The Effect of Geoclimatic Factors on the Distribution of Paracoccidioidomycosis in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

The incidence of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) varies in Latin America, and it is influenced by environmental factors. This study evaluated the distribution of PCM acute/subacute form (AF) cases and their correlation with geoclimatic factors in the Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) state. The study included 81 patients diagnosed with the PCM/AF at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul between January 1980 and February 2022. Geographic coordinates, health microregion of patient's residence, compensated average temperature, relative air humidity (RH), El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), and average global temperature were analyzed. The highest incidence was observed in the Aquidauana (7/100,000 inhabitants), while Campo Grande, the state's capital, had the highest number (n = 34; 42.4%) and density (4.4 cases/km2) of cases. The number of cases increased during extended periods of the El Niño phenomenon. A positive correlation was found between higher RH and PCM/AF cases. Most PCM/AF cases were found in areas with loamy soils and RH ranging from 60.8 to 73.6%. In MS, the health microregions of PCM/AF patients are characterized by deforestation for agricultural and pasture use, coupled with loamy soils and specific climatic phenomena leading to higher soil humidity.

Iron metabolism disorders of patients with chronic paracoccidioidomycosis.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is caused by Paracoccidioides spp.; during infection, some host mechanisms limit the availability of iron, thereby reducing its reproduction. However, Paracoccidioides spp. can evade the immune defense and, even under limited iron conditions, use this mineral for growth and dissemination. This study evaluated the iron metabolism of 39 patients who were diagnosed with chronic PCM from 2013 to 2021. The forms of iron before treatment and at the time of clinical cure were evaluated based on the following: serum ferritin levels (storage iron); total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) and transferrin saturation (TSAT) level (transport iron); red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels; and sTfR/log ferritin ratio (functional iron). The mean age of the patients was 54.5 years (±6.7 years). Most patients were men (97.4%), rural workers (92.1%), and smokers (84.6%); furthermore, most had moderate disease severity (66.7%). After achieving clinical cure, we observed that serum ferritin levels decreased, and parameters of functional iron increased. The extent of alteration in these parameters were more pronounced in severe cases than in to mild or moderate cases. Furthermore, moderate correlations were observed between C-reactive protein and the Hb (r = -0.500; p = 0.002), RBC (r = -0.461; p = 0.005), HCT (r = -0.514; p = 0.001), and iron levels (r = -0.491; p = 0.002). However, it is possible to infer that PCM interferes with functional and storage iron because improvements in these parameters after treatment as well as associations with disease severity were observed. PCM can lead to anemia of inflammation, which can be differentiated from iron deficiency anemia by a careful investigation of the iron form parameters.

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in people living with HIV with moderate or severe mental disorder.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains a serious public health concern, with an estimated 38 million people living with HIV (PLHIV). PLHIV are often affected by mental disorders at higher rate than the general population. One challenge in the control and prevention of new HIV infections is adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), with PLHIV with mental disorders having seemingly lower adherence than PLHIV without mental disorders. This cross-sectional study assessed adherence to ART in PLHIV with mental disorders who attended the Psychosocial Care Network health facilities in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, from January 2014 to December 2018. Data from health and medical databases were used to describe clinical-epidemiological profiles and adherence to ART. To assess the associated factors (potential risk or predisposing factors) with ART adherence, we used logistic regression model. Adherence was extremely low (16.4%). Factors associated with poor adherence were lack of clinical follow-up, particularly in middle-aged PLHIV. Other apparently associated factors were living on the streets and having suicidal ideation. Our findings reinforce the need for improvements in the care for PLHIV with mental disorders, especially in the integration between specialized mental health and infectious disease health facilities.

Recombinant protein KR95 as an alternative for serological diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas.

