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Research Finding: The present study estimates the long-term effects of Chile's national public Early Childhood Care and Education program (ECCE) on children academic achievement, grade retention and school dropouts, to better understand if ECCE is helping reduce the socioeconomic achievement gap. The present study uses a quasi-experimental design and propensity score matching (PSM) to estimate the ECCE effect by comparing ECCE participants with those who did not attend but share similar family and contextual characteristics. We follow a cohort of 80,000 children from preschool to the end of schooling. Results show that ECCE participants had better academic outcomes than their peers who did not participated in ECCE in national tests in 4th, 10th, and 12th grade. ECCE participants also were less likely to repeat a grade or to dropout of school. Practice or Policy: These findings suggest that public ECCE might play a key role in both reducing the socioeconomic achievement gap and supporting futures opportunities for children.

Child exposure to maltreatment and neglect constitutes a significant public health problem throughout Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries. Although evidence‐based parent training (PT) interventions constitute an empirically demonstrated alternative to prevent child maltreatment and neglect, multiple implementation barriers have prevented the large‐scale dissemination of evidence‐based PT interventions across LAC countries. This selective prevention study consisted of an exploratory quasi‐experimental design implemented in Chile, aimed at examining the initial impact of a culturally adapted version of the evidence‐based PT intervention known as GenerationPMTO©. The parenting intervention was adapted in a previous pilot study, according to a rigorous model of cultural adaptation. Based on self‐reports completed by 281 caregivers, when compared to baseline measurements, significant improvements at intervention completion were observed in the majority of caregivers' parenting practices, as well as child internalizing and externalizing problematic behaviors. This study provides promising initial empirical evidence that efficacious PT interventions developed in the US can be transported to Latin American contexts, as long as they are thoroughly adapted to achieve high contextual and cultural relevance. The rates of child maltreatment across LAC countries constitute an urgent and permanent call for strongly promoting this line of prevention research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most important factors regulating the distribution and abundance of seaweeds is desiccation, triggered mainly by tidal changes and climatic variation. Porphyra and Pyropia species have evolved multiple strategies to tolerate desiccation stress; however, how these tolerance strategies differ in these species inhabiting different latitudes is still unknown. In this context, we analyzed, in situ, the physiological responses of these species (collected from 18° S to 41° S along the Chilean coast) to desiccation stress using biochemical and molecular analyses. The hyper-arid terrestrial climate of northern Chile, with high evaporation and lack of constant rain determines a very steep increase in desiccation stress in the upper intertidal during low tide for these species. Accordingly, the results showed that, in comparison with the southernmost populations, the Porphyra/Pyropia species from the north zone of Chile (18°–30° S) exhibited higher contents of lipoperoxide and carbonyls (1.6–1.9 fold) together with higher enzymatic activities, including ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, peroxiredoxin, and thioredoxin (2–3-fold). In addition, a substantial expression of cat, prx, and trx transcripts during desiccation was demonstrated, mainly in the northernmost populations. These results provide evidence of (i) significant activation of antioxidant enzymes and transcripts (principally cat and prx); (ii) participation of phenolic antioxidant compounds as a highly plastic physiological strategy to cope with desiccation; and (iii) the activation of the tolerance responses was affected by species latitudinal distribution. Thus, for the first time, this study integrated the biochemical and genetic responses of diverse Porphyra/Pyropia species to better understand their physiological dynamics of tolerance over a wide latitudinal range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Finding: The present study estimates the long-term effects of Chile's national public Early Childhood Care and Education program (ECCE) on children academic achievement, grade retention and school dropouts, to better understand if ECCE is helping reduce the socioeconomic achievement gap. The present study uses a quasi-experimental design and propensity score matching (PSM) to estimate the ECCE effect by comparing ECCE participants with those who did not attend but share similar family and contextual characteristics. We follow a cohort of 80,000 children from preschool to the end of schooling. Results show that ECCE participants had better academic outcomes than their peers who did not participated in ECCE in national tests in 4th, 10th, and 12th grade. ECCE participants also were less likely to repeat a grade or to dropout of school. Practice or Policy: These findings suggest that public ECCE might play a key role in both reducing the socioeconomic achievement gap and supporting futures opportunities for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on dialogic discursive dynamics present in couples' conversations about unresolved conflicts. The phenomenon of conflict is addressed as a semiotically mediated process of co-construction of the