Search

There is little evidence about exposure to currently used insecticides during early life periods and adverse effects on child neuropsychological development. The aim of this study is to examine the association between residential insecticide use during pregnancy and infancy, and the development of children. Study subjects were participants in the INMA (Environment and Childhood) Project, a Spanish multicenter birth cohort study. Prenatal and postnatal use of indoor insecticides and other variables were obtained from personal interview during pregnancy and infancy. Mental and psychomotor development was assessed around 14months using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. The associations were analyzed by linear regression models. 54% of women used indoor insecticides at home during pregnancy and 47% postnatally. 34% of women used insecticide sprays and 33% used plug-in devices during pregnancy. During infancy, the percentage of women who used insecticide sprays decreased (22%), but the use of plug-in devices was similar to the prenatal period (32%). The use of insecticide sprays during pregnancy was associated with a decrement in psychomotor development (β=-1.9; 95%CI: -3.4, -0.5) but postnatal use did not associate with mental and psychomotor development. The negative effect was enhanced according to some modifying factors, such as being female, higher levels of prenatal exposure to PCB and mercury and belonging to the lowest social class. We found certain evidence about the adverse effect of using insecticide sprays during pregnancy on the psychomotor development of children. Some socio-demographic factors and other exposures could enhance that effect., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: In most Latin American countries, the prevalence of micronutrient deficiencies, growth stunting, morbidity and mortality are highly present in children. Single micronutrient deficiencies such as zinc have been associated to growth retardation. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of randomized control trials that examined the association between zinc supplementation and children s growth in Latin America., Methodology: An electronic literature search was conducted with the keywords "Micronutrients supplementation and growth" in the PubMed databases, of RCT, published from January 2005 to April 2013. There were 279 RCT found assessing the effect of zinc supplementation on linear growth; 34 were conducted in Latin American countries, of which five met the inclusion criteria. A study referred by other authors was also included., Results: Six studies were analyzed. The studies were conducted in Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Ecuador, and Guatemala. None of the studies analyzed observed the positive effect of zinc on lineal growth., Conclusions: The conducted review suggests that zinc supplementation has not a significant effect on linear growth; however, zinc supplementation might be beneficial over lineal growth to zinc-deficient children, if other deficient nutrients are added., (Copyright © AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2013. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

We have studied the dynamic pathway of ⁶⁵Zn and its autoradiographic location in blood cells, even at the ultra-structural level. We have found evidence that tends to confirm the old biochemical postulates about the capacity of this isotope to displace iron in the haemoglobin molecule. Recently, the bibliography has demonstrated that ⁵⁷Co is also able to perform this displacement, but unlike ⁶⁵Zn it does not invalidate the Redox function of the molecule. In the case of ⁶⁵Zn, the mentioned displacement invalidates this function because the radionuclide can only use valence 2. We have also contributed evidence of erythrocytes destruction by the spleen after the incorporation of ⁶⁵Zn, as well as the clearly marked degradation of haematic pigments inside the spleen.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to assess a social support intervention among rural women from Chiapas and its ability to change lifestyles, self-concept, and Metabolic Syndrome (MS)., Methods: A convenience sample was conducted among older than 16 yo women from a marginalized rural community from central Chiapas. Two questionnaires were used, a self-concept questionnaire and a healthy lifestyle profile. Criteria for components of MS used were those of the International Diabetes Federation. The intervention was conducted over a three month period and divided into 13 sessions that concentrated on social support and were complemented by nutrition education modules., Results: Five hundred eighty six participants met inclusion criteria for the study. At basal time 47% had MS; abdominal obesity, 69%; high levels of glucose, 27%; triglycerides, 56%; systolic blood pressure, 17%; diastolic blood pressure, 15%; and low levels of HDL-cholesterol, 55%. After the intervention, 38% had MS and significant differences were observed in all of the components of MS. The pre and post-intervention dimension scores on the self-concept form 5 (AF5), or self-concept questionnaire, and the Pender Health Promotion and Lifestyle Questionnaire (PETS-1) also yielded significant differences., Conclusions: After a three month social support and nutrition education intervention, significant changes were observed in several dimensions of the AF5 and PETS-1, as well as in MS and its components., (Copyright © AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2013. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Obesity is a pandemic in Mexico. The purpose of this study was to assess the environmental factors that have the strongest association with obesity and abdominal obesity among adults in Tijuana., Methods: Four neighborhoods differing in socioeconomic status were chosen. A questionnaire for weekly walking, social cohesion, satisfaction with their community, weekly income, and convenience store, education, family income, crime safety, pedestrian safety, street connectivity, walking/cycling facilities, and sociodemographic characteristics was administered. Weight, height, and waist circumference were measured. Univariate and multivariate binomial logistic regressions were conducted., Results: Three hundred and twenty-two (322) individuals, 70% females with a mean age of 39 years, were assessed. The prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity was 27% and 43.5% respectively. The odds ratio for obesity and abdominal obesity among those living in the lowest-income neighborhood was 2.4 and 7.8 respectively, compared with those living in a middle-class neighborhood., Conclusions: Residence in a low-income neighborhood was a predictor for obesity.

