Halting Schistosoma haematobium - Associated Bladder Cancer

Background: At present schistosomiasis is endemic in 78 countries, affecting more than 260 million people. Schistosomiasis haematobia alone affects more than 112 millions. Evidence Acquisition: We performed a computerized search of in PubMed database with keywords: Bladder Cancer Cost and Schistosomiasis Mass Treatment. Results: Bladder cancer is an important sequelae of this infection. In low-resource countries, where this disease is endemic, individuals inflicted with bladder cancer have very limited access to treatment and death is most probably certain. Conclusions: Mass treatment with praziquantel is an easy, safe, and inexpensive treatment that could save the lives of thousands and reduce the morbidity of millions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Commentary: Human Liver Flukes

Free PMC Article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5936791/pdf/fpubh-06-00122.pdfA commentary on: Human Liver Flukes by Harrington D, Lamberton P, McGregor A. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol (2017) 2:680–9. doi: 10.1016/S2468-1253(17)30111-5We read with interest the paper by Harrington et al. on “human liver flukes,” recently published in the Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology. They report that the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica in the inner Porto area of Portugal is 3.2%. These authors also state that this is a notably high prevalence. Fascioliasis, as a neglected tropical disease, commonly affects poor people from developing countries and occurs sporadically in Europe. In 1996, Dias et al. reported a case of chronic fascioliasis in a patient with a 6-year history of intermittent biliary colic after having ingested uncooked wild watercress. Our group has performed a search in the database of Centro Hospitalar de S. João (CHSJ), from 1997 to 2017. CHSJ is the biggest hospital in the North of Portugal. This hospital is located in the city of Porto and serves a population of 1,700,000 inhabitants distributed by an approximate area of 2,040 km2. The results we have obtained diverge from the figures reported by Harrington et al.: during the last 20 years only four cases of fascioliasis have been recorded: one case in 1998, one case in 2003, and two cases in 2014.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Parasites in Forensic Science: a historic perspective

Parasites show a great potential to Forensic Science. Forensic Science is the application of any science and methodology to the legal system. The forensic scientist collects and analyses the physical evidence and produce a report of the results to the court. A parasite is an organism that lives at the expense of another and they exist in any ecosystem. Parasites are the cause of many important diseases. The forensic scientists can use the parasites to identify a crime scene, to determine the murder weapon or simply identify an individual. The applications for parasites in the Forensic Science can be many and more studies should be made in Forensic Parasitology. The most important parasites in Forensic Science are helminths specifically schistosomes. Through history there are many cases where schistosomes were described in autopsies and it was related to the cause of death. Here we review the applications of parasites in Forensic Science and its importance to the forensic scientist.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Frequency of fish micronuclei to diagnose aquatic environmental conditions from Brazilian megacities: a case study of Iguaçu river, Southern Brazil

