Trends in Parkinson's mortality in Mexico 2000-2020.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the recent trends in Parkinson's disease mortality in Mexico during 2000-2020. METHOD: The adjusted mortality rate per 100,000 inhabitants was calculated using the direct method and the world standard population. Trend analysis was performed with the Joinpoint software. RESULTS: The average mortality rate was 1.26/100,000 inhabitants (SD: 0.09), and males showed higher mortality than females (M/F ratio=1.60). Older individuals ≥70 years old showed higher mortality rates than the rest of the age groups. During the period of study, a significant increase in mortality was observed from 2000 to 2005, while from 2005 to 2020 no significant trend was observed in all the studied groups. CONCLUSIONS: In Mexico, males and older individuals showed the highest mortality rates. The socioeconomic regions with high levels of wellness showed the highest mortality rates levels. Parkinson's mortality rate has remained constant since 2005 in Mexico.

Trends in Parkinson's mortality in Mexico 2000–2020 / Tendencias de la mortalidad por Parkinson en México 2000-2020

Objective: To describe the recent trends in Parkinson's disease mortality in Mexico during 2000-2020. Method: The adjusted mortality rate per 100,000 inhabitants was calculated using the direct method and the world standard population. Trend analysis was performed with the Joinpoint software. Results: The average mortality rate was 1.26/100,000 inhabitants (SD: 0.09), and males showed higher mortality than females (M/F ratio = 1.60). Older individuals ≥ 70 years old showed higher mortality rates than the rest of the age groups. During the period of study, a significant increase in mortality was observed from 2000 to 2005, while from 2005 to 2020 no significant trend was observed in all the studied groups. Conclusions: In Mexico, males and older individuals showed the highest mortality rates. The socioeconomic regions with high levels of wellness showed the highest mortality rates levels. Parkinson's mortality rate has remained constant since 2005 in Mexico.(AU)

Objetivo: Describir las tendencias recientes de la mortalidad por enfermedad de Parkinson en México durante 2000-2020. Método: La tasa de mortalidad ajustada por 100.000 habitantes se calculó mediante el método directo y usando población estándar mundial. El análisis de tendencias se realizó con el programa Joinpoint. Resultados: La tasa de mortalidad promedio fue de 1,26/100.000 habitantes (DE: 0,09) y los hombres presentaron mayor mortalidad que las mujeres (relación H/M = 1,60). Los individuos ≥70 años presentaron las mayores tasas de mortalidad que el resto de los grupos de edad. Durante el periodo de estudio se observó un aumento significativo de la mortalidad de 2000 a 2005, mientras que de 2005 a 2020 no se observó una tendencia significativa. Conclusiones: Los hombres y de mayor edad mostraron las tasas más altas de mortalidad. Las regiones socioeconómicas con mayor nivel de bienestar presentaron las tasas más altas de mortalidad. La tasa de mortalidad por enfermedad de Parkinson se mantuvo constante desde 2005 en México.(AU)

Mortality in residents of the urban and rural areas of Mexico, 2002-2019.

INTRODUCTION: Mortality is affected by several factors, including the place of residence. Several studies have found a gap in mortality between urban and rural residents. This study aimed to describe adjusted mortality rates in urban and rural areas of Mexico. METHODS: Adjusted mortality rate per 100 000 inhabitants was estimated in urban and rural areas of Mexico, were grouped by sex, age, and main cause of death. Trend analysis was performed with a logarithmic regression of adjusted rates. RESULTS: Mortality was higher in urban (622.1/100 000 inhabitants) than rural (549.5/100 000 inhabitants) areas of Mexico. Males showed the highest mortality rate in both studied areas, urban and rural (737.8 and 634.4/100 000 inhabitants respectively). A significant annual decrease of 0.5% in mortality rates was observed in both areas. CONCLUSION: In Mexico, there is a gap in mortality rates based on individuals' place of residence. Those who live in urban areas present the highest mortality rates.

Levels of persistent organic pollutants in cane toads (Rhinella marina) differ among sites with varying industrial and agricultural activities.

