ABSTRACT
Leishmaniasis is a group of diseases caused by several species of protozoa. It is a major public health concern in its visceral form, accounting annually for 59,000 deaths, and an estimated 12 million infected patients per year. The importance of VL resides not only in its high incidence and wide distribution but also in the possibility of the disease progressing to the severe and lethal forms, especially in children and immunosuppressed individuals, when associated with malnutrition and concomitant infections. This study is a bibliographical review, aiming to understand the sensitivity and specificity parameters of the tests used to detect Leishmaniasis, as well as to understand if there is any relevance in proposing a serological screening for Leishmaniasis in blood banks. In general, we observed that there are currently several types of tests for detecting Leishmaniasis: parasitological, serological and molecular. In such tests, many serological methods and kits are available for the detection of asymptomatic visceral leishmaniasis, but there is variability in sensitivity and specificity among the methods. The gold standard for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis is the parasitological method, through the aspiration of bone marrow, with higher sensitivity by splenic puncture. Due to the relevance of the disease and the available data from research centers, there is evidence to propose a transfusion serological screening for visceral Leishmaniasis, pointing to the need for further studies.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Senescence is a multifactorial process that in humans may be accompanied by inflammation and immune dysfunction in the oral cavity. Notably, periodontal disease, considered one of the most common inflammatory disorders in the oral cavity, has also been linked to the onset of other chronic inflammatory diseases common in the elderly. Thus, investigating immunity and inflammation during senescence may not only illuminate the pathophysiology of periodontal disease, but also identify new therapeutic targets. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To this end, we retrospectively and systematically reviewed studies of immune molecules associated with periodontal disease. These studies were identified in PubMed from three independent searches based on distinct sets of search terms. RESULTS: The data highlight the need to further investigate inflammatory molecules involved in chronic periodontal disease in the elderly, but strongly suggest that interleukin (IL)-33 is involved. Indeed, various genetic and environmental factors appear to contribute to pathogenesis via IL-33. CONCLUSION: The IL-33 axis may be promising therapeutic target in elderly patients.
