PROTEOLYTIC ACTIVITY OF SECRETED PROTEASES FROM PATHOGENIC LEPTOSPIRES AND EFFECTS ON PHAGOCYTOSIS BY MURINE MACROPHAGES.

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis caused by spirochete Leptospira. Pathogenic leptospires evade the Complement System, enabling their survival upon contact with normal human serum in vitro. In a previous study, we demonstrated that proteases secreted by pathogenic leptospires cleave several Complement proteins, including C3 and the opsonins C3b and iC3b.

Factors Associated with Participation Patterns of Young Brazilian Children with Myelomeningocele.

Aims: To describe participation patterns and identify factors associated with participation of young Brazilian children with myelomeningocele (MMC) in their home, daycare/preschool, and community settings.

Methods: The participants were parents/caregivers of 70 children with MMC, averaging 26.7 (±17.

Galvanic vestibular stimulation for the postural rehabilitation of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy.

Introduction: Galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) is a simple, safe, and noninvasive method of neurostimulation that can be used to improve body balance. Several central nervous system diseases cause alterations in body balance, including HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM).

Objective: To test GVS as a balance rehabilitation strategy for HAM.

The association between cardiovascular risk and physical performance in individuals with obesity: A cross-sectional study focusing on the 5× sit-to-stand test.

Introduction: Although it is established that individuals with obesity are at increased risk of cardiovascular events, the relationship between cardiovascular risk and physical function in this population is still a topic of discussion. The objectives of the present study were: to check the association between cardiovascular risk and physical performance through physical-functional tests and to identify cutoff points for functional tests to be used for the definition of high cardiovascular risk.

Methods: A cross-sectional study included adults, both sexes, with obesity.

Zoonotic transmission of novel Influenza A variant viruses detected in Brazil during 2020 to 2023.

Zoonotic infections (swine-human) caused by influenza A viruses (IAVs) have been reported and linked to close contact between these species. Here, we describe eight human IAV variant infections (6 mild and 2 severe cases, including 1 death) detected in Paraná, Brazil, during 2020-2023. Genomes recovered were closely related to Brazilian swIAVs of three major lineages (1 A.