Modification of Gut Microbiota in Inflammatory Arthritis: Highlights and Future Challenges.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This Review evaluates the available information on the modification of the microbiota by diet, prebiotics, probiotics, or drugs and its association with the severity of arthritis in animals and humans and highlights how this modulation could have therapeutic applications in RA. RECENT FINDINGS: The gut microbiota and microbiota-derived metabolites play a role in developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in animals and humans, making the intestinal microbiota an exciting novel approach to suppress autoimmunity. Studies in animal models of RA show that it is possible to modify the intestinal microbiota with drugs, natural products, diet, probiotics, and prebiotics. Furthermore, these changes showed beneficial effects on symptom relief in animal models of RA and that these effects were associated with modulation of the immune response. Therapies that modify the gut microbiota would significantly impact the preclinical stage of arthritis, based on the fact that dysbiosis occurs before clinical arthritis. The effects of interventions to modulate the microbiota could not reverse arthritis. Furthermore, the therapies modulating therapies in controlling symptoms were limited once arthritis developed. The results obtained in the study of acarbose, probiotics, and prebiotics suggest that these interventions may decrease the disease's incidence rather than treat or cure it.

Alexithymia is associated with mood disorders, impairment in quality of life and disability in women with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVES: Alexithymia is a personality trait related to the quality of life of women with fibromyalgia (FM). It is still unknown whether alexithymia is associated with the clinical manifestations of FM. The present study describes the relationship between alexithymia and the domains included in the core set recommended by the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) for FM evaluation. METHODS: One hundred two women with FM were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. The domains evaluated were alexithymia, pain, fatigue, health-related quality of life, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and disability. Univariate and multivariate (Kernel Regularized Least Squares method) analyses were performed to assess the relationship between alexithymia and the domains included in the core set recommended by the OMERACT. RESULTS: Alexithymia prevalence was 64.5% (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 54.6%-73.9%) and higher in women with depression (76.1%; 95%CI, 63.8%-86%). Female patients with FM and alexithymia showed higher pain intensity, anxiety and depression levels, and disability perception and lower quality of life, as compared to those with FM without alexithymia. Size effect differences ranged from medium to large and all of them were statistically significant (p<0.05). Using multivariate analysis, alexithymia was significantly associated with worse perceptions of quality of life (except physical health domain) and more disability perception, independently of other variables. However, alexithymia was not significantly associated with pain intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymia plays an important role in clinical manifestations of FM, mainly in the psychological and social dimensions of quality of life and the degree of perceived disability.

Pelvic Actinomycosis.

INTRODUCTION: Actinomycosis is a chronic bacterial infection caused by Actinomyces, Gram-positive anaerobic bacteria. Its symptomatology imitates some malignant pelvic tumours, tuberculosis, or nocardiosis, causing abscesses and fistulas. Actinomycoses are opportunistic infections and require normal mucous barriers to be altered. No epidemiological studies have been conducted to determine prevalence or incidence of such infections. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the clinical cases of pelvic actinomycosis reported worldwide, to update the information about the disease. METHODS: A systematic review of worldwide pelvic actinomycosis cases between 1980 and 2014 was performed, utilising the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. The following information was analysed: year, country, type of study, number of cases, use of intrauterine device (IUD), final and initial diagnosis, and method of diagnosis. RESULTS: 63 articles met the search criteria, of which 55 reported clinical cases and 8 reported cross-sectional studies. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic actinomycosis is confusing to diagnose and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pelvic chronic inflammatory lesions. It is commonly diagnosed through a histological report, obtained after a surgery subsequent to an erroneous initial diagnosis. A bacterial culture in anaerobic medium could be useful for the diagnosis but requires a controlled technique and should be performed using specialised equipment.

Self-reported prevalence and risk factors associated with food hypersensitivity in Mexican young adults.

