Urinary phthalate metabolite and BPA concentrations in women with cervical cancer.

Environmental pollutants are involved in the development and progression of numerous cancers, including cervical cancer (CC). One possible explanation for this is the ability of several pollutants to mimic natural hormones. This study aimed to evaluate the urinary concentrations of monoesters of phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA) in women with CC. A total of 45 women were included: 15 in the control group, 12 with CC diagnosis classified in early stages IA-IIB, and 18 in late stages III-IV. Urine samples were analyzed for BPA, mono-isobutyl phthalate (MiBP), mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP), and mono 2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a tandem mass detector. The detection rate of environmental pollutants was 100%, with a median concentration in the control group and early-, and late-stage groups of 10.4, 9.2, 4.3, 38.4, and 12.9 µg L-1; 3.1, 3.1, 151.1, 54.5, and 30.4 µg L-1 and 1.9, 92.8, 3.6, 31.0, and 9.3 µg L-1 for BPA, MEHP, MBzP, MBP, and MiBP, respectively This study reveals high levels of phthalates, particularly MEHP, in urine samples of women with CC associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Further studies are needed to evaluate the possible role of phthalates in synergy with HPV in progression to CC.

Low Prevalence of ETV6::RUNX1 Fusion Gene in a Hispanic Population.

ETV6::RUNX1 is a genetic rearrangement of good prognosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In Mexico, its prevalence is low in comparison with Caucasian populations. We developed a novel TaqMan one-step RT-qPCR approach to assess the prevalence of four genetic rearrangements in a cohort of Hispanic children with ALL from Mexico City. The prevalence of common fusion gene transcripts was as follows: TCF3::PBX1 7.7%; BCR::ABL1p 190 3.3%; and KMT2A::AFF1 2.8%, and ETV6::RUNX1was observed with low prevalence (10.5%) in comparison to that reported for developed countries. This is consistent with previous findings on Mexican children with ALL and similar to those reported on children from Hispanic populations. The confirmation of a low prevalence of ETV6::RUNX1 in children of a Hispanic origin represents an advancement in the description of genetic factors of ALL in these populations.

[Coinfections by SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses and their clinical outcome]. / Coinfecciones por SARS-CoV-2 y otros virus respiratorios y su desenlace clínico.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus described for the first time in China, in December 2019. This virus can cause a disease with a very variable spectrum that ranges from asymptomatic cases to deaths. The most severe cases are normally associated with comorbidities and with the age of the patient. However, there are patients who are not part of these risk groups and develop severe cases. Objetive: To determine the association between coinfections by SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses and their clincal outcome. Material and methods: RT-qPCR was performed to determine the presence of 16 respiratory viruses in 103 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Demographic and comorbid data were collected, and statistical analyzes were performed to determine associations with severity. Results: Of the 103 analyzed cases, 14 (13.6%) presented a coinfection, of these, 92% did not require hospitalization, even in those cases in which the patient presented advanced age and some comorbidities. Conclusions: These results suggest that coinfection of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses is not related to a more severe form of COVID-19 and, in some cases, depending on the virus involved, it could even lead to a better prognosis. These findings lay the foundations for the development of new studies that could determine the biological mechanism of this phenomenon.

Introducción: el SARS-CoV-2 es un coronavirus que fue descrito por primera vez en diciembre de 2019 en Wuhan, China. Este virus causa una enfermedad que varía en un espectro de severidad que va desde casos asintomáticos hasta defunciones. Los casos más severos se asocian normalmente con algunas comorbilidades y con la edad del paciente. Sin embargo, existen pacientes que no son parte de estos grupos de riesgo y aun así desarrollan casos graves. Objetivo: determinar la asociación entre las coinfecciones por SARS-CoV-2 y otros virus respiratorios y su desenlace clínico. Material y métodos: se realizó RT-qPCR para determinar la presencia de 16 virus respiratorios en 103 casos confirmados de COVID-19. Se recolectaron datos demográficos y de comorbilidades, y se realizaron análisis estadísticos para determinar asociaciones con gravedad. Resultados: el 13.6% de los casos (14/103) presentaron alguna coinfección, de estos, el 92% nunca requirió ingreso hospitalario, aun en aquellos casos en los que el paciente presentara comorbilidades y edad avanzada. Conclusiones: estos resultados sugieren que la coinfección no está relacionada con un COVID-19 más grave y que, dependiendo del virus involucrado, incluso podría conducir a un mejor pronóstico. Estos hallazgos sientan las bases para nuevos estudios dirigidos a determinar el mecanismo biológico por el cual ocurre este fenómeno y a proponer las estrategias correspondientes para limitar la progresión a casos severos de COVID-19.

Impact of the introduction of chikungunya and zika viruses on the incidence of dengue in endemic zones of Mexico.

