Dating Violence among Undergraduate Medical Students at a Public University in Mexico City: An Exploratory Study.

Gender-based violence (GBV) and cyber-aggression are growing problems in Mexico, but there is a dearth of information on their associated risks. We aimed to determine the prevalence of dating violence (DV) and cyber-aggression in a public campus and compared students' acceptability of abusive DV based on their sex and sexual orientation. We employed a cross-sectional design to survey 964 first-year medical students attending a public university. We analyzed who found "acceptable" abusive behaviors from a dating partner and carried out descriptive analyses of sample characteristics by sex. We included 633 women and 331 men. Homosexual and bisexual orientation was lower among women (1.5%, 4.8%) vs. men (16.9%, 7.2%). Of women and men, respectively, 64.2% and 35.8% reported having been in a dating relationship. Experiencing abusive behaviors in the year prior to the study was associated with students' level of "acceptability". A total of 43.5% of the students who experienced cyber-aggression did not report any mental health consequences, 32.6% did not seek professional help, and 17.4% reported feeling depressed. Students that accepted emotionally abusive DV behaviors displayed a fourfold risk of experiencing physical abuse. Women and sexual minorities are more at risk of experiencing GBV and DV. More male students reported being victims of cyber-aggression.

The association between low cognitive reserve and subjective memory complaints in functionally independent older women.

BACKGROUND: Several factors have been found to defend against pathologic cognitive decline in aging (i.e., cognitive reserve [CR]); however, other factors, including subjective memory complaints (SMC) and decreased functionality are considered early indicators of underlying neurocognitive dysfunction. Despite these known associations, the relationship between the presence of CR and SMC remains equivocal. This study sought to determine the relationship between objectively measured CR and SMC in a sample of functionally independent older women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study recruited women aged ≥60 years who attended fitness or continuing education programs at the University for Seniors in Mexico City. Participants underwent a battery of physical and cognitive evaluations, including the Cognitive Reserve Questionnaire (CRQ), and were asked probing questions used to identify the presence of SMC. RESULTS: The 269 participants had a median age of 69 years; most were single (40.5 %), lived alone (32.7 %), retired (58.2 %), well-educated (≥12 years of education), and functionally independent (89.2 %). 62 % scored "high" on the CRQ, while 9.3 % scored "low". After adjusting for multiple covariates, an independent association between CRQ score and the probability to have SMC was found (adjusted OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.80-0.95, p-value = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified a relationship between low CR and the presence of SMC, independently of the cognitive function and motoric marker of muscle strength (i.e., low gait speed and handgrip strength) in functionally independent older women over 60y. This relationship remains independent of other variables such as age, symptoms of depression and instrumented activities of daily living.

Clinical characteristics and mortality risk factors in patients aged less than 18 years with COVID-19 in Mexico and Mexico City.

INTRODUCTION: In the paediatric population, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is usually asymptomatic or mild, but there are also severe and fatal cases. METHODS: We analysed data on COVID-19 cases from the national and state-level databases of the Federal Ministry of Health of Mexico and the Department of Health of Mexico City to determine the clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality in children. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to calculate the risk of death. RESULTS: The national and Mexico City databases had recorded a total of 18,465 (2.8%) and 5,733 (4.2%) confirmed cases of COVID-19, respectively, in individuals aged less than 18 years as of September 2020. The median age at diagnosis was 12 years (range: 0-17). The differences between cases in the national vs Mexico City databases were: 12.5% vs 8.2% of patients were hospitalised; 6% vs 3.5% had pneumonia; 2.4% vs 1.9% were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and 1.3% vs 0.7% died. The independent risk factors significantly associated with a higher probability of death were pneumonia, hypertension, obesity, immunosuppression and intubation. CONCLUSION: In Mexico, 2.8% of all confirmed cases of COVID-19 occurred in individuals under 18 years, with a median age of 12 years and a mortality of 1.3%. The identified predictors of mortality were pneumonia, admission to the ICU, obesity, hypertension, immunosuppression, diabetes, chronic lung disease and renal disease.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Among Mexican Adults.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has increased worldwide, and since 2012, prevalence of obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia has increased in Mexico. Objective: To assess the prevalence of MetS, and its relationship with sociodemographic and lifestyle factors among Mexican adults. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study nationally representative, carried out on Mexican adults (≥20-year-old adults of both sexes; n = 4595). Socioeconomic factors, geographic area, health care coverage and previous medical diagnoses of diabetes and hypertension, and smoking were assessed. Anthropometrics, and triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-chol), creatinine, and glucose plasma levels were measured. The ATP III MetS definition was applied. Results: A MetS prevalence of 44.2% was observed, which was higher in males than females, and increased with age, lower school level, and overweight. Hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-chol, abdominal obesity, and hypertension were higher in people with MetS, and were associated with obesity. Conclusions: The prevalence of MetS in the Mexican adult observed in the ENSADER 2007 was high, and mainly in men than women. Specific associations of MetS with age, scholar level, and body mass index have been found. Obesity and MetS were associated.

