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People with cognitive disabilities face multiple challenges concerning oral health and frequently show oral tissue decay because of the barriers society imposes upon them, and due to financial issues, professional and family lack of knowledge, limitations regarding access to services, lack of empowering-driven actions, among others. Positive knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding oral health, developed during the course of a lifetime, help in preserving good health. The aim of the current study is to describe oral health knowledge, attitudes and practices in people with cognitive disabilities participating in the Institutional Program for the Inclusion of People with Cognitive Disabilities in Higher Education at the University of Costa Rica (PROIN, in Spanish), during 2021. A descriptive study with mixed focus was performed; a representative sample comprised of 86 students enrolled in PROIN was used for the quantitative approach, while the qualitative approach used a criteria sample along with an opinion sample, limiting size due to information overload. The survey, along with its corresponding questionnaire and the semi-structured interview, were used as data gathering techniques. It was evidenced that certain issues need to be readdressed, such as bleeding gums, the importance of preserving dental pieces, as well, the practice of flossing, which many students expressed difficulties doing. Good attitudes were found, such as dentist visits; however, access barriers for this population must be overthrown. This article showed the importance of training professionals in disabilities as well as developing oral health promotion programs aimed at people with cognitive disabilities.

Los insectos asociados a productos almacenados dañan a una amplia variedad de alimentos en hogares y expendios, provocando baja calidad nutricional e incluso riesgo a la salud de los consumidores. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar las especies y abundancia de insectos asociados a alimentos secos almacenados en casas y tiendas de abarrotes de la ciudad de Culiacán, Sinaloa. Se obtuvieron productos alimenticios, en casas o tiendas de abarrotes, con indicios de daños por insectos o presencia de los mismos, los cuales fueron trasladados al laboratorio, donde se aislaron los imagos. Los organismos inmaduros y las muestras de alimento seco se depositaron en cámaras de emergencia de adultos debido a que la identificación se llevó a cabo por morfología en la fase de imago. Se recolectaron 181 ejemplares de insectos pertenecientes a 8 especies; de ellas, Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauvel), Necrobia rufipes (De Greer), Plodia interpunctella (Hubner) y Cadra cautella (Walker) son nuevos registros para Sinaloa. En las casas se encontró la mayor cantidad de insectos, principalmente del orden coleoptera (U = 96.000, n = 154, P = 0.004). Las especies N. rufipes, T. castaneum (Herbst) y P. interpunctella fueron las más comunes en los sitios de estudio y en las muestras recolectadas. Por primera vez se caracterizó y se determinó la abundancia de insectos plaga de productos alimenticios almacenados en una zona urbana de Sinaloa, entidad federativa con importancia agraria en México. Ubicar taxonómicamente las especies que infestan productos almacenados ayuda a determinar el riesgo económico y de salud que representan para las zonas donde fueron encontrados. También es útil para desarrollar y aplicar medidas adecuadas de control entomológico, en caso de presentarse una plaga en la zona, lo que mantendrá la calidad e integridad de los productos que se comercializan.

Dengue virus (DENV) is transmitted to humans by the bite of the vector Aedes aegypti. Several researchers have suggested that the mechanism of vertical transmission of DENV in the vector is a key a...

Project-based learning (PBL) has long been recognized as an effective way to teach complex biology concepts. However, not all institutions have the resources to facilitate effective project-based coursework for students. We have developed a framework for facilitating PBL using remote-controlled internet-connected microscopes. Through this approach, one lab facility can host an experiment allowing simultaneous interaction by many students worldwide. Experiments on this platform can be run on long timescales and with materials that are typically unavailable to high school classrooms. This allows students to perform novel research projects rather than just repeat standard classroom experiments. To investigate the impact of this program, we designed and ran six user studies with students worldwide. All experiments were executed in Santa Cruz and San Francisco, California, with observations and decisions made remotely by the students using their personal computers and cellphones. In surveys gathered after the experiments’ conclusion, students reported increased excitement for science and a greater desire to pursue a career in STEM. This framework represents a novel, scalable, and effective PBL approach that has the potential to democratize biology and STEM education around the world.

