Risk factors associated with hepatitis C virus infection in an urban population of the State of Mexico.

The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and risk factors associated with patients attending primary-care clinics in the State of Mexico. A cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted on 10,524 consenting patients with history of at least one risk factor for HCV. Antibodies were detected by immunoassay, third-generation ELISA; RT-PCR was carried out to confirm HCV infection. The seroprevalence of HCV antibodies was 1.2% (128). The most common risk factor was blood transfusion prior to 1993 (56.3%), followed by family history of cirrhosis 29 (22.7%); tattoos and/or piercings, 28 (21.9%); high-risk sexual practices, 4 (3.1%); healthcare work, 8 (6.3%); and intravenous drug use, 1 (8%). RT-PCR was performed on samples from 83 patients. Forty-five were considered positive. Genotype 1a was the most prevalent (37.7%).

[Double blind comparative randomized study of the efficacy of celiprolol versus amiloride-hydrochlorothiazide in mild to moderate AHT]. / Estudio comparativo randomizado a doble ciego de la eficacia del celiprolol "versus" amiloride-hidroclorotiazida en la HTA ligera-moderada.

We tried to assess the antihypertensive effectivity of a betablocker, celiprolol, in the control of mild to moderate essential arterial hypertension. A double-blind randomized comparative study was conducted between celiprolol and amiloride-hydrochlorothiazide in 40 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. Both drugs were effective in the therapeutical control of hypertension, although reductions in systolic blood pressure were more significant among the celiprolol group, being the percentage of patients with reduction of diastolic blood pressure below 90 mmHg., 89.5% in the celiprolol group and 82.4% in the amiloride group. The average dose of celiprolol used was 200 mg/day, with few mide effects.

[Effect of an oral calcium supplement in the treatment of slight-to- moderate essential arterial hypertension]. / Influencia de un suplemento oral de calcio en el tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial esencial ligera-moderada.

51 patients with mild essential hypertension (EH) were randomly divided into two groups; the first group (31 patients) was treated with 1 g. of oral calcium during a period of 8 weeks; the second group received a placebo. The treated with calcium showed a significant decrease in blood pressure (BP), the maximal reduction being of 6 mm Hg in the systolic pressure (SBP) and 3 mm in the diastolic (DBP) at the end of the 8th week. We found a substantial positive relationship between the decrease in SBP and seric renin activity (p less than 0.05), as well as a significant negative relationship (p less than 0.05) between DBP and the seric level of parathyroid hormone (PTH). During the administration of the oral calcium supplement, the BP decreased in an inverse proportion to the plasmatic renin and seric level of PTH.

[Eosinophilic esophagitis, a pathology on the rise]. / Esofagitis eosinofílica, una enfermedad en auge.

The eosinophilic esofagitis is a pathology that consists of an inflammatory condition of the esophagus, which is characterized for having a high percentage of eosinophils. It is a problem of allergic origin and his diagnosis is increasing in the population, especially in children and adult young persons, throughout last decade. The fisiopathology is not completely established nowadays. The diagnosis is confirmed with endoscopia and capture of biopsies. The differential diagnosis is necessary to be done with the disease for reflux gastroesofágico, gastroenteritis eosinofílica, by Crohn's disease, pathology of connective fabric, syndrome hipereosinofílico, infections and response of hypersensitivity to medicaments. Nowadays there is no a treatment that is definitive. We present a clinical case, which was valued initially for the consultation of Primary care.