Physical Activity at Different Life Stages and Its Consequence on the Initial Immunization and Inflammatory Response Against COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the influence of previous physical activity (PA) during childhood, adolescence, and current PA practice on the production of antibodies and inflammatory response between the first and second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. METHODS: Fifty-nine men and 56 women were evaluated before the first vaccine, and 12 weeks later, blood samples were taken to quantify production of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 immunoglobulin G antibodies and cytokines. Previous PA during childhood and adolescence was self-referred, and current PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. RESULTS: A positive and significant association was observed only between PA practice during adolescence and an increase in antibody production in adulthood (ß = 2012.077, 95% confidence interval, 257.7953-3766.358, P = .025). Individuals who practiced PA during adolescence showed higher production of antibodies between the first and second vaccine dose compared to nonpractitioners (P = .025) and those that accumulated ≥150 minutes per week of current moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA), and presented higher antibody production in relation to who did <150 minutes per week of MVPA (P = .046). Individuals that were practitioners during childhood produced higher G-CSF (P = .047), and those that accumulated ≥150 minutes per week of current MVPA demonstrated lower IP-10 levels (P = .033). However, PA practitioners during adolescence presented higher G-CSF (P = .025), IL-17 (P = .038), IL-1RA (P = .005), IL-1ß (P = .020), and IL-2 (P = .026) levels. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that adults that accumulated at least 150 minutes of MVPA per week or practiced PA during adolescence developed an improved immune and inflammatory response against COVID-19 vaccination.

Factors associated with external causes in elderly attended by the mobile emergency care service.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence and factors associated with external causes in elderly people attended by the mobile emergency care service. METHOD: Cross-sectional study with 1,972 pre-hospital care records of elderly victims of external causes from 2019 to 2020. A descriptive and bivariate analysis was performed, with a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). RESULTS: The prevalence of external causes in elderly people attended by the mobile emergency service was 12.2%. Falling was the most frequent occurrence. The associations of the occurrence of falls with age from 90 years old (OR=29.31; p<0.001) and female gender (OR=5.38; p<0.001) stood out, as well as the suspicion of ingestion of alcoholic beverages with occurrence of violence (OR=4.17; p<0.001) and traffic accidents (OR=1.97; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The study showed factors associated with injuries due to external causes in theelderly and may support the formulation of coping strategies for this problem.

High production MBL2 polymorphisms protect against COVID-19 complications in critically ill patients: A retrospective cohort study.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) binds to SARS-CoV-2, inhibits infection of susceptible cells, and activates the complement system via the lectin pathway. In this study, we investigated the association of MBL2 polymorphisms with the risk of hospitalization and clinical worsening in patients with COVID-19. A total of 550 patients with COVID-19 were included (94 non-hospitalized and 456 hospitalized). Polymorphisms in MBL2 exon 1 (codons 52, 54 and 57) and promoter region (-550, -221, and +4) were determined by real-time PCR. MBL and complement proteins were measured by Luminex. A higher frequency of the H/H genotype and the HYPA haplotype was observed in non-hospitalized patients when compared to hospitalized. In addition, critically ill patients carrying haplotypes associated with high MBL levels (HYPA/HYPA + HYPA/LYPA + HYPA/LYQA + LYPA/LYQA + LYPA/LYPA + LYQA/LYQA + LXPA/HYPA + LXPA/LYQA + LXPA/LYPA) were protected against lower oxygen saturation levels (P = 0.02), use of invasive ventilation use (P = 0.02, OR 0.38), and shock (P = 0.01, OR 0.40), independent of other potential confounders adjusted by multivariate analysis. Our results suggest that variants in MBL2 associated with high MBL levels may play a protective role in the clinical course of COVID-19.

