COVID-19 Inflammatory Syndrome: Lessons from TNFRI and CRP about the Risk of Death in Severe Disease.

: Cytokine storm in severe COVID-19 is responsible for irreversible tissue damage and death. Soluble mediators from the TNF superfamily, their correlation with clinical outcome, and the use of TNF receptors as a potent predictor for clinical outcome were evaluated. : Severe COVID-19 patients had the levels of soluble mediators from the TNF superfamily quantified and categorized according to the clinical outcome (death versus survival).

Underreporting of transfusion incidents.

Background: Blood transfusion is an effective therapeutic practice. However, even adopting all procedures for transfusion safety, there are risks, one of which is immediate adverse reactions. The aim of this study was, by active search, to evaluate the occurrence of immediate adverse reactions estimating the occurrence rate within the first 24 h.

Anti-inflammatory actions of aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 (AT-RvD1) in bronchial epithelial cells stimulated by cigarette smoke extract.

Smoking causes several diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Aspirin-triggered-resolvin D1 (AT-RvD1) is a lipid mediator produced during the resolution of inflammation and demonstrates anti-inflammatory and pro-resolution effects in several inflammatory experimental models including in the airways. Here we evaluated the role of AT-RvD1 (100 nM) in bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) stimulated by cigarette smoke extract (CSE; 1%; 1 cigarette) for 24 h.

Inflammatory Response and Activation of Coagulation after COVID-19 Infection.

Unlabelled: SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection is responsible for causing a disease with a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. Predisposition to thromboembolic disease due to excessive inflammation is also attributed to the disease. The objective of this study was to characterize the clinical and laboratory aspects of hospitalized patients, in addition to studying the pattern of serum cytokines, and associate them with the occurrence of thromboembolic events.

Leukoreduction as a control measure in transfusion transmission of visceral leishmaniasis.

Background: Asymptomatic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) infection is a risk for transfusion safety. Leukoreduction has been an alternative for the prevention of some blood-borne diseases, including VL. This study aimed to evaluate the role of leukoreduction of cellular blood components as a control measure for transfusional VL transmission.

Effects of combination of Cryptococcus gattii and IFN-γ, IL-4 or IL-27 on human bronchial epithelial cells.

Background: Airway epithelial cells are crucial for the establishment of cryptococcosis. In experimental cryptococcosis, the Th2 immune response is associated with host susceptibility, while Th1 cells are associated with protection. The absence of IL-27 receptor alpha in mice favor the increase Cryptococcus neoformans burden in the lung.

Profile of hemotherapy care and the safety of the transfusion process.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the safety of the transfusion process in a public teaching hospital and to outline the profile of the hemotherapy care provided.

Methods: This was an exploratory, descriptive, and prospective study with a quantitative approach and grounded in field research. Data were obtained from medical and nursing records and active search.

Clinical-Epidemiology Aspect of Inpatients With Moderate or Severe COVID-19 in a Brazilian Macroregion: Disease and Countermeasures.

COVID-19, also known as coronavirus disease 2019, is an infectious viral disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus. Since its emergence, its epidemiology has been explored; however, for some regions of the world, COVID-19's behavior, incidence, and impact remain unclear. In continental nations like Brazil, this lack of knowledge results in nonuniform control, prevention, and treatment measures, which can be controversial in some locations.

RhoA/ROCKs signaling is increased by treatment with TKI-258 and leads to increased apoptosis in SCC-4 oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line.

Background: This study evaluated the effect of treatment with TKI-258 on apoptosis, involving Rho GTPases and their effectors in SCC-4 cells of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Methods: Markers of cell death and apoptosis were analyzed in control and TKI-258-treated SCC-4 cells by flow cytometry. The involvement of Rho GTPases and effectors in the induction of apoptosis by TKI-258 was evaluated by quantification of cleaved PARP.

Identification of in blood donors from endemic regions for visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis is an endemic protozoonosis observed in over 60 countries, with over 500 000 new cases recorded annually. Although the diagnostic procedure of its symptomatic forms is well established, for asymptomatic patients, who represent about 85% of those infected, there is no consensus on the best method for its identification. Recent studies have presented molecular techniques as viable identification methods, with good sensitivity and specificity indices in asymptomatic individuals.

Chagas disease: Performance analysis of immunodiagnostic tests anti-Trypanosoma cruzi in blood donors with inconclusive screening results.

Background: The screening ofTrypanosoma cruzi-infected blood donors using two serological techniques frequently leads to conflicting results. This fact prompted us to evaluate the diagnostic performance of four "in-house" immunodiagnostic tests and two commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).

