Copy Number Variation and Frequency of rs179008 in TLR7 Gene Associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Two Mexican Populations.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which genetic factors play a role in the susceptibility to develop it. Genes related to the synthesis of interferons such as TLR7 and genetics factors such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or copies number variation (CNV) in the gene have been involved with the development of the disease. The genetic differences between the populations contribute to the complexity of LES. Mexico has a mestizo population with a genetic load of at least three origins: Amerindian, Caucasian, and African. The mestizo of Yucatán is the only group whose contribution Amerindian is mainly Mayan, geographically distant from other Mexican Amerindians. We analyzed the CNV and the frequency of SNP rs179008 of the TLR7 as genetic risk factors in developing the disease in patients from Yucatán and Central Mexico. Results show that 14% of the cases of the Yucatecan population showed significantly >2 CNV and a higher risk of developing the disease (OR: 34.364), concerning 4% of those coming from Central Mexico (OR: 10.855). T allele and the A/T and T/T risk genotypes of rs179008 were more frequent in patients of Central Mexico than in those of Yucatán (50% vs. 30%, 93% vs. 30%, 4% vs. 1%), and association with susceptibility to develop SLE was observed (OR: 1.5 vs. 0.58, 9.54 vs. 0.66, 12 vs. 0.14). Data support the genetic differences between and within Mexican mestizo populations and the role of the TLR7 in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Chikungunya Virus in Febrile Humans and Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes, Yucatan, Mexico.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was isolated from 12 febrile humans in Yucatan, Mexico, in 2015. One patient was co-infected with dengue virus type 1. Two additional CHIKV isolates were obtained from Aedes aegypti mosquitoes collected in the homes of patients. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the CHIKV isolates belong to the Asian lineage.

Expression of TLR-7, MyD88, NF-kB, and INF-α in B Lymphocytes of Mayan Women with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease involving multiple organs. It is currently accepted that several genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors are contributing to its development. Innate immunity may have a great influence in autoimmunity through Toll-like receptors. TLR-7 recognizing single-strand RNA has been involved in SLE. Its activation induces intracellular signal with attraction of MyD88 and NF-kBp65, leading to IFN-α synthesis which correlate with disease activity. OBJECTIVE: To assess the expression of TLR-7, MyD88, and NF-kBp65 in B lymphocytes of Mayan women with SLE. METHODS: One hundred patients with SLE and 100 healthy controls, all of them Mayan women, were included. TLR-7 was analyzed on B and T lymphocytes, and MyD88 and NF-kB only in B lymphocytes. Serum INF-α level was evaluated by ELISA. RESULTS: Significant expression (p < 0.0001) of TLR-7 in B and T lymphocytes and serum IFN-α increased (p = 0.034) was observed in patients. MyD88 and NF-kBp65 were also increased in B lymphocytes of patients. TLR-7 and NF-kBp65 expression correlated, but no correlation with INF-α and disease activity was detected. CONCLUSION: Data support the role of TLR-7 and signal proteins in the pathogenesis of SLE in the Mayan population of Yucatán.

Detection of hepatitis C virus coinfection in patients with dengue diagnosis.

Coinfection produced by dengue virus (DENV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a serious problem of public health in Mexico, as they both circulate in tropical zones and may lead to masking or complicating symptoms. In this research, we detected active coinfected patients by HCV residing in the endemic city of Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, with positive diagnosis to dengue during the acute phase. We performed a retrospective analysis of 240 serum samples from dengue patients. The IgM-ELISA serological test was used for dengue diagnosis, as well as viral isolation to confirm infection. DENV and HCV were detected by RT-PCR. Thus, 31 (12.9%) samples showed DENV-HCV coinfection, but interestingly the highest frequency of coinfection cases was found in male patients presenting hemorrhagic dengue in 19/31 (61.29%), with a predominance of 12 : 7 in males. Firstly, coinfection of DENV-HCV in Mérida, Mexico, was detected in young dengue patients, between 11 and 20 years old (38.7%), followed by those between 21 and 30 years old (32%); only 16.13% were between 0 and 10 years of age. Diagnosis of HCV infection in patients with dengue is highly recommended in order to establish potential risk in clinical manifestations as well as dictate patients' special care.

Dengue virus-infected Aedes aegypti in the home environment.

We determined abundance of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and presence of dengue virus (DENV) in females collected from premises of laboratory-confirmed dengue patients over a 12-month period (March 2007 to February 2008) in Merida, Mexico. Backpack aspiration from 880 premises produced 1,836 females and 1,292 males indoors (predominantly from bedrooms) and 102 females and 108 males from patios/backyards. The mean weekly indoor catch rate per home peaked at 7.8 females in late August. Outdoor abundances of larvae or pupae were not predictive of female abundance inside the home. DENV-infected Ae. aegypti females were recovered from 34 premises. Collection of DENV-infected females from homes of dengue patients up to 27 days after the onset of symptoms (median, 14 days) shows the usefulness of indoor insecticide application in homes of suspected dengue patients to prevent their homes from becoming sources for dispersal of DENV by persons visiting and being bitten by infected mosquitoes.

Comparación y sinergia en el tratamiento de la hipertensión arterial esencial / Synergy of verapamil and enalapril in the treatment of arterial hypertension

Se estudiaron 40 pacientes con hipertensión arterial esencial leve o moderada. Se administraron diariamente 240 mg verapamil o 10 mg de enalapril, así como placebo. El tiempo total del estudio fue de 24 semanas: 2 de "lavado" 6 con uno de los medicamentos, nuevo "lavado" de 2 semanas y 6 con el medicamento alterno. en quienes persistió la tensión artesial diastólica (TDA) superior a 90 mmHg, se administraron simultáneamente ambos medicamentos durante 8 semanas más. Los pacientes se asignaron de manera alterna a cada uno de los 2 grupos formados. Cuando el primer medicamento fue el verapamil, la TAD fue menor de 90 mmHg en 15 de 19 y con enalapril lo fue en 12 de 20. Con enalapril, como segundo medicamento, la TAD se normalizó en 16 de 19 y con verapamil en los 18 estudiados. Tres normalizaron su TAD con la administración simultánea de ambos. Dos pacientes abandonaron el estudio por razones personales y uno por la presencia de tos al usar el enalapril. No hubo ningún otro efecto colateral indeseable. Los estudios de laboratorio no mostraron cambios. La eficacia de ambos productos fue similar. La sinegia quedó evidenciada por la mejoría de los pacientes que no respondieron a un solo producto y sí lo hicieron al administrarlos juntos

El estudio de la función renal a traves de la depuración de la creatina / Correlation between renal function and creatine plasma concentration

En este trabajo se correlaciona el nivel plasmático de la creatinina con su depuración. De la curva obtenida se estudian tres segmentos: 1) Cuando la filtración es mayor de 60 ml/min, el nivel plasmático fluctúa entre 0.44 y 1.59 mg/dl. 2)Cuando la filtración fluctúa entre 30 y 60 ml/min, el nivel plasmático llega hasta 2.4 mg/dl y 3) Cuando la filtración es menor de 30 ml/min, los niveles plasmáticos aumentan hasta valores de 28 mg/ml. La concentración urinaria de creatinina puede dividirse en dos grandes grupos dependiendo de la filtración glomerular. La frontera de esta división está dada alrededor de 60 ml/min. Esto sugiere que cuando la filtración glomerular está deprimida existiría una limitación de la secreción tubular de la creatinina o problemas de dilución urinaria. Se demuestra que existe una pobre correlación entre la depuración de la creatinina y su nivel plasmático, lo que hace imperativo el estudio reiterado de la depuración de la creatinina en el control de los pacientes.