Umbilical hernia and clinical course of patients with bile duct atresia.

Background: Bile atresia is children's leading cause of cirrhosis. Its high morbidity and mortality are explained by its complications, including gastrointestinal bleeding and portal hypertension. Umbilical hernia has been embryologically and clinically associated with portal hypertension and cirrhosis; however, the clinical evolution of patients with bile atresia and umbilical hernia is unknown, so the aim of the study is to describe this link.

Clinical and ultrasonographic findings associated with testicular infiltration in pediatric patients with leukemia.

Background: Testicular infiltration is infrequent in pediatric patients with leukemia and can be confused with other testicular conditions.

Objective: To analyze the presence of clinical and radiological features suggestive of testicular disease and its histological association with leukemia infiltration.

Method: Retrospective and analytical observational study that included patients with diagnosis of leukemia who underwent biopsy for suspected testicular infiltration.

Changes in the prokaryotic diversity in response to hydrochemical variations during an acid mine drainage passive treatment.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) causes major environmental problems and consequently, several treatments are proposed, favoring the passive systems because of their many advantages. The main goal of these procedures is the neutralization and removal of potentially toxic elements (PTE), yet little is known about the changes in the microbial assemblages in response to the hydrochemical variations during the treatments. Therefore, the main objective of this research was to determine the changes in the diversity and structure of the prokaryotic assemblages in a hybrid abiotic and biological (wetland) passive treatment system.

Use of allopathic and complementary medicine for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in Mexican adults: A national survey.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of allopathic and complementary medicine use for preventing the infection with SARS-CoV-2 in Mexico. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire among general adult population (n = 16,724) of the 32 Mexican states from March to November 2020.

Methods: The factors associated with the use, self-medication practice, and adverse reactions due the consumption of allopathic and complementary medicine to prevent infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus were assessed using a structured questionnaire.

Production of nitrates and perchlorates by laser ablation of sodium chloride in simulated Martian atmospheres. Implications for their formation by electric discharges in dust devils.

Nitrates and perchlorates are present both on Earth and Mars. In the Martian environment perchlorates dominate over nitrates whereas on Earth is contrariwise. This implies that the mechanisms responsible for their formation are different for both planets.

Extracorporeal photopheresis: a review on the immunological aspects and clinical applications.

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) was hailed as a new therapeutic concept for the treatment of diseases caused by aberrant T lymphocytes since it was first described more than twenty years ago. Advances in molecular biology and immunology have allowed a greater understanding of the mechanisms involved in ECP. As a result, ECP is being increasingly considered as a safe and promising immunomodulatory therapy with diverse clinical applications.

Periorbital mucinosis: a variant of cutaneous lupus erythematosus?

Lupus erythematosus has a wide spectrum of cutaneous manifestations, including periorbital mucinosis. We report 3 cases of periorbital mucinosis occurring in association with other cutaneous signs of lupus erythematosus. Based on a review of the literature, periorbital mucinosis is a rare and not widely recognized clinical manifestation of the disease.

Puerto Rico psoriasis study group: efficacy and safety of etanercept.

Background: Although major advances in the understanding of its pathogenesis have been achieved, psoriasis remains an incurable disease. In April 2004, etanercept, an antagonist of TNF-alpha, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chronic, moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults. In this study we intend to document the efficacy and further establish the safety profile of etanercept for the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis in our population and compare our data to the Leonardi et al study published in 2003.