Mosquito larvae were collected in the urban area of the city of Culiacan, Sinaloa, in September of 2020. The immature stages were placed in emergence containers and fed with Aedes aegypti larvae. The adults that emerged from the immature stages were mounted on insect pins and characterized based on their morphology. The species corresponded morphologically to Toxorhynchites moctezuma, making this the first report of the species for the state of Sinaloa, Mexico. Similarities and morphological variations are discussed with previous analysis for this species.

El presente estudio tiene como objetivo formular una estrategia de promoción de la salud oral para personas con discapacidad cognitiva que participan en el Programa Institucional de Inclusión de personas con discapacidad cognitiva a la Educación Superior de la Universidad de Costa Rica, integrando los determinantes de la salud bucodental. En el documento se aborda los antecedentes, la contextualización, el planteamiento del problema, justificación y objetivos, marco teórico conceptual, procedimiento metodológico, plan de garantía ética, consentimiento informado (anexo 1), resultados y discusión, conclusiones, recomendaciones y la formulación de la estrategia. UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Sistema de Estudios de Posgrado::Salud::Maestría Profesional en Salud Pública con énfasis en Gerencia de la Salud

Three-dimensional printing (3DP) has recently gained importance in the medical industry, especially in surgical specialties. It uses different techniques and materials based on patients’ needs, which allows bioprofessionals to design and develop unique pieces using medical imaging provided by computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Therefore, the Department of Biology and Medicine and the Department of Physics and Engineering, at the Bioastronautics and Space Mechatronics Research Group, have managed and supervised an international cooperation study, in order to present a general review of the innovative surgical applications, focused on anatomical systems, such as the nervous and craniofacial system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, genitourinary system, and musculoskeletal system. Finally, the integration with augmented, mixed, virtual reality is analyzed to show the advantages of personalized treatments, taking into account the improvements for preoperative, intraoperative planning, and medical training. Also, this article explores the creation of devices and tools for space surgery to get better outcomes under changing gravity conditions.

Anthropogenic activities influence the loss of mangroves, increase natural phenomena such as hurricanes, tropical storms, and El Niño, and consequently increase concentrations of greenhouse gases such as CO2, promoting climate change. There are strategies to reduce emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the General Law on Climate Change to counteract these conditions. Therefore, this research aims to generate an integral simulation model of sustainable mangrove development scenarios for 2030 and 2050 through mitigation strategies, using geospatial techniques, multi-criteria evaluation, and generating a future surface demand model. The Marismas Nacionales study area is a mangrove ecosystem and an important carbon sink. The simulation model determined that the mangrove area in 2030 will be 77,555 hectares, with an estimated absorption of 358.95 Gg CO2 e (equivalent). By 2050 there will be 86,476 ha, absorbing 400.24 Gg CO2 e. This increase will be in disturbed mangrove areas and other wetlands. The sustainable simulation model and the surface demand model can be applied in any study area to increase, protect, and conserve mangroves to benefit the social, economic, and environmental sectors.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by different species of protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. Dogs have been proven as primary hosts of the parasite. Cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans caused by Leishmania mexicana have been reported in Sinaloa; however, the vectors and hosts involved in the epidemiology of the parasite in northwestern Mexico are still unknown. Given the public health implications of this parasite's domestic hosts regarding the permanence and transmission of the disease to humans, the objective of the present study was to detect and determine the species of Leishmania that caused the first three cases of autochthonous canine leishmaniasis in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico. Three domestic dogs showing symptoms similar to canine leishmaniasis were identified, including chronic eye inflammation, corneal opacity, ocular exudate, emaciation and hyporexia. DNA was extracted from venous blood of the infected animals using a commercial kit. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) was amplified by specific primers for Leishmania from the extracted DNA, and the PCR products were digested with the restriction enzyme HaeIII. In addition, PCR products were subjected to automated sequencing. Molecular analysis showed that the infecting species was L. mexicana. This is the first report of autochthonous canine leishmaniasis caused by L. mexicana in Sinaloa, Mexico. Further studies are required to identify the species that serve as vectors and other wild and domestic hosts of the parasite, as well as to determine if there are more species of Leishmania circulating in Sinaloa.

