Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Submitted by Luciana Sebin (lusebin@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-27T12:08:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissLP.pdf: 10003873 bytes, checksum: 89fb02c36205a1922829c70d0aa75ff4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-27T19:56:19Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissLP.pdf: 10003873 bytes, checksum: 89fb02c36205a1922829c70d0aa75ff4 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-09-27T19:56:24Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissLP.pdf: 10003873 bytes, checksum: 89fb02c36205a1922829c70d0aa75ff4 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-09-27T19:56:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissLP.pdf: 10003873 bytes, checksum: 89fb02c36205a1922829c70d0aa75ff4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-25 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Schistosomiasis mansoni is a disease caused by Schistosoma mansoni, it affects about 8 million people in Brazil and it is a neglected disease. Moreover, it is necessary to develop new tools for its control, since for over 40 years the same drug has been used to treat it. Thus, the search for vaccines is of great value for the control of schistosomiasis. In this study, we evaluated two recombinant enzymes of S. mansoni, the MTAP and APRT as immunogens, and checked the antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory effects in the schistosomiasis murine model. By means of prior immunization with MTAP and/or APRT, we analyzed, after the infection with S. mansoni, the host response to parasite board determination, immunological cytokines and histopathological changes in the liver of these animals. Our data showed that the MTAP enzyme was able to decrease the number of adult worms in previously immunized animals; APRT enzyme and/or the mix of the two enzymes induced reduction of inflammation in the liver of animals and promoted collagen deposition control; and MTAP enzyme and the mix stimulated a humoral immune response with production of IgG1 and IgE antibodies. Hence we suggest that the enzymes have potential for new studies that would seek a future vaccine target for the control of schistosomiasis. / A esquistossomose mansônica é uma doença causada pelo agente etiológico Schistosoma mansoni, acomete cerca de 8 milhões de brasileiros, sendo considerada uma doença negligenciada. Assim, faz-se necessário o desenvolvimento de novas ferramentas para o seu controle, visto que há mais de 40 anos usa-se o mesmo fármaco para o seu tratamento. Dessa forma, a busca por vacinas é de grande valia para o controle da esquistossomose mansônica. Neste estudo, avaliamos duas enzimas recombinantes de S. mansoni, a MTAP e a APRT, como imunógenos e verificamos o efeito antiparasitário e anti-inflamatório no modelo murino da esquistossomose mansônica. Por meio da imunização prévia com MTAP e/ou APRT e após a infecção com S. mansoni, analisamos a resposta do hospedeiro com determinação da carga parasitária, as citocinas imunológicas e as alterações histopatológicas no fígado desses animais. Dessa forma, nossos dados mostraram que a enzima MTAP foi capaz diminuir o número de vermes adultos nos animais previamente imunizados. A imunização com a enzima APRT e/ou com o mix das duas enzimas induziu redução do processo inflamatório no fígado dos animais e promoveu controle do depósito de colágeno. E durante a avaliação da resposta humoral a imunização com a enzima MTAP e o mix estimulou uma resposta específica com produção de anticorpos IgG1 e IgE. Assim, sugerimos que, as enzimas apresentam potencial para novos estudos que buscam um futuro alvo vacinal para o controle da esquistossomose mansônica.

Bakgrunn: Kontroll og overvåking av institusjonservervede infeksjoner (sykehusinfeksjoner) ble regulert i lov og forskrift i 1996. Helseinstitusjoner ble pålagt å ha infeksjonskontrollprogram. Hensikt: Å beskrive i hvilken utstrekning sykehjem i Akerhus fylke fulgte lovverket med å ha infeksjonskontrollprogram, inkludert infeksjonsforebyggende- og overvåkende tiltak. Metode: To tverrsnittsundersøkelser ble gjennomført i sykehjem i Akershus fylke i 2001 og 2005. En spørreundersøkelse ble utformet i 2001 for å kartlegge infeksjonskontrollprogram, inkludert lovverk, retningslinjer, ansattes helse og opplæring. I 2005 ble spørreundersøkelsen utvidet til å inkludere retningslinjer for meticillin resistente Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), isolering, samarbeid med mikrobiolgoisk laboratorie og vaksinering. Spørreskjemaet ble sendt til institusjonssjef ved hvert sykehjem i fylket. I tillegg kontrollerte vi om institusjonene deltok i nasjonale prevalens registreringer og om de hadde erfaring med beboere med MRSA ved å benytte Nasjonale Folkehelseinstitutt sin database. Resultater: Antallet sykehjem som hadde etablert infeksjonskontrollprogram hadde steget fra 24 (48%) i 2001 til 45 (80%) i 2005 (Relativ risiko (RR)=1.6, 95% Konfidens interall (KI): 1.2-2.3). Det var en økning i kjennskap til fylkets lokale infeksjonskontrollprogram (RR=1.5, 95% KI: 1.1-2.1). Institusjonssjef vurderte det svært viktig å ha et infeksjonkontrollprogram (gjennomsnitt=6.2, variasjonsbredde 6.0-6.5 på en skala fra 1 til 7). Konklusjon: Det har vært økende oppmerksomhet på