Cross-sectional observations of thyroid function in geriatric Mexican outpatients with and without dementia.

UNLABELLED: This work was aimed at determining and comparing the frequency of abnormal levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in geriatric outpatients with and without dementia. This cross-sectional study enrolled patients, aged 60 years and older with or without dementia (established on the basis of DSM-IV-R), from geriatric outpatient unit with third level of medical care. Comparisons were between 33 (34%) patients without dementia versus 26 (58%) with dementia; both among 142 (24%) randomly selected sample (RSS) from unit's register; and the 101 (89%) in the memory-clinic case series (MCCS) of dementia were contrasted with the former. MEASUREMENTS: TSH, total/free thyroxine, mini-mental-state examination (MMSE), geriatric depression scale (GDS), Hachinski ischemic-score (HIS), and clinical data from the patients' charts. In the above order, high TSH was found in 9 (27.3%, confidence interval (CI)=12.1-42.5%), 6 (23.1%, CI=6.9-46.5%), and 30 (29.7%, CI=20.8-38.6%), respectively. Low-normal free thyroxine levels accompanied 76% of individuals with elevated TSH; in contrast of Gaussian distribution of free thyroxine in those with TSH in normal range. In conclusion, the high frequency found of hypothyroidism in patients with and without dementia warrants further studies. Treatment is only being recommended for patients with below range thyroxin levels; while treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism in the presence of cognitive decline will be addressed in the forthcoming studies.

Risk factors of breast cancer in mexican women

Objetivo. Investigar la asociación entre la historia familiar de neoplasias, factores ginecobstétricos y cáncer mamario (CM) en un estudio de casos y controles. Además, en los casos, estudiar estas variables en relación con inicio temprano del cáncer, forma de detección (autoexamen, exploración individual por dolor o casual), tamaño del tumor. Material y métodos. Entre enero y marzo de 1997 se estudiaron 151 casos prevalentes de CM y 235 controles pareados por edad provenientes del Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, o del Hospital Universitario de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, ambos localizados en Monterrey, México. Los factores de riesgo se analizaron con regresión logística múltiple. Resultados. Diez por ciento de casos y 1 por ciento de controles tuvieron historia familiar de primer grado para CM; este antecedente (razón de momios -RM, 11.2; IC 95 por ciento; 2.42-51.92) y el de carcinoma gástrico o pancreático (RM, 17.7; IC 95 por ciento; 2.2-142.6) se asociaron con riesgo de CM. El amamantar a los 25 años o menos fue factor protector (RM, 0.40; IC 95 por ciento; 0.24-0.66). La forma de detección del tumor no influyó en el tamaño del tumor al momento del diagnóstico. Conclusiones. Se mostró que la historia familiar de CM y de carcinoma gástrico o pancreático son factores de riesgo para CM, mientras que la lactancia a los 25 años o antes, es protectora.

Vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and bone mineral density in Mexican women without osteoporosis.

Polymorphisms corresponding to Apa I, Bsm I, and Taq I restriction endonucleases at the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine (L2-L4) and proximal femur (neck, Ward's triangle and trochanteric region) sites were examined in a sample of 98 Mexican women (age 55 +/- 10 years). None of the subjects were pregnant or nursing and none had a previous diagnosis of osteoporosis. Polymorphisms were assessed by the restriction fragment length polymorphism - polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) technique. Alleles were denoted with capital letters for the absence of the RFLP site (A, B, or T) and with small letters for its presence (a, b, or t). BMD was assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). A structured, self-administrated questionnaire was used to obtain data on age, menopause, number of pregnancies, breast-feeding, fractures, exercise, smoking, alcohol, estrogens, calcium supplement, height, weight, and BMI. There were no differences between BMD at the skeletal sites and the genotypes disclosed by Apa I (Allele A = 0.43), Bsm I (Allele B = 0.26) and Taq I (Allele T = 0.76). The present study provides data for comparison with other studies to determine the possible value of genotyping VDR to predict predisposition for osteoporosis in Mexican or Mexican-American women. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 11:793-797, 1999. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Critical appraisal of the estimation of body composition via two-, three-, and four-compartment models.

Withers RT, Laforgia J, Heymsfield SB. 1999. Critical appraisal of the estimation of body composition via two-, three-, and four-compartment models. Am J Hum Biol 11:175-185. Line 4 of Validity of assumptions should read, 1.565 g/cm(3) instead of, 1.555 g/cm(3). The authors regret this error.