More sensitive methodologies for detecting alterations in organisms due to the actionof pollutants have been largely used. Among them, studies of genotoxicity with analyses of genomic, such as the frequencyof micronuclei, damaging have been very useful. The present research aimed on using the frequency of micronuclei (MN) fordiagnosing and predicting the environmental conditions from upper Iguaçu river with influences from Southern Brazil megacity(Curitiba, PR). Peripheral blood smear specimens of the native Rhamdia quelen from 10 sites were analyzed and it was computedtheir frequency of MN cells. The results were compared with a control group with the (zero MNs) in the absence of any alteredcircumstances. One-way ANOVA and Tukey test (p < 5%, in both tests) was computed in order to verify the statistical robustnessof the variation observed. Three of the 10 evaluated localities showed a high average number of MN cells, as well as, a highfrequency of MN cells. Tukey test (p <5%), revealed the existence of statistically significant differences in 18 apart 55 possiblepairwise comparisons. The results suggest that the species is undergone to genotoxic impact with a large variation in terms ofintensity of the impact depending upon the inhabiting site. Considering that drastic changes in genetic material reduces the bioticevolutionary potential the results obtained herein suggest that Rhamdia quelen requires differential management programs inorder to preserve the species and their ecosystems.(Frequência de micronúcleos em peixes para diagnosticar as condições ambientais aquáticas de megacidades brasileiras:um caso de estudo do rio Iguaçu, sul do Brasil). Metodologias mais sensíveis para detectar alterações nos organismosdevido à ação de poluentes têm sido amplamente utilizadas. Entre elas, os estudos de genotoxicidade com análises de danosgenômicos, tal como a frequência de micronúcleos, têm sido muito eficazes. O presente trabalho objetivou através do uso nafrequência de micronúcleos (MN), diagnosticar e prever as condições ambientais do rio Iguaçu superior, com influências nosul do Brasil na megacidade (Curitiba, PR). Esfregaços de sangue periférico de espécimes do nativo jundiá (Rhamdia quelen)de 10 localidades, foram analisados e quantificadas as células MN. Os resultados foram comparados com um grupo controle(zero MNs) na ausência de quaisquer circunstâncias alteradas. ANOVA one-way e teste de Tukey (p <5%, em ambos os testes)foram calculados de forma a verificar a robustez estatística da variação observada. Três das 10 localidades avaliadas mostraramum elevado número médio de células MN, assim como, uma alta frequência de células MN. O Teste de Tukey (p <5%) reveloua existência de 18 diferenças estatisticamente significativa de 55 possíveis comparações pareadas. Os resultados sugerem queesta espécie está sendo submetida a um impacto genotóxico com uma grande variação de intensidade, dependendo do localhabitado. Considerando-se que as mudanças drásticas no material genético reduz o potencial evolutivo biótico, os resultadosobtidos sugerem que o jundiá requer programas de gestões diferenciais, a fim de preservar a espécie e os seus ecossistemas

Effects of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in human gastric epithelial cells in vitro

Manufacturing or using nanomaterials may result in exposure of workers to nanoparticles. Potential routes of exposure include skin, lung and gastrointestinal tract. The lack of health-based standards for nanomaterials combined with their increasing use in many different workplaces and products emphasize the need for a reliable temporary risk assessment tool. Therefore, the aim of this work was to explore the effects of different doses of titanium dioxide nanoparticles on human gastric epithelial cells in vitro. We analyzed proliferation by MTT assay, apoptosis by Tunel, migration by injury assay, oxidative stress by determining GSH/GSSG ratio and DNA damage by Comet assay on nanoparticle-treated AGS human gastric epithelial cell line in comparison to controls. We show and discuss the tumor-like phenotypes of nanoparticles-exposed AGS cells in vitro, as increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis. Our results demonstrate for the first time that nanoparticles induce tumor-like phenotypes in human gastric epithelial cells

POLÍTICAS PÚBLICAS DE MEDICAMENTOS E A RELAÇÃO DE MEDICAMENTOS ESSENCIAIS

Através da edição da Norma Operacional de Assistência à Saúde realizada em 2001 e da publicação do Pacto pela Saúde realizado em 2006 o processo de acesso à saúde, ganhou maior ênfase no quesito de inovações e melhorias do sistema de saúde. A assistência farmacêutica sobreveio como parte fundamental nos serviços e programas de saúde. Neste sentido, o objetivo do presente estudo foi de expor as principais políticas públicas acerca da temática de medicamentos essenciais. Para tanto, foi realizada uma revisão integrativa de literatura, tendo como base de dados o Ministério da Saúde, as Resoluções da Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, artigos científicos e as publicações da Relação Nacional de Medicamentos (RENAME).  No ano de 1998 através da portaria nº 3.916, de 30 de outubro 1998, apresenta-se a população a terminologia de Políticas públicas e, como resposta às diretrizes resultantes desta política, no presente artigo teremos ênfase na RENAME, criada através da  portaria nº 3.047, de 28 de novembro de 2019, a qual atende aos princípios básicos e fundamentais do Sistema Único de Saúde: universalidade, equidade e a integralidade, para atender aos tratamentos das diversas doenças e agravos que acometem a população brasileira. Sendo assim, conclui-se que não se trata apenas de políticas públicas, e sim de manter o direito do cidadão estabelecidos pela Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil, para que o paciente consiga adquirir a medicação adequada e na quantidade necessária, permitindo aos profissionais alcançar mais aproveitamento no gerenciamento do ciclo da assistência farmacêutica.

Q Fever Endocarditis in Romania: The First Cases Confirmed by Direct Sequencing

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious, life-threatening disease with highly variable clinical signs, making its diagnostic a real challenge. A diagnosis is readily made if blood cultures are positive, but in 2.5 to 31% of all infective endocarditis cases, routine blood cultures are negative. In such situations, alternative diagnostic approaches are necessary. Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella spp. are the etiological agents of blood culture-negative endocarditis (BCNE) most frequently identified by serology. The purpose of this study is to investigate the usefulness of molecular assays, as complementary methods to the conventional serologic methods for the rapid confirmatory diagnostic of Q fever endocarditis in patients with BCNE. Currently, detection of C. burnetii by culture or an antiphase I IgG antibody titers >800 represents a major Duke criterion for defining IE, while a titers of >800 for IgG antibodies to either B. henselae or B. quintana is used for the diagnosis of endocarditis due to Bartonella spp. We used indirect immunofluorescence assays for the detection of IgG titers for C. burnetii, B. henselae and B. quintana in 57 serum samples from patients with clinical suspicion of IE. Thirty three samples originated from BCNE patients, whereas 24 were tested before obtaining the blood cultures results, which finally were positive. The results of serologic testing showed that nine out of 33 BCNE cases exhibited antiphase I C. burnetii IgG antibody titer >800, whereas none has IgG for B. henselae or B. quintana. Subsequently, we used nested-PCR assay for the amplification of C. burnetii DNA in the nine positive serum samples, and we obtained positive PCR results for all analyzed cases. Afterwards we used the DNA sequencing of amplicons for the repetitive element associated to htpAB gene to confirm the results of nested-PCR. The results of sequencing allowed us to confirm that C. burnetii is the causative microorganism responsible for BCNE. In conclusion, the nested PCR amplification followed by direct sequencing is a reliable and accurate method when applied to serum samples, and it may be used as an additional test to the serological methods for the confirmatory diagnosis of BCNE cases determined by C. burnetii

Distribution of hepatitis B virus subgenotype F2a in São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Background\ud HBV genotype F is primarily found in indigenous populations from South America and is classified in four subgenotypes (F1 to F4). Subgenotype F2a is the most common in Brazil among genotype F cases. The aim of this study was to characterize HBV genotype F2a circulating in 16 patients from São Paulo, Brazil. Samples were collected between 2006 and 2012 and sent to Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein. A fragment of 1306 bp partially comprising HBsAg and DNA polymerase coding regions was amplified and sequenced. Viral sequences were genotyped by phylogenetic analysis using reference sequences from GenBank (n=198), including 80 classified as subgenotype F2a. Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation implemented in BEAST v.1.5.4 was applied to obtain the best possible estimates using the model of nucleotide substitutions GTR+G+I.\ud \ud \ud \ud Findings\ud It were identified three groups of sequences of subgenotype F2a: 1) 10 sequences from São Paulo state; 2) 3 sequences from Rio de Janeiro and one from São Paulo states; 3) 8 sequences from the West Amazon Basin.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud These results showing for the first time the distribution of F2a subgenotype in Brazil. The spreading and the dynamic of subgenotype F2a in Brazil requires the study of a higher number of samples from different regions as it is unfold in almost all Brazilian populations studied so far. We cannot infer with certainty the origin of these different groups due to the lack of available sequences. Nevertheless, our data suggest that the common origin of these groups probably occurred a long time ago.This work has been supported by CNPq and by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo – FAPESP 2011/50562-0 and 2008/50461-6, HCFMUSP, FFM, Alves de Queiroz Family Fund for Research and IIRS-SBIBAE. These supported institutions provided the found to development the DNA amplification, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis