Effects of Lead on Reproductive Health

It has been documented that lead can cause a wide range of adverse reproductive outcomes. In men, lead can reduce the libido and affect spermatogenesis reducing the quality of sperm. Other effects in exposed men include disturbance of prostatic function and damage in serum testosterone. In pregnant women, lead can cross the placenta and impair the development of the fetus. Therefore, exposed women are at risk of suffering spontaneous abortion, premature delivery, gestational diabetes mellitus, pregnancy hypertension, preeclampsia, premature rupture of membranes, intrauterine growth restriction, low weight birth, and other pregnancy complications. In both men and women, lead has been associated with infertility. Harmful effects of this heavy metal have been observed even at low levels of exposure. Thus, exposure to lead remains a public health problem, especially for reproductive health. Some strategies should be considered to prevent harmful effects of lead on both male and female reproductive systems

Miocarditis aguda. Comportamiento en diez años

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de serie de casos clínicos con los 23 niños que egresaron del Hospital Pediátrico "Pedro A. Pérez" con diagnóstico de miocarditis aguda, en el período de 1986 a 1995, con el propósito de caracterizar el comportamiento de esta entidad. Para el diagnóstico se consideró el cuadro clínico, radiológico y electrocardiográfico. Para la recolección de datos se revisaron registros continuos de estadísticas sanitarias del referido hospital y del servicio de la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos, así como las historias clínicas y los protocolos de necropsia de los fallecidos. La mortalidad fue de 82,6 %. Los niños más afectados fueron los menores de un año. Los síntomas predominantes fueron: falta de aire (91,3 %) y quejido (43,5 %). Entre los fallecidos predominó la miocarditis intersticial (57,9 %). La miocarditis aguda presentó un incremento en su frecuencia anual en sentido aritmético, con una elevada mortalidad

Comportamiento del consumo de alcohol en estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de Guantánamo

Se  realiza un estudio descriptivo con el objetivo de caracterizar el comportamiento de algunas variables relacionadas con la ingestión de bebidas alcohólicas en estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de Guantánamo, durante el período  marzo 1998 - marzo 1999, ambos inclusive. Se aplicaron los cuestionarios CAGE y uno Extraorientador  para la clasificación médica a una muestra de 198 estudiantes. Se procesaron los datos con el paquete estadístico EpiInfo, y se expresan en cuadros de distribución de frecuencia y datos de asociación. Se estimaron los intervalos de confianza al 95 %  y se aplicó la prueba de Chi cuadrado de homogeneidad entre los sexos. Los resultados demostraron que la mayoría de los estudiantes ingiere bebidas alcohólicas (92 – 98 %). Existe un número importante de consumidores en riesgo (29 - 43%) La bebida más frecuentemente consumida fue el ron, y la preferida, la cerveza. Se emiten recomendaciones

Comportamiento del consumo de alcohol en estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de Guantánamo

Se  realiza un estudio descriptivo con el objetivo de caracterizar el comportamiento de algunas variables relacionadas con la ingestión de bebidas alcohólicas en estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de Guantánamo, durante el período  marzo 1998 - marzo 1999, ambos inclusive. Se aplicaron los cuestionarios CAGE y uno Extraorientador  para la clasificación médica a una muestra de 198 estudiantes. Se procesaron los datos con el paquete estadístico EpiInfo, y se expresan en cuadros de distribución de frecuencia y datos de asociación. Se estimaron los intervalos de confianza al 95 %  y se aplicó la prueba de Chi cuadrado de homogeneidad entre los sexos. Los resultados demostraron que la mayoría de los estudiantes ingiere bebidas alcohólicas (92 – 98 %). Existe un número importante de consumidores en riesgo (29 - 43%) La bebida más frecuentemente consumida fue el ron, y la preferida, la cerveza. Se emiten recomendaciones

Polymorphisms in DNA Repair Genes (APEX1, XPD, XRCC1 and XRCC3) and Risk of Preeclampsia in a Mexican Mestizo Population

Variations in genes involved in DNA repair systems have been proposed as risk factors for the development of preeclampsia (PE). We conducted a case-control study to investigate the association of Human apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease (APEX1) Asp148Glu (rs1130409), Xeroderma Pigmentosum group D (XPD) Lys751Gln (rs13181), X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC) Arg399Gln (rs25487) and X-ray repair cross-complementing group 3 (XRCC3) Thr241Met (rs861539) polymorphisms with PE in a Mexican population. Samples of 202 cases and 350 controls were genotyped using RTPCR. Association analyses based on a χ2 test and binary logistic regression were performed to determine the odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for each polymorphism. The allelic frequencies of APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism showed statistical significant differences between preeclamptic and normal women (p = 0.036). Although neither of the polymorphisms proved to be a risk factor for the disease, the APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism showed a tendency of association (OR: 1.74, 95% CI = 0.96–3.14) and a significant trend (p for trend = 0.048). A subgroup analyses revealed differences in the allelic frequencies of APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism between women with mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia (p = 0.035). In conclusion, our results reveal no association between XPD Lys751Gln, XRCC Arg399Gln and XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphisms and the risk of PE in a Mexican mestizo population; however, the results in the APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism suggest the need for future studies using a larger sample size

