The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation mediates benzo(a)pyrene-induced overexpression of AQP3 and Notch1 in HaCaT cells.

The aim of this study was twofold: (1) evaluate the effect of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) on expression levels of AQP3 and Notch1 genes in HaCaT cells exposed "in vitro" and (2) investigate the possible biological role of assessed genes by bioinformatics methods. Cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of BaP (0.0-4.0 µM) for 1-4 days. After treatments, cell viability and expression levels of AhR, CYP1A1, AQP3, and Notch1 genes were evaluated. The possible biological role of assessed genes was evaluated using bioinformatics tools. Low cytotoxicity in HaCaT cells dosed with BaP was detected. A significant overexpression (p < .05) of CYP1A1, AQP3, and Notch1 was found in exposed HaCaT cells. The gene expression upregulation was dependent on AhR activation. The bioinformatics analysis showed that these genes were enriched in related cancer signaling pathways. The findings suggest that AQP3 and Notch1 are upregulated by AhR activation in HaCaT cells exposed to BaP.

Student perception of early simulation in dentistry / Percepción de los alumnos respecto a la primera simulación clínica en la carrera de odontología

Objective: To evaluate student perception of early simulation in dentistry. Material and Methods: The design of the study was quantitative, observational and cross-sectional. A total of 121 students, from third year to senior year were evaluated. The perception and its dimensions: satisfaction, self-confidence and good educational practices were evaluated by a survey with a high level of reliability (0.89), modified and adapted for the present investigation, checking coefficients for its use: Aiken's V, Cronbach's Alpha, Test-Retest (Spearman), classified in ability, scenario and general simulation practices, based on the Likert scale (from 1 to 5). For the univariate analysis, the descriptive statistics from qualitative and quantitative variables were obtained and for the bivariate analysis, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests were employed. Results: The students rated the simulation perception positively with an average of 4.42±0.49, 4.14±0.63 y 4.73±0.66 regarding the ability, scenario and general simulation practices, respectively. No statistically significant differences were found between the perception of early preclinical practices with the variables age, gender, year of study and previous experience. Conclusion: The perception of students regarding early preclinical practices got a high score and it is not related with the variables studied, according to the survey modified and adapted.

Objetivo: Evaluar la percepción de los alumnos respecto a la primera simulación clínica en la carrera de Odontología. Material y Métodos: El diseño del estudio fue de tipo cuantitativo, descriptivo y transversal. Se evaluaron 121 alumnos de sexto a décimo ciclo. La percepción y sus dimensiones: satisfacción, autoconfianza y buenas prácticas educacionales fueron evaluadas mediante una encuesta con alto nivel de confiabilidad (0.89), modificada y adaptada para la presente investigación comprobando coeficientes para su uso: V de Aiken, Alfa de Cronbach, Test-Retest (Spearman), clasificada en prácticas de habilidad, escenario y simulación en general, basada en la escala de Likert (1 al 5). Se obtuvo la media y desviación estándar para la variable percepción, así como el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman y las pruebas U de Mann Whitney y Kruskal Wallis para evaluar covariables. Resultados: Los estudiantes tuvieron una percepción positiva respecto a la simulación obteniendo una media de puntuación de 4.42±0.49, 4.14±0.63 y 4.73±0.66 respecto a las prácticas de habilidad, escenario y simulación en general respectivamente. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre la percepción de la primera simulación clínica con las variables edad, género, ciclo y experiencia previa. Conclusión: La percepción de los estudiantes respecto a la primera simulación clínica obtuvo un alto puntaje y no se encuentra relacionada con las variables estudiadas según la encuesta modificada y adaptada.

Impact of arsenic exposure on clinical biomarkers indicative of cardiovascular disease risk in Mexican women.

An appropriate and precise identification of high-risk individuals to develop cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is of high importance to reduce these kinds of diseases, a major health concern worldwide. Therefore, the aim of this research was to evaluate prognostic CVD biomarkers in Mexican women exposed to inorganic arsenic via drinking water. Then, a cross-sectional study including 190 women was achieved. Urinary arsenic (UAs) levels were analyzed as exposure biomarker to that metalloid. While, plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (FABP4), adiponectin, and chemerin levels, hypertriglyceridemic waist (HW) phenotype, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and Framingham risk score (FRS) were assessed as prognostic CVD biomarkers. Mean UAs level detected in the evaluated urinary samples was 45.0 ±â€¯40.0 µg/g creatinine. In addition, mean plasma ADMA, FABP4, chemerin and adiponectin levels were 0.68 µmol/L, 20.3 ng/mL, 12.5 µg/mL, and 255 ng/mL, correspondingly. Approximately, 54% of women participants displayed an HW phenotype. Regarding AIP and FRS values, 0.12 ±â€¯0.15 and 7.50 ±â€¯8.00 were found, respectively. Besides, strong and significant associations (p < 0.05) between UAs and AIP, ADMA, and FABP4 were distinguished. Also, after a multivariate analysis, the association between those variables persisted after adjustment for traditional risk factors of CVD. In conclusion, according to the results found in this research, the most sensible CVD biomarkers distinguished in this study were AIP, ADMA, and FABP4. Nevertheless, more studies are necessary to confirm the results found in this investigation.