In the Americas, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum, leading to death if not promptly diagnosed and treated. In Brazil, the disease reaches all regions, and in 2020, 1,933 VL cases were reported with 9.5% lethality. Thus, an accurate diagnosis is essential to provide the appropriate treatment. Serological VL diagnosis is based mainly on immunochromatographic tests, but their performance may vary by location, and evaluation of diagnostic alternatives is necessary. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of ELISA with the scantily studied recombinant antigens, K18 and KR95, comparing their performance with the already known rK28 and rK39. Sera from parasitologically confirmed symptomatic VL patients (n = 90) and healthy endemic controls (n = 90) were submitted to ELISA with rK18 and rKR95. Sensitivity (95% CI) was, respectively, 83.3% (74.2-89.7) and 95.6% (88.8-98.6), and specificity (95% CI) was 93.3% (85.9-97.2) and 97.8% (91.8-99.9). For validation of ELISA with the recombinant antigens, we included samples from 122 VL patients and 83 healthy controls collected in three regions in Brazil (Northeast, Southeast, and Midwest). When comparing the results obtained with the VL patients' samples, significantly lower sensitivity was obtained by rK18-ELISA (88.5%, 95% CI: 81.5-93.2) compared with rK28-ELISA (95.9%, 95% CI: 90.5-98.5), but the sensitivity was similar comparing rKR95-ELISA (95.1%, 95% CI: 89.5-98.0), rK28-ELISA (95.9%, 95% CI: 90.5-98.5), and rK39-ELISA (94.3%, 95% CI: 88.4-97.4). Analyzing the specificity, it was lowest with rK18-ELISA (62.7%, 95% CI: 51.9-72.3) with 83 healthy control samples. Conversely, higher and similar specificity was obtained by rKR95-ELISA (96.4%, 95% CI: 89.5-99.2), rK28-ELISA (95.2%, 95% CI: 87.9-98.5), and rK39-ELISA (95.2%, 95% CI: 87.9-98.5). There was no difference in sensitivity and specificity across localities. Cross-reactivity assessment, performed with sera of patients diagnosed with inflammatory disorders and other infectious diseases, was 34.2% with rK18-ELISA and 3.1% with rKR95-ELISA. Based on these data, we suggest using recombinant antigen KR95 in serological assays for VL diagnosis.

A scoping study of pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis: severity classification based on radiographic and tomographic evaluation.

The lungs have great importance in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis since they are the portal of entry for the infecting fungi, the site of quiescent foci, and one of the most frequently affected organs. Although they have been the subject of many studies with different approaches, the severity classification of the pulmonary involvement, using imaging procedures, has not been carried out yet. This study aimed to classify the active and the residual pulmonary damage using radiographic and tomographic evaluations, according to the area involved and types of lesions.

Late peripheral facial paralysis after COVID-19: a rapid systematic review and two case reports.

Peripheral facial paralysis (PFP) has been shown to be a neurological manifestation of COVID-19. The current study presents two cases of PFP after COVID-19, along with a rapid review of known cases in the literature. Both case reports were conducted following CARE guidelines. We also performed a systematic review of PFP cases temporally related to COVID-19 using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases on August 30, 2021, using a rapid review methodology. The two patients experienced PFP 102 and 110 days after COVID-19 symptom onset. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in nasal samples through reverse-transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) testing. Anosmia was the only other neurological manifestation. PFP was treated with steroids in both cases, with complete subsequent recovery. In the rapid review, we identified 764 articles and included 43 studies. From those, 128 patients with PFP were analyzed, of whom 42.1% (54/128) were male, 39.06% (50/128) female, and in 23 cases the gender was not reported. The age range was 18 to 59 (54.68%). The median time between COVID-19 and PFP was three days (ranging from the first symptom of COVID-19 to 40 days after the acute phase of infection). Late PFP associated with COVID-19 presents mild symptoms and improves with time, with no identified predictors. Late PFP should be added to the spectrum of neurological manifestations associated with the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection as a post COVID-19 condition.

Challenges in Serologic Diagnostics of Neglected Human Systemic Mycoses: An Overview on Characterization of New Targets.

Systemic mycoses have been viewed as neglected diseases and they are responsible for deaths and disabilities around the world. Rapid, low-cost, simple, highly-specific and sensitive diagnostic tests are critical components of patient care, disease control and active surveillance. However, the diagnosis of fungal infections represents a great challenge because of the decline in the expertise needed for identifying fungi, and a reduced number of instruments and assays specific to fungal identification. Unfortunately, time of diagnosis is one of the most important risk factors for mortality rates from many of the systemic mycoses. In addition, phenotypic and biochemical identification methods are often time-consuming, which has created an increasing demand for new methods of fungal identification. In this review, we discuss the current context of the diagnosis of the main systemic mycoses and propose alternative approaches for the identification of new targets for fungal pathogens, which can help in the development of new diagnostic tests.

