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Espiau M, Ajanovic S, Zarzuela F, Maturana CR, Soler-Palacín P, Soriano-Arandes A, Sulleiro E. Management of paediatric soil-transmitted helminthiasis in a non-endemic area: experience in a reference international health unit. Parasitol Res 2024; 123:152. [PMID: 38441714 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-024-08171-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections inflict disability worldwide, especially in the poorest communities. Current therapeutic options against STHs show limited efficacy, particularly against Trichuris trichiura. The empirical management of patients coming from high-prevalence areas has been suggested for non-endemic areas. This study aimed to describe the management of STH infections in a non-endemic setting using an individualised approach. We performed a retrospective, descriptive study of all patients up to 16 years of age with STH infections attended at an international health unit in a non-endemic area (2014-2018), including all T. trichiura, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale, and Ascaris lumbricoides infections diagnosed using a formol-ether concentration technique and direct visualisation. Patients were treated according to current international guidelines. Sixty-one stool samples from 48 patients testing positive for STHs were collected, with 96% (46/48) reporting a previous long-term stay in endemic areas. Cure rates with 3-day benzimidazole regimens were 72% for T. trichiura, 40% for hookworms, and 83% for A. lumbricoides. The results were not influenced by any reinfection risk due to the study being performed in a non-endemic area. Patients coming from STH-endemic areas should be evaluated with appropriate diagnostic tools and followed up until cure control results. Cure rates in our cohort were moderate to low, similar to those published in studies in endemic areas. The efficacy of current treatment options is insufficient to recommend a specific empirical approach in high-income countries' healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Espiau
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Ajanovic
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesc Zarzuela
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carles Rubio Maturana
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pere Soler-Palacín
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Soriano-Arandes
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena Sulleiro
- Microbiology Department, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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Matthey MA, Hollis A. Pull me - push you? The disparate financing mechanisms of drug research in global health. Global Health 2024; 20:14. [PMID: 38374045 PMCID: PMC10877918 DOI: 10.1186/s12992-024-01019-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is an inconsistency in the way pharmaceutical research is financed. While pull mechanisms are predominantly used to incentivize later-stage pharmaceutical research for products with demand in the Global North, so-called neglected diseases are chiefly financed by push funding. This discrepancy has so far been ignored in the academic debate, and any compelling explanation for why we draw the line between push and pull at poor people is lacking. MAIN BODY Clinical development of new pharmaceuticals is chiefly financed by free market pull mechanisms. Even in cases where markets fail to deliver adequate incentives, demand enhancement mechanisms are used to replicate pull funding artificially, for example, with subscription models for antibiotics. Push funding in clinical research is almost always used when the poverty of patients means that markets fail to create sufficient demand. The general question of whether push or pull generally is the more efficient way to conduct pharmaceutical research arises. CONCLUSIONS If the state is efficient in directing limited budgets for pharmaceutical research, push funding should be expanded to global diseases. If private industry is the more efficient actor, there would be enormous value in experimenting more aggressively with different approaches to enhance market demand artificially for neglected diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Alexander Matthey
- Department of Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Witten / Herdecke University, Alfred-Herrhausen-Straße 50, 58455, Witten, Germany.
| | - Aidan Hollis
- Department of Economics, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW Calgary Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada, AB, Calgary
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Libardi SH, Ahmad A, Ferreira FB, Oliveira RJ, Caruso ÍP, Melo FA, de Albuquerque S, Cardoso DR, Burtoloso ACB, Borges JC. Interaction between diterpene icetexanes and old yellow enzymes of Leishmania braziliensis and Trypanosoma cruzi. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 259:129192. [PMID: 38216013 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.129192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Old Yellow Enzymes (OYEs) are flavin-dependent redox enzymes that promote the asymmetric reduction of activated alkenes. Due to the high importance of flavoenzymes in the metabolism of organisms, the interaction between OYEs from the parasites Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania braziliensis and three diterpene icetexanes (brussonol and two analogs), were evaluated in the present study, and differences in the binding mechanism and inhibition capacity of these molecules were examined. Although the aforementioned compounds showed poor and negligible activities against T. cruzi and L. braziliensis cells, respectively, the experiments with the purified enzymes indicated that the interaction occurs by divergent mechanisms. Overall, the ligands' inhibitory effect depends on their accessibility to the N5 position of the flavin's isoalloxazine ring. The results also indicated that the OYEs found in both parasites share structural similarities and showed affinities for the diterpene icetexanes in the same range. Nevertheless, the interaction between OYEs and ligands is directed by enthalpy and/or entropy in distinct ways. In conclusion, the binding site of both OYEs exhibits remarkable plasticity, and a large range of different molecules, including that can be substrates and inhibitors, can bind this site. This plasticity should be considered in drug design using OYE as a target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia H Libardi
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Anees Ahmad
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Ronaldo J Oliveira
- Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Naturais e Educação, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, 38064-200 Uberaba, MG, Brazil
| | - Ícaro P Caruso
- Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE) - UNESP, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil; Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis and Centro Nacional para Biologia Estrutural e Bioimagem, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fernando A Melo
- Instituto de Biociências, Letras e Ciências Exatas (IBILCE) - UNESP, 15054-000 São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Sergio de Albuquerque
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Ribeirão Preto, SP CEP 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Daniel R Cardoso
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Antonio C B Burtoloso
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil
| | - Júlio C Borges
- Instituto de Química de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, SP, Brazil.
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Dimzas D, Morelli S, Colombo M, Di Cesare A, Martinis D, Dourdas G, Diakou A. Unusual parasitoses in urban dogs: Urinary capillariosis and linguatulosis, cases report. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 47:100949. [PMID: 38199692 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2023.100949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases caused by uncommonly diagnosed parasites may pose a threat to companion animals' health in urban environments where they are least expected. The pentastomid Linguatula serrata (tongue worm) and the capillarid Pearsonema plica (syn. Capillaria plica) are parasites with an indirect life cycle, infecting both domestic and wild carnivores. The present report describes two cases: the first one of urinary capillariosis and the other of linguatulosis, in two dogs living in the urban environment of Athens, Greece. In the case of capillariosis, the dog never lived out of the city, so it was presumably infected in the urban environment. On the contrary, in the case of linguatulosis, the dog was adopted at a young age from a rural environment but remained asymptomatic for several months while living in the city. Both dogs had mild symptoms, compatible with these infections. Urinary capillariosis and linguatulosis are uncommon in owned, pet dogs, living in cities due to epizootiological characteristics, i.e. need for wildlife reservoir for P. plica and consumption of raw infected viscera for L. serrata. Different factors contribute to the fact that such infections may occur in scenarios where they are least expected. Recent studies show a progressive worldwide increase in the number of uncommon parasitoses in pet animals, that in some cases, such as linguatulosis, are of zoonotic relevance. Regular parasitological examinations and preventive antiparasitic schemes are necessary in order to treat and prevent infections in pet animals and safeguard the health of both animals and humans under the concept of One Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitris Dimzas
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Simone Morelli
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
| | - Mariasole Colombo
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
| | - Angela Di Cesare
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Teaching Veterinary Hospital, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
| | | | - Georgios Dourdas
- Plakentia Veterinary Clinic, Agia Paraskevi, 15343 Attica, Greece.
| | - Anastasia Diakou
- Laboratory of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
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de Luna Rocha TC, Dos Santos Lima MJ, Nunes do Nascimento JL, Ferreira de Oliveira J, de Oliveira Silva E, Barbosa Dos Santos VH, de Lima Aires A, de Albuquerque Wanderley Sales V, Atanazio Rosa T, Rolim Neto PJ, Camelo Pessôa de Azevedo Albuquerque M, Alves de Lima MDC, Ferreira da Silva RM. Development and evaluation of the in vitro schistosomicidal activity of solid dispersions based on 2-(-5-bromo-1-H-indole-3-yl-methylene)-N-(naphthalene-1-ylhydrazine-carbothiamide. Exp Parasitol 2024; 256:108626. [PMID: 37972848 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Among all the neglected diseases, schistosomiasis is considered the second most important parasitic infection after malaria. Praziquantel is the most widely used drug for this disease, but its exclusive use may result in the development of drug-resistant schistosomiasis. To increase the control of the disease, new drugs have been developed as alternative treatments, among them 2-(-5-bromo-1-h-indole-3-yl-methylene)-N-(naphthalene-1-ylhydrazine-carbothiamide (LQIT/LT-50), which showed promising schistosomicidal activity in nonclinical studies. However, LQIT/LT-50 presents low solubility in water, resulting in reduced bioavailability. To overcome this solubility problem, the present study aimed to develop LQIT/LT-50 solid dispersions for the treatment of schistosomiasis. Solid dispersions were prepared through the solvent method using Soluplus©, polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP K-30) as hydrophilic carriers. The formulations with the best results in the compatibility tests, aqueous solubility and preliminary stability studies have undergone solubility tests and physicochemical characterizations by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffractometry (XRD), exploratory differential calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG) and Raman spectroscopy. Finally, the schistosomicidal activity was evaluated in vitro. The phycochemical analyzes showed that when using PVP K-30, there was an interaction between the PVP K-30 and LQIT/LT-50, proving the successful development of the solid dispersion. Furthermore, an increase in the solubility of the new system was observed (LQIT/LT-50:PVP K-30) in addition to the improvement in the in vitro shistosomidal activity at 1:4 (w/w) molar ratio (i.e., 20% drug loading) when compared to LQIT/LT-50 alone. The development of the LQIT/LT-50:PVP K-30 1:4 solid dispersion is encouraging for the future development of new pharmaceutical solid formulations, aiming the schistosomicidal treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jamerson Ferreira de Oliveira
- Institute of Health Sciences, University of International Integration of Afro-Brazilian Lusophony, Redenção, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | | | - André de Lima Aires
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | - Talita Atanazio Rosa
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Pedro José Rolim Neto
- Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Kumar P, Ahmad S, Bhar D, Roy R, Singh B. "Whenever I tell her to wear slippers, she turns a deaf ear. She never listens": a qualitative descriptive research on the barriers to basic lymphedema management and quality of life in lymphatic filariasis patients in a rural block of eastern India. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:429. [PMID: 37986020 PMCID: PMC10662554 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-06036-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic lymphatic filariasis patients in Bihar, India, need management of lymphedema to live a disability-free life. For patients who have recurrent attacks of acute dermato-lymphangio-adenitis (ADLA), World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended simple home-based measures that include maintaining hygiene, skin care, and limb movement. However, patients in rural areas are unable to adopt them, resulting in a vicious cycle of ADLA attacks. There might be multiple realities from patients' and healthcare workers' perspectives that were unexplored. Qualitative research was deemed best suitable to identify the barriers to carrying out home-based lymphedema practices that adversely affected quality of life. METHODS The qualitative descriptive study was conducted in two villages in the rural field practice area under a tertiary care hospital in Bihar. Researchers purposively selected ten participants, including patients affected by lymphedema, their caregivers, the grassroots healthcare workers, and the block health manager. In-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were entered into QDA Miner Lite, where researchers did attribute, in-vivo, process, descriptive, emotion, and holistic coding, followed by content analysis, where categories and themes emerged from the codes. RESULTS Three themes emerged: the inherent nature of disease, patient-related factors, and healthcare system-related factors. The fifteen identified barriers were low awareness, low adherence, low health-seeking behavior, poor personal hygiene, and categories like signs and symptoms, seasonal factors, hampered activities of daily living, hopelessness from not getting cured, psychosocial difficulty, lack of capacity building and receipt of incentives by healthcare workers, unavailability of laboratory diagnosis and management of complications at the facility, inconsistent drug supply, and no financial assistance. CONCLUSIONS Accessibility to WaSH, regular training of home-based care, increasing the capacity and motivation of grassroots workers, and the generation of in-depth awareness among the patients are required to achieve the elimination of filariasis, with MMDP as a key component of that strategy for endemic districts across the whole country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pragya Kumar
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Shamshad Ahmad
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India
| | - Ditipriya Bhar
- Santiniketan Medical College, Bolpur, West Bengal, 731204, India
| | - Ria Roy
- Santiniketan Medical College, Bolpur, West Bengal, 731204, India.
| | - Bhavna Singh
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar, India
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Rocha MIF, Maranhão TA, da Frota MMC, de Araujo TKA, Veras e Silva WWS, Sousa GJB, Duarte Pereira ML, de Araujo Filho ACA. [Mortality from neglected tropical ciseases in Brazil in the 21st Century: Analysis of spatial and temporal trends and associated factorsMortalidad por enfermedades tropicales desatendidas en Brasil en el siglo XXI: análisis de tendencias espaciales y temporales y factores asociados]. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2023; 47:e146. [PMID: 37881800 PMCID: PMC10597395 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2023.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To analyze the spatial-temporal distribution and factors associated with mortality from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in Brazil from 2000 to 2019. Method We performed an ecological study to analyze NTD-related deaths recorded in the Ministry of Health Mortality Information System (SIM). For the temporal analysis, the joinpoint method was used. Spatial dependence was analyzed using global Moran and local Getis-Ord Gi* indices. Four non-spatial and spatial regression models were used to identify factors associated with mortality. Results The mean mortality rate from NTDs in Brazil during the study period was 3.32 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants, with the highest rate (8.68 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants) recorded in the Midwest. The most prevalent causes of death were Chagas disease (n = 94 781; 74.9%) and schistosomiasis (n = 10 271; 8.1%). There was a 1.24% reduction (95%CI = -1.6; -0.9; P < 0.001) in NTD-related mortality in Brazil per year. A high/high spatial distribution pattern and hotspots were observed in municipalities in the states of Goiás, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Tocantins, and Piauí. The indicators "population in households with density > 2 people per bedroom" (β = -0.07; P = 0.00) and "municipal human development index" (β = -3.36; P = 0.08) were negatively associated with the outcome, while the "index of social vulnerability" (β = 2.74; P = 0.05) was positively associated with the outcome. Conclusion Lower human development and higher social vulnerability are associated with higher mortality from NTDs, which should guide NTD prevention and control efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Izabel Félix Rocha
- Universidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI)Curso de EnfermagemParnaíba (PI)BrasilUniversidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI), Curso de Enfermagem, Parnaíba (PI), Brasil.
| | - Thatiana Araujo Maranhão
- Universidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI)Curso de EnfermagemParnaíba (PI)BrasilUniversidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI), Curso de Enfermagem, Parnaíba (PI), Brasil.
| | - Maria Madalena Cardoso da Frota
- Universidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI)Curso de EnfermagemParnaíba (PI)BrasilUniversidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI), Curso de Enfermagem, Parnaíba (PI), Brasil.
| | - Thalis Kennedy Azevedo de Araujo
- Universidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI)Curso de EnfermagemParnaíba (PI)BrasilUniversidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI), Curso de Enfermagem, Parnaíba (PI), Brasil.
| | - Wady Wendler Soares Veras e Silva
- Universidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI)Curso de EnfermagemParnaíba (PI)BrasilUniversidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI), Curso de Enfermagem, Parnaíba (PI), Brasil.
| | - George Jó Bezerra Sousa
- Secretaria de Saúde do estado do CearáFortaleza (CE)BrasilSecretaria de Saúde do estado do Ceará, Fortaleza (CE), Brasil.
| | - Maria Lúcia Duarte Pereira
- Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE)Programa de Pós-Graduação Cuidados Clínicos em Enfermagem e SaúdeFortaleza (CE)BrasilUniversidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE), Programa de Pós-Graduação Cuidados Clínicos em Enfermagem e Saúde, Fortaleza (CE), Brasil.
| | - Augusto Cezar Antunes de Araujo Filho
- Universidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI)Curso de EnfermagemFloriano (PI)BrasilUniversidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI), Curso de Enfermagem, Floriano (PI), Brasil.
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Dorji T, Lamichaney J, Gyaltshen C, Lungten L, Dhakal GP, Dorjee S, Mynak ML. Human rabies encephalomyelitis in the background of rabies outbreak in animals in Gelephu, Bhutan, 2023: a case report. Infect Dis Poverty 2023; 12:94. [PMID: 37845744 PMCID: PMC10577971 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-023-01148-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rabies continues to pose significant public health challenges in many developing countries including Bhutan. A probable case of rabies was admitted to our hospital and its reporting led to the uncovering of an outbreak in domestic and wild animals. We discuss the challenges in the diagnosis and management of rabies in a resource-limited setting. CASE PRESENTATION A 35-year-old male presented with intermittent fever, bilateral lower limb weakness that was rapidly progressive, urinary incontinence with episodes of palpitations and sweating. He had sustained a Category III bite on the right lower thigh with four bite marks, inflicted by a stray dog. He had received post-exposure prophylaxis with intra-dermal anti-rabies vaccine. On initial examination, the patient was in distress but cooperative for the interview. He had pulse rate ranging from 60 to 100/min with episodes of diaphoresis and palpitations, but with normal capillary blood glucose. In the lower limb, the muscle power was zero with absent tendon reflexes in the lower limb and impaired abdominal reflex below T10 level. He had hyperaesthesia below T8, hydrophobia, aerophobia and photophobia. He had multiple spontaneous fasciculations in both the thighs and right deltoid and these later involved the intercostal muscles, neck and face muscles. He had altered sensorium and desaturation for which he required mechanical ventilation. Polymerase chain reaction for rabies virus was negative in cerebrospinal fluid and saliva. Rabies virus neutralizing antibody was negative in cerebrospinal fluid but had high titres in the serum. He received Human Rabies Immunoglobulin after admission. He was managed in the intensive care unit and died 23 days later. After this case was notified, a rapid response team was deployed in the field, and uncovered rabies outbreak in animals in the locality. CONCLUSIONS This case called for a serious evaluation of the country's efforts in achieving zero rabies deaths by 2030. The management of this case identified several critical areas of context-specific interventions in Bhutan. There is also an urgent need to improve diagnostic capabilities at the national reference laboratory and enhance the technical competencies of healthcare workers in the management of dog bite cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thinley Dorji
- Department of Internal Medicine, Central Regional Referral Hospital, Gelephu, Bhutan.
| | - Jeewanath Lamichaney
- Department of Internal Medicine, Central Regional Referral Hospital, Gelephu, Bhutan
| | - Choeda Gyaltshen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Central Regional Referral Hospital, Gelephu, Bhutan
| | - Lungten Lungten
- Regional Veterinary Hospital and Epidemiology Centre, Gelephu, Bhutan
| | - Guru Prasad Dhakal
- Faculty of Postgraduate Medicine, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | - Sithar Dorjee
- Office of the President, Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
| | - Mimi Lhamu Mynak
- Office of the President, National Medical Services, Ministry of Health, Thimphu, Bhutan
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Soares RCR, de Carvalho AG, Luz JGG, Lucas ALZ, Ignotti E. Integrated control of neglected tropical diseases in Brazil: document review of a national campaign in light of WHO recommendations. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2023; 47:e23. [PMID: 37767238 PMCID: PMC10521583 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2023.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To describe the results of a national campaign aimed at the integrated control of neglected tropical diseases in Brazil in light of the World Health Organization (WHO) official documentation related to the integration of strategies for the prevention, control, and elimination or eradication of neglected tropical diseases. Methods A document review that included official WHO documents published between 2007 and 2020 and campaign results extracted from the official technical report produced by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Results The integrated control of neglected tropical diseases was gradually incorporated in the WHO documentation over time. Preventive chemotherapy through mass drug administration, intensified case management, and integrated vector management were extensively recommended as strategies for integrated control. The Brazilian campaign was carried out in four iterations between 2013 and 2017. Children aged 5 to 14 years enrolled in municipal public schools nationwide were targeted. In summary, a total of 1 074 and 73 522 new cases of leprosy and trachoma, respectively, were detected. Nearly 18 million doses of preventive chemotherapy for soil-transmitted helminthiasis were administered. More than 700 cases of schistosomiasis were diagnosed and treated. Conclusions The integrated strategies implemented in Brazil throughout the campaign generated results aligned with the WHO recommendations for the control of neglected tropical diseases, especially those regarding mass drug administration, active case detection, and intensified case management. Therefore, the continuity of the campaign with adequate evaluation tools must be encouraged as a constant public health policy in the Brazilian government agenda.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda Gabriela de Carvalho
- Universidade Federal de RondonópolisRondonópolisBrazilUniversidade Federal de Rondonópolis, Rondonópolis, Brazil
| | - João Gabriel Guimarães Luz
- Universidade Federal de RondonópolisRondonópolisBrazilUniversidade Federal de Rondonópolis, Rondonópolis, Brazil
| | - Ana Luiza Zílio Lucas
- Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de CuiabáCuiabáBrazilSecretaria Municipal de Saúde de Cuiabá, Cuiabá, Brazil
| | - Eliane Ignotti
- Universidade do Estado de Mato GrossoCáceresBrazilUniversidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Cáceres, Brazil
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Quet M. Non-standard nature. Venoms, serum and serpentariums in the uneven fabrication of global health. Soc Sci Med 2023; 332:116113. [PMID: 37499481 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.116113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Envenomation challenges international public health, and antivenom serum is a strategic tool in the management of this condition. However, although antivenom serum has been in use since the late 19th century, the accessibility, quality and safety of this essential health product are still causes for concern in the most affected areas. The reasons for such a situation are multiple and include the poverty of snakebite victims, the high production costs of serum, the logistical difficulties pertaining to the mostly rural location of envenomation events, however one root cause has been the recurring difficulty to standardize antivenom serum as a health commodity. This paper, grounded in "Science and Technology Studies" (STS) focuses on this standardization issue, and argues that it can be explained in two complementary ways: on one hand, the difficulty to standardize serum relates to the nature of venom itself, and on the other hand, it relates to the social and institutional characteristics of envenomation as a neglected disease. The argument is supported by the analysis of reports published by the World Health Organization expert committee on biological standardization from 1947 to 2022 and dealing with the standardization of venom and antivenom. The paper describes the successive standardization strategies implemented by international public health actors. This analysis shows that standardization procedures are shaped by a series of interactions between objects (venom and antivenom), scientific bodies of knowledge that characterize them (eg. toxinology or venomics), organizational and financial public health regimes that frame their circulation. The difficulties raised by the standardization of antivenom reveal the problematic articulation between these domains. Acknowledging this problematic articulation, the discussion emphasizes its consequences for the understanding of relations between medical technologies, global markets and so-called "natural resources". One conclusion drawn from these findings is to call for a "One Health" approach that would take into greater account the diversity and complexity of non-human life.
