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The work presented is a comprehensive review of the role of the human microbiota in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. A diverse microbial community heavily colonizes the human body called the microbiota, with the gut microbiota being the most diverse. The composition of the microbiota varies in different parts of the body and changes with age, diet, and other environmental factors. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays a critical role in modulating the host immune response and may influence the severity of COVID-19. Patients with COVID-19 have significant alterations in their gut and respiratory microbiota, characterized by a depletion of beneficial commensal bacteria and an enrichment of opportunistic pathogens. These changes in microbiota composition are associated with elevated inflammatory markers, a dysregulated immune response, and more severe disease outcomes. In addition, changes in the gut microbiota can affect lung and brain function, influencing the severity of COVID-19 cases and neurological symptoms, as well as long-term neurological complications associated with the disease. Due to the importance of the microbiota in COVID-19, several therapeutic approaches targeting the microbiota have been proposed to improve outcomes in this disease, including fecal microbiota transplantation, probiotic and prebiotic supplementation, postbiotic or microbiota-derived metabolite supplementation, dietary interventions, and lifestyle strategies. Overall, the review highlights the critical role of the human microbiota in the pathogenesis and progression of COVID-19 and the potential of microbiota-targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to associate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients hospitalized for COVID‐19 with the progression to critical illness and death in northwestern Mexico. Methods: From March to October 2020, we collected the demographic and clinical characteristics of 464 hospitalized patients from northwestern Mexico. Results: Sixty‐four percent (295/464) of the patients became critically ill. Age, occupation, steroid and antibiotic use at previous hospitalization, and underlying diseases (hypertension, obesity, and chronic kidney disease) were associated with critical illness or death (p: < 0.05). No symptoms were associated with critical illness. However, the parameters such as the heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, and diastolic pressure and the laboratory parameters such as the glucose, creatinine, white line cells, hemoglobin, D‐dimer, and C‐reactive protein, among others, were associated with critical illness (p: < 0.05). Finally, advanced age, previous hospital treatment, and the presence of one or more underlying diseases were associated with critical illness and death (p: < 0.02). Conclusions: Several epidemiological (e.g., age and occupation) and clinical factors (e.g., previous treatment, underlying diseases, and vital signs and laboratory parameters) were associated with critical illness and death in patients hospitalized with COVID‐19. These data provide us with possible markers to avoid critical illness or death from COVID‐19 in our region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cervical, uterine, and ovarian cancers are the most common malignancies of the female genital tract worldwide. Despite advances in prevention, early diagnosis, effective screening, and treatment programs, mortality remains high. Consequently, it is important to search for new treatments. The activity of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) and LF peptides against several types of cancer has been studied; however, only a few studies report the effect of bLF and LF peptides against cervical and endometrial cancers. In this study, we explored the effect of bLF as well as LF chimera and its constituent peptides LFcin17-30 and LFampin265-284 on the viability of cervical (HeLa, SiHa) and endometrial (KLE, HEC-1A) cancer cell lines. Cell proliferation was quantified with an MTT assay, cell morphological changes and damage were determined by Giemsa and phalloidin-TRITC and DAPI staining, and apoptotic and necrotic cells were identified by Alexa FluorVR 488 Annexin V and propidium iodide staining. Additionally, the effect of combinations of bLF and LF peptides with cisplatin was assessed. bLF and LF peptides inhibited the proliferation of uterine cancer cells and caused cellular morphological changes and damage to cell monolayers. bLF induced