Dengue virus (DENV) is transmitted to humans by the bite of the vector

While infection by Gnathostoma turgidum (Stossich) in the definitive host, the Virginian opossum, Didelphis virginiana (Kerr), has been described in wildlife, the complete life cycle of the parasite is unknown. Development of early third-stage larvae of Gnathostoma spp. in vitro-infected cyclopoids has been evaluated previously. However, factors involved in viability of copepods as first-intermediate hosts for G. turgidum and that maintain the life cycle of the parasite in endemic areas of gnathostomosis have not been well studied. In this study, in vitro capability of Mesocyclops edax (Forbes) to ingest second-stage larvae of G. turgidum, and density-dependence relationship with the parasitic load were determined. Average ingestion of 1:5, 1:10, and 1:15 densities were 3.5 ± 0.3, 7.5 ± 0.6, and 10.8 ± 1.0, respectively; whereas parasitic loads of each density in M. edax after interaction were 1.7 ± 0.3, 2 ± 0.3, and 1.8 ± 0.3. Parasitic loads of copepods exposed to each density of second-stage larvae were not statistically different. Ingestion capacity by M. edax in vitro for larvae was directly proportional to density of larvae. However, the parasitic load tended to remain constant regardless of density of larvae to which the copepod was exposed. The behavior might be limited by the size of the host or co-evolutionary strategies that favor viability and maintenance of the life cycle of the parasite in wildlife.

Primate brains vary dramatically in size and organization, but the genetic and developmental basis for these differences has been difficult to study due to lack of experimental models. Pluripotent stem cells and brain organoids provide a potential opportunity for comparative and functional studies of evolutionary differences, particularly during the early stages of neurogenesis. However, many challenges remain, including isolating stem cell lines from additional great ape individuals and species to capture the breadth of ape genetic diversity, improving the reproducibility of organoid models to study evolved differences in cell composition and combining multiple brain regions to capture connectivity relationships. Here, we describe strategies for identifying evolved developmental differences between humans and non-human primates and for isolating the underlying cellular and genetic mechanisms using comparative analyses, chimeric organoid culture, and genome engineering. In particular, we focus on how organoid models could ultimately be applied beyond studies of progenitor cell evolution to decode the origin of recent changes in cellular organization, connectivity patterns, myelination, synaptic development, and physiology that have been implicated in human cognition.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of a high sucrose diet on the histopathological indicators related to NAFLD in male and female mice of the C57bl/6N strain. METHODS: Forty male and female mice of the C57bl/6N strain were randomly divided into four experimental groups: Control male (CMG) and female groups (CFG) with a standard diet (Rodent Chow) and tap water, as well as sucrose male (SMG) and female groups (SFG) which received standard diet and a 50% sucrose water solution. All the groups were fed ad libitum to one of the two different diets for 20 weeks. After 20 weeks, mice were sacrificed. Blood, hepatic and adipose tissues were collected for analyses. Hepatic tissues were sectioned and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Samples were examined by light microscopy to analyze liver damage. The non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) degree was determined according to the histological score system proposed by the clinical research network of NASH. RESULTS: In hepatic histological samples of MCG, a normal parenchyma formed by hepatocytes with a conserved architecture was observed, in which the cytoplasm and the nucleus can be appreciated. According to the histological score system of the clinical research network of NASH, it was not considered into any NASH grade. FCG showed few microvesicles in parenchyma, developing grade 1 of NASH, with microvesicular steatosis, not considered pathological. Compared to sucrose groups, in MSG were observed presence of moderate microvesicular steatosis, moderate metabolic stress, and glycogen condensation. No presence of inflammatory infiltrate, inflammation, or granulomas, developing grade 4 of NASH. On the other hand, FSG showed a wide spread of macrovesicular steatosis (zones 1, 2 and 3 of liver acinus), presence of inflammatory infiltrate and granulomas in the liver parenchyma. High metabolic stress in the three zones and glycogen condensation, with the loss of histological architecture, positioning in grade 6 of NASH. CONCLUSIONS: A high sucrose diet contributed to develop NAFLD in mice of the C57bl/6n strain. MSG showed light to moderate degree of NAFLD, whereas FSG showed a moderate to a high degree of NAFLD (steatosis and NASH) related to sucrose consumption. FUNDING SOURCES: This work was supported by the Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa.

