Smell loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 is not clinically different from other viruses: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Although the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the prevalence of cases with olfactory loss, other respiratory viruses can also cause this condition. We aimed to compare the prevalence of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection and other respiratory viruses in patients with sudden smell loss, and to assess the impact of SARS-CoV-2 viral load and co-infection on olfactory symptoms. METHODS: Patients with sudden smell loss were recruited in a multicenter prospective cohort study in 15 hospitals in Brazil. Clinical questionnaire, Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) olfactory test and nasopharyngeal swab to perform a PCR-based respiratory viral panel were collected at first visit (day 0) and 30 and 60 days after recruitment. RESULTS: 188 of 213 patients presented positive test result for SARS-CoV-2, among which 65 were co-infected with other respiratory viruses (e.g., rhinovirus, enterovirus, and parainfluenza). 25 had negative test results for SARS-CoV-2. Patients in both SARSCoV-2 and non-SARS-CoV-2 groups had objective anosmia (less than 2 points according to the psychophysical olfactory CCCRC) at day 0, with no significant difference between them. Both groups had significant smell scores improvement after 30 and 60 days, with no difference between them. Co-infection with other respiratory viruses, and SARS-CoV-2 viral load did not impact olfactory scores. CONCLUSION: Patients with sudden smell loss associated with SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses had similar presentation, with most participants initiating with anosmia, and total or near total recovery after 60 days. SARS-CoV-2 viral load and co-infections with other respiratory viruses were not associated with poorer olfactory outcomes.

The influence of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) on chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND: Inhibitors of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) modulate the inflammatory process, and may facilitate the formation of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). This study aimed to observe if IAPs were differently expressed between patients with CRSwNP and controls, and to correlate the expression of IAPs with some inflammatory markers, as with the response to nasal corticosteroids in patients with CRSwNP. METHODOLOGY: We obtained nasal biopsies from patients with CRSwNP (n=27) and controls (n=16). qRT-PCR measured the expression of IAPs and caspases, while Luminex assay measured the concentration of cytokines. Unpaired parametric tests and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: We observed lower expression of IAP genes (XIAP, BIRC2/IAP1, and BIRC3/IAP2) in CRSwNP patients compared to controls, and we identified that patients with bad response to corticosteroids presented lower levels of BIRC2/IAP1, XIAP, BCL2, CASP9, and IL-17, and higher levels of CASP7 and TGF-B. CONCLUSIONS: IAPs expression was downregulated in CRSwNP, and was associated with poorer response to nasal corticosteroids. The present findings suggest the importance of IAPs as a link between environment and the host inflammatory responses, and this pathway could be explored as a potential new target therapy for patients with CRSwNP.

miRNA-205-5p can be related to T2-polarity in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps.

BACKGROUND: microRNAs (miRNAs) are directly associated with inflammatory response, but their direct role in CRSwNP (chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps) remains evasive. This study aimed to compare the expression of several miRNAs in tissue samples obtained from patients with CRSwNP and controls and to evaluate if miRNAs correlate to a specific inflammatory pattern (T1, T2, T17, and Treg) or intensity of symptoms in CRSwNP. METHODS: nasal polyps (from patients with CRSwNP - n=36) and middle turbinate mucosa (from control patients - n=41) were collected. Microarray determined human mature miRNA expression, and the results obtained were validated by qPCR. miRNAs that were differentially expressed were then correlated to cytokine proteins (by Luminex), tissue eosinophilia, and SNOT-22. RESULTS: After microarray and qPCR analyses, six microRNAs were up-regulated in CRSwNP samples when compared with controls: miR-205-5p, miR-221-3p, miR-222-3p, miR-378a-3p, miR-449a and miR-449b-5p. All these miRNAs are directly implicated with cell cycle regulation and apoptosis, and to a minor extent, with inflammation. Importantly, miR-205-5p showed a significantly positive correlation with IL-5 concentration and eosinophil count at the tissue and with the worst SNOT-22 score. CONCLUSIONS: miRNA 205-5p was increased in CRSwNP compared to controls, and it was especially expressed in CRSwNP patients with higher T2 inflammation (measured by both IL-5 levels and local eosinophilia) and worst clinical presentation. This miRNA may be an interesting target to be explored in patients with CRSwNP.

Genetic variability of Cercospora coffeicola from organic and conventional coffee plantings, characterized by vegetative compatibility.

Cercospora leaf spot is a destructive fungal disease that has become a threat to the coffee industry in Brazil. Nevertheless, little is known about populations of its causal agent, Cercospora coffeicola. We evaluated the potential of using nitrogen-nonutilizing (nit) mutants and vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) to characterize the genetic variability of the C. coffeicola population associated with coffee plantings in Minas Gerais state (MG), Brazil. A total of 90 monosporic isolates were obtained from samples collected according to a hierarchical sampling scheme: (i) state geographical regions (Sul, Mata, and Triângulo), and (ii) production systems (conventional and organic). Nit mutants were obtained and 28 VCGs were identified. The 10 largest VCGs included 72.31% of all isolates, whereas each of the remaining 18 VCGs included 1.54% of the isolates. Isolates of the largest VCGs were found in the three regions sampled. Based on the frequencies of VCGs at each sampled level, we estimated the Shannon diversity index, as well as its richness and evenness components. Genetic variability was high at all hierarchical levels, and a high number of VCGs was found in populations of C. coffeicola associated with both conventional and organic coffee plantings.

Influencia de la irrigación en el atizonamiento de las hojas de ñame (dioscorea cayennesis) por curvularia eragrostidis en el n. e. de Brasil / Influence of irrigation on leaf blight of yam (dioscorea cayennensis) by curvularia eragrostidis in the n. e of Brasil

El atizonamiento de las hojas (quema), causado por curvularia eragrostidis, es una de las principales enfermedades del ñame (dioscorea cayennesis) en el noreste brasileño. Por esto se analizó el progreso y patrón espacial de la enfermedad en cuatro áreas con plantaciones comerciales de ñame, dos irrigadas ( A y B) y dos no irrigadas (C y D), localizadas en el municipio de Alinca, Estado de Pernanbuco, Brasil. En las áreas irrigadas, la cantidad inicial y la máxima severidad de la enfermedad, fueron superiores a las verificadas en las áreas no irrigadas. Utilizándo el modelo de Gompertz, no se verificaron diferencias significativas entre las tasas de progreso de la enfermedad, siendo idénticas en las áreas A, B, C y ligeramente inferior en el área D. En las áreas B, C y D, las plantas enfermas presentaron un patrón aleatorio, dentro y entre las líneas de plantación y el área A presentó un patrón agregado, especiamente entre las líneas. Considerándo estos resultados, es posible concluir que la irrigación no tuvo influencia significativa en la severidad de la mancha necrótica de las hojas de ñame ni en la agregación de plantas enfermas dentro de las áreas de plantación