apoptosis, LFcin17-30 and LFampin265-284 induced apoptosis and necrosis, and LF chimera induced necrosis. Additionally, bLF and LF chimera showed an additive interaction with cisplatin against uterine cancer cells. Key words: lactoferrin, lactoferrin peptides, cancer, apoptosis. Les cancers du col uterin, de l'uterus et des ovaires constituent les affections malignes les plus courantes de l'appareil genital feminin a travers le monde. Malgre les progres realises en matiere de prevention, de diagnostic precoce, de depistage efficace et de programmes de traitement, la mortalite reste elevee. Par consequent, il est important de rechercher de nouveaux traitements. L'activite de la lactoferrine bovine (bLF) et de peptides de la LF contre plusieurs types de cancer a ete etudiee, mais seules quelques etudes font etat de l'effet de la bLF et de peptides de la LF contre les cancers du col uterin et de l'endometre. Dans cette etude, les auteurs ont explore l'effet de la bLF, de la LFchimere et des peptides qui la composent LFcin17-30 et LFampin265-284 sur la viabilite des lignees de cellules cancereuses du col uterin (HeLa, SiHa) et de l'endometre (KLE, HEC-1A). La proliferation cellulaire a ete quantifiee par un test MTT, les changements morphologiques et les lesions cellulaires ont ete determines par coloration au Giemsa et a la phalloidine-TRITC et DAPI; et les cellules apoptotiques et necrotiques ont ete identifiees par coloration de l'annexine V-Alexa Fluor (VR) 488 et a l'iodure de propidium. Par ailleurs, l'effet de combinaisons de peptides bLF et LF avec le cisplatine a ete evalue. Les peptides bLF et LF inhibaient la proliferation des cellules cancereuses uterines et provoquaient des changements morphologiques cellulaires et des dommages aux monocouches cellulaires. La bLF induisait l'apoptose, la LFcin17-30 et la LFampin265-284 induisaient l'apoptose et la necrose, et la LF chimere induisait la necrose. De plus, la bLF et la LF chimere montraient une interaction additive avec le cisplatine contre les cellules cancereuses uterines. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles : lactoferrine, peptides de la lactoferrine, cancer, apoptose., Introduction Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in women worldwide, with an estimated 570 000 new cases in 2018 (Bray et al. 2018). This type of cancer occurs [...]

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, accounting for approximately 25% of maternal deaths in Latin America. Preeclampsia is a state of systemic inflammation due to an immunologic imbalance between proinflammatory and regulatory T cells, leading to multiorgan damage. Objective: To describe the clinical features, biochemical markers, and acute phase reactants of inflammation in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Materials and methods: An observational, cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted in hypertensive pregnant patients hospitalized at the Women's Hospital of Culiacan, Mexico, from March 2021 to January 2022. These patients were classified according to the type of hypertension based on 24-hour urine protein determination. A toxicologic profile including uric acid, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum lipids, and total leukocytes was obtained to calculate the neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio of patients in each of the study groups. The body mass index (BMI) was also calculated. Data were analyzed using Stata Intercooled 13.1. Results: The mean age of the included patients was 25.43±6.5 years, gestational age was 37.35±2.73, 35.9% were primigravida, and 16.07% were adolescents. Among the 397 cases, 23.17% had severe preeclampsia, 24.69% had non-severe pre-eclampsia, 27.2% had gestational hypertension, and 24.94% were healthy controls. Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, uric acid, urea, LDH, and CRP were higher in the most severe cases of hypertensive disease. Changes in serum magnesium levels were mainly observed in severe preeclampsia. Conclusions: In this study, biochemical and inflammatory markers were higher in severe forms of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Giardia intestinalis is the most common infectious protozoan parasite in children. Despite the effectiveness of some drugs, the disease remains a major worldwide problem. Consequently, the search for new [...]

Abstract: Lactoferrin (LF) is a protein with antimicrobial activity, which is conferred in part by 2 regions contained in its N-terminal lobe. These regions have been used to develop the [...]

