Sistema Regional de Información
en línea para Revistas Científicas de América Latina,
el Caribe, España y Portugal

Globally, the energy and production sectors generate a critical exploitation of fossil fuels. The largest reserves have a period for their exploitation depending on factors such as their geological and engineering fundamentals, initial costs, recovery factors, reservoir limits, recovery mechanisms, and volumetric estimates, among others. In addition, the number of oil reservoirs to meet current demand is in decline. One of the alternatives to mitigate the problems of crude oil depletion is to replace it with another that is economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable. The agricultural industry produces tons of residues per year, these residues are formed by lignocellulose, which is the main component of the cell wall of plants, by removing lignin it is possible to release the glucose contained in the cellulose of the biomass and use it as a source in the production of ethanol.  There are microorganisms capable of metabolizing plant lignin to release this substance, therefore this study reviews the advances that have been generated in the search for more sustainable fuels, specifically bioethanol using microorganisms. 

This case involves a 16-year-old male adolescent who presented with intermittent pain in the left knee, worsened by physical activity and accompanied by persistent swelling. Despite initial treatment with analgesics and a splint, symptoms persisted, prompting an MRI that revealed a soft tissue mass in the distal third of the left thigh, compatible with parosteal osteosarcoma or pigmented villonodular synovitis. Subsequently, a surgical biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis. During the procedure, bone infiltration was observed, and the samples taken confirmed malignant osteosarcoma. The patient started chemotherapy under the EURAMOS protocol, achieving a significant tumor reduction of 60%. This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and precise differential diagnosis in young patients presenting with bone masses. The combination of imaging and biopsy was crucial in distinguishing between osteosarcoma and pigmented villonodular synovitis, two entities with very different treatments and prognoses. The case emphasizes the need to suspect malignancy in patients with persistent knee pain and swelling, even when a benign condition is initially considered. Rapid intervention and targeted treatment resulted in a favorable short-term response, underscoring the importance of early detection and management in the prognosis of these tumors. This case provides valuable insights into the management and diagnosis of bone lesions in adolescents.  

Spitz nevus (SN) has an overall incidence ranging from 1.4 to 7 new cases per 100,000 people per year, 60% are infants and young people under 20 years of age, the desmoplastic SN variant is the most frequent subtype in late adolescence and adults. The aim of this clinical case is to recognize risk factors associated with the development of NS, to describe the clinical and dermatoscopic manifestations, and to analyze the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings of the desmoplastic NS variant. Dermoscopy, skin biopsy, histopathological and immunohistochemical studies were performed. The patient presented a dermatosis localized to the right upper limb affecting the arm, on the external face, middle third and was characterized by an exophytic nodular neoformation, surrounded by an erythematous halo of 0.8 x 0.8 cm, in the dermoscopy a multicomponent pattern accompanied by a punctate vascular pattern was observed. The biopsy showed nests of fusocellular melanocytes distributed in papillary and reticular dermis, with fibrous stroma, deep hyaline changes and accompanying small vessels. The immunohistochemical study showed positive SOX 10 and K167 expression, the diagnosis was desmoplastic Spitz nevus. The main treatment was surgical incision, with subsequent surveillance and sun care. The diagnosis of NS represents a difficulty for medical personnel since it has clinical, dermatoscopic and even histopathological similarities with atypical spitzoid lesions and melanomas, which have a higher risk of mortality, which makes it essential to recognize the wide clinical morphology of the disease.

In the search for innovative and sustainable solutions to meet the challenges of modern agriculture, seaweeds are emerging as a promising source of alternative products to traditional chemical inputs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of aqueous extracts of the seaweeds Gracilaria parvispora and Chatemorpha antennina on the germination and seedling growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under laboratory conditions. The effects of different concentrations of seaweed extracts (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0%) were evaluated in comparison with a control group (distilled water). Application of all seaweed extracts improved tomato seed germination and early seedling growth. Specifically, the seed treatments with 0.25% G. parvispora extract and 0.5% C. antennina extract increased germination percentage, germination rate, germination energy, and seedling vigor index compared to the control. In addition, the seedling length and biomass accumulation were enhanced by both seaweed extract treatments. The results of this study indicate the potential of aqueous extracts of G. parvispora and C. antennina as effective biostimulants in the early stages of tomato plant development.

One of the strategies to address climate change is the use of adapted genotypes, such as local fig germplasm, which exhibits morphological and physiological traits that reduce water consumption and enhance adaptation to hot and arid climates, additionally, it possesses nutraceutical properties desirable for the international market. Hence, this study aimed to characterize fig tree collections at the morphological level and assess certain biophysical indicators of their adaptation to the regional climate. In the initial nursery phase, cuttings were collected from fig trees aged 25-40 years in the Lagunera Region. After 90 days in the nursery, foliar characterization was conducted by separating qualitative and quantitative leaf variables, which were analyzed through clustering and ANOVA, respectively. This analysis revealed three distinct groups in both qualitative and quantitative traits, highlighting significant biodiversity in morphological characteristics. Notably, the properties of latex, stomata, and trichomes stood out as key environmental protection mechanisms. Based on this analysis, it was determined that fig trees in the Lagunera Region exhibit biodiversity and long-term adaptation, possessing morphological biological mechanisms that enable them to tolerate the region’s hot and arid climate.

