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Objectives. To evaluate the structure and operation of national immunization technical advisory groups (NITAGs) in Latin America and the Caribbean and to make recommendations for improvement. Methods. A convenience sample of six current and eight former NITAG members representing 12 countries in the region were invited in 2022 to answer a web-based questionnaire on NITAG structure, organization, and procedures. The questionnaire used indicators similar to those in the Joint Reporting Form on Immunization. Participants were also asked about the role their NITAGs played in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) immunization policies. Results. Brazil, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) reported not having an active NITAG. The nine active NITAGs are structured and organized according to World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization recommendations, with variations between countries. Most NITAGs include representatives of the five recommended medical specialties with the participation of additional members possible. Only Bolivia (Plurinational State of) and Mexico have no explicit policy for managing members' potential conflicts of interest. All NITAGs have an exclusively technical advisory role and generally meet once a quarter. Usually, NITAGs are asked by health ministries to analyze issues and make recommendations. All NITAGs, except for Perus, actively participated in supporting decision-making for immunization policy on COVID-19. Conclusions. NITAGs have successfully supported vaccine policy-making through evidence-based recommendations. However, improvement in their structure, operation, and transparency is needed to help them keep up with the rapidly evolving field of immunization. Research on the impact of NITAGs is important to support the development of recommendations for improvement.

The Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) Anti-Infodemic Virtual Center for the Americas (AIVCA) is a project led by the Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health, PAHO and the Center for Health Informatics, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center on Information Systems for Health, at the University of Illinois, with the participation of PAHO staff and consultants across the region. Its goal is to develop a set of tools—pairing AI with human judgment—to help ministries of health and related health institutions respond to infodemics. Public health officials will learn about emerging threats detected by the center and get recommendations on how to respond. The virtual center is structured with three parallel teams: detection, evidence, and response. The detection team will employ a mixture of advanced search queries, machine learning, and other AI techniques to sift through more than 800 million new public social media posts per day to identify emerging infodemic threats in both English and Spanish. The evidence team will use the EasySearch federated search engine backed by AI, PAHO’s knowledge management team, and the Librarian Reserve Corps to identify the most relevant authoritative sources. The response team will use a design approach to communicate recommended response strategies based on behavioural science, storytelling, and information design approaches.

Retinal neurons that form ribbon-style synapses operate over a wide dynamic range, continuously relaying visual information to their downstream targets. The remarkable signaling abilities of these neurons are supported by specialized presynaptic machinery, one component of which is syntaxin3B. Syntaxin3B is an essential t-SNARE protein of photoreceptors and bipolar cells that is required for neurotransmitter release. It has a light-regulated phosphorylation site in its N-terminal domain at T14 that has been proposed to modulate membrane fusion. However, a direct test of the latter has been lacking. Using a well-controlled in vitro fusion assay, we found that a phosphomimetic T14 syntaxin3B mutation leads to a small but significant enhancement of SNARE-mediated membrane fusion following the formation of the t-SNARE complex. While the addition of Munc18a had only a minimal effect on membrane fusion mediated by SNARE complexes containing wild-type syntaxin3B, a more significant enhancement was observed in the presence of Munc18a when the SNARE complexes contained a syntaxin3B T14 phosphomimetic mutant. Finally, we showed that the retinal-specific complexins (Cpx III and Cpx IV) inhibited membrane fusion mediated by syntaxin3B-containing SNARE complexes in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, our results establish that membrane fusion mediated by syntaxin3B-containing SNARE complexes is regulated by the T14 residue of syntaxin3B, Munc18a, and Cpxs III and IV.

Plain language summary The emergence of ART in humans has been an important tool for the treatment of infertility. It is reported that one in four couples in developing countries has fertility problems. In 2009, the International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology (ICMART) established ART as "all treatments or procedures involving in vitro manipulation of oocytes, sperm or embryos for the purpose of establishing a pregnancy". The number of treatments performed in Latin America has been increasing, and Mexico is the third country with the most assisted reproduction cycles performed in the region. However, Mexico lacks a national regulation for human assisted reproduction. This has caused Mexico to become a medical tourism paradise, which increases the possibility of abuses, fraud, and clinical risks. In addition, it allows each institution offering assisted reproduction services, whether public or private, to establish arbitrary requirements for inclusion. Thus, the emergence of a regulation that allows a safe clinical practice based on ethics, which will also make this reproductive tool available to any social group, is a social need. Therefore, the aim of this review was to examine the existing legislation that regulates human assisted reproduction practices in Mexico, but also to examine the legal analysis of the policies, laws, and regulations in use in some countries in Latin America, North America, and Europe, as well as highlighting the importance of working on the establishment of regulations that allow for safe and ethically based clinical practices.

