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Recently, the role of trace elements in the pathophysiology of obesity, insulin resistance (IR), and metabolic diseases has been explored. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to assess the association of overweight, obesity, and cardiometabolic traits with serum copper (Cu) levels in 346 Mexican adults. Serum Cu level was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Anthropometrical data were collected, and biochemical parameters were measured. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index was used as a surrogate marker to evaluate IR. Overweight and obesity status was positively associated with the serum Cu level (ß = 19.434 ± 7.309, p = 0.008). Serum Cu level was observed to have a positive association with serum triglycerides level (ß = 0.160 ± 0.045, p < 0.001) and TyG (ß = 0.001 ± 0.001, p < 0.001). Additionally, high serum Cu level was positively associated with overweight and obesity status (odds ratio [OR] = 1.9, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.1-3.4, p = 0.014), hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.7-5.3, p < 0.001), and IR (OR = 2.6, 95% CI 1.4-4.6, p = 0.001). In conclusion, our results suggest that overweight, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and IR are positively associated with serum Cu levels in Mexican adults.
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Purpose: To report on a patient with Stargardt disease (STGD1) and with an intronic mutation in the ABCA4 gene. Patients and Methods: A 69-year-old female patient presented to the clinic complaining of progressive vision loss. The ophthalmic evaluation was remarkable for a best corrected visual acuity of counting fingers at 5' in the right eye and 3' in the left eye. Imaging revealed deep extensive atrophy of the central macula, epithelial pigment hyperplasia, and other areas of multifocal atrophy in the right eye. Furthermore, fundus autofluorescence imaging of the macula showed central hypoautofluorescence with bilateral expansion to the periphery in both eyes. A full-field electroretinogram showed a normal rod response, with decreased cone response, bilaterally. Genetic testing was positive for a homozygous intronic mutation in the ABCA4 gene of the variant c.5714+5G>A. Conclusions and Importance: Patients with STGD1 due to presumed mild or moderate mutations in the ABCA4 gene may have a more severe presentation and progression of the disease. Based on this, the first report of a genotype-phenotype correlation in a Puerto Rican patient with STGD1 disease, genotyping all Puerto Rican patients is warranted.
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Objectives: In this study, we identify knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) of the people of the State of Tabasco (Mexico) as they influence transmission and mitigation of COVID-19. Methods: We used an Internet-based survey (N=1848) from March to July 2021, with a probabilistic sampling stratified by municipalities. Results: Most respondents demonstrated knowledge about the etiology and symptoms of COVID-19 - they assume that anyone can contract the disease, and at least 53.5% knew that the cause is a virus. They believed that it constitutes a problem for their community due to its easy transmission; however, they consider themselves to be only at medium risk. They have adopted preventive measures such as handwashing, staying home, and social distancing; however, when analyzing protecting the community, they refer to other people as having responsibility for preventing disease spread. Conclusions: Interventions focused on social and cultural contexts are required. Sociodemographic and ideological factors influence disinformation, limited interventions, and cognitive dissonance. This type of research contributes to discovering areas of opportunity for government and public health organizations to prioritize practical actions and reduce eventual outbreaks.
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COVID-19 , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Estudos Transversais , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Humanos , México , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , SARS-CoV-2 , Inquéritos e QuestionáriosRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics upon presentation of a cohort of Hispanic patients living in Puerto Rico with ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP). METHODS: Retrospective chart review of subjects with ocular MMP at one academic institution and one private practice. Patients with clinical evidence of ocular MMP, along with a positive mucous membrane biopsy revealing linear antibody or C3 deposition in the basement membrane zone, or with a positive indirect immunofluorescence assay were included. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. RESULTS: Eight patients with ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid were identified. The median age upon presentation was 60.5 years; however, 2 patients were in their 4th decade and one in the 5th decade of life. Females constituted 62.5% of the cohort. All patients presented with stage III ocular MMP in at least one eye and 50% had history of trichiasis. Seven out of eight patients (87.5%) had extraocular symptoms for a median duration of 36 months (range 2-144 months). The most common site of extraocular involvement was the oropharynx, present in 87.5% of patients. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that in Puerto Rico ocular MMP most commonly presents in the seventh decade of life. The presence of symblepharon, trichiasis or oropharyngeal mucosal disease should prompt further evaluation and consideration for immunopathological tissue analysis and an IIF assay.
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Conjuntivite/diagnóstico , Mucosa/patologia , Penfigoide Mucomembranoso Benigno/diagnóstico , Adulto , Idoso , Biópsia , Estudos de Coortes , Conjuntivite/patologia , Feminino , Técnica Indireta de Fluorescência para Anticorpo , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Penfigoide Mucomembranoso Benigno/patologia , Porto Rico , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
AIMS: Myxomas are benign soft tissue tumours resembling primitive mesenchyme. They rarely involve ocular structures, and have been recognized in the conjunctiva, eyelids, cornea, and orbit. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathological features of seven patients with primary conjunctival myxoma seen at Dr Luis Sánchez Bulnes Hospital, an ophthalmological referral centre in Mexico City. METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed the clinical, histochemical and immunohistochemical studies of patients with documented myxoma of the conjunctiva diagnosed in our hospital. Seven conjunctival myxomas were retrieved from 5923 conjunctival biopsies (0.1%). The mean age of patients was 40 years, with a range of 27-51 years. Females were more frequently affected, and none of our patients had systemic disease. The left eye was involved in five cases, and most of the lesions were located in the bulbar conjunctiva. Histopathological examination revealed a benign tumour composed of spindle-shaped and stellate-shaped cells immersed within an abundant mucinous matrix with sparse vessels and reticulin fibres. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated positivity for vimentin and negativity for smooth muscle actin, SOX10 and GLUT1 in myxoma cells of all cases. S100 was found to be positive in four cases, and muscle-specific-actin in three cases. CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctival myxomas are uncommon tumours. For accurate diagnosis, histopathological examination is mandatory. The treatment of choice is surgical removal, and the prognosis is excellent.
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Neoplasias da Túnica Conjuntiva/patologia , Mixoma/patologia , Neoplasias de Tecidos Moles/patologia , Actinas/metabolismo , Adulto , Túnica Conjuntiva/patologia , Túnica Conjuntiva/cirurgia , Neoplasias da Túnica Conjuntiva/diagnóstico , Neoplasias da Túnica Conjuntiva/cirurgia , Feminino , Humanos , Imuno-Histoquímica , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mixoma/diagnóstico , Mixoma/cirurgia , Prognóstico , Neoplasias de Tecidos Moles/diagnóstico , Neoplasias de Tecidos Moles/cirurgia , Vimentina/metabolismoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Dialysis patients are classified according to their peritoneal permeability as low transporter (LT, low solute permeability) or high transporter (HT, high solute permeability). Tight junction (TJ) proteins are critical to maintain ions, molecules and water paracellular transport through peritoneum. Exposure to peritoneal dialysis solutions causes damage to TJ in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs). We analyzed the quantity, distribution and function of TJ proteins: claudin-1, -2 and -8, ZO-1 and occludin, in HPMC cultures from LT and HT patients. Since all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) might modify the expression of TJ proteins, we studied its effect on HPMCs. METHODS: Control HPMCs were isolated from human omentum, while HT or LT cells were obtained from dialysis effluents. Cells were cultured in presence of ATRA 0, 50 or 100 nM. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) measurement, immunostaining and Western blot analyses were performed. RESULTS: HT exhibited lower TER than control and LT monolayers. Immunofluorescence for TJ was weak and discontinuous along the cell contour, in LT and HT. Furthermore, claudin-1, occludin and ZO-1 expressions were decreased. In all groups, claudin-2 was localized at nuclei. We observed that ATRA improved TJ distribution and increased TJ expression in HT. This retinoid did not modify claudin-2 and -8 expressions. All-trans retinoic acid decreased TER in HT, but had no effect in LT. CONCLUSIONS: Tight junctions were altered in HPMCs from dialyzed patients. The HT monolayer has lower TER than LT, which might be associated with the peritoneal permeability in these patients. ATRA might be a therapeutic alternative to maintain mesothelial integrity, since it improved TJ localization and expression.
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Soluções para Diálise/farmacologia , Diálise Peritoneal , Peritônio/metabolismo , Tretinoína/farmacologia , Adulto , Transporte Biológico/efeitos dos fármacos , Biópsia , Western Blotting , Células Cultivadas , Células Epiteliais/efeitos dos fármacos , Células Epiteliais/metabolismo , Células Epiteliais/patologia , Feminino , Regulação da Expressão Gênica , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Peritônio/efeitos dos fármacos , Peritônio/patologia , Permeabilidade , Junções Íntimas/efeitos dos fármacos , Junções Íntimas/genética , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis are classified according to their peritoneal permeability as low transporter (low solute permeability) or High transporter (high solute permeability). Factors that determine the differences in permeability between them have not been fully disclosed. We investigated morphological features of cultured human peritoneal mesothelial cells from low or high transporter patients and its response to All trans retinoic Acid (ATRA, vitamin A active metabolite), as compared to non-uremic human peritoneal mesothelial cells. Control cells were isolated from human omentum. High or low transporter cells were obtained from dialysis effluents. Cells were cultured in media containing ATRA (0, 50, 100 or 200 nM). We studied length and distribution of microvilli and cilia (scanning electron microscopy), epithelial (cytokeratin, claudin-1, ZO-1 and occludin) and mesenchymal (vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin) transition markers by immunofluorescence and Western blot, and transforming growth factor ß1 expression by Western blot. Low and high transporter exhibited hypertrophic cells, reduction in claudin-1, occludin and ZO-1 expression, cytokeratin and vimentin disorganization and positive α-smooth muscle actin label. Vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor-ß1 were overexpressed in low transporter. Ciliated cells were diminished in low and high transporters. Microvilli number and length were severely reduced in high transporter. ATRA reduced hypertrophic cells number in low transporter. It also improved cytokeratin and vimentin organization, decreased vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin expression, and increased claudin 1, occludin and ZO-1 expression, in low and high transporter. In low transporter, ATRA reduced transforming growth factor-ß1 expression. ATRA augmented percentage of ciliated cells in low and high transporter. It also augmented cilia length in high transporter. Alterations in structure, epithelial mesenchymal markers and transforming growth factor-ß1 expression were differential between low and high transporter. Beneficial effects of ATRA were improved human peritoneal mesothelial cells morphology tending to normalize structures.