BACKGROUND: With the arrival of chikungunya (CHIKV) and zika (ZIKV) viruses in Mexico, there was a decrease in diagnosed dengue virus (DENV) cases. During the first years of cocirculation (2015-2017), the algorithms established by epidemiological surveillance systems and the installed capacity limited us to one diagnostic test per sample, so there was an underestimation of cases until September 2017, when a multiplex algorithm was implemented. Therefore, the objective of this study was determine the impact of the introduction of CHIKV and ZIKV on the incidence of diagnosed DENV in endemic areas of Mexico, when performing the rediagnosis, using the multiplex algorithm, in samples from the first three years of co-circulation of these arboviruses. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: For this, 1038 samples received by the Central Laboratory of Epidemiology between 2015 and 2017 were selected for this work. Viruses were identified by multiplex RT-qPCR, and the χ2 test was used to compare categorical variables. With the new multiplex algorithm, we identified 2.4 times the rate of arbovirosis as originally reported, evidencing an underestimation of the incidence of the three viruses. Even so, significantly less dengue was observed than in previous years. The high incidence rates of chikungunya and Zika coincided with periods of dengue decline. The endemic channel showed that the cases caused by DENV rose again after the circulation of CHIKV and ZIKV decreased. In addition, 23 cases of coinfection were identified, with combinations between all viruses. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: The results obtained in this study show for the first time the real impact on the detected incidence of dengue after the introduction of CHIKV and ZIKV in Mexico, the degree of underestimation of these arboviruses in the country, as well as the co-infections between these viruses, whose importance clinical and epidemiological are still unknown.

Coinfecciones por SARS-CoV-2 y otros virus respiratorios y su desenlace clínico / Coinfections by SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses and their clinical outcome

Introducción: el SARS-CoV-2 es un coronavirus que fue descrito por primera vez en diciembre de 2019 en Wuhan, China. Este virus causa una enfermedad que varía en un espectro de severidad que va desde casos asintomáticos hasta defunciones. Los casos más severos se asocian normalmente con algunas comorbilidades y con la edad del paciente. Sin embargo, existen pacientes que no son parte de estos grupos de riesgo y aun así desarrollan casos graves. Objetivo: determinar la asociación entre las coinfecciones por SARS-CoV-2 y otros virus respiratorios y su desenlace clínico. Material y métodos: se realizó RT-qPCR para determinar la presencia de 16 virus respiratorios en 103 casos confirmados de COVID-19. Se recolectaron datos demográficos y de comorbilidades, y se realizaron análisis estadísticos para determinar asociaciones con gravedad. Resultados: el 13.6% de los casos (14/103) presentaron alguna coinfección, de estos, el 92% nunca requirió ingreso hospitalario, aun en aquellos casos en los que el paciente presentara comorbilidades y edad avanzada. Conclusiones: estos resultados sugieren que la coinfección no está relacionada con un COVID-19 más grave y que, dependiendo del virus involucrado, incluso podría conducir a un mejor pronóstico. Estos hallazgos sientan las bases para nuevos estudios dirigidos a determinar el mecanismo biológico por el cual ocurre este fenómeno y a proponer las estrategias correspondientes para limitar la progresión a casos severos de COVID-19.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus described for the first time in China, in December 2019. This virus can cause a disease with a very variable spectrum that ranges from asymptomatic cases to deaths. The most severe cases are normally associated with comorbidities and with the age of the patient. However, there are patients who are not part of these risk groups and develop severe cases. Objetive: To determine the association between coinfections by SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses and their clincal outcome. Material and methods: RT-qPCR was performed to determine the presence of 16 respiratory viruses in 103 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Demographic and comorbid data were collected, and statistical analyzes were performed to determine associations with severity. Results: Of the 103 analyzed cases, 14 (13.6%) presented a coinfection, of these, 92% did not require hospitalization, even in those cases in which the patient presented advanced age and some comorbidities. Conclusions: These results suggest that coinfection of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses is not related to a more severe form of COVID-19 and, in some cases, depending on the virus involved, it could even lead to a better prognosis. These findings lay the foundations for the development of new studies that could determine the biological mechanism of this phenomenon.

The big challenge of SARS-CoV-2 latency: testes as reservoir.

In the efforts to explain COVID-19 pathophysiology, studies are being carried out on the correspondence between the expression of SARS-CoV-2 cell receptors and viral sequences. ACE2, CD147 and TMPRSS2 receptors expression could indicate poorly explored potential infection targets. For the genomic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 receptors, using BioGPS information was decided, which is a portal that centralizes genetic annotation resources, in combination with that of The Human Protein Atlas, the largest portal of human transcriptome and proteome data. We also reviewed the most recent articles on the subject. RNA and viral receptor proteins expression was observed in numerous anatomical sites, which partially coincides with the information reported in the literature. High expression in testicular cells markedly stood out, and it would be therefore important ruling out whether this anatomical site is a SARS-CoV-2 reservoir; otherwise, germ cell damage, as it is observed in infections with other RNA viruses, should be determined.

