Evaluation of the analytical and clinical performance of the Abbott Alinity m instrument for the quantification of HIV-1 RNA plasma viral load in a reference laboratory in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the analytical performance of the Alinity m system (Abbott Molecular) and to compare the clinical performance of HIV-1 assays on the Alinity m and m2000 RealTime platforms (Abbott Molecular).

Methods: The sensitivity, precision, and accuracy of the Alinity m instrument were determined using a panel of standard samples (n = 46). The carryover effect was assessed by analyzing HIV-negative clinical samples (n = 20).

Predictors of chronic joint pain after Chikungunya virus infection in the INOVACHIK prospective cohort study.

Background: Chikungunya can cause persistent chronic joint pain. Knowledge of the risk factors for disease progression is important for preventing and controlling complications. This study aimed to identify factors associated with chronic joint pain.

Two-dimensional strain derived parameters provide independent predictors of progression to Chagas cardiomyopathy and mortality in patients with Chagas disease.

Background: Patients with chronic Chagas disease (CD) cardiomyopathy have a high mortality. We evaluated if two-dimensional (2D) strain () parameters provide independent predictors of progression to CD cardiomyopathy and all-cause mortality.

Methods: A total of 408 patients with chronic CD (58.

Bone sporotrichosis: 41 cases from a reference hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Background: Bone sporotrichosis is rare. The metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro is hyperendemic for zoonotic sporotrichosis and the bone presentations are increasing.

Methods: We studied a retrospective cohort of 41 cases of bone sporotrichosis, diagnosed from 1999-2016.

Quality of life and associated factors in patients with chronic Chagas disease.

Objectives: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL) of patients with Chagas disease (CD) and the association between QoL domains and several clinical, socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics of this population.

Methods: Cross-sectional observational study conducted from March 2014 to March 2017 including a total of 361 outpatients followed at Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Disease, Brazil. QoL was assessed using the Portuguese shorter version of the original WHO Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF).

gene polymorphism associated with clinical factors can predict drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Polymorphism in the gene encoding P-glycoprotein, a transmembrane drug efflux pump, contributes to drug resistance and has been widely studied. However, their association with rifampicin and ethambutol resistance in tuberculosis (TB) patients is still unclear. Genotype/allele/haplotype frequencies in c.

Mortality in HIV-infected women, heterosexual men, and men who have sex with men in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: an observational cohort study.

Background: Mortality in HIV-infected individuals might differ by sex and mode of HIV acquisition. We aimed to study mortality in HIV-infected women, heterosexual men, and men who have sex with men (MSM) in a cohort from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Methods: In this observational cohort study, we included HIV-infected women, heterosexual men, and MSM (aged ≥18 years) from the Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas database who were enrolled between Jan 1, 2000, and Oct 30, 2011, and who had at least 60 days of follow-up.

Association of itraconazole and potassium iodide in the treatment of feline sporotrichosis: a prospective study.

Feline sporotrichosis is an endemic disease in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where zoonotic transmission of Sporothrix spp. has been reported since 1998. Itraconazole (ITZ) remains the first choice for treating this disease in cats.

The role of cigarette smoking and liver enzymes polymorphisms in anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity in Brazilian patients.

Tuberculosis (TB) is still a major health concern and side-effects related to the treatment, especially drug-induced hepatotoxicity (DIH), should be better investigated. In the present study, a possible association between anti-TB DIH and cigarette smoking, N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) genotypes was studied in 131 TB Brazilian patients. The NAT2 and CYP3A4 genetic polymorphisms were determined using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) direct sequencing approach and genetic polymorphisms of CYP2E1 gene were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).