Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory process in which macrophages, smooth muscle cells, T lymphocytes, and several chemical mediators intervene. In recent years, the finding of Chlamydia pneumoniae in arterial atherosclerotic plaques has suggested an etiological role; however, whether C. pneumoniae causes atherosclerosis or precipitates or favors atheroesclerosis progression remains uncertain. We review studies published on-line or available in Lima specialized libraries regarding C. pneumoniae and atherosclerosis association, with special emphasis on the pathogenic role of this bacteria.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between Chlamydia pneumoniae and atherosclerosis in arteries involved in acute myocardial infarction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subjects 70 years old or younger whose cause of death was acute myocardial infarction and subjects whose cause of death was not acute myocardial infarction were studied, all of them necropsied 12 to 48 hours after death. Detection of C. pneumoniae in atherosclerotic lesions was done by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Thirty-five subjects were included, thirty of them males. There were 13 cases of myocardial infarction, and 22 controls. The proportion of positive specimens was higher in cases, 69,2%, than in controls, 22,7% (OR 4,8; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0,9-24,6, p =0,061). Chlamydia pneumoniae was found in 21% of mild atherosclerosis lesions and in 62,5% in moderate and severe lesions (OR 3,8; CI 0,7-21,8, p =0,129). C...

Obesity is considered an epidemic disease. It is a risk factor for diabetes mellitus type 2 and some other metabolic and neoplastic disorders. The national and worldwide prevalence of obesity at high altitude and the relation between obesity and chronic and acute hypoxia at high altitude are revised.

Objective: To determine healthy males’ antioxidant system response in induced acute hyperglycemia. Design: Prospective, descriptive, longitudinal, experimental study. Setting: National Institute of Andean Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru. Biological materials: Whole blood and serum of apparently healthy men. Interventions: After 10 hour fasting, intravenous glucose was administered to thirteen healthy 20-41 year-old adult men using the hyperglycemic clamp method at 125 mg/dL above basal value during 120 minutes. Glycemia was measured at 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120 minutes. Blood sampling was obtained with EDTA anticoagulant and whole blood to obtain blood serum for biochemistry tests at 0, 60 and 120 minutes. Main outcome measures: Blood serum glycemia and lipoperoxidation variation, glutathione and s...