This study evaluates the antimicrobial efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs), varying in size, against clinical isolates of (MTB), , , , and , as well as the antimicrobial effects of aqueous extracts and lyophilized powders of (garlic) species. CNPs were synthesized through ionotropic gelation and characterized by Z potential, hydrodynamic diameter (dynamic light scattering, DLS), and SEM. Aqueous garlic extracts were prepared via decoction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Soc Determinants Health Health Serv
July 2024
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's historic election victory in 2018 marked a sharp break from past decades of neoliberal socioeconomic policies. López Obrador campaigned on the promise of deep reform, with health care high on his agenda. The public health care sector had been decimated by decades of budget cuts, eroding workers' morale and patients' confidence, and crippling all aspects of the system.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To estimate the incidence rate of tuberculosis (TB) in the Highlands (Tsotsil-Tseltal) region of Chiapas and to analyze sociodemographic factors that might influence the success of anti-TB treatment from the period of January 2019 to June 2022.
Methods: Retrospective study in which the TB databases of the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (SINAVE) were analyzed. TB incidence rates were calculated based on the number of registered TB cases and estimated annual populations.
This is the first report of the genetic diversity of the complex isolates found in a Mexican-Amerindian setting. In this study, we analyzed isolates collected from the Highlands region of Chiapas, Mexico, by using spoligotyping and whole-genome sequencing analyses. Seventy-three isolates were analyzed initially by spoligotyping; no new spoligotypes were identified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite its reduced sensitivity, sputum smear microscopy (SSM) remains the main diagnostic test for detecting tuberculosis in many parts of the world. A new diagnostic technique, the magnetic nanoparticle-based colorimetric biosensing assay (NCBA) was optimized by evaluating different concentrations of glycan-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (GMNP) and Tween 80 to improve the acid-fast bacilli (AFB) count. Comparative analysis was performed on 225 sputum smears: 30 with SSM, 107 with NCBA at different GMNP concentrations, and 88 with NCBA-Tween 80 at various concentrations and incubation times.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The objective of the study was to describe the geographical coverage of Latin American and Caribbean scientific publications on tuberculosis and its international collaboration.
Materials And Methods: The records were retrieved from the PubMed database (2009-2018), limiting the search to Latin American and Caribbean countries. Articles were analyzed in several categories, such as the total number, countries, institutions, authors, collaborations, and citations.
This article analyzes the fulfillment of the four essential and interrelated elements of availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality (AAAQ) presented in General Comment 14 of the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. We examined the ways that AAAQ criteria are met in tuberculosis (TB) care by evaluating a sample of 33 primary health care units (PHCUs) in 10 municipalities of the Chiapas Highlands region of Mexico. We collected information about 56 people with TB who were treated in those PHCUs, the structural conditions of the health facilities, and data about all health care workers in the PHCUs (n=423).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdopting key mechanisms to restructure public policy in developing countries is a crucial political task. The strengthening of infrastructure of health services, care quality, monitoring and population health; all might contribute to assuring the functionality of a national system for health monitoring and care. Over the last decades, the Mexican government has launched wide-ranging political reforms aiming to overcome socioeconomic and environmental problems, namely health, education, finances, energy and pension.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA new method using a magnetic nanoparticle-based colorimetric biosensing assay (NCBA) was compared with sputum smear microscopy (SSM) for the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in sputum samples. Studies were made to compare the NCBA against SSM using sputum samples collected from PTB patients prior to receiving treatment. Experiments were also conducted to determine the appropriate concentration of glycan-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles (GMNP) used in the NCBA and to evaluate the optimal digestion/decontamination solution to increase the extraction, concentration and detection of acid-fast bacilli (AFB).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Rural communities in the Amazonian southern border of Ecuador have benefited from governmental social programmes over the past 9 years, which have addressed, among other things, diseases associated with poverty, such as soil transmitted helminth infections. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of geohelminth infection and several factors associated with it in these communities.
Methods: This was a cross sectional study in two indigenous communities of the Amazonian southern border of Ecuador.
Objective: To estimate rates of cases of respiratory symptomatic subjects and the incidence rate of pulmonary tuberculosis in two border areas of Ecuador, and contrast them with official figures.
Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional survey in the southeastern (SEBA), and the Andean southern Ecuadorian border areas (ASBA), which were conducted, respectively, in 1 598 and 2 419 persons aged over 15 years recruited over periods of three weeks. In identified respiratory symptomatic cases, a sputum sample was taken for smear testing.
Background: Because a strong association was observed between pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and the use of public transport, increasing with duration of journey, a study was carried out to assess infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and working conditions among workers in this sector.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and September 2008. A total of 104 workers from two public transport minibus ('combi') cooperatives covering marginal areas of the Ate-Vitarte district in Lima were interviewed.
Objective: To analyze the perceptions and interactions of the actors involved in anti-tuberculosis treatment, and to explore their influence in treatment defaulting in Los Altos region of Chiapas, Mexico.
Material And Methods: From November 2002 to August 2003, in-depth interviews were administered to patients with PTB, patients' family members, institutional physicians, community health coordinators, and traditional medicine practitioners.
Results: We found different perceptions about PTB between patients and their families and among health personnel, as well as communication barriers between actors.
The association between public transportation for commuting and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) was analyzed in workers in Lima, Peru. Traveling in minibuses was a risk factor for pulmonary TB. Preventive measures need to be taken by health services to prevent spread of this disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe performed a cross-sectional, community-based survey, supplemented by interviews with community leaders in Chiapas, Mexico, to examine the prevalence and predictors of child malnutrition in regions affected by the Zapatista conflict. The prevalence rates of stunting, wasting, and underweight were 54.1%, 2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Zapatista armed conflict began in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, in 1994, and overlaps pre-existing local disputes about land, religion, and other issues. Related disruptions in access to and utilization of health services have been alleged to have compromised local health status, particularly in vulnerable subgroups such as indigenous women and infants. The study objective was to measure maternal and perinatal mortality ratios and utilization of pregnancy-related health services in the region affected by the Zapatista conflict, and to describe associations between these primary outcome measures, socioeconomic and demographic factors, and factors associated with inter-party and intra-community conflict.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To assess the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among children in highly deprived areas, and its possible association with demographic and socioeconomic indicators.
Material And Methods: From March to September 1998 in a convenience sample of 32 communities of the border region of Chiapas, Mexico, selected at random based on the level of poverty and distance from the community to the nearest health care unit (< 1 hour; 1 hour or more), one of every four households with children under 15 years of age was randomly selected to provide three stool samples from their children (n 1478). Bivariate and multivariate (generalized linear models for correlated binary data), analysis were performed.
Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of undiagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and the sensitivity of bacilloscopy in the border region of Chiapas, Mexico.
Methods: We actively sought individuals aged 15 years or more with chronic cough from the Border Region of Chiapas, Mexico in three settings: one regional hospital, seven Primary Care Centers (PCC), and 32 communities. Individuals (a total of 899) reporting chronic cough were asked to provide three samples of sputum for acid-fast smears and cultures.