Trends in prevalence of HIV and syphilis in a central blood bank of Veracruz, Mexico.

Syphilis and HIV infections continue to threaten the safety of blood banks in countries where altruistic donations are rare. The aim of this study of blood donors to the Centro Estatal de la Transfusion Sanguínea de Veracruz (Mexico) was to determine changes in the prevalence of syphilis and HIV, and to identify factors associated with these infections. A total of 109,054 blood donors were retrospectively analyzed from 2007 to 2014.

Elevated circulating levels of IL-21 and IL-22 define a cytokine signature profile in type 2 autoimmune hepatitis patients.

Unlabelled:  Background and aims. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the liver in which the immunological mechanisms involved in tissue destruction and/or repair are still unclear. Different pro-inflammatory cytokines have been shown to play a determinant role in AIH pathogenesis.

Prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in blood donors from Veracruz State, Mexico.

Background: Trypanosoma cruzi is the causal agent of Chagas disease. Of the Mexican states, Veracruz is among the most affected by this sickness. However, the actual epidemiologic situation of this disease is not well understood.