Maria del Rocio Banos-Lara

Childhood cancer has a negative impact on the lives of affected children, affecting them socially, emotionally, and in terms of their development. Social support (SS) influences a patient’s adaptation, adherence to treatment, and well-being; receiving SS from the time of diagnosis can prevent negative psychological consequences. Una Nueva Esperanza A.B.P. (UNE) is a nonprofit organization that supports low-income children with cancer by offering comprehensive treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the level of perceived SS among UNE patients. SS was assessed comprehensively using the MOS-A scale; comparisons were made by sex, stage of treatment, age group, place of origin, diagnosis, and perception of support networks from family and friends. A total of 131 patients aged 5 to 21 years were studied upon admission to the pediatric emergency department. Overall, patients rated their perceived social support at 53.00/60, close to the maximum score. Patients undergoing treatment reported a perceived social support score of 55.00/60, while school-aged patients reported a score of 54.00/60. Gender, specific diagnosis, and referral status did not affect the SS. Both patients undergoing treatment and those under observation identified an average of three friends and five family members as their support networks. The family is fundamental to the perception of SS, serving as the primary support network for patients. Scores close to the maximum level suggest that UNE patients have a positive perception of SS.

Introduction: Non-communicable chronic diseases, such as overweight and obesity, are considered a high risk for type 2 diabetes. Globally, there are 536.6 million people with diabetes. Mexico has a high prevalence of these diseases. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a synbiotic beverage and a 12-week dietary intervention on body composition and biochemical parameters in women with T2D, overweight, or obesity as an additional strategy for treatment. Methods: This was a double-blind, randomized, and experimental study of a 12-week dietary intervention with a synbiotic fermented beverage with n = 51 women divided into four groups: G1 followed a moderate calorie-restricted diet, G2 followed the same moderate calorie-restricted diet and consumed a synbiotic beverage, G3 only consumed the synbiotic beverage, and G4 consumed a placebo beverage. Results: Significant changes were seen in BMI (p < 0.001) and fat mass (kg) (%) (p < 0.001) after the 12-week dietary intervention, proving that the synbiotic beverage had an effect on body composition. Conclusions: Significant decreases in different body composition and biochemical profiles were seen, showing the benefits of the beverage. A dietary intervention and the consumption of a fermented beverage could be an additional treatment for non-communicable diseases.

Introduction: Non committable chronic diseases such as overweight and obesity are considered in high risk for type 2 diabetes. Around the world, there are 536.6 million people with diabetes. Mexico represents a high prevalence of these diseases. Objective: Evaluate the effect of a synbiotic beverage and a 12-week dietary intervention on body composition and biochemical parameters in women with T2D, overweight or obesity, to obtain an additional strategy as treatment. Methods: A double-blinded, randomized and experimental in a 12 week dietary intervention with a synbiotic fermented beverage with a n=51 women divided in 4 groups: G1 followed a moderate calorie-restricted diet, G2 did the same moderate calorie-restricted diet and a synbiotic, G3 took only the synbiotic and G4 consumed a placebo beverage. Results: The total mean of ages of the 4 groups was 42.90 ± 10.6. The significant changes were in BMI (P Conclusion: Significant decreases in different body composition and biochemical profiles were proved showing the benefits of the beverage. Further research is needed in gut microbiota profile in this kind of participants.

Traditional fermented foods and beverages play an important role in a range of human diets, and several experimental studies have shown their potential positive effects on human health. Studies from different continents have revealed strong associations between the microorganisms present in certain fermented foods (e.g., agave fructans, kefir, yeats, kombucha, chungkookjang, cheeses and vegetables, among others) and weight maintenance, reductions in the risk of cardiovascular disease, antidiabetic and constipation benefits, improvement of glucose and lipids levels, stimulation of the immunological system, anticarcinogenic effects and, most importantly, reduced mortality. Accordingly, the aim of this review is to corroborate information reported in experimental studies that comprised interventions involving the consumption of traditional fermented foods or beverages and their association with human health. This work focuses on studies that used fermented food from 2014 to the present. In conclusion, traditional fermented foods or beverages could be important in the promotion of human health. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms involved in inflammatory, immune, chronic and gastrointestinal diseases and the roles of fermented traditional foods and beverages in terms of preventing or managing those diseases.

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) remains one of the most common viral infections causing acute respiratory tract infections, especially in young children, elderly, and immunocompromised populations. Clinical symptoms can range from mild respiratory symptoms to severe bronchiolitis and pneumonia. The production of mucus is a common feature during HMPV infection, but its contribution to HMPV-induced pathogenesis and immune response is largely unknown. Mucins are a major component of mucus and they could have an impact on how the host responds to infections. Using an in vitro system and a mouse model of infection, we identified that Mucin 19 is predominantly expressed in the respiratory tract upon HMPV infection. Moreover, the lack of Muc19 led to an improved disease, lower lung viral titers and a decrease in the number of CD4+ T cells. These data indicate that mucin 19 contributes to the activation of the immune response to HMPV and to HMPV-induced pathogenesis.

