High incidence of rhinovirus infection in children with community-acquired pneumonia from a city in the Brazilian pre-Amazon region.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the leading cause of child death worldwide. Viruses are the most common pathogens associated with CAP in children, but their incidence varies greatly. This study investigated the presence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, human rhinovirus (HRV), human metapneumovirus (HMPV), human coronavirus (HCoV-OC43 and HCoV-NL63), and influenza A virus (FluA) in children with CAP and the contributing risk factors. Here, children with acute respiratory infections were screened by pediatrics; and a total of 150 radiographically-confirmed CAP patients (aged 3 months to 10 years) from two clinical centers in Sao Luis, Brazil were recruited. Patient's clinical and epidemiological data were recorded. Nasopharyngeal swab and tracheal aspirate samples were collected to extract viral nucleic acid. RSV, adenovirus, rhinovirus, FluA, HMPV, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-NL63 were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The severe CAP was associated with ages between 3 and 12 months. Viruses were detected in 43% of CAP patients. Rhinovirus infections were the most frequently identified (68%). RSV, adenovirus, FluA, and coinfections were identified in 14%, 14%, 5%, and 15% of children with viral infection, respectively. Rhinovirus was associated with nonsevere CAP (P = .014); RSV, FluA, and coinfections were associated with severe CAP (P < .05). New strategies for prevention and treatment of viral respiratory infections, mainly rhinovirus and RSV infections, are necessary.

A global map of hemispheric influenza vaccine recommendations based on local patterns of viral circulation.

Both the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere annual WHO influenza vaccine recommendations are designed to ensure vaccine delivery before the winter-time peak of viral circulation in each hemisphere. However, influenza seasonal patterns are highly diverse in tropical countries and may be out of phase with the WHO recommendations for their respective hemisphere. We modelled the peak timing of influenza activity for 125 countries using laboratory-based surveillance data from the WHO's FLUNET database and compared it with the influenza hemispheric recommendations in place. Influenza vaccine recommendations for respectively 25% and 39% of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere countries were out of phase with peak influenza circulation in their corresponding hemisphere (62% and 53%, respectively, when the analysis was limited to the 52 countries in the tropical belt). These results indicate that routine influenza immunization efforts should be closely tailored to local patterns of viral circulation, rather than a country's hemispheric position.

Prospective surveillance study of acute respiratory infections, influenza-like illness and seasonal influenza vaccine in a cohort of juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory infections (ARI) are frequent in children and complications can occur in patients with chronic diseases. We evaluated the frequency and impact of ARI and influenza-like illness (ILI) episodes on disease activity, and the immunogenicity and safety of influenza vaccine in a cohort of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients. METHODS: SURVEILLANCE OF RESPIRATORY VIRUSES WAS CONDUCTED IN JIA PATIENTS DURING ARI SEASON (MARCH TO AUGUST) IN TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS: 2007 (61 patients) and 2008 (63 patients). Patients with ARI or ILI had respiratory samples collected for virus detection by real time PCR. In 2008, 44 patients were immunized with influenza vaccine. JIA activity index (ACRPed30) was assessed during both surveillance periods. Influenza hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers were measured before and 30-40 days after vaccination. RESULTS: During the study period 105 ARI episodes were reported and 26.6% of them were ILI. Of 33 samples collected, 60% were positive for at least one virus. Influenza and rhinovirus were the most frequently detected, in 30% of the samples. Of the 50 JIA flares observed, 20% were temporally associated to ARI. Influenza seroprotection rates were higher than 70% (91-100%) for all strains, and seroconversion rates exceeded 40% (74-93%). In general, response to influenza vaccine was not influenced by therapy or disease activity, but patients using anti-TNF alpha drugs presented lower seroconversion to H1N1 strain. No significant differences were found in ACRPed30 after vaccination and no patient reported ILI for 6 months after vaccination. CONCLUSION: ARI episodes are relatively frequent in JIA patients and may have a role triggering JIA flares. Trivalent split influenza vaccine seems to be immunogenic and safe in JIA patients.

