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While physical activity and zinc supplementation have shown benefits in diabetes management, little is known about their effect on less severe glucose homeostasis disorders, such as impaired glucose tolerance. On the other hand, sirtuins have an important role in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, but to date, there is no information about the impact of zinc supplementation or physical activity on their regulation in individuals with impaired glucose homeostasis. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of supplemental zinc, muscle-resistance training, and their combination on the expression of selected sirtuins in insulin-sensitive tissues of rats with impaired glucose tolerance. Thirty male Wistar rats with impaired glucose tolerance were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks while subjected to zinc supplementation, resistance training, both, or none. Morphometric and metabolic evaluations were performed at the end of the experimental period, and gene expression of sirtuins 1, 2, 4, and 7 was assessed in liver, gastrocnemius muscle, and white adipose tissue. Results showed that zinc supplementation and/or resistance training did not improve metabolic parameters of rats with impaired glucose tolerance, nor did they affect the expression of selected sirtuins in any of the tissues evaluated. However, the expression of some sirtuins was associated with metabolic parameters in a tissue-specific manner. Additional studies are needed to evaluate whether zinc supplementation and/or resistance training can improve metabolic status or modulate sirtuins expression in advanced stages of impaired glucose homeostasis.

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BACKGROUND: the clubfoot is one of the most common pathologies in pediatric orthopedics. There are few studies of physical self-concept and perception of health in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. Population aged 16 to 18 years with the diagnosis of clubfoot. Being a sample of 55 patients, who underwent the SF-36, Laaveg-Ponseti Health Questionnaire, and the Physical Self-Concept Questionnaire. Evaluating physical abilities, physical condition, physical attractiveness. Presence of pain, general health, total function, emotional role, mental health, and satisfaction after treatment.There were 3 groups, according to the treatment received. Group 1, made up of 16 patients, treated only with the Ponseti method. Group 2 with 13 patients who received treatment with the Ponseti method, postero-medial release and osteotomies in the midfoot and/or hindfoot. And group 3 with 26 patients, who received postero-medial release and midfoot and/or hindfoot osteotomies. RESULTS: for the Laaveg-Ponseti questionnaire, comparing the score between the three groups, a statistically significant difference was found in group 1, with a higher score. In the Physical Self-Concept questionnaire and the SF-36 health questionnaire, no significant difference was found between the groups. CONCLUSION: the quality of life of patients with clubfoot are from excellent to good, no matter of the group to which they belonged. The state of physical and mental health by the SF-36 scale were fined. And physical self-concept evaluated was higher than the average. With these studies, we can expose a more comprehensive management. We find that the satisfaction of these patients will be fine in the future.

ANTECEDENTES: el pie equino varo aducto congénito es de las patologías más comunes en ortopedia pediátrica. Encontramos pocos estudios que investiguen el autoconcepto físico y percepción de salud en estos pacientes. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal. Población entre 16 a 18 años con el diagnóstico de pie equino varo aducto congénito. Siendo una muestra de 55 pacientes a quienes se les realizó el cuestionario de salud SF-36, Laaveg-Ponseti y el cuestionario de autoconcepto físico. Evaluando habilidades físicas, condición física, atractivo físico. Presencia de dolor, salud en general, función total, rol emocional, salud mental y satisfacción ante el resultado final obtenido posterior a tratamiento. Se crearon tres grupos de acuerdo con el tratamiento recibido. El grupo 1 integrado por 16 pacientes, tratamiento únicamente con método Ponseti. El grupo 2 integrado por 13 pacientes, quienes recibieron tratamiento con método Ponseti, liberación posteromedial (LPM) y osteotomías en mediopié y/o retropié. Y el grupo 3 integrado por 26 pacientes, quienes recibieron manejo con LPM y osteotomías de mediopié y/o retropié. RESULTADOS: para el cuestionario de Laaveg-Ponseti comparando el puntaje entre los tres grupos se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa en el grupo 1, con un mayor puntaje. En el cuestionario de autoconcepto físico y el cuestionario de salud SF-36 no se encontró diferencia significativa entre los grupos. CONCLUSIÓN: la calidad de vida de un paciente con pie equino varo aducto congénito fue de excelente a buena sin importar el grupo al que pertenecían. El estado de salud física y mental valorado mediante escala de SF-36 se encuentra en un adecuado estado. Y el autoconcepto físico evaluado es superior a la media. Con estos estudios podemos llevar un manejo más integral. Encontramos que la satisfacción que tendrán a futuro estos pacientes puede ser adecuada.

