La autoevaluación basada en criterios como elemento de evaluación en asignaturas de carga cognitiva elevada / Self-assessment based on criteria as an evaluation element in subjects with a high cognitive load

Introducción: La autoevaluación se ha definido como el proceso mediante el cual los alumnos deciden si han alcanzado o no los estándares definidos. La autoevaluación es una herramienta valiosa para identificar debilidades y fortalezas en los estudiantes de Medicina. Objetivo: Comparar los resultados de una prueba de autoevaluación basada en criterios con los resultados de un examen estandarizado para evaluar conocimientos disciplinares en Fisiología. Sujetos y métodos: En este trabajo desarrollamos y aplicamos una herramienta de autoevaluación a estudiantes de segundo año de la carrera de Medicina en la asignatura de Fisiología de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Luego recopilamos comentarios y los dividimos en calificaciones clasificadas como ‘calificaciones altas’ y ‘calificaciones bajas’. Finalmente, comparamos los resultados de la autoevaluación con los de una prueba objetiva (prueba estandarizada) que evalúa los conocimientos disciplinares de fisiología. Resultados: Los alumnos que consideran que han realizado un esfuerzo y trabajo constante durante el curso se valoran mejor que los alumnos que no lo hacen. Por otro lado, encontramos diferencias significativas entre la prueba objetiva y la autoevaluación. Conclusiones: La autoevaluación basada en criterios puede ayudar a evaluar cualidades más allá del conocimiento disciplinario.(AU)

Introduction: Self-assessment has been defined as the process by which students decide whether or not they haveachieved the defined standards. Self-assessment is a valuable tool to identify weaknesses and strengths in medical students. Objective: To compare the results of a self-assessment test based on criteria with the results of a standardized exam to assess disciplinary knowledge in physiology. Subjects and methods. In this work we developed and applied a self-assessment tool to second-year medical students in the physiology course of the Faculty of Medicine of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. We then collected feedback and divided it into ratings categorized as: ‘high scores’ and ‘low scores.’ Finally, we compared the results of the self-assessment with those of an objective test (standardized test) that assesses disciplinary knowledge of physiology. Result: Students who consider that they have made a constant effort and work during the course value themselves better than students who do not. On the other hand, we found significant differences between the objective test and the selfassessment. Conclusions: Criteria-based self-assessment can help assess qualities beyond disciplinary knowledge.(AU)

Sodium butyrate does not protect spinal motor neurons from AMPA-induced excitotoxic degeneration in vivo.

Motor neuron (MN) loss is the primary pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) is one of several factors involved in nerve-muscle communication during MN loss, hindering muscle reinnervation, as shown in humans and in animal models of ALS, and may explain the differential progression observed in patients with ALS - rapid versus slow progression. In this work, we inhibited HDAC4 activity through the administration of a pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor, sodium butyrate, in an in vivo model of chronic spinal MN death induced by AMPA-mediated excitotoxicity. We infused AMPA into the spinal cord at low and high doses, which mimic the rapid and slow progression observed in humans, respectively. We found that muscle HDAC4 expression was increased by high-dose infusion of AMPA. Treatment of animals with sodium butyrate further decreased expression of muscle HDAC4, although non-significantly, and did not prevent the paralysis or the MN loss induced by AMPA infusion. These results inform on the role of muscle HDAC4 in MN degeneration in vivo and provide insights for the search for more suitable therapeutic strategies.

A ternary eutectic solvent for cellulose nanocrystal production: exploring the recyclability and pre-pilot scale-up.

Deep eutectic solvents (DES) formed using choline chloride (ChCl), p-toluenesulfonic acid (pTSA) of stoichiometry ChCl: pTSA (1:1) and (1:2), and its ternary eutectic mixtures with phosphoric acid (PA) 85% as an additive (ChCl: pTSA: PA) were evaluated for cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) isolation. Initially, the hydrolytic efficiency to produce CNC of each DES was compared before and after adding phosphoric acid by Hammett acidity parameters and the Gutmann acceptor number. Moreover, different DES molar ratios and reaction time were studied at 80°C for CNC optimization. The nanomaterial characteristics were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The ternary eutectic mixture ChCl: pTSA: PA molar ratio (1:1:1.35) was chosen as a suitable recyclable ternary system at the laboratory scale. A CNC yield of about 80% was obtained from the hydrolysis of commercial cellulose in five cycles of recovery, but it dropped to 35% in pre-pilot scaling. However, no variation in the average size of the resulting CNC was observed (132 ± 50 nm x 23 ± 4 nm), which presented high thermal stability (Tmax 362°C) and high crystallinity of about 80% after 3 h of reaction time.