Papilomavírus humano (HPV) em mulheres submetidas a rastreamento para câncer de cérvice uterina, Belém - Pará - Brasil / Papillomavirus (HPV) in women screened to servical uterine cancer, Belém - Pará - Brazil

Introdução: o papilomavírus humano (HPV) é reconhecido como o agente causal do câncer de colo uterino. Objetivo: determinar a prevalência de infecção genital por HPV e sua correlação com o resultado do exame citopatológico. Métodos: estudo transversal com 1.021 mulheres de 30 a 45 anos submetidas a rastreamento para câncer de cérvice uterina. As participantes responderam a questionário-padrão e amostras de colo uterino foram encaminhadas para análise citopatológica e para pesquisa de HPV. Resultados: a prevalência de HPV foi de 12,4% sendo de 8,7% nas com citologia negativa e 43,4% nas com citologia alterada, correspondendo a 28,9% nas com ASCUS/AGUS, 60% nas com lesão LSIL, 90% nas com HSIL e 100% nas com carcinoma invasor e com adenocarcinoma in situ. A chance de se detectar HSIL foi cerca de 94 vezes maior nas mulheres infectadas por HPV. Analisando somente as 116 mulheres infectadas e com HPV tipificado, observou-se que a frequência de HPV oncogênico foi de 79,3% (em 71,8% das com citologia negativa e em 91,1% das com citologia com anormalidades), sendo a chance de se detectar anormalidades no exame citopatológico cerca de quatro vezes maior na presença de HPV de alto risco. O HPV 16 foi o tipo mais frequente, detectado em 24,4% das amostras de mulheres com alterações citológicas e em 7,0%das com citologia negativa. Multi-infecção foi detectada em 5,7% das mulheres com anormalidades à citopatologia e em 1,1% das com citologia negativa.Conclusão: o estudo demonstra forte associação entre HPV e anormalidades citológicas.

Introduction: human papillomavirus (HPV) is the agent of cervical uterine cancer. Objective: determine the prevalence of genital infection due to HPV and their correlation with results in the oncotic cytology. Methods: in a cross-sectional study, 1021 women, age 30 to 45 years were enrolled and submitted to cervical cancer screening. All patients answered a standard protocol. Samples of the uterine cervix were sent to citopathological analysis and to identification of HPV. Results: prevalence of HPV was 12.4%; in women with normal cervical cytology the prevalence of HPV was 8,7% compared to 43,4% in women with altered cervical cytology (28.9% among women with ASCUS/AGUS; 60.0% among women with LSIL; 90.0% among women with HSIL and 100.0%both in women with invasive carcinoma and in situ adenocarcinoma). Chance of detection of HSIL was 94 times higher in women who had HPV in theuterine cervix. A separate analysis including only the 116 HPV infected women revealed that HPV oncogenic types corresponded to 79.3% of the cases(71.8% in women with negative cervical cytology and 91.1% in women with altered cervical cytology). The frequency of oncogenic HPV types in 116 women infected with HPV was 79.3% [71.8% in women with negative citology and 91.1% in women with abnormalities in the citology exam). The odds to detect abnormalities in the citopatology exam was four times greater in the presence of HPV of high risk. HPV 16 was the most frequent type observed(24.4% of women with abnormal cytology and in 7,0% of those with negative cytology). Multiinfection was detected in 5.7% of women with abnormal cytology and in 1.1% with negative cytology. Conclusion: in this study, HPV infection and abnormal cytological findings in the uterine cervix were frequently observed and there was an association between them.

Pesquisa de anticorpos para o virus da AIDS em parturientes com vida sexual promíscua na área de Belém: estudo piloto / Research of antibodies for AIDS's viruses in parturient with promiscuos sexual life in the area of Belém

Estudaram-se 63 parturientes (entre 800 selecionadas) com história de vida sexual promíscua, quanto a presença de anticorpos para o vírus da AIDS. Utilizando-se método imunoenzimático competitivo ("Wellcozyme ant-HTL III")näo se detectaram amostras de soro positivo no grupo sob estudo. Soros do cordäo umbilical dos recém-natos, embora sistematicamente colhidos, näo foram testados face a total negatividade observada nos espécimes maternos