Plantar pressure distribution and altered postural control in multibacillary leprosy patients.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, predominantly affecting the peripheral nerves, resulting in sensory and motor deficits in the feet. Foot ulcers and imbalances are frequent manifestations in leprosy, often correlating with diminished sensitivity. While clinical scales and monofilament esthesiometers are conventionally utilized to evaluate foot sensitivity and balance in these patients, their discriminatory power is limited and their effectiveness is greatly dependent on the examiner's proficiency. In contrast, baropodometry and posturography offer a more comprehensive evaluation, aiming to preempt potential damage events. This study aimed was to assess the correlation between baropodometry and force plate measurements in leprosy patients and control participants, to improve the prevention and treatment of foot ulcers and complications associated with leprosy. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional study was conducted during 2022 and enrolled 39 participants (22 patients with multibacillary leprosy and 17 non-leprosy controls). Demographic data were collected, and a monofilament esthesiometer was used to assess sensory deficits. In addition, physical examinations and balance and plantar pressure tests were conducted. The Student's t-test was used to compare mean and maximum plantar pressures between groups. For most COP variables, a Mann-Whitney Wilcoxon test was used, except for AP amplitude which was analyzed with the Student's t-test due to its normal distribution. The relationship between foot pressure and balance control was assessed using Spearman's correlation, focusing on areas with significant pressure differences between groups. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Leprosy patients showed increased pressure in forefoot areas (T1, M1, T2-T5, and M2) and decreased pressure in hindfoot regions (MH and LH) compared to controls. These patients also displayed higher AP and ML amplitudes, suggesting poorer COP control. Correlation analyses between the two groups revealed that foot plantar pressures significantly impact balance control. Specifically, increased T1 region pressures correlated with greater sway in balance tasks, while decreased MH region pressures were linked to reduced COP control. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The findings suggest a joint disturbance of plantar pressure distribution and static balance control in leprosy patients. These alterations may increase the risk of tissue injuries, including calluses and deformities, as well as falls.

Factors associated with external causes in elderly attended by the mobile emergency care service / Factores asociados a causas externas en ancianos atendidos por el servicio de atención móvil de urgencia / Fatores associados às causas externas em idosos atendidos pelo serviço de atendimento móvel de urgência

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the prevalence and factors associated with external causes in elderly people attended by the mobile emergency care service. Method: Cross-sectional study with 1,972 pre-hospital care records of elderly victims of external causes from 2019 to 2020. A descriptive and bivariate analysis was performed, with a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). Results: The prevalence of external causes in elderly people attended by the mobile emergency service was 12.2%. Falling was the most frequent occurrence. The associations of the occurrence of falls with age from 90 years old (OR=29.31; p<0.001) and female gender (OR=5.38; p<0.001) stood out, as well as the suspicion of ingestion of alcoholic beverages with occurrence of violence (OR=4.17; p<0.001) and traffic accidents (OR=1.97; p<0.001). Conclusion: The study showed factors associated with injuries due to external causes in theelderly and may support the formulation of coping strategies for this problem.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar la prevalencia y los factores asociados a causas externas en ancianos atendidos por el servicio de atención móvil de urgencia. Método: Estudio transversal con 1.972 registros de atención pre hospitalaria de ancianos víctimas de causas externas en el período de 2019 a 2020.Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y bivariado, con un nivel de significación del 5% (p<0,05). Resultados: La prevalencia de causas externas en adultos mayores atendidos por el servicio de emergencia móvil fue de 12,2%. La caída fue la ocurrencia más frecuente. Se destacaron las asociaciones de la ocurrencia de caídas con la edad a partir de 90 años (OR=29,31; p<0,001) y el género femenino (OR=5,38; p<0,001), así como la sospecha de ingesta de bebidas alcohólicas con la ocurrencia de violencia (OR=4,17; p<0,001) y accidentes de tránsito (OR=1,97; p<0,001). Conclusión: El estudio mostró factores asociados a las lesiones por causas externas en ancianos y puede apoyar la formulación de estrategias de enfrentamiento de este problema.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a prevalência e fatores associados a causas externas em idosos atendidos pelo serviço de atendimento móvel de urgência. Método: Estudo transversal com 1.972 fichas de atendimento pré-hospitalar de idosos vítimas de causas externas no período de 2019 a 2020. Realizou-se análise descritiva e bivariada, com nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05). Resultados: A prevalência de causas externas em idosos atendidos pelo serviço móvel de urgência foi de 12,2%. A queda foi a ocorrência mais frequente. Destacaram-se as associações da ocorrência de queda com a idade a partir de 90 anos (OR=29,31; p<0,001) e o sexo feminino (OR=5,38; p<0,001), bem como da suspeita de ingestão de bebida alcoólica com a ocorrência de violência (OR=4,17; p<0,001) e acidentes de trânsito (OR=1,97; p<0,001). Conclusão: O estudo evidenciou fatores associados aos agravos por causas externas em idosos e poderá subsidiar formulação de estratégias de enfrentamento a essa problemática.