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Tebano G, Vanino E, Muratori P, Cristini F. Scientific literature on neglected tropical diseases: a bibliometric analysis. Pathog Glob Health 2023:1-8. [PMID: 37606248 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2023.2250619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of diseases mainly affecting people in low- and middle-income Countries. The aim of this study was to perform a bibliometric analysis of the scientific literature on NTDs. Using the MeSH database, we quantified the number of publications on MEDLINE targeting each NTD, which were published from 1 January 1999 to 31 January 2019. In order to weight the number of publications targeting a given NTD according to the total number of publications/year, we calculated a Yearly Publication Index (YPI) for each NTD/year. Linear regression was used to determine if there was a significant increase or decrease of YPI over time. In order to weight the number of publications according to disease burden (expressed in Disability-adjusted life years - DALYs) we calculated a DALYs-weighted Publication Index (DWPI) for each NTD. The highest absolute number of publications focused on leishmaniasis, dengue and Chagas disease; the lowest on tungiasis, dracunculiasis, chromoblastomycosis and yaws. The number of publications significantly increased for chikungunya, chromoblastomycosis, dengue, leishmaniasis, snakebite envenoming, and yaws. It significantly decreased for ascariasis, cysticercosis, echinococcosis, leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, mycetoma, onchocerciasis. Leprosy had the highest DWPI (i.e. the highest number of publication considering the burden of disease), followed by Chagas disease; lymphatic filariasis had the lowest, followed by onchocerciasis. Overall, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis and ascariasis presented the worst scenario, with both very few publications compared with their disease burden and a decreasing number of publications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elisa Vanino
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Ravenna Hospital, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Paolo Muratori
- Internal Medicine Unit, Forlì Hospital, Forlì, Italy
- Department of Science for the Quality of Life (QUVI), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Francesco Cristini
- Infectious Diseases Unit, Forlì and Cesena Hospitals, Forlì and Cesena, Italy
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Sousa F, Nascimento C, Ferreira D, Reis S, Costa P. Reviving the interest in the versatile drug nystatin: A multitude of strategies to increase its potential as an effective and safe antifungal agent. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114969. [PMID: 37348678 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Nystatin is an antifungal molecule with a remarkable yet squandered versatility. In this review, its mechanism of action is explored, along with its extensive action spectrum and toxicity. A multitude of methodologies to tackle the drug's physical and chemical hurdles are outlined along with some proven-effective strategies to increase its activity and/or decrease its toxicity. A separate detailed section focused on micro and nanotechnology solutions addresses new drug delivery systems made of polymeric, metallic or lipid materials. Although the topical route depicts greater representativeness amongst these formulations, the intravenous, dental, oral, vaginal and inhalation routes are also mentioned. The unsuccessful previous attempts at developing parenteral formulations of nystatin or even the withdrawal of a nystatin-loaded multilamellar liposome should not divert research away from this drug. In fact, the interest in nystatin ought to be reawakened with the ongoing clinical trials on the promising nystatin-like genetically engineered derivate BSG005.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Sousa
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Cecília Nascimento
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Domingos Ferreira
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Salette Reis
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Paulo Costa
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira n° 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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Kim JY, Oh S, Yoon M, Yong TS. Importance of Balanced Attention Toward Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Neglected Tropical Diseases. Yonsei Med J 2023; 64:351-358. [PMID: 37226561 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2022.0656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has been spreading since 2019, causing a worldwide pandemic. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, tuberculosis, AIDS, and malaria have adversely affected the quality of life of patients and killed millions of people. In addition, COVID-19 continues to impede the delivery of health services, including those for the control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Furthermore, NTDs have been reported as possible co-pathogens among patients infected with COVID-19. However, studies regarding parasitic co-infection among these patients have been limited. This review aimed to explore and describe the cases and reports of parasitic infections in the backdrop of COVID-19 to provide comprehensive knowledge regarding this aspect. We reviewed seven cases of patients who had parasitic co-infection and tested positive for COVID-19, and summarized the literature on the importance of controlling parasitic diseases. In addition, we identified recommendations for the control of parasitic diseases under possible difficulties, such as declining funding for parasitic diseases in 2020. This review highlights the growing burden of NTDs under COVID-19 that may be caused by the deficiency of healthcare infrastructure and human resources as the main reasons. Clinicians should remain vigilant for possible co-infections with parasites in COVID-19 patients, while policymakers are urged to reinforce a balanced and long-term health strategy that addresses both NTDs and COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Yeong Kim
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Singeun Oh
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Moonsoo Yoon
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Tai-Soon Yong
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Arthropods of Medical Importance Resource Bank, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Luna IS, Souza TAD, da Silva MS, Franca Rodrigues KAD, Scotti L, Scotti MT, Mendonça-Junior FJB. Computer-Aided drug design of new 2-amino-thiophene derivatives as anti-leishmanial agents. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 250:115223. [PMID: 36848847 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
The leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by a group of protozoan parasites from the genus Leishmania whose treatment is limited, obsolete, toxic, and ineffective in certain cases. These characteristics motivate researchers worldwide to plan new therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of leishmaniasis, where the use of cheminformatics tools applied to computer-assisted drug design has allowed research to make great advances in the search for new drugs candidates. In this study, a series of 2-amino-thiophene (2-AT) derivatives was screened virtually using QSAR tools, ADMET filters and prediction models, allowing direct the synthesis of compounds, which were evaluated in vitro against promastigotes and axenic amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis. The combination of different descriptors and machine learning methods led to obtaining robust and predictive QSAR models, which was obtained from a dataset composed of 1862 compounds extracted from the ChEMBL database, with correct classification rates ranging from 0.53 (for amastigotes) to 0.91 (for promastigotes), allowing to select eleven 2-AT derivatives, which do not violate Lipinski's rules, exhibit good druglikeness, and with probability ≤70% of potential activity against the two evolutionary forms of the parasite. All compounds were properly synthesized and 8 of them were shown to be active at least against one of the evolutionary forms of the parasite with IC50 values lower than 10 μM, being more active than the reference drug meglumine antimoniate, and showing low or no citotoxicity against macrophage J774.A1 for the most part. Compounds 8CN and DCN-83, respectively, are the most active against promastigote and amastigote forms, with IC50 values of 1.20 and 0.71 μM, and selectivity indexes (SI) of 36.58 and 119.33. Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) study was carried out and allowed to identify some favorable and/or essential substitution patterns for the leishmanial activity of 2-AT derivatives. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the use of ligand-based virtual screening proved to be quite effective and saved time, effort, and money in the selection of potential anti-leishmanial agents, and confirm, once again that 2-AT derivatives are promising hit compounds for the development of new anti-leishmanial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isadora Silva Luna
- Laboratory of Synthesis and Drug Delivery, State University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Thalisson Amorim de Souza
- Multiuser Laboratory Center of Characterization and Analysis, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Sobral da Silva
- Multiuser Laboratory Center of Characterization and Analysis, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | | | - Luciana Scotti
- Post-Graduation Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Marcus Tullius Scotti
- Post-Graduation Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
| | - Francisco Jaime Bezerra Mendonça-Junior
- Laboratory of Synthesis and Drug Delivery, State University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil; Post-Graduation Program in Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
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Ma J, Zhang L, Li X, Shen J, Sun Y, Huang Y. China's innovation and research contribution to combating neglected diseases: a secondary analysis of China's public research data. Glob Health Res Policy 2023; 8:6. [PMID: 36915177 PMCID: PMC10010952 DOI: 10.1186/s41256-023-00288-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many emerging and developing economies, such as China, have played the important roles in combating global neglected diseases (NDs). This study aims to explore China's public landscape of research projects and funding of NDs and to provide empirical evidence on promoting China's participation in addressing global health priorities that disproportionately affect developing countries. METHODS We systematically sourced China's public funding information from the National Natural Science Foundation of China and provincial science and technology agency websites up to August 16, 2019. Following the G-FINDER R&D scope, we screened projects of NDs for analysis. National-funded projects were reviewed on an annual basis for exploring the trends and distribution of funding flows. Information on provincial-funded projects was compared with national projects by disease, research type, and geographical distribution. RESULTS A total of 1266 projects were included for analysis and categorized by year, funding source, recipient, disease, research type, region, and province. China's national public funding for ND research reached a historical peak of USD 16.22 million in 2018. But the proportion of ND research to all public-funded projects was less than 0.5%, and over half of the ND projects were allocated to "the big three," i.e., tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. About 58% of national and provincial ND projects focus on basic research. Economically developed regions and municipalities play dominant roles in leading national ND research, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangdong. Provincial ND projects are primarily driven by endemic regions. CONCLUSIONS As a new emerging high-tech innovator, China has gradually increased public input to ND-related innovation and research. But there is still a large funding gap among NDs that requires China's increased support and participation. National development plans and cooperative health needs should be taken into account for China's participation in promoting global research and development (R&D) for combating NDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiyan Ma
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lanchao Zhang
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xianzhe Li
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiashu Shen
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yinuo Sun
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yangmu Huang
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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Iglesias-Rus L, Boquete T, Romay-Barja M, Benito A, Jordan B, Blasco-Hernández T. Diagnostic pathways of Chagas disease in Spain: a qualitative study. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:332. [PMID: 36788512 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14938-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the mobility of the population in recent years and the spread of Chagas disease (CD) to non-endemic regions, early diagnosis and treatment of CD has become increasingly relevant in non-endemic countries. In order for screening to be effective, health system accessibility must be taken into consideration. This study uses Tanahashi's Health Service Coverage model to gain a deeper understanding of the main diagnostic pathways for Chagas disease in a non-endemic country and the barriers and bottlenecks present in each pathway. METHODS This study used a qualitative design with a phenomenological approach. Twenty-one interviews, two focus group sessions, and two triangular group sessions were conducted between 2015 and 2018 with 37 Bolivian men and women diagnosed with CD in Madrid, Spain. A topic guide was designed to ensure that the interviewers obtained the data concerning knowledge of CD (transmission, symptoms, and treatment), attitudes towards CD, and health behaviour (practices in relation to CD). All interviews, focus groups and triangular groups were recorded and transcribed. A thematic, inductive analysis based on Grounded Theory was performed by two researchers. RESULTS Three main pathways to CD diagnosis were identified: 1) pregnancy or blood/organ donation, with no bottlenecks in effective coverage; 2) an individual actively seeking CD testing, with bottlenecks relating to administrative, physical, and time-related accessibility, and effectiveness based on the healthcare professional's knowledge of CD; 3) an individual not actively seeking CD testing, who expresses psychological discomfort or embarrassment about visiting a physician, with a low perception of risk, afraid of stigma, and testing positive, and with little confidence in physicians' knowledge of CD. CONCLUSIONS Existing bottlenecks in the three main diagnostic pathways for CD are less prevalent during pregnancy and blood donation, but are more prevalent in individuals who do not voluntarily seek serological testing for CD. Future screening protocols will need to take these bottlenecks into consideration to achieve effective coverage.
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Paulino S, Santos L, Rabello M, da Silva P, Oliveira J, Lima MDC, Rocha T, Albuquerque M, Santos V, Alves L, Brayner F, Gomes T, Aires A, Neto PR, Silva R. Development of solid dispersions based on 3- (2,6-difluorobenzyl) -5- (5-bromo-1H-indol-3-ylmethylene) thiazolidine-2,4-dione for schistosomicidal treatment. Exp Parasitol 2023; 248:108455. [PMID: 36764643 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2022.108455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is an endemic disease in Brazil. It is important to broaden the treatment options to control and containment of the disease. Thiazolidine derivatives appear as important alternatives to treatment. In vitro studies have demonstrated excellent schistosomiasis activity for LPSF/GQ-238. The molecule, however, has poorly water-soluble. This study focused on increasing the aqueous solubility of LPSF/GQ-238 by obtaining solid dispersions. Were prepared by the solvent techniques, using Soluplus®, Polyethylene glycol (PEG), and Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-K30) as carriers. Solubility tests, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Exploratory Differential Calorimetry (DSC), and Raman Spectroscopy characterized these new intermediate products. The solubility tests showed that the higher the proportion of polymer used in the preparation of the dispersion, the greater the solubility presented. The observation of the morphology by SEM analysis, elucidated, that the new chemical entity (NCE) has a characteristic crystalline structure. The folding of this structure by the polymer was observed in all analyzed dispersions, thus demonstrating the amorphous state of the product. The scales observed in the structures of the dispersions demonstrate the successive wrinkles that occurred. The greater the proportion of the polymer, the greater the number of folds that occurred, which may explain the greater solubility observed in these preparations. The X-ray diffraction profile of the NCE reveals the presence of intense peaks, presenting a crystalline pattern. The polymer, on the other hand, shows amorphous nature, evidenced by the absence of peaks. All the analyzed dispersions did not present the characteristic peaks of the NCE, evidencing the amorphous behavior of the products. The thermal degradation profile of the NCE presents a characteristic crystalline structure endothermic peak. This peak was not observed in any of the obtained dispersions, evidencing the obtaining of a new solid state. Raman spectroscopy showed that peaks in the range 200-400 (cm-1) by NCE were lost when compared to all analyzed dispersions, showing a slight change in the structure of the molecule when dispersed, probably due to the formation of hydrogen bonds with the polymer. The in vitro study showed a significant improvement in the activity of the NCE against the adult worm and to the schistosomulae. It was possible to observe that the obtained solid dispersions were physicochemically and biologically viable for schistosomicidal treatment due to the increase of solubility of the molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Symon Paulino
- Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brazil
| | - Lucas Santos
- Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Rabello
- Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brazil
| | - Paulo da Silva
- Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brazil
| | - Jamerson Oliveira
- Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Department of Antibiotics, Brazil
| | | | - Thâmara Rocha
- Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brazil
| | - Mônica Albuquerque
- Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Department of Tropical Medicine, Brazil
| | - Victor Santos
- Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Department of Tropical Medicine, Brazil
| | - Luiz Alves
- Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Crus Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Brazil
| | - Fábio Brayner
- Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Crus Foundation (FIOCRUZ), Brazil
| | - Tarcyla Gomes
- Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Department of Physics, Brazil
| | - André Aires
- Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Department of Tropical Medicine, Brazil
| | - Pedro Rolim Neto
- Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brazil
| | - Rosali Silva
- Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brazil.
