Exploring the Functionality of the Krüppel-like Factors in Kidney Development, Metabolism, and Diseases.

The kidneys contribute to the overall health of an organism by maintaining systemic homeostasis. This process involves various biological mechanisms, in which the Krüppel-like factors (KLFs), a family of transcription factors, are essential for regulating development, differentiation, proliferation, and cellular apoptosis. They also play a role in the metabolic regulation of essential nutrients, such as glucose and lipids.

Impact of comorbidities on COVID-19 mortality in hospitalized women: Insights from the metropolitan area of the Valley of Mexico from 2020 to 2022.

Objectives: This research summarizes the impact of the major comorbidities impacting hospitalized women with COVID-19 and their relation to death.

Methods: Public data from national databases (2020-2022) for hospitalized women, including identification data, hospitalization time, comorbidities, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, were analyzed. Women were stratified by age (split at 50 years).

Applications of Modified Mesenchymal Stem Cells as Targeted Systems against Tumor Cells.

Combined gene and cell therapy are promising strategies for cancer treatment. Given the complexity of cancer, several approaches are actively studied to fight this disease. Using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has demonstrated dual antitumor and protumor effects as they exert massive immune/regulatory effects on the tissue microenvironment.

Is the Cis-Element CACCC-Box a Master Regulatory Element during Cardiovascular Disease? A Bioinformatics Approach from the Perspective of the Krüppel-like Family of Transcription Factors.

The CACCC-box motif emerges as a pivotal cis-regulatory element implicated in diverse developmental processes and diseases, particularly cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study centers on the intricate interplay between the CACCC-box and its binding proteins such as: the Krüppel-Like Family (KLF) of transcription factors as primary effectors in the context of CVDs. Our analysis was through a bioinformatics approach, which revealed significant transcriptional activity among KLF subgroup 2, exhibiting the highest number of interactions focusing on the established roles: pluripotency, cancer, and cardiovascular development and diseases.

A panoramic view of hospitalized young children in the metropolitan area of the valley of Mexico during COVID-19.

Objectives: This work provides an overview of young children's (aged 0-9) infectious diseases epidemiology, by exploring the link between various comorbid conditions, COVID-19, and death rate.

Methods: Public data on hospitalized young children was obtained from national databases of the Mexican health care system from 2020-2022. Data included age, year of entry, gender, the time between admission to death (hospitalization time), date of death, comorbidities, and admissions to the intensive care unit.

Nutraceuticals and Their Contribution to Preventing Noncommunicable Diseases.

The high rate of deaths around the world from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) (70%) is a consequence of a poor diet lacking in nutrients and is linked to lifestyle and environmental conditions that together trigger predisposing factors. NCDs have increased 9.8% of public health spending worldwide, which has been increasing since 2000.

Application of C5.0 Algorithm for the Assessment of Perceived Stress in Healthcare Professionals Attending COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) represents one of the greatest challenges to public health in modern history. As the disease continues to spread globally, medical and allied healthcare professionals have become one of the most affected sectors. Stress and anxiety are indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Involvement of Krüppel-like Factors in Cardiovascular Diseases.

Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) are a set of DNA-binding proteins belonging to a family of zinc-finger transcription factors, which have been associated with many biological processes related to the activation or repression of genes, inducing cell growth, differentiation, and death, and the development and maintenance of tissues. In response to metabolic alterations caused by disease and stress, the heart will undergo cardiac remodeling, leading to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). KLFs are among the transcriptional factors that take control of many physiological and, in this case, pathophysiological processes of CVD.

Association between mortality and cardiovascular diseases in the vulnerable Mexican population: A cross-sectional retrospective study of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) continue to be the leading cause of death worldwide. Over the past couple of years and with the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic, mortality from CVDs has been slightly overshadowed by those due to COVID-19, although it was during the peak of the pandemic. In the present study, patients with CVDs (CVDs; = 41,883) were analyzed to determine which comorbidities had the largest impact on overall patient mortality due to their association with both diseases ( = 3,637).

Physical, Mechanical, and Biological Properties of Fibrin Scaffolds for Cartilage Repair.

Articular cartilage is a highly organized tissue that provides remarkable load-bearing and low friction properties, allowing for smooth movement of diarthrodial joints; however, due to the avascular, aneural, and non-lymphatic characteristics of cartilage, joint cartilage has self-regeneration and repair limitations. Cartilage tissue engineering is a promising alternative for chondral defect repair. It proposes models that mimic natural tissue structure through the use of cells, scaffolds, and signaling factors to repair, replace, maintain, or improve the specific function of the tissue.

Cancer Stem Cells in Tumor Microenvironment of Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach, Colon, and Rectum.

Gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas are one of the world's deadliest cancers. Cancer stem cells and the tissue microenvironment are highly regulated by cell and molecular mechanisms. Cancer stem cells are essential for maintenance and progression and are associated with resistance to conventional treatments.

Artificial Scaffolds in Cardiac Tissue Engineering.

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide. Current treatments directed at heart repair have several disadvantages, such as a lack of donors for heart transplantation or non-bioactive inert materials for replacing damaged tissue. Because of the natural lack of regeneration of cardiomyocytes, new treatment strategies involve stimulating heart tissue regeneration.

Proposal of an HPLC/UV/FLD Screening Method for the Simultaneous Determination of Ten Antibiotics in Environmental Waters.

An HPLC-UV/FLD method for simultaneous detection of ten antibiotics in surface waters was developed. Antibiotics were extracted from water using solid phase extraction. An Atlantis T3 column was used with acetonitrile and 0.