Motivação ao seguimento terapêutico das doenças cardiovasculares: revisão integrativa / Motivation for therapeutic follow-up of cardiovascular diseases: integrative review

Introdução: As doenças cardiovasculares são uma grande preocupação para a saúde mundial. A falta de seguimento terapêutico dessas doenças está associada com o alto risco de eventos cardiovasculares. Compreender os elementos que motivam essa adesão pode impulsionar a elaboração de intervenções mais efetivas. Objetivo: Identificar os elementos reguladores da motivação ao seguimento terapêutico das doenças cardiovasculares. Metodologia: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa segundo as diretrizes de Whitemore e Knafl. Realizou-se a seleção dos artigos entre dezembro de 2020 e janeiro de 2021 nas bases de dados: LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE e Cochrane Library, com recorte temporal de 2011 a 2021, nos idiomas português, inglês e espanhol. Foram excluídos os artigos de revisão, reflexão, guidelines, protocolos de pesquisa e artigos repetidos. 19 estudos foram selecionados. Resultados: Estudos oriundos de 12 países, mostraram os reguladores de motivação ao tratamento das doenças cardiovasculares em cinco categorias: suporte social, saúde física, autodeterminação, reguladores psicoemocionais e sistemas de cuidado. Conclusão: A motivação apresenta regulações complexas, que mobilizam e potencializam o comportamento humano. Os resultados podem direcionar a assistência de enfermagem e as ações intencionais que influenciem no seguimento terapêutico de doenças cardiovasculares, melhorando os resultados de saúde.

Introducción: Las enfermedades cardiovasculares son una preocupación importante para la salud mundial. La falta de seguimiento terapéutico de estas enfermedades se asocia con un alto riesgo de eventos cardiovasculares. Comprender los elementos que motivan esta adherencia puede impulsar el desarrollo de intervenciones más efectivas. Objetivo: Identificar los elementos reguladores de la motivación para el seguimiento terapéutico de las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Métodos: Se trata de una revisión integradora, siguiendo los lineamientos de Whitemore y Knafl. La selección de artículos se realizó entre diciembre de 2020 y enero de 2021 en las bases de datos LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE y Cochrane Library. El marco temporal establecido para la selección fue de 2011 a 2021 y los idiomas fueron portugués, inglés y español. Se excluyeron artículos de revisión, reflexiones, guías, protocolos de investigación y artículos repetidos. Se seleccionaron 19 artículos. Resultados: Estudios de 12 países mostraron los reguladores de la motivación para el tratamiento de enfermedades cardiovasculares en cinco categorías: apoyo social, salud física, autodeterminación, reguladores psicoemocionales y sistemas de atención. Conclusión: En esencia, la motivación tiene regulaciones complejas que movilizan y mejoran el comportamiento humano. Los resultados pueden orientar los cuidados de enfermería y las acciones intencionales que influyen en el seguimiento terapéutico de las enfermedades cardiovasculares, mejorando los resultados de salud.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are a major concern for global health. The lack of therapeutic follow-up for these diseases is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events. Understanding the elements that motivate this adherence can prompt the development of more effective interventions. Objective: To identify the regulatory elements that regulate the motivation for the therapeutic follow-up of cardiovascular diseases. Methods: This is an integrative review following Whitemore and Knafl's guidelines. The articles were selected between December 2020 and January 2021 in the databases: LILACS, SciELO, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library, with a time frame from 2011 to 2021, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Review articles, reflections, guidelines, research protocols, and repeated articles were excluded. 19 articles were selected. Results: Studies from 12 countries showed the regulators of motivation for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in five categories: social support, physical health, self-determination, psycho-emotional regulators and care systems. Conclusion: In essence, motivation has complex regulations that mobilize and enhance human behavior. The results can guide nursing care and intentional actions that influence the therapeutic follow-up of cardiovascular diseases, improving health outcomes.

Malaria and COVID-19 coinfection in a non-malaria-endemic area in Brazil.

