Search

Andrés G Galindo-Padrón,1,* Helen Yarimet Lorenzo-Anota,2,3,* Mayte Rueda-Munguía,2,3 Alejandra García-Carrasco,1 Mabel Gaitán López,1 Eduardo Vázquez-Garza,2 Enrique Campos-González,4 Omar Lozano,2,3,5 Jorge L Cholula-Díaz1 1School of Engineering and Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; 2Institute for Obesity Research, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; 3School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; 4Departamento de Física, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Ocoyoacac, Mexico; 5Cátedra de Cardiología y Medicina Vascular, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León, México*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Omar Lozano; Jorge L Cholula-Díaz, Email omar.lozano@tec.mx; jorgeluis.cholula@tec.mxBackground and Aim: Over the past years, noble metal-based nanoparticles have been extensively investigated for their applications in nanomedicine. However, there are still concerns about the potential adversities that these nanoparticles may present in an organism. In particular, whether they could cause an exacerbated cytotoxic response in susceptible tissues due to damage or disease, such as the heart, liver, spleen, or kidneys. In this regard, this study aims to evaluate the cytotoxicity of mono- and bimetallic nanoparticles of gold and silver (Au:Ag NPs) on healthy and hypertrophic cardiac H9c2 cells, and on healthy and metabolically activated macrophages derived from U937 cells. The main objective of this work is to explore the susceptibility of cells due to exposure to Au:Ag NPs in conditions representing cardiometabolic diseases.Methods: Au:Ag NPs were synthesized in different molar ratios (Au:Ag, 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100) using starch as a capping and reducing agent. Their physicochemical properties were characterized through UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), ζ-potential measurements, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, the effect of the metal-based nanoparticle exposure on healthy and hypertrophic H9c2 cells was measured by analyzing the cellular vitality, the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψm), and the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS).Results: The Au:Ag NPs did not affect the cell vitality of healthy or metabolically activated macrophages. On the contrary, healthy H9c2 cells showed decreased mitochondrial metabolism when exposed to NPs with higher Ag concentrations. Furthermore, hypertrophic H9c2 cells were more susceptible to the same NPs compared to their non-hypertrophic counterparts, and presented a pronounced loss of ∆Ψm. In addition, these NPs increased the production of mROS and regulated cell death in both cardiac cells.Conclusion: In conclusion, low doses of high-Ag load in Au:Ag NPs produced cytotoxicity on H9c2 cardiac cells, with hypertrophic cells being more susceptible. These results suggest that cardiac hypertrophic conditions are more prone to a cytotoxic response in the presence of bimetallic Au:Ag NPs compared to healthy cells. In addition, this work opens the door to explore the nanotoxicity of noble metal-based NPs in biological disease conditions.Keywords: cardiovascular disease, hypertrophic cardiomyoblasts, bimetallic nanoparticles, metabolically activated macrophages

El presente estudio evaluó el estado fisicoquímico de la Laguna de Nuxco, Guerrero, México, y su relación con actividades antropogénicas circundantes (agropecuarias y urbanización). Se colectaron cinco muestras mensualmente durante un año, a una profundidad de 15-30 cm. Se determinaron 5 parámetros in situ y 7 en laboratorio. La laguna es catalogada como contaminada basado en los datos de la Demanda Bioquímica de Oxígeno (DBO5) y Demanda Química de Oxígeno (DQO). Asimismo, se encontró una alta concentración de nutrientes como Nitrógeno amoniacal (0.63 mg/L), Nitratos (0.15 mg/L) y Nitritos (21.64 mg/L), los cuales rebasan los límites máximos permisibles del Acuerdo CE-CCA-001/89, lo que sugiere contaminación debido a la descarga de aguas residuales, el arrastre de plaguicidas y fertilizantes utilizados en la agricultura, así como por actividades de ganadería y acuacultura. La Laguna de Nuxco tiene una dinámica en su fisicoquímica influenciada significativamente por diversos factores antropogénicos, lo que sugiere la necesidad de estrategias de manejo integral.

Abstract Background Reporting on and monitoring epidemics is a public health priority. Several initiatives and platforms provide epidemiological data, such as the EM-DAT International Disaster Database, which has 1525 epidemics and their impact reported since 1900, including 892 epidemics between 2000 and 2023. However, EM-DAT has inconsistent coverage and deficiencies regarding the systematic monitoring of epidemics data due to the lack of a standardized methodology to define what will be included under an epidemic disaster. Methods We conducted a sequential study that included an online survey of experts in infectious diseases, public health emergencies, and related data, followed by committee discussions with disaster experts. This approach aimed to identify appropriate definitions and entry criteria for archiving disease outbreak events. Results The survey had 21 respondents from universities and international organizations, with experts primarily specialized in infectious disease surveillance. Experts agreed that epidemics should be considered as disasters. Experts cited challenges in defining epidemic thresholds. However, they proposed pathogen-based criteria and agreed that disruption to society, especially to the healthcare system, serves as a determinant of epidemic disasters. The experts favored deaths and confirmed cases as key indicators, alongside suggestions on refining EM-DAT's entry criteria and improving epidemic impact assessment. Discussion This article offers valuable insights into epidemic disasters, a topic previously underdefined in the literature, thereby enhancing understanding for policymakers and public health professionals.

ABSTRACT Plant‐pollinator systems can exist along the gradient from extreme specialization to extreme generalization. Theoretical work predicts that high pollinator reliability may lead to specialized pollination systems, while pollinator unpredictability may promote generalized pollination systems. However, empirical tests of these predictions are constrained by the availability of accurate field observations, particularly in some groups of plants, such as trees pollinated by nocturnal animals. Plant species that face variable pollinator availability within their distributional range represent an ideal study system to address the effect of pollination predictability on the specialization level of pollination systems. This is the case of Ceiba pentandra, a tropical tree with chiropterophilic flowers. Most previous studies have described the pollination system of this tree species as mainly or exclusively bat‐pollinated. Here we studied the pollination system of C. pentandra in the Yucatan Peninsula, a region where no species of specialized nectarivorous bats occur. We assessed quantity (visitation rate) and quality pollination components (pollen deposition, fruit/seed set) for diurnal and nocturnal visitors in two different locations and years. We expected to find a generalized pollination system due to the absence of specialized pollinators. As predicted, we found five functional groups of nocturnal and diurnal pollinators. Diurnal and nocturnal pollinators contributed to a similar extent to quantity (visitation rate) and quality pollination components (fruit & seed set). However, the contribution of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators also varied either spatially or temporally. We conclude that the pollination system of C. pentandra in the Yucatan Peninsula is highly generalized and that temporal and/or spatial unpredictability in the effectiveness of its pollinators may explain this finding.

BackgroundClassical trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is characterized by sudden, severe facial pain, typically resulting from a neurovascular conflict affecting the trigeminal nerve. In rare cases, both nerves are affected simultaneously causing bilateral TN (BTN), increasing the complexity of the treatment. Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a well-established treatment for TN; however, the experience with immediate consecutive bilateral MVD procedures is limited and requires further evaluation.ObjectiveTo evaluate the safety and efficacy of immediate consecutive bilateral MVD in patients with severe BTN compared to non-consecutive bilateral MVD procedures.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 15 patients with BTN who underwent bilateral MVD. The data on clinical presentation, surgical technique, perioperative findings, complications, and follow-up outcomes of three cases of BTN treated with consecutive bilateral MVD surgeries were analyzed and compared to 12 who received separated procedures. Moreover, a detailed presentation of the three cases of consecutive MVD is provided to illustrate clinical decision-making, surgical nuances, and individual outcomes.ResultsBoth groups achieved significant pain relief (p

Background: Floristic inventories record the species observed in a particular region and serve as fundamental contributions to understanding biotic resources. Jalisco stands out as one of the Mexican states with significant floristic diversity. However, ongoing additions, documented through exploratory efforts, and periodic taxonomic revisions highlight the importance of maintaining an up-to-date inventory of vascular plants. Questions: What is the diversity, endemism and distribution of the vascular flora in Jalisco? Studied species: Tracheophytes. Study site and dates: Jalisco; September 2020 to February 2024. Methods: An updated list was compiled through a literature, review of herbarium specimens (IBUG) and electronic databases available online. Total richness was estimated for the state and for each municipality. Taxonomic diversity and species complementarity indexes between municipalities were estimated. Results: The vascular flora in Jalisco encompasses 242 families, 1,623 genera, and 7,110 species. Among these, there are 3,310 species endemics to Mexico, 412 species endemic to Jalisco, and 390 exotic species. The municipalities with the highest species diversity are Autlán de Navarro, Cuautitlán de García Barragán, and La Huerta. Conclusions: The vascular flora of Jalisco is the fourth richest in Mexico. The increasing numbers of diversity, endemism, and even introduced species emphasize the ongoing need to document the flora of Mexico.

Precision agriculture is revolutionizing the management and production of agricultural crops. The development of new technologies in agriculture, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), has proven to be an efficient option for spraying various compounds on crops. UAVs significantly contribute to enhancing precision agriculture. This review aims to determine whether integrating advanced precision technologies into drones for crop spraying enhances spraying accuracy compared to drones utilizing standard spraying technologies. To achieve this, 100 articles published between 2019 and 2024 were selected and analyzed. The information was summarized into five main areas: (1) improved spraying with agricultural drone technologies, (2) operational parameters, (3) spraying applications of chemical and natural compounds with agricultural drones, (4) evaluations of control pest efficacy, and (5) considerable limitations. Finally, considerations are presented on the advantages of drone technology with artificial intelligence (AI); the practical effects of reducing pesticides, which, in some cases, have reached a reduction of 30% compared to the recommended dose; and future directions for improving precision agriculture. The use of drones in precision agriculture presents technical and scientific challenges for the maximization of spraying efficiency and the minimization of agrochemical use.