Retrospective epidemiologic and genomic surveillance of arboviruses in 2023 in Brazil reveals high co-circulation of chikungunya and dengue viruses.

Background: The rapid spread and increase of chikungunya (CHIKV) and dengue (DENV) cases in Brazilian regions in 2023 has raised concerns about the impact of arboviruses on public health. Epidemiological and genomic surveillance was performed to estimate the introduction and spread of CHIKV and DENV in Brazil.

Methods: This study obtained results from the Hermes Pardini (HP), a private medical laboratory, and the Health Department of Minas Gerais state (SES-MG).

Epidemiological Surveillance Reveals the Rise and Establishment of the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 Variant in Brazil.

The introduction of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) in Brazil has been associated with major impacts on the epidemiological and public health scenario. In this study, 291,571 samples were investigated for SARS-CoV-2 variants from August 2021 to March 2022 (the highest peak of positive cases) in four geographical regions of Brazil. To identify the frequency, introduction, and dispersion of SARS-CoV-2 variants in 12 Brazilian capitals, VOCs defining spike mutations were identified in 35,735 samples through genotyping and viral genome sequencing.

The Omicron Lineages BA.1 and BA.2 ( SARS-CoV-2) Have Repeatedly Entered Brazil through a Single Dispersal Hub.

Brazil currently ranks second in absolute deaths by COVID-19, even though most of its population has completed the vaccination protocol. With the introduction of Omicron in late 2021, the number of COVID-19 cases soared once again in the country. We investigated in this work how lineages BA.

Dynamics of Early Establishment of SARS-CoV-2 VOC Omicron Lineages in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Brazil is one of the nations most affected by Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The introduction and establishment of new virus variants can be related to an increase in cases and fatalities. The emergence of Omicron, the most modified SARS-CoV-2 variant, caused alarm for the public health of Brazil.

Inflammatory and Pro-resolving Mediators in Frontotemporal Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease.

Chronic inflammation contributes to neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Here we evaluated inflammatory and pro-resolving mediators in AD and behavioural variant of FTD (bvFTD) patients compared with controls, since neuroinflamamtion is a common feature in both diseases. Ninety-eight subjects were included in this study, divided into AD (n = 32), bvFTD (n = 30), and control (n = 36) groups.

Screening for Zika virus RNA in sera of suspected cases: a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) became a global human health concern owing to its rapid spread worldwide and its association with congenital and neurological disorders. The current epidemiological profile of arboviruses in Brazil is characterized by widespread co-circulation of Dengue virus, Chikungunya virus, and ZIKV throughout the country. These viruses cause acute diseases frequently with overlapping symptoms, which could result in an inaccurate diagnosis based solely on clinical and epidemiological grounds.

Sexually Transmitted Infections Detected by Multiplex Real Time PCR in Asymptomatic Women and Association with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia.

Objective:  To determine the frequency of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in asymptomatic women and the association of STIs with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

Methods:  A cross-sectional study was performed, enrolling women examined in a general gynecology clinic and in a colposcopy referral center from October 2014 to October 2015. The colposcopy group consisted of 71 women, and the general gynecology group consisted of 55 women.

In-house quantitative real-time PCR for the diagnosis of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections.

The quantification of viral nucleic acids in serum by real-time PCR plays an important role in diagnosing hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection. In this study, we developed an assay using specific primers and probes to quantify hepatitis B virus DNA or hepatitis C virus RNA in serum from infected patients. For standardization and validation of the assay, an international panel of hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus and standard plasmids was used.

Divergent cerebrospinal fluid cytokine network induced by non-viral and different viral infections on the central nervous system.

Background: Meningoencephalitis is one of the most common disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) worldwide. Viral meningoencephalitis differs from bacterial meningitis in several aspects. In some developing countries, bacterial meningitis has appropriate clinical management and chemotherapy is available.

Gram-negative intestinal indigenous microbiota from two Siluriform fishes in a tropical reservoir.

The Gram-negative intestinal microbiota of Hypostomus auroguttatus and Pimelodus maculatus, a detritivorous and an omnivorous fish species, respectively, were compared between fishes from the reservoir and the stretch of the river below the dam of the Funil hydroelectric plant, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Four selective culture media were used under aerobic and two under anaerobic conditions. The omnivorous species had microbiota with higher population levels compared to the detritivorous species.

Callithrix penicillata: a feasible experimental model for dengue virus infection.

Although the murine models have the feasibility to reproduce some signs of dengue Virus (DENV) infection, the use of isogenic hosts with polarized immune response patterns does not reproduce the particularities of human disease. Our goal was to investigate the kinetics of peripheral blood biomarkers in immunocompetent Callithrix penicillata non-human primates subcutaneously infected with DENV-3. The viral load of infected animals was determinated by quantitative real time PCR.

Gene expression profile of cytokines and chemokines in skin lesions from Brazilian Indians with localized cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by dermotropic Leishmania species belonging to the Viannia subgenera, with Leishmania (V.) braziliensis considered the main agent in Brazil. After infection, a local inflammatory process is initiated, inducing the expression of several cytokine/chemokine genes.

Impact of mitomycin C on the mRNA expression signatures of immunological biomarkers in eosinophilic nasal polyposis.

Background: The topical application of mitomycin C has been evaluated as a complementary therapy for eosinophilic nasal polyposis (ENP). However, the mechanism underlying the additional benefits of mitomycin C for the control of eosinophilic inflammation and prevention of posttherapeutic relapse remains to be elucidated. In this work, the aim was to characterize the gene expression profile by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of proinflammatory and regulatory biomarkers that are typically associated with ENP and to assess the impact of the topical application of mitomycin C on the nasal mucosal tissue immunologic milieu after ENP surgery.

Impact of mitomycin C on the mRNA expression signatures of immunological biomarkers in eosinophilic nasal polyposis.

Background: The topical application of mitomycin C has been evaluated as a complementary therapy for eosinophilic nasal polyposis (ENP). However, the mechanism underlying the additional benefits of mitomycin C for the control of eosinophilic inflammation and prevention of posttherapeutic relapse remains to be elucidated. In this work, the aim was to characterize the gene expression profile by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) of proinflammatory and regulatory biomarkers that are typically associated with ENP and to assess the impact of the topical application of mitomycin C on the nasal mucosal tissue immunologic milieu after ENP surgery.

Distribution, detection of enterotoxigenic strains and antimicrobial drug susceptibility patterns of bacteroides fragilis group in diarrheic and non-diarrheic feces from brazilian infants.

Despite the importance of gastrointestinal diseases and their global distribution, affecting millions of individuals around the world, the role and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of anaerobic bacteria such as those in the Bacteroides fragilis group (BFG) are still unclear in young children. This study investigated the occurrence and distribution of species in the BFG and enterotoxigenic strains in the fecal microbiota of children and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Diarrheic (n=110) and non-diarrheic (n=65) fecal samples from children aged 0-5 years old were evaluated.