The  Agave hybrid No. 11648 is a key crop for fiber production in tropical regions and is mainly reproduced by rhizome offshoots. Asexual propagation has led to a loss of genetic diversity in these crops. This study evaluated genetic variability between parent plants and offshoots of H11648 using AFLP markers. 586 markers were generated, with a 60.23% polymorphism. The genetic differences between offspring and mother plants found in the present study underscore the variability produced by asexual reproduction, this information is considered of interest for the genetic improvement of agave and the selection of elite materials with desirable characteristics.

Midgut volvulus is a significant surgical condition in pediatric practice. However, although its incidence in adults is low, it can occur in this age group, with predominant risk factors such as adhesions secondary to previous abdominal surgeries. Computed tomography, a widely accessible imaging study today, plays a key role in diagnosis, although it is not the definitive method. Among its suggestive findings, the 'whirlpool sign' stands out. This report presents the case of an octogenarian patient with a history of abdominal surgery who developed a jejunal volvulus, a condition rarely documented in the medical literature. Emphasis is placed on her clinical presentation, key diagnostic findings, and therapeutic approach.

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the treatment of cardiac complications is growing. Anticoagulation control in pediatrics is one of the most complicated aspects in post-cardiac surgery patients. This research aimed to determine whether an anticoagulation monitoring protocol in pediatric post-cardiac surgery patients treated with venoarterial (VA) ECMO results in fewer bleeding complications and prolongs survival. This was a retrospective, observational, descriptive, single-arm, study conducted at the Christus Muguerza Hospital in Monterrey, Mexico. The variables were activated clotting time (ACT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), anti-Factor Xa (anti-Xa) activity, and antithrombin III (AT) parameters. Test results were correlated with the unfractionated Heparin (UFH) infusion rate (IU/kg/h) at the sampling time. The mean heparin dose was 21.09 IU/kg/hr. ACT got 188.6 seconds, and ACT-based therapeutic anticoagulation got in 180–220 seconds. The aPTT got in this study was 62.15 seconds. The anti-Xa level was 0.27 UL/mL, and the AT level was 47.52 IU. We got a survival rate of 60%. The main hemorrhagic complications were severe bleeding at 10% and systemic thrombosis at 10%. The major complications were sepsis, renal failure, and severe bleeding. More prospective trials are required to delineate the dose change with UFH and prevent adverse clinical outcomes in different pediatric cardiac surgery conditions.

Persian lime (Citrus x latifolia Tan.) is a key crop in Veracruz, with production affected by fungal diseases. To reduce the use of chemical fungicides, the use of Biological Control Agents (BCAs), such as bacteria from the Bacillus genus, has been investigated. In this study, the in vitro antagonistic effect of Bacillus velezensis (Bv) and two strains of Bacillus subtilis (Bs1 and Bs2) was evaluated against the pathogens responsible for dieback (Lasiodiplodia spp.) and anthracnose (Colletotrichum sp.), isolated from Persian lime orchards in Tierra Blanca, Veracruz. The Percentage of Radial Growth Inhibition (PRGI) was measured on potato dextrose agar plates. Bacillus subtilis strains showed inhibition of the evaluated pathogens. Bs2 presented the highest inhibition percentages (66.69% and 61.78%) against Lasiodiplodia spp. (Las1 and Las2). Bs1 showed 49.7% inhibition against Colletotrichum sp. (Colle). In contrast, Bacillus velezensis (Bv) exhibited a low antagonistic effect, with only 8.4% inhibition against Las1 and no inhibition against the other strains. These results indicate that Bacillus subtilis Bs1 and Bs2 strains have high potential as BCAs against pathogens affecting Persian lime production.

The growing need to reduce the negative environmental impact of agrochemicals in conventional agriculture has led to the development of innovative biotechnology products such as bioinoculants. These products are specifically designed to reduce the use of both chemical fertilizers and pesticides, promoting more sustainable agricultural practices. Bioinoculants are composed of soil microorganisms that have a high potential to stimulate plant growth through different mechanisms of action, such as nitrogen fixation, nutrient solubilization and production of bioactive compounds. In this review, a representative analysis of research in the area of bioinoculants in Mexico, Venezuela and Brazil is presented, with the objective of knowing the current situation in these Latin American countries. In addition, the perspectives of their large-scale application are discussed, thus contributing to the literature of our region, where especially there is no compilation of research carried out in Venezuela in this field.