VERONICA JUDITH PICOS CARDENAS

Prof. Dr. VERONICA JUDITH PICOS CARDENAS

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

13Years (2014-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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29 June 2022 in Cancers
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
SBSaúl Armando Beltrán
Saúl Armando Beltrán
MGMartha Alejandra Fernández Galindo
Martha Alejandra Fernández Galindo
JOJOSE MIGUEL MORENO ORTIZ
JOSE MIGUEL MORENO ORTIZ
JCJose A. Contreras-Gutierrez
Jose A. Contreras-Gutierrez
JMJesus Madueña-Molina
Jesus Madueña-Molina
Daniel DiazDaniel Diaz
Daniel Diaz
In 2019, the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) estimated that prostate cancer (PC) was the 16th most common cause of death globally in males. In Mexico, PC epidemiology has been studied by a number of metrics and over various periods, although without including the most up-to-date estimates. Herein, we describe and compare the burdens and trends of PC in Mexico and its 32 states from 2000 to 2019. For this study, we extracted online available data from the GBD 2019 to estimate the crude and age-standardized rates (ASR per 100,000 people) of the incidence and mortality of PC. In Mexico, PC caused 27.1 thousand (95% uncertainty intervals, 20.6–36.0 thousand) incident cases and 9.2 thousand (7.7–12.7 thousand) deaths in males of all ages in 2019. Among the states, Sinaloa had the greatest ASR of incidence, and Guerrero had the highest mortality. The burden of PC showed an increasing trend, although the magnitude of change differed between metrics and locations. We found both an increasing national trend and subnational variation in the burden of PC. Our results confirm the need for updated and timely estimates to design effective diagnostic and treatment campaigns in locations where the burden of PC is the highest.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JCJosué Camberos-Barraza
Josué Camberos-Barraza
ACAlejandro Camacho-Zamora
Alejandro Camacho-Zamora
JBJosé C. Bátiz-Beltrán
José C. Bátiz-Beltrán
JOJuan Fidel Osuna-Ramos
Juan Fidel Osuna-Ramos
ÁRÁngel R. Rábago-Monzón
Ángel R. Rábago-Monzón
Alberto Kousuke De la Herrán-AritaAlberto Kousuke De la Herrán-Arita
Alberto Kousuke De la Herrán-Arita
The relationship between sleep, glial cells, and the endocannabinoid system represents a multifaceted regulatory network with profound implications for neuroinflammation and cognitive function. The molecular underpinnings of sleep modulation by the endocannabinoid system and its influence on glial cell activity are discussed, shedding light on the reciprocal relationships that govern these processes. Emphasis is placed on understanding the role of glial cells in mediating neuroinflammatory responses and their modulation by sleep patterns. Additionally, this review examines how the endocannabinoid system interfaces with glia-immune signaling to regulate inflammatory cascades within the central nervous system. Notably, the cognitive consequences of disrupted sleep, neuroinflammation, and glial dysfunction are addressed, encompassing implications for neurodegenerative disorders, mood disturbances, and cognitive decline. Insights into the bidirectional modulation of cognitive function by the endocannabinoid system in the context of sleep and glial activity are explored, providing a comprehensive perspective on the potential mechanisms underlying cognitive impairments associated with sleep disturbances. Furthermore, this review examines potential therapeutic avenues targeting the endocannabinoid system to mitigate neuroinflammation, restore glial homeostasis, and normalize sleep patterns. The identification of novel therapeutic targets within this intricate regulatory network holds promise for addressing conditions characterized by disrupted sleep, neuroinflammation, and cognitive dysfunction. This work aims to examine the complexities of neural regulation and identify potential avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
JOJuan Fidel Osuna-Ramos
Juan Fidel Osuna-Ramos
JCJosué Camberos-Barraza
Josué Camberos-Barraza
LMlaura esperanza torres mondragon
laura esperanza torres mondragon
ÁRÁngel R. Rábago-Monzón
Ángel R. Rábago-Monzón
ACAlejandro Camacho-Zamora
Alejandro Camacho-Zamora
Alberto Kousuke De la Herrán-AritaAlberto Kousuke De la Herrán-Arita
Alberto Kousuke De la Herrán-Arita
The intricate mechanisms governing brain health and function have long been subjects of extensive investigation. Recent research has shed light on two pivotal systems, the glymphatic system and the endocannabinoid system, and their profound role within the central nervous system. The glymphatic system is a recently discovered waste clearance system within the brain that facilitates the efficient removal of toxic waste products and metabolites from the central nervous system. It relies on the unique properties of the brain’s extracellular space and is primarily driven by cerebrospinal fluid and glial cells. Conversely, the endocannabinoid system, a multifaceted signaling network, is intricately involved in diverse physiological processes and has been associated with modulating synaptic plasticity, nociception, affective states, appetite regulation, and immune responses. This scientific review delves into the intricate interconnections between these two systems, exploring their combined influence on brain health and disease. By elucidating the synergistic effects of glymphatic function and endocannabinoid signaling, this review aims to deepen our understanding of their implications for neurological disorders, immune responses, and cognitive well-being.

