Analysis and Interpretation of Automated Blood Count in the Treatment of Chronic Paracoccidioidomycosis.

Blood count is crucial for assessing bone marrow's cell production and differentiation during infections, gaging disease severity, and monitoring therapeutic responses. The profile of blood count in chronic forms of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) has been insufficiently explored. To better understand the changes in hematological cells in different stages of the PCM chronic form, we evaluated the blood count, including immature blood cells in automated equipment, before and during the treatment follow-up of 62 chronic PCM patients.

The Effect of Geoclimatic Factors on the Distribution of Paracoccidioidomycosis in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

The incidence of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) varies in Latin America, and it is influenced by environmental factors. This study evaluated the distribution of PCM acute/subacute form (AF) cases and their correlation with geoclimatic factors in the Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) state. The study included 81 patients diagnosed with the PCM/AF at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul between January 1980 and February 2022.

Standardization of Semi-Quantitative Dot Blotting Assay-Application in the Diagnosis, Follow-Up, and Relapse of Paracoccidioidomycosis.

Introduction: This study standardized a semi-quantitative dot blotting assay (DB) and a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect specific antibodies for and its DNA in PCM patients.

Methodology: We evaluated 42 confirmed PCM patients upon admission using a serological double agar gel immunodiffusion test (DID), DB, and molecular tests (qPCR in total blood). The control groups included 42 healthy individuals and 37 patients with other infectious diseases.

Rapid Classification of Serum from Patients with Paracoccidioidomycosis Using Infrared Spectroscopy, Univariate Statistics, and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA).

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis that is diagnosed by visualizing the fungus in clinical samples or by other methods, like serological techniques. However, all PCM diagnostic methods have limitations. The aim of this study was to develop a diagnostic tool for PCM based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.

Iron metabolism disorders of patients with chronic paracoccidioidomycosis.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is caused by Paracoccidioides spp.; during infection, some host mechanisms limit the availability of iron, thereby reducing its reproduction. However, Paracoccidioides spp.

Reproducibility of double agar gel immunodiffusion test using stored serum and plasma from paracoccidioidomycosis patients.

Background: Serological evaluation performed by double agar gel immunodiffusion test (DID) is used for diagnosis, evaluation of severity, management of paracoccidioidomycosis patients, and development of new clinical studies. For these reasons, the Botucatu Medical School of UNESP maintains a serum bank at the Experimental Research Unit with patient clinical data. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the freeze-thaw cycle and different blood matrices on the titration of circulating antibodies.

A scoping study of pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis: severity classification based on radiographic and tomographic evaluation.

The lungs have great importance in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis since they are the portal of entry for the infecting fungi, the site of quiescent foci, and one of the most frequently affected organs. Although they have been the subject of many studies with different approaches, the severity classification of the pulmonary involvement, using imaging procedures, has not been carried out yet. This study aimed to classify the active and the residual pulmonary damage using radiographic and tomographic evaluations, according to the area involved and types of lesions.

Antifungal activity of liriodenine on clinical strains of and species complexes.

Background: Cryptoccocal meningitis continues to present high incidence among AIDS patients. The treatment of choice is the synergistic combination of flucytosine (5-FC) with amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmBd) or its lipid formulations. However, 5-FC is unavailable in many countries and AmB demands hospitalization.

Using infrared spectroscopy of serum and chemometrics for diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic granulomatous mycosis endemic to Latin America, whose etiologic agents are fungi of the genus Paracoccidioides. PCM is usually diagnosed by microscopic observation of the fungus in biological samples, combined or not with other techniques such as serological methods. However, all currently used diagnostic methods have limitations.

Proteomic analysis of serum samples of paracoccidioidomycosis patients with severe pulmonary sequel.

Background: Pulmonary sequelae (PS) in patients with chronic paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) typically include pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. Knowledge of the molecular pathways involved in PS of PCM is required for treatment and biomarker identification.

Methodology/principal Findings: This non-concurrent cohort study included 29 patients with pulmonary PCM that were followed before and after treatment.

An update on the occurrence of Paracoccidioides species in the Midwest region, Brazil: Molecular epidemiology, clinical aspects and serological profile of patients from Mato Grosso do Sul State.

Background: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic and endemic fungal infection in Latin American, mainly in Brazil. The majority of PCM cases occur in large areas in Brazil, comprising the South, Southeast and Midwest regions, with the latter demonstrating a higher incidence of the species Paracoccidioides lutzii.

Methodology And Main Findings: This study presents clinical, molecular and serological data of thirteen new PCM cases during 2016 to 2019 from the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, located in the Midwest region, Brazil.

