Publications by authors named "Maisa Sousa"

To evaluate the effectiveness of a home exercise program called Home Exercise Booklet for People Living with Human T Lymphotropic Virus 1 (HTLV-1). This is a methodological study of content validation with expert judges. A questionnaire with a Likert scale was applied, containing 16 items referring to the content domain.

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Background: Approximately 80% of infected women infected by Chlamydia trachomatis are asymptomatic, although this infection can lead to serious complications in the female reproductive tract. Few data on Chlamydia infection and genotypes are available in Amazonian communities.

Objectives: To describe the prevalence of and associated factors and to identify the genotypes of sexual C.

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Among the human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) types, HTLV-1 is the most prevalent, and it has been linked to a spectrum of diseases, including HAM/TSP, ATLL, and hyperinfection syndrome or disseminated strongyloidiasis. There is currently no globally standard first-line treatment for HTLV-1 infection and its related diseases. To address this, a comprehensive review was conducted, analyzing 30 recent papers from databases PubMed, CAPES journals, and the Virtual Health Library (VHL).

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Introduction: After three years since the beginning of the pandemic, the new coronavirus continues to raise several questions regarding its infectious process and host response. Several mutations occurred in different regions of the genome, such as in the spike gene, causing the emergence of variants of concern and interest (VOCs and VOIs), of which some present higher transmissibility and virulence, especially among patients with previous comorbidities. It is essential to understand its spread dynamics to prevent and control new biological threats that may occur in the future.

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To achieve the objective of this study, we conducted a narrative review on physical therapeutic modalities applied to prevent functional losses associated with human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) infections to promote health education and viable and accessible alternatives in the development of health education technology adapted to the home environment. This study comprised a qualitative stage of theoretical development to construct a digital booklet with an observational basis based on studies that reiterate themes about educational technologies as tools to conduct a home protocol of guided exercises without the direct supervision of professional physical therapists. Results indicate a lack of research on the development of health education technologies to assist patients with HTLV-1 without tropical spastic paraparesis or HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP).

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Article Synopsis
  • Human T lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) is linked to inflammatory diseases like HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM), and genetic factors may influence how these diseases develop.
  • The study focuses on a specific genetic variation (rs2232365) in the promoter region of the FOXP3 gene, which is important for regulating immune responses and may affect the severity of inflammatory disorders like HAM.
  • Researchers analyzed DNA samples from asymptomatic carriers, HAM patients, and controls, finding that certain genotypes were associated with higher proviral loads, CD4 T cell counts, and inflammatory markers in those with HAM.
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Peptic ulcers are lesions in the gastric and duodenal mucosa generated by an imbalance between protective factors (gastroduodenal mucus secretion, bicarbonate production, adequate blood flow) and harmful factors (excess pepsin or hydrochloric acid). Some drugs used in peptic ulcer therapy are associated with adverse effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiulcerogenic and healing activity of hecogenin acetate (HA) in acute and chronic models of gastric lesions in rodents.

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The human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1), isolated in 1980, causes T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in adulthood, a type of lymphoproliferative disease, and chronic HTLV-1-associated myelopathy, a disease that causes paralysis of the lower limbs, which occur in about 5% of cases in this viral infection. This study aimed to establish the hematological profile of patients with HTLV-1 infection in Belém do Pará, describing the hematological parameters under study, estimating the frequency of lymphocytic atypical, and associating the hematological profile with diseases and symptoms. Hematologic data from 202 individuals were analyzed, including 87 HTLV-1 infected individuals and 115 non-HTLV-1 infected individuals as a control group, composed, at a great part, of relatives of the infected.

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Background: The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Chlamydia trachomatis are the most prevalent Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) worldwide, and are associated cervical cancer and pelvic inflammatory disease, respectively. However, 80% of women testing positive are asymptomatic. In the Amazon region, young women, in particular, are widely exposed to the infections and their consequences.

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Human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) is the caustive agent of two main conditions i. e., the HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and the adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL).

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Genetic variations in components of the immune response seem to be an important factor that contributes to the manifestation of symptoms of some diseases related to HTLV-1 infection. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) are related to the maintenance of neurons and the activation of the immune response. In this study, we evaluated the association of the NGF -198C/T, NGF Ala35Val, and p75NTR Ser205Leu polymorphisms with HTLV-1 infection and plasma cytokine levels in 166 samples from individuals infected with HTLV-1 (59 symptomatic and 107 asymptomatic).

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Article Synopsis
  • Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) is linked to a chronic neurodegenerative disease called HAM/TSP, and the study investigates the role of the anti-inflammatory protein Annexin A1 (AnxA1) in this condition.
  • The research involved 37 HTLV-1 infected individuals, comparing gene expression and plasma levels of AnxA1 among asymptomatic carriers, HAM/TSP patients, and a control group.
  • Findings indicate that while AnxA1 levels were higher in asymptomatic carriers compared to HAM/TSP patients, there are potential prognostic implications suggesting that measuring AnxA1 alongside proviral load could better predict disease progression in HTLV-1 related conditions.
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Background: The forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) transcription factor is one of the main markers of immunological suppression in different pathological profiles, and the presence of polymorphic variants may alter the gene expression of this factor. Despite descriptions of an association between the presence of the rs2232365 polymorphism and chronic diseases, the role of the sex variant in this context has not yet been elucidated, as the FOXP3 gene is located on the human sex chromosome X.

