Is there association between Trichomonas vaginalis infection and prostate cancer risk?: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to reveal the association between Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) infection and the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) development. Systematic searching (PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, Cinhal, Wiley, Cochrane, Psychoinfo, ProQuest and Google Scholar) was done, up to March 2018 for case-control studies. Random effects model was applied to define odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. In total, 6 enteries were included in our meta-analysis, comprising 5590 individuals (2677 PCa cases and 2913 control individuals) examined for trichomoniasis, with a total positivity of 469 (17.51%) and 482 (16.54%) individuals, respectively. Totally, such association was documented in three countries, including USA (4 studies), Kuwait (one study) and Taiwan (one study). Based on pooled estimations, however a 1.17-time increase of PCa was observed among individuals with a previous exposure of TV, it was not statistically significant [OR = 1.17 (95% CI: 1.01 to 1.36)]. Egger's regression test demonstrated no publication bias among studies. Also, year of publication for included records was not significantly correlated to the relationship between trichomoniasis and PCa. Any further inferences should be based on future investigations for better understanding this relationship and shedding light on the cryptic pathogenesis of TV in PCa patients.

Is chronic toxoplasmosis a risk factor for diabetes mellitus? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies

ABSTRACT Introduction: The global protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, infects many warm-blooded animals and humans by employing different transmission routes. There have been some recent studies on the probable relevance of infectious agents and diabetes. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the possible association between chronic toxoplasmosis and diabetes mellitus. Methods: This study was conducted following the general methodology recommended for systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Nine English literature databases (Google scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, Science Direct, Ovid, ProQuest, IngentaConnect, and Wiley Online Library) were searched, up to January 2016. Random effects model was used to determine odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. Results: Our review resulted in a total of seven publications meeting the inclusion criteria. Because of significant heterogeneity, we estimated a common OR by a random effects model at 1.10 (95% CI = 0.13-9.57) with p = 0.929 and 2.39 (95% CI = 1.20-4.75) with p = 0.013 for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, respectively. Conclusion: Despite the limitations such as low number of studies, this meta-analysis suggests chronic toxoplasmosis as a possible risk factor for type 2 DM. However, based on random effects model no statistically significant association was observed between T. gondii and type 1 DM. It is highly recommended for researchers to carry out more accurate studies aiming to better understand this association.

Is chronic toxoplasmosis a risk factor for diabetes mellitus? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies.

INTRODUCTION: The global protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, infects many warm-blooded animals and humans by employing different transmission routes. There have been some recent studies on the probable relevance of infectious agents and diabetes. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify the possible association between chronic toxoplasmosis and diabetes mellitus. METHODS: This study was conducted following the general methodology recommended for systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Nine English literature databases (Google scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, Science Direct, Ovid, ProQuest, IngentaConnect, and Wiley Online Library) were searched, up to January 2016. Random effects model was used to determine odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Our review resulted in a total of seven publications meeting the inclusion criteria. Because of significant heterogeneity, we estimated a common OR by a random effects model at 1.10 (95% CI=0.13-9.57) with p=0.929 and 2.39 (95% CI=1.20-4.75) with p=0.013 for type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, respectively. CONCLUSION: Despite the limitations such as low number of studies, this meta-analysis suggests chronic toxoplasmosis as a possible risk factor for type 2 DM. However, based on random effects model no statistically significant association was observed between T. gondii and type 1 DM. It is highly recommended for researchers to carry out more accurate studies aiming to better understand this association.

