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Biomedical subjects

Carlos Franco-Paredes

Publications and source records attributed to Carlos Franco-Paredes.

42 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Confronting bioterrorism: Epidemiologic, clinical, and preventive aspects of smallpox].

The worldwide eradication of smallpox, a major achievement in public health, is currently threatened by the risk of bioterrorism. The debate on the destruction of the Variola virus in the two reference laboratories of the World Health Organization has dramatically switched to the preservation of the remaining virus after the September 2001 terrorist events in the U.S. along with the intentional release of Bacillus anthracis in the U.S. The risk of intentional release of Variola virus constitutes a minimal, yet possible risk. A smallpox epidemic could have a devastating impact due to its elevated morbidity and mortality that would inflict in non-immune human population, in addition to the ensuing panic and social unrest. Therefore, the development of national preparedness and response plans along with the availability of smallpox vaccine to be used in the post-exposure phase represent a fundamental part of the preventive efforts to cope with bioterrorism. Reestablishing a preventive vaccination program was recently recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). However, the vaccine currently available has historically been associated with serious adverse reactions, even death. Thus, this recommendation has not been universally accepted. To counter an epidemic of smallpox, medical personnel in the frontline need to be prepared with updated smallpox information to identify, diagnose, isolate, and treat cases if a bioterrorist attack should occur. Herein we present an indepth review for health care personnel with relevant epidemiologic, clinical, and preventive information on smallpox.

Bioterrorism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Historical perspective of smallpox in Mexico: emergence, elimination, and risk of reemergence due to bioterrorism].

Smallpox has been considered a disease of historical interest. However, given the 2001 terrorist events in the U.S. with intentional release of spores of Bacillus anthracis, and the current political worldwide agenda, the risk of bioterrorism has become a global public health concern. The risk of an intentional release of Variola virus as a biological weapon mandates a critical review of the historical impact of the disease in our country and the possible risk of its intentional reemergence. Smallpox was introduced into susceptible Indian populations in the Americas in the 16th century, contributing to the collapse of the Aztec Empire. Francisco Xavier Balmis start a vaccination campaign in the New World, and his efforts are considered the first eradication campaign of vaccine preventable diseases. Due to his efforts, smallpox was eliminated in Mexico in 1951. In the posteradication era, there is small but finite risk of intentional release of Variola virus. In response to this risk, Mexico has developed a comprehensive National preparedness plan. The impact of a new epidemic of smallpox will be considered a catastrophic event from both a historical and public health perspectives.

Bioterrorism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Bioterrorism agents: getting ready for the unthinkable].

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S.A. demonstrated our vulnerability to terrorist raids. Furthermore, in the same year inhalational anthrax cases in humans caused by the intentional [corrected] release of Bacillus anthracis spores via the U.S.A. postal system inflicted a lot of panic and terror over the civilian population. The succeeding terrorist events scattered in several other countries are continuous reminders of our frailness [corrected] and of the risk that terrorists attempts in the future may be implemented by means of deliberate evil release of biological agents. These events may be perpetrated by either the release of an infectious agent or any of its products in order to spread death or sickness in humans, animals, or plants with the obnoxius purpose of scaring governments and societies for the profit of particular ideological causes. In the current article, we present a review of the main bioterrorism agents, as well as a historical and clinical aspects and their significance for public health preparedness and response.

Bioterrorism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Health literacy is a predictor of HIV/AIDS knowledge.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study's objective was to evaluate the association between health literacy and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) knowledge among patients seen at an inner-city, public hospital urgent care center (UCC). METHODS: We used a prospective survey of patients offered an HIV test by their providers during a UCC visit. We measured patients' health literacy level using the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) scale and assessed their HIV/AIDS knowledge using a 22-item questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 372 patients were enrolled. Among participants in this relatively young sample (55% were under the age of 40), 92 (25%) had a REALM score at or below a sixth-grade level, and 122 (33%) did not have a high school diploma. Patients' mean HIV/AIDS knowledge scores differed significantly between patients with inadequate health literacy and those with marginal or adequate health literacy. In multivariate analyses, patients' REALM scores were positively associated with patients' HIV/AIDS knowledge even after adjusting for income, education, and risk perception. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that HIV/AIDS knowledge is strongly associated with patients' health literacy in this inner-city population. These findings reiterate the need to target HIV prevention strategies toward populations with inadequate health literacy levels and to dispel misconceptions regarding HIV/AIDS that directly influence risk-taking behaviors and health care utilization.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[West Nile virus: a reality in Mexico].

West Nile virus (WNV) is a RNA virus of the Flaviridae, genus flavivirus family. It is a neuropathogenic virus causing disease in birds, horses and humans. WNVis transmitted by the vector mosquito Culex sp. The virus life 's cycle includes mosquitoes as vectors and birds as natural hosts. Humans are accidental hosts. Since the introduction of the Epidemiological Surveillance Program at the Ministry ofHealth. we have documented 90 positive test results among birds out of 1,223 cases studied in Mexico as of September IS. 2005. The incubation period in humans after a mosquito bite ranges from 3 to 14 days. Disease is characterized by early onset fever, general malaise, decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, headaches, myalgias, enlarged lymph nodes andrash. Neurological manifestations include encephalitis andflaccid paralysis, which are present in less than 1% of subjects infected with WNV. Older patients display more adverse outcomes including death. The diagnosis is made by the determination of specific IgM and JgG antibodies in serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid. There is no antiviral treatment to date against WNV but interferon ?2b, and WNVspec4ic-immunoglobulin have been used Prevention is therefore the key to control the infection.

Humans↗