Integración de visualización científica molecular en el salón de clases

For some years, Chemistry teachers have used scientific visualization software of molecular models in computing rooms and chemistry laboratories for educational purposes. However, its application in classrooms has been limited. This article describes the integration and use of computer programs for scientific molecular visualization in a traditional classroom. We consider that the improvement of technical aspects of their application and use (usability) has a direct effect on students' understanding of molecular structures (including students' extrinsic motivation), among other factors. Consequently, we developed a guide for the integration of hardware and software of molecular visualization for its use in the classroom

α-Glucosidase and α- amylase inhibition potentials of ten wild Mexican species of Verbenaceae

Purpose: To evaluate the inhibitory activity of 10 wild Verbenaceae species from Mexico against α- glucosidase and α-amylase.Methods: Ethanol leaf extracts of 10 Verbenaceae species from Mexico were prepared. The inhibitory activity of the extracts against α-glucosidase and α-amylase was evaluated using enzymatic protocols. At least four serial diluted concentrations of each extract was used to calculate the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50).Results: The 10 evaluated Verbenaceae species showed high α-glucosidase inhibition activity, but a low inhibitory effect on α-amylase. Aloysia gratissima (IC50 = 0.122 mg/mL), Verbena carolina (IC50 = 0.112 mg/mL), Bouchea prismatica (IC50 = 0.122 mg/mL), Verbena menthiflora (IC50 = 0.071mg/mL) and Priva mexicana (IC50 = 0.032 mg/mL) exhibited the strongest inhibitory activities against α- glucosidase.Conclusion: All the Verbenaceae species studied possess α-glucosidase inhibitory effect, with P. mexicana being the one with the strongest activity. These findings demonstrate the highs potential of these species as a source of natural antihyperglycemic agents for type 2 diabetes therapy.Keywords: Hyperglycemic, Diabetes, α-Glucosidase, α-Amylase Verbenaceae, Aloysia gratissima, Bouchea prismatica, Priva mexican

Anti‑inflammatory drugs and uterine cervical cancer cells: Antineoplastic effect of meclofenamic acid

Uterine cervical cancer (UCC) is one of the main causes of cancer-associated mortality in women. Inflammation has been identified as an important component of this neoplasia; in this context, anti-inflammatory drugs represent possible prophylactic and/or therapeutic alternatives that require further investigation. Anti-inflammatory drugs are common and each one may exhibit a different antineoplastic effect. As a result, the present study investigated different anti-inflammatory models of UCC in vitro and in vivo. Celecoxib, sulindac, nimesulide, dexamethasone, meclofenamic acid, flufenamic acid and mefenamic acid were tested in UCC HeLa, VIPA, INBL and SiHa cell lines. The cytotoxicity of the drugs was evaluated in vitro. Celecoxib, sulindac, nimesulide, mefenamic acid and flufenamic acid presented with slight to moderate toxicity (10–40% of cell death corresponding to 100 µM) in certain cell lines, while meclofenamic acid exhibited significant cytotoxicity in all essayed cell lines (50–90% of cell death corresponding to 100 µM). The meclofenamic acid was tested in murine models (immunodeficient and immunocompetent) of UCC, which manifested a significant reduction in tumor growth and increased mouse survival. It was demonstrated that of the evaluated anti-inflammatory drugs, meclofenamic acid was the most cytotoxic, with a significant antitumor effect in murine models. Subsequent studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical utility of this drug

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

Estudio de usabilidad de visualización molecular educativa en un teléfono inteligente

Chemistry students have difficulty understanding molecular structures and their functions. To aide their comprehension, molecular visualization software has been developed to run on smart phones, but in order to positively influence learning it must have a high degree of usability (usability measures how software is used in terms of efficiency, efficacy and satisfaction). This paper describes a usability study of molecular visualization software running on a smart phone, where chemistry students analyzed molecular models. Results showed very good usability and 95% of students wanted to use it in further classes

Association of the polymorphism 12109g>A from the gene as a risk factor for preterm birth

