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Biomedical subjects

Misael Uribe

Publications and source records attributed to Misael Uribe.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Smoking is not associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

AIM: To analyze the relationship between smoking and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of a healthy population, carried out in a check-up unit of a university hospital in Mexico City. We enrolled 933 subjects, 368 current smokers (cases) and 565 persons who had never smoked (controls). Demographic, metabolic and biochemical variables were measured in the two groups. NAFLD was determined by ultrasound and metabolic syndrome according to ATPIII. RESULTS: A total of 548 men (205 cases and 343 controls) and 337 women (114 cases and 223 controls) were included in the analysis. Statistical differences between cases and controls were observed only in high blood pressure prevalence (6.6% vs 11.3%, P < 0.05; cases and controls respectively), high-density lipoproteins (1.00 +/- 0.26 vs 1.06 +/- 0.28 mmol/L, P < 0.005), triglycerides (2.18 +/- 1.49 vs 1.84 +/- 1.1 mmol/L, P < 0.001), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (11.3 +/- 9.3 vs 13.5 +/- 11.9 mm/h, P < 0.001). No differences were observed in the prevalence of NAFLD (22.27% vs 29.68%, P = NS) and metabolic syndrome (41.69% vs 36.74%, P = NS). Univariate analysis showed that smoking was not a risk factor for NAFLD (OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.65-1.21). CONCLUSION: No differences in NAFLD prevalence were observed between current smokers and nonsmokers, and furthermore, no differences were observed in heavy smokers (more than 20 packs/year), indicating that there is no relationship between smoking and NAFLD.

Adult↗

Low serum levels of ghrelin are associated with gallstone disease.

AIM: To explore the role of ghrelin in gallstone disease. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study in 150 subjects, 38 with gallstones (cases) and 112 controls. We also did a real-time PCR-RT study in twenty gallbladder samples each. Body mass index (BMI), serum insulin, ghrelin, and serum lipids were measured. Logistic regression analyses (univariate and multivariate) were conducted to estimate the probability of gallstone disease associated with serum ghrelin concentrations. RESULTS: Cases were statistically different from controls in gender distribution (P = 0.01), age (53 vs 44 yr, P = 0.002), BMI (28 vs 25; P = 0.004), and glucose (5.26 vs 4.98 mmol/L; P = 0.05). The prevalence of ghrelin serum levels above the third tercile was lower in subjects without metabolic syndrome (P < 0.05). In a multivariate model, we found a protective effect, when ghrelin values were higher than the median value (OR = 0.27, 95%CI 0.09-0.82, P = 0.02). Twenty (20%) gallbladder specimens expressed ghrelin mRNA. CONCLUSION: Serum ghrelin concentrations are associated with a protective effect of GD.

Adolescent↗

Clinical and pathologic factors associated with survival in young adult patients with fibrolamellar hepatocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Fibrolamellar Carcinoma (FLC), a subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a rare primary hepatic malignancy. Several aspects of the clinic features and epidemiology of FLC remain unclear because most of the literature on FLC consists of case reports and small cases series with limited information on factors that affect survival. METHODS: We did a retrospective analysis of the clinical and histological characteristics of FLC. We also determined the rate of cellular proliferation in biopsies of these tumors. We assessed whether these variables were associated with survival. RESULTS: We found 15 patients with FLC out of 174 patients with HCC (8.6%). Between patients with these neoplasms, we found statistically significant survival, age at onset, level of alpha fetoprotein, and an earlier stage of the disease. The 1, 3 and 5 year survival in patients with FLC was of 66, 40 and 26% respectively. The factors associated with a higher survival in patients with FLC were age more than 23 years, feasibility of surgical resection, free surgical borders, absence of thrombosis or invasion to hepatic vessels and the absence of alterations in liver enzymes. The size of the tumor, gender, cellular proliferation and atypia did not affect the prognosis. CONCLUSION: We concluded that FLC patients diagnosed before 23 years of age have worse prognosis than those diagnosed after age 23. Other factors associated with worse prognosis in this study are: lack of surgical treatment, presence of positive surgical margins, vascular invasion, and altered hepatic enzymes.

Adolescent↗

Serum leptin levels and insulin resistance are associated with gallstone disease in overweight subjects.

