Propolis is a resin that honey bees (Apis mellifera) produce by mixing wax, exudates collected from tree shoots, pollen, and enzymes. It has been used for its biological properties against pathogenic microorganisms including those of viral origin. In the present study, we demonstrate the antiviral effect of Mexican propolis, as well as of the three commercial flavonoids (quercetin, naringenin, and pinocembrin) present in its composition, in cell cultures infected with Canine Distemper Virus. The treatments were carried out with propolis, flavonoids individually, and a mixture of the three flavonoids at three different times. Antiviral activity was evaluated by the inhibition of the relative expression of the virus nucleoprotein gene (Real-Time qPCR) and by the determination of cellular viability (MTT assay). Propolis applied before infection decreased viral expression (0.72 versus 1.0, 1.65, and 1.75 relative expressions) and correlated with increased cell viability (0.314 versus 0.215, 0.259, and 0.237 absorbance units (AU)). The administration of a flavonoid mixture containing the three commercial flavonoids before infection induces a slight decrease in viral expression (0.93 versus 1, 1.42, and 1.82 relative expressions); however, it does not improve cellular viability (0.255 versus 0.247, 0.282, and 0.245 AU). Quercetin administrated at the same time of infection decreases viral expression (0.90 versus 1.0, 3.25, and 1.02 relative expressions) and improves cellular viability (0.294 versus 0.240, 0.250, and 0.245 AU). Pinocembrin and naringenin individually did not show any antiviral activity at the administration times evaluated in this study. The present work is the first in vitro study of the effect of propolis in Canine Distemper Virus and demonstrated the antiviral activity of Mexican propolis, in addition to the synergy that exists between the three flavonoids on cell viability and the expression of the nucleoprotein virus gene.

Sperm capacitation occurs during the passage of sperm through the female reproductive tract. Once the sperm binds to the pellucid zone, the acrosome reaction to enable penetration of the oocyte is completed. In this study, sperm of Artibeus jamaicensis bat was used to evaluate both capacitation status and the acrosome reaction under in vitro conditions, incubating sperm at 32 and 37°C with and without progesterone. Sperm was incubated at different times to assess sperm cells' functionality in terms of capacitation and acrosome reaction, using the chlortetracycline staining, lectin fluoresceinisocyanate conjugate-Pisum sativum agglutinin (FITC-PSA), and transmission electron microscopy. Sperm cells that presented uniform fluorescence throughout the head and mid-piece were classified as non-capacitated. Subsequently, sperm cells, which were observed with fluorescence only in the anterior portion of the head and mid-piece, were classified as capacitated. Sperm cells with no fluorescence in the head, but fluorescence in the mid-piece, were categorized as sperm cells that have carried out the acrosome reaction. During the acrosome reaction, sperm cells showed changes in their morphology, so it was not possible to distinguish the plasma and acrosomal membranes. Around the entire head, it was not possible to distinguish the fusion points between these membranes that made it possible for the acrosomal reaction to take place and thus to release the enzymes necessary to penetrate the pellucid zone. In conclusion, under appropriate in vitro conditions and by supplementing the culture medium with progesterone, A. jamaicensis bat sperm cells are able to be capacitated in a period from 6 to 8 h and to carry out the acrosome reaction.

Objective: To Validate the EuroSCORE II as a method for cardiac surgery risk stratification in Mexican adult population. Methods: We included adult patients undergoing to cardiac surgery, in order to determine the predictive value of EuroSCORE II on morbidity and mortality risk. Continuous variables are presented as mean ± SD or median with its interquartile range as appropriate; categorical variables were described as n, % or rate. To validate the EuroSCORE II scale, the assessment was done with Hosmer- Lemeshow (HL) test. In terms of discrimination, we used the features of the receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curves. Results: They were 704 patients, grouped into five categories: simple (one vessel) Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgery, n= 299 (43%) cases. CABG revascularization (two or more vessels), n= 208 (30%). Double Procedure (CABG + valve replacement) 174 (25%) cases. Triple procedure (CABG + valve + aorta surgery) 23 (3.3%) patients. The mortality observed within 30 days of the surgery was 88 (12.5%). Meanwhile, the mean of the expected mortality predicted by EuroSCORE II was 3.63 ± 5.91 (95% CI: 3.19-4.06). The EuroSCORE II scale presented a good capacity for discrimination in the studied population reaching an area under the ROC curve of 0.821 (p < 0.000, 95% CI: 0.772-0.871). A calibration for the scale measured through logistic regression with goodness of adjustment of Hosmer-Lemeshow was determined (χ2 = 17.74, p = 0.64). Conclusion: EuroSCORE II showed moderate discrimination ability in general. The scale can be useful to identify some problems in our hospital, however, the mortality rate might be underestimated. Key words: Euroscore II; Adult Cardiac Surgery; Surgical Risk