Low sex ratio in children of professional basketball players in Spain.

The aim of this study was to ascertain the variations in the reproductive sex ratio (number of men to number of women) among male professional basketball players in Spain. This retrospective, cross-sectional study is based on a survey conducted in the Spanish professional basketball leagues during the season 2009-2010. A total of 172 professional basketball players completed an anonymous survey. Forty-seven of the respondents had offspring, with a total of 61 children: 70% girls and 30% boys, with a sex ratio value of 0.42. Thirty-three basketball players were Caucasian (CAU), with 44 children, nine boys and 35 girls (sex ratio = 0.26). Fourteen were black, of African heritage (AFR), with 17 children, nine boys and eight girls, (sex ratio = 1.12). Differences (P < 0.01) were found in offspring sex ratio values for all basketball players (sex ratio = 0.42) and for CAU group (sex ratio = 0.26) when compared with the general Spanish population (sex ratio = 1.06). Moreover, a significant seasonal variation was observed in CAU offspring sex ratio during the first quarter compared with the rest of the year (0.66 versus 0.12) (P < 0.03). In conclusion, a significant increase in the sex ratio value in favour of female offspring was observed in the group of CAU professional basketball players.

Both alleles of the M235T polymorphism of the angiotensinogen gene can be a risk factor for myocardial infarction.

We have studied the role of three polymorphic genes of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) as independent risk factors for myocardial infarction (MI) and their correlation with three of the major coronary risk factors: serum cholesterol (CH), hypertension (HT) and smoking (SM). A population of 392 men was genotyped for the M235T polymorphism of the angiotensinogen (AGT) gene, the insertion/deletion of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and the all66c of the angiotensin-II type 1 receptor (AT1R), by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction enzyme analysis. It was observed that the T allele frequency increased significantly in the MI with HT, CH, and SM subgroup (0.58 vs 0.31) (p<0.01). In contrast, the M allele frequency was higher in the MI without HT, CH, and SM (0.69 vs 0.42) (p<0.01). A strong association between the MM genotype and MI (p<0.001, odds ratio=4.29, confidence interval=1.95-9.42) was found when age-matched MM control subjects were compared to MI individuals with none of the other known major coronary risk factors. Futhermore, subjects with the MM genotype showed a significantly higher plasma renin activity (PRA) profile than those with the TT genotype (p<0.001). It can be concluded that the M allele is an independent risk factor for MI and the T allele modified the risk when other major risk factors are present.

[Prevalence of goitre and iodine deficiency in a school population from a traditionally endemic health area]. / Prevalencia de bocio y deficiencia de yodo en población escolar de una zona básica de salud tradicionalmente endémica.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the current prevalence of simple goitre in the school population of a health district where goitre is traditionally endemic. Calculation of the deficiency or otherwise of iodine through the determination of mean urinary excretion of iodine in the population under study. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING: Olvera Health District (Cádiz). PARTICIPANTS: School students in the health district between 6 and 14 years old out of a total of 1969. Sample size of 92 school students was chosen at random, for a 95% confidence interval. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Dependent variables were the existence of goitre found in a physical examination, urinary excretion of iodine measured in microg/dl in the first urine of the morning, origin of water consumed and habitual consumption of iodised salt in their diet. 87% of the population under study habitually drank water from the normal supply, 4% from wells or springs, and 9% mineral water. 57% of parents did not know whether the salt in their normal diet was iodised or not. 29.3% of school students included in the study had some degree of goitre. The mean excretion of iodine in urine was 13.78 microg/dl (95% CI, 12.30-15.26). Ioduria was below 9.9 microg/dl in 28.2%, within the endemic figures. CONCLUSIONS: The mean amount of iodine in urinary excretion in the sample means that the risk of developing goitre is low, although the prevalence of goitre continues at endemic figures.

Prevalencia de bocio y deficiencia de yodo en población escolar de una zona básica de salud tradicionalmente endémica / Prevalence of goitre and iodine deficiency in a school population in a traditionally endemic health area