Differential diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from other febrile diseases is one of several challenges imposed by the pandemic. We present a case of severe malaria and COVID-19 coinfection in a non-malaria-endemic region. A 44-year-old female with malaise, fever, hypotension, jaundice, and enlarged liver and spleen was admitted to the intensive care unit. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR results for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were positive. Rapid tests, microscopy, and quantitative PCR were positive for Plasmodium vivax. Cytokine storm profiles were identified. We could not determine whether the severe vivax malaria in our patient was triggered by COVID-19 coinfection.

Malaria and COVID-19 coinfection in a non-malaria-endemic area in Brazil

ABSTRACT Differential diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from other febrile diseases is one of several challenges imposed by the pandemic. We present a case of severe malaria and COVID-19 coinfection in a non-malaria-endemic region. A 44-year-old female with malaise, fever, hypotension, jaundice, and enlarged liver and spleen was admitted to the intensive care unit. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR results for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 were positive. Rapid tests, microscopy, and quantitative PCR were positive for Plasmodium vivax. Cytokine storm profiles were identified. We could not determine whether the severe vivax malaria in our patient was triggered by COVID-19 coinfection.

Comparison of Static Balance Control in Infected Htlv-1 Subjects with Different Tsp/Ham Diagnosis.

(1) Background: Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP/HAM) associated with the T cell lymphotropic virus in type I humans (HTLV-1) is a slow, chronic, and progressive disease that causes balance changes. TSP/HAM diagnosis can be classified as probable, possible, and definite. We compared the static balance control of HTLV-1-infected patients with different TSP/HAM diagnosis. (2) Methods: Our sample consisted of 13 participants infected with HTLV-1 and 16 healthy participants. The center of pressure was recorded using a force platform with open and closed eyes. We divided the recordings into three intervals, period T1 (corresponds to the first 10 s); period T2 (from 10 to 45 s); period T3 (from 45 to 55 s). (3) Results: Eight participants infected with HTLV-1 were classified as probable TSP/HAM and five participants infected with HTLV-1 were classified as definite TSP/HAM. There was a significant increase in postural instability in patients with definite PET/MAH considering the structural and global variables of body sway compared to the control and the probable TSP/HAM. (4) Conclusions: We concluded that the severity of balance is directly related to the degree of signs and symptoms of TSP/HAM.

Multi-Center Evaluation of Gel-Based and Dry Multipin EEG Caps.

Dry electrodes for electroencephalography (EEG) allow new fields of application, including telemedicine, mobile EEG, emergency EEG, and long-term repetitive measurements for research, neurofeedback, or brain-computer interfaces. Different dry electrode technologies have been proposed and validated in comparison to conventional gel-based electrodes. Most previous studies have been performed at a single center and by single operators. We conducted a multi-center and multi-operator study validating multipin dry electrodes to study the reproducibility and generalizability of their performance in different environments and for different operators. Moreover, we aimed to study the interrelation of operator experience, preparation time, and wearing comfort on the EEG signal quality. EEG acquisitions using dry and gel-based EEG caps were carried out in 6 different countries with 115 volunteers, recording electrode-skin impedances, resting state EEG and evoked activity. The dry cap showed average channel reliability of 81% but higher average impedances than the gel-based cap. However, the dry EEG caps required 62% less preparation time. No statistical differences were observed between the gel-based and dry EEG signal characteristics in all signal metrics. We conclude that the performance of the dry multipin electrodes is highly reproducible, whereas the primary influences on channel reliability and signal quality are operator skill and experience.

Visceral leishmaniasis in a recent transmission region: 27.4% infectivity rate among seronegative dogs.

American visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease whose main domestic reservoir in the urban environment is dog and is considered one of the most important zoonoses in the context of public health. Serological tests are typically used for the diagnostic screening of the disease. This study aimed to analyse the performance of different methodologies used in the diagnosis of VL in dogs sampled from a recent transmission area. The sample consisted of 52 dogs separated into groups based on the absence and presence of clinical signs of VL. The following serological techniques were carried out: the DPP® rapid test (RT), the ALERE® RT and an RT and immunoenzymatic assay with a recently developed protein (rKDDR-plus). In addition, molecular techniques were carried out with conjunctival swabs, and bone marrow aspirate samples and parasitological samples were obtained directly from bone marrow aspirates. It was concluded that 27.4% of seronegative dogs were infected, but the serological tests, used as screening tests, showed unsatisfactory sensitivity results (average: 51.2%) for dogs without clinical signs. It was suggested that polymerase chain reaction with conjunctival swabbing be used as a screening test for dogs without clinical signs, as this is a non-invasive collection technique with high-sensitivity values.

