Levels of soluble TNF receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) increase with clinical worsening of patients and are related to COVID-19 mortality.

The present study aimed to inspect the serum levels of the soluble receptors, sTNFR1 and sTNFR2, in patients with COVID-19. The large production of inflammatory cytokines is an essential process in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. TNF is a multifaceted proinflammatory cytokine which has soluble and membrane receptors.

Fungal esophagitis associated with tuberculous pericarditis in an human immunodeficiency virus-positive patient: a case report.

Background: Opportunistic infections are frequent in people living with the human immunodeficiency virus who either do not have access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) or use it irregularly. Tuberculosis is the most frequent infectious disease in PLHIV and can predispose patients to severe fungal infections with dire consequences.

Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 35-year-old Brazilian man living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) for 10 years.

Proximal tubular dysfunction related to tenofovir in people living with HIV/AIDS: a pharmacogenetic study.

Objectives: The purpose of this case-control study was to verify the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding drug transporters related to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and proximal renal tubular dysfunction (PRTD), and the association between PRTD and clinical characteristics.

Methods: The 'cases' met the diagnostic criteria for PRTD, determined by the presence of two or more of the following abnormalities: non-diabetic glycosuria, metabolic acidosis, increased uric acid and phosphorus excretion, decreased tubular phosphorus reabsorption and β2-microglobulinuria. We analyzed eight SNPs in ABCC2, ABCC4, ABCC10 and SLC28A2 genes.

Occurrence of qnrB1 and qnrB12 genes, mutation in gyrA and ramR, and expression of efflux pumps in isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae carriers of blaKPC-2.

Purpose: The occurrence of quinolone-resistance genes (qnrA, qnrB and qnrS), the presence of mutations in gyrA, gyrB and parC, as well as the expression of efflux pumps (acrB and acrF) and mutations in the gene ramR.

Methodology: Were investigated in 30 blaKPC-2-positive isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae taken from infection and colonization in hospital patients from Recife-PE, Brazil. The detection of the qnr, acrB and acrF genes and analysis of the mutations in ramR and the quinolone-resistance-determining regions of gyrA, gyrB and parC were performed by PCR followed by DNA sequencing.

Multifocal skeletal tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient: a case report.

Background: The occurrence of multifocal skeletal involvement in immunocompetent patients is rare, even in countries where tuberculosis is endemic. Multifocal skeletal lesions may occur as a result of hematogenous dissemination from another primary focus such as cervical lymph nodes, lungs, tonsils or gastrointestinal tract.

Case Presentation: We present a 59 year-old man with a history of intermittent and disabling pain in his left knee for 2 years.

Presence of fimH, mrkD, and irp2 virulence genes in KPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Recife-PE, Brazil.

Klebsiella pneumoniae strains can produce different virulence factors, such as fimbrial adhesins and siderophores, which are important in the colonization and development of the infection. The aims of this study were to determine the occurrence of fimH, mrkD, and irp2 virulence genes in 22 KPC-2-producing K. pneumoniae isolates as well as 22 not producing-KPC isolates, from patients from different hospitals in Recife-PE, Brazil, and also to analyze the clonal relationship of the isolates by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR).

Features to validate cerebral toxoplasmosis.

Introduction: Neurotoxoplasmosis (NT) sometimes manifests unusual characteristics.

Methods: We analyzed 85 patients with NT and AIDS according to clinical, cerebrospinal fluid, cranial magnetic resonance, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) characteristics.

Results: In 8.

Frequency and risk factors for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder and depression in older individuals with HIV in northeastern Brazil.

Background: The study was undertaken to describe the frequency of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and depressive symptoms in an older population with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of patients aged 50 years or older infected with HIV was carried out in an outpatient setting in Brazil from March to November 2008. Patients selected were submitted to cognitive evaluation using the Mini-Mental State Examination and International HIV Dementia Scale, and also to functional and depression evaluations.

Comparison between the Framingham and prospective cardiovascular of Münster scores for risk assessment of coronary heart disease in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in Pernambuco, Brazil.

Background: The Framingham score is used in most studies on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients to estimate the risk for coronary heart disease; however, it may have some limitations for detecting risk among these individuals.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement between the Framingham and Prospective Cardiovascular of Münster (PROCAM) scores among HIV-positive individuals and to investigate the factors associated with disagreement between the two scores.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients attending the outpatient's clinics of two reference centers for HIV/AIDS in Pernambuco, Brazil.

Prevalence of hyperapolipoprotein B and associations with other cardiovascular risk factors among human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in Pernambuco, Brazil.

Background: Hypertriglyceridemia associated with low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and hypercholesterolemia is the most common metabolic disorder among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients using antiretroviral therapy. This atherogenic profile is associated with increased cardiovascular risk among these patients. Apolipoprotein B (apoB) is a better parameter than low-density lipoprotein (LDL) for evaluating lipids and cardiovascular risk among patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome, but studies of apoB among HIV-infected patients are scarce.

Risk factors in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil: a case-control study.

Background: Although human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated lipodystrophy has been reported for more than a decade, there is still considerable uncertainty regarding the mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis.

Methods: A case-control study was performed that aimed to identify the risk factors for lipodystrophy in HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy in Pernambuco, Brazil.

Results: Between July and November, 2007, a total of 332 patients were enrolled in the study: 182 cases and 150 controls.

Characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV seropositive and seronegative patients in a Northeastern region of Brazil.

The aim of this study was to analyse the clinical, epidemiological and bacteriological features present in 60 pulmonary tuberculosis patients who were also infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to compare these with 120 TB patients who were not infected with HIV. The patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and HIV coinfection were mostly male (p = 0.001), showed a higher frequency of weight loss >10 kilos (p <0.