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OBJECTIVE--The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) definition of the metabolic syndrome was modified to be described as a continuous variable and adapted to the characteristics of a Hispanic population. RESEARCH [...]

OBJECTIVE--To determine the impact of diabetes on the rates of tuberculosis in a region where both diseases are prevalent. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--Data from a population based cohort of patients [...]

AbstractThe ability of Bacillus subtilis, strain ALICA to produce three mycolytic enzymes (chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, and protease), was carried out by the chemical standard methods. Bacillus subtilisALICA was screened based on their antifungal activity in dual plate assay and cell-free culture filtrate (25%) against five different phytopathogenic fungi Alternaria alternata, Macrophominasp., Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Botrytis cinerea, and Sclerotium rolfesii. The B. subtilisALICA detected positive for chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase and protease enzymes. Fungal growth inhibition by both strain ALICA and its cell-free culture filtrate ranged from 51.36% to 86.3% and 38.43% to 68.6%, respectively. Moreover, hyphal morphological changes like damage, broken, swelling, distortions abnormal morphology were observed. Genes expression of protease, β-1,3-glucanase, and lipopeptides (subtilosin and subtilisin) were confirmed their presence in the supernatant of strain ALICA. Our findings indicated that strain ALICA provided a broad spectrum of antifungal activities against various phytopathogenic fungi and may be a potential effective alternative to chemical fungicides.

ABSTRACTBackground: Many low- to middle-income countries have completed or are in the process of transitioning from high or intermediate to low endemicity for hepatitis A virus (HAV). Because the risk of severe hepatitis A disease increases with age at infection, decreased incidence that leaves older children and adults susceptible to HAV infection may actually increase the population-level burden of disease from HAV. Mathematical models can be helpful for projecting future epidemiological profiles for HAV.Methods: An age-specific deterministic, dynamic compartmental transmission model with stratification by setting (rural versus urban) was calibrated with country-specific data on demography, urbanization, and seroprevalence of anti-HAV antibodies. HAV transmission was modeled as a function of setting-specific access to safe water. The model was then used to project various HAV-related epidemiological outcomes in Brazil and in Mexico from 1950 to 2050.Results: The projected epidemiological outcomes were qualitatively similar in the 2 countries. The age at the midpoint of population immunity (AMPI) increased considerably and the mean age of symptomatic HAV cases shifted from childhood to early adulthood. The projected overall incidence rate of HAV infections decreased by about two thirds as safe water access improved. However, the incidence rate of symptomatic HAV infections remained roughly the same over the projection period. The incidence rates of HAV infections (all and symptomatic alone) were projected to become similar in rural and urban settings in the next decades.Conclusion: This model featuring population age structure, urbanization and access to safe water as key contributors to the epidemiological transition for HAV was previously validated with data from Thailand and fits equally well with data from Latin American countries. Assuming no introduction of a vaccination program over the projection period, both Brazil and Mexico were projected to experience a continued decrease in HAV incidence rates without any substantial decrease in the incidence rates of symptomatic HAV infections.

En el presente estudio se evaluó el efecto de extractos fenólicos y de carotenoides procedentes de frutos de chiltepín sobre el crecimiento micelial y la germinación de conidios de Alternaria alternatay Fusarium oxysporum, 2 importantes hongos causantes de podredumbres en frutas y hortalizas. Los extractos fenólicos presentaron una inhibición en el crecimiento micelial de A.alternatadel 38,46%, y redujeron significativamente la germinación de conidios al quinto día después del tratamiento al 92% en relación al control. No se observaron cambios significativos en el crecimiento micelial de F.oxysporum, pero sí se redujo significativamente al 85% en relación al control, el número de conidios germinados a los 5 días de tratamiento. Los extractos de carotenoides mostraron una inhibición del 38,5% en el crecimiento micelial y del 85,3% en la germinación de conidios de A.alternata, 5días después del tratamiento. Frente a F.oxysporum, dichos extractos presentaron menor inhibición del crecimiento micelial (20,3%), mientras que hubo una mayor inhibición en la germinación de conidios (96%). Los extractos fenólicos y de carotenoides de chiltepín pueden ser una alternativa promisoria de importancia agrícola como fungicidas naturales.