Effect of nitaxozanide and pyrimethamine on astrocytes infected by Toxoplasma gondii in vitro.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: T. gondii is a causal agent of encephalitis in immunocompromised patients. Pyrimethamine (PYR) has been the treatment of choice for toxoplasmosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of nitazoxanide and pyrimethamine on astrocytes infected with T. gondii in vitro. METHODS: Rat astrocytes were cultured and infected with T. gondii. The effect of nitazoxanide (10, 20 and 30 µg/mL) and pyrimethamine (7, 10 and 13 µg/mL) on astrocytes infected was evaluated at 24 and 48 h post-infection. Tachyzoites and astrocytes were detected by the immunocytochemical method. T. gondii viability in astrocytes infected and treated with NTZ and PYR as well as NTZ and PYR cytotoxicity on astrocytes in vitro were evaluated by the MTT assay. RESULTS: The number of parasites in astrocytes treated with the drugs was significantly reduced when compared to control (p <0.001) at 24 and 48 h. Nitazoxanide produced 97% T. gondii death in a concentration of 10 µg/mL in 48 h infected astrocytes. At 48 h, the death rate of T. gondii was higher when treated with nitazoxanide than with pyrimethamine. A higher toxicity rate in astrocyte was observed when using pyrimethamine at 40 µg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: Nitazoxanide reduced T. gondii infection more efficiently than pyrimethamine and is not cytotoxic to astrocytes at the administered dose.

Seroepidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection in drivers involved in road traffic accidents in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of toxoplasmosis in the general population of Guadalajara, Mexico, is around 32%. Toxoplasmosis can cause ocular lesions and slowing of reaction reflexes. Latent toxoplasmosis has been related with traffic accidents. We aimed to assess the prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and visual impairments related with traffic accidents in drivers from the metropolitan Guadalajara. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the prevalence of IgG and IgM anti-T. gondii antibodies in 159 individuals involved in traffic accidents, and in 164 control drivers never involved in accidents. Cases of toxoplasmosis reactivation or acute infection were detected by PCR in a subset of 71 drivers studied for the presence of T. gondii DNA in blood samples. Ophthalmologic examinations were performed in drivers with IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies in search of ocular toxoplasmosis. RESULTS: Fifty-four (34%) traffic accident drivers and 59 (36%) controls were positive to IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies (p = 0.70). Among the 113 seropositive participants, mean anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies titers were higher in traffic accident drivers than in controls (237.9 ± 308.5 IU/ml vs. 122.9 ± 112.7 IU/ml, respectively; p = 0.01 by Student's t test, p = 0.037 by Mann-Whitney U test). In multivariate analyses, anti-T. gondii IgG antibody titers were consistently associated with an increased risk of traffic accidents, whereas age showed an inverse association. The presence of IgM-anti-T. gondii antibodies was found in three (1.9%) subjects among traffic accident drives, and in two (1.2%) controls. Three (4.2%) samples were positive for the presence of T. gondii DNA, all among seropositive individuals. No signs of ocular toxoplasmosis were found in the entire cohort. Moreover, no other ocular conditions were found to be associated with the risk of traffic accidents in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-T. gondii antibody titers are associated with the risk of traffic accidents. We could not determine any association of ocular toxoplasmosis with traffic accidents. Our results warrant further analyses in order to clarify the link between toxoplasmosis and traffic accidents.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of Toxoplasma gondii infection among the Mexican population.

BACKGROUND: Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii and at least one-third of the world's population has detectable T. gondii antibodies. The seroprevalence of T.gondii ranges from 15% to 50% among the Mexican general population. The aim of this work was to determine the mean prevalence and weighted mean prevalence of T. gondii infection, and to evaluate the epidemiological transition of infection in Mexico. METHODS: Pub Med, Lilacs, Medline, Latindex, Google Scholar data bases were searched to retrieve reports from 1951 up to 2012 regarding prevalence data, diagnostic tests and risk factors of infection among the adult population. Data collection and criteria eligibility was established in order to determine the crude prevalence (proportion of positive cases) of each study, together with weighted population prevalence according to individual research group categories to limit the bias that may impose the heterogeneous nature of the reports. A Forest Plot chart and linear regression analysis were performed by plotting the prevalence of infection reported from each study over a period of sixty years. RESULTS: A total of 132 studies were collected from 41 publications that included 70,123 individuals. The average mean prevalence was 27.97%, and weighted mean prevalence was 19.27%. Comparisons among different risk groups showed that the weighted prevalence was higher in women with miscarriages (36.03%), immunocompromised patients (28.54%), mentally-ill patients (38.52%) and other risk groups (35.13%). Toxoplasma infection among the Mexican population showed a downward trend of 0.1%/year over a period of sixty years that represents a 5.8% reduction in prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis showed a downward trend of infection; however, there are individuals at high risk for infection such as immunocompromised patients, mentally-ill patients and pregnant women. Further research is required to provide better prevention strategies, effective diagnostic testing and medical management of patients. Educational efforts are required to avoid the transmission of infection in populations that cannot be controlled by drugs alone.

