Infliximab Induces Increase in Triglyceride Levels in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients

Objectives. To evaluate lipid profile changes after anti-TNF therapy in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods. Fifteen PsA patients (eight polyarticular, four oligoarticular, two axial, and one mutilating) under infliximab were included. None had dyslipoproteinemia or previous statin use. Total cholesterol (TC) and its fractions, inflammatory markers, and prednisone use were evaluated. Results. The comparisons of lipid levels between baseline and after three months (3M) of anti-TNF therapy showed that there was a significant increase in mean triglycerides (117.8 ± 49.7 versus 140.1 ± 64.1 mg/dL, P = 0.028) and VLDL-c (23.6 ± 10.5 versus 28.4 ± 13.7 mg/dL, P = 0.019) levels. In contrast, there were no differences in the mean TC (P = 0.28), LDL-c (P = 0.42), and HDL-c (P = 0.26) levels. Analysis of the frequencies of each lipid alteration at baseline and at 3M were alike (P > 0.05). Positive correlations were found between VLDL-c and CRP (r = 0.647, P = 0.009) and between triglycerides and CRP (r = 0.604, P = 0.017) levels at 3M. ESR reduction was observed after 3M (P = 0.04). Mean prednisone dose remained stable at beginning and at 3M (P = 0.37). Conclusion. This study demonstrated that anti-TNF may increase TG and VLDL-c levels in PsA patients after three months

Fatal Human Infection with Rickettsia rickettsii, Yucatán, Mexico

The first fatal Rickettsia rickettsii infection was diagnosed in the southwest of Mexico. The patient had fever, erythematous rash, abdominal pain, and severe central nervous system involvement with convulsive crisis. The diagnosis of R. rickettsii infection was established by immunohistochemistry and specific polymerase chain reaction

Mecanismos de resistencia antifúngica de los azoles en Candida albicans. Una revisión

Candida albicans es una levadura comensal capaz de causar una infección oportunista en hospederos susceptibles denominada candidiasis. El tratamiento para combatir la candidiasis puede ser tópico o sistémico según el tipo de infección, los antifúngicos más utilizados son los derivados imidazólicos (fluconazol, itraconazol, ketoconazol, miconazol etc.), sin embargo en la actualidad se observa una disminución en la efectividad de estos medicamentos, es decir, un fenómeno de resistencia de parte del microorganismo a estos fármacos, esto debido principalmente, al surgimiento de levaduras resistentes, a la aparición de nuevas especies patógenas, a la prescripción irracional de antimicóticos como profilaxis y al aumento de las dosis terapéuticas. Existen dos mecanismos por los que Candida puede adquirir resistencia a un azol. El primero es por mutaciones moleculares de la enzima diana del antifúngico, como la alteración de las enzimas relacionadas en la síntesis del ergosterol y el segundo por la alteración en las bombas de expulsión: ATP-binding cassette (ABC) y facilitadores mayores (MF). En este trabajo se resumen los principales mecanismos de resistencia en Candida y la importancia de hacer pruebas de susceptibilidad con el fin de brindar un tratamiento adecuado para este tipo de infecciones oportunistas

Prevalence and distribution of intestinal parasites in stray dogs in the northwest area of Mexico

Zoonotic parasitic infections are a major global public and veterinary health problem and widespread among stray dogs. The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence of intestinal parasites in stray dogs in the urban, rural and coastal areas of Mexicali County in northwest Mexico. In 2014, from January to December, 380 stray dogs were captured. The entire small intestine, cecum and faeces samples were collected and examined by using simple zinc sulfate flotation and Lugol’s solution staining. Data were statistically analysed. Overall, about 21.5% of examined dogs were found positive for intestinal parasites. Toxocara canis was the most frequent detected parasite, with a prevalence of 7.1%, followed by Toxascaris leonina (5.5%), Cystoisospora spp. (5.0%), Taenia spp. (3.9%) and Dipylidium caninum (2.8%). Dogs were more frequently found to be infected with a single genus of intestinal parasite (18.7%) than co-infected (2.8%). Intestinal parasites were more prevalent in samples from the coastal area (25%) than in those from the rural (24.4%) and urban (20.6%) areas, however, only statistical association was found between capture area and specific intestinal parasitic infection. There were significant differences in the prevalence of taeniasis among two age groups (P<0.01). A seasonal peak of prevalence for intestinal parasitic infections was found during spring (P<0.05), corresponding with a seasonal peak of prevalence of T. canis (P<0.05). The wide range of isolated parasites indicated that people residing in this area are at risk of exposure to these potentially hazardous zoonotic pathogens

Reflexiones universitarias. San Pedro Valencia: renovación urbana, saneamiento ambiental y emprendimientos turísticos. Otoño 2015

Los trabajos que aquí se presentan se elaboraron por las y los estudiantes como parte de las actividades del Proyecto de Aplicación Profesional (PAP) “San Pedro Valencia: renovación urbana, saneamiento ambiental y emprendimientos turísticos”, durante el periodo de Otoño de 2015. A lo largo del periodo los autores compartieron sus reflexiones en torno a su percepción sobre el contexto en el que actúa el PAP; sobre las alternativas posibles a la problemática detectada y lo que significa pensar una alternativa; sobre los sujetos con los que se ha interactuado a lo largo de la experiencia de trabajo y sobre el papel del profesionista y del ciudadano en un mundo como el que nos tocó vivir. La obra está compuesta por reflexiones personales de las y los estudiantes que, explorando estas temáticas, comparten sus aprendizajes y observaciones de forma vívida.ITESO, A.C

FRECUENCIA DE LA INFECCIÓN POR VIRUS DE LA HEPATITIS C EN PACIENTES CON CIRROSIS HEPÁTICA EN YUCATÁN.

Introducción. La hepatitis C es causada por el virus de la hepatitis C (VHC), la Organización Mundial de la Salud estima 170 millones de personas se encuentran infectadas por el virus. El 80% de los infectados no elimina el virus de manera natural volviéndose crónico y llevando al desarrollo de cirrosis hepática en el 20% de los casos y carcinoma hepatocelular en el 10%. México se estima una seroprevalencia de 1.5% en la población general, y en Yucatán de 1.6%. En pacientes con cirrosis hepática se estima 32% en el Estado. Objetivo. Detectar la presencia de la infección activa de los VHC en los pacientes con cirrosis hepática que son atendidos en el Hospital General “Dr. Agustín O’Horán” de Mérida Yucatán. Metodología. Se tomaron 62 muestras séricas, se realizó la extracción de ARN total seguido de la síntesis de ADNc, la amplificación de la región 5' no codificante de los VHC con la técnica de reacción en cadena de la polimerasa, obteniendo un amplicon de 144 pares de bases. Resultado y Conclusión. 46.16% de las muestras séricas de los pacientes presentaron genoma viral circulante; hubo un aumento de la cirrosis causada por el VHC en un periodo de 10 años

A Multicomponent Animal Virus Isolated from Mosquitoes

RNA viruses exhibit a variety of genome organization strategies, including multicomponent genomes in which each segment is packaged separately. Although multicomponent genomes are common among viruses infecting plants and fungi, their prevalence among those infecting animals remains unclear. We characterize a multicomponent RNA virus isolated from mosquitoes, designated Guaico Culex virus (GCXV). GCXV belongs to a diverse clade of segmented viruses (Jingmenvirus) related to the prototypically unsegmented Flaviviridae. The GCXV genome comprises five segments, each of which appears to be separately packaged. The smallest segment is not required for replication, and its presence is variable in natural infections. We also describe a variant of Jingmen tick virus, another Jingmenvirus, sequenced from a Ugandan red colobus monkey, thus expanding the host range of this segmented and likely multicomponent virus group. Collectively, this study provides evidence for the existence of multicomponent animal viruses and their potential relevance for animal and human health.RNA viruses exhibit a variety of genome organization strategies, including multicomponent genomes in which each segment is packaged separately. Although multicomponent genomes are common among viruses infecting plants and fungi, their prevalence among those infecting animals remains unclear. We characterize a multicomponent RNA virus isolated from mosquitoes, designated Guaico Culex virus (GCXV). GCXV belongs to a diverse clade of segmented viruses (Jingmenvirus) related to the prototypically unsegmented Flaviviridae. The GCXV genome comprises five segments, each of which appears to be separately packaged. The smallest segment is not required for replication, and its presence is variable in natural infections. We also describe a variant of Jingmen tick virus, another Jingmenvirus, sequenced from a Ugandan red colobus monkey, thus expanding the host range of this segmented and likely multicomponent virus group. Collectively, this study provides evidence for the existence of multicomponent animal viruses and their potential relevance for animal and human health

Concepção dos estudantes sobre o tema Eletroquímica através de atividade do projeto PIBID numa escola da Baixada Fluminense

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Genomic, Pathway Network, and Immunologic Features Distinguishing Squamous Carcinomas

This integrated, multiplatform PanCancer Atlas study co-mapped and identified distinguishing molecular features of squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) from five sites associated with smokin