Publications by authors named "Renan P DE Souza"

Gonorrhoea is currently one of the most important sexually transmitted infections (STIs) due to the increasing spread of multidrug-resistant strains of . The aim of this study was to analyse the association between resistance or decreased susceptibility to antibiotics in and the presence of mutations in the A, R, A and C genes, and the presence of tetM gene. We conducted a systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines.

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Introduction: The escalating resistance of microorganisms to antimicrobials poses a significant public health threat. Strategies that use biomarkers to guide antimicrobial therapy-most notably Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP)-show promise in safely reducing patient antibiotic exposure. While CRP is less studied, it offers advantages such as lower cost and broader availability compared with PCT.

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Background: The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) are central human molecules in the SARS-CoV-2 virus-host interaction. Evidence indicates that may influence expression. This study aims to determine whether ACE1, ACE2, and TMPRSS2 mRNA expression levels, along with the ACE1 Alu 287 bp polymorphism (rs4646994), contribute to the severity and mortality of COVID-19.

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Background: The rapid spread and increase of chikungunya (CHIKV) and dengue (DENV) cases in Brazilian regions in 2023 has raised concerns about the impact of arboviruses on public health. Epidemiological and genomic surveillance was performed to estimate the introduction and spread of CHIKV and DENV in Brazil.

Methods: This study obtained results from the Hermes Pardini (HP), a private medical laboratory, and the Health Department of Minas Gerais state (SES-MG).

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Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Detection before metastasis and efficient treatment of disease significantly improve patient survival and quality of life. However, limitations in diagnosis and postoperative surveillance are associated with low CRC detection and survival rates.

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Article Synopsis
  • New variants of SARS-CoV-2 are emerging, leading experts to believe COVID-19 will become endemic, highlighting the need for booster vaccines to maintain immunity.
  • The SpiN-Tec vaccine, designed to enhance immune response to these variants, showed promising results in mice and hamsters, inducing strong antibody and cell responses against multiple SARS-CoV-2 proteins.
  • Safety tests in rats indicated that SpiN-Tec is safe, paving the way for its approval for phase I/II clinical trials.
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  • - SARS-CoV-2 reinfections are occurring globally, with significant increases seen during the rise of the Omicron variant, prompting concerns about how often COVID-19 is being contracted a second time.
  • - An analysis in Brazil from April 2020 to August 2022 identified 11,669 reinfection cases out of 324,979 confirmed COVID-19 cases, concentrated mainly in Minas Gerais, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Goiás.
  • - The study found a reinfection rate of approximately 8%, highlighting two patterns: shorter reinfection intervals (up to 200 days) and longer ones (more than 500 days), indicating the changing dynamics of COVID-19 as new variants emerge.
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This study investigated the association between the IFITM3 rs12252 polymorphism and the severity and mortality of COVID-19 in hospitalized Brazilian patients. A total of 102 COVID-19 patients were included, and the outcomes of interest were defined as death and the need for mechanical ventilation. Genotypes were assessed using Taqman probes.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Conducted with 315 patients at three anticoagulation clinics in Brazil, the research identified that age, the use of amiodarone, and certain genetic genotypes are linked to lower warfarin doses.
  • * The findings suggest that understanding these factors could help improve the management of patients requiring oral anticoagulation therapy.
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The 3p21.31 locus has been associated with severe COVID-19 prognosis in GWAS studies. Here, we evaluated whether three polymorphisms (LZTFL1 rs10490770, CXCR6 rs2234355 and rs2234358) in the reported locus were associated with the need for mechanical ventilation, hospitalization length and death in 102 COVID-19 hospitalized Brazilian subjects.

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Background: Three years after the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Brazil, the outcomes of Federal government omissions in managing the crisis and anti-science stance heading into the pandemic have become even more evident. With over 36 million confirmed cases and nearly 700 000 deaths up to January 2023, the country is one of the hardest-hit places in the world. The lack of mass-testing programs was a critical broken pillar responsible for the quick and uncontrolled SARS-CoV-2 spread throughout the Brazilian population.

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Background & Objectives: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the death rate was reportedly 5-8 fold lower in India which is densely populated as compared to less populated western countries. The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary habits were associated with the variations in COVID-19 severity and deaths between western and Indian population at the nutrigenomics level.

Methods: In this study nutrigenomics approach was applied.

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Purpose: Periodontitis and coronavirus disease (COVID-19) share risk factors and activate similar immunopathological pathways, intensifying systemic inflammation. This study investigated the clinical, immunological and microbiological parameters in individuals with COVID-19 and controls, exploring whether periodontitis-driven inflammation contributes to worsening COVID-19 endpoints.

