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This research focuses on the addition of an ecological, sustainable material to improve the durability of earthen constructions and for use in rehabilitation and restoration processes. Specifically, it studies the mechanical and waterproof performance of an earthen mixture with the addition of a vegetal origin gel (VOG) obtained by extracting the starch contained in rice. This solution increases the durability of the mixture and the behavior against water and improves the mechanical resistance of the system. This study is divided into two parts. First, an experimental phase was carried out in the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya laboratory to design and develop the earthen mixtures stabilized with VOG to obtain an ecological, economical and easily replicable technology that can be transferred to any population group. The second stage consisted of the application of these mixtures and a real intervention in adobe dwellings in the community of Santa Ana Chapitiro, in the State of Michoacan, Mexico. The rehabilitation solutions and dosages were transferred to the residents of the community and applied to local adobe constructions by means of participatory design through an international development cooperation project. Good behavior of the material was found in the early stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating renewables into the energy matrix enables efficient energy systems and meets the UN Sustainable Development Goals 7) affordable and clean energy, 9) industry, innovation, and infrastructure, 12) responsible production and use, and 13) climate action. A specific case is the use of marine renewable energy (MRE) for power supply in coastal cities affected by environmental and anthropogenic threats. MRE can be harnessed from waves, currents, offshore wind, and thermal and salinity gradients. In emerging economies, the marine renewable energy industry is at different stages from quantifying the potential, to device development, or testing. Currently, in Mexico, there is a wide range of marine energy projects despite the technological advances there is no framework for the device's deployment. As a guide for developers, this article presents the current Mexican legislation on MRE. The review of the legislation has identified some niche opportunities that were highlighted during the research; legal pathway for planning and operational purposes. • Lack of knowledge of local regulations can hinder the development of a marine energy industry. • Technology development can be improved if it takes place within the framework of marine regulations. • In Mexico, several laws applicable to the oil industry can be adapted to cover marine energy systems. • The regulatory framework could be seen as an ally for technology development if considered at the appropriate time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2017 Puebla Earthquake on 19 September struck a big part of central Mexico causing the loss of historic buildings in several states, being the state of Morelos one of the most damaged in the whole country. Jojutla de Juarez was the most affected locality of Morelos presenting important structural damages or total collapse in the built heritage, being the traditional earthen buildings, made of adobe bricks, the most vulnerable buildings to seismic efforts. Some of the causes which contributed to the poor behaviour of the buildings were the improper handling of the constructive systems and materials, the insufficient resistance of the structures and the problems with the foundations. The adobe houses of Jojutla presented a mixture between the traditional building techniques and industrial materials like concrete, cement and steel; also with irregular heights and plant layouts and inadequate connections between the walls and foundations and roofs, resulting into a higher seismic vulnerability when the earthquake impacted. Also the adobe bricks presented irregularities in its composition and use of additives which resulted in completely different typologies and the loss of the traditional construction techniques. A study was conducted to determine the properties of the remains of the adobe bricks of the houses in Jojutla, considering that the structures were severely damaged and a whole study of the seismic vulnerability would not be convenient due the loss of the physical traditional buildings. The grain size and composition of the adobe samples of the buildings were determined as well as the natural aggregates like straw, sand, and its proportion. A colorimetric study of the adobes and clays was also conducted, analysing the change of colour on account of the aggregates in the bricks. Also the compressive strength of the pieces was tested with two methods: the compression test and the point-load test, in order to obtain the indicative values which could be compared to other patrimonial and vernacular study cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Phytoplankton growth in oligotrophic regions might be constrained by a low photosynthetic capacity related to nutrient stress. A reduced photosynthetic capacity has been documented by low values of the maximum quantum efficiency of charge separation (Fv/Fm) of photosystem II (PSII). In the present work, spatial and temporal variations of Fv/Fm in phytoplankton samples of the Eastern Tropical North Pacific (ETNP) off Mexico were characterized to explore the potential of this parameter as a nutrient stress indicator. Our results show that Fv/Fm was lower than 0.5 in most of the samples and that in surface waters this parameter was highly variable. The variability of Fv/Fm was related to the time of sampling, and Fv/Fm changes followed a day/night cycle with maximum values at dawn and a strong reduction at noon related to down-regulation of PSII activity. Enrichment experiments showed that Fv/Fm did not increase after nitrate addition to surface samples. These results suggest that photosynthesis of the phytoplankton community in the ETNP dominated by picoplankton, of which 60-80% was represented by prokaryote biomass (Prochloroccocus and other cyanobacteria), was not rate-limited under natural conditions. Therefore, low Fv/Fm values associated with PSII down-regulation and inherent of specific phytoplankton species are not indicative of nutrient stress in picoplankton-dominated environments such as the ETNP off Mexico. These sources of variability that are not directly associated with the nutritional status of the phytoplankton community should be taken into account when using Fv/Fm as a diagnostic tool for nutrient limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainwater samples were collected in the western sector of Mexico City (MC) and at Rancho Viejo (RV), 80 km west-south-west of MC, from 2001 to 2005, and Orizaba City (OC), about 90 km from the Gulf of Mexico, where rainwater collections were only possible on some weekends in 2001. Rainwater samples were treated in the field, and analysed by fluorescence at the laboratory. The volume-weighted mean concentration (VWMC) of H2O2 was 13.2 μM at RV, and 11.2 μM in MC, for the period 2001-2005. The highest VWMC was observed in OC (21.6 μM). The VWMCs for each year were 9.5, 14.4, 11.5, 16.7, and 14.3 μM at RV, and 12.2, 12.2, 14.3, 11.8, and 9.9 μM in MC, for 2001-2005, respectively. Hydrogen peroxide in rainwater correlated significantly and negatively with sulfate in both MC and RV, but not, however, in OC. This study confirmed that H2O2 concentration in rainwater is controlled by a complex combination of rain intensity, washout processes and in-cloud formation of H2O2, acting simultaneously. This was suggested by the fact that rain intensity seemed to predominate in certain rain fractions of a rain event, while washout processes seemed to predominate in other fractions of the same rain event. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In México obesity rates have been increasing in the last years. Food addiction (FA) has been considered a factor that could explain processes or behaviors associated with obesity. Objectives: The aim of this study was the identification of risk patterns of FA and it association with other variables in healthy Mexican population. Methods: We hypothesized that a higher risk of FA will be higher levels of impulsivity, emotion dysregulation, and emotional and external eating styles. The sample consisted of 81 female (61) and male (20) volunteers universitary students from Pachuca city in México, with an average age of 20.0 years old (SD = 1,7). The questionnaires EDI-2, YFAS 2.0, DERS, UPPS-P, and DEBQ were applied. Results: Figure 1: Radar-chart (z-standardized means are plotted) (n=81) Three groups were defined by the FA severity (Figure 1). The presence of FA was more strongly associated to higher scores in the threeDEBQscales, in the DERS impulse control, emotion regulation and total score, and in the UPPS-P lack of premeditation and negative urgency. Compared with the group without FA, the FA-probable scoring was related to higher levels in the DEBQ external and restrained scales, and in the DERS total; FA-probable group also registered the highest mean score in the DERS non acceptance scale compared with the other groups. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study that explores FA in Mexican population. Considering that, the identification of different patterns of FA that could be associated with obesity, could lead to better prevention and treatment approaches. Disclosure: The present work was supported by a grant to the presenter author from the Mexican Institution: "Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología" (CONACYT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study applies three different methods to assess the flood risk and damage from the strongest high-pressure cold front (locally known as 'Norte') event in terms of the residual tide from 30 years (1979–2008) of data for Progreso, Yucatan. The most important difference between the three methods is the estimation of flood vulnerability for Progreso. The first method, proposed by Mexico's National Center for the Prevention of Disasters (CENAPRED) and used by the Mexican government is based mostly on economic asset (household goods) values and flood impacts. The second (CENAPREDv2) and third (FRI) methods are proposals for assessing risk that include 17 socioeconomic indicators. The former includes economic asset values, as is the case for CENAPRED, while the latter does not. The main results of this study show that the modeled 'Norte' event flooded 25% of Progreso's city blocks, with an estimated economic flood risk of $USD 16,266 (CENAPRED) and $USD 223,779 (CENAPREDv2), and flood damage of $USD 48,848 and $USD 671,918, respectively. When calculating flood risk (FRI) and flood damage (FRI_FD) without monetary terms, the risk categories along the back-barrier behind Progreso varied spatially from 'very low' to 'high', while areas along the coastal side presented a 'low' and 'very low' risk. These categories increased for the flood damage because the exceedance probability of the flood was not considered as it was for flood risk in the three methodologies. Therefore, flood damage provides the losses caused by a given flood event without considering how probable that loss may be. In conclusion, this study proposes that the selection of the applied method depends on the main objectives and specific interests when assessing flood risk. For instance, if economic damage is the main concern, then the CENAPRED method should be used as it identifies where the larger economic impacts could occur; when a socioeconomic approach is needed then the FRI should be applied, but if both economic damage and socioeconomic aspects are needed, the CENAPREDv2 is recommended. Besides considering economic aspects, the FRI method also includes social variables that can help to map the most vulnerable population in terms of mobility, education, communication access and others. Therefore, the proposed FRI method is very relevant for disaster risk managers and other stakeholders interested in disaster risk reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litsea glaucescens K. (Lauraceae) is a small tree from the Mexican and Central American temperate forests, named as "Laurel". Its aromatic leaves are ordinarily consumed as condiments, but also are important in Mexican Traditional Medicine, and among the most important non wood forest products in this area. The leaves are currently used in a decoction for the relief of sadness by the Mazahua ethnic group. Interestingly, "Laurel" has a long history. It was named as "Ehecapahtli" (wind medicine) in pre-Columbian times and applied to heal maladies correlated to the Central Nervous System, among them depression, according to botanical texts written in the American Continent almost five centuries ago. Depression is the first cause of incapacity in the world, and society demands alternative treatments, including aromatherapy. We have previously demonstrated the antidepressant-like activity of L. glaucescens leaves' essential oil (LEO), as well as their monoterpenes linalool, and beta-pinene by intraperitoneal route in a mice behavioral model. Here we now examined if LEO and linalool exhibit this property and anxiolytic activity when administered to mice by inhalation. We also investigated if these effects occur by BDNF pathway activation in the brain. The LEO was prepared by distillation with water steam and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The monoterpenes linalool, eucalyptol and β-pinene were identified and quantified. Antidepressant type properties were determined with the Forced Swim Test (FST) on mice previously exposed to LEO or linalool in an inhalation chamber. The spontaneous locomotor activity and the sedative effect were assessed with the Open Field Test (OFT), and the Exploratory Cylinder (EC), respectively. The anxiolytic properties were investigated with the Elevated Plus Maze Apparatus (EPM) and the Hole Board Test (HBT). All experiments were video documented. The mice were subjected to euthanasia, and the brain hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were dissected. The L. glaucescens essential oil (LEO) contains 31 compounds according to GC/MS, including eucalyptol, linalool and beta-pinene. The LEO has anxiolytic effect by inhalation in mice, as well as linalool, and β-pinene, as indicated by OFT and EC tests. The LEO and imipramine have antidepressant like activity in mice as revealed by the FST; however, linalool and ketamine treatments didn't modify the time of immobility. The BDNF was increased in FST in mice treated with LEO in both areas of the brain as revealed by Western blot; but did not decrease the level of corticosterone in plasma. The OFT indicated that LEO and imipramine didn't reduce the spontaneous motor activity, while linalool and ketamine caused a significant decrease. Here we report by the first time that L. glaucescens leaves essential oil has anxiolytic effect by inhalation in mice, as well as linalool, and β-pinene. This oil also maintains its antidepressant-like activity by this administration way, similarly to the previously determined intraperitoneally. Since inhalation is a common administration route for humans, our results suggest L. glaucescens essential oil deserve future investigation due to its potential application in aromatherapy. [Display omitted] • Inhalation of Litsea glaucescens essential oil produces anxiolytic effect. • Inhalation of Litsea glaucescens essential oil produces antidepressant-like effect. • BDNF is involved in the essential oil's antidepressant-like mechanism of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal and child malnutrition represents a public health problem in Mexico Primary care (PC) is responsible for introducing women and children under five to the health system, detecting diseases on time, and providing medical services, including pharmacological treatment if necessary. Providing these services with quality is essential to improve maternal and child health. This study evaluated the quality of nutritional care during preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, infancy, and preschool age at the PC health units across six Mexican states between 2020 and 2021., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a mixed approach in units of the Secretary of Health to assess the quality of nutritional care during preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, childhood, and preschool age. The level of quality was calculated by the percentage of compliance with 16 indicators that integrated a Quality Index of Maternal and Child Nutritional Care (ICANMI, by its Spanish acronym). Compliance by indicator, by life stage, and overall was categorized using the following cut-off points: poor quality (≤ 70%), insufficient quality (71-89%), and good quality (≥ 90%). The perceptions of the barriers and facilitators that affect maternal and child nutrition were evaluated through semi-structured interviews with health professionals (HP) and users. All qualitative instruments were developed with a gender and intercultural perspective., Results: Considering the whole sample studied, maternal and child nutritional care quality during the five life stages evaluated was bad (compliance: ≤12%), reflected in the ICANMI, which had a compliance of 8.3%. Principal barriers identified to providing high-quality nutritional care were the lack of knowledge and training of health professionals, shortages of equipment, medicine, personnel, and materials, the disappearance of the social cash transfer program Prospera, the absence of local indigenous language translators to support communication between doctor and patient, and the persistence of machismo and other practices of control over women., Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for initiatives to improve the quality of nutritional care in PC facilities across Chihuahua, State of Mexico, Veracruz, Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Yucatan. It is necessary for government and health authorities, along with various stakeholders, to collaboratively devise, implement, and assess intercultural and gender-oriented policies and programs geared towards ensuring the health infrastructure and enhancing the training of health professionals to diagnose and treat the prevalence and occurrence of diverse forms of malnutrition in both maternal and child populations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Previous analyses on the burden of disease in Mexico identified that injuries differentially affect young people, males and working-age people., Objective: To analyze the burden of disease due to intentional and unintentional injuries in Mexico during 1990 and 2021, at the national and state levels., Material and Methods: The results of the Global Burden of Disease study for the 1990-2021 period were used to describe the burden of disease attributed to injuries in Mexico. The life years lost (YLL) due to premature mortality, years lived with disability (YLD) and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) were analyzed., Results: The burden of disease related to intentional injuries has increased, as also have YLDs and DALYs associated with unintentional injuries. Men continue to have higher mortality and DALY rates compared to women. Interpersonal violence and suicide have steadily increased. The analysis by state showed patterns with important variations., Conclusions: Injuries generate catastrophic consequences in terms of mortality and disability in Mexico. It is necessary to promote and strengthen programs and policies in order to improve the data system and injury prevention., (Copyright: © 2023 Permanyer.)

