Background/Objectives: Differentiating complicated acute appendicitis (CA) and uncomplicated acute appendicitis (UC) is essential to guide clinical management. While CA requires urgent surgical management, UC can be treated with antibiotic therapy in selected cases. However, accurate identification of CA remains a clinical challenge. This study aimed to identify factors associated with CA and to develop a diagnostic severity scale. Methods: In this retrospective study, we included 132 adult patients (>16 years) with a confirmed postsurgical diagnosis of appendicitis, of whom 52 had CA and 80 had UA. Signs, symptoms, comorbidities, laboratory values, and ultrasonographic findings were evaluated to determine predictive factors and construct a diagnostic scale. Results: The factors most significantly associated with CA were elevated plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein (>7.150 mg/dL), fibrinogen (481.5 mg/dL), International Normalized Ratio (INR) (>1.150), and the presence of free fluid periappendicular. The combination of these factors within one scale showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.84, with a sensitivity of 78.75% and a specificity of 82.69%. Conclusions: Serum C-reactive protein concentration, fibrinogen, and INR can be employed individually or as part of a scale as important indicators in diagnosing CA.

This study focuses on describing the diversity of pesticides, the knowledge and behaviors of their use, and the acute poisoning symptoms (APS) derived from their exposure from two agricultural production systems (papaya—Carica papaya L.- and chili—Capsicum annuum L.-) in Oaxaca, Mexico. Through surveys, sociodemographic information, characteristics of the production system, knowledge and behaviors in the handling of pesticides, and APS perceived by users were captured. Papaya producers are younger, have fewer years of activity, and have larger agricultural areas than chili producers. Insect attacks and diseases are an essential factor for the application of pesticides. Thirty-one active ingredients (Ais) were identified in papaya and thirty-seven in chili, predominantly insecticides and fungicides of toxicological category IV. Approximately 50% of users apply mixtures of different Ais, have little knowledge and inappropriate behavior in their handling, and report up to five acute pesticide poisoning symptoms, mainly burning and irritation of the skin, burning eyes, itchy skin, runny nose, headache, and watery eyes. The production of papaya and chili are relevant activities for generating economic income, but they risk the producer’s and their family’s health. Both systems are a potential scenario for the manifestation of diseases due to exposure to pesticides in the medium and long term.

Objetivo: documentar el sistema de producción de tostadas y la percepción de síntomas de daño a la salud derivado de la exposición al humo de leña entre la población femenina de la comunidad rural de San José Cerro Gordo, municipio de Santa María Tonameca, Oaxaca. Metodología: el estudio fue de tipo transversal y descriptivo, a través de una encuesta se captaron datos sociodemográficos, características de la cocina y del fogón, la elaboración de tostadas y síntomas de daño a la salud por exposición a humo de leña. Resultados: fueron entrevistadas 80 mujeres, relativamente jóvenes (40.13±16.02 años) y en edad reproductiva. el 100 % utiliza el fogón abierto, exponiéndose al humo por 5.9±2.5 horas diarias. Dicha actividad la han realizado desde hace 11.9±6.5 años. El 81.3 % de ellas presentó hasta diez síntomas relacionados con la intoxicación a humo, destacando afecciones en el sistema respiratorio. Limitaciones: no se realizaron estudios clínicos debido a dificultades financieras del proyecto. Conclusiones: la elaboración de tostadas es una actividad que seguirá manteniéndose como una estrategia de subsistencia en la localidad estudiada, por lo que la salud de las mujeres involucradas seguirá en riesgo. Es necesario impulsar estrategias integrales que combinen el impulso de ecotecnologías con capacitaciones en materia de salud y desarrollo económico, que ayuden a disminuir la exposición al humo de leña y promuevan mejores condiciones de salud y comercialización de las tostadas. Finalmente, es conveniente continuar con el monitoreo a la salud de la población estudiada, con la finalidad de identificar posibles casos que ameriten la atención médica oportuna.

En Oaxaca, la agricultura es la principal actividad en el sector primario y en las comunidades rurales. Lamentablemente, la producción agrícola está expuesta al uso indiscriminado de insumos agrícolas, en particular, a plaguicidas. Dichos insumos, representan un potencial de riesgo para la salud pública y el ambiente. La presente investigación tuvo como objetivo documentar el manejo, conductas de uso e intoxicaciones agudas por plaguicidas utilizados en la agricultura de la comunidad de San Baltazar Chichicápam, Oaxaca, México. Mediante encuestas a 50 productores, se obtuvo información de los tipos de cultivo y plaguicidas utilizados, las conductas de uso, así como los signos y síntomas de intoxicación aguda por plaguicidas (IAP). Los cultivos más relevantes fueron el maíz y frijol (78%), alfalfa (68%), garbanzo (28%), tomate (20%) y flores (20%). Se identificaron 37 Ingredientes Activos (IA) de plaguicidas, 17 son utilizados en maíz, 15 en frijol, 15 en alfalfa, 23 en tomate y 12 en flores. El insecticida organofosforado metamidofos de Categoría Toxicológica II (CT II), se aplica principalmente en maíz, frijol y alfalfa. En el resto de los cultivos, se utilizan insecticidas, herbicidas y fungicidas de diferentes CT. La mayoría de los campesinos no utiliza medidas de seguridad al utilizar los plaguicidas. El 66% de la población presenta por lo menos un síntoma de IAP. El principal plaguicida asociado a dichos síntomas fue el metamidofos. La salud de la población en estudio, está en riesgo debido a la exposición a la diversidad de plaguicidas identificados.

The bioinsecticidal and repellent effect of four plant powders (Chenopodium ambrosioides, Piper auritum, Laurus nobilis, and Origanum vulgare) was evaluated in the control of Sitophilus zeamais adults in corn grains stored in the rural community of Santa María Zacatepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. Using completely randomized experimental designs, concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 3% by mass of corn grains infested with adults of S. zeamais were tested; the controls were corn without powder and aluminum phosphide. The analysis was performed using ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc and Student’s t-tests. The highest mortality (>80%) and repellent effect (Repellent Index < 0.3) that were statistically significant were obtained with C. ambrosioides and P. auritum at 3%. Both plant species have the potential for weevil control in stored corn and represent a friendly alternative for the environment and public health in the rural community where the study was conducted.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are vital players in antiviral immune responses because of their high levels of IFN-α secretion. However, this attribute has also implicated them as critical factors behind the immunopathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, and no currently available therapy can efficiently inhibit pDCs’ aberrant activation. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) possess stromal immunomodulatory functionality, regulating immune cell activation through several mechanisms, including the adenosinergic (CD39/CD73/adenosine) pathway. The IFN-γ preconditioning of bone marrow MSCs improves their inhibitory properties for therapy applications; however, isolating human gingival tissue-derived MSCs (hGMSCs) is more accessible. These cells have shown better immunomodulatory effects, yet the outcome of IFN-γ preconditioning and its impact on the adenosinergic pathway has not been evaluated. This study first validated the immunoregulatory properties of primary-cultured hGMSCs, and the results showed that IFN-γ preconditioning strengthens CD39/CD73 coexpression, adenosine production, and the regulatory properties of hGMSC, which were confirmed by describing for the first time their ability to reduce pDC activation and their IFN-α secretion and to increase the frequency of CD73+ pDC. In addition, when CD73′s enzymatic activity was neutralized in hGMSCs, adenosine production and the IFN-γ preconditioning effect were restrained. This evidence might be applied to design hGMSCs- and adenosine-based immunotherapeutic strategies for treating inflammatory disorders that are associated with pDC overactivation.