Association between Sarcopenia and Poor Glycemic Control in Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Aging is associated with a decrease in muscle mass. Insulin resistance and hyperglycemia accelerate muscle loss, leading to a deterioration in strength, muscle mass, and physical capacity in older adults. This study was conducted to determine the association between sarcopenia and poor glycemic control in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in older adults with T2D in geriatric outpatient clinics. Sarcopenia was diagnosed as per the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2) criteria. According to glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, participants were classified into glycemic control (HbA1c ≤ 7.5%) and poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7.5%) groups. RESULTS: Older adults with sarcopenia were found to have poor glycemic control compared to adults without sarcopenia (62.3% vs. 47.9%, p = 0.007). Logistic regression analysis showed an association between poor glycemic control and the presence of sarcopenia (odds ratio (OR): 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17-2.75) and low muscle mass (OR: 1.73, 95% CI: 1.07-2.73). CONCLUSIONS: Poor glycemic control is associated with the presence of sarcopenia and low muscle mass, which highlights the need to implement better treatment strategies in order to reduce the loss of muscle mass.

Radiofrequency Cingulotomy as a Treatment for Incoercible Pain: Follow-Up for 6 Months.

Incoercible or intractable pain is defined as pain that is refractory to pharmacological treatment to such an extent that opioid and analgesic adverse effects outweigh the therapeutic effects. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is involved in the perception of pain, especially emotional pain, so it is logical that cingulotomy has an effective therapeutic effect. Therefore, we evaluated the effectiveness of cingulotomy for the treatment of incoercible pain. An observational, longitudinal, retrospective, and analytical study was carried out on a series of cases in which bilateral cingulotomy was performed for incoercible pain, and follow-up was performed 6 months after neurosurgery in the outpatient clinic at the Neurotraumatology Clinic. A positive correlation was observed between pain intensity and medication use, indicating that an increase in pain was associated with a greater requirement for analgesics. The result was a significant reduction in pain, as measured by the visual analog scale of pain, and decreased drug use after cingulotomy. We concluded that cingulotomy reduces incoercible pain and the need for medication.

Neuroinflammation in Parkinson's Disease: From Gene to Clinic: A Systematic Review.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease whose progression and clinical characteristics have a close bidirectional and multilevel relationship with the process of neuroinflammation. In this context, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms involved in this neuroinflammation-PD link. This systematic search was, hereby, conducted with a focus on the four levels where alterations associated with neuroinflammation in PD have been described (genetic, cellular, histopathological and clinical-behavioral) by consulting the PubMed, Google Scholar, Scielo and Redalyc search engines, including clinical studies, review articles, book chapters and case studies. Initially, 585,772 articles were included, and, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 84 articles were obtained that contained information about the multilevel association of neuroinflammation with alterations in gene, molecular, cellular, tissue and neuroanatomical expression as well as clinical-behavioral manifestations in PD.

Correlation of Biomarkers of Endothelial Injury and Inflammation to Outcome in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients.

COVID-19 can trigger an intense systemic inflammation and prothrombotic state, leading to a rapid and disproportionate deterioration of lung function. An effective screening tool is essential to identify the patients at risk for severe disease. This observational study was conducted on hospitalized patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 pneumonia in a general hospital in Mexico City between 1 March 2021 and 15 March 2021. Serum samples were analyzed to explore the role of biomarkers of inflammation, coagulation, oxidative stress, and endothelial damage with the severity of the disease. Our results demonstrated that Syndecan-1 and nitrites/nitrates showed a high correlation in severely ill patients. In conclusion, COVID-19 patients with elevated levels of SDC-1 were associated with severe disease. This molecule can potentially be used as a marker for the progression or severity of COVID-19. Preservation of glycocalyx integrity may be a potential treatment for COVID-19.

Effects of Cacao By-Products and a Modest Weight Loss Intervention on the Concentration of Serum Triglycerides in Overweight Subjects: Proof of Concept.

Therapeutic approaches to decrease serum triglyceride (TG) concentrations are not successful mainly due to poor adherence or adverse effects of therapies. In consequence, the search for new low-cost and safer therapeutic alternatives is mandatory. Dark chocolate and cacao have shown promising results improving lipid profiles. Recently, using cacao by-products to reduce elevated cardiometabolic risk markers in an animal model of obesity induced by a high-fat diet and fructose, we showed that TGs, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and the TG/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio decreased, suggesting that cacao by-products improved the metabolic function of obese animals. Based on these results, as a proof of concept, a blinded placebo-controlled study was implemented to explore the effects of cacao by-products on anthropometric and biochemical variables in a group of overweight subjects participating in a program composed of reduced-calorie-diet counseling plus a simple aerobic exercise plan. The results showed that counseling induced weight and abdominal circumference reductions in both groups. TGs did not change in the control group; however, TG decreased significantly by 54.9 mg/dL (27.9%) in the experimental group. The TG/HDL cholesterol ratio changed markedly (1.5) in the experimental group. The results reported suggest the use of cacao by-products as an alternative for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia.