BACKGROUND: Food hypersensitivity (FH) is defined as any unfavorable reaction after the ingestion, contact, or inhalation of a food. Few FH prevalence studies have been performed in the Mexican adult population. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of self-reported FH and probable food allergy (FA) among a sample of Mexican young adults and to determine the most commonly involved foods, associated symptoms, and risk factors. METHODS: We designed an observational, cross-sectional study in which 1,253 young adults (aged 18-25 years) born in the State of Mexico answered a questionnaire concerning FH. We obtained information on personal and familial histories of allergic diseases, the involved foods, and the subsequent adverse reactions to their consumption. RESULTS: The prevalence of FH was 30.1% and was significantly higher in women than in men (P < .001). The prevalence of probable FA was 5.9% and was also higher in women (P = .02). Gastrointestinal symptoms were reported in 83.1% of FH cases, whereas cutaneous symptoms and oral allergy syndrome were reported in FA cases. The food groups most associated with FH were dairy products (13.2%), vegetables (10.0%), and fruits (8.0%). The food groups most associated with FA were fruits (3.0%) and seafood (1.8%). Female sex, personal history of allergic diseases, maternal history of atopic dermatitis, and parental history of urticaria were significantly associated (P < .05) with the presence of FH. CONCLUSION: FH in young adults might be more common than previously thought, especially in women. However, further studies are needed to confirm this situation in the Mexican population.

[Expression of gamma interferon during HPV and Chlamydia trachomatis infection in cervical samples]. / Expresión de interferón gamma en la infección por el virus del papiloma humano y por Chlamydia trachomatis en muestras cervicales.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to mesure the expression of gamma interferon in HPV and Chlamydia trachomatis infection in squamous intraepithelial lesions. METHOD: Samples from 100 patients diagnosed by colposcopy with or without squamous intraepithelial lesions were used in the present study. Each patient was found to be infected by HPV and C.trachomatis. Relative gamma interferon mRNA expression was assessed using a real-time reverse transcriptase PCR assay (RT-PCR). RESULTS: The relative units of expression of gamma interferon mRNA were 13, 1.8 and 0.3, for HPV and C.trachomatis co-infection, or HPV or C.trachomatis infection, respectively. CONCLUSION: HPV and C.trachomatis could overstimulate the expression of gamma interferon.

[Cancer incidence in a Cancer Care Unit of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) in Toluca, Mexico]. / Incidencia de cáncer en una Unidad de Atención Oncológica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), en Toluca, Estado de México.

INTRODUCTION: In 2000, malignant tumors were responsible for 12% of nearly 56 million deaths that occurred in the world from all causes. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of cancer in a Cancer Care Unit of IMSS in Toluca, Mexico. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study; we identified the primary tumor, age, family history of cancer, comorbidities, risk factors, and ECOG in patients with newly diagnosed cancer. RESULTS: We identified 446 cases, 66.1% were women. The age group of age 50 to 59 had the highest number of cases (98). The most common cancers in women are breast, cervical, and ovarian cancer, and in men, testicular, prostate, and colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The most common cancers in both sexes were breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, and testicular cancer.

Gut-joint axis: Gut dysbiosis can contribute to the onset of rheumatoid arthritis via multiple pathways.

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by loss of immune tolerance and chronic inflammation. It is pathogenesis complex and includes interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Current evidence supports the hypothesis that gut dysbiosis may play the role of environmental triggers of arthritis in animals and humans. Progress in the understanding of the gut microbiome and RA. has been remarkable in the last decade. In vitro and in vivo experiments revealed that gut dysbiosis could shape the immune system and cause persistent immune inflammatory responses. Furthermore, gut dysbiosis could induce alterations in intestinal permeability, which have been found to predate arthritis onset. In contrast, metabolites derived from the intestinal microbiota have an immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effect. However, the precise underlying mechanisms by which gut dysbiosis induces the development of arthritis remain elusive. This review aimed to highlight the mechanisms by which gut dysbiosis could contribute to the pathogenesis of RA. The overall data showed that gut dysbiosis could contribute to RA pathogenesis by multiple pathways, including alterations in gut barrier function, molecular mimicry, gut dysbiosis influences the activation and the differentiation of innate and acquired immune cells, cross-talk between gut microbiota-derived metabolites and immune cells, and alterations in the microenvironment. The relative weight of each of these mechanisms in RA pathogenesis remains uncertain. Recent studies showed a substantial role for gut microbiota-derived metabolites pathway, especially butyrate, in the RA pathogenesis.

[Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the COVID-19 epidemic in Mexico: Quintana Roo case]. / Características epidemiológicas y clínicas de la epidemia COVID-19 en México: caso Quintana Roo.

