Spatially modulated ablation driven by chaotic attractors in human lung epithelial cancer cells.

A significant modification in photoinduced energy transfer in cancer cells is reported by the assistance of a dynamic modulation of the beam size of laser irradiation. Human lung epithelial cancer cells in monolayer form were studied. In contrast to the quantum and thermal ablation effect promoted by a standard focused Gaussian beam, a spatially modulated beam can caused around 15% of decrease in the ablation threshold and formation of a ring-shaped distribution of the photothermal transfer effect. Optical irradiation was conducted in A549 cells by a 532 nm single-beam emerging from a Nd:YVO4 system. Ablation effects derived from spatially modulated convergent waves were controlled by an electrically focus-tunable lens. The proposed chaotic behavior of the spatial modulation followed an Arneodo chaotic oscillator. Fractional dynamic thermal transport was analyzed in order to describe photoenergy in propagation through the samples. Immediate applications of chaos theory for developing phototechnology devices driving biological functions or phototherapy treatments can be considered.

[Severe post-COVID-19 dialysis dependence and inpatient acute kidney injury]. / Dependencia a diálisis posterior a COVID-19 grave y lesión renal aguda intrahospitalaria.

Background: COVID-19 challenged our health system, within the broad clinical spectrum acute kidney injury was presented as a catastrophic event, acute kidney injury and the risk of dependency after dialysis constitute a clinical problem with high repercussions in the funcionality. Objective: To identify risk factors for dialysis dependence after acute kidney injury from COVID-19. Material and methods: A retrospective observational cohort study was carried out at the Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, of the Mexican Institute of Social Security, from March 2020 to March 2021. 317 patients were included, we performed descriptive statistics, we compared differences between the stages of acute kidney injury, finding a difference in obesity with a frequency of 2.2% in stage 1, 20.82% stage 2 and 14.51% stage 3, with p value = 0.018. Results: We found dialysis dependence one year after hospital-acquired acute kidney injury induced by COVID-19 in 58 patients (18.9%), we analyzed by KDIGO stage, in those patients who had AKI KDIGO 1 (2.83%) it depended on dialysis at one year, in the KDIGO stage 2 (3.78%), in the KDIGO stage 3 (11.67%). Conclusions: Our study allowed us to identify that the risk factors associated with dialysis dependence are: male gender, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, cardiovascular disease.

Introducción: la COVID-19, retó a nuestro sistema de salud, dentro del amplio espectro clínico la lesión renal aguda se presentó como un evento catastrófico, la lesión renal aguda y el riesgo de dependencia posterior a diálisis constituye un problema clínico con alta repercusión en la funcionalidad. Objetivo: identificar los factores de riesgo para la dependencia a diálisis posterior a lesión renal aguda por COVID-19. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio de cohorte observacional retrospectivo en el Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, del periodo de marzo del 2020 a marzo del 2021. Se incluyeron 317 pacientes, realizamos estadística descriptiva, comparamos diferencias entre los estadios de lesión renal aguda encontrando diferencia en obesidad con frecuencia de 2.2% en estadio 1, de 20.82% estadio 2 y de 14.51% estadio 3, con valor p = 0.018. Resultados: encontramos la dependencia a diálisis a un año posterior a lesión renal aguda intrahospitalaria inducida por COVID-19 en 58 pacientes (18.9%), analizamos por estadio de KDIGO, en aquellos pacientes que cursaron con LRA KDIGO 1 (2.83%) dependió de diálisis a un año, en el estadio KDIGO 2 (3.78%), en el estadio KDIGO 3 (11.67%). Conclusiones: nuestro estudio permitió identificar que los factores de riesgo que se asocian con dependencia a diálisis son: sexo masculino, diabetes mellitus tipo 2, obesidad, enfermedad cardiovascular.

[Risk factors associated with cognitive impairment in aged: Cross-sectional study]. / Factores de riesgo asociados a deterioro cognitivo en adultos mayores: estudio transversal.

