Arbovirus, herpesvirus, and enterovirus associated with neurological syndromes in adult patients of a university hospital, 2017-2018.

Introduction: Herpesviruses, enteroviruses, and arboviruses are important because of their clinical relevance and ability to cause meningitis, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, and other diseases. The clinical virology associated with diagnostic technologies can reduce the morbidity and mortality of such neurological manifestations. Here we aimed to identify the genomes of agents that cause neurological syndromes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with suspected nervous system infections admitted to the University Hospital of the University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, in 2017-2018.

Performance Evaluation of a New Generation of Automated Analyzer for Pleural and Peritoneal Fluids Cytology.

Background: Hematologic counters with dedicated body fluids mode allows these samples to be analyzed in an automated manner. Our aim was to evaluate the performance of the Sysmex XN-3000 and compare it with the Sysmex XE-5000, in use in our laboratory for cytological analysis of body fluids.

Methods: We studied 108 pleural and peritoneal fluids.

UriSed as an Alternative to Phase-Contrast Microscopy in the Differentiation between Glomerular and Non-Glomerular Hematuria.

Background: Differentiation between glomerular and non-glomerular hematuria by observation of the erythrocyte morphology using phase-contrast is a time-consuming and labor-intensive procedure that requires skilled personnel. This paper has the purpose to evaluate the performance of UriSed (also called sediMAX in some countries) as an alternative to the phase-contrast microscopic analysis of erythrocyte morphology.

Methods: 312 urine samples with hematuria were analyzed by UriSed and by phase-contrast microscopy.

Urinalysis: comparison between microscopic analysis and a new automated microscopy image-based urine sediment instrument.

Background: Urinalysis is a high demand procedure, with a large amount of manual labor and poorly standardized. Recently a new walk-away automated urine analyzer has been introduced. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of UriSed as an alternative to the microscopic analysis of urine samples.

Serum homocysteine and physical exercise in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is a major risk factor for cerebral and peripheral vascular diseases, as well as cortical and hippocampal injury, including an increased risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. Elevated serum homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations are common in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who have been treated with levodopa; however, physical exercises can help reduce Hcy concentrations. The aim of the present study was to compare serum Hcy levels in patients with PD who partook in regular physical exercises, sedentary PD patients, and healthy controls.

Partial reversibility of hypothalamic dysfunction and changes in brain activity after body mass reduction in obese subjects.

Objective: Inflammation and dysfunction of the hypothalamus are common features of experimental obesity. However, it is unknown whether obesity and massive loss of body mass can modify the immunologic status or the functional activity of the human brain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of body mass reduction on brain functionality.

Upper arm circumference is an independent predictor of left ventricular concentric hypertrophy in hypertensive women.

Upper arm circumference (UAC) measurement is necessary for the proper sizing of cuffs and is recommended for accurate blood pressure (BP) assessment. The aim of this report is to identify and quantify the relationships between UAC and the usual anthropometric measurements of body fat distribution and cardiac structure in hypertensive subjects. We evaluated 339 patients (202 women and 137 men) by medical history, physical examination, anthropometry, metabolic and inflammatory parameters, and echocardiography.

Electrophoretic pattern of concentrated urine: comparison between 24-hour collection and random samples.

The electrophoretic pattern of concentrated urine samples can be used to identify the type of proteins leaking into the urine and has diagnostic and prognostic value, providing information about the location (glomerular or tubular) and degree of renal injury. This test usually requires a 24-hour urine collection, which can be inconvenient because of its heavy dependence on patient compliance and frequently is unreliable because of errors in collecting a complete 24-hour urine sample. In this study, we compared the electrophoretic pattern in 24-hour urine collections and random samples among patients with glomerular diseases and a wide range of proteinuria.