Tuberculosis in Mexico and the USA, Comparison of Trends Over Time 1990-2010 / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: The aim was to compare tuberculosis trends in Mexico and United States and to evaluate Mexican diagnostic methods and contact investigation. METHODS: Retrospective comparative study of tuberculosis cases and incidence rates between both countries (1990-2010). Diagnostic methods and contact investigations were also evaluated for Mexico. Estimates were obtained from official websites. RESULTS: In Mexico, no clear trend was found over time for cases. Pulmonary (PTB) and all forms of tuberculosis (AFTB) incidence decreased 2.0% annually. There was a negative correlation between the mean contacts examined per case and AFTB incidence (r2=-0.44, p=0.01) with a 33% reduction in AFTB incidence. In United States, PTB and AFTB cases have been decreasing 6.0% and 5.6% annually, respectively. The incidence decreased 7.3% and 6.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The incidence of tuberculosis in Mexico is decreasing slightly over time at 2% annually. In the United States, cases and incidence rates have been decreasing at a higher rate (5% to 7% annually). The inverse association between number of contacts examined per state and incidence rates in Mexico underscore the importance of reinforcing and improving contact investigations with the likely translation of a decrease of TB incidence at a higher rate.

Pregnancy weight gain limitation by a supervised nutritional program influences placental NF-kappa B/IKK complex expression and oxidative stress

Nuclear factor kappa B [NF-kappa B] pathway and oxidative stress participate in endothelial dysfunction, which is one of the causes of pre-eclampsia. Among the human antioxidant mechanisms, there are the enzymes catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and superoxide dismutase [SOD]. Our aim was to measure NF-kappa B, its inhibitor [IKK] and oxidative stress in placenta and umbilical cord of pregnant women submitted to a supervised nutritional program. Two groups were conformed: A] 14 pregnant women with individualized nutritional counseling, and B] 12 pregnant women without nutritional guidance. NF-kappa B and IKK were assessed by real time PCR [RT-PCR]. Enzymatic activity of CAT, GPx, lipoperoxidation [LPO] and SOD were also evaluated. Pregnant women that followed a supervised nutritional program had lower levels of systolic [p=0.03] and diastolic pressure [p=0.043] although they were heavier than the control group [p=0.048]. Among all the women, the Spearman correlation was positive between weight gain and placental NF-kappa B expression [1, p