Extracellular vesicles in Alzheimer's disease.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are small vesicles released by cells that facilitate cell signaling. They are categorized based on their biogenesis and size. In the context of the central nervous system (CNS), EVs have been extensively studied for their role in both normal physiological functions and diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Post-discharge all-cause mortality in COVID-19 recovered patients hospitalized in 2020: the impact of chronic kidney disease.

In Brazil, the COVID-19 burden was substantial, and risk factors associated with higher in-hospital mortality rates have been extensively studied. However, information on short-term all-cause mortality and the factors associated with death in patients who survived the hospitalization period of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection is limited. We analyzed the six-month post-hospitalization mortality rate and possible risk factors of COVID-19 patients in a single center in Brazil.

Exploring Urinary Extracellular Vesicles and Immune Mediators as Biomarkers of Kidney Injury in COVID-19 Hospitalized Patients.

Kidney injury is an important outcome associated with COVID-19 severity. In this regard, alterations in urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs) could be detected in the early phases of renal injury and may be reflective of the inflammatory process. This is an observational study performed with a case series of COVID-19 hospitalized patients presenting mild-to-critical disease.

Pro-Inflammatory Profile of Children Exposed to Maternal Chikungunya Virus Infection during the Intrauterine Period: A One-Year Follow-Up Study.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) vertical transmission occurs due to maternal viremia in the prepartum. Clinical presentation in neonates can be varied; however, the consequences of intrauterine exposure on the immune response are unclear. Thus, we aimed to analyze inflammatory alterations in children exposed to maternal CHIKV infection.

Acute kidney injury associated to COVID-19 leads to a strong unbalance of circulant immune mediators.

Background: Severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have increased risk for acute kidney injury (AKI). The exacerbation of the immune response seems to contribute to AKI development, but the immunopathological process is not completely understood.

Objectives: To analyze levels of circulant immune mediators in COVID-19 patients evolving with or without AKI.

Urinary interleukin-9 in youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Aims: Interleukin-9 (IL-9) attenuates podocyte injury in experimental kidney disease, but its role in diabetic nephropathy is unknown. We sought to relate urinary IL-9 levels to the release of podocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in youth with type 1 diabetes. We related urinary IL-9 levels to clinical variables and studied interactions between urinary IL-9, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) a functional measure of podocyte injury.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) as promising biomarkers for distinguishing active from latent tuberculosis in children and adolescents.

Since distinguishing pulmonary (PTB) from latent tuberculosis (LTBI) in pediatric patients remains a challenge, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of immune mediators in diagnosing PTB and LTBI in this population. In this cross-sectional study performed with children and adolescents, serum levels of 20 biomarkers were assessed and data were analyzed according to age groups. We included 65 participants (PTB, n = 28 and LTBI, n = 37).

Presence and clinical impact of human herpesvirus-6 infection in patients with moderate to critical coronavirus disease-19.

Human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) may cause serious diseases in immunocompromised individuals. SARS-CoV-2/HHV-6 coinfection has been emphasized in previous works, mostly case reports, small series, or epidemiological studies, but few are known about its real clinical outcomes. Here we present a real-world pilot study aiming to understand the frequency and the clinical impact of HHV-6 coinfection in moderate to critically ill patients hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Serum ferritin at admission in hospitalized COVID-19 patients as a predictor of mortality.

Introduction: Some COVID-19 patients have higher mortality and the responsible factors for this unfavorable outcome is still not well understood.

Objective: To study the association between ferritin levels at admission, representing an inflammatory state, and hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: From May through July 2020, SARS-CoV-2 positive patients with moderate to severe clinical symptoms were evaluated at admission, regarding clinical and laboratory data on renal and hepatic function, hematologic parameters, cytomegalovirus co-infection, and acute phase proteins.

Successful DAA therapy for chronic hepatitis C reduces HLA-DR on monocytes and circulating immune mediators: A long-term follow-up study.

Introduction: After DAA treatment for chronic hepatitis C infection, peripheral monocyte subsets from patients who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) reduced compared to healthy control. Improvement in inflammatory parameters and liver stiffness has been observed. However, little is known about the long-term impact of DAA treatment on peripheral monocyte subsets and immune mediators levels.

Liver fibrosis improvement in chronic hepatitis C after direct acting-antivirals is accompanied by reduced profibrogenic biomarkers-a role for MMP-9/TIMP-1.

Background And Aims: Disturbances in matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and corresponding tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) contribute to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced fibrosis. This study aimed to determine MMP-9/TIMP-1 levels in addition to MMP-2 and -9 activities; correlating with the improvement of liver fibrosis in patients under direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory follow-up were performed before treatment and after 12 weeks post-treatment, referred as sustained viral response (SVR).