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) remains a public health concern worldwide contributing to significant morbidity in developed and developing countries. This cross-sectional database study estimated the overall HAV seroprevalence and the seroprevalence by gender, age, region and socioeconomic status in Mexico. Between January and October 2010, serum samples collected during the National Health and Nutrition survey (ENSANUT 2006) were obtained from subjects aged 1–95 y. Subjects’ gender, age, geographical region and socioeconomic status were extracted from the survey and compiled into a subset database by the Mexican National Institute of Public Health. Anti-HAV antibodies were measured using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. A total of 3658 subjects were included in the according-to-protocol cohort. Overall, the HAV seroprevalence was 84.2%. The HAV seroprevalence rates were similar between females (86.1%) and males (82.2%). The percentage of subjects seropositive for anti-HAV antibodies was highest in adults aged ≥ 20 y (96.9%), followed by adolescents aged 10–19 y (80.1%) and lowest in children aged 1–9 y (45.0%) (p < 0.0001). Regionally, the highest HAV seroprevalence rate was observed in the South (88.8%) followed by Central and Northern Mexico and Mexico City (p = 0.02). The HAV seroprevalence was similar between subjects of high socioeconomic (90.1%) status and of low socioeconomic status (86.6%). This study confirms the intermediate HAV endemicity in Mexico. Cost-effectiveness studies are necessary to evaluate the inclusion of an effective hepatitis A vaccine from a population-based perspective in addition to continuous efforts to improve hygiene and sanitation that have a substantial impact on the disease burden.

Abstract: The fungicidal activity of allyl-isothiocyanate (allyl-ITC), benzyl-isothiocyanate (benzyl-ITC) and a mixture of isothiocyanates (allyl-ITC, benzyl-ITC, phenyl-isothiocyanate and 2-phenylethyl-isothiocyanate; MCIT), was tested in netted melon infected with Alternaria alternata as, was the effect of these compounds on the postharvest quality. Fruits were inoculated with A. alternata and exposed to allyl-ITC, benzyl-ITC, or MCIT, at 0.25 and 0.5 mg ml−1 concentrations. A commercial fungicide, Captan (CF), was used as a positive control. The fruit was stored at 20°C and 92% relative humidity for up to 8 days. Allyl-ITC and MCIT at both tested concentrations, significantly reduced Alternaria rot, by 82.73% to 88.67%. None of the ITC treatments had a significant effect on weight loss, total soluble solids, titratable acidity or pH. Fruits treated with 0.5 mg ml−1 of AITC were more firm than others. Treatment with allyl-ITC, benzyl-ITC, or MCIT appears to be a promising alternative to synthetic fungicides for controlling postharvest diseases in netted melon.

The metabolic syndrome is known to increase cardiovascular morbidity and precede the development of type 2 diabetes. Even before the appearance of hyperglycemia, the components of the metabolic syndrome play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of the macrovascular complications. Thus, the recognition and treatment of the metabolic syndrome may be a strategy to prevent the most likely cause of death (i.e. cardiovascular events) in cases that eventually develop type 2 diabetes. In this review, controversial issues regarding the treatment of the two main components of the metabolic syndrome (i.e dyslipidemia and arterial hypertension) are discussed. Several disparities in the current NCEP-ATPIII recommendations, when applied to patients with the metabolic syndrome, are pointed out. In population-based studies, the number of individuals with the metabolic syndrome who would need LDL cholesterol lowering treatment following these guidelines is remarkably low compared to subjects belonging to the same risk strata (10 year risk 10-20). Subjects with the metabolic syndrome do not fall into the same risk category, resulting in differing LDL-C targets. Also, the Framingham tables underestimate the cardiovascular risk associated with the metabolic syndrome hence fewer cases qualify for drug therapy. In addition, LDL-C underestimates the number of atherogenic particles and is therefore not the ideal target for these patients. The selection of antihypertensive medication in the metabolic syndrome is also controversial. Thus, there is sufficient evidence for a review of the current management of the metabolic syndrome as part of a strategy to prevent the macrovascular complications in type 2 diabetes.