Immunological signature of the different clinical stages of the HTLV-1 infection: establishing serum biomarkers for HTLV-1-associated disease morbidity.

This study aimed at establishing the immunological signature and an algorithm for clinical management of the different clinical stages of the HTLV-1-infection based on serum biomarkers. A panel of serum biomarkers was evaluated by four sets of innovative/non-conventional data analysis approaches in samples from 87 HTLV-1 patients: asymptomatic carriers (AC), putative HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (pHAM/TSP) and HAM/TSP. The analysis of cumulative curves and molecular signatures pointed out that HAM/TSP presented a pro-inflammatory profile mediated by CXCL10/LTB-4/IL-6/TNF-α/IFN-γ, counterbalanced by IL-4/IL-10. The analysis of biomarker networks showed that AC presented a strongly intertwined pro-inflammatory/regulatory net with IL-4/IL-10 playing a central role, while HAM/TSP exhibited overall immune response toward a predominant pro-inflammatory profile. At last, the classification and regression trees proposed for clinical practice allowed for the construction of an algorithm to discriminate AC, pHAM and HAM/TSP patients with the elected biomarkers: IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4 and CysLT. These findings reveal a complex interaction among chemokine/leukotriene/cytokine in HTLV-1 infection and suggest the use of the selected but combined biomarkers for the follow-up/diagnosis of disease morbidity of HTLV-1-infected individuals.

Proviral load and the balance of serum cytokines in HTLV-1-asymptomatic infection and in HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP).

This study compared the proviral load and the plasma cytokine profiles (interleukin-IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ) in 87 HTLV-1-infected individuals, including 28 with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), 32 with possible pHAM/TSP and 27 asymptomatic carriers (AC). The control group was composed by 21 HTLV-1-seronegative individuals. Our finding demonstrated that HAM/TSP group presented higher proviral load as compared to all other HTLV-1 groups (p<0.0001). The HAM/TSP group showed higher serum concentration of IL-6 (p=0.0009) as compared to all other groups. Moreover, higher serum concentration of IFN-γ (p=0.0118) and IL-4 (p=0.0166) were observed in HAM/TSP group as compared to the healthy controls. Additionally, the HAM/TSP group also showed higher serum concentration of TNF-α (p=0.0239) and IFN-γ (p=0.0118) as compared to AC. No differences in the serum concentration of IL-2 and IL-10 were observed among the groups. The analysis of cytokine balance demonstrated that HAM/TSP presented higher pro-inflammatory profile with enhanced IFN-γ/IL-10 and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio as compared to AC and pHAM/TSP. Further analysis pointed out to a positive correlation between the IFN-γ response and the proviral load in AC. Conversely, a negative association between TNF-α and IL-2 with the proviral load was the hallmark of HAM/TSP group. These findings suggested that the proviral load and the pro-inflammatory cytokine profile may be independent events in the peripheral blood of HAM/TSP individuals. The knowledge about the existence of individual virological/immunological behavior upon HTLV-1 infection, may guide to the establishment of more effective therapeutic interventions.

Neurocisticercose em pacientes epilépticos acompanhados em um ambulatório especializado / Neurocysticercosis in epileptic patients followed at a specialized clinic

A neurocisticercose (NCC) é a causa identificável mais comum de epilepsia em países em desenvolvimento. O objetivo desse estudo é investigar o perfil dos pacientes com diagnóstico de NCC acompanhados em um ambulatório neurológico especializado em epilepsia. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de estudo transversal, descritivo de 502 pacientes com epilepsia. RESULTADOS: NCC foi encontrada em 14,9% dos pacientes, sendo que 73,3% destes apresentaram crises focais. A farmacorresistência foi observada em um maior percentual de pacientes com NCC (32,0%, 24/75) em comparação com os pacientes sem NCC. CONCLUSÃO: A freqüência de NCC mostrou-se elevada nesse contexto clínico, associando-se à refratariedade à medicação.

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common identifiable cause of epilepsy in developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the profile of patients diagnosed with NCC followed at a specialized neurological service in epilepsy. METHODS: This was a transversal descriptive study of 502 patients with epilepsy. RESULTS: NCC was found in 14.9% of patients, 73.3% of them had focal seizures. Drug resistance was observed in a higher percentage of patients with NCC (32.0%, 24/75) in comparison with patients without NCC. CONCLUSION: The frequency of NCC was elevated in the present clinical setting, being associated with refractoriness to anti-epileptic medication.