Objective: Identify risk factors for severe outcome in Mexican patients with COVID-19 in the population of Quintana Roo. Material and methods: Study of 5,916 who met the criteria for suspected cases of COVID-19, 2,531 confirmed by qrTPCR-Sars-CoV-2 tests, of which 1,486 were positive, among which they were classified as hospitalized (severe COVID-19) and outpatients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the factors associated with the severity of COVID-19 and death as clinical outcomes. The basic reproduction number (R0) was calculated Statistical analysis) Endorsement of the ethics committee 2301. Results: SARS-CoV-2 positive patients presented a high prevalence of hypertension 29.1%, diabetes 23.5%, obesity 24%, and 48.5% have at least one chronic disease. There is a high risk of severity for COVID-19 in patients with diabetes OR=3.14, hypertension OR=1.88, obesity OR=1.68, kidney disease OR=3.2, older than 65 years OR=13.6 and men OR=1.7. These factors also increase the risk of death up to 7.7 times. The maximum R0 during the epidemic was 2.4. Conclusion: Liver and kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity are significantly associated with severe COVID-19 and death.

Objetivo: identificar factores de riesgo para desenlace a COVID-19 grave en pacientes mexicanos con de COVID-19 en población en Quintana Roo. Material y métodos: estudio de 5,916 quienes cumplieron criterios de casos sospechosos de COVID-19, 2,531 confirmados por pruebas qrTPCR-Sars-CoV-2 de los cuales 1,486 fueron positivos entre los cuales se clasifico en hosptializados (COVID-19 grave) y ambulatorios. Se realizó análisis de regresión logística multivariada para explorar los factores asociados con la gravedad de COVID-19 y defunción como desenlaces clínicos. Se calculó el número básico de reproducción (R0) Análisis estadístico) Aval del comité de ética 2301. Resultados: pacientes positivos a SARS-CoV-2 presentaron alta prevalencia de hipertensión 29.1%, diabetes 23.5%, obesidad 24%, y 48.5% tiene al menos una enfermedad crónica. Existe alto riesgo de severidad para COVID-19 en pacientes con diabetes OR=3.14; hipertensión OR=1.88, obesidad OR=1.68, enfermedad renal OR=3.2, mayores de 65 años OR=13.6 y hombres OR=1.7. Estos factores también incrementan el riesgo de defunción hasta 7.7 veces. El R0 máximo durante la epidemia fue de 2.4. Conclusión: la enfermedad hepática, renal, diabetes, hipertensión y obesidad se asocian significativamente a COVID-19 severo y defunción.

A Social Marketing Intervention to Improve Treatment Adherence in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes.

This research explores if a social marketing intervention model based on social representations theory and the health belief model can generate changes regarding treatment adherence and improve patient self-efficacy. As a pilot, a test-retest field quasi-experiment was designed to evaluate the intervention model with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) patients of families with 8- to 17-year-old children. The intervention model was designed to clarify misconceptions, increase awareness of the benefits of following doctors' treatments and improve patients' self-efficacy. In-depth interviews were carried out to gain a richer understanding of the intervention's effect. The pilot intervention generated a favourable change in shared misconceptions, individual health beliefs, glycaemic control and declared treatment adherence. This paper contributes to the social marketing literature and public health by providing early support for the theoretical assumptions regarding the role of shared misconceptions in physiological and behavioural outcomes for patients with T1DM. Contrary to previous studies, instead of only focusing on individual beliefs, this study incorporates shared beliefs between patients and caregivers, generating more comprehensive behavioural change.

Psychometric properties of the 12-item Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS-12) Spanish version for people with knee osteoarthritis.

To evaluate the validity, reliability, and responsiveness to change of the 12-item Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) Spanish version questionnaire. This study was based on a questionnaire validation design. A cross-sectional survey of 199 patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and ten healthy controls was studied to evaluate the validity and reliability of KOOS-12. One hundred and sixteen patients were assessed for test-retest reliability, and 38 patients were included for a responsiveness assessment. Structural validity was assessed by the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Item response theory-based methods were used to determine the performance of the items. Internal consistency reliability was appropriate for all scales (Cronbach's alpha = 0.85-0.94). The intra-class correlation coefficient of KOOS-12 scales ranged from 0.60 to 0.71. The CFA and generalized partial credit model showed that KOOS-12 scales presented a good overall model fit. No differential item functioning was found. Convergent validity was demonstrated by strong correlations (Spearman's rho ≥ 0.70) with KOOS, International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee evaluation form (IKDC), and Knee Intermittent and Constant Osteoarthritis Pain (ICOAP). Known-groups validity showed that KOOS-12 well discriminated subgroups of patients (radiographic severity and nutritional status). Standardized response means for KOOS-12 scales were ≥ 0.75. Changes in KOOS-12 scales had a moderate to strong correlation (Pearson's r ≥ 0.40) with the changes in the KOOS, ICOAP, and IKDC scales. The KOOS-12 Spanish version is a valid, reliable, and responsiveness to change questionnaire to measure patients' opinions about their knee and associated problems in Mexican subjects with KOA. Key Points • KOOS-12 is a short self-reported measure that assesses patient's opinions about the difficulties they experience due to problems with their knee and also covers aspects of pain, functional limitations, and knee-related quality of life. • The Spanish version of KOOS-12 questionnaire is a valid instrument for measuring the patients' opinions about their knee and associated problems, and is both reliable and responsiveness to change.