Background: With the increase in life expectancy, conditions related to older age have increased in incidence, one of these pathologies is Cognitive Impairment (CI), which has a prevalence of up to 28%, conditions that increase the presence of CI are known. However, there is controversy about the factors that increase the risk of CI. Objective: To determine the factors associated with cognitive impairment in older adults. Material and methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, analytical, observational, retroprolective study that included adults ≥65 years of age, with no history of cerebral vascular event, cranioencephalic trauma. Demographic factors were analyzed, CI was assessed with the Mini Mental State Examination test. For statistical analysis we used Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for each factor and multiple logistic regression as multivariate analysis. Results: 420 older adults were included, 61% were women, 32.6% with age >75 years, 84.5% with schooling <9 years, in the multiple logistic regression the following were independent factors for the presence of mild CI: dependence on basic activities of daily living (ADLs) with OR 5.88, absence of cognitive stimulation RM 4.50, age >75 years OR 2.92, polypharmacy OR 2.16, uncontrolled blood pressure OR 1.92. Conclusion: ADLs dependence, absence of cognitive stimulation, age >75 years, polypharmacy and uncontrolled blood pressure are risk factors associated with CI in older adults.

Introducción: con el aumento en la esperanza de vida las condiciones relacionadas con mayor edad incrementaron su incidencia; una de estas patologías es el deterioro cognitivo (DC) que presenta una prevalencia de hasta el 28%, hoy en día se conocen condiciones que aumentan la presencia de DC. Sin embargo, existe controversia sobre los factores que aumentan el riesgo para su presencia. Objetivo: determinar los factores asociados al deterioro cognitivo en adultos mayores. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio transversal, analítico, observacional, retroprolectivo que incluyó a adultos ≥ 65 años, sin antecedente de evento vascular cerebral o traumatismo craneoencefálico. Se analizaron factores demográficos, el DC se evaluó con la prueba Mini-Mental. Para el análisis estadístico se usó razón de momios (RM) e intervalo de confianza al 95% (IC95%) para cada factor y como análisis multivariado, regresión logística múltiple. Resultados: se incluyeron 420 adultos mayores, de los cuales el 61% eran mujeres, el 32.6% tenían edad > 75 años, el 84.5% con escolarización < 9 años. En la regresión logística múltiple los siguientes fueron factores independientes para la presencia de DC leve: la dependencia de actividades básicas de la vida diaria (ABVD), ausencia de estimulación cognitiva, edad > 75 años, polifarmacia y descontrol de tensión arterial. Conclusión: la dependencia de ABVD, ausencia de estimulación cognitiva, edad > 75 años, polifarmacia y descontrol de la tensión arterial son factores de riesgo asociados al DC en adultos mayores.

Autophagy as a Target for Non-Immune Intrinsic Functions of Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 1 in Cancer.

Autophagy is a catabolic process that is essential to the maintenance of homeostasis through the cellular recycling of damaged organelles or misfolded proteins, which sustains energy balance. Additionally, autophagy plays a dual role in modulating the development and progression of cancer and inducing a survival strategy in tumoral cells. Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) modulates the immune response and is responsible for maintaining self-tolerance. Because tumor cells exploit the PD-L1-PD-1 interaction to subvert the immune response, immunotherapy has been developed based on the use of PD-L1-blocking antibodies. Recent evidence has suggested a bidirectional regulation between autophagy and PD-L1 molecule expression in tumor cells. Moreover, the research into the intrinsic properties of PD-L1 has highlighted new functions that are advantageous to tumor cells. The relationship between autophagy and PD-L1 is complex and still not fully understood; its effects can be context-dependent and might differ between tumoral cells. This review refines our understanding of the non-immune intrinsic functions of PD-L1 and its potential influence on autophagy, how these could allow the survival of tumor cells, and what this means for the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapeutic strategies.

