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El artículo considera las huellas de las enfermedades en los restos óseos humanos de la gente de las civilizaciones antiguas de México. Los autores examinan varias malformaciones el esqueleto, especialmente las que afectan el cráneo a causa de aflicciones congénitas, infecciosas y nutricionales. Cada enfermedad o malformación está acompañada por un ejemplo fotográfico.

The pyrrole-imidazoles, a group of alkaloids commonly found in marine sponges belonging to the genus Agelas , display a wide range of biological activities. Herein, we report the first chemical study of the secondary metabolites of the sponge A. dilatata from the coastal area of the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). In this study, we isolated eight known alkaloids from an organic extract of the sponge. We used NMR and MS analysis and comparison with existing databases to characterize the alkaloids: ageliferin ( 1 ), bromoageliferin ( 2 ), dibromoageliferin ( 3 ), sceptrin ( 4 ), nakamuric acid ( 5 ), 4-bromo-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid ( 6 ), 4,5-dibromopyrrole-2-carboxylic acid ( 7 ) and 3,7-dimethylisoguanine ( 8 ). We also evaluated, for the first time, the activity of these alkaloids against the most problematic multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, i.e., the Gram-negative bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii . Bromoageliferin ( 2 ) displayed significant activity against P. aeruginosa . Comparison of the antibacterial activity of ageliferins 1 - 3 (of similar structure) against P. aeruginosa revealed some relationship between structure and activity. Furthermore, in in vitro assays, 2 inhibited growth and biofilm production in clinical strains of P. aeruginosa . Moreover, 2 increased the survival time in an in vivo Galleria mellonella model of infection. The findings confirm bromoageliferin ( 2 ) as a potential lead for designing new antibacterial drugs.

Introduction: Children 5 and younger are at risk for sustaining serious burn injuries. The causes of burns vary depending on demographic, cultural and socioeconomic variables. At this pediatric burn center we provided medical care to children from Mexico with severe injuries. The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of demographic distribution and modifiable risk factors of burns in young children to help guide prevention., Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed with children 5 and younger from Mexico who were injured from 2000-2013. The medical records of 447 acute patients were reviewed. Frequency counts and percentages were used to identify geographic distribution and calculate incidence of burns. Microsoft Powermap software was used to create a geographical map of Mexico based on types of burns. A binomial logistic regression was used to model the incidence of flame burns as opposed to scald burns in each state with relation to population density and poverty percentage. In all statistical tests, alpha=0.05 for a 95% level of confidence., Results: Burns were primarily caused by flame and scald injuries. Admissions from flame injuries were mainly from explosions of propane tanks and gas lines and house fires. Flame injuries were predominantly from the states of Jalisco, Chihuahua, and Distrito Federal. Scalds were attributed to falling in large containers of hot water or food on the ground, and spills of hot liquids. Scald injuries were largely from the states of Oaxaca, Distrito Federal, and Hidalgo. The odds of a patient having flame burns were significantly associated with poverty percentage (p<0.0001) and population density (p=0.0085). Increasing levels of poverty led to decrease in odds of a flame burn, but an increase in the odds of scald burns. Similarly, we found that increasing population density led to a decrease in the odds of a flame burn, but an increase in the odds of a scald burn., Conclusions: Burns in young children from Mexico who received medical care at this pediatric burn center were attributed to flame and scalds. Potential demographic associations have been identified. Different states in Mexico have diverse cultural and socioeconomic variables that may influence the etiology of burns in young children and this information may help efficiently tailor burn prevention campaigns for burn prevention efforts in each region., Applicability of Research to Practice: This information will be used to develop and help modify existing prevention campaigns., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.)

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and non-dermatophyte molds. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are predisposed to this infection. In a cross-sectional study, we estimated the prevalence of onychomycosis and the frequency of fungal agents among HIV-infected patients in Mexico. We enrolled HIV-infected patients diagnosed clinically with onychomycosis from 2008 to 2010. Samples were collected from 300 (84% men) HIV-positive patients by scraping of subungual hyperkeratotic debris and nail plate clipping. All specimens were subjected to culture on Sabouraud agar, Mycosel™ agar, direct microscopy with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and the cultures were incubated at 35 °C for 4 weeks. The prevalence and the 95% binomial confidence intervals were calculated. The mean age (± SD) was 37 ± 9 years. One hundred and twenty-four patients (41%) had clinical signs of onychomycosis and 51 (17%) produced a positive culture. Candida parapsilosis was the most frequently isolated microorganism (13 patients, 20%), followed by Trichophyton rubrum (11 patients, 17%).

A survey of the population of the black howler monkey (Alouatta pigra) present at the Mayan site of Palenque was conducted during 2000. A total of 911 man/hours, spread over 112 days were spent surveying the 600 ha area of pristine forest at the site for howler troops. We detected the presence of 136 individuals of which 131 were members of 20 troops, the rest were 3 solitary adult males and 2 adult males travelling as a pair. Ecological density was estimated at 23 individuals/km(2). Mean troop size was 7.0 individuals and it ranged from 2 - 12 individuals; 60% of the troops were multimale. All sighting of howler monkeys were in evergreen rain forest and 75% were in trees > or = 20 m in height. The reported densities and mean troop size are higher than those reported for the species in Guatemala and in central Quintana Roo, Mexico. The vegetation of the forest contains tree species reported to be used by species of Alouatta in the Moraceae, Sapotaceae, Leguminosae, and Lauraceae plant families. Protection of a large perimeter area (ca 1700 ha) around the archeological site by the Mexican government ensures the conservation of the forest and of the black howler monkey population present at the site.

Many countries, including Mexico, are facing a largely unrecognized epidemic of low-level lead poisoning. Mexico is the sixth largest lead-producing country in the world, and 40% of its production is used locally in different industrial processes that cause lead contamination of the environment. The major sources and pathways of lead exposure among the Mexican population are gasoline emissions, lead-glazed ceramics, leaded paint, and lead in canned foods and beverages. In this paper we present evidence for the presence of lead in different environmental media and its impact on blood lead levels of the Mexican population. Although during the last few years important measures have been implemented to decrease lead exposure, our findings suggest that lead poisoning is still an important problem in Mexico. There is an urgent need for regulatory policies that implement stricter control to protect the Mexican population. There is also a need to develop adequate programs to reduce the lead burden and the associated health effects in the population that has been chronically exposed.