In this study, we captured cane toads (Rhinella marina) in four sites located in different regions affected by anthropogenic activities in Mexico. Subsequently we analyzed liver tissue for the presence of organochlorine pesticides (OCs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) The levels of these POPs in the toads' livers ranged from 863.2 to 3109.6 ng/g of lipid weight across all sites. A multivariate statistical analysis highlighted two sites with the highest POPs levels, with the most polluted site displaying a high level of PCBs, suggesting influence of industrial activities. The second most polluted site displayed significant amounts of OCs, linking this location to agricultural activity. Additionally, we found pesticide metabolites and isomers that allowed us to distinguish past and recent exposure events. Our observations indicate that R. marina is suitable bioindicator of sites impacted by anthropogenic activities.

First report on the toxicity of SARS-CoV-2, alone and in combination with polyethylene microplastics in neotropical fish.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented negative impacts in the modern era, including economic, social, and public health losses. On the other hand, the potential effects that the input of SARS-CoV-2 in the aquatic environment from sewage may represent on non-target organisms are not well known. In addition, it is not yet known whether the association of SARS-CoV-2 with other pollutants, such as microplastics (MPs), may further impact the aquatic biota. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the possible ecotoxicological effects of exposure of male adults Poecilia reticulata, for 15 days, to inactivated SARS-CoV-2 (0.742 pg/L; isolated SARS.CoV2/SP02.2020.HIAE.Br) and polyethylene MP (PE MPs) (7.1 × 104 particles/L), alone and in combination, from multiple biomarkers. Our data suggest that exposure to SARS-CoV-2 induced behavioral changes (in the open field test), nephrotoxic effect (inferred by the increase in creatinine), hepatotoxic effect (inferred by the increase in bilirubin production), imbalance in the homeostasis of Fe, Ca, and Mg, as well as an anticholinesterase effect in the animals [marked by the reduction of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity]. On the other hand, exposure to PE MPs induced a genotoxic effect (assessed by the comet assay), as well as an increase in enzyme activity alpha-amylase, alkaline phosphatase, and carboxylesterases. However, we did not show synergistic, antagonistic, or additive effects caused by the combined exposure of P. reticulata to SARS-CoV-2 and PE MPs. Principal component analysis (PCA) and values from the "Integrated Biomarker Response" index indicate that exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was determinant for a more prominent effect in the evaluated animals. Therefore, our study sheds light on the ecotoxicity of the new coronavirus in non-target organisms and ratifies the need for more attention to the impacts of COVID-19 on aquatic biota.

Multiple endpoints of polyethylene microplastics toxicity in vascular plants of freshwater ecosystems: A study involving Salvinia auriculata (Salviniaceae).

More recently, the number of studies on the impacts of microplastics (MPs) on plants has drawn attention considerably. However, many of these studies focused on terrestrial plants, with vascular plants from freshwater ecosystems being little studied. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the possible effects of exposure of Salvinia auriculata, for 28 days, to different concentrations of polyethylene MPs (PE MPs - diameter: 35.46 ± 18.17 µm) (2.7 ×108 and 8.1 ×108 particles/m3), using different biomarkers. Our data indicated that exposure to PE MPs caused alterations in plant growth/development (inferred by the lower floating frond number, "root" length, and the number of "roots"), as well as lower dispersion of individuals in the experimental units. Plants exposed to PE MPs also showed lower epidermal thickness (abaxial leaf face) and a longer length of the central leaf vein and vascular bundle area. Ultrastructural analyses of S. auriculata exposed to MPs revealed rupture of some epidermal cells and trichomes on the adaxial and abaxial, leaf necrosis, and chlorosis. In the "roots", we observed dehydrated filamentous structures with evident deformations in plants exposed to the pollutants. Both on the abaxial leaf face and on the "roots", the adherence of PE MPs was observed. Furthermore, exposure to PE MPs induced lower chlorophyll content, cell membrane damage, and redox imbalance, marked by reduced catalase and superoxide dismutase activity and increased production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species as well as malondialdehyde. However, in general, we did not observe the dose-response effect for the evaluated biomarkers. The values of the integrated biomarker response index, the principal component analysis (PCA) results and the hierarchical clustering analysis confirmed the similarity between the responses of plants exposed to different PE MPs concentrations. Therefore, our study sheds light on how PE MPs can affect S. auriculata and reinforces that putting these pollutants in freshwater environments might be hazardous from an ecotoxicological point of view.

