Unlabelled: Macrophages are the principal host cells of . in human infection and play a critical role in controlling infection and enabling parasite survival and persistence. Nevertheless, understanding of drug resistance in leishmaniasis has primarily focused on the parasite.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Arboviruses pose a challenge in ensuring the supply of pathogen-free blood components because they are not routinely screened in blood banks, and blood components from infected asymptomatic donors could be transfused. This study aimed to detect and characterize arboviral infections in Colombian blood donors.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study, the prevalence of dengue (DENV), Zika (ZIKV), and chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses and co-infections of blood donors were compared between an epidemic period (November 2019-February 2020, = 462) and an endemic period (November 2021-August 2022, = 1,119).
Introduction: There is sufficient evidence about the effectiveness of internet-based interventions; however, the users' level of adoption and utilization remains low, with this phenomenon requiring adequate explanation.
Objective: The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the users' perceptions and experience of a web-based program (ASCENSO), designed to complement (usual) in-person depression treatment.
Method: Twelve participants of the ASCENSO program, comprised of adult individuals ( = 44.
Background: The shortage of available transplant organs has made it necessary to search for alternatives, one of which is xenotransplantation. However, the use of animal organs could face rejection from society and the personnel involved in its implementation.
Objectives: (a) to analyze the attitudes of Veterinary Degree students in six Spanish Universities towards xenotransplantation; and (b) to determine the factors that affect its acceptance.
Symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety in new mothers are prevalent and negatively impact maternal emotional wellbeing and infant development. Barriers to accessing treatment prevent women from receiving mental health care, a situation that has worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. mHealth interventions hold the potential to support women during the transition to parenthood despite these barriers and to promote the use of preventive interventions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe immune mechanisms that contribute to the efficacy of treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to define immune correlates of the outcome of treatment of CL caused by () species during standard of care treatment with pentavalent antimonials. We conducted a comparative expression profiling of immune response genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lesion biopsy specimens obtained from CL patients before and at the end of treatment (EoT) with meglumine antimoniate.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFis the main causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia and is usually treated with either meglumine antimoniate (MA) or miltefosine (MIL). In recent years, there has been increasing evidence of the emergence of drug-resistance against these compounds. Neutrophils are known to play an important role in immunity against .
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe mechanisms of Leishmania resistance to antimonials have been primarily determined in experimentally derived Leishmania strains. However, their participation in the susceptibility phenotype in field isolates has not been conclusively established. Being an intracellular parasite, the activity of antileishmanials is dependent on internalization of drugs into host cells and effective delivery to the intracellular compartments inhabited by the parasite.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfection by () , the predominant etiologic agent for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia, is characterized by a chronic mixed inflammatory response. Current treatment options are plagued by toxicity, lengthy treatment regimens, and growing evidence of drug resistance. Immunotherapy, modulating the immune system to mount a protective response, may provide an alternate therapeutic approach.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis is widely distributed in Central and South America. Leishmania of the Viannia subgenus are the most frequent species infecting humans. L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Therapeutic response in infectious disease involves host as well as microbial determinants. Because the immune and inflammatory response to Leishmania (Viannia) species defines the outcome of infection and efficacy of treatment, immunomodulation is considered a promising therapeutic strategy. However, since Leishmania infection and antileishmanial drugs can themselves modulate drug transport, metabolism and/or immune responses, immunotherapeutic approaches require integrated assessment of host and parasite responses.
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