89 results match your criteria: "National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases[Affiliation]"

Altered Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Telomere Length in Patients with Substance Use Disorder: Correlation with Age, Sex, and Chronic Diseases.

Biochem Genet

November 2024

Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Laboratory of Genome Dynamics and Stability, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. Georgi Bonchev Street, Bldg. 21, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Substance use disorder (SUD) is a complex condition involving psychological, sociocultural, and genetic factors. In this study, we examined the alternations in mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) and telomere length (TL) and their relationship to demographic, medical, heredity, and substance use characteristics in patients with SUD and healthy controls. We investigated a total cohort of 54 participants: 21 healthy individuals, 17 patients with alcohol dependence (AD), and 16 patients with drug dependence (DD).

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Background: Mixed infections can worsen disease symptoms. This study investigated the impact of mixed infections with viral and bacterial pathogens in patients positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods: Using the in-house multiplex PCR method, we tested 337 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples for co-infections with three bacterial and 14 other viral pathogens.

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No vaccine has been more effective in reducing disease burden, especially in preventing child deaths, than measles-containing vaccine. The return on investment makes measles-containing vaccine one of the most cost-effective public health measures available. Exhaustive reviews of biological, technical, economic and programmatic evidence have concluded that measles can and should be eradicated, and by including rubella antigen in measles-containing vaccine, congenital rubella syndrome will also be eradicated.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Seasonal respiratory viruses were detected using multiplex PCR and next-generation sequencing, highlighting the highest coinfection rate (15%) in patients 16 years and younger.
  • * Whole-genome sequencing revealed various genetic groups among the detected viruses and multiple amino acid substitutions, emphasizing the need for understanding viral interactions for effective treatment and prevention strategies.
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Zeolite and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Molecules

June 2024

Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Str. 23, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), characterized by progressive degeneration and death of neurons, are strongly related to aging, and the number of people with NDs will continue to rise. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the most common NDs, and the current treatments offer no cure. A growing body of research shows that AD and especially PD are intricately related to intestinal health and the gut microbiome and that both diseases can spread retrogradely from the gut to the brain.

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The symptoms of COVID-19 include febrility and mainly catarrhal symptoms. In severe cases, patients present with progression to lower respiratory tract and acute respiratory distress (ARDS) and multi-organ dysfunction. Malaria caused by is a severe, endemic parasitosis, mainly in Africa.

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In 2018, an increase in echovirus 30 (E30) detections was reported in some European countries. To assess the circulation and phylogenetic relationships of E30 in Bulgaria, E30 samples identified at the National Reference Laboratory for Enteroviruses, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Bulgaria (NRL for Enteroviruses) in 2017 and 2018 were subjected to sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The present study revealed that sample positivity did not significantly increase in Bulgaria during the European upsurge.

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pneumonia (PCP) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised people. The widespread use of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) for the treatment and prophylaxis of opportunistic infections (including PCP) has led to an increased selection of TMP-SMZ-resistant microorganisms. Sulfa/sulfone resistance has been demonstrated to result from specific point mutations in the gene.

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During the last few decades, bat lyssaviruses have become the topic of intensive molecular and epidemiological investigations. Since ancient times, rhabdoviruses have caused fatal encephalitis in humans which has led to research into effective strategies for their eradication. Modelling of potential future cross-species virus transmissions forms a substantial component of the recent infection biology of rabies.

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The communication practices of general practitioners in relation with vaccines have not been a topic of wide scientific interest. In this article, we outline them in the context of Bulgaria. A representative, cross-sectional, quantitative, face-to-face survey was conducted among 358 Bulgarian general practitioners in 2022 using simple random sampling.

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Rhinoviruses (RV) are one of the most common causative agents of respiratory infections, with significant socioeconomic impact. RV infections are not notifiable in Bulgaria, and little is known about the different RV genotypes circulating in the country. This study aims to investigate the diversity of RV genotypes that were circulating in Bulgaria in the period 2018-2021 in samples from ILI/ARI patients.

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Background: pneumonia (PCP) commonly affects immunocompromised individuals, whereas in immunocompetent persons, it occurs relatively rarely, and in most cases, the infection is detected as an asymptomatic colonization. The present study aimed to establish the prevalence of infection in human hosts with different immune status (immunocompromised and immunocompetent), using molecular diagnostic methods, and to compare their diagnostic value with that of classical staining methods.

Methods: We used the collected-to-this-moment data from a prospective study on the prevalence of pneumocystosis among the Bulgarian population.