Prevalence and characteristics of the metabolically healthy obese phenotype in children and adolescents in a Mexican state.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of the Metabolically Healthy Obesity (MHO), and Metabolically Obese Normal-Weight (MONW) phenotypes in a sample of children and adolescents. To evaluate which clinical and laboratory variables are related to the MONW and MHO phenotypes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years old, presumably healthy. Somatometry, glucose, insulin, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HOMA-IR, triglycerides/HDL ratio, triglycerides and glucose index, and leptin/adiponectin, were determined. RESULTS: Data from 620 children and adolescents were included (50.65% were males); the median age was 11 years. The prevalence of the MONW phenotype was 22.85% (95%CI 16.85%-29.79%), and the MHO phenotype 27.61% (95%CI 22.60%-33.06%). The variables that significantly explained the possibility of presenting the MONW and MHO phenotype were triglycerides/HDL ratio, and product of triglycerides and glucose. Insulin and HOMA-IR were significantly associated with the MHO phenotype but not with the MONW phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of metabolically healthy obese phenotype is lower in the Mexican population compared to European studies; thus, future studies should determine if this difference relies upon genetic profile or lifestyle. The indices to assess the action of insulin based on lipids can help identify children and adolescents with the MHO and MONW phenotypes.

Genotyping of Human Papillomavirus in Cervical Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions in Mexican Women.

Approximately 40 genotypes of the human papillomavirus (HPV) have been identified in cervical mucosa. In particular, HPV-16 and HPV-18 have been associated with cervical neoplasia. Squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) are precursors of cervical cancer. This study aimed to identify the HPV by genotype in SILs using a linear array genotyping test in a population in Mexico. We performed a cross-sectional study of 129 female patients with or without SILs, as determined by colposcopy, who completed a risk factor questionnaire. Cervical swab samples were obtained and genotyped using a Linear Array HPV Genotyping assay. Forty-nine (37.98%) samples were positive for HPV, and 24 genotypes were identified among these samples. The most common genotype was HPV-16. Twelve genotypes were found in both high- and low-grade SILs (HPV-6, 16, 31, 39, 51, 52, 53, 58, 59, 61, 67, and 84), of which seven were high-risk SILs (HPV-16, 31, 39, 51, 52, 58, and 59). Among the populations studied, the most frequent genotype was HPV-16, multiple infections were found, and four patients without injury tested positive for HPV.

Self-reported disability in women with fibromyalgia from a tertiary care center.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0 is a generic instrument to assess disability. Pain and psychological factors seem to play a pronounced disabling role in fibromyalgia (FM). There are few studies that investigate the factors associated with disability in patients with fibromyalgia from the patient's perspective. Information about FM disability using self-reported questionnaires is limited. This study aimed to assess the relationship between the ordinal response variable (degree of disability), and four explanatory variables: pain intensity, depression, anxiety, and alexithymia. METHODS: One hundred fifteen women with FM were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. For the assessment of disability the WHODAS 2.0 (36-item version) was used. Univariate and multivariate (ordinal logistic regression) analyses were performed to assess the relationship between pain (Visual Analogue Scale), depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), alexithymia (Modified Toronto Alexithymia Scale) and disability. RESULTS: Disability was detected by global WHODAS score in 114 patients (99%), with the corresponding percentages for mild, moderate and severe disability being 11.3, 46.96 and 40.87%, respectively. Global WHODAS score was more severe among subjects with depression (50 vs 36.4, p < 0.001, effect size = 0.33) and alexithymia (50 vs 33.6, p < 0.001, effect size = 0.38). Pain intensity mean scores for mild, moderate and severe disability were 5.0, 6.1 and 7.3, respectively (p < 0.001, omega-squared = 0.12). Pain intensity explained the global disability degree and its domains except for the cognitive one. Whereas, depression explained cognitive and personal relation domains. On the other hand, alexithymia explained global disability degree and all domains of WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the patients with fibromyalgia perceived themselves with moderate to severe disability. The main explanatory variables of the perceived disability were the pain intensity and psychological factors (alexithymia and depression).