Abstract Background The evaluation of the DNA damage generated in cumulus cells after mature cumulus-oocyte complexes vitrification can be considered as an indicator of oocyte quality since these cells play important roles in oocyte developmental competence. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine if matured cumulus-oocyte complexes exposure to cryoprotectants (CPAs) or vitrification affects oocytes and cumulus cells viability, but also if DNA damage is generated in cumulus cells, affecting fertilization and embryo development. Results The DNA damage in cumulus cells was measured using the alkaline comet assay and expressed as Comet Tail Length (CTL) and Olive Tail Moment (OTM). Results demonstrate that oocyte exposure to CPAs or vitrification reduced oocyte (75.5 ± 3.69%, Toxicity; 66.7 ± 4.57%, Vitrification) and cumulus cells viability (32.7 ± 5.85%, Toxicity; 7.7 ± 2.21%, Vitrification) compared to control (95.5 ± 4.04%, oocytes; 89 ± 4.24%, cumulus cells). Also, significantly higher DNA damage expressed as OTM was generated in the cumulus cells after exposure to CPAs and vitrification (39 ± 17.41, 33.6 ± 16.69, respectively) compared to control (7.4 ± 4.22). In addition, fertilization and embryo development rates also decreased after exposure to CPAs (35.3 ± 16.65%, 22.6 ± 3.05%, respectively) and vitrification (32.3 ± 9.29%, 20 ± 1%, respectively). It was also found that fertilization and embryo development rates in granulose-intact oocytes were significantly higher compared to denuded oocytes in the control groups. However, a decline in embryo development to the blastocyst stage was observed after CPAs exposure (1.66 ± 0.57%) or vitrification (2 ± 1%) compared to control (22.3 ± 2.51%). This could be attributed to the reduction in both cell types viability, and the generation of DNA damage in the cumulus cells. Conclusion This study demonstrates that oocyte exposure to CPAs or vitrification reduced viability in oocytes and cumulus cells, and generated DNA damage in the cumulus cells, affecting fertilization and embryo development rates. These findings will allow to understand some of the mechanisms of oocyte damage after vitrification that compromise their developmental capacity, as well as the search for new vitrification strategies to increase fertilization and embryo development rates by preserving the integrity of the cumulus cells.

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a well-established vertebrate model in ecotoxicology research that responds to a wide range of xenobiotics such as pesticides, drugs, and endocrine-disrupting compounds. The epigenome can interact with the environment and transform internal and/or external signals into phenotypic responses through changes in gene transcription. Environmental exposures can also generate epigenetic variations in offspring even by indirect exposure. In this review, we address the advantages of using zebrafish as an experimental animal model to study transgenerational epigenetic processes upon exposure to xenobiotics. We focused mostly on DNA methylation, although studies on post-translational modifications of histones, and non-coding RNAs related to xenobiotic exposure in zebrafish are also discussed. A revision of the methods used to study epigenetic changes in zebrafish revealed the relevance and reproducibility for epigenetics-related research. PubMed and Google Scholar databases were consulted for original research articles published from 2013 to date, by using six keywords: zebrafish, epigenetics, exposure, parental, transgenerational, and F2. From 499 articles identified, 92 were considered, of which 14 were selected as included F2 and epigenetic mechanisms. Current knowledge regarding the effect of xenobiotics on DNA methylation, histone modifications, and changes in non-coding RNAs expressed in F2 is summarized, along with key experimental design considerations to characterize transgenerational effects.

Quadrivalent influenza vaccines (QIVs) are designed to prevent influenza disease caused by two influenza A viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and both influenza B lineages. Risk-monitoring of QIVs to identify adverse events (AEs) is necessary as influenza vaccines are reformulated each year. We developed a new active surveillance system (Sistema de Control de Vacunación; SICOVA) to improve pharmacovigilance in Mexico. Participants (N = 2013) aged 0 − 96 years from nine sites across three influenza seasons (n = 1166 in 2015 − 2016; n = 633 in 2016 − 2017; and n = 214 in 2017 − 2018) agreed to receive text messages 1, 7, 28, and 42 days post-vaccination to know if they had experienced any AEs. The study was completed electronically by 1763 (87.6%) participants; manual follow-up was conducted for 250 participants whose reporting was incomplete. The overall AE rate was 9.09%. At least one AE was reported by 183 participants, of whom 131 (71.58%) did not require a medical visit and 52 (28.42%) needed medical attention, with none requiring hospitalization. Most AEs requiring medical attention occurred in children aged 0 − 5 years (n = 22, 42.31%) and adults aged 31 − 35 years (n = 5, 9.62%). These results are consistent with the established safety profile of Fluzone® Quadrivalent, and show that SICOVA can facilitate surveillance and increase AE reporting in Mexico.