Cancer is the first cause of death by disease in childhood globally. The most frequent types of cancers in children and adolescents are leukemias, followed by brain and central nervous system tumors and lymphomas. The recovery rate of cancer in children is around 80% in developed countries and up to 30% in developing countries. Some of the main causes of complications in children and adolescents with cancer are respiratory viral infections, mainly in bone marrow-transplanted patients. Respiratory viruses have been detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage or nasal wash specimens from cancer patients with or without respiratory illness symptoms. Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is within the ten most common viruses that are encountered in samples from pediatric patients with underlying oncology conditions. In most of cases, HMPV is found as the only viral agent, but co-infection with other viruses or with bacterial agents has also been reported. The discrepancies between the most prevalent viral agents may be due to the different populations studied or the range of viral agents tested. Some of the cases of infection with HMPV in cancer patients have been fatal, especially in those who have received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. This review seeks to show a general view of the participation of HMPV in respiratory illness as a complication of cancer in childhood and adolescence.

DAÑO GENÉTICO Y CITOTÓXICO PROVOCADO POR PLAGUICIDAS EN JORNALEROS QUE LABORAN EN INVERNADEROS EN ATLIXCO, PUEBLA, MÉXICO

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are responsible for respiratory diseases, mostly in children. Despite the clinical and epidemiological similarities between these two pneumoviruses, they elicit different immune responses. This work aims to further our understanding of the differential immune response induced by these respiratory viruses by determining the changes of small non-coding RNAs (miRNAs), which regulate gene expression and are involved in numerous cellular processes including the immune system. In the present study, we analyzed the expression of miRNA transcripts of human dendritic cells infected with RSV or HMPV by high throughput sequencing using Illumina sequencing technology. Further validation of miRNA expression by quantitative polymerase chain reaction indicated that HMPV infection up-regulated the expression of 2 miRNAs (hsa-miR-182-5p and hsa-miR-4634), while RSV infection induced significant expression of 3 miRNAs (hsa-miR-4448, hsa-miR-30a-5p and hsa-miR-4634). The predominant miRNA induced by both viruses was hsa-miR-4634.

Introduction: obesity is a worldwide problem that predisposes to other health conditions. A direct relationship has been shown between obesity and genetic damage; the late is considered as an early marker of cancer in some cases. Objective: to evaluate the genetic damage and eating habits of children with obesity and normal weight. Methods: cross-sectional study conducted in school-age children. Genetic damage was assessed from buccal epithelial mucosal cells, through the quantification of nuclear abnormalities such as micronuclei, karyorrhexis, caryolysis, pyknosis and the presence of two nuclei. The nutritional evaluation was carried out through the analysis of weight, height and the evaluation of their diet through nutritional clinical records. Results: no significant differences were found in the number of nuclear abnormalities between the groups studied. However, some children with obesity showed higher number of nuclear abnormalities compared with children with normal weight. Regarding their eating habits, a positive correlation was found between weight and the consumption of free sugars and proteins in the diet. Conclusions: the lack of evidence that correlates micronuclei with nutritional status suggests that the presence of these abnormalities can be attributed to environmental or epigenetic factors. Special attention requires the study of diets similar to those habitually consumed by this population, in order to avoid their potential consequences. This study represents an important contribution in the evaluation of the possible health risks associated with childhood obesity.

Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in human circulation. They are the first immune cell population recruited to the sites of infection. However, the role of neutrophils to regulate host immune responses during respiratory viral infections is largely unknown. To elucidate the role of neutrophils in respiratory antiviral defense, we used an experimental mouse model of human metapneumovirus (HMPV) infection. HMPV, a member of the Paramyxoviridae family, is a leading respiratory pathogen causing severe symptoms, such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia, in young, elderly, and immunocompromised patients. We demonstrate that neutrophils are the predominant population of immune cells recruited into the lungs after HMPV infection. This led us to hypothesize that neutrophils represent a key player of the immune response during HMPV infection, thereby regulating HMPV-induced lung pathogenesis. Specific depletion of neutrophils in vivo using a mAb and simultaneous infection with HMPV exhibited higher levels of inflammatory cytokines, pulmonary inflammation, and severe clinical disease compared with HMPV-infected, competent mice. Interestingly, the lack of neutrophils altered γδ T cell accumulation in the lung. The absence of γδ T cells during HMPV infection led to reduced pulmonary inflammation. These novel findings demonstrate that neutrophils play a critical role in controlling HMPV-induced inflammatory responses by regulating γδ T cell infiltration to the site of infection.