High levels of anti-Leishmania IgG3 and low CD4+ T cells count were associated with relapses in visceral leishmaniasis.

BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is severe and potentially fatal. Brazil is one of the countries with the greatest endemicity for the disease in the world. The reduction of CD4+ T lymphocytes, B cells activation and high levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6/IL-8/TNF/IL-1ß), plasma LPS, soluble CD14, anti-Leishmania IgG3 and low leptin levels are involved in the immunopathogenesis of VL, most associated with severe VL. Despite relapses occurring in about 4-5% of patients with VL not associated with HIV infection, the factors underlying relapses are little known. Our aim was to identify clinical, laboratory and immunological parameters that may be associated with recurrences in VL. METHODS: Fifteen VL patients recruited from Hospital Eduardo de Menezes (BH-MG) were grouped into relapsing (R-VL, n = 5) and non-relapsing (NR-VL, n = 10) and evaluated during active disease, immediately after treatment (post-treatment) and 6 months post-treatment (6mpt). Clinical and laboratory data obtained from medical records were correlated with CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts and anti-Leishmania Igs and IL-6 plasma levels and compared to those parameters of ten healthy controls. RESULTS: During the active phase of VL, despite similarity in the clinical symptoms, the rates of thrombocytopenia, elevated transaminases (AST and ALT) and hyperbilirubinemia were higher in the NR-VL group compared to R-VL (p < 0.05), a profile reversed during the post-treatment phase. All patients had low CD4+ T counts in active phase, however, NR-VL patients had a higher gain of this cell type than R-VL in the post-treatment (p < 0.05). There was a significant reduction in IgG3 levels during the follow-up in the NR-VL group compared to the R-VL, especially at 6mpt (p < 0.05). In addition, IgG3 levels were negatively correlated with CD4+ T counts in the R-VL group (r = - 0.52). Elevated levels of IL-6 were observed in active VL and correlated with clinical markers of severity. CONCLUSIONS: During active phase of VL, the NR-VL patients presented more severe laboratorial abnormalities compared to R-VL, probably because the latter had already received previous treatment. On the other hand, R-VL exhibited greater impairment of immune reconstitution and a high degree of B lymphocyte activation, which must be a factor that favored relapses.

Analysis of Posterior Tibial Slope as Risk Factor to Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear / Análise da inclinação tibial posterior como fator de risco para lesão do ligamento cruzado anterior

Abstract Objective The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury by indirect trauma and increased posterior tibial inclination. Methods Retrospective study, performed by analysis of medical records and digital radiographs of patients, present in a database of a tertiary orthopedic hospital. The sample consisted of two groups, the first group consisting of patients diagnosed with ACL injury by indirect trauma, and a control group matched by age. Results Each group consisted of 275 patients, whose measurements of posterior tibial inclination were measured by three specialists. It was observed that the group of patients with ACL lesion presented a significantly higher tibial slope (in degrees) than the control group in the total sample and in the subsamples stratified by gender. The best cutoff point for the first group was identified as a posterior tibial inclination ≥ 8º, achieving a sensitivity of 63.3% and a specificity of 62.5%. The first group also had a tibial slope ratio ≥ 8º (63.3%), significantly higher than the control group (37.5%), with an odds ratio of 2.8. Conclusion It was concluded that the increase of the posterior tibial inclination is associated with an increased risk for injury of the ACL by indirect trauma, mainly for values ≥ 8º.

Resumo Objetivo O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a relação entre pacientes com lesão do ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) por trauma indireto e o aumento da inclinação posterior da tíbia. Métodos Estudo retrospectivo, realizado por análise de prontuários e radiografias digitais de pacientes, presentes em banco de dados de um hospital terciário de ortopedia e traumatologia. A amostra foi composta por dois grupos, sendo o primeiro formado por pacientes com diagnóstico de lesão do LCA, por trauma indireto, e um grupo controle pareado por idade. Resultados Cada grupo foi formado por 275 pacientes, cujas medidas de inclinação tibial posterior foram aferidas por 3 especialistas. Observou-se que o grupo dos pacientes com lesão do LCA apresentou slope tibial (em graus) significativamente maior que o grupo controle na amostra total e nas subamostras estratificadas por gênero. Identificou-se como o melhor ponto de corte (cutoff) para o primeiro grupo uma inclinação tibial posterior ≥ 8º, atingindo uma sensibilidade de 63,3% e uma especificidade de 62,5%. O primeiro grupo também apresentou proporção de slope tibial ≥ 8º (63,3%), significativamente maior que o grupo controle (37,5%), com razão de chances de 2,8. Conclusão Concluiu-se que o aumento da inclinação tibial posterior está associado com um maior risco para lesão do LCA por trauma indireto, principalmente para valores ≥ 8º,

Late-Relapsing Hepatitis after Yellow Fever.

One patient presented hyporexia, asthenia, adynamia, and jaundice two months after acute yellow fever (YF) onset; plus laboratory tests indicating hepatic cytolysis and a rebound of alanine and aspartate transaminases, and total and direct bilirubin levels. Laboratory tests discarded autoimmune hepatitis, inflammatory or metabolic liver disease, and new infections caused by hepatotropic agents. Anti-YFV IgM, IgG and neutralizing antibodies were detected in different times, but no viremia. A liver biopsy was collected three months after YF onset and tested positive for YFV antigens and wild-type YFV-RNA (364 RNA-copies/gram/liver). Transaminases and bilirubin levels remained elevated for five months, and the arresting of symptoms persisted for six months after the acute YF onset. Several serum chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors were measured. A similar immune response profile was observed in the earlier phases of the disease, followed by more pronounced changes in the later stages, when transaminases levels returned to normal. The results indicated viral persistence in the liver and continual liver cell damage three months after YF onset and reinforced the need for extended follow-ups of YF patients. Further studies to investigate the role of possible viral persistence and the immune response causing relapsing hepatitis following YF are also necessary.

Disseminated mycosis in a patient with yellow fever

Disseminated mycosis (DM)­with cardiac involvement and shock­is an unexpected and severe opportunistic infection in patients with yellow fever. DM can mimic bacterial sepsis and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of causes of systemic inflammatory response syndrome in this group of patients, especially in areas where an outbreak of yellow fever is ongoing. We report the case of a 53-year-old male patient who presented to the emergency department with fever, myalgia, headache, and low back pain. The laboratory investigation revealed a positive molecular test for yellow fever, hepatic injury, and renal failure. During hospitalization, the patient developed hepatic encephalopathy, ascending leukocytosis, and ascites, with signs consistent with peritonitis. On the 11th day of hospitalization, the patient developed atrioventricular block, shock and died. At autopsy, angioinvasive mycosis was evidenced mainly in the heart, lungs, kidneys, and adrenals.