Association between microcephaly and hearing disorders in children exposed or suspected of exposure to the Zika virus during the intrauterine period.

This study aimed to evaluate the association between microcephaly and hearing disorders in children with exposed or suspected exposure to Zika virus (ZIKV) during the intrauterine period. In this cross-sectional study, we enrolled children exposed or suspected of being exposed to ZIKV during intrauterine period, admitted to the hospital between April 2016 and July 2018, and followed up until September 2021. All children underwent at least one automated auditory brainstem response (AABR) test.

Evaluation of nonpolar lipid extract antigen-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis.

This study assessed the diagnostic potential of nonpolar lipid extracts in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for tuberculosis (TB) serodiagnosis. Nonpolar lipid extracts were harvested from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) knockout in mce1 operon (∆mce1) and its parental wild type (WT) strains. IgM and IgG anti-nonpolar lipid serum levels were measured in TB patients (n=45), healthy individuals with positive (n=22) and negative (n=44) interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) results, and symptomatic respiratory (SR) patients with negative TB tests (n=9).

Serological investigation of vaccine-induced antibodies for measles, rubella, and yellow fever viruses in children vertically exposed to Zika virus or with down syndrome.

Background: Vaccination schedules, as well as their effectiveness and contraindications, need to be evaluated regularly, especially in specific situations. Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) is a severe condition that results in extensive functional and neurological impairment of fetuses and newborns due to Zika virus tropism for fetal neural progenitor cells. Down Syndrome (DS) is the leading genetic cause of intellectual disability.

The Hip of Children with Congenital Zika Syndrome: A Prospective Observational Study.

Objective: To assess the clinical and radiographic characteristics of hip joint deformities in children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), and the evolution of hip joint deformities in affected infants for the first 3 years of life.

Study Design: This prospective observational study evaluated orthopedic clinical examinations performed every 3 months to assess hip flexion and extension, lateral and medial rotation, and abduction and adduction, as well as lower limb muscle length and tone. The biannual radiograph comprised anteroposterior panoramic pelvic radiographs with the lower limbs in extension.

Pro-Inflammatory Profile of Children Exposed to Maternal Chikungunya Virus Infection during the Intrauterine Period: A One-Year Follow-Up Study.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) vertical transmission occurs due to maternal viremia in the prepartum. Clinical presentation in neonates can be varied; however, the consequences of intrauterine exposure on the immune response are unclear. Thus, we aimed to analyze inflammatory alterations in children exposed to maternal CHIKV infection.

Acute kidney injury associated to COVID-19 leads to a strong unbalance of circulant immune mediators.

Background: Severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have increased risk for acute kidney injury (AKI). The exacerbation of the immune response seems to contribute to AKI development, but the immunopathological process is not completely understood.

Objectives: To analyze levels of circulant immune mediators in COVID-19 patients evolving with or without AKI.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) as promising biomarkers for distinguishing active from latent tuberculosis in children and adolescents.

Since distinguishing pulmonary (PTB) from latent tuberculosis (LTBI) in pediatric patients remains a challenge, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of immune mediators in diagnosing PTB and LTBI in this population. In this cross-sectional study performed with children and adolescents, serum levels of 20 biomarkers were assessed and data were analyzed according to age groups. We included 65 participants (PTB, n = 28 and LTBI, n = 37).

Involvement of Th1Th17 Cell Subpopulations in the Immune Responses of Mothers Who Gave Birth to Children with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS).

High levels of T helper 17 cell (Th17)-related cytokines have been shown in acute Zika virus (ZIKV) infection. We hypothesized that the high levels of Th17-related cytokines, associated with a regulatory environment during pregnancy, create a favorable milieu for the differentiation of CD4+Th17 cells. We present data from a cross-sectional study on mothers who confirmed ZIKV infection by qRT-PCR and their children.

Differential Longevity of Memory CD4 and CD8 T Cells in a Cohort of the Mothers With a History of ZIKV Infection and Their Children.

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection causes for mild and self-limiting disease in healthy adults. In newborns, it can occasionally lead to a spectrum of malformations, the congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). Thus, little is known if mothers and babies with a history of ZIKV infection were able to develop long-lasting T-cell immunity.

Evaluation of the Expression of CCR5 and CX3CR1 Receptors and Correlation with the Functionality of T Cells in Women infected with ZIKV during Pregnancy.

There have been reports of neurological abnormalities associated with the Zika virus (ZIKV), such as congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) in children born to mothers infected during pregnancy. We investigated how the immune response to ZIKV during pregnancy is primed and conduct a thorough evaluation of the inflammatory and cytotoxic profiles as well as the expression of CCR5 and CX3CR1. We compared the reactivity of T cells to ZIKV peptides in convalescent mothers infected during pregnancy.

