RESUMEN
We examined the effects of oestradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) on cytoskeletal protein expression in the helminth Taenia crassiceps - specifically actin, tubulin and myosin. These proteins assemble into flame cells, which constitute the parasite excretory system. Total protein extracts were obtained from E2- and P4-treated T. crassiceps cysticerci and untreated controls, and analysed by one- and two-dimensional protein electrophoresis, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and videomicroscopy. Exposure of T. crassiceps cysticerci to E2 and P4 induced differential protein expression patterns compared with untreated controls. Changes in actin, tubulin and myosin expression were confirmed by flow cytometry of parasite cells and immunofluorescence. In addition, parasite morphology was altered in response to E2 and P4 versus controls. Flame cells were primarily affected at the level of the ciliary tuft, in association with the changes in actin, tubulin and myosin. We conclude that oestradiol and progesterone act directly on T. crassiceps cysticerci, altering actin, tubulin and myosin expression and thus affecting the assembly and function of flame cells. Our results increase our understanding of several aspects of the molecular crosstalk between host and parasite, which might be useful in designing anthelmintic drugs that exclusively impair parasitic proteins which mediate cell signaling and pathogenic reproduction and establishment.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas del Citoesqueleto/metabolismo , Estradiol/farmacología , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Progesterona/farmacología , Taenia/clasificación , Taenia/citología , Animales , Células Cultivadas , Proteínas del Citoesqueleto/genética , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB CRESUMEN
Pesticides are frequently used substances worldwide, even when the use of some of them is forbidden due to the recognized adverse effect they have on the health of not only the people who apply the pesticides, but also of those that consume the contaminated products. The objectives of this study were to know the health issues of farm workers chronically exposed to pesticides, to evaluate possible damage at genetic level, as well as to explore some hepatic, renal, and hematological alterations. A transversal comparative study was performed between 2 groups, one composed of 25 farm workers engaged in pesticide spraying, and a control group of 21 workers not exposed to pesticides; both groups belonged to the Nextipac community in Jalisco, Mexico. Each member of both groups underwent a full medical history. Blood samples were taken from all farm workers in order to obtain a complete blood count and chemistry, clinical chemistry, lipid profile, liver and kidney function tests, erythrocyte cholinesterase quantification, lipid peroxidation profile, and free DNA fragment quantification. For the information analysis, central tendency and dispersion measurements were registered. In order to know the differences between groups, a cluster multivariate method was used, as well as prevalence reasons. The most used pesticides were mainly organophosphates, triazines and organochlorine compounds. The exposed group showed acute poisoning (20% of the cases) and diverse alterations of the digestive, neurological, respiratory, circulatory, dermatological, renal, and reproductive system probably associated to pesticide exposure. More importantly, they presented free DNA fragments in plasma (90.8 vs 49.05 ng/mL) as well as a higher level of lipid peroxidation (41.85 vs. 31.91 nmol/mL) in comparison with those data from unexposed farm workers. These results suggest that there exist health hazards for those farm workers exposed to pesticides, at organic and cellular levels.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de los Trabajadores Agrícolas/inducido químicamente , Fragmentación del ADN , Herbicidas/toxicidad , Insecticidas/toxicidad , Peroxidación de Lípido , Exposición Profesional/efectos adversos , Adulto , Enfermedades de los Trabajadores Agrícolas/genética , Enfermedades de los Trabajadores Agrícolas/metabolismo , Agroquímicos/toxicidad , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Colinesterasas/metabolismo , Análisis por Conglomerados , Estudios Transversales , Eritrocitos/enzimología , Humanos , Pruebas de Función Renal , Pruebas de Función Hepática , Masculino , México , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis Multivariante , Exposición Profesional/análisis , Organofosfatos/toxicidadRESUMEN
The expression of NK cells activation receptors was assessed by comparative study of two groups of women workers at a chemical reagents factory, located in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico. Twenty of them were exposed to environmental toxics identified and quantified by gas chromatography, and 20 women unexposed to toxic substances. The expression of the surface markers CD56+ and CD3+, and of the activation receptors and co-receptors on NK cells was quantified by flow cytometry. To assess the cellular damage produced by chronic exposure to the toxics, the thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) generated and the total plasma antioxidizing capacity (TPAC) were quantified in both groups. The exposed women had been exposed at least to 12 volatile toxic compounds, benzene, benz(a)pyrene, ethylbenzene, dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, xylene, toluene, styrene, chloroform, formaldehyde, iodine, chlorine and fluorine. Significant difference between the two groups was in the proportion of CD3 lymphocytes, 72.7+/-10.3% in the unexposed women versus 66.8+/-7.9% in the exposed group (p<0.05). The density of expression of NKG2D and NKp30 receptors was significantly higher in the unexposed women compared to the exposed group: NKG2D were 31.3+/-6.3 and NKp30 were 9.5+/-5.2 in the unexposed women and 5.14+/-2.9 (p<0.01) and 4.6+/-1.9 (p<0.05), respectively in the exposed women. No statistically significant differences were found in the expression of NKp80, NKp46 and 2B4 receptors. The concentration of TBARS was lower in women from the unexposed group than the corresponding data from women of the exposed group. However, no significant difference was observed in TPAC between the two groups studied. The results of this preliminary study suggest that from the five activation receptors and co-receptors of NK cells evaluated (NKp30, NKp46, NKp80, NKG2D and 2B4), only NKp30 and NKG2D receptor expression was diminished in women exposed to toxics when compared with data from unexposed women. These results suggest that the occupational exposure to mixture of toxics is one of the important factors in the diminution of the NK cell receptor expression.
