Bodyweight and Combined Training Reduce Chronic Low-Grade Inflammation and Improve Functional Fitness of Postmenopausal Women.

Exercise is an important tool against the deleterious effects of aging. Among the possibilities of exercise, bodyweight training (BWT) has been highlighted in the last years as a safe option to improve the health of older people. We compared the effects of 24 weeks of BWT and combined training (CT) on low-grade systematic inflammation and functional fitness in postmenopausal women. For this, 40 women were allocated and submitted to CT (n = 20, 64.43 ± 3.13 years, 29.56 ± 4.80 kg/m²) and BWT (n = 20, 65.10 ± 4.86 years, 28.76 ± 4.26 kg/m²). We measured inflammation by the interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) assessments. For functional fitness, we used tests similar to activities of daily living. At the end of the 16 weeks, data from 24 women were analyzed, CT (n = 14) and BT (n = 10). Both groups reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels, without differences in IL-10. Regarding functional fitness, both groups demonstrated improvements in all tests after 24 weeks, except for rise from prone position and the 400-meter walk test for CT. In summary, CT and BWT are effective in reducing the plasma concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines and improving functional fitness in postmenopausal women.

Oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in patients with COVID-19: Potential role of RAGE, HMGB1, GFAP and COX-2 in disease severity.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to the abnormal induction of cytokines and a dysregulated hyperinflammatory state that is implicated in disease severity and risk of death. There are several molecules present in blood associated with immune cellular response, inflammation, and oxidative stress that could be used as severity markers in respiratory viral infections such as COVID-19. However, there is a lack of clinical studies evaluating the role of oxidative stress-related molecules including glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) and cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) in COVID-19 pathogenesis. AIM: To evaluate the role of oxidative stress-related molecules in COVID-19. METHOD: An observational study with 93 Brazilian participants from September 2020 to April 2021, comprising 23 patients with COVID-19 admitted to intensive care unit (ICU), 19 outpatients with COVID-19 with mild to moderate symptoms, 17 individuals reporting a COVID-19 history, and 34 healthy controls. Blood samples were taken from all participants and western blot assay was used to determine the RAGE, HMGB1, GFAP, and COX-2 immunocontent. RESULTS: We found that GFAP levels were higher in patients with severe or critical COVID-19 compared to outpatients (p = 0.030) and controls (p < 0.001). A significant increase in immunocontents of RAGE (p < 0.001) and HMGB1 (p < 0.001) were also found among patients admitted to the ICU compared to healthy controls, as well as an overexpression of the inducible COX-2 (p < 0.001). In addition, we found a moderate to strong correlation between RAGE, GFAP and HMGB1 proteins. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection induces the upregulation of GFAP, RAGE, HMGB1, and COX-2 in patients with the most severe forms of COVID-19.

Spatial and spatiotemporal dynamics of visceral leishmaniasis in an endemic North-eastern region of Brazil.

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a neglected disease with increasing incidence in Brazil, particularly in the North-eastern. The aim of this study was to analyze the spatial and spatiotemporal dynamics of VL in an endemic region of North-eastern Brazil, between 2009 and 2017. Using spatial analysis techniques, an ecological and time series study was made regarding VL cases in Sergipe filed as notifiable disease events. With data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, IBGE), a digital population and cartographic baseline was established. Segmented linear regression was used to examine the temporal trends. The statistical analysis methods of Global and Local Moran' I, local Bayesian empirical methodology and spatial-temporal scanning were used to produce thematic maps. High instances were found among adults, males, urban residents, non-Whites and persons with low levels of education. A decrease in the recovery rate and an increase in the proportion of urban cases and lethality was found. A heterogeneous VL distribution with spatiotemporal agglomeration on the seaside of the state was seen in Sergipe. To better manage the disease, new research is encouraged together with development of public health strategies. Further, improving health care networks, especially primary care, is suggested as this approach has a key role in health promotion, prevention and monitoring of the most prevalent diseases.

Family COVID-19 cluster analysis of an infant without respiratory symptoms.

Diagnosing cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with only non-respiratory symptoms has been challenging. We reported the diagnosis of a child who tested positive for COVID-19 with abdominal pain/diarrhea and tracked his family cluster. One member of the family tested positive for COVID-19 on real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay and three other family members had anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Family COVID-19 cluster analysis of an infant without respiratory symptoms

Abstract Diagnosing cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) with only non-respiratory symptoms has been challenging. We reported the diagnosis of a child who tested positive for COVID-19 with abdominal pain/diarrhea and tracked his family cluster. One member of the family tested positive for COVID-19 on real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction assay and three other family members had anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.

Micronutrients influencing the immune response in leprosy / Micronutrientes que influyen en la respuesta immune en la lepra

La lepra es una enfermedad infecciosa crónica causada por el Mycobacterium leprae, un bacilo intracelular de transmisión aérea. La enfermedad afecta la piel y los nervios periféricos y causa secuelas neurológicas. El bacilo se multiplica lentamente en el hospedador y posiblemente la enfermedad ocurre por el mal funcionamiento de la respuesta inmunitaria del hospedador. Esta revisión aborda el papel de algunos micronutrientes específicos en la respuesta inmunitaria, tales como las vitaminas A, D, E, C, el cinc y el selenio, detallando sus mecanismos de acción en las enfermedades infecciosas y en la lepra. La respuesta inmunitaria a los patógenos libera sustancias nocivas que producen lesión tisular. Esta revisión también aborda cómo una menor cantidad de antioxidantes puede contribuir a un aumento del estrés oxidativo y a complicaciones de las enfermedades infecciosas y la lepra. Puesto que los micronutrientes poseen un efecto regulador de la respuesta inmunitaria innata y adaptativa, es importante un equilibrio perfecto de sus concentraciones para mejorar la respuesta inmunitaria frente a los patógenos (AU)

