Neuroinflammation in Parkinson's Disease: From Gene to Clinic: A Systematic Review.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease whose progression and clinical characteristics have a close bidirectional and multilevel relationship with the process of neuroinflammation. In this context, it is necessary to understand the mechanisms involved in this neuroinflammation-PD link. This systematic search was, hereby, conducted with a focus on the four levels where alterations associated with neuroinflammation in PD have been described (genetic, cellular, histopathological and clinical-behavioral) by consulting the PubMed, Google Scholar, Scielo and Redalyc search engines, including clinical studies, review articles, book chapters and case studies. Initially, 585,772 articles were included, and, after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 84 articles were obtained that contained information about the multilevel association of neuroinflammation with alterations in gene, molecular, cellular, tissue and neuroanatomical expression as well as clinical-behavioral manifestations in PD.

JVG9, a benzimidazole derivative, alters the surface and cytoskeleton of Trypanosoma cruzi bloodstream trypomastigotes.

Trypanosoma cruzi has a particular cytoskeleton that consists of a subpellicular network of microtubules and actin microfilaments. Therefore, it is an excellent target for the development of new anti-parasitic drugs. Benzimidazole 2-carbamates, a class of well-known broad-spectrum anthelmintics, have been shown to inhibit the in vitro growth of many protozoa. Therefore, to find efficient anti-trypanosomal (trypanocidal) drugs, our group has designed and synthesised several benzimidazole derivatives. One, named JVG9 (5-chloro-1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol), has been found to be effective against T. cruzi bloodstream trypomastigotes under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Here, we present the in vitro effects observed by laser scanning confocal and scanning electron microscopy on T. cruzi trypomastigotes. Changes in the surface and the distribution of the cytoskeletal proteins are consistent with the hypothesis that the trypanocidal activity of JVG9 involves the cytoskeleton as a target.

JVG9, a benzimidazole derivative, alters the surface and cytoskeleton of Trypanosoma cruzi bloodstream trypomastigotes

Trypanosoma cruzi has a particular cytoskeleton that consists of a subpellicular network of microtubules and actin microfilaments. Therefore, it is an excellent target for the development of new anti-parasitic drugs. Benzimidazole 2-carbamates, a class of well-known broad-spectrum anthelmintics, have been shown to inhibit the in vitro growth of many protozoa. Therefore, to find efficient anti-trypanosomal (trypanocidal) drugs, our group has designed and synthesised several benzimidazole derivatives. One, named JVG9 (5-chloro-1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol), has been found to be effective against T. cruzi bloodstream trypomastigotes under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Here, we present the in vitro effects observed by laser scanning confocal and scanning electron microscopy on T. cruzi trypomastigotes. Changes in the surface and the distribution of the cytoskeletal proteins are consistent with the hypothesis that the trypanocidal activity of JVG9 involves the cytoskeleton as a target.

Detection of Paragonimus mexicanus (Trematoda) metacercariae in crabs from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Metacercariae of Paragonimus mexicanus were collected in crabs Tehuana guerreroensis (Rathbun, 1933) in the municipality of Putla, Oaxaca, Mexico. Metacercariae were found in 20.8% of the crabs collected, with an average of 1.9 metacercarie per crab. Stained metacercariae showed the specific characteristics of P. mexicanus by morphology and sequencing a fragment of the 28S ribosomal gene obtained by PCR. These findings reveal that T. guerreroensis is an intermediate host for P. mexicanus; this new report is relevant considering the potential risk of transmission in the states of Oaxaca and Guerrero, Mexico.

Prevalence of Demodex mites in eyelashes among people of Oaxaca, Mexico.

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Demodex mites in eyelashes of people from different places from Oaxaca. One thousand and ten patients underwent epilation of eight eyelashes from each eye and they were processed to search Demodex which was found in 208 (20%) of the patients and among them male was more affected than female, 119 (57%) and 89 (43%), respectively. There was not found a relationship between clinical manifestations among these patients since 101 (49%) and 107 (51%) of them were symptomatic and asymptomatic, respectively. The range of age that was more affected was 96-105 (100%), followed by 86-95 (75%) and 76-85 (64%) years old. The less affected were individuals of 15-25 years old (11%). Demodex folliculorum was relatively high in the eyelashes of individuals in young and old people in the rural region studied. These people are generally the most vulnerable patients because they live in overcrowded conditions and poor hygiene which facilitates the direct infection. Demodex brevis was found in only one sample.

Taenia saginata: failure treatment in a child with 5-year long-lasting infection.

The management of these infections requires protocols that allow the clinic and laboratory to reach a timely and accurate diagnosis through the differential identification of Taenia species and consequently determine appropriate treatment. On the other hand, the inadequate implementation of treatments and the lack of follow-up coupled with biological phenomena such as resistance to drugs contribute important risks of infection for the population. This case could be caused by a strain of T. saginata with a low sensitivity to albendazole. This case emphasizes the need of developing and implementing techniques that will help us differentiate the species of Taenia in laboratories as well as establish treatments with alternative drugs. It is important to report this kind of infection with the aim of giving laboratory personnel as well as healthcare providers a broader knowledge of these parasites in order to improve treatment with alternative drugs. In addition, improvements in the habits among individuals must be addressed to avoid the increased risk of infection.

Trichuris vulpis (Froelich, 1789) infection in a child: a case report.

We present a human infection with the canine whipworm, Trichuris vulpis, in a child suffering from rhinitis with a diagnosis of rhinitis. T. vulpis eggs resemble those of T. trichiura but they can be differentiated based on their morphological features and egg size, using micrometry with an ocular micrometer. T. vulpis eggs measured an average of 90 µm by 44 µm (range 86-99 µm by 38-47 µm). Prevalence of hookworms (28.1%), Toxocara canis (11.8%), and Trichuris vulpis (3.5%) was found in 292 fecal samples of dogs collected at the peri-domicile, which showed that the risk of infection was not only fortuitous. The treatment of canine whipworm infections is similar to that of T. trichiura infection. We recommend differentiation of the 2 species for their epidemiological and prevention implications.

In vitro and in vivo trypanocidal activity of some benzimidazole derivatives against two strains of Trypanosoma cruzi.

The trypanocidal effect of five benzimidazole derivatives (1-5) was determined in vitro and in vivo assays against two strains of Trypanosoma cruzi (NINOA and INC5). The in vitro trypanocidal activity was evaluated by measuring the percentage of lysis of bloodstream trypomastigotes of T. cruzi. Results point to 5-chloro-1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol (1) as the best activity profile compound with a 50% lytic concentration (LC(50)) of 0.014 mM (NINOA strain) and 0.32 mM (INC5 strain). Reference drugs were nifurtimox (Nfx) and benznidazole (Bnz), which on NINOA strain displayed a LC(50)=0.60 mM and LC(50)=0.78 mM, respectively; while on INC5 strain they exhibited LC(50) values of 0.31 mM and 0.69 mM, respectively. The in vivo trypanocidal activity of 1-5 on parasitemia in a murine model acute Chagas' disease indicated that 1 and Nfx showed similar activity on INC5 strain, while 5-chloro-1-methyl-1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol (2) and its regioisomer, 6-chloro-1-methyl-1H-benzimidazole-2-thiol (3), displayed better activity than Nfx and Bnz on NINOA strain. All compounds showed low cytotoxicity against Vero cells, with selective index 38-3000 times higher to the parasite.