Publications by authors named "Vanessa Vasquez"

Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by parasites of the genus and transmitted by sand fly vectors. Tegumentary leishmaniasis is the most prevalent clinical outcome in Latin America, afflicting people from 18 countries. In Panama, the annual incidence rate of leishmaniasis is as high as 3000 cases, representing a major public health problem.

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According to the last leishmaniasis report from the Pan American Health Organization (2021) so far Panama is considered free of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Although the presence of potential vectors and reservoirs involved in the VL transmission cycle have been described in some rural regions of the country, no cases have been reported in humans and domestic or wild animals. Dogs play an important role in the urban transmission of VL; therefore, it is important to detect possible cases of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in the country.

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Article Synopsis
  • A study investigated trypanosomatid infections in opossums from two rural communities in Panama, focusing on Chagas disease.
  • Out of 57 opossums examined, 38.6% tested positive for parasites, with higher infection rates found in Las Pavas compared to Trinidad de las Minas.
  • The research identified only one trypanosome strain (TcI) and indicated that forest remnants had a higher infection rate than peridomestic areas, suggesting key insights for Chagas disease management.
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Panama and all nations within the Mesoamerican region have committed to eliminate malaria within this decade. With more than 90% of the malaria cases in this region caused by , an efficient national/regional elimination plan must include a comprehensive study of this parasite's genetic diversity. Here, we retrospectively analyzed genetic diversity in autochthonous and imported field isolates collected in different endemic regions in Panama from 2007 to 2020, using highly polymorphic markers (, -1, and -3α).

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Background: More than 85% of the malaria cases in Panama occur in poor, rural and indigenous regions like Darien Province. Vector diversity, infection rate and spatial distribution are important entomological parameters of malaria transmission dynamics. Their understanding is crucial for the development of effective disease control strategies.

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Background: Global temperatures are projected to rise by ≥2 °C by the end of the century, with expected impacts on infectious disease incidence. Establishing the historic relationship between temperature and childhood diarrhea is important to inform future vulnerability under projected climate change scenarios.

Methods: We compiled a national dataset from Peruvian government data sources, including weekly diarrhea surveillance records, annual administered doses of rotavirus vaccination, annual piped water access estimates, and daily temperature estimates.

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Inorganic arsenic exposure has been linked to the development of several health conditions, including adverse birth outcomes; and around 150 million of people worldwide are exposed to levels above the WHO suggested limit of 10 μg/L. A recent risk assessment in pregnant women of Tacna, of this same population performed by our group, found that 70.25% were exposed to arsenic concentrations in drinking water ≥25 μg/L.

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Panamá, together with all the nations in Mesoamerica, has committed to eliminate malaria from the region by 2020. As these countries approach malaria elimination and local transmission decreases, an active molecular surveillance to identify genotypes circulating along the border areas is particularly needed to accurately infer infection origin, drug resistance and disease propagation patterns in the region. This study evaluated the genetic diversity and allele frequencies of -1, -2 and genes using different molecular analyses (nested PCR, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing) from 106 autochthonous and imported isolates collected from different endemic areas in Panamá between 2003 and 2019.

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Background: There have been no studies of air pollution and mortality in Lima, Peru. We evaluate whether daily environmental PM exposure is associated to respiratory and cardiovascular mortality in Lima during 2010 to 2016.

Methods: We analyzed 86,970 deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases in Lima from 2010 to 2016.

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Background: We conducted a national impact evaluation of routine rotavirus vaccination on childhood diarrhea in Peru, accounting for potential modifying factors.

Methods: We utilized a dataset compiled from Peruvian governmental sources to fit negative binomial models investigating the impact of rotavirus vaccination, piped water access, sewerage access and poverty on the rate of diarrhea clinic visits in children under 5 years old in 194 Peruvian provinces. We considered the interaction between these factors to assess whether water access, sanitation access, or poverty modified the association between ongoing rotavirus vaccination and childhood diarrhea clinic visits.

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Objective.: To assess the change in environmental levels of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and NO2, after the application of a traffic regulation plan in Abancay Avenue between the years 2013-2015 vs.

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Background: Rhodnius pallescens, the only species of this genus reported in Panama, has a wide geographical distribution and is associated with most cases of Chagas disease and human infections with Trypanosoma rangeli in this country. Thus far, no phenotypic variants of this triatomine have been registered. Similarly, genotyping of the trypanosomes that infect this vector has only been partially evaluated.

