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Objective. To assess the geographic distribution and trends of AIDS deaths for the 1988-1997 period in Mexico. Material and Methods. Crude and adjusted mortality rates were estimated for the 1988-1997 period. A trend test was performed using the simple linear regression method. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) and years of potential life lost (YPLL) were calculated for each Mexican state. Results. During the study period (1988-1997), there were 26,999 AIDS deaths in Mexico; 86.5% (23,354) of them were among men. The mean age at the time of death was 38.4 years for men and 37.7 years for women (p> 0.05). The crude AIDS mortality rate for the period of study was 3.02 cases (95% CI: 2.94, 3.06) per 100,000 inhabitants. The adjusted rate was 3.13 (95% CI: 3.09, 3.17), with 5.22 (95% CI: 5.16 - 5.29) for men and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.79-0.84) for women. The states with the highest SMR were: Baja California (SMR: 248.69; 95% CI: 234.02-263.36), Mexico City (SMR: 220.74; 95% CI: 215.57-225.91), and Jalisco (SMR: 169.16; 95% CI: 162.88-175.44). Similarly, a Potential Lost Life Years Index (PLLYI) analysis by state showed a greater risk of premature AIDS mortality in the same states [Baja California (PLLYI index: 236.33; 95% CI: 233.97-238.68), Mexico City (PLLYI: 194.68; 95% CI: 193.88 - 195.48), and Jalisco (PLLYI: 170.69; 95% CI: 169.60-171.79)]. Conclusions. Mortality trends indicate that AIDS mortality in Mexico increased by an annual rate of 23% between 1988 and 1997. The adjusted AIDS mortality rate increased from 0.75 per 100 000 in 1988, to 4.20 per 100 000 in 1997, with the largest burden of mortality in men (male to female ratio of 6:1). We therefore expect that a decreasing effect on AIDS mortality trends will be observed in the next years.

INTRODUCTION: In Mexico, breast cancer (BC) is one of the main causes of cancer deaths in women, with increasing incidence and mortality in recent years. Therefore, the aim of the study is identify possible risk factors related to BC. METHODS: An epidemiological study of hospital cases of BC and controls with cervical uterine cancer (CUCA) was carried out at eight third level concentration hospitals in Mexico City. The total of 353 incident cases of BC and 630 controls with CUCA were identified among women younger than 75 years who had been residents of the metropolitan area of Mexico City for at least one year. Diagnosis was confirmed histologically in both groups. Variables were analyzed according to biological and statistical plausibility criteria. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out. Cases and controls were stratified according to the menopausal hormonal status (pre and post menopause). RESULTS: The factors associated with BC were: higher socioeconomic level (OR= 2.77; 95%CI = 1.77 - 4.35); early menarche (OR= 1.32; 95%CI= 0.88 - 2.00); old age at first pregnancy (>31 years: OR= 5.49; 95%CI= 2.16 - 13.98) and a family history of BC (OR= 4.76; 95% CI= 2.10 - 10.79). In contrast, an increase in the duration of the breastfeeding period was a protective factor (>25 months: OR= 0.38; 95%CI= 0.20 - 0.70). CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to the identification of risk factors for BC described in the international literature, in the population of Mexican women. Breastfeeding appears to play an important role in protecting women from BC. Because of changes in women`s lifestyles, lactation is decreasing in Mexico, and young women tend not to breastfeed or to shorten the duration of lactation.

