The use of pesticides in agricultural activities has increased significantly during the last decades. Several studies have reported the health damage that results from exposure to pesticides. In Mexico, hundreds of communities depend economically on agricultural activities. The participation of minors in this type of activity and their exposure to pesticides represents a potential public health problem. A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which urine samples (first-morning urine) were taken from children under 15 years of age in both communities. A total of 281 urine samples obtained in both communities were processed for the determination of pesticides with high-performance liquid chromatography together with tandem mass spectrometry. In 100% of the samples, at least two pesticides of the 17 reported in the total samples were detected. The presence of malathion, metoxuron, and glyphosate was remarkable in more than 70% of the cases. Substantial differences were detected regarding the other compounds. It is necessary to carry out long-term studies to determine the damage to health resulting from this constant exposure and to inform the health authorities about the problem in order to implement preventive measures.

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The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence, microbiological profile, bacterial resistance, and the sensitivity to antibiotics of microorganisms causing urinary tract infection (UTI) at a single-site tertiary referral hospital in the western region of Mexico. Methods: A total of 5895 culture samples processed at the microbiology laboratory from August 1, 2014, to July 31, 2015, were analyzed. results: A total of 5895 samples for urine cultures (UC) were collected, of which 3363 were taken in women (57.05%) and 2532 in men (42.95%). A prevalence of 24% was calculated. From 1444 positive UC, 1512 microorganisms were isolated; the major etiological agent was Escherichia coli, representing 67.28% followed by Pseudomonas with 7.12%. With respect to fungi, Candida glabrata was found as the most common agent. Susceptibility to daptomycin and linezolid was 100%, and meropenem, 91.4%. Highest antimicrobial resistance was found for ampicillin (77.47%) and moxifloxacin (72.89%). Nearly 49% of E. coli strains and 27% of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains showed extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production. Conclusions: Bacterial UTI persists as one of the most common infections affecting all age groups and both genders. As in other countries, E. coli ranks first in Mexico, with 67.28%, and nearly 50% of the strains produce ESBL.

Background: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum (SPM) is an uncommon condition in COVID-19 patients. No information about outcome or risk factors is available at the time. The aim of this research is to report on the frequency and risk factors of spontaneous pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 patients.Materials and Methods: An unmatched case-control study was carried out in a tertiary health-care facility for patients with COVID-19. Electronic files were reviewed to identify patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection by RT-PCR. Univariate analysis was used to describe demographic data. Mean differences were calculated using the Mann-Whitney test. Frequency and odds ratios were calculated by standard operations.Results: A total of 271 patients were included in the study. Nine patients showed spontaneous pneumomediastinum and four of them presented associated spontaneous pneumothorax. The most common risk factors associated with poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients were not considered as risk factors for spontaneous pneumomediastinum development.Conclusion: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is an uncommon clinical feature in COVID-19 patients. More research is necessary to formulate statements regarding prevalence, risk factors, and outcome.

The occurrence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) of unknown etiology in autochthonous child populations residing along the Lake Chapala lakeshore is endemic (Jalisco, México). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of albuminuria in the pediatric population and to measure the glomerular filtration rate in children with two positive albuminuria tests. Urinary albumin was measured in 394 children. Subjects with two or more positive albuminuria test donated blood samples for the determination of serum biomarkers. From a rural community with 565 children under the age of 17 years, 394 (69.7%) participated with first morning urine samples. A total of 180 children were positive (with two or more positive albuminuria tests). The prevalence of albuminuria among the children participating in the study was 45.7%. Of the 180 children with persistent albuminuria, 160 (88.9%) were tested for serum creatinine, urea, and cystatin C. The 68.1% of the children studied, were found in stages 3a and 3b of the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification (mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 51.9 and 38.4 mL/min/1.73 m2 respectively). The lowest frequencies were for classifications 1 and 4. None of the subjects was classified as grade 5. The prevalence of albuminuria in children from this rural community is 3–5 times higher than reported in international literature. Regarding GFR, more than 50% of children studied are under 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. It is a priority to find the causes of albuminuria and CKD in this Mexican region.

Spontaneous retroperitoneal haemorrhage is a lethal condition if not detected on time. The abdominal CT scan is the most accurate diagnostic method for detection. Surgical management is necessary in patients with haemodynamic instability.

BackgroundCervical cancer continues to be a major public health problem worldwide, and Cisplatin is used as first-line chemotherapy for this cancer; however, malignant cells exposed to CISplatin (CIS) become insensitive to the effects of this drug. PenToXifylline (PTX) is a xanthine that sensitizes several types of tumor cells to apoptosis induced by antitumor drugs, such as Adriamycin, Carboplatin, and CIS. The effects of PTX on tumor cells have been related to the disruption of the NF-κB pathway, thus preventing the activation of cell survival mechanisms such as the expression of anti-apoptotic genes, the secretion of proinflammatory interleukins, and growth factors.ObjectiveIn this work, we studied the antitumor proprieties of PTX in human SiHa cervical carcinoma cells resistant to CIS.Materials and MethodsSiHa and HeLa cervical cancer cells and their CIS-resistant derived cell lines (SiHaCIS-R and HeLaCIS-R, respectively) were used as in-vitro models. We studied the effects of PTX alone or in combination with CIS on cell viability, apoptosis, caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 activity, cleaved PARP-1, anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) levels, p65 phosphorylation, cadmium chloride (CdCl2) sensitivity, Platinum (Pt) accumulation, and glutathione (GSH) levels, as well as on the gene expression of GSH and drug transporters (influx and efflux).ResultsPTX sensitized SiHaCIS-R cells to the effects of CIS by inducing apoptosis, caspase activation, and PARP-1 cleavage. PTX treatment also decreased p65 phosphorylation, increased Pt levels, depleted GSH, and downregulated the expression of the ATP7A, ATP7B, GSR, and MGST1 genes.ConclusionPTX reverses the acquired phenotype of CIS resistance close to the sensitivity of parental SiHa cells.

ObjectiveTriggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM)-1 is a receptor that is thought to improve recognition of patients with true infection. In this study, we investigated whether Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM-1) is present in urine samples from children with urinary tract infection (UTI) and in samples from healthy children.MethodsA total of 128 samples met the inclusion criteria for the study. Urine samples were processed for culture and urinalysis as a regular protocol for patients with UTI. Samples were classified according to culture and urinalysis results. TREM-1 protein expression was detected with flow cytometry and sTREM-1 was assessed by ELISA.ResultsFlow cytometry showed detectable expression of TREM-1 in 100% of samples, UTI and non-UTI groups (p < 0.001). Mean fluorescence intensity of TREM-1 was different between the groups (p < 0.001). Levels of sTREM-1 were detected in patients with UTI, but not in non-UTI patients.ConclusionsAll of our patients (healthy and diseased) showed TREM-1 expression. However, TREM-1 levels in patients with UTI tend to be higher and are associated with increased neutrophils and cytokine activity induced by bacteria.