The prevalence of obesity among Mexicans is alarming in both the child and adult populations. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity in pre-school (PS), elementary (ES), and middle high (MHS) public school children from Tijuana. From February to April of 2011, a bietapic random sample was selected by cluster method of 30 PS, 30 ES, and 30 MHS children. And a sample of 30 groups for each level was chosen. Twenty elementary teachers and eight graduate students were trained at one central location on how to take anthropometric measurements using a portable scale, a stadiometer, and a measuring tape to determine weight, height, and waist circumference. Body Mass Index values were computed and compared to age/gender BMI percentiles according to WHO criteria. Waist circumference for-age at the 90th percentile from NHANES III (Mexican-American) was used to define abdominal obesity. The sample was composed of 646 PS children, 961 ES children, and 1,095 MHS children. Their ages ranged from 4- 16 years. Results showed an overall prevalence of overweight and obesity in younger than 5y preschool children (> 2 SD) of 23.1%, in ≥ 5 y PS (> 1 SD) of 33.8%, in ES children of 46.3%, and in MHS children of 41.9%. Abdominal obesity in PS children was 18%, in ES children was 16.7%, and in MHS children was 15.2%. These results warrant immediate and comprehensive actions to prevent a critical public health problem in Mexico., (Copyright © AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2013. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

Foods advertised were recorded in 2 television (TV) channels. The present article studies the association between products advertised and those consumed by mothers and children. A total of 365 mothers and their children were assessed. A positive correlation was observed between the food advertisements that the mothers recalled and the frequency of TV food advertisements (Rho = 0.44, P = 0.03). A positive correlation was found between the frequency of the foods advertised on TV and the consumption of these by the mothers (r = 0.73, P = 0.0001) and their children (Rho = 0.66, P = 0.0001). These results suggest that TV advertisements influence the food choices of mothers and children.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of prospective studies that examined the association between sugar-sweetened beverage intake before 6y of age and later weight or BMI status among older children. An electronic literature search was conducted in the MEDLINE/PubMed, SciELO, and EBSCO databases of prospective studies published from 2001 to 2011. Seven studies were analyzed. The study population was from 72 to 10,904 children. Three studies showed a consistent association between SSB intake before 6 y of age and increased weight, BMI, or waist circumference later in childhood, one study showed a positive trend of consumption of SSB and childhood obesity and the OR for incidence of overweight by baseline beverage intake was 1.04, another study it was observed that an increase in total sugar intake and sugar from sweets and beverages in children 1-2 y of age and 7-9 y of age have a tendency to increase BMI, and two studies showed no association. In conclusion, although the trend of the reviews studies, indicate an association between sugar-sweetened beverage intake before 6 y of age and increased weight, BMI or waist circumference later in childhood, to date, the results are inconsistent, and the two studies with the higher number of children showed a positive association., (Copyright © AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2013. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.)

Enhancement of adiponectin level has been shown to have beneficial effects, including antiobesity, antidiabetic, and hepatoprotective effects. This evidence supports the therapeutic utility of adiponectin in complicated obesity. The present study characterized the in vivo effects of sustained adiponectin release by NP-1, a new class of thiazol derivative that increases adiponectin levels. Acute administration of NP-1 reduced feeding, increased plasma adiponectin, and improved insulin sensitivity without inducing malaise, as revealed by conditioned taste aversion studies. Short-term (7 days) treatment with NP-1 also reduced feeding and body weight gain and increased phosphorylation of AMPK in muscle, a main intracellular effector of adiponectin. NP-1 was also evaluated in diet-induced obesity, and adult male Wistar rats were fed two different types of diet: a standard high-carbohydrate/low-fat diet (SD) and a high-fat diet (HFD). Once obesity was established, animals were treated daily with NP-1 (5 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days. Chronic NP-1 induced body weight loss and reduction of food intake and resulted in both a marked decrease in liver steatosis and an improvement of biochemical indexes of liver damage in HFD-fed rats. However, a marked induction of tolerance in adiponectin gene transcription and release was observed after chronic NP-1 with respect to the acute actions of this drug. The present results support the role of adiponectin signaling in diet-induced obesity and set in place a potential use of compounds able to induce adiponectin release for the treatment of obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver, with the limits imposed by the induction of pharmacological tolerance.