Objetivo. Determinar las principales características de comportamiento sexual en hombres de la Ciudad de México, incluyendo número de parejas sexuales, antecedentes de enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS) y creencias acerca del síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida (SIDA). Material y métodos. Durante 1995 se realizó un estudio epidemiológico transversal, basado en un muestreo multietápico por conglomerados; se entrevistó a 1 377 hombres de 15 a 49 años de edad, a quienes se les aplicó un cuestionario estructurado. Para el análisis estadístico de los datos se realizaron pruebas de significancia como t de Student y ji². Resultados. Entre los entrevistados la media de edad fue de 34.5 años (DE= 7.5 años), y la media de inicio de relaciones sexuales de 17.7 años (DE= 2.8 años). La proporción global de uso de condón durante la última relación sexual fue de 24.6%; de acuerdo con el tipo de pareja sexual femenina en el último año, 18.8% lo usaron con parejas regulares y 62.5% con múltiples parejas. El 2% refirió síntomas sugestivos de uretritis gonocócica. Finalmente 97.5% refirió saber qué significaba la palabra SIDA y conocer ciertas medidas protectoras contra la infección. Conclusiones. En este estudio se identificaron características de comportamiento sexual riesgoso para adquirir y transmitir alguna ETS, como tener múltiples parejas sexuales, no usar el condón y presentar antecedentes de ETS.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Se ha demostrado que la sífilis, debido a la ulceración genital que produce, es un cofactor asociado para adquirir otras enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS), principalmente de origen viral como herpes tipo-2, hepatitis B, y el VIH. Aunque las mujeres trabajadoras del sexo comercial (MTSC) han adquirido mejores conocimientos para prevenir las ETS, constituyen un grupo que por su heterogenicidad en términos de condición socioeconómica, estado de salud, ambiente y sitio de trabajo, manifiestan diferentes actitudes y conocimientos que hacen latente la posibilidad de adquirir y transmitir ETS incluyendo sífilis, por lo que lo estudio hace un acercamiento hacia los factores asociados a infección por Treponema pallidum en este grupo de mujeres. MÉTODO: Basado en un marco muestral, que identifica sitios donde se practica el comercio sexual femenino en la ciudad de México, se seleccionó una muestra de 807 MTSC, a quienes previo consentimiento informado, se entrevistó para que respondieran un cuestionario estructurado. Se obtuvo una muestra sanguínea para la identificación de diversos marcadores serológicos de ETS de acuerdo al manual de procedimientos para el diagnóstico de ETS. Para el diagnóstico de Treponema pallidum se utilizó una prueba de tamizaje de RPR (Bigaux Diagnóstica), y prueba confirmatoria de FTA-ABS (Pasteur Diagnostics). RESULTADOS: Las prevalencias de sífilis en la muestra de MTSC fue de 6,4% (52/807), siendo mayor en quienes trabajaban en sitios de calle comparadas con aquellas de estéticas. La edad de las mujeres entrevistadas osciló entre 17 y 58 años con una media de 29,2 años (d.s. 7,3 años). La prevalencia de sífilis fue mayor en los grupos etáreos mayores de 30 anos. La edad de inicio de relaciones sexuales varió desde 11 hasta 30 anos con una media de 16 años (d.s. 3,1 años). Los factores predictores de infección por T. pallidum, determinados mediante regresión logística ajustada, fueron: sitio de trabajo (bar y puntos de calle), NSE (medio y bajo), edad (mayores de 30 anos), antiguedad en el trabajo sexual (> 5 años), y número de clientes en una semana (>10). CONCLUSIONES: A pesar de las limitaciones de precisión estadística, queda demostrado que existe una heterogenicidad de MTSC, diferenciado principalmente por el sitio donde se desempeñan. Debe entenderse que más que grupos de riesgo de adquirir y transmitir ETS, existen prácticas sexuales de riesgo en cualquier individuo que tiene relaciones sexuales, que aunadas a infecciones predisponentes como sífilis, facilitan la transmisibilidad de otras ETS. Por lo tanto, las campañas de prevención y fomento de uso de condón, deben orientarse no sólo a las MTSC sino también a sus clientes y parejas, con la finalidad de que todos asuman la responsabilidad del sexo seguro.