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Matsumoto PSS, Taniguchi HH, Pereira VBR, Hiramoto RM, Seviero Rampazzi KL, de Raeffray Barbosa JE, Puci Neto RA, Camprigher VM, de Barros Cortez LRP, Rahaman KR, Novak M, Tolezano JE. Efficacies of insecticide dog collars against visceral leishmaniasis in low and high-income areas and the effects for non-collared neighbor dogs. Acta Trop 2022; 235:106626. [PMID: 35981601 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrated that insecticide collars are highly effective in reducing canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL); however, it is unclear if the efficacy differs by socioeconomic conditions across diverse communities. This study aimed fourfold: (i) to evaluate the protection of 4% impregnated deltamethrin collared (DMC) dogs in different areas of an endemic city for visceral leishmaniasis (VL); (ii) to analyze socioeconomic variables with the seroconversion rates; (iii) to analyze the indirect effect of DMC on untreated dogs in areas of intervention; and, (iv) to evaluate the potential transmission to other dogs in the same household when one positive dog is present. The study employed the municipality of Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil, as the area of interest and used Geographic Information System tools to fit binary logistic regression models. Dogs were divided into three cohort studies: intervention with DMC (I), indirect effect of DMC (IE), and control (C). Pre-intervention, lower mean income was associated with higher rates of CVL and a 142% increase in the odds of transmission (OR = 1.42, p-value = 0.001, CI 1.14,1.77). Post-intervention, lower-income areas depicted greater efficacy (76%) than higher-income areas (45%). The overall efficacy of DMC in preventing CVL was 63%; however, seroconversion rates were higher for IE (6.02%) than C (3.78%), revealing the failure of the indirect protection of DMC to manage the spread of the disease among the general non-wearing DMC canine population living in the same area. The protected dogs may repel the vectors, and non-protected dogs attract them, creating a higher transmission rate for non-protected dogs. Greater seroconversion was observed for living with an infected dog (10.20% in IE and 8.75% in C) than for the indirect effect of DMC, demonstrating the social burden of CVL. Overall, uncollared dogs have three times higher odds of being infected with CVL than DMC dogs (p < 0.005), and uncollared dogs living with (an) infected dog(s) in the same household can reach 3.5 times higher odds than those living with negative ones (p < 0.005). The results may assist in enhancing public policies and minimizing inequality in low and middle-income countries that suffer from neglected diseases such as VL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Sayuri Silvestre Matsumoto
- Parasitology and Mycology Center, Adolfo Lutz Institute (IAL), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Khan Rubayet Rahaman
- Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Mathew Novak
- Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - José Eduardo Tolezano
- Parasitology and Mycology Center, Adolfo Lutz Institute (IAL), São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Guevara A, Vicente VA, de Souza Lima BJF, Nery AF, Hagen F, Hahn RC. Chromoblastomycosis-Leprosy Co-Infection in Central West Brazil. Presentation of Three Cases and Literature Review. Mycopathologia 2022; 187:363-374. [PMID: 35764905 PMCID: PMC9325793 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-022-00646-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Chromoblastomycosis and leprosy are chronic diseases with high prevalence in tropical and subtropical regions. Brazil is one of the countries with the highest incidence and prevalence for both diseases, however, reports of co-infections are scarce. The aim of this study was to describe three cases of chromoblastomycosis-leprosy co-infection in patients from Mato Grosso state, Brazil. A review of chromoblastomycosis-leprosy co-infection was performed of English, Portuguese and Spanish publications in LILACS, SciELO, PubMed and Web of Science databases using the descriptors (chromoblastomycosis OR cromoblastomicose OR cromoblastomicosis) AND (leprosy OR hanseníase OR lepra), without time period delimitation. Nineteen cases were included, 16 cases were published in 11 articles, plus the three cases reported in the current study. Most reported coninfection cases came from Brazil. Majority of the patients were male with a mean age of 52.2 years. Farmer was the main occupational activity reported. In 12 patients, the clinical signs and symptoms of leprosy started first. No contacts with patients affected by leprosy, armadillos or history of injuries at the anatomical site of chromoblastomycosis lesions were reported. Five leprosy patients who received steroid treatment for leprosy reactions or neuropathies, were diagnosed with chromoblastomycosis during immunosuppressive therapy. Four cases (21.1%) were reported among the elderly patients. Co-infections in patients with chromoblastomycosis or leprosy are uncommon, but the possibility should always be considered, especially if the patient is undergoing immunosuppressive treatment or is elder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Armando Guevara
- Laboratory of Mycology/Research, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Vânia Aparecida Vicente
- Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Post-Graduation Program, Department of Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Bruna Jacomel F de Souza Lima
- Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Post-Graduation Program, Department of Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Andréia Ferreira Nery
- Júlio Muller University Hospital - Ebserh, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | - Ferry Hagen
- Department of Medical Mycology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Rosane Christine Hahn
- Laboratory of Mycology/Research, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil.
- Júlio Muller University Hospital - Ebserh, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil.
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20
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Lima ML, Abengózar MA, Torres-Santos EC, Borborema SET, Godzien J, López-Gonzálvez Á, Barbas C, Rivas L, Tempone AG. Energy metabolism as a target for cyclobenzaprine: A drug candidate against Visceral Leishmaniasis. Bioorg Chem 2022; 127:106009. [PMID: 35841672 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.106009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniases have a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, ranging from a cutaneous to a progressive and fatal visceral disease. Chemotherapy is nowadays the almost exclusive way to fight the disease but limited by its scarce therapeutic arsenal, on its own compromised by adverse side effects and clinical resistance. Cyclobenzaprine (CBP), an FDA-approved oral muscle relaxant drug has previously demonstrated in vitro and in vivo activity against Leishmania sp., but its targets were not fully unveiled. This study aimed to define the role of energy metabolism as a target for the leishmanicidal mechanisms of CBP. Methodology to assess CBP leishmanicidal mechanism variation of intracellular ATP levels using living Leishmania transfected with a cytoplasmic luciferase. Induction of plasma membrane permeability by assessing depolarization with DiSBAC(2)3 and entrance of the vital dye SYTOX® Green. Mitochondrial depolarization by rhodamine 123 accumulation. Mapping target site within the respiratory chain by oxygen consumption rate. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production using MitoSOX. Morphological changes by transmission electron microscopy. CBP caused on L. infantum promastigotes a decrease of intracellular ATP levels, with irreversible depolarization of plasma membrane, the collapse of the mitochondrial electrochemical potential, mild uncoupling of the respiratory chain, and ROS production, with ensuing intracellular Ca2+ imbalance and DNA fragmentation. Electron microscopy supported autophagic features but not a massive plasma membrane disruption. The severe and irreversible mitochondrial damage induced by CBP endorsed the bioenergetics metabolism as a relevant target within the lethal programme induced by CBP in Leishmania. This, together with the mild-side effects of this oral drug, endorses CBP as an appealing novel candidate as a leishmanicidal drug under a drug repurposing strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Lopes Lima
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria A Abengózar
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Joanna Godzien
- Centre for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángeles López-Gonzálvez
- Centre for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Spain
| | - Coral Barbas
- Centre for Metabolomics and Bioanalysis (CEMBIO), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Luis Rivas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Andre Gustavo Tempone
- Centre for Parasitology and Mycology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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21
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Camicia F, Vaca HR, Guarnaschelli I, Koziol U, Mortensen OV, Fontana ACK. Molecular characterization of the serotonergic transporter from the cestode Echinococcus granulosus: pharmacology and potential role in the nervous system. Parasitol Res 2022; 121:1329-1343. [PMID: 35169884 PMCID: PMC9487190 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07466-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Echinococcus granulosus, the etiological agent of human cystic echinococcosis (formerly known as hydatid disease), represents a serious worldwide public health problem with limited treatment options. The essential role played by the neuromuscular system in parasite survival and the relevance of serotonin (5-HT) in parasite movement and development make the serotonergic system an attractive source of drug targets. In this study, we cloned and sequenced a cDNA coding for the serotonin transporter from E. granulosus (EgSERT). Bioinformatic analyses suggest that EgSERT has twelve transmembrane domains with highly conserved ligand and ionic binding sites but a less conserved allosteric site compared with the human orthologue (HsSERT). Modeling studies also suggest a good degree of conservation of the overall structure compared with HsSERT. Functional and pharmacological studies performed on the cloned EgSERT confirm that this protein is indeed a serotonin transporter. EgSERT is specific for 5-HT and does not transport other neurotransmitters. Typical monoamine transport inhibitors also displayed inhibitory activities towards EgSERT, but with lower affinity than for the human SERT (HsSERT), suggesting a high divergence of the cestode transporter compared with HsSERT. In situ hybridization studies performed in the larval protoscolex stage suggest that EgSERT is located in discrete regions that are compatible with the major ganglia of the serotonergic nervous system. The pharmacological properties, the amino acidic substitutions at important functional regions compared with the HsSERT, and the putative role of EgSERT in the nervous system suggest that it could be an important target for pharmacological intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Camicia
- Laboratorio de Toxinopatología, Centro de Patología Experimental y Aplicada, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Hugo R Vaca
- Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), CONICET, Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ines Guarnaschelli
- Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Uriel Koziol
- Sección Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Ole V Mortensen
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA
| | - Andreia C K Fontana
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19102, USA.
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22
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Dos Reis ES, Ribeiro CJN, Dos Santos AD, da Conceição Araújo D, Bezerra-Santos M, da Silva ER, Santos RS, Paz WS, Ramos RES, Dos Santos PL, Lipscomb MW, de Araújo KCGM, de Moura TR. Magnitude of visceral leishmaniasis and HIV coinfection and association with social determinants of health in the Northeast region of Brazil: a retrospective, spatiotemporal model (2010-2018). Parasitol Res 2022. [PMID: 35142927 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07450-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The Northeast region of Brazil (NRB) includes the states with the highest prevalence of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), as well as those with significant increases in HIV cases. This study aims to analyze the spatiotemporal patterns of VL-HIV coinfection and its association with the social determinants of health (SDH) in the NRB. Time trend analysis and Bayesian spatial statistical inferences, Moran's autocorrelation, and retrospective space-time scanning were performed. Spatial regression modelling was used to build an explanatory model for the occurrence of VL-HIV coinfection within NRB. A total of 1550 cases of VL-HIV coinfection were confirmed. We observed a higher prevalence among males (1232; 83%), individuals aged from 20 to 59 years (850; 54.8%), non-white skin color (1,422; 91.7%), and with low education (550; 35.48%). NRB showed an increasing and significant trend in the detection rate of coinfection (APC, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.4 to 9.4). The states of Maranhão and Piauí comprised the high-risk cluster. The SDH that most correlated with the occurrence of coinfection were poor housing, low income, and low education. VL-HIV is dispersed in the NRB but chiefly affects states with greater social vulnerability. Taken together, these findings reinforce the necessity to implement surveillance strategies that will contribute to the reduction of cases in these populations.
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Abstract
The complexities of dealing with rheumatic diseases in tropical countries are diverse and likely due to limited health care infrastructure, lack of diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, impact of dominant prevailing diseases, and the challenges of differentiating from infectious and non-infectious disease mimics. Several tropical diseases present with musculoskeletal and rheumatic manifestations and often pose a diagnostic dilemma to rheumatologists. The diagnosis is often delayed or the disease is misdiagnosed, leading to poor patient outcomes. Endemic tropical diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy have myriad rheumatic presentations and remain important differentials to consider in patients with rheumatic manifestations. Infection with human immunodeficiency virus is a great masquerade and can mimic manifestations of multiple diseases. The role of viral infections in triggering and perpetuating autoimmunity is well known and chikungunya arthritis is a classic example of the same. This review highlights the rheumatic manifestations of tropical diseases and aims to create awareness among the caregivers. Key Points • It is crucial to be aware and identify infectious diseases presenting with rheumatic manifestations in the tropics. • Presentations akin to classic rheumatic syndromes such as rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and vasculitis are common.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasmi Ranjan Sahoo
- Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Services, Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospitals, Lucknow, 226012, India
| | - Anupam Wakhlu
- Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Services, Apollomedics Super Specialty Hospitals, Lucknow, 226012, India
| | - Vikas Agarwal
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow-226014, India.