Evaluation of pain intensity in people with rheumatoid arthritis using the MOS intensity scale. / Evaluación de la intensidad del dolor en personas con artritis reumatoide mediante la escala de intensidad MOS.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) consider pain to be their main problem. The goal of this study was to evaluate validity and sensitivity to change to measure pain intensity using the MOS scale in RA patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred sixty-three RA subjects were included. Internal consistency of the instrument was assessed with Chronbach́s alpha, construct validity was estimated with confirmatory factor analysis and hypothesis testing and sensitivity to change was evaluated with the standard response mean and hypothesis testing. RESULTS: The MOS scale showed an appropriate internal consistency (α=0.89) and confirmatory factor analysis revealed it to be a unidimensional scale. In addition, the MOS scale was strongly correlated (rho=0.86) with the visual analogue scale. Convergent validity was demonstrated with the acceptance of 83% of hypotheses a priori. MOS scale standard response mean was 0.33 and 0.21 for the visual analogue scale, pain intensity changes in scales were strongly correlated, supporting its sensitivity to change. CONCLUSION: MOS scale is a useful instrument to measure pain intensity as well as pain relief.

Clinical utility of red blood cell distribution width in inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint diseases.

AIM: Current studies demonstrate red blood cell distribution width (RDW) as a possible surrogate biomarker of inflammation. The objectives of the present study were to examine RDW in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), fibromyalgia (FM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to evaluate its clinical importance. METHODS: Six hundred and ninety-nine ambulatory patients were evaluated. RDW, hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed. In order to compare groups, a Kruskall-Wallis test with post hoc Dunn's test was applied. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate anisocytosis explanatory variables. RESULTS: Red blood cell distribution width values differed significantly among groups. Post hoc analysis demonstrated a significant increase in RDW within RA versus OA groups (P < 0.001), active SpA versus OA (P < 0.001), RA versus FM (P < 0.001) and active SpA versus FM groups (P = 0.001). Presence of anisocytosis was useful to discriminate between active articular inflammatory versus non-inflammatory diseases with 48-95% sensitivity and 66-95% specificity. Multivariate analysis showed a six-fold increase in anisocytosis for the presence of a possible articular inflammatory disease. CONCLUSION: In subjects with articular pain, RDW interpretation is a useful tool in clinical practice to distinguish between articular inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint diseases, as with CRP. RDW seems to be a surrogate marker of the inflammatory process.

Renal transplantation in systemic lupus erythematosus: Comparison of graft survival with other causes of end-stage renal disease. / Trasplante renal en lupus eritematoso sistémico: comparación de la supervivencia del injerto con otras causas de enfermedad renal terminal.

INTRODUCTION: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to lupus nephritis (LN) occurs in 10%-30% of patients. Initially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was a contraindication for kidney transplantation (KT). Today, long-term graft survival remains controversial. Our objective was to compare the survival after KT in patients with SLE or other causes of ESRD. METHODS: All SLE patients who had undergone KT in a retrospective cohort were included. Renal graft survival was compared with that of 50 controls, matched for age, sex, and year of transplantation. Survival was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier test and the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Twenty-five subjects with SLE were included. The estimated 1-year, 2- and 5-year survival rates for patients with SLE were 92%, 66% and 66%. Renal graft survival did not differ between patients with SLE and other causes of ESRD (P=.39). The multivariate analysis showed no significant difference in graft survival between the two groups (hazard ratio, HR=1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57-6.61, P=.28). The recurrence rate of LN was 8% and was not associated with graft loss. Acute rejection was the only variable associated with graft loss in patients with SLE (HR=16.5, 95% CI 1.94-140.1, P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: Renal graft survival in SLE patients did not differ from that reported for other causes of ESRD.

[Frequency of risk factors in breast cancer]. / Frecuencia de factores de riesgo de cáncer de mama.

