Association between mortality and cardiovascular diseases in the vulnerable Mexican population: A cross-sectional retrospective study of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be the leading cause of death worldwide. Over the past couple of years and with the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, mortality from CVDs has been slightly overshadowed by those due to COVID-19, although it was during the peak of the pandemic. In the present study, patients with CVDs (CVDs; n = 41,883) were analyzed to determine which comorbidities had the largest impact on overall patient mortality due to their association with both diseases (n = 3,637). Obesity, hypertension, and diabetes worsen health in patients diagnosed positive for COVID-19. Hence, they were included in the overview of all patients with CVD. Our findings showed that 1,697 deaths were attributable to diabetes (p < 0.001) and 987 deaths to obesity (p < 0.001). Lastly, 2,499 deaths were attributable to hypertension (p < 0.001). Using logistic regression modeling, we found that diabetes (OR: 1.744, p < 0.001) and hypertension (OR: 2.179, p < 0.001) significantly affected the mortality rate of patients. Hence, having a CVD diagnosis, with hypertension and/or diabetes, seems to increase the likelihood of complications, leading to death in patients diagnosed positive for COVID-19.

Target Nanoparticles against Pancreatic Cancer: Fewer Side Effects in Therapy.

Pancreatic cancer is the most common lethal tumor in America. This lethality is related to limited treatment options. Conventional treatments involve the non-specific use of chemotherapeutical agents such as 5-FU, capecitabine, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, cisplatin, oxaliplatin, or irinotecan, which produce several side effects. This review focuses on the use of targeted nanoparticles, such as metallic nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, micelles, and carbon nanotubes as an alternative to standard treatment for pancreatic cancer. The principal objective of nanoparticles is reduction of the side effects that conventional treatments produce, mostly because of their non-specificity. Several molecular markers of pancreatic cancer cells have been studied to target nanoparticles and improve current treatment. Therefore, properly functionalized nanoparticles with specific aptamers or antibodies can be used to recognize pancreatic cancer cells. Once cancer is recognized, these nanoparticles can attack the tumor by drug delivery, gene therapy, or hyperthermia.