Sun Exposure and Intima-Media Thickness in the Mexican Teachers' Cohort Study.

Objective: To determine whether long-term sun exposure has a protective role in subclinical cardiovascular disease in adult Mexican women. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of a sample of women from the Mexican Teachers' Cohort (MTC) study. Sun exposure was assessed in the MTC 2008 baseline questionnaire, in which women were asked about their sun-related behavior. Vascular neurologists measured carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) using standard techniques. Multivariate linear regression models were used to estimate the difference in mean IMT and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), according to categories of sun exposure and multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% CIs for carotid atherosclerosis. Results: The mean age of participants was 49.6 ± 5.5 years, the mean IMT was 0.678 ± 0.097 mm, and the mean accumulated hours of weekly sun exposure were 2.9 ± 1.9. Prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis was 20.9%. Compared with women in the lowest quartile of sun exposure, women in the highest quartile had lower mean IMT, but this was not significant in the multivariable adjusted analysis. (Adjusted mean % difference: -0.8; 95% CI: -2.3 to 0.8). The multivariate adjusted ORs of carotid atherosclerosis were 0.54 (95% CI: 0.24-1.18) for women who were exposed 9 hours. For women who denied regular sunscreen use, those in the higher exposure category (9 hours) had lower mean IMT compared with those in the lower category (multivariable-adjusted mean % difference = -2.67; 95% CI: -6.9 to -1.5). Conclusions: We observed that cumulative sun exposure was inversely associated with IMT and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. If these findings are further replicated and seen for other cardiovascular outcomes, sun exposure could be an easy, affordable strategy to lower overall cardiovascular risk.

Evidence of Helminth Infection in Guanche Mummies: Integrating Paleoparasitological and Paleogenetic Investigations.

The Guanches, ancient inhabitants of the Canary Islands, Spain, practiced mummification of their dead. A paleoparasitological and paleogenetic analysis was conducted on mummified bodies (n = 6) (AD 1200, Cal BP 750) belonging to the Guanche culture from Gran Canaria Island. Coprolite and sediment samples (n = 19) were removed from below the abdominal region or sacral foramina. The samples were rehydrated in 0.5% trisodium phosphate solution for 72 hr at 4 C, and the paleoparasitological investigation was conducted by spontaneous sedimentation method and microscopic examination. The results revealed the presence of well-preserved eggs of Ascaris sp., Trichuris trichiura , Enterobius vermicularis , and hookworms. Ancient DNA was extracted from sediment samples to elucidate the ancestry of the mummies and for molecular detection of Ascaris sp. infection. Results of paleogenetic analysis demonstrated Ascaris sp. infection using 2 molecular targets, cytb and nad1. The mtDNA haplotypes U6b, U6b1, and HV were identified, which confirmed records of Guanche ancestry. The excellent preservation of Guanche mummies facilitated the paleoparasitological and paleogenetic study, the results of which contribute to our knowledge of Guanche culture and their health status.

Comportamiento del programa de citodiagnóstico en el policlínico Río Yara, Bartolomé Masó Márquez (1997-1998) / Cytodiagnostic program comportment in Rio Yara Polyclinic, Bartolome Maso Marquez (1997-1998)

Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo y transversal del comportamiento del programa de diagnóstico precoz del cáncer cervicouterino en el policlínico Río Yara desde 1997 a 1998, sobre la incidencia de pruebas citológicas no útiles para el diagnóstico, los grupos de edades de las mujeres que se realizan por primera vez este proceder, así como el comportamiento de los casos sospechosos en la consulta de patología de cuello. Utilizamos como universo la población femenina del municipio en edad de realizarse dicho proceder en el período anteriomente expresado. La información se obtuvo mediante los registros de control de pruebas citológicas del policlínico Río Yara y la tarjeta control. La información fue procesada y analizada mediante técnicas de estadística descriptiva, empleamos para la tabulación de datos el método de los palotes y el porcentaje. En esta investigación observamos que el mayor por ciento de pruebas citológicas no útiles se encontraba por debajo de los propósitos nacionales, el mayor por ciento de realización de pruebas citológicas prevalece en las mujeres de 25-59 años, la incidencia de casos sospechosos y positivos están por debajo de lo pedido por el nivel nacional. En este período a 16 por ciento de las pacientes de la consulta de patología de cuello se les detectó el cáncer y 70,5 por ciento en la etapa 0; 11,5 por ciento de las pacientes con cáncer fallecieron(AU)