Neuroprotection of Thioredoxin1 in the Brain.

Thioredoxin1 (Trx1) is a ubiquitous antioxidant protein that regulates the cell's redox status. Trx1's thiol redox activity protects neurons from various physiological processes that cause neuronal damage and neurodegeneration, including oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation. Several studies have found that direct or indirect Trx1 regulation has neuroprotective effects in the brain, protecting against, preventing, or delaying neurodegenerative processes or brain traumas. This review focuses on the term neuroprotection, Trx1 localization, and expression in the brain, as well as its modulation concerning its neuroprotective effect in both animal and clinical models of ischemia, hypoxia, hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

Victimization and risk factors in children and adolescents admitted into outpatient protection center in northern Chile

The present study aimed to identify the proportion of victimization, types of victimization, and risk factors associated to children and adolescents who were admitted into an outpatient protection center for children and adolescents in northern Chile during the years 2016 and 2017. Secondary data from the database pertaining to the protection center was used. The sample was non-probabilistic and included 6,499 cases. The research was descriptive-comparative with a non-experimental retrospective cross-sectional design. The results showed a higher percentage of victimization by neglect, followed by witnessing domestic violence and child sexual abuse. The sociodemographic variables showed a higher percentage of victimization at the age of 6 to 9 and 14 to 17 years old, in children and adolescents who were in the first and second cycle of elementary school and were Chilean. It was found that children victimized by child sexual abuse and bullying also had a drug diagnosis record. Logistic regression analyses showed that gender, age, schooling, nationality, and a drug diagnosis record increase the probability of occurrence of certain types of victimization. The results showed the magnitude of the problem concerning victimizations experienced by children and adolescents in northern Chile and the need to generate prevention strategies for this population.

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar la proporción de victimización, tipos de victimización y factores de riesgo asociados a los niños, niñas y adolescentes que ingresaron a un Centro de Protección a la infancia en el norte de Chile durante los años 2016 y 2017. Se utilizaron datos secundarios de la base de datos del sistema de protección a la infancia. La muestra fue no probabilística e incluyó 6.499 casos. La investigación fue descriptiva-comparativa con un diseño no experimental retrospectivo de corte transversal. Los resultados mostraron un mayor porcentaje de victimización por negligencia, seguido por presenciar violencia doméstica y abuso sexual infantil. Las variables sociodemográficas mostraron un mayor porcentaje de victimización en la edad de 6 a 9 y de 14 a 17 años, en niños y adolescentes que cursaban el primer y segundo ciclo de primaria y eran chilenos. Se encontró que los niños víctimas de abuso sexual infantil y bullying también tenían un registro de diagnóstico de drogas. Los análisis de regresión logística mostraron que el género, la edad, la escolaridad, la nacionalidad y un registro de diagnóstico de drogas aumentan la probabilidad de ocurrencia de ciertos tipos de victimización. Los resultados evidencian la magnitud del problema de las victimizaciones que sufren los niños, niñas y adolescentes del norte de Chile y la necesidad de generar estrategias de prevención para esta población.

The effect of thioredoxin-1 in a rat model of traumatic brain injury depending on diurnal variation.

INTRODUCTION: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a public health concern with limited treatment options because it causes a cascade of side effects that are the leading cause of hospital death. Thioredoxin is an enzyme with neuroprotective properties such as antioxidant, antiapoptotic, immune response modulator, and neurogenic, among others; it has been considered a therapeutic target for treating many disorders. METHODS: The controlled cortical impact (CCI) model was used to assess the effect of recombinant human thioredoxin 1 (rhTrx1) (1 µg/2 µL, intracortical) on rats subjected to TBI at two different times of the light-dark cycle (01:00 and 13:00 h). We analyzed the food intake, body weight loss, motor coordination, pain perception, and histology in specific hippocampus (CA1, CA2, CA3, and Dental Gyrus) and striatum (caudate-putamen) areas. RESULTS: Body weight loss, reduced food intake, spontaneous pain, motor impairment, and neuronal damage in specific hippocampus and striatum regions are more evident in rats subjected to TBI in the light phase than in the dark phase of the cycle and in groups that did not receive rhTrx1 or minocycline (as positive control). Three days after TBI, there is a recovery in body weight, food intake, motor impairment, and pain, which is more pronounced in the rats subjected to TBI at the dark phase of the cycle and those that received rhTrx1 or minocycline. CONCLUSIONS: Knowing the time of day a TBI occurs in connection to the neuroprotective mechanisms of the immune response in diurnal variation and the usage of the Trx1 protein might have a beneficial therapeutic impact in promoting quick recovery after a TBI.

