Herpesvirus Screening in Childhood Hematopoietic Transplant Reveals High Systemic Inflammation in Episodes of Multiple Viral Detection and an EBV Association with Elevated IL-1ß, IL-8 and Graft-Versus-Host Disease.

Infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality among hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. Unlike Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) and Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV), Human Herpesvirus (HHV) 6, HHV7 and HHV8 are not routinely monitored in many centers, especially in the pediatric population of low-medium income countries. We screened EBV, HCMV, HHV6, HHV7 and HHV8 in 412 leukocytes-plasma paired samples from 40 pediatric patients assisted in a tertiary hospital in Mexico. Thirty-two underwent allo-HSCT, whereas eight received auto-HSCT. Overall viral detection frequencies in allo- and auto-HSCT were: EBV = 43.7% and 30.0%, HCMV = 5.0% and 6.7%, HHV6 = 7.9% and 20.0% and HHV7 = 9.7% and 23.3%. HHV8 was not detected in any sample. Interestingly, HHV6 and HHV7 were more frequent in auto-HSCT, and HHV6 was observed in all episodes of multiple detection in auto-HSCT patients. We found EBV DNA in plasma samples, whereas HCMV, HHV6 and HHV7 DNA were predominantly observed in leukocytes, indicative of their expansion in cellular compartments. We also found that IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly increased in episodes in which multiple viruses were simultaneously detected, and samples positive for EBV DNA and graft-versus-host disease had a further increase of IL-1ß and IL-8. In conclusion, the EBV, HCMV, HHV6 and HHV7 burdens were frequently detected in allo- and auto-HSCT, and their presence associated with systemic inflammation.

Prenatal exposure to VOCs and NOx and lung function in preschoolers.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that exposure to air pollutants affects lung growth and development and can result in poor respiratory health in early life. METHODS: We included a subsample of 772 Mexican preschoolers whose mothers participated in a Prenatal Omega-3 fatty acid Supplements, GRowth, And Development birth cohort study with the aim to evaluate the impact of prenatal exposure to volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides on lung function measured by oscillation tests. The preschoolers were followed until 5 years of age. Anthropometric measurements and forced oscillation tests were performed at 36, 48, and 60 months of age. Information on sociodemographic and health characteristics was obtained during follow up. Prenatal exposure to volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides was evaluated using a land use regression models and the association between them was tested using a lineal regression and longitudinal linear mixed effect models adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Overall, the mean (standard deviation) of the measurements of respiratory system resistance and respiratory system reactance at 6, 8, and 10 Hz during the follow-up period was 11.3 (2.4), 11.1 (2.4), 10.3 (2.2) and -5.2 (1.6), -4.8 (1.7), and -4.6 hPa s L-1 (1.6), respectively. We found a significantly positive association between respiratory resistance (ßRrs6 = 0.011; 95%CI: 0.001, 0.023) (P < .05) and prenatal exposure to nitrogen dioxide and a marginally negatively association between respiratory reactance (ßXrs6 = -11.40 95%CI: -25.26, 1.17 and ßXrs8 = -11.91 95%CI: -26.51, 1.43) (P = .07) and prenatal exposure to xylene. CONCLUSION: Prenatal exposure to air pollutants was significantly associated with the alteration of lung function measured by oscillation tests in these preschool children.

The association between body shape silhouette and dietary pattern among Mexican women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and self-perceived body shape silhouette and BMI in a sample of Mexican women. DESIGN: A cross-sectional analysis of dietary habits from baseline data of a large cohort study (EsMaestra) conducted in 2006-2008. SETTING: The state of Veracruz, Mexico. SUBJECTS: Mexican teachers (n 20 330) provided information on body shape silhouette at baseline, changes in body shape silhouette and BMI, as well as information on sociodemographic variables and lifestyle. RESULTS: The median BMI was 26·8 kg/m2; 43 % of women were overweight and 24 % were obese. The carbohydrates, sweet drinks and refined foods pattern was associated with a greater risk of having a large silhouette and a large BMI (BMI ≥ 30·0 kg/m2 v. BMI < 25·0 kg/m2; ORT1-3 = 1·86, 95 % CI 1·56, 2·22 and 1·47, 95 % CI 1·28, 1·69, respectively) with a significant trend when comparing the first and third tertiles of intake. The fruit and vegetable pattern was associated with a lower risk of having a large silhouette and a large BMI (ORT1-3 = 0·68, 95 % CI 0·57, 0·82 and ORT1-3 = 0·77, 95 % CI 0·67, 0·88, respectively) with a significant decreasing trend. Similar results were observed when change in silhouette (from 18 years of age to current silhouette) was considered. CONCLUSIONS: High intakes of carbohydrates, sweet drinks and refined foods are related to larger silhouettes. Public health intervention improving access to healthy dietary guidelines, healthy food choice in the work place, promotion of physical activity and regulation of beverages with a high sugar content and of refined foods should be considered.