Interaction of HLA Class II rs9272219 and rs17028450 (Arg690Cys) Variants Affects Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder Susceptibility in an Admixed Mexican Population.

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is a demyelinating autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, more prevalent in individuals of non-European ancestry. Few studies have analyzed genetic risk factors in NMOSD, and HLA class II gene variation has been associated NMOSD risk in various populations including Mexicans. Thymopoietin () has not been tested as a candidate gene for NMOSD or other autoimmune disease, however, experimental evidence suggests this gene may be involved in negative selection of autoreactive T cells and autoimmunity.

Native American ancestry significantly contributes to neuromyelitis optica susceptibility in the admixed Mexican population.

Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO) is an autoimmune disease with a higher prevalence in non-European populations. Because the Mexican population resulted from the admixture between mainly Native American and European populations, we used genome-wide microarray, HLA high-resolution typing and AQP4 gene sequencing data to analyze genetic ancestry and to seek genetic variants conferring NMO susceptibility in admixed Mexican patients. A total of 164 Mexican NMO patients and 1,208 controls were included.

[Efficacy and impact of polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of PCR in the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and its impact in the management of patients in a tertiary-care center in Mexico City.

Method: We conducted a retrospective study based on 40 clinical charts of patients to whom nested PCR was performed for the diagnosis of TB from June 1999 to December 2000. We reviewed the medical notes of 10 days before and 10 days after the PCR study to analyze its impact in the management of the patient.