Effects of Kinesio tape on vascularity, pliability and height of the hypertrophic scar in burns patients: a randomized pilot clinical trial.

Deep burns damage the reticular dermis and may lead to the formation of hypertrophic scars. Compression therapy reduces local vascularity and realigns collagen fibers, resulting in esthetic and functional improvements. This study evaluated the effect of Kinesio tape compression with maximum mechanical tension on vascularity, pliability and the height of hypertrophic scars following deep burns. A single blind, randomized pilot clinical trial was carried out. The elastic compression of Kinesio tape was applied at maximum stretch in the intervention group (n=11) and no stretch in the sham group (n=11). Vascularity, pliability and height (the primary outcomes) were evaluated at 0, 45 and 90 days using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS). The association between the VSS scores, the intervention and the evaluation moment were analyzed using linear mixed-effects regression models, while comparisons of means between the groups were performed using the t Student test was. Significance was set at 5%. The mean VSS scores were similar between the groups. Significant improvement occurred in both groups when post-treatment and baseline scores were compared. No further improvement was found in the vascularity, pliability or height of hypertrophic scars resulting from deep burns when an elastic compression of Kinesio tape was used at maximum tension compared to lesser mechanical tension.

Development of PCR-Multiplex Assays for Identification of the Herpotrichiellaceae Family and Agents Causing Chromoblastomycosis.

The Herpotrichiellaceae family is an important group of dematiaceous filamentous fungi, associated with a variety of pathogenic fungal species causing chromoblastomycosis (CBM) and phaeohyphomycosis (PHM), both with polymorphic clinical manifestations and worldwide incidence. Currently, the identification of this family and determination of the causative agent is challenging due to the subjectivity of morphological identification methods, necessitating the use of molecular techniques to complement diagnosis. In this context, genetic sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) has become the norm due to a lack of alternative molecular tools for identifying these agents. Therefore, this study aimed to develop PCR-Multiplex methodologies to address this gap. Sequences from the ITS and Large Subunit (LSU) of ribosomal DNA were used, and after manual curation and in vitro analyses, primers were synthesized for the identification of the targets. The primers were optimized and validated in vitro, resulting in two PCR-Multiplex methodologies: one for identifying the Herpotrichiellaceae family and the bantiana clade, and another for determining the species Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Fonsecaea monophora. Ultimately, the assays developed in this study aim to complement other identification approaches for these agents, reducing the need for sequencing, improving the management of these infections, and enhancing the accuracy of epidemiological information.

Epidemiological characterization of oral focal epithelial hyperplasia in brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans).

BACKGROUND: Oral focal epithelial hyperplasia (FEH) is an uncommon infection affecting humans, chimpanzees, bonobos, and howler monkeys. This study describes 10 cases of free-ranging brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans) diagnosed with FEH and Alouatta guariba Papillomavirus 1 (AgPV 1). METHODS: We analyzed demographic characteristics, rescue conditions, clinical and pathological findings, and species-specific behavior factors in these cases. The study assessed the frequency of occurrence and potential contributing factors of FEH and AgPV 1 infection. RESULTS: The frequency of FEH was 8.13%. Most affected howlers were adult or geriatric males with comorbidities or stressful conditions. Clinical and pathological observations were consistent with AgPV 1 infection. Species-specific behaviors and environmental stressors were identified as contributing factors. CONCLUSIONS: FEH associated with AgPV 1 affected mainly adult or geriatric males with ongoing comorbidities or stressful conditions. Further research is needed to understand these factors for effective management.

Hepatic endotheliitis in Golden Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Hepatic injuries in COVID-19 are not yet fully understood and indirect pathways (without viral replication in the liver) have been associated with the activation of vascular mechanisms of liver injury in humans infected with SARS-CoV-2. Golden Syrian hamsters are an effective model for experimental reproduction of moderate and self-limiting lung disease during SARS-CoV-2 infection. As observed in humans, this experimental model reproduces lesions of bronchointerstitial pneumonia and pulmonary vascular lesions, including endotheliitis (attachment of lymphoid cells to the luminal surface of endothelium). Extrapulmonary vascular lesions are well documented in COVID-19, but such extrapulmonary vascular lesions have not yet been described in the Golden Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study aimed to evaluate microscopic liver lesions in Golden Syrian hamsters experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2. In total, 38 conventional Golden Syrian hamsters, divided into infected group (n=24) and mock-infected group (n=14), were euthanized at 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 7-, 14-, and 15-days post infection with SARS-CoV-2. Liver fragments were evaluated by histopathology and immunohistochemical detection of SARS-CoV-2 Spike S2 antigens. The frequencies of portal vein endotheliitis, lobular activity, hepatocellular degeneration, and lobular vascular changes were higher among SARS-CoV-2-infected animals. Spike S2 antigen was not detected in liver. The main results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection exacerbated vascular and inflammatory lesions in the liver of hamsters with pre-existing hepatitis of unknown origin. A potential application of this animal model in studies of the pathogenesis and evolution of liver lesions associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection still needs further evaluation.