En el afán por explicar la fisiopatogenia de COVID-19 se están realizando estudios en torno a la correspondencia entre la expresión de receptores celulares de SARS-CoV-2 y las secuencias virales. La expresión de los receptores ACE2, CD147 y TMPRSS2 podría indicar blancos de infección poco explorados. Para el análisis genómico de los receptores de SARS-CoV-2 se optó por utilizar la información del BioGPS, un portal que centraliza los recursos de anotación genética, en combinación con la de The Human Protein Atlas, el portal más grande de datos del transcriptoma y proteoma humanos. También se revisaron los artículos más recientemente respecto al tema. En numerosos sitios anatómicos se observó la expresión de ARN y proteínas de los receptores del virus, que coinciden parcialmente con la información reportada en la literatura. Resaltó la alta expresión en las células de los testículos, por lo que sería importante descartar si este sitio anatómico es un reservorio de SARS-CoV-2; de no ser así, determinar el daño en las células germinales, tal como sucede en infecciones por otros virus ARN.

The big challenge of SARS-CoV-2 latency: testes as reservoir / El gran desafío de la latencia de SARS-CoV-2: el testículo como reservorio

Abstract In the efforts to explain COVID-19 pathophysiology, studies are being carried out on the correspondence between the expression of SARS-CoV-2 cell receptors and viral sequences. ACE2, CD147 and TMPRSS2 receptors expression could indicate poorly explored potential infection targets. For the genomic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 receptors, using BioGPS information was decided, which is a portal that centralizes genetic annotation resources, in combination with that of The Human Protein Atlas, the largest portal of human transcriptome and proteome data. We also reviewed the most recent articles on the subject. RNA and viral receptor proteins expression was observed in numerous anatomical sites, which partially coincides with the information reported in the literature. High expression in testicular cells markedly stood out, and it would be therefore important ruling out whether this anatomical site is a SARS-CoV-2 reservoir; otherwise, germ cell damage, as it is observed in infections with other RNA viruses, should be determined.

Resumen En el afán por explicar la fisiopatogenia de COVID-19 se están realizando estudios en torno a la correspondencia entre la expresión de receptores celulares de SARS-CoV-2 y las secuencias virales. La expresión de los receptores ACE2, CD147 y TMPRSS2 podría indicar blancos de infección poco explorados. Para el análisis genómico de los receptores de SARS-CoV-2 se optó por utilizar la información del BioGPS, un portal que centraliza los recursos de anotación genética, en combinación con la de The Human Protein Atlas, el portal más grande de datos del transcriptoma y proteoma humanos. También se revisaron los artículos más recientemente respecto al tema. En numerosos sitios anatómicos se observó la expresión de ARN y proteínas de los receptores del virus, que coinciden parcialmente con la información reportada en la literatura. Resaltó la alta expresión en las células de los testículos, por lo que sería importante descartar si este sitio anatómico es un reservorio de SARS-CoV-2; de no ser así, determinar el daño en las células germinales, tal como sucede en infecciones por otros virus ARN.

Rabdomiosarcoma como tumor secundario en la órbita / Rabdomyosarcoma as a secundary orbital tumor

El rabdomiosarcoma de la órbita es un tumor altamente maligno que se presenta en la órbita como tumor primario, y menos frecuentemente como neoplasia secundaria. Presentamos el caso clínico de una paciente de 18 años de edad, con diagnóstico de rabdomiosarcoma secundario de la órbita, con origen en senos paranasales. Se revisan los hallazgos clínicos y paraclínicos de esta neoplasia

Tumores metastásicos a globo ocular y órbita / Metastatic tumors in orbit and ocular globe

Se estudian las metástasis a globo ocular y órbita registradas de 1957 a 1993 en el Departamento de Anatomía patológica de la Asociación Para Evitar la Ceguera en México (A.P.E.C.), que suman un total de 23, 11 de globo ocular y 12 de orbita. Los primeros más frecuentes son de mama y pulmón, pero se registran de próstata, piel, tubo difestivo, costilla, pelvis, parótida y rinón, incluso casos de diagnóstico dudoso. Se hace comparación entre las neoplasias primarias, las secundarias por extensión y las metástasis registradas. Se analizan edad, sexo y situación de la masa intraocular. Se anotan los diagnósticos clínicos realizados y las intervenciones quirúrgicas que se llevaron a cabo. Se hace hincapié en el diagnóstico de primario conocido y se analizan algunos cuadros de estadísticas internacionales sobresalientes.