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A rotor design of a Ram Air Turbine (RAT) for a commercial aircraft was created taking three sections with different airfoils along the blade; those sections were assessed to evaluate their performance at different critical velocities (41, 81 and 251 m/s) and choose the best profile configuration generating a new proposal to increase the glide ratio by reducing the drag, which is helpful in emergency cases. The Blade Element Momentum (BEM) theory and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) were used to analyze an initial design, then validating these results with the open software QBlade. For the BEM theory a program was created for the design and performance of the RAT adding the Viterna methodology for airfoil analysis. 16 designs were proposed by strategically interchanging wing profiles in different blade sections. These designs were analyzed by CFD, using the complete rotor and the S S T k - ω turbulence model. An optimal geometry was found, presenting a significant drag reduction of 25% generating an increase in the glide ratio and improving aircraft control in addition to maintaining the power generation above the desired values; therefore, it recommends using different airfoils for each section of a RAT's rotor blade.

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OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze the association between the superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) gene variants rs2758346, rs5746094, and rs2758331 and breast cancer (BC) in the Mexican population as well as to perform in silico assessments of the variants' potential impact. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed in silico analysis and analyzed 489 healthy women and 467 BC patients using TaqMan assays and Real-Time PCR. RESULTS: The TT genotype, the T allele of the rs2758346 variant, and the CC genotype of both rs5746094 and rs2758331 were identified as BC risk factors (p < 0.05). The TT and CTTT genotype of the rs2758346 variant stratified by the presence of ki-67 (> 20%), TCCC, and estrogen receptor (ER)-positive of the rs5746094 variant, and the CC and CT genotypes of rs2758331 stratified by menopause status and non-chemotherapy response were risk factors. The TTC and TTA haplotypes are risk factors for BC. In silico analysis revealed that the rs2758346, rs5746094, and rs2758331 variants could influence SOD2 gene regulation by transcription factors and circulating RNAs (circRNAs). CONCLUSIONS: The rs2758346, rs5746094, and rs2758331 variants of the SOD2 gene were associated with BC risk and could influence SOD2 regulation by transcription factors and circRNAs.

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INTRODUCTION: Huntington disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder. Thanks to predictive diagnosis, incipient clinical characteristics have been described in the prodromal phase. OBJECTIVE: To compare performance in cognitive tasks of carriers (HDC) and non-carriers (non-HDC) of the huntingtin gene and to analyse the variability in performance as a function of disease burden and proximity to the manifest stage (age of symptom onset). METHOD: A sample of 146 participants in a predictive diagnosis of HD programme were divided into the HDC (41.1%) and non-HDC groups (58.9%). Mathematical formulae were used to calculate disease burden and proximity to the manifest stage in the HDC group; these parameters were correlated with neuropsychological performance. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between groups in performance on the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Stroop-B, Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), and phonological fluency. In the HDC group, correlations were observed between disease burden and performance on the MMSE, Stroop-B, and SDMT. The group of patients close to the manifest stage scored lowest on the MMSE, Stroop-B, Stroop-C, SDMT, and semantic verbal fluency. According to the multivariate analysis of covariance, the MMSE effect shows statistically significant differences in disease burden and proximity to onset of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Members of the HDC group close to the manifest phase performed more poorly on tests assessing information processing speed and attention. Prefrontal cognitive dysfunction appears early, several years before the motor diagnosis of HD.