Evaluation of ovarian reserve in women with thyroid autoimmunity.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the ovarian reserve of women of reproductive age with and without thyroid autoimmunity (TAI). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of medical records from an assisted reproduction clinic from February 2017 to December 2021. Women aged between18 and 47 years with data on antithyroperoxidase and antithyroglobulin (anti-Tg) antibodies and assessment of ovarian reserve by anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC) were included. Among the 188 participants included, 63 were diagnosed with TAI, and 125 had both antibodies negative. AMH and AFC were compared between groups. Subanalysis based on age, types of antibodies, and thyroid function markers were performed. In addition, bivariate analysis and regression models were used. RESULTS: Overall, there was no difference in the median levels of AMH or AFC between the two groups. However, in the subgroup analysis by age, we observed a trend towards lower median levels of AMH in women over 39 years with TAI (0.9 ng/mL vs. 1.5 ng/mL, p=0.08). In a subanalysis according to antibodies, we found a significantly lower median AFC in the group with anti-Tg than in the group without this antibody (8.0 follicles vs. 11.5 follicles, p=0.036). We also found a significantly higher prevalence of anti-Tg in patients with low ovarian reserve compared to those with normal reserve (60.7% vs. 39.3%, p=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: The ovarian reserve of women with TAI appears to be insidiously compromised over the years, with a decreased ovarian reserve in women with anti-Tg.

Effects of different training models and subsequent exercise cessation on adipose tissue and associated variables.

BACKGROUND: The General Adaptation Syndrome and the supercompensation Model are concepts widely applied in exercise science. Considering that fat is essential for tissue and the main energy source during continuous moderate-intensity exercise (MICE), the hypothesis arises that this type of effort may pay off after a detraining period. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate how different exercise models, followed by a period of detraining, affected adipose tissue cellularity in adult rats. Two specific models were examined: moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) and high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an experimental study in which rats were allocated into three groups: i) Continuous moderate-intensity exercise (MICE); ii) High-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIT); and iii) Control group (GC). Data were collected in three moments, namely: baseline values (T1), after which the animals exercised on a treadmill for eight weeks (T2) and then were followed up for four weeks after interruption of physical exercise (T3). For statistical analysis, a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed, with Tukey's post-hoc for the group (GC, MICE, or HIIT) and Bonferroni's for the moment (T1, T2 and T3). RESULTS: Regarding the periepididymal mass, GC showed an increase of 45% in T3 compared to T2. The HIIT and MICE groups had lower T3 values when compared to the CG. Comparing groups relative to the delta variation between T2 and T3 showed a difference in periepididymal mass (p = 0.012), with HIIT showing lower values than CG (p = 0.009). Analysis of the number of periepididymal adipocytes showed that HIIT (p < 0.001) and GC (p = 0.003) captured smaller numbers of cells than MICE. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our findings demonstrated positive effects of both interventions (HIIT and MICE) in the control of periepididymal adipose tissue mass of adult rats after 4 weeks of exercise interruption, with less mass gain in HIIT. More adipocytes were observed in MICE compared to HIIT and GC. These results suggest that both exercise models helped control fat accumulation, even after detraining.

Association between maternal and perinatal outcomes and histological changes in the placenta of patients with Covid-19: A cohort study.

