scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Author

Valentina Díaz

Bio: Valentina Díaz is an academic researcher from Universidad Nacional de Asunción. The author has contributed to research in topics: Chlamydia trachomatis & Population. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 19 publications receiving 104 citations.

Papers
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This multidisciplinary work suggests that STIs are frequent, making it necessary to implement control measures and improve diagnosis in order to increase the number of cases detected, especially in populations with poor access to health centers.
Abstract: The incidence of cervical cancer in Paraguay is among the highest in the world, with the human papillomavirus (HPV) being a necessary factor for cervical cancer. Knowledge about HPV infection among indigenous women is limited. This cross-sectional study analyzed the frequency of HPV and other genital infections in indigenous Paraguayan women of the Department of Presidente Hayes. This study included 181 sexually active women without cervical lesions. They belonged to the following ethnicities: Maka (n = 40); Nivacle (n = 23); Sanapana (n = 33); Enxet Sur (n = 51) and Toba-Qom (n = 34). The detection of HPV and other gynecological infectious microorganisms was performed by either molecular methods (for Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Chlamydia trachomatis), gram staining and/or culture (for Gardnerella vaginalis, Candida sp, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae), serological methods (for Treponema pallidum, human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]) or cytology (cervical inflammation). A high prevalence (41.4%) of women positive for at least one sexually transmitted infection (STI) was found (23.2% any-type HPV, 11.6% T pallidum, 10.5% T vaginalis, 9.9% C trachomatis and 0.6% HIV) with 12.2% having more than one STI. HPV infection was the most frequent, with 16.1% of women positive for high-risk HPV types. There was a statistically significant association observed between any-type HPV and C trachomatis (p = 0.004), which indicates that the detection of one of these agents should suggest the presence of the other. There was no association between any-type HPV and other genital infections or cervical inflammation, suggesting that other mechanism could exist to favor infection with the virus. This multidisciplinary work suggests that STIs are frequent, making it necessary to implement control measures and improve diagnosis in order to increase the number of cases detected, especially in populations with poor access to health centers.

36 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The frecuencia de parasitosis in the población infantil vulnerable, indigenas, and no-indigenas was reported to be 56,1% and 35,5%, respectively as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Introduccion: Cifras oficiales de mortalidad en ninos bajo 5 anos de edad, en las Americas, refieren que la mayor parte de las defunciones fueron causadas por enfermedades infecciosas incluyendo las parasitarias. Objetivo: Evaluar la frecuencia de enteroparasitosis en poblacion infantil vulnerable, indigenas y no indigenas, y sus caracteristicas socio-ambientales. Pacientes y Metodos: Se evaluaron 247 ninos bajo 5 anos de edad, de ambos sexos. Estudio descriptivo con componente analitico, de corte transverso. Se realizaron examenes copro-parasitologicos y se aplicaron encuestas semi-estructuradas para recoger datos socio-demograficos. Resultados: la frecuencia de enteroparasitosis en los ninos indigenas fue de 56,1% y en los ninos no indigenas de 35,5%. En ambas poblaciones los patogenos mas frecuentes fueron Gardia lamblia y Blastocystis hominis. Conclusion: Encontramos una elevada frecuencia de parasitosis en la poblacion infantil indigena, a expensas de los protozoarios. Los ninos no indigenas siguen portando las mismas especies parasitarias encontradas en estudios anteriores, sugiriendo la necesidad de implementar un mayor control y prevencion. Existen escasos estudios en nuestro pais sobre parasitosis en edades tempranas y no se cuentan con datos en la ninez indigena. Las pobres condiciones en las que viven favorecen el desarrollo de estas enfermedades.

21 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
13 Apr 2018
TL;DR: Tanto the frecuencia of anemia como de parasitosis es alta en esta poblacion, sin embargo no se pudo establecer una relacion entre ellas.
Abstract: El mundo, actualmente se enfrenta a una doble carga de malnutricion que incluye la desnutricion y la alimentacion excesiva. A ello se suman las parasitosis intestinales que es una enfermedad frecuente con importante morbimortalidad en la poblacion infantil, ligadas a la pobreza y malas condiciones higienico-sanitarias. El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir el estado nutricional-hematologico y parasitologico de ninos escolares de cuatro comunidades rurales de Paraguay. Estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transverso en el que participaron 102 ninos de ambos sexos de 5 a 12 anos de edad. Se realizo medicion de peso y talla, utilizando balanza calibrada, y un altimetro fijado a la pared. Toma de muestra sanguinea por puncion venosa para determinacion de parametros hematologicos, procesados en contador hematologico por impedancia. Muestras de heces de una sola toma fueron recogidas en frascos apropiados con formol al 10%, utilizandose 4 metodos: directo, flotacion de Willis, Graham y de concentracion. En relacion al estado nutricional-hematologico se encontro que el 3,9% de los ninos estaba con desnutricion moderada y el 9,8% presento riesgo de desnutricion; anemia se observo en el 38,2% de los ninos. En relacion a la parasitosis, el estudio diagnostico se realizo a 94 ninos y se encontro que el 72,2% estaba parasitado, siendo Blastocystis hominis el mas frecuente. Tanto la frecuencia de anemia como de parasitosis es alta en esta poblacion, sin embargo no se pudo establecer una relacion entre ellas.