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INTRODUCCIÓN: El uso de tigeciclina ha ido en aumento en los últimos años, debido al incremento de la resistencia bacteriana y la escasez de alternativas terapéuticas. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar y evaluar las prescripciones de tigeciclina en pacientes internados en un hospital universitario, durante los años 2017 y 2018. METODOLOGÍA: Estudio observacional retrospectivo, donde se caracterizaron los pacientes, las terapias, la microbiología asociada, los desenlaces clínicos y las reacciones adversas asociadas a los tratamientos con tigeciclina. Se determinó la proporción de prescripciones apropiadas por un comité de expertos y el consumo de tigeciclina medido en DDD/100 camas-día. RESULTADOS: Se caracterizaron 89 pacientes, de los cuales 67 (75,3%) cumplieron los criterios de selección. El 53,7% de los pacientes eran hombres, con una edad promedio de 60 ± 15 años. El principal motivo de hospitalización fue quirúrgico (65,7%). El 67,1% de los tratamientos con tigeciclina se inició en una Unidad de Paciente Critico y el foco de infección predominante fue abdominal (64,3%). El 50% de las terapias con tigeciclina fueron dirigidas según la microbiología identificada. En 65,7% de los casos se usó tigeciclina como monoterapia en la dosis habitual (62,9%). Náuseas (8,6%), diarrea (7,1%) y vómitos (4,3%) fueron los efectos adversos más reportados. El 84,3% de los tratamientos se consideraron apropiados. El año 2017 se consumió 0,4 DDD/100 camas-día y 0,6 DDD/100 camas/día el 2018, siendo la UCI el servicio que presentó el mayor uso en ambos años. DISCUSIÓN: Tigeciclina fue utilizada principalmente en monoterapia para el tratamiento de infecciones intraabdominales en pacientes hospitalizados, por motivos quirúrgicos, en una unidad de paciente crítico, en las dosis habituales recomendadas de 100 mg como dosis de carga seguida de 50 mg cada 12 hs IV. En 50% de los casos, la terapia fue dirigida según microbiología. Los eventos adversos más habituales fueron los gastrointestinales. CONCLUSIÓN: La mayoría de las terapias prescritas fueron consideradas apropiadas por el comité de expertos.

BACKGROUND: The use of tigecycline has been increasing in recent years, due to increase in bacterial resistance and the scarcity of therapeutics alternatives. AIM: To characterize and evaluate the tigecycline prescriptions of patients hospitalized in a university hospital, during the years 2017 and 2018. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was carried out, where the patients, the therapies, the associated microbiology, the clinical outcomes and the adverse reactions associated with tigecycline were characterized. The proportion of appropriate prescriptions was determined by committee of experts and the consumption of tigecycline measure in DDD/100 bed-days. RESULTS: 89 patients who used tigecycline were characterized, of which 67 (75.3%) met the selection criteria. 53.7% of the patients were male, with a mean age of 60 +/- 15 years The main reason for hospitalization was surgical (65.7%). 67.1% of the treatments with tigecycline were started in a critical patient unit and the predominant focus of the infection was the abdomen (64.3%). 50% of the therapies with tigecycline were ordered according to the identified microbiology. In 65.7% of the cases, tigecyclin was used as monotherapy at the usual dose (62.9%). Nausea (8.6%), diarrhea (7.1%) and vomiting (4.3%) were the most reported adverse events. 84.3% of the treatments were considered appropriate. In 2017, 0.4 DDD/100 bed/days were consumed and 0.6 DDD/100 bed/days in 2018, with de ICU being the service that presented the highest use in both years. DISCUSSION: Tigecycline was mainly used as monotherapy for the treatment of intra-abdominal infections in patients hospitalized for surgical reasons in a critical patient unit at the usual doses of 100 mg loading followed by 50 mg every 12 hours IV. In 50% of the case the therapy was directed according to microbiology. The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal. CONCLUSION: Most of the prescribed therapies were considered appropriate by the expert committee.

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RESUMEN La microsomía craneofacial (CFM) es una malformación congénita compleja que afecta aproximadamente a uno de cada 5.000 nacidos vivos. En 1881, la CFM fue descrita por primera vez por Carl Ferdinand Von Arlt. A lo largo de la historia, han surgido términos sinónimos que han descrito esta malformación dentro del gran espectro clínico que abarca. El eje central de la fisiopatología es la alteración del desarrollo embrionario de las estructuras craneofaciales derivadas del primer y segundo arco faríngeos. El desarrollo del oído y la mandíbula se ve afectado por factores no genéticos y genéticos, los cuales son: variantes de los factores de transcripción implicados en la migración y el patrón de las células de la cresta neural, modificadores de la cromatina, factores de crecimiento y sus receptores, complejos de prereplicación de ADN, ensamblaje de ribosomas y el spliceosoma. Aunque actualmente existe una mejor comprensión de la fisiopatología de esta entidad, aún es necesario continuar con investigaciones más específicas sobre los factores etiológicos relacionados. El objetivo de esta revisión es realizar un recuento de los factores genéticos más relevantes relacionados con la microsomía craneofacial reportados en los últimos 10 años.

ABSTRACT Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a complex congenital condition that affects approximately one in 5,000 live births. It was initially described by Carl Ferdinand Von Arlt in 1881, and over time, various synonymous terms have been used to refer to this condition. The pathophysiology of CFM revolves around the disruption of embryonic craniofacial development, primarily stemming from abnormalities in the first and second pharyngeal arches. Both genetic and non-genetic factors play a role in impacting the development of the ear and jaw. These factors encompass a range of elements, including: variants of transcription factors responsible for neural crest cell migration and patterning, chromatin modifiers, growth factors and their receptors, DNA pre-replication complexes, ribosome assembly, and the spliceosome. Although there is currently a better understanding of the pathophysiology of this entity, it is still necessary to continue with more specific research on the related etiological factors. The aim of this review is to compile the most pertinent genetic factors associated with craniofacial microsomia as reported in the last decade.

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OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between the level of marginalization and tooth loss in adults aged ≥50 years in Mexico. METHODS: A retrospective cross­sectional study was conducted on 2098 adults selected from communities presenting both high and medium levels of marginalization, with data obtained from the annual reports of the Epidemiological Surveillance System of Oral Pathologies 2019-2022. Analysis considered sociodemographic characteristics such as sex, age, and years of education. The prevalence of tooth loss was determined using the Decayed, Missing and Filled teeth (DMFT) index. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate rate ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using the presence of lost teeth as an outcome. RESULTS: Most (62.4%) participants had lost at least one tooth, of whom 60.3% had a medium level of marginalization, 28.8% a high level, and 10.9% a very high level. More adults who lived in high or very high marginalization communities had lost teeth [RR=1.19 (95% CI 1.08 - 1.30)] than those living in communities with a medium level of marginalization. More males [RR=1.19 (95% CI 1.09 - 1.31)], adults ≥70 years [RR=1.77 (95% CI 1.57 - 1.99)], people who were illiterate [RR=1.60 (95% CI 1.35 - 1.88)] or who had poor oral hygiene [RR=1.26 (95% CI 1.15 - 1.38)] had also lost teeth. CONCLUSION: High and very high marginalization was associated with tooth loss in adults ≥50 years in Mexico. Effective oral health strategies are required to prevent tooth loss, as are interventions to improve access to and quality of dental services for marginalized communities.