Machine learning approaches to predicting no-shows in pediatric medical appointment.

Patients' no-shows, scheduled but unattended medical appointments, have a direct negative impact on patients' health, due to discontinuity of treatment and late presentation to care. They also lead to inefficient use of medical resources in hospitals and clinics. The ability to predict a likely no-show in advance could enable the design and implementation of interventions to reduce the risk of it happening, thus improving patients' care and clinical resource allocation. In this study, we develop a new interpretable deep learning-based approach for predicting the risk of no-shows at the time when a medical appointment is first scheduled. The retrospective study was conducted in an academic pediatric teaching hospital with a 20% no-show rate. Our approach tackles several challenges in the design of a predictive model by (1) adopting a data imputation method for patients with missing information in their records (77% of the population), (2) exploiting local weather information to improve predictive accuracy, and (3) developing an interpretable approach that explains how a prediction is made for each individual patient. Our proposed neural network-based and logistic regression-based methods outperformed persistence baselines. In an unobserved set of patients, our method correctly identified 83% of no-shows at the time of scheduling and led to a false alert rate less than 17%. Our method is capable of producing meaningful predictions even when some information in a patient's records is missing. We find that patients' past no-show record is the strongest predictor. Finally, we discuss several potential interventions to reduce no-shows, such as scheduling appointments of high-risk patients at off-peak times, which can serve as starting point for further studies on no-show interventions.

Giant Toads (Rhinella marina) From the Industrial Zones of Low Basin of the Coatzacoalcos River (Veracruz, MX) Presents Genotoxicity in Erythrocytes.

The lower basin of Coatzacoalcos River is one of the most polluted regions of the southern Gulf of Mexico. Organochlorine compounds, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals have been registered in this region. In the present study, genotoxicity was evaluated in the blood of giant toads (Rhinella marina) from Coatzacoalcos' rural and industrial zones, and compared with laboratory toads. Determination of the frequency of micronucleus and erythrocyte nuclear abnormalities by the light microscope and cell cycle and apoptosis by flow cytometry were used as biomarkers of genotoxicity. We found more variability in micronucleus and more nuclear buds in toads from industrial zones. Also, cell cycle alterations and an increase of apoptosis in erythrocytes were found in toads from rural and industrial zones. Multivariate statistics show that the toads from the industrial zone were more affected than toads from laboratory and rural zones.

Solution strategy based on Gaussian mixture models and dispersion reduction for the capacitated centered clustering problem.

The Capacitated Centered Clustering Problem (CCCP)-a multi-facility location model-is very important within the logistics and supply chain management fields due to its impact on industrial transportation and distribution. However, solving the CCCP is a challenging task due to its computational complexity. In this work, a strategy based on Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) and dispersion reduction is presented to obtain the most likely locations of facilities for sets of client points considering their distribution patterns. Experiments performed on large CCCP instances, and considering updated best-known solutions, led to estimate the performance of the GMMs approach, termed as Dispersion Reduction GMMs, with a mean error gap smaller than 2.6%. This result is more competitive when compared to Variable Neighborhood Search, Simulated Annealing, Genetic Algorithm and CKMeans and faster to achieve when compared to the best-known solutions obtained by Tabu-Search and Clustering Search.

Innovation as recovery strategy for SMEs in emerging economies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The quarantine and disruption of non-essential activities as measure to contain the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected all economies around the World. This has had a deeper impact on small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging economies because they have very limited resources and vulnerable supply chain and business-to-business/business-to-clients relationships. In this context, it is expected that after the pandemic many of these enterprises will disappear as the "new normality" will require changes in business and infrastructure management. To reduce this risk, innovation is identified as a key aspect of business recovery in the ongoing and post-COVID-19 pandemic period. This work presents a multidisciplinary methodological approach to guide these enterprises to innovate their products for new markets and making a better use of their limited available resources. As an example of this approach, the research-supported development of a new product for a family-owned SME was performed in a zone with high COVID-19 risk. The results provide insight regarding innovation as a survival tool for SMEs during and after the COVID-19 contingency, and the use of digital resources is identified as the main facilitator for networking and research-based design of innovative products within the "social distance" context.

