Publications by authors named "Igor Brasil Costa"

Long Covid results from the damage caused by SARS-CoV-2, involving the release of cytokines and the continuous activation of immune cells. This cross-sectional study investigates leukocyte and cytokine profiles in Long Covid patients in the Amazon, a region where such studies are limited. Blood samples were analysed for differential leukocyte counts and cytokine levels.

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Viral coinfection among HIV-positive patients, coupled with the development of AIDS, remains a major public health problem. The synergism between the presence of HIV and other viruses has consequences in relation to changes in the severity of the infection, as well as changes in the natural course of both infections. Several polymorphisms present in genes that encode cytokines have a relevant influence on their transcription and consequently on the production of such immunological molecules.

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This study aimed to analyze the prevalence, sociobehavioral factors and clinical-laboratory consequences of late presentation among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Brazilian Amazon region. In total, 402 HIV + individuals treated at reference units in Belém city (Pará, Brazil) between 2018 and 2019 were evaluated. Late presentation was defined as a first-collection LTCD4 count below 350 cells/µL.

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Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection involves distinct clinical and serological profiles. We evaluated the frequency of alleles of locus DRB1 of HLA class II in different serological profiles of EBV infection among HIV-1 infected patients.

Methods: We recruited 19 patients with primary infection, 90 with serological transition and 467 with past infection by EBV, HIV-1 co-infection was 100% in primary infection and approximately 70% in other serological profiles.

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Hodgkin lymphoma is histologically characterised by the presence of Hodgkin (H) and Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells originating from germinal centre B-cells rearranged in the IgV gene. The formation of multinucleated RS cells is a product of telomere organisation in a process initiated by telomere aggregate accumulation in mononuclear H cells and may be mediated by latent membrane protein 1 (LMP-1) expression. LMP-1 is the main oncoprotein of EBV and supports several tumourigenic processes.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the role of the cGAS-STING pathway in inflammation during COVID-19 and its contribution to long COVID symptoms.
  • Researchers analyzed blood samples from 148 individuals (87 with acute COVID-19 and 61 with long COVID) to measure gene expression and levels of inflammatory factors like IFN-α, TNF-α, and IL-6.
  • Findings indicate that higher levels of cGAS, STING, and inflammatory cytokines correlate with severe COVID-19 and may lead to persistent inflammation in long COVID patients.
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Interleukin-6 has been recognized as a major role player in COVID-19 severity, being an important regulator of the cytokine storm. Hence, the evaluation of the influence of polymorphisms in key genes of the IL-6 pathway, namely IL6, IL6R, and IL6ST, may provide valuable prognostic/predictive markers for COVID-19. The present cross-sectional study genotyped three SNPs (rs1800795, rs2228145, and rs7730934) at IL6.

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Introduction: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) promotes opsonization, favoring phagocytosis and activation of the complement system in response to different microorganisms, and may influence the synthesis of inflammatory cytokines. This study investigated the association of MBL2 gene polymorphisms with the plasma levels of MBL and inflammatory cytokines in COVID-19.

Methods: Blood samples from 385 individuals (208 with acute COVID-19 and 117 post-COVID-19) were subjected to real-time PCR genotyping.

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  • * Urine samples from 290 individuals revealed that 30.2% of CKD patients tested positive for polyomaviruses, with the highest prevalence in conservative patients, followed by dialysis and transplanted patients.
  • * Interestingly, the control group showed a higher overall prevalence (46.59%), with JCV being more common (77.8%) than BKV, and males and those with systemic arterial hypertension were more affected within the CKD group.
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  • A study evaluated 89 TB patients (75 with pulmonary TB and 14 with extrapulmonary TB) and 45 controls, focusing on demographic factors and cytokine levels.
  • Patients with TB were typically older, married, had lower education levels, and lower family incomes, with all extrapulmonary TB patients reporting inability to work due to their condition.
  • Elevated levels of the cytokine IFN-γ were linked to pulmonary TB, while lower levels were found in extrapulmonary cases, indicating that IFN-γ could help differentiate between the two forms of TB and plays a crucial role in the disease's progression.
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The duration and severity of COVID-19 are related to age, comorbidities, and cytokine synthesis. This study evaluated the impact of these factors on patients with clinical presentations of COVID-19 in a Brazilian cohort. A total of 317 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were included; cases were distributed according to clinical status as severe (n=91), moderate (n=56) and mild (n=170).

