Arbovirus exposure and subclinical myocardial dysfunction in an Indigenous population in Northeast Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Human activities, such as urbanization and climate change, have facilitated the spread of arbovirus-carrying vectors, disproportionately affecting vulnerable traditional Indigenous communities.

Objective: To explore the relationships between subclinical myocardial dysfunction, assessed by global longitudinal strain (GLS), and comprehensive arbovirus serology in an Indigenous population, while also describing the serological and epidemiological profile of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses.

Methods: This ancillary study is part of the first phase (2016-2017) of the Project of Atherosclerosis among Indigenous Populations (PAI), a cross-sectional study involving participants from two Indigenous communities with different degrees of urbanization and a highly urbanized city in Northeast Brazil.

Tracing the Dispersal Pathway of HIV-1 Subtype C to Bahia: Phylogenetic Connections to Southern Brazil.

The HIV-1 epidemic in Brazil is predominantly characterized by subtype B, except in the southern states, where subtype C (HIV-1C) is more prevalent. Continuous monitoring of this profile is essential to maintain an accurate understanding of the molecular landscape of the HIV epidemic in Brazil. In this study, we isolated and sequenced seven new HIV-1C strains from the state of Bahia, located in the Northeast region of Brazil.

Cardiac Biomarkers in a Brazilian Indigenous Population Exposed to Arboviruses: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Arthropod-borne viral diseases are acute febrile illnesses, sometimes with chronic effects, that can be debilitating and even fatal worldwide, affecting particularly vulnerable populations. Indigenous communities face not only the burden of these acute febrile illnesses, but also the cardiovascular complications that are worsened by urbanization. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an Indigenous population in the Northeast Region of Brazil to explore the association between arboviral infections (dengue, chikungunya, and Zika) and cardiac biomarkers, including cardiotrophin 1, growth differentiation factor 15, lactate dehydrogenase B, fatty-acid-binding protein 3, myoglobin, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, cardiac troponin I, big endothelin 1, and creatine kinase-MB, along with clinical and anthropometric factors.

Co-occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in rivers and sewage in India and Brazil.

The genomic monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) in riverine and sewage water has been widely used as an epidemiological tool worldwide. But its utility for epidemiological assessments still needs to be evaluated in some areas. Our study encompassed thirteen Brazilian rivers spanning a vast urban expanse across the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Paraná.

Rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XDR lineage derived from recombination between XBB and BA.2.86 subvariants circulating in Brazil in late 2023.

Recombination plays a crucial role in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2. The Omicron XBB* recombinant lineages are a noteworthy example, as they have been the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant worldwide in the first half of 2023. Since November 2023, a new recombinant lineage between Omicron subvariants XBB and BA.

Decision regret and long-term success rates after ventral buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty.

Objectives: To characterise the long-term success rate of ventral onlay buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty (vBMG) in the management of bulbar urethral stricture disease (USD), assess patient-reported postoperative satisfaction and decision regret, and delineate clinical factors impacting patient-reported metrics.

Subjects And Methods: Patients with prior vBMG for bulbar USD, performed at Cleveland Clinic between 2003 and 2022, were contacted and brief structured interviews were performed. Stricture recurrence and need for secondary procedures, baseline demographics, and patient-reported outcome surveys were collected.

Design and implementation of a metagenomic analytical pipeline for respiratory pathogen detection.

Objective: We developed an in-house bioinformatics pipeline to improve the detection of respiratory pathogens in metagenomic sequencing data. This pipeline addresses the need for short-time analysis, high accuracy, scalability, and reproducibility in a high-performance computing environment.

Results: We evaluated our pipeline using ninety synthetic metagenomes designed to simulate nasopharyngeal swab samples.

Mapping variants in HTLV-1 genome to analyze their impacts on the HAM/TSP development: A systematic review.

The reasons that lead some individuals living with the Human T Lymphotropic Virus 1 (HTLV-1) to develop HAM/TSP are still unclear. To better understand the viral genetic factors that may be associated with the development of HAM/TSP, this study aims to evaluate the impact of HTLV-1 genome mutations on the development of this disease through a systematic review. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered in the PROSPERO database.

Optimizing next-generation sequencing efficiency in clinical settings: analysis of read length impact on cost and performance.

Background: The expansion of sequencing technologies as a result of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic enabled pathogen (meta)genomics to be deployed as a routine component of surveillance in many countries. Scaling genomic surveillance, however, comes with associated costs in both equipment and sequencing reagents, which should be optimized. Here, we evaluate the cost efficiency and performance of different read lengths in identifying pathogens in metagenomic samples.

Leishmania spp. genetic factors associated with cutaneous leishmaniasis antimony pentavalent drug resistance: a systematic review.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a neglected zoonosis caused by parasites of Leishmania spp. The main drug used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the antimoniate of meglumine. This drug, which has strong adverse and toxic effects, is usually administered intravenously, further complicating the difficult treatment.

