IL-10 predicts incident neuroinflammatory disease and proviral load dynamics in a large Brazilian cohort of people living with human T-lymphotropic virus type 1.

Human T-Lymphotropic Virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is a unique retrovirus associated with both leukemogenesis and a specific neuroinflammatory condition known as HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy (HAM). Currently, most proposed HAM biomarkers require invasive CSF sampling, which is not suitable for large cohorts or repeated prospective screening. To identify non-invasive biomarkers for incident HAM in a large Brazilian cohort of PLwHTLV-1 (n=615 with 6,673 person-years of clinical follow-up), we selected all plasma samples available at the time of entry in the cohort (between 1997-2019), in which up to 43 cytokines/chemokines and immune mediators were measured.

Duodenal Leishmaniasis Mimicking Celiac Disease in HIV Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review.

It is known that there are several clinical forms that diseases can take when presented in patients living with HIV, especially those in the AIDS phase. Here, we present a case that demonstrates the peculiar capacity of diseases to assume the most varied forms, highlighting the limited research on neglected infectious parasitic diseases. This study aimed to underscore the ability of these diseases to mimic other pathologies, emphasizing the importance of infectious diseases as differential diagnoses in the most diverse clinical entities, as is the case of visceral leishmaniasis.

Infrared spectroscopy as a predictive tool for the severity of COVID-19 using patient's saliva: A strategy to avoid hyperinflammation.

Discriminate the severity level of COVID-19 disease is still a challenge. Here we investigate the capability of micro-infrared absorption spectroscopy (micro-FTIR) to probe COVID-19 severity level and predict hyperinflammation, correlating the assigned vibrational data to relevant biomolecules related to the immune system. Saliva of 184 patients was analysed by ELISA assay (Hepcidin) and micro-FTIR.

Evaluation of the New Multi-HTLV Serological Assay: Improvement for HTLV-2 Detection.

Despite the accuracy of confirmatory tests for the diagnosis of human T cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV), inconclusive or false-negative results still occur when diagnosing human T cell lymphotropic virus type 2 (HTLV-2)-positive patients. The goal of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and accuracy of a confirmatory immunoassay, the Multi-HTLV assay. A total of 246 plasma samples were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and used to calculate the sensitivity and typing accuracy of the Multi-HTLV assay.

Pan-American Guidelines for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19: a joint evidence-based guideline of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (SBI) and the Pan-American Association of Infectious Diseases (API).

Background: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, therapeutic options for treating COVID-19 have been investigated at different stages of clinical manifestations. Considering the particular impact of COVID-19 in the Americas, this document aims to present recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of COVID-19 specific to this population.

Methods: Fifteen experts, members of the Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases (SBI) and the Pan-American Association of Infectious Diseases (API) make up the panel responsible for developing this guideline.

Could Cesarean Delivery Help Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1?

Background: Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is an important route of transmission that can cause lifelong infection. There is high morbidity and mortality due to adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma, HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM), and other inflammatory disorders. These conditions develop in nearly 10% of people with HTLV-1 infection, with a higher risk if infection occurs early in life.

Early response to COVID-19 in Brazil: The impact of a targeted approach to suspected cases and on epidemiological surveillance efforts.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) entered Brazil before travel restrictions and border closures were imposed. This study reports the characteristics of suspected and confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases among symptomatic international travelers in Brazil and their contacts.

Methods: The REDCap platform developed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health was analyzed to identify and investigate suspected cases of COVID-19 recorded during the period January 1 to March 20, 2020.

Improving oral health of adolescent girls in Kenya through education - An observational study.

Objectives: Dental caries and periodontal diseases are significant health concerns in developing nations. This study assessed the impact of a comprehensive oral health education program on adolescent girls in rural Kenya.

Methods: Eighty-seven girls aged 13-18 years attending school in rural Nanyuki, Kenya, were enrolled in the study.

Systemic cytokines and GlycA discriminate disease status and predict corticosteroid response in HTLV-1-associated neuroinflammation.

Background: HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is an incapacitating neuroinflammatory disorder for which no disease-modifying therapy is available, but corticosteroids provide some clinical benefit. Although HAM/TSP pathogenesis is not fully elucidated, older age, female sex and higher proviral load are established risk factors. We investigated systemic cytokines and a novel chronic inflammatory marker, GlycA, as possible biomarkers of immunopathogenesis and therapeutic response in HAM/TSP, and examined their interaction with established risk factors.

Expert review of global real-world data on COVID-19 vaccine booster effectiveness and safety during the omicron-dominant phase of the pandemic.

Introduction: COVID-19 vaccines have been highly effective in reducing morbidity and mortality during the pandemic. However, the emergence of the Omicron variant and subvariants as the globally dominant strains have raised doubts about the effectiveness of currently available vaccines and prompted debate about potential future vaccination strategies.

Areas Covered: Using the publicly available IVAC VIEW-hub platform, we reviewed 52 studies on vaccine effectiveness (VE) after booster vaccinations.

Lack of direct association between oral mucosal lesions and SARS-CoV- 2 in a cohort of patients hospitalised with COVID-19.

Background: COVID-19 is a disease affecting various human organs and systems, in which the virus seeks to interact with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors. These receptors are present in the oral cavity, but the direct relationship between such an interaction and possible oral manifestations of COVID-19 is still unclear.

Aim: The present study evaluated oral manifestations in a cohort of COVID-19 patients during the period of hospitalisation.

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of saliva samples as a prognostic tool for COVID-19.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 infections are still imposing a great public health challenge despite the recent developments in vaccines and therapy. Searching for diagnostic and prognostic methods that are fast, low-cost and accurate are essential for disease control and patient recovery. The MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry technique is rapid, low cost and accurate when compared to other MS methods, thus its use is already reported in the literature for various applications, including microorganism identification, diagnosis and prognosis of diseases.

Prognosis Markers for Monitoring HTLV-1 Neurologic Disease.

Background: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection is associated not only with some severe manifestations, such as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM) and ATLL, but also with other, less severe conditions. Some studies have reported neurologic manifestations that did not meet all the criteria for the diagnosis of HAM in individuals infected with HTLV-1; these conditions may later progress to HAM or constitute an intermediate clinical form, between asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers and those with full myelopathy. This study evaluated the prognostic value and looked for a possible association of those parameters with the intermediate syndrome (IS) status and HAM status.

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 in dementia across Latin America: A call for an urgent regional plan and coordinated response.

The SARS-CoV-2 global pandemic will disproportionately impact countries with weak economies and vulnerable populations including people with dementia. Latin American and Caribbean countries (LACs) are burdened with unstable economic development, fragile health systems, massive economic disparities, and a high prevalence of dementia. Here, we underscore the selective impact of SARS-CoV-2 on dementia among LACs, the specific strain on health systems devoted to dementia, and the subsequent effect of increasing inequalities among those with dementia in the region.

Dichotomy in Fatal Outcomes in a Large Cohort of People Living with HTLV-1 in São Paulo, Brazil.

Despite its relatively low incidence of associated diseases, Human T-cell Leukemia Virus-1 (HTLV-1) infection was reported to carry a significant risk of mortality in several endemic areas. HTLV-1-associated diseases, adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraperesis (HAM/TSP), as well as frequent coinfections with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and were associated to increased morbidity and mortality of HTLV-1 infection. To determine the mortality rate and its associated variables from an open cohort started in July 1997 at the HTLV Clinic, Emilio Ribas Institute (IIER), a major infectious disease hospital in São Paulo, Brazil.