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The presence of lesions in visible areas of skin may cause emotional troubles in patients, including low self-worth, embarrassment, sorrow, and social isolation. Those alterations may predispose to psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation, severely affecting patients' health state and quality of life (QoL). In this article, we focus on dermatologic patients that present with secondary mental health alterations. Thus, we offer a detailed description of mental disorders observed in patients with acne vulgaris, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, ichthyosis, vitiligo, and hidradenitis suppurativa. Moreover, we point out the relationship between the severity of the cutaneous symptoms with mental illnesses and QoL decline. Our objective was to highlight the importance of mental health care for patients with skin diseases. The impact of skin alterations on the mental health of dermatological patients should be a central concern. Likewise, the timely identification and treatment of mental disorders are essential for the comprehensive management of these skin diseases.

Bacterial vaginosis is a vaginal infection that affects 60% of women of reproductive age worldwide. It is mainly caused by the bacterium Gardnerella vaginalis and is a factor that increases the probability of getting sexually transmitted diseases. We aimed to develop a new pharmaceutical form for the treatment of vaginal infections. We employed the solving-casting method to fabricate a polymeric film with Xanthan gum, a natural polymer produced by the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris, and metronidazole, one of the most commonly used drugs for vaginal infections. In order to characterize the film, we measured pH, dose uniformity, dissolution profile, and the percentage of swelling. Moreover, we performed a thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy. The results demonstrated a pH suitable for vaginal application and uniform distribution of the drug in the film. Also, the formulation exhibited a high percentage of swelling and a slow release of the drug in a simulated vaginal fluid medium. All these attributes indicated that the manufactured film has ideal characteristics to be used and administered vaginally. It could be an excellent alternative to treat bacterial vaginosis and also improve user adherence.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one of the most attractive natural polymers employed in biomaterials with biological applications. This polysaccharide is found in different tissues of the body because it is a natural component of the extracellular matrix; furthermore, it has crucial functions in cell growth, migration, and differentiation. Since its biological characteristics, HA has been utilized for the new biomaterial's development for tissue engineering, such as hydrogels. These hydrophilic macromolecular networks have gained significant attention due to their unique properties, making them potential candidates to be applied in biomedical fields. Different mechanisms to obtain hydrogels have been described. However, the research of new non-toxic methods has been growing in recent years. In this study, we prepared a new hydrogel of HA and polyvinyl alcohol by the cost-effective technique of cross-linking by gamma irradiation. The hydrogel was elaborated for the first time and was characterized by several methods such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Differential Scanning Calorimetry, Thermogravimetric Analysis, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Likewise, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of the biomaterial and its influence on cell migration in human fibroblasts. Furthermore, we provide preliminary evidence of the wound closure effect in a cellular wound model. The novel hydrogel offers an increase of HA stability with the potential to expand the useful life of HA in its different medical applications.

Background Autosomal recessive congenital ichthyoses (ARCI) are inherited disorders produced by mutations in essential genes for the skin function. A low prevalence of this disease has been resported worldwide; however, in a recent study, we identified a large cluster of ARCI families who resided in the High Mountains Region from the Veracruz State, Mexico. Thus, we aimed to identify the causative mutation of ARCI and describe the high prevalence of this disease in this region. Methods We selected seven familiar trios and performed whole-exome sequencing to identify the mutation associated with ARCI. To validate the identified mutation, we performed Sanger sequencing in 62 patients, 30 unaffected relatives, and 100 healthy volunteers. Finally, we performed molecular modeling to investigate the possible functional consequences produced by the mutation. Results We identified a novel homozygous mutation (c.1054C>G [p.Pro352Ala]) in the exon 7 of the TGM1 gene in all the patients. We calculated a prevalence rate of ARCI of 74:100,000 (1:1,348) in the studied communities. Molecular modeling revealed that the mutation leads to a nonconservative amino acid substitution, which is very probably damaging to the protein structure/function. Conclusions We report a novel mutation in the TGM1 gene in 62 Mexican patients. The unusually high frequency of this mutation suggests a founder effect; however, further haplotype analysis is necessary to corroborate this hypothesis. In this respect, to our knowledge, the prevalence of ARCI found in the studied communities is the highest observed worldwide.

Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most common cancers in women, and is linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The virus oncoprotein E6 binds to p53, resulting in its degradation and allowing uncontrolled cell proliferation. Meanwhile, the HPV E7 protein maintains host cell differentiation by targeting retinoblastoma tumor suppressor. The host cell can ubiquitinate E6 and E7 through UBE2L3, whose expression depends on the interaction between the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) with Xenobiotic Responsive Elements (XREs) located in the UBE2L3 gene promoter. In this study, we used cell culture to determine the effect of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) over cellular viability, apoptosis, cell proliferation, and mRNA levels of UBE2L3 and CYP1A1. In addition, patients’ samples were used to determine the mRNA levels of UBE2L3 and CYP1A1 genes. We found that I3C promotes the activation of AhR and decreases cell proliferation, possibly through UBE2L3 mRNA induction, which would result in the ubiquitination of HPV E7. Since there is a strong requirement for selective and cost-effective cancer treatments, natural AhR ligands such as I3C could represent a novel strategy for cancer treatment.

Inherited ichthyoses are a group of etiologically heterogeneous diseases that affect the function of the skin and that are classified as syndromic and non-syndromic entities. Irrespective of the type, all these disorders are generally produced by mutations in genes involved in a variety of cellular functions in the skin. These mutations lead to disruption of the stratum corneum and impairment of the skin barrier, producing clinical features such as hyperkeratosis, skin scaling, erythema, fissures, pruritus, inflammation, and skin pain. Despite advances in the knowledge of the pathogenesis of ichthyoses, there is, to our knowledge, no definitive cure for skin manifestations, and current treatments consist of moisturizers, emollients, and keratolytic agents. In this respect, the development of new formulations based on nanotechnology could be useful to enhance their therapeutic effectiveness. In this article, we provide a comprehensive description of pharmacological treatments for cutaneous manifestations in patients with inherited ichthyosis and discuss novel approaches with therapeutic potential for this purpose. Moreover, we offer an overview of toxicity concerns related to these treatments.

Hereditary ichthyoses include a group of diseases characterized by hyperkeratosis, scaling, generalized xerosis, and is frequently associated with erythroderma. They are classified as syndromic and non-syndromic entities. The monitoring of the severity of ichthyosis requires different strategies for immediate analysis, which can comprise visual analogue scales or non-invasive quantitative methods, which collect information on disease progression that may contribute to the management of ichthyosis and aid in delineating clinical trials. In this article, we present a comprehensive review of the existing visual analogue scales, their validation, and their use in studies of disease severity and clinical trials. Interestingly, after many years of study, to date there is not a unanimously accepted tool for assessing the harshness of clinical features. Therefore, we discuss the perspectives of some non-invasive quantitative methods and strategies employed in clinical studies performed in patients with ichthyosis. Advances in these methods provide a rationale of their potential application in the evaluation of ichthyosis severity. Our purpose is to show an overview of non-invasive methodologies for the study of the harshness of ichthyosis.

The purpose of our study was to obtain new wound dressings in the form of hydrogels that promote wound healing taking advantage of the broad activities of elastin (ELT) in physiological processes. The hydrogel of ELT and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP; ELT–PVP) was obtained by cross-linking induced by gamma irradiation at a dose of 25 kGy. The physicochemical changes attributed to cross-linking were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy analysis with Fourier transform (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Furthermore, we performed a rheological study to determine the possible changes in the fluidic macroscopic properties produced by the cross-linking method. Finally, we accomplished viability and proliferation analyses of human dermal fibroblasts in the presence of the hydrogel to evaluate its biological characteristics. The hydrogel exhibited a porous morphology, showing interconnected porous with an average pore size of 16 ± 8.42 µm. The analysis of FTIR, DSC, and TGA revealed changes in the chemical structure of the ELT–PVP hydrogel after the irradiation process. Also, the hydrogel exhibited a rheological behavior of a pseudoplastic and thixotropic fluid. The hydrogel was biocompatible, demonstrating high cell viability, whereas ELT presented low biocompatibility at high concentrations. In summary, the hydrogel obtained by gamma irradiation revealed the appropriate morphology to be applied as a wound dressing. Interestingly, the hydrogel exhibited a higher percentage of cell viability compared with ELT, suggesting that the cross-linking of ELT with PVP is a suitable strategy for biological applications of ELT without generating cellular damage.