self and the relationship. The purpose of this article is to report on patterns of meaning construction in couples' conflict, with the identification of strategies that promote or hinder resolution. A qualitative exploratory approach was used to focus on the interactional process at the micro-processing level. Eight married couples participated in the study. The procedure considered asking the couple to discuss unresolved conflict. Recorded data of couples' dialogues were transcribed to text and assessed through semiotic analysis using a microgenetic protocol (Molina, Del Río, & Tapia, 2015). The results document the use of strategies for conflict regulation such as psychological distancing, opposition, and generalisation on the border between protecting the bond and regulating tension. The dynamics of non-resolution manifested in polarisation and rigid patterns with increased tension. The 'in-motion' nature of dialogue about conflict is pushed by the semiotic tension that induces variations in subjective positions manifested in speech and actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The term gridlock describes the occurrence of rigid patterns in couples' conflict. This study aimed to describe strategies of conflict resolution and gridlock prevention from the perspectives of couples and couple therapists. Participants were couple therapists and highly adjusted couples scored by the dyadic adjustment scale ( DAS), distributed according to traditional and non-traditional position in life and duration of relationships. Conflict gridlock scenarios were used to create video stimulus that were presented to participants. A qualitative methodology was used to analyse couples' and therapists' commentaries on the scenarios. Results showed differences in preventing conflict gridlock among sub-groups of couples. Long-term traditional couples focused on loyalty to a common project and value sacrificing to a higher good; long-term non-traditional couples prioritised caring and validating the bond in the relationship. Short-term traditional couples focused on mutual love and the relief of hurt while short-term non-traditional couples supported the value of equity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Small bowel tumors (SBT) are infrequent and represent a small proportion of digestive neoplasms. There is scarce information about SBT in Latin America., Aim: To describe the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, and survival of malignant SBTs., Methods: Retrospective observational study of adult patients with histopathological diagnosis of SBT between 2007 and 2021 in a university hospital in Chile., Results: A total of 104 patients [51.9% men; mean age 57 years] with SBT. Histological type: neuroendocrine tumor (NET) (43.7%, n=38), gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) (21.8%, n=19), lymphoma (17.2%, n=15) and adenocarcinoma (AC) (11.5%, n=10). GIST was more frequent in duodenum (50%; n=12) and NET in the ileum (65.8%; n=25). Metastasis was observed in 17 cases, most commonly from colon and melanoma. Nausea and vomiting were significantly more often observed in AC (p=0.035), as well as gastrointestinal bleeding in GIST (p=0.007). The most common diagnostic tools were CT and CT enteroclysis with an elevated diagnostic yield (86% and 94% respectively). The 5-year survival of GIST, NET, lymphoma and AC were 94.7% (95%CI: 68.1-99.2), 82.2% (95%CI: 57.6-93.3), 40.0% (95%CI: 16.5-82.8) and 25.9% (95%CI: 4.5-55.7%), respectively. NET (HR 6.1; 95%CI: 2.1-17.2) and GIST (HR 24.4; 95%CI: 3.0-19.8) were independently associated with higher survival compared to AC, adjusted for age and sex., Conclusions: Malignant SBT are rare conditions and NETs are the most common histological subtype. Clinical presentation at diagnosis, location or complications may suggest a more probable diagnosis. GIST and NET are associated with better survival compared to other malignant subtypes., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Parent training (PT) interventions constitute an empirically demonstrated alternative to promote effective parenting practices and prevent child behavioral and mental health problems. However, the dissemination of evidence-based PT interventions across Latin America remains scarce. This qualitative study had the primary objective of evaluating the level of acceptability of a culturally adapted version of the PT intervention known as GenerationPMTO © , adapted for the Chilean context. According to qualitative reports provided by 24 Chilean caregivers exposed to the culturally adapted parenting intervention, the intervention was perceived by caregivers as useful for their parenting practices, as well as contextually and culturally relevant. Current qualitative findings indicate that the culturally adapted PT intervention holds promise for larger dissemination in the Chilean context., (© 2022 American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.)

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disease of the hair follicle characterized by recurrent painful and inflamed lesions, predominantly affecting intertriginous regions. Due to its physical sequelae and impact on quality of life, we should be familiarized with this disease to make an appropriate diagnosis and implement an early treatment. This executive summary of the clinical guideline, elaborated by the hidradenitis suppurativa workgroup of the Chilean Society of Dermatology and Venereology (SOCHIDERM), reviews its definition, epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, comorbidities, psycho-emotional impact, clinical presentation, diagnosis, classifications, ultrasonographic evaluation, and its medical and surgical treatments. Finally, a therapeutic approach algorithm is proposed.