This week I had the opportunity to travel to Lumiar, the second campus of iMed that houses additional laboratories. I was able to observe the research team studying nanoparticles on the project Cutaneous leishmaniasis: an innovative idea to explore the topical treatment of skin lesions. For some information about Leishmaniasis you can read a brief description below and also navigate the websites for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO). The two PDF files are recent publications on this topic from the iMed research group. Leishmaniasis
Leishmaniasis is a disease that is caused by a parasite and transferred to humans by the bite of an infected sandflies. There are three forms of leishmaniasis: cutaneous, visceral, and mucocutaneous. The most common form of leishmaniasis is cutaneous which causes ulcers on the body that can lead to disfigurement or scarring. Visceral leishmaniasis is the most severe form, fatal if untreated, affecting the most vital organs of the body causing enlargement of the liver and spleen. Destruction of the membranes in the nose, mouth, and throat is caused by the mucocutaneous form of leishmaniasis. Since many images of leishmaniasis infections are not for the feint of heart, I am not going to spare you by not including a picture here. However, there are many available on the websites below or by performing a Google Images search. Risk factors for leishmaniasis include living in a rural area or traveling to an endemic area, poverty (due to living conditions), malnutrition, and urbanization (developing previously forested areas). Additionally, individuals co-infected with HIV have higher rates of clinically significant disease and resultant morbidity/mortality. Diagnosis of leishmaniasis occurs by performing specific laboratory testing, such as examining tissue samples with a microscope, for patients with clinical suspicion of the disease. In the United States, treatment of a patient infected with leishmaniasis is worth consultation with the Centers for Disease Control. Medications used to treat leishmaniasis such as meglumine antimoniate, liposomal amphotericin B and conventional amphotericin B are on the World Health Organization Model National Essential Drug List (a list of medications that are a priority for the health needs of a country and are intended to be available within the health system at all times at an affordable price). Sources/Additional Available Reading
3 Comments
Brenda Miller
8/9/2015 09:30:01 pm
Val,
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6/2/2021 04:43:41 am
This place is a beautiful city filled with rich history... and that trip is good both for solo and family getaway
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6/2/2021 04:44:27 am
This place is a beautiful city filled with rich history... and that trip is good both for solo and family getaway
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AuthorCheck out the About Me tab for a brief self-biography of Valerie Nolt. Archives
August 2015
Categories"Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world."
- Gustave Flaubert |