Early Diagnostic Prediction of Infective Endocarditis: Development and Validation of EndoPredict-Dx.

Background: Infective endocarditis is a life-threatening disease with diverse clinical presentations, making diagnosis challenging and requiring a range of complementary tests. The level of suspicion, based on clinical judgment, guides decisions regarding the initiation of empirical treatment and the selection of appropriate diagnostic tools. This study aimed to develop and validate the EndoPredict-Dx score for early prediction of infective endocarditis diagnosis.

Pneumococcal infective endocarditis in Brazil: a multicenter study on a severe condition.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia may result in Infective Endocarditis (IE). In the pre-antibiotic era, it caused 10 %‒15 % of IE, decreasing to < 3 % after penicillin availability. Although infrequent, it causes aggressive disease.

Changing trends in clinical characteristics and in-hospital mortality of patients with infective endocarditis over four decades.

Background: Infective endocarditis continues to be a significant concern and may be undergoing an epidemiological transition.

Methods: Were studied 1804 consecutive episodes of infective endocarditis between 1978 and 2022. The mean age was 48 ( ± 19), and 1162 (64%) patients were male.

The Predictive Value of Sepsis Scores for In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Left-Sided Infective Endocarditis.

Background: As infective endocarditis has particular characteristics compared to other infectious diseases, it is not clear if sepsis scores are reported with good accuracy in these patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the qSOFA and SOFA scores to predict mortality in patients with infective endocarditis.

Methods: Between January 2010 and June 2019, 867 patients with suspected left-sided endocarditis were evaluated; 517 were included with left-sided infective endocarditis defined as "possible" or "definite" endocarditis, according to the Modified Duke Criteria.

Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection in Patients Undergoing Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Central Illustration : Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection in Patients Undergoing Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Risk factors for surgical site infection in patients undergoing pediatric cardiac surgery.

Background: Surgical site infection is an important complication after pediatric cardiac surgery, associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: We sought to identify risk factors for surgical site infection after pediatric cardiac surgeries.

Comparing plasma and skin imprint metabolic profiles in COVID-19 diagnosis and severity assessment.

As SARS-CoV-2 continues to produce new variants, the demand for diagnostics and a better understanding of COVID-19 remain key topics in healthcare. Skin manifestations have been widely reported in cases of COVID-19, but the mechanisms and markers of these symptoms are poorly described. In this cross-sectional study, 101 patients (64 COVID-19 positive patients and 37 controls) were enrolled between April and June 2020, during the first wave of COVID-19, in São Paulo, Brazil.

Infective Endocarditis due to Non-HACEK Gram-Negative Bacilli: Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors from a Prospective Multicenter Brazilian Cohort.

Non-HACEK Gram-negative bacilli (NGNB) infective endocarditis (IE) has a growing frequency. We aimed to describe cases of NGNB IE and find associated risk factors. We conducted a prospective observational study of consecutive patients with definitive IE according to the modified Duke criteria in four institutions in Brazil.

A Brazilian Inter-Hospital Candidemia Outbreak Caused by Fluconazole-Resistant in the COVID-19 Era.

Horizontal transmission of fluconazole-resistant (FRCP) through healthcare workers' hands has contributed to the occurrence of candidemia outbreaks worldwide. Since the first COVID-19 case in Brazil was detected in early 2020, hospitals have reinforced hand hygiene and disinfection practices to minimize SARS-CoV-2 contamination. However, a Brazilian cardiology center, which shares ICU patients with a cancer center under a FRCP outbreak since 2019, reported an increased FRCP candidemia incidence in May 2020.

HDL proteome remodeling associates with COVID-19 severity.

Background: Besides the well-accepted role in lipid metabolism, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) also seems to participate in host immune response against infectious diseases.

Objective: We used a quantitative proteomic approach to test the hypothesis that alterations in HDL proteome associate with severity of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: Based on clinical criteria, subjects (n=41) diagnosed with COVID-19 were divided into two groups: a group of subjects presenting mild symptoms and a second group displaying severe symptoms and requiring hospitalization.

Hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin early treatment of mild COVID-19 in an outpatient setting: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating viral clearance.