infeksjonskontroll og overvåking i sykehjem i Akershus fylke, Norge. Nasjonalt lovverk og gjentatte nasjonale prevalensregistreringer av institusjonservervede infeksjoner kan ha bidratt til dette / Background:In 1996, regulations regarding control and prevention of healthcare-associated infections in all healthcare institutions were implemented in Norway. It became mandatory for all healthcare facilities to have an infection control program. Objective: To describe to what extent long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in Akershus County have implemented infection control programs including guidelines and surveillance. Methods: A repeated, cross-sectional survey was performed among the LTCFs in Akershus County in 2001 and in 2005. A questionnaire was developed in 2001 investigating infection control programs including regulatory issues, guidelines, occupational health and training. In 2005, the questionnaire was expanded to include additional questions regarding policies and guidelines on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), isolation containment, collaboration with the microbiology laboratory and immunization policies. The questionnaire was sent to the head managing nurse of each LTCF in the county. Additionally, we searched for participation of LTCFs in the national prevalence surveys on healthcare-associated infections and for MRSA positive cases in the databases of Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Results: The number of LTCFs with an infection control program increased from 24 (48%) in 2001 to 45 (80%) in 2005 (Relative risk (RR) =1.6, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1.2-2.3). There was an increasing knowledge about the county’s infection control program (RR=1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-2.1). The LTCF’s head managing nurses perceived having an infection control program as important (mean=6.2, range 6.0-6.5 on a scale of 1 to 7). Conclusion: There has been an increased attention towards infection control in LTCFs in Akershus County, Norway. National regulations and repeated national prevalence surveys on healthcare-associated infections may have contributed to this improvement. / <p>ISBN 978-91-85721-19-1</p>

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Water-borne infections have been a menace in many countries around the globe, claiming millions of lives. Cholera in particular has spread to all continents and now on its seventh epidemic. Although control measures have been continually developed through sanitation, vaccination and rehydration, the infection still devastates populations whenever there is an outbreak. In this research work, mathematical models for cholera transmission dynamics with focus on the impact of sanitation and hygiene, metapopulation spread, optimal control and biological control using a bacteriophage specific for pathogenic Vibrio cholerae are constructed and analysed. Vital analyses for the models are precisely given as well as numerical results depicting long term behaviour and the evolution of populations over time. The results of our analysis indicate that; improved sanitation and hand-hygiene are vital in reducing cholera infections; the spread of disease across metapopulations characterised by exchange of individuals and no cross community infection is associated with synchronous fluctuation of populations in both adjacent communities; during control of cholera, the control measures/efforts ought to be optimal especially at the beginning of the epidemic where the outbreak is often explosive in nature; and biological control if well implemented would avert many potential infections by lowering the concentration of pathogenic vibrios in the aquatic environment to values lower than the infectious dose. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Water-infeksies is ’n bedreiging in baie lande regoor die wêreld en eis miljoene lewens. Cholera in die besonder, het op sy sewende epidemie na alle kontinente versprei. Hoewel beheermaatreëls voortdurend ontwikkel word deur middel van higiëne, inentings en rehidrasie, vernietig die infeksie steeds bevolkings wanneer daar ’n uitbraak voorkom. In hierdie navorsingswerk, word wiskundige modelle vir cholera-oordrag dinamika met die fokus op die impak van higiëne, metabevolking verspreiding, optimale beheer en biologiese beheer met behulp van ’n bakteriofaag spesifiek vir patogene Vibrio cholerae gebou en ontleed. Noodsaaklike ontledings vir die modelle is gegee sowel as numeriese resultate wat die langtermyn gedrag uitbeeld en die ontwikkeling van die bevolking oor tyd. Die resultate van ons ontleding dui daarop dat; verbeterde higiëne is noodsaaklik in die vermindering van cholera infeksies; die verspreiding van die siekte oor metapopulaties gekenmerk deur die uitruil van individue en geen kruis gemeenskap infeksie wat verband houmet sinchrone skommeling van bevolkings in beide aangrensende gemeenskappe; tydens die beheer van cholera,behoort die beheermaatreëls/pogings optimaal te wees veral aan die begin van die epidemie waar die uitbreking dikwels plofbaar in die natuur is; en biologiese beheer, indien dit goed geïmplementeer word, kan baie potensiële infeksies voorkom deur ’n vermindering in die konsentrasie van patogene vibrio in die water tot waardes laer as die aansteeklike dosis.