Although studies evaluated placental involvement in Covid-19 patients, few have assessed its association with clinical repercussions. The study aimed to determine the association between the clinical status and maternal and perinatal outcomes of patients with Covid-19 at delivery and changes in placental histology. It is so far the largest cohort evaluating placentas of patients infected by the SARS-CoV-2. A secondary analysis was conducted of a database from which a cohort of 226 patients, who tested real-time polymerase chain reaction-positive for Covid-19 at delivery and whose placentas were collected and submitted to pathology, was selected for inclusion. One or more types of histological changes were detected in 44.7% of the 226 placentas evaluated. The most common abnormalities were maternal vascular malperfusion (38%), evidence of inflammation/infection (9.3%), fetal vascular malperfusion (0.8%), fibrinoid changes and intervillous thrombi (0.4%). Oxygen use (P = .01) and need for admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) (P = .04) were less common in patients with placental findings, and hospital stay was shorter in these patients (P = .04). There were more fetal deaths among patients with evidence of inflammation/infection (P = .02). Fetal death, albeit uncommon, is associated with findings of inflammation/infection. Oxygen use and need for admission to an ICU were less common among patients with placental findings, probably due to the pregnancy being interrupted early. None of the other findings was associated with maternal clinical status or with adverse perinatal outcome.

Genomic characterization of a novel Hepatovirus identified in Maranhão state, Brazil.

Bats are efficient reservoirs of a number of viruses with zoonotic potential, and are involved directly in the transmission cycle of many zoonoses. In the present study, which is part of a larger project that is documenting the viromes of the bat species found in the Mid-North states of Maranhão and Piauí, we analyzed 16 pooled samples obtained from four species of bat of the genus Artibeus-Artibeus obscurus, Artibeus cinereus, Artibeus lituratus and Artibeus planirostris. We describe and identify a Hepatovirus, denominated Hepatovirus H isolate sotense, which was found in a pool of internal organs (liver and lungs) extracted from a specimen of A. planirostris, a frugivorous bat, collected in the Cerrado biome of Maranhão state. This material was analyzed using new generation sequencing, which produced a contig of 7390 nucleotides and presented a degree of identity with a number of existing Hepatovirus sequences available for bats (amino acid identity of 61.5% with Bat hepatovirus C of Miniopterus cf. manavi, 66.6% with Bat hepatovirus G of Coleura afra, 67.4% with Hepatovirus G2 of Rhinolophus landeri, and 75.3% with Hepatovirus H2 of Rhinolophus landeri). The analysis of the functional domains of this contig confirmed a pattern consistent with the characteristics of the genus Hepatovirus (Picornaviridae). In the phylogenetic tree with several other Hepatovirus species, this genome also grouped in a monophyletic clade with Hepatovirus H (HepV-H1; HepV-H2, and HepV-H3) albeit on an external branch, which suggests that it may be a distinct genotype within this species. This is the first isolate of Hepatovirus H identified in bats from South America, and represents an important discovery, given that most studies of viruses associated with bats in the state of Maranhão have focused on the family Rhabdoviridae.

Lymphomas in seabirds: case reports in a black skimmer (Rynchops niger) and a brown booby (Sula leucogaster).

A black skimmer (Rynchops niger) and a brown booby (Sula leucogaster) were rescued and gross, histopathological, immunohistochemical and polymerase chain reaction evaluations were conducted to investigate the cause of death. There were neoplastic infiltrations of CD3+ PAX5- lymphocytes in the black skimmer and CD3- PAX5+ lymphocytes in the brown booby. Molecular assays for viral agents were negative in both cases. This is the first report of disseminated lymphoma as the cause of stranding and death in these species in Brazil.

Identification of Chromoblastomycosis and Phaeohyphomycosis Agents through ITS-RFLP.

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) and phaeohyphomycosis (FEO) are infections caused by melanized filamentous fungal agents, primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions. Both infections pose significant challenges for the correct identification of the causative agent due to their morphological similarity, making conventional methods of morphological analysis highly subjective. Therefore, molecular techniques are necessary for the precise determination of these species. In this regard, this study aimed to contribute to a new methodology based on PCR-RFLP for the identification of agents causing CBM and FEO. Sequences from the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region were used to identify potential restriction enzyme sites in silico, followed by in vitro validation using the selected restriction enzymes. The obtained results were compared with species identification through morphological analyses and sequencing. The results demonstrated that the PCR-RFLP applied in this study accurately identified two major agents of chromoblastomycosis, Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Fonsecaea monophora, as well as Cladophialophora bantiana and Exophiala dermatitidis, both causative agents of phaeohyphomycosis. In this context, the proposed assay can complement current methods for identifying these species, aiding in diagnosis, and contributing to the proper management of these infections.

Mediastinal T-cell lymphoma in a free-ranging brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans).

A free-ranging brown howler monkey (Atelidae: Alouatta guariba clamitans) was necropsied and a mediastinal T-cell lymphoma and esophageal dilation were diagnosed. The case report may contribute to the differential diagnosis of neoplastic and esophageal lesions in non-human primates and highlighted the importance of surveillance of cancer in wildlife.