Mortality and Survival Factors in Patients with Moderate and Severe Pneumonia Due to COVID-19.

During the pandemic, some mortality-related factors were age, sex, comorbidities (obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension), recovery time, hospitalizations, and biochemical markers. The present work aimed to identify the mortality and survival factors in adults with moderate and severe pneumonia due to COVID-19 during the first and second waves of the pandemic in Mexico at a third-level hospital (High-Specialty Regional Hospital of Ixtapaluca (HRAEI), Ixtapaluca, Estado de Mexico, Mexico). A database was generated using information from the electronic clinical records of patients hospitalized from December 2021 to August 2022. Survival analysis was performed associating age, sex, longer recovery times, and some drugs. The risk factors found were age in the patients between 40 and 60 years (OR = 1.70), male sex (OR = 1.53), the presence of comorbidities (OR = 1.66) and hypertension (OR = 2.19), work occupation (construction workers OR = 5.22, factory workers OR = 3.13, unemployed OR = 2.93), the prehospital use of metamizole sodium (OR = 2.17), cough (OR = 1.73), and in-hospital oxygen therapy (reservoir mask OR = 6.6). The survival factors found in this study were working in the healthcare field (OR = 0.26), the prehospital use of certain medications (paracetamol OR = 0.65, dexamethasone OR = 0.55, and azithromycin OR = 0.47), presenting ageusia (OR = 0.5) and hyporexia (OR = 0.34), and the time using in-hospital oxygen therapy (device 1 OR = 0.72). Prehospital treatment needs to be reevaluated as dexamethasone and azithromycin proved to be protective factors. Likewise, providing aggressive oxygen therapy during hospital admission decreased mortality risk.

[Perceived stressors associated with the presence of burnout in resident physicians]. / Estresores percibidos asociados a la presencia de burnout en médicos residentes.

Background: Scientific research has reported various stressors that could be related to the development of burnout in resident physicians. Objective: To identify the perceived stressors associated with burnout in residents of various medical specialties in Mexico's northwest. Material and methods: A cross-sectional, explanatory, observational, and analytical study was carried out. The sampling was non-probabilistic. Resident physicians from two hospitals in southern Sonora participated. The Occupational Burnout Scale (OED) and the Stressors Check List with intensity were used. Results: 189 resident physicians were included. 87% presented high levels of burnout. Specifically, the work overload and job dissatisfaction stressors were the ones with the greatest predictive power of burnout and dissatisfaction with achievement in resident physicians. By dimensions, physical problems were predictors of the pain dimension in the occupational burnout state. Professional exercise and physical problems predicted burnout in occupational burnout state. And physical problems were predictors for the presence of depression. Conclusions: The data obtained confirm the need to attend physical and mental health of resident doctors, and promote optimal work environments that have a positive impact on the well-being of their members.

Introducción: la investigación científica ha reportado diversos estresores que podrían estar relacionados con el desarrollo del burnout en médicos residentes. Objetivo: identificar los estresores percibidos asociados con burnout en residentes de diversas especialidades médicas en el noroeste de México. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio analítico, observacional, explicativo y transversal. El muestreo fue no probabilístico. Participaron médicos residentes de dos hospitales del sur de Sonora. Se utilizó la Escala de desgaste ocupacional (EDO) y la Lista de chequeo de estresores con intensidad. Resultados: se incluyeron 189 médicos residentes. El 87% presentó altos niveles de burnout. Específicamente los estresores sobrecarga laboral e insatisfacción laboral tuvieron mayor poder predictivo del agotamiento y la insatisfacción de logro en los médicos residentes. Por dimensiones, los problemas físicos fueron predictores de la dimensión de dolor en el estado de desgaste ocupacional. Asimismo, el ejercicio profesional y los problemas físicos predijeron el agotamiento en el estado de desgaste ocupacional. Y los problemas físicos fueron predictores para la presencia de depresión. Conclusiones: los datos obtenidos confirman la necesidad de atender la salud física y mental de los médicos residentes, así como promover ambientes laborales óptimos que tengan un impacto positivo en el bienestar de sus integrantes.

