Introduction: Morphine shares with other opiates and drugs of abuse the ability to modify the plasticity of brain areas that regulate the morphology of dendrites and spines, which are the primary sites of excitatory synapses in regions of the brain involved in incentive motivation, rewards, and learning.Objective: In this review we discuss the impact of morphine use during the prenatal period of brain development and its long-term consequences in murines, and then link those consequences to similar effects occurring in human neonates and adults.Development: Repeated exposure to morphine as treatment for pain in terminally ill patients produces long-term changes in the density of postsynaptic sites (dendrites and spines) in sensitive areas of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex, the limbic system (hippocampus, amygdala), and caudate nuclei and nucleus accumbens. This article reviews the cellular mechanisms and receptors involved, primarily dopaminergic and glutamatergic receptors, as well as synaptic plasticity brought about by changes in dendritic spines in these areas. Conclusions:The actions of morphine on both developing and adult brains produce alterations in the plasticity of excitatory postsynaptic sites of the brain areas involved in limbic system functions (reward and learning). Doctors need further studies on plasticity in dendrites and spines and on signalling molecules, such as calcium, in order to improve treatments for addiction.Conclusiones: Las acciones de la morfina durante el desarrollo del cerebro y también en el cerebro adulto producen alteraciones en la plasticidad de sitios excitatorios postsinápticos, áreas del cerebro que están implicadas en las funciones del sistema límbico (la recompensa y el aprendizaje). Se necesitan más estudios sobre la plasticidad en las dendritas y espinas en sus moléculas de señalización, tales como el calcio, con el fin de mejorar el tratamiento de la adicción.

Mexican spices are used in the supplementation of the human diet and as medicinal herbs for the particularly high amounts of compounds capable of deactivating free radicals. In addition, these spices can have beneficial effects on chronic, no-transmissible diseases such as type II diabetes and hypertension arterial. The objective of this study is to determine the content of phenolic compounds on the antioxidant activity and inhibitory enzymes of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and angiotensin-converting enzyme in melissa, peppermint, thyme and mint, which are subjected to microwave drying, conventional and freeze-drying to be used as alternative treatments. Spices were evaluated to determine total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), (2,2′-azino-bis- (3-ethyl benzothiazolin-6-ammonium sulphonate) (ABTS) and Ferric Reducing/Antioxidant Power (FRAP), enzymatic activity. The investigation showed that conventional drying caused a decrease in antioxidant properties and inhibitory activity, in some species, while remained preserved in microwave drying and freeze-drying. The activity of polyphenol oxides and peroxidase decreases with high temperatures and these increase with the use of cold temperatures. This study aims to determine the extent of optimal drying required to preserve phenolic compounds, and the positive effect on antioxidant activity and enzymatic activity in in vitro models, which will produce benefits for the infusion processing industry and the pharmaceutical industry.

Aims: Disease for a novel coronavirus has been a big public health challenge around the world in the past several months. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemic and report the number of confirmed cases and deaths of disease for a novel coronavirus in Mexico until May 15, 2020. Study Design:  Ecological study. Place and Duration of Study: Registries of confirmed cases for disease for a novel coronavirus in Mexican population during January and until May 15, 2020, from National System of Epidemiological Surveillance/ General Direction of Epidemiology/ Secretary of Health, Mexico. Methodology: Based on the database of confirmed cases of disease for a novel coronavirus by Secretary of Health in Mexico, we collected data on age, gender, and deaths, and co-morbidities. As of May 15, 2020, 45,032 cases have been identified in Mexico.  Results: The first confirmed case in Mexico has been identified on January 8, 2020 and the incidence has been rising from the end of February and throughout March. The early confirmed cases were imported cases resulting from travel to USA, Italy, Germany, Spain, France and Singapore. No one travelled to China. No cases of community transmission have been reported. The cause-specific mortality rate was 10.59% and the possibility to death is three times more if comorbidities are in the patient. Conclusion: The frequency of confirmed cases of disease for a novel coronavirus in Mexico are concerning and the health authorities in Mexico are waiting for the peak of the epidemiological curve to occur in May. The mortality is high with co-morbidities.