ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND & AIM: Alcohol consumption and viral infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are the first causes of chronic hepatopathy in Mexico. Medical personnel are at high risk of developing HBV and HCV infection because both viruses are transmitted parenteraly. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HCV and HBV infection as well as risk factors in nurses working at Medica Sur Clinic and Foundation. METHODS: The complete nurse staff personal from our hospital was included; a questionnaire of risk factors for HCV and HBV infection was assessed. HBV and HCV infection (anti-HCV anti-HBc, and HBsAg) was determined to all of them. In anti-HCV positive persons HCV genotype and viral load was assessed. RESULTS: Three hundred seventy six nurses where studied, Anti-HBc was positive in 1.6% of all participants, none were positive for HBsAg. 0.8% of all studied population was positive for anti- HCV. Major risk factors for HBV infection where tattooing and having more than 4 sexual partners previously, and for HCV infection transfusions before 1992 and age. Only one person was anti-HCV positive with a viral charge of 5 X 106 copies, genotype 2b. CONCLUSIONS: HCV seropositivity in people with high risk was lower than general population. None was positive for HBV infection.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Nursing Staff, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Female , Hepatitis B Antibodies/blood , Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/blood , Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood , Humans , Male , Mexico/epidemiology , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Investigate the association between polymorphisms in the leptin receptor gene associated with obesity and gallstone disease. DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study, carried out at a tertiary setting. SUBJECTS: We enrolled 97 subjects, comprising 54 subjects with gallstones (cases) and 43 controls (without gallstones). MEASUREMENTS: Diet was assessed using a validated questionnaire for the Mexican population. Body mass index, waist circumference, serum glucose,insulin, leptin, lipids and lipoproteins levels were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated by HOMA-IR. Genomic DNA was isolated from lymphoblastoid cells, and Q223R and K656N polymorphisms in the leptin receptor gene were typed using polymerase chain reaction. Unconditional univariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to estimate the probability of gallstone disease associated with the polymorphisms as main effect. RESULTS: Cases were different in gender(40.74% males in cases vs 74.41% in controls; p < 0.001), older (49.74 vs 44.83 years; p < 0.05), and had more body fat (32.34% vs 28.14%; p = 0.01). Individuals carrying the polymorphism Q223R exhibited a higher BMI (28.44 +/- 6.6 kg/m2 vs 25.94 +/- 3.67 kg/m2, p < 0.05) and waist circumference (96.7 +/- 16.39 cm vs 89.2 +/- 11.05 cm, p < 0.05). In univariate analysis, we did not observe a relation between the presence of a R223 or N656 genotype and gallstone disease in our population (OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.35-1.73). CONCLUSION: Obesity-related leptin receptor polymorphisms are not associated with gallstones disease.
Subject(s)
Gallstones/complications , Gallstones/genetics , Obesity/complications , Obesity/genetics , Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics , Adult , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Genotype , Humans , Insulin Resistance/genetics , Logistic Models , Male , Mexico , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Polymorphism, Genetic , Receptors, LeptinABSTRACT
AIM: To explore the role of ghrelin in gallstone disease. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 150 subjects, 38 with gallstones (cases) and 112 controls. We also did a real-time PCR-RT study in twenty gallbladder samples each. Body mass index (BMI), serum insulin, ghrelin, and serum lipids were measured. Logistic regression analyses (univariate and multivariate) were conducted to estimate the probability of gallstone disease associated with serum ghrelin concentrations. RESULTS: Cases were statistically different from controls in gender distribution (P = 0.01), age (53 vs 44 yr, P = 0.002), BMI (28 vs 25; P = 0.004), and glucose (5.26 vs 4.98 mmol/L; P = 0.05). The prevalence of ghrelin serum levels above the third tercile was lower in subjects without metabolic syndrome (P < 0.05). In a multivariate model, we found a protective effect, when ghrelin values were higher than the median value (OR = 0.27, 95%CI 0.09-0.82, P = 0.02). Twenty (20%) gallbladder specimens expressed ghrelin mRNA. CONCLUSION: Serum ghrelin concentrations are associated with a protective effect of GD.