Methods: Case (positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2) and control (negative RT-PCR) individuals underwent clinical and periodontal assessments.

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Background: The correct understanding of the epidemiological dynamics of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2, is essential for formulating public policies of disease containment.

Methods: In this study, we constructed a picture of the epidemiological dynamics of COVID-19 in a Brazilian population of almost 17000 patients in 15 months. We specifically studied the fluctuations of COVID-19 cases and deaths due to COVID-19 over time according to host gender, age, viral load, and genetic variants.

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We report SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance results between Belo Horizonte, Brazil's third and fourth case waves. Samples were obtained through a routine university monitoring COVID-19 program from the 9th to the 22nd epidemiological weeks (March and June 2022). We identified ten samples from the BA.

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Article Synopsis
  • In early 2020, a major symptom of COVID-19 was loss of smell (anosmia), affecting 60-70% of cases, often appearing alongside other symptoms and lasting for months after recovery.
  • Research indicates SARS-CoV-2 may spread from the respiratory system to the brain via olfactory receptors, as the virus binds to ACE2 and TMPRSS2 in sustentacular cells of the olfactory epithelium.
  • A study of 102 hospitalized patients found 17.6% with anosmia and 9.8% with ageusia, revealing a correlation between gene expression levels and ageusia, but not anosmia, and raising questions about long-term effects like cognitive issues.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the spread of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in Minas Gerais, Brazil, highlighting its introduction and dominance, which reached 70% of cases within 8 weeks during mid 2021.
  • Using PCR genotyping and genome sequencing, it is shown that Delta is more transmissible than the earlier Gamma variant, but this increase in transmissibility did not lead to a rise in cases or deaths, likely due to vaccination efforts.
  • The research also identifies Rio de Janeiro as the primary source for the Delta variant's spread in Minas Gerais, suggesting effective control measures despite the heightened transmissibility of the variant.
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Objectives: COVID-19 has been associated with long-term consequences to patient wellness and quality of life. Data on post-COVID-19 conditions are scarce in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate long COVID in a cohort of hospitalized patients in Brazil.

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Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had quite an impact on dental health care. Concerns about the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through contaminant fluids and droplet formation during several dental procedures highly impacted dental health care, drastically reducing the number of dental practices worldwide. To monitor SARS-CoV-2 contamination in dental clinics, a longitudinal study was carried out during the return of dental practice at university.

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Human polymorphisms may contribute to SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility and COVID-19 outcomes (asymptomatic presentation, severe COVID-19, death). We aimed to evaluate the association of , , , and genetic variants with both phenotypes using meta-analysis. The bibliographic search was conducted on the PubMed and Scielo databases covering reports published until February 8, 2022.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented need for epidemiological monitoring using diverse strategies. We conducted a project combining prevalence, seroprevalence, and genomic surveillance approaches to describe the initial pandemic stages in Betim City, Brazil. We collected 3239 subjects in a population-based age-, sex- and neighborhood-stratified, household, prospective; cross-sectional study divided into three surveys 21 days apart sampling the same geographical area.

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Objective: To test the hypothesis that genetic variations of cannabinoid receptors contribute to the pathophysiology of cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.

Methods: In this genetic association case-control study, cannabinoid receptor polymorphisms CNR1 rs12720071 and CNR2 rs2229579 were tested for association with neurocognitive performance in 69 patients with schizophrenia and 45 healthy controls. Neurocognition was assessed by the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS).

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Objective: Despite the high frequency of impacted teeth and increased frequency of lesions in dental follicles (DF) with aging, DF age-changes remain unclear. We compared the global methylation and hydroxymethylation profiles in DF in relation to age.

Design: DF associated with impacted lower third molars were obtained from 59 individuals.

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Dopaminergic signaling and neurodevelopment alterations are associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders. Knockout mice for dopamine transporters (DAT) as well as site-specific knockout mice lacking dopaminergic D2 autoreceptors in dopaminergic neurons (DA-D2RKO) display behavioral alterations such as hyperlocomotion and abnormal prepulse inhibition. However, it is possible that dopaminergic imbalances may have different effects during varied neurodevelopmental windows.

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Ethanol consumption is correlated with different neurobiological and behavioral impairments. Acute and chronic exposure to this drug is associated with alterations in the regulation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system as well as with transcriptional modulation of other receptors in the central nervous system and can unleash seeking behavior or behavioral adaptations and phenotypes such as loss of control, dependence and tolerance. In the present work, we characterized the chronological effects of acute and chronic intermittent exposure to ethanol (1% v/v) in an adult zebrafish population (Danio rerio).

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