AIM: To establish an association between the serum leptin levels and the development of gallstone disease (GD). METHODS: We carried out a non-matched case-controlled study in a university hospital in Mexico City. Two hundred and eighty-seven subjects were included: 97 cases with gallstones and 190 controls. Body mass index (BMI), fasting plasma leptin, insulin, serum lipid, and lipoprotein levels were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Unconditional logistic regression analysis (univariate and multivariate) stratified by BMI was used to calculate the risk of GD. RESULTS: The multivariate conditional regression analysis revealed a model for those patients with BMI <30. The selected variables in the model were HOMA-IR index with OR = 1.31, P = 0.02 and leptin higher than median with OR = 2.11, P = 0.05. In the stratum of BMI >=30, we did not find a useful model. CONCLUSION: We concluded that insulin resistance and the development of GD appears to be associated with serum leptin levels in subjects with overweight, but not in obese subjects with similar metabolic profiles.

Adult↗

Adiponectin as a protective factor in hepatic steatosis.

AIM: Obesity and insulin resistance (IR) are closely related to hepatic steatosis (HS), and adiponectin is a hepatic insulin sensitizer that has important effects in liver function. This study aims at investigating the relationship between serum adiponectin concentration and the presence of HS. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study in a check-up unit of a University Hospital in Mexico City. We enrolled 196 subjects, comprising 98 subjects with HS (27 women, 71 men) and 98 controls (37 women and 61 men). Anthropometric, metabolic and biochemical variables were measured in the two groups. Serum adiponectin and leptin concentrations were determined, their association with grade of HS tested, and concentrations, according to quartiles, compared between cases and controls. chi(2) analysis for linear trends was used to test for a dose-response relationship and logistic regression analysis was conducted to test for a protective effect of adiponectin. RESULTS: The HS subjects were older and more obese than controls, with a central obesity pattern. In the fourth quartile of adiponectin concentrations, HS was less common and severe. In a multivariate model of the fourth quartile of the adiponectin concentrations, we observed a protective effect (OR = 0.17, 95%CI: 0.04-0.67, P = 0.01). In subjects with more severe HS, we observed higher leptin concentrations, and caloric intakes, total fat and iron consumption were higher than in controls. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that a high serum concentration of adiponectin is associated with a protective effect against HS.

Adiponectin↗

Metabolic syndrome as a risk factor for gallstone disease.

AIM: To establish an association between the presence of metabolic syndrome and the development of gallstone disease. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study in a check-up unit in a university hospital in Mexico City. We enrolled 245 subjects, comprising 65 subjects with gallstones (36 women, 29 men) and 180 controls (79 women and 101 men without gallstones). Body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, plasma insulin, and serum lipids and lipoproteins levels were measured. Insulin resistance was calculated by homeostasis model assessment. Unconditional logistic regression analysis (univariate and multivariate) was used to calculate the risk of gallstone disease associated with the presence of at least three of the criteria (Adult Treatment Panel III). Analyses were adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: Among 245 subjects, metabolic syndrome was present in 40% of gallstone disease subjects, compared with 17.2% of the controls, adjusted by age and gender (odds ratio (OR) = 2.79; 95%CI, 1.46-5.33; P = 0.002), a dose-dependent effect was observed with each component of metabolic syndrome (OR = 2.36, 95%CI, 0.72-7.71; P = 0.16 with one component and OR = 5.54, 95%CI, 1.35-22.74; P = 0.02 with four components of metabolic syndrome). Homeostasis model assessment was significantly associated with gallstone disease (adjusted OR = 2.25; 95%CI, 1.08-4.69; P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: We conclude that as for cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus, gallstone disease appears to be strongly associated with metabolic syndrome.

Adult↗

Prevalence of hepatitis C infection in a population of asymptomatic people in a checkup unit in Mexico city.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has an estimated prevalence of 3% around the world. Unfortunately, many persons with HCV infection are asymptomatic. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C Virus infection in asymptomatic persons. This study was carried out in a population-based cross-sectional study in the Checkup Unit of University Hospital in Mexico City. Patients with two or more HCV risk factors were studied. Serum specimens from all patients were screened for HCV RNA by qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). HCV RNA-positive serum was also screened by quantitative PCR and for HCV genotype. Three hundred asymptomatic people were included, 194 men and 106 women, with a mean age of 46.8+/-11.9. Six (2%) of the 300 people were positive and viremic. The most common risk factors in positive patients were manicures or pedicures with a nonpersonal instrument and more than three sexual partners. We concluded that hepatitis C is frequent in asymptomatic people, and those people are often viremic. In addition, this study suggests that the spectrum of liver disease in asymptomatic and newly diagnosed HCV-positive persons is broad.

