COVID-19: 5 years later from the INER
Five years ago, on January 1, 2020, the world welcomed the new year with news of a novel respiratory disease from Wuhan, China, apparently of infectious origin, transmissible between individuals, and potentially severe. By the end of that month, the World Health Organization (WHO) had already declared a public health emergency1. During the first weeks […]
The psychosocial environment associated with childhood asthma in a primary care unit. Preliminary report
Introduction The relation between pediatric asthma and mental illnesses is still underestimated both by pediatricians and by mental health experts1. Psychosocial factors can influence the pathogeny and physiopathology of asthma and there is a high comorbidity of pediatric asthma with anxiety and mood disorders in both children and in their caregivers2. The possible association among anxiety, […]
Pulmonary mucormycosis: surgical management at a national health institute in México
Introduction Pulmonary mucormycosis is an uncommon invasive fungal infection with a high mortality rate, particularly in immunocompromised patients. The present study aims to describe the demographic, clinical, radiological, and surgical characteristics of a case series of pulmonary mucormycosis treated at a national health institute, with emphasis on the medical-surgical approach and the observed clinical outcomes. […]
The protection of public health in the regulation of cannabis: a narrative review
Introduction Disorders caused by drug use represent a considerable burden for individuals and society1. The World Drug Report states that between 2010 and 2022, the number of people who use drugs increased by 23%. Problems caused by drugs and dependence on them are preventable and treatable. With more than 209 million users, representing 4% of […]
Physiology of extracorporeal circulatory support and blood gas monitoring
Introduction Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) encompasses a set of devices capable of mechanically assisting cardiac and pulmonary functions either temporarily or for prolonged periods1. Among these, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy emerged as an initially respiratory support option in the 1970s, however, today this mechanical device has the capability to assist patients with both refractory […]
Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic: new challenges in respiratory medicine and new solutions
Introduction On January 1, 2020, the world learned of the emergence, in the city of Wuhan, of a new acute respiratory disease that showed signs of severity. From a distance, at that precise moment, we never had a clear picture of the global public health impact this disease, later known as COVID-19, would have. Under […]
Pandemics era
Definitions of pandemic A pandemic (pan = all, demos = people) is an outbreak of disease for which humanity has no immunity, spreading across most or all of the world1. A more technical definition is “a worldwide epidemic or one occurring over a very large territory, crossing international borders and affecting a large number of […]
Biology of SARS-CoV-2 and description of its variants
Introduction Coronaviruses infect the human population causing moderate respiratory diseases, but more severe cases frequently occur that can even be fatal. SARS-CoV-2 is one of seven viruses from the Coronaviridae family that infect humans, four of which (229E, OC43, NL63, and HKU1) cause seasonal diseases with symptoms similar to those of the common cold1,2. Other […]
Immunopathology of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Introduction COVID-19, associated with SARS-CoV-2, has caused millions of deaths worldwide. Unfortunately, the pandemic that emerged in 2019 in the Chinese province of Wuhan has spread for several years and new variants of the virus have appeared, such as Omicron and some of its variants. At the beginning of the pandemic, in February 2020, at […]
Similarities and differences between influenza and COVID-19
Introduction and general concepts Influenza and COVID-19 are viral infections that primarily affect the respiratory system, are highly contagious, have caused pandemics, and share many characteristics. Virus Considering the biology of influenza viruses and coronaviruses, characteristics they share and those that distinguish them can be enumerated (Table 1). The influenza virus belongs to the Orthomyxoviridae […]