Universal influenza vaccination: a Mexican Expert Position Paper.

OBJECTIVE: Influenza is a costly disease for the population. It is a cause of seasonal morbidity and mortality, epidemics and pandemics or syndemics. Given the variability of the virus, surveillance systems are implemented in order to update the strains and include them in the annual influenza vaccine. This vaccine is currently recommended in some high-risk groups. However, universal vaccination remains controversial. To evaluate the evidence and describe the position of a panel of experts on the relevance of universal vaccination against influenza virus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five clinical questions were asked, whereby a systematic search of the literature in electronic sources and a Delphi panel were carried out. The evidence was analyzed, and recommendations were issued by the experts. RESULTS: The group of experts recommends vaccinating the population starting at six months of age and include people who live with egg protein allergy, with comorbidities (diabetes, obesity, cancer), health workers and pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination, starting with vulnerable groups, is a necessary, ethical and cost-effective strategy. However, expanding the coverage to achieve universal vaccination could reduce the transmission of the disease and its consequences in the population.

OBJETIVO: La influenza es una enfermedad costosa para la población. Es causa de morbimortalidad estacional, epidemias y pandemias o sindemias. Debido a la variabilidad del virus, se implementan sistemas de vigilancia para actualizar las cepas e incluirlas en la vacuna antiinfluenza anual. Actualmente se recomienda esta vacuna en algunos grupos de alto riesgo. Sin embargo, la vacunación universal es aún controvertida. Evaluar la evidencia y describir la posición de un panel de expertos sobre la pertinencia de la vacunación universal contra el virus de influenza. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizaron cinco preguntas clínicas, con las que se realizó una búsqueda sistemática de la literatura en fuentes electrónicas y un panel Delphi. Se analizó la evidencia y se emitieron recomendaciones por los expertos. RESULTADOS: El grupo de expertos recomienda vacunar a la población desde los seis meses de edad e incluir a personas que viven con alergia a la proteína del huevo, con comorbilidades (diabetes, obesidad, cáncer), trabajadores de la salud y embarazadas. CONCLUSIONES: La vacunación, iniciando con los grupos vulnerables, es una estrategia necesaria, ética y costo-efectiva. Sin embargo, extender la cobertura para lograr la vacunación universal podría disminuir la transmisión de la enfermedad y sus consecuencias en la población.

Exposure to bisphenol A differentially impacts neurodevelopment and behavior in Drosophila melanogaster from distinct genetic backgrounds.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous environmental chemical that has been linked to behavioral differences in children and shown to impact critical neurodevelopmental processes in animal models. Though data is emerging, we still have an incomplete picture of how BPA disrupts neurodevelopment; in particular, how its impacts may vary across different genetic backgrounds. Given the genetic tractability of Drosophila melanogaster, they present a valuable model to address this question. Fruit flies are increasingly being used for assessment of neurotoxicants because of their relatively simple brain structure and variety of measurable behaviors. Here we investigated the neurodevelopmental impacts of BPA across two genetic strains of Drosophila-w1118 (control) and the Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) model-by examining both behavioral and neuronal phenotypes. We show that BPA induces hyperactivity in larvae, increases repetitive grooming behavior in adults, reduces courtship behavior, impairs axon guidance in the mushroom body, and disrupts neural stem cell development in the w1118 genetic strain. Remarkably, for every behavioral and neuronal phenotype examined, the impact of BPA in FXS flies was either insignificant or contrasted with the phenotypes observed in the w1118 strain. This data indicates that the neurodevelopmental impacts of BPA can vary widely depending on genetic background and suggests BPA may elicit a gene-environment interaction with Drosophila fragile X mental retardation 1 (dFmr1)-the ortholog of human FMR1, which causes Fragile X Syndrome and is associated with autism spectrum disorder.

Genotyping of Mexican Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii isolates by PCR-fingerprinting.

Cryptococcosis in México is caused by both species of the Cryptococcus species complex i.e., Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii. The current study was aimed to determine genetic variability of 72 Mexican clinical isolates using PCR-fingerprinting with the primer M13. PCR fingerprinting revealed 55 VNI, five VNII, three VNIII, one VNIV, two VGI, two VGII, two VGIII and two VGIV isolates among those studied. The results show that most cryptococcosis cases in México are AIDS related and are caused by C. neoformans var. grubii, genotypes VNI and VNII. In addition this study revealed for the first time the presence of genotypes VNIV and VGII among Mexican clinical isolates. The present data show that all genotypes that have been described for the Cryptococcus species complex are found in México, indicating a much wider geographic distribution of genotypes than previously reported. The molecular analysis of Mexican cryptococcal isolates generated PCR-fingerprinting patterns which will provide references for future typing studies to allow the integration of Mexican cryptococcal genotypes into the ongoing global genotyping study of the Cryptococcus species complex.

Frequency of Cryptococcus species and varieties in México and their comparison with some Latin American countries.

Cryptococcosis frequency is increasing in Mexico. Few epidemiologic and clinical surveys exist even though 10-15% of patients with AIDS develop this mycosis. To know the situation about the prevalence and etiological agents of cryptococcosis in our country, a study including isolated Cryptococcus spp. strains took place from 1989 to August 1998. A total of 211 Cryptococcus spp. strains obtained from patients of diverse hospital centers in Mexico City were studied. This study describes cryptococcosis epidemiological data, in our country. C. neoformans was the dominant isolation (97.15%), followed by two C. albidus isolation and one C. uniguttulatus isolation. 92.5% of the strains was isolated from cerebral spinal fluid and the remaining were from bone marrow, blood, ganglion, sputum, bronchial lavage and liver biopsy. AIDS was the principal opportunistic factor (85%). Strains were found prevails in males (87.3%). It was found that the age groups where the disease appears most frequently are in the fourth (37.5%) and third (33.8%) decade of life. Finally, the isolation frequency of the C. neoformans var. neoformans (vn) and var. gattii (vg) obtained in this study (vn 86.7%) and vg 10.4%) was compared with the ones registered in Argentina (vn 97.6%, vg 2.4%); Brazil (vn 83.3%, vg 15.8%); Cuba (vn 97.6%, vg 2.4%); Paraguay (vn 0%, vg 100.0%); Puerto Rico (vn 100.0%, vg 0%) and Venezuela (vn 66.7%, vg 29.6%).

Comparative antimicrobial study of the resinous exudates of some Chilean Haplopappus (Asteraceae).

The antimicrobiol properties and preliminary chemical information of the resinous exudates from twigs and leaves of nine Haplopappus species from Chile: H. diplopappus; H. anthylloides; H. schumannii; H. cuneifolius; H. velutinus; H. uncinatus; H. multifolius, H. illinitus and H. foliosus are presented. The results show that those species of genus Haplopappus share similar antimicrobial activities although they differ dramatically in the chemical composition.