Insights into the State of the Art of Urogenital Schistosomiasis with a Focus on Infertility.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects developing countries worldwide and is caused by several species of parasites from the genus. Chronic infection is characterized by the formation of granulomas around the parasite eggs, the leading cause of pathology. The hepatosplenic clinical form is one of the most common, but urogenital schistosomiasis is another relevant clinical presentation responsible for infertility in men and women.

Self-reported prevalence of asthma symptoms in adults living in a port city.

Air pollution is a worldwide health problem, and exposure to the pollution can cause damage to the human body, especially to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Asthma is the third most common chronic disease in Brazil, presenting high prevalence in some areas. The aim of this study was to evaluate the self-report the prevalence of asthma symptoms in Santos city, Brazil, and its associated factors in the adult population (between 18 and 59 years old).

Cell-adhesion Molecules as Key Mechanisms of Tumor Invasion: The Case of Breast Cancer.

Cancer is a major health problem worldwide and the second leading cause of death following cardiovascular diseases. Breast cancer is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity among women and one of the most common malignant neoplasms prompt to metastatic disease. In the present review, the mechanisms of the major cell adhesion molecules involved in tumor invasion are discussed, focusing on the case of breast cancer.

Schistosomiasis and Infertility: What Do We Know?

There is increasing attention on the complex interactions occurring between schistosome parasites and their hosts. However, little is known about the occurrence, epidemiology, and mechanisms of schistosomiasis-associated infertility. In this article, we argue that an in-depth understanding of the interplay between parasites and the host endocrine system may significantly enhance current knowledge of infertility in infected individuals.

Imbalance of Steroid Hormones in Hamsters Infected with .

Objective: Schistosomiasis is a debilitating disease that affects 200 million people worldwide. Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni are the major causative agents of this disease. Cancer-association and infertility-association in Schistosoma haematobium infection have already been described and it is known that the parasite produces a catechol-estrogen molecule that induces a hormonal imbalance in the host.

Effect of Pre-analytical Conditions on Prothrombin Time and Partial Activated Thromboplastin Time.

Background: Clinical analysis often involves clotting assays. Although the guidelines suggest the storing and freezing of samples before these assays, there are contradictory results in the literature. The objective of this study was to analyse the effect of the temperature and the storage of plasma sample on Prothrombin Time (PT) and Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) in clinical samples for 65 patients without coagulation disorders.

Extract Induces Cell Death of Mammalian Cells.

Background: Fascioliasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects poor people from poor and developing countries. In the world, it has been estimated that at least 2.6 million people are affected with this disease.

Parasites in Forensic Science: a historic perspective.

Parasites show a great potential to Forensic Science. Forensic Science is the application of any science and methodology to the legal system. The forensic scientist collects and analyses the physical evidence and produce a report of the results to the court.

Halting - associated bladder cancer.

Background: At present schistosomiasis is endemic in 78 countries affecting more than 260 million people. Schistosomiasis haematobia alone affects more than 112 millions.

Material And Methods: We performed a computerized search of Pubmed database with keywords: bladder cancer cost and schistosomiasis mass treatment.

Estrogen Metabolism-Associated CYP2D6 and IL6-174G/C Polymorphisms in Schistosoma haematobium Infection.

is a human blood fluke causing a chronic infection called urogenital schistosomiasis. Squamous cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder (SCC) constitutes chronic sequelae of this infection, and infection is accounted as a risk factor for this type of cancer. This infection is considered a neglected tropical disease and is endemic in numerous countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Angiogenesis in Schistosoma haematobium-associated urinary bladder cancer.

Schistosoma haematobium, a parasitic flatworm that infects more than 100 million people, mostly in the developing world, is the causative agent of urogenital schistosomiasis, and is associated with a high incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the bladder. During infection, eggs are deposited in the bladder causing an intense inflammatory reaction. Angiogenesis is defined as the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting ones and is recognized as a key event in cell proliferation and carcinogenesis and spread of malignant lesions.

Significance of Cancer Stem Cells in Anti-Cancer Therapies.

Stem cells are the focus of cutting edge research interest because of their competence both to self-renew and proliferate, and to differentiate into a variety of tissues, offering enticing prospects of growing replacement organs in vitro, among other possible therapeutic implications. It is conceivable that cancer stem cells share a number of biological hallmarks that are different from their normal-tissue counterparts and that these might be taken advantage of for therapeutic benefits. In this review we discuss the significance of cancer stem cells in diagnosis and prognosis of cancer as well as in the development of new strategies for anti-cancer drug design.

Ultrasonography of gallbladder abnormalities due to schistosomiasis.

After malaria, schistosomiasis remains the most important tropical parasitic disease in large parts of the world. Schistosomiasis has recently re-emerged in Southern Europe. Intestinal schistosomiasis is caused by most Schistosoma (S.

Wound healing and cancer progression in Opisthorchis viverrini associated cholangiocarcinoma.

Infection with the human liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini induces cancer of the bile ducts, cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). It was shown previously that O. viverrini-secreted proteins accelerate wound resolution in human cholangiocytes.

Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Breast Cancer.

Recent evidences demonstrated the importance of bone marrow derived Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPC), in the contribution to postnatal physiological and pathological neovascularization, and in tumor growth and angiogenesis. These cells are recruited undifferentiated, in response to systemic or chemoatractive signals, such as Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), they lodge in the growing or lesioned tissue and differentiate into endothelial cells in response to local stimuli and cell-cell interactions. The extent and the significance of the EPCs contribution for the growing of most tumors, including those of the breast, are still not fully defined.

Schistosoma haematobium in Guinea-Bissau: unacknowledged morbidity due to a particularly neglected parasite in a particularly neglected country.

Schistosomiasis is the major neglected tropical helminthic disease worldwide. Current knowledge on the epidemiology of schistosomiasis in Guinea-Bissau is scarce and regarding to the absence of Schistosoma haematobium (S.h.

Progesterone in Breast Cancer Angiogenesis.

The involvement of steroid hormones in breast carcinogenesis is well established. Recent evidence suggests that angiogenesis can be regulated by hormones. Both oestrogen and progesterone have been implicated in the angiogenic process of hormone-dependent cancers, such as breast cancer.

Bladder cancer and urinary Schistosomiasis in Angola.

Schistosomiasis haematobia is among the most prevalent parasitosis in Angola. The pathology is characterized by serious and irreversible lesions in the urogenital tract induced by chronic infection with the parasite that can eventually lead to squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. Considering the frequency and severe morbidity observed, even in younger ages, the purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and morbidity of S.

The role of estrogens and estrogen receptor signaling pathways in cancer and infertility: the case of schistosomes.

Schistosoma haematobium, a parasitic flatworm that infects more than 100 million people, mostly in the developing world, is the causative agent of urogenital schistosomiasis, and is associated with a high incidence of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the bladder. Schistosomiasis haematobia also appears to negatively influence fertility, and is particularly associated with female infertility. Given that estrogens and estrogen receptors are key players in human reproduction, we speculate that schistosome estrogen-like molecules may contribute to infertility through hormonal imbalances.

Schistosome and liver fluke derived catechol-estrogens and helminth associated cancers.

Infection with helminth parasites remains a persistent public health problem in developing countries. Three of these pathogens, the liver flukes Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini and the blood fluke Schistosoma haematobium, are of particular concern due to their classification as Group 1 carcinogens: infection with these worms is carcinogenic. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approaches, we identified steroid hormone like (e.