Abstract Background The current national influenza vaccination schedule in Mexico does not recommend vaccination in the school-aged population (5–11 years). Currently, there are limited data from middle-income countries analysing the cost-effectiveness of influenza vaccination in this population. We explored the clinical effects and economic benefits of expanding the current national influenza vaccination schedule in Mexico to include the school-aged population. Methods A static 1-year model incorporating herd effect was used to assess the cost-effectiveness of expanding the current national influenza vaccination schedule of Mexico to include the school-aged population. We performed a cross-sectional epidemiological study using influenza records (2009–2018), death records (2010–2015), and discharge and hospitalisation records (2010–2016), from the databases of Mexico’s Influenza Surveillance System (SISVEFLU), the National Mortality Epidemiological and Statistical System (SEED), and the Automated Hospital Discharge System (SAEH), respectively. Cost estimates for influenza cases were based on 7 scenarios using data analysed from SISVEFLU; assumptions for clinical management of cases were defined according to Mexico’s national clinical guidelines. The primary health outcome for this study was the number of influenza cases avoided. A sensitivity analysis was performed using conservative and optimistic parameters (vaccination coverage: 30% / 70%, Vaccine effectiveness: 19% / 68%). Results It was estimated that expanding the influenza immunisation programme to cover school-aged population in Mexico over the 2018–2019 influenza season would result in 671,461 cases of influenza avoided (50% coverage and 50% effectiveness assumed). Associated with this were 262,800 fewer outpatient consultations; 154,100 fewer emergency room consultations; 97,600 fewer hospitalisations, and 15 fewer deaths. Analysis of cases avoided by age-group showed that 55.4% of them were in the school-aged population, and the decrease in outpatient consultations was largest in this population. There was an overall decrease in the economic burden for the Mexican health care system of 111.9 million US dollars; the immunization programme was determined to be cost-saving in the base, conservative and optimistic scenarios. Conclusions Vaccinating school-aged population in Mexico would be cost-effective; expansion of the current national vaccination schedule to this age group is supported.

Introduction To present an analysis of the Brazilian health system and subnational (state) variation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, based on 10 non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs).Materials and methods We collected daily information on implementation of 10 NPI designed to inform the public of health risks and promote distancing and mask use at the national level for eight countries across the Americas. We then analyse the adoption of the 10 policies across Brazil’s 27 states over time, individually and using a composite index. We draw on this index to assess the timeliness and rigour of NPI implementation across the country, from the date of the first case, 26 February 2020. We also compile Google data on population mobility by state to describe changes in mobility throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.Results Brazil’s national NPI response was the least stringent among countries analysed. In the absence of a unified federal response to the pandemic, Brazilian state policy implementation was neither homogenous nor synchronised. The median NPI was no stay-at-home order, a recommendation to wear masks in public space but not a requirement, a full school closure and partial restrictions on businesses, public transportation, intrastate travel, interstate travel and international travel. These restrictions were implemented 45 days after the first case in each state, on average. Rondônia implemented the earliest and most rigorous policies, with school closures, business closures, information campaigns and restrictions on movement 24 days after the first case; Mato Grosso do Sul had the fewest, least stringent restrictions on movement, business operations and no mask recommendation.Conclusions The study identifies wide variation in national-level NPI responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our focus on Brazil identifies subsequent variability in how and when states implemented NPI to contain COVID-19. States’ NPIs and their scores on the composite policy index both align with the governors’ political affiliations: opposition governors implemented earlier, more stringent sanitary measures than those supporting the Bolsonaro administration. A strong, unified national response to a pandemic is essential for keeping the population safe and disease-free, both at the outset of an outbreak and as communities begin to reopen. This national response should be aligned with state and municipal implementation of NPI, which we show is not the case in Brazil.

Vitrification is mainly used to cryopreserve female gametes. This technique allows maintaining cell viability, functionality, and developmental potential at low temperatures into liquid nitrogen at −196°C. For this, the addition of cryoprotectant agents, which are substances that provide cell protection during cooling and warming, is required. However, they have been reported to be toxic, reducing oocyte viability, maturation, fertilization, and embryo development, possibly by altering cell cytoskeleton structure and chromatin. Previous studies have evaluated the effects of vitrification in the germinal vesicle, metaphase II oocytes, zygotes, and blastocysts, but the knowledge of its impact on their further embryo development is limited. Other studies have evaluated the role of actin microfilaments and chromatin, based on the fertilization and embryo development rates obtained, but not the direct evaluation of these structures in embryos produced from vitrified immature oocytes. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate how the vitrification of porcine immature oocytes affects early embryo development by the evaluation of actin microfilament distribution and chromatin integrity. Results demonstrate that the damage generated by the vitrification of immature oocytes affects viability, maturation, and the distribution of actin microfilaments and chromatin integrity, observed in early embryos. Therefore, it is suggested that vitrification could affect oocyte repair mechanisms in those structures, being one of the mechanisms that explain the low embryo development rates after vitrification.

