Association between apoliprotein E gene polymorphism and hypercholesterolemic phenotype in Maracaibo, Zulia state, Venezuela.

Apoliprotein (Apo) E gene polymorphisms have been associated with high plasma lipids levels and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine allelic and genotypic frequencies and to evaluate the associations of polymorphisms with hypercholesterolemic phenotypes in a patient population in Maracaibo, Zulia State. Two hundred and twenty-one patients with ages between 9 and 78 years old attending the Endocrine-Metabolic Center at the University of Zulia, Zulia, Venezuela, were recruited. The lipid profile was determined by enzymatic methods. ApoE polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. One hundred and thirty-three dyslipidemic and 88 patients with normal lipids profile were evaluated. The higher proportion of patients corresponded to hypercholesterolemia isolated (46.61%), followed by hypercholesterolemia combined with hypertriglyceridemia and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (21.8%). ApoE epsilon3 allele was the most frequent in the evaluated population (0.80), both in the control group (0.78) and in the dyslipidemic group (0.82), followed by the epsilon4 allele (0.12) for both groups and the epsilon2 allele with values of 0.10 and 0.06, for control and dyslipidemic group, respectively. The epsilon3epsilon3 and epsilon3epsilon4 genotypes were the most frequent in the population, with values of 62.89% and 22.17%, respectively. The genotype frequencies were 57.95% and 66.17% for epsilon3epsilon3; 23.86% and 21.05% for epsilon3epsilon4 in nondyslipidémicos and dyslipidemic patient groups, respectively. The epsilon4epsilon4 genotype was observed only in hypercholesterolemic patients. The homozygote epsilon2epsilon2 and heterozygote epsilon2epsilon3 genotypes were more frequent at the normal lipids profile group, consistent with diverse reports that indicate the association of the epsilon4 allele with elevated cholesterol levels and low cholesterol levels when the epsilon2 allele is present. ApoE polymorphism seems to be associated with variance in serum lipids levels in the population evaluated.

Curable sexually transmitted infections among female sex workers in a population of Zulia State, Venezuela / Infecciones de transmisión sexual curables en trabajadoras sexuales en una población del estado Zulia, Venezuela

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) represent a public health problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of curable STIs caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in female sex workers in a population from Zulia State, Venezuela. Seventy eight (78) women attended a health monitoring sanitary controls were evaluated, and PCR amplification assays were used to detect the three microorganisms in endocervical samples. In 33.3% of the samples, at least one microorganism was detected: U. urealyticum was found more frequently (25.6%), followed by N. gonorrhoeae (18%), and C. trachomatis (12.8%). A significant association between N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis was found (p <0.0001). STIs cases represented 42.9% and 28% for symptomatic and asymptomatic groups, respectively. In the symptomatic group, N. gonorrhoeae was 2.4 times (28.6%) more frequent than in the asymptomatic one (12%) (p=0.015), particularly associated with mucopurulent discharge (p=0.025). No association was found between C. trachomatis (p=0.078), and U. urealyticum (p=0.432) with clinical manifestations. Prevalence of curable STIs in the study population was relatively low compared with other high-risk populations worldwide. The results support the possible association between C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae, therefore, treatment would be indicated against both pathogens when one of them is detected in vulnerable populations.

Las infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) representan un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la prevalencia de ITS curables causadas por Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis y Ureaplasma urealyticum en trabajadoras sexuales de una población del estado Zulia, Venezuela. Se evaluaron 78 mujeres que asistieron a jornadas de control sanitario y se utilizaron ensayos de amplificación por PCR para detectar los tres microorganismos en muestras endocervicales. En 33,3% de las muestras, se detectó al menos un microorganismo: U. urealyticum fue encontrado con mayor frecuencia (25,6%), seguido de N. gonorrhoeae (18%) y C. trachomatis (12,8%). Se encontró asociación significativa entre N. gonorrhoeae y C. trachomatis (p<0,0001). Los casos de ITS representaron porcentajes de 42% y 28% para los grupos sintomático y asintomático, respectivamente. N. gonorrhoeae fue 2,4 veces más frecuente en el grupo sintomático (28,6%) que en el asintomático (12%) (p=0,015), particularmente asociado con secreción mucopurulenta (p=0,025). No se encontró asociación entre C. trachomatis (p=0,078) y U. urealyticum (p=0,432) con manifestaciones clínicas. La prevalencia de ITS de la población en estudio fue relativamente baja comparada con otras poblaciones de alto riesgo a nivel mundial. Los resultados apoyan la posible asociación entre C. trachomatis y N. gonorrhoeae, por lo tanto se debería considerar el tratamiento contra ambos patógenos, cuando uno de ellos sea detectado en poblaciones vulnerables.