Lessons from the Cerebrospinal Fluid Analysis of HTLV-1-Infected Individuals: Biomarkers of Inflammation for HAM/TSP Development.

HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to motor impairment due to a chronic inflammatory process in the central nervous system (CNS). However, the HAM/TSP pathogenesis is not completely clear, and biomarkers to define the disease prognosis are still necessary. Thus, we aimed to identify biomarkers for HAM/TSP and potential mechanisms involved in disease development. To that end, the concentrations of VILIP-1, BDNF, VEGF, ß-NGF, TGF-ß1, fractalkine/CX3CL1, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α, and the soluble forms of TREM-1, TREM-2, and RAGE, were assessed using a multiplex bead-based immunoassay in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from HAM/TSP patients (n = 20), asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers (AC) (n = 13), and HTLV-1-seronegative individuals (n = 9), with the results analyzed according to the speed of HAM/TSP progression. HAM/TSP patients had elevated fractalkine in the serum but not in the CSF, particularly those with low neuroinflammatory activity (CSF/serum ratio of neopterin <1 and of CXCL10 < 2). HAM/TSP patients with normal CSF levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL) showed elevated ß-NGF in serum, and serum BDNF levels were increased in HTLV-1-infected individuals, particularly in HTLV-1 AC. Both HTLV-1 AC and HAM/TSP patients had lower TGF-ß1 levels in CSF compared to uninfected individuals, and HAM/TSP patients with active CNS inflammation showed higher CSF levels of IL-18, which correlated with markers of inflammation, neuronal death, and blood−brain-barrier permeability. Although none of the factors evaluated were associated with the speed of HAM/TSP progression, reduced TGF-ß1 levels in CSF suggest that suppressive responses to control subclinical and/or active neurodegeneration are impaired, while increased CSF IL-18 indicates the involvement of inflammasome-mediated mechanisms in HAM/TSP development.

Following the Clues: Usefulness of Biomarkers of Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration in the Investigation of HTLV-1-Associated Myelopathy Progression.

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a neurodegenerative disease due to axonal damage of the corticospinal secondary to an inflammatory response against infected T-cells. In the present work, we aimed to evaluate biomarkers of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in the definition of HAM/TSP prognosis. Neurofilament light (NfL) and phosphorylated heavy (pNfH) chains, total Tau protein, cellular prion protein (PrPc), inflammatory chemokines, and neopterin were quantified in paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum samples from HAM/TSP patients (n=21), HTLV-1 asymptomatic carriers (AC) (n=13), and HTLV-1 seronegative individuals with non-inflammatory non-degenerative neurological disease (normal-pressure hydrocephalus) (n=9) as a control group. HTLV-1 proviral load in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the expression of chemokine receptors CCR4, CCR5, and CXCR3 in infected CD4+ T-cells (HTLV-1 Tax+ cells) were also assessed. CSF levels of Tau, NfL, and pNfH were similar between groups, but PrPc and neopterin were elevated in HAM/TSP patients. Most individuals in the control group and all HTLV-1 AC had CSF/serum neopterin ratio < 1.0, and two-thirds of HAM/TSP patients had ratio values > 1.0, which positively correlated with the speed of disease progression and pNfH levels, indicating active neuroinflammation. HAM/TSP patients showed high serum levels of CXCR3-binding chemokines (CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11) and elevated CSF levels of CCL2, CCL3, CCL4, CCL17, CXCL5, CXCL10, and CXCL11. Indeed, CXCL10 concentration in CSF of HAM/TSP patients was 5.8-fold and 8.7-fold higher in than in HTLV-1 AC and controls, respectively, and correlated with CSF cell counts. HAM/TSP patients with typical/rapid disease progression had CSF/serum CXCL10 ratio > 1.0 and a higher frequency of CXCR3+Tax+CD4+ T-cells in blood, which indicated a positive gradient for the migration of infected cells and infiltration into the central nervous system. In conclusion, the slow progression of HAM/TSP abrogates the usefulness of biomarkers of neuronal injury for the disease prognosis. Thus, markers of inflammation provide stronger evidence for HAM/TSP progression, particularly the CSF/serum neopterin ratio, which may contribute to overcome differences between laboratory assays.