Gnathostoma turgidumis a nematode parasite that exploits the stomach of Virginian opossums,Didelphis virginiana,in Latin America. The opossum is the definitive host ofG. turgidumin the wild. Intrahepatic growth and maturation of the parasite, subsequent migration to the stomach and spontaneous expulsion are common. However, the histopathological lesions caused byG. turgidumare poorly described. A better understanding of the life cycle of this parasite and the pathological changes in natural host–parasite interactions could help to clarify the progression of human infections caused byGnathostoma binucleatum. The aim of this work was to study morphological changes in the liver and stomach ofD. virginianaduring natural infection and adult worm expulsion. Three opossums naturally infected withG. turgidumwere captured from an endemic area of gnathostomosis. Three uninfected opossums captured from a non-endemic area were used as controls. The opossums were sacrificed at different stages of infection (March, May and December), and a histopathological study of their livers and stomachs was conducted. Injuries in livers were observed by histopathology – areas of necrosis and collagen septa were identified. Parasites caused nodules with necrosis on the periphery of lesions, and collagen fibres were also observed in stomachs. Collagen septa may be caused by antigenic remains of the parasite. Further immunological studies are necessary to verify that stimulation is caused by these factors.

Resumen. Se evaluo en condiciones de laboratorio al copepodo Mesocyclops edax como agente de control biologico de larvas de Aedes aegypti. Larvas L1 de Ae. aegypti, en diferentes densidades, se expusieron por 24 h a una hembra de M. edax con ayuno de 24 h, observando que la depredacion de M. edax fue mayor a medida que la densidad de lavas de Ae. aegypti aumentaba, alcanzando hasta 49 larvas consumidas en 1 dia. Mediante el modelo estadistico de Spearman se determino que la depredacion de M. edax dependio fuertemente de la densidad de las larvas. Mesocyclops edax tiene potencial para sus uso dentro de las estrategias del control integrado del mosquito vector del virus del dengue, Chikungunya, y Zika.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD). ­Inflammation in the kidneys is crucial for promoting development and progression of this complication. Wnt member 5a (Wnt5a) and secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (Sfrp5) are proinflammatory proteins associated with insulin resistance and chronic low-grade adipose tissue inflammation. OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation between serum Sfrp5 and Wnt5a concentrations and glomerular filtration rate in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and CKD. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional, comparative and observational study in the Department of Endocrinology, Civil Hospital, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. METHODS: Eighty individuals with chronic kidney disease were recruited. Their serum Sfrp5 and Wnt5a concentrations were quantified using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test. The statistical analysis consisted of the Mann-Whitney U test for independent samples and Spearman correlation, with statistical significance of P < 0.05. RESULTS: Serum Sfrp5 concentration continually increased through the stages of CKD progression, whereas serum Wnt5a concentration presented its highest levels in stage 3 CKD. Negative correlations between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and serum concentrations of Sfrp5 (r = -0434, P = 0.001) and Wnt5a (r = -0481, P = 0.001) were found. CONCLUSIONS: There were negative correlations between serum Sfrp5 and Wnt5a concentrations and eGFR at each stage of CKD, with higher levels in female patients. This phenomenon suggests that Sfrp5 and Wnt5a might be involved in development and evolution towards end-stage renal disease.