The Arch Electrode: A Novel Dry Electrode Concept for Improved Wearing Comfort.

Electroencephalography (EEG) is increasingly used for repetitive and prolonged applications like neurofeedback, brain computer interfacing, and long-term intermittent monitoring. Dry-contact electrodes enable rapid self-application. A common drawback of existing dry electrodes is the limited wearing comfort during prolonged application. We propose a novel dry Arch electrode. Five semi-circular arches are arranged parallelly on a common baseplate. The electrode substrate material is a flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) produced by additive manufacturing. A chemical coating of Silver/Silver-Chloride (Ag/AgCl) is applied by electroless plating using a novel surface functionalization method. Arch electrodes were manufactured and validated in terms of mechanical durability, electrochemical stability, in vivo applicability, and signal characteristics. We compare the results of the dry arch electrodes with dry pin-shaped and conventional gel-based electrodes. 21-channel EEG recordings were acquired on 10 male and 5 female volunteers. The tests included resting state EEG, alpha activity, and a visual evoked potential. Wearing comfort was rated by the subjects directly after application, as well as at 30 min and 60 min of wearing. Our results show that the novel plating technique provides a well-adhering electrically conductive and electrochemically stable coating, withstanding repetitive strain and bending tests. The signal quality of the Arch electrodes is comparable to pin-shaped dry electrodes. The average channel reliability of the Arch electrode setup was 91.9 ± 9.5%. No considerable differences in signal characteristics have been observed for the gel-based, dry pin-shaped, and arch-shaped electrodes after the identification and exclusion of bad channels. The comfort was improved in comparison to pin-shaped electrodes and enabled applications of over 60 min duration. Arch electrodes required individual adaptation of the electrodes to the orientation and hairstyle of the volunteers. This initial preparation time of the 21-channel cap increased from an average of 5 min for pin-like electrodes to 15 min for Arch electrodes and 22 min for gel-based electrodes. However, when re-applying the arch electrode cap on the same volunteer, preparation times of pin-shaped and arch-shaped electrodes were comparable. In summary, our results indicate the applicability of the novel Arch electrode and coating for EEG acquisition. The novel electrode enables increased comfort for prolonged dry-contact measurement.

Endogenous transplacental transmission of Neospora caninum in successive generations of congenitally infected goats.

Neospora caninum is a protozoan that is considered an important agent of reproductive disorders in ruminants worldwide, and vertical transmission is the main form of infection and maintenance of neosporosis in herds. In goats, there have been no studies that have evaluated the transmission of N. caninum between successive generations. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate, through IFAT and PCR, the endogenous transplacental transmission of N. caninum in up to five generations of six families of dairy goats naturally infected by the parasite and whether it was possible for dairy goats to become free of infection over successive generations. Ninety-five serum samples from positive animals and 75 samples from negative animals were analyzed for N. caninum. Of the 95 samples analyzed, 93 contained anti-N. caninum antibodies (97.8 %). Titers of anti-N. caninum antibodies varied (increasing or decreasing) in the offspring; however, with an increase in the number of the goat generations, the offspring tended to have lower titers (p = 0.021) at the day of birth. Reproductive disorders such as abortions, stillbirth or fetal retention occurred at a rate of 10.4 % and were not influenced by the mother's titer of anti-N. caninum antibodies at the day of parturition or abortion. The results showed that infection by N. caninum persists throughout generations in congenitally infected goats.

Is Basilar Invagination Related with Stenosis of the Hypoglossal Nerve Canal?

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between basilar invagination (BI) and stenosis in the hypoglossal canal (HC). METHODS: A case-control study with magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of the head from a local database was performed. The study used MRIs of 31 patients with BI (type B) and 36 controls, both groups over 18 years of age and without sex distinction. The internal (ID) and external (ED) diameters of the HC were measured on the coronal plane using the Osirix in its free version 3.9.2 (Mac-Apple platform). We used the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (with Lilliefors adjustment) to evaluate the normality of the variables, the Levine test to verify the homogeneity of the variances, and Student's t test to verify differences between groups. All analyses were within the 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Control group presented right and left ED values of 4.7 ± 0.8 mm and 4.6 ± 0.9 mm, respectively, while the right and left ID showed 4.4 ± 0.9 mm and 4.3 ± 0.8 mm, respectively. The group with BI showed right and left ED values of 3.3 ± 0.9 mm and 3.1 ± 0.9 mm, and the right and left ID had values of 2.8 ± 0.7 mm and 2.7 ± 0.7 mm, respectively. Both ED and ID were smaller in the group with BI (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with BI of type B presented the narrowing of HC when compared with control participants.