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The present study aimed to describe the seroprevalence infection, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genotypes, relate the infection's profile with the epidemiological and corticotherapy data of patients with Autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRD). A cross-sectional study was carried out with 139 individuals, 92 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 27 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 20 with other autoimmune diseases, who were undergoing clinical follow-up in Brazil. Serological tests for the detection of EBV anti-VCA IgM and IgG antibodies, as well as the amplification of a segment of the EBV EBNA-3c gene by conventional PCR were performed to identify the infection and the viral subtype.

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  • The study found significant genetic variability in virulence factors linked to gastric adenocarcinoma, which could affect the disease's initiation and progression.
  • A cross-sectional analysis of 281 gastric adenocarcinoma samples from the Brazilian Amazon revealed that 32.03% tested positive for specific bacteria, with higher positivity in older patients and those with metastases.
  • Among the positive samples, a majority carried specific virulence gene variations, indicating a strong association between the bacterial infection and the malignant features of the cancer, although virulence factors did not influence age or metastasis.
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  • This study investigates immune reconstitution failure in HIV treatment, particularly focusing on the polymorphism of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) among patients in the Brazilian Amazon.
  • Researchers monitored 270 patients over 24 months, identifying a significant correlation between specific HLA B alleles and failure to respond to treatment; the B*13 allele was particularly notable for its association with worse outcomes.
  • The findings suggest that genetic factors may influence treatment responses in HIV patients, highlighting the importance of personalized medicine in managing the disease.
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Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the immunological profile of adult HIV-1 patients coinfected with primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection who were free of antiretroviral drugs and inhabitants of the Brazilian Amazon region.

Materials And Methods: Primary EBV infection was screened by the semiquantitative detection of IgM and IgG anti-VCA. Genotypes were determined by conventional PCR.

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Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an oncovirus ubiquitously distributed and associated with different types of cancer. The reason why only a group of infected people develop cancer is still unknown. EBV-associated cancers represent about 1.

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EBV-associated gastric cancer accounts for about 10% of all gastric carcinomas worldwide. We aimed to verify the prevalence of EBV in gastric adenocarcinoma samples using FISH and qPCR and comparing the results obtained by both techniques. Gastric cancer samples from 191 cases were analyzed.

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Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to verify the concordance of EBV-DNA frequency in subgingival sites and in the OSCC.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with 30 OSCC patients, aged from 44 to 88 years old, was conducted. Samples were collected in subgingival sites and at the OSCC, then submitted to DNA isolation, qPCR, and genotyping.

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To identify the prevalence and risk factors for primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-positive adult treatment-naïve patients between January 2018 and December 2019 in a state of the Brazilian Amazon region. A total of 268 HIV-1 positive patients and 65 blood donors participated in the study. Epidemiological data were obtained from medical records and through a designed questionnaire.

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Gastric cancer (GC) is a worldwide health problem, making it one of the most common types of cancer, in fifth place of all tumor types, and the third highest cause of cancer deaths in the world. There is a subgroup of GC that consists of tumors infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and is characterized mainly by the overexpression of programmed cell death protein-ligand-1 (PD-L1). In the present study, we present histopathological and survival data of a thousand GC patients, associated with EBV status and PD-L1 expression.

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  • The study investigated the prevalence and types of Epstein Barr virus (EBV) in infectious mononucleosis cases in Belém, Brazil, from 2005 to 2016, analyzing a total of 8,295 suspected cases.
  • Among the tested samples, 19.8% were positive for EBV, with PCR confirming genotypes in 30.3% of those tested; 71.1% were classified as EBV1, 17.1% as EBV2, and 11.8% as co-infected with both.
  • The study also noted distinct symptoms associated with each EBV type, including lymphadenopathy and fever for EBV1 and a higher average age for EBV2 infections
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Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a highly prevalent spectrum of pathologies caused by alcohol overconsumption. Morbidity and mortality related to ALD are increasing worldwide, thereby demanding strategies for early diagnosis and detection of ALD predisposition. A potential candidate as a marker for ALD susceptibility is the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf2), codified by the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 gene (NFE2L2).

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Atherosclerosis is a progressive disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the arterial walls, associated with genetic and infectious factors. The present study investigated the involvement of and infections and immunological markers (C-reactive protein, CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) in the process of atherosclerosis. The evaluation included 159 patients for surgical revascularization (CAD) and 71 patients for surgical heart valve disease (HVD) at three hospitals in Belém, Brazil.

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Background: Currently, sharing of drug paraphernalia is the main form of HCV transmission worldwide. In South America, consistent findings indicate that shared sniffing equipment is an important factor in the spread of HCV among non-injecting drug users. Epidemiological data on the status of HCV infection in illicit drug users in the Amazon region are scarce, although reports of clinical cases of hepatitis or pathologies associated with HCV infection in other population groups are numerous.

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