Association of glutathione S-transferase Ω 1-1 polymorphisms (A140D and E208K) with the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-ß), and apoptotic protease-activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) in humans chronically exposed to arsenic in drinking water.

Human exposure to arsenicals is associated with inflammatory-related diseases including different kinds of cancer as well as non-cancerous diseases like neuro-degenerative diseases, atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes. Interindividual susceptibility has been mainly addressed by evaluating the role of genetic polymorphism in metabolic enzymes in inorganic arsenic (iAs) metabolism. Glutathione S-transferase omega 1-1 (GSTO1-1), which had been associated with iAs metabolism, is also known to participate in inflammatory and apoptotic cellular responses. The polymorphism A140D of GSTO1-1 has been not only associated with distinct urinary profile of arsenic metabolites in populations chronically exposed to iAs in drinking water, but also with higher risk of childhood leukemia and lung disease in non-exposed populations, suggesting that GSTO1-1 involvement in other physiologic processes different from toxics metabolism could be more relevant than is thought. We evaluated the association of the presence of A140D and E208K polymorphisms of GSTO1-1 gene with the expression of genes codifying for proteins involved in the inflammatory and apoptotic response in a human population chronically exposed to iAs through drinking water. A140D polymorphism was associated with higher expression of genes codifying for IL-8 and Apaf-1 mainly in heterozygous individuals, while E208K was associated with higher expression of IL-8 and TGF- gene, in both cases, the association was independently of iAs exposure level; however, the exposure to iAs increased slightly but significantly the influence of A140D and E208K polymorphisms on such genes expression. These results suggest an important role of GSTO1-1 in the inflammatory response and the apoptotic process and indicate that A140D and E208K polymorphisms could increase the risk of developing inflammatory and apoptosis-related diseases in As-exposed populations.

[Asthma risk factors]. / Factores de riesgo para asma.

OBJECTIVE: To study the magnitude of risk factors known for asthma in 6-10 year-old children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a case- and control-study with 6-10 year-old children; 58 were asthmatic and 117 were control, with a relation 2:1. Asthmatic patients were recruited from consult of immuno-allergies department and control patients, from familial medicine consult of Hospital de Especialidades 71, IMSS. Indirect (mother) and directed surveys were applied, they were of multiple option for exploring the most known in literature-risk factors. Statistical management was performed by odds ratio with confidence interval of 95%. RESULTS: The following variables were considered risk factors: ingestion of artificial colorants before having 1 year old (OR = 13.2), living in an urban area (OR = 7.74), maternal smoking during pregnancy (OR = 2.4), wool contact before having 1 year old (OR = 2.11), passive smoking exposure during pregnancy (OR = 1.486) and feeding with industrialized milk (OR = 1.2). CONCLUSIONS: Environmental risk factors are very important in our population, as well as early ablactation; however, ingestion before having 1 year old of allergens as egg, chocolate, orange and mango was not considered risk factor.

Correlation between respiratory function tests and evolution time in asthmatic patients.

A transversal and prospective study was performed to demonstrate a relationship between the evolution time of asthma episodes and alterations observed in the respiratory function tests (RFT) during asymptomatic periods. Asthmatic patients (n = 80) of both sexes, were studied, we investigated the evolution time of the asthmatic episodes and performed RFTs in the patients during their asymptomatic periods. Respiratory patterns were classified as normal, obstructive, or mixed (obstructive-restrictive), and a Spearman correlation test was performed. Twenty nine patients were male and fifty one female. All were between 5 and 49 years of age. Of the total number of patients, 13.7% fell into a normal pattern, 57.5% into an obstructive pattern and 28.7% in a mixed pattern. In the groups showing the shortest evolution time, the obstructive pattern was more common (75% of patients with less than 5 years of evolution time and 53.8% with an evolution time between five and ten years). The mixed pattern was more common in patients with more years suffering asthma (16.6% in the group of patients having 5 or less years of evolution and 50% in the group with more than 20 years). We found a Spearman value of 0.7, and we can conclude that there is more pulmonary damage associated to a longer evolution period of bronchial asthma.

[Asthma and the environment in the Lagunera district]. / Asma y medio ambiente en la Comarca Lagunera.