[Clinical characteristics and mortality risk factors in patients aged less than 18 years with COVID-19 in Mexico and Mexico City]. / Características clínicas y factores de riesgo de mortalidad en menores de 18 años con COVID-19 en México y Ciudad de México.

Introduction: In the paediatric population, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is usually asymptomatic or mild, but there are also severe and fatal cases. Methods: We analysed data on COVID-19 cases from the national and state-level databases of the Federal Ministry of Health of Mexico and the Department of Health of Mexico City to determine the clinical characteristics and risk factors for mortality in children. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to calculate the risk of death. Results: The national and Mexico City databases had recorded a total of 18,465 (2.8%) and 5,733 (4.2%) confirmed cases of COVID-19, respectively, in individuals aged less than 18 years as of September 2020. The median age at diagnosis was 12 years (range: 0-17). The differences between cases in the national vs Mexico City databases were: 12.5% vs 8.2% of patients were hospitalised; 6% vs 3.5% had pneumonia; 2.4% vs 1.9% were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and 1.3% vs 0.7% died. The independent risk factors significantly associated with a higher probability of death were pneumonia, hypertension, obesity, immunosuppression and intubation. Conclusion: In Mexico, 2.8% of all confirmed cases of COVID-19 occurred in individuals under 18 years, with a median age of 12 years and a mortality of 1.3%. The identified predictors of mortality were pneumonia, admission to the ICU, obesity, hypertension, immunosuppression, diabetes, chronic lung disease and renal disease.

The Paradoxical Effect of Living Alone on Cognitive Reserve and Mild Cognitive Impairment among Women Aged 60+ in Mexico City.

An elderly person who lives alone must often be autonomous and self-sufficient in daily living activities. We explored if living alone and marital status were associated with mild cognitive impairment and low cognitive reserve in a sample of Mexican women aged 60+ attending continuing education courses using a cross-sectional design. Objective cognitive functions were assessed using the MMSE and Blessed Dementia Scale. We administered the Cognitive Reserve Questionnaire. Independence skills were assessed with the Katz index and Lawton index. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used. We recruited 269 participants (x¯ = 69.0 ± 5.8 years). Single, widowed, separated, and divorced women comprised 73% of the participants. A third lived alone and 84% had completed high school. Mild cognitive deficit was observed among 24.5-29.0%; the upper range for cognitive reserve was 61.7%. Living alone versus living with someone was associated with cognitive impairment (OR = 0.51, p = 0.04) and with low to medium cognitive reserve (OR = 0.51, p = 0.02) after adjusting for confounding variables. Living alone was an independent factor associated with a lower probability of displaying mild cognitive impairment and a higher probability of displaying high cognitive reserve. Women living alone in this study had a more robust cognitive framework and had built their own support networks.

Association between the Use of Health Services, Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Metabolic Syndrome in Mexican Adults.

Background: The use of health services is a complex behavioral phenomenon affected by multiple factors (availability, distance, cost, quality, attitudes, cultural beliefs, socioeconomic characteristics, and individuals' self-perception of health). Mexico has a segmented health system, and the access to it depends on the labor insertion and the population's ability to pay. Objective: To assess association between use of health services and cardiovascular and metabolic syndrome risk factors among Mexican adults. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional nationally representative study carried out on Mexican adults (≥20-year-old adults of both sexes; n = 4595). Socioeconomic factors, geographic area, health care coverage, information about the use of health services, previous medical diagnoses of diabetes and hypertension, and smoking were assessed. Anthropometrics, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and glucose plasma levels were measured. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular risk factors were assessed. Prevalences were expressed in terms of percentages, and significant differences were calculated using χ2 test. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to evaluate the association between the use of health services and cardiovascular risk factors and sociodemographic variables. Results: The probability of using health services is higher and more significant in subjects with obesity, diabetes (OR (95% CI): 1.73 (1.49-2.00; p < 0.001), hypertension (OR (95% CI): 1.29 (1.14-1.45; p < 0.001), hypertriglyceridemia (OR (95% CI): 1.30 (1.15-1.46; p < 0.001), and in those with hypercholesterolemia (OR (95% CI): 1.23 (1.03-1.39; p = 0.001). Conclusions: Among health service users, there is a positive significant association between the use of health services and the presence of metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia.