Hepatic endotheliitis in Golden Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2

ABSTRACT Hepatic injuries in COVID-19 are not yet fully understood and indirect pathways (without viral replication in the liver) have been associated with the activation of vascular mechanisms of liver injury in humans infected with SARS-CoV-2. Golden Syrian hamsters are an effective model for experimental reproduction of moderate and self-limiting lung disease during SARS-CoV-2 infection. As observed in humans, this experimental model reproduces lesions of bronchointerstitial pneumonia and pulmonary vascular lesions, including endotheliitis (attachment of lymphoid cells to the luminal surface of endothelium). Extrapulmonary vascular lesions are well documented in COVID-19, but such extrapulmonary vascular lesions have not yet been described in the Golden Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study aimed to evaluate microscopic liver lesions in Golden Syrian hamsters experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2. In total, 38 conventional Golden Syrian hamsters, divided into infected group (n=24) and mock-infected group (n=14), were euthanized at 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, 7-, 14-, and 15-days post infection with SARS-CoV-2. Liver fragments were evaluated by histopathology and immunohistochemical detection of SARS-CoV-2 Spike S2 antigens. The frequencies of portal vein endotheliitis, lobular activity, hepatocellular degeneration, and lobular vascular changes were higher among SARS-CoV-2-infected animals. Spike S2 antigen was not detected in liver. The main results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection exacerbated vascular and inflammatory lesions in the liver of hamsters with pre-existing hepatitis of unknown origin. A potential application of this animal model in studies of the pathogenesis and evolution of liver lesions associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection still needs further evaluation.

Clinical, epidemiological and laboratory characteristics of cases of Covid-19-related maternal near miss and death at referral units in northeastern Brazil: a cohort study.

Objective: Covid-19 poses a major risk during pregnancy and postpartum, resulting in an increase in maternal mortality worldwide, including in Brazil; however, little research has been conducted into cases of a near miss. This study aimed to describe the frequency of COVID-19-related near miss and deaths during pregnancy or in the postpartum in referral centers in northeastern Brazil, as well as the clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory characteristics of the women who experienced a severe maternal outcome.Methods: A retrospective and prospective cohort study was performed between April 2020 and June 2021 with hospitalized pregnant and postpartum women with a diagnosis of COVID-19 confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data from five tertiary hospitals in northeastern Brazil were evaluated. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed using Epi Info, version 7.2.5.0.Results: A total of 463 patients were included. Of these, 64 (14% of the sample) had a severe maternal outcome, with 42 cases of near miss (9%) and 22 maternal deaths (5%). Patients who had a severe maternal outcome were predominantly young (median age 30 years) and 65.6% were black or brown-skinned. The women had between 6 and 16 years of schooling; 45.3% had a stable partner; 81.3% were pregnant at the time of admission to the study; and 76.6% required a Cesarean section. The great majority (82.8%) had severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Other complications included hypertensive syndromes (40.6%), pneumonia (37.5%), urinary tract infections (29.7%), acute renal failure (25.0%) and postpartum hemorrhage (21.9%). Sepsis developed in 18.8% of cases, neurological dysfunction in 15.6%, and hepatic dysfunction and septic shock in 14.1% of cases each. The relative frequency of admission to an intensive care unit was 87.5%, while 67.2% of the patients required assisted mechanical ventilation, and 54.7% required noninvasive ventilation. Antibiotics were prescribed in 93.8% of cases and corticosteroids in 71.9%, while blood transfusion was required in 25.0% of cases and renal replacement therapy in 15.6%. Therapeutic anticoagulants were administered to 12.5% of the patients. Of the patients who had a severe maternal outcome, the frequency of respiratory dysfunction was 93.8%, with 50.0% developing neurological dysfunction and 37.5% cardiovascular dysfunction. Hematological dysfunction was found in 29.7%, renal dysfunction in 18.8%, and uterine dysfunction in 14.1%. Hepatic dysfunction occurred in 7.8% of the sample. The near-miss ratio for Covid-19 was 1.6/1000 live births and the maternal mortality ratio for Covid-19 was 84.8/100,000 live births, with a mortality index of 34.4% in the sample.Conclusion: This study revealed a low Covid-19-related maternal near miss (MNM) ratio of 1.6/1000 live births and a high Covid-19-related maternal mortality ratio (MMR) of 84.81/100,000 live births. The mortality index was also high. Most of the patients were admitted while pregnant, were young, married and black or brown-skinned, and none had completed university education. The majority had SARS and required admission to an intensive care unit and mechanical ventilation. Most were submitted to a Cesarean section.