Asunto(s)
Contaminantes Ambientales/toxicidad , Halógenos/toxicidad , Células Asesinas Naturales/efectos de los fármacos , Activación de Linfocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Exposición Profesional , Compuestos Orgánicos/toxicidad , Receptores de Células Asesinas Naturales/efectos de los fármacos , Adulto , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Industria Química , Femenino , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Halógenos/análisis , Humanos , Células Asesinas Naturales/inmunología , México , Persona de Mediana Edad , Compuestos Orgánicos/análisis , Receptores de Células Asesinas Naturales/inmunología , Sustancias Reactivas al Ácido Tiobarbitúrico/metabolismoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the application of gender perspective in public health papers in four journals published by the Mexican National Health Institutes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 999 papers published in the four journals between 2000 and 2003 was reviewed. Two levels of analysis were considered: (a) data presented by sex, providing description of differences between women and men, and (b) the analysis of these differences from gender perspective. RESULTS: One quarter (25.4%) of the articles described results by sex. The largest percentage was published in Salud Pública de México (48.8%) and the smallest in Revista de Investigación Clínica (16.1%). Gender perspective was used in only 4.2% of papers; of these, drug addictions, health behaviour and violence were the topics that occurred most frequently. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to assess the application of gender perspective in Mexican health articles. Similarly to other countries, a very small percentage of authors analyzed sex differences, and a smaller proportion applied gender perspective. Results demonstrate the importance of promoting interdisciplinary research that may promote the elucidation of health inequalities between men and women.
Asunto(s)
Relaciones Interpersonales , Publicaciones Periódicas como Asunto/estadística & datos numéricos , Edición/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , MéxicoRESUMEN
OBJETIVO: Elaborar un diagnóstico sobre la aplicación de la perspectiva de género en el campo de la investigación en salud en cuatro revistas mexicanas de los institutos nacionales de salud. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se revisaron 999 artículos publicados en cuatro revistas científicas (2000-2003), con dos niveles de análisis: a) desagregación de datos por sexo, que permite describir las diferencias entre mujeres y hombres; y b) análisis de estas diferencias desde la perspectiva de género. RESULTADOS: De los artículos revisados, 25.4 por ciento desagregó sus resultados por sexo, de los cuales el mayor porcentaje se publicó en Salud Pública de México (48.8 por ciento) y el menor en la Revista de Investigación Clínica (16.1 por ciento). Solamente 4.2 por ciento de los artículos aplicó la perspectiva de género, y los temas mayormente abordados fueron las adicciones, el comportamiento sexual y la violencia. CONCLUSIONES: Este es el primer estudio en México que evalúa la aplicación de la perspectiva de género en la investigación en salud. Al igual que en otros países, es baja la proporción de artículos que analizan las diferencias por sexo y aplican la perspectiva de género. Esto destaca la importancia de promover la investigación interdisciplinaria que ayude a comprender los orígenes biológicos y sociales, o la combinación de ambos, que determinan la salud desigual entre mujeres y hombres.
Asunto(s)
Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Relaciones Interpersonales , Publicaciones Periódicas como Asunto/estadística & datos numéricos , Edición/estadística & datos numéricos , Estudios Transversales , MéxicoRESUMEN
"Parejas y Disparejas" es un juego dirigido a conocer mejor la sexualidad de cada individuo, que ayuda a pensar sobre su ser y busca ser útil en el difícil proceso de definir que tipo de persona se quiere ser. También es un material de utilidad para padres y madres de familia, maestros y maestras, promotores juveniles, educadores de la salud o simplemente para grupos de amigas o amigos. Contenido: 1) Presentación. 2) Instructivo. 3) Cuerpo. 4) Sensaciones (erotismo). 5) Ser hombre/ser mujer (papeles sexuales). 6) Afectos. 7) Prevención de riesgos. 8) Actividades. 9) Lecturas recomendadas