Clinical and In Vitro Safety of AO 1167B: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

(1) Background: , a lactic acid-producing bacterium, displays characteristics of both and genera. Clinical evidence suggests its potential health benefits. This study evaluated the safety of AO1167B as a candidate probiotic supplement.

Compounds with potentialities as novel chemotherapeutic agents in leishmaniasis at preclinical level.

Leishmaniasis are neglected infectious diseases caused by kinetoplastid protozoan parasites from the genus Leishmania. These sicknesses are present mainly in tropical regions and almost 1 million new cases are reported each year. The absence of vaccines, as well as the high cost, toxicity or resistance to the current drugs determines the necessity of new treatments against these pathologies.

Current Status and Challenges Associated with Tick-Borne Pathogens and Diseases: Where Do We Stand?

Lyme Borreliosis (LB), caused by sensu lato (s [...

Anti-Treponema pallidum IgA response as a potential diagnostic marker of syphilis.

Objectives: Serological tests for syphilis detect mainly total Ig, IgM or IgG antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the specific IgA response in syphilis patients according to disease stage.

Methods: A serum IgA-enzyme immunoassay was developed using commercially available microplates coated with recombinant treponemal antigens and an anti-IgA-conjugate.

Cell Immortalization: In Vivo Molecular Bases and In Vitro Techniques for Obtention.

Somatic human cells can divide a finite number of times, a phenomenon known as the Hayflick limit. It is based on the progressive erosion of the telomeric ends each time the cell completes a replicative cycle. Given this problem, researchers need cell lines that do not enter the senescence phase after a certain number of divisions.

Antibiotic resistance among clinical isolates from Cuban individuals between 2013 and 2018.

Acquired resistance against the antibiotics that are active against species has been described. Diagnostics combined with antimicrobial sensitivity testing are required for therapeutic guidance. To report the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among Cuban isolates and the related molecular mechanisms of resistance.

A retrospective study of spp. in Cuban patients: what does molecular analysis tell us?

Taeniosis is a neglected disease, particularly in developing countries, and is caused by infection with the adult tapeworm of either , and . Of these, is of primary concern due to the potential for cysticercosis should eggs be ingested. In Cuba, all cases of taeniosis are assumed to be caused by , although some cases of cysticercosis have been documented.

Use of different approaches for the culture-independent typing of Mycoplasma pneumoniae from two geographically distinct regions.

We used multi-locus variable-number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), p1, multi-locus sequence (MLS) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) typing to characterize a collection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae strains from Cuba and Germany. Among 67 strains, 5 p1, 7 MLVA, 11 MLS, and 11 SNP types were obtained.

Characterization of Neonatal Infections by Gram-Negative Bacilli and Associated Risk Factors, Havana, Cuba.

Infections represent an important problem in neonates because of the high mortality. An increase in neonatal infections has been found in Cuban hospitals in recent years. The aim of this study was to provide evidence on the clinical and microbiological behavior of Gram-negative bacilli that cause neonatal infections in hospitals of Havana, Cuba.

Sexually transmitted diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: A focus on syphilis and gonorrhoea in Cuba.

Objectives: The implementation of social confinement measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has limited the clinical and laboratory diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and their transmission. This study aims to explore the epidemiological behaviour of two notifiable STDs during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba.

Study Design: This is an exploratory study of the incidence rates of syphilis and gonorrhoea during the COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba.

Cost-effectiveness of introducing a domestic pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7-TT) into the Cuban national immunization programme.

Objectives: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of introducing a domestic pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7-TT) into the Cuban National Immunization Program (NIP).

Methods: We compared PCV7-TT given at two, four and six months of age to a scenario without PCV7-TT, over a ten-year period (2020-2029). We calculated the cost (Cuban pesos - CUP) per Disability Adjusted Life Year (DALY) averted from a Government perspective.

scorpion venom induces antitumor effect and against a murine mammary adenocarcinoma model.

Objectives: In Cuba the endemic scorpion species has been used in traditional medicine for cancer treatment and related diseases. However there is no scientific evidence about its therapeutic potential for cancer treatment. The aim of the study was to determine the antitumor effect of scorpion venom against a murine mammary adenocarcinoma F3II.