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24
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Kamer C, Pretto BJ, Livramento CR, da Silva RC. Brain paracoccidioidomycosis in an immunosuppressed patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. Surg Neurol Int 2022; 12:581. [PMID: 34992898 PMCID: PMC8720419 DOI: 10.25259/sni_1012_2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Brain paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) or neuroparacoccidioidomycosis (NPCM) is a fungal infection of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a dimorphic fungus. The CNS involvement is through bloodstream dissemination. The association between NPCM and systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is rare. However, SLE patients are under risk of opportunistic infections given their immunosuppression status. Case Description: The aim of this case report is to present a 37-year-old female with diagnosis of SLE who presented with progressive and persistent headache in the past 4 months accompanied by the right arm weakness with general and neurologic examination unremarkable. The computerized tomography of the head showed left extra-axial parietooccipital focal hypoattenuation with adjacent bone erosion. The brain magnetic resonance imaging reported left parietooccipital subdural collection associated with focal leptomeningeal thickening with restriction to diffusion and peripheral contrast enhancement. The patient underwent a left craniotomy and dura mater biopsy showed noncaseous granulomatosis with multinucleated giant cells with rounded birefringent structures positive for silver stain, consistent with PCM. Management with itraconazole 200 mg daily was started with a total of 12 months of treatment, with patient presenting resolution of headache and right arm weakness. Conclusion: The diagnosis of NPCM is challenging and a high degree of suspicious should be considered in patients with persistent headache and immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Kamer
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Centro Universitário para o Desenvolvimento do Alto Vale do Itajaí, Rio do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Barbara Janke Pretto
- Department of Rheumatology, Rheumatology and Immunotherapy Center of Alto Vale, Rio do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Carlos Rafael Livramento
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Centro Universitário para o Desenvolvimento do Alto Vale do Itajaí, Rio do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Rafael Carlos da Silva
- Graduate Medical Education, Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center, Athens, Georgia, United States
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25
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Farina JM, García-Martínez CE, Saldarriaga C, Pérez GE, Melo MBD, Wyss F, Sosa-Liprandi A, Ortiz-Lopez HI, Gupta S, López-Santi R, Mendoza I, Baranchuk A. Leishmaniasis and Heart. Arch Cardiol Mex 2022; 92:85-93. [PMID: 34987235 PMCID: PMC8771027 DOI: 10.24875/acm.20000508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
As one of the neglected tropical diseases, leishmaniasis is defined as a parasitic communicable disease that is most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, affecting especially populations living in poverty. It has a profound negative impact on developing economies. It represents a group of heterogeneous syndromes with a wide spectrum of severity ranging from self-resolving cutaneous injuries to disseminated visceral compromise. Visceral leishmaniasis represents its most severe form, can affect almost all organs, and can have fatal consequences, especially in immunosuppressed patients. Cardiac involvement seems to be rare but has not been deeply studied. Consequently, there are no clear recommendations for the screening of cardiac manifestations in these patients. However, cardiovascular complications could be potentially lethal. In addition, there are valuable reports on the potential cardiotoxicity caused by drugs used in the treatment of this condition, so knowledge of its side effects could have important implications. This article is a part of the “Neglected Tropical Diseases and other Infectious Diseases affecting the Heart” project (the NET-Heart Project); its purpose is to review all the information available regarding cardiac implications of this disease and its treatment and to add knowledge to this field of study, focusing on the barriers for diagnosis and treatment, and how to adopt strategies to overcome them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Ma Farina
- Division of Cardiology, Clínica Olivos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Clara Saldarriaga
- Department of Cardiology and Heart Failure Clinic, Cardiovascular Clinic Santa Maria, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Gonzalo E Pérez
- Division of Cardiology, Clínica Olivos, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Fernando Wyss
- Technology and Cardiovascular Service of Guatemala - Cardiosolutions, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | | | | | - Shyla Gupta
- Division of Cardiology, Kingston Health Science Center, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ricardo López-Santi
- Division of Cardiology, Hospital Italiano de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ivan Mendoza
- Department of Cardiology, Tropical Medicine Institute, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Adrian Baranchuk
- Division of Cardiology, Kingston Health Science Center, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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Schechtman RC, Falcão EMM, Carard M, García MSC, Mercado DS, Hay RJ. Sporotrichosis: hyperendemic by zoonotic transmission, with atypical presentations, hypersensitivity reactions and greater severity. An Bras Dermatol 2022; 97:1-13. [PMID: 34893422 PMCID: PMC8799859 DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, an alarming increase in the number of sporotrichosis cases has been reported in southern and southeastern Brazil, especially in the state of Rio de Janeiro, has been considered a long-term hyperendemic condition associated with feline transmission. According to phenotypic classifications, the Sporothrix species recovered from cats were classified as S. brasiliensis in 96.5% of the studied cases. This finding has also been demonstrated in humans, which confirms the zoonotic transmission associated with this predominant species in Brazil. The zoonotic transmission of the fungus and its important virulence in the context of the hyperendemic situation in Rio de Janeiro have changed the approach to the disease, which in its classic form was restricted to certain professional groups and very specific regions in the Brazilian territory, into a public health challenge of scientific interest. Its atypical manifestations and hypersensitivity reactions are increasingly frequent, constituting a new sporotrichosis aspect, which deserves attention from the medical community, as well as from other health professionals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Regina Casz Schechtman
- Instituto de Dermatologia Professor Rubem David Azulay, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | | | - Marciela Carard
- Instituto de Dermatologia Professor Rubem David Azulay, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Maria Salomé Cajas García
- Instituto de Dermatologia Professor Rubem David Azulay, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Diana Stohmann Mercado
- Instituto de Dermatologia Professor Rubem David Azulay, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Roderick James Hay
- International Foundation of Dermatology, University of London, London, UK
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27
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Monteiro LM, Löbenberg R, Barbosa EJ, de Araujo GLB, Sato PK, Kanashiro E, de Araujo Eliodoro RH, Rocha M, de Freitas VLT, Fotaki N, Bou-Chacra NA. Oral administration of buparvaquone nanostructured lipid carrier enables in vivo activity against Leishmania infantum. Eur J Pharm Sci 2021; 169:106097. [PMID: 34910988 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2021.106097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, is prevalent in 98 countries with the occurrence of 1.3 million new cases annually. The conventional therapy for visceral leishmaniasis requires hospitalization due to the severe adverse effects of the drugs, which are administered parenterally. Buparvaquone (BPQ) showed in vitro activity against leishmania parasites; nevertheless, it has failed in vivo tests due to its low aqueous solubility. Though, lipid nanoparticles can overcome this holdback. In this study we tested the hypothesis whether BPQ-NLC shows in vivo activity against L. infantum. Two optimized formulations were prepared (V1: 173.9 ± 1.6 nm, 0.5 mg of BPQ/mL; V2: 232.4 ± 1.6 nm, 1.3 mg of BPQ/mL), both showed increased solubility up to 73.00-fold, and dissolution up to 83.29%, while for the free drug it was only 2.89%. Cytotoxicity test showed their biocompatibility (CC50 >554.4 µM). Besides, the V1 dose of 0.3 mg/kg/day for 10 days reduced the parasite burden in 83.4% ±18.2% (p <0.05) in the liver. BPQ-NLC showed similar leishmanicidal activity compared to miltefosine. Therefore, BPQ-NLC is a promising addition to the limited therapeutic arsenal suitable for leishmaniasis oral administration treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lis Marie Monteiro
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Professor Lineu Prestes Av, 580, Cidade Universitária, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Raimar Löbenberg
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, 8613 - 114St NW, T6G 2H7, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Eduardo José Barbosa
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Professor Lineu Prestes Av, 580, Cidade Universitária, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Gabriel Lima Barros de Araujo
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Professor Lineu Prestes Av, 580, Cidade Universitária, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Paula Keiko Sato
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Immunology (LIM48), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Eneas Carvalho de Aguiar, 470, IMT2, térreo, 05403-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Edite Kanashiro
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Immunology (LIM48), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Eneas Carvalho de Aguiar, 470, IMT2, térreo, 05403-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Seroepidemiology, Cellular, and Molecular Immunology Laboratory - Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo, Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470 - Jardim América, São Paulo, SP, 05403-000, Brazil
| | - Raissa H de Araujo Eliodoro
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Immunology (LIM48), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Eneas Carvalho de Aguiar, 470, IMT2, térreo, 05403-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Mussya Rocha
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Immunology (LIM48), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Eneas Carvalho de Aguiar, 470, IMT2, térreo, 05403-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Vera Lúcia Teixeira de Freitas
- Laboratory of Medical Investigation in Immunology (LIM48), Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Eneas Carvalho de Aguiar, 470, IMT2, térreo, 05403-000, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Nikoletta Fotaki
- Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, BA2 7AY, United Kingdom
| | - Nádia Araci Bou-Chacra
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Professor Lineu Prestes Av, 580, Cidade Universitária, 05508-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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28
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Novaes JR, Daltro LR, Ferreira TA, Machado PRL. Exuberant case of verrucous cutaneous leishmaniasis. An Bras Dermatol 2021; 97:89-92. [PMID: 34839986 PMCID: PMC8799843 DOI: 10.1016/j.abd.2020.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis represents a public health problem that affects 85 countries. It is an endemic disease in Brazil, having an important socioeconomic impact. An exuberant case of cutaneous leishmaniasis is reported herein. A 28-year-old male patient with Down syndrome had had verrucous plaques on the back for over a year, with progressive growth. PCR of a lesion sample was positive for Leishmania braziliensis. The patient's condition was classified as atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis. He was successfully treated with amphotericin B and miltefosine. The treatment remains a challenge, given the toxicity and low cure rate of the currently recommended drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Regis Novaes
- Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil.
| | - Luise Ribeiro Daltro
- Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Thiago Amparo Ferreira
- Hospital Universitário Professor Edgard Santos, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil
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29
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Pérez-Molina JA, Crespillo-Andújar C, Bosch-Nicolau P, Molina I. Trypanocidal treatment of Chagas disease. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 39:458-470. [PMID: 34736749 DOI: 10.1016/j.eimce.2020.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a neglected parasitosis caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This infection is present in most Latin American countries, although, due to migratory movements, it is a growing cause for concern in non-endemic countries. The only two drugs currently available for its treatment-benznidazole and nifurtimox-were marketed 50 years ago. While they are very effective for acute and recent infection, and for the prevention of maternofoetal transmission, their efficacy declines in people who have chronic infection, especially those older than 18 years of age. In the presence of visceral involvement, parasiticidal treatment is of little or no value. The safety profile of both drugs is far from ideal, with frequent adverse events and high rates of drug discontinuation, mainly in adults. So far, new drugs and new strategies have not been shown to improve the results of the current nitroimidazoles, although the results are promising. In this review, we focus on the aspects that allow clinicians to make the best use of currently available drugs. In addition, we discuss new therapeutic options and ongoing research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A Pérez-Molina
- National Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Clara Crespillo-Andújar
- National Referral Centre for Tropical Diseases, Infectious Diseases Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pau Bosch-Nicolau
- Tropical Medicine Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Israel Molina
- Tropical Medicine Unit, Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Instituto René Rachou-FIOCRUZ Minas, Chagas Disease Research Group, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Sarmiento-Rubiano LA, Filott M, Gómez L, Suarez-Marenco M, Sarmiento MC, Becerra JE. Comparative study of the intestinal parasitism profiles between communities across the 5 municipalities of the Barranquilla metropolitan area, Colombia. Osong Public Health Res Perspect 2021; 12:333-341. [PMID: 34719225 PMCID: PMC8561017 DOI: 10.24171/j.phrp.2021.0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the rate of parasitism and intestinal parasitism profiles of children who live in relatively proximal communities across the 5 municipalities of the Barranquilla metropolitan area, Colombia. Methods In total, 986 fecal samples from children aged 1 to 10 were analyzed using a direct method (physiological saline and lugol) and the zinc sulfate flotation technique. A comparative analysis of the parasitism profiles between sampling locations (7 schools and 3 health centers providing growth and development services) was conducted using principal component analysis (PCA). The presence of Taenia solium antibodies was evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method in 269 serum samples from the same group of children. Results The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitism was 57.6% (range, 42.1%–77.6%) across the sampling areas. The prevalence of helminthiasis was between 4.1% and 23.7%, and that of intestinal protozoa was between 38.2% and 73.5%. PCA showed that the parasite profiles of each sampling location shared no common characteristics. A total of 3.0% of the serum samples were positive for T. solium antibodies. Conclusion The intestinal parasitism profiles between relatively proximal sampling locations with similar geographic conditions were vastly different, indicating the need to study each small ecological niche on a localized scale to develop more cost-effective interventions for controlling intestinal parasitism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Margarita Filott
- Caribbean Infectious Diseases and Microbial Resistance Research Group, Metropolitan University, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | - Lucila Gómez
