizes hemorrhagic fever syndrome. Hantaviruses have clinical manifestations and histopathological findings similar to other hemorrhagic fevers such as dengue, Zika, yellow fever, malaria, encephalitis, leptospirosis, and rickettsiosis. Those etiology diversities make a problematic differential diagnosis. Given the diversity of rodent species in the Americas region, it is possible to predict that more viruses will be discovered, and some will cause human diseases with a high impact on public health. This chapter aims to show the public health importance of hantavirus hemorrhagic fevers in Colombia and South America.

Sulfamerazine (SMR) is a drug used as an antibacterial agent in the treatment of some pathologies, such as bronchitis, prostatitis and urinary tract infections. Although this drug was developed in 1945 and, due to its toxicity, was partially displaced by penicillin, due to the current problem of bacterial resistance, compounds such as SMR have regained validity. In this context, the thermodynamic study of SMR in cosolvent mixtures of acetonitrile (MeCN) + ethanol (EtOH) at nine temperatures (278.15–318.15 K) is presented. The solubility of SMR was determined by UV–Vis spectrophotometry, following the guidelines of the shake-flask method. The solubility process was endothermic in all cases; thus, the minimum solubility was reached in pure EtOH at 278.15 K, and the maximum solubility was reached in pure MeCN at 318.15 K. Both the solution process and the mixing process were entropy-driven. On the other hand, the solubility data were modeled by using the van’t Hoff–Yalkowsky–Roseman model, obtaining an overall average relative deviation of 3.9%. In general terms, it can be concluded that the solution process of SMR in {MeCN (1) + EtOH (2)} mixtures is thermodependent, favored by the entropy of the solution and mixture; additionally, the van’t Hoff–Yalkowsky–Roseman model allows very good approximations to be obtained and is a simple model that starts from only four experimental data.

Los virus herpes simple (Herpes Simplex Virus, HSV) de tipo 1 y 2 producen la infección de transmisión sexual más común en mujeres, con mayor incidencia en los países en desarrollo. Además de generar secuelas principalmente neurológicas en el recién nacido, cuando la primoinfección ocurre durante el periodo perinatal, puede diseminarse y producir gran morbimortalidad de la madre y el neonato.A pesar de contarse con pruebas de laboratorio confiables, el diagnóstico de la infección por HSV durante el periodo perinatal es complejo, pues sus manifestaciones clínicas varían desde la forma diseminada hasta la asintomática o se pueden producir síntomas inespecíficos sin lesiones en piel o mucosas, por lo que es fundamental tener la sospecha clínica. Se presenta el caso de una madre con infección diseminada por HSV de tipo 2 que presentó hepatitis viral y cuyo neonato falleció, resaltándose la importancia de sospechar la infección por HSV en una mujer gestante febril con compromiso sistémico durante el periodo perinatal, aun en ausencia de brote.

Introduction. Rabies virus infection can cause fatal brain disease in mammals. Any species is susceptible to infection. Any effort aimed at recognizing infected animals and performing first actions in the event of transmission is mandatory.Objective. To determine knowledge, attitudes, and practice profiles regarding rabies, or hydrophobia, in a municipality of Colombia, using a multiple correspondence analysis. Materials and methods. A descriptive observational study involving 71 pet owners was carried out in the municipality of Ibagué (Tolima). A questionnaire-based survey collected data on rabies knowledge, attitudes, practices, and demographic information. The survey was conducted between October and November 2021, and the data analysis involved descriptive statistics and multiple correspondence analysis.Results. The study revealed a commendable level of rabies awareness among the urban residents in the study municipality. However, there are causes of concern as they allow stray animals to enter their homes and are not aware of the importance of notifying dead animals. The respondents demonstrated a humane approach to bite management and emphasized the importance of wound cleaning. Additionally, they expressed a strong desire for more information to enhance their knowledge and awareness of the disease.Conclusion. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for improving rabies prevention efforts and promoting public health. Health education, evidence-basedstrategies, and community participation are essential for successful disease control and educational gaps addressing related to sociocultural factors.

Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) is associated with coagulation disorders that frequently culminate in thrombotic events, contributing to increased mortality rates in this clinical condition. Considering the demonstrated effect that extracellular vesicles (EVs) have on regulating inflammatory processes, coagulation, and angiogenesis, the present study aims to characterize plasma EVs and their relationship with coagulation disorders in patients with CCC. A total of 78 patients were assessed with 46.1% (36/78) representing the CCC group, 8.9% (7/78) with cardiomyopathy unrelated to Chagas disease (CM group), and 44.8% (35/78) comprising the control group, which included individuals without cardiomyopathy and negative for T. cruzi infection. Plasma EVs concentration (EVs/mL) for each individual was evaluated by flow cytometry, along with the proportion of EVs expressing PSGL-1 (PSGL-1+ EVs), Tissue Factor (TF + EVs), and CD41a (CD41a + EVs). The ability of EVs to induce platelet aggregation was evaluated by spectrophotometry. We also evaluated other prothrombotic biomarkers, including platelet count, activated partial thromboplastin time (PTT), prothrombin time (PT), and D-dimer levels. The results revealed elevated D-dimer levels in the CCC group, accompanied by a decrease in the count of EVs per mL of plasma and a significant increase in the proportion of PSGL-1+ EVs (P < .05) compared to the control group. Other parameters did not exhibit significant differences between groups. The elevated levels of PSGL-1+ EVs in the CCC group may be attributed to myocardial inflammatory processes, which, upon interaction with platelet-derived P-selectin, could promote thrombus formation, as indicated by the increased D-dimer levels in this group.