Evaluation of the transcriptional immune biomarkers in peripheral blood from warao indigenous associate with the infection by mycobacterium tuberculosis

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Biomarkers are critical tools for finding new approaches for controlling the spread of tuberculosis (TB), including for predicting the development of TB therapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostic tools. METHODS: Expression of immune biomarkers was analyzed in peripheral blood cells stimulated and non-stimulated with M. tuberculosis antigens ESAT-6, CFP10 and TB7.7. in Warao indigenous individuals. These biomarkers may be able to differentiate TB states, such as active tuberculosis (ATB) cases and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) from non-infected controls (NIC). A real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay was performed on 100 blood samples under non-stimulation or direct ex vivo conditions (NS=50) and stimulation conditions (S=50). RESULTS: The findings are shown as the median and interquartile range (IQR) of relative gene expression levels of IFN-γ, CD14, MMP9, CCR5, CCL11, CXCL9/MIG, and uPAR/PLAUR immune biomarkers. MMP9 levels were significantly higher in the LTBI-NS and LTBI-S groups compared with the NIC-NS and NIC-S groups. However, CCR5 levels were significantly lower in the LTBI-S group compared with both NIC-NS and NIC-S groups. CCL11 levels were significantly lower in the LTBI-S group compared with the NIC-NS group. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings showed that MMP9 immune biomarkers separated LTBI indigenous individuals from NIC indigenous individuals, while CCR5, CCL11, CD14, and IFN-γ did not differentiate TB states from NIC. MMP9 may be useful as a potential biomarker for LTBI and new infected case detection among Warao indigenous individuals at high risk of developing the disease. It may also be used to halt the epidemic, which will require further validation in larger studies.

Compensatory sweating after restricting or lowering the level of sympathectomy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: To compare compensatory sweating after lowering or restricting the level of sympathectomy. METHOD: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted of all randomized controlled trials published in English that compared compensatory sweating after lowering or restricting the level of sympathectomy. The Cochrane collaboration tool was used to assess the risk of bias, and the Mantel-Haenszel odds ratio method was used for the meta-analysis. RESULTS: A total of 11 randomized controlled trials were included, including a total of 1079 patients. Five of the randomized controlled trials studied restricting the level of sympathectomy, and the remaining six studied lowering the level of sympathectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The compiled randomized controlled trial results published so far in the literature do not support the claims that lowering or restricting the level of sympathetic ablation results in less compensatory sweating. .

Inseguridad alimentaria en el hogar y estado de nutrición en personas adultas mayores de México / Food insecurity at the household level and nutritional status of older people in México

Objetivo. Estimar prevalencias de inseguridad alimentaria (IA) en hogares con personas de 60 años o más y su asociación con el estado de nutrición. Material y métodos. Con información de 6 790 adultos mayores distribuidos en 6 591 hogares se midió la IA utilizando la versión armonizada para México de la Escala Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Seguridad Alimentaria (ELCSA). Los hogares se clasificaron según nivel de IA; se analizaron prevalencias de IA según variables asociadas. Resultados. 67.0% de los hogares reportó alguna forma de IA. Las prevalencias más altas se registraron en hogares indígenas (85.9%), rurales (82.2%) y beneficiarios de programas con componente alimentario (>79.0%). Se encontraron asociaciones positivas entre IA en el hogar y bajo peso de los ancianos. Conclusiones. Se requiere complementar el análisis de IA en el hogar con indicadores individuales para una toma de decisiones más cercana a la realidad nutricional de las personas mayores.

Objective. To estimate the prevalence of food insecurity (FI) in households with members aged 60-and-over, analyzing the association between household FI and the nutritional status of older members. Materials and methods. Data on 6790 adults aged 60-and-over distributed in 6591 households were analyzed. FI was measured using the harmonized version for Mexico of the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA). Households were classified according to the level of FI. Prevalences of FI were analyzed by associated variables. Results. The overall prevalence of FI at the household level was 67.0%. FI was higher in native language-speaking households (85.9%), households in rural areas (82.2%) and those benefiting from food-related programs (>79.0%). Positive associations between household FI and low weight in the older person were found. Conclusions. Further analysis on the individual expressions of FI is required to improve food and nutrition interventions during old age.

