National Autonomous University of Nicaragua

About: National Autonomous University of Nicaragua is a education organization based out in Managua, Nicaragua. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Public health. The organization has 775 authors who have published 715 publications receiving 9791 citations.

Risk Factors for Norovirus Gastroenteritis among Nicaraguan Children

Abstract: Norovirus is a leading cause of pediatric gastroenteritis. Understanding norovirus epidemiology is essential for reducing disease burden. We conducted a case-control study to describe the distribution, clinical features, and risk factors of norovirus gastroenteritis among children < 5 years of age in Leon, Nicaragua. Cases were children testing positive for norovirus and controls were children living in the cases' communities. Study staff interviewed mothers of enrolled cases and controls to obtain detailed exposure information including food, water, and sanitation sources; recent exposures; household characteristics; and handwashing practices. In addition, study staff requested stool samples to be tested for norovirus from select household members. We used descriptive statistics to understand the epidemiologic and clinical features of gastroenteritis episodes. To analyze potential risk factors, we used Firth's penalized logistic regression to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). There were 102 children with gastroenteritis, 18 cases of norovirus and 31 controls. Norovirus cases occurred later in the year, corresponding to a delay in the rainy season. Cases were more likely to have a household member with norovirus in their stool as compared with controls [crude OR: 13.3 (95% CI: 2.5, 136.2) and adjusted OR: 11.5 (95% CI: 1.6, 223.2)]. In addition, alcohol-based hand sanitizer use among household members was reported for 10 (32%) of controls and but never for cases. Further research is needed to understand household transmission of norovirus in low- and middle-income countries and the potential impact of hand sanitizer use.

Serologic surveillance of maternal Zika infection in a prospective cohort in Leon, Nicaragua during the peak of the Zika epidemic.

Abstract: Background Zika virus caused thousands of congenital anomalies during a recent epidemic. Because Zika emerged in areas endemic for dengue and these related flaviviruses elicit cross-reactive antibodies, it is challenging to serologically monitor pregnant women for Zika infection. Methods A prospective cohort of 253 pregnant women was established in Leon, Nicaragua. Women were followed during prenatal care through delivery. Serologic specimens were obtained at each visit, and birth outcome was recorded. Established flavivirus serologic methods were adapted to determine Zika seroprevalence, and a stepwise testing algorithm estimated timing of Zika infection in relation to pregnancy. Results Zika seroprevalence was approximately 59% among women tested. Neutralization testing was highly concordant with Zika NS1 BOB results. Per study algorithm, 21% (40/187) of women were classified as experiencing Incident ZIKV infection during pregnancy. Importantly, the Incident ZIKV group included mostly women pregnant during the 2016 Zika epidemic peak and the only 3 subjects in the cohort with RT-PCR-confirmed infections. Approximately 17% of births had complications; 1.5% (3/194) manifesting clinical criteria of congenital Zika syndrome, one was RT-PCR-confirmed as a case of congenital Zika syndrome. Adverse birth outcome did not correlate with timing of Zika infection. Conclusions By leveraging prenatal care systems, we developed a simple algorithm for identifying women who were likely infected by Zika during pregnancy.

Binding of Amyloid β(1-42)-Calmodulin Complexes to Plasma Membrane Lipid Rafts in Cerebellar Granule Neurons Alters Resting Cytosolic Calcium Homeostasis.

Abstract: Lipid rafts are a primary target in studies of amyloid β (Aβ) cytotoxicity in neurons. Exogenous Aβ peptides bind to lipid rafts, which in turn play a key role in Aβ uptake, leading to the formation of neurotoxic intracellular Aβ aggregates. On the other hand, dysregulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis in neurons has been observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In a previous work, we showed that Aβ(1-42), the prevalent Aβ peptide found in the amyloid plaques of AD patients, binds with high affinity to purified calmodulin (CaM), with a dissociation constant ≈1 nM. In this work, to experimentally assess the Aβ(1-42) binding capacity to intracellular CaM, we used primary cultures of mature cerebellar granule neurons (CGN) as a neuronal model. Our results showed a large complexation of submicromolar concentrations of Aβ(1-42) dimers by CaM in CGN, up to 120 ± 13 picomoles of Aβ(1-42) /2.5 × 106 cells. Using fluorescence microscopy imaging, we showed an extensive co-localization of CaM and Aβ(1-42) in lipid rafts in CGN stained with up to 100 picomoles of Aβ(1-42)-HiLyteTM-Fluor555 monomers. Intracellular Aβ(1-42) concentration in this range was achieved by 2 h incubation of CGN with 2 μM Aβ(1-42), and this treatment lowered the resting cytosolic calcium of mature CGN in partially depolarizing 25 mM potassium medium. We conclude that the primary cause of the resting cytosolic calcium decrease is the inhibition of L-type calcium channels of CGN by Aβ(1-42) dimers, whose activity is inhibited by CaM:Aβ(1-42) complexes bound to lipid rafts.

Seroepidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infections in an urban Nicaraguan population

Abstract: In a Nicaraguan population-based cohort, SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence was 34%, with higher prevalence in children compared to adults. Having a seropositive household member was associated with a two-fold probability of individual seropositivity, suggesting a role for household transmission. Co-morbidities and preventive behaviors were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence.

Perfil epidemiológico de la caries dental y enfermedad periodontal, en Nicaragua, año 2005

Abstract: La caries y enfermedad periodontal, son problemas de salud publica por sus efectos: dolor, deterioro funcional, disminucion de calidad de vida, causa de problemas sistemicos como obstruccion de vias aereas, corazon, cerebro, propension a neumonia, problemas gastrointestinales, piel, sistema inmunologico, sindrome de fatiga cronica, poniendo en riesgo la vida de personas con valvulas cardiacas previamente danadas, o causar nacimientos prematuros, razon por la que se considero de vital importancia determinar el perfil epidemiologico de estas enfermedades en Nicaragua. Se realizo estudio descriptivo, transversal, muestra de 1800 personas, edades 5, 12, 15, 35-44, 65-74 anos, urbano y rural, ambos sexos, tomando criterios que establece la OMS “Investigacion de Salud Oral, Metodos Basicos”[9], sobre estudios epidemiologicos de caries dental y enfermedad periodontal: 12 puntos muestrales. Resultados: Prevalencia ataque de caries 90.61 %. Prevalencia de enfermedad periodontal, de 88.23 %. Conclusiones: Poblacion nicaraguense con altos indices de caries y enfermedad periodontal, no existiendo diferencia de prevalencia de caries, respecto al sexo, pero aumenta a medida que aumenta la edad, siendo mayor en la zona rural. La prevalencia de la enfermedad periodontal, es mayor en mujeres, aumenta a medida que aumenta la edad, siendo mayor en la zona rural.