The identification and characterization of dietary patterns are tools that are used to assess associations between diet and health or disease conditions. In Mexico, studies have examined dietary patterns in children for breakfast or for the whole day, but not specifically for their school lunch. The aim was to describe dietary patterns identified in school lunch and their association with the nutritional status and metabolic parameters of schoolchildren. In this cross-sectional study on schoolchildren from four elementary schools of Mexico City, we recorded anthropometry measurements, a fasting blood sample was collected, and metabolic parameters were determined. We obtained information on the foods and beverages that children brought for their school lunch; estimated the caloric and nutritional content; and created food groups to obtain dietary patterns from the energy provided by those groups. Among the 350 schoolchildren (mean age, 7.9 ± 1.2 years) included, 24.9% and 21.7% presented having overweight and obesity, respectively. A total of 89.4% of schoolchildren brought the school lunch from home. Using the K-means method, the following four dietary patterns were identified: (1) sandwiches, tortas , and sweetened dairy products were consumed by 13.1% ( n = 46) of the schoolchildren; (2) sweet snacks were consumed by 50.3% ( n = 176); (3) sweetened dairy products were brought by 15.1% of the children ( n = 53); and (4) sandwiches and tortas were brought by 21.4% ( n = 75). These four patterns showed significant differences in terms of the caloric and nutritional contents ( p < 0.001). Energy sources in the identified patterns were primarily sugars (15.8-40%). No association was found between the anthropometric and metabolic parameters of children and the dietary patterns. No dietary pattern obtained from the school lunch could be considered as healthy, since all of them had high energy content, and a high percentage of the energy was from sugars from ultra-processed foods and beverages.

