ABSTRACT. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder in humans and a major cause of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between null alleles of the glutathione S-transferases (GST) M1 and T1 genes and the risk of preeclampsia. This case-control study involved 112 preeclamptic and 233 normoevolutive pregnant women. The null polymorphisms were 2161 GSTT1/GSTM1 null polymorphisms and preeclampsia ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 13 (1): 2160-2165 (2014) genotyped by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Our results showed an increased risk of preeclampsia in patients with the GSTT1 null genotype [odds ratio (OR) = 2.21; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.14-4.27; P = 0.018]. Our data further showed that a combination of deletion genotypes of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes conferred an even higher risk of preeclampsia (OR = 4.56, 95%CI = 1.59-13.09; P = 0.005). Our results provide the first evidence suggesting that a GSTT1 null polymorphism might be associated with preeclampsia in the Mexican mestizo population, and that this risk increases with the combination of both GSTT1 and GSTM1 null polymorphisms.

BackgroundExposure to arsenic in drinking water has been associated with various complications of pregnancy including fetal loss, low birth weight, anemia, gestational diabetes and spontaneous abortion. However, to date, there are no studies evaluating its possible association with preeclampsia.MethodsThis case–control study involved 104 preeclamptic and 202 healthy pregnant women. The concentrations of arsenic in drinking water and urine were measured using a Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometer.ResultsWe found relatively low levels of arsenic in household tap water (range of 2.48–76.02 μg/L) and in the urine of the participants (7.1 μg/L vs 6.78 μg/L in cases and controls, respectively).ConclusionsThe analysis between groups showed for the first time that at these lower levels of exposure there is no association with preeclampsia.

Variations in genes involved in DNA repair systems have been proposed as risk factors for the development of preeclampsia (PE). We conducted a case-control study to investigate the association of Human apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease (APEX1) Asp148Glu (rs1130409), Xeroderma Pigmentosum group D (XPD) Lys751Gln (rs13181), X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC) Arg399Gln (rs25487) and X-ray repair cross-complementing group 3 (XRCC3) Thr241Met (rs861539) polymorphisms with PE in a Mexican population. Samples of 202 cases and 350 controls were genotyped using RTPCR. Association analyses based on a χ2 test and binary logistic regression were performed to determine the odds ratio (OR) and a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for each polymorphism. The allelic frequencies of APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism showed statistical significant differences between preeclamptic and normal women (p = 0.036). Although neither of the polymorphisms proved to be a risk factor for the disease, the APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism showed a tendency of association (OR: 1.74, 95% CI = 0.96–3.14) and a significant trend (p for trend = 0.048). A subgroup analyses revealed differences in the allelic frequencies of APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism between women with mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia (p = 0.035). In conclusion, our results reveal no association between XPD Lys751Gln, XRCC Arg399Gln and XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphisms and the risk of PE in a Mexican mestizo population; however, the results in the APEX1 Asp148Glu polymorphism suggest the need for future studies using a larger sample size.

Background To determine the association of infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) and the occupation of female sex worker; and the correlation of infection with HPV with sociodemographic, clinical and behavioral characteristics of female sex workers. Methods We performed a case-control study of 217 female sex workers and 354 women without sex work in Durango City, Mexico. We determined the prevalence of infection with HPV in cervical samples of women using polymerase chain reaction, and HPV genotypes were determined using line probe assay. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the association between the characteristics of women and infection. Results Twelve (5.5%) of the 217 sex workers, and 10 (2.8%) of the 354 control women were positive for HPV DNA (age-adjusted OR = 1.51; 95% CI: 0.62 - 3.68; P = 0.36). Six (50.0%) of the 12 HPV DNA positive sex workers had infections with high-risk genotypes (16, 31, 33, 35, 51, 58). Seven (70%) of the 10 HPV DNA positive control women had infections with high-risk genotypes (16, 18, 56, 58, and 66). The frequency of high risk genotypes in the control women was equal with that found in the female sex workers (P = 0.41). Logistic regression analysis showed that the variable alcohol consumption was associated with HPV infection (OR = 4.0; 95% CI: 1.0 - 16.0; P = 0.04). Conclusions No association between HPV infection and female sex work was found in our setting. High risk HPV genotypes were prevalent among the women studied. Results can be used for the design of preventive measures against HPV infection.

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