Esmeralda Matute - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Esmeralda Matute
Developmental Science, Nov 25, 2021
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. The data that support the findings of ... more The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request. The authors wish to thank Daniel Zarabozo-Hurtado for his assistance in data collection, Diana Ávalos and Daniel Romero for their help in evaluation and data collection, and Hillary Contreras for their assistance in database collection. We also thank all participants and their families, and the high schools, principals, and teachers who assisted with this project. This study was funded by a grant from
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Feb 6, 2023
Alzheimers & Dementia, Jul 1, 2017
function [Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and animal naming fluency].[Table 1] Having AF was ass... more function [Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and animal naming fluency].[Table 1] Having AF was associated with an odds ratio of 2.17 for developing PSCI (95% CI: 1.03 – 4.58; p1⁄40.041)] after adjusting for age, education, hypertension, large cortical and noncortical infarcts, WMH, and intracranial stenosis. When comparing subjects in the four conditions, AF+LCI subjects scored worse in MMSE, MoCA, and FAB than LCI Only and Nil subjects. AF Only subjects scored worse in 10-word immediate recall than Nil subjects. [Figure 1]. Conclusions:AF is a significant risk factor for PSCI, and this effect is independent of acute infarct characteristics. The profile of PSCI in subjects with AF is characterized by deficits in episodic memory and executive function. Pathophysiological links between AF and PSCI, likely includes mechanisms other than infarcts such as cerebral hypoperfusion and neuroinflammation, may help to explain the observed impairments in these specific cognitive subdomains.
Interdisciplinaria, Dec 1, 2019
Efecto de la deficiencia de hierro sobre el desarrollo neuropsicológico en lactantes Effect of ir... more Efecto de la deficiencia de hierro sobre el desarrollo neuropsicológico en lactantes Effect of iron deficiency on neuropsychological development in infants
Espiral (Guadalajara), Apr 1, 2010
Alzheimer's & Dementia, 2017
Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is wisely associated with greater muscle strength decline i... more Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is wisely associated with greater muscle strength decline in ageing. However, there is a lack of studies about this association in rural areas in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and association between dynapenia and CI in elderly people living in rural area. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 166 elderly people (60 years) dementia free living in a medium-sized town in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. We used logistic regression to analyse the association between dynapenia, according Laurentani et al. (1) criteria, and CI, controlled by sex, age, schooling and weight loss (the loss of at least 4.5 kg or more than 5% of body weight in the previous 12 months unrelated to dieting). Grip strength was measured using a dynamometer (Jamar, Seahan SH5001, Korea). The Mini-Mental State Examination was used to evaluate the cognitive function, according Brazilian suggested points by schooling level (2). Results: Mean age was 70.54 (67.52), 52.90% of the sample were female, 92.35% had conjugal life and 72.35% had low education (until 4 years of schooling). The prevalence rates were 39.88% (95% CI: 32.40-47.36) for dynapenic, 31.35% (95% CI: 22.86-39.85) for dynapenic without CI and 60.41% (95% CI: 46.06-74.76) for dynapenic with CI. The adjusted model showed that poor cognitive function increased odds of dynapenia independently of any other factors (odds ratio [OR] 3.37; 95%
Revista Latinoamericana de Psicología, 2018
Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer las relaciones entre habilidades de lenguaje e... more Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer las relaciones entre habilidades de lenguaje expresivo y receptivo y habilidades prelectoras en niños en edad preescolar. Usando un diseño metodológico empírico observacional de corte transversal se evaluaron las habilidades de lenguaje oral y habilidades fonológicas a un total de 106 preescolares. Los modelos de regresión multivariante señalan que las habilidades expresivas explican una mayor varianza de habilidades fonológicas implicadas en la detección de rimas y sonidos iniciales de las palabras, precursores importantes para el aprendizaje posterior de la lectoescritura.
Journal of Child Neurology, Aug 29, 2011
The aim of this study was to assess the effects of chronic iron deficiency on neuropsychological ... more The aim of this study was to assess the effects of chronic iron deficiency on neuropsychological traits in infants. We established the nutritional iron status and assessed the neuropsychological characteristics of 58 Mexican 14- to 18-month-old infants. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development, preschool language scales and an environmental sound perception task designed expressly for the study, were used. The infants’ mothers were asked to fill out 2 questionnaires concerning their child’s sociodemographic background. Six different neuropsychological domains were analyzed. Results showed that the chronic iron deficiency group did show significantly lower scores on language, environmental sound perception, and motor measures, when compared with infants with normal nutritional iron status at 6 and 14 to 18 months. Our conclusion is that the development of language and motor skills and environmental sound perception appeared to be sensitive to the effects of chronic iron deficiency in infants.
Estudios de lingüística aplicada, 1994
Aphasiology, Mar 31, 2023
Research Square (Research Square), May 16, 2022
Background: The enrollment into clinical trials of persons at risk for autosomal dominant Alzheim... more Background: The enrollment into clinical trials of persons at risk for autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease in whom the onset of disease can be accurately predicted facilitates the interpretation of outcomes. Attitudes toward involvement in such studies are biased by intrinsic cultural and social characteristics. Our objective was to study how demographic factors such as country of residence, age, sex, schooling, parenthood, and urbanization affect attitudes towards participation in hypothetical clinical trials in Mexican families at risk for ADAD living either in Mexico or in the United States. Methods: Participants were 74 members of different families known to harbor an ADAD mutation living in Mexico (n = 50) or in the United States (n = 24). Participants were asked, in a written questionnaire, their interest in participating in four hypothetical clinical trial scenarios of increasing perceived invasiveness. The questionnaire then asked about their willingness should there be a 50% chance of being assigned to a placebo group. The in uences of demographic variables on decisions were performed using Wilcoxon rank-sum for continuous variables and Fisher's exact for categorical variables. Results: For each hypothetical study, there are differentiated trends in the desire to participate. In general, participants who live in Mexico, who have or plan to have children, who do not attend or do not plan to attend school, and who live in rural areas gave more positive responses regarding their willingness to participate. The 50% chance of being in a placebo group increased willingness to participate for family members living in Mexico. The main reason for participation was to help future generations, while the main reasons for refusal were not wanting to undergo genetic testing and consideration of adverse effects. Conclusions: We found a higher level of willingness to participate in clinical trials among persons living in rural Mexico and our data suggest that altruism towards future generations is a major motivating factor, though this was balanced against concerns regarding side effects. Our results emphasize the importance of sharing information and assessing its understanding in potential participants with diverse backgrounds in the nature of ADAD, and regarding the design of clinical trials prior to their enrollment in such studies.
Scientific Reports, Jun 8, 2021
The Acknowledgements section in the original version of this Article was incomplete. "This work w... more The Acknowledgements section in the original version of this Article was incomplete. "This work was partially supported by a PROMEP grant (UDGPTC1217) awarded to BBN. RM-C received a M.Sc. scholarship from CONACYT. We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Mónica Rosselli and Dr. Alfredo Ardila for their invaluable contribution in all stages of the design, data collection and standardization of the ENI-P Battery. Thanks to
American Journal of Medical Genetics - Neuropsychiatric Genetics, Oct 1, 2018
The objective of this study was to characterize an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD... more The objective of this study was to characterize an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) endophenotype in non-affected parents of adolescents with a history of ADHD, based on the relationship between performance on a sustained attention test (continuous performance task, or CPT) and polymorphisms of the DRD4 gene. In a sample of 25 non-affected parents of adolescents with ADHD history obtained from a longitudinal study of a nonclinical population, and 25 non-affected parents of adolescents with no ADHD history, four groups were evaluated with respect to the presence or absence of the long allele polymorphism of the DRD4 gene (i.e., over seven repeats). Comparisons of CPT performance among the four study groups included the number of commission errors, the number of omission errors, mean reaction time on correct responses (MRT), and reaction time (RT) variability (mean standard deviation of RT in each block [SDRT, as variability], and the sigma and tau components of the ex-Gaussian approach). The group of non-affected parents of adolescents with ADHD history and at least one long allele of the DRD4 gene showed greater RT variability (measured by SDRT), which is best explained by the greater frequency of abnormally slow responses (measured by tau). An association between the presence of the long allele of the DRD4 gene polymorphism and ADHD-like failure in CPT performance was evident in the non-affected parents of adolescents with ADHD in childhood. These findings suggest that certain traits of CPT performance could be considered an ADHD endophenotype.
Alzheimers & Dementia, Jul 1, 2016
Background: Persons at-risk for autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease (ADAD) provide an opportun... more Background: Persons at-risk for autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease (ADAD) provide an opportunity to prevent disease by intervening years before symptom onset. Trials of pharmacological interventions in this context are challenging as potential subjects are faced with complex issues when deciding to participate. Such issues are difficult for highly educated persons in industrialized countries and even more challenging for persons not familiar with such matters. We sought to assess attitudes about research and knowledge of ADAD in persons from such families in both rural and urban settings. Methods: 50 persons from families harboring ADAD mutations residing inMexico (n1⁄439) or the U.S. (n1⁄411) completed the Research Attitudes Questionnaire (RAQ) and a Familial Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Questionnaire (FADGQ). They then heard a presentation on AD, ADAD, and clinical trials and were given the opportunity to ask questions. A subset of subjects (n1⁄444) then completed the questionnaires again. RAQ scores (-14 to + 14, higher scores representing a more positive attitude towards clinical research) and FADGQ scores (0 9, higher scores representing more understanding of ADAD genetics) were compared between subjects living in urban (n1⁄422) vs. rural (n1⁄428) settings by t-tests and scores before and after the presentation were compared by paired t-tests, both in the total population and divided by urban vs. rural residence. Results:At baseline there were no differences between urban and rural inhabitants in their attitudes regarding research but persons living in urban settings scored higher on the FADGQ (6.2 vs. 5.3, p 1⁄4 0.02). Though mean scores on the RAQ (6.4 to 7.4) and FADGQ (5.6 to 5.9) were moved in the direction favoring clinical research and knowledge regarding ADAD, the changes were not significant. When the groups were divided by urban vs. rural settings, there was a greater impact on research attitudes in urban dwellers (5.9 to 7.8, p1⁄4 0.14) and a greater impact on ADAD knowledge in rural inhabitants (5.3 to 5.8, p 1⁄4 0.053). Conclusions: It is essential to educate potential ADAD prevention trial subjects but it requires intense and repetitive interactions with families. Urban residents may benefit more from education regarding trial methodogy and some rural inhabitants from a better understanding of the disease.
Estudios de lingüística aplicada, 1996
We present the first results of a longitudinal study of reading disabled children as compared wit... more We present the first results of a longitudinal study of reading disabled children as compared with a control group of normal children. Although the study we are reporting concerns both reading and writing; in this paper we concentrate on writing and particularlyon the coherence achieved by both groups of children. The texts analyzed were written after a short narrative was read aloud to them; the first time in 1990; the second time in 1992. Ouranalysis of coherence is based on a scalar (nondichotomic) concept which comprises six degrees. This paper presents an attempt at operationalization of the coherence scale (by means of a decision tree); discusses some statistical results; and gives a short linguistic analysis of texts written by three children who did not get the same mark on both tests.
PubMed, 1996
A sample of 120 Spanish-speaking children, 60 with reading disabilities and 60 normal readers was... more A sample of 120 Spanish-speaking children, 60 with reading disabilities and 60 normal readers was studied. Individual and family history of handedness, language problems, and reading disabilities were analyzed in each case. The results suggest that reading disabilities are more common among boys, that associated language problems are frequent and that handedness is not a significant factor. Insofar as family history is concerned, there were more affected families and relatives in the reading disabled group than in the control group. Finally an association was established between the variables of handedness and language problems.
Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research, Feb 17, 2021
PurposeThe aim of the present cross-sectional study was to determine the effects of age, sex, and... more PurposeThe aim of the present cross-sectional study was to determine the effects of age, sex, and maternal education of monolingual Spanish-speaking preschoolers on both macrostructural (oral narrative quality) and microstructural measures (number of different words, communication units, mean length of utterance in both words and morphemes, and number of conjunctions) of their oral narrative production.MethodA total of 277 monolingual Spanish-speaking Mexican children aged 2;06–5;11 (years;months) and divided into four age groups (ages 2, 3, 4, and 5 years) were asked to retell a fictional story from the oral narrative ability task of theEvaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil–Preescolar.ResultsAppropriate internal consistency and interrater reliability were demonstrated. Pearson correlations between macro- and microstructural measures showed a positive association. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed a main effect for age, but not for sex, maternal education, or between-variables interactions. Partial eta-squared showed that age had a medium effect size on oral narrative quality and the number of different words and conjunctions, with a small effect size on communication units and mean length of utterance in words and morphemes. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that age explained the largest percentage of variance across the oral narrative measures.ConclusionsThe measures found to be most sensitive to the effect of age (number of different words, oral narrative quality, communication units, conjunctions) are also those most easily assessed by clinicians with limited training in linguistics. Results obtained for the number of different words and communication units were similar to those reported previously for English-speaking children.
The application of clinical genetics, Jun 1, 2015
The aim of this study was to obtain the genotype and gene frequency from parents of children with... more The aim of this study was to obtain the genotype and gene frequency from parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and then assess the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium of genotype frequency of the variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) III exon of the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene. The genotypes of the III exon of 48 bp VNTR repeats of the DRD4 gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction in a sample of 30 parents of ADHD cases. In the 60 chromosomes analyzed, the following frequencies of DRD4 gene polymorphisms were observed: six chromosomes (c) with two repeat alleles (r) (10%); 1c with 3r (1.5%); 36c with 4r (60%); 1c with 5r (1.5%); and 16c with 7r (27%). The genotypic distribution of the 30 parents was two parents (p) with 2r/2r (6.67%); 1p with 2r/4r (3.33%); 1p with 2r/5r (3.33%); 1p with 3r/4r (3.33%); 15p with 4r/4r (50%); 4p with 4r/7r (13.33); and 6p with 7r/7r (20%). A Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium (χ 2 =13.03, P,0.01) was found due to an over-representation of the 7r/7r genotype. These results suggest that the 7r polymorphism of the DRD4 gene is associated with the ADHD condition in a Mexican population.
Developmental Science, Nov 25, 2021
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. The data that support the findings of ... more The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request. The authors wish to thank Daniel Zarabozo-Hurtado for his assistance in data collection, Diana Ávalos and Daniel Romero for their help in evaluation and data collection, and Hillary Contreras for their assistance in database collection. We also thank all participants and their families, and the high schools, principals, and teachers who assisted with this project. This study was funded by a grant from
Archives of Clinical Neuropsychology, Feb 6, 2023
Alzheimers & Dementia, Jul 1, 2017
function [Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and animal naming fluency].[Table 1] Having AF was ass... more function [Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) and animal naming fluency].[Table 1] Having AF was associated with an odds ratio of 2.17 for developing PSCI (95% CI: 1.03 – 4.58; p1⁄40.041)] after adjusting for age, education, hypertension, large cortical and noncortical infarcts, WMH, and intracranial stenosis. When comparing subjects in the four conditions, AF+LCI subjects scored worse in MMSE, MoCA, and FAB than LCI Only and Nil subjects. AF Only subjects scored worse in 10-word immediate recall than Nil subjects. [Figure 1]. Conclusions:AF is a significant risk factor for PSCI, and this effect is independent of acute infarct characteristics. The profile of PSCI in subjects with AF is characterized by deficits in episodic memory and executive function. Pathophysiological links between AF and PSCI, likely includes mechanisms other than infarcts such as cerebral hypoperfusion and neuroinflammation, may help to explain the observed impairments in these specific cognitive subdomains.
Interdisciplinaria, Dec 1, 2019
Efecto de la deficiencia de hierro sobre el desarrollo neuropsicológico en lactantes Effect of ir... more Efecto de la deficiencia de hierro sobre el desarrollo neuropsicológico en lactantes Effect of iron deficiency on neuropsychological development in infants
Espiral (Guadalajara), Apr 1, 2010
Alzheimer's & Dementia, 2017
Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is wisely associated with greater muscle strength decline i... more Background: Cognitive impairment (CI) is wisely associated with greater muscle strength decline in ageing. However, there is a lack of studies about this association in rural areas in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and association between dynapenia and CI in elderly people living in rural area. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 166 elderly people (60 years) dementia free living in a medium-sized town in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. We used logistic regression to analyse the association between dynapenia, according Laurentani et al. (1) criteria, and CI, controlled by sex, age, schooling and weight loss (the loss of at least 4.5 kg or more than 5% of body weight in the previous 12 months unrelated to dieting). Grip strength was measured using a dynamometer (Jamar, Seahan SH5001, Korea). The Mini-Mental State Examination was used to evaluate the cognitive function, according Brazilian suggested points by schooling level (2). Results: Mean age was 70.54 (67.52), 52.90% of the sample were female, 92.35% had conjugal life and 72.35% had low education (until 4 years of schooling). The prevalence rates were 39.88% (95% CI: 32.40-47.36) for dynapenic, 31.35% (95% CI: 22.86-39.85) for dynapenic without CI and 60.41% (95% CI: 46.06-74.76) for dynapenic with CI. The adjusted model showed that poor cognitive function increased odds of dynapenia independently of any other factors (odds ratio [OR] 3.37; 95%
Revista Latinoamericana de Psicología, 2018
Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer las relaciones entre habilidades de lenguaje e... more Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer las relaciones entre habilidades de lenguaje expresivo y receptivo y habilidades prelectoras en niños en edad preescolar. Usando un diseño metodológico empírico observacional de corte transversal se evaluaron las habilidades de lenguaje oral y habilidades fonológicas a un total de 106 preescolares. Los modelos de regresión multivariante señalan que las habilidades expresivas explican una mayor varianza de habilidades fonológicas implicadas en la detección de rimas y sonidos iniciales de las palabras, precursores importantes para el aprendizaje posterior de la lectoescritura.
Journal of Child Neurology, Aug 29, 2011
The aim of this study was to assess the effects of chronic iron deficiency on neuropsychological ... more The aim of this study was to assess the effects of chronic iron deficiency on neuropsychological traits in infants. We established the nutritional iron status and assessed the neuropsychological characteristics of 58 Mexican 14- to 18-month-old infants. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development, preschool language scales and an environmental sound perception task designed expressly for the study, were used. The infants’ mothers were asked to fill out 2 questionnaires concerning their child’s sociodemographic background. Six different neuropsychological domains were analyzed. Results showed that the chronic iron deficiency group did show significantly lower scores on language, environmental sound perception, and motor measures, when compared with infants with normal nutritional iron status at 6 and 14 to 18 months. Our conclusion is that the development of language and motor skills and environmental sound perception appeared to be sensitive to the effects of chronic iron deficiency in infants.
Estudios de lingüística aplicada, 1994
Aphasiology, Mar 31, 2023
Research Square (Research Square), May 16, 2022
Background: The enrollment into clinical trials of persons at risk for autosomal dominant Alzheim... more Background: The enrollment into clinical trials of persons at risk for autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease in whom the onset of disease can be accurately predicted facilitates the interpretation of outcomes. Attitudes toward involvement in such studies are biased by intrinsic cultural and social characteristics. Our objective was to study how demographic factors such as country of residence, age, sex, schooling, parenthood, and urbanization affect attitudes towards participation in hypothetical clinical trials in Mexican families at risk for ADAD living either in Mexico or in the United States. Methods: Participants were 74 members of different families known to harbor an ADAD mutation living in Mexico (n = 50) or in the United States (n = 24). Participants were asked, in a written questionnaire, their interest in participating in four hypothetical clinical trial scenarios of increasing perceived invasiveness. The questionnaire then asked about their willingness should there be a 50% chance of being assigned to a placebo group. The in uences of demographic variables on decisions were performed using Wilcoxon rank-sum for continuous variables and Fisher's exact for categorical variables. Results: For each hypothetical study, there are differentiated trends in the desire to participate. In general, participants who live in Mexico, who have or plan to have children, who do not attend or do not plan to attend school, and who live in rural areas gave more positive responses regarding their willingness to participate. The 50% chance of being in a placebo group increased willingness to participate for family members living in Mexico. The main reason for participation was to help future generations, while the main reasons for refusal were not wanting to undergo genetic testing and consideration of adverse effects. Conclusions: We found a higher level of willingness to participate in clinical trials among persons living in rural Mexico and our data suggest that altruism towards future generations is a major motivating factor, though this was balanced against concerns regarding side effects. Our results emphasize the importance of sharing information and assessing its understanding in potential participants with diverse backgrounds in the nature of ADAD, and regarding the design of clinical trials prior to their enrollment in such studies.
Scientific Reports, Jun 8, 2021
The Acknowledgements section in the original version of this Article was incomplete. "This work w... more The Acknowledgements section in the original version of this Article was incomplete. "This work was partially supported by a PROMEP grant (UDGPTC1217) awarded to BBN. RM-C received a M.Sc. scholarship from CONACYT. We gratefully acknowledge Dr. Mónica Rosselli and Dr. Alfredo Ardila for their invaluable contribution in all stages of the design, data collection and standardization of the ENI-P Battery. Thanks to
American Journal of Medical Genetics - Neuropsychiatric Genetics, Oct 1, 2018
The objective of this study was to characterize an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD... more The objective of this study was to characterize an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) endophenotype in non-affected parents of adolescents with a history of ADHD, based on the relationship between performance on a sustained attention test (continuous performance task, or CPT) and polymorphisms of the DRD4 gene. In a sample of 25 non-affected parents of adolescents with ADHD history obtained from a longitudinal study of a nonclinical population, and 25 non-affected parents of adolescents with no ADHD history, four groups were evaluated with respect to the presence or absence of the long allele polymorphism of the DRD4 gene (i.e., over seven repeats). Comparisons of CPT performance among the four study groups included the number of commission errors, the number of omission errors, mean reaction time on correct responses (MRT), and reaction time (RT) variability (mean standard deviation of RT in each block [SDRT, as variability], and the sigma and tau components of the ex-Gaussian approach). The group of non-affected parents of adolescents with ADHD history and at least one long allele of the DRD4 gene showed greater RT variability (measured by SDRT), which is best explained by the greater frequency of abnormally slow responses (measured by tau). An association between the presence of the long allele of the DRD4 gene polymorphism and ADHD-like failure in CPT performance was evident in the non-affected parents of adolescents with ADHD in childhood. These findings suggest that certain traits of CPT performance could be considered an ADHD endophenotype.
Alzheimers & Dementia, Jul 1, 2016
Background: Persons at-risk for autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease (ADAD) provide an opportun... more Background: Persons at-risk for autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease (ADAD) provide an opportunity to prevent disease by intervening years before symptom onset. Trials of pharmacological interventions in this context are challenging as potential subjects are faced with complex issues when deciding to participate. Such issues are difficult for highly educated persons in industrialized countries and even more challenging for persons not familiar with such matters. We sought to assess attitudes about research and knowledge of ADAD in persons from such families in both rural and urban settings. Methods: 50 persons from families harboring ADAD mutations residing inMexico (n1⁄439) or the U.S. (n1⁄411) completed the Research Attitudes Questionnaire (RAQ) and a Familial Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics Questionnaire (FADGQ). They then heard a presentation on AD, ADAD, and clinical trials and were given the opportunity to ask questions. A subset of subjects (n1⁄444) then completed the questionnaires again. RAQ scores (-14 to + 14, higher scores representing a more positive attitude towards clinical research) and FADGQ scores (0 9, higher scores representing more understanding of ADAD genetics) were compared between subjects living in urban (n1⁄422) vs. rural (n1⁄428) settings by t-tests and scores before and after the presentation were compared by paired t-tests, both in the total population and divided by urban vs. rural residence. Results:At baseline there were no differences between urban and rural inhabitants in their attitudes regarding research but persons living in urban settings scored higher on the FADGQ (6.2 vs. 5.3, p 1⁄4 0.02). Though mean scores on the RAQ (6.4 to 7.4) and FADGQ (5.6 to 5.9) were moved in the direction favoring clinical research and knowledge regarding ADAD, the changes were not significant. When the groups were divided by urban vs. rural settings, there was a greater impact on research attitudes in urban dwellers (5.9 to 7.8, p1⁄4 0.14) and a greater impact on ADAD knowledge in rural inhabitants (5.3 to 5.8, p 1⁄4 0.053). Conclusions: It is essential to educate potential ADAD prevention trial subjects but it requires intense and repetitive interactions with families. Urban residents may benefit more from education regarding trial methodogy and some rural inhabitants from a better understanding of the disease.
