[Gestational diabetes mellitus and congenital malformations]. / Diabetes mellitus gestacional y malformaciones congénitas.

INTRODUCTION: Maternal diabetes mellitus affects approximately 5% of all pregnancies. Pregestational diabetes mellitus has been associated with a high risk of spontaneous abortions and congenital malformations during the first trimester of pregnancy then is considered teratogenic. This frequency of birth defects is three to fivefold increased compared with general population. Although an association of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with an increase of congenital malformations has not been demonstrated, some clinical and epidemiological studies of this possible association have reported the presence of GDM in mothers of children with congenital malformations. THE OBJECTIVE: Of this study was to compare the prevalence of congenital malformations associated with GDM in relation to pregestational diabetes mellitus and general population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the present study 3 groups were compared: the group I was integrated by 112 new born of mothers with GDM; in the group 2, there were 30 new born from women with gestational diabetes mellitus. 103 new born from healthy women integrated the group 3. All patients were recruited consecutively during a period of 18 months. RESULTS: A total of 24 cases with congenital malformations were detected. The group with the higher prevalence was the group 2 (30%). We found a tendency to a higher risk of congenital malformations on the cases exposed to GDM (group 1) compared with the group not exposed (group 3). The analysis of the mothers background of the children from group 2 with congenital malformations showed a significant difference in the antecedent of previous macrosomic product in comparison with the antecedents of the mothers of the same group that bear healthy babies. COMMENT: The results of the analysis in the studied population did not show an association between GDM and congenital malformations, although there is a tendency to a higher prevalence in comparison with not exposed population. This could be due to the heterogeneity of the GDM; an entity usually detected late in pregnancy, but probably present since the first weeks of gestation when the teratogenic effect could occur. CONCLUSION: In the present study we found that the antecedent of previous macrosomic products is an important risk factor, therefore, such women require a close vigilance of the glucose levels before and during the first weeks of pregnancy in order to prevent congenital malformations, one of the principal causes of death in the new born.

Predictors of condom use in Mexican migrant laborers.

The purpose of this study was to explore predictors of condom use with occasional sex partners and regular sex partners, as well as carrying condoms in a new high-risk group for HIV infection, Mexican migrant laborers. This study extends previous findings by (1) exploring additional predictors not previously examined, (2) utilizing a large sample of male and female Mexican migrant laborers, (3) carefully controlling for the effects of various demographic and lifestyle variables related to condom use, and (4) assessing the interactive effects of gender on predictors of condom use. Snowball sampling was used to survey 501 adult Mexican migrant laborers. Results revealed that condom use with occasional sex partners was predicted by carrying condoms and condom self-efficacy and that women were more likely to use condoms with occasional partners when both men and women knew someone with HIV/AIDS. Condom use with regular sex partners was predicted by procondom social norms, less negative attitudes toward condoms, not knowing someone with HIV/AIDS, and condom self-efficacy. Carrying condoms was predicted by procondom social norms, less negative attitudes toward condoms, condom self-efficacy, worry about contracting HIV/AIDS, and women were more likely than men to carry condoms when both men and women were married. Understanding these findings, future research directions, and implications for condom promotion strategies with Mexican migrant laborers are discussed.

Survey of condom-related beliefs, behaviors, and perceived social norms in Mexican migrant laborers.

This study reports findings from a survey of condom-related beliefs, behaviors, and perceived social norms in Mexican migrant laborers that live and work in the United States for extended periods of time. Snowball sampling was used to recruit 501 Mexican migrants from five "sending towns" in Jalisco, Mexico, with historically high rates of out-migration to the United States. Results showed that subjects reported few negative beliefs about condom use and high efficacy to use condoms in challenging sexual situations but social norms sanctioning condoms were limited. Results also revealed mixed knowledge of HIV transmission, poor knowledge of condom use, and higher condom use with occasional versus regular sex partners. Forty-four percent of male migrants reported sex with prostitutes while in the U.S., with married men reporting less condoms use with prostitutes than single men. It was concluded that condom promotion efforts with Mexican migrants should concentrate on men to encourage consistent use with occasional sex partners, including prostitutes. AIDS prevention education should be provided with sensitivity to the language needs, limited education, and extreme social and geographic marginality of this highly underresearched Latino population.

AIDS and condom-related knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors in Mexican migrant laborers.

PIP: A survey of 87 Mexican migrants (55 males and 32 females) who have lived and worked in the US since 1982 assessed AIDS and condom-related knowledge, beliefs, and sexual practices. Although respondents were highly knowledgeable about major modes of HIV transmission, one-third to one-half believed that HIV could be contracted from mosquito bites, public bathrooms, kissing, and the HIV test. Only 15% knew someone with AIDS. Ever-use of condoms was reported by 70.9% of men and 41.9% of women. Of the 68 subjects who had been sexually active in the year preceding the survey, 20 reported two or more partners. Among sexually active respondents, 16.2% always used condoms with their primary partner, while 43.0% used condoms consistently with occasional partners. 48.9% of men and 57.1% of women never used condoms with their primary partner; with casual partners, these rates were 30.8% and 44.4%, respectively. Worry about contracting AIDS, self-rated on a scale from 1 (very often) to 4 (never), averaged 2.84, with higher worry scores among those 18-31 years of age and with multiple partners. Respondents did not anticipate negative consequences of condom use (e.g., reduced sexual pleasure), but females expressed concern that carrying condoms would cause them to be viewed as promiscuous.^ieng

[Several aspects of arterial pressure in urban workers]. / Algunos aspectos de la presión arterial en trabajadores urbanos.

We studied the blood pressure in 1,635 workers in 12 companies of Guadalajara City. We observed direct relationship of age with systolic and diastolic values. The prevalence of high blood pressure for 1,000 workers was: for systolic hypertension 158.71; for sisto-diastolic hypertension 99.42 and for the diastolic hypertension 27.02. We found that for the systo-diastolic hypertensives their life expectancy was 11.5 years shorter and the economic impact was calculated in 2,954.10 million of pesos for each 100 workers.

Lead exposure in two pottery handicraft populations.

Lead poisoning studies were carried out in the populations of two potter towns in the State of Jalisco, Mexico. The first population in Tonalá included 198 people who use lead monoxide (PbO) in making pottery. The second population in El Rosario included 187 people who do not use any lead salt in the pottery-making process. The studies included children, adolescents and adults of both sexes. Analyses for lead in the blood (Pb-B), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), and urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA U) were carried out. In the population exposed to lead, abnormally high lead concentrations in blood and urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid were found in both sexes and in all age groups studied. When compared to the control group, the differences are statistically significant. The Hb and Ht results fell within the lower normal limits in both populations. No cases of acute lead poisoning were found, but the high amount of lead absorption in the Tonalá population may be caused by the rudimentary means of manufacturing their products.