Serum zinc levels are associated with obesity and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in Mexican adults.

Purpose: Little is known about the association between serum zinc (Zn) levels and obesity in the Mexican population. Therefore, we tested the association between serum Zn levels, obesity status, and serum lipid levels in a sample of Mexican adults.

Methods: Anthropometric data and serum levels of total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C, respectively), and triglycerides were analyzed in 96 Mexican adults.

A PCR-RFLP method for typing human papillomavirus type 16 variants.

Infection with some types of human papillomavirus (HPV) is required for cervical cancer development, being HPV type 16 (HPV 16) the most common type in premalignant and malignant cervical lesions. DNA sequencing has revealed the existence of intratypic variants of HPV 16 whose genotyping is clinically useful for distinguishing between persistent and recurrent infections. From the epidemiological perspective, the frequency of diverse HPV 16 variants in several populations could correlate with the presence of precursor high-risk lesions in different anatomical locations.

Genotyping of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in infected patients from Northeast Mexico.

Unlabelled: Information about HCV genotypes in infected patients from different regions of Mexico is limited.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of HCV genotypes in a group of HCV infected patients who attended a third level Hospital in Northeast of Mexico.

Methods: Genotyping analysis was performed using the InnoLiPA-HCV genotype assay in 147 patients (65 males and 82 females, mean age 44 +/- 12 years) with positive anti-HCV antibodies and detectable HCV-RNA levels.

Antiviral therapy: inhibition of Hepatitis C Virus expression by RNA interference directed against the NS5B region of the viral genome.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem with 170 million chronically infected people throughout the world. Currently, the only treatment available consists of a combination of pegylated interferon (INF-alpha) and ribavirin, but only half of the patients treated show a sufficient antiviral response. Thus there is a great need for the development of new treatments for HCV infections.

Experimental models for hepatitis C virus (HCV): new opportunities for combating hepatitis C.

Infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global public health issue. More than 200 million people in the world are infected with HCV. Hepatitis C is considered one of the main causes of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation.