Risk Factors for Mortality of Hospitalized Adult Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Two-Year Cohort Study in a Private Tertiary Care Center in Mexico.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the high prevalence of comorbidities and the disparities between the public and private health subsystems in Mexico substantially contributed to the severe impact of the disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the risk factors at admission for in-hospital mortality of patients with COVID-19. A 2-year retrospective cohort study of hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia was conducted at a private tertiary care center. The study population consisted of 1258 patients with a median age of 56 ± 16.5 years, of whom 1093 recovered (86.8%) and 165 died (13.1%). In the univariate analysis, older age (p < 0.001), comorbidities such as hypertension (p < 0.001) and diabetes (p < 0.001), signs and symptoms of respiratory distress, and markers of acute inflammatory response were significantly more frequent in non-survivors. The multivariate analysis showed that older age (p < 0.001), the presence of cyanosis (p = 0.005), and previous myocardial infarction (p = 0.032) were independent predictors of mortality. In the studied cohort, the risk factors present at admission associated with increased mortality were older age, cyanosis, and a previous myocardial infarction, which can be used as valuable predictors for patients' outcomes. To our knowledge, this is the first study analyzing predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients attended in a private tertiary hospital in Mexico.

Cultural Sensitivity and Global Pharmacy Engagement in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico.

To establish and maintain successful global pharmaceutical and health care partnerships, pharmacists, pharmacy educators, and students should first learn more about the political, cultural, economic and health care dynamics that affect all of the parties involved in these arrangements. This paper explores Latin America within the context of transnational pharmacy and health-based engagement, including pharmacy-related concepts, health care and cultural considerations, behavioral health perspectives, and common misconceptions. Expert knowledge and experience were used to support and corroborate the existing literature about cultural dynamics of health. Recommendations are provided for how schools and colleges of pharmacy can enhance engagement in culturally sensitive partnerships within Latin America. Health-based profiles of Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Mexico are presented to serve as models for establishing, enhancing, and maintaining partnerships across Latin America.

Angiocentric Centrofacial Lymphoma as a Challenging Diagnosis in an Elderly Man.

BACKGROUND Angiocentric centrofacial lymphomas, now known as nasal-type extranodal natural killer T-cell lymphomas, are neoplasms of highly destructive characteristics that mainly affect the nasal cavity and palate. The most frequent clinical presentation includes fever, weight loss, nasal obstruction, epistaxis, nasal or facial edema, as well as necrotic ulcers in the nasal cavity, gums, and palate. It has been found to have an important association with the Epstein-Barr virus. Diagnostic pathology could be difficult due to the typical widespread tissue necrosis. CASE REPORT A 72-year-old Caucasian male sought medical attention with a chief complaint of nasal obstruction for the past 3 years, which only responded partially to unspecific treatment. He also presented with intermittent fever and nocturnal hyperhidrosis. Physical examination with rhinoscopy demonstrated a deviated septum, congestive turbines, and fragile and pale mucous membrane with yellowish, thick mucus. The pathology report described an angiocentric centrofacial lymphoma and a positive serology for Epstein-Barr virus. CONCLUSIONS The objective of this case report was to show that this illness represents a diagnostic challenge for the treating physician. It may be concluded that despite the poor prognosis of the disease, this particular case showed slower evolution and the patient remained stable despite multiple consecutive complications.

Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus DNA in tonsillar tissue from patients with chronic tonsillitis in Mexican population.

INTRODUCTION: Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection prevails in underdeveloped and developing countries. The tonsils seem to be candidate replication sites for EBV and some studies have exposed a close association among viral infections and chronic tonsillitis. The objective of this study was identifying the EBV prevalence in Mexican patients who had undergone tonsillectomy because of chronic tonsillitis. METHODOLOGY: Frozen tissues and medical records were obtained from 50 Mexican patients. DNA was extracted and subjected to PCR to amplify the EBER-2 region of EBV. Next, the patients were classified according to general and clinical characteristics searching a relation with the EBV-DNA positivity. RESULTS: EBV genome was detected in 46% (23/50) of the analysed tonsil tissues. Trends were found regarding the relationship of viral presence with lower values in terms of age (6.1 ± 2.8 vs 7.6 ± 3.7) , a greater degree of hypertrophy (3.5 ± 0.4 vs 3.0 ± 0.6) and an increase in the number of episodes of tonsillitis (11 ± 7.4 vs 9 ± 6.5). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence found of EBV-DNA positivity in tonsillar tissues from patients diagnosed with chronic tonsillitis , supports the fact that palatine tonsils can be occupied by EBV and highlights the importance of conducting future studies focused on understanding the role of the EBV infection in chronic inflammatory processes in the population involved in this study.

A 60 kDa prolactin variant secreted by cervical cancer cells modulates apoptosis and cytokine production.

Prolactin (PRL) is associated with different types of cancer, such as cervical cancer. Recombinant PRL has antiapoptotic effect on cervical cancer cells, and it can also induce cytokine production on macrophages. A 60 kDa variant of PRL is produced by cervical cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to evaluate this variant's bioactivity, to test its effect on cervical cancer cell apoptosis, and to assess its ability to induce cytokine production on THP-1 macrophages. First, 60 kDa PRL was isolated and used to stimulate Nb2 cells. Later, apoptosis was measured after exposure to 60 kDa PRL. Finally, cytokines were measured on THP-1 stimulated supernatants. Our results show that 60 kDa PRL increased Nb2 cell proliferation. Apoptosis was decreased after stimuli with 60 kDa PRL in cervical cancer cells. IL-1ß and TNF-α are produced by THP-1 macrophages after stimuli. These results suggest that 60 kDa PRL produced by cervical cancer cells is able to reduce apoptosis in HeLa, SiHa and C-33A cells and induce IL-1ß and TNF-α production by THP-1 macrophages.