Inseguridad alimentaria y estado de nutrición en menores de cinco años de edad en México / Food insecurity and nutritional status of preschool children in Mexico

Objetivo. Estudiar la relación entre la desnutrición infantil y la inseguridad alimentaria (IA) en una muestra de hogares con preescolares en México. Material y métodos. Se analizó la información de 10 513 preescolares y sus familias. Se midió la IA de los hogares con la Escala Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Seguridad Alimentaria (ELCSA). Se describen prevalencias de IA y desnutrición con variables asociadas y modelos logísticos. Resultados. 31% de los hogares presentaron IA moderada y severa. Los hogares rurales, del sur, los Q1 y Q2 y los indígenas presentaron las mayores prevalencias de IA moderada y severa. Se observa una tendencia de mayores prevalencias de desnutrición en el grupo con IA severa; las prevalencias de sobrepeso son similares en los cuatro grupos de IA. Conclusiones. El riesgo de desnutrición crónica es 42% mayor en menores de cinco años de hogares con IA severa en relación con los que viven en situación de seguridad alimentaria.

Objective. To describe the relation between malnutrition and food insecurity (FI) in preschool children from Mexico. Material and methods. Information of 10 513 preschool children and their families was analyzed. The FI was measured through the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA). Adjusted prevalence of FI and malnutrition with related variables were assessed by logistic regression. Results. 31% of households had moderate and server FI. Rural and south, indigenous households, in the Q1 and Q2, showed the highest prevalence of moderate and severe FI as well. We observed a high tendency of malnutrition in the severe FI group; the prevalence of overweight was similar in the four groups of FI. Conclusions. The risk of chronic malnutrition is 42% bigger in children less than five years old with severe FI than in those that experienced food security.

Compliance to micronutrient supplementation in children 3 to 24 months of age from a semi-rural community in Mexico

OBJECTIVE: To identify associated factors to compliance for multiple micronutrient (MM) or iron and vitamin A (IVITA) supplementation, in children (3 to 24 months old). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database (n=465 children) from a randomized, controlled, clinical trial, carried out in a semi-rural setting in Mexico, was analyzed. The compliance rate of MM and IVITA supplements was calculated. Adequate compliance rate (AC>80%), and its association with children and households characteristics, was determined. RESULTS: The compliance mean was high (MM:78.2%, IVITA:80.1%; p<0.05). The odds of AC were 59% greater in the children of IVITA than with MM group, although the estimate was only marginally significant (p=0.052). Maternal education (p<0.001), child birth weight (p=0.003), and children with cough (p<0.001) or fever (p=0.024) were significantly associated with AC and significantly marginal was maternal indigenous (p=0.071). CONCLUSION: The high AC was consistent with others efficacy studies. More research is needed to document physiological, cultural, social and operative factors affecting compliance with supplementation.

OBJETIVO: Identificar factores asociados con el cumplimiento del consumo de suplementos con micronutrimentos múltiples (MM) o con hierro y vitamina A (FEVITA) en niños (<24 meses de edad). MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Información de un ensayo clínico aleatorizado, doble ciego en una localidad semirrural en México. Se calculó el porcentaje de cumplimiento (n=465 niños), cumplimiento adecuado (CA: >80%) y su asociación con varias características. RESULTADOS: El cumplimiento fue alto (MM: 78.2%, FEVITA: 80.1%; p<0.05). Los momios de CA fueron 59% mayores en niños del grupo FEVITA que en MM (p=0.052). Escolaridad materna (p<0.001), peso al nacer del niño (p=0.003), porcentaje de tiempo con tos (p<0.001) y con fiebre (p=0.024) y marginalmente, la condición indígena materna (p=0.071) se asociaron con el CA. CONCLUSIONES: La alta tasa de cumplimiento fue consistente con otros estudios. Es necesaria mayor investigación sobre factores fisiológicos, culturales, sociales y operativos relacionados con el cumplimiento del consumo de suplementos.