Análise do tempo de retirada do respirador artificial no paciente submetido a traqueostomia precoce e após sete dias de ventilação mecânica invasiva / Análisis del tiempo de retiro del ventilador mecánico en pacientes sometidos a traqueotomía temprana y después de siete días de ventilación mecánica invasiva / Analysis of removal time of artificial ventilator in patients submitted to early tracheostomy, after seven days of invasive mechanical ventilation

RESUMO A realização da traqueostomia precoce pode reduzir o tempo de ventilação do paciente, facilitando o desmame da prótese ventilatória. Além disso, reduz os custos de internação. Este estudo tem como objetivo analisar o tempo de retirada do respirador no paciente traquestomizado precocemente após sete dias de ventilação. Trata-se de pesquisa documental, retrospectiva, de carácter descritivo, sendo a coleta de dados realizada nos documentos de indicadores hospitalares de unidade de terapia intensiva de um hospital da Zona da Mata mineira. Foram coletados dados de 50 pacientes que obtiveram sucesso e preencheram os critérios de desmame da ventilação mecânica, entre homens e mulheres, com média de idade de 56,6 anos. Para análise estatística, os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: grupo precoce, de pacientes que realizaram traqueostomia com menos de sete dias de intubação orotraqueal; e grupo tardio, de pacientes que permaneceram por mais de sete dias com tubo orotraqueal até a realização da traqueostomia. Obtivemos um resultado significativo (p=0,04) quanto aos dias em ventilação mecânica após a realização de traqueostomia, demonstrando que nos pacientes com traqueostomia precoce houve menos dias em ventilação mecânica invasiva do que nos pacientes com traqueostomia tardia. Foi constatado um resultado significativamente menor do tempo de ventilação dos pacientes traquestomizados precocemente quando comparados com a traqueostomia tardia. Ensaios clínicos randomizados de alta qualidade são necessários para avaliar melhor as possíveis diferenças da retirada da ventilação mecânica entre pacientes traqueostomizados.

RESUMEN La realización de traqueotomía temprana puede reducir el tiempo de ventilación del paciente, facilitando la desconexión del soporte ventilatorio. Además, reduce los costes de hospitalización. Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar el tiempo de retiro del ventilador en los pacientes traqueostomizados tempranamente después de siete días de soporte ventilatorio. Se trata de una investigación documental, retrospectiva, descriptiva, que recopiló los datos de documentos hospitalarios de la unidad de cuidados intensivos de un hospital en Zona da Mata en Minas Gerais (Brasil). Se recogieron datos de 50 pacientes, entre hombres y mujeres con promedio de edad de 56,6 años, que tuvieron éxito y cumplieron los criterios para la desconexión del ventilador mecánico. Para el análisis estadístico, se dividieron a los pacientes en dos grupos: Grupo temprano, pacientes que se sometieron a traqueotomía con menos de siete días de intubación orotraqueal; y Grupo tardío, pacientes que permanecieron más de siete días con un tubo orotraqueal hasta la realización de la traqueotomía. Hubo un resultado significativo (p=0,04) con respecto a los días de ventilación mecánica tras la realización de traqueotomía, lo que demuestra que los pacientes con traqueotomía temprana pasaron menos días con ventilador mecánico invasivo que los pacientes con traqueotomía tardía. Se encontró un resultado significativamente menor del tiempo de ventilación de los pacientes con traqueostomía temprana en comparación a los pacientes con traqueotomía tardía. Se necesitan ensayos clínicos aleatorios de alta calidad para evaluar mejor las posibles diferencias en el retiro del ventilador mecánico entre los pacientes traqueostomizados.

ABSTRACT Early tracheostomy can reduce patient ventilation time, facilitating the weaning process and reducing hospitalization costs. This study analyzes the removal time of ventilators in patients submitted to early tracheostomy, after seven days of ventilation. This is a documentary, retrospective, and descriptive research. Data were collected from documents with hospital indicators of an intensive care unit in the Zona da Mata region in Minas Gerais. Data consisted of 50 patients who were successful in the weaning of mechanical ventilation and met the study criteria. They were both men and women, with a mean age of 56.6 years. For statistical analysis, the patients were divided into two groups: an early group - patients who underwent tracheostomy with less than seven days of orotracheal intubation; and a late group - patients who remained for more than seven days with orotracheal tube before tracheostomy. We obtained a significant result (p=0.04) regarding the days on mechanical ventilation after tracheostomy, demonstrating that patients with early tracheostomy remained fewer days on invasive mechanical ventilation than patients with late tracheostomy. A significantly lower result of ventilation time was observed in patients submitted to early compared with late tracheostomy. High-quality randomized clinical trials are needed to better evaluate the possible differences in mechanical ventilation withdrawal among tracheostomized patients.

Frequency of serovars and antimicrobial resistance in Shigella spp. from Brazil.

