TNF as marker of oral candidiasis, HSV infection, and mucositis onset during chemotherapy in leukemia patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess changes in the salivary expression of IL-1α, IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, and TNF in acute leukemia (AL) patients before and during chemotherapy, and its association with HSV infection, oral candidiasis (OC), and oral mucositis (OM) onset. METHODS: Cohort study in AL patients >15 years starting induction chemotherapy at a Mexican oncological center (2013-2014). Onset of oral lesions (OLs) was assessed during follow-up, and saliva was obtained at baseline, at visit 2 (days 4-12), and at visit 3 (days 13-21) after chemotherapy, treated with a protease inhibitor and stored at -70°C. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression models were constructed to estimate hazard ratios and its 95% CI (HR, 95% CI) for OL development. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were followed up, and 17 (41.5%) developed OLs. OL patients had higher baseline salivary IL-1α than those without lesions (p = 0.040). During visit 2, OL patients had higher levels of IL-1α (p = 0.033), IL-1ß (p = 0.016), IL-6 (p = 0.035), and TNF (p = 0.019) than those who did not develop OLs. Patients with HSV infection, OC, and OM showed higher salivary TNF levels during follow-up (HR: 3.52, 95% CI: 1.35-9.14, p = 0.010). CONCLUSION: AL patients undergoing chemotherapy with high salivary TNF levels were more likely to develop HSV infection, OC, and OM.

[An anthropometric study of a group of elderly men and women of Mexico City]. / Estudio antropométrico en un grupo de hombres y mujeres de la tercera edad en la Ciudad de México.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to estimate basic anthropometric measurements in a group of elderly men and women from Mexico City. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out among senior citizens registered in the National Institute of the Elderly and National Institute of Social security in Mexico City. Standardized protocols were used to measure the anthropometric characteristics of the study group. The analysis included Student t tests to detect differences in average values between men and women in general and in each age subgroup formed. In addition, Pearson correlation analysis of the body mass index (BMI) with anthropometric variables was performed; p < 0.05 was taken as the level of significance. RESULTS: A total of 508 people aged 60 or older participated in the study; 230 were males and 278 were females. The average age was 66.9-years-old in the male group and 67.3-years-old in the female group. Among men the average weight was 70.7 kg, standard deviation (SD 9.9), height was 164 cm (SD 6.5) and BMI was 26.4 (SD 3.7). Among women the average weight was 60.8 kg (SD 9.9), height was 150 cm (SD 5.9) and BMI was 27.1 (SD 4.0). The distribution of the BMI showed that 50.9% of men and 54% of women were between 25.0 and 29.9. A correlation coefficient over r 0.70 (p < 0.001) was found between BMI and waist and hip circumferences. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the BMI about three-quarters of the population was overweight or obese. It is possible that the assessment of being overweight and of obesity in elderly people needs to be adjusted considering revised normality values.