Parent's Perspective towards Child COVID-19 Vaccination: An Online Cross-Sectional Study in Mexico.

COVID-19 vaccination programs continue in child populations. Thus, parents' attitude towards COVID-19 vaccination of their children is crucial for these strategies to succeed. The present study derives from the application of an online COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance & Hesitancy Questionnaire (COV-AHQ) in which we measure parent's hesitancy towards children's vaccination (section 4 of the COV-AHQ) and other significant factors.

Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: A Cross-Sectional Study on a Mexican Population Using an Online Questionnaire (COV-AHQ).

Mexico has become one of the most highly affected countries by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Latin America. Therefore, efficient vaccination programs are needed to address COVID-19 pandemic. Although recent advances around the world have made it possible to develop vaccines in record time, there has been increasing fear and misinformation around the vaccines.

Target Nanoparticles against Pancreatic Cancer: Fewer Side Effects in Therapy.

Pancreatic cancer is the most common lethal tumor in America. This lethality is related to limited treatment options. Conventional treatments involve the non-specific use of chemotherapeutical agents such as 5-FU, capecitabine, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, cisplatin, oxaliplatin, or irinotecan, which produce several side effects.

Behind the Adaptive and Resistance Mechanisms of Cancer Stem Cells to TRAIL.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), also known as Apo-2 ligand (Apo2L), is a member of the TNF cytokine superfamily. TRAIL has been widely studied as a novel strategy for tumor elimination, as cancer cells overexpress TRAIL death receptors, inducing apoptosis and inhibiting blood vessel formation. However, cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are the main culprits responsible for therapy resistance and cancer remission, can easily develop evasion mechanisms for TRAIL apoptosis.

Inflammatory effect on the gastrointestinal system associated with COVID-19.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has provoked a global pandemic, mainly affecting the respiratory tract; however, a percentage of infected individuals can develop gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Some studies describe the development of GI symptoms and how they affect the progression of COVID-19. In this review, we summarize the main mechanisms associated with gut damage during infection by SARS-CoV-2 as well as other organs such as the liver and pancreas.

Teaching Anxiety, Stress and Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evaluating the Vulnerability of Academic Professionals in Mexico Through the Adapted COVID-19 Stress Scales.

To mitigate the COVID-19 infection, many world governments endorsed the cessation of non-essential activities, such as the school attendance, forcing a shift of the teaching model to the virtual classroom. From this shift, several changes in the teaching paradigm derived, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have an impact in academic professional's mental health. In the present work we show the application of a modified version of the adapted COVID-19 stress scales (ACSS) which also included teaching anxiety and preparedness, and resilience for academic professionals in Mexico.

Dataset of the adapted COVID stress scales for healthcare professionals of the northeast region of Mexico.

The dataset presented examines the levels of stress persisting in healthcare professionals of the Northeast region of Mexico. Using an online platform to obtain data, a survey was developed and distributed through electronic means during a 6-week period covering July and August 2020, considered one of the periods with the highest reported COVID cases in Mexico. Our survey looked at six major stress developing areas: danger, fear of contamination, social economic consequences, xenophobia, compulsive checking and reassurance seeking, and traumatic stress; we added an extra question to assess fear of being an asymptomatic patient.

Prevalence of Stress in Healthcare Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northeast Mexico: A Remote, Fast Survey Evaluation, Using an Adapted COVID-19 Stress Scales.

The world is currently subjected to the worst health crisis documented in modern history: an epidemic led by the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). At the epicenter of this crisis, healthcare professionals continue working to safeguard our well-being. To the regular high levels of stress, COVID-19 adds even more so to healthcare professionals in particular, depending on their area, specialty, and type of work.

A Highly Conductive 3D Cardiac Patch Fabricated Using Cardiac Myocytes Reprogrammed from Human Adipogenic Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to bioengineer 3D patches from cardiac myocytes that have been reprogrammed from human adipogenic mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs).

Methods: Human adipogenic mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs) were reprogrammed to form cardiac myocytes using transcription factors ETS2 and MESP1. Reprogrammed cardiac myocytes were cultured in a fibrin gel to bioengineer 3D patch patches.

β-Adrenergic stimuli and rotating suspension culture enhance conversion of human adipogenic mesenchymal stem cells into highly conductive cardiac progenitors.

Clinical trials using human adipogenic mesenchymal stem cells (hAdMSCs) for the treatment of cardiac diseases have shown improvement in cardiac function and were proven safe. However, hAdMSCs do not convert efficiently into cardiomyocytes (CMs) or vasculature. Thus, reprogramming hAdMSCs into myocyte progenitors may fare better in future investigations.

Conversion of human cardiac progenitor cells into cardiac pacemaker-like cells.

We used a screening strategy to test for reprogramming factors for the conversion of human cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) into Pacemaker-like cells. Human transcription factors SHOX2, TBX3, TBX5, TBX18, and the channel protein HCN2, were transiently induced as single factors and in trio combinations into CPCs, first transduced with the connexin 30.2 (CX30.

A MicroRNA Perspective on Cardiovascular Development and Diseases: An Update.

In this review, we summarize the latest research pertaining to MicroRNAs (miRs) related to cardiovascular diseases. In today's molecular age, the key clinical aspects of diagnosing and treating these type of diseases are crucial, and miRs play an important role. Therefore, we have made a thorough analysis discussing the most important candidate protagonists of many pathways relating to such conditions as atherosclerosis, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and congenital heart disorders.