Internalized homonegativity moderates the association between attachment avoidance and emotional intimacy among same-sex male couples.

Introduction: The present study aimed to examine dyadic associations between attachment insecurity and emotional intimacy in same-sex male couples, and to investigate whether and how each partner's internalized homonegativity (IH) moderated these associations. Methods: The sample included 138 same-sex male couples. Both dyad members completed self-report measures of attachment insecurity, emotional intimacy, and IH. The actor-partner interdependence model with moderation analysis was applied. Results: Indicated that higher levels of actor's and partner's attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were associated with lower actor's emotional intimacy. IH moderated the partner effects of attachment avoidance on emotional intimacy. The partner's higher attachment avoidance was associated with one's own lower emotional intimacy at low (but not high) levels of one's own IH and at high (but not low) levels of the partner's IH. Discussion: Findings suggest that the partner's attachment avoidance may differently affect one's own emotional intimacy depending on the IH levels of both dyad members. Helping partnered sexual minority men decrease attachment insecurity while recognizing their own and their partners' IH may promote relationship quality.

Characterization of Mitochondria Degeneration in Spinal Motor Neurons Triggered by Chronic Over-activation of α-Amino-3-Hydroxy-5-Methylisoxazole-4-Propionic Acid Receptors in the Rat Spinal Cord in Vivo.

Mitochondrial damage is a central mechanism involved in neurological disorders as Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Energy production is the most studied mitochondrial function; however, mitochondria are also involved in processes like calcium buffering homeostasis, and cell death control during apoptosis and necrosis. Using transmission electron microscopy, in this in vivo study in male rats, we describe ultrastructural mitochondrial alterations of spinal motor neurons along chronic AMPA-induced excitotoxicity, which has been described as one of the most relevant mechanisms in ALS disease. Mitochondrial alterations begin with a crest swelling, which progresses to a full mitochondrial swelling and crest disruption. Changes on the mitochondrial morphology from elongated to a circular shape also occur along the AMPA-excitotoxicity process. In addition, by combining the TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry for mitochondrial enzymes, we show evidence of mitochondrial DNA damage. Evidence of mitochondrial alterations during an AMPA-excitotoxic event is relevant because resembles the mitochondrial alterations previously reported in ALS patients and in transgenic familial ALS models, suggesting that a chronic excitotoxic model can be related to sporadic ALS (as has been shown in recent papers), which represent more than the 90% of the ALS cases. Understanding the mechanisms involved in motor neuron degenerative process, such as the ultrastructural mitochondrial changes permits to design strategies for MN-degeneration treatments in ALS.

Chronic Comorbidities in Middle Aged Patients Contribute to Ineffective Emergency Hematopoiesis in Covid-19 Fatal Outcomes.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Mexico is among the countries with the highest estimated excess mortality rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than half of reported deaths occurring in adults younger than 65 years old. Although this behavior is presumably influenced by the young demographics and the high prevalence of metabolic diseases, the underlying mechanisms have not been determined. METHODS: The age-stratified case fatality rate (CFR) was estimated in a prospective cohort with 245 hospitalized COVID-19 cases, followed through time, for the period October 2020-September 2021. Cellular and inflammatory parameters were exhaustively investigated in blood samples by laboratory test, multiparametric flow cytometry and multiplex immunoassays. RESULTS: The CFR was 35.51%, with 55.2% of deaths recorded in middle-aged adults. On admission, hematological cell differentiation, physiological stress and inflammation parameters, showed distinctive profiles of potential prognostic value in patients under 65 at 7 days follow-up. Pre-existing metabolic conditions were identified as risk factors of poor outcomes. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), as single comorbidity or in combination with diabetes, had the highest risk for COVID-19 fatality. Of note, fatal outcomes in middle-aged patients were marked from admission by an inflammatory landscape and emergency myeloid hematopoiesis at the expense of functional lymphoid innate cells for antiviral immunosurveillance, including NK and dendritic cell subsets. CONCLUSIONS: Comorbidities increased the development of imbalanced myeloid phenotype, rendering middle-aged individuals unable to effectively control SARS-CoV-2. A predictive signature of high-risk outcomes at day 7 of disease evolution as a tool for their early stratification in vulnerable populations is proposed.

The negative effects of internalized homonegativity on sexual satisfaction: dyadic effects and gender-based differences in Chile.

Heterosexism is not only expressed through sexual prejudice as an external stressor, but also as an internalized rejection toward one's own (and others') sexually diverse identity. That is, lesbian women and gay men themselves internalize negative societal attitudes toward their sexual orientation and identity-a phenomenon called internalized homonegativity. A wealth of research shows that internalized homonegativity negatively affects the health and social adjustment of gay and lesbian people. However, the literature has documented this trend from an individual (over a dyadic) perspective, and largely among gay (over lesbian) samples. To address this oversight, we analyzed data from 210 gay and lesbian couples in Chile to examine both actor and partner effects of internalized homonegativity on their sexual satisfaction. Results from moderation analyses from an actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) approach show that partners' internalized homonegativity negatively affects actor sexual satisfaction, a pattern significantly moderated by gender; that is, only observed among lesbian couples. Our results further demonstrated that these effects hold above and beyond the actor and partner effects of age and relationship satisfaction, as well as relationship length. These results are consistent with the broader literature, which discusses the specific features of internalized homonegativity in lesbian women, characterized-among other aspects-by restrictive social demands over their sexuality. Accordingly, our findings highlight the deleterious relational consequences of internalized homonegativity and offer a relevant empirical contribution to the understanding of specific minority stress dynamics among lesbian women.

Mode of action of p-quinone derivatives with trypanocidal activity studied by experimental and in silico models.

Quinones are attractive pharmacological scaffolds for developing new agents for the treatment of different transmissible and non-transmissible human diseases due to their capacity to alter the cell redox homeostasis. The bioactivity and potential mode of action of 19 p-quinone derivatives fused to different aromatic rings (carbo or heterocycles) and harboring distinct substituents were investigated in infective Trypanosoma brucei brucei. All the compounds, except for a furanequinone (EC50=38 µM), proved to be similarly or even more potent (EC50 = 0.5-5.5 µM) than the clinical drug nifurtimox (EC50 = 5.3 µM). Three furanequinones and one thiazolequinone displayed a higher selectivity than nifurtimox. Two of these selective hits resulted potent inhibitors of T. cruzi proliferation (EC50=0.8-1.1 µM) but proved inactive against Leishmania infantum amastigotes. Most of the p-quinones induced a rapid and marked intracellular oxidation in T. b. brucei. DFT calculations on the oxidized quinone (Q), semiquinone (Q•-) and hydroquinone (QH2) suggest that all quinones have negative ΔG for the formation of Q•-. Qualitative and quantitative structure-activity relationship analyses in two or three dimensions of different electronic and biophysical descriptors of quinones and their corresponding bioactivities (killing potency and oxidative capacity) were performed. Charge distribution over the quinone ring carbons of Q and Q.- and the frontier orbitals energies of SUMO (Q.-) and LUMO (Q) correlate with their oxidative and trypanocidal activity. QSAR analysis also highlighted that both bromine substitution in the p-quinone ring and a bulky phenyl group attached to the furane and thiazole rings (which generates a negative charge due to the π electron system polarized by the nearby heteroatoms) are favorable for activity. By combining experimental and in silico procedures, this study disclosed important information about p-quinones that may help to rationally tune their electronic properties and biological activities.

Perceived Emotional Impact of COVID-19 and Depressive Symptoms among Male Same-Sex Chilean Couples: Direct and Indirect Dyadic Associations through Relationship Satisfaction.

Stressors arising from the COVID-19 pandemic can spill over into the quality of couple relationships, with negative consequences on mental health. The mental health impact of COVID-19 might be particularly pronounced in disadvantaged populations such as LGBT people. This study aimed to examine direct and indirect dyadic associations between emotional impact of COVID-19 and depressive symptoms through relationship satisfaction in male same-sex couples. Using a cross-sectional design, 158 male same-sex Chilean couples completed self-report measures of the emotional impact of COVID-19, relationship satisfaction and depressive symptoms. We used the actor-partner interdependence mediation model for indistinguishable dyads to explore the direct and indirect dyadic associations. Results indicated that each partner's perceived emotional impact of COVID-19 was associated with his own higher depressive symptoms directly and indirectly, through his own lower relationship satisfaction. The other partner's perceived emotional impact of COVID-19 was associated with one's own higher depressive symptoms only directly. Our findings reinforce the notion that satisfactory couple relationships can act as a protective factor against depression in the LGBT population. Programs to promote adaptive coping strategies to deal with the emotional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic may have beneficial effects for the emotional adjustment of male same-sex couples, also by promoting relationship satisfaction.