Candida bucal en niños mexicanos con VIH/sida, desnutrición o marginación social / Oral candida in Mexican children with malnutrition, social marginalization, or HIV/AIDS

OBJETIVO: Determinar la frecuencia de Candida en cavidad bucal de niños con riesgo de desarrollar infecciones oportunistas y establecer si existe asociación entre la frecuencia de esta colonización bucal y tres tipos de población en riesgo. MÉTODOS: Se estudiaron cuatro grupos de población infantil de México: grupo VIH/sida bajo terapia antirretroviral altamente activa (TAAA) (35 niñas y 25 niños); grupo desnutrición (26 niñas y 29 niños); grupo tarahumara (37 niñas y 20 niños), una de las poblaciones étnicas más pobres del país, y grupo control (8 niñas y 21 niños aparentemente sanos). Los niños con VIH/sida fueron inmunológica y virológicamente clasificados según los criterios de EC-Clearinghouse, mientras que la desnutrición fue determinada a través del índice peso/talla de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Se tomó una muestra de la mucosa bucal con hisopo estéril, que fue incubada en agar dextrosa Sabouraud y en CHROMagar-Candida®. Las especies de Candida se confirmaron con la prueba API ID32C. RESULTADOS: Los grupos VIH/sida y desnutrición mostraron la frecuencia más alta de Candida spp. (51,7 por ciento y 38,2 por ciento, respectivamente) mientras que el grupo tarahumara presenta una frecuencia semejante a la del grupo control (17,5 por ciento vs 10,3 por ciento). Respecto a las especies de Candida, el grupo desnutrición mostró la mayor diversidad: C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei y C. glabrata. CONCLUSIONES: Los infantes con inmunodeficiencia y con desnutrición requieren de estrategias diseñadas para disminuir la colonización bucal candidal y disminuir el riesgo de infecciones oportunistas.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the frequency of candida in the oral cavity of children with a risk of developing opportunistic infections, and establish if there is an association between the frequency of this oral colonization and three categories of at-risk populations. METHODS: Four infant population groups in Mexico were studied: an HIV/AIDS group undergoing highly active antiretroviral therapy (35 girls and 25 boys); a malnourished group (26 girls and 29 boys); a group from the Tarahumara indigenous people, one of the poorest ethnic populations in the country (37 girls and 20 boys); and a control group (8 girls and 21 boys in apparently good health). The children with HIV/AIDS were immunologically and virologically classified according to the EC Clearinghouse criteria, while malnutrition was determined through the World Health Organization's weight/height index. A sample of oral mucosa was taken with a sterile swab, which was incubated in Sabouraud dextrose agar and in Candida CHROMagar®. The species of candida were confirmed through the API ID32C test. RESULTS: The HIV/AIDS and malnutrition groups showed the higher frequency of Candida spps (51.7 percent and 38.2 percent, respectively), while the frequency level in the Tarahumara group was similar to that of the control group (17.5 percent versus 10.3 percent). With regard to the species of candida, the malnutrition group had the greatest diversity: C. albicans, C. tropical, C. krusei, and C. glabrata. CONCLUSIONS: The children with HIV/AIDS and malnutrition require strategies designed to reduce oral candidal colonization and reduce the risk of opportunistic infections.

Chlamydia trachomatis in the conjunctiva of children living in three rural areas in Mexico

OBJECTIVES: Chlamydia trachomatis infections, in the context of extreme poverty, may trigger trachoma. Because the levels of C. trachomatis eye infections in Mexico are unknown, this study sought to determine if C. trachomatis was present in the conjunctiva of children living in three poor, rural areas of the country. METHODS: Clinical diagnosis of conjunctival follicles in children was conducted during the 2004 visual acuity assessment campaigns in rural areas of the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Zacatecas. C. trachomatis detection was carried out by sampling the children with follicles and examining the specimens after Giemsa or microimmunofluorescence (MIF) staining. RESULTS: A total of 941 children from 6 to 12 years of age were examined in 2004. Of the 484 in Chiapas, 30 percent were found to have follicles; of the 181 in Zacatecas, 22 percent; and of the 276 in Oaxaca, 42 percent. C. trachomatis was detected at levels ranging between 2 percent and 5 percent; positive by Giemsa in 4.5 percent of the children with follicles, and by MIF in 15.5 percent. CONCLUSIONS: Considering that the chlamydiae sampling procedures and detection methods used in this study were not the most sensitive, the results underestimate the chlamydial eye infections and represent a conservative assessment of a potential risk for preventable visual impairment. Because C. trachomatis was detected here at levels similar to those reported for low-endemic trachoma areas, health authorities should be prepared to implement appropriate measures should it be confirmed that the visual health of MexicoÆs children is at risk.

