Differential roles of IL-6 and adrenomedullin in early diagnosis and mortality predictions in late-onset neonatal sepsis.

Background: Diagnosing and predicting neonatal sepsis is challenging because of its nonspecific symptoms, lack of diagnostic criteria consensus, and absence of early, sensitive, and specific diagnostic laboratory tests.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic potential of adrenomedullin (ADM), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in late-onset neonatal sepsis (LOS).

Methods: We studied 53 neonates with culture-proven LOS by sampling at admission and on antibiotic treatment days 3 and 7.

Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy in the Treatment of Vasospastic Angina Resistant to Medical Therapy.

Background: In this study, we aimed to investigate the clinical follow-up results of endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) in the treatment of vasospastic angina (VSA) resistant to maximal medical therapy.

Methods: A total of 80 patients with VSA who presented to our hospital between 2010 and 2022 were included in our study. Among them, 6 patients who did not respond to medical therapy underwent ETS.

New Allele-Specific Oligonucleotide (ASO) amplifications for Toxoplasma gondii rop18 allele typing: Analysis of 86 human congenital infections in Brazil.

This study aimed to detect and differentiate Toxoplasma gondii by the allele typing of its polymorphic rop18 gene. For this purpose, a novel genotyping system using allele-specific oligonucleotides (ASOs) was designed, consisting of three ASO pairs. The first and third pairs specifically amplify rop18 allele I and allele III, while the second pair amplify both allele I and II.

Toxoplasma gondii SAG2, SAG3 and GRA6 alleles and single nucleotide polymorphism in congenital infections with known parasite load and clinical outcome.

Amniotic fluid DNA samples were genotyped by multilocus-nested-PCR-RFLP, but only three of 11 markers amplified 113 of 122 (92.6%) samples, resulting in 12 untyped and 101 partial non-archetypal genotypes. The 101 typed samples were subdivided into four groups: G1 with 73 samples (5'and 3' SAG2 allele I + SAG3 allele III + GRA6 allele III), 53 had parasite load ≤ 102 parasites/mL (43 asymptomatic, 10 mild infections), 17 had load > 102 and ≤ 103 (one mild, 13 moderate and three severe), and three had load > 103 parasites/mL (three severe); G2 with 22 samples (5'and 3' SAG2 allele I + SAG3 allele III), all parasite load levels ≤ 102 parasites/mL (18 asymptomatic and four mild); G3 with five samples (5' and 3' SAG2 allele I + SAG3 allele II), parasite load ≤ 102 parasites/mL (three asymptomatic and two mild); G4 with one sample (5' and 3' SAG2 allele II + SAG3 allele II + GRA6 allele I), a parasite load < 102 parasites/mL in an asymptomatic infant.

Could cytology supplant frozen section for intraoperative evaluation of thoracic lesions? A single institutional experience in a developing country.

Background: The diagnostic performance of cytology was compared with the frozen results and its usability was evaluated as a rapid diagnosis method in intraoperative thoracic surgery in a single institution (Istanbul, Turkey).

Methods: All 197 subsequent patient specimens (cases) from 158 patients who were sent to our department from the thoracic surgery clinic for an intraoperative diagnosis request between the years 2016 and 2021 were evaluated. Obtained results from frozen and cytology were compared with final paraffin section diagnoses.

Technical performance of a lateral flow immunoassay for detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in the outpatient follow-up of non-severe cases and at different times after vaccination: comparison with enzyme and chemiluminescent immunoassays.

This study assessed the technical performance of a rapid lateral flow immunochromatographic assay (LFIA) for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG and compared LFIA results with chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) results and an in-house enzyme immunoassay (EIA). To this end, a total of 216 whole blood or serum samples from three groups were analyzed: the first group was composed of 68 true negative cases corresponding to blood bank donors, healthy young volunteers, and eight pediatric patients diagnosed with other coronavirus infections. The serum samples from these participants were obtained and stored in a pre-COVID-19 period, thus they were not expected to have COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 and rhinovirus infections: are there differences in clinical presentation, laboratory abnormalities, and outcomes in the pediatric population?

This study aims to assess COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses in pediatric patients. Between April 17 and September 30, 2020, we collected 1,566 respiratory samples from 1,044 symptomatic patients who were younger than 18 years old to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of these, 919 were analyzed for other respiratory pathogens (ORP).

Periprocedural, Short-Term, and Long-Term Outcomes of Alcohol Septal Ablation in Patients with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy: A 20-Year Single-Center Experience.

Background: Alcohol septal ablation is recommended for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patients who had refractory symptoms despite optimal medical treatment. We compared the periprocedural, short-, and long-term clinical outcomes and mortality predictors in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patients who underwent alcohol septal ablation.

Methods: Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy patients aged ≥18 years (63 females and 71 males) who underwent alcohol septal ablation were included.

Silent circulation of Chikungunya virus among pregnant women and newborns in the Western Brazilian Amazon before the first outbreak of chikungunya fever.

The prevalence of immunity to Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in pregnant women and newborns in the Western Brazilian Amazon was assessed at a time when previous studies did not report chikungunya fever in the area. In 435 asymptomatic pregnant women and 642 healthy unrelated newborns, the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies to CHIKV were determined by a commercial ELISA. All participants were negative to IgM anti-CHIKV.

Coxsackievirus A6 strains causing an outbreak of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Northeastern Brazil in 2018.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral disease commonly associated to Enteroviruses (EV). During 2018, Brazil faced massive HFMD outbreaks spread across the country. This study aimed to characterize the EV responsible for the HFMD outbreak that occurred in Paraiba State, Brazilian Northeastern region, in 2018, followed by a phylogenetic analysis to detail information on its genetic diversity.

Single-round multiplex PCR with species-specific mitochondrial primers of P. falciparum, P. vivax/P. simium and P. malariae/P. brasilianum: Comparison with standard techniques.

A single-round multiplex PCR (mPCR) with species-specific primers (SSP) of three mitochondrial genes of Plasmodium, namely COX I, COX III and CYT B, was compared to microscopy and 18S rRNA semi-nested PCR, nested-PCR and Real Time PCRs (*PCRs). Each parasite has between 20 and 150 mitochondria and each mitochondria has one copy of each target gene, while 18S rRNA gene is repeated 4 to 8 times. The specificity of mPCR was assessed by testing Plasmodium from rodents and birds, parasites responsible for other endemic diseases in the country such as schistosomiasis, Chagas disease and leishmaniasis in addition to microorganisms that, like Plasmodium, can cause anemia (Bartonella henselae, Babesia vogeli, Rickettsia vini).

Nucleoprotein-based ELISA for detection of SARS-COV-2 IgG antibodies: Could an old assay be suitable for serodiagnosis of the new coronavirus?

Objectives: We evaluated the performance of a nucleoprotein-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: The ELISA was based on serum IgG reactivity to a 46-kDa protein derived from the recombinant SARS-CoV2 nucleoprotein. Assay sensitivity was assessed using serum samples from 134 COVID-19 confirmed cases obtained > 15 days after symptom onset.

Saliva: an important alternative for screening and monitoring of COVID-19 in children.

The increasing number of cases of COVID-19 worldwide poses challenges to healthcare systems not only in effectively identifying individuals positive for SARS-CoV-2, but also in isolating cases to minimise contagion in early diagnosing more severe cases that will need hospitalization. Less-invasive collection methods are indispensable in a pandemic scenario as large-scale tests are necessary to understand the actual evolution of contagion in different populations, thus enabling decision-making based on scientific evidence. Saliva has been shown to be an alternative for diagnosing viral infections as this biological fluid can be easily and quickly collected without using specific devices and causing less discomfort during collection, which is an important factor for use in children.

Role of thymus on prognosis of myasthenia gravis in Turkish population.

Objective: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that may cause a disorder in transmission at the neuromuscular junction. Antibodies directed against acetylcholine receptors are responsible. The thymus is the place that that production of these antibodies mainly occurs.

A sensitive and reliable quantitative immunohistochemistry technique to evaluate the percentage of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected tissue area.

Quantification of parasites in the context of Chagas disease is required to monitor the treatment with benznidazole, disease-associated cardiomyopathies and graft rejection after heart transplantation. As parasitological exams lack sensitivity, Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (rt-PCR) has emerged to evaluate the parasite load in blood samples and cardiac biopsies. However, despite its higher sensitivity, rt-PCR does not provide information on the location and distribution of amastigote nests within infected tissues, the characterization of inflammatory infiltrates or changes to tissue architecture.

SARS-CoV-2 infections with emphasis on pediatric patients: a narrative review.

This narrative review summarizes the main aspects underlying the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, its epidemiology, pathophysiology, pointing to differences of SARS-CoV-2 main receptors ACE2, in terms of expression and the amount of soluble ACE2 in the circulation of children, men and women, and also in those with risk factors such as the smokers and pregnant women or presenting with comorbidities (diabetes, obesity, hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases, renal and CNS pre-existing diseases). Clinical manifestations in adults and children were also described, emphasizing the particularities already seen in children, regarding signs, symptoms, viral excretion time and the involvement of all organs and systems. The COVID-19 in the pediatric population was divided into two sections: one dedicated to previously healthy children and adolescents with COVID-19, and the other to those who live with comorbidities and acquired COVID-19.

Severe clinical spectrum with high mortality in pediatric patients with COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

Objectives: To assess the outcomes of pediatric patients with laboratory-confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with or without multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 471 samples collected from 371 patients (age<18 years) suspected of having severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The study group comprised 66/371 (18%) laboratory-confirmed pediatric COVID-19 patients: 61 (92.

SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 disease: a mini review on diagnostic methods.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease initially reported in China and currently worldwide dispersed caused by a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV) affecting more than seven million people around the world causing more than 400 thousand deaths (on June 8th, 2020). The diagnosis of COVID-19 is based on the clinical and epidemiological history of the patient. However, the gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis is the viral detection through the amplification of nucleic acids.

A new Real Time PCR with species-specific primers from Plasmodium malariae/P. brasilianum mitochondrial cytochrome b gene.

Plasmodium malariae mainly causes asymptomatic submicroscopic parasitemia in the endemic Amazon and non-endemic Atlantic Forest, where the number of cases and transmission of malaria through blood transfusion has increased. This study developed a P. malariae/P.

Performance of a Multiplex Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction in Detecting 7 Pathogens Containing DNA in Their Genomes Associated With Congenital Infections.

Context.—: Infections are the leading cause of perinatal and infant mortality in low-income and low-resource countries, which have a higher prevalence of infections. Definitive diagnosis of congenital and perinatal infections is largely dependent upon the results of laboratory tests.