The purpose of the present study was to assess the glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) of different mixed meals traditionally consumed in Mexico. GI was measured for three meals (Pozole, Molletes and Mole), using glucose as a reference in 12 college student subjects. Mole (p = 0.002), Molletes (p = 0.043) and Pozole (p = 0.016) showed a lower IAUC than glucose. However, there was not difference between meals. Higher GI and GL levels were observed than the estimated GI using as reference the International Table of Atkinson et al. (2008. Diabetes Care 31(12):2281-2283). Since food ingredients vary among Mexican regions, it is recommended to assess the GI and GL of mixed meals according to the cooking habits of each region.

Objective: The short duration or lack of breastfeeding has been associated with maternal obesity. The purpose of this study was to systematically review prospective studies that assessed the effect of maternal obesity on lactation., Methods: A search of studies was conducted in Pubmed, these included prospective studies on maternal obesity and initiation, intention and duration of breastfeeding: 653 articles were found, only seven were prospective studies. After adding other studies found by hand, a total of nine studies were analyzed., Results: Three out of four papers observed a higher risk for delay lactogenesis among obese mothers, odds ratio ranging from 1.02 to 1.10. The study assessing the initiation of lactation showed that non-obese mothers initiated lactation sooner, OR: 0.39 (95% CI: 0.25-0.62). The overall risk for cessation of breastfeeding showed that obese mothers had higher risks of early cessation, HR: 1.50 (CI 95% 1.11-2.04). In one study it was observed that obese mothers were not more likely to never breastfeed, OR = 1.56 (95% CI: 0.97-1.50)., Conclusions: This review shows that in prospective studies, obese mothers are more likely to have delayed lactogenesis and reduced lactation. Therefore, weight control and breastfeeding promotion should be reinforced before and during pregnancy. In overweight and obese mothers, breastfeeding should be closely monitored after birth.

The rationale for the use of high-protein diets is that they offer a higher level of satiety for a longer period of time when compared with carbohydrates or fats; this diminishes calorie consumption in the long-run. The purpose of this review was to assess the efficacy of long-term randomized clinical trials. We used Pubmed, EBSCO and SCIELO to conduct our searches. Inclusion criteria were: randomized clinical trials conducted in adults, with an intervention/follow-up of at least 24 weeks, stating the specific amount of energy protein (in percentages) in the diet; with a control group with either a conventional energy restricted diet or a high-fat/high-carbohydrate diet, also the studies should provide at least body weight or body mass index (BMI) at the beginning and at the end of the intervention. A total of 481 studies were found. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Weight loss difference in those with the highest weight loss with the high-protein diet ranged from 3.7 kg in a six month trial to 1.2 kg in a 17 month trial. The average weight loss of the eight studies in the high-protein diet was 6.3 kg and in the standard diet was 5.0 kg. Although half of the studies showed a higher weight loss with a high-protein diet, three out of four studies with the longest intervention show no statistical difference in weight loss. In this systematic review it was observed that the long-term effect of high-protein diets is neither consistent nor conclusive.

Introduction: Low carbohydrate diets (LCD) have shown beneficial effects on short-term weight reduction programs for obese individuals without diabetes, but the long-term evidence of efficacy on individuals with type 2 diabetes is not conclusive., Objective: To evaluate, the effectiveness of 12 or more weeks of LCD compared to Low Fat Diet (LFD), Usual Care Diet (UCD) or Low Glycemic Index Diet (LGID) on weight reduction and AIC on type 2 diabetes individuals., Methods: A systematic review was conducted on randomized trials registered in PubMed, Cochrane and EBSCOhost from January 1st 2000 to January 1st 2010 including those with an intervention program with LCD in type 2 diabetes subjects and a follow-up ≥ 12 weeks. Available data on study design; carbohydrate composition of diet; duration of diet; and the outcomes of weight, lipid levels (total, low density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides), hemoglobin A1C percent and/or fasting glucose were extracted., Results: Five studies showed greater weight reduction with LCD, of which four demonstrated no significant difference. The longest trial intervention studies did not show a difference in weight change. Only two studies showed greater reduction of A1C with LCD, including the longest intervention trial with a low carbohydrate Mediterranean diet., Conclusions: This review shows that there are no consistent differences in weight and A1C changes over the long-term treatment with LCD and LFD, UCD or LGID.

Unlabelled: Meal replacement (MR) has been frequently used to substitute one or more meals during the day. However, few randomized long-term studies have assessed its efficacy., Objective: To asses meal replacement use and its effectiveness on long-term weight loss (> 1 year) in overweight and obese people with or without diabetes., Methods: A search of randomized clinical trials with an intervention period equal to or more than a year, published on Pubmed, EBSCO host and SciELO through November 2010 was performed. Mesh terms such as "meal replacement", "weight loss," "overweight," "obesity" and "diabetes" were used, plus the term "meal replacement." GRADE scale was used to assess the quality of the studies., Results: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. It was observed that four of the studies showed a major weight loss in meal replacement groups, but in the other four studies no significant difference in weight loss was found., Conclusion: The evidence of the beneficial effect of meal replacement on long-term weight loss is inconclusive. These results warrant longer and better design studies.