OBJETIVOS: En un contexto de pobreza extrema, la infección por Chlamydia trachomatis puede desencadenar el tracoma. Debido a que se desconocen los niveles de infección ocular con C. trachomatis en México, el objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la presencia de C. trachomatis en la conjuntiva de niños de tres zonas rurales pobres de México. MÉTODOS:El diagnóstico clínico de folículos conjuntivales en los niños se llevó a cabo durante la campaña de evaluación de la agudeza visual en áreas rurales de los estados de Chiapas, Oaxaca y Zacatecas en 2004. Para la detección de C. trachomatis se tomaron muestras de los niños con folículos y se analizaron mediante la tinción de Giemsa o microinmunofluorescencia (MIF). RESULTADOS: En total se examinaron 941 niños de 6 a 12 años de edad en 2004. Se observaron folículos en 30 por ciento de los 484 niños de Chiapas, en 22 por ciento de los 181 de Zacatecas y en 42 por ciento de los 276 niños de Oaxaca. Se detectó C. trachomatis en niveles entre 2 por ciento y 5 por ciento; de los niños con folículos, 4,5 por ciento resultaron positivos por Giemsa y 15,5 por ciento por MIF. CONCLUSIONES: Estos resultados subestiman el nivel de infección ocular por clamidia, ya que los procedimientos de muestreo y los métodos de detección de clamidia empleados en este estudio no eran los más sensibles, por lo que representan una valoración conservadora del riesgo de trastornos visuales prevenibles. Como los niveles de C. trachomatis encontrados son similares a los informados para áreas de baja endemia de tracoma, las autoridades de salud deben estar listas para implementar medidas apropiadas si se confirmaran los riesgos para la salud visual de los niños mexicanos.

Alimentación y suficiencia energética en indígenas migrantes de los Altos de Chiapas, México / Diet and caloric sufficiency in the migrant indigenous population of the Altos Region of Chiapas, México

La población que ha migrado de las zonas rurales a áreas urbanas está sujeta a cambios en sus patrones de alimentación y es considerado un grupo de población vulnerable en términos de seguridad alimentaria. Se describe la dieta de la población indígena inmigrante en la ciudad de San Cristóbal de Las Casas, en el estado de Chiapas, México, analizando los factores que contribuyen a la suficiencia en la ingesta calórica de 143 familias. Estudio transversal basado en una entrevista estructurada donde se obtuvo información con variables socioeconómicas, la variedad y tipo de alimentos disponibles en el hogar, y la suficiencia en la cantidad de calorías per cápita ajustadas a los requerimientos por edad y sexo. Se usaron pruebas estadísticas no paramétricas para estimar la relación entre el nivel de ingreso de la población y el número de calorías disponibles. El nivel de ingresos se asoció al número de calorías disponibles en los hogares; sin embargo, no existe una asociación significativa entre el tiempo de haber llegado a la ciudad y el tipo y variedad de alimentos disponibles que consumen estas familias. Los resultados evidencian que la proporción de familias que cubren la ingesta calórica requerida es de 91.3%; la población con menores ingresos presenta un porcentaje más bajo de este indicador, a la vez que se reporta una deficiencia importante de proteínas y nutrientes como el calcio y la vitamina A. Se discuten las implicaciones de la migración rural-urbana de población indígena en relación a la calidad de la dieta.

Diet and caloric sufficiency in the migrant indigenous population of the Altos Region of Chiapas, México. The population that has migrated from rural zones to urban areas is subject to changes in their dietary patterns and is considered a vulnerable population group in terms of food security. This article describes the diet of the immigrant indigenous population in the city of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, analyzing the factors that contribute to adequate calorie consumption in 143 families. This is a cross-sectional study based on a structured interview in which information was obtained related to socio-economic variables, the variety and types of foods in the home, and adequate calorie consumption per capita based on requirements according to age and sex. Using nonparametric statistical tests, the relationship between the population’s income level and the number of calories available was determined. Results show a significant association between the income level of the population and the number of calories available in homes; however, there is not a significant association between the amount of time a family has lived in the city and the type and variety of foods available to and consumed by these families. Results show that 91.3% of these families ingest the suggested calorie consumption; the population with the lowest income levels represents a lower percentage of this indicator, and also showed significant deficiencies in proteins and nutrients such as calcium and vitamin A. The implications of rural-urban migration by indigenous populations in relation to diet quality are discussed.