Material And Methods: One hundred and seventy-nine blood donors, whose screening for Chagas disease was doubtful, underwent three in-house ELISAs, one in-house immunoblotting test (TESA-blot), and two commercial ELISAs (bioMérieux and Wiener) in an attempt to define the presence or absence of infection.

Polymorphisms in genes that affect the variation of lipid levels in a Brazilian pediatric population with sickle cell disease: rs662799 APOA5 and rs964184 ZPR1.

This cross-sectional study investigated associations between SNPs in metabolizing lipid genes, alpha-thalassemia and laboratory parameters in two forms of sickle cell disease (SCD), sickle cell anemia (SCA) and hemoglobin SC disease (HbSC) in a pediatric population. Among the groups SCA and HbSC was found a higher proportion of increased triglycerides (TG) in SCA. High levels of TG were significantly associated with lower hemoglobin (p = 0.

Male sickle cell patients, compensated transpubertal hypogonadism and normal final growth.

Objective: Investigate the gonadal hormonal function in sickle cell individuals.

Context: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with delayed physical and sexual development, and it has been related to both primary testicular failure and hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis abnormalities.

Design: The study of the pituitary gonadotrophin reserve was done evaluating the hormonal levels before and after stimulation by gonadoliberin.

Applicability of an instrument to identify human leukocyte antigen-compatible donors for platelet transfusions.

Background: The selection of compatible human leukocyte antigen platelets has been associated with improved platelet increments. Therefore, an effective strategy would be the selection of donors who are genetically compatible according to the human leukocyte antigen system. Nonetheless, this is costly as it concerns a highly polymorphic system, which requires a large bank of genotyped donors.

Clinical and epidemiological profile of alloimmunized and autoimmunized multi-transfused patients against red blood cell antigens in a blood center of Minas Gerais.

Background: The large diversity of red blood cell antigens favors, especially in multi-transfused patients, the occurrence of autoimmunization and alloimmunization with the risk of hemolytic transfusion reactions. Thus, this study aimed to determine the rates of alloimmunization and autoimmunization in these individuals, as well as the types of alloantibodies and their systems, clinical and epidemiological aspects and the frequency of autoimmunity in alloimmunized and non-alloimmunized patients.

Methods: In a retrospective study, 153 multi-transfused patients from 2006 to 2014 were evaluated.

Causes of microcytic anaemia and evaluation of conventional laboratory parameters in the differentiation of erythrocytic microcytosis in blood donors candidates.

Context And Objective: Microcytic anaemia results from defective synthesis of haemoglobin in the erythroid precursors, causing a reduction in its mean corpuscular volume (MCV). The most common causes of microcytosis, without the increase in HbA levels, are iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and α-thalassemia. The aim of this study was to identify the causes of microcytic anaemia and evaluate the haematological parameters from blood donors deemed ineligible (due to the low haematocrit level) that would differentiate the IDA and α-thal, whether isolated or in association.

Frequency of red blood cell genotypes in multi-transfused patients and blood donors from Minas Gerais, Southeast Brazil.

Background And Objectives: The frequency of red blood cell (RBC) antigens in Brazil varies due to differences in the ethnic groups in different regions; however, these studies have not been performed in Minas Gerais, where African admixture is more prevalent in comparison with other states. Due to these facts, this study aimed to determine the frequency of RBC genotypes on Rh, Kell, Duffy and Kidd systems in blood donors and multi-transfused patients from Minas Gerais, Southeast Brazil.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 170 donors and 117 patients with different diagnosis and at least three RBC transfusions.

Evaluation of the cytotoxic response mediated by perforin and granzyme B in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

This study quantified the perforin and granzyme B in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) at the time of diagnosis. Protein quantification was performed by flow cytometry. NHL patients had a higher number of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) expressing perforin as well as a greater number of activated CTLs than the control group.

Cholelithiasis and its complications in sickle cell disease in a university hospital.

Introduction: The clinical manifestations of sickle cell disease are related to the polymerization of hemoglobin S. The chronic hemolysis caused by this condition often causes the formation of gallstones that can migrate and block the common bile duct leading to acute abdomen.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the profile of patients with sickle cell disease and cholelithiasis.

Hemoglobinopathies in newborns in the southern region of the Triângulo Mineiro, Brazil. Cross-sectional study.

Context And Objective: Hemoglobinopathies are among the commonest and most widespread genetic disorders worldwide. Their prevalence varies according to ethnic composition and/or geographical region. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of hemoglobinopathies and their association with ethnicity among 1,004 newborns, to confirm the guideline of the Brazilian National Neonatal Screening Program.