New drug discovery strategies for the treatment of benznidazole-resistance in Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease.

INTRODUCTION: Benznidazole, the drug of choice for treating Chagas Disease (CD), has significant limitations, such as poor cure efficacy, mainly in the chronic phase of CD, association with side effects, and parasite resistance. Understanding parasite resistance to benznidazole is crucial for developing new drugs to treat CD. AREAS COVERED: Here, the authors review the current understanding of the molecular basis of benznidazole resistance. Furthermore, they discuss the state-of-the-art methods and critical outcomes employed to evaluate the efficacy of potential drugs against T. cruzi, aiming to select better compounds likely to succeed in the clinic. Finally, the authors describe the different strategies employed to overcome resistance to benznidazole and find effective new treatments for CD. EXPERT OPINION: Resistance to benznidazole is a complex phenomenon that occurs naturally among T. cruzi strains. The combination of compounds that inhibit different metabolic pathways of the parasite is an important strategy for developing a new chemotherapeutic protocol.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Innsbruck Health Dimensions Questionnaire for Neurosurgical Patients (IHD-NS).

The goal of this study was to accomplish the cross-cultural adaptation of a quality of life instrument, specific for neurosurgical patients, called Innsbruck Health Dimensions Questionnaire for Neurosurgical Patients (IHD-NS). Thirty patients participated in this study, male and female, all having been submitted to brain tumor surgery more than twelve months before, and whose ages ranged from 26 to 66. After the process of translation/back translation and the elaboration of the Brazilian version of the instrument, the patients were assessed and reassessed within a one-month period. Statistical analyses evinced the preservation of the internal consistency, high agreement levels and highly significant intra-class correlation, allowing for the belief in the quality and reliability of the Portuguese version, named Questionário de Dimensões de Saúde para Pacientes Neurocirúrgicos de Innsbruck--DSI (NC).

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Innsbruck health dimensions questionnaire for neurosurgical patients (IHD-NS) / Adaptação transcultural do questionário de dimensões de saúde de Innsbruck para pacientes neurocirúrgicos - DSI (NC)

The goal of this study was to accomplish the cross-cultural adaptation of a quality of life instrument, specific for neurosurgical patients, called Innsbruck Health Dimensions Questionnaire for Neurosurgical Patients (IHD-NS). Thirty patients participated in this study, male and female, all having been submitted to brain tumor surgery more than twelve months before, and whose ages ranged from 26 to 66. After the process of translation/back translation and the elaboration of the Brazilian version of the instrument, the patients were assessed and reassessed within a one-month period. Statistical analyses evinced the preservation of the internal consistency, high agreement levels and highly significant intra-class correlation, allowing for the belief in the quality and reliability of the Portuguese version, named Questionário de Dimensões de Saúde para Pacientes Neurocirúrgicos de Innsbruck - DSI (NC).

O presente estudo teve como objetivo realizar a adaptação transcultural de um instrumento de qualidade de vida, específico para pacientes neurocirúrgicos, denominado Innsbruck Health Dimensions Questionnaire for Neurosurgical Patients (IHD-NS). Participaram deste estudo 30 pacientes, de ambos os sexos, que foram submetidos a cirurgia de tumor cerebral há mais de doze meses, com idade variando entre 26 e 66 anos. Após o processo de tradução/retro-tradução e elaboração da versão brasileira do instrumento, os pacientes foram avaliados e reavaliados após um intervalo de um mês. As análises estatísticas evidenciaram preservação da consistência interna, índices de concordância elevados e correlação intraclasse altamente significativa permitindo considerar boa a qualidade e a confiabilidade da versão em português, denominada Questionário de Dimensões de Saúde para Pacientes Neurocirúrgicos de Innsbruck - DSI (NC).