9 citations

23 Jun 2006
TL;DR: La disminucion notable del titulo de anticuerpos en tres casos y dos seroconversiones negativas en otros, y las evaluaciones clinicas, en el pre y post-tratamiento; sin alteraciones, aportan datos favorables al tratamento en pacientes con Enfermedad de Chagas Cronica Reciente.
Abstract: Un estudio de prevalencia para anticuerpos anti-T. cruzi realizado por el Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud* en el ano 1994 en 953 ninos en edad escolar de zonas marginales de Asuncion, dio resultados positivos en el 1,4% de los mismos por ELISA (Fraccion IgG), y confirmados por una segunda prueba de ELISA (fraccion IgG) e IFI (fracciones IgG e IgM).El estudio incluia como beneficio para los ninos seropositivos el tratamiento, con el consentimiento escrito de sus padres y/o encargados. Cinco de estos ninos lo recibieron y se inicio con benznidazol a una dosis de 5-7 mg/kg/dia durante 60 dias. Los resultados parasitologicos fueron negativos tanto en el estudio basal como en el post-tratamiento. Se realizo control serologico y parasitologico a los 6, 12, 18 y 24 meses post-tratamiento. Luego de 10 anos post-tratamiento, el control serologico para Chagas de uno de los ninos tratados registro resultados negativos por IFI (fracciones IgG e IgM) y ELISA (fraccion IgG) y un segundo paciente, presento una disminucion de hasta tres titulos con respecto al valor basal. En otros dos ninos, un caso presento seroconversion negativa por IFI y el otro un descenso de hasta cuatro titulos con respecto al valor basal luego de 1 ano post-tratamiento. A los 5 anos post-tratamiento, una quinta paciente presento un descenso de cinco titulos por ELISA y cuatro titulos por IFI. La disminucion notable del titulo de anticuerpos en tres casos y dos seroconversiones negativas en otros, y las evaluaciones clinicas, en el pre y post-tratamiento; sin alteraciones, aportan datos favorables al tratamiento en pacientes con Enfermedad de Chagas Cronica Reciente.

8 citations


Cited by
More filters
23 Sep 2011
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identified inadequate cognitive stimulation, stunting, iodine deficiency, and iron-deficiency anaemia as key risks that prevent millions of young children from attaining their developmental potential.
Abstract: Inequality between and within populations has origins in adverse early experiences. Developmental neuroscience shows how early biological and psychosocial experiences affect brain development. The researchers had previously identified inadequate cognitive stimulation, stunting, iodine deficiency, and iron-deficiency anaemia as key risks that prevent millions of young children from attaining their developmental potential. Recent research emphasises the importance of these risks and strengthens the evidence for other risk factors.

176 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The devastating effects of colonization, the loss of ancestral land, and language and cultural barriers for access to health care are among the most salient themes characterizing the poor health situation of indigenous people.
Abstract: Indigenous populations worldwide are experiencing social, cultural, demographic, nutritional, and psychoemotional changes that have a profound impact on health. Regardless of their geographical location or sociopolitical situation, health indicators are always poorer for indigenous populations than for nonindigenous ones. The determinants of this gap are multiple and interactive, and their analysis requires a biocultural framework. Indigenous populations suffer from lower life expectancy, high infant and child mortality, high maternal morbidity and mortality, heavy infectious disease loads, malnutrition, stunted growth, increasing levels of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases, substance abuse, and depression. The devastating effects of colonization, the loss of ancestral land, and language and cultural barriers for access to health care are among the most salient themes characterizing the poor health situation of indigenous people. Anthropology is extremely well suited to address the interplay among...

154 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Latin America and the Caribbean is a region with similarities and important disparities, but LAC has the highest anti-retroviral treatment coverage of any low- and middle-income region in the world, but women and children are less likely than men to receive treatment.
Abstract: Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is a region with similarities and important disparities. In recent years LAC has witnessed achievements, with HIV prevalence rates relatively stable for LA and decreasing for the Caribbean. However average values hide differences. General population HIV prevalence in LAC is 0.4 % on average. In the Caribbean there are fewer new HIV infections but HIV prevalence among adults exceeds 1 % in several countries. It is estimated that 31 % of adults living with HIV in LA and 52 % of adults in the Caribbean are women. Unprotected sex is the main route of HIV transmission in LAC. Men who have sex with men and transgender women are the populations with the highest prevalence (10.6 % and 17.7 % respectively); however other key populations such as female sex workers (4.9 %), drug users (range 1 %-49.7 % for intravenous drug users), prisoners and indigenous populations are also important. LAC has the highest anti-retroviral treatment coverage of any low- and middle-income region in the world, but women and children are less likely than men to receive treatment. There is an important pending agenda to address the gaps in information, prevention, and care for HIV in LAC.

66 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
05 Oct 2015-PLOS ONE
TL;DR: There is a dynamic pattern of response based on parasitological, molecular and serological tests in subjects chronically infected with T. cruzi after treatment, and a trypanocidal effect in the long-term follow-up is suggested.
Abstract: Background Chagas disease is caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi). It is endemic in Latin American countries outside the Caribbean. The current criterion for cure in the chronic phase of the disease is the negativization of at least two serological tests such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIF) and indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA). The serological evolution of treated subjects with chronic T. cruzi infection is variable. Treatment failure is indicated by a positive parasitological and/or molecular test (persistence of parasitemia). Objectives To summarize the pattern of response to treatment of parasitological, molecular and serological tests performed during the follow-up of subjects with chronic T. cruzi infection. Methods Electronic searches in relevant databases and screening of citations of potentially eligible articles were accomplished. Organizations focusing on neglected infectious diseases were asked for help in identifying relevant studies. Included studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-RCTs, and cohort studies involving adults and children with chronic infection who received trypanocidal treatment (benznidazole or nifurtimox) and were followed over time. The assessment of risk of bias was performed separately for each study design. The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool and the guidelines developed by Hayden et al. were used. Two reviewers extracted all data independently. A third review author was consulted in case of discordant opinion. Additional analyses were defined in ad-hoc basis. Scatter plots for percentage of positive parasitological and molecular tests and for negative serological tests were developed by using the lowess curve technique. Heterogeneity was measured by I2. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO, an international prospective register of systematic review protocols (Registration Number CRD42012002162). Results Out of 2,136 citations screened, 54 studies (six RCTs and 48 cohort studies) were included. The smoothed curves for positive xenodiagnosis and positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were characterized by a sharp decrease at twelve month posttreatment. Afterwards, they reached 10–20% and 40% for xenodiagnosis and PCR, respectively. The smoothed curves for negative conventional serological tests increased up to 10% after 48 months of treatment. In the long-term, the rate of negativization was between 20% and 45%. The main sources of bias identified across cohort studies were the lack of control for confounding and attrition bias. In general, RCTs were judged as low risk of bias in all domains. The level of heterogeneity across included studies was moderate to high. Additional analysis were incomplete because of the limited availability of data. In this regard, the country of origin of study participants might affect the results of parasitological and molecular tests, while the level of risk of bias might affect serological outcomes. Subgroup analysis suggested that seronegativization occurs earlier in children compared to adults. Conclusions We acknowledge that there is a dynamic pattern of response based on parasitological, molecular and serological tests in subjects chronically infected with T. cruzi after treatment. Our findings suggest a trypanocidal effect in the long-term follow-up. Further research is needed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity and to conduct reliable subgroup analysis.

43 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Estimation of the prevalence of STIs associated with HPV‐positivity in 201 cervical samples from patients who underwent annual routine gynecological exams will contribute to the molecular detection of sexually transmitted pathogens from screening programs to identify those women who are at risk for developing cervical lesions.
Abstract: Cervical cancer development has been mainly associated with persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. However HPV infection is unlikely to be sufficient to cause cervical cancer and the contribution of other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) could be the determining factor for cervical lesion-progression. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of STIs associated with HPV-positivity in 201 cervical samples from patients who underwent annual routine gynecological exams. The overall prevalence of STIs was 57.7% and the most frequent infection was Ureaplasma spp (UP) (39.8%) followed by Gardnerella vaginalis (GV) (25.9%) alpha-HPV (18.4%) Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) (1.5%) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) (0.5%). The highest prevalence rate of multiple non-HPV infections was observed for the age-range 31-40; for papillomavirus infection the age-range was 21-30. In normal cervical samples HPV16 was the most prevalent genotype (24.3%) followed by genotypes 58 (13.5%) and 52 (10.8%). Intriguingly HPV18 was not detected in the study population and genotypes 52 and 58 were found exclusively in samples with abnormal cytology. Papillomavirus infection with oncogenic types was significantly associated with GV (P = 0.025) and strongly associated with multiple non-HPV pathogens (P = 0.002). The following variables correlated significantly with cytological diagnosis of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL): GV (P = 0.028) multiple non-HPV infections (P = 0.001) and high-risk HPV positivity (P = 0.001). Epidemiological data from this study will contribute to the molecular detection of sexually transmitted pathogens from screening programs to identify those women who are at risk for developing cervical lesions. (c) 2015 Wiley Periodicals Inc.

36 citations