Background: In Latin America, liver cancer is one of the top causes of cancer mortality. It is the fifth most common cause of death among malignant tumors in Mexico and is the leading cause in Hidalgo State (43.8% of the population living in poverty)., Objective: To conduct a correlational analysis on the main risk factors for liver cancer in Hidalgo State, Mexico, including municipal disaggregation and comparison with the national level., Design and Setting: Cross-sectional, correlational, descriptive and comparative epidemiological study using Mexican governmental databases covering 1990-2019., Methods: A comprehensive review of the databases of the General Directorate of Health Information (DGIS) was performed to analyze official death figures, hospital discharges and national and municipal population projections, using specific search criteria defined in the Global Burden of Disease classification, based on the risk factors for liver cancer., Results: Liver cancer rates showed an evident rise in Hidalgo (183%), moving from 21st place in Mexico in 1990 to 9th place in 2019. This increase was correlated with alcoholism. An increasing trend for liver cancer deaths, of 133.89%, is projected for 2030. Females and the population over 60 years of age are more affected. There are some critical regions with liver cancer death rates twice the national rate or more., Conclusion: Targeted effective public health strategies should be structured by identifying, characterizing and regionalizing critical marginalized municipalities that are vulnerable to alcoholism and other risk factors for liver cancer. This approach may be helpful for other states in Mexico or similar countries.

