Immunosuppressive CD14/HLA-DR monocytes in patients with Chagas Disease.

Chagas Disease (CD) is a neglected illness whose immunopathological mechanisms have not yet been plainly elucidated. The asymptomatic (indeterminate) form of CD is a long-term condition and approximately 20% to 35% of the individuals with this form evolve into one of the three chronic symptomatic clinical forms of CD, namely: cardiac, digestive or cardio-digestive (mixed). A variant of blood monocytes characterized by low expression of the HLA-DR antigen (CD14/HLA-DR) constitutes a subtype of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) whose main function is to regulate exacerbated inflammatory processes.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of Chagas disease in a rural population of the Quixeré municipality, Ceará, Brazil.

Introduction: This study estimated the seroprevalence and risk factors of Chagas disease (CD) in a population of the Quixeré municipality, Ceará.

Methods: We conducted serological methods to detect the Trypanosoma cruzi infection. The other variables were evaluated by a standardized questionnaire.

Prevalence of Trypanosoma Cruzi Infection in Blood Donors.

Background: Chagas disease (CD) is considered a public health problem in Latin America. The northeastern region, especially the state of Ceará, still represents a major concern in terms of the risk of transmission of CD.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of T.

Trypanosoma cruzi seroprevalence among solid organ donors in Ceará State, Brazil.

Introduction: The transmission of Chagas disease (CD) through blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and oral transmission has gained greater visibility as a result of intensified vector control activities in endemic regions and to control CD in non-endemic regions. In Brazil, Ceará is one of the states that perform the most organ transplants. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of Trypanosoma cruzi infection in organ donor candidates.

[Satisfaction of Chagas disease patients attended at a pharmaceutical care service in the State of Ceará, Brazil].

In 2005, a pharmaceutical care service was created in the State of Ceará to provide pharmacotherapeutic follow-up for individuals infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas Disease). After 10 years of operation, an evaluation was conducted to assess the degree of satisfaction of patients treated under the service. This prospective study used a questionnaire comprising the following sections: socioeconomic data; infrastructure, facilities and operations; pharmaceutical care; and importance of the service.

Insect vectors of Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) in Northeastern Brazil.

Introduction: Chagas disease remains a public health problem in the rural and urban areas of 19 countries in the Americas.

Methods: The aim of the present study was to investigate the Trypanosoma cruzi infection rate of triatomines collected from both intra- and peridomiciliary areas in eleven municipalities of Southeastern Ceará, Brazil, from 2009 to 2015.

Results: A total of 32,364 triatomine specimens, including nymphs and adults, were collected, and 31,736 (98.

Pharmacotherapeutic follow-up of patients with Chagas disease using benznidazole: drug-related problems and pharmaceutical interventions.

Introduction: Benznidazole (BNZ) is a drug available for the etiological treatment of Chagas disease. However, this drug is toxic and has a limited effectiveness on the chronic phase of this disease, often leading to poor treatment adherence.

Methods:: This is a descriptive and exploratory study conducted at the Pharmaceutical Care Service for Chagas disease patients of the Federal University of Ceará.