Association between Blood Lead Levels and Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydratase in Pregnant Women

Blood lead levels (BLLs) and delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity are considered biomarkers of lead exposure and lead toxicity, respectively. The present study was designed to investigate the association between BLLs and ALAD activity in pregnant women from Durango, Mexico. A total of 633 pregnant women aged 13–43 years participated in this study. Blood lead was measured by a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer. ALAD activity was measured spectrophotometrically. Mean blood lead was 2.09 ± 2.34 µg/dL; and 26 women (4.1%) crossed the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended level of 5 µg/dL. ALAD activity was significantly lower in women with levels of lead ≥5 µg/dL compared to those with BLLs < 5 µg/dL (p = 0.002). To reduce the influence of extreme values on the statistical analysis, BLLs were analyzed by quartiles. A significant negative correlation between blood lead and ALAD activity was observed in the fourth quartile of BLLs (r = −0.113; p < 0.01). Among women with blood lead concentrations ≥2.2 µg/dL ALAD activity was negatively correlated with BLLs (r = −0.413; p < 0.01). Multiple linear regression demonstrated that inhibition of ALAD in pregnant women may occur at levels of lead in blood above 2.2 µg/dL

Hypocholesterolemia is an independent risk factor for depression disorder and suicide attempt in Northern Mexican population

Abstract Background Cholesterol has been associated as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Recently, however, there is growing evidence about crucial requirement of neuron membrane cholesterol in the organization and function of the 5-HT1A serotonin receptor. For this, low cholesterol level has been reported to be associated with depression and suicidality. However there have been inconsistent reports about this finding and the exact relationship between these factors remains controversial. Therefore, we investigated the link between serum cholesterol and its fractions with depression disorder and suicide attempt in 467 adult subjects in Mexican mestizo population. Methods Plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) were determined in 261 MDD patients meeting the DSM-5 criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD), 59 of whom had undergone an episode of suicide attempt, and 206 healthy controls. Results A significant decrease in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol and triglyceride serum levels was observed in the groups of MDD patients and suicide attempt compared to those without suicidal behavior (p < 0.05). After adjusting for covariates, lower cholesterol levels were significantly associated with MDD (OR 4.229 CI 95% 2.555 – 7.000, p<.001) and suicide attempt (OR 5.540 CI 95% 2.825 – 10.866, p<.001) Conclusions These results support the hypothesis that lower levels of cholesterol are associated with mood disorders like MDD and suicidal behavior. More mechanistic studies are needed to further explain this association

The relationship between blood lead levels and occupational exposure in a pregnant population

Abstract Background Pregnant women exposed to lead are at risk of suffering reproductive damages, such as miscarriage, preeclampsia, premature delivery and low birth weight. Despite that the workplace offers the greatest potential for lead exposure, there is relatively little information about occupational exposure to lead during pregnancy. This study aims to assess the association between blood lead levels and occupational exposure in pregnant women from Durango, Mexico. Methods A cross-sectional study was carried out in a population of 299 pregnant women. Blood lead was measured in 31 women who worked in jobs where lead is used (exposed group) and 268 who did not work in those places (control group). Chi-square test was applied to compare exposed and control groups with regard to blood lead levels. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Multivariable regression analysis was applied to determine significant predictors of blood lead concentrations in the exposed group. Results Exposed women had higher blood lead levels than those in the control group (4.00 ± 4.08 μg/dL vs 2.65 ± 1.75 μg/dL, p = 0.002). Furthermore, women in the exposed group had 3.82 times higher probability of having blood lead levels ≥ 5 μg/dL than those in the control group. Wearing of special workwear, changing clothes after work, living near a painting store, printing office, junkyard or rubbish dump, and washing the workwear together with other clothes resulted as significant predictors of elevated blood lead levels in the exposed group. Conclusions Pregnant working women may be at risk of lead poisoning because of occupational and environmental exposure. The risk increases if they do not improve the use of protective equipment and their personal hygiene

Additional file 1: of The relationship between blood lead levels and occupational exposure in a pregnant population

Database: Blood lead levels in pregnant women from Durango, Mexico. (XLS 733 kb