Publications by authors named "Villar L"

Background: Exploring polymorphisms in vitamin D-related genes (VDR) within the Brazilian population provides a valuable model to contribute to the influence of the host genetic variants on chronic viral hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods: 126 CHB patients were enrolled in the current study and clinical, laboratory, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OD)D] level data were obtained. Four VDR (rs7975232, rs1544410, rs10735810, rs731236) and 2 vitamin D-binding protein/carrier globulin (GC) polymorphisms (rs4588 and rs7041) were determined using TaqMan assays and nucleotide sequencing.

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Chikungunya virus infection (CHIKV) increases the risk of persistent arthralgia; however, there is no consistent evidence regarding prognostic biomarkers of progression to chronic arthropathy. This systematic review provides an overview of currently available literature about the potential role of the acute immunologic response in predicting long-term joint pain in patients with a diagnosis of CHIKV. We searched for observational studies using the terms "chikungunya," "cytokines," "biomarkers," and "joint pain" in PubMed/MEDLINE, LILACS, Cochrane Library Plus, and SCOPUS databases, restricting to articles published in English and up to April 2024.

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Natalizumab is a highly effective therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to evaluate serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) and serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) in patients with relapsing-remitting MS treated with Natalizumab. sNfL and sGFAP were analyzed at baseline, 6 and 12 months post treatment using the single-molecule array (SiMoA) technique.

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Background And Objectives: The impact of viral infections on disease susceptibility and progression has predominantly been studied in patients with relapse-onset MS (RMS). Here, we determined immune responses to ubiquitous viruses in patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS).

Methods: Antibody responses to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), specifically to the latent EBV nuclear antigen 1 and the lytic viral capsid antigen VCA, human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), and measles virus were determined in a cohort of 68 PPMS patients with a mean follow-up of 8 years and compared with 66 healthy controls matched for sex and age.

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Objective: To ascertain the changes of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) values in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients treated with ocrelizumab and their association with treatment response.

Methods: Multicenter prospective study including 115 RRMS patients initiating ocrelizumab treatment between February 2020 and March 2022 followed during a year. Serum samples were collected at baseline and every 3 months to measure sNfL and sGFAP levels using single-molecule array (SIMOA) technology.

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Article Synopsis
  • - A study was conducted in Piauí State, Brazil, to assess the prevalence of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) among blood donors, involving 890 participants with a median age of 33.4 years, mostly males from the Mid-Northern region.
  • - Blood samples were tested for anti-HEV IgG and IgM antibodies using advanced techniques, alongside PCR testing for HEV RNA.
  • - The findings showed low prevalence rates for anti-HEV IgG (1.35%) and IgM (0.11%), with no HEV-RNA detected, indicating minimal HEV infection among blood donors in the area.
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MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can act as biomarkers and descriptors of the association between infections and other diseases, such as hepatitis and COVID-19. This study aims to investigate the role of miRNA serum expression according to laboratory data concerning hepatitis and COVID-19. Seventy individuals recruited in Southern and Southeastern Brazil donated serum samples and were divided into four groups: (i) 20 negative subjects, (ii) 20 presenting hepatitis, (iii) 19 with COVID-19 and (iv) 11 with hepatitis and COVID-19.

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Article Synopsis
  • Existing vaccines for hepatitis B are effective, but the virus remains a significant health issue due to challenges like cccDNA and potential reinfection.
  • RNA interference (RNAi) is being explored as a promising treatment strategy for chronic hepatitis B, offering a new approach to silence the virus.
  • A review analyzed 76,949 studies, narrowing it down to 226 key reports, highlighting RNAi's potential while calling for more research to bridge the gap between laboratory findings and real-world treatment applications.
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  • The Brazilian Amazon is a key area for hepatitis Delta virus (HDV) with hard-to-reach locations, making it crucial to study how the virus spreads there.
  • A molecular analysis of HDV cases, involving 35 patients from Rondônia, Brazil, was conducted using PCR and sequencing to track the virus's evolution and transmission over time.
  • Findings indicate that all samples were HDV-3, with an estimated entry into Brazil around 1820, suggesting complex migration patterns throughout the region over the past two centuries.*
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Background: Viral hepatitis is a disease that is more prevalent among individuals residing in remote regions and in contexts of social vulnerability. The objective of this study was to ascertain the seroprevalence of hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV), and C (HCV) in vulnerable communities in the rural area of São João do Piauí (SJP), northern Brazil.

Methods: Immunoenzymatic assays were employed to detect the presence of anti-HAV (total and IgM), HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, and anti-HCV serological markers in serum samples.

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  • The study examined the long-term effects of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection, focusing on the incidence of post-chikungunya chronic rheumatism (pCHIK-CR) and its effects on quality of life (QoL) and chronic fatigue seven years after an outbreak in Piedecuesta, Colombia.
  • Among 78 adults evaluated, 14.1% were found to have pCHIK-CR, 41.0% had non-inflammatory pain, and 44.9% had no rheumatic disease, with those suffering from pCHIK-CR showing the worst QoL and highest levels of chronic fatigue.
  • The findings indicate that roughly one in seven individuals with CHIKV infection
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  • - Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disorder affecting the central nervous system, characterized by a range of symptoms and immune-induced inflammation.
  • - Recent advancements in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood biomarkers, together with MRI, have improved the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring of MS patients.
  • - The article discusses the promise of these biomarkers in understanding the disease's biology, predicting relapses, and enhancing treatment personalization while addressing the challenges of using them effectively in clinical settings.
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microRNAs (miRNAs) are promising biomarkers for many diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). The neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a biomarker that can detect axonal damage in different neurological diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of the expression profile of pre-selected miRNAs and NfL levels with clinical and radiological variables in MS patients.

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There is substantial evidence supporting the neuroprotective effects of the MIND diet in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a nutritional intervention (NI) with this diet on multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The study was conducted in two stages.

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Hepatitis D virus (HDV) is currently classified into 8 genotypes (1 to 8) and several subgenotypes, with distinct distribution worldwide. However, due to the scarcity of complete genome sequences in databases, this classification is constantly being updated and tends to be regularly revisited in upcoming years as more sequence data becomes available. Aiming to increase knowledge about the genetic variability of HDV, this study presents the full-length genomes of 11 HDV samples collected in Brazil in endemic and non-endemic regions, including the first complete genomes of the genotypes 5 and 8 obtained outside Africa.

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Background: Tapping speed (TS) correlates with baseline disability scales in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).

Objective: The study aimed to address if progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA) could be predicted by first-month measurement of TS.

Methods: Prospective study including pwMS in one referral MS center.

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Objective: To evaluate the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by assessing their impact on serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels as a marker of neuroaxonal damage.

Methods: Single-center observational longitudinal study including patients with MS who consecutively received their initial vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 at Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, following the first national immunization program in Spain. Serum samples were collected at baseline and after receiving the second dose of the vaccine.

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Introduction: Alemtuzumab is a highly effective pulsed immune reconstitution therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS).

Aim: To evaluate serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) and serum glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) in patients with relapsing-remitting MS who have been treated with Alemtuzumab over the course of 2 years.

Methods: This prospective study involved MS patients treated with Alemtuzumab at a referral MS center.

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Background: The assessment of serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) concentration in multiple sclerosis (MS) is a useful tool for predicting clinical outcomes and assessing treatment response. However, its use in clinical practice is still limited. We aimed to assess how measurement of sNfL influences neurologists' treatment decisions in MS.

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This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and identify social factors and preventive strategies associated with the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in socio and economically vulnerable people (recyclable waste pikers, immigrants/refugees, and homeless people) in Goiânia, Goiás State, Central-Western Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2020 to October 2020. COVID-19 positivity was defined as a positive total anti-SARS-COV-2 antibody test and/or RNA test for SARS-COV-2.

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Immunohistochemical studies have identified complement component C1q in MS lesions. We aimed to compare serum (sC1q) and CSF (csfC1q) levels in a large cohort of MS patients (pwMS) (n = 222) with those of healthy controls (HC, n = 52), individuals with other immune (IND, n = 14), and non-immune neurological disorders (nIND, n = 15), and to analyze their correlation with other biomarkers. pwMS were divided into three series based on their origin.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study explored how serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (sGFAP) levels could predict worsening disability in multiple sclerosis (MS), enrolling 725 patients across 13 European hospitals from 1994 to 2023.
  • - Higher levels of sNfL were significantly associated with increased risks of relapse-associated worsening (RAW), progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA), and reaching an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 3, while elevated sGFAP levels were linked to a higher risk of reaching the EDSS score.
  • - Combining both sNfL and sGFAP levels indicated that low values represented low risk for worsening
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  • The article has been identified as needing a correction regarding its DOI reference.
  • The DOI in question is 10.2196/54281, which suggests it’s linked to a research study or publication.
  • The correction aims to clarify or fix inaccuracies that may affect readers' understanding or citation of the work.
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