International organizations recommend mothers practice exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) during the first six months of their infant's life and introduce complementary feeding (CF) thereafter while continuing breastfeeding. However, the earlier introduction of liquids and foods is common worldwide and may have negative effects on breastfeeding practice, nutrition, and health. In this formative cross-sectional study, we interviewed 143 mothers from semi-rural communities in Tabasco, Mexico, whose infants were 4-6 months old. We explored (1) which feeding practices substituted EBF and (2) which factors were associated with each practice. During the first month of life, 42.7% of infants received formula milk (FM); this proportion increased to 74.5% by the sixth month. Adjusted Poisson regression analyses showed that giving FM was positively related to working away from home (PR 1.27; 95% CI 1.06, 1.54) and the perception that FM is an important food to accompany breast milk (PR 1.38; 95% CI 1.19, 1.70). Giving FM was negatively associated with not being sure the infant is full after breastfeeding (PR 0.75; 95% CI 0.61, 0.92). Regarding CF, less than half (47.5%) of infants had not received it by the fifth month. Factors positively associated with timely CF introduction were: the mother was told during prenatal care visits the optimal age to start CF is 6 months (PR 1.17, 95% CI 1.06, 1.29); she is convinced that giving only breast milk is best for her baby (PR 1.15, 95% CI 1.03, 1.29), and a higher infant weight-for-length (PR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00, 1.08) and length for age (PR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00, 1.09) z-scores at the study visit; conversely, it was negatively associated to the idea that if the infant is not full, she/he should receive formula milk or some other food (PR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78, 0.96). In these communities, EBF is lost to the use of FM and early CF. The factors associated with these inadequate feeding practices are related to returning to work, information received during prenatal visits, and the mother's beliefs and thoughts. This work will guide the design of an intervention on infant feeding practices for these communities and other similar ones.

Background: Food addiction (FA) is a construct that has gained interest in recent years but its relevance in Mexican population is still unexplored., Aims: The present study has the aims of explore FA in a community of Mexican population, as well as identifying the risk patterns associated with it, in relation to the different etiological factors that have been described such as impulsivity, emotional regulation and eating styles. Furthermore, to identify a predictive model of FA severity., Methods: The sample consisted of 160 female and male university students of Pachuca city in México, who volunteered to participate in the study. Assessment included multidimensional measures for FA, eating disorder severity, eating disorder styles, emotional regulation and impulsivity., Results: A screening of FA-probable was registered for 13.8% of the sample, while 8.1% met criteria for FA-present. The FA-present group differed from FA-absent in the impulsivity levels and in emotional eating style. Patients with FA-present differed from FA-probable in the impulsivity levels. Differences between FA-probable versus FA-absent were found in the restrained eating style. Path analysis evidenced that FA severity was directly associated with older age, worse eating style profile and higher impulsivity levels, and indirectly related with the ED symptom levels., Conclusions: Our findings suggest that it is possible to establish a specific predictive model of the development of FA and its severity in Mexican population to implement adequate prevention and treatment strategies., Evidence Level: Level III: evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Purpose: To describe the temporal association of specific acute neurological symptoms in pediatric patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between May and August 2020., Methods: We performed a recollection of all the clinical and laboratory data of patients having acute neurological symptoms temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection at a third-level referral hospital in Mexico City (Instituto Nacional de Pediatría). Patients in an age group of 0-17 years with acute neurological signs (including ascending weakness with areflexia, diminished visual acuity, encephalopathy, ataxia, stroke, or weakness with plasma creatinine kinase (CK) elevation) were evaluated., Results: Out of 23 patients with neurological manifestations, 10 (43%) had a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among the infected patients, 5 (50%) were males aged 2-16 years old (median age 11.8 years old). Four (40%) patients confirmed a close contact with a relative positive for SARS-CoV-2, while 6 (60%) cases had a history of SARS-CoV-2-related symptoms over the previous 2 weeks. The following diagnoses were established: 3 cases of GBS, 2 of ON, 2 of AIS, one of myositis with rhabdomyolysis, one ACA, and one of anti-NMDA-R encephalitis., Conclusions: Neurological manifestations temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection were noticed in the pediatric population even without respiratory symptoms. In this study, 2 of 6 symptomatic patients had mild respiratory symptoms and 4 had unspecific symptoms. During this pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infection should be considered as etiology in patients with acute neurological symptoms, with or without previous respiratory manifestations, particularly in teenagers.

Objective: Analyze the legislative and normative framework on mental health and suicide in Mexico., Materials and Methods: A secondary analysis of the main legal systems on mental health and suicide, in force until September 2020, of the 32 entities in Mexico and at the federal level was carried out., Results: 51 documents were analyzed. Only 14 states have a mental health law and two states have a law on suicide. At the federal level, the guidelines for the care of suicidal behavior are defined in the technical standards issued by the Health Ministry. However, in both state and national health laws, there have been omissions in this regard. Prevention is not defined in depth in most of the documents analyzed., Conclusions: It is a priority to promote comprehensive laws on mental health and suicidal behavior harmonized at the national level., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest, (Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0).)

The purpose of this study was to describe the changes in iron status indicators at 6 and 12 months of age, controlling by inflammation by measuring alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP). This longitudinal study included 48 healthy-term singleton infants with birth weight ≥ 2500 g, born in hospitals of the Mexican Institute for Social Security. Complete blood count, ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), hepcidin, and AGP were measured in blood at 6 and 12 months of age. sTfR/ferritin ratio and total body iron (TBI) stores were calculated. Hemoglobin and sTfR/ferritin ratio increased with age, while ferritin and TBI decreased. In infants without inflammation, hepcidin, sTfR, and MVC did not show significant changes from 6 to 12 months of age, while ferritin and TBI decreased. In infants with inflammation, hepcidin, TBI, and ferritin levels increased, while hemoglobin and sTfR/ferritin ratio decreased. MVC and sTfR did not change significantly in the presence or absence of inflammation. Hepcidin concentration correlated positively and significantly with ferritin and TBI stores and showed significant negative correlation with sTfR/ferritin ratio. Our study showed that, in absence of inflammation and ID, during the first year of life, physiological changes occur in hemoglobin and ferritin levels as well as in indicators derived from ferritin and sTfR; in contrast, hepcidin and sTfR did not show significant change. However, hepcidin concentration was lower in infants with ID and was higher when inflammation was present, supporting that infants have a functional hepcidin response to changes in iron stores.

