Day 2 :
Keynote Forum
Stef Stienstra
Dutch Armed Forces, Netherlands
Keynote: Drug delivery by tattooing to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis
Time : 09:00-09:45
Biography:
Strategic and creative consultant in biomedical science, with a parallel career in the Dutch Civil-Military Interaction Command in which he has responsibility for the counter measures in CBNRe threats and (medical) consequence management both in a military and a civilian (terrorism) setting. He was the director of the 2014 & 2016 World Congress of CBRNe Science & Consequence Management in Tbilisi, Georgia. He works internationally as consultant or scientific supervisory board member for several medical and biotech companies, merely involved in biodefense, clinical diagnostics and therapies. He is also visiting professor for Punjab University in Pakistan and Rhein-Waal University in Germany and visiting professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. He has finished both his studies in Medicine and in Biochemistry at the University of Groningen in The Netherlands and has extensive practical experience in cell biology, immuno-haematology, biodefense and transfusion medicine. His natural business acumen and negotiation competence helps to initiate new successful businesses, often created out of unexpected combinations of technologies. His thorough understanding of abstract science combined with excellent skills in the communication of scientific matters to non-specialists, helps him with strategic consulting at top level management.
Abstract:
Background: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease that is caused by obligate intra-macrophage protozoa of the Leishmania species. Leishmaniasis can cause different clinical syndromes, including Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL), in which the patient generally presents with one or several ulcer(s) or nodule(s) on the skin, resulting from the infection of phagocytic cells located in the dermis. It often results into severe scar tissue in the skin. Most of the twelve million people infected with leishmania worldwide are CL cases, a 1.5 million new cases occur annually. Objective: WHO has a program to develop new treatments for CL. This study establishes a proof-of-concept that a tattoo device can target intra-dermal drug delivery against CL. Methods: The selected drug is Oleylphosphocholine (OlPC) formulated as liposomes, particles known to be prone to macrophage ingestion. First is shown that treatment of cultured leishmania-infected macrophages with OlPC-liposomes results in a direct dose-dependent killing of intracellular parasites. Based on this, in vivo efficacy is demonstrated using a 10 day tattooing-mediated treatment in mice infected with L. major and L. mexicana. In both models this regimen results in rapid clinical recovery with complete regression of skin lesions by day 28. Parasite counts and histopathology examination confirm high treatment efficacy at the parasitic level. Low amount of drug required for tattooing combined with fast clinical recovery may have a positive impact on CL patient management. Results & Conclusion: This first example of tattoo-mediated drug delivery could open to new therapeutic interventions in the treatment of skin diseases. This study demonstrates that the use of a tattoo instrument for drug delivery is possible in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis and that this method can successfully eliminate intracellular parasites at the site of infection. After showing that the selected drug oleylphosphocholine (OlPC) formulated as liposomes could efficiently reach intracellular parasites when in contact with infected macrophages, the activity of the drug was compared in vivo in mouse models of old (L. major) and new world (L. mexicana) leishmaniasis. Three routes of administrations of the same drug formulation were investigated: Systemic (IP) administration, topical administration as a drop and administration via the tattoo instrument. Evaluation parameters included clinical (lesion sizes) and parasitological parameters (burdens) using quantitative and qualitative methods. In all experiments, the tattooing delivery procedure was the most efficacious at both the clinical and parasitological levels
Keynote Forum
Galina Migalko
Universal Medical Imaging Group, USA
Keynote: The importance of interstitial fluid evaluation in relationship to any health condition
Time : 09:45-10:30
Biography:
Galina Migalko graduated with her M.D. from Uzghorod Medical University (Ukraine) in 1988, After finishing the California School of Medical Sciences and earning an additional ARDMS license in Diagnostic Medical Sonography, she founded the Universal Medical Imaging Group an alternative and complementary practice that uses the Comprehensive Full Body Screening. In 2011, She received her NMD from the University of Science Arts and Technology (Montserrat, British West Indies and London, England) with a degree in Naturopathic Medicine.
Abstract:
- Virology | Medical Virology | Clinical Aspects of Viral Infection | Vaccines for Tropical Diseases | Tropical Viral Diseases
Location: Dubai, UAE
Session Introduction
Ghweil Ali Abdelrahman
South Valley University, Egypt
Title: Reactivation of Herpesvirus in patients with Hepatitis C treated with direct-acting antiviral agents
Biography:
Abstract:
Zakeya Al Rasbi
United Arab Emirates University, UAE
Title: Study of the prevalence and risk factors of parasite (Helminthes and Protozoa) amongst labors in Al Ain District
Biography:
Zakeya Al Rasbi works as Assistant Professor, in Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences at United Arab Emirates University the Emirates. Also, she is the Emirates Center for Happiness Research (ECHR) Director. Her research lab focuses on the connection between parasitology and immunology, and how recent studies link parasitic infection in gastrointestinal tract to autoimmune disorders.
Abstract:
Caroline Bilen
3M Medical Solutions, UAE
Title: Surgical safety solution to improve patient safety in caesarean procedures
Biography:
Caroline holds BS in nursing since 1988, certified in Infection Control (NYIC) as well as educator for NYIC certification. She is JCI certified educator for JCI education program “Safety in Surgical Services”. She has more than 28 years’ experience in Nursing Management, Infection control and Health Care Quality, Accreditation Management and Elderly Care. She held the position of Director of Nursing Services at “Home Care Lebanon”, from 1997 to 2004. From 1994 to 1997 Caroline held the position of Operating Room Nursing Manager in Lebanon. She is working as the Scientific Affair and Education Manager at 3M 3M Medical Solutions, UAE. Since she joined 3M in 2004, she has been working closely with hospitals management team, Infection Control ,Quality and Patient Safety Committees all over the CEEMEA region to improve patient safety, Expectations and outcomes. Her contribution in creating awareness of the best practices and driving surgical safety solution, surgical pathway, clinical evidences and standards of care to prevent Hospital Acquired Infection as well as educating Health Care Staff in CEEMEA region is broadly recognized and appreciated. She is an active public speaker at international and national congresses for Patient Safety, clinical microbiology and infectious disease ,Surgical forum ,Hand Hygiene Campaigns and Infection Preventions summits in CEEMEA region. She has publication on the Reduction of Surgical Site Infections in Cesarean Section Deliveries by Implementation of a Surgical Care Pathway.
Abstract:
Ghweil Ali Abdelrahman
South Valley University, Egypt
Title: Liver stiffness predicts relapse after direct acting antiviral therapy against chronic Hepatitis C Virus infection
Biography:
Abstract:
Dephney Mathebula
University of Venda, South Africa
Title: Multi-scale modelling of schistosomiasis transmission dynamics
Biography:
Dephney Mathebula has her expertise in multi-scale modeling of infectious diseases such as schistosomiasis, malaria and influenza. Her passion is in improving the implementation of infectious diseases control measures by developing multi-scale models that account for both between-host and within-host disease dynamics. Her multi-scale model adequately accounts for the reciprocal influence of the linked within-host and between-host models.
Abstract:
Camille Fritzell
Pasteur Institute of French Guiana, France
Title: Perceptions and behaviors associated with emerging arboviruses in French Guiana
Biography:
Abstract:
Stef Stienstra
Dutch Armed Forces, Netherlands14
Title: Special Session: Information sharing in an international outbreak of a very contagious disease
Biography:
Abstract:
Ghweil Ali Abdelrahman
South Valley University, Egypt