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Introduction: Opioid overdose is a leading cause of death in the USA. Internet-based teaching can improve medical knowledge among trainees, but there are limited data to show the effect of Internet-based teaching on clinical competence in medical training, including management of opioid poisoning.

Methods: We used an ecological design to assess the effect of an Internet-based teaching module on the management of a simulated opioid-poisoned patient.

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Transillumination technique for assessment of stages of spermatogenic cycle is a useful tool for toxicological studies. This study was designed to determine the effect of two medicinal plants on spermatogenesis in male rats using the transillumination technique. For this, the effect of the combination of a fruit with highest content of ascorbic acid (Myrciaria dubia, camu camu) and extract of black maca (Lepidium meyenii) on seminiferous tubule stages scored by transillumination on intact tubules in adult male rats was assessed.

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This study examined the effect of 10% and 16% carbamide peroxide bleaching agents on the surface microhardness of micro-particulate feldspathic ceramics (VM7 and VM13, Vita Zahnfabrik). Forty specimens (8-mm diameter, 2-mm thickness) were divided into four groups (n=10): GI-VM7 + 10% Whiteness, G2-VM7 + 16% Whiteness, G3-VM13 + 10% and G4-VM13 + 16% Whiteness. The home-use bleaching agents were applied for 8 hours on 15 days, and the specimens were stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C.

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The aim of this study was to assess the effect of bleaching agents (10% and 16% carbamide peroxide) on the roughness of two dental ceramics in vitro, and to analyze the surface by scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Two bleaching agents (10% and 16%/Whiteness, FGM Gel) and two microparticle feldspathic ceramics (Vita VM7 and Vita VM13) were used. Forty disks of Vita VM7 and Vita VM13 ceramic were manufactured, measuring 4 mm in diameter and 4 mm high, in accordance with the manufacturers' recommendations, and were divided into 4 groups (n = 10): (1) VM7 + Whiteness 10%; (2) VM7 + Whiteness 16%; (3) VM13 + Whiteness 10%; (4) VM13 + Whiteness 16%.

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Purpose: To compare the flexural strength of two glass-infiltrated high-strength ceramics and two veneering glass-ceramics.

Materials And Methods: Four ceramic materials were tested: two glass-infiltrated high-strength ceramics used as framework in metal-free restorations [In-Ceram Zirconia IZ (Gr1) and In-Ceram Alumina IA (Gr2)], and two glass-ceramics used as veneering material in metal-free restorations [Vita VM7 (Gr3) and Vitadur-alpha (Gr4)]. Bar specimens (25 x 5 x 2 mm3) made from core ceramics, alumina, and zirconia/alumina composites were prepared and applied to a silicone mold, which rested on a base from a gypsum die material.

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Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of thermal- and mechanical-cycling on the shear bond strength of three low-fusing glassy matrix dental ceramics to commercial pure titanium (cpTi) when compared to conventional feldspathic ceramic fused to gold alloy.

Methods: Metallic frameworks (diameter: 5 mm, thickness: 4 mm) (N=96, n=12 per group) were cast in cpTi and gold alloy, airborne particle abraded with 150 microm aluminum oxide. Low-fusing glassy matrix ceramics and a conventional feldspathic ceramic were fired onto the alloys (thickness: 4 mm).

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This study evaluated the effects of mechanical and thermal cycling on the flexural strength (ISO 9693) of three brands of ceramics fused to commercially pure titanium (cpTi). Metallic frameworks of 25 x 3 x 0.5 mm dimensions (N= 84) were cast in cpTi, followed by 150- microm aluminum oxide airborne particle abrasion at a designated area of the frameworks (8 x 3 mm).

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Aim: To determine the effect of two different extracts of red maca in male rats.

Methods: Prostatic hyperplasia was induced in male rats with testosterone enanthate (TE). The study comprised six groups: one control group (group 1), one group treated with TE (group 2), two groups treated with TE and aqueous extract of red maca (groups 3 and 4), one group treated with hydroalcoholic extract of red maca (group 5) and one group treated with finasteride (0.

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Overexpression of TPPII correlates with accelerated growth and the appearance of centrosome and chromosome aberrations, suggesting that the activity of this enzyme may be critical for the induction and/or maintenance of genetic instability in malignant cells. We now find that the length of mitosis and of the entire cell cycle is significantly reduced in TPPII overexpressing HEK293 cells compared to untransfected and control transfected cells. Functional TPPII knockdown by shRNA interference caused a significant slowdown in cell growth and the accumulation of cells that delayed or failed to complete mitosis.

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