Background: Hydroxychloroquine has shown potential to block viral replication of SARS-CoV-2 in some in vitro studies. This randomised, double-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial evaluated the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin (HCQ/AZT) in reducing viral loads in patients with early and mild SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: A single-centre randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted with outpatients with early and mild SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Demographic, cardiological, microbiologic, and dental profiles of Brazilian patients who developed oral bacteria-related endocarditis.

Objective: Infective endocarditis (IE) may cause devastating complications with high morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of the present study was to study the demographic, cardiological, microbiologic, and dental profiles of patients with oral bacteria-related IE.

Study Design: We present a retrospective study of patients with oral bacteria-related IE treated at Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil, between January 2009 and December 2019.

Prognostic accuracy of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometric analysis of plasma in COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 infection poses a global health crisis. In parallel with the ongoing world effort to identify therapeutic solutions, there is a critical need for improvement in the prognosis of COVID-19. Here, we report plasma proteome fingerprinting that predict high (hospitalized) and low-risk (outpatients) cases of COVID-19 identified by a platform that combines machine learning with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry analysis.

Platelet Reactivity and Coagulation Markers in Patients with COVID-19.

Introdution: COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events. However, the contribution of platelet reactivity (PR) to the aetiology of the increased thrombotic risk associated with COVID-19 remains unclear. Our aim was to evaluate PR in stable patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and hospitalized with respiratory symptoms (mainly dyspnoea and dry cough), in comparison with a control group comprised of non-hospitalized healthy controls.

The Child Emotion Facial Expression Set: A Database for Emotion Recognition in Children.

This study developed a photo and video database of 4-to-6-year-olds expressing the seven induced and posed universal emotions and a neutral expression. Children participated in photo and video sessions designed to elicit the emotions, and the resulting images were further assessed by independent judges in two rounds. In the first round, two independent judges (1 and 2), experts in the Facial Action Coding System, firstly analysed 3,668 emotions facial expressions stimuli from 132 children.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Heart Transplant Recipients With Coronavirus-19 Disease in a High-volume Transplant Center.

Background: Heart transplant (HT) recipients may be at higher risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2 infection and developing critical illness. The aim of this study is to describe characteristics and outcomes of HT recipients infected by SARS-COV-2, from a high-volume transplant center.

Methods: We have described data of all adult HT recipients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 by RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal samples from April 5, 2020, to January 5, 2021.

The "false-positive" conundrum: IgA reference level overestimates the seroprevalence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2.

Background: On 12 June 2020, Brazil reached the second position worldwide in the number of COVID-19 cases. Authorities increased the number of tests performed, including the identification of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (IgG, IgA, and IgM). There was an overflooding of the market with several tests, and the presence of possible false-positive results became a challenge.

Covid-19 Automated Diagnosis and Risk Assessment through Metabolomics and Machine Learning.

COVID-19 is still placing a heavy health and financial burden worldwide. Impairment in patient screening and risk management plays a fundamental role on how governments and authorities are directing resources, planning reopening, as well as sanitary countermeasures, especially in regions where poverty is a major component in the equation. An efficient diagnostic method must be highly accurate, while having a cost-effective profile.

Biomarkers for prediction of mortality in left-sided infective endocarditis.

Background: Evidence regarding biomarkers for risk prediction in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) is limited. We aimed to investigate the value of a panel of biomarkers for the prediction of in-hospital mortality in patients with IE.

Methods: Between 2016 and 2018, consecutive IE patients admitted to the emergency department were prospectively included.

Derivation and validation of an early diagnostic score for mediastinitis after cardiothoracic surgery.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to elaborate on and validate a score for the early diagnosis of mediastinitis after cardiothoracic surgery.

Methods: Between 2007 and 2017, patients who experienced thoracic surgical-site infection after cardiothoracic surgery were enrolled. Laboratory, clinical, and chest CT findings were retrospectively analyzed.

The effect of a rapid molecular blood test on the use of antibiotics for nosocomial sepsis: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Appropriate use of antimicrobials is essential to improve outcomes in sepsis. The aim of this study was to determine whether the use of a rapid molecular blood test-Septi (SF) reduces the antibiotic consumption through early de-escalation in patients with nosocomial sepsis compared with conventional blood cultures (BCs).

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, superiority, controlled trial conducted at Sao Paulo Heart Institute in the period October 2012-May 2016.