11 September 2023 in Microorganisms
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Alberto Kousuke De la Herrán-AritaAlberto Kousuke De la Herrán-Arita
Alberto Kousuke De la Herrán-Arita
CGCuitláhuac González-Galindo
Cuitláhuac González-Galindo
GIGerardo Kenny Inzunza-Leyva
Gerardo Kenny Inzunza-Leyva
MVMarco Antonio Valdez-Flores
Marco Antonio Valdez-Flores
CNClaudia Desireé Norzagaray-Valenzuela
Claudia Desireé Norzagaray-Valenzuela
JOJuan Fidel Osuna-Ramos
Juan Fidel Osuna-Ramos
Monkeypox (Mpox) is an emerging zoonotic disease with the potential for severe complications. Early identification and diagnosis are essential to prompt treatment, control its spread, and reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission. This study aimed to develop a clinical diagnostic tool and describe the clinical and sociodemographic features of 19 PCR-confirmed Mpox cases during an outbreak in a nonendemic region of northwestern Mexico. The median age of patients was 35 years, and most were male. Mpox-positive patients commonly reported symptoms such as fever, lumbago, and asthenia, in addition to experiencing painful ulcers and a high frequency of HIV infection among people living with HIV (PLWH). Two diagnostic models using logistic regression were devised, with the best model exhibiting a prediction accuracy of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.8–1), a sensitivity of 0.86, and a specificity of 0.93. The high predictive values and accuracy of the top-performing model highlight its potential to significantly improve early Mpox diagnosis and treatment in clinical settings, aiding in the control of future outbreaks.

6 May 2022 in Preprints.org
Verified
Preprint
Open access
PDF file
SBSaúl Armando Beltrán
Saúl Armando Beltrán
MGMartha Alejandra Fernández Galindo
Martha Alejandra Fernández Galindo
JOJOSE MIGUEL MORENO ORTIZ
JOSE MIGUEL MORENO ORTIZ
JCJose A. Contreras-Gutierrez
Jose A. Contreras-Gutierrez
JMJesus Madueña-Molina
Jesus Madueña-Molina
Daniel DiazDaniel Diaz
Daniel Diaz
In 2019, the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) estimated that prostate cancer (PC) was the 16th cause of death globally in males. In Mexico, PC epidemiology has been reported for a selected number of metrics and years, although without including the most up-to-date estimates. Herein, we describe and compare the burden and trends of PC in Mexico and its 32 states from 2000 to 2019. For this, we extracted online available data from the GBD 2019 to estimate the crude and age-standardized rate (ASR per 100,000 people) of incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). In Mexico, PC caused 27.1 thousand (95% uncertainty intervals, 20.6-36.0 thousand) incident cases, 9.2 thousand (7.7-12.7 thousand) deaths, and 161.5 thousand (122.7-219.5 thousand) DALYs in males of all ages in 2019. Among states, Sinaloa had the greatest ASR of incidence and Guerrero the highest values of deaths and DALYs. The burden of PC showed an increasing trend, although the magnitude of change differed between metrics and locations. We found both an increasing national trend and subnational variation in the burden of PC. Our results confirm the need for updated and timely estimates to design effective diagnostic and treatment campaigns in locations where the burden of PC is the highest.

30 May 2025 in Microorganisms
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
DFDavid Figueroa
David Figueroa
MVMarco Antonio Valdez-Flores
Marco Antonio Valdez-Flores
CNClaudia Desireé Norzagaray-Valenzuela
Claudia Desireé Norzagaray-Valenzuela
LCLoranda Calderón-Zamora
Loranda Calderón-Zamora
ÁRÁngel Radamés Rábago-Monzón
Ángel Radamés Rábago-Monzón
JOJuan Fidel Osuna-Ramos
Juan Fidel Osuna-Ramos
The ongoing threat of viral pandemics such as COVID-19 highlights the urgent need for novel antiviral therapeutics targeting conserved viral proteins. In this study, peptides of 10–30 kDa derived from the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum were identified as potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), a key enzyme in viral replication. Peptides less than 60 amino acids in length were retrieved from the UniProt database and aligned with reference antiviral sequences using the Biopython pairwise2 algorithm. Six candidates were selected for structural modeling using AlphaFold2 and Swiss-Model, followed by molecular docking using ClusPro2. LigPlot+ was used to assess molecular interactions, while NetMHCpan 4.1 and AVPpred evaluated immunogenicity and antiviral potential, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations over 100 ns were conducted using OpenMM. These peptides demonstrated stable binding interactions with key catalytic residues of Mpro. Specifically, peptide A0A8J9SA87 interacted with Cys145 and Glu166, while peptide A0A8J9SDW0 exhibited interactions with His41 and Phe140, both of which are known to be essential for Mpro inhibition. Although peptide A0A8J9X3P8 also interacted with catalytic residues, it exhibited greater structural fluctuations during molecular dynamics simulations and achieved lower AVPpred scores, suggesting lower overall antiviral potential. Therefore, A0A8J9SA87 and A0A8J9SDW0 were identified as the most promising candidates. Molecular dynamics simulations further supported the high structural stability of these peptide-Mpro complexes over a 100 ns timescale, reinforcing their potential as effective inhibitors. These findings support P. tricornutum as a valuable source of antiviral peptides and demonstrate the feasibility of in silico pipelines for identifying therapeutic candidates against SARS-CoV-2.