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an intracellular bacillus of airborne transmission. The disease affects the skin and peripheral nerves and can cause neurological sequelae. The bacillusmultiplies slowly in the host and the disease probably occurs due to malfunctioning in host immune response. This review addresses the role of some specific micronutrients in the immune response, such as Vitamins A, D, E, C, Zinc and Selenium, detailing their mechanisms of actions in infectious diseases, and in leprosy. The immune response to pathogens releases harmful substances, which lead to tissue damage. This review discusses how a decreased level of antioxidants may contribute to an increased oxidative stress and complications of infectious diseases and leprosy. As the nutrients have a regulatory effect in the innate and adaptative immune responses, a perfect balance in their concentrations is important to improve the immune response against the pathogens (AU)

Papel da saliva do Lutzomyia intermedia na infecção por Leismania braziliensis: desenvolvimento de vacinas para Leishmaniose Tegumentar / Role of saliva of Lutzomyia intermedia infection Leismania braziliensis: development of vaccines for leishmaniasis

Papel da saliva do Lutzomyia intermedia na infecção por Leishmania braziliensis: desenvolvimento de vacinas para Leishmaniose Tegumentar. A saliva de flebotomíneos tem uma série de componentes farmacológicos e imunomoduladores, e a imunidade à saliva protege contra a infecção por Leishmania. Neste trabalho, se estudou a resposta immune contra a saliva de Lutzomyia intermedia, o principal vetor da Leishmania braziliensis no Brasil, e os efeitos da pré-exposição à saliva na infecção por L. braziliensis. Foi avaliada a resposta imune a distintas proteínas da saliva de L. intermedia, as quais produziram desfechos contrastantes na infecção por L. braziliensis. Camundongos BALB/c imunizados com o sonicado de glândula salivar (SGS) de L. intermedia desenvolveram anticorpos IgG 1 contra saliva e uma resposta celular com a produção das citocinas IFN-y e IL-4. O infiltrado inflamatório nos animais imunizados com SGS foi composto por muitas células polimofonucleares e poucas mononucleares. Camundongos desafiados com L. braziliensis, na presença da saliva, não foram protegidos contra a infecção apesar de desenvolverem uma lesão mais tardia. O sítio de inoculação e o linfonodo regional apresentaram uma contínua replicação parasitária e uma baixa razão de IFN-y por IL-4, indicando que a pré-exposição a saliva de L. intermedia modula a resposta imune. Além do mais, numa área endêmica para leishmaniose cutânea, pacientes com lesões cutânea ativa apresentaram uma elevada resposta humoral contra a saliva quando comparados aos indivíduos com teste de pele positivo para leishmaniose. A imunização com plasmídeos que codificam distintas proteínas salivares de L. intermedia modulou a infecção por L. braziliensis. Camundongos BALB/c imunizados com LliSP0l e LiSP05 tiveram uma proteção parcial contra a infecção enquanto a imunização com LliSP07 exacerbou a infecção, sugerindo que a imunização com essas distintas moléculas altera o curso da imunidade à Leishmania. Esses resultados sugerem que a pré-exposição a saliva de flebotomíneos possui um importante papel no desfecho da leishmaniose cutânea, em ambos camundongos. Esses resultados enfatizam possíveis obstáculos no desenvolvimento de vacinas baseadas na saliva de L. intermedia e a necessidade de identificar e selecionar candidatos individuais ao invés da saliva total, a qual pode favorecer uma resposta não protetora.

Desenvolvimento de um modelo experimental para leishmaniose tegumentar americana utilizando leishmania brazilliensis / Development of a experimental model of infection using leishmania brazilliensis

A Leishmaniose Tegumentar Americana(LTA) é uma doença endêmica no Brasil. No entanto, não existe um bom modelo experimental para o estudo da doença. Nosso objetivo foi desenvolver um modelo de infecção com L. braziliensis, o principal agente etiológico da LTA em nosso país, levando em consideração o inoculo de parasitas e o sítio de infecção. Camundongos BALB/c foram infectados com 10 Leishmania braziliensis (MHOM/BR/01/BA788), na derme da orelha. Os animais foram acompanhados durante 10 semanas para a avaliação do desenvolvimento da lesão e para a avaliação da resposta imune. Observamos que a expansão parasitária foi acompanhada pelo desenvolvimento de uma lesão na derme da orelha, similar à observada em pacientes com LTA(lesão nodular e ulcerada no centro), a qual regrediu espontaneamente, como evidenciado pela presença de uma cicatriz. A análise histopatológica da orelha infectada mostrou a presença de, inicialmente, um infiltrado focal constituído por células mononucleares (linfócitos e monócitos), neutrófilos e poucos parasitas. No auge do desenvolvimento da lesão, havia predominância de magrófagos infectados os quais foram, em seguida, substituídos por um infiltrado inflamatório constituído por histiócitos, plasmócitos, neutrófilos e fibroblastos e pela ausência de parasitas. Os parasitas podem ser detectados no linfonodo regional, durante toda a infecção. A análise da expressão de quimiocinas no linfonodo regional mostra um aumento na expressão de quimiocinas recrutadoras de monócitos/macrófagos e neutrófilos. Observamos também um aumento na expressão de IFN-y, IL-4, IL-5 e IL-10, tanto por células T CD4+ quanto por células T CD8+. Com a regressão da lesão, a expressão destas citocinas diminuiu. A inoculação de L. braziliensis na derme da orelha de camundongos constitui um modelo de resistência devido ao desenvolvimento de uma resposta imune do tipo Th1. Contudo, nesse modelo, os parasitas são capazes de sobreviver no linfonodo regional de camundongos infectados apesar do desenvolvimento de uma resposta imune capaz de curar a lesão.