Introduction: Preterm birth is the most important cause of neonatal mortality and morbidity. It is a multifactorial disease with different etiologies, including genetic factors. Genetic variability is represented by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes of proteins involved in the contractile activity. We determine the association between SNP 12109G> A in REN associated with preterm birth and premature rupture of membrane. Materials and methods: A study of cases ( N =112, 22–36 weeks of gestation; mean: 31, 95% confidence interval 30.7–32.2) and controls ( N =66; 38–40 weeks of gestation from the last menstrual period; mean: 39.8, 95% confidence interval 38.9–39.4) was performed. Genomic DNA was isolated in all patients from peripheral blood. The SNP 12109G> A ( Mbo I) in REN was typified by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: A significant difference in the case group for the SNP 12109G>A was observed. The A allele was increased in women with preterm birth (81% cases vs . 15% control, p A has odds ratio 6.62 (95% confidence interval 3.14–14.15), which means a high risk of preterm birth/premature rupture of membrane in presence of allele A, both in homozygotes and in heterozygotes. Conclusion: Allelic frequency of A of SNP 12109G>A was higher in women with preterm birth than in women with normal vaginal delivery and could be considered a risk factor

Unveiling the Protein Components of the Secretory-Venom Gland and Venom of the Scorpion <i>Centruroides possanii</i> (Buthidae) through Omic Technologies

Centruroides possanii is a recently discovered species of “striped scorpion” found in Mexico. Certain species of Centruroides are known to be toxic to mammals, leading to numerous cases of human intoxications in the country. Venom components are thought to possess therapeutic potential and/or biotechnological applications. Hence, obtaining and analyzing the secretory gland transcriptome and venom proteome of C. possanii is relevant, and that is what is described in this communication. Since this is a newly described species, first, its LD50 to mice was determined and estimated to be 659 ng/g mouse weight. Using RNA extracted from this species and preparing their corresponding cDNA fragments, a transcriptome analysis was obtained on a Genome Analyzer (Illumina) using the 76-base pair-end sequencing protocol. Via high-throughput sequencing, 19,158,736 reads were obtained and ensembled in 835,204 sequences. Of them, 28,399 transcripts were annotated with Pfam. A total of 244 complete transcripts were identified in the transcriptome of C. possanii. Of these, 109 sequences showed identity to toxins that act on ion channels, 47 enzymes, 17 protease inhibitors (PINs), 11 defense peptides (HDPs), and 60 in other components. In addition, a sample of the soluble venom obtained from this scorpion was analyzed using an Orbitrap Velos apparatus, which allowed for identification by liquid chromatography followed by mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of 70 peptides and proteins: 23 toxins, 27 enzymes, 6 PINs, 3 HDPs, and 11 other components. Until now, this work has the highest number of scorpion venom components identified through omics technologies. The main novel findings described here were analyzed in comparison with the known data from the literature, and this process permitted some new insights in this field

Histological changes caused by meclofenamic acid in androgen independent prostate cancer tumors: evaluation in a mouse model

ABSTRACT Meclofenamic acid is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that has shown therapeutic potential for different types of cancers, including androgen-independent prostate neoplasms. The antitumor effect of diverse nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs has been shown to be accompanied by histological and molecular changes that are responsible for this beneficial effect. The objective of the present work was to analyze the histological changes caused by meclofenamic acid in androgen-independent prostate cancer. Tumors were created in a nude mouse model using PC3 cancerous human cells. Meclofenamic acid (10 mg/kg/day; experimental group, n=5) or saline solution (control group, n=5) was administered intraperitoneally for twenty days. Histological analysis was then carried out on the tumors, describing changes in the cellular architecture, fibrosis, and quantification of cellular proliferation and tumor vasculature. Meclofenamic acid causes histological changes that indicate less tumor aggression (less hypercellularity, fewer atypical mitoses, and fewer nuclear polymorphisms), an increase in fibrosis, and reduced cellular proliferation and tumor vascularity. Further studies are needed to evaluate the molecular changes that cause the beneficial and therapeutic effects of meclofenamic acid in androgen-independent prostate cancer