Congenital CMV infection in a Brazilian neonatal intensive care unit: high prevalence among twin newborns.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the most important pathogens associated with congenital infection worldwide. Most congenital CMV-infected infants are asymptomatic at birth; however, some can develop delayed sequelae, especially hearing loss.

Methods: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of congenital CMV infection in a neonatal intensive care unit in a low-income region of Brazil.

Association between multidrug-resistant bacteria and outcomes in intensive care unit patients: a non-interventional study.

Background: In intensive care units (ICUs), infections by multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms should be monitored to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).

Methods: From 2018 to 2020, we investigated all medical records of patients admitted to the ICU of a public university hospital. All patients colonized/infected by MDR microorganisms and submitted to active surveillance cultures (ASCs) were included.

Taming the SARS-CoV-2-mediated proinflammatory response with BromAc.

Introduction: In the present study, the impact of BromAc®, a specific combination of bromelain and acetylcysteine, on the SARS-CoV-2-specific inflammatory response was evaluated.

Methods: An in vitro stimulation system was standardized using blood samples from 9 healthy donors, luminex assays and flow cytometry were performed.

Results And Discussion: BromAc® demonstrated robust anti-inflammatory activity in human peripheral blood cells upon SARS-CoV-2 viral stimuli, reducing the cytokine storm, composed of chemokines, growth factors, and proinflammatory and regulatory cytokines produced after short-term in vitro culture with the inactivated virus (iSARS-CoV-2).

Relationship between clinical-epidemiological parameters and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit: a report from a Brazilian hospital.

Background: People in low-income countries, especially those with low socio-economic conditions, are likelier to test positive for SARS-CoV-2. The unequal conditions of public health systems also increase the infection rate and make early identification and treatment of at-risk patients difficult. Here, we aimed to characterize the epidemiological profile of COVID-19 patients in intensive care and identify laboratory and clinical markers associated with death.

Ex-vivo mucolytic and anti-inflammatory activity of BromAc in tracheal aspirates from COVID-19.

Unlabelled: COVID-19 is a lethal disease caused by the pandemic SARS-CoV-2, which continues to be a public health threat. COVID-19 is principally a respiratory disease and is often associated with sputum retention and cytokine storm, for which there are limited therapeutic options. In this regard, we evaluated the use of BromAc®, a combination of Bromelain and Acetylcysteine (NAC).

A Murine Model of Infection Reproducing Necrotic Lung Pathology Reveals Considerable Heterogeneity in Virulence of Clinical Isolates.

Among non-tuberculous mycobacteria, is one of the most pathogenic, able to cause pulmonary disease indistinguishable from tuberculosis in immunocompetent susceptible adults. The lack of animal models that reproduce human-like lung disease, associated with the necrotic lung pathology, impairs studies of virulence and pathogenicity. In this study, we examined the ability of the C57BL/6 mice, intratracheally infected with highly virulent strains, to produce a chronic infection and necrotic lung pathology.

Characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. africanum isolated from a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis in Brazil.

Human tuberculosis (TB) is caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), including Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. tuberculosis (MTB) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. africanum (MAF).

Exposition to Biological Control Agent Increases the Development of Cancer in Mice Injected With Murine Melanoma.

Biological control agents (BCA) are an alternative to chemical pesticides and an emerging strategy to safely eliminate plant pathogens. spp. are the most common fungi used as BCAs.

Characterization of serum cytokines and circulating microRNAs that are predicted to regulate inflammasome genes in cutaneous leishmaniasis patients.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected disease caused by an intracellular protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania. Infection starts when this protozoan replicates in a phagolysosomal compartment in macrophages, after evading host immune responses. The balance of Th1 and Th2 immune responses is crucial in leishmaniasis because it will determine whether the infection will be under control or if clinical complications will occur.

Discovery of a novel Mycobacterium asiaticum PRA-hsp65 pattern.

Twenty-one pulmonary sputum samples from nine Brazilian patients were analyzed by the PRA-hsp65 method for identification of Mycobacterium species and the results were compared by sequencing. We reported a mutation at the position 381, that generates a suppression cutting site in the BstEII enzyme, thus leading to a new PRA-hsp65 pattern for M. asiaticum identification.

Drug susceptibility profile of Mycobacterium kansasii clinical isolates from Brazil.

Objectives: Mycobacterium kansasii (M. kansasii) pulmonary infection can cause disease with clinical and radiological features similar to tuberculosis. Failure to treat M.

First detection of Mycobacterium triplex in Latin America.

In this study we describe the first isolation of Mycobacterium triplex in Latin America. This species causes infections in humans, with very few reports from around the world. We isolated two sputum specimens of a patient with a 6-year history of human immunodeficiency and tuberculosis treatment failure.

A reduction of viral mRNA, proteins and induction of altered morphogenesis reveals the anti-HTLV-1 activity of the labdane-diterpene myriadenolide in vitro.

Background: Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) has been associated with leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), in addition to other inflammatory diseases as well as infection complications. Therapeutic approaches for HTLV-1-related pathologies are limited. The labdane diterpene myriadenolide (AMY) is a natural product that exhibit biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity as reported for HIV and herpesvirus.

Description of a new Mycobacterium intracellulare pattern of PCR restriction enzyme analysis of hsp65 gene.

This work comprises 9 pulmonary nontuberculous mycobateria isolates obtained from sputum of 4 different patients from Brazil. The sequencing and phylogenetic analysis allowed their accurate identification as Mycobacterium intracellulare. We report a mutation at position 453 creating a new HaeIII cutting site and, therefore, a new PRA-hsp65 M.

First isolation of Mycobacterium kyorinense from clinical specimens in Brazil.

In this article, the first isolation of Mycobacterium kyorinense specimens in Brazil is described. M. kyorinense is a recently identified species, with a few strains reported only in Japan.

Anti-Tax antibody levels in asymptomatic carriers, oligosymptomatic carriers, patients with rheumatologic disease or with HAM/TSP do not correlate with HTLV-1 proviral load.

Background: HTLV-1 infects millions of people around the world and induces myelopathy (HAM/TSP), adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) or other inflammatory or rheumatologic diseases. The host-virus interaction causes asymptomatic carriers to develop HAM/TSP. Biomarkers are needed to predict patients who are at risk for HAM/TSP.