BACKGROUND: One in eight women has risk to developing breast cancer in long life (12.2%) one out of each 28 is in risk of death by this disease. The most recognized risk factors are hormonals, genetics and environmentals. OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency of risk factors for breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Ambulatory Care Medical Unit 231, IMSS, in the medical records of 272 breast cancer patients in order to identify the major risk factors. RESULTS: 272 patients were studied, out of which 63 (23.1%) had no risk factor; 174 (64%) had 1 to 2 factors, 35 (12.9%) had 3 to 4 factors. The most common age group was 50-59 years. 80 women were menopausal, 28 (35%) had > 54 years, obesity was present in 35% of postmenopausal patients; with 29.8% of smokers, 16.9% had pregnancies long term > 30 years old. 14.3% were diabetics prior to breast cancer, and 12.2% had used exogenous hormones for > 5 years, 10.7% had experienced menarche < 11 years. Family background in first degree was 6.6% and for another cancer 32.4%. The detection by self examination was 91.5% and 1.1% by mastography. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent risk factors included: overweight, obesity, smoking, exogenous hormones and pregnancy long term > 30 years. The method most frequently used for detection was self examination.

Asociación entre parámetros hematológicos y fenotipos metabólicamente poco saludables en niños y adolescentes

Introducción: El síndrome metabólico se ha asociado con cambios en parámetros hematológicos (glóbulos rojos, plaquetas y leucocitos); se pueden utilizar para identificar sujetos en riesgo de fenotipos metabólicamente no saludables (MUP). Se investigó si estos parámetros hematológicos sirven como biomarcadores para distinguir el fenotipo metabólicamente sano (MHP) del MUP en niños y adolescentes. Métodos: Estudio transversal, 292 niños y adolescentes. El diagnóstico de MUP fue según consenso. Se utilizó ANOVA unidireccional en las comparaciones, regresión logística múltiple para determinar si el sexo, el grupo etario, el estado nutricional, la pubertad, los parámetros hematológicos y la resistencia a la insulina se asociaron con MUP. Resultados: Edad media 11 años (DE: 2,61). Los valores de RDW fueron significativamente más bajos en los niños en el grupo de peso normal metabólicamente insalubre (MUNW) en comparación con los niños con obesidad metabólicamente no saludable (MUO) (12,33 ± 0,90 vs. 13,67 ± 0,52; p = 0,01) y en la obesidad metabólicamente saludable (MHO) en comparación con el grupo MUO (13,15 ± 0,53 vs. 13,67 ± 0,52; p = 0,04). En adolescentes, la relación plaquetas/linfocitos fue mayor en el grupo MHNW (con un valor medio de 152,60 (DE 62,97) vs 111,16 (DE 44,12) para el grupo MHO. Al ajustar por edad, estado nutricional y pubertad, los índices hematológicos no se asociaron con MUP. Conclusión: Los parámetros hematológicos no están asociados independientemente con el MUP, y es poco probable que representen biomarcadores confiables para la detección del MUP en la población pediátrica.

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome has been associated with changes in several hematological parameters, such as red blood cells, platelets, and leucocytes. Therefore, hematologic parameters can be used to identify the subjects at risk of metabolically unhealthy phenotypes (MUP). The current study investigated if hematological parameters can serve as biomarkers to distinguish metabolically healthy phenotype (MHP) from MUP in children and adolescents. Methods: Two hundred ninety-two children and adolescents were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The MUP was diagnosed using consensus-based criteria. Group comparisons were performed using one-way ANOVA. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine if sex, age group, nutritional status, puberty, hematological parameters, and insulin resistance were associated with MUP. Results: The subject's age mean was 11 years (SD: 2.61). RDW values were significantly lower in children in the metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW) group compared to children with metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) group (12.33 ± 0.90 vs. 13.67 ± 0.52; p = 0.01) and in metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) compared to MUO group (13.15 ± 0.53 vs. 13.67 ± 0.52; p = 0.04). In adolescents, the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio was higher in the MHNW group, with a mean value of 152.60 (SD 62.97) compared to 111.16 (SD 44.12) for the MHO group. However, after adjusting for age, nutritional status, and puberty, hematological indices were not associated with MUP. Conclusions: The study demonstrates that hematologic parameters are not independently associated with the MUP, and it is unlikely that they represent reliable biomarkers for screening for the MUP in the pediatric population.

Gut Microbiota and Endothelial Dysfunction Markers in Obese Mexican Children and Adolescents.