Endemic High-Risk Clone ST277 Is Related to the Spread of SPM-1-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa during the COVID-19 Pandemic Period in Northern Brazil.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a high-priority bacterial agent that causes healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), which often leads to serious infections and poor prognosis in vulnerable patients. Its increasing resistance to antimicrobials, associated with SPM production, is a case of public health concern. Therefore, this study aims to determine the antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and genotyping features of P. aeruginosa strains producing SPM-1 in the Northern region of Brazil. To determine the presence of virulence and resistance genes, the PCR technique was used. For the susceptibility profile of antimicrobials, the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method was performed on Mueller-Hinton agar. The MLST technique was used to define the ST of the isolates. The exoS+/exoU- virulotype was standard for all strains, with the aprA, lasA, toxA, exoS, exoT, and exoY genes as the most prevalent. All the isolates showed an MDR or XDR profile against the six classes of antimicrobials tested. HRC ST277 played a major role in spreading the SPM-1-producing P. aeruginosa strains.

Cysticercosis in free-ranging agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina) in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon.

The study describes the occurrence of cysticercosis in liver of 22 wild agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina) in the Brazilian Amazon. The phylogenetic analysis and microscopic characteristics of metacestodes in liver tissue sections, associated with the geographic distribution of the intermediate hosts indicated that a possibly novel Taenia sp. metacestode caused the parasitism. Additionally, two cases of hepatic co-infection by Taenia sp., Calodium sp. and Echinococcus oligarthra were also observed among the analyzed animals. The results point to the need for a better understanding of hepatotropic parasites among wild rodents in the Brazilian Amazon.

Seasonal distribution of Calliphoridae and Mesenbrinellidae (Diptera) associated with the decomposition of a clothed animal model in a forest reserve in the Central Amazon.

We evaluated the effects of seasonality on the richness and abundance of dipterans of the families Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae associated with the decomposition of a clothed Large White swine Sus scrofa domesticus(Artiodactyla: Suidae) carcass. Experiments were carried out in less rainy, rainy, and intermediate periods between 2010 and 2011 at Reserva Florestal Ducke, Manaus, Amazonas. Two pig carcasses, each weighing approximately 40 kg, were used in each period. A total of 63,872 individuals of 18 species of Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae were collected. The abundance and richness of these dipteran families were influenced by the interaction between period and decomposition stage. The compositions of the Calliphoridae and Mesembrinellidae assemblages differed among periods, with the fauna of the less rainy period being less similar to those of the intermediate and rainy periods than they were to each other. Three species were selected as indicators for the less rainy period, namely Paralucilia pseudolyrcea (Mello, 1969) (Diptera, Calliphoridae), Paralucilia nigrofacialis (Mello, 1969) (Diptera, Calliphoridae), and Eumesembrinella randa (Walker, 1849) (Diptera,Mesembrinellidae) while Chloroprocta idioidea (Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830) (Dipetra, Calliphoridae) was selected as an indicator species for the rainy period; no taxon was selected as an indicator of the intermediate period. Among decomposition stages, only fermentation and black putrefaction had indicator taxa, with Hemilucilia souzalopesi Mello, 1972 (Diptera, Calliphoridae and Chysomya putoria(Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera, Calliphoridae), respectively. Clothes did not prevent the laying of eggs and became a kind of protection for immature stages. The clothed model presented a delay in decomposition compared to other studies developed in the Amazon region.

Identification and validation of the first EST-SSR markers based on transcriptome of Anopheles darlingi, the primary transmitter of malaria in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Anopheles darlingi is a monotypic species in terms of its morphological, genetic, and behavioral aspects and is the primary transmitter of human malaria (99%) in Brazil, especially in the Brazilian Amazon. In this pioneering study, 15 expressed sequence tag (EST)-simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were obtained and characterized in samples from the municipality of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas state, Brazil, with polymorphisms that can be used for further genetic research. METHODS AND RESULTS: The specimens (from egg to larval stage) collected were bred in the insectary at INPA (National Institute for Amazonian Research). The SSR repeats within the contigs of the A. darlingi EST banks were confirmed on the Vector Base site. DNA was extracted and amplified using polymerase chain reaction and then genotyped. Fifteen polymorphic SSR loci were identified and characterized. The number of alleles totaled 76 and ranged from 2 to 9. The observed heterozygosity varied between 0.026 and 0.769, the expected heterozygosity between 0.025 and 0.776, and the mean polymorphism information content was 0.468. Eight loci showed Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) after Bonferroni correction (P: (5%) ≤ 0.0033). No linkage disequilibrium was found among the loci. CONCLUSIONS: The polymorphic SSRs of the loci have been shown to be efficient for investigation of the variability and genetic population structure of A. darlingi.