AIMS: The characteristics and real dimension of the environmental problems are frequently unknown. These results in a poor knowledge about health impact and deficient planning of the measures required for their protection. Asthma is a prior health problem at Comarca Lagunera. OBJECTIVE: The analysis of environment characteristics that could affect its presentation is the objective of this paper. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We took information form several official bureaus and regional records. It identified that the coexistence of some factors, like regional weather characteristics, with extreme temperature and frequent dust storm, growing deforest, dominant flora and acute and chronic contamination by particulates material, mainly at urban areas, could explain the epidemiological profile of the disease in this urban area so an interdisciplinary participation is required for solving this problem. RESULTS: In the Comarca Lagunera, several factors coexist which precipitate symptoms in asthmatic subjects: climatological features which favor the inflammatory process and increase susceptibility to respiratory tract infections which can set off asthmatic crises. CONCLUSION: The epidemiological behavior os asthma in this regions may be associated with its climatological characteristics.

[Degree of skin hypersensitivity as possible indicator of severity of asthma in the atopic subject]. / El grado de hipersensibilidad cutánea como posible indicador de severidad del asma en el sujeto atópico.

AIMS: Many factors have been involved in the determination of bronchial asthma severity, among which are: Family history, atopic condition and environmental factors. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if the degree of skin test reactivity is an useful indicator of bronchial asthma severity in atopic subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a prospective design, 140 patients with allergic bronchial asthma were included. The degree of skin reactivity was measured by intradermal reaction to 54 common allergens, it was classified in four groups according to the positive test percentage. The patients were followed during one year, and the frequency of symptoms and exacerbations, tolerance to exercise, nocturnal asthma, frequency and type of required medication were registered. The pulmonary function was evaluated by espirometry and plethysmography every 6 months. Asthma severity was classified according to the GINA criteria (Global Initiative for Asthma) and drugs requirements. The results were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Spearman correlation, stratification by age groups was carried out. RESULTS: Mean age was 25.57 +/- 12.12 years, 59% were female patients. Intermittent asthma was present in 42% of the subjects, mild persistent asthma in 31%, moderate persistent asthma in 18% and severe persistent asthma in 9%. The degree of skin test reactivity was < 25% in 26 patients, 25-50% in 60 patients, 51-75% in 36 and > 75% in 15. There was not correlation between skin test reactivity and asthma severity in the total population. In the stratified analysis there was significant correlation in the group of 5-15 years (p < 0.05) but with a low predictable value. CONCLUSIONS: The skin test reactivity degree was not an useful indicator of the asthma severity in this study.

Is the histamine skin test inhibited by prednisone?

BACKGROUND: A clinical trial was carried out to determine whether therapeutic doses of prednisone could inhibit the response to the histamine skin test. METHODS: Forty-five male and female asthmatic and allergic patients participated in the study, their ages ranged from 6-14 years old (16 girls and 29 boys). The clinical trial was random, double-blind, and placebo-controlled. METHODS: Three treatment groups were formed and patients were assigned randomly to them. Groups A and B received prednisone at 0.5 and 1 mg/kg/day, respectively, whereas group C received a placebo (p.o.). All treatments lasted for 10 days. The histamine test was applied on the first, fifth and tenth days of treatment, and the size of the wheal and the extension of the flare were evaluated 5 min after the application of the test. The statistical tool used was ANOVA, since the study sought to see the difference among the treatment groups, after including 45 patients in three groups of 15 patients each. RESULTS: No significant statistical difference was observed among the groups using an ANOVA test. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the response to the histamine test was not modified by a 10-day treatment with prednisone at doses of 0.5 mg/kg/day and 1 mg/kg/day.

[Cutaneous hypersensitivity in patients with bronchial asthma in La Comarca Lagunera]. / Hipersensibilidad cutánea en pacientes con asma bronquial de La Comarca Lagunera.

A cross-sectional study was done to determine the frequency of cutaneous sensibility to aeroallergens and variations related to residence area. In a period of time from June 1994 to June 1995, we analyzed 101 patients residents in the Comarca Lagunera diagnosed as having allergic bronchial asthma. The patients were highly sensitive to pollen grains: Cynodon Dactylon (70%), Chenopodium (69%), Rusian Thistle (63%), Rye Grass (61%), Zea Maiz and Prosopis (57%). The sensitivity to molds was less: Candida (22%), Helmintosporium (18%) and Cephalosporium (16%). House Dust was positive in 55% and Dermatophagoides in 35%. Cotton hypersensitivity was poor (7%). There were not differences in cutaneous reactivity related with residence area.