Itzel

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, which results in a prominent reduction of striatal dopamine levels leading to motor alterations. The mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration in PD remain unknown. Here, we generated an induced pluripotent stem cell line from dermal fibroblasts of a Mexican patient diagnosed with sporadic PD (UNAMi002-A) and another cell line from dermal fibroblasts of a patient carrying the point mutation c...

Diabetic foot ulcers are a common complication of diabetes mellitus and can lead to severe infections and delayed wound healing. The development of effective wound dressings is crucial to promoting faster healing and preventing infections. This investigation aims to fabricate and characterize electrospun meshes composed of poly(ε-caprolactone) and collagen, extracted from tilapia skin. Additionally, tetracycline and chloramphenicol were incorporated into the dressings to explore their potential to combat wound infections...

BACKGROUND: Limited attention has been given to exploring the efficacy of titration in split-night polysomnography (PSG) and the factors influencing adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. This study aims to evaluate the severity of OSA and PSG parameters in HP compared to WP. METHODS: Split-night PSG studies conducted on adults. Participants were categorized based on self-reported ethnicity as either HP or WP. RESULTS: The study enrolled 50 WP (15 women, 35 men, mean age 60...

As a strategy to carry out a better achievement in the Biochemistry course, undergraduate dentistry education manage a traditional course on the basic concepts of general chemistry necessary in the understanding of Biochemistry. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of learning outcome, we aimed to develop an evaluation tool that was applied to first-year dental students before and after receiving the general chemistry classes. Randomized trial consisted of 50 items distributed in 10 categories. The evaluation was applied to the students who took the Oral Biology course in the periods comprising 2020, 2021, and 2022 to a population of 109 students...

Prostate cancer (PCa) harbors several genetic alterations, the most prevalent of which is TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion, affecting nearly half of all cases. Capitalizing on the increasing availability of whole-slide images (WSIs), this study introduces a deep learning (DL) model designed to detect TMPRSS2:ERG fusion from H&E-stained WSIs of radical prostatectomy specimens. Leveraging the TCGA prostate adenocarcinoma cohort, which comprises 436 WSIs from 393 patients, we developed a robust DL model, trained across ten different splits, each consisting of distinct training, validation, and testing sets...

In Mexico, chronic kidney disease of unknown origin is highly prevalent. Screening studies in adolescents have shown persistent microalbuminuria (pACR), adaptive podocytopathy and decreased kidney volume (KV). Here, we sought to develop normality tables of kidney dimensions by ultrasound in the Mexican state of Aguascalientes pediatric population (0 to 18y) and evaluate the relationship between the KV and pACR among the region´s adolescents in a cross-sectional study. Kidney length (KL) and KV were determined by ultrasound...

Cutis laxa is a rare connective tissue disorder, characterized by a reduced number and abnormal properties of elastic fibers throughout the dermis, creating a clinical appearance of premature aging. It can be subdivided into inherited and acquired, the latter rarer than the former, and skin involvement may be localized or generalized. The etiology of acquired cutis laxa (ACL) remains unknown and there is no definitive treatment. We present the case of a 30-year-old man diagnosed with type I ACL with progressive systemic involvement at the renal, pulmonary, and digestive levels...

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated long-standing inequities, galvanizing new investments and community feedback to improve recovery programs. This implementation evaluation offers descriptive evidence of the feasibility of engaging street vendors to (1) facilitate linkage to services for undocumented Latinx communities, (2) strengthen health promotion by gathering community feedback, and (3) enhance economic opportunity by recognizing and addressing systemic challenges in which vendors operate. Future work should assess the effectiveness of mobilizing existing community messengers around entrenched social determinants of health...

In the complex tumor microenvironment (TME), mesenchymal cells are key players, yet their specific roles in prostate cancer (PCa) progression remain to be fully deciphered. This study employs single-cell RNA sequencing to delineate molecular changes in tumor stroma that influence PCa progression and metastasis. Analyzing mesenchymal cells from four genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) and correlating these findings with human tumors, we identify eight stromal cell populations with distinct transcriptional identities consistent across both species...

The role of the microbiome in asthma is highlighted, considering its influence on immune responses and its connection to alterations in asthmatic patients. In this context, we review the variables influencing asthma phenotypes from a microbiome perspective and provide insights into the microbiome's role in asthma pathogenesis. Previous cohort studies in patients with asthma have shown that the presence of genera such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium , and Bacteroides in the gut microbiome has been associated with protection against the disease...