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Introduction and objectives: Although the ophthalmic manifestations appear to be associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is not enough evidence. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the various types and frequency of ophthalmic manifestations in patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mexico. Material and methods: This retrospective, observational and descriptive study included all patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection attending the tertiary level hospital of Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) from June 2020 to June 2022. During the hospital admission of patients, the demographic data such age, name, gender was recorded. Ophthalmologic examination was performed under torchlight by an ophthalmologist in the Department of Ophthalmology from IMSS. Data was compiled and statistically analyzed using Fisher's exact test and Spearman correlation. Results: A total of 3,081 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were recorded, of which 318 (10.32%) met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 21 (6.60%) had ophthalmic manifestations and the female-to-male ratio was 1.6:1. The mean age (±SD) was 47.95 ± 15.27 years and the median (interquartile range) time from the diagnosis of COVID-19, as defined by positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing, to detection of the ophthalmic manifestation was 31 (142) days. The most common ocular manifestation was orbital mucormycosis (23.80%). Interestingly, the presence of ophthalmic manifestations was not associated with severe COVID-19 (p = 0.665). Conclusions: The ophthalmic manifestations are infrequent in patients recovered from severe COVID-19. Nevertheless, further large sample studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Although the ophthalmic manifestations appear to be associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is not enough evidence. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine the various types and frequency of ophthalmic manifestations in patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective, observational and descriptive study included all patients recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection attending the tertiary level hospital of Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) from June 2020 to June 2022. During the hospital admission of patients, the demographic data such age, name, gender was recorded. Ophthalmologic examination was performed under torchlight by an ophthalmologist in the Department of Ophthalmology from IMSS. Data was compiled and statistically analyzed using Fisher's exact test and Spearman correlation. RESULTS: A total of 3081 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were recorded, of which 318 (10.32%) met the inclusion criteria. Of them, 21 (6.60%) had ophthalmic manifestations and the female-to-male ratio was 1.6:1. The mean age (±SD) was 47.95±15.27 years and the median (interquartile range) time from the diagnosis of COVID-19, as defined by positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing, to detection of the ophthalmic manifestation was 31 (142) days. The most common ocular manifestation was orbital mucormycosis (23.80%). Interestingly, the presence of ophthalmic manifestations was not associated with severe COVID-19 (p=0.665). CONCLUSIONS: The ophthalmic manifestations are infrequent in patients recovered from severe COVID-19. Nevertheless, further large sample studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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Cocoa is one of the most important tropical fruits worldwide, its importance lies in its use in the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Cocoa yield has been affected by different environmental, cultural and phytosanitary aspects. The emergence of new growing areas allows exploring the possibility of generating new economic and ecological systems that comply with current trends in organic farming. For them, pre-harvest practices such as pruning and soil fertilization are two necessary tools to control the productivity of cocoa agroecosystems. Therefore, the objective of this research was to analyses the implementation of pre-harvest techniques and the quality soil to increase the yield in a cocoa agroecosystem in an emerging zone in the Huasteca Potosina of Mexico. The work was carried out in an emerging zone in the cultivation of cocoa in three different zones delimited in 30 × 30 m. Thinning and pruning practices were carried out to keep the space clear and observe the influence on fruit yield. In addition, the quality of the soil was measured in terms of physical conditions and nutrient content. 25 kg/ha of nitrogen, 22 kg/ha of P2O5, 24 kg/ha of K2O and 4 kg/ha of magnesium were added following the recommendation of the fertilization laboratory. The physical properties of the pod were also analyzed, such as size, weight, number of grains and color. And some of the cocoa bean such as size, weight and hardness, all these parameters to measure the average yield of cocoa pods. The results show a clear influence of the soil quality and pre-harvest practices on the physical properties of the fruit and the total yield from 472.36 ± 52.01 to 520.06 ± 104.91 kg. However, other aspects are also modified, such as the increase in the size of the pod and the cocoa bean. Other aspects such as the color of the pod and the hardness of the grain do not present statistical difference. In conclusion, pre-harvest practices together with the application of fertilizers are factors that positively influence the yield of cocoa fruit. Some of the limitations of this research were the age of the plants and the local plant species.

