scholarly journals Epidemiology, Biodiversity, and Technological Trajectories in the Brazilian Amazon: From Malaria to COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudia T. Codeço ◽  
Ana P. Dal'Asta ◽  
Ana C. Rorato ◽  
Raquel M. Lana ◽  
Tatiana C. Neves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic History ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Agrarian Economy ◽  
Technological Trajectories ◽  
Deforestation Rates

The Amazon biome is under severe threat due to increasing deforestation rates and loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services while sustaining a high burden of neglected tropical diseases. Approximately two thirds of this biome are located within Brazilian territory. There, socio-economic and environmental landscape transformations are linked to the regional agrarian economy dynamics, which has developed into six techno-productive trajectories (TTs). These TTs are the product of the historical interaction between Peasant and Farmer and Rancher practices, technologies and rationalities. This article investigates the distribution of the dominant Brazilian Amazon TTs and their association with environmental degradation and vulnerability to neglected tropical diseases. The goal is to provide a framework for the joint debate of the local economic, environmental and health dimensions. We calculated the dominant TT for each municipality in 2017. Peasant trajectories (TT1, TT2, and TT3) are dominant in ca. fifty percent of the Amazon territory, mostly concentrated in areas covered by continuous forest where malaria is an important morbidity and mortality cause. Cattle raising trajectories are associated with higher deforestation rates. Meanwhile, Farmer and Rancher economies are becoming dominant trajectories, comprising large scale cattle and grain production. These trajectories are associated with rapid biodiversity loss and a high prevalence of neglected tropical diseases, such as leishmaniasis, Aedes-borne diseases and Chagas disease. Overall, these results defy simplistic views that the dominant development trajectory for the Amazon will optimize economic, health and environmental indicators. This approach lays the groundwork for a more integrated narrative consistent with the economic history of the Brazilian Amazon.

scholarly journals Pharmacokinetic and safety study of co-administration of albendazole, diethylcarbamazine, Ivermectin and azithromycin for the integrated treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy N John ◽  
Catherine Bjerum ◽  
Pere Millat Martinez ◽  
Rhoda Likia ◽  
Linda Silus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Interactions ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Interaction ◽  
Integrated Treatment ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Data ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background Pharmacokinetic data are a pre-requisite to integrated implementation of large-scale mass drug administration (MDA) for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). We investigated the safety and drug interactions of a combination of azithromycin (AZI) targeting yaws and trachoma, with the newly approved ivermectin, albendazole, diethylcarbamazine (IDA) regime for Lymphatic Filariasis. Methodology An open-label, randomized, 3-arm pharmacokinetic interaction study in adult volunteers was carried out in Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea. Healthy adult participants were recruited and randomized to (I) IDA alone, (II) IDA combined with AZI, (III) AZI alone. The primary outcome was lack of a clinically relevant drug interaction. The secondary outcome was the overall difference in the proportion of AEs between treatment arms. Results Thirty-seven participants, eighteen men and nineteen women, were randomized and completed the study. There were no significant drug-drug interactions between the study arms. The GMR of Cmax, AUC0–t, and AUC0–∞ for IVM, DEC, ALB-SOX, and AZI were within the range of 80–125% (GMR for AUC0–∞ for IVM, 87.9; DEC, 92.9; ALB-SOX, 100.0; and AZI, 100.1). There was no significant difference in the frequency of AEs across study arms (AZI and IDA alone arms 9/12 (75%), co-administration arm 12/13 (92%); p = 0.44). All AEs were grade 1 and self-limiting. Conclusions Co-administration of AZI with IDA did not show evidence of significant drug-interactions. There were no serious AEs in any of the study arms. Our data support further evaluation of the safety of integrated MDA for NTDs. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT03664063

Proteomics of Select Neglected Tropical Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 315-336
Author(s):  
Anthony J. Saviola ◽  
Fernanda Negrão ◽  
John R. Yates
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Buruli Ulcer ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Drug Discovery And Development ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Invaluable Tool ◽  
The Subject ◽  
External Stimuli

Technological advances in mass spectrometry have enabled the extensive identification, characterization, and quantification of proteins in any biological system. In disease processes proteins are often altered in response to external stimuli; therefore, proteomics, the large-scale study of proteins and their functions, represents an invaluable tool for understanding the molecular basis of disease. This review highlights the use of mass spectrometry–based proteomics to study the pathogenesis, etiology, and pathology of several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), a diverse group of disabling diseases primarily associated with poverty in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. While numerous NTDs have been the subject of proteomic studies, this review focuses on Buruli ulcer, dengue, leishmaniasis, and snakebite envenoming. The proteomic studies highlighted provide substantial information on the pathogenic mechanisms driving these diseases; they also identify molecular targets for drug discovery and development and uncover promising biomarkers that can assist in early diagnosis.

scholarly journals Model-based Geostatistical Methods Enable Efficient Design and Analysis of Prevalence Surveys for Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection and Other Neglected Tropical Diseases

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olatunji Johnson ◽  
Claudio Fronterre ◽  
Benjamin Amoah ◽  
Antonio Montresor ◽  
Emanuele Giorgi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Predictive Performance ◽  
World Health ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Efficient Design ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Model Based

Abstract Maps of the geographical variation in prevalence play an important role in large-scale programmes for the control of Neglected Tropical Diseases. Pre-control mapping is needed to establish the appropriate control intervention in each area of the country in question. Mapping is also needed post-intervention to measure the success of control efforts. In the absence of comprehensive disease registries, mapping efforts can be informed by two kinds of data: empirical estimates of local prevalence obtained by testing individuals from a sample of communities within the geographical region of interest; digital images of environmental factors that are predictive of local prevalence. In this paper, we focus on the design and analysis of impact surveys, i.e. prevalence surveys that are conducted post-intervention with the aim of informing decisions on what further intervention, if any, is needed to achieve elimination of the disease as a public health problem. We show that geospatial statistical methods enable prevalence surveys to be designed and analysed as efficiently as possible so as to make best use of hard-won field data. We use three case-studies based on data from soil-transmitted helminth impact surveys in Kenya, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe to compare the predictive performance of model-based geostatistics with methods described in current World Health Organisation guidelines. In all three cases, we find that model-based geostatistics substantially outperforms the current WHO guidelines, delivering improved precision for reduced field-sampling effort. We argue from experience that similar improvements will hold for prevalence mapping of other Neglected Tropical Diseases.

scholarly journals A Novel Electronic Data Collection System for Large-Scale Surveys of Neglected Tropical Diseases

PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. e74570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D. King ◽  
Joy Buolamwini ◽  
Elizabeth A. Cromwell ◽  
Andrew Panfel ◽  
Tesfaye Teferi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Collection System ◽  
Electronic Data ◽  
Data Collection System ◽  
Electronic Data Collection

THE ROLE OF EBM AND CLINICAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES IN GENERATING RESEARCH AND INTERVENTIONS IN NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES: A RATIONAL MODEL FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristhian David Morales-Plaza
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Clinical Practice Guidelines ◽  
Practice Guidelines ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Rational Model ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Vulnerable Communities

Guarantee better clinical practices among clinicians who attend NTDs in developing countries as well as provide education in vector control in hotspot vulnerable communities

Heterocycles in the Treatment of Neglected Tropical Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kush K. Maheshwari ◽  
Debasish Bandyopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Heterocyclic Compounds ◽  
Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽  
World Health ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Tropical Diseases ◽  
Concise Review ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) affect a huge population of the world and majority of the victims belong to the poor community of the developing countries. Until now, the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified 20 tropical diseases as NTDs that must be addressed with high priority. However, many heterocyclic scaffolds have demonstrated potent therapeutic activity against several NTDs. Objective: There are three major objectives: (1) To discuss the causes, symptoms, and current status of all the 20 NTDs; (2) To explore the available heterocyclic drugs, and their mechanism of actions (if known) that are being used to treat NTDs; (3) To develop general awareness on NTDs among the medicinal/health research community and beyond. Methods: The 20 NTDs have been discussed according to their alphabetic orders along with the possible heterocyclic remedies. Current status of treatment with an emphasis on the heterocyclic drugs (commercially available and investigational) has been outlined. In addition, brief discussion of the impacts of NTDs on socio-economic condition is included. Results: NTDs are often difficult to diagnose and the problem is worsened by the unhealthy hygiene, improper awareness, and inadequate healthcare in the developing countries where these diseases primarily affect poor people. The statistics include duration of suffering, numbers affected, and access to healthcare and medication. The mechanism of actions of various heterocyclic drugs, if reported, have been briefly summarized. Conclusion: Scientists and pharmaceutical corporations should allocate more resources to reveal the in-depth mechanism of actions of many heterocyclic drugs that are currently being used for the treatment of NTDs. Analysis of current heterocyclic compounds and development of new medications can help in the fight to reduce/remove the devastating effects of NTDs. An opinion-based concise review has been presented. Based on available literature, this is the first effect to present all the 20 NTDs and related heterocyclic compounds under the same umbrella.

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