Obesity is a metabolic disease characterized by low-grade inflammation and accompanied by dyslipidemia and up-regulation of other bioactive molecules, creating a predisposition to endothelial dysfunction and metabolic syndrome. We studied the association between gut microbiota diversity and endothelial dysfunction (EDF) markers in obese Mexican children and adolescents. We examined clinical data including metabolic factors and EDF markers in blood samples. Gut bacterial diversity was characterized by high-throughput sequencing of V3-16S rDNA libraries. Triglycerides, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistant (HOMA-IR), leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and EDF marker intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) were significantly higher in obese children and adolescents. Multivariate analysis showed statistically significant positive associations between vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and Veillonellaceae, and between ICAM-1 and Ruminococcus in obese children. In obese adolescents, there was a statistically significant positive association between total cholesterol and Ruminococcus, and between ICAM-1 and Bacteroides. LEfSe analysis showed that the genus Lactobacillus and family Coriobacteriaceae were enriched in children, and genera Collinsella and Prevotella were enriched in obese adolescents. Obese children and adolescents had higher levels of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. These results suggest that obese Mexican children and adolescents had increased levels of CRP and a reduction of adiponectin, which causes higher expression of EDF markers, affecting endothelial function and associating with changes in the gut microbiota.

Mortalidad de pacientes hospitalizados por Covid-19 en México, revisión sistemática / Mortality of patients hospitalized by Covid-19 in Mexico, systematic review

RESUMEN Introducción: Desde el inicio de la pandemia, México fue de los países que presentó tasas de mortalidad más altas por COVID 19. Objetivo: Determinar si la diabetes mellitus tipo 2, la hipertensión arterial y la obesidad incrementan la tasa de mortalidad en pacientes con diagnóstico de COVID-19 que requirieron hospitalización en México. Métodos: Revisión sistemática en Pubmed MeSH, Web of Science, Lilas, Scielo y Google Scholar con los términos MeSH "COVID-19", "SARS-COV2", "Coronavirus", y "México" durante los años 2020 y 2021, incluyendo artículos en inglés y español. Para el proceso de selección de artículos, dos revisores seleccionaron los estudios mientras que otros dos revisores adicionales participaron en el análisis de dichos estudios. Resultados: Se incluyeron 73 estudios realizados en México del 2020 al 2021 con información obtenida a través de las bases de datos del Sistema Nacional de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de México. Se incluyeron pacientes con un promedio de edad de 52,9 años ±13,27, el 64% de los pacientes incluidos fueron mujeres, se reportó una tasa de mortalidad de 6.76% (Min-Max 0.77-73.73%). El 71% de los estudios (52), no reportaron la mortalidad específica relacionada con las comorbilidades. La patología más prevalente fue la obesidad con un 24.23% (Min-Max 11.50-71.00%), seguida de la hipertensión arterial con un 22.23% (Min-Max 2.0-53.96%) y finalmente la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 con un 18.10% (Min-Max 1.83-40.00%). Conclusión: La comorbilidad más común entre los pacientes hospitalizados por COVID 19 en México fue la obesidad, seguida de la diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y por último la hipertensión.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Since the start of the pandemic, Mexico was one of the countries with the highest mortality rates from COVID 19. Objective: To determine if type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and obesity increase mortality in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who required hospitalization in Mexico. Methods: Systematic review in Pubmed MeSH, Web of Science, Lilas, Scielo, and Google Scholar with the terms MeSH COVID-19, SARS-COV2, Coronavirus, and Mexico for the years 2020 and 2021, in English or Spanish. Two reviewers selected the studies, two additional reviewers participated in the analysis of the studies. Results: Seventy three studies carried out in Mexico from 2020 to 2021 were included with information obtained from the databases of the National Epidemiological Surveillance System of Mexico. With an average age of 52.9 ± 13.27 years, 64% of the included patients were women, in general, a mortality rate of 16.76% (Min-Max 0.77-73.73%) was reported. 71% of the studies (52) did not report specific mortality related to comorbidities the most prevalent pathology was obesity with 24.23% (Min-Max 11.50-71.00%), followed by arterial hypertension 22.23% (Min-Max 2.0-53.96%) and finally Diabetes mellitus with 18.10% (Min-Max 1.83-40.00%). Conclusion: The most common comorbidity among patients hospitalized for COVID in Mexico was obesity, followed by type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension.