Publications by authors named "Maria C Cervi"

Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to investigate the epidemiology and outcomes of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) across 16 Latin American countries from August 2020 to June 2022.
  • Out of 1239 children with MIS-C, the majority were previously healthy, with common symptoms including abdominal pain and conjunctival injection, and nearly half required intensive care.
  • The overall death rate was 4.88%, notably higher for those not initially diagnosed with MIS-C, emphasizing the need for improved awareness and early detection of the syndrome.
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Introduction: Vaccines are essential for the prevention and control of several diseases, indeed, monitoring the immune response generated by vaccines is crucial. The immune response generated by vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents is not well defined regarding to the intensity and medium to long-term duration of a protective immune response, which may point out the need of booster doses and might support the decisions in public health.

Objective: The study aims to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) in a two-dose primary protocol in children and adolescent aging from 3 to 17 years old in Brazil.

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Article Synopsis
  • Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) related to COVID-19 shows varied severity, with a lower mortality rate in wealthier countries, highlighting differences in outcomes across regions.
  • In a study of 1,239 children across 16 Latin American countries, the majority were previously healthy, but nearly half required admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), where they experienced more severe symptoms like myocardial dysfunction.
  • Key risk factors for PICU admission included being over six years old, experiencing shock or seizures, having low platelet counts, elevated inflammatory markers, and abnormalities on chest X-rays, with an overall mortality rate of 4.8%, which is notably higher than in high-income countries.
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Vaccination with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) can be harmful to patients with combined primary immunodeficiencies. We report the outcome of BCG vaccination in a series of twelve patients affected by adenosine deaminase deficiency (ADA-SCID). BCG vaccination resulted in a very high incidence of complications due to uncontrolled replication of the mycobacterium.

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Background: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is spreading worldwide, but little is known about the epidemiology of this pathogen in Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate clinical and microbiological features of children with S. aureus infections admitted to a university hospital.

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We aimed to investigate the clinicopathological features of pertussis in children admitted to a tertiary-care university hospital in Brazil.This was a retrospective cohort study of all pediatric hospital admissions with pertussis from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2014. We also reported the autopsy findings in children who died.

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Introduction: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is associated with the pathogenesis of Kaposi Sarcoma and interstitial pneumonitis in adults. This study aims to evaluate association between HHV-8 and interstitial lung disease in HIV-infected children.

Methods: HIV-infected children with interstitial pneumonitis underwent lung biopsies in a tertiary hospital and were investigated for HHV-8, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry in lung tissue.

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Introduction: Emergent and re-emergent waterborne protozoans have become a worldwide public health problem, especially among vulnerable groups.

Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 17 HIV-infected children and their families.

Results: A high (76.

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In this report we describe a case of the Zoon's balanitis in a boy with HIV (AIDS B2). The clinical presentation, failure of topical treatment, cure by circumcision, and the histopathology findings are presented.

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Background: Chronic liver disease has emerged as an important problem in adults with longstanding HIV infection, but data are lacking for children. We characterized elevated aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI), a marker of possible liver fibrosis, in perinatally HIV-infected children.

Methods: The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development International Site Development Initiative enrolled HIV-infected children (ages 0.

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Unlabelled: Hypoxia is one of many factors involved in the regulation of the IGF system. However, no information is available regarding the regulation of the IGF system by acute hypoxia in humans.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acute hypoxia on the IGF system of children.

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Background: Rubella vaccination is contraindicated during pregnancy. During mass immunization of women of childbearing age against rubella, women unknowingly pregnant may be vaccinated. To evaluate the effects of rubella vaccination during pregnancy, the Brazilian state of São Paulo conducted a follow-up study of pregnant women vaccinated during a rubella campaign in 2001.

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Introduction: HIV-infected children and adolescents treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) regimens that include a protease inhibitor (PI) can show significant improvements in clinical outcomes, nutritional status and quality of life. The study aimed to report nutritional and metabolic alterations for pediatric patients continuously exposed to HAART and for healthy controls for up to 1 year.

Methods: Clinical, anthropometric, lipid profile and food intake data were collected prospectively over approximately 12-months for each patient.

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Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a parvovirus recently identified in association with acute respiratory infections (ARI). Despite its worldwide occurrence, little is known on the pathogenesis of HBoV infections. In addition, few systematic studies of HBoV in ARI have been conducted in Latin America.

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Introduction: A multimodal approach of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) encephalopathy using quantitative magnetic resonance (MR) techniques can demonstrate brain changes not detectable only with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this study was to compare conventional MRI and MR quantitative techniques, such as magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and relaxometry and to determine whether quantitative techniques are more sensitive than conventional imaging for brain changes caused by HIV infection.

Methods: We studied prospectively nine HIV positive children (mean age 6 years, from 5 to 8 years old) and nine controls (mean age 7.

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Background: We have previously shown that 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV) is immunogenic in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected mothers and provides vaccine-induced antibodies to the infant. We compared the nasopharyngeal pneumococcal colonization (NPC) rates in <6-month-old infants born to HIV-infected mothers, according to immunization with PPV during pregnancy.

Methods: NPC was evaluated in 45 term infants born to vaccinated women (PPV+) and in 60 infants in a control group (PPV-), at 2 months (±30 days), 4 months (±30 days), and 6 months (±30 days) of age.

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Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency is a disorder of the purine metabolism leading to combined immunodeficiency and systemic alterations, including skeletal abnormalities. We report that ADA deficiency in mice causes a specific bone phenotype characterized by alterations of structural properties and impaired mechanical competence. These alterations are the combined result of an imbalanced receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin axis, causing decreased osteoclastogenesis and an intrinsic defect of osteoblast function with subsequent low bone formation.

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Objective: This study examines perceptions, and knowledge of how to promote oral healthcare among people caring for children with HIV/AIDS.

Methods: A questionnaire was completed by people caring for children with HIV/AIDS, encompassing the quality of life (WHOQoL-bref); the socioeconomic stratification (BECC); and aspects related to oral health through the perception, care and promotion of oral health. Internal consistency was evaluated for the WHOQoL-bref domains, for the BECC questions and for the oral health questions.

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Objective: HIV infection induces a state of pellagra in cell culture models. This study compared the nutritional status and the 24-hour urine excretion of N-methylnicotinamide between HIV-positive children and HIV-negative children who were or were not born of mothers with HIV-1 infection.

Patients And Methods: Forty patients were included in the study: HIV-positive children (group 1; n = 20), HIV-negative children born to infected mothers (group 2; n = 10), and HIV-negative control children (group 3; n = 10).

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Disseminated infection with Cryptococcus neoformans was observed in a newborn infant who presented fever and respiratory symptoms since the 52 nd day of life. The mother was infected by human immunodeficiency virus and presented pulmonary and meningeal cryptococcal infection. This is a rare case of cryptococcal infection with probable maternal-fetal transmission.

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Objectives: To determine the prevalence of pneumococcus colonization among HIV-infected outpatients aged 0 to 18 years. To determine the resistance to penicillin of the microorganisms observed, to identify their serotypes, and to determine whether there are associations between known risk factors and colonization in this group.

Material And Method: This was an observational and cross-sectional study in which nasopharynx swabs were collected from 112 children on the occasion of their monthly appointments and a questionnaire applied to the mothers.

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