Mental Health Disorders and Coping Strategies in Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study in Southeastern Mexico.

Mental health disorders are relatively common in the general population and were already an important issue for the healthcare sector before COVID-19. COVID-19, being a worldwide crucial event and evidently a great stressor has increased both the prevalence and incidence of these. Therefore, it is evident that COVID-19 and mental health disorders are closely related. Moreover, several coping strategies exist to endure said disorders such as depression and anxiety, which are used by the population to confront stressors, and healthcare workers are not the exception. This was an analytical cross-sectional study, conducted from August to November 2022, via an online survey. Prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, and stress were assessed via the DASS-21 test, and coping strategies were assessed via the CSSHW test. The sample consisted of 256 healthcare workers and of those, 133 (52%) were males with a mean age of 40.4 ± 10.35, and 123 (48%) were females with a mean age of 37.28 ± 9.33. Depression was prevalent in 43%, anxiety in 48%, and stress in 29.7%. Comorbidities were a significant risk factor for both depression and anxiety with an OR of 10.9 and 4.18, respectively. The psychiatric background was a risk factor for depression with an OR of 2.17, anxiety with an OR of 2.43, and stress with an OR of 3.58. The age difference was an important factor in the development of depression and anxiety. The maladaptive coping mechanism was prevalent in 90 subjects and was a risk factor for depression (OR of 2.94), anxiety (OR of 4.46) and stress (OR of 3.68). The resolution coping mechanism was a protective factor for depression (OR of 0.35), anxiety (OR of 0.22), and stress (OR of 0.52). This study shows that mental health disorders are highly prevalent among healthcare workers in Mexico and that coping strategies are associated with their prevalence. It also implies that not only occupations, age, and comorbidities might affect mental health, but also the way patients confront reality and the behavior and decisions they take towards stressors.

Analysis of formulations of probiotics accessible to the population of Tabasco, México / Análisis de formulaciones de probióticos accesibles a la población de Tabasco, México

Abstract Objective: To analyze the composition of formulations of probiotics sold in establishments in the State of Tabasco or that can be purchased online. Materials and methods: A descriptive study in which formulations of probiotics sold in 21 establishments in the city of Villahermosa were identified and compared with 30 probiotic supplements sold online. Product information was organized in a database and analyzed according to the dosage form, probiotic genera, species/subspecies contained and their classification as probiotics or synbiotics and as drugs or supplements. Results: Thirty-one local products and 30 online products formulated with probiotics in 6 different dosage forms were analyzed. Only five local products and no online products are certified by COFEPRIS as drugs. Forty-eight percent of the formulations are monostrain and the rest are multistrain. Seventy-two percent of the formulations are probiotics and the rest are synbiotics. Among the 61 products analyzed, 46 species belonging to 13 different genera were identified, and 39% were common to local and online products. Many of products contain species of the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera. The genus Bacillus was the only genus that was never combined with other genera in the formulations analyzed in this study. Conclusions: The population of the state of Tabasco can find at least 31 formulations of probiotics in local establishments. The variety increases if we consider the dietary supplements available for sale online. Multistrain supplements are particularly abundant in online retailers. The products certified by COFEPRIS ensure that the benefits of the formulation are supported by clinical trials in humans and are manufactured following good manufacturing practices.

Resumen Objetivo: Analizar la composición de formulaciones de probióticos que se venden en establecimientos del Estado de Tabasco o que se pueden comprar en línea. Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo en el que se identificaron formulaciones de probióticos comercializados en 21 establecimientos de la ciudad de Villahermosa y se compararon con 30 suplementos probióticos comercializados en línea. La información del producto se organizó en una base de datos y se analizó de acuerdo con la forma de dosificación, los géneros y especies / subespecies de probióticos presentes y su clasificación como probióticos o simbióticos y como medicamentos o suplementos. Resultados: Se analizaron 31 productos locales y 30 productos de venta en línea formulados con probióticos en 6 formas de dosificación diferentes. Solo cinco productos locales y ningún producto en línea están certificados por COFEPRIS como medicamentos. El 48% de las formulaciones son monocepa y el resto son multicepa. El 72% de las formulaciones son probióticos y el resto son simbióticos. Entre los 61 productos analizados, se identificaron 46 especies pertenecientes a 13 géneros diferentes y el 39% fueron comunes a productos locales y de venta en línea. Muchos de los productos contienen especies de los géneros Lactobacillus y Bifidobacterium. El género Bacillus fue el único que nunca se combinó con otros géneros en las formulaciones analizadas en este estudio. Conclusiones: La población del estado de Tabasco puede encontrar al menos 31 formulaciones de probióticos en establecimientos locales. La variedad aumenta si tenemos en cuenta los suplementos dietéticos disponibles de venta en línea. Los suplementos multicepa son particularmente abundantes en los productos en línea. Los productos certificados por COFEPRIS aseguran que los beneficios de la formulación están respaldados por ensayos clínicos en humanos y se fabrican siguiendo buenas prácticas de fabricación.

Fish trypsins: potential applications in biomedicine and prospects for production.

In fishes, trypsins are adapted to different environmental conditions, and the biochemical and kinetic properties of a broad variety of native isoforms have been studied. Proteolytic enzymes remain in high demand in the detergent, food, and feed industries; however, our analysis of the literature showed that, in the last decade, some fish trypsins have been studied for the synthesis of industrial peptides and for specific biomedical uses as antipathogenic agents against viruses and bacteria, which have been recently patented. In addition, innovative strategies of trypsin administration have been studied to ensure that trypsins retain their properties until they exert their action. Biomedical uses require the production of high-quality enzymes. In this context, the production of recombinant trypsins is an alternative. For this purpose, E. coli-based systems have been tested for the production of fish trypsins; however, P. pastoris-based systems also seem to show great potential in the production of fish trypsins with higher production quality. On the other hand, there is a lack of information regarding the specific structures, biochemical and kinetic properties, and characteristics of trypsins produced using heterologous systems. This review describes the potential uses of fish trypsins in biomedicine and the enzymatic and structural properties of native and recombinant fish trypsins obtained to date, outlining some prospects for their study.