Toxoplasma gondii presence in women with spontaneous abortion in Yucatan, Mexico.

The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of anti- Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and DNA of women with spontaneous abortions in 2 hospitals located in Yucatan, Mexico. Between June 2008 and May 2009, blood samples were taken from 100 women with spontaneous abortion attending the Ticul City Communitarian Hospital and the Merida Mother-Kid Hospital. The sera were tested for anti- T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies. Blood samples (5 ml with anticlotting agent) were also used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, to detect T. gondii DNA. Forty-two of the 100 samples were negative. Of the positive samples (n = 58), 32 were positive to IgG, 2 to IgM, 5 to IgG and IgM, 6 to IgG and PCR, 1 to IgM and PCR, and 12 to IgG, IgM, and PCR. Accordingly, 55% of the women were seropositive to at least IgG, 20% to at least IgM, and 19% via PCR. Differences between hospitals were significant (P < 0.05) only for IgM. The risk of infection (IgM positive) was 2.85 (odds ratio [OR] 95%, confidence interval [CI]; 1.03-7.87) times greater in women patients at the Merida Mother-Kid Hospital, than those at the Ticul Communitarian Hospital. More studies are needed to evaluate the impact of this disease and to establish strategies to follow in order to reduce congenital toxoplasmosis in the populations at risk.

Host-feeding preference of the mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, in Yucatan State, Mexico.

Studies were conducted to determine the host-feeding preference of Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae) in relation to the availability of human and domestic animals in the city of Merida, Yucatan State, Mexico. Mosquitoes were collected in the backyards of houses using resting wooden boxes. Collections were made five times per week from January to December 2005. DNA was extracted from engorged females and tested by PCR using universal avian- and mammalian-specific primers. DNA extracted from avian-derived blood was further analyzed by PCR using primers that differentiate among the birds of three avian orders: Passeriformes, Columbiformes and Galliformes. PCR products obtained from mammalian-derived blood were subjected to restriction enzyme digestion to differentiate between human-, dog-, cat-, pig-, and horse-derived blood meals. Overall, 82% of engorged mosquitoes had fed on birds, and 18% had fed on mammals. The most frequent vertebrate hosts were Galliformes (47.1%), Passeriformes (23.8%), Columbiformes (11.2%) birds, and dogs (8.8%). The overall human blood index was 6.7%. The overall forage ratio for humans was 0.1, indicating that humans were not a preferred host for Cx. quinquefasciatus in Merida.

[Effect of the Gly972Arg, SNP43 and Prol2Ala polymorphisms of the genes IRS1, CAPN10 and PPARG2 on secondary failure to sulphonylurea and metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes in Yucatán, México]. / Efecto de los polimorfismos Gly972Arg del gen IRS1, SNP43 del gen CAPN10 y Prol2Ala del gen PPARG2 sobre la falla secundaria a sulfonilureas y metformina en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 de Yucatán, Mexico.

In Yucatán, 52% of patients with type 2 diabetes (DT2) present secondary failure to treatment associated with sulphonylurea and metformin. A possible explanation may be due to polymorphisms in the genes IRS1, CAPN10, PPARG2, which are involved in pancreatic beta cell dysfunction and a poor response to the action of insulin. The association of the polymorphisms Gly972Arg, SNP43, and Pro12Ala, of the genes IRS1, CAPN10, PPARG2, with the risk of failure to sulphonylurea and metformin therapies was determinated in patients with DT2 in Yucatán, México. One hundred and thirty and two subjects with DT2 were classified in groups of responders (HbA1c < 8%) and non-responders (HbA1c > 8%) to the treatment, according to the control of hyperglucemia with sulphonylurea and metformin. Demographic, anthropometric and metabolic data were obtained from each subject. The polymorphisms were identified by means of DNA analysis by PCR/RFLP and PCR/OAL. Genotypic and allelic frequencies and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were determined. Statistical analyses consisted of X2 and multiple logistic regression tests (Epi-Info 2000 and SPSS version 12). Obese subjects carrying the genotype AA SNP43 showed 4.69 times more risk of failure to respond to treatment (p = 0.027), when compared with subjects sharing GA genotype: X2 (OR = 4.69, IC: 1.15-20.59) and multiple logistic regression, p = 0.048, (OR = 3.72, IC: 1.009-13.718). The interaction between genotype AA and the BMI > 27 showed also a significant difference (p = 0.009). The findings suggest the fact that polymorphism SNP43 may influence the response to treatment with sulphonylurea and metformin, the expression being dependent on obesity.

