Manuel Peredo (1830-1890) participated fully in Mexico's national literary circles during the second half of the 19th century. Besides being recognized for his translation of Basch's Memories of Mexico, Peredo also translated the first tercets of Inferno's Canto XXXIII. Although forgotten today, his contribution is significant since it is the second Mexican translation of Dante, and particularly, the first Mexican translation of Canto XXXIII.

Hace unos cuantos años atestigüé en la milenaria China un encuentro que podría haber sido anacrónico si no hubiese sido por su paradójica vigencia en nuestros días. Una niña de 10 años se encontraba de pie frente a una médica tradicional en uno de los consultorios de un enorme hospital de Beijing. No mediaba palabra alguna. La doctora fijó su mirada en los ojos de la niña y el tiempo se detuvo. Transcurrieron minutos que ante el silencio de todos se hicieron eternos. Después continuó una somera exploración, la prescripción y el final de la consulta. En ese momento le pregunté a la doctora por intermedio de nuestro intérprete qué observaba en la niña. La respuesta fue escueta pero profundamente humana: «veía su alma», me dijo en un tono profesional contundente.

Autoimmune hypophysitis is a rare condition that must be considered in the differential diagnosis of any pituitary tumor. We present a series of nine patients with clinical and radiologic diagnosis of autoimmune hypophysitis that were admitted to the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ) in Mexico City between 2000-2012. Clinical, biochemical, imaging features (on MRI), treatment, and follow-up are described, and a review on this disease is presented.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) represent to the genetics variant most common founded in the human genome. These polymorphisms have a wide distribution and can found in any region of gene or mRNA, the SNPs that have functional implications on the levels of gene expression are called regulatory SNPs (rSNPs), while those that affect translation, splicing, efficiency to enhance or inhibit the alternative, mRNA stability and protein function (without altering its structure), they are called structural RNA SNPs (srSNPs). Several studies have identified to these polymorphisms associated with different common diseases e.g. hypertension, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis and coronary artery disease. The aim of this review is to discuss the functional implication of rSNPs and srSNPs in the common diseases.

Heart development consists in a group of complex and specific morfogenetic interactions, that requires the proper activity of each factor implicated in this process. Congenital heart defects (CHD) are a group of multifactorial complex diseases with environmental and genetic factors playing important roles. There is not an exact relation between molecular mechanisms and morphological defects in CHD, because in most of the cases the proper development of an anatomical structure implies the adequate function of several pathways that may depend of the action of different genes. This review summarizes the genetic factors implied in the normal heart development and the most common gene mutations associated with CHD.

Worldwide over 12 million people were diagnosed with cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) and 8 million individuals died from cancer in 2008. Recent data indicate that 75-90% of patients with advanced stage diseases or metastatic cancer will experience significant cancer pain. Bone cancer pain is common in patients with advanced breast, prostate, and lung cancer as these tumors have a marked affinity to metastasize to bone. Once tumors metastasize to bone, they are a major cause of morbidity and mortality as the tumor induces significant skeletal remodeling, fractures, pain and anemia; all of which reduce the functional status, quality of life and survival of the patient. Currently, the factors that drive cancer pain are poorly understood, however, several recently introduced models of bone cancer pain that mirror the human condition, are providing insight into the mechanisms that drive bone cancer pain and guiding the development of novel therapies to treat the cancer pain. Several of these therapies have recently been approved by the FDA to treat bone cancer pain (bisphosphonates, denosumab) and others are currently being evaluated in human clinical trials (tanezumab). These new mechanism-based therapies are enlarging the repertoire of modalities available to treat bone cancer pain and improving the quality of life and functional status of patients with bone cancer.

Objective:

To evaluate the differences in inflammation markers and cardiovascular risk factors in a group of school-aged children with and without excessive adiposity. To examine the relationship between adiposity, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study of 285 school children (8-12 years old). Adiposity (body mass index, BMI, total body fat, TBF, and waist circumference), inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin 1β [IL-1β], interleukin 6 [IL-6], and tumor necrosis factor-a [TNF-α]) and cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed. Mean differences were calculated and multiple regression models were made.