Sporadic cyclosporiasis in symptomatic Cuban patients: Confirmation of positive results from conventional diagnostic methods by molecular assay.

In Cuba, there are few studies on cyclosporiasis. Here, we report results from 1247 stool samples from symptomatic patients that were examined by microscopy methods and positive cases confirmed by nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing. Seven positive samples, all diagnosed during May-June, were confirmed by the molecular method, indicating an occurrence in this patient cohort of 0.

Concordance of Giardia duodenalis assemblages determined by different PCR methodologies in three observational studies in Cuba.

Giardia duodenalis is one of the most important intestinal parasites globally, especially in children, and in Cuba is the leading cause of chronic paediatric diarrhoea in this population. G. duodenalis is composed of eight genetic groups (or assemblages), two of which (A and B) are apparently zoonotic, occurring in both humans and other animals.

To the bone: Comment on "I wanted a skeleton … they brought a prince": A qualitative investigation of factors mediating the implementation of a Performance Based Incentive program in Malawi.

Recently, McMahon and colleagues set out to build on a widely-used fidelity framework, assessing the role of moderating factors during the implementation of performance-based financing programs in Malawi. Their attempt draws again the attention to the importance of approaching real word implementation issues from a theoretical perspective. It also highlights the importance of fidelity assessment within process evaluation of health programs.

A heterologous prime-boost strategy for immunization against Dengue virus combining the Tetra DIIIC subunit vaccine candidate with the TV005 live-attenuated tetravalent vaccine.

The development of live-attenuated vaccines against Dengue virus (DENV) has been problematic. Dengvaxia, licensed in several countries where DENV is endemic, has shown low efficacy profiles and there are safety concerns prohibiting its administration to children younger than 9 years old, and the live-attenuated tetravalent vaccine (LATV) developed by NIAID has proven too reactogenic during clinical trialing. In this work we examined whether the combination of TV005, a LATV-derived formulation, with Tetra DIIIC, a subunit vaccine candidate based on fusion proteins derived from structural proteins from all four DENV serotypes, can overcome the respective limitations of these two vaccine approaches.

Pharmacokinetics and Biodistribution of Rhopalurus junceus Scorpion Venom in Tumor-Bearing Mice after Intravenous and Oral Administration.

Background: Rhopalurus junceus scorpion venom has shown potential for anticancer treatment. However, there are no scientific evidence about venom pharmacokinetic (PK) and biodistribution (BD) in tumor-bearing mice.

Methods: 131I-labeled venom was administrated by intravenous (IV) and oral (PO) routes at the single dose of 12.

First detection and characterization of macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae strains in Cuba.

Objectives: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in humans. Treatment of infections can be complicated by the occurrence of macrolide resistant strains. The study was conducted to evaluate the presence of resistant strains in Cuba and to determine the corresponding genotypes.

TMC 5135 as a vaccine candidate against tuberculosis: studies.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the biggest problems of global health, at present. Bacillus-Calmette-Guérin is the only vaccine available against this disease. It protects only against the severe forms of TB in the childhood, which is a challenge in the search of new vaccine candidates.

Safety and immunogenicity of the Cuban heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in healthy infants. Results from a double-blind randomized control trial Phase I.

Background: Cuba has a new pneumococcal conjugate vaccine candidate (PCV7-TT). This study evaluates the safety and immunogenicity in healthy infants using 2p+1 vaccination schedule.

Methods: A phase I, controlled, randomized and double blind clinical trial was designed.

Molecular analysis of isolates from symptomatic and asymptomatic children from La Habana, Cuba.

Giardiasis is considered the most common intestinal parasitic disease in humans worldwide. In Cuba, this infection has particularly a strong clinical impact on the child population. is a highly diverse protozoan, which comprises a complex of eight morphologically identical genetic assemblages, further divided into sub-assemblages.

The cytotoxic effects of propolis on breast cancer cells involve PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 pathways, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species generation.

Propolis has been extensively used to improve health and prevent inflammatory diseases. Different types of Cuban propolis (red, brown and yellow) have been documented. The purpose of this research was to investigate the cytotoxic effects of Cuban red propolis (CP) on MDA MB-231 cell line, since breast cancer is considered one of the most common causes of mortality among women.