Helicobacter pylori and its association with autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren syndrome.

is a gram-negative bacterium that adapts to the gastric mucosa and provokes symptoms associated with gastritis. Chronic infection in patients with a genetic predisposition can trigger autoimmune diseases due to the immune interaction of cellular and humoral responses. Infections are a triggering factor for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and Sjögren syndrome (SS), although the association between and these diseases is unclear.

Prognostic Factors in Mexican Patients with Patchy and Other Types of Alopecia Areata.

Introduction: Some clinical features have been associated with the progression and remission of alopecia areata (AA). We aim to determine possible prognostic factors in Mexican patients with AA.

Methods: This prospective study of a 1-year follow-up included Mexican patients with a clinical diagnosis of AA.

Bone mineral density and vertebral fractures in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-regression.

Background: Observational studies have indicated a high but heterogeneous prevalence of low bone mineral density (BMD) and vertebral fractures (VF) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Therefore, the objectives of this systematic review and meta-regression were: 1) to compare BMD between SLE patients and healthy controls and 2) to evaluate the relationship between BMD and glucocorticoid therapy and VF in SLE patients.

Methods And Findings: Articles were identified from electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, VHL, SciELO and the Cochrane Library).

Clinical relevance of P-glycoprotein activity on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear neutrophils to methotrexate in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

To elucidate the relationship between P-glycoprotein activity on peripheral blood leukocytes of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with lupus arthritis and the clinical response to methotrexate. An observational study was made in patients with SLE according to ACR criteria 1997 who had arthralgia and arthritis and received methotrexate for ≥3 months. Methotrexate responders and non-responders were compared according to the Clinical Disease Activity Index.

Vitamin D and Sjögren syndrome.

The immunomodulatory effects of vitamin D have been extensively studied in the context of autoimmunity. Multiple studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in autoimmune diseases. Recently, a possible protective role of vitamin D in autoimmunity has been described; however, this function remains controversial.

Genital Mycoplasma infection among Mexican women with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of genital Mycoplasma spp. among women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to identify factors associated with such infection.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with SLE and healthy women who attended a hospital in Puebla, Mexico, between July 29, 2014, and January 4, 2015.

Vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in mexican patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: Prevalence and relationship with disease activity.

Objectives: To determine and compare the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with and without disease activity.

Patients And Methods: We made a comparative, observational, cross-sectional, prospective study of 137 women with SLE according to American College of Rheumatology criteria. Patients with chronic kidney disease, cancer, hyperparathyroidism, pregnancy, and lactation were excluded.