- Caribbean Infectious Diseases and Microbial Resistance Research Group, Metropolitan University, Barranquilla, Colombia
| | | | - María C Sarmiento
- Preventive and Community Medicine of Sinú University, Cartagena, Colombia
| | - Jimmy E Becerra
- Feeding and Human Behavior Research Group, Metropolitan University, Barranquilla, Colombia
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Ribeiro IATA, Sá JLF, Lima MV, Veras STS, Aguiar JCROF, Aires AL, Albuquerque MCPA, da Silva MV, Melo AMMA, Navarro DMAF, Correia MTS. Toxic effect of Croton rudolphianus leaf essential oil against Biomphalaria glabrata, Schistosoma mansoni cercariae and Artemia salina. Acta Trop 2021; 223:106102. [PMID: 34416188 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
This research investigated the effect of the Croton rudolphianus leaf essential oil (EO) on Biomphalaria glabrata embryos (at different development stages) and adults, Schistosoma mansoni cercariae, and Artemia salina (non-target organism). It was possible to identify 31 compounds in the C. rudolphianus EO through GC-MS analysis. The major compounds from this oil were (E)-caryophyllene (17.33%), an unknown compound (16.87%), bicyclogermacrene (7.1%), δ-cadinene (6.62%) and germacrene D (5.38%). After incubation for 24 h, the EO of C. rudolphianus induced the occurrence of non-viable embryos (dead and malformed), with an LC50 value of 126.54, 133.51, 143.53 and 161.95 µg/mL and an LC90 value of 202.61, 216.48, 232.98 and 271.16 µg/mL to blastula, gastrula, trochophore and veliger embryonic stages, respectively. The EO was more effective against B. glabrata adults (LC50 and LC90 = 47.89 and 78.86 µg/mL, respectively), and S. mansoni cercariae (LC50 and LC90 = 14.81 and 22.15 after 120 mins of exposure, respectively) than against B. glabrata embryos. Concerning the micronucleus assay, the mean frequency of apoptosis, binucleation and micronucleus were 45.33 ± 3.51, 19.33 ± 1.53 and 0.67 ± 0.58 per 1000 cells at 25 µg/mL, which is the highest concentration tested. The oil killed A. salina with LC50 and LC90 values (68.33 and 111.5 µg/mL, respectively) higher than those determined for adult snails and S. mansoni cercariae. In conclusion, C. rudolphianus EO had a toxic effect against B. glabrata adults and embryos, and S. mansoni cercariae. Furthermore, this oil showed to be cytotoxic to hemocytes of B. glabrata. Concerning the non-target organism assay, C. rudolphianus EO was less toxic to A. salina then to adult snails and S. mansoni cercariae. Due to this, the EO from C. rudolphianus leaves is a potential alternative for schistosomiasis control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingridd Ayslane T A Ribeiro
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
| | - José Luiz F Sá
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Maíra V Lima
- Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Shyrlane T S Veras
- Departamento de Engenharia Civil e Ambiental, Centro de Tecnologia e Geociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Júlio César R O F Aguiar
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - André L Aires
- Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Mônica C P A Albuquerque
- Departamento de Medicina Tropical, Centro de Ciência da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Márcia Vanusa da Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Ana Maria M A Melo
- Departamento de Biofísica e Radiobiologia, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Daniela Maria A F Navarro
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Maria Tereza S Correia
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
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Agboraw E, Sosu F, Dean L, Siakeh A, Thomson R, Kollie K, Worrall E. Factors influencing mass drug administration adherence and community drug distributor opportunity costs in Liberia: a mixed-methods approach. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:557. [PMID: 34711278 PMCID: PMC8555123 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-05058-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Preventive chemotherapy delivered via mass drug administration (MDA) is essential for the control of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), including lymphatic filariasis (LF), schistosomiasis and onchocerciasis. Successful MDA relies heavily on community drug distributor (CDD) volunteers as the interface between households and the health system. This study sought to document and analyse demand-side (households) and supply-side (health system) factors that affect MDA delivery in Liberia. Methods Working in two purposively selected counties, we conducted a household MDA access and adherence survey; a CDD survey to obtain information on direct and opportunity costs associated with MDA work; an observational survey of CDDs; and key informant surveys (KIS) with community-level health workers. Data from the CDD survey and Liberian minimum wage rates were used to calculate the opportunity cost of CDD participation per MDA round. The observational data were used to calculate the time spent on individual household-level tasks and CDD time costs per house visited. KIS data on the organisation and management of the MDA in the communities, and researcher reflections of open-ended survey responses were thematically analysed to identify key demand- and supply-side challenges. Results More respondents were aware of MDA than NTD in both counties. In Bong, 39% (103/261) of respondents reported taking the MDA tablet in the last round, with “not being informed” as the most important reason for non-adherence. In Maryland, 56% (147/263) reported taking MDA with “being absent” at the time of distribution being important for non-adherence. The mean cost per CDD of participating in the MDA round was −$11.90 (median $5.04, range −$169.62 to $30.00), and the mean time per household visited was 17.14 min which equates to a mean opportunity cost of $0.03 to $0.05 per household visited. Thematic analysis identified challenges, including shortages of and delays in medicine availability; CDD frustration over costs; reporting challenges; and household concerns about drug side effects. Conclusions Improved adherence to MDA and subsequent elimination of NTDs in Liberia would be supported by an improved medicine supply chain, financial compensation for CDDs, improved training, healthcare workforce strengthening, greater community involvement, capacity building, and community awareness. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-021-05058-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Efundem Agboraw
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Street, Liverpool, L3 5 QA, UK.
| | - Fred Sosu
- University of Liberia, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (UL-PIRE), Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Laura Dean
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Street, Liverpool, L3 5 QA, UK
| | - Alice Siakeh
- University of Liberia, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation (UL-PIRE), Capitol Hill, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Rachael Thomson
- Department of Tropical Disease Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Street, Liverpool, L3 5 QA, UK
| | - Karsor Kollie
- Ministry of Health, SKD Boulevard, Monrovia, Liberia
| | - Eve Worrall
- Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Street, Liverpool, L3 5 QA, UK
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Harvey TV, Linardi PM, Carlos RSA, Heukelbach J. Tungiasis in domestic, wild, and synanthropic animals in Brazil. Acta Trop 2021; 222:106068. [PMID: 34331896 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Tungiasis is an ectoparasitic skin disease of humans and warm-blooded animals caused by fleas of the genus Tunga (Jarocki, 1938). Dogs, cats, pigs, and synanthropic rodents are the main animal reservoirs. Of the 14 known species, 12 are found in Latin America and, among these, eight are found in Brazil, including the two zoonotic species Tunga penetrans and Tunga trimamillata. Tunga penetrans predominates among humans and Brazilian pets, where the dog is the most affected species, and its presence is a risk factor associated with the disease in humans. Tunga spp. are widely distributed throughout the national territory, with T. penetrans being the most dispersed and the most frequent in animals from endemic areas, especially in underprivileged communities. Infections in animals, associated with inadequate management, favor the spread and perpetuation of the disease. Intense injuries can result in sequelae and serious clinical conditions, compromising the health, welfare, and productivity of animals, as well as leading to death. Health precariousness, lack of control and neglect in the management of populations of domestic and synanthropic animals, poor hygiene habits of individuals, lack of information from both the population and related professionals, lack of effective treatment, and of perception of tungiasis as a disease are among the main challenges for the control of this parasitosis. As recommended for other zoonotic Neglected Tropical Diseases, strategies based on the concept of One Health can guarantee more effective results in the fight against human and animal tungiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiani Vitor Harvey
- Autonomous Veterinarian, 16 Aberdeen Avenue, Cambridge, MA, Zipcode 02138, United States.
| | - Pedro Marcos Linardi
- UFMG. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Parasitologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Caixa Postal 486, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Campus UFMG, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, CEP 31270-901, Brazil.
| | - Renata Santiago Alberto Carlos
- UESC. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Campus Soane Nazaré de Andrade. Rodovia Jorge Amado Km 16. Bairro Salobrinho. Ilhéus, Bahia, CEP 45662-900, Brazil.
| | - Jorg Heukelbach
- Postgraduate Program in Public Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, CEP 60.430-140, Brazil.
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de Sousa NF, Scotti L, Rodrigues GCS, de Moura ÉP, Costa Barros RPB, Sessions ZL, Muratov EN, Scotti MT. Recent Studies on Neglected Drug Design. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 21:1943-1974. [PMID: 34544342 DOI: 10.2174/1568026621666210920155939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neglected diseases require special attention when looking for new therapeutic alternatives, as these are diseases of extreme complexity and severity that affect populations belonging to lower social classes who lack access to basic rights, such as sanitation. INTRODUCTION Among the alternatives available for obtaining new drugs is Medicinal Chemistry, which is responsible for the discovery, identification, invention, and preparation of prototypes. In this perspective, the present work aims to make a bibliographic review on the recent studies of Medicinal Chemistry applied to neglected diseases. METHODS A literature review was carried out by searching the "Web of Sciences" database, including recent articles published on the Neglected Drug Design. RESULTS In general, it was noticed that the most studied neglected diseases corresponded to Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, with studies on organic synthesis, optimization of structures, and molecular hybrids being the most used strategies. It is also worth mentioning the growing number of computationally developed studies, providing speed and optimization of costs in the procurement process. CONCLUSION The CADD approach and organic synthesis studies, when applied in the area of Medicinal Chemistry, have proven to be important in the research and discovery of drugs for Neglected Diseases, both in terms of planning the experimental methodology used to obtain it and in the selection of compounds with higher activity potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Ferreira de Sousa
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - Luciana Scotti
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Cristina Soares Rodrigues
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - Érika Paiva de Moura
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - Renata Priscila Barros Costa Barros
- Postgraduate Program of Natural and Synthetic Bioactive Products (PgPNSB), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa-PB, Brazil
| | - Zoe L Sessions
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapell Hill, United States
| | - Eugene N Muratov
- Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapell Hill, United States
| | - Marcus Tullius Scotti
- Lauro Wanderley University Hospital (HULW), Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa-PB, Brazil
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Judice WAS, Ferraz LS, Lopes RM, Vianna LDS, Siqueira FDS, Di Iorio JF, Dalzoto LAM, Trujilho MNR, Santos TDR, Machado MFM, Rodrigues T. Cysteine proteases as potential targets for anti-trypanosomatid drug discovery. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 46:116365. [PMID: 34419821 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis are endemic neglected disease in South America and Africa and considered a significant public health problem, mainly in poor communities. The limitations of the current available therapeutic options, including the lack of specificity, relatively high toxicity, and the drug resistance acquiring, drive the constant search for new targets and therapeutic options. Advances in knowledge of parasite biology have revealed essential enzymes involved in the replication, survival, and pathogenicity of Leishmania and Trypanosoma species. In this scenario, cysteine proteases have drawn the attention of researchers and they are being proposed as promising targets for drug discovery of antiprotozoal drugs. In this systematic review, we will provide an update on drug discovery strategies targeting the cysteine proteases as potential targets for chemotherapy against protozoal neglected diseases.
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MANTICA GUGLIELMO, MARTINI MARIANO, RICCARDI NICCOL. The possible impact of SARS-COV-2 on neglected tropical diseases in Europe: the out of spotlights emerging of schistosomiasis. J Prev Med Hyg 2021; 62:E3-E4. [PMID: 34322608 PMCID: PMC8283622 DOI: 10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2021.62.1.1867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- GUGLIELMO MANTICA
- Department of Urology, Policlinico San Martino Hospital, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - MARIANO MARTINI
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Correspondence: Mariano Martini, Department of Health Science, University of Genoa, largo R. Benzi 10 Pad.3, 16132 Genoa, Italy - Tel./Fax: +39 10 353 85 02 - E-mail: -
| | - NICCOLò RICCARDI
- Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Microbiology, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
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Jiang D, Ma T, Hao M, Qian Y, Chen S, Meng Z, Wang L, Zheng C, Qi X, Wang Q, Ding F. Spatiotemporal patterns and spatial risk factors for visceral leishmaniasis from 2007 to 2017 in Western and Central China: A modelling analysis. Sci Total Environ 2021; 764:144275. [PMID: 33385656 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected disease caused by trypanosomatid protozoa in the genus Leishmania, which is transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies. Although this vector-borne disease has been eliminated in several regions of China during the last century, the reported human VL cases have rebounded in Western and Central China in recent decades. However, understanding of the spatial epidemiology of the disease remains vague, as the spatial risk factors driving the spatial heterogeneity of VL. In this study, we analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of annual human VL cases in Western and Central China from 2007 to 2017. Based on the related spatial maps, the boosted regression tree (BRT) model was adopted to explore the relationships between VL and spatial correlates as well as predicting both the existing and potential infection risk zones of VL in Western and Central China. The mined links reveal that elevation, minimum temperature, relative humidity, and annual accumulated precipitation make great contributions to the spatial heterogeneity of VL. The maps show that Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Gansu, western Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, and Sichuan are predicted to fall in the highest infection risk zones of VL. Approximately 61.60 million resident populations lived in the high-risk regions of VL in Western and Central China. Our results provide a better understanding of how spatial risk factors driving VL spread as well as identifying the potential endemic risk region of VL, thereby enhancing the biosurveillance capacity of public health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Tian Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mengmeng Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yushu Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shuai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ze Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Liping Wang
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Beijing 102206, China
| | - Canjun Zheng
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xiao Qi
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC), Beijing 102206, China.
