Background: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted mental health and substance use patterns, particularly among young adults. Objective: This study aimed to assess changes in anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and substance use among university students in Mexico before, during, and after the pandemic. Methods: Using a repeated cross-sectional design, this study was conducted with university students in Mexico across three periods: pre-pandemic (2017 and 2019); during the pandemic (2021); and post-pandemic (2023). A total of 2167 students were interviewed during one of the three periods. Standardized scales measured anxiety, depression, self-esteem, Erotic Response and Sexual Orientation Scale (EROS), and substance use. Results: showed a marked and significant increase in the proportion of students with anxiety (40.0%, 71.7%, and 79.6%) and depression (14.4%, 61.9%, and 62.6%) during the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods, respectively. Self-esteem significantly decreased during and after the pandemic, compared to pre-pandemic, particularly among females. The proportion of students categorized as moderate/high-risk for their substance use changed over time, showing a reduction in alcohol use (from 29.9% to 20.2%) and tobacco use (from 26.0% to 18.2%) but an increase in sedative use (from 7.1% to 11.7%), before vs after the pandemic, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that anxiety, low self-esteem, and increased sedative use were consistently linked to a heightened risk of depression during and after the pandemic. Notably, anxiety and depression levels remained in a proportion significantly elevated even in the post-pandemic period. Conclusions: These findings underscore the enduring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of university students, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions, early detection strategies, and customized educational programs to effectively support students’ mental well-being in the ongoing post-pandemic era.

Self-perceived emotional intelligence in healthcare personnel is not just an individual skill but a work tool, which is even more necessary in times of crisis. This article aimed to determine emotional intelligence as perceived by students studying nursing at the University of Colima, Mexico, a year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional survey of an academic year stratified population of 349 students was conducted, using the Trait Meta-Mood Scale-24 instrument. A global descriptive analysis was performed for each school year. Additionally, an ANOVA was performed, and a Multiple Correspondence Analysis was executed. It is essential to highlight the high percentages for emotional attention within the results. However, a large percentage of students required improvement in emotional attention, clarity, and repair. According to their school year, significant differences were observed among student groups within the three emotional intelligence subscales (p < 0.05). Second-year students had low levels in the three subscales of emotional intelligence, while fourth-year students had adequate levels. We established that the scores were different depending on the school year, with a significant decrease in second-year students. The implementation of educational programs could aid in the development of emotional skills in students from the health field, especially in times of crisis.

Children constitute a population at risk from environmental exposure to trace elements. This study aimed to evaluate correlations between urinary and blood levels of multiple elements in school-aged children (5–12 years), assessing whether urine, a less invasive matrix, could complement or replace blood sampling. A pilot biomonitoring study was conducted, and 91 children provided urine and venous blood samples in which the levels of 17 contaminants (Al, As, Ba, Cs, Co, Cu, I, Pb, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Sr, Te, Ti, and Zn) were assessed. Spearman correlation coefficients (rho) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed. Urinary and blood levels of arsenic (rho = 0.23, 95% CI 0.01–0.44), lead (rho = 0.43, 95% CI 0.24–0.61), and strontium (rho = 0.22, 95% CI 0.03–0.40) showed significant correlations. These findings suggest that urine sampling could serve as a practical alternative to blood collection for monitoring specific trace elements like lead in pediatric populations, particularly in large-scale studies where participant compliance is critical. However, modest correlations for other elements highlight the need for element-specific validation before adopting urine as a universal biomonitoring matrix. Future research should explore the pharmacokinetic and exposure-related factors driving these relationships to optimize non-invasive surveillance strategies for children’s environmental health.

Introduction: venous insufficiency is an affection in which the veins are unable to send blood from the lower extremities to the heart. The seriousness of this disease lies in its complications, the mildest degree produces itching, pain, heaviness, tiredness and burning on the soles of the feet, when complicated it can present edema, calf cramps, intense itching, and dark coloration of the skin. Objective: the knowledge and compliance of nursing staff in the surgical area with respect to self-care related to venous insufficiency of the lower limbs is described. Material and methods: This are a descriptive, cross-sectional, prolective and observational study. The universe is made up of 24 nursing professionals and the sample was made up of 22 collaborators assigned to the surgical area of a second-level public hospital; 2 instruments were used: 1) knowledge and 2) questionnaire to assess self- care. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Fisher's exact test. Results: 100% of the study participants do not comply with self-care, the criterion to determine compliance was that when observing the preventive actions known as self-care, a score of 6 complete items was obtained, which does not happen. Conclusion: there is a risk factor for venous insufficiency in the lower limbs, when the seniority is the variable that shows significant differences with respect to knowledge and compliance. Introducción: la insuficiencia venosa es una afectación en la cual las venas son incapaces de enviar sangre desde las extremidades inferiores al corazón. La gravedad de esta enfermedad radica en sus complicaciones, el grado más leve produce escozor, dolor, pesadez, cansancio y quemazón en la planta de los pies; al complicarse puede presentar edema, calambres en pantorrillas, prurito intenso y coloración oscura de la piel. Objetivo: describir el nivel de conocimiento y cumplimiento del personal de enfermería de área quirúrgica respecto al autocuidado relacionado a la insuficiencia venosa de miembros inferiores. Material y métodos: se trata de un estudio descriptivo, trasversal, prolectivo y observacional; el universo es de 24 profesionales en enfermería y la muestra estuvo conformada por 22 colaboradores adscritos al área quirúrgica de un hospital público de segundo nivel de atención; se utilizaron dos instrumentos: 1) conocimiento y 2) cuestionario para evaluar el autocuidado. Se analizaron los datos mediante estadística descriptiva y prueba exacta de Fisher. Resultados: el 100 % de los participantes en el estudio no cumple con el autocuidado, el criterio para determinar el cumplimiento fue que, al observar las acciones preventivas conocidas como autocuidado, se obtuviera una calificación de 6 ítems completos, lo cual no sucede. Conclusión: existe un factor de riesgo para la insuficiencia venosa en miembros inferiores, donde la antigüedad laboral es la variable que evidencia diferencias significativas con respecto al conocimiento y cumplimiento.

Sugarcane production has been linked to the release of heavy metals and metalloids (HM/MTs) into the environment, raising concerns about potential health risks. This study aimed to assess the levels of 19 HM/MTs in children living near a sugarcane mill through a pilot biomonitoring investigation. We investigated sex-related differences in these element levels and their correlations. A cross-sectional study was conducted, analyzing data from 20 children in the latter part of 2023. Spearman correlation coefficients with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the relationships between urinary HM/MT levels. Detectable levels of 17 out of the 19 HM/MTs were found across the entire study sample, with arsenic and copper detectable in 95% of the children. Titanium exhibited higher levels in boys compared to girls ($p$ = 0.017). We identified 56 statistically significant correlations, with 51 of them being positive, while the remaining coefficients indicated negative relationships. This study characterized HM/MT levels in school-aged children residing near a sugarcane mill through a pilot biomonitoring investigation. Further research employing larger sample sizes and longitudinal assessments would enhance our understanding of the dynamics and health impacts of HM/MT exposure in this vulnerable population.

La enfermería mexicana es una de las profesiones que más se destacó en el frente contra uno de los virus altamente letales de los que se tenga memoria, un agente de comportamiento fuera de toda proporción que puso a prueba a todos los sistemas de salud en el mundo, su embate superó cualquier capacidad instalada, recursos, equipo sofisticado o personal capacitado. En este texto se compone de la narrativa de los hechos a través de las voces y reflexiones de algunos profesionales de enfermería de contrato de INSABI, dentro del hospital de segundo nivel de atención de la Secretaria de Salud del gobierno del Estado. Corría el mes de diciembre de 2019, cuando los noticieros y comunicaciones científicas anunciaban por primera vez una nueva enfermedad (2019-nCov) las personas infectadas presentaban problemas en las vías respiratoria1,2, los mismos reportes informaron que las personas cursaban con dificultad respiratoria similar a un resfriado común, cefalea, rinorrea, diarrea, náuseas y vómito, estas características definitorias conformarían la definición operacional de casos sospechosos y casos confirmados de COVID-19 .