Nondestructive biomarkers in giant toad (Rhinella marina) to assess the effect of complex mixture of pollutants in Coatzacoalcos River, Mexico.

In this study, we evaluated the usefulness of nondestructive biomarkers approach in giant toads (Rhinella marina). We obtained blood samples and the residual condition index of toads from rural and industrial zones from Coatzacoalcos River, Mexico (COA). In the blood samples, we determined the activity of enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and the presence of cell death (apoptosis). We found that the activity of the enzyme delta-aminolevulinic dehydratase was lower. Still, the glutathione s-transferase activity and the percentage of apoptosis in erythrocytes were higher in the toads of COA than laboratory toads. Meanwhile, some biomarkers in toads showed differences when compared between Industrial and Rural zones. These results and correlations between biomarkers showed how the response changed in the toads living near the industrial zones. We demonstrate that a nondestructive biomarkers approach can be useful in environmental studies with anuran amphibians.

Patterns in utilization of carbon sources in soil microbial communities contaminated with mine solid wastes from San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

In San Luis Potosí, Mexico, the exploitation of minerals has historically been carried out as an activity that has left in its path environmental liabilities, with high concentrations of heavy metals. These metals have undergone weathering by rain and wind and have moved closer to inhabited locations as is the case of Cerro de San Pedro (CSP) and Villa de la Paz (VDP). The objective of this study is to show the biological alteration of soils due to the presence of heavy metals and metalloids like Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb) and Arsenic (As) and to find the relationship between contamination and risk indexes. Soil samples were obtained from sites with historical records of mining activity and their surroundings. Several analyses were performed, such as pH levels, organic matter, electrical conductivity, clays, heavy metals and As. Moreover, Community Level Physiological profiling (CLPP) were conducted. The obtained evidence showed high levels of contamination by As and heavy metals in both sites (CSP: 6485.1 mg/Kg of Pb and pH of 4.4; VDP: 7188.2 mg/Kg of As and pH of 7.8). According to the Metal Pollution Index (MPI), 607.0 in CSP and 1050.5 in VDP, presented a high environmental risk, apart from, risk to human health (SQGQI) 35.8 in CSP and 131.5 in VDP. At the same time, CLPPs showed that microbiological communities were selective in taking up substrate groups, in the following order: Carbohydrates > Polymers > Carboxylic acids > Amino acids > Amines/Amides. However, a positive correlation in CSP was only found between both indexes and Amines/Amides (r = 0.46, p < 0.05), and in VDP the D-Galactonic acid-γ-Lactone with the MPI (r = 0.49, p < 0.05), and with the SQGQI (r = 0.45, p < 0.05). Although this behavior was not homogeneous, it was possible to find negative correlations between both indexes and the AWCD with other substrates, influenced by the physicochemical characteristics presented in each studied site. Consequently, according to our findings, a combined effect between the physicochemical characteristics, As, and heavy metals took place, on the metabolic activity, causing alterations to soil functions.

Mortality From Alcohol-Related Liver Cirrhosis in Mexico (2000-2017).

Background: Alcohol is the main cause of liver cirrhosis. The objective of this study was to analyze the mortality rates of alcohol-related cirrhosis in Mexico from 2000 to 2017. Methods: Mortality data from alcohol-related cirrhosis were obtained from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography. Rates were adjusted to the World Standard Population and were calculated with a direct method. The differences between genders were evaluated with Student's t-test, while the ANOVA test was used for differences among age groups. A trend analysis was performed with an ln regression of adjusted mortality rates and analyzed with Student's t-test. Results: The mean age-adjusted mortality rate during the study period was 13.28 per 100,000 inhabitants. A significant decrease in mortality rates was observed, from 20.55 to 10.62 per 100,000 inhabitants. All age groups studied showed a significant decrease in mortality. The mortality rate was higher in males than in females. Conclusions: Mortality from alcohol-related cirrhosis decreased in Mexico. Males still have the highest mortality rate.

