Risk of Sexually Transmitted Infections and HIV in Adolescence

Introduction adolescents represent a vulnerable group exposed to sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. It is a stage in which they are subjected to constant changes in physical, mental and social development and risk factors such as ignorance, early sex, drug addiction, social inequality, gender and myths contribute to this exposure. Objective: To delve into the characteristics of adolescents that put them at risk of acquiring an STI-HIV/AIDS. Methods: A bibliographic review was carried out where the databases included in the LILACS, EBSCO and HINARI services were consulted, and very good coverage was achieved, both in Cuba, Latin America and the Caribbean, and in the rest of the world. Conclusions: This review article on the risks to which adolescents are subjected to acquiring an STI-HIV/AIDS is put in the hands of all personnel involved in working with adolescents. For the family doctor in particular for being a staff closely linked to the community, allowing them to be in better conditions to detect these behaviors thus contributing to exercise and undertake prevention actions that will allow us to achieve the objectives of our Ministry of Public Health in relation to with this indicator.

Case Report of Rare cause of Acute Hemolytic Anemia in Saudi Patient (Babesiosis)

Babesiosis is one of the protozoan zoonotic diseases its presentation rang from asymptomatic to severe clinical conditions, with severe hemolysis. Immune status of the host and the species of the parasite has impact on the clinical presentations of the infected patient our patient is presented here; the patient was admitted from a countryside with severe anemia and a deterioration in his general condition, he was admitted to intense care unit and received blood transfusion, in addition to antimicrobial treatment in form of azithromycin and Ceftriaxon, his condition improve and released from ICU on the second day and discharge from hospital after improvement on the seventh day.

Epidemiological Characterization of the Infection by Treponema Pallidum in Pregnant Women in Beira City, Sofala, Mozambique

Introduction: Syphilis is one of several diseases that can be transmitted during pregnancy and childbirth, which can lead to complications during pregnancy and in the newborn. This is especially so when the pregnant woman is not diagnosed or treated properly and in a timely manner. Methodology: Data from 262 pregnant women prospectively included, aged 18-41years, attended at the Ponta Gêa Health Centre for antenatal clinics has been analyzed from January to September of 2016. In the prospective study, a rapid treponemal and a non-treponemal test were performed. A structured questionnaire was used to collect socio demographic and clinical variables, which was developed from the literature review. Results: The prevalence of active syphilis was 11.8%; the majority of reactive pregnant women were aged 18-25years (55.4%), (61.3%) of pregnant women were treated with doses below those recommended; only a small number of the partners were treated successfully. The highest seroprevalence of syphilis was found in housewives (77%), in those who attended primary education (71.6%) in those who had a monthly income of 1000- 3000 MZN (70.3%), in those with two or more pregnancies (55.7%) and living with someone has husband and wife (63.5%). The syphilis/HIV co-infection rate was high. Conclusion: According to the results obtained in this study, urgent measures are needed to assess the problems encountered and to improve the screening approach, treatment and monitoring of syphilis during pregnancy in order to prevent the cases of congenital syphilis.

Genetic Variation in TNF-α, its Relation with Inflammatory Biomarkers and Susceptibility to Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: Tumor necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) is encoded and controlled by TNF-α gene, which is involved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility. This research aimed to identify genetic variations of TNF-α (G308A) and to establish its association with inflammatory markers in Rheumatoid Arthritis predisposition. Methods: In the present study, fifty RA patients and fifty volunteers were involved and evaluated for the C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, and TNF-α were estimated by ELISA, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) by Wintergreen method and for TNF-α-308 G>A polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction with amplification refractory mutation system (PCR-ARMS). Results: The CRP, RF, ESR and TNF-α were significantly elevated in RA patients relative to controls. The serum level TNF-α was also significantly elevated in female patients and in patients ≥50 years. Analysis of TNF-308 gene polymorphism revealed that GG genotypes were more prevalent in RA patients than in the healthy individuals and that GG genotype may be a potential factor to RA. The G allele was more common in RA than in the control. Elevated TNF-α serum levels were significantly associated the GG genotype and functional disability in RA patients. Conclusion: TNF-α promoter 308polymorphism GG genotype may be considered as a risk factor for RA and the TNF-α serum level was significantly related to the functional disability in the disease.

Interleukin-2 Family Members and their Role in Demyelinating Disease

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has a family which includes IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15 and IL-21 cytokines. This family group of an IL-2 cytokine plays important, but different roles in neurologically related demyelinating disease studied in multiple sclerosis (MS) and it’s experimentally induced rodent models. IL-2 play role in strong T-cell expansion and participates in the maintenance of T-regs cells, but also keep in the stimulation and proliferation of pathogenic T cells. IL-4 induces differentiation of naïve helper T cells (Th0) to Th2 cells. IL-7 promotes Th1 cell differentiation. IL-9 is a hematopoietic growth factor for major pathogenic Th17 cells in EAE. IL-15 is necessary for memory CD8+ T cells and plays a negative regulatory role through CD8+ CD122+ T cells in reducing Th17-mediated inflammation. IL-21 has potent regulatory effects on the natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T cells. IL-21 activates CD4+ and up-regulates the Th2 and Th17 subsets of T helper cells. Based on different roles of each family member in demyelinating disease, bio-agents and therapeutic agents have been attempted in an experimental model to study their role in demyelinating disease is described in the present review.

COVID-19: Exploring the Disease Transmission Dynamics

The Immuno-Thrombo-Inflammatory Disease: COVID-19 is an acute immuno-thrombogenic inflammatory viral disease manifested by dysfunctions related to multiple organs involved in its pathogenesis. Its incidence and prevalence is related to environmental viability of the virus, various transmission factors associated with the agent and the host, possible modes of transmission, period of infectiousness, and composition and susceptibility of the population. Whereas respiratory route is dominant mode of transmission, transmission through direct contact and fomite transmission do occur. SARS-CoV-2: Understanding the Agent Factors: Understanding of SARS-CoV-2 or hCoV-19 structural components is important for understanding the dynamics of the disease transmission and propagation. The virus has a lipid shell, a singlestranded RNA genome containing 29891 nucleotides, spike, envelope, and membrane and hemagglutinin-esterase dimer proteins. The SARS-CoV-2 structural components have been related to the COVID-19 pathogenic mechanisms. The Kinetics of Transmission and Propagation: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to cause COVID-19 requires that a minimum but unknown dose of replication-competent virus be delivered to an appropriate anatomical site in a susceptible and vulnerable host. A combination of various agent (viral), host, and environmental factors influence the transmission and course of the disease. Fear, Confusion, and Impact on Mass Behavior: The un-relented spread of COVID-19 pandemic is a major public health concern threatening general and mental health and safety of the human life all over the globe. The associated anxiety and emotional stress levels are often high. The healthcare professionals, too, suffer with various concerns like long and strenuous working hours, being able to provide competent medical care, their safety at the workplace and taking the infection home to their family, and uncertainty about their organizational support for their personal and family needs. Conclusion: The Lessons for Pandemic Control: The human subjects produce respiratory droplets ranging from 0.1 to 1000µm. Depending on droplet size, inertia, gravity, and evaporation factors, the emitted droplets and aerosols disperse in air. There are two obvious transmission pathways: the airborne inhalation and contracting through the contaminated surfaces. It appears that the contaminated surfaces may play less significant role as compared to the infected airborne droplets and the aerosol in the disease transmission.