Despite the proved potential to harness ocean energy off the Mexican coast, one of the main aspects that have restrained the development of this industry is the lack of information regarding the environmental and social impacts of the devices and plants. Under this premise, a review of literature that could help identifying the potential repercussions of energy plants on those fields was performed. The available studies carried out around the world show a clear tendency to use indicators to assess impacts specifically related to the source of energy to be converted. The information gathered was used to address the foreseeable impacts on a hypothetical case regarding the deployment of an Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant off the Chiapas coast in Mexico. From the review it was found that for OTEC plants, the most important aspect to be considered is the discharge plume volume and its physicochemical composition, which can lead to the proliferation of harmful algal blooms. Regarding the case study, it is interesting to note that although the environmental impacts need to be mitigated and monitored, they can be somehow alleviated considering the potential social benefits of the energy industry.

Phytoplankton blooms can cause acute effects on marine ecosystems due either to their production of endogenous toxins or to their enormous biomass leading to major impacts on local economies and public health. Despite years of effort, the causes of these Harmful Algal Blooms are still not fully understood. Our hypothesis is that bacteria that produce photoactive siderophores may provide a bioavailable source of iron for phytoplankton which could in turn stimulate algal growth and support bloom dynamics. Here we correlate iron concentrations, phytoplankton cell counts, bacterial cell abundance, and copy numbers for a photoactive siderophore vibrioferrin biosynthesis gene in water samples taken from 2017 cruises in the Gulf of California, and the Pacific Ocean off the coast of northern Baja California as well as during a multiyear sampling at Scripps Pier in San Diego, CA. We find that bacteria producing the photoactive siderophore vibrioferrin, make up a surprisingly high percentage of total bacteria in Pacific/Gulf of California coastal waters (up to 9%). Vibroferrin's unique properties and the widespread prevalence of its bacterial producers suggest that it may contribute significantly to generating bioavailability of iron via photoredox reactions.

Natural hybridisation has significant ecological, genetic and evolutionary consequences altering morphological and chemical characters of individuals. Quercus glabrescens, Q. rugosa and Q. obtusata are white oak species well separated by their morphological characters when they occur in allopatry in Mexican temperate forests. However, in sympatry, individuals with atypical morphology have been observed, suggesting hybridisation events. In this study, we determined, with microsatellites and secondary metabolites, if interspecific gene flow occurs when these three oak species coexist in sympatry. In total, 180 individuals belonging to seven populations [three allopatric (one for each parental species) and four sympatric sites] were analysed. Allopatric populations represent well-defined genetic groups and the sympatric populations showed genetic evidence of hybridisation between Q. glabrescens × Q. rugosa and Q. glabrescens × Q. obtusata. The hybridisation percentage varied between sites and combination of involved species. We registered the presence of unique flavonoid compounds for Q. glabrescens (caffeic acid and flavonol 2), Q. rugosa (flavonol 5) and Q. obtusata (flavonol 1). Three compounds (quercetin rhamnoside, flavonol 3 and alkyl coumarate) were expressed in all taxa. Finally, the hybrid genotypes identified in this study (Q. glabrescens × Q. rugosa and Q. glabrescens × Q. obtusata) showed specific chemical profiles, resulting from a combination of those of their parental species. These results show that hybridisation events between these oak species alter chemical expression of secondary metabolites, creating a mosaic of resources and conditions that provide the substrate for different combinations of foliar-associated species such as herbivores, endophytic fungi or epiphyte plants., (© 2018 German Society for Plant Sciences and The Royal Botanical Society of the Netherlands.)

Historical records of ciguatera in Mexico date back to 1862. This review, including references and epidemiological reports, documents 464 cases during 25 events from 1984 to 2013: 240 (51.72%) in Baja California Sur, 163 (35.12%) in Quintana Roo, 45 (9.69%) in Yucatan, and 16 (3.44%) cases of Mexican tourists intoxicated in Cuba. Carnivorous fish, such as snapper ( Lutjanus ) and grouper ( Epinephelus and Mycteroperca ) in the Pacific Ocean, and great barracuda ( Sphyraena barracuda ) and snapper ( Lutjanus ) in the Atlantic (Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea), were involved in all cases. In the Mexican Caribbean, a sub-record of ciguatera cases that occurred before 1984 exists. However, the number of intoxications has increased in recent years, and this food poisoning is poorly studied in the region. Current records suggest that ciguatera fish poisoning in humans is the second most prevalent form of seafood poisoning in Mexico, only exceeded by paralytic shellfish poisoning (505 cases, 21 fatalities in the same 34-year period). In this study, the status of ciguatera in Mexico (epidemiological and treatment), and the fish vectors are reviewed. Dinoflagellate species Gambierdiscus , Ostreopsis , and Prorocentrum are related with the reported outbreaks, marine toxins, ecological risk, and the potential toxicological impact.

BackgroundThere is little information about the possible role of Helicobacter pylori infection on appetite-regulating peptides in children. This study evaluated the association between H. pylori infection and serum levels of ghrelin, leptin, and obestatin in schoolchildren.MethodsOne hundred seventy-eight schoolchildren, students at boarding schools in Mexico City, participated. H. pylori infection status was determined every 6 months for 1 year by a breath test using 13 C-urea; schoolchildren with consistently positive or negative results were selected to participate. Age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Serum concentrations of total ghrelin, leptin, and obestatin via specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were determined.ResultsSchoolchildren with H. pylori infection had lower concentration of leptin, -0.54 pg/ml (95% CI: -0.98 to -0.09), compared to the schoolchildren without infection, after adjustment by age, gender, and BMI. And the children with the infection had a median of obestatin lower in 0.99 ng/ml (95% CI: -1.93 to -0.06) compared with the uninfected children after adjustment by BMI.ConclusionAssociation was found between H. pylori infection and decreased serum concentrations of leptin and obestatin. These results suggest that in schoolchildren, H. pylori infection affects the levels of hormones implicated in regulating appetite and energy homeostasis.

Background: Neonatal Hearing Screening and Early Intervention (NHSEI) is a screening program to evaluate all infants and identify those with hearing impairment. The objective of this work was to determine the factors associated with hearing loss in NHSEI program., Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study was performed. 234 infants were included in the NHSEI program, hearing was evaluated with transitory evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOE) at frequencies of 1.5 to 4.5 kHz, and intensity of stimuli of 40-60 dB. The variables were: age from one to 28 days, sex, gestational age and perinatal history. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression., Results: The presence of risk factors in newborns resulted in significant omnibus test (p < 0.05) predicted value by Nagelkerke R square model of 77%. The background inherited family acquired infection, craniofacial abnormalities, low birth weight, respiratory distress at birth and genetic syndromes were factors significantly associated (p < 0.05) to hearing loss in infants., Conclusions: The incidence of hearing impairment in infants diagnosed by newborn hearing program was higher (5/234 newborns) than the reported in the literature.

Main Conclusion: Epiphytic orchids from dry forests of Yucatán show considerable photoprotective plasticity during the dry season, which depends on leaf morphology and host tree deciduousness. Nocturnal retention of antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin was detected for the first time in epiphytic orchids. In tropical dry forests, epiphytes experience dramatic changes in light intensity: photosynthetic photon flux density may be up to an order of magnitude higher in the dry season compared to the wet season. To address the seasonal changes of xanthophyll cycle (XC) pigments and photosynthesis that occur throughout the year, leaves of five epiphytic orchid species were studied during the early dry, dry and wet seasons in a deciduous and a semi-deciduous tropical forests at two vertical strata on the host trees (3.5 and 1.5 m height). Differences in XC pigment concentrations and photosynthesis (maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II; F v/F m) were larger among seasons than between vertical strata in both forests. Antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin retention reflected the stressful conditions of the epiphytic microhabitat, and it is described here in epiphytes for the first time. During the dry season, both XC pigment concentrations and photosystem II heat dissipation of absorbed energy increased in orchids in the deciduous forest, while F v/F m and nocturnal acidification (ΔH(+)) decreased, clearly as a response to excessive light and drought. Concentrations of XC pigments were higher than those in orchids with similar leaf shape in semi-deciduous forest. There, only Encyclia nematocaulon and Lophiaris oerstedii showed somewhat reduced F v/F m. No changes in ΔH(+) and F v/F m were detected in Cohniella ascendens throughout the year. This species, which commonly grows in forests with less open canopies, showed leaf tilting that diminished light interception. Light conditions in the uppermost parts of the canopy probably limit the distribution of epiphytic orchids and the retention of zeaxanthin can help to cope with light and drought stress in these forests during the dry season.

The Michoacán state is characterized by the existence of important environmental heterogeneity in terms of climate, topography and types of vegetation, which includes the worldwide endangered tropical dry forest. Some reports indicating the presence of the six species of felids occurring in Mexico in this region have been made; however, evidence to support these reports is scant, and filling this lack of information is particularly critical in the case of threatened species or habitats. The aim of this study was to systematize and analyze data distribution patterns of felids in the state of Michoacán, in the Central-Western Mexico. We conducted a review of literature and databases to compile species presence records in the study region. Moreover, we analyzed data obtained from ten years of field work conducted in the region, in which complementary methods (detection of direct and indirect evidence of species occurrence along transects, camera-trapping and interviews to local people) were applied to detect the presence of felid species. We compiled a total of 29 presence records of felids in the region from our review. Additionally, field work, which accumulated 1,107.5 km of walked transects, and 8 699 camera-trap days, produced 672 records of species presence. Lynx rufus was the species with the lowest number of records and the most restricted distribution. In contrast, the species with the greatest number of records was Leoparduspardalis (n = 343). In general, 89% of felids records occurred below 1,000 masl. Overall mean annual temperature of presence records was 24 °C and mean annual precipitation was 1,040 mm. The species whose presence records showed the most distinctive pattern, in terms of temperature and precipitation associated, was L. rufus (15.8 ± 1.3°C and 941 ± 171 mm). Results of a cluster analysis showed that areas supporting different combinations of eco-regions and types of vegetation could be grouped in five clusters having different assemblages of felid species and camera-trapping records. This study results useful to garner a more comprehensive view of the distribution patterns of felids in a region with important environmental contrasts and subjected to an increased human pressure. Moreover, this study provides insights that further our understanding of the relationship between environmental variables and felid distribution patterns which may have an impact for conservation and management strategies at the local and regional levels.

It has been suggested that tropical defaunation may unleash community-wide cascading effects, leading to reductions in plant diversity. However, experimental evidence establishing cause-effect relationships thereof is poor. Through a 5 year exclosure experiment, we tested the hypothesis that mammalian defaunation affects tree seedling/sapling community dynamics leading to reductions in understorey plant diversity. We established plot triplets (n = 25) representing three defaunation contexts: terrestrial-mammal exclosure (TE), medium/large mammal exclosure (PE) and open access controls (C). Seedlings/saplings 30-100 cm tall were marked and identified within each of these plots and re-censused three times to record survival and recruitment. In the periods 2010-2011 and 2011-2013, survival was greater in PE than in C plots and recruitment was higher in TE plots than in C plots. Overall, seedling density increased by 61% in TE plots and 23% in PE plots, whereas it decreased by 5% in C plots. Common species highly consumed by mammals (e.g. Brosimum alicastrum and Ampelocera hottlei) increased in their abundance in TE plots. Rarefaction curves showed that species diversity decreased in TE plots from 2008 to 2013, whereas it remained similar for C plots. Given the prevalence of tropical defaunation, we posit this is an anthropogenic effect threatening the maintenance of tropical forest diversity., (© 2014 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.)