| | - Qian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Fangyu Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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D'Andréa ÉD, Retel JS, Diehl A, Schmieder P, Oschkinat H, Pires JR. NMR structure and dynamics of Q4DY78, a conserved kinetoplasid-specific protein from Trypanosoma cruzi. J Struct Biol 2021; 213:107715. [PMID: 33705979 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2021.107715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The 106-residue protein Q4DY78 (UniProt accession number) from Trypanosoma cruzi is highly conserved in the related kinetoplastid pathogens Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major. Given the essentiality of its orthologue in T. brucei, the high sequence conservation with other trypanosomatid proteins, and the low sequence similarity with mammalian proteins, Q4DY78 is an attractive protein for structural characterization. Here, we solved the structure of Q4DY78 by solution NMR and evaluated its backbone dynamics. Q4DY78 is composed of five α -helices and a small, two-stranded antiparallel β-sheet. The backbone RMSD is 0.22 ± 0.05 Å for the representative ensemble of the 20 lowest-energy structures. Q4DY78 is overall rigid, except for N-terminal residues (V8 to I10), residues at loop 4 (K57 to G65) and residues at the C-terminus (F89 to F112). Q4DY78 has a short motif FPCAP that could potentially mediate interactions with the host cytoskeleton via interaction with EVH1 (Drosophila Enabled (Ena)/Vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) homology 1) domains. Albeit Q4DY78 lacks calcium-binding motifs, its fold resembles that of eukaryotic calcium-binding proteins such as calcitracin, calmodulin, and polcacin Bet V4. We characterized this novel protein with a calcium binding fold without the capacity to bind calcium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éverton Dias D'Andréa
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Bloco E, sala 32, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Joren Sebastian Retel
- Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, FMP, Robert-Rössle-Straβe 10, Berlin 13125, Germany
| | - Anne Diehl
- Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, FMP, Robert-Rössle-Straβe 10, Berlin 13125, Germany
| | - Peter Schmieder
- Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, FMP, Robert-Rössle-Straβe 10, Berlin 13125, Germany
| | - Hartmut Oschkinat
- Leibniz-Institut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, FMP, Robert-Rössle-Straβe 10, Berlin 13125, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Takustrasse 3, Berlin 14195, Germany
| | - José Ricardo Pires
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Av. Carlos Chagas Filho, 373 - Bloco E, sala 32, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil.
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França LP, Amaral ACF, Ramos ADS, Ferreira JLP, Maria ACB, Oliveira KMT, Araujo ES, Branches ADS, Silva JN, Silva NG, Barros GDA, Chaves FCM, Tadei WP, Silva JRDA. Piper capitarianum essential oil: a promising insecticidal agent for the management of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021; 28:9760-9776. [PMID: 33159226 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11148-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mosquitoes are responsible for serious public health problems worldwide, and as such, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are important vectors in the transmission of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika in Brazil and other countries of the world. Due to growing resistance to chemical insecticides among populations of vectors, environmentally friendly strategies for vector management are receiving ever more attention. Essential oils (EOs) extracted from plants have activities against insects with multiple mechanisms of action. These mechanisms hinder the development of resistance, and have the advantages of being less toxicity and biodegradable. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of the EOs obtained from Piper capitarianum Yunck, as well as evaluating their insecticidal potential against Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus, and their toxicity in relation to Artemia salina. The yields of the EOs extracted from the leaves, stems, and inflorescences of P. capitarianum were 1.2%, 0.9%, and 0.6%, respectively, and their main constituents were trans-caryophyllene (20.0%), α-humulene (10.2%), β-myrcene (10.5%), α-selinene (7.2%), and linalool (6.0%). The EO from the inflorescences was the most active against A. aegypti and A. albopictus, and exhibited the respective larvicidal (LC50 = 87.6 μg/mL and 76.1 μg/mL) and adulticide activities (LC50 = 126.2 μg/mL and 124.5 μg/mL). This EO was also the most active in the inhibition of AChE, since it presented an IC50 value of 14.2 μg/mL. Its larvicidal effect was observed under optical and scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, non-toxic effects against A. salina were observed. Docking modeling of trans-caryophyllene and α-humulene on sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2) suggests that both molecules have affinity with the active site of the enzyme, which indicates a possible mechanism of action. Therefore, the essential oil of P. capitarianum may be used in the development of new insecticide targets for the control of A. aegypti and A. albopictus in the Amazonian environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro P França
- Chromatography Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Ana Claudia F Amaral
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plants and Derivatives, Department of Chemistry of Natural Products, Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Aline de S Ramos
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plants and Derivatives, Department of Chemistry of Natural Products, Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - José Luiz P Ferreira
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plants and Derivatives, Department of Chemistry of Natural Products, Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ana Clara B Maria
- Laboratory of Medicinal Plants and Derivatives, Department of Chemistry of Natural Products, Farmanguinhos, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Kelson Mota T Oliveira
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Chemistry Department, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Earle S Araujo
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Chemistry Department, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Adjane Dalvana S Branches
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Chemistry Department, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Jonathas N Silva
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Chemistry Department, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Noam G Silva
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Chemistry Department, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | - Gabriel de A Barros
- Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Chemistry, Chemistry Department, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brazil
| | | | - Wanderli P Tadei
- Laboratory of Malaria and Dengue, Institute for Research in the Amazon, Manaus, AM, Brazil
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Kawakami MYM, Zamora LO, Araújo RS, Fernandes CP, Ricotta TQN, de Oliveira LG, Queiroz-Junior CM, Fernandes AP, da Conceição EC, Ferreira LAM, Barros ALB, Aguiar MG, Oliveira AEMFM. Efficacy of nanoemulsion with Pterodon emarginatus Vogel oleoresin for topical treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 134:111109. [PMID: 33341050 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.111109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical skin disease caused by the protozoan genus Leishmania. The treatment is restricted to a handful number of drugs that exhibit toxic effects, limited efficacy, and drug resistance. Additionally, developing an effective topical treatment is still an enormous unmet medical challenge. Natural oils, e.g. the oleoresin from P. emarginatus fruits (SO), contain various bioactive molecules, especially terpenoid compounds such as diterpenes and sesquiterpenes. However, its use in topical formulations can be impaired due to the natural barrier of the skin for low water solubility compounds. Nanoemulsions (NE) are drug delivery systems able to increase penetration of lipophilic compounds throughout the skin, improving their topical effect. In this context, we propose the use of SO-containing NE (SO-NE) for CL treatment. The SO-NE was produced by a low energy method and presented suitable physicochemical characteristic: average diameter and polydispersity index lower than 180 nm and 0.2, respectively. Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis-infected BALB/c mice were given topical doses of SO or SO-NE. The topical use of a combination of SO-NE and intraperitoneal meglumine antimoniate reduced lesion size by 41 % and tissue regeneration was proven by histopathological analyses. In addition, a reduction in the parasitic load and decreased in the level of IFN-γ in the lesion may be associated, as well as a lower level of the cytokine IL-10 may be associated with a less intense inflammatory process. The present study suggests that SO-NE in combination meglumine antimoniate represents a promising alternative for the topical treatment of CL caused by L. (L.) amazonensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monique Y M Kawakami
- Department of Biological Sciences and Health, Amapá Federal University, Macapá, Amapá, Brazil
| | - Lisset Ortiz Zamora
- Department of Biological Sciences and Health, Amapá Federal University, Macapá, Amapá, Brazil
| | - Raquel S Araújo
- Department of Biological Sciences and Health, Amapá Federal University, Macapá, Amapá, Brazil
| | - Caio P Fernandes
- Department of Biological Sciences and Health, Amapá Federal University, Macapá, Amapá, Brazil
| | - Tiago Q N Ricotta
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Leandro G de Oliveira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Celso M Queiroz-Junior
- Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Fernandes
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Edemilson C da Conceição
- Laboratory of Research, Development and Innovation of Bioproducts, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Lucas A M Ferreira
- Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - André L B Barros
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analyses, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Marta G Aguiar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Anna E M F M Oliveira
- Department of Biological Sciences and Health, Amapá Federal University, Macapá, Amapá, Brazil.
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Harvey TV, Dos Santos Freire Z, Dos Santos KC, de Jesus AV, Guedes PEB, da Paixão Sevá A, de Almeida Borges F, Carlos RSA. Clinical and macroscopic morphological features of canine tungiasis. Parasitol Res 2021; 120:807-18. [PMID: 33474585 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-07013-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Tungiasis is a public health problem in endemic resource-poor communities, where dogs are important reservoirs of Tunga spp., contributing significantly to the process of transmission of this zoonosis. In order to optimize the diagnosis of canine tungiasis, macroscopic morphological characteristics and clinical signs of the lesions were investigated, based on the inspection of 40 dogs infested by T. penetrans from an endemic rural community in northeastern Brazil. Of the 1546 lesions found in these dogs, including all stages of development of the parasite, 89.1% (1378) were located on the paw pads. Dogs aged up to 5 years had the greatest number of lesions. Dark pigmentation and hyperkeratosis of the paw pads made it difficult to identify the lesions. Among all the clinical signs observed were hyperemia (38; 95%), pain (32; 80%), fissure (11; 27.5%), onychogryphosis (29; 72.5%), cluster of lesions (26; 65%), hyperkeratosis (25; 62.5%), lameness (15; 37.5%), and fissure (11; 27.5%). Ectopic lesions were found especially in the nipples (64; 4.1%) and abdomen (51; 3.3%). The maximum diameter of the stage III neosomes was 6 mm. Dogs with a higher number of lesions had a higher degree of hyperkeratosis. Age over 1 year was associated with a higher rate of dispersion of the parasite in the environment (p = 0.04). The identification of the initial stages of tungiasis can guarantee a more effective control of the disease in dogs, which will mainly depend on the treatment of adult animals and the application of continuous preventive actions based on One Health in these communities.
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Costa LM, Muálem de Moraes Alves M, Brito LM, de Araujo Abi-Chacra E, Barbosa-Filho JM, Chavez Gutierrez SJ, Barreto HM, Aécio de Amorim Carvalho F. In vitro antileishmanial and immunomodulatory activities of the synthetic analogue riparin E. Chem Biol Interact 2021; 336:109389. [PMID: 33484715 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2021.109389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Leishmaniases are infectious diseases caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania, that may have different clinical manifestations. First line drugs used in the treatment of leishmaniosis are high costly, and are very aggressive requiring medical monitoring. Thus new therapeutic alternatives are needed and, in this context, natural products have been considered as a source of new antileishmania agents. Riparins are alkamides found in the unripe fruits of Aniba riparia. Several biological activities are described for this group of compounds, such as antimicrobial and antiparasitic potential. The objective of this work was to evaluate the anti-leishmania activity riparin E (Rip-E) in vitro, against promastigotes and internalized amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis. Rip-E was able to inhibit promastigote cell growth (IC50 4.7 μg/ml) and to reduce the percentage of macrophages infected with amastigotes, reducing its infectivity (survival index) (IC50 1.3 μg/ml). The cytotoxicity against BALB/c murine macrophages was also assessed (CC50 50.6 μg/ml) and the selectivity index was 38.9. Rip-E also demonstrated immunomodulatory activity, evidenced by the increase of the phagocytic capacity and lysosomal activity. However, Rip-E did not affect directly the production of nitric oxide. These results suggest that Rip-E has antileishmania potential, by both its direct inhibitory effect and its ability to activate macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Muratori Costa
- Laboratory for Research in Microbiology, Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | | | - Lucas Moreira Brito
- Medicinal Plants Research Center, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Erika de Araujo Abi-Chacra
- Laboratory for Research in Microbiology, Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - José Maria Barbosa-Filho
- Pharmaceutical Technology Laboratory, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Stanley Juan Chavez Gutierrez
- Laboratory Chemistry of Bioactive Natural and Synthetic Products, Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Humberto Medeiros Barreto
- Laboratory for Research in Microbiology, Department of Parasitology and Microbiology, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, PI, Brazil.