Activation of dopamine D2 receptors attenuates neuroinflammation and ameliorates the memory impairment induced by rapid eye movement sleep deprivation in a murine model.

The proinflammatory state, which may be induced by sleep deprivation, seems to be a determining factor in the development of neurodegenerative processes. Investigations of mechanisms that help to mitigate the inflammatory effects of sleep disorders are important. A new proposal involves the neurotransmitter dopamine, which may modulate the progression of the immune response by activating receptors expressed on immune cells. This study aimed to determine whether dopamine D2 receptor (D2DR) activation attenuates the proinflammatory response derived from rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation in mice. REM sleep deprivation (RSD) was induced in 2-month-old male CD1 mice using the multiple platform model for three consecutive days; during this period, the D2DR receptor agonist quinpirole (QUIN) was administered (2 mg/kg/day i.p.). Proinflammatory cytokine levels were assessed in serum and homogenates of the brain cortex, hippocampus, and striatum using ELISAs. Long-term memory deficits were identified using the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition (NOR) tests. Animals were trained until learning criteria were achieved; then, they were subjected to RSD and treated with QUIN for 3 days. Memory evocation was determined afterward. Moreover, we found RSD induced anhedonia, as measured by the sucrose consumption test, which is commonly related to the dopaminergic system. Our data revealed increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL-1ß) in both the hippocampus and serum from RSD mice. However, QUIN attenuated the increased levels of these cytokines. Furthermore, RSD caused a long-term memory evocation deficit in both the MWM and NOR tests. In contrast, QUIN coadministration during the RSD period significantly improved the performance of the animals. On the other hand, QUIN prevented the anhedonic condition induced by RSD. Based on our results, D2DR receptor activation protects against memory impairment induced by disturbed REM sleep by inhibiting neuroinflammation.

[Influence of risk factors on mortality from COVID-19]. / Influencia de factores de riesgo sobre mortalidad por COVID-19.

Background: The main risk factors studied that have an influence on mortality from COVID-19 have so far been inconclusive in the world literature, mainly in relation to the male gender. Objective: To determine which are the main risk factors that influence a higher mortality from COVID-19. Material and methods: A case-control study was conducted, including 1190 patients with positive RT-PCR. The risk factors studied were: gender, age, systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), Diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, smoking, immunosuppressants, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), influenza vaccine. In the Group of Cases: they died from COVID-19 (n = 576), while in the Controls group: they survived (n = 614). The statistical plan included cross-tables and multivariate logistic regression model to determine the influence of these risk factors on mortality from COVID-19. Results: We found no statistically significant differences between cases and controls in relation to gender. However, the cases were aged >60 years, SAH, DM, obesity compared to controls. Conclusions: Male gender was not a risk factor for mortality from COVID-19, however, other risk factors such as age over 60 years, being hypertensive, diabetic and obese, were corroborated as such for a higher mortality from COVID-19.

Introducción: los principales factores de riesgo estudiados que tienen influencia sobre la mortalidad por COVID-19 han sido hasta el momento inconclusos en la literatura mundial, principalmente en relación al sexo masculino. Objetivo: determinar cuáles son los principales factores de riesgo que influyen sobre una mayor mortalidad por COVID-19. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio de casos y controles, incluyendo a 1190 pacientes con PCR-RT positiva. Los factores de riesgo estudiados fueron: sexo, edad, presencia de hipertensión arterial sistémica (HAS), diabetes mellitus (DM), obesidad, enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC), asma, tabaquismo, pacientes con ingesta de inmunosupresores, portadores del virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) y vacuna de influenza. En el grupo de casos fallecieron por COVID-19 (n = 576), mientras que en el de controles sobrevivieron (n = 614). El plan estadístico incluyó tablas cruzadas y modelo de regresión logística multivariable para determinar la influencia de estos factores de riesgo sobre la mortalidad por COVID-19. Resultados: no encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre casos y controles en relación al sexo. Sin embargo, los casos presentaron: edad > 60 años, HAS, DM y obesidad, en comparación con los controles. Conclusiones: el sexo masculino no fue factor de riesgo para mortalidad por COVID-19, sin embargo, otros factores de riesgo como edad mayor de 60 años, ser hipertenso, diabético y obeso, sí se corroboraron como tales para una mayor mortalidad por COVID-19.