Objective: To assess the association of maternal migration to Baja California, body mass index (BMI) status, children's perceived food insecurity, and childhood lifestyle behaviors with overweight (BMI > 85% ile), obesity (BMI > 95% ile) and abdominal obesity (Waist Circumference > 90% ile)., Methods: Convenience sampling methods were used to recruit a cross-sectional sample of 4th, 5th and 6th grade children and their parents at Tijuana and Tecate Public Schools. Children's and parents' weights and heights were measured. Children were considered to have migrant parents if parents were not born in Baja California., Results: One hundred and twenty-two children and their parents were recruited. The mean age of the children was 10.1 ± 1.0 years. Forty nine per cent of children were overweight or obese. Children with obese parents (BMI > 30) had greater odds of being obese, Odds Ratio (OR) 4.9 (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.2-19, p = 0.03). Children with migrant parents had greater odds of being obese, OR= 3.7 (95% CI, 1.6-8.3), p = 0.01) and of having abdominal obesity, OR = 3.2 (95% CI, 1.4-7.1, p = 0.01). Children from migrant parents have greater risk of higher consumption of potato chips, OR = 8.0 (95% CI, 2.1-29.1, p = 0.01). Children from non-migrant parents had greater odds of being at risk of hunger., Conclusions: Parental obesity and migration are associated with increased risk of obesity among Mexican children. Children whose parents were born in Baja California have greater odds of being at risk of hunger. Further studies should evaluate the role of migration on risk for childhood obesity.

We describe the use of ultrasonography-guided percutaneous splenic injection of agitated saline and heparinized blood for the diagnosis of portosystemic shunts (PSS) in 34 dogs. Agitated saline mixed with 1 ml of heparinized autologous blood was injected into the spleen of 34 sedated dogs under sonographic guidance. The transducer was then sequentially repositioned to visualize the portal vein, the caudal vena cava, and the right atrium through different acoustic windows. It was possible to differentiate between intrahepatic and extrahepatic shunts depending on the entry point of the microbubbles into the caudal vena cava. Portoazygos shunts and portocaval shunts could be differentiated based on the presence of microbubbles in the caudal vena cava and/or the right atrium. In one dog, collateral circulation due to portal hypertension was identified. In dogs with a single extrahepatic shunt, the microbubbles helped identify the shunting vessel. The technique was also used postoperatively to assess the efficacy of shunt closure. All abnormal vessels were confirmed by exploratory laparotomy or with ultrasonographic identification of the shunting vessel. Ultrasound-guided transsplenic injection of agitated saline with heparinized blood should be considered as a valuable technique for the diagnosis of PSS; it is easy to perform, safe, and the results are easily reproducible.

Portosystemic shunts (PSSs) allow portal blood to bypass the liver and enter the systemic circulation. Definitive diagnosis requires surgical identification, positive contrast portography, ultrasonography, or scintigraphy. This study was designed as a preliminary step to developing an alternative/adjuvant protocol to these imaging modalities. The main goals were to establish a technique for ultrasound-guided percutaneous trans-splenic injection of agitated saline, to evaluate the feasibility of performing the test to explore the postsplenic portal vasculature highlighted by the microbubbles, and to ascertain whether agitated saline microbubbles cross the sinusoidal barrier. Agitated saline was injected into the spleen of 20 healthy sedated dogs under sonographic guidance. The transducer was then repositioned to visualize the portal vein, the caudal vena cava, and the right atrium through different acoustic windows. Satisfactory results were achieved in all dogs. The microbubbles were visualized in all dogs as small intense echo signals within the portal vein at the level of the porta hepatis immediately after injection. In 18 out of 20 dogs, the echogenic signal of the microbubbles disappeared immediately once within the hepatic parenchyma, whereas in two dogs, the echoes from the microbubbles lasted for several seconds within the intrahepatic portal vasculature. The absence of microbubbles beyond the sinusoidal barrier in all of the healthy dogs included in this study makes trans-splenic injection of agitated saline a candidate as an adjuvant technique for the diagnosis of PSS, being easy to perform and repeat, as well as safe and technically feasible.

The nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test (NBT) is a quick, easy and cheap assay based on the activation percentage of neutrophils in peripheral blood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the NBT on healthy dogs and in dogs affected by different degrees of leishmaniasis (Stages I and IV). Forty healthy dogs, 20 dogs in Stage I and 20 dogs in Stage IV were included in the study. Three millilitres of blood were extracted from all the dogs via jugular venipuncture in tubes with EDTA. Incubation with NBT was performed depositing 0.05 ml of the leukocyte suspension in the same quantity of 0.1% concentration NBT. The results of the test were reported as NBT reduction rate which represents the percentage of the total of neutrophils evaluated that presented cytoplasmatic accumulations of formazan, meaning a positive NBT reduction. The mean NBT reduction rate for the healthy dogs group was 4.57%, 34% for Stage I dogs (mild disease) and 3.7% for dogs in Stage IV (severe disease), showing that dogs affected with leishmaniasis but with no clinical development of disease have a significantly higher neutrophil reactivity (p<0.01). Although more studies evaluating the correlation of NBT with other tests prior to and during treatment are needed, NBT could be a good assay in canine leishmaniasis evaluation., ((c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To increase strength and lean body mass, protein has become one of the most popular supplements among athletes. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of protein supplementation on body composition. A systematic review of the randomized controlled trials (RCT), published in MEDLINE/PubMed and SciELO up to April 10, 2009, was conducted. All RCT conducted in healthy subjects with interventions of six or more weeks were included. Nine studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and three of them had level 3 of evidence. Among these studies, the increase of lean mass ranged from 0.8 to 1.9 kg. However, the study with the longest term had duration of 12 weeks. Therefore, the evidence does not support the recommendation for the consumption of protein supplements among healthy individuals.

Objective: This study was aimed at analysing the long-term effects of weight-loss on mortality., Methods: Studies available in the Pubmed database regarding the effect of weight-loss on mortality were analysed. Possible causes for inconsistencies amongst different studies and the biological rationale for the available evidence were studied., Results: Most studies have suggested that being overweight and obesity are common risk factors for chronic diseases. However, most studies have also suggested that, independently of weight, a change in weight (increase or reduction) increases the risk of mortality when compared to maintaining a stable weight., Conclusion: The beneficial or adverse effect of weight-loss on mortality could depend on individuals' genetic characteristics, pre- and post-natal background, initial weight, the amount of weight lost, the time taken to lose weight and the strategies used for reducing weight.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in children has increased to epidemic levels. Several authors have suggested that school is the best place for effective prevention programs. The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the evidence of randomized controlled trials concerning long-term (equal to or more than 9 months) observations at schools and published in the database of MEDLINE/Pubmed from January 1st of 2006 to February 28 of 2009. Ten studies were analyzed. Overall, regarding the design, the intervention components, target population age, intervention periods, educational techniques, cultural characteristics of the population, and outcome measures were heterogeneous. The results were modest. The outcomes showed a positive impact on lifestyle as intakes of fruits and vegetables increased, consumption of sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages decreased, and sedentary behaviors and adiposity were reduced. Generally, there were no significant reductions for BMI. These results warrant more strategies to achieve parental involvement, reduction of dropouts, and additional studies assessing different educational systems and cultural environments, including those in Latin America. Longer follow-up periods are also required.

Background: Overweight and obesity have dramatically increased in recent years. In 2006, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among 6- to 12-year-old children was 26% in Mexico. Food advertising has shown to be a contributor to childhood obesity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency and types of food advertisements geared toward children living in Baja California., Methods: Two local channels and three national channels, during a period of 7 h on weekday afternoons and 6 h on weekend mornings, were recorded for 7 days. A total of 235 h were recorded and analyzed., Results: A total of 8299 advertisements were registered; 22% were food-related and 50% were geared toward children. The average of food-related advertisements (FRAs) per half an hour was 4, and half of them were geared toward children. During the time that children may be watching television, 50% of all FRAs were potato and corn chips, desserts and cakes, juices, sweetened cereals, candies, cookies, sweetened beverages and fast foods, which comprises a higher percentage of adult-oriented FRA (32 versus 22%)., Conclusion: Children are systematically more exposed than adults to advertisements for high-energy-dense foods.

We assessed the ability of the resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) to allow differentiation between normal, reactive, and neoplastic lymph nodes. Forty-seven medial iliac and 54 mesenteric lymph nodes from 83 dogs were evaluated sonographically. A cytologic sample was obtained in each dog that allowed categorization into one of the categories defined above. We found a significant difference in the RI and PI in nonneoplastic vs. neoplastic medial iliac and mesenteric lymph nodes. Values higher than 0.67 for the RI and 1.02 for the PI in medial iliac lymph nodes and higher than 0.76 for the RI and 1.23 for the PI in mesenteric lymph nodes had a high sensitivity and specificity for differentiating benign from neoplastic lymph nodes.

