Absence of circadian rhythms of preterm premature rupture of membranes and preterm placental abruption.

PURPOSE: Data regarding circadian rhythm in the onset of spontaneous preterm premature rupture of membranes (PROM) and placental abruption (PA) cases are conflicting. We modeled the time of onset of preterm PROM and PA cases and examined if the circadian profiles varied based on the gestational age at delivery. METHODS: We used parametric and nonparametric methods, including trigonometric regression in the framework of generalized linear models, to test the presence of circadian rhythms in the time of onset of preterm PROM and PA cases among 395 women who delivered a singleton between 2009 and 2010 in Lima, Peru. RESULTS: We found a diurnal circadian pattern, with a morning peak at 07:32 AM (95% confidence interval, 05:46 AM­09:18 AM) among moderate preterm PROM cases (P value < .001), and some evidence of a diurnal circadian periodicity among PA cases in term infants (P value = .067). However, we did not find evidence of circadian rhythms in the time of onset of extremely or very preterm PROM (P value = .259) and preterm PA (P value = .224). CONCLUSIONS: The circadian rhythms of the time of onset of preterm PROM and PA cases varied based on gestational weeks at delivery. Although circadian rhythms were presented among moderate preterm PROM and term PA cases, there was no evidence of circadian rhythms among preterm PA and very or extremely preterm PROM cases, underlying other mechanisms associated with the time of onset.

Food insufficiency is a risk factor for suboptimal antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV-infected adults in urban Peru.

We examined the relationship between food insufficiency and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. A cohort of HIV-infected adults in urban Peru was followed for a two-year period after ART initiation. ART adherence was measured using a 30-day self-report tool and classified as suboptimal if <95% adherence was reported. We conducted a repeated measures cohort analysis to examine whether food insufficiency was more common during months of suboptimal adherence relative to months with optimal adherence. 1,264 adherence interviews were conducted for 134 individuals. Participants who reported food insufficiency in the month prior to interview were more likely to experience suboptimal adherence than those who did not (odds ratio [O.R.]:2.4; 95% confidence interval [C.I.]:1.4, 4.1), even after adjusting for baseline social support score (O.R. per 5 point increase:0.91; C.I.:[0.85, 0.98]) and good baseline adherence self-efficacy (O.R.:0.25; C.I.:[0.09, 0.69]). Interventions that ensure food security for HIV-infected individuals may help sustain high levels of adherence.

Triggers of nonfatal myocardial infarction in Costa Rica: heavy physical exertion, sexual activity, and infection.

PURPOSE: There are no data for factors that could trigger myocardial infarction (MI) in the context of lifestyles in developing countries. METHODS: Using a case-crossover design, we assessed the effect of heavy physical exertion, sexual activity, acute respiratory tract infections, and gastroenteritis as triggers for MI in 530 survivors of a first MI from Costa Rica. RESULTS: Relative risks (RRs) for MI in the hour after heavy physical exertion and 2 hours after sexual activity were 4.94 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.73-6.54) and 5.47 (95% CI, 2.71-11.02). Risk for MI after heavy physical exertion was greater for patients with poor physical fitness or elevated underlying cardiovascular risk (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.06, tests of homogeneity). RRs for acute respiratory tract infection and gastroenteritis were 1.48 (95% CI, 0.92-2.38) and 1.27 (95% CI, 0.95-1.69), respectively. Patients with three or more risk factors had an RR for MI for gastroenteritis of 2.08 (95% CI, 1.31-3.28). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm previous studies in developed countries showing that heavy physical exertion and sexual activity are potential triggers for MI, and their effect is modified by physical fitness and underlying cardiovascular risk. Additional studies that explore the biologic effects of gastroenteritis as triggers of MI are warranted.

Transient exposure to coffee as a trigger of a first nonfatal myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The effects of coffee on myocardial infarction are uncertain. We hypothesize that coffee in the presence of predisposing factors can induce a cascade of events that, through sympathetic nervous activation, can induce the onset of myocardial infarction. METHODS: We recruited 503 incident cases of nonfatal myocardial infarction between 1994 and 1998 in Costa Rica. We used a case-crossover design to calculate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: The RR of myocardial infarction in the hour after coffee intake was 1.49 (95% CI = 1.17-1.89). Occasional coffee drinkers (< or =1 cup/day, n = 103) had a RR of myocardial infarction of 4.14 (2.03-8.42), moderate coffee drinkers (2-3 cups/day, n = 280) had a RR of 1.60 (1.16-2.21), and heavy coffee drinkers (> or =4 cups/d, n = 120) had a RR of 1.06 (0.69-1.63; P = 0.006, test of homogeneity). Patients with 3 or more risk factors (n = 101) had a RR of myocardial infarction of 2.10 (1.30-3.39), whereas patients with fewer than 3 risk factors (n = 396) had a RR of 1.39 (1.04-1.82; P = 0.15, test of homogeneity); and RR was 1.72 (1.30-2.30) among sedentary patients compared with 1.07 (0.66-1.72) among nonsedentary (P = 0.10, test of homogeneity). CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that coffee intake may trigger myocardial infarction. The association is particularly strong among people with light/occasional intake of coffee (< or =1 cup/day), with sedentary lifestyle, or with 3 or more risk factors for coronary heart disease.

Detection of pulmonary tuberculosis in Chiapas, Mexico.

PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of undiagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and the sensitivity of bacilloscopy in the border region of Chiapas, Mexico. METHODS: We actively sought individuals aged 15 years or more with chronic cough from the Border Region of Chiapas, Mexico in three settings: one regional hospital, seven Primary Care Centers (PCC), and 32 communities. Individuals (a total of 899) reporting chronic cough were asked to provide three samples of sputum for acid-fast smears and cultures. The quality of acid-fast smears was evaluated using culture as the gold standard. RESULTS: We obtained sputum specimens from 590 of 899 individuals with chronic cough. A diagnosis of PTB was confirmed in 78. A conservative estimate of the overall prevalence of PTB at the population level was 151 per 100,000 (95% CI: 88 to 241). In the regional hospital, the estimated case detection rate was 66% (29/44). The proportion of candidates for PTB therapy that were actually on treatment was 50% (14/28) at the PCC and 11% (2/19) in the communities. The sensitivity of the bacilloscopy was about 90% in the hospital, and slightly lower than 50% in the PCC and the communities. CONCLUSION: Improved procedures for PTB detection are required in the studied area to adequately control the disease and to provide therapy to affected patients.