Efecto de los polimorfismos Gly972Arg del gen IRS1, SNP43 del gen CAPN10 y Pro12Ala del gen PPARG2 sobre la falla secundaria a sulfonilureas y metformina en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 de Yucatán México / Effect of the Gly972Arg, SNP43 and Pro12Ala polymorphisms of the genes IRS1, CAPN10 and PPARG2 on secondary failure to sulphonylurea and metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes in Yucatán México

La diabetes tipo 2 (DT2) es elevada en Yucatán; 52% de los afectados presentan falla al tratamiento con sulfonilureas y metformina. Una posible explicación es por polimorfismos en los genes IRS1, CAPN10, PPARG2, involucrados en la disfunción de la célula b pancreática y respuesta baja a la acción de insulina. Se determinó la asociación de los polimorfismos Gly972Arg, SNP43 y Pro12Ala con el riesgo a la falla al tratamiento con sulfonilurea y metformina, en pacientes con DT2 de Yucatán, México. Se estudiaron ciento treinta y dos pacientes, clasificados con base al control de la hiperglucemia con sulfonilureas y metformina, en grupos de respondedores (HbA1c<8%) y no respondedores (HbA1c > 8%) al tratamiento. De cada sujeto, se obtuvieron datos demográficos, antropométricos, clínicos y metabólicos. Los polimorfismos se identificaron mediante el análisis del ADN por PCR/RFLP y PCR/OAL. Se calcularon las frecuencias genotípicas y alélicas y el equilibrio de Hardy-Weinberg. Se analizó estadísticamente con X² y regresión logística múltiple (Epi-Info 2000 y SPSS versión 12). Se observó diferencia significativa (p = 0,027) en el riesgo a la falla al tratamiento 4,69 veces mayor en sujetos obesos con genotipo AA SNP43, comparado con sujetos con genotipo GA: X² (OR= 4,69, IC: 1,15-20,59) y regresión logística múltiple, p= 0,048, (OR= 3,72, IC: 1,009-13,718). Se identificó interacción entre el genotipo AA y el IMC>27 (p=0,009). Los hallazgos sugieren que el polimorfismo SNP43 podría influir en la respuesta al tratamiento con sulfonilureas y metformina, con expresión dependiente de obesidad.

In Yucatán, 52% of patients with type 2 diabetes (DT2) present secondary failure to treatment associated with sulphonylurea and metformin. A possible explanation may be due to polymorphisms in the genes IRS1, CAPN10, PPARG2, which are involved in pancreatic b cell dysfunction and a poor response to the action of insulin. The association of the polymorphisms Gly972Arg, SNP43, and Pro12Ala, of the genes IRS1, CAPN10, PPARG2, with the risk of failure to sulphonylurea and metformin therapies was determinated in patients with DT2 in Yucatán, México. One hundred and thirty and two subjects with DT2 were classified in groups of responders (HbA1c< 8%) and non-responders (HbA1c> 8%) to the treatment, according to the control of hyperglucemia with sulphonylurea and metformin. Demographic, anthropometric and metabolic data were obtained from each subject. The polymorphisms were identified by means of DNA analysis by PCR/RFLP and PCR/OAL. Genotypic and allelic frequencies and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were determined. Statistical analyses consisted of X² and multiple logistic regression tests (Epi-Info 2000 and SPSS version 12). Obese subjects carrying the genotype AA SNP43 showed 4.69 times more risk of failure to respond to treatment (p=0.027), when compared with subjects sharing GA genotype: X² (OR= 4.69, IC: 1.15-20.59) and multiple logistic regression, p= 0.048, (OR= 3.72, IC: 1.009-13.718). The interaction between genotype AA and the BMI> 27 showed also a significant difference (p=0.009). The findings suggest the fact that polymorphism SNP43 may influence the response to treatment with sulphonylurea and metformin, the expression being dependent on obesity.

