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Biomedical subjects

Carlos Franco-Paredes

Publications and source records attributed to Carlos Franco-Paredes.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Parasitology resources on the World Wide Web: a powerful tool for infectious disease practitioners.

We summarize representative and dependable English-language Web sites that focus on parasitic infections, selected on the basis of high-quality content and usability. Web sites were categorized according to users' interests, as follows: Web sites with information for clinicians (pathogenesis, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of parasitic infections); Web sites with information for epidemiologists; Web sites with information for educators; and Web sites with information for researchers. At least 60 Web sites were identified that contained comprehensive and high-quality information about helminths and protozoa. These Internet resources provide invaluable information for the infectious disease practitioner.

Communicable Diseases↗
PubMed2003

Infectious diseases, non-zero-sum thinking, and the developing world.

Despite some improvements in the health status of the world during the last few decades, major obstacles remain. Improvements in health outcomes have not been shared equally among countries and poverty is clearly the main reason. Infectious diseases, which remain the major cause of death worldwide, are an incalculable source of human misery and economic loss. In fact, 25% of all deaths and 30% of the global burden of disease are attributed to infectious diseases. Unfortunately, more than 95% of these deaths, most of which are preventable, occur in the developing world, where poverty is widespread. The 3 major infectious disease killers in these countries are HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. The principles of social justice and health as a human right in the developing world have been advocated as the main justification for health assistance from rich to poor countries. Although we do not disagree with this, we argue that a strategy that emphasizes the shared benefit to rich and poor countries would facilitate this process. We propose that the accomplishment of these challenging tasks should be viewed from the perspective of game theory, where the interests of the parties (in this case rich and poor countries) overlap. As the world becomes increasingly integrated, economic development in resource-poor countries will increase the opportunities for richer countries to profit from investment in the developing world. Global health has political and international security implications for the developed world, as well. In view of the current health status of the developing world, we are not playing a game but facing a matter of life and death. "When health is absent, wisdom cannot reveal itself, art cannot become manifest, strength cannot fight, wealth becomes useless, and intelligence cannot be applied" --Herophilus, 325 BCE (Physician to Alexander the Great). The purpose of this article is to address the relationship between health, poverty, and development in the context of game theory. We will focus on the link between economic inequalities and health outcomes, exclusively concentrating our analysis on the impact of infectious diseases. Subsequently, we will outline the game, the players, and the potential win-win outcomes that may potentially result.

Communicable Diseases↗
PubMed2002

Aseptic meningitis and optic neuritis preceding varicella-zoster progressive outer retinal necrosis in a patient with AIDS.

Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) is the second most common ocular pathogen in patients with HIV infection. VZV retinitis is estimated to occur in 0.6% of patients with HIV infection and may occur in one of two clinical syndromes. The first is the acute retinal necrosis syndrome, which also may be seen in immunocompetent hosts. The second clinical syndrome occurs in patients with CD4 cell counts typically < 50 x 10(6)/l and is termed progressive outer retinal necrosis. VZV retinitis has been reported to occur simultaneously with other VZV central nervous system manifestations such as encephalitis and myelitis in HIV-infected patients. In addition, VZV retrobulbar optic neuritis heralding VZV retinitis has recently been described in HIV-infected patients who had suffered a recent episode of dermatomal herpes zoster. Herein we report the case of an HIV-infected individual who presented with VZV meningitis and retrobulbar optic neuritis that preceded the onset of progressive outer retinal necrosis. We also review of the literature of seven additional reported cases of retrobulbar optic neuritis preceding the onset of VZV retinitis.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2002

Tuberculosis of the pancreas: report of two cases and review of the literature.

Tuberculosis of the pancreas is a clinical entity rarely described in the literature. The pancreas is biologically protected from infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, probably because of the presence of pancreatic enzymes that interfere with the seeding of M. tuberculosis. However, when pathogens are able to overcome the resistance, they can have diverse presentations, such as pancreatic masses that can mimic carcinoma, obstructive jaundice, pancreatitis, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Herein we describe 2 cases of pancreatic tuberculosis that presented as multicystic masses, and we review the literature to describe the diverse clinical manifestations of this condition.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed2002

Extranodal Rosai-Dorfman disease involving the meninges.

Rosai-Dorfman disease is an idiopathic histiocytic proliferative disorder characterized by sinus histiocytosis and massive lymphadenopathy. Extranodal involvement has also been reported. We report the case of a 57-year-old woman presenting with seizures, focal motor deficits, and leptomeningeal enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging. Meningeal biopsy revealed Rosai-Dorfman disease. Sinus histiocytosis may mimic meningeal disease, and Rosai-Dorfman disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of dural-based masses with diffuse leptomeningeal enhancement.

Diagnosis, Differential↗
PubMed2002

Diagnosis of diffuse CD8+ lymphocytosis syndrome in HIV-infected patients.

The diffuse infiltrative lymphocytosis syndrome (DILS) in HIV-infected persons is characterized by a persistent circulating CD8+ lymphocytosis. Certain HIV-infected persons appear to respond to their infection by developing an oligoclonal expansion of CD8+ lymphocytes. These cells infiltrate multiple organs, but the salivary glands and the lung constitute the major sites involved in this process. This infiltrative process resembles in many aspects a Sjögren-like syndrome, owing to the visceral lymphocytic infiltration. Unilateral parotid gland enlargement in a patient with HIV infection should prompt clinicians to suspect DILS. In addition, clinicians should be aware that the pulmonary process associated with DILS may mimic clinically and radiographically the pneumonic process caused by Pneumocystis carinii. Other manifestations of DILS to consider include a severe form of peripheral neuropathy; lymphocytic infiltration of the liver, evident as hepatitis; myositis; and lymphocytic interstitial nephritis.

CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Impact of imported malaria on the burden of disease in northeastern Venezuela.

BACKGROUND: Many countries throughout the world are reporting an increasing number of imported malaria cases. It is now well documented that population movements play an important role in the spread and introduction of malaria infection in nonendemic areas. METHODS: We evaluated the contribution of imported malaria to the overall malaria burden of disease in an already endemic malaria region in Venezuela, where malaria is exclusively caused by Plasmodium vivax. To estimate the magnitude of this contribution, we retrospectively analyzed cases of imported malaria in Sucre, Venezuela, during a 10-year period (1987-1998). RESULTS: During this period, 1,755 (3.8% of the total) cases of imported malaria were identified. Most of these cases were imported from the Meridian states into Sucre. In Latin America, a major factor in the reemergence and spread of malaria is human migration. Surveillance of imported cases of malaria in Venezuela would allow us to continue evaluating population migration dynamics and its epidemiologic impact on malaria transmission. CONCLUSION: Enhanced surveillance, such as the one shown in this study, would help the early identification of nonindigenous Plasmodium species and also of resistant Plasmodium strains with a potential to spread locally. Population mobility and imported malaria cases may add to the magnitude of malaria burden in some regions of Latin America. Furthermore, malaria treatment guidelines at local and national levels need to incorporate imported malaria cases in their treatment algorithms and into chemoprophylactic recommendations for travelers.

Cost of Illness↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Meningococcal disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis: epidemiological, clinical, and preventive perspectives].

Bacterial meningitis constitutes a significant global public health problem. In particular, Neisseria meningitidis continues to be a public health problem among human populations in both developed and developing countries. Meningococcal infection is present as an endemic and an epidemic disease. Meningococcal disease is manifested not only as meningitis, but also as meningococcemia. The latter is usually fulminant. The global persistence of N. meningitidis is due to the significant number of carriers and the dynamics of transmission and disease. Approximately 500 million people worldwide are carriers of the bacterium in their nasopharynx. Multiple factors have been identified that predispose to the transmissibility of N. meningitidis, including active or passive inhalation tobacco smoking, upper viral respiratory tract infections, drought seasons, and overcrowding. These factors explain the frequent occurrence of outbreaks in military barracks, schools, prisons, and dormitories. Some of the determinants of invasiveness of the bacteria include nasopharyngeal mucosal damage in colonized individuals, virulence of the strains, absence of bactericidal antibodies, and deficiencies of the complement system. During both endemic and epidemic scenarios of meningococcal disease, control measures should include treating the cases with appropriate antimicrobial therapy (penicillin, ceftriaxone, or chloramphenicol); providing chemoprophylactic drugs to contacts (rifampin or ciprofloxacin), and close observation of contacts. Nevertheless, the key to effective control and prevention of meningococcal disease is immunoprophylaxis. Available vaccines include the polysaccharide monovalent, bivalent (serogroups A, C), or tetravalent (A, C, Y, W-135 serogroups) vaccines; conjugate vaccine (serogroup C); and the combined vaccine with outer membrane proteins and polysaccharide (serogroups B, C). Due to a recent increase in case reporting of serogroup C N. meningitidis in Mexico, we have developed a national response strategy that includes availability of vaccines and medications for chemoprophylaxis. This review aims at providing health care workers with updated information regarding the epidemiological, clinical, and preventive aspects of meningococcal disease. The English version of this paper is available at: http://www.insp.mx/salud/index.html.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Severe acute respiratory syndrome: a global overview of the epidemic].

In early February 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) began receiving reports of patients with a syndrome characterized by an atypical pneumonia with rapid progression to respiratory failure without an identified cause despite extensive diagnostic workups. Most of these reports pointed out that the outbreak started in Southern China, specifically in the Guandong Province. The initial outbreak in South East Asia has already spread to other Regions in Asia, Europe, North and South America, and South Africa. Many of these cases can be linked through chains of transmission to an index case from the Guandong Province who visited Hong Kong. Although the exact mode of transmission has not been clearly established, the etiology of this syndrome has already been identified. A novel Coronavirus has been identified by electron microscopy and molecular assays in multiple laboratories from respiratory specimens throughout the world. The syndrome has been defined as SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) by WHO, and is characterized by an incubation period between 1 and 10 days (average 5 days) and by a febrile phase that usually lasts approximately 3 days. During the respiratory phase that begins around day 3, patients start developing a dry cough, shortness of breath and hypoxemia. Mechanical ventilatory support is required in about 10 to 40% of cases and the case-fatality rate ranges between 3 and 16%. The laboratory findings in SARS cases include leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and a rise in transaminases and lactic dehydrogenase levels. Treatment of SARS includes supportive measures and the empiric use of ribavirin. Respiratory isolation, use of respiratory masks, and compulsory hand hygiene constitute the principal preventive measures. The confirmation of a case can be performed at reference laboratories by serologic and molecular assays. From the onset of this epidemic Mexico established a surveillance system as well as clinical guidelines and recommendations for the identification, prevention of secondary spread, and medical management of suspicious and probable cases by health care personnel.

Canada↗