The Cuba-United States Thaw: Building Bridges Through Science and Global Health.

AbstractBeginning in 2014, there has been significant progress in normalization of relations between Cuba and the United States. Herein, we discuss the history and recent progress in scientific collaboration between the two countries as well as the continued challenges. Science and global health diplomacy can be key tools in reestablishing a trusting and productive relationship of mutual and global benefit, bringing about better and healthier lives for people in both Cuba and the United States

Epidemiología molecular y análisis filogenético de la infección por el virus del papiloma humano en mujeres con lesiones cervicales y cáncer en la región litoral del Ecuador

The aim of the present study was to gather information regarding the molecular epidemiology of Human papillomavirus (HPV) and related risk factors in a group of women with low- and high-grade cervical lesions and cancer from the coastal region of Ecuador. In addition, we studied the evolution of HPV variants from the most prevalent types and provided a temporal framework for their emergence, which may help to trace the source of dissemination within the region. We analyzed 166 samples, including 57 CIN1, 95 CIN2/3 and 14 cancer cases. HPV detection and typing was done by PCR-sequencing (MY09/MY11). HPV variants and estimation of the time to most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) was assessed through phylogeny and coalescence analysis. HPV DNA was found in 54.4% of CIN1, 74.7% of CIN2/3 and 78.6% of cancer samples. HPV16 (38.9%) and HPV58 (19.5%) were the most prevalent types. Risk factors for the development of cervical lesions/cancer were the following: three or more pregnancies (OR = 4.3), HPV infection (OR = 3.7 for high-risk types; OR = 3.5 for HPV16), among others. With regard to HPV evolution, HPV16 isolates belonged to lineages A (69%) and D (31%) whereas HPV58 isolates belonged only to lineage A. The period of emergence of HPV16 was in association with human populations (tMRCA = 91. 052 years for HPV16A and 27. 000 years for HPV16D), whereas HPV58A preceded Homo sapiens evolution (322. 257 years). This study provides novel data on HPV epidemiology and evolution in Ecuador, which will be fundamental in the vaccine era.Fil: Bedoya Pilozo, Cesar H.. Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral; Ecuador. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Pública; EcuadorFil: Medina Magües, Lex G.. Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral; EcuadorFil: Espinosa García, Maylen. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Pública; EcuadorFil: Sánchez, Martha. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Pública; EcuadorFil: Parrales Valdiviezo, Johanna V.. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Pública; EcuadorFil: Molina, Denisse. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Pública; EcuadorFil: Ibarra, María A.. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Pública; EcuadorFil: Quimis Ponce, María. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Pública; EcuadorFil: España, Karool. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Pública; EcuadorFil: Párraga Macias, Karla E.. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Pública; EcuadorFil: Cajas Flores, Nancy V.. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Pública; EcuadorFil: Solon, Orlando A.. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Pública; Ecuador. Universidad Agraria del Ecuador; EcuadorFil: Robalino Penaherrera, Jorge A.. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones en Salud Pública; EcuadorFil: Chedraui, Peter. Hospital Gineco-Obstétrico Enrique C. Sotomayor; EcuadorFil: Escobar, Saul. Universidad Católica de Guayaquil; EcuadorFil: Loja Chango, Rita D.. Universidad Católica de Guayaquil; EcuadorFil: Ramirez Morán, Cecibel. Universidad Católica de Guayaquil; EcuadorFil: Espinoza Caicedo, Jasson. Universidad Católica de Guayaquil; EcuadorFil: Sánchez Giler, Sunny. Universidad Especialidades Espíritu Santo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; EcuadorFil: Limia, Celia M.. Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kouri; CubaFil: Alemán, Yoan. Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kouri; CubaFil: Soto, Yudira. Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kouri; CubaFil: Kouri, Vivian. Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kouri; CubaFil: Culasso, Andrés Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Badano, Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; Argentina. Secretaría de Educación Superior, Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación; Ecuador. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Químicas y Naturales. Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Aplicada; Argentin

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-infected Women in Cuba

To determine the prevalence rates and serovar distribution of Chlamydia trachomatis   cervical infections in Cuban women, two different groups were selected. Group I consisted of 60 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) seropositive women from different regions of Cuba and group II of 60 randomly selected women HIV seronegative and apparently healthy. C. trachomatis was detected in cervical scrapes by mean of nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) specific for major out membrane protein. The overall prevalence rate of C. trachomatis in cervical scrapes determined by nested PCR was 10% in group I and the estimated prevalence was 6.6% for group II; 83.3% of HIV seropositive women with C. trachomatis infection reported history of pelvic inflammatory disease followed by cervicitis (50%). The control group C. trachomatis-infected women referred a history of cervicitis in 75% of cases. Other reports in the latter group included infertility and pelvic inflamatory disease in 50%. The present study is the first report of C. trachomatis prevalence in Cuba. It showed that there was not significantly difference in the prevalence rate of C. trachomatis between both groups

DETECCIÓN DE AGENTES INFECCIOSOS Y OTROS FACTORES ASOCIADOS A ATEROSCLEROSIS EN PACIENTES SOMETIDOS A CIRUGÍA CARDIACA.

We studied 34 patients, from july 1 to august 31, 2014 at Ameijeiras hospital. A cardiac surgery were performed in all of them, 18 with coronary disease and 16 with valvular disease (10 aortic and 6 mitral) this work was approved by the Ethics Committee responsible for this investigation. We determined they serological status in relation with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simple virus (HSV) before cardiac surgery and we used samples of tissues during surgery (Left Internal mammary artery, 18.Right Internal mammary artery, 1. Ascending Aortic wall 9, Valvular tissues, 16) to find DNA of cytomegalovirus, herpes simple virus and Clamidophila pneumonia with PCR. The most frecuent risk factor was smoking habit (64,7%), represent 61,1% in coronary disease group and 68,7% in valvulvar. Hypertension was the second one risk factor (58,8%), particulary elevated in coronary disease group(66,6%). The patients in coronary group positive IgG against CMV represent the 77, 7% and with IgG against HSV 66,6%. In the valvular group positive IgG against CMV represent the 68, 7% and with IgG against HSV 56,25%. No one sample of tissue showed genomic presence of C. pneumoniae, CMV or HSV with PCR. Key words: Cardiac Surgery, Atherosclerosis, infection.Introducción:En Cuba, la segunda causa de muerte son las enfermedades cardiacas, especialmente las de origen isquémico, causada por  la aterosclerosis coronaria, donde los agentes infecciosos aparecen descritos como factores de riesgo en su desarrollo. Objetivo: Identificar la relación entre la infección por el Citomegalovirus, el Virus Herpes Simple y la Clamydophila  pneumoniae   y su posible protagonismo en la aterosclerosis en pacientes operados de cirugía cardiaca. Métodos: Se estudiaron 34 pacientes que requirieron una intervención cardiaca, 18 con enfermedad coronaria y  16 con enfermedad valvular, los que dieron su consentimiento a participar en el estudio, se determinó su estado serológico con respecto a Citomegalovirus y virus del herpes simple previo al acto quirúrgico. Se les extrajeron muestras de tejido y se les realizó determinación de ADN de Citomegalovirus(CMV), Virus Herpes Simple(VHS)  y Clamidophila pneumoniae. Resultados: El hábito de fumar fue el factor de riesgo más frecuente (64,7%), seguida en orden de frecuencia por Hipertensión Arterial (58,8%), la cual fue particularmente frecuente para el grupo coronario (66,6%)..Los pacientes coronarios con IgG anti CMV representan el 77,7% y con IgG anti VHS el 66,6%. De igual forma los valvulares con IgG anti CMV representan el 68,7% y con IgG anti VHS el 56,25%. En ninguna muestra de tejido se demostró la presencia del genoma de estos agentes. Conclusiones: Se demuestra la asociación entre factores de riesgo conocidos en  pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica, existe elevada prevalencia serológica de exposición a los agentes infecciosos estudiados pero no se demuestra su presencia en los tejidos estudiados.Palabras clave:Cirugía Cardiaca, aterosclerosis,  infección. Abstract We studied 34 patients, from july 1 to august 31, 2014 at Ameijeiras hospital. A cardiac surgery were performed in all of them, 18 with coronary disease and 16 with valvular disease (10 aortic and 6 mitral) this work was approved by the Ethics Committee responsible for this investigation. We determined they serological status in relation with cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simple virus (HSV) before cardiac surgery and we used samples of tissues during surgery (Left Internal mammary artery, 18.Right Internal mammary artery, 1. Ascending Aortic wall 9, Valvular tissues, 16) to find DNA of cytomegalovirus, herpes simple virus and Clamidophila pneumonia with PCR. The most frecuent risk factor was smoking habit (64,7%), represent 61,1% in coronary disease group and 68,7% in valvulvar. Hypertension was the second one risk factor (58,8%), particulary elevated in coronary disease group(66,6%). The patients in coronary group positive IgG against CMV represent the 77, 7% and with IgG against HSV 66,6%. In the valvular group positive IgG against CMV represent the 68, 7% and with IgG against HSV 56,25%. No one sample of tissue showed genomic presence of C. pneumoniae, CMV or HSV with PCR.Key words:Cardiac Surgery, Atherosclerosis, infection