Decreased kidney function and agricultural work: a cross-sectional study in middle-aged adults from Tierra Blanca, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the prevalence of decreased kidney function in a potential chronic kidney disease (KD) of unknown aetiology hotspot in Mexico, assess its distribution across occupations and examine the associated risk factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study collected sociodemographic, occupational, medical and biometric data from 616 men and women aged 20-60 years who were residents of three communities within the Tierra Blanca region in Mexico. Kidney function was assessed by standardized serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and semi-quantitative albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). To examine the distribution of decreased kidney function within the population, age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of low eGFR (≤60 mL/min/1.73 m2) was estimated for all participants and across occupations. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association of occupation with having low eGFR. RESULTS: Of the 579 participants analysed (37 excluded due to missing data), the age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of low eGFR was 3.5%. Agriculture was the occupation associated with the highest adjusted prevalence of low eGFR (8.8%), with 1 in every 11 agricultural workers having low eGFR. Working in agriculture was independently associated with more than a 5-fold risk of having low eGFR [odds ratio 5.2 (95% confidence interval 1.1-24.3), P = 0.032], after adjustment for age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, body mass index, ACR and family history of KD. Additionally, a quarter of the population (25%) had either low eGFR or an ACR >30 mg/g, mostly due to albuminuria. CONCLUSIONS: Our work suggests that there is a high prevalence of decreased kidney function in Tierra Blanca, particularly amongst agricultural workers.

Expression of metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 is associated to the presence of androgen receptor in epithelial ovarian tumors.

BACKGROUND: The current study evaluated the metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in epithelial cells and the surrounding stroma in ovarian tumors and the association of MMPs with the histological subtypes, the clinical stage and the presence of steroid hormone receptors. Tumor samples were obtained from 88 patients undergoing surgical cytoreduction of primary ovarian tumors in Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, from México City. The formalin fixed and paraffin embedded samples were processed in order to demonstrate the presence of androgen receptor,estrogen receptor alpha, progesterone receptor, MMP-2,MMP-9 and collagen IV by immunohistochemistry and/or immunofluorescence. RESULTS: MMP-2 and MMP-9 were differentially expressed in the epithelium and the stroma of ovarian tumors associated to histological subtype, clinical stage and sexual steroid hormone receptor expression. Based on Cox proportional hazard regression model we demonstrated that MMP-2 located in the epithelium and the stroma are independent prognostic biomarkers for overall survival in epithelial ovarian tumors. Kaplan Meir analysis of the combination of AR (+) with MMP-2 (+) in epithelium and AR (+) with MMP-2 (-) in stroma displayed a significant reduction of survival. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of MMP-2 in the stroma of the tumor was a protective factor while the presence of MMP-2 in the epithelium indicated an adverse prognosis. The presence of AR associated with MMP-2 in the tumor cells was a risk factor for overall survival in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Mucosal Microbiome Profiles Polygenic Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Mestizo Individuals.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most frequent functional gastrointestinal disorder, worldwide, with a high prevalence among Mestizo Latin Americans. Because several inflammatory disorders appear to affect this population, a further understanding of host genomic background variants, in conjunction with colonic mucosa dysbiosis, is necessary to determine IBS physiopathology and the effects of environmental pressures. Using a simple polygenic model, host single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the taxonomic compositions of microbiota were compared between IBS patients and healthy subjects. As proof of concept, five IBS-Rome III patients and five healthy controls (HCs) were systematically studied. The human and bacterial intestinal metagenome of each subject was taxonomically annotated and screened for previously annotated IBS, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease-associated SNPs or taxon abundance. Dietary data and fecal markers were collected and associated with the intestinal microbiome. However, more than 1,000 variants were found, and at least 76 SNPs differentiated IBS patients from HCs, as did associations with 4 phyla and 10 bacterial genera. In this study, we found elements supporting a polygenic background, with frequent variants, among the Mestizo population, and the colonic mucosal enrichment of Bacteroides, Alteromonas, Neisseria, Streptococcus, and Microbacterium, may serve as a hallmark for IBS.

Twelve years after abortion decriminalization in Mexico City: Can we still remain an island of liberties?

Latin America hosts the most restrictive abortion legislation globally. In 2007, Mexico, the second largest Catholic country in the world, decriminalized elective abortion within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy in the capital: Mexico City (also known as Federal District of Mexico). Following the reform, the Mexico City Ministry of Health (MX-MOH) implemented safe and legal services. Free services are provided to Mexico City residents and a sliding fee of up to $100 is applied to women from other Mexican states. Conscientious objection (CO) was addressed and included in service provision guidelines. Since 2007, 18 of 32 states amended their penal codes to restrict abortion. The road toward increasing access to abortion services at the MX-MOH included a shift from dilation and curettage (D&C) to medical abortion (MA), first with the misoprostol-alone regimen, followed by the combined mifepristone-misoprostol regimen. Manual vacuum aspiration is offered to out-of-state-women or to those beyond the gestational age where MA is less effective. Contraceptive uptake among abortion seekers is high (up to 95% of them prefer a free method of their choice). The Legal Interruption of Pregnancy program at the MX-MOH continues to provide effective, safe, reliable, and free services. However, women from indigenous groups residing in rural areas, those with low schooling, and adolescents with an unintended pregnancy who live in rural, urban, peri-urban districts, and at the state level are underserved despite being legally eligible to receive abortion services. Therefore, information and services for the disadvantaged groups need to be strengthened.

Sexual steroid hormone receptors profiles of ovarian carcinoma in Mexican women.

The significance of the presence of androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor alpha (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in ovarian cancer patient survival has been a matter of numerous studies. This study was aimed to describe the expression profile of the three sexual steroid receptors in high-grade serous, endometrioid, mucinous and low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma and its association to the proliferation index in patients with primary ovarian carcinoma diagnosis, before any treatment. Eighty-one samples were obtained from the National Institute of Cancerology in Mexico City and were evaluated for the presence of AR, ER, PR and Ki67 by immunohistochemistry. The four subtypes of ovarian carcinoma displays a specific profile of the eight possible combinations of the steroid receptors with significant differences within the profile and the histological subtypes. High-grade serous carcinoma was characterized by a high frequency of both, triple-negative and AR+ ER- PR+ profiles. Endometrioid carcinoma presented a higher frequency of triple-positive profile. The presence of only AR+ profile was not observed in the endometrioid tumors. The relationship of the receptor profile with the proliferation index in the tumor epithelium shows that the expression of only ER is associated to a reduced proliferation index in endometrioid carcinoma. Steroid hormone receptor expression and co-expression could help characterize ovarian carcinoma.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among elderly Mexicans.

BACKGROUND: One of the most prevalent chronic diseases among elderly population is the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of MetS and associated factors among Mexican elderly people. SUBJECTS: Cross-sectional survey carried out in Mexico (2007). A random sample (n=516) of the elderly population (≥65years; 277 female, 239 male) was interviewed. Anthropometric and analytical measurements, and a general questionnaire incorporating questions related to socio-demographic and life-style factors were used. MetS definition AHA/NHLBI/IDF was applied. RESULTS: The prevalence of MetS in the elderly (≥65years) was of 72.9% (75.7% men; 70.4% women). Participants with values above MetS cut-off points were 92.4% (hypertension), 77.8% (hypertriglyceridemia), 77.1% (low HDL-cholesterol), 71.1% (hyperglycaemia), and 65.4% (central obesity). People with MetS showed higher values of anthropometric and biochemical variables than those without MetS, except for the height, cholesterol and creatinine. Mid-high education level (9-12 years), no smokers and former smokers, and Central-Western inhabitants of Mexico were associated with MetS components. BMI status was the main determinant of MetS prevalence and MetS components. CONCLUSION: The reported prevalence of MetS among the elderly Mexican population was higher than those previously obtained in the geographical area, showing a major public health problem in Mexican elders.

Choline-to-N-acetyl aspartate and lipids-lactate-to-creatine ratios together with age assemble a significant Cox's proportional-hazards regression model for prediction of survival in high-grade gliomas.

OBJECTIVE: A long-lasting concern has prevailed for the identification of predictive biomarkers for high-grade gliomas (HGGs) using MRI. However, a consensus of which imaging parameters assemble a significant survival model is still missing in the literature; we investigated the significant positive or negative contribution of several MR biomarkers in this tumour prognosis. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of supratentorial HGGs [11 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and 17 anaplastic astrocytomas] included 28 patients (9 females and 19 males, respectively, with a mean age of 50.4 years, standard deviation: 16.28 years; range: 13-85 years). Oedema and viable tumour measurements were acquired using regions of interest in T1 weighted, T2 weighted, fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and MR spectroscopy (MRS). We calculated Kaplan-Meier curves and obtained Cox's proportional hazards. RESULTS: During the follow-up period (3-98 months), 17 deaths were recorded. The median survival time was 1.73 years (range, 0.287-8.947 years). Only 3 out of 20 covariates (choline-to-N-acetyl aspartate and lipids-lactate-to-creatine ratios and age) showed significance in explaining the variability in the survival hazards model; score test: χ2 (3) = 9.098, p = 0.028. CONCLUSION: MRS metabolites overcome volumetric parameters of peritumoral oedema and viable tumour, as well as tumour region ADC measurements. Specific MRS ratios (Cho/Naa, L-L/Cr) might be considered in a regular follow-up for these tumours. Advances in knowledge: Cho/Naa ratio is the strongest survival predictor with a log-hazard function of 2.672 in GBM. Low levels of lipids-lactate/Cr ratio represent up to a 41.6% reduction in the risk of death in GBM.

Perfusion volume correlates, percentage of involution, and clinical efficacy at diverse follow-up survey times after MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery in uterine fibroids: first report in a Mexican mestizo population.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery in a Mexican mestizo population. METHODS: This retrospective study included 159 women (mean age 37 ± 6.4 years, range 22-53 years) from 2008 to 2010. Two hundred sixty-eight symptomatic uterine fibroids were treated using MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery. Parameters included initial perfused volume, final perfused volume, non-perfused volume (NPV), and treated volume ratio (TVR). Follow-up up to 15 months assessed treatment efficacy and symptomatic relief. Non-parametric statistics and the Kaplan-Meier method were performed. RESULTS: T2-weighted hypointense fibroids showed a frequency of 93.6%; isointense and hyperintense fibroids had frequencies of 5.60 and 1.1%. There was a negative correlation between NPV and age (r = -0.083, p = 0.307) and treatment time (r = -0.253, p = 0.001). Median TVR was 96.0% in small fibroids and 76.5% in large fibroids. Involution of 50% and 80% was achieved at months 6-7 and month 11, respectively. Relief of symptoms was significant (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that higher TVR attained immediately post-treatment of MRgFUS favours higher involution percentages at follow-up; however, careful patient selection and use of pretreatment imaging are important components for predicting success using MR-guided focused ultrasound surgery. KEY POINTS: • Type 1 fibroids were the most common (93.2%). • Age and treated volume were not correlated (r s = -0.215, p = 0.165). • Small fibroids achieved a higher treated volume than large (96.0% vs. 76.5%). • A 50% involution was achieved at 6-month follow-up for type-1 fibroid. • A decrease of 80% was reached at 11 months for type-1 fibroids.

Longitudinal analysis of participants in the KEEP Mexico's chronic kidney disease screening program.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP) is a free screening and educational program aimed at detecting chronic kidney disease (CKD) among adult individuals who are at high-risk (those with diabetes, hypertension, or family history of these conditions or CKD). Confirmation of CKD diagnosis requires persistence of albuminuria or estimated GFR <60 mL/min for at least 3 months. We undertook this study to determine in a follow-up KEEP done at least 1 year after a baseline KEEP the following: 1) CKD incidence among individuals who initially tested negative for CKD, 2) transitions between CKD stages among individuals who initially tested positive for CKD. METHODS: A random sample of KEEP participants was invited to participate in a follow-up KEEP between 2008 and 2010. Paired analyses were conducted to compare CKD stages between baseline and follow-up KEEP. RESULTS: A total of 434 individuals with a mean age of 49 years and 77% females participated in the study. Overall CKD prevalence in the baseline KEEP was 24%, and most patients were unaware of the diagnosis. In the follow-up KEEP, CKD incidence was 14%. The percentage of patients who tested positive for CKD in the baseline KEEP and who remained positive regardless of stage in the follow-up KEEP was 40% for those with stage 1 at baseline, 52% for those with stage 2, 65% for those with stage 3, and 100% for those with stages 4 or 5. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for CKD among high-risk individuals is uncommon. KEEP is an effective program for detecting CKD.

