Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic: knowledge and preventive actions among a mexican population sample / Lecciones de la pandemia de COVID-19: conocimiento y acciones preventivas de una muestra de población mexicana

Objective: to evaluate the knowledge of the general population about the COVID-19 pandemic, including the disease and the preventive measures to reduce spreading of the virus undertaken by participants. Materials and methods: a cross-sectional study on a Mexican population sample was conducted during the period of March 20th to March 27th in Mexico, via a computer-based survey. General knowledge about COVID-19 and the adherence to recommendations were evaluated. Results: a total of 2,577 participants completed the survey. The results revealed an overall proper knowledge about the disease, with 76.2% having the proper knowledge about the disease, which was significantly correlated with age (r=0.15, p<0.001), socioeconomic status (r=0.06, p<0.003) and maximum academic level achieved by the study subjects (r=0.12, p<0.001). Conclusions: overall, people have good knowledge of COVID-19 and know about the specific public health recommendations, but a large proportion of people do not strictly follow these recommendations..Au

Objetivo: evaluar el conocimiento de la población general acerca de la pandemia de COVID-19, incluyendo datos sobre la enfermedad y las medidas preventivas para reducir la propagación del virus. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio transversal en una muestra de la población mexicana durante el periodo del 20 al 27 de marzo del 2020 por medio de una encuesta electrónica. Se evaluó el conocimiento general sobre COVID-19 y el apego a las recomendaciones de salud pública Resultados: 2,577 participantes completaron la encuesta. Los resultados muestran un adecuado conocimiento sobre la enfermedad en la población general (76.2% de la muestra), el cual está levemente correlacionado con la edad (r=0.15, p<0.001), estado socioeconómico (r=0.06, p<0.003) y grado académico (r=0.12, p<0.001). Conclusiones: en general, la población conoce la información acerca del COVID-19 y conoce las recomendaciones de salud pública, pero una gran proporción de la gente no sigue estrictamente estas recomendaciones..Au

The Role of Gram Staining in Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome.

Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is a severe blistering disease common in children. The diagnosis of SSSS is often difficult to distinguish from other blistering diseases in children. Here, we report a case of SSSS with a particular diagnostic step to elucidate the disease, which is the Gram stain. We propose the use of the Gram stain as a cost-effective diagnostic step in SSSS to shorten the time from presentation to treatment, especially in resource-limited areas.

Lepidopterism: Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Lepidopterism is a term that refers to a spectrum of medical conditions, typically involving the skin, that result from contact with the adult or larval forms of certain butterflies and moths. There are more than 165,000 species of these insects, however, only about 12 species are known to harm humans, most commonly in the form of contact dermatitis. Among these species, the Megalopyge opercularis, commonly called the "Puss Caterpillar", is known to cause a painful and pruritic cutaneous reaction when its venom encounters the skin. Although caterpillar stings are not a common etiology of dermatological rashes, physicians must perform a detailed history and have a high degree of suspicion to arrive to the correct diagnosis and avoid unnecessary medications and therapeutics. We present a case of a 14-month-old boy who presents to the pediatric clinic with a unilateral red rash on the anterior aspect of the left leg, from the distal thigh to the shin. The parents report that the boy was sitting in the park, when he suddenly started to cry. They state that the rash began to spread and that red marks are growing. The patient's parents brought the caterpillar specimen in a bag, clinching the diagnosis. The patient was treated with antihistamine drugs for symptom relief and was recommended to wash thoroughly the area with soap and water. The patient returned to the clinic four days later and the rash had resolved. When encountering an acute onset rash in a patient with recent exposure to nature environments and other open spaces with trees, lepidopterism should be considered in the differential diagnosis and promptly treated. Furthermore, the physician must educate the patients on how to avoid exposure, and special care should be implemented with asthmatic and atopic patients, because although rare, anaphylactic reactions to these stings have been reported.

Sudden Unexpected Infant Death: Review and Analysis of Adherence to Recommendations.

