ABSTRACT Purpose: to assess the advancement in communicative intention and cognition in children with autism spectrum disorder after applying a personalized alternative communication method. Methods: patients had their communicative intention and cognition (Vineland-3) assessed before and after the intervention with 10 structured alternative communication sessions. The “Demystifying Alternative Communication” podcast was developed as supplementary material to this study. Student’s t-test was used, setting the significance level at p < 0.05. Results: patients improved their communicative intention, with higher scores after the intervention, and no changes were found in relation to cognition. Conclusion: even though the patients’ equivalent age was inferior to their real age in the communication subdomain assessment, they progressed in expressive communication, language, and writing.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar o avanço da intenção comunicativa e da cognição em crianças com Transtorno do Espectro Autista após a aplicação de metodologia personalizada de comunicação alternativa. Métodos: foram realizadas dez sessões estruturadas de comunicação alternativa e os pacientes foram avaliados antes e após a intervenção quanto a intenção comunicativa e cognição (Vineland-3). Como material suplementar deste trabalho, foi elaborado o podcast “Desmistificando a Comunicação Alternativa”. Foi utilizado teste t-Student com o p <0,05 onsiderado significante. Resultados: os pacientes apresentaram melhoras quanto à intenção comunicativa, demonstrando maiores escores após a realização da intervenção. Conclusão: apesar de os pacientes apresentarem uma idade equivalente inferior à idade real na avaliação do subdomínio da comunicação, estes demonstraram avanços quanto às variáveis de comunicação expressiva, linguagem e escrita.

Endothelial dysfunction is a major component of the pathophysiology of septicaemic group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections. Although cytokines have been shown to activate human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), the capacity of interferon (IFN)-γ to enhance the microbicidal activity of HUVECs against GBS has not been studied. We report that the viability of intracellular bacteria was reduced in HUVECs activated by IFN-γ. Enhanced fusion of lysosomes with bacteria-containing vacuoles was observed by acid phosphatase and the colocalisation of Rab-5, Rab-7 and lysosomal-associated membrane protein-1 with GBS in IFN-γ-activated HUVECs. IFN-γ resulted in an enhancement of the phagosome maturation process in HUVECs, improving the capacity to control the intracellular survival of GBS.