We have carried out a sequential study of intercellular junction formation and differentiation on human corneal substitutes consisting of an artificial corneal stroma and a corneal epithelium, developed by tissue engineering. To generate these artificial human corneas, we developed a corneal stroma substitute, using fibrin and agarose scaffolds with human keratocytes immersed within, then cultured the human corneal epithelium on top. Electron microscopy and immunofluorescence analyses revealed that artificial corneas with one or two epithelial cell layers did not show any formation of intercellular junctions. In contrast, several types of cell-cell junction, especially desmosomes, were found in multilayered mature corneal substitutes. Concomitantly, the expression of genes encoding for plakoglobin 3 (PKG3), desmoglein 3 (DSG3) and desmoplakin (DSP), zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) and 2 (ZO-2) and connexin 37 (Cx37) was higher in multilayered artificial corneas than in immature artificial corneas, as shown by both microarray and immunofluorescence. Although expression of ZO-1, ZO-2 and Cx37 proteins was homogeneous, PKG3, DSG3 and DSP expression was restricted to the most apical cell layers in artificial corneas submerged in culture medium at all times, whereas expression was higher in intermediate cell layers, similar to normal human control corneas, when corneal substitutes are submitted to air-liquid culture techniques. These results suggest that cultured corneal substitutes submitted to air-liquid culture technique tend to form a well-developed epithelium that is very similar to the epithelium of human native corneas, suggesting that these artificial corneas could eventually be used for clinical or in vitro purposes.

The objectives of this study were to compare the trends of obesity from 2001-02 to 2006-07 in school children of Tijuana, Mexico and to investigate the relationship with the child's gender and type of school attended. Bietapic random sample was selected by cluster of schools and groups. Results of the 1684 children from 6-14 years of age assessed showed an overall prevalence of obesity (> 95(th)) of 28%. An overall increase of overweight and obesity of 7-percentage points (p=0.0003), from 41 to 48%, being higher among boys and younger girls. Prevalence of obesity was higher among boys and children from private schools., (Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of domperidone, a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania infantum. Ninety-eight dogs were treated with single-agent domperidone at 1mg/kg twice a day orally for 1 month. Clinical, serological, biochemical and immunological examinations were conducted for the following 12 months. Domperidone was effective in controlling and reducing clinical signs and antibody titre. Significant decreases in reciprocal serum antibodies were seen in 74.3% of the dogs with mild clinical signs and 40% of the dogs became seronegative. In dogs with several clinical signs and high antibody titres, clinical improvement occurred in 86% of animals and the reciprocal serum antibody titres decreased in 38% of these dogs. A significant increase was noted in the immune cellular status, as measured by the leishmanin skin test and a lymphocyte proliferation assay.

Objective: The high demand for obesity treatment and conventional therapies' lack of effectiveness increases the use of alternative products. This study was aimed at assessing evidence from randomised clinical trials regarding the effectiveness of alternative weight-loss products' ingredients., Methods: A survey was conducted in Ensenada, Baja California, to assess the frequency of consuming alternative products used for weight reduction. The ingredients in the products most in demand were included in this review. The Pubmed database was searched for all randomised clinical trial papers including these ingredients and assessing weight loss., Results: Thirty-six percent of the subjects questioned had used alternative methods for weight-loss, 83% of them being women. The most frequently used products were shakes, tea, pills and flaxseed/linseed. Sixteen randomised clinical trials using four ingredients were used: Garcinia cambogia, green tea, L-carnitina and flaxseed. Only two studies (green tea and Garcinia cambogia) showed significant weight-loss (25%) amongst control and experimental groups. There was no significant difference between the groups in the studies regarding L-carnitina and flaxseed., Conclusions: There is a lack of evidence regarding quality studies justifying the use of alternative products for weight loss.

The increased prevalence of obesity has been associated to an increment in chronic-degenerative diseases. The behavioral conduct therapies (BCT) have been used to help subjects develop a series of skills to reach a healthy weight. We conducted a review of the literature of BCT from controlled clinical trials registered at PubMed from January 2000 to november 2006. We found five long-term (> or = 12 months) studies and analyzed each study. The percent of weight loss at the end of follow up ranged from 3% to 9% of the initial weight; the percent of retention fluctuated from 92% at three months to 55% at 24 months. There were no similar reported studies conducted in Latino or Hispanic population. These results suggest that the change in loss of weight with BCT are modest at the end of the follow up period and that most of the studies report low adherence to treatment. It is recommended that public and private funds are needed to implement effective and safe multicentric long term randomized studies on different cultural populations, including most Latin-American countries.