Adult↗

Strong association between gallstones and cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Obesity is closely associated with the increased morbidity and mortality of many common diseases in the Western world, including coronary heart disease (CHD) and gallstone diseases (GD). We have investigated the association between GD and CHD in a cross-sectional study. METHODS AND RESULTS: Subjects who had gallstones visible by ultrasound were considered as cases and subjects negative for gallstones were classified as controls. Positive CHD was defined when the stress test was positive. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, serum lipid concentrations, and insulin resistance were measured. The association was estimated by odds ratios using logistic regression models adjusted for confounders. Four hundred and seventy-three subjects (292 males and 181 females) were included, comprising 354 controls and 119 cases. Subjects with GD had higher prevalence of CHD (15.96%) than controls (4.52%) (p < 0.0001). In univariate unconditional logistic regression analysis CHD, BMI >/= 30 kg/m(2), waist circumference, high blood pressure, and HOMA-IR > 2.5 were the most important risk factors for GD. In multivariate analysis (adjusted for age and gender, and BMI) the risk for GD in subjects with CHD was higher (OR 2.84, 95% CI: 1.33-6.07, p < 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects with CHD have an increased risk to have GD, both diseases are strongly associated and the main characteristics of these subjects are those frequently involved as part of the metabolic syndrome.

Adult↗

Effects of leptin on biliary lipids: potential consequences for gallstone formation and therapy in obesity.

Gallstone disease is exceptionally common, occurring especially in Western populations, with cholesterol gallstones predominating. Currently, it is believed that obesity is the most consistent and important risk factor for the development of cholesterol gallstones. Obesity has been shown to be associated with the supersaturation of bile with cholesterol because of increased hepatic secretion of the sterol. In accord with current information from experimental studies, leptin appears to be involved in biliary cholesterol secretion and cholesterol gallstone formation in humans. This review summarizes the current information on the role of obesity in biliary lipid secretion as well as the effect of leptin and its potential consequences for gallstone formation and therapy in the obese.

Animals↗

The Amerindian's genes in the Mexican population are associated with development of gallstone disease.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that genes related to Amerindian ancestry account for the high prevalence of gallstone disease (GD) observed in Mexican-Americans. The HLA-B39 is an allele found in higher frequency in Amerindians whereas HLA-B15 is rarely found. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that gallstone susceptibility genes are more prevalent in Mexicans with recent Amerindian ancestry. METHODS: We carried out a prospective case-controlled study. Subjects were divided into those who had stones visible on gallbladder ultrasound (cases), and those whose ultrasounds were negative for gallstones (controls). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and serum lipids and lipoprotein, and glucose levels were measured. Class I HLA (HLA-B) typing was performed by PCR amplification of genomic DNA. RESULTS: Of the 1,101 subjects, 146 were classified as subjects with GD (cases) and 955 as subjects without GD (controls). Mean age of the cases was 53.5 +/- 12.5 yr versus 44.78 +/- 12.0 yr for the controls, p= 0.001. A family history of GD was observed in 48% of the cases versus 28.4% of the controls, p= 0.001. HLA-B39 was more frequently increased in GD subjects (0.162), compared with controls (0.063), p= 0.008. The odds ratio of having HLA-B39 was 2.8 and 95% (CI 95%= 1.3-6.3) for GD; HLA-B15 was more frequently increased in controls than in cases. CONCLUSIONS: The most prevalent HLA alleles detected in these GD cases are characteristic of Amerindian populations, supporting the role of genetics in the high prevalence of the development of GD in Mexican mestizos.

Adult↗

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among hemodialysis patients at a tertiary-care hospital in Mexico City, Mexico.

We determined the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in hemodialysis patients by antibody testing and HCV RNA determination by PCR. A total of 149 patients with kidney failure with replacement therapy were tested. The prevalence of anti-HCV was 6.7% (10 of 149 patients), and viremia was detectable in 8 of 149 (5%) patients. Three of 149 patients (2%) were anti-HCV negative with detectable HCV RNA.