Results:

Obese children had higher concentrations of CRP and IL-1β; children with abdominal obesity also had higher CRP levels. A higher BMI was associated with higher blood pressure, and higher total cholesterol, triglycerides-TAG, and insulin concentrations, and with lower HDL-cholesterol. The CRP and IL-1β concentrations correlated significantly with the three adiposity indices. The IL-6 concentrations were associated with TAG, and IL-1β with HDL-cholesterol concentration, after adjustment by BMI. Discussion: In a group of school-aged Mexican children, obesity increases cardiovascular risk and inflammation. Both IL-6 and IL-1β appear to be factors involved in lipid alterations in these children. More research is needed in order to explore the role of subclinical inflammation in the development of cardiovascular alterations that have already been described in Mexican children with obesity.

Among the most prevalent psychiatric disorders, major depressive disorder is related with high incapacity levels, affecting also physical and mental health, and social, family, and work activities (burnout).

Objectives:

This study assessed possible damage and emotional changes in a cohort of recently incoming medical residents to the postgraduate courses of the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico City. Materials and methods: We collected information on sociodemographic data, and we applied two instruments: the scale of Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-HS) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Candidates were followed over time, at six and 12 months afterwards.

Results:

When the authors analyzed depressive symptoms, they found that the percentage of medical residents without depression at baseline was 97.7% and at the second application, this percentage decreased statistically (p = 0.008) and yet there was an increase in mild depressive symptoms (p = 0.017). With respect to MBI-HS, there was high emotional exhaustion with a significant increase at six months after arrival. The psychiatry residents were those more affected.

Conclusions:

Exploratory research is needed to be performed among residents to detect depressive symptoms and burnout syndrome, to act in a timely manner and prevent the progression of these diseases.

Objectives:

To put forth the concept of highly specialized medical care, in agreement with the nature of its practice, and evaluate the feasibility of creating a support service network.

Methods:

Qualitative study of the current practice and requirements for 39 selected medical specialties, using the technique of focused groups of experts in each specialty. In accordance with the "Grounded Theory", variables were systematized and categorized and then compared in order to identify relationships between categories and link them to consensus testimonial references. On the basis of the characteristics of each kind of practice, one key expert integrated and validated service portfolios.

Results:

We developed an integrated a concept for highly specialize medical care with 39 operational catalogs of those diagnoses that belong to each specialty, along with catalogs of the resources required by each specialty.

Conclusions:

Highly specialized care is a desirable model for clinical practice, but does not constitute a different level of care. Currently, medical practice is constrained by the lack of well-defined boundaries and scarcity of resources in order to be conceptualized as high specialty. It is therefore more convenient to strengthen the concept of third level of care in order to identify opportunities for the establishment of high specialty areas that will in turn serve as the focal points for medical innovation.

Objective:

To provide a research database of normative documents in Spanish related to human genetics (HG).

Methods:

This is a researchable database, where normative texts are related to HG. The ELSI issues are compiled, combining documents with national, regional, and international influence. The selection of these laws is done through a process of rigorous qualitative research. The portal is aimed at the general public, but with an emphasis on decision makers who possess the capacity to formulate policies on matters related to HG. Several normative documents, issued by international and regional organizations, are included, as well as documents of local government agencies of different countries.

Results:

From the laws and policies available in the database, 39% are decrees of international organizations, 12% are regional normative texts, and 49% are national laws and policies. From all the national legal texts, 48% are laws or policies that belong to Spain.

Conclusions:

Latin American countries are not adopting a futuristic perspective because they do not regulate or legislate the technology resulting from research in HG. The HumGen Portal is a tool that will help the development of regulatory frameworks in Spanish-speaking countries, which will be suitable to current scientific progress.