Publications by authors named "Carina Carvalho Dos Santos"

Article Synopsis
  • This study investigates viral hepatitis prevalence among young men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) in three Brazilian cities, focusing on those aged 15-19.
  • The research collected data through social behavioral questionnaires and blood tests to check for hepatitis A, B, and C antibodies and active infections.
  • Results showed 17.7% had immunity to hepatitis A, while hepatitis B and C prevalence was lower at 2.8% and 0.2%, respectively, indicating a need for improved vaccination and treatment strategies in these populations.
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Article Synopsis
  • This study assessed the diagnostic performance of two antigen-detecting rapid tests for SARS-CoV-2 in resource-limited settings in Salvador, Brazil, focusing on individuals with COVID-19 symptoms or exposure.
  • The Abbott and WAMA tests both exhibited high specificity (100%) but lower sensitivity rates (52.7% and 53.4%, respectively), particularly when compared to the gold standard RT-PCR.
  • While both tests are effective for quickly identifying potential COVID-19 cases, negative results require careful clinical evaluation, especially for patients with lower viral loads indicated by Cycle Threshold values below 24.
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Introduction: The key tools for mitigating the impact of COVID-19 and reducing its transmission include testing, quarantine and isolation, as well as telemonitoring. Primary healthcare (PHC) can be essential in increasing access to these tools. Therefore, the primary objective of this study is to implement and expand an intervention consisting of COVID-19 testing, isolation, quarantine and telemonitoring (TQT) strategies and other prevention measures at PHC services in highly socioeconomically vulnerable neighbourhoods of Brazil.

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The global burden of tuberculosis (TB) is aggravated by the continuously increasing emergence of drug resistance, highlighting the need for innovative therapeutic options. The concept of host-directed therapy (HDT) as adjunctive to classical antibacterial therapy with antibiotics represents a novel and promising approach for treating TB. Here, we have focused on repurposing the clinically used anticancer drug tamoxifen, which was identified as a molecule with strong host-directed activity against intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis ().

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In recent years, allergies are on the rise. The growth of allergies cases has changed the immune system's response to new pathogens. The therapy used to treat these diseases is based on allergen avoidance, pharmacotherapy and allergen-specific immunotherapy.

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The Brazilian context of social inequalities and barriers in accessing health services may deteriorate the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, which already affects all Brazilian federative states, with the growing curve of increasing confirmed cases and deaths. National governments and scientific field agents have been looking for evidence for the best practices of prevention and control of transmission, and care of infection and disease, including diagnosis, treatment, and health care measures. The large-scale testing strategy, aimed at early diagnosis, quarantine of the mild cases identified, as well as those of the contacts, and adequate care of severe cases, has been revised and indicated as one of the efficient pandemic control measures in several countries in the world.

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Article Synopsis
  • The research focused on improving tuberculosis vaccines, particularly a recombinant BCG vaccine called rBCG-LTAK63, which showed better protection in mice than the standard BCG vaccine.
  • The study analyzed the immune responses generated by both vaccines, finding that rBCG-LTAK63 led to heightened levels of important immune cells like neutrophils and lymphocytes, along with increased production of key signaling molecules.
  • Results indicated that rBCG-LTAK63 not only boosted short-term immune responses but also promoted a more robust long-term response, suggesting it could offer superior protection against tuberculosis compared to traditional BCG.*
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