The simultaneous removal of sulfide and p-cresol was carried out by using a marine-denitrifying consortium collected in the coastal zone of Sonora, Mexico. Different experimental conditions were used to evaluate the capacity of the consortium to simultaneously eliminate nitrate, sulfide, and p-cresol. For instance, the first set of assays was conducted at different sulfide concentrations (20, 50, and 100 mg S(2À) L(À1) ), with a fixed concentration of p-cresol (45 mg C L(À1) ). The second set of assays was developed at different concentrations of p-cresol (45, 75, and 100 mg C L(-1) ), in the presence of 20 mg S(2À) L(À1) . In all cases, the concentration of nitrate was stoichiometrically added for the complete oxidization of the substrates. The results showed removal efficiencies up to 92% for p-cresol and nitrate at 20 and 50 mg S(2À) L(À1) ; whereas at 100 mg S(2À) L(À1) removal efficiencies were 77% and 59% for p-cresol and nitrate, respectively. On the other hand, sulfide (20 mg L(À1) ) was completely removed under different concentrations of p-cresol tested, with a partial accumulation of nitrite according to the increment of p-cresol concentration. The results obtained indicate that the marine consortium was able to simultaneously remove the pollutants studied., (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Background: Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies worldwide. It is more prevalent when iron requirements are increased during pregnancy and during growth spurts of infancy and adolescence. The last stage in the process of iron depletion is characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin concentration, resulting in iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency, even before it is clinically identified as anemia, compromises the immune response, physical capacity for work, and intellectual functions such as attention level. Therefore, interventions addressing iron deficiency should be based on prevention rather than on treatment of anemia. The aim of this study was to compare short- and medium-term effects on ferritin concentration of daily supplementation with ferrous sulfate or iron bis-glycinate chelate in schoolchildren with iron deficiency but without anemia., Methods: Two hundred schoolchildren from public boarding schools in Mexico City who had low iron stores as assessed by serum ferritin concentration but without anemia were randomly assigned to a daily supplement of 30 mg/day of elemental iron as ferrous sulfate or iron bis-glycinate chelate for 12 weeks. Iron status was evaluated at baseline, one week post-supplementation (short term), and 6 months (medium term) after supplementation., Results: Ferritin concentration increased significantly between baseline and post-supplementation as well as between baseline and 6 months after supplementation. One week post-supplementation no difference was found in ferritin concentration between iron compounds, but 6 months after supplementation ferritin concentration was higher in the group that received bis-glycinate chelate iron. However, there is no difference in the odds for low iron storage between 6 months after supplementation versus the odds after supplementation; nor were these odds different by type of supplement. Hemoglobin concentration did not change significantly in either group after supplementation., Conclusions: Supplementing with 30 mg/d of elementary iron, either as ferrous sulfate or iron bis-glycinate chelate for 90 days, showed positive effects on increasing ferritin concentration in schoolchildren with low iron stores, and this effect persisted 6 months after supplementation.

Background: In developing countries, more than 50% of children have serological evidence of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, serological tests for H. pylori did not differentiate between active and past infection. The objectives of this study were to estimate the frequency of active and past H. pylori infection utilizing functional urea breath test (UBT) and serological tests and evaluate factors associated with the infection., Methods: A total of 675 school children, 6-13 years of age, participated. UBT was performed to detect active H. pylori infection. Blood samples were obtained to determine iron status and Immunoglobulin G (IgG) responses to the H. pylori whole-cell and to Cag A antigens by antigen-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Weight, height, and sociodemographic characteristics were recorded., Results: A total of 37.9% (95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 34.2-41.6) of school children had active or past H. pylori infection; of them, 73.8% (CI95% 68.4-79.2) were carrying CagA-positive strain, 26.5% (CI95% 23.2-29.8) had active infection, and 11.4% (95%CI: 9.0-13.8) had evidence of past H. pylori infection. School children with iron deficiency and low height for age had higher risk of H. pylori infection: [OR to active or past infection was 2.30 (CI 95% 1.01-5.23) and to active infection it was 2.64 (CI 95% 1.09-6.44)] compared to school children with normal iron status and height for age or with normal iron status but low height for age or with iron deficiency and normal height for age., Conclusions: The estimated prevalence of infection depends of the test utilized. Frequency of H. pylori infection and carrying CagA-positive strains was high in this population. Malnutrition was associated with active H. pylori infection., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii) is one of the most emblematic mammals of Mesoamerica, but like other large-bodied animals, it is facing an increasing risk of extinction due primarily to habitat loss. Mexico's 'ortion of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (MBC-M) is located in one of the main strongholds for Bairds tapir. To assess the MBC-M's effectiveness for tapir conservation, we estimated the distribution of the species' potential habitat by applying 2 modelling approaches (random forest and Maxent) to a set of uncorrelated environmental variables and a 157-point presence dataset. We calculated the extent of tapir habitat in within the MBC-M and modelled new corridors and conservation areas, which we compared to the MBC-M. Moreover, we assessed deforestation patterns in the region. Twenty-seven percent of highly suitable tapir habitat occurred in protected areas, 15% in corridors and 58.3% was outside the MBC-M and associated reserves. The spatial configuration of the MBC-M was partially concordant with the modelled set of conservation areas and corridors. The main dissimilarity was that the modelled corridors traversed forests in Belize and Guatemala to connect conservation areas. Analyses of deforestation since 1993 and human population density in the vicinity of the MBC-M indicated that future conservation efforts should give particular attention to the Montes Azules-El Triunfo Corridor due to greater habitat threat. The MBC-M has a great potential to play a prominent role in the conservation of tapir habitat but there is an urgent need to implement management plans that reinforce and complement this conservation initiative., (© 2012 Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd, ISZS and IOZ/CAS.)

We evaluate the relationship between different lipoproteins and atherogenic indices with pre-hypertension in 297 obese and 942 non-obese children with Tanner stage 1 enrolled in a multicentre, community-based cross-sectional study. Height, weight, fasting glucose and insulin levels, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), non-HDL-c, LDL/HDL-c, triglycerides/cholesterol and total cholesterol/HDL-c ratios were measured. Mean age was 8.4 ± 1.2 years; pre-hypertension was identified in 104 (8.4%) participants, 46 (15.5%) obese and 58 (6.1%) non-obese children. The pre-hypertensive non-obese children show a high proportion of family history of hypertension (41.6 and 24.7%, p = 0.002) and elevation of insulin at a relatively low body mass index. The triglycerides:HDL-c ratio, but not other lipoproteins or atherogenic indices, was associated with pre-hypertension in obese (1.15, 95% confidence intervals 1.06-1.26) and non-obese children (1.38 95% confidence intervals 1.22-1.57). The triglycerides:HDL-c ratio is related to pre-hypertension in children; the family history of hypertension seems to be a risk factor in developing pre-hypertension.

The authors studied the frequency, distribution, and factors associated with prediabetes (fasting glucose, 100-125 mg/dL) in rural and urban children from San Luis Potosí, León, and Querétaro in central Mexico. Family history, somatometry, and levels of fasting insulin, glucose, and lipids were collected in 1238 children 6 to 13 years of age. The authors found no cases of type 2 diabetes and a 5.7% frequency of prediabetes. The group with prediabetes had higher homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance scores and total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Prediabetes was more frequent in León, with similar distribution in rural and urban children. The frequency of insulin resistance was 24.1%, with higher figures in urban groups and in San Luis Potosí. In multivariate analysis, prediabetes was associated with insulin resistance and residence in León. The authors concluded that in central Mexico the frequency of prediabetes is significant, and it is associated with insulin resistance and a geographic location, but not with obesity or urban vs rural dwelling.

In some Sonoran Desert Cactaceae the primary root has a determinate root growth: the cells of the root apical meristem undergo only a few cell division cycles and then differentiate. The determinate growth of primary roots in Cactaceae was found in plants cultivated under various growth conditions, and could not be reverted by any treatment tested. The mechanisms involved in root meristem maintenance and determinate root growth in plants remain poorly understood. In this study, we have shown that roots regenerated from the callus of two Cactaceae species, Stenocereus gummosus and Ferocactus peninsulae, have a determinate growth pattern, similar to that of the primary root. To demonstrate this, a protocol for root regeneration from callus was established. The determinate growth pattern of roots regenerated from callus suggests that the program of root development is very stable in these species. These findings will permit future analysis of the role of certain Cactaceae genes in the determinate pattern of root growth via the regeneration of transgenic roots from transformed calli.

Background: The presentation of heart tumors is very uncommon. Eighty percent of primary heart neoplasias are benign, and myxomas represent the first cause in frequency among adult populations. Due to the frequency of presentation of these tumors, it is common to make the clinical/surgical diagnosis without obtaining histopathologic confirmation. Our objective was to determine the frequency of presentation of heart tumors and its correlation between the surgical/clinical and histopathologic diagnosis in our Institute., Methods: This is a case series with 16 patients with cardiac tumors treated surgically at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery during a 4-year period. We used descriptive statistics, and quantitative variables are expressed as mean, range and standard deviation whereas qualitative variables were described as proportions., Results: We included 3 men (19%) and 13 women (81%) with a mean age of 41.4 +/- 16.2 years. Clinical presentation was predominantly of congestive heart failure. Clinical diagnosis was determined in 15 patients (94%) and just one case of intracardiac thrombus (6%), whereas the histopathologic diagnosis reported myxoma in only 11 cases (68.8%), three patients with intra-cardiac thrombus (18.7%) and two patients with sarcomas (12.5%), leiomiosarcoma and angiosarcoma, respectively. We found a positive correlation between the clinical diagnosis and the histopathology results. There was no mortality., Conclusions: Even though myxomas represent the most frequent proportion of presentation in heart tumors, histopathological confirmation is necessary for diagnosis. Clinical and histopathologic correlation represents the basis for the choice of adequate management strategies and prognosis for the patient.

Purpose: To know and to explain the effects of the obstetrical assistance on the rate of perinatal mortality in a municipality of the state of Chiapas, Mexico which is distinguished by having a marginal rural zone, another one presenting an important agroindustrial and fishery development and the urban area., Design: Transversal, epidemiological study. Some localities representing the three different geopolitic areas of the municipality were selected by probabilistic sampling. Field work was done from october 1996 to march 1997., Participants: Information was obtained by a probabilistic sampling survey of 1,382 pregnancies occurring from 1987 to 1996 in 670 women whose age range was between 15 to 49 years old. The unit of analysis was the set of alive newborns as well as dead newborns (stillbirth) from the 28th week of the gestation period until the first week of extrauterin life., Results: The analysis showed a rate of perinatal mortality of 36.2 per 1000 alive newborns, the percentage of birth assistance by a midwife is of 40 percent while assistance by a relative of the pregnant, her husband or herself is that of 3.8%. The higher risks of increasing the mortality rate were found to be during the gestation period prior to or up to the 7th month (OR = 23.0, p < 0.05), for the lack of prenatal control (OR = 3.44, p < 0.05) and when birth assistance is provided by the woman's husband or a relative (OR = 3.31, p < 0.01)., Conclusion: Empirical midwives are currently assisting up to the 43% of the pregnancies as far as prenatal control is concerned while they assist up to 40% of the actual deliveries, the later varying when moving to the core of the municipality. Statistically important differences in the rate of perinatal mortality were not found regardless of the type of assistance received prior to and during the actual delivery, by a midwife or a physician.

Background: Some studies performed in developed countries with caucasian population have suggested an increase in the frequency of primary gastric lymphoma (PGL) in the past two decades., Objective: To establish the frequency of PGL in two National Institutes of Health in Mexico in an interval of 18 years., Methods: We reviewed 1,854 gastric malignant neoplasms diagnosed between 1979-1996 in mestizo patients seen at two different institutions. One of them (INC) is an oncological hospital, whereas the other one (INN) is a general hospital which treats patients with benign as well as malignant gastrointestinal diseases., Results: A hundred and sixty three (8.8%) gastric lymphomas were identified from 1,854 gastric malignant tumors. The incidence of PGL showed a two to three-fold increase in the last years of the study in both institutions. The increased frequency was highly significant when compared to the initial rate. This increase does not appear to be due to patient selection criteria nor to the number of malignant gastric tumors in our institutions., Conclusions: Our results indicate an increased frequency of PGL the patient population of two National Institutes of Health in Mexico during the last years. Additional studies are necessary in order to define in the increase in PGL is limited to certain geographical areas or ethnic groups.

The following article is one of a series that deal with the provision of health care services around the world. Other countries in the series include Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States. Countries scheduled for coverage in the series include Austria, France, Singapore, Spain, and the United Kingdom. The countries are described using a grid of characteristics so that comparisons may be made more easily. All of the analyses, along with further comparative data, will be gathered into a freestanding book to be published later in the year. Dr. Mendoza serves as the editor for the project.