Publications by authors named "Ambar Perez"
Article Synopsis
- The review focuses on toxoplasmosis rates in Panama and Colombia, analyzing data on seroprevalence and risk factors.
- Studies showed seroprevalence in Ciudad de Panamá ranged from 22% to 44%, with higher rates linked to poverty and closeness to water.
- Heat maps and mathematical models were created to pinpoint areas that need targeted healthcare campaigns for congenital toxoplasmosis and infections.
Article Synopsis
- The purpose of the review was to develop and assess educational materials aimed at reducing disease burdens from infections in Panama, Colombia, and the USA.
- Recent findings indicate that educational programs in these countries have not yet been evaluated for their effectiveness, despite being implemented for various demographics like high school students and pregnant women.
- The summary highlights that these educational materials have shown short-term benefits in disseminating information, with future goals focusing on conducting long-term studies, updating materials based on new research, and increasing access to these resources for broader public health impact.
Purpose Of Review: Review building of programs to eliminate infections.
Recent Findings: Morbidity and mortality from toxoplasmosis led to programs in USA, Panama, and Colombia to facilitate understanding, treatment, prevention, and regional resources, incorporating student work.
Summary: Studies foundational for building recent, regional approaches/programs are reviewed.
Article Synopsis
- The review discusses international efforts to create a global public health initiative for toxoplasmosis, aiming to enhance maternal and child health by preventing and treating the disease.
- Recent findings indicate that some countries are making progress in eliminating toxoplasmosis but face significant challenges.
- Key issues include the high costs and inaccessibility of diagnostic tests and treatment, especially for marginalized communities, as well as delays in essential medical procedures and insurance processes.
Glioblastoma (GB), an aggressive primary tumor of the central nervous system, represents about 60% of all adult primary brain tumors. It is notorious for its extremely low (~5%) 5-year survival rate which signals the unsatisfactory results of the standard protocol for GB therapy. This issue has become, over time, the impetus for the discipline of bringing novel therapeutics to the surface and challenging them so they can be improved.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNovel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiologic agent of the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has reached 28 million cases worldwide in 1 year. The serological detection of antibodies against the virus will play a pivotal role in complementing molecular tests to improve diagnostic accuracy, contact tracing, vaccine efficacy testing, and seroprevalence surveillance. Here, we aimed first to evaluate a lateral flow assay's ability to identify specific IgM and IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and second, to report the seroprevalence estimates of these antibodies among health care workers and healthy volunteer blood donors in Panama.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVascular pathology and genetic markers such as apolipoprotein E allele ε4 (ApoE ε4) are risk factors for the progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to Alzheimer's disease (AD). In Panama, a high prevalence of vascular risk factors and an increase in the aging population, generate the need to investigate biomarkers using specific, sensitive, non-invasive and cost-efficient methods that could be used in primary care. The main objective of this study was to explore the association between vascular biomarkers such as intima-media thickness (IMT) and stenosis, ApoΕ ε4 and cognitive function in a sample of older adults, including healthy controls ( = 41), MCI ( = 33), and AD ( = 12).
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