The coagulation system always keeps the blood in a fluid state and is therefore incessantly active throughout life. However, the moment an injury to the vascular system occurs, the coagulation system immediately rotates 180° and transforms the blood into a perfectly localized solid body, which we call a clot. This process, by which a clot forms, is known as hemostasis, which is one of the components of the coagulation system. The importance of the Leiden mutation of factor V is based on the following: coagulation factor V is a protein that is synthesized in the liver and the gene that encodes it is located in region 23 of the long arm of chromosome 1, this factor circulates in peripheral blood inactively until it interacts with activated factor X forming a complex that converts factor II (prothrombin) into thrombin, which will have its action on fibrinogen turning it into fibrin. The regulation of activated factor V is given by the activity of activated protein C, when factor V has a mutation (named Leiden) that is caused by the exchange of an adenine for a guanine in the nucleotide 1691 of factor V (G1691A), which causes arginine to be replaced by a glutamine in the 506 residue of the factor V protein, the resulting protein is an abnormal factor V, which cannot be inactivated by activated protein C, so factor V remains activated and cannot prevent the clotting process from stopping. In our country (considering several conditions) it has been described in various publications of Mexican researchers that Leiden mutations of factor V and G20210A of prothrombin are not frequent, as they are in European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de la Facultad de Medicina de la UNAM is the property of UNAM, Facultad de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ginecología y Obstetricia de México is the property of Federacion Mexicana de Ginecologia y Obstetricia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Ginecología y Obstetricia de México is the property of Federacion Mexicana de Ginecologia y Obstetricia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to estimate the role of victimization by violence among Mexican adolescents that have considered or attempted migrating to the United States, including mental health variables (emotional self-esteem, self-esteem in school, depression, suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide) as mediators of the effects. The study used a cross-sectional design with a stratified cluster sample of 13,198 adolescents from the 2nd Mexican National Survey on Exclusion, Intolerance, and Violence in public schools in 2009. The analysis used the regression models proposed by Baron & Kenny. Prevalence of having considered or attempted cross-border migration was 23.1%. Mean age was 16.36 years. Female adolescents constituted 54.9% of the sample, and 56% were lower-income. Mental health variables that acted as partial mediators were suicidal ideation (35.9%), depression (19.2%), attempted suicide (17.7%), emotional self-esteem (6.2%), and self-esteem in school (3.4%) for moderate family violence, and emotional self-esteem (17.5%) for social rejection in school and suicidal ideation (8.1%) for physical harm in school. Female adolescents showed greater impact from mediators than men in considering or having attempted cross-border migration. The study discusses the importance of incorporating the prevention of violence in the social contexts studied here and incorporating mental health in dealing with violence in adolescents and in public health programs in transit areas for illegal migrants.

Background: Cervical cancer has been extensively studied, as well as the various risk factors for that cancer. One such factor is the prolonged use of hormonal contraceptives., Objective: To report the biological, immunological and epidemiological findings arising from the use of oral contraceptives and their relation to cervical cancer., Material and Methods: Retrospective study based on information published in national and international literature., Conclusions: Controversy persists between the epidemiological data and experimental biological association between hormonal contraceptives and cancer induced by HPV. It is important to consider the biological findings because in Mexico the use of hormonal contraceptives is very broad and the number of cases of cervical cancer and only extensive epidemiological studies will clarify this controversy.

Introduction: Maternal mortality is a public health issue. The causes of maternal mortality are directly related to accessibility, opportunity, costs and quality of obstetric and perinatal services., Objective: To describe the characteristics of maternal deaths and analyze the risk factors associated with these deaths in the State of Morelos (Mexico)., Material and Method: a cross-sectional epidemiological, observational, descriptive, retrospective study of 94 cases of maternal deaths registered in the Morelos health services, from 2000 to 2004. Hospitalized and non-hospitalized maternal deaths characteristics were compared., Results: Of 94 maternal deaths, 81.9% were classified as hospitalized (66.7% in public hospitals) and 13.8% as non-hospitalized. 73 (77.6%) deaths occurred during the postpartum period. Most women did not have any medical service (76.7%). There were 77 cases (81.9%) of direct maternal death and 12 (18.1%) indirect. The risk of non-hospitalized maternal death in women 35 to 40 years old was three times higher, with incomplete primary education or none 10.9 and without medical service 3.6 times., Conclusions: Most deaths were in hospitals, the main causes were hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum and obstetric hemorrhage, events related to the quality of health services. It is necessary to develop more efficient prenatal programs, with focus in maternal and child risk.

Objective: To identify the influence of reproductive characteristics and women empowerment with the use of family planning services., Material and Methods: Cases and non-cases design with neighborhood controls (147 users and 146 non-users of family planning services during 2003), in Guanajuato State, Mexico. Various indexes were constructed to evaluate women's empowerment and its relationship with family planning use., Results: The use of family planning services was positively and significantly associated with the woman's power to make decisions (High: OR 3.2, CI95% 1.4-7.4), a high level of communication with her partner on contraceptive use (OR 3.5, CI95% 1.4-9.3); and a greater number of pregnancies (> 6 children: OR 4.4, CI95% 1.4-13.8)., Conclusion: Factors such as a high level of female decision-making and more partner support for contraceptive use are related to the use of family planning services. Therefore, developing strategies that involve men and support female empowerment could contribute to increasing the use of family planning services.