Periodontal pain is a public health problem derived from different conditions, including periodontal diseases, prosthetic complications, and even extractions performed by dentist. There are various treatments to control acute dental pain, being the administration of analgesics, such as Lysine Clonixinate (LC), a common practice. Unfortunately, higher and repeated dosages are usually required. The purpose of this work was to develop a prolonged release pharmaceutical form as an alternative treatment for dental pain. Hence, we conceived a film based on guar gum and loaded different concentrations of LC. We evaluated the film's appearance, brittleness, strength, and flexibility, and then chose one formulation for adequate characteristics. Subsequently, we assessed the morphology, thermal behavior, and swelling properties of the films (LC-free and –loaded). Finally, we performed the release studies of LC from the films in vitro using a simulated saliva medium and employed several mathematical models to evaluate the release kinetics. Guar gum is a natural polymer obtained from the endosperm of Cyamopsis tetragonolobus that presents properties such as biosafety, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Thus, it represents a potential excipient for use in pharmaceutical formulations. Moreover, our results revealed that the LC-loaded film presented a high adherence, suitable swelling behavior, high LC content, and a prolonged drug release. Therefore, the LC-loaded film may be considered a potential option to be applied as an alternative to treat dental pain.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders worldwide. It is caused by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons from the substantia nigra pars compacta. This neuronal loss causes the dopamine deficiency that leads to a series of functional changes within the basal ganglia, producing motor control abnormalities. L-DOPA is considered the gold standard for PD treatment, and it may alleviate its clinical manifestations for some time. However, its prolonged administration produces tolerance and several severe side effects, including dyskinesias and gastrointestinal disorders. Thus, there is an urgent need to find effective medications, and current trends have proposed some natural products as emerging options for this purpose. Concerning this, curcumin represents a promising bioactive compound with high therapeutic potential. Diverse studies in cellular and animal models have suggested that curcumin could be employed for the treatment of PD. Therefore, the objective of this narrative mini-review is to present an overview of the possible therapeutic effects of curcumin and the subjacent molecular mechanisms. Moreover, we describe several possible nanocarrier-based approaches to improve the bioavailability of curcumin and enhance its biological activity.

The skin is the largest organ in the human body, and due to its barrier function, it is susceptible to multiple injuries. The appearance of infections during the wound healing process is a complication that represents a formidable hospital challenge. The presence of opportunistic bacteria with sophisticated resistance mechanisms is difficult to eradicate and compromises patients' lives. Therefore, the search for new efficacious treatments from natural sources that prevent and counteract infections, in addition to promoting the healing process, has increased in recent years. In this respect, films with the capability to protect wounds and release drugs are the presentation that predominates commercially in the hospital environment. Those films can offer several mechanical advantages such as physical protection to prevent opportunistic bacteria's entry, regulation of gas exchange, and capture of exudate through a swelling process. Wound dressings are generally curative materials easily adaptable to different anatomical regions, with high strength and elasticity, and some are even bioabsorbable. Additionally, the components of the films can actively participate in promoting the healing process. Even more, the film can be made up of carriers with other active participants to prevent and eradicate infections. Therefore, the extensive versatility, practicality, and usefulness of films from natural sources to address infectious processes during wound healing are relevant and recurrent themes. This work presents an analysis of the state-of-the-art of films with natural products focused on preventing and eradicating infections in wound healing.

Lamellar ichthyosis (LI) is a genetic skin disorder characterized by dark brown scales, palmoplantar hyperkeratosis, pain, and itching. LI severity could have implications in psychological aspects, causing depression and impairment in the quality of life (QoL) of patients. In this study, we used the Congenital Ichthyosis Severity Index, the Depression Beck Inventory-II (DBI-II), and the Dermatologic Life Quality Index (DLQI) to assess severity, level of depression, and impairment in QoL in a group of patients with LI. We observed that the majority of the patients presented a high severity level concerning the presence of scales (57.7%), while for erythema and alopecia, the severity was less 80% of the analyzed patients presented depression, while only 20.8% of individuals of the control group presented it (P < .001, OR = 15.2). While for QoL, only 4.3% of the patients did not exhibit any impairment. Finally, the increase in the score obtained in DBI-II was correlated with the DLQI score (rs = 0.663, P = .0014). Our results suggest that patients with LI have an increased risk of suffering depression and impairment in their QoL; thus, the management of their disease should be performed from a multidisciplinary perspective to improve the global aspects of their lives.

Human skin possesses an essential function in the maintenance of individuals' health. However, it may undergo a variety of lesions that produce wounds of distinct severity. In this respect, instantly after any skin wound, the process of tissue regeneration and repair initiates. Nevertheless, diverse factors can delay this process, including bacterial infections, nutritional status, age, hypoxia, chronic diseases, necrosis, and vascular and arterial diseases. Thus, wound dressings are frequently used to improve wound healing. Those wound dressings are fabricated with diverse materials, which confer them different properties. In this regard, hyaluronic acid is a natural polysaccharide widely distributed in extracellular matrices of mammal tissues, which possesses remarkable attributes in terms of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low cost. Moreover, hyaluronic acid exhibits several beneficial effects on wound healing, such as the decrease of inflammatory processes, regulation of tissue remodeling, and enhancement of angiogenesis. Therefore, in recent years, there is growing attention in this polysaccharide for the design and manufacture of novel wound dressings, which have shown encouraging properties. Here, we describe the different approaches of hyaluronic acid for the production of wound dressings, encompassing hydrogels, films, scaffolds, foams, topical formulations, and nanoformulations, as well as its beneficial effects on wound healing. Finally, we discuss perspectives about the use of hyaluronic acid in wound dressings.

Controlled release is of vital relevance for many drugs; thus, there is a keen interest in materials that can improve the release profiles of formulations administered via buccal, transdermal, ophthalmic, vaginal, and nasal. The desirable effects of those materials include the improvement of stability, adhesiveness, solubility, and retention time. Hence, different synthetic and natural polymers are utilized to achieve these objectives. In this respect, xanthan gum is an anionic polysaccharide that can be obtained from Xanthomonas bacteria. It is a natural polymer broadly employed in numerous food products, lotions, shampoos, and dermatological articles. Furthermore, due to its physicochemical features, xanthan gum is growingly utilized for the development and improvement of drug delivery systems. In this regard, encouraging findings have been revealed by recent formulations for pharmaceutical applications, including antiviral carriers, antibacterial transporters, transdermal patches, vaginal formulations, and anticancer medications. In this article, we perform a concise description of the chemical properties of xanthan gum and its role as a modifier of drug release. Furthermore, we present an outlook of the state of the art of research focused on the utilization of xanthan gum in varied pharmaceutical formulations, which include tablets, films, hydrogels, and nanoformulations. Finally, we discuss some perspectives about the use of xanthan gum in these formulations.

Nanoparticles possess a huge potential to be employed in numerous biomedical purposes; their applications may include drug delivery systems, gene therapy, and tissue engineering. However, the in vivo use in biomedical applications requires that nanoparticles exhibit sterility. Thus, diverse sterilization techniques have been developed to remove or destroy microbial contamination. The main sterilization methods include sterile filtration, autoclaving, ionizing radiation, and nonionizing radiation. Nonetheless, the sterilization processes can alter the stability, zeta potential, average particle size, and polydispersity index of diverse types of nanoparticles, depending on their composition. Thus, these methods may produce unwanted effects on the nanoparticles’ characteristics, affecting their safety and efficacy. Moreover, each sterilization method possesses advantages and drawbacks; thus, the suitable method’s choice depends on diverse factors such as the formulation’s characteristics, batch volume, available methods, and desired application. In this article, we describe the current sterilization methods of nanoparticles. Moreover, we discuss the advantages and drawbacks of these methods, pointing out the changes in nanoparticles’ biological and physicochemical characteristics after sterilization. Our main objective was to offer a comprehensive overview of terminal sterilization processes of nanoparticles for biomedical applications.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a sophisticated and very selective dynamic interface composed of endothelial cells expressing enzymes, transport systems, and receptors that regulate the passage of nutrients, ions, oxygen, and other essential molecules to the brain, regulating its homeostasis. Moreover, the BBB performs a vital function in protecting the brain from pathogens and other dangerous agents in the blood circulation. Despite its crucial role, this barrier represents a difficult obstacle for the treatment of brain diseases because many therapeutic agents cannot cross it. Thus, different strategies based on nanoparticles have been explored in recent years. Concerning this, chitosan-decorated nanoparticles have demonstrated enormous potential for drug delivery across the BBB and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, gliomas, cerebral ischemia, and schizophrenia. Our main objective was to highlight the high potential of chitosan adsorption to improve the penetrability through the BBB of nanoformulations for diseases of CNS. Therefore, we describe the BBB structure and function, as well as the routes of chitosan for crossing it. Moreover, we define the methods of decoration of nanoparticles with chitosan and provide numerous examples of their potential utilization in a variety of brain diseases. Lastly, we discuss future directions, mentioning the need for extensive characterization of proposed nanoformulations and clinical trials for evaluation of their efficacy.