Integrated probabilistic risk assessment in sites contaminated with arsenic and lead by long-term mining liabilities in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

Mining environmental liabilities (MEL) in San Luis Potosi are the result of more than 450 years of mining activity, which has contaminated the soil mainly with arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in several areas. Risk assessments are used to estimate the possibility of the occurrence of adverse effects on human health or on ecological receptors; and the most accessible way of performing them is through probabilistic estimates such as the Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) model. Therefore, the aim of this study was to carry out an Integrated Probabilistic Environmental Risk Assessment (IPERA) for the estimation of health risks in infants and rodents. The mean concentrations of As and Pb in soil were significantly higher (p<0.05) in all contaminated sites than in their respective reference sites. Villa de la Paz was the site with the highest mean concentration of As (1374 mg/kg), while Charcas was the one with the highest level of Pb (12,929 mg/kg). The Hazard Quotient (HQ) was calculated and Villa de la Paz had the highest values of As in both rodents (11.994) and children (39.32), and Charcas showed the highest values of Pb in both (24.971 and 31.668 for rodents and children respectively). The cumulative hazard Index (HI) reveals there is a very significant health risk due to As and Pb exposure for both rodents and children in contaminated areas of these mining communities.

Development of a coded suite of models to explore relevant problems in logistics.

Logistics is the aspect of the supply chain which is responsible of the efficient flow and delivery of goods or services from suppliers to customers. Because a logistic system involves specialized operations such as inventory control, facility location and distribution planning, the logistic professional requires mathematical, technological and managerial skills and tools to design, adapt and improve these operations. The main research is focused on modeling and solving logistic problems through specialized tools such as integer programing and meta-heuristics methods. In practice, the use of these tools for large and complex problems requires mathematical and computational proficiency. In this context, the present work contributes with a coded suite of models to explore relevant problems by the logistic professional, undergraduate/postgraduate student and/or academic researcher. The functions of the coded suite address the following: (1) generation of test instances for routing and facility location problems with real geographical coordinates; (2) computation of Euclidean, Manhattan and geographical arc length distance metrics for routing and facility location problems; (3) simulation of non-deterministic inventory control models; (4) importing/exporting and plotting of input data and solutions for analysis and visualization by third-party platforms; and (5) designing of a nearest-neighbor meta-heuristic to provide very suitable solutions for large vehicle routing and facility location problems. This work is completed by a discussion of a case study which integrates the functions of the coded suite.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using a Mentha spicata extract and evaluation of its anticancer and cytotoxic activity.

In this study, silver nanoparticles (NP) were synthesized by two methods: using an aqueous extract of Mentha spicata leaves and using citrate ions as stabilizing agent, and the cytotoxicity and anticancer activity of both NP were evaluated in vitro. The particles synthesized with the aqueous extract were spherical with a size ranging from 15 to 45 nm. These NP decreased cell viability in all of the cells studied; however, the IC50 could only be estimated in the Chang liver cells (IC50 = 21.37 µg/mL). These particles also decreased the generation of reactive oxygen species in Chang and SiHa cells. Additionally, the dispersions decreased the activity of caspase-3. There was no significant difference between the biological activities of the NP obtained with the aqueous extract and the NP synthesized using citrate ions. This study showed that an aqueous extract of M. spicata is an excellent alternative for the synthesis of silver NP. These NP showed cytotoxicity and anticancer activity in vitro. Although more experiments are required, the cell death occurs probably through a mechanism different from apoptosis.

G1359A Polymorphism of the Cannabinoid Receptor 1 Is Not Associated with Overweight and Dyslipidemia in Young Northeastern Mexicans.