Exploring Recent Changes to the New Urology Residency Match.

Introduction: This study assesses the effects of the recent changes to the urology residency match process.

Methods: We emailed an anonymous, multiple-choice survey to each candidate who applied to any of our 3 urology programs for the 2024 Urology Residency Match.

Results: Of the 433 candidates invited, 146 (33.

An integrated analysis of the structural changes and gene expression of spleen in human visceral leishmaniasis with and without HIV coinfection.

The spleen plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of visceral leishmaniasis. In severe forms of the disease, the spleen undergoes changes that can compromise its function in surveilling blood-circulating pathogens. In this study, we present an integrated analysis of the structural and gene expression alterations in the spleens of three patients with relapsing visceral leishmaniasis, two of whom were coinfected with HIV.

Decisional regret and impacts on quality of life following genitourinary reconstruction for neurogenic bladder: A comparison between acquired and congenital spinal cord injury.

Introduction: Patient expectations and baseline health are important drivers of outcomes following major genitourinary reconstructive surgery for neurogenic bladder (NGB). Differences in expectations and quality of life (QoL) improvements among different populations with NGB remain insufficiently explored in the literature.

Objective: To compare decisional regret (DR) and urinary-related QoL (UrQoL) in patients undergoing urinary diversion for NGB arising from spinal cord injury of acquired (A-SCI) and congenital (C-SCI) etiologies.

Physical Activity at Different Life Stages and Its Consequence on the Initial Immunization and Inflammatory Response Against COVID-19.

Background: To evaluate the influence of previous physical activity (PA) during childhood, adolescence, and current PA practice on the production of antibodies and inflammatory response between the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Methods: Fifty-nine men and 56 women were evaluated before the first vaccine, and 12 weeks later, blood samples were taken to quantify production of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 immunoglobulin G antibodies and cytokines. Previous PA during childhood and adolescence was self-referred, and current PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.

Contribution of pudendal nerve injury to stress urinary incontinence in a male rat model.

Urinary incontinence is a common complication following radical prostatectomy, as the surgery disturbs critical anatomical structures. This study explored how pudendal nerve (PN) injury affects urinary continence in male rats. In an acute study, leak point pressure (LPP) and external urethral sphincter electromyography (EMG) were performed on six male rats with an intact urethra, the urethra exposed (UE), the PN exposed (NE), and after PN transection (PNT).

Overestimation of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Household Transmission in Settings of High Community Transmission: Insights From an Informal Settlement Community in Salvador, Brazil.

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant has spread globally. However, the contribution of community versus household transmission to the overall risk of infection remains unclear.

Methods: Between November 2021 and March 2022, we conducted an active case-finding study in an urban informal settlement with biweekly visits across 1174 households with 3364 residents.

Urology Residency Applicant Selection: Program Directors' New Criteria.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the recent changes to the urology residency application process on the criteria utilized by residency program directors (PDs) for interview invitations and their perspectives concerning these changes.

Methods: One hundred thirty-seven urology residency PDs were invited to participate in an anonymous survey to explore interview selection criteria and the impact of the increase in preference signals (PS) per applicant.

Results: Fifty-eight PDs (42.

Posterior Urethral Reconstruction at the Time of Rectourethral Fistula Repair: Technique and Outcomes.

Objective: To assess the impact of posterior urethral stenosis or defect on outcomes following rectourethral fistula (RUF) repair, we present a cohort of 23 men who underwent posterior urethroplasty concurrent with RUF repair.

Methods: We identified 130 men who underwent RUF repair at our institution between 2003 and 2021. Of these, 23 (18%) underwent simultaneous posterior urethroplasty.

Spatiotemporal dynamics and epidemiological impact of SARS-CoV-2 XBB lineage dissemination in Brazil in 2023.

Unlabelled: The SARS-CoV-2 XBB is a group of highly immune-evasive lineages of the Omicron variant of concern that emerged by recombining BA.2-descendent lineages and spread worldwide during 2023. In this study, we combine SARS-CoV-2 genomic data ( 11,065 sequences) with epidemiological data of severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases collected in Brazil between October 2022 and July 2023 to reconstruct the space-time dynamics and epidemiologic impact of XBB dissemination in the country.

Combining Digital and Molecular Approaches Using Health and Alternate Data Sources in a Next-Generation Surveillance System for Anticipating Outbreaks of Pandemic Potential.

Globally, millions of lives are impacted every year by infectious diseases outbreaks. Comprehensive and innovative surveillance strategies aiming at early alert and timely containment of emerging and reemerging pathogens are a pressing priority. Shortcomings and delays in current pathogen surveillance practices further disturbed informing responses, interventions, and mitigation of recent pandemics, including H1N1 influenza and SARS-CoV-2.