Previous BCG vaccination is associated with less severe clinical progression of COVID-19.

Background: BCG vaccination, originally used to prevent tuberculosis, is known to "train" the immune system to improve defence against viral respiratory infections. We investigated whether a previous BCG vaccination is associated with less severe clinical progression of COVID-19 METHODS: A case-control study comparing the proportion with a BCG vaccine scar (indicating previous vaccination) in cases and controls presenting with COVID-19 to health units in Brazil. Cases were subjects with severe COVID-19 (O2 saturation < 90%, severe respiratory effort, severe pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, sepsis, and septic shock).

Cell death induced by NLRP3-palmitate axis impairs pulmonary damage tolerance and aggravates immunopathology during obesity-tuberculosis comorbidity.

A low-grade and persistent inflammation, which is the hallmark of obesity, requires the participation of NLRP3 and cell death. During Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, NLRP3 signaling is important for bacterial killing by macrophages in vitro but was shown to be dispensable for host protection in vivo. We hypothesized that during obesity-tuberculosis (TB) comorbidity, NLRP3 signaling might play a detrimental role by inducing excessive inflammation.

The novel mangrove environment and composition of the Amazon Delta.

Both freshwater floodplain (várzeas and igapós) forests and brackish-saline mangroves are abundant and well-described ecosystems in Brazil. However, an interesting and unique wetland forest exists in the Amazon Delta where extensive mangroves occur in essentially freshwater tidal environments. Unlike the floodplain forests found upriver, the hydrology of these ecosystems is driven largely by large macro-tides of 4-8 m coupled with the significant freshwater discharge from the Amazon River.

Timeline Kinetics of Systemic and Airway Immune Mediator Storm for Comprehensive Analysis of Disease Outcome in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients.

In the present study, the levels of serum and airway soluble chemokines, pro-inflammatory/regulatory cytokines, and growth factors were quantified in critically ill COVID-19 patients (total n=286) at distinct time points (D0, D2-6, D7, D8-13 and D>14-36) upon Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. Augmented levels of soluble mediators were observed in serum from COVID-19 patients who progress to death. An opposite profile was observed in tracheal aspirate samples, indicating that systemic and airway microenvironment diverge in their inflammatory milieu.

Macrobenthic community responses to multiple environmental stressors in a subtropical estuary.

We assessed how multi- and univariate models reflect marine environmental health based on macrobenthic community responses to three environmental stressor categories: hydrodynamics, organic enrichment and metal contamination. We then compared the models with the benthic index AMBI (AZTI Marine Biotic Index). Macrobenthic community and physicochemical variables were sampled at 35 sites along Babitonga Bay, a subtropical estuary in Southern Brazil.

Classification and regression trees for predicting the risk of a negative test result for tuberculosis infection in Brazilian healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Healthcare workers (HCWs) have a high risk of acquiring tuberculosis infection (TBI). However, annual testing is resource-consuming. We aimed to develop a predictive model to identify HCWs best targeted for TBI screening.

Prevalence of sexual violence among refugees: a systematic review.

Objective: To synthesize data about the prevalence of sexual violence (SV) among refugees around the world.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted from the search in seven bibliographic databases. Studies on the prevalence of SV among refugees and asylum seekers of any country, sex or age, whether in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese, were eligible.

Prevalence and risk factors for latent tuberculosis infection among primary health care workers in Brazil.

Health care workers (HCW) are at increased risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) from occupational exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The objective was to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for LTBI among primary HCW in five Brazilian cities. We conducted a cross-sectional study, from 2011 to 2013, among primary HCW, using a structured questionnaire and an evaluated for LTBI using the Quantiferon-TB Gold in-tube test.

Analysis of the histomorphologic profile of invasive cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma from 2002 to 2011 in a pathology laboratory in the region of Campos Gerais, Brazil.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of malignant skin cancer. It is also quite aggressive. The increasing incidence of the disease can be altered given its connection with sun exposure.

[Prevalence of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and associated factors in community health workers in Brazil based on the tuberculin skin test].

This article aimed to determine the prevalence of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and associated factors in community health workers (CHW) in Brazil, using two cutoff points for the tuberculin skin test (5mm and 10mm). This was a cross-sectional study with data on gender, age, BCG scar, working in a primary care unit (PCU), having a household contact with tuberculosis (TB), alcohol consumption, previous tuberculin skin test (TST), smoking, time on the job as CHW, and comorbidities. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and to control for confounding.

Spatial variability of three benthic indices for marine quality assessment in a subtropical estuary of Southern Brazil.

Indices based on macrobenthic responses to disturbance remain to be adequately tested for the detection of spatial variability by robust sampling designs. We present herein a congruence test to real-world data of the widely used indices AMBI, M-AMBI and BENTIX in tidal flats of a subtropical estuary. We used a hierarchical sampling design to evaluate the spatial variability of the indices in response to distinct levels of sewage contamination.

Comparison of interferon-γ release assay to two cut-off points of tuberculin skin test to detect latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in primary health care workers.

Background: An interferon-γ release assay, QuantiFERON-TB (QFT) test, has been introduced an alternative test for the diagnosis of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Here, we compared the performance of QFT with tuberculin skin test (TST) measured at two different cut-off points among primary health care work (HCW) in Brazil.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among HCWs in four Brazilian cities with a known history of high incidence of TB.

Factors associated with tuberculosis by HIV status in the Brazilian national surveillance system: a cross sectional study.

Background: Over the last decade tuberculosis (TB) incidence and mortality in Brazil have been steadily declining. However, this downward trend has not been observed among HIV-infected patients. We describe the epidemiological and clinical profile of TB patients by HIV status using the Brazilian National Surveillance System.

Identification of endogenous reference genes for the analysis of microRNA expression in the hippocampus of the pilocarpine-induced model of mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR) is one of the most powerful techniques for analyzing miRNA expression because of its sensitivity and specificity. However, in this type of analysis, a suitable normalizer is required to ensure that gene expression is unaffected by the experimental condition. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reported studies that performed a detailed identification and validation of suitable reference genes for miRNA qPCR during the epileptogenic process.

An integrated evaluation of molecular marker indices and linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) to measure sewage input in a subtropical estuary (Babitonga Bay, Brazil).

Babitonga Bay is a South Atlantic estuary with significant ecological function; it is part of the last remaining areas of mangrove communities in the Southern Hemisphere. The aim of this study was to determine the spatial distribution of the faecal sterols and linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) in surface sediments and to perform an integrated evaluation of several molecular marker indices to assess the sewage contamination status in the study area. The highest observed concentrations of faecal sterols (coprostanol + epicoprostanol) and LABs were 6.

Reliability of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory - Healthcare Satisfaction Generic Module 3.0 version for the assessment of the quality of care of children with chronic diseases.

Objective: To translate to Brazilian Portuguese and to evaluate the reliability of the Healthcare Satisfaction (HS) Generic Module version 3.0 of the PedsQL inventory for the Brazilian culture.

Method: The methods recommended by the authors of the original version of the questionnaire were used: 1) translation by bilingual experts; 2) back translation into English and evaluation by the authors of the original version; 3) a pilot study including 10 parents (cognitive interview); and 4) evaluation of the measurement properties of the questionnaire.