Universal influenza vaccination: a Mexican Expert Position Paper.

OBJECTIVE: Influenza is a costly disease for the population. It is a cause of seasonal morbidity and mortality, epidemics and pandemics or syndemics. Given the variability of the virus, surveillance systems are implemented in order to update the strains and include them in the annual influenza vaccine. This vaccine is currently recommended in some high-risk groups. However, universal vaccination remains controversial. To evaluate the evidence and describe the position of a panel of experts on the relevance of universal vaccination against influenza virus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five clinical questions were asked, whereby a systematic search of the literature in electronic sources and a Delphi panel were carried out. The evidence was analyzed, and recommendations were issued by the experts. RESULTS: The group of experts recommends vaccinating the population starting at six months of age and include people who live with egg protein allergy, with comorbidities (diabetes, obesity, cancer), health workers and pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination, starting with vulnerable groups, is a necessary, ethical and cost-effective strategy. However, expanding the coverage to achieve universal vaccination could reduce the transmission of the disease and its consequences in the population.

OBJETIVO: La influenza es una enfermedad costosa para la población. Es causa de morbimortalidad estacional, epidemias y pandemias o sindemias. Debido a la variabilidad del virus, se implementan sistemas de vigilancia para actualizar las cepas e incluirlas en la vacuna antiinfluenza anual. Actualmente se recomienda esta vacuna en algunos grupos de alto riesgo. Sin embargo, la vacunación universal es aún controvertida. Evaluar la evidencia y describir la posición de un panel de expertos sobre la pertinencia de la vacunación universal contra el virus de influenza. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se realizaron cinco preguntas clínicas, con las que se realizó una búsqueda sistemática de la literatura en fuentes electrónicas y un panel Delphi. Se analizó la evidencia y se emitieron recomendaciones por los expertos. RESULTADOS: El grupo de expertos recomienda vacunar a la población desde los seis meses de edad e incluir a personas que viven con alergia a la proteína del huevo, con comorbilidades (diabetes, obesidad, cáncer), trabajadores de la salud y embarazadas. CONCLUSIONES: La vacunación, iniciando con los grupos vulnerables, es una estrategia necesaria, ética y costo-efectiva. Sin embargo, extender la cobertura para lograr la vacunación universal podría disminuir la transmisión de la enfermedad y sus consecuencias en la población.

Acute kidney injury in pregnancy and the role of underlying CKD: a point of view from México.

The incidence of acute kidney injury in pregnancy (P-AKI) in developed countries is significantly lower than in developing ones, where it is estimated to range between 4 and 26%. Mortality in cases of P-AKI requiring dialysis is high, varying from 20 to 80%. In developing countries, clinical decisions are often based on the availability of services and not on needs. Prenatal surveillance in Mexico does not include serum creatinine, limiting the potential for early diagnosis of AKI and CKD and their differential diagnosis. There are few specialized centers for the care of a pregnancy complicated with kidney disease in Mexico. P-AKI superimposed on preexistent, and usually undiagnosed CKD, is common: in Guadalajara 10 out of the 27 patients with Stage 3-5 CKD or nephrotic proteinuria, that were followed in 2013-2015, required renal replacement therapy (RRT) in pregnancy; in the same period in Mexico City out of 18 patients with P-AKI requiring dialysis, 5 remained dialysis dependent, 3 started dialysis in the following year after their pregnancy and only 1 fully recovered renal function. The grim prognosis is exacerbated by the fact that 70% of Mexicans are not reimbursed for dialysis, and pregnancy-related coverage lasts for only 42 days after delivery. Perinatal results are no less troubling, as most patients with P-AKI give birth preterm to small or very small babies. While our data do not allow us to evaluate needs, they do make it possible to define the complexity of the problems faced in the care of P-AKI in Mexico. Early diagnosis of P-AKI and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is needed to protect mothers and children and the country urgently needs programs to enable it to fulfil the World Health Organization's imperative that we "make every mother and child count".

Comparison of hemodynamic, biochemical and hematological parameters of healthy pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy and the active labor phase.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy is accompanied by several hemodynamic, biochemical and hematological changes which revert to normal values after labor. The mean values of these parameters have been reported for developed countries, but not for Mexican women. Furthermore, labor constitutes a stress situation, in which these factors may be altered. It is known that serologic increase of heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 is associated with abnormal pregnancies, presenting very low level in normal pregnant women. Nevertheless, there are no studies where these measurements are compared in healthy pregnant women at their third trimester of pregnancy (3TP) and the active labor phase (ActLP). METHODS: Seventy five healthy Mexican pregnant women were included. Hemodynamic, biochemical and hematological parameters were obtained in all cases, and serum Hsp70 levels were measured in a sample of 15 women at 3TP and at ActLP. RESULTS: Significant differences were found in most analysis performed and in Hsp70 concentration at 3TP as compared to ActLP, however all were within normal range in both conditions, supporting that only in pathological pregnancies Hsp70 is drastically increased. CONCLUSION: Results obtained indicate that 3TP and ActLP have clinical similarities in normal pregnancies, therefore if abnormalities are found during 3TP, precautions should be taken before ActLP.