Introduction Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID) is a term that englobes the sudden and unexpected death of an infant less than 12 months, which can be explained by organic or traumatic causes, or that can't be explained such as cases of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Although many risk factors have been associated with this syndrome, one of the most widely associated and studied are incorrect sleeping techniques and practices. In 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) updated their safe-sleeping guidelines and sleeping environment recommendations and strategies to prevent SIDS. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study to analyze the sleeping environments in infants that attended both the inpatient and outpatient services at a public pediatric hospital in Mexico City. A 6-item questionnaire was applied to the parent or guardian to assess the sleeping habits of infants in their homes. Results A total of 184 infants were included in the study, with a mean age of 5.87 months. Overall, the number of parents that follow safe sleeping practices was very low, with no parents following all the AAP recommendations, and over 10% not following any. Although there is uncertainty about the pathogenesis of this syndrome, the focus has shifted to prevention, especially regarding the modifiable risk factors. Conclusions It was demonstrated that our population did not know about the proper and safe sleeping techniques. In the nearby future, our goal is for health authorities in our country to implement a strategy to make the AAP recommendations part of government health campaigns.

Conocimiento sobre la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en estudiantes universitarios: un estudio transversal y observacional en la Universidad Anáhuac México Campus Norte en la Ciudad de México: un estudio para evaluar el conocimiento en alumnos universitarios / Knowledge about type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in universitary students: a transversal and observational study in Anahuac University Mexico North Campus in Mexico City: a study to evaluate the knowledge of the disease in university students

Objective: To assess the lack of knowledge about Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the student population of Anahuac University Mexico North Campus (UAMN). Materials and Methods: An observational, transversal study was conducted from February to April 2017. A 19-question survey based on the study by Al-Sararyra and colleagues in Jordan was applied to 300 students aged 18-25. Results: The lack of knowledge about the disease was made evident, especially its signs, symptoms and complications. The majority of students knew the risk factors of the disease. Information about the disease was obtained by the students mostly through family members or school education. Conclusion: The study shows a lack of knowledge in a high education institution about one of the most important diseases in the country. An educational intervention is necessary to increase their knowledge of the disease for students to take part in preventive measures.

Objetivo: Evaluar la falta de conocimiento sobre la Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 en una población estudiantil de alto nivel de la Universidad Anáhuac México Campus Norte (UAMN). Material y Métodos: Estudio transversal y observacional, realizado de febrero a abril de 2017. Se realizaron encuestas de 19 preguntas a 300 alumnos de 18 a 25 años, basada en el trabajo de Al-Sarayra y colaboradores en la Universidad Al-Balqa en Jordania. Resultados: Se evidenció la falta de conocimiento sobre la enfermedad, especialmente sobre signos, síntomas y complicaciones. Los mayoría de los alumnos conocía los factores predisponentes. La educación escolar y los familiares fueron las principales fuentes de información para la enfermedad. Conclusión: Se refleja la carencia de conocimiento, entre alumnos con educación básica completa y aspirando a licenciaturas, sobre una de las enfermedades más importantes a nivel internacional. Una intervención educativa es necesaria para que tengan más información sobre la enfermedad y así tomen las medidas preventivas necesarias.

Apoptosis: Activation and Inhibition in Health and Disease.

There are many types of cell death, each involving multiple and complex molecular events. Cell death can occur accidentally when exposed to extreme physical, chemical, or mechanical conditions, or it can also be regulated, which involves a genetically coded complex machinery to carry out the process. Apoptosis is an example of the latter. Apoptotic cell death can be triggered through different intracellular signalling pathways that lead to morphological changes and eventually cell death. This is a normal and biological process carried out during maturation, remodelling, growth, and development in tissues. To maintain tissue homeostasis, regulatory, and inhibitory mechanisms must control apoptosis. Paradoxically, these same pathways are utilized during infection by distinct intracellular microorganisms to evade recognition by the immune system and therefore survive, reproduce and develop. In cancer, neoplastic cells inhibit apoptosis, thus allowing their survival and increasing their capability to invade different tissues and organs. The purpose of this work is to review the generalities of the molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways involved in apoptosis induction and inhibition. Additionally, we compile the current evidence of apoptosis modulation during cancer and Leishmania infection as a model of apoptosis regulation by an intracellular microorganism.

Artemisinin and Its Synthetic Derivatives as a Possible Therapy for Cancer.

To assess the possibility of using the antimalarial drug artemisinin and its synthetic derivatives as antineoplastic drugs. A Pubmed and Google Scholar (1983-2018) search was performed using the terms artemisinin, cancer, artesunate and Artemisia annua. Case reports and original research articles, review articles, and clinical trials in both humans and animals were evaluated. Both in vitro and in vivo clinical trials and case reports have shown promising activity of the artemisinin drug derivatives in treating certain types of cancer. However, the reported articles are few, and therefore not statistically significant. The minimal toxicity shown in clinical trials and case reports, along with the selective cytotoxic activity of the compounds, make them possible cancer therapies due to the emerging evidence of the drug's effectiveness.