Differential Expression of Activation Markers by Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4+ T Cell Distinguishes Extrapulmonary From Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Latent Infection.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of active tuberculosis (ATB) currently relies on detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). Identifying patients with extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) remains challenging because microbiological confirmation is often not possible. Highly accurate blood-based tests could improve diagnosis of both EPTB and pulmonary TB (PTB) and timely initiation of anti-TB therapy. METHODS: A case-control study was performed using discriminant analyses to validate an approach using Mtb-specific CD4+T-cell activation markers in blood to discriminate PTB and EPTB from latent TB infection (LTBI) as well as EPTB from PTB in 270 Brazilian individuals. We further tested the effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection on diagnostic performance. Frequencies of interferon-γ +CD4+T cells expressing CD38, HLADR, and/or Ki67 were assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: EPTB and PTB were associated with higher frequencies of CD4+T cells expressing CD38, HLADR, or Ki67 compared with LTBI (all P values < .001). Moreover, frequencies of HLADR+ (P = .03) or Ki67+ (P < .001) cells accurately distinguished EPTB from PTB. HIV infection did not affect the capacity of these markers to distinguish ATB from LTBI or EPTB from PTB. CONCLUSIONS: Cell activation markers in Mtb-specific CD4+T cells distinguished ATB from LTBI and EPTB from PTB, regardless of HIV infection status. These parameters provide an attractive approach for developing blood-based diagnostic tests for both active and latent TB.

Balance Impairments in Patients with Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Infection.

The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a retrovirus from the Retroviridae family that infects cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) T-lymphocytes and stimulates their proliferation. A severe consequence of this infection can be the HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), which is associated with a progressive demyelinating disease of the upper motor neurons. The HAM/TSP conditions frequently present with neurological complaints such as gait impairment, sphincter disturbances, and several sensory losses. We compared findings from the posturographic evaluation from the asymptomatic HTLV-1 infected subjects, HTLV-1 infected subjects having HAM/TSP, and control group database. A force plate was used to record the postural oscillations. Analysis of variance and multivariate linear discriminant analysis were used to compare the data obtained from the three groups of participants. In general, HAM/TSP patients had worse postural balance control than did the HTLV-1 patients and the controls (p < 0.05). We found that in six out of ten parameters of the postural balance control, there was a gradual increase in impairment from control to HTLV-1 to HAM/TSP groups. All parameters had higher values with the subject's eyes closed. The multivariate linear discriminant analysis showed there was a reasonable difference in results between the control and HAM/TSP groups, and the HTLV-1 group was at the intersecting area between them. We found that HAM/TSP patients had worse balance control than did HTLV-1 infected patients and the control group, but asymptomatic HTLV-1 infected patients represent an intermediate balance control status between controls and HAM/TSP patients. Posturographic parameters can be relied on to identify subtle changes in the balance of HTLV-1 patients and to monitor their functional loss. HTLV-1 is a tropical disease that can be transmitted by sexual intercourse, blood transfusion, and breast-feeding. Some infected subjects develop an HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), a condition characterized by spasticity, weakness in lower limbs, and difficulty in walking long distances and going up and down the stairs, besides the history of falls. We compared the body oscillations using a force plate to investigate the postural balance control. HTLV-1 infected patients had imbalance that could be identified by posturographic parameters. Patients with HAM/TSP clearly had balance impairments, while HTLV-1 without HAM/TSP had a subtle impairment that was not seen on clinical scales, suggesting that these patients were in the middle between healthy and HAM/TSP patients, and carried a risk of developing severe imbalance postural control. We suggest that more research should be done with the aim to identify the subtle signs in asymptomatic HTLV-1 patients to investigate if this group of patients need attention similar to the HAM/TSP patients.

Plasma levels of C-reactive protein, matrix metalloproteinase-7 and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein distinguish active pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis from uninfected controls in children.

