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Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer among women in Colombia (16/100,000). Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a major role in the etiology of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). Exposure to chemical agents may be a cofactor for tumor induction, and individual genetic differences in the metabolism of these chemical agents may affect the susceptibility of individuals towards the development of HSIL. In this case–control study, a total of 91 cases with HSIL and 92 healthy controls, frequency-matched by age and place of origin, were recruited, and their frequencies of CYP2E1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 polymorphism were determined. We then evaluated the association of these polymorphisms, by themselves and in combination with wood smoke exposure and HPV-infection status, with the risk of HSIL. The results indicate that GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphism were not associated with HSIL, although a small increase in risk was observed for individuals who were GSTT1 null (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 0.57–3.44). Contrary to other investigations, the c2/c2 variant of the CYP2E1 gene was associated with a significant increase in risk after adjusting for wood smoke exposure (OR = 6.3, 95% CI = 1.10–36.38) or wood smoke exposure and HPV-infection status (OR = 10.7, 95% CI = 1.76–65.58). Wood smoke exposure also increased the risk of HSIL among CYP2E1 c2/c2 HPV-positive women (OR = 3.3, CI = 0.50–22.50); however, the increase did not achieve statistical significance. Our study provides tantalizing evidence that genetic differences in the metabolism of wood smoke carcinogens, particularly metabolism by CYP2E1, may confer susceptibility for HSIL development. Further investigations with larger populations will be needed to confirm this association, which may provide important information for improving cervical cancer prevention programs. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

We recently rediscovered Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Villeta, Colombia, near the same locality (Tobia) where it was first recognized in 1937. To have a better idea of the magnitude of this problem, sera from 392 randomly recruited healthy adults from Villeta were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescent antibody assay to detect IgG against Rickettsia rickettsii as antigen. The seropositivity rate for spotted fever group rickettsiae was 40.3%. We did not find any association between the presence of antibodies to spotted fever group rickettsiae and several demographic and epidemiologic variables, which could be a reflection of unique features of this area.

We investigated 2 fatal cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever that occurred in 2003 and 2004 near the same locality in Colombia where the disease was first reported in the 1930s. A retrospective serosurvey of febrile patients showed that >21% of the serum samples had antibodies against spotted fever group rickettsiae.

Introducción: En Colombia, la mortalidad neonatal aporta actualmente 57% de los decesos en el primer año de vida. Objetivo. Establecer los factores de riesgo para mortalidad en la Unidad de Cuidado Neonatal del Hospital Universitario San José, Popayán, Colombia, 1999-2001. Materiales y métodos: Los casos (n = 51) fueron aquellos neonatos (>1200g) que murieron en un período menor a 28 días a partir de su nacimiento en la Unidad. Los controles (n = 125) fueron aquellos neonatos (>1200g) dados de alta vivos de la Unidad durante el mismo período. Se colectó de la historia clínica la información de la madre y del neonato. Los criterios de exclusión fueron historia clínica incompleta y edad gestacional 1200g) who died before 28 days of birth at the Unit. Controls (n=125) were newborns who left alive the Unit. A questionnaire to collect information from the maternal and neonatal clinical records was applied. Exclusion criteria were the lack of information on the clinical record and gestational age less than 29 weeks. The risk of mortality was estimated by the Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), using a multiple logistic regression model. Results. Being born by caesarean showed a protective effect for mortality (OR=0.33, 95% CI=0.16-0.66). Coming from rural area, weight at birth

In the north of Caldas, Colombia, febrile syndromes with positive Weil-Felix reactions have been reported as Murine typhus to the national health authorities. We used indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) of serial paired samples to confirm the diagnosis of murine typhus in 14 of 120 patients with a compatible febrile syndrome.

Evaluating the role of the main factors associated with high-risk cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in women from the Cauca Department in Colombia.After signing a consent-form, women were interviewed to obtain socio-demographic and lifestyle data. A cervical biopsy was performed on each woman for histopathological diagnosis (cases) and a sample of exfoliated cells (cases and controls) to extract DNA for HPV detection by polymerase chain reaction. A total of 98 cases and 109 controls, matched by age and ethnicity, were recruited for the study.The study confirmed association between HPV and the risk of cervical neoplasia (OR = 19.0; 95% CI = 8.20-44.2). The data suggested that multiparity (OR = 4.1; 95% CI = 1.62-10.6) and exposure to carcinogens present in wood-smoke (OR = 7.3; 95% CI = 3.00-19.4) are important co-factors for cervical neoplasia given the presence of HPV.These results provide valuable information for public health institutions to develop better cervical neoplasia prevention programmes.

Objetivo Evaluar el papel de los principales factores de riesgo asociados a lesiones intraepiteliales escamosas de alto grado en mujeres del Departamento del Cauca, Colombia. Metodologia Despues de la firma de un consentimiento informado, las mujeres fueron encuestadas para la obtencion de datos socio-demograficos y de estilo de vida. Adicionalmente, de cada mujer se obtuvo una biopsia cervical para diagnostico histopatologico (casos) y una muestra de celulas exfoliadas (casos y controles) para posterior extraccion de ADN y deteccion de papilomavirus (VPH) por reaccion en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR). Un total de 98 casos y 109 controles, apareados por edad y procedencia, fueron reclutados para este estudio. Resultados El estudio confirma la asociacion entre VPH y el riesgo de neoplasia cervical (OR=19,0; IC95%=8,20-44,2). Los datos sugieren que la multiparidad (OR=4,1; IC95%=1,62-10,6) y la exposicion a carcinogenos presentes en el humo de lena (OR=7,3; IC95%=3,00-19,4) son importantes co-factores de riesgo dada la presencia de VPH. Conclusiones Estos resultados brindan informacion valiosa a las instituciones de salud publica para desarrollar mejores programas de promocion y prevencion de neoplasia cervical.