There is extensive evidence to believe that the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in energy homeostasis through a variety of mechanisms. This study aimed to analyze the association between polymorphism rs12720071 of the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CNR1) gene with dyslipidemia and overweight in young, healthy Mexicans. The association was analyzed with a logistic regression model and expressed as odds ratio (OR). A total of 148 individuals agreed to participate. Overall, the serum concentrations of lipids were found to be in the normal range. However, females presented higher levels of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) than males [probability value (p) = <0.05]. In addition, females presented higher risk of being overweight (BMI: >25) [OR = 3.57; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05-12.20; p = 0.04], than males. Our results suggest that this polymorphism could influence BMI in young females.

DNA damage in different wildlife species exposed to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) from the delta of the Coatzacoalcos river, Mexico.

The delta of the Coatzacoalcos river is a priority region for the biological conservation in the Gulf of Mexico. Environmental studies in the area have detected a complex mixture of contaminants where the presence of Persistent organic compounds (POPs) is highlighted. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) integrity of biological populations are global concerns due to their ecological implications. The purpose of this study was to measure the exposure to POPs and DNA damage in nine species residing in the Coatzacoalcos river classified by taxonomic group, type of habitat and feeding habits. Total POPs concentrations (minimum and maximum) detected for all species were from 22.7 to 24,662.1 ng/g l.w; and the values of DNA damage (minimum and maximum) varied from 0.7 to 20.5 and from 6.5 to 56.8 µm (Olive tail moment and tail length respectively). Broadly speaking, reptiles, species residing in the wetland and the ones with a carnivorous diet showed higher levels of POPs and DNA damage. This study provides us with a baseline of the state of POPs contamination and shows the degree of environmental stress to which the different components of the ecosystem of the Coatzacoalcos river delta are subject to.

No association between G1359A CB1 polymorphisms and pain in young northeastern Mexicans.

AIM: Recent studies show an association between the endocannabinoid system and pain. In this study, we analyzed the association between two CNR1 gene polymorphisms and pain perception in a northeast Mexican population. METHODS: Genotypic and allelic frequencies were obtained for both polymorphisms. Pain threshold, tolerance and perception were measured using the cold pressor task. RESULTS: No significant association between the polymorphisms and pain perception was found (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Genotypic and allelic frequencies for both polymorphisms were reported for the first time in a Mexican population; however, our results suggest that there is not a significant association between these and pain.

[Variación estacional de las amputaciones en un hospital universitario de Monterrey, México (2009-2012)]. / Seasonality variation of amputations in a university hospital from Monterrey, Mexico (2009-2012).

ANTECEDENTES: Una de las principales complicaciones de la diabetes mellitus es la amputación de alguna extremidad. En todo el mundo, la prevalencia de amputaciones asociadas a la diabetes es muy variada y tiene un impacto considerable en la calidad de vida del paciente. OBJETIVO: Analizar la frecuencia de las amputaciones en el Hospital Universitario Dr. José E. González y evaluar si se presenta un patrón estacional. MÉTODO: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de 2009 a 2012, en el que se revisaron los expedientes de pacientes diabéticos que se sometieron a amputación. La estacionalidad se analizó con la bondad de ajuste de ji al cuadrado. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron 456 amputaciones. Los resultados muestran que febrero es el mes que presenta la mayor frecuencia de amputaciones. La estación anual con mayor número de amputaciones fue el invierno. CONCLUSIONES: Las amputaciones en pacientes diabéticos del área metropolitana de Monterrey presentan un patrón estacional, siendo los meses de invierno los de mayor frecuencia. BACKGROUND: The amputation of an extremity is a main complication of Diabetes mellitus. Worldwide the prevalence of amputations associated with diabetes mellitus is variable and had a considerable impact in the quality of life. OBJECTIVE: Analyze the frequency of amputations in the University Hospital, Dr José E González and evaluate if a seasonal pattern is present. METHOD: A retrospective analysis from 2009 to 2012 was carried out. Clinical files of diabetic patients undergoing to amputation were studied. The seasonality was evaluated with a chi square goodness of fit. RESULTS: A total of 456 amputations were studied. Results shown that February was the month with highest frequency of amputations while winter was the annual season with highest frequency of amputations. CONCLUSIONS: Amputations of diabetic patients from Metropolitan Monterrey Mexico show a seasonal pattern being the winter months those that present highest frequency.