Gap junction (GJ) channels in invertebrates have been used to understand cell-to-cell communication in vertebrates. GJs are a common form of intercellular communication channels which connect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells. Dysregulation and structural alteration of the gap junction-mediated communication have been proven to be associated with a myriad of symptoms and tissue-specific pathologies. Animal models relying on the invertebrate nervous system have exposed a relationship between GJs and the formation of electrical synapses during embryogenesis and adulthood. The modulation of GJs as a therapeutic and clinical tool may eventually provide an alternative for treating tissue formation-related diseases and cell propagation. This review concerns the similarities between Hirudo medicinalis innexins and human connexins from nucleotide and protein sequence level perspectives. It also sets forth evidence of computational techniques applied to the study of proteins, sequences, and molecular dynamics. Furthermore, we propose machine learning techniques as a method that could be used to study protein structure, gap junction inhibition, metabolism, and drug development.

Background: The Allium cepa test is a widely used, cost-effective, and versatile model for assessing cytogenotoxicity. Cytotoxicity is determined through changes in root growth and the mitotic index, while genotoxicity is identified through chromosomal aberrations such as breaks, bridges, and micronuclei. Objective: To synthesize the methodological principles, applications, and interpretation of the assay’s endpoints, with emphasis on environmental monitoring, nanotoxicology, and the evaluation of emerging materials. Methods: An exploratory analytical approach was applied to identify and compare studies employing the Allium cepa assay across different contexts. The literature, selected from scientific databases, was organized to highlight methodological diversity and biomarker performance. Conclusions: Compared with other models, Allium cepa stands out for its simplicity, the availability of multiple cytogenotoxic markers, and its minimal ethical constraints, making it especially suitable for research in low-infrastructure settings. Future studies should work toward the international standardization of methodologies, the integration of this model with molecular and omics-based approaches, and its incorporation into predictive frameworks for environmental and human health risk assessment. In an increasingly complex toxicological landscape, Allium cepa emerges as a pivotal tool for enhancing toxicological surveillance and safeguarding biological systems.

Objective: to inquire about the representation of masculinity in the narrative of the series "El Cartel de los Sapos" as perceived by college students. Method: it was developed through a qualitative type research, which used focus groups comprised of 10 young college male students. Thematic analysis was used as well as the Atlas Ti, version 7.0 processing tool, to identify consistencies and relations between categories and subcategories. Results: there is evidence of three aspects that affect assessments received by the students: (1) masculinity, (2) power, and (3) models of life. One may observe an internalization of roles, jargon, and postures, imaginary associated with the exercise of masculinity permeated by the legitimacy of violence and the exercise of power built from models of life adopted by the characters, as well as the messages transmitted by the series. Conclusions: it is necessary to guide intervention strategies inviting the active participation of the actors who develop these contents from the audiences which are aimed, that invite critical reflection which address the various dimensions and aspects of communication for the deconstruction of the collective imaginaries that culturally emerge from the series.

The intensive use of agricultural inputs and the increasing incorporation of nano-materials into crop management practices raise concerns about their ecotoxicological interactions in plant systems. This study evaluated phytotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity in Allium cepa L. under experimental nano-agrochemical exposure scenarios combining two conventional nitrogen fertilizers—ammonium sulfate (AS) and urea—with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Biological responses were assessed across fertilizer concentrations (0.03–0.5 g/L), applied individually, simultaneously, and sequentially, to identify modulatory effects of AgNPs on plant proliferative activity and genomic stability. Results showed the relative stability of morphophysiological indicators associated with root growth, whereas cytogenetic biomarkers exhibited selective alterations under specific conditions. Significant increases in genetic damage markers were detected at intermediate ammonium sulfate concentrations, suggesting sublethal phytotoxicity windows not reflected by macroscopic growth parameters. In addition, modulation of the mitotic index and absence of generalized genotoxic effects in most combined or sequential treatments indicate that AgNPs primarily acted as modulators of proliferative responses rather than direct cytotoxic agents. Overall, these findings highlight the dynamic and non-linear nature of nano-agrochemical interactions in plant systems and underscore the importance of multibiomarker approaches for the early detection of genomic instability. The results provide experimental evidence relevant to the environmental risk assessment of nano-enabled fertilization strategies under realistic mixed-exposure scenarios. This study contributes to advancing the ecotoxicological understanding of emerging agricultural technologies and supports the need for further mechanistic research and field-based evaluations to guide the safe and sustainable use of nanomaterials in crop production.

En la agricultura, la germinación de semillas es el inicio para asegurar una buena cosecha. Sin embargo, no todas responden igual: algunas variedades silvestres, como ciertos chiles mexicanos, presentan dificultades para desarrollarse. Frente a este reto, se exploran alternativas como las nanopartículas de plata (AgNPs), una tecnología con gran potencial. En un estudio realizado en la Universidad Autónoma de Baja California se analizó cómo estas partículas influyen en la germinación y el desarrollo de chiles silvestres y cultivados. Al mismo tiempo, se utilizó el ensayo de micronúcleos para evaluar si podían provocar efectos negativos en el material genético o en el crecimiento celular. Los resultados son alentadores para quienes buscan mejorar la producción agrícola sin comprometer la salud de las plantas. Este trabajo se publica con la intención de que los avances logrados en invernaderos piloto y laboratorios lleguen a los agricultores y, finalmente, a los consumidores.

Cellular responses to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) may differ across cytogenetic, proliferative, cell-death, and molecular endpoints, making their joint interpretation relevant for integrated response profiling. This descriptive two-donor pilot study examined extracellular p53 together with cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome (CBMN-cytome) endpoints following ex vivo Argovit-C exposure in whole-blood lymphocyte cultures from one healthy donor (HD) and one with metabolic syndrome (MetS), each evaluated across two independent blood collections. Cultures were exposed to 0.012–12 μg/mL metallic silver, and responses were normalized within each collection to water (0%) and cyclophosphamide (CP; 100%) controls. Endpoint-specific response profiles were observed, with the extracellular p53 signal shifting below the water-control reference across all concentrations and collections, whereas nuclear buds (NBUDs) shifted toward the CP reference and became more pronounced at higher concentrations. Proliferative indices and cytotoxicity remained near the water-control reference, while apoptosis shifted toward the CP reference at higher concentrations, with modest changes in necrosis. Micronuclei (MNi) and nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs) fell below the water-control reference in the MetS-derived system, while remaining near that reference in HD cultures. Across repeated sampling, extracellular p53 and NBUDs retained direction and concentration-profile shape. These findings illustrate the complementary information provided by extracellular p53 and repeated sampling for assessing within-donor stability of response profiles.