Obesity in Mexico has reached epidemic proportions; and body image and body satisfaction might be culturally related. Body dissatisfaction has been related to low self-esteem. The aim of this study was to assess the range of perception among Mexican teachers and parents of the ideal body size of adults, boys and girls. Two-hundred and five teachers and eighty parents from Tijuana and Tecate schools participated in the study. Participants were asked to indicate the ideal body size for each group, as well as their own ideal body size. Average perception of ideal body weight for adults 35 to 45 years of age was 4.0 +/- 0.84. Average perception for boys and girls was 4.6. Positive correlations were shown between self-perception of body size and body mass index (0.62, P < 001), waist circumference (0.55, P < 0.001). Self-perception of body size was associated with perception of ideal body size for boys (0.23, P 0.001) and girls (0.22, P < 0.001), but BMI was not associated to perception of ideal body size for boys and girls. These results suggest that teachers and parents should be taught to more accurately assess excess weight status and to initiate action to prevent or correct excessive weight among children and adults.

The present study was designed to determine the weight-based stigmatization of Mexican overweight (OW) and non-OW children by their mothers and peers, who rated both boys and girls with varying physical characteristics. Four hundred and thirty-two fifth and sixth graders and 342 mothers participated in the study. Children were administered a questionnaire displaying six drawings. Participants' responses were numbered in order of preference from 1 to 6 (most to least well liked). Participants were divided into categories based on socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and current body mass index. The majority of children chose the child in a wheelchair as the preferred friend. Boys and girls, Indian and non-Indian, with and without risk of OW chose the obese peer as the least-preferred friend. Non-OW girls and their mothers liked the obese child less than non-OW boys and their mothers. Agreement correlations between mothers and children were rho = 0.19 (P = 0.0001), rho = 0.17 (P = 0.001), and rho = 0.13 (P = 0.02) for the healthy child, child with missing arm, and obese child, respectively. There was a strong correlation between Indian mothers and non-OW daughters (rho = 0.54, P = 0.009) on choosing the drawing of the obese child as the least preferred friend. These data suggest an influential effect of the negative attitude of mothers toward the obese child, which are projected to their children.

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), already described in human beings, are fibroblast-like cells that exhibit a CD34 marker specific for haematopoietic stem cells. In this work we have demonstrated the presence of PSCs in the peripheral blood of pigs, a species frequently used in transplantation studies as an animal model for human diseases. Differentiation into haematopoietic colonies (granulomacrophagic colonies, erythroid colonies and mixed colonies) has been carried out with the peripheral blood of adult and newborn pigs, using solely human commercial media. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) were cultured in semisolid methylcellulose based media enriched with recombinant human cytokines, achieving granulomacrophagic-colony forming unit (GM-CFU) and mixed-colony forming unit (Mix-CFU) growth with erythroblastic lineage proliferation in the presence of erythropoietin (Epo). In all the samples CFU growth was associated with the presence of recombinant human cytokine. No evidence of proliferation in control plates without cytokines was found. From liquid medium culture, a population of macrophages and CD34+ fibroblast like cells were retrieved 21 days after sowing. These findings allow us to think about the direct application of this simple and standardised method in several work fields such as the study of pharmacological effects of many drugs over the haematopoietic line and in the study of new strategies in cellular therapy for some human diseases.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of risk of overweight, overweight, and the perception of hunger among Mexican children from Indian and migrant parents over the periods of 2001 and 2003., Method: A total of 1,200 and 1,452 children were measured to assess anthropometric status and their perception of hunger experience., Results: There was no difference between 2001 and 2003 in the total prevalence of risk of overweight and overweight in either boys or girls. The prevalence of abdominal obesity is higher in the 2003 group than in the 2001 group among girls older than 9y (p < 0.001). During 2003, the risk of hunger was higher (58%) than in 2001 (46%)., Conclusion: The prevalence shown in our study is alarming since these children suffering from food insecurity have higher risk to develop obesity and diabetes during adulthood, particularly if they show rapid catch-up fat after periods of economic recession.

Introduction: A large number of articles have been published since neonatal screening for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) started in the 1970s. Surprisingly, little information on false negative results in these screenings has been reported., Patients and Methods: Thyroid-stimulating hormone (THS) levels were determined in 360,651 newborn infants in Malaga until March 2005. One hundred and fifty-six CH cases were detected, of which 86 % were permanent and 14 % were transient. In this study, we retrospectively analyzed a group of 13 CH dizygotic twins in which only one of the twins had CH., Results: The first two patients were diagnosed late and data on whether they were included in neonatal screening were lacking. In seven of the 13 patients, TSH values were initially normal: five patients were diagnosed by a second test performed 14 days after birth and were treated before they were 1 month old, and two were diagnosed and treated late because a second test was not performed. In the remaining four patients, TSH values were initially elevated but were lower than confirmation test values., Conclusions: It is now widely accepted that thyroid function could be compensated between two dizygotic twins if only one of the twins has CH, leading to a false negative result. The results of the present study indicate the need to repeat the test for CH 14 days after birth in all dizygotic twins.