The prevalence of obesity in childhood and adolescence has increased in Mexico. This increase can be explained partly by a decrease in physical activity. The objective of this study was to assess the association between the prevalence of obesity and overweight with physical activity and inactivity among Mexican adolescents. We analyzed data from a longitudinal study with baseline and follow-up measures in 446 adolescents 12 to 17 years old, attending public schools in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. We collected information on weight, physical activity and demographic characteristics. Obesity and overweight were determined using as indicador the body mass index, and the cutoff points proposed by the International Obesity Task Force. The baseline prevalence of obesity or overweight was 37.22% (42.99% for males and 30.95% for females), and in the final measure 34.30% (38.46% for males and 32.28% for females). The median time of TV viewing was 3.90 h/d, with 0.73 h/d dedicated to vigorous physical activity and 0.58 h/d to moderate physical activity. Using logistic regression, after adjustment for obesity in the baseline measure, sex and clustering by school, we found no significant associations between the prevalence of obesity or overweight with time dedicated to TV viewing, vigorous or moderate physical activity. However, when conducting the analysis with an interaction term by sex, we found significantly lower risk of obesity or overweight associated with an increase in vigorous physical activity among males only (beta = 0.22, 95% CI (0.05, 0.89). Results suggest that vigorous physical activity may reduce the risk of obesity or overweight among male adolescents.

Objective: To estimate the association between obstetric and socio-demographic characteristics and risk factors related to intra- and extra-hospital maternal mortality in Guatemala during the year 2000., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional epidemiologic study was carried out in 649 maternal mortality (MM) cases that occurred in Guatemala during 2000, comparing characteristics of intra- and extra-hospital maternal deaths. Multivariate statistical analysis was conducted using Stata 7.0 software., Results: Out of 649 registered MM cases, 270 (41.6%) were classified as intra-hospital MM and 379 (58.4%) as extra-hospital MM.A larger proportion of deaths occurred in women over 35 years of age (29.28%), those of indigenous ethnicity (65.49%), married or cohabiting (87.83%),who had unpaid employment (94.78%), and without formal education (66.56%). Compared with intra-hospital MM cases,the risk of extra-hospital MM was greater among indigenous women (OR 3.4; CI 95% 2.8-5.3),those who had unpaid employment (OR 8.95; CI 95% 1.7-46.4), a low level of formal education (OR 1.96; CI 95% 1.0-3.8) and hemorrhaging as the immediate cause of death (OR 4.28; CI 95% 2.3-7.9)., Conclusions: Although some characteristics of intra- and extra-hospital MM cases are similar, a greater proportion of deaths were extra-hospital. This could be related to the high percentage of the population that lives in rural or marginalized areas, which in addition to certain cultural aspects (related to the fact that most of the population is indigenous) may impede access to health services. The results of this study can be useful for determining intervention strategies to prevent maternal mortality in intra- and extra-hospital contexts in Guatemala.

Objective: Some studies suggest the possibility that the physiological process of pregnancy modifies certain characteristics of the mother, increasing the risk of both, infection and persistence of infection with HPV. This association, however, has not been firmly established. This study seeks to determine the prevalence of oncogenic HPV infecton in a sample of pregnant Mexican women and its possible risk factors., Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a sample of 274 pregnant women sought first level of care services during the year 2000 at the antenatal clinic of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico. Samples of vaginal cells were obtained through self-collected specimens, for the high-risk HPV DNA test using the Hybrid Capture 2 test (HC2). A structured questionnaire was administered regarding sociodemographic, gynecologic, obstetric and sexual behavior characteristics., Results: The mean age was 25.7 years. The average time of pregnancy when the study was conducted was 6 months. The principal risk factors associated with high-risk HPV infection were: ages between 20 and 29 (OR= 2.82; CI 95% 1.02-7.76)), age 30 and over (OR= 6.85,CI 95% 1.22-38.2); partners having sexual relations with other partners (OR= 2.05; CI 95% 1.2-3.7)); schooling less than 6 years (OR= 1.68 CI 95% 0.7-4.3); number of lifetime sexual partners > 2 (OR= 1.54 CI 95% 0.7-3.4); and current smoking (OR= 1.6 CI 95% 0.6-5.0)., Conclusions: Our findings show a higher prevalence of high-risk HPV infection in pregnant women, more than double, that reported in studies of non-pregnant women. The associated risk factors are similar to those of the non-pregnant population. Follow-up in these women is recommended in order to evaluate the persistence or regression of the infection.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among female commercial sex workers in Cuautla, Morelos, Mexico., Material and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 1998, in the red-light district of Cuautla, Morelos, Mexico. It included 100 female commercial sex workers who labored permanently in bars and night clubs. Data were collected using two questionnaires, one on socio-demographic characteristics, and the other on commercial sex, risk perception, and knowledge on preventive measures and contagion of sexually transmitted diseases/AIDS. Blood and cervicovaginal specimens were also collected to assess the prevalence of sexually transmitted and reproductive system infections (RSI). Outcome variables were STI (syphilis and chlamydiasis) and RSI (vaginosis and candidiasis)., Results: Sexually transmitted prevalence was of 11%, reproductive system infections prevalence was of 39%. When candidiasis was included in the sexually transmitted infections group, prevalence was of 31%. The main factors associated with sexually transmitted infections were: who instructed on condom use, time having intercourse with partner, and years of commercial sex work. Factors related to reproductive system infections were: illiteracy, use of condom with partner, who instructed on condom use, and years of commercial sex work. Multivariate analysis showed an increased likelihood of acquiring a sexually transmitted infection and/or reproductive system infection with illiteracy, instruction on condom use by a person other than a healthcare worker, and lack of condom use., Conclusions: Regular use of condoms during intercourse is the most important preventive measure to avoid and control STI and RSI. Study findings pinpoint spatial and temporal factors that contribute to infection. Intervention measures directed at these factors should strengthen preventive and educational programs to improve medical care for these infections.

Objective: To identify socioeconomic, gynecological-obstetric and fetal factors associated with perinatal mortality., Methods: A matched case-control study was carried out. Cases were newborns (born live or dead) that were born and died between 28 weeks gestation and 7 days of life. Controls were live newborns between 28 weeks gestation and 7 days of life. A total of 99 cases and 197 controls were studied. Data were obtained from the corresponding medical charts. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 6.0 software., Results: Mean maternal age was 24.82 years and mean newborn age was 37.78 weeks gestation with an average birth weight of 2,760 grams. Factors associated with perinatal mortality were: father's occupation as a farmer (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=3.31; 95% CI=1.26-8.66); high obstetric risk index (adjusted OR=10.57; 95% CI=2.82-39.66), cesarean birth (adjusted OR=2.75; 95% CI=1.37-5.51), five or more prenatal visits (adjusted OR=4.43; 95% CI=1.86-10.54) and preterm fetal maturity indices (PEG, APG, GEG) (adjusted OR=9.20; 95% CI=4.39-19.25)., Conclusions: The risk factors associated with perinatal mortality found in the study are consistent with the findings reported in the international literature. These results show that prevention and control measures should be implemented to identify at risk pregnant women in order to lower perinatal mortality.

Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of type 2 herpes simplex virus (HSV-2) infection and risk factors in three female population groups in Mexico City., Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2000, among a sample population of women living in Mexico City, diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer, and women with negative Pap test results from the general population. Informed consent was obtained from all participants to answer a sociodemographic and sex life questionnaire and draw a blood specimen. The presence of antibodies against type 2 herpes simplex virus was determined using the type-specific Western blot technique. Crude and adjusted statistical analyses were performed on the associations between survey data and infection outcomes., Results: Women with cervical cancer had a seroprevalence of HSV-2 infection of 46.8% (191/408); that of women from the general population who were Pap negative was 29.3% (214/730). For women with breast cancer, the seroprevalence was 22.6% (29/128). Variables significantly associated with seropositivity against HSV-2 infection were older age, more sexual partners, having cervical cancer, and, among cervical cancer patients, beginning sexual activity before 21 years of age and being divorced or separated., Conclusions: Study findings showed statistically significant differences in the prevalence of viral infection by population groups. The overall frequency of viral infection among study subjects shows that this is an intermediate risk population, as compared with other population groups in Mexico at high (sexual workers) and low (college students) risk. The main characteristics associated with exposure to type 2 herpes simplex virus for the subpopulations corresponded, as expected, to sexual behavior and to the probability of infection with older age. The English version of this paper is available too at:http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html.