[Modifiable risk factors in adolescents with obesity]. / Factores de riesgo modificables en adolescentes con obesidad.

Background: Adolescence is a stage of growth with changes whose result is adulthood. Obesity increases the risk of chronic diseases; therefore, it is important to identify modifiable risk factors to prevent obesity in adolescents. Objective: To iIdentify modifiable risk factors for obesity in adolescents from a Family Medicine Unit in the city of Puebla. Material and methods: Case-control study. The Graffar scale, the World Health Organization percentile tables, the Krece Plus test and the Short Diet Quality Screener (sDQS) were applied. Chi squared, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and Pearson's phi with Cramer's V were used. Results: 348 adolescents participated, divided into 2 groups. In the group of adolescents with obesity, exclusive breastfeeding was present in 44.8%, 60.9% had at least one obese parent, 66.7% had an inadequate diet, and 63.8% had a bad lifestyle. On the other hand, the group of adolescents without obesity presented exclusive breastfeeding in 88.5%, 75.3% did not have parents with obesity, 66.1% presented an adequate diet in some aspects and 52.3% had a fair to good lifestyle. Conclusion: The absence of exclusive breastfeeding in the first 6 months of life, parental obesity, poor physical activity, and inadequate diets were associated with the presence of obesity in adolescents.

Introducción: la adolescencia es una etapa del crecimiento con cambios cuyo resultado es la adultez. La obesidad aumenta el riesgo de enfermedades crónicas; por ello, es importante identificar los factores de riesgo modificables para prevenirla en adolescentes. Objetivo: identificar los factores de riesgo modificables para obesidad en adolescentes de una unidad de medicina familiar en la ciudad de Puebla. Material y métodos: estudio de casos y controles. Se aplicó la escala de Graffar, las tablas percentilares de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, el test Krece Plus y el cuestionario breve de calidad de la dieta (sDQS). Se empleó chi cuadrada, razones de momios (RM) con intervalos de confianza del 95% (IC 95%) y el coeficiente phi de Pearson con V de Cramer. Resultados: participaron 348 adolescentes divididos en dos grupos. En el grupo de adolescentes con obesidad, la lactancia materna exclusiva estuvo presente en 44.8%, el 60.9% contaban con al menos un padre con obesidad, el 66.7% presentó dieta inadecuada y el 63.8% presentaba un mal estilo de vida. Por su parte, el grupo de adolescentes sin obesidad presentó lactancia materna exclusiva en el 88.5%, el 75.3% no contaba con padres con obesidad, el 66.1% presentó dieta adecuada en algunos aspectos y el 52.3% contó con un estilo de vida de regular a bueno. Conclusión: la ausencia de lactancia materna exclusiva los primeros seis meses de vida, la obesidad parental, la mala actividad física y las dietas inadecuadas se asociaron con la presencia de obesidad en adolescentes.

Phenoxy- and Phenylamino-Heterocyclic Quinones: Synthesis and Preliminary Anti-Pancreatic Cancer Activity.

The successful application of fragment-based drug discovery strategy for the efficient synthesis of phenoxy- or phenylamino-2-phenyl-benzofuran, -benzoxazole and -benzothiazole quinones is described. Interestingly, in the final step of the synthesis of the target compounds, unusual results were observed on the regiochemistry of the reaction of bromoquinones with phenol and aniline. A theoretical study was carried out for better understanding the factors that control the regiochemistry of these reactions. The substituted heterocyclic quinones were evaluated in vitro to determine their cytotoxicity by the MTT method in three pancreatic cancer cell lines (MIA-PaCa-2, BxPC-3, and AsPC-1). Phenoxy benzothiazole quinone 26a showed potent cytotoxic activity against BxPC-3 cell lines, while phenylamino benzoxazole quinone 20 was the most potent on MIA-PaCa-2 cells. Finally, electrochemical properties of these quinones were determined to correlate with a potential mechanism of action. All these results, indicate that the phenoxy quinone fragment led to compounds with increased activity against pancreatic cancer cells.