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Azhar A, Connell HE, Haas C, Surla J, Reed D, Kamboj S, Love GL, Bennani Y. Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Louisiana - one-year follow-up: A case report. World J Clin Infect Dis 2021; 11:19-26. [DOI: 10.5495/wjcid.v11.i1.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reports of leishmaniasis are scarce in North America. It is considered to be one of the neglected tropical diseases. It is seen in immigrants from endemic areas to United States. Treatments are not readily available in the United States. Untreated or inadequately treated cutaneous leishmaniasis not only causes localized disfigurement but can advance to more permanent and devastating mucosal disfigurement and perforation, if caused by a species that can also cause mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.
CASE SUMMARY A 42-year-old human immunodeficiency virus negative male immigrant from Honduras presented to the emergency department of our facility in Louisiana with a 2-mo history of a left lower extremity ulcer. It started as a painless blister that progressed in size and developed into other smaller lesions tracking up the thigh and became tender and erythematous. Clinically looked nontoxic and healthy. He was afebrile. Blood tests, except inflammatory markers, were within normal limits. The cellulitis of the leg was treated with 6 d of vancomycin that also relieved the pain. Skin biopsy was obtained, and histopathology was suspicious for leishmania. Polymerase chain reaction/deoxyribonucleic acid sequencing done by centers for disease control and prevention confirmed the diagnosis as Leishmania panamensis. There was no involvement of naso-oropharyngeal mucosa, confirmed by otolaryngology. The patient was treated with miltefosine for 28 d. Clinic follow-up after approximately 11 mo revealed a healed skin ulcer.
CONCLUSION Cutaneous leishmaniasis should be in the differential diagnosis of skin ulcers of travelers from endemic areas. Awareness regarding diagnosis and treatment of leishmaniasis needs to be enhanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashaur Azhar
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
| | - Hillary E Connell
- Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
| | - Christopher Haas
- Department of Dermatology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
| | - Jelena Surla
- Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
| | - Devin Reed
- Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
| | - Sanjay Kamboj
- Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
| | - Gordon L Love
- Jack Perry Strong Professor and Chair, Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
| | - Yussef Bennani
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
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Abstract
Efforts to produce vaccines against SARS and MERS were prematurely halted since their scope was perceived to be geographically restricted and they were subsequently categorized as neglected diseases. However, when a similar virus spread globally triggering the COVID-19 pandemic, we were harshly reminded that several other neglected diseases might also be waiting for the perfect opportunity to become mainstream. As climate change drives urbanization, natural selection of pathogens and their intermediate vectors and reservoirs, the risk of neglected diseases emerging within a larger susceptible pool becomes an even greater threat. Availability of a vaccine for COVID-19 is widely considered the only way to end this pandemic. Similarly, vaccines are also seen as the best tools available to control the spread of neglected (sometimes referred to as emerging or re-emerging) diseases, until the water, hygiene and sanitation infrastructure is improved in areas of their prevalence. Vaccine production is usually cost and labour intensive and thus minimal funding is directed towards controlling and eliminating neglected diseases (NDs). A customised but sustainable approach is needed to develop and deploy vaccines against NDs. While safety, efficacy and public trust are the three main success pillars for most vaccines, affordability is vital when formulating vaccines for neglected diseases.
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Abu-Darwish MS, Cabral C, Ali Z, Wang M, Khan SI, Jacob MR, Jain SK, Tekwani BL, Zulfiqar F, Khan IA, Taifour H, Salgueiro L, Efferth T. Salvia ceratophylla L. from South of Jordan: new insights on chemical composition and biological activities. Nat Prod Bioprospect 2020; 10:307-316. [PMID: 32852722 PMCID: PMC7520468 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-020-00259-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
In Jordan, Salvia ceratophylla L. is traditionally used in the treatment of cancer, microbial infections, and urinary disorders. This study aimed: (1) to chemically characterize S. ceratophylla essential oil (EO) from South Jordan, by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS); and (2) to evaluate in vitro the cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and antiprotozoal activities of the EO, it's predominant components, and the hexane (A), ethyl acetate (B), methanol (C) and crude-methanol extracts (D). The analysis revealed that the EO has 71 compounds, with linalool (54.8%) as main constituent. Only the hexane extract (A) showed some cytotoxic activity against SK-MEL, KB, BT-549, SK-OV-3, LLC-PK1 and VERO cells lines with IC50 between 60 and > 100 µg/mL. The EO inhibited NO production (IC50 90 µg/mL) and NF-κB activity (IC50 38 µg/mL). The extracts A, B, and D inhibited NO production and NF- κB activity with IC50 between 32 and 150 µg/mL. Linalool considerably inhibited NO production (IC50 18 µg/mL). The extracts tested did not exhibit antileishmanial activity. Regarding antitrypanosomal activity, the EO exhibited significant results with IC50 2.65 µg/mL. In conclusion, Jordan S. ceratophylla EO represents a rich source of linalool and bears a promising therapeutic potential for further antitrypanosomal drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Sanad Abu-Darwish
- Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, Al-Balqa Applied University, Al-Salt, 19117, Jordan
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA
| | - Célia Cabral
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Zulfigar Ali
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA
| | - Mei Wang
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA
| | - Shabana I Khan
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA
| | - Melissa R Jacob
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA
| | - Surendra K Jain
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA
| | - Babu L Tekwani
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA
| | - Fazila Zulfiqar
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA
| | - Ikhlas A Khan
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS, 38677, USA
| | - Hatem Taifour
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, 219 Crew Building, King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK
| | - Lígia Salgueiro
- CIEPQPF/Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Health Sciences Campus, Azinhaga de S. Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biocmedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Staudinger Weg 5, 55128, Mainz, Germany
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES To provide a spatial risk assessment for the neglected disease strongyloidiasis in the United States by prioritizing areas with high probability of Strongyloides stercoralis presence and to offer recommendations for targeted screening and surveillance. METHODS The risk assessment was based on a species distribution model with parasite occurrence data and ecologically important environmental variables as input and local habitat suitability for the species as output. The model used a maximum entropy algorithm and occurrence records and environmental data from public sources. This ecological risk assessment was coupled to socioeconomic factors using multi-criteria analysis. RESULTS The model predicts suitable habitat for the parasite in ten states beyond the southeastern United States where it has been recorded including states in the south, east and northeast, and west coasts. CONCLUSIONS We recommend strongyloidiasis should be reportable in 16 states at high risk and uniform, near universal solid organ transplant screening should be implemented alongside approaches to heighten clinical suspicion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael Singer
- Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, University of Texas at Austin, PO Box Y, Austin, TX, 78713, United States.
| | - Sahotra Sarkar
- Departments of Integrative Biology, Philosophy, University of Texas at Austin, 2210 Speedway, Austin, TX, 78712, United States
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Neves Pinto AYD, Valente VDC, Valente SADS, Motta TAR, Ventura AMRDS. Clinical, Cardiological and Serologic Follow-Up of Chagas Disease in Children and Adolescents from the Amazon Region, Brazil: Longitudinal Study. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020; 5:E139. [PMID: 32878335 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed5030139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outbreaks of Chagas disease (CD) by foodborne transmission is a problem related to deforestation, exposing people to triatomines infected by T. cruzi, in the Amazon region. Once involving long-time follow-up, the treatment efficacy of the CD during its acute phase is still unknown. The authors aim to describe the clinical and epidemiologic profile of children and adolescents with CD, as well as treatment and cardiac involvement during the follow-up. Methods: A descriptive cohort study was conducted from 1998 to 2013 among children and adolescents up to 18 years-old with confirmed diagnosis of CD. All participants met the criteria of CD in the acute phase. Results: A total of 126 outpatients were included and received treatment and follow-up examinations during a medium period of 10.9 years/person. Most of them (68.3%) had their diagnosis established during oral transmission outbreaks. The diagnostic method with the most positive results rate (80.9%) was the IgM class anti-T. cruzi antibody test as an acute phase marker, followed by the thick blood smears (60.8%). Acute myopericarditis was demonstrated in 18.2% of the patients, most of them with favorable evolution, though 2.4% (3/126) persisted with cardiac injury observed at the end point of the follow-up. Conclusions: Antibodies against T. cruzi persisted in 54.8% of sera from the patients without prognostic correlation with cardiac involvement. Precocious treatment can decrease potential cardiac complications and assure good treatment response, especially for inhabitants living in areas with difficult accessibility.
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Mothe J, Vacaflor LE, Castro-Arroyave DM, Cuervo LG, Gore Saravia N. Exploring social innovation in health in Central America and the Caribbean. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2020; 44:e77. [PMID: 32774348 PMCID: PMC7406126 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2020.77] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Universal health coverage is a public health priority in the Americas. Social innovation in health offers novel solutions to unmet needs, by enabling health care delivery to be more inclusive, affordable, and effective. In 2017, an international collaborative consortium launched an open call for solutions that sought to identify social innovations in health in Central America and the Caribbean. The focus was set on how these solutions can strengthen health care delivery, with emphasis on reducing the impact of neglected transmissible diseases. A crowdsourcing strategy was implemented to identify social innovations in health. These were evaluated by an external panel of experts and practitioners and civil society representing the health and social innovation sectors, based on the appropriateness, innovativeness, and affordability of the solution. The three top-scoring solutions were analyzed through case studies including site visits by a team of investigators. Two key findings emerged from the response to the call: 1) innovative solutions were based on the knowledge and experience of individuals and communities facing adverse situations; 2) this knowledge was shared through health promotion and education, leading to empowerment of the communities. The principal challenges addressed by the solutions were the limited access to quality health care services and failed traditional strategies for vector control. The solutions identified demonstrated how social innovation can strengthen health systems by delivering novel solutions to health needs and articulating communities to enable them to work hand-in-hand with the health system toward universal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josselyn Mothe
- Pan American Health Organization Washington, DC United States of America Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Luis E Vacaflor
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) and Universidad Icesi Cali Colombia Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) and Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | - Diana M Castro-Arroyave
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) and Universidad Icesi Cali Colombia Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) and Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
| | - Luis Gabriel Cuervo
- Pan American Health Organization Washington, DC United States of America Pan American Health Organization, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Nancy Gore Saravia
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) and Universidad Icesi Cali Colombia Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Médicas (CIDEIM) and Universidad Icesi, Cali, Colombia
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Ruiz J, Gomes C. In silico analysis of Pap31 from Bartonella bacilliformis and other Bartonella spp. Infect Genet Evol 2020; 84:104482. [PMID: 32738366 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Pap31 is an outer membrane protein of Bartonella bacilliformis which is considered to be a potential antigenic candidate for the development of diagnostic tools. The present study aimed to compare Pap31 from B. bacilliformis with that of other Bartonella spp. The results showed the presence of at least 5 different B. bacilliformis Pap31 alleles, with the strain Ver097 being the most divergent (89.7% of identity with the reference strain KC583). The most significant finding was the presence of a variable number (1 to 3) of 6 amino acid tandem repeats (GTEGGG) in the different B. bacilliformis Pap31 alleles, with no similar structure in other established Bartonella spp., except for Bartonella ancashensis, another Bartonella spp. isolated from chronic cases of Carrion's disease. In both B. bacilliformis and B. ancashensis this repetitive region was coincident with the most predicted immunogenic region of the protein. In other microorganisms, the presence of amino acid tandem repeats has been related to the development of poorly functional antibodies. The findings of this study also suggest a utility of Pap31 amino acid tandem repeats as potential contributors to the immune evasion of Carrion's disease-related Bartonella spp. and the establishment of asymptomatic B. bacilliformis / B. ancashensis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joaquim Ruiz
- Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular y Genómica Bacteriana, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru.
| | - Cláudia Gomes
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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López-López E, Barrientos-Salcedo C, Prieto-Martínez FD, Medina-Franco JL. In silico tools to study molecular targets of neglected diseases: inhibition of TcSir2rp3, an epigenetic enzyme of Trypanosoma cruzi. Adv Protein Chem Struct Biol 2020; 122:203-229. [PMID: 32951812 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2020.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
There is a growing interest to study and address neglected tropical diseases (NTD). To this end, in silico methods can serve as the bridge that connects academy and industry, encouraging the development of future treatments against these diseases. This chapter discusses current challenges in the development of new therapies, available computational methods and successful cases in computer-aided design with particular focus on human trypanosomiasis. Novel targets are also discussed. As a case study, we identify amentoflavone as a potential inhibitor of TcSir2rp3 (sirtuine) from Trypanosoma cruzi (20.03 μM) with a workflow that integrates chemoinformatic approaches, molecular modeling, and theoretical affinity calculations, as well as in vitro assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar López-López
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico; Department of Pharmacology, Center of Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (CINVESTAV), Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | - Fernando D Prieto-Martínez
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - José L Medina-Franco
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Chemistry, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
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