Results: To contribute to this topic, 323 women and 373 men were enrolled in the study, of which 101 were diagnosed with chronic viral liver diseases (39 women and 62 men), 67 with HTLV-1 infection (44 women and 23 men), 230 with coronary artery disease (91 women and 139 men) and 298 healthy and uninfected blood donors (149 women and men).

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  • SAMHD1 is a host enzyme that limits the availability of nucleotides for retroviruses like HTLV-1, potentially affecting how infections progress.
  • A study involving 108 HTLV-1 infected individuals examined the impact of genetic variations, specifically polymorphism rs6029941, on infection outcomes, but found no link to susceptibility or symptoms.
  • However, symptomatic patients carrying the G allele had higher levels of viral load and lower IFN-α, suggesting that this polymorphism could contribute to the development of disease symptoms.
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  • HTLV-1 is a virus that disrupts the immune system and can cause diseases like HAM/TSP, affecting the body's ability to handle infections.
  • The study explored how a specific genetic variation, TREX1 531C/T polymorphism, impacts HTLV-1 infection and symptoms by analyzing 151 infected individuals and a control group of 100 uninfected people.
  • While no significant differences were found between the infected and control groups regarding genotype frequencies, HAM/TSP patients had a higher occurrence of the TT genotype, and specific genotypes were linked to higher viral loads and proinflammatory cytokine levels.
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Introduction: Individuals infected with the human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) commonly present skin lesions, which may be a warning sign for the diagnosis of infection. This study describes the most prevalent skin manifestations in HTLV carriers attended at the clinic of Núcleo de Medicina Tropical (NMT) of the Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA) in Belém, Pará, Brazil.

Methods: This is a study of a series of cases of patients infected with human T-cell lymphotropic virus types 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/2) treated at NMT UFPA between 1999 and 2016.

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  • Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common bacterial STI globally, with around 80% of infected women showing no symptoms, yet it can cause severe reproductive issues, particularly in rural Amazon regions where data is limited.
  • This study assessed C. trachomatis prevalence among women in the Marajó Archipelago, finding a 4% infection rate, especially in those under 25 and with low income.
  • Key genotypes identified were similar to those seen in urban Brazil, highlighting the need for increased screening and prevention measures in both rural and urban areas to address this overlooked health issue.
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Introduction: The spread of the HTLV infection in families living in the metropolitan area of Belém, Pará, Brazil, and the lack of studies in the general population requires studies to better understand its prevalence in the region.

Methods: An anti-HTLV-1/HTLV-2 antibodies test was carried out on random adults in public places in Belém between November 2014 and November 2015. A proviral DNA test detected if the person was infected, and then a clinical evaluation and an intrafamilial investigation were carried out.

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The Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV-1) is a Deltaretrovírus that was first isolated in the 1970s, and associated with Adult T-cell Leucemia-Lymphoma (ATLL), and subsequently to Tropical Spastic Paraparesis-Myelopathy (TSP/HAM). The genetic diversity of the virus varies among geographic regions, although its mutation rate is very low (approximately 1% per thousand years) in comparison with other viruses. The present study determined the genetic diversity of HTLV-1 in the metropolitan region of Belém, in northern Brazil.

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Article Synopsis
  • HTLV-1 infection is linked to adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and other inflammatory diseases, but it is often overlooked in health discussions.
  • Originally seen as isolated cases, it has been observed that HTLV-1-related diseases can occur in clusters within families, leading to questions about the causes.
  • This study introduces a notable family cluster of HTLV-1 cases spanning three generations, suggesting a possible connection to the FAS -670A/G genetic variation.
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There is only scarce information available on genotypic diversity of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) clinical isolates circulating in the Northern part of Brazil, a relatively neglected region regarding research on tuberculosis. We therefore characterized 980 MTBC clinical isolates from the state of Pará, by spoligotyping and data was compared with patterns from around the world, besides analyzing drug susceptibility, and collecting sociodemographic data. We also performed 24 loci MIRU-VNTR typing to evaluate phylogenetic inferences among the East-African-Indian (EAI) lineage strains.

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  • The study aimed to assess the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections among women in low-income riverside communities in Pará, Brazil, focusing on HPV-16 and HPV-18 along with cervical cytology and risk factors.
  • The research involved collecting cervical samples from 353 women, revealing an overall HPV prevalence of 16.4%, but notably low cases of the high-risk types HPV-16 (2.3%) and HPV-18 (1.4%).
  • The findings highlighted a concerning lack of access to regular Pap tests, with nearly 70% of participants having never undergone one, raising the risk for cervical lesions and cancer among these underserved populations.
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This study investigated the presence of norovirus (NoV) GI and GII in environmental samples from the northern region of Brazil. Water samples were collected monthly (November 2008/October 2010) from different sources and sewage and concentrated by the adsorption-elution method. The NoV investigation used molecular methods followed by sequencing reactions.

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