Prevalence of toxoplasma infection in Mexican newborns and children: a systematic review from 1954 to 2009.

Introduction. Recent studies in Mexico have shown that from 20/10,000 to 58/10,000 newborns with Toxoplasma infection could be undetected. The aim of this study was to determine the weighed prevalence of T. gondii infection and describe the epidemiological transition of infection in newborns. Methods. Research literature reporting Toxoplasma infection prevalence in Mexican newborns and children were searched in five international databases. Weighted prevalence was calculated by inverse variance-weighted method in asymptomatic and symptomatic study groups, and the epidemiological transition was estimated by a lineal regression analysis. Results. The weighed prevalence in 4833 asymptomatic newborns was 0.616%, CI95% (0.396%-0.835%) (P < 0.001), whereas, among 895 symptomatic newborns, the weighed prevalence was 3.02%, CI 95% (1.91%-4.1%) (P < 0.001). A downward trend of 0.25%/year represented an accumulated decrease of -13,75% in the prevalence in the symptomatic newborns throughout 55 years, whereas, in the asymptomatic children, the prevalence was similar over the course of the years. Conclusion. The high-weighted prevalence of congenital Toxoplasma infection in newborns justifies that Toxoplasma gondii testing be included in the screening programs for women during pregnancy and newborns in Mexico. A rapid diagnosis and treatment strategy could aid in limiting a potential damage to the newborns.

Comparative inter-institutional study of stress among dentists

Dentistry is considered to be a stressful profession due to different factors caused by work, representing a threat to dentists' health. The objectives of this work were to identify and compare chronic stress in dentists among the different health institutions and the association of stress with risk factors. The study in question is observational, transversal and comparative; 256 dentists were included, distributed among five public health institutions in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, namely: the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), the Ministry of Health (SS), the Integral Development of the Family (DIF), the Social Security Services Institute for the Workers (ISSSTE) and the University of Guadalajara (U. de G.) Data were obtained by means of the census technique. Stress was identified using the Stress Symptoms Inventory and the statistical analysis was performed using the Odds Ratio (O.R.) and the chi-square statistic. From the total population studied, 219 subjects presented high levels of chronic stress and 37, low levels. In the results of comparative analysis, significant differences were found between IMSS and U. de G. and likewise between IMSS and SS. However, in the analysis of association, only U. de G. was found to be associated with the high level of chronic stress.

La odontologia es considerada una profesion estresante, debido a diferentes factores causados por el trabajo, y representa una amenaza para la salud de los dentistas. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron: identificar y comparar el estres cronico de dentistas entre las Instituciones de Salud y la asociacion de estres con factores de riesgo. Se trata de un estudio observacional, transversal y comparativo; fueron incluidos 256 odontologos, distribuidos en 5 instituciones de salud publica de la ciudad de Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico: Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS), Secretaria de Salud (SS), Desarrollo Integral para la Familia (DIF), Instituto de Seguridad Social y Salud de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE) y Universidad de Guadalajara (U. de G.). Los datos se obtuvieron mediante la tecnica de censo, durante el ano de 2006. La identificacion de estres se realizo con el Inventario de Sintomas de Estres, y el analisis estadistico se llevo a cabo con razon de momios y X2. Del total de la poblacion estudiada, 219 presentaron niveles altos de estres cronico y 37 niveles bajos. En los resultados del analisis comparativo se encontraron diferencias significativas entre el IMSS vs. U. de G. asi como IMSS vs. SS. Sin embargo, en el analisis de asociacion, solo la U. de G. presenta asociacion con el nivel alto de estres cronico.