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OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of caries, Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH), and fluorosis on the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) of schoolchildren aged 8-10 years living in area with different fluoride levels in the drinking water. SUBJECT AND METHODS: The prevalence of caries and fluorosis were assessed among 663 Mexican schoolchildren using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS II) and the Thylstrup and Fejerskov Index (TFI), respectively. MIH was recorded using the European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (EAPD) criteria and OHRQoL using the Child Perceptions Questionnaire (CPQ8-10). Poisson regression models were used in data analysis. RESULTS: Schoolchildren presenting two of the three conditions (cavitated lesions and TFI≥4, cavitated lesions and MIH or TFI≥4 and MIH) experienced worse quality of life than children who did not [RR=4.18; (95% CI 3.83, 4.56)]. Children with all three conditions had worse quality of life than children who did not [RR=5.64; (95% CI 5.13, 6.20)]. CONCLUSIONS: Fluorosis, MIH, and caries have a negative impact on the OHRQoL of schoolchildren living in area with a high concentration of fluoride in their drinking water.

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OBJECTIVE: Hunter syndrome, or mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II), is caused by deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS), which is responsible for degrading heparan and dermatan sulfate. The IDS gene is located on chromosome Xq28; pathological variants in this gene mostly consist of missense mutations and small and larger deletions, which produce different phenotypes. However, there is only one record in our population concerning the molecular mechanism of this disease; a genotype-phenotype description is not available. PATIENTS AND METHODS: There were included 24 unrelated male patients; clinical features were recorded at a database, fluorometric IDS enzyme activity testing was done for each individual, followed by Sanger sequencing to identify mutations. RESULTS: The mutational spectrum was found in 16 out of 24 Mexican patients with MPS II, and its range of phenotypes was described. The most frequent variants were of the missense type. The most affected exons were exon 3 (c.275T>G, c.284_287del, c.325T>C), exon 8 (c.1035G>C, c.550G>A), exon 9 (c.1403G>C, c.1229_1229del), and exon 7 (c.979A>C; this variant has not been previously reported). Exon 5 (c.438C>T, a non-pathogenic variant) was the least frequent. It was also found that the most severely affected patients were those with large deletions (2 out of 24) [rsaIDS: IDSP1 (P164)x0, FMR1, AFF2 (P164)x2] involving genes and pseudogenes. We found 2 patients with a synonymous mutation in exon 4. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed reports in the literature, since the most frequent variants were reported in exons 3 and 8. However, this result varies from one previous report in our population, which mentions large deletions and rearrangements as the most frequent alterations, since complex rearrangements were not found. According to what has been previously found, the most severely affected patients are those in which a whole gene has been deleted.

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This research is focused on studying the preferred source regions and the pathways of the air masses with high particulate concentrations impacting on the activity concentrations of 7Be and 210Pb aerosols in Granada atmosphere. For this purpose, three different source-receptor methods have been used: Cluster Analysis, Potential Source Contribution Function (PSCF), and Concentration Weighted Trajectory (CWT). Air filter samples were weekly collected and analysed in Granada university (Spain 37.177N, 3.598 W, 687m a.s.l.) during 12 years (2006-2017) for the activity concentration of 7Be, and during 5 years (2010-2014) for the one of 210Pb. The time series of the collected data indicate that the concentration of both radiotracers present a cyclical and seasonal pattern, in association with their origins and atmospheric conditions. Clustering analysis showed that the air masses arriving to Granada can be classified as: (1) tropical continental air masses coming from the Mediterranean Sea, (2) tropical and warm polar maritime air masses produced over the Atlantic Ocean, and (3) continental air masses originated over Europe and Northern Africa. The PSCF and CWT methods confirmed that the main source areas of 7Be are located in the Atlantic coast of southern Morocco, and Northern Africa. On the other hand, southern France and the Algerian desert were found to be the main region sources of 210Pb. In addition, the Mediterranean Basin has been postulated as a strong source region for 7Be and 210Pb. Furthermore, the PSCF and CWT models show that the regions with larger 7Be/210Pb ratios are located in the Atlantic Ocean, due to frequent stratospheric intrusions specially during the winter months.