Estresores percibidos asociados a la presencia de burnout en médicos residentes / Perceived stressors associated with the presence of burnout in resident physicians

Introducción: la investigación científica ha reportado diversos estresores que podrían estar relacionados con el desarrollo del burnout en médicos residentes. Objetivo: identificar los estresores percibidos asociados con burnout en residentes de diversas especialidades médicas en el noroeste de México. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio analítico, observacional, explicativo y transversal. El muestreo fue no probabilístico. Participaron médicos residentes de dos hospitales del sur de Sonora. Se utilizó la Escala de desgaste ocupacional (EDO) y la Lista de chequeo de estresores con intensidad. Resultados: se incluyeron 189 médicos residentes. El 87% presentó altos niveles de burnout. Específicamente los estresores sobrecarga laboral e insatisfacción laboral tuvieron mayor poder predictivo del agotamiento y la insatisfacción de logro en los médicos residentes. Por dimensiones, los problemas físicos fueron predictores de la dimensión de dolor en el estado de desgaste ocupacional. Asimismo, el ejercicio profesional y los problemas físicos predijeron el agotamiento en el estado de desgaste ocupacional. Y los problemas físicos fueron predictores para la presencia de depresión. Conclusiones: los datos obtenidos confirman la necesidad de atender la salud física y mental de los médicos residentes, así como promover ambientes laborales óptimos que tengan un impacto positivo en el bienestar de sus integrantes

Background: Scientific research has reported various stressors that could be related to the development of burnout in resident physicians. Objective: To identify the perceived stressors associated with burnout in residents of various medical specialties in Mexico's northwest. Material and methods: A cross-sectional, explanatory, observational, and analytical study was carried out. The sampling was non-probabilistic. Resident physicians from two hospitals in southern Sonora participated. The Occupational Burnout Scale (OED) and the Stressors Check List with intensity were used. Results: 189 resident physicians were included. 87% presented high levels of burnout. Specifically, the work overload and job dissatisfaction stressors were the ones with the greatest predictive power of burnout and dissatisfaction with achievement in resident physicians. By dimensions, physical problems were predictors of the pain dimension in the occupational burnout state. Professional exercise and physical problems predicted burnout in occupational burnout state. And physical problems were predictors for the presence of depression. Conclusions: The data obtained confirm the need to attend physical and mental health of resident doctors, and promote optimal work environments that have a positive impact on the well-being of their members

Ursolic and Oleanolic Acids Induce Mitophagy in A549 Human Lung Cancer Cells.

Ursolic and oleanolic acids are natural isomeric triterpenes known for their anticancer activity. Here, we investigated the effect of triterpenes on the viability of A549 human lung cancer cells and the role of autophagy in their activity. The induction of autophagy, the mitochondrial changes and signaling pathway stimulated by triterpenes were systematically explored by confocal microscopy and western blotting. Ursolic and oleanolic acids induce autophagy in A549 cells. Ursolic acid activates AKT/mTOR pathways and oleanolic acid triggers a pathway independent on AKT. Both acids promote many mitochondrial changes, suggesting that mitochondria are targets of autophagy in a process known as mitophagy. The PINK1/Parkin axis is a pathway usually associated with mitophagy, however, the mitophagy induced by ursolic or oleanolic acid is just dependent on PINK1. Moreover, both acids induce an ROS production. The blockage of autophagy with wortmannin is responsible for a decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ) and cell death. The wortmannin treatment causes an over-increase of p62 and Nrf2 proteins promote a detoxifying effect to rescue cells from the death conducted by ROS. In conclusion, the mitophagy and p62 protein play an important function as a survival mechanism in A549 cells and could be target to therapeutic control.