Consensus Enolase of Trypanosoma Cruzi: Evaluation of Their Immunogenic Properties Using a Bioinformatics Approach.

There is currently no vaccine against American trypanosomiasis, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This is due to the genomic variation observed in the six DTUs of T. cruzi. This work aims to propose a consensus sequence of the enolase protein from different strains of T. cruzi and mainly evaluate its immunogenic properties at the bioinformatic level. From specialized databases, 15 sequences of the enolase gene were aligned to obtain a consensus sequence, where this sequence was modeled and then evaluated and validated through different bioinformatic programs to learn their immunogenic potential. Finally, chimeric peptides were designed with the most representative epitopes. The results showed high immunogenic potential with six epitopes for MHC-I, and seven epitopes for MHC-II, all of which were highly representative of the enolase present in strains from the American continent as well as five epitopes for B cells. Regarding the computational modeling, molecular docking with Toll-like receptors showed a high affinity and low constant of dissociation, which could lead to an innate-type immune response that helps to eliminate the parasite. In conclusion, the consensus sequence proposed for enolase is capable of providing an ideal immune response; however, the experimental evaluation of this enolase consensus and their chimeric peptides should be a high priority to develop a vaccine against Chagas disease.

Risk of COVID-19 in Chagas Disease Patients: What Happen with Cardiac Affectations?

BACKGROUND: Chagas disease is considered a neglected tropical disease. The acute phase of Chagas disease is characterized by several symptoms: fever, fatigue, body aches, headache and cardiopathy's. Chronic phase could be asymptomatic or symptomatic with cardiac compromise. Since the emergence of the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cardiovascular involvement has been identified as a complication commonly reported in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Due to the lack of knowledge of the cardiac affectations that this virus could cause in patients with Chagas disease, the aim of this review is to describe the possible cardiac affectations, as well as the treatment and recommendations that patients with both infections should carry out. METHODS: The authors revised the recent and relevant literature concerning the topic and discussed advances and limitations of studies on COVID-19 and their impact in Chagas disease patients, principally with cardiac affectations. RESULTS: There currently exists little information about the consequences that Chagas disease patients can suffer when they are infected with COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights the emerging challenges of access to medical care and future research needs in order to understand the implications that co-infections (SARS-CoV-2 or other viruses) can generate in Chagas disease-infected people.

Aprendizaje de una simulación: paciente COVID-19 positivo para cirugía de urgencia / Learning from a simulation: Patient COVID-19 positive for emergency surgery

Resumen: Se realizó una simulación in situ del proceso de atención de paciente con diagnóstico de COVID-19 programado para una cirugía de urgencia. Se observó desde la llegada al Departamento de Urgencias y hasta su salida del quirófano. Se llevaron a cabo los protocolos previamente establecidos y se observó por áreas de oportunidad.

Abstract: An in situ simulation was performed of a patient with COVID-19 diagnosis that is schedule for emergency surgery. From the arrival to the Emergency Department to the exit from the operating theatre. Previously stablished protocols were performed, and areas of improvement were looked for.

Neurophysiological monitoring in spinal cord surgery.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM) during spine surgery consists of several functional tests including somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), motor evoked potentials (MEPs), dermatomal potentials (DPs) and EMG (electromyography). Permanent neurological damage after spine surgery performed without intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is frequent and often very costly. The main goal of IOM is the immediate detection, prevention and correction of neurological damage during surgery, which may go unnoticed without using these tests. METHODS: A total of 351 clinical files of patients with spinal surgery and continuous neurophysiological monitoring were transversally and descriptively reviewed from 2007 to 2008. RESULTS: There were 135 male patients (38.46%) and 216 female patients (61.54%); 82% of the cases were osteodiscal pathology with or without medullar involvement, 12% were patients with traumatic injuries, 4% with scoliosis and 2% had medullary tumors. Regarding localization, 62.1% were lumbar, 33% cervical, 4.3% thoracic and 0.5% sacral involvement; 12.4% of our cases showed significant improvement of the basal responses on SSEPs, and 56.8% showed no significant change during the procedure. In 28.4% of the cases, the surgical team had to be advised of potential neurological damage and in 2.4% there was absence of neurophysiological responses. No patient showed complete loss of any neurophysiological response. All patients reported clinical improvement after hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring may help avoid certain neurological risks during spine surgery, which may go unnoticed without the use of this technique.

Vigilancia neurofisiológica transoperatoria multimodal en cirugía de columna / Neurophysiological monitoring in spinal cord surgery

Introducción: La vigilancia neurofisiológica durante la cirugía de columna vertebral y de la médula espinal consiste en pruebas de potenciales evocados somatosensoriales, potenciales motores musculares, potenciales dermatomales y electromiografía. El riesgo de daño neurológico permanente después de una cirugía medular sin monitorización es significativo y el costo alto. El objetivo de la vigilancia neurofisiológica es identificar, prevenir y corregir de forma inmediata el daño neurológico que puede pasar inadvertido durante la cirugía de columna vertebral y médula espinal. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal, observacional y descriptivo de los pacientes sometidos a cirugía de columna entre 2007 y 2008 con vigilancia neurofisiológica transoperatoria. Resultados: La muestra estuvo integrada por 351 pacientes, 135 del sexo masculino (38.46 %) y 216 del femenino (61.54 %); 82 % correspondió a patología osteodiscal con o sin afectación medular, 12 % a etiología traumática, 4 % a corrección de escoliosis y 2 % a tumores medulares; por localización, 62.1 % a patología lumbar, 33 % a cervical, 4.3 % a nivel dorsal y 0.5 % a nivel sacro. El 12.4 % de los pacientes presentó mejoría de la respuesta basal de sus potenciales evocados somatosensoriales; 56.8 % los mantuvo similares a sus controles prequirúrgicos, 28.4 % requirió llamada de alerta al cirujano por riesgo de daño y 2.4 % caída severa de respuesta. En ningún caso hubo pérdida permanente. Conclusiones: La vigilancia neurofisiológica constituye una herramienta de gran valor que evita daños que pueden producirse durante esta cirugía.

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IOM) during spine surgery consists of several functional tests including somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs), motor evoked potentials (MEPs), dermatomal potentials (DPs) and EMG (electromyography). Permanent neurological damage after spine surgery performed without intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is frequent and often very costly. The main goal of IOM is the immediate detection, prevention and correction of neurological damage during surgery, which may go unnoticed without using these tests. METHODS: A total of 351 clinical files of patients with spinal surgery and continuous neurophysiological monitoring were transversally and descriptively reviewed from 2007 to 2008. RESULTS: There were 135 male patients (38.46%) and 216 female patients (61.54%); 82% of the cases were osteodiscal pathology with or without medullar involvement, 12% were patients with traumatic injuries, 4% with scoliosis and 2% had medullary tumors. Regarding localization, 62.1% were lumbar, 33% cervical, 4.3% thoracic and 0.5% sacral involvement; 12.4% of our cases showed significant improvement of the basal responses on SSEPs, and 56.8% showed no significant change during the procedure. In 28.4% of the cases, the surgical team had to be advised of potential neurological damage and in 2.4% there was absence of neurophysiological responses. No patient showed complete loss of any neurophysiological response. All patients reported clinical improvement after hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring may help avoid certain neurological risks during spine surgery, which may go unnoticed without the use of this technique.