Comparative Biomonitoring of Arsenic Exposure in Mothers and Their Neonates in Comarca Lagunera, Mexico.

Multiple comorbidities related to arsenic exposure through drinking water continue to be public problems worldwide, principally in chronically exposed populations, such as those in the Comarca Lagunera (CL), Mexico. In addition, this relationship could be exacerbated by an early life exposure through the placenta and later through breast milk. This study conducted a comparative analysis of arsenic levels in multiple biological samples from pregnant women and their neonates in the CL and the comparison region, Saltillo. Total arsenic levels in placenta, breast milk, blood, and urine were measured in pregnant women and their neonates from rural areas of seven municipalities of the CL using atomic absorption spectrophotometry with hydride generation methodology. The average concentrations of tAs in drinking water were 47.7 µg/L and 0.05 µg/L in the exposed and non-exposed areas, respectively. Mean levels of tAs were 7.80 µg/kg, 77.04 µg/g-Cr, and 4.30 µg/L in placenta, blood, urine, and breast milk, respectively, in mothers, and 107.92 µg/g-Cr in neonates in the exposed group, which were significantly higher than those in the non-exposed area. High levels of urinary arsenic in neonates were maintained 4 days after birth, demonstrating an early arsenic exposure route through the placenta and breast milk. In addition, our study suggested that breastfeeding may reduce arsenic exposure in infants in arsenic-contaminated areas. Further studies are necessary to follow up on comorbidities later in life in neonates and to provide interventions in this region.

Insights from Pharmaceutical Biotechnology into Phenolic Biopharmaceuticals against COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic had infected more than 3.5M people around the world and more than 250K people died in 187 countries by May 2020. The causal agent of this disease is a coronavirus whose onset of symptoms to death range from 6 to 41 days with a median of 14 days. This period is dependent on several factors such as the presence of comorbidities, age and the efficiency of the innate or adaptive immune responses. METHODS: The effector mechanisms of both types of immune responses depend on the pathogen involved. In the case of a viral infection, the innate immune response may approach the harmful virus through pattern recognition receptors inducing an antiviral state. RESULTS: On the other hand, the adaptive immune response activates antibody production to neutralize or eliminate the virus. Phenolics are plant secondary metabolites with many biological activities for plants and humans against infection. Chemical modification of proteins may enhance their biological properties; thus, a protein of medical interest, for instance, a viral protein can be used as a scaffold to build a biopharmaceutical conjugated or complexated with phenolics exhibiting structural complexity or biological activities to achieve effective phenolic-protein-based therapeutics like vaccine adjuvant complexes, immunogen conjugates, and antiviral conjugates. CONCLUSION: Pharmaceutical biotechnology applies the principles of biotechnology to develop biopharmaceuticals for protein-based therapeutics; such as adjuvants, recombinant proteins, monoclonal antibodies, and antivirals. As neither a vaccine nor a treatment for COVID-19 is currently available, this manuscript focuses on insights from pharmaceutical biotechnology into phenolic biopharmaceuticals against COVID-19.

Modelo de agregación plaquetaria in vivo (conejos) / Platelet aggrecation in vivo (rabbits)

El propósito de este estudio fue establecer un modelo de agregación plaquetaria que permitiera evaluar "in vivo" (en conejos Nueva Zelanda) parámetros hemodinámicos y microscópicos. Se indujo la agregación plaquetaria con la administración de colágena I.V. 75 µg/kg/min, la cual produjo disminución de la presión arterial sistólica de x- = 69 ax- = 55 mm Hg y diastólica de x- = 43 ax- = 27 mmHg, con aumento de la ventricular de x- = 25 ax- = 41 mm Hg. Se administraron aspirina, dipiridamol o sulfinpirazona 10 mg/kg, media hora antes de la administración de colágena y prostaciclina 100 mg/kg/min desde 3 minutos antes, hasta 10 minutos después de la colágena y aspirina, colágena y dipiridamol, disminuyó la presión arterial tanto sistólica como diastólica, sin modificación de la ventricular. No se observaron cambios hemodinámicos con la administación conjunta de colágena sulfinpirazona o colágena prostaciclina. Se observaron por histología trombosis vasculares pulmonares múltiples con la administración de colágena y, en menor intensidad, cuando se administró ésta conjuntamente con un fármaco antiagregante. Este modelo no permitió valorar hemodinámica e histológicamente susbtancias pro y antiagregantes plaquetarias.