Detection and molecular characterization of respiratory viruses that cause acute respiratory infection in the adult population.

INTRODUCTION: Acute respiratory infections are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in older adults and patients with chronic diseases. Among the responsible etiological agents are human respiratory viruses, such as: respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus and metapneumovirus. OBJECTIVE: To carry out a differential diagnostic study of respiratory viruses circulating and co-circulating in an adult population. METHODS: A pilot study was conducted in patients older than 18 years, who presented signs and symptoms suggestive of acute respiratory infection and whose clinical picture did not exceed 15 days of evolution; end-point polymerase chain reaction assays were performed with the use of specific oligonucleotides for molecular diagnosis. RESULTS: 72 specimens of patients with an age of 51.33 ± 19.33 years, with a predominance of females (4.5:1); original inhabitants of Mexico City; only 22 were positive for respiratory viruses, being mostly metapneumovirus infections. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of the circulating viral strains in the population will allow to determine changes that can declare an epidemiological alert leading to the best decision making for the benefit of the patients.

[Detección y caracterización molecular de virus respiratorios causantes de infección respiratoria aguda en población adulta].

INTRODUCTION: Acute respiratory infections are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in older adults and patients with chronic diseases. Among the responsible etiological agents are human respiratory viruses, such as: respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus and metapneumovirus. OBJECTIVE: To carry out a differential diagnostic study of respiratory viruses circulating and co-circulating in an adult population. METHODS: A pilot study was conducted in patients older than 18 years, who presented signs and symptoms suggestive of acute respiratory infection and whose clinical picture did not exceed 15 days of evolution; end-point polymerase chain reaction assays were performed with the use of specific oligonucleotides for molecular diagnosis. RESULTS: 72 specimens of patients with an age of 51.33 ± 19.33 years, with a predominance of females (4.5:1); original inhabitants of Mexico City; only 22 were positive for respiratory viruses, being mostly metapneumovirus infections. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge of the circulating viral strains in the population will allow to determine changes that can declare an epidemiological alert leading to the best decision making for the benefit of the patients.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las infecciones respiratorias agudas son una de las principales causas de morbimortalidad en adultos mayores y pacientes con enfermedades crónicas. Dentro de los agentes etiológicos responsables se encuentran los virus respiratorios humanos, tales como: virus sincitial respiratorio, virus parainfluenza y metapneumovirus. OBJETIVO: Realizar un estudio de diagnóstico diferencial de virus respiratorios que circulan y cocirculan en una población adulta. MÉTODO: Se realizó un estudio tipo piloto en pacientes mayores de 18 años, que presentaron signos y síntomas sugestivos de infección respiratoria aguda y cuyo cuadro clínico no sobrepasara los 15 días de evolución; se realizaron ensayos de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa de punto final con el uso de oligonucleótidos específicos para el diagnóstico molecular. RESULTADOS: Se tipificaron 72 especímenes de pacientes con una edad de 51.33 ± 19.33 años, con predominio del sexo femenino (4.5:1); originarios en su totalidad de la Ciudad de México; solo 22 fueron positivos para virus respiratorios, siendo en su mayoría infecciones por metapneumovirus. CONCLUSIONES: El conocimiento de las cepas virales circulantes en la población permitirá determinar cambios que puedan declarar una alerta epidemiológica llevando a la mejor toma de decisiones en beneficio de los pacientes.

In Vitro Analyses Reveal the Effect of Synthetic Cytokinin Forchlorfenuron (FCF) on a Septin-Like Protein of Taeniid Cysticerci.

Cytokinin forchlorfenuron (FCF), a synthetic cytokinin, has been used specifically for the characterization of septins. In spite of genomic evidence of their existence, nothing is known about septin filaments in taeniid cestodes. The aim of this work was to determine the presence of a septin-like protein in cysticerci of Taenia crassiceps and Taenia solium using the deduced amino acid sequence of T. solium septin 4 (SEPT4_Tsm), to design and synthesize a derived immunogenic peptide (residues 88 to 103), to prepare a specific rabbit polyclonal antibody, and to examine the effects of FCF at different concentrations and exposure times on an in vitro culture of T. crassiceps cysticerci. In vitro, FCF altered the morphology and motility of T. crassiceps cysticerci, and its effects were reversible under specific concentrations. In addition, we observed by ultrastructural observation that FCF alters the cellular subunit of the protonephridial system of cestodes, where disruption of the axoneme pattern of flame cells was observed. The rabbit polyclonal antibody prepared against the synthetic peptide recognized a major band of 41 kDa in both parasites. Our results establish the importance of SEPT4_Tsm in the dynamics and survival of taeniid cysticerci, as well as their susceptibility to FCF. This is also the first report that a septin is present in the cytoskeleton of taeniids.