Acute kidney injury in cardiac surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with cardiac surgery is a common postoperative complication that increases the morbidity and mortality substantially. However, there is limited information of AKI after cardiac surgery in our institution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational, and longitudinal analysis of adult patients that underwent to cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross clamp. Patients with preoperative chronic renal insufficiency that were on dialysis, with AKI detected up to 24 h before the procedure, or that received contrast agents 72 h before surgery were excluded. AKI was defined by the AKIN classification. Patients were followed up to 7 days after surgery or before if discharged from the intensive care unit. We analyzed age, sex, body mass index (BMI), co-morbilities, previous cardiac surgery, left ventricular ejection fraction, New York Heart Association class, type of procedure, cardiopulmonary bypass time, cross clamp time and bleeding. RESULTS: Our analysis included 164 patients submitted to cardiac surgery. In the follow up, 84% did not have AKI, 11% had AKIN 1 and 2 accompanied by increase in serum creatinine and 6% had AKIN 3. Patients with AKI were older, had a higher preoperative creatinine, plasma glucose level, and a lower left ventricular ejection fraction. All together patients with AKIN had a longer hospital stay and a higher mortality (p < 0.001). The preoperative use of insulin was associated with the development of AKI, and there was a higher number of patients with a New York Heart Association class III and IV for heart failure in the more sever forms of AKI (p = 0.01). The logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with a high preoperative blood urea nitrogen (> 20 mg/dL) creatinine level (> 1 mg/dL), uric acid (> 7 mg/dL) and lower albumin (< 4 g/dL) or lower intraoperative hemoglobin (< 8 g/dL) had a higher risk for postoperative AKI. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of AKI in our Institute is of 17%. Patients with AKIN 2 and 3 had a higher mortality and a longer stay in the intensive care unit. The major risk factors for AKI development were identified.

Carbohydrate intake modulates the effect of the ABCA1-R230C variant on HDL cholesterol concentrations in premenopausal women.

The R230C variant of the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) gene has been consistently associated with decreased HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations in several studies in the Mexican mestizo population. However, information on how diet composition modifies the effect of the ABCA1-R230C variant on HDL-C concentrations is very scarce. The aim of the present study was to analyze whether the effect of ABCA1-R230C on HDL-C concentrations is modulated by dietary factors in a nationwide population sample of 3591 adults from the National Health and Nutrition Survey conducted by the State's Employees' Social Security and Social Services Institute. All participants answered a validated questionnaire to assess health status and weekly food consumption. Fasting blood samples were drawn for biochemical analysis and DNA extraction, and the ABCA1-R230C variant was genotyped using TaqMan assays. Statistical analyses consisted of simple linear and multiple regression modeling adjusting for age, BMI, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The overall C risk allele frequency was 9.3% and the variant was significantly associated with low HDL-C concentrations in both sexes. A significant negative correlation between carbohydrate consumption and HDL-C concentrations was observed in women bearing the R230C variant (P = 0.021) and a significant gene-diet interaction was found only in premenopausal women (P = 0.037). In conclusion, the effect of the ABCA1-R230C gene variant on HDL-C concentrations is modulated by carbohydrate intake in premenopausal women. This finding may help design optimized dietary interventions according to sex and ABCA1-R230C genotype.

Improved outcome in asymptomatic recurrence following curative surgery for gastric cancer.

The purpose of this study was to compare the outcome and resectability of patients with gastric cancer recurrence after curative surgery detected by follow-up endoscopy, according to the presence or absence of symptoms. All patients with gastric carcinoma, who underwent a curative gastrectomy, were retrospectively identified. We analyzed outcome and survival in patients compliant with routine follow-up who presented symptomatic and asymptomatic recurrence. Of the 119 resected patients, 63.0% had a recurrence, with an overall survival of 20.0 months. Fourteen patients were asymptomatic when recurrence was detected, whereas 61 patients were symptomatic. Median time to recurrence was 16.0 m for both groups. A local curative re-resection was possible in 2/14 (asymptomatic) and 1/61 (symptomatic). Asymptomatic patients had a longer median postrecurrence survival time of 9.0 months, compared with 2.0 months in the symptomatic patients (p=0.034). The median overall survival was greater in the asymptomatic vs symptomatic group (25.0 vs 20.0 months), although this did not reach statistical significance. The results from this study advocate that the presence or absence of symptoms is a good surrogate marker to assess biologic aggressiveness. The value of routine follow-up endoscopy to permit a higher rate of re-resection in asymptomatic patients remains to be established.