Context: Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Mexican patients and their association with the development of breast cancer (BC). Aims: This work is focused on determining the association of fibroblast growth factor receptor (rs12196489), TOX3 (rs3803662), human telomerase reverse transcriptase (h TERT, rs10069690), and FTO (rs17817449) polymorphisms and BC in a cohort of Mexican women. Settings and Design: The study included 56 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of BC and 83 controls. Clinical characteristics were obtained from medical records. Subjects and Methods: Genomic DNA from the samples was obtained from lymphocytes, and the genotyping of rs12196489, rs3803662, rs10069690, and rs17817449 polymorphisms was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction using specific TaqMan probes. Statistical analysis was assessed to evaluate the distribution of genotype frequencies between cases and controls. Statistical Analysis: We used the STATA Statistical Package (version 10.1; STATA Corp., College Station, TX, USA). Student's t-test, χ2 test, or Fisher's exact test was used to evaluate the distribution of genotype frequencies. Results: No statistical differences in allelic and genotypic frequencies were found between patients with BC and controls for SNPs: rs1219648, rs3803662, and rs17817449. Interestingly, according to the χ2 test, a significant difference was exhibited for rs10069690 (odds ratio = 0.095; 95% confidence interval = 0.038–0.214; P Conclusions: The h TERT (rs10069690) polymorphism might be associated with BC in Mexican women. Nevertheless, additional studies in a larger cohort are required to confirm this association and to possibly use this polymorphism as a potential biomarker in the early diagnosis of BC.

Background Reliable methods for the quantitative evaluation of skin of patients with ichthyosis are critically needed. Our purpose was to evaluate the biomechanical parameters of skin in a cohort of patients with clinically diagnosed lamellar ichthyosis. Materials and methods Twenty-two patients diagnosed with lamellar ichthyosis were studied. Ichthyosis plaques located in upper distal limbs were assayed, and a nearby anatomical region without plaques from the same patient was employed as control. Skin biomechanical properties were studied through a non-invasive device (Cutometer® MPA 580). Results Ichthyosis plaques had higher values for the Uf-Ua parameter and lower values for the Ua/Uf, Ur/Ue, and Ur/Uf parameters. Adults and children showed similar statistical differences. There were no significant differences in data from men, whereas in women differences for all of the parameters were found. There was a significant decrease in the hydration and an increase in melanin index in the ichthyosis plaques. Conclusion Our results suggest that analysis of parameters Uf-Ua, Ua/Uf, Ur/Ue, Ur/Uf, hydration, and melanin index could be employed for quantitative monitoring of skin. Therefore, the non-invasive method applied may be suitable for evaluation of skin of patients with ichthyosis in response to medical treatments.

Vaginal drug delivery represents an attractive alternative to achieve local and systemic effects due to the high contact surface exposed, the mucoadhesion of the epithelium, and the high innervation that facilitates the absorption of drugs into the bloodstream. However, despite the confinement of the vaginal cavity, it is an organ with a highly variable microenvironment. Mechanical alterations such as coitus, or chemical changes such as pH and viscosity, modify the release of drugs. In addition, changes in vaginal microbiota can influence the entire vaginal microenvironment, thus determining the disposition of drugs in the vaginal cavity and decreasing their therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, the influence of microorganisms on vaginal homeostasis can change the pre-established scenario for the application of drugs. This review aims to provide an explanation of normal vaginal microbiota, the factors that modify it, its involvement in the administration of drugs, and new proposals for the design of novel pharmaceutical dosage forms. Finally, challenges and opportunities directed toward the conception of new effective formulations are discussed.