Estudios de lingüística aplicada, 1996
We present the first results of a longitudinal study of reading disabled children as compared wit... more We present the first results of a longitudinal study of reading disabled children as compared with a control group of normal children. Although the study we are reporting concerns both reading and writing; in this paper we concentrate on writing and particularlyon the coherence achieved by both groups of children. The texts analyzed were written after a short narrative was read aloud to them; the first time in 1990; the second time in 1992. Ouranalysis of coherence is based on a scalar (nondichotomic) concept which comprises six degrees. This paper presents an attempt at operationalization of the coherence scale (by means of a decision tree); discusses some statistical results; and gives a short linguistic analysis of texts written by three children who did not get the same mark on both tests.
PubMed, 1996
A sample of 120 Spanish-speaking children, 60 with reading disabilities and 60 normal readers was... more A sample of 120 Spanish-speaking children, 60 with reading disabilities and 60 normal readers was studied. Individual and family history of handedness, language problems, and reading disabilities were analyzed in each case. The results suggest that reading disabilities are more common among boys, that associated language problems are frequent and that handedness is not a significant factor. Insofar as family history is concerned, there were more affected families and relatives in the reading disabled group than in the control group. Finally an association was established between the variables of handedness and language problems.
Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research, Feb 17, 2021
PurposeThe aim of the present cross-sectional study was to determine the effects of age, sex, and... more PurposeThe aim of the present cross-sectional study was to determine the effects of age, sex, and maternal education of monolingual Spanish-speaking preschoolers on both macrostructural (oral narrative quality) and microstructural measures (number of different words, communication units, mean length of utterance in both words and morphemes, and number of conjunctions) of their oral narrative production.MethodA total of 277 monolingual Spanish-speaking Mexican children aged 2;06–5;11 (years;months) and divided into four age groups (ages 2, 3, 4, and 5 years) were asked to retell a fictional story from the oral narrative ability task of theEvaluación Neuropsicológica Infantil–Preescolar.ResultsAppropriate internal consistency and interrater reliability were demonstrated. Pearson correlations between macro- and microstructural measures showed a positive association. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed a main effect for age, but not for sex, maternal education, or between-variables interactions. Partial eta-squared showed that age had a medium effect size on oral narrative quality and the number of different words and conjunctions, with a small effect size on communication units and mean length of utterance in words and morphemes. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses indicated that age explained the largest percentage of variance across the oral narrative measures.ConclusionsThe measures found to be most sensitive to the effect of age (number of different words, oral narrative quality, communication units, conjunctions) are also those most easily assessed by clinicians with limited training in linguistics. Results obtained for the number of different words and communication units were similar to those reported previously for English-speaking children.
The application of clinical genetics, Jun 1, 2015
The aim of this study was to obtain the genotype and gene frequency from parents of children with... more The aim of this study was to obtain the genotype and gene frequency from parents of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and then assess the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium of genotype frequency of the variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) III exon of the dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) gene. The genotypes of the III exon of 48 bp VNTR repeats of the DRD4 gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction in a sample of 30 parents of ADHD cases. In the 60 chromosomes analyzed, the following frequencies of DRD4 gene polymorphisms were observed: six chromosomes (c) with two repeat alleles (r) (10%); 1c with 3r (1.5%); 36c with 4r (60%); 1c with 5r (1.5%); and 16c with 7r (27%). The genotypic distribution of the 30 parents was two parents (p) with 2r/2r (6.67%); 1p with 2r/4r (3.33%); 1p with 2r/5r (3.33%); 1p with 3r/4r (3.33%); 15p with 4r/4r (50%); 4p with 4r/7r (13.33); and 6p with 7r/7r (20%). A Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium (χ 2 =13.03, P,0.01) was found due to an over-representation of the 7r/7r genotype. These results suggest that the 7r polymorphism of the DRD4 gene is associated with the ADHD condition in a Mexican population.