Objective: Unusual clinical course. Background: In the 18th century, Morgagni described membranous dysmenorrhea as the sudden and complete detachment of the decidua during menstruation. This causes intense and painful contractions of the myometrium, aggravated by the expulsion of tissues produced by the decidualization of the endometrium. It is a rare pathology associated with oral contraceptives, ectopic pregnancies, abortions, and natural cycles, with consequent thickening and endometrial decidualization with molding of the tissue of the uterine cavity of membranous appearance. The definitive diagnosis is made by histopathological examination. Case Report: A 43-year-old female patient came for urgent consultation for an acute picture of severe pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the genital area with transvaginal bleeding of 2 h of evolution. She had no significant past medical history. A transvaginal ultrasound was performed and showed an unchanged endometrial cavity. A vaginal examination revealed a foreign body of soft consistency; therefore, a speculum examination was performed, which showed tissue of endometrial origin located in the cervical canal of a reddish spongy texture. The tissue was removed, thus improving the symptomatology, and was sent to the pathological anatomy service for histopathologic diagnosis. Conclusions: Membranous dysmenorrhea is a rare gynecologic disorder with only a few documented cases. According to other case reports, our patient's case, at age 43 years, was an atypical presentation. The clinical features and association with this pathology allowed the diagnosis and its confirmation by histopathological examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Unusual clinical course. Background: In the 18th century, Morgagni described membranous dysmenorrhea as the sudden and complete detachment of the decidua during menstruation. This causes intense and painful contractions of the myometrium, aggravated by the expulsion of tissues produced by the decidualization of the endometrium. It is a rare pathology associated with oral contraceptives, ectopic pregnancies, abortions, and natural cycles, with consequent thickening and endometrial decidualization with molding of the tissue of the uterine cavity of membranous appearance. The definitive diagnosis is made by histopathological examination. Case Report: A 43-year-old female patient came for urgent consultation for an acute picture of severe pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the genital area with transvaginal bleeding of 2 h of evolution. She had no significant past medical history. A transvaginal ultrasound was performed and showed an unchanged endometrial cavity. A vaginal examination revealed a foreign body of soft consistency; therefore, a speculum examination was performed, which showed tissue of endometrial origin located in the cervical canal of a reddish spongy texture. The tissue was removed, thus improving the symptomatology, and was sent to the pathological anatomy service for histopathologic diagnosis. Conclusions: Membranous dysmenorrhea is a rare gynecologic disorder with only a few documented cases. According to other case reports, our patient's case, at age 43 years, was an atypical presentation. The clinical features and association with this pathology allowed the diagnosis and its confirmation by histopathological examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uteroplacental apoplexy is a very rare pathology characterized by extravasation of blood in the myometrium secondary to a massive retroplacental hematoma. Its diagnosis must be made in a timely manner to allow for effective intervention and avoid life-threatening maternal and fetal complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), sepsis is currently the leading cause of mortality and critical illness worldwide, with a reported mortality rate of 28.6% among the population and, therefore, belongs to one of the leading causes of maternal death, with a percentage record of 11%. Objective: To determine the prevalence and clinical characteristics of maternal sepsis in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a tertiary care center in Mexico from January 1, 2019 to February 28, 2022. Materials and methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study. All the records of patients admitted to the ICU of the Women's Hospital of Sinaloa during the aforementioned period were included, and those with a diagnosis of maternal sepsis were selected. Results: The prevalence of maternal sepsis was 11.2%. The predominant age was 25 to 32 years (34.37%). Sixteen primiparous (50%), 8 secondiparous (25%), 8 multiparous (25%); 15 in puerperium (46.8%), 12 pregnant (2 twins, 1 deceased) (37.5%), and 5 failed deliveries (15.6%). Infectious foci: kidney and urinary tract in 15 patients (42%), pelvis (uterus and adnexa) in 13 patients (36%), abdomen in 5 patients (14%), and lung in 3 cases (14%). Escherichia coli was the most frequent pathogen (n=5), followed by Klebsiella and Enterococcus (each 1 patient), respectively. Comorbidities: 5 with severe preeclampsia (15.6%), 1 gestational diabetes, 1 nephrotic syndrome (3.1%); 17 normal weight (53%), 12 overweight (38%), and 3 obese (9%). Mortality: 3 cases (9.3%). Conclusions: The prevalence of maternal sepsis was 11.2%. Characteristics: age between 25-32 years; primiparous women, puerperium, kidney/ urinary tract as the most frequent source of infection, and Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poultry and poultry‐derived products such as meat and eggs are among the main sources of non‐typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) transmission to humans. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and used random‐effects meta‐analyses to (1) estimate the prevalence of NTS in poultry samples from birds, products and subproducts and environmental samples, (2) examine the diversity and frequency of their serovars and (3) estimate the prevalence and profiles of anti‐microbial resistance (AMR) in NTS isolates reported in studies from the Americas. We included 157 studies from 15 countries comprising 261,408 poultry samples and estimated an overall pooled prevalence of 17.9% (95% Confidence Interval: 10.8–26.3) in birds, 21.8% (17.7–26.1) in products and subproducts and 29.5% (24.2–35.1) in environmental samples. At the national level, the prevalence of NTS was heterogeneous across countries with the highest values in Mexico, the United States and Canada. In total, 131 serovars were identified from 13,388 isolates; Heidelberg, Kentucky, Enteritidis and Typhimurium were the most prevalent in the overall top 10 ranking (range 6.5%–20.8%). At the national level, Enteritidis and Typhimurium were identified in most of the countries, though with national differences in their ranks. The prevalence of AMR increased from 24.1% for 1 antibiotic to 36.2% for 2–3 antibiotics and 49.6% for ≥ 4 antibiotics. Kentucky, Heidelberg, Typhimurium and Enteritidis were the serovars with the highest prevalence of AMR. Besides, tetracycline, ampicillin, streptomycin, ceftiofur and amoxicillin‐clavulanic acid were the most frequent antibiotics to which NTS showed resistance. In conclusion, NTS was distributed through the avian production chain with high and heterogeneous values of prevalence in poultry samples. Besides, there were distinctive patterns of serovars distribution across countries and an alarming prevalence of AMR among zoonotic serovars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mice orally infected with enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 were used to evaluate the activity of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) and the synthetic peptide LFchimera. Groups of BALB/c mice inoculated intragastrically with EHEC O157:H7 showed chronic intestinal infection with the pathogen that persisted over 6 days and resulted in a high mortality rate (90%). LFchimera and kanamycin significantly decreased (40%) this mortality rate (P = 0.028). On the other hand, although mice administered with bLF showed an important reduction in mortality (50%), this was not statistically significant (P = 0.070). In infected and untreated mice, severe tubular necrosis, glomerular lesions, and moderate intratubular hyaline casts were found in the kidney. However, in the bLF and LFchimera groups we found a reduction in the damage and a substantial decrease in the bacterial concentration excreted in feces 48 h after infection. Furthermore, sepsis caused by EHEC was reduced by the treatments, evidenced by the fact that bacteria were not detected in the kidney or liver 72 h after infection. The results suggest the bLF and LFchimera could have potential as therapeutics in EHEC infections. Key words: lactoferrin, chimera, mouse, EHEC, mortality. Des souris infectees par Escherichia coli enterohemorragique O157:H7 ont ete utilisees pour evaluer l'activite de la lactoferrine bovine et du peptide synthetique LF-chimere. Les groupes de souris BALB/c inoculees par voie intragastrique avec le EHEC O157:H7 presentaient une infection intestinale chronique, caracterisee par un pathogene qui persistait pendant 6 jours et un taux de mortalite eleve (90 %). Le peptide LF-chimere et la kanamycine diminuaient significativement (40 %) ce taux de mortalite (P = 0,028). D'un autre cote, meme si la bLf reduisait de facon importante la mortalite chez les souris traitees (50 %), cette reduction n'etait pas significative (P = 0,070). Chez les souris infectees et non traitees, une necrose tubulaire severe, des lesions glomerulaires et des depots hyalins intratubulaires etaient trouves dans le rein. Nous avons cependant trouve une reduction du dommage et une diminution substantielle de la concentration bacterienne des feces 48h apres l'infection chez les groupes traites a la bLF et au peptide LF-chimere. De plus, la sepsie causee par EHEC etait reduite par les traitements, comme le demontre le fait que les bacteries etaient indetectables dans le rein ou le foie 72h apres l' infection. Les resultats suggerent que la bLF et le peptide LF-chimere pourraient etre potentiellement utilises comme agents therapeutiques lors d' infections au EHEC. Mots-cles: lactoferrine, chimere, souris, EHEC, mortalite., Introduction Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) 0157:H7 is a food-borne pathogen that can cause disease of variable severity, including mild diarrhea and haemorrhagic colitis. In a subset of patients there is [...]