A Change in Conservation Status of Pachyphytum caesium (Crassulaceae), a Threatened Species from Central Mexico Based on Genetic Studies.

Genetic studies in rare species are important to determine their patterns of genetic diversity among populations and implement conservation plans aimed to reduce extinction risks. Pachyphytum caesium is an endemic species with extremely small populations in central Mexico. This work analyzes the diversity and genetic structure of Pachyphytum cesium (Crassulaceae) to change the conservation status and propose conservation strategies. Twelve dominant ISSR markers were used to describe the genetic diversity of all known populations. Additionally, we carried out two simulations to explore how the loss of individuals or the local populations extinction affect the genetics parameters of the species. The average results indicated moderate levels of genetic diversity (number of alleles = 89.7 ± 3.9, expected heterozygosity = 0.212 ± 0.0, and percentage of polymorphic loci = 56.1 ± 3.9), parameters that decreased significantly when simulations were performed in P. caesium. Additionally, a genetic structure of the populations was found with low gene flow (Nm = 0.92). Genetic parameters are negatively affected by the loss of individuals and the local extinction of populations. Based on our results, we propose to reclassify the conservation status of the species in danger of extinction, hence a series of conservation strategies are provided to prevent its disappearance.

Determination of drug-resistant bacteria in palmar surface and touchscreen cell phones from bystanders in an urban community.

The dynamic microbiota of the human palmar surface (PS) is related to the various hygienic habits of humans and can be transmitted or exchanged upon contact with objects of daily use, such as the indispensable touchscreen cell phone (TCP); this interaction could allow the development of drug-resistant bacteria. The objective was to determine the drug-resistant bacterial contamination between PSs and TCPs in an urban community. Among the total bacterial colonies isolated and molecular and phylogenetically characterized based on the V4-V6 regions of the 16S rRNA gene from PSs and TCPs, the genera present in both types of samples were Staphylococcus (53.3 and 43.5 %, respectively), Bacillus (37.8, 37 %), Atlantibacter (2.2, 10.8 %) and Microbacterium (2.2, 4.3 %). The genera present in only one type of sample were Rothia, Paenibacillus, Escherichia and Micrococcus (2.2 % each). Resistance to penicillins (35.6-93.5 %) and nonsusceptibility to cephalosporins (8.9-37 %) and nitrofurantoin (13.3 and 15.2 %) were observed. The percentage of multidrug antibiotic resistance was 15.4 %. The prevalence of drug-resistant and multidrug-resistant bacteria in PSs and TCPs in the community could give rise to human health problems, and hygiene measures are recommended.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Peer Victimization in a National Sample of Chilean Children and Youth.

This research aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of peer victimization (PV) in a national sample of Chilean children and youth. We worked with secondary data of Encuesta Nacional de Polivictimización (2017). The sample was probabilistic and included 19,684 participants between 12 and 18 years (M = 14.7, SD = 1.59) from all Chilean regions. The participants answered an adapted version of the Juvenile Victimization Questionnaire to assess different violence forms. However, for the present study, only five items related to PV were considered. The results showed that a lifetime and the last 12 months' prevalence of PVwerevery high. More than half of the adolescents (60.3%) reported at least one type of victimization by peers throughout a lifetime. Gender differences were found; females have the highest rates of PV than males. These results have discussed the magnitude of this issue and promote the generation of prevention strategies.

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Mental Health in Adolescents from Northern Chile in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the world population; however, there is limited knowledge about its impact on adolescents. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and risk factors associated with mental health in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in young people in northern Chile. The sample consisted of 1315 young people between the ages of 14 and 18. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression were performed to identify the risk factors associated to the considered symptomatology. Depressive symptomatology was reported at 36.3%, anxiety at 6%, and social phobia at 27.8%. Adolescent females reported a higher probability of presenting depressive (OR, 3.409), anxious (OR, 3.949), and social phobia (OR, 3.027) symptomatology. Young women between the ages of 17 and 18 were more likely to present anxiety (OR, 2.172); moreover, being a migrant was related to lower odds of presenting anxiety (OR, 0.259) and depression (OR, 0.662). Having a family member diagnosed with COVID-19 was associated with depressive symptomatology (OR, 1.369). The COVID-19 pandemic can have serious repercussions on the mental health of adolescents. It is important to generate interventions to meet the needs of youth during the post-confinement period.