Protective effects of IL18-105G > A and IL18-137C > Ggenetic variants on severity of COVID-19.

Objective And Design: A cross-sectional study evaluated the IL18-105G > A (rs360717) and IL18-137C > G (rs187238) variants on Coronavírus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity.

Subjects And Methods: 528 patients with COVID-19 classifed with mild (n = 157), moderate (n = 63) and critical (n = 308) disease were genotpyed for the IL18-105G > A and IL18-137C > G variants.

Results: We observed associations between severe + critical COVID-19 groups (reference group was mild COVID-19) and the IL18-105G > A (p = 0.

In COVID-19, NLRP3 inflammasome genetic variants are associated with critical disease and these effects are partly mediated by the sickness symptom complex: a nomothetic network approach.

In coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is activated in response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Acute infections are accompanied by a sickness symptom complex (SSC) which is highly conserved and protects against infections and hyperinflammation. The aim of this study is to delineate the associations of COVID-19, SSC and NLPR3 rs10157379 T > C and NLPR3 rs10754558 C > G variants; and the protective role of SSC in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Association of Lower Adiponectin Plasma Levels, Increased Age and Smoking with Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Patients with HIV-1 Infection.

Background: The association between subclinical atherosclerosis and traditional cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers has been demonstrated around the world and specifically Brazilian human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)- infected individuals. However, the association between subclinical atherosclerosis and these aforementioned factors combined with anti-inflammatory biomarkers has not been examined in these populations.

Objectives: To evaluate the association of the carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) with CVD risk factors, inflammatory, metabolic and HIV-1 infection markers combined with adiponectin and interleukin (IL)-10 as anti-inflammatory variables.

TNF-β +252 A>G (rs909253) polymorphism is independently associated with presence of autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

The TNF-β +252 A>G (rs909253) polymorphism has been associated with a risk of development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and could influence plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) levels. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the TNF-β +252 A>G polymorphism with plasma TNF-α levels, the presence of autoantibodies, and the susceptibility for RA. This cross-sectional study included 261 patients with RA and 292 controls.

Immune-inflammatory, oxidative stress and biochemical biomarkers predict short-term acute ischemic stroke death.

The aim of the study was to define new immune-inflammatory, oxidative stress and biochemical biomarkers, which predict mortality within a period of 3 months after acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We recruited 176 healthy volunteers and 145 AIS patients, categorized as AIS survivors and non-survivors, and measured interleukin (IL)-6, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), ferritin, iron, total serum protein (TSP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cells (WBC), 25 hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D], lipid hydroperoxides (CL-LOOH), insulin, glucose and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. In patients, these biomarkers were measured within 24 h after AIS onset.

Cascade of care for people living with HIV infection in Southern Brazil: results from a public health network.

The cascade of care for people living with HIV infection (PLHIV) describes steps in diagnosis, linkage and retention in care, as well as the provision and success of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The aim of this study was to evaluate the rates regarding the retention in care, on cART, and suppressed viral load for PLHIV attended at a Brazilian public health network. Data on PLHIV from 116 cities of Paraná, Southern Brazil, attended from 2012 to 2015, were retrospectively collected through the Laboratory Tests Control System (SISCEL).

Safety of monitoring antiretroviral therapy response in HIV-1 infection using CD4+ T cell count at long-term intervals.

The latest Brazilian guideline recommended the reduction of routine CD4+ T cell counts for the monitoring of patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) under combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of monitoring response to cART in HIV-1 infection using routine viral load at shorter intervals and CD4+ T cell count at longer intervals. CD4+ T cell counts and HIV-1 viral load were evaluated in 1,906 HIV-1-infected patients under cART during a three-year follow-up.

Elevated plasma homocysteine levels are associated with disability progression in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The aims of this study were to verify whether hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with disability progression in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and whether TNF pathways and cellular adhesion molecules (CAM) are involved in this process. This study included 180 MS patients, who were divided according to their levels of homocysteine (Hyperhomocysteinemia ≥11.35 μmol/L) and 204 healthy individuals (control group).

Insulin resistance, atherogenicity, and iron metabolism in multiple sclerosis with and without depression: Associations with inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and uric acid.

Depression is accompanied by metabolic disorders in iron metabolism, lipoproteins, and insulin resistance. We measured plasma levels of ferritin, iron, lipids, insulin, and glucose and computed the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA2IR) and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in MS patients with and without depression and healthy controls. Explanatory variables were serum uric acid, interleukin (IL)-6, lipid hydroperoxides (CL-LOOH), albumin, and C-reactive protein (CRP).

Disease progression and oxidative stress are associated with higher serum ferritin levels in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Hyperferritinemia and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of ferritin and to verify their association with oxidative stress markers and MS progression. This study included 164 MS patients, which were divided in two groups according to their levels of ferritin (cut off 125.

Immune-Inflammatory and Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress Biomarkers of Depression Symptoms in Subjects with Multiple Sclerosis: Increased Peripheral Inflammation but Less Acute Neuroinflammation.

There is evidence that activated immune-inflammatory and oxidative and nitrosative stress (IO&NS) pathways play a role in the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) and depression. This study examines serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10; peroxides (LOOH); nitric oxide metabolites (NOx); albumin; ferritin; C-reactive protein (CRP); and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-β NcoI polymorphism (rs909253) and gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan in MS patients with (n = 42) and without (n = 108) depression and normal controls (n = 249). Depression is scored using the depressive subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).

Tumor necrosis factor beta NcoI polymorphism is associated with inflammatory and metabolic markers in multiple sclerosis patients.

To evaluate the association between the tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-β) NcoI polymorphism and inflammatory and metabolic markers in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and the association of these markers with disease disability, a 782 base-pair fragment of the TNF-β gene was amplified from genomic DNA and digested with the NcoI restriction enzyme. The serum levels of numerous cytokines (IL-1β, IL-12, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17) serum lipid levels, plasma insulin levels, and the Homeostasis Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were evaluated in 123 female and 43 male patients with MS. Females carrying the TNFB2/B2 genotype presented with decreased IL-4 and IL-10 levels and increased TNF-α, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels; moreover, there were positive correlations between EDSS and glucose and between EDSS and HOMA-IR in these females.

Disability in patients with multiple sclerosis: influence of insulin resistance, adiposity, and oxidative stress.

Objective: The aims of the present study were to report the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS); to verify differences in metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers, and oxidative stress in patients with MS with or without IR; and to assess if IR and adiposity are associated with disability in these patients.

Methods: The study enrolled 110 patients with MS and 175 healthy individuals. Patients with MS were divided in those with IR (n = 44) and those without (n = 66).

The roles of genetic polymorphisms and human immunodeficiency virus infection in lipid metabolism.

Dyslipidemia has been frequently observed among individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and factors related to HIV-1, the host, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) are involved in this phenomenon. This study reviews the roles of genetic polymorphisms, HIV-1 infection, and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in lipid metabolism. Lipid abnormalities can vary according to the HAART regimen, such as those with protease inhibitors (PIs).

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) microRNAs: involvement in cancer pathogenesis and immunopathology.

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), which infects over 90% of adults, appears to have evolved to exploit the normal biology of B-cell development in order to persist as a life-long asymptomatic infection. However, EBV can contribute to oncogenesis. It has become evident that alterations in the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) from the host cell and EBV can also contribute to cancer pathogenesis.

Cytokine profile in relapsing‑remitting multiple sclerosis patients and the association between progression and activity of the disease.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive immune‑ mediated disease caused by demyelination of the central nervous system. Cytokines and their receptors have an important role in the evolution of MS lesions, and pro‑ and anti‑inflammatory cytokine levels have been found to correlate with changes in MS disease activity. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the pro‑inflammatory [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‑α and interleukin (IL) ‑1β, ‑6 and ‑12], T helper (Th) 1 [interferon (IFN)‑γ], Th17 (IL‑17) and Th2 (IL‑4 and ‑10) cytokine serum levels in relapsing‑remitting (RR)‑MS patients and to evaluate the association between the cytokine profile and the progression and activity of the disease.