Exoantigens of spp. Promote Proliferation and Modulation of Human and Mouse Pulmonary Fibroblasts.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic granulomatous fungal infection caused by thermally dimorphic fungi of the genus . Endemic in Latin America, PCM presents with high incidence in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, especially among rural workers. The main clinical types are acute/subacute (AF) form and chronic form (CF).

Antifungal activity of liriodenine on agents of systemic mycoses, with emphasis on the genus .

Background: Endemic systemic mycoses remain a health challenge, since these opportunistic diseases are increasingly infecting immunosuppressed patients. The simultaneous use of antifungal compounds and other drugs to treat infectious or non-infectious diseases has led to several interactions and undesirable effects. Thus, new antifungal compounds should be investigated.

Impact of laryngeal sequelae on voice- and swallowing-related outcomes in paracoccidioidomycosis.

Background: The present study was carried out aiming to evaluate the impact of laryngeal sequelae on the quality of life of treated paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Otorhinolaryngology Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Thirty-two PCM patients considered clinically and immunologically cured were included: 16 with laryngeal involvement during the active phase of the disease (laryngeal PCM group) and 16 without laryngeal involvement (control group).

Presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies in candidates for kidney transplantation.

Objectives: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a progressive disease that, left untreated, is typically fatal. The purpose of this investigation was to detect Leishmania sp. infection in hemodialysis patients who had received multiple blood transfusions at a private clinic in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul state, Midwest Brazil.

Accuracy of serological tests for diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a slow and progressive disease that develops in preexisting lung cavities of patients with tuberculosis sequelae, and it is associated with a high mortality rate. Serological tests such as double agar gel immunodiffusion test (DID) or counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) test have been routinely used for CPA diagnosis in the absence of positive cultures. However, these tests have been replaced with enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and, a variety of methods.

Dynamics of plasma micronutrient concentrations and their correlation with serum proteins and thyroid hormones in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis.

Minerals, such as zinc, copper, and iron are reported to play roles in chronic infectious diseases; however, their role in paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) remains unknown. This study aimed to examine the micronutrient dynamics and their correlation with serum proteins and thyroid hormones in patients with PCM. In 14 patients with PCM and 10 healthy subjects, we evaluated the body mass index (BMI) along with serum levels of hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, zinc, copper, magnesium, albumin, globulin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (free T4), and triiodothyronine (T3).

Enhanced expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components by monocytes of patients with pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis is associated with smoking and intracellular hypoxemia.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis caused by thermally dimorphic fungi of the genus Paracoccidioides that affects predominantly 30-60-year-old male rural workers. The main clinical forms of the disease are acute/subacute, chronic (CF); almost all CF patients develop pulmonary fibrosis, and they also exhibit emphysema due to smoke. An important cytokine in this context, IL-1β, different from the others, is produced by an intracellular multimolecular complex called inflammasome that is activated by pathogens and/or host signs of damage.

Overview of artemisinin effectiveness during outset years of its implementation in the western Brazilian Amazon.

Background: The elimination of malaria depends on the blocking of transmission and of an effective treatment. In Brazil, artemisinin therapy was introduced in 1991, and here we present a performance overview during implementation outset years.

Methods: It is a retrospective cohort (1991 to 2002) of patients treated in a tertiary centre of Manaus, with positive microscopic diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, under treatment with using injectable or rectal artemisinin derivatives, and followed over 35-days to evaluate parasite clearance, death and recurrence.

Treatment compliance of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis in Central-West Brazil.

Objective: To evaluate the treatment compliance of patients with paracoccidioidomycosis.

Methods: We studied 188 patients with paracoccidioidomycosis admitted to a tertiary referral hospital in the Central-West Region of Brazil from 2000 to 2010, to assess their compliance to treatment. In order to be considered compliant, patients needed to present two established criteria: (1) receive medicines from the pharmacy, and (2) achieve a self-reported utilization of at least 80% of the dispensed antifungal compounds prescribed since their previous appointment.

Ceruloplasmin, transferrin and apolipoprotein A-II play important role in treatment's follow-up of paracoccidioidomycosis patients.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic disease caused by thermodymorphic fungi of the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex, (Paracoccidioides spp.). Patients with PCM reveal specific cellular immune impairment.

Serological proteomic biomarkers to identify Paracoccidioides species and risk of relapse.

The sensitivity of the double agar gel immunodiffusion test is about 90% in patients with untreated paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), but it is much lower in cases of relapse. In addition, serum from patients with PCM caused by Paracoccidioides lutzii, frequent in the Midwest region of Brazil, do not react with the classical antigen obtained from Pb B-339. These findings showed the need for alternative diagnostic methods, such as biological markers through proteomics.