The volcano mouse Neotomodon alstoni of central Mexico, a biological model in the study of breeding, obesity and circadian rhythms.

The "Mexican volcano mouse" Neotomodon alstoni, is endemic of the Transverse Neovolcanic Ridge in central Mexico. It is considered as least concern species and has been studied as a potential laboratory model from different perspectives. Two lines of research in neuroendocrinology have been addressed: reproduction and parental care, particularly focused on paternal attention and the influence of testosterone, and studies on physiology and behavior of circadian rhythms, focused on the circadian biology of the species, its circadian locomotor activity and daily neuroendocrine regulation of metabolic parameters related to energy balance. Some mice, when captive, spontaneously develop obesity, which allows for comparisons between lean and obese mice of daily changes in neuronal and metabolic parameters associated with changes in food intake and locomotor activity. This review includes studies that consider this species an attractive animal model where the alteration of circadian rhythms influences the pathogenesis of obesity, specifically with the basic regulation of food intake and metabolism and differences related to sex. This study can be considered as a reference to the comparative animal physiology among rodents.

Risk factors for high levels of lead in blood of schoolchildren in Mexico City.

Risk factors associated with blood lead levels exceeding 15 microg/dl were analyzed in this report. This relatively high lead level was selected because, at the time the study commenced, it was considered to be a "safe" level. A total of 1583 schoolchildren were studied. The students were from (a) two areas in Mexico City (Tlalnepantla and Xalostoc) that have had historically high concentrations of lead in air, and (b) three areas (Pedregal, Iztalpalapa, and Centro) with less impressive air lead levels. Parents were presented with a questionnaire that solicited information about lead risk factors. A bivariate analysis and a multilogistic analysis were conducted to identify associations and to identify the model that most accurately explains the variability of the sample. High blood lead concentrations were found in children who lived in Xalostoc and Tlalnepantla (16.1 and 17.0 microg/dl, respectively), and the lowest concentration (i.e., 10 microg/dl) was found in children from Iztapalapa. The strongest association was with area of residence, followed by education level of parents, cooking of meals in glazed pottery, and chewing or sucking of yellow or other colored pencils. A child's area of residence is the most significant risk factor that must be accounted for when any study of lead and blood lead concentrations is undertaken. Follow-up in similar populations should assist greatly in the evaluation of the impact of governmental actions on public health.

Epidemiologic status of drug abuse in Mexico.

Abuse of alcoholic beverages and tobacco appear to constitute priority public health problems in Mexico, while abuse of other drugs is sufficiently widespread to justify concern. More specifically, a recent national survey (11) found that over 10% of the male subjects 18 to 65 years old met established international criteria for alcohol dependence, while about a quarter of those surveyed were active smokers. A total of 4.3% said they had used one or more drugs other than tobacco or alcohol at some time in their lives.

[Epidemiological status of drug abuse in Mexico]. / Situación epidemiológica del abuso de drogas en México.

As a country that produces marijuana and opium, and as a route for cocaine traffic to the United States of America, Mexico is experiencing serious social and health problems related to the trafficking, use, and abuse of these drugs and other dependency-producing substances. In 1988 a national survey of addiction was undertaken in which information was collected on the prevalence of the use of alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, opium, heroin, narcotic analgesics, sedatives, and tranquilizers. A sample was identified in the population between the ages of 12 and 65 living in urban areas of more than 2,500 inhabitants, which account for approximately 65% of the country's total population. This sample consisted of 12,557 persons. According to the results of the survey, 51% of the population between 18 and 65 years of age use alcoholic beverages and 24.7% of the entire study population are active smokers. In addition, 43% had used one or more drugs other than tobacco or alcohol at some time. Prevalence of marijuana use was 2.6%, while the rates for tranquilizers, inhalants, and amphetamines were identical (0.7%). For cocaine the rate was 0.3%, and for heroin, 0.1%.

Situación epidemiologica del abuso de drogas en México / Epidemiological status of drugs abuse in México

As a country that produces marijuana and opium, and as a route for cocaine traffic to te United States of América, México is experiencing serious social and health problems related to the trafficking, use and abuse of these drugs, and other dependency-producing substances. In 1988 a national survey of addiction was undertaken in which information was collected on the prevalence of the use of alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, opium, heroin, narcotic analgesics, sedatives and traquilizers. A sample was identified in the population between the ages of 12 and 65 living in urban áreas of more than 2,500 inhabitants, which account for approximately 65 percent of the country's total population. This sample consisted of 12,557 persons, according to the results of the survey, 51 percent of the population between 18 and 65 years of age use alcoholic beverage and 24.7 percent of the entire study population are active smokers. In addition, 43 percent had use one or more drugs other than tobacco or alcohol at some time. Prevelence of marijuana use was 2.6 percent, while the rates for tranquilizers, inhalants, and amphetamines were identical (0.7 percent). For cocaine the rate was 0.3 percent, and for heroin 0.1 percent

Situación epidemiológica del abuso de drogas en México / Epidemiological status of drugs abuse in Mexico

As a country that produces marijuana and opium, and as a route for cocaine traffic to te United States of America, Mexico is experiencing serious social and health problems related to the trafficking, use and abuse of these drugs, and other dependency-producing substances. In 1988 a national survey of addiction was undertaken in which information was collected on the prevalence of the use of alcohol, tobacco, inhalants, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, opium, heroin, narcotic analgesics, sedatives and traquilizers. A sample was identified in the population between the ages of 12 and 65 living in urban areas of more than 2,500 inhabitants, which account for approximately 65 percent of the country's total population. This sample consisted of 12,557 persons, according to the results of the survey, 51 percent of the population between 18 and 65 years of age use alcoholic beverage and 24.7 percent of the entire study population are active smokers. In addition, 43 percent had use one or more drugs other than tobacco or alcohol at some time. Prevelence of marijuana use was 2.6 percent, while the rates for tranquilizers, inhalants, and amphetamines were identical (0.7 percent). For cocaine the rate was 0.3 percent, and for heroin 0.1 percent

Epidemiologic status of drug abuse in Mexico

The contents of this special issue were also published in Spanish in the Boletín de la Oficina Sanitaria Panamericana Vol. 107, N0. 6, 1989