[Perinatal variables from newborns of Aymara mothers suggest a genetic adaptation to high altitude]. / Variables perinatales de recién nacidos de madres Aymara sugieren adaptación genética a la altura.

BACKGROUND: Studies performed in Andean populations living in high altitude, indicate that the reduced availability of oxygen could be associated to both a fetal growth retardation and a lower birth weight. These variables are predictive of morbidity and mortality during the first year of life. AIM: To study perinatal variables of newborns of mothers living at contrasting altitudinal levels, harboring different degrees of Aymara ancestry. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Review of medical records of 5,295 women whose deliveries occurred between February 2004 and August 2010. Information was obtained on place of residence, grouped into two categories: coast (150 to 3,000 m) and high plateau (3,000 to 4,300 m), ancestry was estimated using number of Aymara surnames that were homologated to percentages of Amerindian admixture, gestational age, birth weight, height, head circumference and obstetric variables. RESULTS: Gestational age showed a tendency to increase and birth weight, height and head circumference to decrease with altitude of residence. Only weight reached statistical significance. Women with Aymara ancestry gave birth to children with a significantly higher gestational age, weight and cranial circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Altitude of residence is related to a decrease in perinatal variables that proved to be less pronounced in newborns of mothers with a higher degree of Aymara ancestry. RESULTS suggest a genetic adaptation to hypoxia that could be related to candidate genes linked to the capture, transport or utilization of oxygen.

Variables perinatales de recién nacidos de madres Aymara sugieren adaptación genética a la altura / Perinatal variables from newborns of Aymara mothers suggest a genetic adaptation to high altitude

Background: Studies performed in Andean populations living in high altitude, indicate that the reduced availability of oxygen could be associated to both a fetal growth retardation and a lower birth weight. These variables are predictive of morbidity and mortality during the first year of life. Aim: To study perinatal variables of newborns of mothers living at contrasting altitudinal levels, harboring different degrees of Aymara ancestry. Subjects and Methods: Review of medical records of 5,295 women whose deliveries occurred between February 2004 and August 2010. Information was obtained on place of residence, grouped into two categories: coast (150 to 3,000 m) and high plateau (3,000 to 4,300 m), ancestry was estimated using number of Aymara surnames that were homologated to percentages of Amerindian admixture, gestational age, birth weight, height, head circumference and obstetric variables. Results: Gestational age showed a tendency to increase and birth weight, height and head circumference to decrease with altitude of residence. Only weight reached statistical significance. Women with Aymara ancestry gave birth to children with a significantly higher gestational age, weight and cranial circumference. Conclusions: Altitude of residence is related to a decrease in perinatal variables that proved to be less pronounced in newborns of mothers with a higher degree of Aymara ancestry. Results suggest a genetic adaptation to hypoxia that could be related to candidate genes linked to the capture, transport or utilization of oxygen.

Malignant transformation of rat kidney induced by environmental substances and estrogen.

The use of organophosphorous insecticides in agricultural environments and in urban settings has increased significantly. The aim of the present study was to analyze morphological alterations induced by malathion and 17ß-estradiol (estrogen) in rat kidney tissues. There were four groups of animals: control, malathion, estrogen and combination of both substances. The animals were injected for five days and sacrificed 30, 124 and 240 days after treatments. Kidney tissues were analyzed for histomorphological and immunocytochemical alterations. Morphometric analysis indicated that malathion plus estrogen-treated animals showed a significantly (p < 0.05) higher grade of glomerular hypertrophy, signs of tubular damage, atypical proliferation in cortical and hilium zone than malathion or estrogen alone-treated and control animals after 240 days. Results indicated that MFG, ER-α, ER-ß, PgR, CYP1A1, Neu/ErbB2, PCNA, vimentin and Thrombospondin 1 (THB) protein expression was increased in convoluted tubules of animals treated with combination of malathion and estrogen after 240 days of 5 day treatment. Malignant proliferation was observed in the hilium zone. In summary, the combination of malathion and estrogen induced pathological lesions in glomeruli, convoluted tubules, atypical cell proliferation and malignant proliferation in hilium zone and immunocytochemical alterations in comparison to control animals or animals treated with either substance alone. It can be concluded that an increased risk of kidney malignant transformation can be induced by exposure to environmental and endogenous substances.