Obesity and diabetes are epidemics in Mexico and the prevalence is currently highest among the low-income population. The aim of the present study was to compare the action of different breakfasts on satiety and subsequent food intake among healthy women. Eight healthy women participated in the study. Participants were given four experimental breakfasts. Visual analogue rating scales were completed before and every 30 minutes for 3 hours after each experimental meal to record subjective feelings of satiety. Subjects were exposed to an ad libitum buffet 3 h after the experimental breakfast. Energy and macronutrient intakes were calculated at each meal. Mean +/- SD SAUC for white bread was 355 +/- 60, for rice and bananas: 405 +/- 108, for whole wheat bread and boiled beans: 446 +/- 83, and for fruit salad: 585 +/- 79 (Table II). Statistical differences were observed among the four experimental meals (p = 0,002). After the consumption of white bread, energy intake was the highest with 872 +/- 58 kcal, and after the consumption of fruit salad the intake of calories was the lowest: 461 +/- 51 kcal. Energy intake 4 h after each breakfast shows statistical differences (p = 0,0001). These results suggest the need to promote culturally based combined foods with high fiber and low GI, as well as foods with high volume and water content. This approach might contribute to the prevention of obesity by increasing satiety and reducing food consumption and energy intake.

Melanoma is one of the most frequently metastasizing malignant neoplasias. This study examines an experimental model of pulmonary metastasis and the B16F10 cell subline, highly metastatic in the lung. Antimetastatic effects of the flavonoids tangeretin, rutin, and diosmin were analyzed, and at the same time an analysis of the metastatic activity of ethanol was performed, considered to be necessary because it is used as a vehicle for administering the flavonoids. Lentini's model, which complements the macroscopic evaluation of nodule numbers by using a stereoscopic microscope and image analysis at the microscopic level, was used. The greatest reduction in the number of metastatic nodules (52%) was obtained with diosmin; similarly, the percentages of implantation, growth index, and invasion index (79.40, 67.44, and 45.23%, respectively), were all compared with those of the ethanol group, considered to be an effective control group. Rutin- and tangeretin-treated groups also showed reductions of the same index compared with the ethanol group. It would seem that structural factors would better explain these results and the antimetastatic activity of each flavonoid and the respective metabolites.

Objective: The aim of this study was to document physical activity (PA) of migrant Mexican women with type 2 diabetes who have participated in diabetes intervention programs at a primary care level., Methods: One hundred out of 133 women of seven diabetes education groups from different Mexican institutions located in the city of Tijuana were invited to participate in the study. A PA history questionnaire was completed weekly. Metabolic Equivalents (METs) were used to calculate physical activity level (PAL)., Results: Forty percent were classified as overweight and 31% as obese. Six percent of the women performed more than 150 min of moderate/vigorous weekly PA, while more than 80 min of weekly PA was reported by 73% of the population. There was no difference in frequency and intensity of PA between the participants from both institutions. The main indoor activities were cooking, dish washing, clothes washing and cleaning, and the main outdoor activities were walking, semi-active exercise and running., Conclusions: The majority of these migrant women who participated in the diabetes intervention program seem to engage in the minimum recommended levels of PA. In a country like Mexico, where its public health care system is facing huge economic constraints, PA counseling done in a primary health care practice may be a cost-effective approach.

Introduction: Melanoma is one of the neoplasias that most frequently metastasize, especially in the lung, where represents a challenge in oncology since current treatment is ineffective, and mortality is high., Material and Methods: Swiss mice (n = 52) were inoculated with 0.5 x 106 B16F10 cell lines and, later, given an oral administration of grape-seed extract, red wine or ethanol. Metastatic nodules on the lung surface were counted and, after processing for microscopy, five sections were selected for image analysis and the invasion index was calculated., Results: Macroscopic analysis showed that grape-seed extract and red wine reduced the number of metastatic nodules by 26.07 and 20.81%, respectively, compared with a control group treated with ethanol. Microscopically, the reduction in the invasion index was 31.65 for grape-seed extract and 17.57% for red wine., Conclusion: Ethanol administration significantly increased pulmonary metastasis while grape-seed extract and red wine led to their reduction.

Continuing with the importance given throughout the world to the prevalence of adults and children who are overweight or obese. The authors review the effectiveness of programs for the prevention and control of childhood obesity by analysing original articles in this second section of their article. A complete bibliography accompanies this article.

Throughout the world, the incidence of adults and children who are overweight or obese is increasing at a near epidemic rate. Childhood obesity bears implications on health over the short, medium and long term life of these children; therefore, the prevention of childhood obesity has become a world health necessity. Nonetheless, there are few existing studies which prove to be effective in the prevention and control of obesity over the long term. The objective of this first section is to review the effectiveness of programs for the prevention and control of childhood obesity by analysing research articles. A bibliography will be included in the second section.