Background: The use of convalescent plasma (CP) has been considered for its immunological mechanisms that could benefit patients in moderate and severe stages of COVID-19. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of the use of donor CP for COVID-19. Material and methods: A double-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted from May to October 2020. Thirty-nine participants with moderate (II) and severe (III) stages of COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR were included. The study randomization rate was set at 3:1. CPs were chosen for application with a neutralizing antibody titer of ≥1:32. Results: We observed a significantly lower 21-day post-transfusion mortality HR: 0.17 (95.0% CI [0.07–0.45, p < 0.001]) in the group receiving CP compared with the control group; protective units (PU) in the group receiving convalescent plasma after seven days were significantly higher (512 (32–16,384) vs. 96 (32–256), p = 0.01); the PAO₂/FIO₂ index showed a significant improvement in the group receiving CP (251.01 (109.4) vs. 109.2 (62.4), p < 0.001, in the control group). Conclusion: CP is safe and effective, as it decreased mortality in the CP group compared with the control group.

Background: Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders worldwide, affecting a significant proportion of the global population. Its etiology is complex and influenced by the interaction of environmental factors and genetic variations. In Mexico, it has been reported that 41.3% of the population exhibits depressive symptoms. Previous studies have suggested that susceptibility to depression may be associated with the C-1019G (rs6295) polymorphism in the serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptor gene. Objective: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association between the C-1019G polymorphism and depressive symptoms in a rural Mexican population. Methods: Using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), we examined the effect of C-1019G on depression symptoms, as evaluated by the Beck Depression Inventory. Data were obtained from 83 volunteers; individuals with depressive symptoms and those with a healthy mood were compared. Results: The results showed that the homozygous C/C genotype was found significantly more frequently in the control group than in individuals with depressive symptoms, particularly among men, and is thus associated with a decreased risk of depressive symptomatology. Conclusions: The C/C genotype could protect against susceptibility to developing depressive symptoms in a rural population in Mexico.

In this study, 104 purified water samples were collected from vending machines in the three main cities of Michoacan, Mexico, to assess microbiological quality and the occurrence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes (DEP) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Aerobic mesophilic bacteria were detected in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.95 to 3.71 log₁₀ CFU/mL. A total of 62, 34, and 25 samples tested positive for total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and E. coli, respectively. Sixty-two samples exceeded Mexico’s official guideline. None of the 58 E. coli strains isolated from the 25 E. coli-positive samples belonged to DEP. NTM species were recovered from 47 samples, including M. mucogenicum (n = 18), M. abscessus (n = 11), M. chelonae (n = 7), M. porcinum (n = 3), M. fortuitum (n = 2), M. septicum (n = 1), M. phocaicum (n = 1), and M. brisbanense (n = 1). Three additional isolates could not be identified. All NTM strains produced biofilm and exhibited sliding motility. These findings highlight significant microbiological risks associated with vending machine water and underscore the need for manufacturers to ensure regular maintenance to provide safe and reliable purified water to consumers.

This Chapter focuses in the electrophysiological bases to support Trans Palpebral Electrical Stimulation TPES as a new alternative to control Intraocular Pressure IOP. Primary open Angle Glaucoma POAG is described in our approach as a dysfunction of the membrane potential of TM cells due to the dysfunction of the Maxi potassium depended Calcium Channels BKCa2+ of the Trabecular Mesh TM. We review through the paper the main contributions about Trabecular mesh dysfunction related with Voltage dependent ionic channels. We also present in this paper new results in controlling intra ocular pressure IOP during one year of trans palpebral Electric stimulation in patients with Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

Background/Objectives: Depression ranks among the most prevalent mental health disorders worldwide. Numerous studies have linked the C-1019G (rs6295) polymorphism in the serotonin 1A (5-HT1A) receptor gene to increased susceptibility to depression. In this study, sociodemographic variables and clinical characteristics were integrated with targeted genotyping of the C-1019G polymorphism to identify risk factors associated with depressive symptoms in a Mexican cohort. Methods: Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected from 257 volunteers (202 healthy controls, 55 with depressive symptoms). Genotyping for C-1019G was performed using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Sociodemographic variables, clinical characteristics, and genotype frequencies were analyzed relative to Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) scores. Results: BDI scores were significantly lower among males, participants aged < 40 years, unmarried individuals, and those with a high school education (p < 0.05). Females were three times more likely to exhibit depressive symptoms than males (p = 0.004; OR = 3.08). Compared with participants aged < 40 years, those aged 40–65 and >65 years were two (p = 0.026; OR = 2.19) and five times (p < 0.001; OR = 5.71) more likely to report depressive symptoms, respectively. Participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus had twice the odds of depressive symptoms (p = 0.025; OR = 2.38). Odds increased twelvefold among those with diabetes plus arterial hypertension (p < 0.001; OR = 12.25). Among males, the C/C genotype was observed exclusively in controls (p = 0.010). Furthermore, the genotypic distribution of this study population differed from that of European and Asian populations. Conclusions: These findings advance the understanding of depressive symptoms’ multifactorial etiology and may inform targeted screening and prevention strategies.

HER2 is a member of the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor family, which plays a fundamental role in cellular growth and signaling. Dysregulation of HER2 has been extensively associated with carcinogenesis, particularly through its overexpression in breast, lung, and gastroesophageal cancers. HER2 is a 1255-amino-acid transmembrane glycoprotein whose primary function is to regulate cell growth. It is predominantly found as a dimer at the cell surface, preferentially forming heterodimers with other members of the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor family. In cancer, these protein-containing heterodimers activate multiple signaling pathways involved in cell growth and survival, as well as key processes associated with tumor progression, including angiogenesis, cell proliferation, differentiation, and metastatic dissemination. The biological outcome of HER2 signaling depends largely on the specific receptor partner involved in heterodimer formation. The relevance of investigating this molecule as an Intrinsically Disordered Protein (IDP) lies in the growing recognition that IDPs participate in numerous pathological conditions, including cancer, and represent promising therapeutic targets because of their ability to interact with multiple ligands. Therefore, characterizing HER2 as an IDP may support its identification as a novel molecular target for drug discovery, either as a whole protein or through the selective targeting of its Intrinsically Disordered Regions (IDRs). The principal findings supporting the classification of HER2 as an IDP, or at least as a protein containing IDRs, include its structural flexibility, the enrichment of highly charged hydrophilic amino acids, and the high disorder scores predicted by computational analyses.