Serum Proteomics Reveals Alterations in Protease Activity, Axon Guidance, and Visual Phototransduction Pathways in Infants With Exposure to Zika Virus Without Congenital Zika Syndrome.

In 2015, ZIKV infection attracted international attention during an epidemic in the Americas, when neurological disorders were reported in infants who had their mothers exposed to ZIKV during pregnancy. World Health Organization (WHO) epidemiological data show that 5 to 15% of neonates exposed to ZIKV in the uterus have complications included in abnormalities related to Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). The risk of complications after birth is not well documented, however, clinical evidence shows that 6% of infants exposed to ZIKV during pregnancy have complications present at birth, and this rate rises to 14% when medical monitoring is performed in all exposed infants, regardless of birth condition.

Audiological Findings in Children Suspected to Have Been Exposed to the Zika Virus in the Intrauterine Period.

Objective: To evaluate auditory manifestations in children born to mothers who had exanthema during pregnancy, suspected to have been exposed to the Zika virus (ZIKV).

Study Design: Prospective observational.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Experience in diagnosing congenital Zika syndrome in Brazilian children born to asymptomatic mothers.

Introduction: Typical symptoms of primary Zika virus infection are not specific and share similarities with other arbovirus infections such as dengue fever and chikungunya. As acute infection can be asymptomatic in up to 73% of cases, infants with microcephaly represent a diagnostic challenge for pediatricians. We describe the frequency of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) in Brazilian children born to asymptomatic pregnant mothers and its differential diagnosis.

Children Born to Mothers with Rash During Zika Virus Epidemic in Brazil: First 18 Months of Life.

Objective: To better understand the clinical spectrum and course of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) during the first 18 months of life of children whose mothers had rash during pregnancy.

Methods: This longitudinal observational study evaluated the clinical progress from birth until 18 months of life of children of mothers who developed rash during or up to 3 months before gestation. Maternal rash occurred from November 2015 to May 2017.

Simultaneous circulation of arboviruses and other congenital infections in pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Background: Arboviruses (Zika, dengue and chikungunya) represent a major risk for pregnant women, especially because their vertical transmission can lead to neurological damage in newborns. Early diagnosis can be difficult due to similar clinical presentation with other congenital infections that are associated with congenital abnormalities.

Objectives: To investigate the circulation of arboviruses and other pathogens responsible for congenital infections, reporting clinical aspects and geographic distribution of maternal rash in a metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a rare condition in renal transplant - a case report.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is an uncommon and life-threating condition characterized by major immune activation and massive cytokine production by mononuclear inflammatory cells, due to defects in cytotoxic lymphocyte function. It is even more unusual in renal transplant recipients, in which it is often associated with uncontrolled infection. The mortality is high in HLH and differential diagnosis with sepsis is a challenge.

Pp65 antigenemia and cytomegalovirus diagnosis in patients with lupus nephritis: report of a series.

Introduction: In contrast to organ transplantation, few studies correlate the monitoring of pp65 antigenemia with a diagnosis of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Objective: To highlight the importance of CMV outside transplantation, we monitored pp65 antigenemia in a series of SLE patients.

Methods: From March 2015 to March 2016, SLE patients presenting kidney involvement, fever, and an unclear infection at hospital admission were monitored through pp65 antigenemia.

BK polyomavirus nephropathy in two kidney transplant patients with distinct diagnostic strategies for BK virus and similar clinical outcomes: two case reports.

Background: BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy is an important cause of post-transplantation renal failure. We present two cases of BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy who were submitted to contrasting strategies of clinical follow-up to BK polyomavirus reactivation, but progressed to a similar final outcome.

Case Presentation: Case 1 is a 37-year-old white man whose graft had never presented a good glomerular filtration rate function, with episodes of tacrolimus nephrotoxicity, and no urinary monitoring for BK polyomavirus; stage B BK polyomavirus-associated nephropathy was diagnosed by biopsy at 14 months post-transplant.

Clinical correlates of pp65 antigenemia monitoring in the first months of post kidney transplant in patients undergoing universal prophylaxis or preemptive therapy.

Introduction: Human cytomegalovirus is a major cause of morbidity in kidney transplant patients.

Objectives: We aimed to study viral replication and serological response in the first months post kidney transplant in patients undergoing universal prophylaxis or preemptive therapy and correlate the findings with the clinical course of Human cytomegalovirus infection.

Patients And Methods: Independent from the clinical strategy adopted for managing Human cytomegalovirus infection, prophylaxis versus preemptive therapy, the pp65 antigenemia assay and serological response were assessed on the day of transplantation, and then weekly during the first three months of post-transplant.