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Article Synopsis
  • Mpox is a zoonotic disease due to the Mpox virus, which was first noted outside its typical regions in Central and West Africa on May 21, 2022.
  • A study involving 647 patients across 16 countries found the majority of cases were young males, mostly homosexual-bisexual, with symptoms like rashes, fever, and lymphadenopathy.
  • The findings highlight the need for increased awareness and swift public health responses to manage Mpox’s spread beyond endemic regions.
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Chemiluminescence was used to test the susceptibility of the SARS-CoV-2 N and S proteins to oxidation by reactive oxygen species (ROS) at pH 7.4 and pH 8.5.

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The Mosquito Alert dataset includes occurrence records of adult mosquitoes collected worldwide in 2014-2020 through Mosquito Alert, a citizen science system for investigating and managing disease-carrying mosquitoes. Records are linked to citizen science-submitted photographs and validated by entomologists to determine the presence of five targeted European mosquito vectors: , , , , and . Most records are from Spain, reflecting Spanish national and regional funding, but since autumn 2020 substantial records from other European countries are included, thanks to volunteer entomologists coordinated by the AIM-COST Action, and to technological developments to increase scalability.

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Detection of measles virus in Bulgaria from 2012 to 2018.

Croat Med J

October 2022

Stefka Krumova, National Reference Laboratory "Measles, Mumps, Rubella", Department of Virology, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 44A Stoletov Blvd., 1233 Sofia, Bulgaria,

Aim: To determine the circulation patterns of measles virus in Bulgaria from 2012 to 2018 after a large measles outbreak in the country (2009-2011).

Methods: Three types of clinical material were collected: serum samples, urine samples, and nasal swabs. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect specific viral immunoglobulin (Ig) M/IgG antibodies.

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Introduction: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, viral profile, and clinical features of coinfections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other respiratory viruses.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal samples and clinical data of 221 hospitalized patients and 21 outpatients were collected and analyzed. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to detect SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), parainfluenza virus (PIV) 1,2,3, rhinovirus (RV), adenovirus (AdV), bocaviruses (BoV), and seasonal coronaviruses (OC43, 229E, NL63, and HKU1).

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A Mark-Release-Recapture Study to Estimate Field Performance of Imported Radio-Sterilized Male in Albania.

Front Bioeng Biotechnol

August 2022

Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Vienna, Austria.

The pathogen transmitting mosquito is spreading rapidly in Europe, putting millions of humans and animals at risk. This species is well-established in Albania since its first detection in 1979. The sterile insect technique (SIT) is increasingly gaining momentum worldwide as a component of area-wide-integrated pest management.

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Background: Colonization of large part of Europe by the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is causing autochthonous transmission of chikungunya and dengue exotic arboviruses. While pyrethroids are recommended only to reduce/limit transmission, they are widely implemented to reduce biting nuisance and to control agricultural pests, increasing the risk of insurgence of resistance mechanisms. Worryingly, pyrethroid resistance (with mortality < 70%) was recently reported in Ae.

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Background: Bulgaria, with a high endemicity for malaria in the past, was declared by the WHO as a malaria-free country in 1965. We intended to analyze the epidemiological and clinical implications of imported malaria cases in Bulgaria.

Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of all recorded cases of imported malaria in Bulgaria over a 21-year period (2000-2020).

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First case of ocular dirofilariosis in Bulgaria caused by gravid female Dirofilaria repens.

Ann Parasitol

May 2022

Department of Epidemiology, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Medical University of Pleven, Sv. Kliment Ohridski 1, Pleven 5800, Bulgaria

Dirofilariosis caused by Dirofilaria (Nochtiella) repens is recorded sporadically among people in Europe, Asia and Africa. Still a worldwide controversy exist upon human parasite hosting. Herein, the first case of ocular dirofilariosis in Bulgaria caused by gravid female is presented.

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Anti-adipogenic activity of maackiain and ononin is mediated via inhibition of PPARγ in human adipocytes.

Biomed Pharmacother

May 2022

Department of Plant Cell Biotechnology, Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology, 4000, Plovdiv, Bulgaria; Laboratory of Metabolomics, Department of Biotechnology, The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 139 Ruski Blvd, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Electronic address:

Obesity is a global health burden for which we do not yet have effective treatments for prevention or therapy. Plants are an invaluable source of bioactive leads possessing anti-adipogenic potential. Ethnopharmacological use of Ononis spinosa L.

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Study of IgG avidity and the level of specific IgA antibodies and their significance in the diagnosis of human toxocarosis.

Exp Parasitol

May 2022

National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, 1504, Sofia, 26, Yanko Sakazov Blvd, Bulgaria. Electronic address:

Toxocarosis is a zoonotic disease caused by migration and subsequent localization of nematode larvae of Toxocara spp. in human organs and tissues, which is manifested with development of various non-specific clinical symptoms. Main diagnostic methods are serological and consists in proving the presence of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies in patient's sera.

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