Detección y caracterización molecular de virus respiratorios causantes de infección respiratoria aguda en población adulta / Detection and molecular characterization of respiratory viruses that cause acute respiratory infection in the adult population

Resumen Introducción: Las infecciones respiratorias agudas son una de las principales causas de morbimortalidad en adultos mayores y pacientes con enfermedades crónicas. Dentro de los agentes etiológicos responsables se encuentran los virus respiratorios humanos, tales como: virus sincitial respiratorio, virus parainfluenza y metapneumovirus. Objetivo: Realizar un estudio de diagnóstico diferencial de virus respiratorios que circulan y cocirculan en una población adulta. Método: Se realizó un estudio tipo piloto en pacientes mayores de 18 años, que presentaron signos y síntomas sugestivos de infección respiratoria aguda y cuyo cuadro clínico no sobrepasara los 15 días de evolución; se realizaron ensayos de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa de punto final con el uso de oligonucleótidos específicos para el diagnóstico molecular. Resultados: Se tipificaron 72 especímenes de pacientes con una edad de 51.33 ± 19.33 años, con predominio del sexo femenino (4.5:1); originarios en su totalidad de la Ciudad de México; solo 22 fueron positivos para virus respiratorios, siendo en su mayoría infecciones por metapneumovirus. Conclusiones: El conocimiento de las cepas virales circulantes en la población permitirá determinar cambios que puedan declarar una alerta epidemiológica llevando a la mejor toma de decisiones en beneficio de los pacientes.

Abstract Introduction: Acute respiratory infections are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in older adults and patients with chronic diseases. Among the responsible etiological agents are human respiratory viruses, such as: respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus and metapneumovirus. Objective: To carry out a differential diagnostic study of respiratory viruses circulating and co-circulating in an adult population. Methods: A pilot study was conducted in patients older than 18 years, who presented signs and symptoms suggestive of acute respiratory infection and whose clinical picture did not exceed 15 days of evolution; end-point polymerase chain reaction assays were performed with the use of specific oligonucleotides for molecular diagnosis. Results: 72 specimens of patients with an age of 51.33 ± 19.33 years, with a predominance of females (4.5:1); original inhabitants of Mexico City; only 22 were positive for respiratory viruses, being mostly metapneumovirus infections. Conclusions: The knowledge of the circulating viral strains in the population will allow to determine changes that can declare an epidemiological alert leading to the best decision making for the benefit of the patients.

JVG9, a benzimidazole derivative, alters the surface and cytoskeleton of Trypanosoma cruzi bloodstream trypomastigotes.

Trypanosoma cruzi has a particular cytoskeleton that consists of a subpellicular network of microtubules and actin microfilaments. Therefore, it is an excellent target for the development of new anti-parasitic drugs. Benzimidazole 2-carbamates, a class of well-known broad-spectrum anthelmintics, have been shown to inhibit the in vitro growth of many protozoa. Therefore, to find efficient anti-trypanosomal (trypanocidal) drugs, our group has designed and synthesised several benzimidazole derivatives. One, named JVG9 (5-chloro-1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol), has been found to be effective against T. cruzi bloodstream trypomastigotes under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Here, we present the in vitro effects observed by laser scanning confocal and scanning electron microscopy on T. cruzi trypomastigotes. Changes in the surface and the distribution of the cytoskeletal proteins are consistent with the hypothesis that the trypanocidal activity of JVG9 involves the cytoskeleton as a target.

JVG9, a benzimidazole derivative, alters the surface and cytoskeleton of Trypanosoma cruzi bloodstream trypomastigotes

Trypanosoma cruzi has a particular cytoskeleton that consists of a subpellicular network of microtubules and actin microfilaments. Therefore, it is an excellent target for the development of new anti-parasitic drugs. Benzimidazole 2-carbamates, a class of well-known broad-spectrum anthelmintics, have been shown to inhibit the in vitro growth of many protozoa. Therefore, to find efficient anti-trypanosomal (trypanocidal) drugs, our group has designed and synthesised several benzimidazole derivatives. One, named JVG9 (5-chloro-1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol), has been found to be effective against T. cruzi bloodstream trypomastigotes under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Here, we present the in vitro effects observed by laser scanning confocal and scanning electron microscopy on T. cruzi trypomastigotes. Changes in the surface and the distribution of the cytoskeletal proteins are consistent with the hypothesis that the trypanocidal activity of JVG9 involves the cytoskeleton as a target.