It has been shown that the autotransporter plasmid-encoded toxin (Pet) of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) produces cytotoxic and enterotoxic effects. Both effects can be explained by the proteolytic activity of Pet on its intracellular target [alpha]-fodrin ([alpha]II spectrin). In addition, Pet cytotoxicity and enterotoxicity depend on Pet serine protease activity, and on its internalization into epithelial cells. However, the mechanisms of Pet uptake by epithelial cells are unknown. Here, we show that Pet interacts with the plasma membrane of epithelial cells, and afterwards is detected inside the cells. Furthermore, Pet was internalized via clathrin-mediated endocytosis, since its internalization was inhibited by monodansylcadaverine and sucrose, but not by filipin or methyl-[beta]-cyclodextrin, which are drugs that interfere with protein entry via a clathrin-independent pathway. Additionally, Pet was immunoprecipitated by anti-clathrin antibodies, but not by anti-caveolin antibodies. Moreover, small interfering RNA (siRNA), designed to knock out clathrin gene expression in HEp-2 cells, prevented Pet internalization, and thereby the Pet-induced cytotoxic effect. However, the use of siRNA to knock out caveolin expression had no effect on Pet internalization, and the cytotoxic effect was clearly observed. Together, these data indicate that Pet secreted by EAEC binds to the cell surface via an unknown receptor, to be taken up by clathrin-mediated endocytosis, and exert its toxic effect in the cytoplasm.

Entamoeba histolytica is an enteric protozoan that exclusively infects human beings. This parasite requires iron for its metabolic functions. Lactoferrin is a mammalian glycoprotein that chelates extracellular iron on mucosal surfaces, including the surface of the large intestine, where E. histolytica initiates infection. This work examined the interaction in vitro of E. histolytica trophozoites with human hololactoferrin (iron-saturated lactoferrin). A minimum concentration of 50 [micro]M Fe from hololactoferrin supported growth of the amoeba. Amoebic binding sites for hololactoferrin were different from those for human apolactoferrin, holotransferrin and haemoglobin. One amoebic hololactoferrrin-binding polypeptide of 90 kDa was found, which was not observed after treatment of trophozoites with trypsin. Hololactoferrin-binding-protein levels increased in amoebas starved of iron, or grown in hololactoferrin. Internalization of hololactoferrin was inhibited by filipin. Endocytosed hololactoferrin colocalized with an anti-chick embryo caveolin mAb in amoebic vesicles, and lactoferrin was further detected in acidic vesicles; amoebic caveolin of 22 kDa was detected by Western blotting using this antibody. Cysteine proteases from amoebic extracts were able to cleave hololactoferrin. Together, these data indicate that E. histolytica trophozoites bind to hololactoferrin through specific membrane lactoferrin-binding proteins. This ferric protein might be internalized via caveolae-like microdomains, then used as an iron source, and degraded.

Giardia intestinalis is the most common infectious protozoan parasite in children. Despite the effectiveness of some drugs, the disease remains a major worldwide problem. Consequently, the search for new treatments is important for disease eradication. Biological molecules with antimicrobial properties represent a promising alternative to combat pathogens. Bovine lactoferrin (bLF) is a key component of the innate host defense system, and its peptides have exhibited strong antimicrobial activity. Based on these properties, we evaluated the parasiticidal activity of these peptides on G. intestinalis. Trophozoites were incubated with different peptide concentrations for different periods of time, and the growth or viability was determined by carboxyfluorescein-succinimidyl-diacetate-ester (CFDA) and propidium iodide (PI) staining. Endocytosis of peptides was investigated by confocal microscopy, damage was analyzed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and the type of programmed cell death was analyzed by flow cytometry. Our results showed that the LF peptides had giardicidal activity. The LF peptides interacted with G. intestinalis and exposure to LF peptides correlated with an increase in the granularity and vacuolization of the cytoplasm. Additionally, the formation of pores, extensive membrane disruption, and programmed cell death was observed in trophozoites treated with LF peptides. Our results demonstrate that LF peptides exhibit potent in vitro antigiardial activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Biochemistry & Cell Biology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)