Armando Campos

Helicobacter pylori Infection in Pregnant Women from a U.S.–Mexico Border Population

Helicobacter pylori infection causes chronic digestive diseases that disproportionately affect Hispanics and other immigrant groups in the United States. Information on the epidemiology of H. pylori infection in pregnant women who reside along the U.S.-Mexico border is critical to understanding the dynamics of current H. pylori transmission patterns within families along the border. We describe the epidemiology of H. pylori infection in pregnant women recruited from Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) clinics in El Paso, Texas, and Mexican Social Security Institute maternal-child clinics in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, from April 1998 to October 2000. We interviewed participants regarding environmental factors and tested their serum for IgG antibodies. We used logistic regression to estimate associations between environmental exposures and the odds of H. pylori prevalence. Definitive serological tests were available from 751 women. Seroprevalence was 74% in Juarez women and 56% in El Paso women. Prevalence increased with age, crowding, poor sanitation, and residence in Mexico, decreased with education, and was not associated with the womans number of living children. In the U.S.-Mexico border region, women of reproductive age have a high prevalence of H. pylori infection, apparently related to poor socioeconomic conditions.

Relación entre consultas a urgencias por enfermedad respiratoria y contaminación atmosférica en Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua

Objective. To assess the relationship of ≤10 μm particles (PM 10 ) and atmospheric ozone concentrations, with the daily number of emergency visits due to asthma and acute respiratory diseases, among children aged under 15, living in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Material and methods. Between 1998 and 1999, an ecologic study was conducted. Atmospheric data were obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), from eight monitoring stations located in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, and El Paso,

Hyperendemic H. pylori and tapeworm infections in a U.S.-Mexico border population

Objective. A higher incidence of infectious disease has been documented in U.S. regions bordering Mexico compared with non-border areas. We assessed the prevalence of important gastrointestinal infections in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, the largest binational community along the U.S.-Mexico border. Methods. Fecal specimens from a sample of the asymptomatic population representing all ages were tested for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., and other intestinal parasitic pathogens using flotation, immunoassays, and/or polymerase chain reaction. We also measured indicators of microbiological contamination of drinking water, hands of food preparers, and kitchen surfaces. Results. Overall, of the 386 participants, H. pylori was present in 38.2%, Taenia spp. in 3.3%, Giardia spp. in 2.7%, Cryptosporidium spp. in 1.9%, Entamoeba dispar in 1.3%, and Ascaris lumbricoides and Necator americanus in 0.3% of the study subjects; Cyclospora spp. and Entamoeba histolytica were not found. H. pylori infection was associated with handwashing (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0, 1.8). Taenia spp. was found more often on the U.S. side (PR=8.6, 95% CI 2.3, 30.8). We did not find an association between these infections and the occurrence of total coliforms or fecal coliforms on kitchen surfaces. In addition, Escherichia coli was not found in any drinking water sample. Conclusion. The study results indicated that H. pylori and Taenia spp. infections may be highly prevalent along the U.S.-Mexico border. Additional research is necessary to adequately characterize the prevalence, as well as determine whether interventions that reduce these infections are warranted.

Adjunctive micronutrient supplementation for pulmonary tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of micronutrient supplementation on tuberculosis (TB) patient outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS The randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study was conducted in pulmonary TB patients undergoing directly observed treatment short course/ tratamiento acortado estrictamente supervisado (TAES/ DOTS) at IMSS in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, who were recruited during August 2005-July 2006. Consecutive patients received zinc and vitamin A supplements or matched placebo for four months. Dietary intake, blood zinc and vitamin A, immune response (IFN-gamma,TNF-alpha, and IL-10 mRNA), and sputum smear conversion were measured. RESULTS The proportion of micronutrient compared to placebo group subjects with a negative sputum smear by month 3 was significantly increased (p= 0.03). This occurred subsequent to increased TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma and decreased IL-10 observed at month 2. Micronutrient supplementation appeared to accelerate the beneficial therapeutic effect of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS The earlier elimination of bacilli from sputum was associated with improved zinc status and Th1 immune response. The therapeutic effect of vitamin A was less evident.