The immune profile associated with distinct clinical forms of tuberculosis (TB) has been extensively described for adult populations. Nevertheless, studies describing immune determinants of pulmonary or extrapulmonary TB (PTB or EPTB, respectively) in children are scarce. Here, we retrospectively assessed plasma levels of several mediators of inflammation in age and sex-matched children from South India presenting with PTB (n = 14) or EPTB (n = 22) as well as uninfected healthy controls (n = 19) to identify biomarkers that could accurately distinguish different TB clinical forms. Furthermore, we performed exploratory analyses testing the influence of sex on the systemic inflammatory profile. The analyses identified a biosignature of 10 biomarkers capable of distinguishing the three clinical groups simultaneously. Machine-learning decision trees indicated that C-reactive protein (CRP), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) were the markers that, when combined, displayed the highest accuracy in identifying the clinical groups. Additional exploratory analyses suggested that the disease signatures were highly influenced by sex. Therefore, sex differentially impacted status of systemic inflammation, immune activation and tissue remodeling in children with distinct clinical forms of TB. Regardless of such nuances related to biological sex, MMP-7, CRP and LBP were strong discriminators of active TB and thus could be considered as biomarkers useful in discrimination different TB clinical forms. These observations have implications on our understanding of the immunopathology of both clinical forms of TB in pediatric patients. If validated by other studies in the future, the combination of identified biomarkers may help development of point-of-care diagnostic or prognostic tools.

Variations in plantar pressure and balance in HIV-infected children in antiretroviral therapy.

Balance disorders have been poorly investigated and somewhat neglected in people infected with the human immunodeficiency virus, especially in children, whose have intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors that may compromise the balance. To evaluate the foot plantar pressures and the balance in children with acquired immunodeficiency. We recruited 53 children aged between 6 and 15 years: 33 healthy children, and 20 children with positive serology for the human immunodeficiency virus. A physical examination included anthropometric, reflexes, tactile sensitivity of the foot and orthopedic evaluation. We also collected data of them using Pediatric Equilibrium Scale, baropodometry, and stabilometry. We considered significance level of 0.05 for statistics. Both groups were aged-, sex-matched and similar body mass index and scores of the Pediatric Equilibrium Scale. Three infected children had altered tactile sensitivity, and none had orthopedic or reflex alteration. Infected children had higher mean plantar pressure in the hindfoot than of the control group (p = 0.02). There was higher maximum plantar pressure in the hindfoot of the infected children than of the controls (p = 0.04). Controls had lower maximum plantar pressure in the forefoot than the infected children (p = 0.04). Infected children had larger displacement of the center of pressure (p = 0.006), larger mean velocity of displacement (p = 0.006), and longer duration between successive peaks of displacement than the controls (p = 0.02). Children living with the human immunodeficiency virus discharges great plantar pressures in the hindfoot and to present balance disturbances in the absence of neurological symptomatology.

In situ inflammasome activation results in severe damage to the central nervous system in fatal Zika virus microcephaly cases.

Zika virus (ZIKV) has caused substantial concern worldwide owing to its association with severe birth defects, such as microcephaly and other congenital malformations. Inflammasomes, i.e., multi-protein complexes that induce inflammation and pyroptosis, are predicted to contribute to the immune response to this flavivirus. Accordingly, in this study, the in situ inflammasome response was evaluated in fatal cases of ZIKV-linked microcephaly. Brain tissue samples were collected from eight babies, including four ZIKV-positive microcephalic neonates who died after birth and four flavivirus-negative neonatal controls who died of other causes and whose central nervous system (CNS) architecture was preserved. In the ZIKV-positive newborn/stillbirth babies, the major histopathological alterations included atrophy of the cortical layer, a predominance of mononuclear cell infiltration in the Virchow-Robin space, neuronal necrosis, vacuolization and neuronal degeneration, neuronophagy, and gliosis. An immunohistochemical analysis of tissues in the neural parenchyma showed significantly higher expression of the receptors NLRP1, NLRP3, and AIM2, cytokines IL-1ß, IL-18, and IL-33, and enzymes caspase 1, iNOS, and arginase 1 in ZIKV-positive microcephaly cases than in flavivirus-negative controls. These results suggest that inflammasome activation can aggravate the neuroinflammatory response and consequently increase CNS damage in neonates with fetal neural ZIKV infection and microcephaly.