Los problemas del riego están estrechamente relacionados con una gestión ineficiente de aspectos tales como infraestructura de riego, distribución del agua y prácticas agrícolas. En México, los distritos de riego (DR) son organizaciones que tienen un rol relevante en la gestión del riego, de ahí la pertinencia de evaluar su desempeño. Siguiendo el marco conceptual sistémico de Burton (2010), benchmarking, basado en eficiencia técnica DEA y rendimiento de escala, fue aplicado a una muestra de 42 distritos de riego. Primero, se formaron 6 grupos de DR homogéneos aplicando Análisis de Componentes Principales y Análisis de Conglomerados con variables como número de usuarios, área regada, principales cultivos y formas de distribución del agua de riego. Enseguida, de acuerdo con la disponibilidad de registros, variables e indicadores de desempeño fueron seleccionados para los sistemas de infraestructura, finanzas, producción y medio ambiente. Finalmente, variables e indicadores determinantes de eficiencia se identificaron mediante regresión Tobit. A manera de ilustración, 2 conglomerados (CS5 y CS6) fueron seleccionados para evaluar el desempeño del riego. El benchmarking resultó una estrategia adecuada para evaluar el desempeño de los DR a nivel de conglomerados y a nivel de sistemas dentro de cada conglomerado. Las eficiencias y rendimientos de escala calculados mostraron fortalezas y debilidades de cada uno de los distritos. Las eficiencias promedio, por distrito, permitieron hacer un ranking y determinar el distrito referente (benchmarker) en cada conglomerado. Finalmente, la regresión Tobit permitió identificar factores determinantes de ineficiencia por conglomerado.

Glyphosate, the most commonly used pesticide worldwide, blocks aromatic amino acid biosynthetic pathways and inhibits growth in plants. Although the specific mode of action of glyphosate in animals remains unclear, adverse effects during embryonic development have been reported, including epiboly delays, morphological alterations, and changes in central nervous system development and cardiogenesis. In this study, we suggest a possible toxicity mechanism for this herbicide related to changes in microtubule stability, which could alter the distribution and dynamics of cytoskeleton components. Using zebrafish embryos to evaluate in vivo effects of glyphosate exposure (5, 10, and 50 μg/ml), we found significant reductions in the levels of acetylated α-tubulin (50 μg/ml) and in the polymeric tubulin percentage in zebrafish embryos that had been exposed to 10 and 50 μg/ml glyphosate, without any changes in either the expression patterns of α-tubulin or the stability of actin filaments. These results indicate that high concentrations of glyphosate were associated with reduced levels of acetylated α-tubulin and altered microtubule stability, which may explain some of the neurotoxic and cardiotoxic effects that have been attributed to this herbicide.

We aimed to estimate vaccination coverage and factors associated in completing schemes in children under 5 years old between 2000 and 2018. A secondary analysis was carried out on five national health surveys between 2000 and 2018 in Mexico. The sample was 53,898 children under 5 years old, where 30% of missing vaccination information was imputed using chained equations. During this period two basic vaccination schemes (CBS) were identified. For each doses and vaccines of both schemes and completed CBS, the coverage was estimated using weighted logistic regression models. Additionally, the factors associated with incomplete schemes were reported. Between 2000 and 2018, the caretakers who did not show the vaccination card went from 13.8% to 45.6%. During this period, the estimated vaccination coverages did not exceed 95%, except for BCG and marginally the first doses of vaccines against pneumococcus, acellular pentavalent, and Sabin. In the same period, the CBS estimated coverage decreased steadily and was under 90%, except for children aged 6-11 months (92.6%; 91.5-93.7) in 2000. Not having health insurance stands out as an associated factor with incomplete vaccination schemes. In conclusion, the imputation allowed to recuperate information and obtain better data of vaccination coverage. The estimated vaccination coverage and CBS do not reach sufficient levels to guarantee herd immunity, hence innovative strategies to improve vaccination must be established in Mexico.

Abstract Background Most studies carried out to evaluate recovery and development after porcine oocyte vitrification, reported better rates when cryopreserved in embryonic development stages or zygotes, but not in immature oocytes. For this reason, many studies are performed to improve immature oocyte vitrification protocols testing the use of different cryoprotectant concentrations, cooling devices, incubation times; but only a few of them have evaluated which fertilization procedure enhances blastocyst rates in vitrified oocytes. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate: 1) if the sperm selection with hyaluronic acid (HA) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) before injection could play a key role in increasing fertilization and blastocyst formation and 2) the embryo developmental ability and blastocyst production of porcine immature oocytes retrieved after vitrification-warming and co-cultured with granulosa cells during IVM, using different fertilization techniques: in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and conventional ICSI with hyaluronic acid (HA) sperm selection, known as physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI) and. Results Sperm selected with HA-PICSI displayed a higher percentage of live/acrosome reacted status compared to those in control and exposed to PVP. Higher dead/acrosome reacted rates were obtained after PVP exposure compared to control and HA. In oocytes, viability significantly decreased after IVM in vitrified oocytes. Besides, IVM rates were not different between control denuded oocytes cultured with granulosa cells (DO-GC) and vitrified oocytes. Regarding fertilization parameters, IVF showed higher percentages of total fertilization rate than those obtained by ICSI and PICSI. However, results demonstrate that PICSI fertilization increased the blastocysts formation rate in control DO-GC and vitrified oocytes compared to IVF and ICSI. Conclusions To achieve high blastocyst formation rates from vitrified GV oocytes, it is recommended that sperm should be selected with HA instead of PVP before injection since high viability and acrosome reaction rates were obtained. Also, PICSI fertilization was the best method to produce higher blastocyst rates compared to the IVF and ICSI procedures.

La maduración del ovocito en los folículos preovulatorios comprende complejos eventos regulados en parte por gonadotropinas. Sin embargo, para entender estos eventos, es necesario identificar los diferentes genes que participan en la maduración. Uno de estos genes corresponde a la proteína ATPasa6, componente de la ATP sintasa que se sobreexpresa durante la maduración de los ovocitos, pero hasta ahora, no ha sido comprobada su participación experimentalmente. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del presente estudio se encaminó a determinar si la ATPasa6 tiene un papel relevante en la maduración de los ovocitos del cerdo, a partir de la conformación de dos grupos de ovocitos: El experimental microinyectados con un RNA interferente para ATPasa6, silenciando su expresión, y el grupo control microinyectados con un RNAi para un gen de invertebrado. Después de la microinyección, ambos grupos se cultivaron in vitro durante 48 h en medio de maduración. El grupo microinyectado con siRNA para ATPasa6 mostró una disminución del 71% en la expresión de este gen a las 24 h de incubación, en tanto que el porcentaje de ovocitos maduros en este grupo disminuyó 51.1% (67.5% en el grupo control vs 33% en el grupo tratado con ATPasa6-RNAi; p

Background: Stress has been considered as one of the causes of decreased reproductive function in women. However, direct evidence of the effect of chronic stress on oocytes depending on estrous cycle phases is limited. Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of chronic stress on the viability, integrity, and maturation of rat oocytes depending on estrous cycle phases, specifically proestrus, estrus, and diestrus. Methods: For this purpose, adult female rats were stressed daily by cold water immersion (15 °C) for 30 consecutive days. Results: In chronically stressed female rats, irregular estrous cyclicity, increased corticosterone levels, decreased oocyte viability, and an increased percentage of abnormal oocytes were obtained in all the estrous cycle phases, resulting in reduced oocyte maturation during proestrus. Conclusion: Oocyte maturation disturbed by chronic stress is a crucial factor by which chronic stress disrupts female reproduction

Altamirano-Aguilar, A., Valdez-Torres, J. B., Valdez-Lafarga, C., León-Balderrama, J. I., Betancourt-Lozano, M., & Osuna-Enciso, T. (julio-agosto, 2017). Clasificación y evaluación de los distritos de riego en México con base en indicadores de desempeño. Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua, 8(4), 79-99. Uno de los principales problemas del riego en México es su gestión. Entre las varias organizaciones encargadas de la administración del riego en el país, los distritos de riego tienen uno de los roles más importante, de ahí la pertinencia de estudiar su desempeño. Siguiendo el marco conceptual de Malano y Burton (2001), se diseñó un procedimiento para clasificar los distritos de riego y estimar su desempeño usando indicadores. El procedimiento consistió de las siguientes etapas generales: (1) clasificación de los distritos de riego en grupos climáticos; (2) selección y validación de indicadores de desempeño; (3) determinación de conglomerados de distritos de riego, por grupo climático, aplicando componentes principales y análisis de conglomerados; (4) evaluación del desempeño de cada conglomerado por medio de gráficas multivariadas y una escala de desempeño arbitraria. Se obtuvieron tres grupos climáticos: un grupo seco (con 42 distritos en cinco conglomerados); un grupo templado húmedo (con 14 distritos en dos conglomerados), y un grupo cálido húmedo (con 28 distritos en seis conglomerados). Los conglomerados mostraron características similares, como tipo de cultivos, fuentes de suministro de agua y canales de infraestructura de irrigación, entre otros. En general, el desempeño de riego de todos los conglomerados fue bajo.

Limited information is available to determine the effectiveness of Mexico’s national influenza vaccination guidelines and inform policy updates. We aim to propose reforms to current influenza vaccination policies based on our analysis of cost-effectiveness studies. This cross-sectional epidemiological study used influenza case, death, discharge and hospitalization data from several influenza seasons and applied a one-year decision-analytic model to assess cost-effectiveness. The primary health outcome was influenza cases avoided; secondary health outcomes were influenza-related events associated with case reduction. By increasing vaccination coverage to 75% in the population aged 12–49 years with risk factors (diabetes, high blood pressure, morbid obesity, chronic renal failure, asthma, pregnancy), and expanding universal vaccination coverage to school-aged children (5–11 years) and adults aged 50–59 years, 7142–671,461 influenza cases; 1–15 deaths; 7615–262,812 healthcare visits; 2886–154,143 emergency room admissions and 2891–97,637 hospitalizations could be prevented (ranges correspond to separate age and risk factor groups), with a net annual savings of 3.90 to 111.99 million USD. Such changes to the current vaccination policy could potentially result in significant economic and health benefits. These data could be used to inform the revision of a vaccination policy in Mexico with substantial social value.

The Mexican influenza vaccination program does not include a recommendation for people aged 50–59 years without risk factors for influenza complications, and there are limited data regarding the cost-effectiveness of vaccinating this population. To explore the clinical and economic effects of including this population in the vaccination schedule, we performed a cross-sectional epidemiological study using records (2009–2018) from Mexico’s Influenza Surveillance System (SISVEFLU), death records (2010–2015) from the National Mortality Epidemiological and Statistical System, and discharge and hospitalization records (2010–2015) from the Automated Hospital Discharge System databases. A 1-year decision-analytic model was used to assess cost-effectiveness through a decision-tree based on data from SISVEFLU. The primary outcome was influenza cases avoided; with associated influenza-related events as secondary outcomes. Including the population aged 50–59 years without risk factors in Mexico’s influenza immunization program would have resulted in 199,500 fewer cases; 67,008 fewer outpatient consultations; 33,024 fewer emergency room consultations; 33,091 fewer hospitalizations; 12 fewer deaths. These reductions equate to a substantial public health benefit as well as an economic benefit; yielding net savings of 49.8 million US dollars over a typical influenza season. Expansion of the current Mexican vaccination schedule to include these people would be a cost-saving and dominant strategy.

Results-based aid (RBA) is increasingly used to incentivize action in health. In Mesoamerica, the region consisting of southern Mexico and Central America, the RBA project known as the Salud Mesoamérica Initiative (SMI) was designed to target disparities in maternal and child health, focusing on the poorest 20% of the population across the region.Data were first collected in 365 intervention health facilities to establish a baseline of indicators. For the first follow-up measure, 18 to 24 months later, 368 facilities were evaluated in these same areas. At both stages, we measured a near-identical set of supply-side performance indicators in line with country-specific priorities in maternal and child health. All countries showed progress in performance indicators, although with different levels. El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama reached their 18-month targets, while the State of Chiapas in Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize did not. A second follow-up measurement in Chiapas and Guatemala showed continued progress, as they achieved previously missed targets nine to 12 months later, after implementing a performance improvement plan.Our findings show an initial success in the supply-side indicators of SMI. Our data suggest that the RBA approach can be a motivator to improve availability of drugs and services in poor areas. Moreover, our innovative monitoring and evaluation framework will allow health officials with limited resources to identify and target areas of greatest need.

The prevalence of emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) in ground and surface water has sparked the search for more effective methods to remove EOCs from the environment. In pursuit of a solution for this environmental concern, herein we present the development of reusable films based on cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) and the block copolymer, poly(4-vinylpyridine-b-ethylene oxide) (P4VP-PEO) to adsorb sulfamethoxazole (SMX) as an EOC model compound. We hypothesize that the adsorption of SMX was achieved mainly by π-π interactions between the pyridine functionalities of the block copolymer and the electron deficient phenyl group of the SMX. Preceding preparation of the films, CNFs were modified with the alkoxysilane trimethoxy(2-phenylethyl)silane (TMPES) to increase their stability in aqueous solution. After the addition of P4VP-PEO, the process was completed by filtration followed by oven-drying. XPS and FTIR were employed to confirm the addition of TMPES and P4VP-PEO, respectively. Adsorption batch experiments were performed in aqueous solutions of SMX at a neutral pH, obtaining adsorptions of up to 0.014 mmol/g in a moderate time of 60 min. For the reusability tests, films were immersed in ethanol 95 wt.% to elude the adsorbed SMX, rinsed with deionized (DI) water, and dried at room temperature to be reused in a new adsorption cycle. We found that this new composite material could be reused several times with negligible loss of adsorption capacity. The films presented have been shown to be of substantial importance for water remediation as they find direct application in the adsorption of electron deficient aromatic compounds and are reusable.

BACKGROUND:Dengue imposes a substantial economic and disease burden in most tropical and subtropical countries. Dengue incidence and severity have dramatically increased in Mexico during the past decades. Having objective and comparable estimates of the economic burden of dengue is essential to inform health policy, increase disease awareness, and assess the impact of dengue prevention and control technologies. METHODS AND FINDINGS:We estimated the annual economic and disease burden of dengue in Mexico for the years 2010-2011. We merged multiple data sources, including a prospective cohort study; patient interviews and macro-costing from major hospitals; surveillance, budget, and health data from the Ministry of Health; WHO cost estimates; and available literature. We conducted a probabilistic sensitivity analysis using Monte Carlo simulations to derive 95% certainty levels (CL) for our estimates. Results suggest that Mexico had about 139,000 (95%CL: 128,000-253,000) symptomatic and 119 (95%CL: 75-171) fatal dengue episodes annually on average (2010-2011), compared to an average of 30,941 symptomatic and 59 fatal dengue episodes reported. The annual cost, including surveillance and vector control, was US$170 (95%CL: 151-292) million, or $1.56 (95%CL: 1.38-2.68) per capita, comparable to other countries in the region. Of this, $87 (95%CL: 87-209) million or $0.80 per capita (95%CL: 0.62-1.12) corresponds to illness. Annual disease burden averaged 65 (95%CL: 36-99) disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per million population. Inclusion of long-term sequelae, co-morbidities, impact on tourism, and health system disruption during outbreaks would further increase estimated economic and disease burden. CONCLUSION:With this study, Mexico joins Panama, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and Thailand as the only countries or areas worldwide with comprehensive (illness and preventive) empirical estimates of dengue burden. Burden varies annually; during an outbreak, dengue burden may be significantly higher than that of the pre-vaccine level of rotavirus diarrhea. In sum, Mexico's potential economic benefits from dengue control would be substantial.

En 1992 apareció en el sureste asiático un nuevo tipo de virus de la influenza, el cual ha ocasionado hasta la fecha más de 120 casos y un poco más de 60 defunciones en humanos en Camboya, Vietnam, Indonesia y Tailandia. Esta situación es considerada por los expertos como la probable génesis de una nueva pandemia de influenza, lo que podría traer graves consecuencias para la salud de la población, así como para la economía y el comercio mundial. Por lo anterior, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) ha instado a los países miembros a desarrollar planes de preparación y respuesta para hacer frente a esta eventualidad. En el marco del Comité Nacional para la Seguridad en Salud, México ha diseñado el Plan Nacional de Preparación y Respuesta ante una Pandemia de Influenza con objeto de proteger a la población mediante acciones efectivas y oportunas. El Plan utiliza una escala de riesgo y define cinco líneas de acción: Coordinación, Vigilancia Epidemiológica, Atención Médica, Difusión y Movilización Social, y Reserva Estratégica. Si bien es imposible predecir cuándo se presentará la próxima pandemia y su impacto, es fundamental que las autoridades de salud nacionales, estatales y locales establezcan los mecanismos para poner en marcha los componentes del Plan en forma oportuna y garantizar con ello la salud de la población en caso de influenza pandémica.In 1992, a new type of influenza virus appeared in Southeast Asia. This new strain has caused to date, more than 120 cases and over 60 deaths in Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand. This situation is seen by the experts as the possible genesis of a new influenza pandemic with the corresponding negative effects on the health of the population, international commerce and world economy. In order to face the coming challenge, the World Health Organization (WHO) has asked member countries to develop national preparedness and response plans for an influenza pandemic. Within the framework of the National Committee for Health Security, Mexico has developed a National Preparedness and Response Plan for an Influenza Pandemic with the aim of protecting the health of the population with timely and effective measures. The Plan is based on a risk scale and five lines of action: Coordination, Epidemiological Surveillance, Medical Care, Risk Communication and Strategic Stockpile. It is currently impossible to predict when the next pandemic will start or what will be its impact. Nevertheless, it is fundamental that national and regional health authorities establish measures for protecting the health of the population in case this emergency occurs.

Dengue presents a formidable and growing global economic and disease burden, with around half the world's population estimated to be at risk of infection. There is wide variation and substantial uncertainty in current estimates of dengue disease burden and, consequently, on economic burden estimates. Dengue disease varies across time, geography and persons affected. Variations in the transmission of four different viruses and interactions among vector density and host's immune status, age, pre-existing medical conditions, all contribute to the disease's complexity. This systematic review aims to identify and examine estimates of dengue disease burden and costs, discuss major sources of uncertainty, and suggest next steps to improve estimates. Economic analysis of dengue is mainly concerned with costs of illness, particularly in estimating total episodes of symptomatic dengue. However, national dengue disease reporting systems show a great diversity in design and implementation, hindering accurate global estimates of dengue episodes and country comparisons. A combination of immediate, short-, and long-term strategies could substantially improve estimates of disease and, consequently, of economic burden of dengue. Suggestions for immediate implementation include refining analysis of currently available data to adjust reported episodes and expanding data collection in empirical studies, such as documenting the number of ambulatory visits before and after hospitalization and including breakdowns by age. Short-term recommendations include merging multiple data sources, such as cohort and surveillance data to evaluate the accuracy of reporting rates (by health sector, treatment, severity, etc.), and using covariates to extrapolate dengue incidence to locations with no or limited reporting. Long-term efforts aim at strengthening capacity to document dengue transmission using serological methods to systematically analyze and relate to epidemiologic data. As promising tools for diagnosis, vaccination, vector control, and treatment are being developed, these recommended steps should improve objective, systematic measures of dengue burden to strengthen health policy decisions.