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In this study, a pharmacological approach, together with the paw pressure test, was used to investigate the role of dopamine and its receptors in the peripheral processing of the nociceptive response in mice. Initially, the administration of dopamine (5, 20, and 80 ng/paw) in the hind paw of male Swiss mice (30-40 g) promoted antinociceptive effects in a dose-dependent manner. This was considered a peripheral effect, as it did not produce changes in the nociceptive threshold of the contralateral paw. The D2, D3, and D4 dopamine receptor antagonists remoxipride (4 µg/paw), U99194 (16 µg/paw), and L-745,870 (16 µg/paw), respectively, reversed the dopamine-mediated antinociception in mice with PGE2-induced hyperalgesia. The D1 and D5 dopamine receptor antagonists SKF 83566 (2 µg/paw) and SCH 23390 (1.6 µg/paw), respectively, did not alter dopamine antinociception. In contrast, dopamine at higher doses (0.1, 1, and 10 µg/paw) caused hyperalgesia in the animals, and the D1 and D5 receptor antagonists reversed this pronociceptive effect (10 µg/paw), whereas the D2 receptor antagonist remoxipride did not. Our data suggest that dopamine has a dual effect that depends on the dose, as it causes peripheral antinociceptive effects at small doses via the activation of D2-like receptors and nociceptive effects at higher doses via the activation of D1-like receptors.

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Plants are continuously exposed to stress conditions, such that they have developed sophisticated and elegant survival strategies, which are reflected in their phenotypic plasticity, priming capacity, and memory acquisition. Epigenetic mechanisms play a critical role in modulating gene expression and stress responses, allowing malleability, reversibility, stability, and heritability of favourable phenotypes to enhance plant performance. Considering the urgency to improve our agricultural system because of going impacting climate change, potential and sustainable strategies rely on the controlled use of eustressors, enhancing desired characteristics and yield and shaping stress tolerance in crops. However, for plant breeding purposes is necessary to focus on the use of eustressors capable of establishing stable epigenetic marks to generate a transgenerational memory to stimulate a priming state in plants to face the changing environment.

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PURPOSE: RENORT is an application (app) developed to assess the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer using the oncology information systems (OIS). METHODS/PATIENTS: The RENORT app was used to analyze the data for all patients seen and/or treated at six radiation oncology departments in Spain in 2019. This app can be used to extract the demographic data, treatment sequence, disease status, and radiotherapy treatments from the ARIA and Mosaiq OIS. RESULTS: A total of 6564 treatments were performed at these six centers in 2019. Most patients (56.9%) were males (females 43.1%). The mean patient age was 64.9 years. The most common treatment types and sites were as follows: metastases/palliative care (25.9%), followed by breast (19.0%), genitourinary (13.7%), lung (10.1%), head and neck (6.0%), rectal (6.0%), gynecological (4.9%), and other (< 4%) cancers. Distribution by disease stage was as follows: breast cancer: 75.5% early stage (stages 0, I, and II); lung: 63.1% advanced stage (III and IV); and head and neck: 72.1% advanced. Treatment intent was curative in 76.5% of cases and palliative in 23.5%. The most common techniques were intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) (41.4%), followed by three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) (39.2%); stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) (8.1%); brachytherapy (5.5%); radiosurgery (2.1%); fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy to the brain (1.4%); and intraoperative radiotherapy (1.4%). Hypofractionation was used in 62.3% of curative treatments (mean number of fractions = 16.5). CONCLUSIONS: RENORT is a free app that is available for the two main oncology information systems used in most radiation oncology departments. This app has demonstrated the capacity to extract data from these systems, which in turns allows for a comprehensive analysis and better understanding of the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer.