Acidente vascular encefálico em adultos jovens: análise de 44 casos / Stroke in young adults: analysis of 44 cases

Objetivo: estudar as características epidemiológicas, clínicas e laboratoriais dos pacientes jovens com diagnóstico de acidente vascular encefálico isquêmico em acompanhamento no Ambulatório de Neurovascular do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Métodos: entre os 106 pacientes em acompanhamento, identificaram-se 44 com idades abaixo de 50 anos à época do evento isquêmico encefálico. Coletaram-se dados relativos à idade de ocorrência, exposição a fatores de risco, número de eventos isquêmicos, região encefálica acometida, exames complementares realizados na investigação etiológica, drogas utilizadas na prevenção secundária e medidas de reabilitação instituídas. Resultados: dos 44 pacientes, 63,1% eram do sexo feminino e 20,4% sofreram recorrência do evento isquêmico. A topografia mais acometida foi o território da artéria encefálica média (49,9%). Observou-se pelo menos um fator de risco cardiovascular em 84,8% dos pacientes. A hipertensão arterial sistêmica predominou em mais da metade dos casos. Causas cardioembólicas foram associadas ao acidente vascular encefálico em 22,7% dos pacientes. Realizou-se arteriografia em 16 pacientes, sendo que 50% destes apresentaram alterações. Para a prevenção secundária, observou--se o uso de ácido acetilsalicílico em 81,7% dos casos, warfarina em 22,7% e estatinas em 36,3%. Elevada proporção de pacientes (45%) está em tratamento de reabilitação, principalmente fisioterapia. Conclusão: fatores de risco cardiovasculares são freqüentes mesmo em pacientes jovens que sofreram acidente vascular encefálico isquêmico, portanto, as medidas de prevenção secundária não podem ser negligenciadas nessa faixa etária. Extensa propedêutica é indispensável para o diagnóstico topográfico e etiológico do evento cerebral, o que requer infraestrutura hospitalar sofisticada.

Objective: to study epidemiological, clinical and laboratorial characteristics of young patients with diagnosis of ischemic brain stroke followed at the UFMG Hospital das Clinicas Neurovascular Outpatient Department ( Ambulatório de Neurovascular do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais), Brazil. Methods: Among the 106 patients under treatment, 44 were identified with ages below 50 years old at the time of the ischemic brain stroke event. Data related to the age at the occurrence, exposure to risk factors, number of ischemic events, brain region affected, complementary examinations performed at the etiologic investigation, drugs used in the secondary prevention and rehabilitation measures introduced were collected. Results: of the 44 patients, 63.1% were female and 20.4% suffered ischemic events. The most affected topography of the victims was the middle cerebral artery (49.9%). There was at least one cardiovascular risk factor in 84.8% of patients. Systemic Arterial Hypertension prevailed in more than half of cases. Cardioembolic causes were associated with brain stroke in 22.7% of patients. Arteriography was performed in 16 patients, 50% of these showed alterations. For secondary prevention, aspirin was used in 81.7% of cases, warfarin in 22.7% and statins in 36.3%. High proportion of patients (45%) is in rehabilitation treatment, especially physiotherapy. Conclusions: cardiovascular risk factors are common even in young patients who suffered ischemic brain stroke, so the secondary prevention measures cannot be overlooked in this age group. Extensive workup is essential for topographic and etiologic diagnosis of the cerebral event, which requires sophisticated hospital infrastructure.

Simultaneous occurrence of brain tumor and myeloradiculopathy in schistosomiasis mansoni: case report.

Simultaneous occurrence of brain tumor and myeloradiculopathy in cases of Manson's schistosomiasis have only rarely been described. We report the case of a 38-year-old man who developed seizures during a trip to Puerto Rico and in whom a brain tumor was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging: brain biopsy revealed the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. He was transferred to a hospital in the United States and, during hospitalization, he developed sudden paraplegia. The diagnosis of myeloradiculopathy was confirmed at that time. He was administered praziquantel and steroids. The brain tumor disappeared, but the patient was left with paraplegia and fecal and urinary dysfunction. He has now been followed up in Brazil for one year, and his clinical state, imaging examinations and laboratory tests are presented here.

Simultaneous occurrence of brain tumor and myeloradiculopathy in schistosomiasis mansoni: case report / Ocorrência simultânea de tumor cerebral e mielorradiculopatia na esquistossomose mansoni: relato de caso

Simultaneous occurrence of brain tumor and myeloradiculopathy in cases of Manson's schistosomiasis have only rarely been described. We report the case of a 38-year-old man who developed seizures during a trip to Puerto Rico and in whom a brain tumor was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging: brain biopsy revealed the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. He was transferred to a hospital in the United States and, during hospitalization, he developed sudden paraplegia. The diagnosis of myeloradiculopathy was confirmed at that time. He was administered praziquantel and steroids. The brain tumor disappeared, but the patient was left with paraplegia and fecal and urinary dysfunction. He has now been followed up in Brazil for one year, and his clinical state, imaging examinations and laboratory tests are presented here.

Tem sido descrita, raramente, na esquistossomose mansônica, a ocorrência simultânea de tumor cerebral e mielorradiculopatia. Relatamos aqui o caso de um homem de 38 anos que desenvolveu convulsões, durante viagem a Porto Rico, e um tumor cerebral foi diagnosticado à ressonância magnética: a biópsia do cérebro revelou o diagnóstico de esquistossomose. Ele foi transferido para hospital na América do Norte e durante a hospitalização desenvolveu súbita paraplegia. O diagnóstico de mielorradiculopatia foi confirmado na ocasião. Ele recebeu praziquantel e esteróides. O tumor cerebral desapareceu, mas o paciente permaneceu com paraplegia, disfunção urinária e fecal. Ele tem sido acompanhado no Brasil no último ano e o seu estado clínico, os métodos de imagem e os exames de laboratório são apresentados aqui.