Objetivos. Determinar la prevalencia actual de bocio simple en la población escolar de una zona básica de salud tradicionalmente endémica para bocio. Estimación de la deficiencia o no de yodo mediante la determinación de la excreción media urinaria de yodo en la población de estudio. Diseño. Estudio descriptivo, transversal. Emplazamiento. Zona básica de salud de Olvera (Cádiz).Participantes. Escolares de la zona básica de salud de 6-14 años sobre un total de 1.969. Se selecciona tamaño muestral de 92 escolares, aleatoriamente, para un nivel de confianza del 95 por ciento. Medición y resultados principales. Las variables dependientes son la existencia de bocio detectada en una exploración física, la excreción urinaria de yodo medida en µg/dl en la primera orina de la mañana, origen del agua de consumo y consumo habitual en la dieta de sal yodada. Un 87 por ciento de la población estudiada consume agua de la red corriente de forma habitual, el 4 por ciento de pozo o fuentes naturales y el 9 por ciento utiliza habitualmente agua mineral. El 57 por ciento de los padres desconoce si la sal que usan en la dieta es o no yodada. Un 29,3 por ciento de escolares incluidos en el estudio presentó algún grado de bocio. La media en la excreción urinaria de yodo de la muestra fue de 13,78 µg/dl (IC del 95 por ciento, 12,30-15,26). La yoduria fue inferior a 9,9 µg/dl en un 28,2 por ciento de los individuos, dentro de valores endémicos. Conclusiones. El valor medio de la excreción urinaria de yodo de la muestra sitúa el riesgo poblacional de desarrollar bocio como bajo, aunque la prevalencia de bocio se mantiene dentro de cifras de endemia (AU)

The genotype interactions of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and renin-angiotensin system genes are associated with myocardial infarction.

We analyzed the evolution with age of the frequencies of the I/D polymorphism of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE), a1166c of the angiotensin II AT1 receptor (AT1R), M235T of the angiotensinogen (AGT) and A225V of their methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in a healthy (H) population and the subsequent comparison to age- and sex-matched groups of myocardial infarction (MI) subjects. A total of 472 H subjects were divided into three groups < 30, 30-55 and > 55 years old and 277 individuals with MI into two groups 30-55 and > 55 years old. The evolution with age showed that the AGT M allele (P < 0.001) and the MTHFR V allele (P < 0.05) frequency decreased with age in H men. The comparison between healthy and MI groups showed that the MM genotype frequency increased in MI men > 55 years (OR =4.16; 95% CI; 1.72-10.1) The cc genotype showed a similar behaviour (OR = 3.96; 95% CI; 1.21-12.9). In men, all the combinations with MM genotype presented a high risk, with OR values between 1.10 and 7.22. In women, the cc genotype increased in the MI > 55 group (OR = 6.66; 95% CI; 2.02-21.9). All the combinations with the cc genotype showed OR values between 1.71 and 13.3. The MM genotype in men and cc genotype in men and women, are independent risk factors for MI. We propose that the study of the allele frequency evolution in an H population at different ages is essential to determine risk factors for MI in case-control studies, since data from isolated age-matched groups can be misinterpreted.

Quantification by additive RT-PCR of HIV-1 RNA plasma levels in different stages of HIV-1 infection.

In this study, virion-associated RNA was measured in plasma from twenty six patients in various stages of HIV-1 disease by the additive RT-PCR method. Plasma viral RNA levels were inversely correlated (r = -0.72894) with total CD4+ cell counts and directly (r = 0.86964) with serum titre beta 2-microglobulin in chronically infected patients. This additive RT-PCR is based on a mathematical logistic adjustment of the standard curve and the use of an internal standard identical to the target molecule, which represents a control system for the efficiency of RT-PCR and allows a continuous assessment of the accuracy based on the recovery.

Angiotensin I-converting enzyme genotypes and angiotensin II receptors. Response to therapy.

In the present study, we studied angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptor messengers by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. We examined peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 30 healthy subjects and 50 subjects with primary hypertension, in whom angiotensin I-converting enzyme genotype was determined, before and after 15 days of treatment with different antihypertensive drugs. The medication included a calcium channel antagonist, an angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor, and a beta 1-blocker. We also studied the relationship between AT1 receptor gene expression and biochemical parameters of the renin-angiotensin system. AT1 receptor messenger levels were positively correlated with plasma renin activity in both normotensive and untreated hypertensive subjects. Increases of this messenger and plasma angiotensin II levels were correlated with the D allele in the same individuals. AT1 receptor messenger levels decreased significantly with angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor treatment in subjects with the DD genotype, and a significant decrease was observed in subjects with the II and ID genotypes treated with a calcium antagonist. No changes were observed in mRNA with the beta 1-blocker. We conclude that the AT2 receptor is not expressed in peripheral leukocytes and that AT1 receptor messenger levels vary in relation to angiotensin I-converting enzyme genotype and pharmacological treatment. These results suggest that angiotensin I-converting enzyme genotype may be an important factor when deciding on antihypertensive therapy in individuals with primary hypertension.