Extracellular Vesicles: Cell-Derived Biomarkers of Glomerular and Tubular Injury.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important mediators of intercellular communication. Since EVs are also released during pathological conditions, there has been considerable interest in their potential as sensitive biomarkers of cellular stress and/or injury. In the context of kidney disease, urinary EVs are promising indicators of glomerular and tubular damage.

PBI-4050 via GPR40 activation improves adenine-induced kidney injury in mice.

PBI-4050 (3-pentylbenzenacetic acid sodium salt), a novel first-in-class orally active compound that has completed clinical Phases Ib and II in subjects with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and metabolic syndrome respectively, exerts antifibrotic effects in several organs via a novel mechanism of action, partly through activation of the G protein receptor 40 (GPR40) receptor. Here we evaluate the effects of PBI-4050 in both WT and mice on adenine-induced tubulointerstitial injury, anemia and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway. Adenine-induced CKD was achieved in 8-week-old C57BL/6 mice fed a diet supplemented with 0.

Simultaneous circulation of arboviruses and other congenital infections in pregnant women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Background: Arboviruses (Zika, dengue and chikungunya) represent a major risk for pregnant women, especially because their vertical transmission can lead to neurological damage in newborns. Early diagnosis can be difficult due to similar clinical presentation with other congenital infections that are associated with congenital abnormalities.

Objectives: To investigate the circulation of arboviruses and other pathogens responsible for congenital infections, reporting clinical aspects and geographic distribution of maternal rash in a metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).

Exploring lipid and apolipoprotein levels in chronic hepatitis C patients according to their response to antiviral treatment.

Background: Hepatitis C virus is known to be highly dependent of lipid metabolism to infect new cells and replicate.

Aims: To investigate lipid and apolipoprotein profile in chronic HCV patients according to treatment response.

Methods: Patients recruited from the Hepatitis Treatment Center at Niteroi (Brazil) who received interferon (IFN)-based therapies were separated into two groups, those who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) or not (non-SVR).

Restoring Inflammatory Mediator Balance after Sofosbuvir-Induced Viral Clearance in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.

This study aimed at analyzing circulating levels of inflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection undergoing therapy with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) and correlating these immune biomarkers with liver disease status. We studied 88 Brazilian monoinfected chronic hepatitis C patients receiving interferon- (IFN-) free sofosbuvir-based regimens for 12 or 24 weeks, followed-up before therapy initiation and three months after the end of treatment. Liver disease was determined by transient elastography, in addition to APRI and FIB-4 indexes.

Adverse effects of direct acting antiviral-based regimens in chronic hepatitis C patients: a Brazilian experience.

Background Direct-acting antivirals (DAA) are currently used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C (HCV). However, few studies describe the adverse effects (AE) associated with DAA therapy in "real-word" cohorts. Aim To evaluate AE in Brazilian chronic HCV patients after DAA-therapy.

Metabolic syndrome components and estimated glomerular filtration rate based on creatinine and/or cystatin C in young adults: A gender issue?

Aims: This work aims to identify correlations between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on creatinine and/or cystatin C (Cr, CysC) with metabolic syndrome (MS) components in young adults, according to gender.

Material And Methods: This is a cross sectional study, where young adults aged between 18 and 30 were matched by gender, age and body mass index. All subjects underwent clinical evaluation and blood sampling for laboratory measurements.

Clinical correlates of pp65 antigenemia monitoring in the first months of post kidney transplant in patients undergoing universal prophylaxis or preemptive therapy.

Introduction: Human cytomegalovirus is a major cause of morbidity in kidney transplant patients.

Objectives: We aimed to study viral replication and serological response in the first months post kidney transplant in patients undergoing universal prophylaxis or preemptive therapy and correlate the findings with the clinical course of Human cytomegalovirus infection.

Patients And Methods: Independent from the clinical strategy adopted for managing Human cytomegalovirus infection, prophylaxis versus preemptive therapy, the pp65 antigenemia assay and serological response were assessed on the day of transplantation, and then weekly during the first three months of post-transplant.

Tenofovir monotherapy for hepatitis B after 1 year does not produce renal dysfunction, but is associated with hyperparathyroidism not related to vitamin D.

Introduction: Viral hepatitis B (VHB) represents a major public health problem. Studies from HIV multidrug patients have associated the use of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) with renal dysfunction and phosphate wasting.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of year-long TDF monotherapy on renal function in VHB patients.