Modulation of circulating cytokine production in alcoholic patients infected with Strongyloides stercoralis.

Strongyloidiasis control is associated with a Th2 immune response. However, alcohol ingestion plays an important role in modulating the immune system. The aim of this study is to evaluate the occurrence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in alcoholic patients, the levels of circulating cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-15 and IL-17), and its correlation with modulation of parasitic load in alcoholic individuals infected with S. stercoralis. A total of 336 alcoholic patients, treated at the Alcoholic Care and Treatment Center were included in this study. The cytokine levels were measured by a commercial ELISA in 80 sera divided into four groups with 20 individuals each: alcoholics infected (ASs+) and not infected (ASs-) with S. stercoralis and non-alcoholics infected (NASs+) and not infected (NASs-) with the helminth. S. stercoralis frequency in alcoholic patients was 16.1% (54/336). The parasitic load varied from 1 to 546 larvae/g of faeces, median and interquartile range (IQR) of 9 and 1.0-62.5 larvae/g of faeces, while in non-alcoholic individuals the parasitic load was less than 10 larvae/g of faeces. Levels of circulating IL-4 were significantly higher in ASs+ when compared with NASs- group (p < .05). An inverse correlation between serum levels of IFN-γ and parasitic load in alcoholic patients infected with S. stercoralis was observed (r = -601; p < 0.01). These results suggest that modulation of IFN-γ production occurs in alcoholic individuals with high parasitic burden.

Maternal visceral adiposity and fetal biometry in women with obesity and diabetes

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the correlation of maternal visceral adiposity with sonographic variables related to fetal biometry in the second trimester of pregnancy in mothers who were previously obese versus nonobese and gestational diabetic versus nondiabetic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 583 pregnant women who received prenatal care between October 2011 and September 2013 at the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira, northeast of Brazil. Maternal visceral adiposity was measured by ultrasound examination at the same time as fetal biometry. Gestational age was 14.9±3.2 weeks. The correlation between maternal visceral adiposity and fetal biometric variables was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Among the groups, the correlation coefficients were compared using Fisher's Z-test. This test was also used to evaluate the null hypothesis of correlation coefficients between pairs of variables. RESULTS: Maternal visceral adiposity positively correlated with fetal abdominal circumference, estimated fetal weight, head circumference, femur length, and biparietal diameter in pregnant women with obesity, nonobesity, gestational diabetes, and nondiabetes, but the correlation coefficients were statistically similar among the groups. CONCLUSION: Maternal visceral adiposity positively correlated with fetal biometry in the second trimester of pregnancy in the same manner in pregnant women previously obese and nonobese, as well as in pregnant women with gestational diabetes and nondiabetes.

Maternal visceral adiposity and fetal biometry in women with obesity and diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the correlation of maternal visceral adiposity with sonographic variables related to fetal biometry in the second trimester of pregnancy in mothers who were previously obese versus nonobese and gestational diabetic versus nondiabetic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 583 pregnant women who received prenatal care between October 2011 and September 2013 at the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira, northeast of Brazil. Maternal visceral adiposity was measured by ultrasound examination at the same time as fetal biometry. Gestational age was 14.9±3.2 weeks. The correlation between maternal visceral adiposity and fetal biometric variables was evaluated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Among the groups, the correlation coefficients were compared using Fisher's Z-test. This test was also used to evaluate the null hypothesis of correlation coefficients between pairs of variables. RESULTS: Maternal visceral adiposity positively correlated with fetal abdominal circumference, estimated fetal weight, head circumference, femur length, and biparietal diameter in pregnant women with obesity, nonobesity, gestational diabetes, and nondiabetes, but the correlation coefficients were statistically similar among the groups. CONCLUSION: Maternal visceral adiposity positively correlated with fetal biometry in the second trimester of pregnancy in the same manner in pregnant women previously obese and nonobese, as well as in pregnant women with gestational diabetes and nondiabetes.