A total of 296 Shigella spp. were received from State Public Health Laboratories, during the period from 1999 to 2004, by National Reference Laboratory for Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NRLCED)--IOC/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The frequency of Shigella spp. was: S. flexneri (52.7%), S. sonnei (44.2%), S. boydii (2.3%), and S. dysenteriae (0.6%). The most frequent S. flexneri serovars were 2a and 1b. The highest incidence rates of Shigella isolation were observed in the Southeast (39%) and Northeast (34%) regions and the lowest rate in the South (3%) of Brazil. Strains were further analyzed for antimicrobial susceptibility by disk diffusion method as part of a surveillance program on antimicrobial resistance. The highest rates of antimicrobial resistance were to trimethoprim-sulfamethozaxole (90%), tetracycline (88%), ampicillin (56%), and chloramphenicol (35%). The patterns of antimicrobial resistance among Shigella isolates pose a major difficulty in the determination of an appropriate drug for shigellosis treatment. Continuous monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibilities of Shigella spp. through a surveillance system is thus essential for effective therapy and control measures against shigellosis.

Indicadores da qualidade em enfermagem na síndrome coronariana aguda / Nursing quality indicators in the acute coronary syndrome

Indicadores da qualidade em enfermagem na sídrome coronariana aguda constitui o tema do presente estudo de natureza qualitativa. Como objetivos apresentou: identificar e descrever os principais procedimentos realizados pelas Enfermeiras da Unidade Coronariana (UCOR) relativos aos cuidados prestados ao cliente com Síndrome Coronariana Aguda, submetido a Angioplastia Transluminal Coronariana e; elaborar indicadores de enfermagem que permitam medir e avaliar a qualidade dos cuidados prestados pelas Enfermeiras da UCOR a esse cliente...

Frequency of serovars and antimicrobial resistance in Shigella spp. from Brazil

A total of 296 Shigella spp. were received from State Public Health Laboratories, during the period from 1999 to 2004, by National Reference Laboratory for Cholera and Enteric Diseases (NRLCED) - IOC/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The frequency of Shigella spp. was: S. flexneri (52.7 percent), S. sonnei (44.2 percent), S. boydii (2.3 percent), and S. dysenteriae (0.6 percent). The most frequent S. flexneri serovars were 2a and 1b. The highest incidence rates of Shigella isolation were observed in the Southeast (39 percent) and Northeast (34 percent) regions and the lowest rate in the South (3 percent) of Brazil. Strains were further analyzed for antimicrobial susceptibility by disk diffusion method as part of a surveillance program on antimicrobial resistance. The highest rates of antimicrobial resistance were to trimethoprim-sulfamethozaxole (90 percent), tetracycline (88 percent), ampicillin (56 percent), and chloramphenicol (35 percent). The patterns of antimicrobial resistance among Shigella isolates pose a major difficulty in the determination of an appropriate drug for shigellosis treatment. Continuous monitoring of antimicrobial susceptibilities of Shigella spp. through a surveillance system is thus essential for effective therapy and control measures against shigellosis.

Células-tronco: um novo caminho para a humanidade e um novo cuidado para os enfermeiros-um estudo de caso / Stemcell therapy for cardiolgy: a new path to humanity and a new care for nurses-a case report

Durante o atendimento realizado a pacientes portadores de Infarto Agudo do Miocárdio (IAM), percebemos a complexidade de sua patologia. Atualmente com a utilização da terapia celular houve uma nova esperança para pacientes com este diagnóstico. Assim realizamos este estudo para aprimorarmos nossos conhecimentos, enquanto enfermeiros, à referida terapia e seus supostos benefícios.Trata-se do relato de caso de um paciente admitido em uma Unidade Coronariana(UCOR) com diagnóstico de Infarto Agudo do Miocárdio (IAM) anterior extenso e sua inclusão no protocolo para manipulação de Células Tronco (CT) de medula óssea (MO). O enfermeiro tem papel fundamental no atendimento deste paciente, esclarecendo suas dúvidas, atendendo expectativas, além de manter participação ativa nos procedimentos intra-hospitalares. A coleta de dados traduziu-se em pesquisa em prontuário e observação da evolução clinica. Durante todo este processo priorizamos as ações do nosso cuidado tentando avaliar as necessidades apresentadas pelo paciente.

During the process of care of patients who suffered acute myocardial infarction we observed how complex is this disease. Nowadays, stemcell therapy opens a new horizon and hope for these patients. We conducted this study to improve our knowledge as nurses in face of this new therapeutic model. This study is a case report of a patient who suffered an anterior acute myocardial infarction and was admitted in a coronary care unit and enrolled in stemcell transplantation study protocol. The nurse has a fundamental role in the process of care during the hospitalization period clarifying the patient's doubts and perspectives. The data was collected in patient's record.During the patient length of stay we emphasized our nursing care based on his individual value.