A principios de febrero de 2003 la Organización Mundial de la Salud comenzó a recibir reportes de pacientes con un síndrome caracterizado por neumonía atípica, con rápida progresión hacia insuficiencia respiratoria sin una causa identificada. Los casos aparentemente se iniciaron en el sur de China y se han diseminado a otras regiones en Asia, Europa, Sudáfrica, Norte América y Sur América. La causa de este síndrome es una nueva variedad de Coronavirus, aislado en secreciones respiratorias y en otras. El síndrome ha sido definido en inglés como SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) por la Organización Mundial de la Salud y se caracteriza por un periodo de incubación de 1 a 10 días (promedio de cinco días), una fase febril prodrómica que aparece entre los días 1 a 3. Posteriormente, aparecen síntomas respiratorios como tos, disnea, y signos como hipoxemia, que en 10 a 40% de los casos requieren de ventilación mecánica. La tasa de letalidad ha variado de 3% hasta 16%. Los hallazgos de laboratorio incluyen trombocitopenia, leucopenia, elevación de creatinin-fosfokinasa, y, en ocasiones, de transaminasas hepáticas y deshidrogenasa láctica. El tratamiento incluye medidas de apoyo; la utilización empírica del antiviral ribavirina es controvertida, debido a que hasta el momento no existe un tratamiento específico. Se recomienda el aislamiento respiratorio de los pacientes, la utilización de máscaras protectoras y el lavado estricto de manos como principales medidas de prevención. Desde el inicio de esta epidemia México estableció un sistema de vigilancia, así como recomendaciones al personal de salud para la identificación, prevención de casos secundarios y manejo clínico de casos sospechosos.In early February 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) began receiving reports of patients with a syndrome characterized by an atypical pneumonia with rapid progression to respiratory failure without an identified cause despite extensive diagnostic workups. Most of these reports pointed out that the outbreak started in Southern China, specifically in the Guandong Province. The initial outbreak in South East Asia has already spread to other Regions in Asia, Europe, North and South America, and South Africa. Many of these cases can be linked through chains of transmission to an index case from the Guandong Province who visited Hong Kong. Although the exact mode of transmission has not been clearly established, the etiology of this syndrome has already been identified. A novel Coronavirus has been identified by electron microscopy and molecular assays in multiple laboratories from respiratory specimens throughout the world. The syndrome has been defined as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) by WHO, and is characterized by an incubation period between 1 and 10 days (average 5 days) and by a febrile phase that usually lasts approximately 3 days. During the respiratory phase that begins around day 3, patients start developing a dry cough, shortness of breath and hypoxemia. Mechanical ventilatory support is required in about 10 to 40% of cases and the case-fatality rate ranges between 3 and 16%. The laboratory findings in SARS cases include leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and a rise in transaminases and lactic dehydrogenase levels. Treatment of SARS includes supportive measures and the empiric use of ribavirin. Respiratory isolation, use of respiratory masks, and compulsory hand hygiene constitute the principal preventive measures. The confirmation of a case can be performed at reference laboratories by serologic and molecular assays. From the onset of this epidemic Mexico established a surveillance system as well as clinical guidelines and recommendations for the identification, prevention of secondary spread, and medical management of suspicious and probable cases by health care personnel.

Este artículo describe una técnica de criopreservación del semen porcino y la valoración de la capacidad fertilizante in vitro de este semen criopreservado. Para obtener el articulo completo pueden contactar al Editor de la Revista Ecosistemas y Recursos Agropecuarios en el siguiente correo electrónico era@ujat.mx y se les enviará sin algún costo.

El presente trabajo tuvo dos objetivos: validar las técnicas de maduración in vitro, fertilización in vitro de ovocitos y desarrollo in vitro de embriones porcinos, como una contribución para el desarrollo de las técnicas de reproducción asistida en México, el segundo fue transferir embriones a una hembra receptora, para producir lechones. Los ovocitos se recolectaron a partir de hembras prepúberes y se maduraron en medio definido TCM-199, suplementado con alcohol polivinílico. Los ovocitos madurados se inseminaron en medio amortiguado con Tris y se transfirieron a medio de desarrollo embrionario NCSU-23. Para la primera fase del trabajo, se realizaron siete ensayos con 311 ovocitos, de los cuales 82 % completaron la maduración, y de éstos, 70 % resultaron fertilizados. Se obtuvieron 106 embriones en diferentes etapas del desarrollo y 14 % de estos alcanzaron el estado de blástula. En la segunda fase del trabajo, se transfirieron por vía quirúrgica 49 embriones en diferente estado de desarrollo, al cuerno uterino de una hembra receptora previamente sincronizada. Se detectó la gestación por medio de ultrasonografía 55 días después de la transferencia. A los 114 días y medio después de la fertilización, nacieron por cesárea dos hembras vivas con apariencia y peso normales.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the recommendations issued by the main national and international health organizations regarding anti-COVID-19 vaccination, and define which of them are applicable to the Mexican population based on the predominance of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and the current and planned availability of vaccines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was carried out in May 2023, in order to analyze the recommendations established in the objective and define those applicable to the specific context of Mexico. RESULTS Six groups of international and national recommendations for anti-COVID-19 vaccination were located and, after analyzing them, the five recommendations applicable to the Mexican reality described at the end of the document were issued. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the current lower clinical and epidemiological impact of COVID-19, prevention campaigns must be maintained and vaccination patterns optimized especially among populations that have not yet been vaccinated and/or with comorbidities, as well as reinforced health systems, in anticipation of outbreaks of the disease and/or the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutations with greater infectivity and/or lethality. The optimization of anti-COVID-19 vaccination in Mexico can be significantly favored through the joint efforts of health authorities and private sector vaccine producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]