Publications by authors named "Ronald Aquino Ortega"
Article Synopsis
- Scientists are still trying to understand the impact of COVID-19 clinical biomarkers, which are indicators of the disease's progression and severity.
- A study in Lima and Huaraz (two Peruvian cities at different altitudes) compared COVID-19 patients in ICUs, those hospitalized but not in ICUs, and healthy controls, checking levels of five specific biomarkers.
- Results showed higher levels of ferritin, C-reactive protein, and IL-6 in both patient groups at both locations, with unique findings for hepcidin and zinc, indicating that high-altitude patients have distinct biomarker profiles compared to those at lower altitudes.
Background: The Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an emerging arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) that causes undifferentiated acute febrile illness. Cases of CHIKV may be under-reported in Peru, given the various difficulties in diagnosing it, such as lack of diagnostic tests in remote areas, the passive nature of epidemiological surveillance, and co-circulation of other arthropod-borne pathogens. Therefore, a study was conducted in the high jungle of northern Peru to determine the prevalence of CHIKV among febrile patients and describe their clinical characteristics.
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- The study aimed to assess how common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among asymptomatic women with human papillomavirus (HPV) in Cajamarca, Peru, and to identify related risk factors.
- Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study involving 842 women, finding that nearly 24% had HPV, with a significant majority carrying high-risk strains.
- The findings revealed associations between HPV types and various factors like the number of sexual partners and histories of sexual abuse, emphasizing the need for increased monitoring and intervention to address the high prevalence of these infections.
Article Synopsis
- A study conducted in Peru compared inflammatory responses in COVID-19 patients living at different altitudes (Lima vs. Huaraz) to understand how altitude affects inflammation.
- Results showed significantly higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in COVID-19 patients from Huaraz (high altitude) compared to those from Lima (sea level).
- The findings suggest that altitude may influence inflammation in COVID-19, indicating a need for further research to deepen understanding and improve treatment strategies.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to analyze the gut microbiota of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, focusing on their metabolic control and fiber intake.
- - Out of 26 T2DM patients, only 7 had good metabolic control, with fiber intake varying among both controlled and uncontrolled groups; most patients with inadequate control had either regular or poor fiber intake.
- - Bacterial composition revealed that while both groups had similar gut microbiota types, specific bacteria like Prevotella and Firmicutes were more common in controlled patients, although these differences were not statistically significant.
Article Synopsis
- The report describes the first case of Ralstonia mannitolilytica bacteremia in a pediatric cancer patient in Peru, highlighting the patient's long-term central venous access.
- Diagnosis was performed using the MicroScan Walk Away 96 system, with genetic confirmation through PCR and sequencing of 16S rDNA.
- The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring Ralstonia mannitolilytica in healthcare settings, particularly for immunocompromised individuals.
Objective: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of leptospirosis among febrile patients with a suspicious clinical diagnosis of dengue fever in northern Peru.
Results: A total of 276 serum samples from patients with acute febrile illness (AFI) and suspected diagnosis for dengue virus (DENV) were analyzed. We identified an etiological agent in 121 (47.
Objective: To determine the general and genotype-specific prevalence of HPV and to identify potential risk factors for the infection in a population-based screening of Peruvian women.
Results: A total of 524 samples were analyzed by PCR and a total of 100 HPV positive samples were found, of which 89 were high-risk, 19 were probably oncogenic, 9 were low-risk and 27 other HPV types. The 26-35 and 36-45 age groups showed the highest proportion of HPV positive samples with a total of 37% (37/100) and 30% (30/100), respectively.
Background And Objectives: Pertussis is an infectious disease caused by the Gram-negative bacterium In Peru, actual public health programs indicate that vaccination against must be mandatory and generalized, besides all detected cases must be reported. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of among children under five years of age with a presumptive diagnosis of whopping cough in Cajamarca, a region located in northern Peru.
Materials And Methods: The population of this cross-sectional study were children under 5 years old hospitalized as presumptive cases of pertussis during December 2017 to December 2018.
Objective: To describe frequency and clinical characteristics of MAYV infection in Piura, as well as the association of this pathogen with DENV.
Results: A total of 86/496 (17.3%) cases of MAYV were detected, of which 54 were MAYV mono-infection and 32 were co-infection with DENV, accounting for 10.
Objective: To characterize the cervicovaginal microbiota of HPV-positive and HPV-negative asymptomatic Peruvian women, by identifying the presence of 13 representative bacteria genus.
Results: A total of 100 HPV-positive and 100 HPV-negative women were matched by age for comparison of microbiota. The following bacteria were more frequently identified in HPV-positive patients compared to HPV-negative: Eubacterium (68 vs 32%), Actinobacteria (46 vs 33%), Fusobacterium (11 vs 6%) and Bacteroides (20 vs 13%).
Unidentified dengue serotypes in DENV positive samples and detection of other pathogens responsible for an acute febrile illness outbreak 2016 in Cajamarca, Peru.
BMC Res Notes
October 2020
Objective: To describe the prevalence of dengue virus serotypes, as well as other viral and bacterial pathogens that cause acute febrile illness during an outbreak in Cajamarca in 2016.
Results: Dengue virus (DENV) was the most frequent etiologic agent detected in 25.8% of samples (32/124), followed by Rickettsia spp.
Background: Huánuco is a central eastern region of Peru whose geography includes high forest and low jungle, as well as a mountain range that constitutes the inter-Andean valleys. It is considered a region endemic for dengue due to the many favorable conditions that facilitate transmission of the virus.
Methods: A total of 268 serum samples from patients in Huánuco, Peru with an acute febrile illness were assessed for the presence of dengue virus (DENV) via RT-PCR and NS1, IgM, and IgG ELISA during December 2015 and March 2016.
Bordetella pertussis in children hospitalized with a respiratory infection: clinical characteristics and pathogen detection in household contacts.
BMC Res Notes
May 2018
Objective: Describe the prevalence of Bordetella pertussis via PCR in children under 5 years old hospitalized as probable cases of pertussis and report the most common clinical features among them.
Results: A positive PCR result for B. pertussis was observed in 20.