Detection of Paragonimus mexicanus (Trematoda) metacercariae in crabs from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Metacercariae of Paragonimus mexicanus were collected in crabs Tehuana guerreroensis (Rathbun, 1933) in the municipality of Putla, Oaxaca, Mexico. Metacercariae were found in 20.8% of the crabs collected, with an average of 1.9 metacercarie per crab. Stained metacercariae showed the specific characteristics of P. mexicanus by morphology and sequencing a fragment of the 28S ribosomal gene obtained by PCR. These findings reveal that T. guerreroensis is an intermediate host for P. mexicanus; this new report is relevant considering the potential risk of transmission in the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, Mexico.

Prevalence of Demodex mites in eyelashes among people of Oaxaca, Mexico.

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Demodex mites in eyelashes of people from different places from Oaxaca. One thousand and ten patients underwent epilation of eight eyelashes from each eye and they were processed to search Demodex which was found in 208 (20%) of the patients and among them male was more affected than female, 119 (57%) and 89 (43%), respectively. There was not found a relationship between clinical manifestations among these patients since 101 (49%) and 107 (51%) of them were symptomatic and asymptomatic, respectively. The range of age that was more affected was 96-105 (100%), followed by 86-95 (75%) and 76-85 (64%) years old. The less affected were individuals of 15-25 years old (11%). Demodex folliculorum was relatively high in the eyelashes of individuals in young and old people in the rural region studied. These people are generally the most vulnerable patients because they live in overcrowded conditions and poor hygiene which facilitates the direct infection. Demodex brevis was found in only one sample.

Taenia saginata: failure treatment in a child with 5-year long-lasting infection.

The management of these infections requires protocols that allow the clinic and laboratory to reach a timely and accurate diagnosis through the differential identification of Taenia species and consequently determine appropriate treatment. On the other hand, the inadequate implementation of treatments and the lack of follow-up coupled with biological phenomena such as resistance to drugs contribute important risks of infection for the population. This case could be caused by a strain of T. saginata with a low sensitivity to albendazole. This case emphasizes the need of developing and implementing techniques that will help us differentiate the species of Taenia in laboratories as well as establish treatments with alternative drugs. It is important to report this kind of infection with the aim of giving laboratory personnel as well as healthcare providers a broader knowledge of these parasites in order to improve treatment with alternative drugs. In addition, improvements in the habits among individuals must be addressed to avoid the increased risk of infection.

Trichuris vulpis (Froelich, 1789) infection in a child: a case report.

We present a human infection with the canine whipworm, Trichuris vulpis, in a child suffering from rhinitis with a diagnosis of rhinitis. T. vulpis eggs resemble those of T. trichiura but they can be differentiated based on their morphological features and egg size, using micrometry with an ocular micrometer. T. vulpis eggs measured an average of 90 µm by 44 µm (range 86-99 µm by 38-47 µm). Prevalence of hookworms (28.1%), Toxocara canis (11.8%), and Trichuris vulpis (3.5%) was found in 292 fecal samples of dogs collected at the peri-domicile, which showed that the risk of infection was not only fortuitous. The treatment of canine whipworm infections is similar to that of T. trichiura infection. We recommend differentiation of the 2 species for their epidemiological and prevention implications.

In vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity of some benzimidazole derivatives against two strains of Trypanosoma cruzi.

The trypanocidal effect of five benzimidazole derivatives (1-5) was determined in vitro and in vivo assays against two strains of Trypanosoma cruzi (NINOA and INC5). The in vitro trypanocidal activity was evaluated by measuring the percentage of lysis of bloodstream trypomastigotes of T. cruzi. Results point to 5-chloro-1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol (1) as the best activity profile compound with a 50% lytic concentration (LC(50)) of 0.014 mM (NINOA strain) and 0.32 mM (INC5 strain). Reference drugs were nifurtimox (Nfx) and benznidazole (Bnz), which on NINOA strain displayed a LC(50)=0.60 mM and LC(50)=0.78 mM, respectively; while on INC5 strain they exhibited LC(50) values of 0.31 mM and 0.69 mM, respectively. The in vivo trypanocidal activity of 1-5 on parasitemia in a murine model acute Chagas' disease indicated that 1 and Nfx showed similar activity on INC5 strain, while 5-chloro-1-methyl-1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol (2) and its regioisomer, 6-chloro-1-methyl-1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol (3), displayed better activity than Nfx and Bnz on NINOA strain. All compounds showed low cytotoxicity against Vero cells, with selective index 38-3000 times higher to the parasite.