Hepatitis C↗

The role of dietary fats in the pathogenesis of gallstones.

Gallstone disease is exceptionally common, occurring especially in Western populations, with cholesterol gallstones predominating. Currently, it is believed that one of the essential factors in the pathogenesis of cholesterol gallstones is a physical-chemical event that results primarily from alterations in the lipid composition of gallbladder bile. Cholesterol supersaturation is due principally to excessive secretion of cholesterol into the bile. Several biochemical defects, as well as diet, might cause hypersecretion of cholesterol. The precise effects of diet on cholesterol supersaturation of bile have not been clearly established, although epidemiological, clinical, and animal studies indicate that diet plays an important role in cholesterol gallstone formation. This review summarizes current information on the role of dietary fat in the modulation of cholesterol gallstone formation.

Animals↗

Diagnostic value of the copper/zinc ratio in hepatocellular carcinoma: a case control study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of the copper/zinc ratio in the evaluation of a group of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: A total of 105 patients were studied and separated into three groups: group I ( n = 40), patients with HCC, group II ( n = 25), patients with liver cirrhosis, and group III ( n = 40), patients with benign digestive disease. Serum levels of copper and zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The serum levels of copper microg/dl) in patients with HCC (97.4 +/- 27.2; P < 0.05) were significantly higher than those in patients with liver cirrhosis (73.7 +/- 17.5) or benign digestive disease (77.1 +/- 20.8), and the serum levels of zinc microg/dl) were significantly lower (71.6 +/- 30.5; P < 0.05) than those in patients with benign digestive disease (81.7 +/- 17.7 microg/dl) and were similar to those in cirrhotic patients (68.5 +/- 17.1). The Cu/Zn ratio was also significantly higher in patients with HCC (1.52 +/- 0.64; P < 0.05) than in patients with liver cirrhosis (1.06 +/- 0.2) or patients with benign digestive disease (0.95 +/- 0.39). Considering a cutoff value of 1.15, the sensitivity of the Cu/Zn ratio was 87.5%, with a specificity of 86.1%, a positive predictive value of 79.5%, and a negative predictive value of 91.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The Cu/Zn ratio was found to be significantly higher in patients with HCC compared with that in age and sex-matched controls, with a sensitivity of 87.5%; this ratio might be useful in the evaluation of suspected hepatocellular malignancy.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular↗

Plasma leptin and the cholesterol saturation of bile are correlated in obese women after weight loss.

Increased cholesterol secretion is a major alteration of biliary function in obese subjects Leptin is a regulator of food intake and is increased in plasma of subjects with low energy expenditure and high adiposity. We investigated the relationship between leptin and the cholesterol saturation of bile in obese women before and after weight reduction by energy restriction (5.02 MJ/d). We studied women (n = 14) with a body mass index (BMI) > or = 30 kg/m(2) who were 35.4 +/- 2.3 y old and who did not have a history of gallstones. They were studied by ultrasound to ensure absence of stones or sludge. BMI, gallbladder bile composition, plasma leptin, serum lipids and lipoproteins cholesterol levels were recorded at baseline and after 6 wk of weight reduction. There were decreases in BMI (33.9 +/- 3.1 to 31.1 +/- 3.6 kg/m(2), P < 0.0001) and leptin levels (16.7 +/- 9.7 to 10.0 +/- 6.7 micro mol/L, P < 0.05) during weight loss. After the experimental period, there were positive correlations between plasma leptin levels and BMI (r = 0.71, P < 0.004); leptin levels and the cholesterol saturation index (CSI) (r = 0.53, P < 0.05); the CSI and LDL cholesterol (r = 0.73, P < 0.003); and negative correlations between leptin levels and HDL cholesterol (r = -0.54, P < 0.05) and LDL cholesterol (r = -0.57, P < 0.03). We have shown relationships among HDL cholesterol, CSI and leptin. This could be useful in understanding the pathophysiology of cholesterol gallstone formation in obese people.

Adult↗

[Hepatitis C in Mexico].

There are at least five Mexican studies which analyze HCV prevalence. As far as seroprevalence is concerned, it's clear that it's closely related to transfusion history and sexual promiscuity. Based on data provided by the censuses and previous prevalence studies, it has been inferred that today there are nearly 1.2 million Mexicans infected with hepatitis C virus.

Hepatitis C↗