The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is a filter-feeding organism that can be considered a sentinel species, and Bahía de los Ángeles (BLA) in the Gulf of California is an important sighting site for these elasmobranchs. This filter-feeding organism can be considered a pollutant sampler from the marine environment. Persistent organic pollutants are toxic compounds with high mobility and environmental persistence, bioaccumulation and trophic transfer. Among these are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)...

BACKGROUND: Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disabling condition that affects millions of people around the world. Currently, no clinical treatment can restore spinal cord function. Comparison of molecular responses in regenerating to non-regenerating vertebrates can shed light on neural restoration. The axolotl ( Ambystoma mexicanum ) is an amphibian that regenerates regions of the brain or spinal cord after damage. METHODS: In this study, we compared the transcriptomes after SCI at acute (1-2 days after SCI) and sub-acute (6-7 days post-SCI) periods through the analysis of RNA-seq public datasets from axolotl and non-regenerating rodents...

Lupus nephritis (LN) is the most frequent and severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A prospective cohort with a six-month follow-up was performed. Twelve SLE patients diagnosed with LN Class III, twelve NL Class IV patients, and twelve healthy control subjects (HC) were included. SLE data, renal function, oxidants, antioxidants, and inflammation were determined at baseline and six-month follow-up. During the six-month follow-up, the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI-2K) decreased in both LN Class III (20...

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the historical legacy of anti-immigrant sentiment in the US has resurfaced, fueled by a new wave of anti-immigrant political rhetoric. Violent political rhetoric, defined as either explicit or metaphorically targeted language to dehumanize targeted groups, can incite discriminatory treatment of immigrants at both interpersonal and institutional levels, shaping their health and healthcare experiences. This qualitative study explores and compares how Spanish- and Chinese-speaking immigrant populations in Chicago make sense of violent political rhetoric against their racial and ethnic identities, utilize coping strategies to maintain their sense of belonging, and experience downstream health consequences...

The Brazilian Unified Health System provides universal health care access without regard to sexual orientation and gender identity. We conducted a nationwide study with a cross-sectional design and intentional sampling methods to investigate factors associated with Basic Health Unit (BHU) use by the LGBTQIA+ community. Data were collected via a questionnaire available through social networks. Statistical analysis included Poisson regression with robust variance. A total of 603 LGBTQIA+ community members participated in the study, of whom 417 (69...

Ependymomas are neuroepithelial tumors that develop from ependymal cells found in the brain parenchyma and can spread to any part of the spinal cord. Three to six percent of all malignancies affecting the central nervous system (CNS) are ependymomas. Even the most talented surgeons are challenged by spinal cord ependymomas; as a result, research into this clinical phenomenon should continue. Since 1979, the World Health Organization (WHO) has published a classification and grading system for CNS malignancies to ensure consistent diagnostic standards worldwide...

This report focuses on sebaceous skin tumors, specifically sebaceous adenoma, sebaceoma, and sebaceous carcinoma, along with their association with Muir-Torre syndrome (MTS). A clinical case of a 25-year-old male with a suspected sebaceous neoplasm based on dermoscopy appearance is presented. The histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis and surgical management resulted in successful treatment. The report highlights the importance of considering differential diagnoses and utilizing dermoscopy for accurate evaluation of these rare skin tumors...

BACKGROUND: Community service providers (CSPs) play an integral role in the health care of low-income Hispanic or Latinx (HL) communities. CSPs have high-stress frontline jobs and share the high-risk demographics of their communities. Relational savoring (RS) has been associated with lower cardiovascular reactivity and psychosocial benefits, with particular promise among HL participants. In this study, we aim to identify RS's potential in promoting CSPs' cardiometabolic health and, in so doing, having broader impacts on the community they serve...

Biocatalytic processes play a crucial role in the valorization of lignin; therefore, methods enabling the monitoring of enzymes such as β-etherases, capable of breaking β-O-4 aryl-ether bonds, are of significant biotechnological interest. A novel method for quantifying β-etherase activity was developed based on the β-ester bond formation between a chromophore and acetovainillone. The chromogenic substrate β-(ρ-nitrophenoxy)-α-acetovanillone (PNPAV), was chemically synthesized...

A typical neuron signals to downstream cells when it is depolarized and firing sodium spikes. Some neurons, however, also fire calcium spikes when hyperpolarized. The function of such bidirectional signaling remains unclear in most circuits. Here we show how a neuron class that participates in vector computation in the fly central complex employs hyperpolarization-elicited calcium spikes to invert two-dimensional mathematical vectors. When cells switch from firing sodium to calcium spikes, this leads to a ∼180° realignment between the vector encoded in the neuronal population and the fly's internal heading signal, thus inverting the vector...