Influence on serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) concentrations of human paraoxonase 1 polymorphism (Q192R) and exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Mexican women, a gene-environment interaction.

It has been demonstrated that Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) are a consequence of the combination of genetic and environmental factors and/or the interaction between them. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) exposure and PON1 Q192R polymorphism (genetic susceptibility) on serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels in Mexican women (n = 206). Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentrations (1-OHP; exposure biomarker for PAHs) were quantified using a high-performance liquid chromatography technique, PON1 Q192R polymorphism was genotyped using TaqMan probes and serum ADMA concentrations were evaluated using a commercially available ELISA kit. Urinary 1-OHP levels detected in this study ranged from 0.07 to 9.37 µmol/mol of creatinine (0.13-18.0 µg/g of creatinine). Regarding allele frequency (PON1 Q192R polymorphism), the 192Q-allele frequency was 0.43 and for the 192R-allele it was 0.57. In relation to serum ADMA levels, the levels ranged from 0.06 to 1.46 µmol/L. Moreover, multiple linear regression analysis was performed and associations between urinary 1-OHP levels (ß = 0.05, p = 0.002), PON1 Q192R polymorphism (ß = 0.04, p = 0.003) and serum ADMA concentrations were found. Besides, an interaction (gene-environment interaction) of both independent variables (1-OHP and PON1 polymorphism) on serum ADMA levels was found (ß = 0.04, p = 0.02) in the constructed multiple linear model. Therefore, according to the significance of this research, it is necessary to execute health programs to reduce cardiovascular risk in the assessed population.

Serum adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein (FABP4) levels in women from Mexico exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Recent studies indicate that exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is a very important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Correspondingly, adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein (FABP4, also known as aP2 and AFABP) has been proposed as a new, meaningful and useful biomarker to predict metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate serum FABP4 levels in Mexican women exposed to PAHs. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene ((1-OHP), exposure biomarker for PAHs) levels were quantified using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique, and serum FABP4 concentrations were analyzed using a commercially available ELISA kit. The mean urinary 1-OHP level found in women participating in this study was 1.30 ± 1.10 µmol/mol creatinine (2.45 ± 2.10 µg/g creatinine). Regarding serum FABP4 concentrations, the levels ranged from 3.80 to 62.5 ng/mL in the assessed population. Moreover, a significant association (p < 0.001) was found between urinary 1-OHP levels and serum FABP4 concentrations in women after adjusting for potential confounding variables. The presented data in this study can be considered only as a starting point for further studies. Then, in order to elucidate whether FABP4 represents a risk factor for CVD disease in humans exposed to air contaminants (such as PAHs), large epidemiological studies are necessary.

Cuantificación de plomo, cadmio y cromo mediante sialoquímica / Quantification of lead, cadmium and chromium through sialochemistry

Objetivo. Determinar las concentraciones de plomo, cadmio y cromo, y establecer su posible asociación con diferentes factores sociodemográficos. Material y métodos. Se seleccionó una muestra representativa de 100 estudiantes de posgrado de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), a los cuales se les colectó saliva total no estimulada. Dichas muestras fueron analizadas por espectrofotometría de absorción atómica con horno de grafito. Resultados. Metales pesados como el plomo, el cadmio y el cromo se encuentran en concentraciones mucho más altas que las informadas en la literatura: Pb, X= 3.10 µg/dL-1, máxima: 16.8 µg/dL-1, y mínima: 0.04 µg/dL-1, Cd, X= .25 µg/dL-1, máxima: 2.04 µg/dL-1, y mínima: 0.004 µg/dL-1; y Cr, X= 1.43 µg/dL-1. Asimismo, variables como la zona de residencia, el sexo, la edad y la ingesta de comida enlatada no influyen en los niveles de plomo y cromo. Sin embargo, en el caso del cadmio y la edad existe una asociación inversa (X²= 5.9012, p=0.05; y = -0.5224, p=0.05). Conclusiones. La sialoquímica juega un papel importante en la detección de contaminantes, fármacos, drogas y enfermedades locales y sistémicas. La contaminación por metales pesados sigue siendo un problema de salud pública, por lo que el gobierno debe consolidar un programa cuyo objetivo sea eliminar los diferentes contaminantes del ambiente. Asimismo, se deben realizar otros estudios para verificar la asociación de variables como sexo, edad, uso de cerámica vidriada, alimentación y zona de residencia con las concentraciones de metales pesados en saliva