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INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Colonoscopy quality is measured by the degree in which the examination increases the likelihood of obtaining adequate results on health. Our aim was to develop an instrument for evaluating the quality of screening colonoscopies, taking into account the performance of endoscopists and endoscopy units. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mixed methodology was employed. The first stage (qualitative) consisted of a Medline search, from which a group of experts developed the quality score items. The second stage (quantitative) utilized a modified Delphi technique to reach consensus (3 rounds). We evaluated the psychometric properties of the instrument (reliability and construct validity) in elective screening colonoscopies (in patients ≥ 50 years of age), performed within the January-April 2017 time frame. RESULTS: A final instrument with 8 items was produced: (1) the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale score; (2) cecal intubation rate; (3) colonoscopy withdrawal time; (4) image documentation; (5) adenoma detection rate; (6) endoscopic surveillance planning; (7) perforation rate, and (8) continuous improvement programs. The instrument was evaluated in 323 colonoscopies performed by 31 endoscopists and found to be one-dimensional and reliable (Cronbach's alpha 0.76). Performance was compared between endoscopists (center 1) and an expert endoscopist from another center (center 2): Boston Bowel Preparation Scale score 8.3 vs. 7.36 (P < .001), cecal intubation rate 93.5 vs. 96%, colonoscopy withdrawal time 14.8 vs. 8.4 min (P < .001), and adenoma detection rate 34 vs. 52.2% (P < .001), respectively. CONCLUSION: The Colonoscopy Quality Score is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating screening colonoscopy quality. Its results could be adapted to the usual endoscopic report to adjust monitorization frequency post-colonoscopy.

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OBJECTIVE: Polymorphisms of the KRAS gene have been shown to be associated with cancer. However, their association with breast cancer (BC) has been inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency with which the rs61764370, rs9266, and rs140080026 polymorphisms of the KRAS gene are associated with BC in patients of the Mexican population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The rs61764370 A>C or T>G and rs140080026 A>G polymorphisms were determined by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and the rs9266 A>G polymorphism was determined by DNA sequencing of healthy Mexican subjects and BC patients. RESULTS: We observed that 78% of BC patients are overweight and/or obese, 57% have metastatic lymph nodes, 64% have luminal A/B cancer subtypes, and 61% have stage III-IV cancer. The rs61764370 polymorphism was associated with BC susceptibility when the BC patients and the control group were compared for the AC genotype (p = 0.020), AC vs. AA genotypes (heterozygous model: p = 0.016), AC/CC genotype (dominant model: p = 0.002), and the C allele (p = 0.007). The AC/CC genotype (p = 0.018; rs61764370) and AG/GG genotype (p = 0.005; rs9266) were associated with age in BC patients ≥50 years old. The AC/CC (rs61764370) and AG/GG (rs9266) genotypes were classified by molecular subtype, TNM stage, miscarriage, lymph node metastasis, ductal type, and Ki-67. These classifications were also associated with BC patients, indicating that these factors may significantly contribute to BC risk. The AAA (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.43-0.98, p = 0.039) and CAA (OR 3.25, 95% CI 1.13-9.36, p = 0.021) haplotypes were also associated with BC susceptibility. In addition, 94 polymorphisms were identified on the 3'UTR of the KRAS gene GRCh 38/hg3 (25,209,490-25,209,122) in BC (n = 112) and control (n = 113) samples. However, 92 of these polymorphisms have only expressed the major allele (wild-type allele). CONCLUSIONS: The rs61764370 polymorphism in the KRAS gene was associated with BC susceptibility in the Mexican population. The dominant model of the rs61764370 and rs9266 polymorphisms (classified by molecular subtype, miscarriage, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and Ki-67) could significantly contribute to BC risk in patients ≥50 years. The CAA haplotype could significantly contribute to BC risk in the Mexican population analyzed.

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