Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the main form of head and neck cancer. Gap junctions (GJs) are communication channels involved in cell proliferation control; they consist of hemichannels formed by connexin (Cx) proteins. The abnormal expression/function of Cx43 has been associated with tumor progression. Also, some human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have been linked to squamous cell cancer. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing Cx43 as a potential OSCC biomarker and exploring its association with histopathological differentiation and HPV infection. OSCC samples were inspected using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and Cx43 expression and HPV 16/18 were tested by immunofluorescence. Pearson correlation tests, ANOVA, and Kaplan–Meier curves were used in the analysis. Samples from 39 patients with OSCC were studied. Most had well-differentiated histology and 61.5% were HPV+. Cx43 expression was significantly associated with HPV infection (p = 0.047), differentiation (p < 0.001), and survival (p = 0.009), and HPV positivity was also associated with the degree of differentiation (p = 0.012). Cx43 shows potential as a prognostic biomarker for OSCC. Lower Cx43 expression, correlated with poorer differentiation, is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. Further studies are needed to confirm its clinical utility.

Background: Bullying in university settings is a significant yet understudied contributor to psychological distress. Differentiating the sources of victimization, may reveal distinct risk profiles associated with mental health and substance use outcomes. Objective: To evaluate the frequency and risk factors associated with bullying victimization among medical students, and to identify associations with mental disorders and substance use. Methods: A nested case–control cohort study was conducted with 124 medical students. Participants completed nine validated psychometric instruments evaluating neurobehavioral traits, emotional distress, substance use, and scholar bullying. Bivariate and multivariate regression models were used to estimate coefficients and odds ratios for key outcomes. Results: 42.7% of the students reported victimization, with teacher harassment (37.1%) more frequent than peer harassment (27.4%); 22.6% experienced both. Teacher harassment was primarily characterized by intentional harm (78%); peer harassment involved abuse of authority (63%). ADHD, severe stress, and substance use were associated with teacher-related victimization, while peer victimization was linked to ADHD, stress, impulsivity, and suicide risk. Childhood abuse, high stress levels, and non-heterosexual orientation as predictors of teacher harassment (p < 0.05). Notably, students with a non-heterosexual orientation were over six times more likely to report teacher harassment, highlighting the disproportionate vulnerability of sexual minorities within academic power dynamics. Conclusions: Teacher- and peer-related harassment are prevalent and often co-occur, with teacher-perpetrated bullying emerging as both more frequent and more strongly associated with mental health and identity-based vulnerabilities. Students with ADHD, high stress levels, and non-heterosexual orientation are at significantly greater risk. These findings emphasize the need for institutional accountability, inclusive academic policies, and targeted mental health support to protect vulnerable students and prevent harm within educational environments.

Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a disorder characterized by hypertension in the second trimester of pregnancy that results from abnormal placentation affecting fetal development and maternal health. Previous studies have shown the role of serotonin (5-HT) that leads to poor placental perfusion, where S/S and S/L polymorphisms promote the solute carrier family 6 member 4 (SLC6A4) gene associated with the risk of developing changes in the microvasculature of the placenta. This study looked at the association between the gene variant 5-HTTLPR (serotonin-transporter-linked promoter region) of the SLC6A4 gene and the occurrence of PE. A total of 200 women were included: 100 cases (pregnant with PE) and 100 controls (pregnant without complications). Genotyping of the 5-HTTLPR variant was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Associations between the presence of the genetic variant of interest and PE and other clinical features were evaluated statistically. The frequencies of S/S, S/L, and L/L genotypes were 32%, 53%, and 15% for the cases and 55%, 25%, and 20% in the control group. Compared to the controls, the genotype frequencies S/S vs. S/L + L/L (recessive model) in the cases group were different (p = 0.002). The S/S genotype decreased the probability of PE (OR = 0.39, 95% IC: 0.22–0.69, p = 0.002) and PE with severity criteria (OR = 0.39, 95% IC: 0.17–0.91, p = 0.045). The 5-HTTLPR gene variant of the SLC6A4 gene modifies the risk of PE development among the studied population.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic created an urgent need for safe and accessible outpatient treatments. Polymerized type I collagen (PTIC) has demonstrated potential immunomodulatory effects, but its clinical utility in patients with COVID-19 remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical evolution and health outcomes of a cohort of patients with COVID-19 treated with standard medical care plus PTIC during the pandemic emergency, in order to explore its potential role as an adjuvant therapy. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 46 outpatients with confirmed COVID-19 treated with PTIC (Fibroquel^®) plus standard care, and 15 controls with standard care alone. Clinical and laboratory data were collected on Days 1 and 10. Patients were stratified by COVID-19 severity and SARS-CoV-2 variant. Analyses included odds ratios and Kaplan–Meier survival curves. Results: Oxygen saturation levels increased significantly from 88.5 ± 5.22 to 95.1 ± 2.07 after PTIC treatment. Supplemental oxygen was required for 26.1% of patients receiving treatment, compared to 60% of those in the untreated group (p < 0.05). Complete recovery was observed in all patients treated with PTIC, compared with 80% recovery in the standard care group. There were no deaths from COVID-19 in the PTIC group. In contrast, 20% of the participants in the untreated group died due to complications from the disease (p = 0.013). PTIC improved the survival rate of patients with the disease. Conclusions: PTIC significantly improved clinical parameters in patients with COVID-19. It improves oxygen saturation levels, decreases the need for supplemental oxygen, and improves survival compared to patients who are not treated with PTIC. Additional studies are needed to validate the use of PTIC as an adjunctive therapy for patients with COVID-19.