Isolation of cDNA encoding the catalytic site of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C from Coffea arabica L.: Recombinant expression and peptide purification.

A cDNA encoding the catalytic site of a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) was isolated from Coffea arabica suspension cells. The cDNA (designated CaPLC) encodes a polypeptide of 308 amino acids, containing the catalytic X and Y domains, and has 99% identity to the soybean gene. Recombinant CaPLC protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified, and used to produce a polyclonal antibody. The peptide has a molecular mass of 27 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and western blot analyses. Immunoblots revealed the presence of PLC-like proteins in the tissues of different plant species.

Clinical-epidemiological study of leptospirosis in humans and reservoirs in Yucatan, Mexico

A leptospirosis clinical-epidemiological study was made in humans and reservoirs in the state of Yucatßn, MÚxico. Interviews and serological analyses were made on 400 persons from an open population, 439 probable cases of leptospirosis and 1060 animal reservoirs (cows, pigs, dogs, rats and opossums). IgM Leptospira DipstickTM and Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) was used to detect human antibodies to leptospiras and serovar respectively. Leptospirosis incidence in humans was 2.2/100,000 inhab. in 1998, 0.7/100,000 in 1999 and 0.9/100,000 in 2000. Overall seroprevalence was 14.2 percent, relatively unchanged from seroprevalences observed 20 years ago. Highest seropositivity was found in people over 56 years of age, predominating males over females. Predominant serovars in the open population were tarassovi, hardjo, pomona and panama. Leptospirosis cases were most frequent in rural areas, and the anicteric course predominated over the icteric. The panama, icterohaemorrhagiae and pomona serovars predominated in both anicteric and icteric courses. Dogs, pigs and rodents had the highest seropositivity among the reservoirs. Contact with rodents and natural water sources were significant factors (p ú 0.05). Human cases (74 percent) occurred during the rainy season. It is concluded that leptospirosis is still a serious illness with important clinical and epidemiological implications in the state of Yucatßn, Mexico

Clinical-epidemiological study of leptospirosis in humans and reservoirs in Yucatán, México.

A leptospirosis clinical-epidemiological study was made in humans and reservoirs in the state of Yucatán, México. Interviews and serological analyses were made on 400 persons from an open population, 439 probable cases of leptospirosis and 1060 animal reservoirs (cows, pigs, dogs, rats and opossums). IgM Leptospira Dipstick and Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) was used to detect human antibodies to leptospiras and serovar respectively. Leptospirosis incidence in humans was 2.2/100,000 inhab. in 1998, 0.7/100,000 in 1999 and 0.9/100,000 in 2000. Overall seroprevalence was 14.2%, relatively unchanged from seroprevalences observed 20 years ago. Highest seropositivity was found in people over 56 years of age, predominating males over females. Predominant serovars in the open population were tarassovi, hardjo, pomona and panama. Leptospirosis cases were most frequent in rural areas, and the anicteric course predominated over the icteric. The panama, icterohaemorrhagiae and pomona serovars predominated in both anicteric and icteric courses. Dogs, pigs and rodents had the highest seropositivity among the reservoirs. Contact with rodents and natural water sources were significant factors (p < or = 0.05). Human cases (74%) occurred during the rainy season. It is concluded that leptospirosis is still a serious illness with important clinical and epidemiological implications in the state of Yucatán, Mexico.