Late peripheral facial paralysis after COVID-19: a rapid systematic review and two case reports

Peripheral facial paralysis (PFP) has been shown to be a neurological manifestation of COVID-19. The current study presents two cases of PFP after COVID-19, along with a rapid review of known cases in the literature. Both case reports were conducted following CARE guidelines. We also performed a systematic review of PFP cases temporally related to COVID-19 using PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases on August 30, 2021, using a rapid review methodology. The two patients experienced PFP 102 and 110 days after COVID-19 symptom onset. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in nasal samples through reverse-transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) testing. Anosmia was the only other neurological manifestation. PFP was treated with steroids in both cases, with complete subsequent recovery. In the rapid review, we identified 764 articles and included 43 studies. From those, 128 patients with PFP were analyzed, of whom 42.1% (54/128) were male, 39.06% (50/128) female, and in 23 cases the gender was not reported. The age range was 18 to 59 (54.68%). The median time between COVID-19 and PFP was three days (ranging from the first symptom of COVID-19 to 40 days after the acute phase of infection). Late PFP associated with COVID-19 presents mild symptoms and improves with time, with no identified predictors. Late PFP should be added to the spectrum of neurological manifestations associated with the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection as a post COVID-19 condition.

A scoping study of pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis: severity classification based on radiographic and tomographic evaluation

The lungs have great importance in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis since they are the portal of entry for the infecting fungi, the site of quiescent foci, and one of the most frequently affected organs. Although they have been the subject of many studies with different approaches, the severity classification of the pulmonary involvement, using imaging procedures, has not been carried out yet. This study aimed to classify the active and the residual pulmonary damage using radiographic and tomographic evaluations, according to the area involved and types of lesions.

Proteomic analysis of serum samples of paracoccidioidomycosis patients with severe pulmonary sequel.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary sequelae (PS) in patients with chronic paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) typically include pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema. Knowledge of the molecular pathways involved in PS of PCM is required for treatment and biomarker identification. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: This non-concurrent cohort study included 29 patients with pulmonary PCM that were followed before and after treatment. From this group, 17 patients evolved to mild/ moderate PS and 12 evolved severe PS. Sera from patients were evaluated before treatment and at clinical cure, serological cure, and apparent cure. A nanoACQUITY UPLC-Xevo QT MS system and PLGS software were used to identify serum differentially expressed proteins, data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD026906. Serum differentially expressed proteins were then categorized using Cytoscape software and the Reactome pathway database. Seventy-two differentially expressed serum proteins were identified in patients with severe PS compared with patients with mild/moderate PS. Most proteins altered in severe PS were involved in wound healing, inflammatory response, and oxygen transport pathways. Before treatment and at clinical cure, signaling proteins participating in wound healing, complement cascade, cholesterol transport and retinoid metabolism pathways were downregulated in patients with severe PS, whereas signaling proteins in gluconeogenesis and gas exchange pathways were upregulated. At serological cure, the pattern of protein expression reversed. At apparent cure pathways related with tissue repair (fibrosis) became downregulated, and pathway related oxygen transport became upregulated. Additionally, we identified 15 proteins as candidate biomarkers for severe PS. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Development of severe PS is related to increased expression of proteins involved in glycolytic pathway and oxygen exchange), indicative of the greater cellular activity and replication associated with early dysregulation of wound healing and aberrant tissue repair. Our findings provide new targets to study mechanisms of PS in PCM, as well as potential biomarkers.

Mask decontamination methods (model N95) for respiratory protection: a rapid review.

BACKGROUND: N95 respiratory protection masks are used by healthcare professionals to prevent contamination from infectious microorganisms transmitted by droplets or aerosols. METHODS: We conducted a rapid review of the literature analyzing the effectiveness of decontamination methods for mask reuse. The database searches were carried out up to September 2020. The systematic review was conducted in a way which simplified the stages of a complete systematic review, due to the worldwide necessity for reliable fast evidences on this matter. RESULTS: A total of 563 articles were retrieved of which 48 laboratory-based studies were selected. Fifteen decontamination methods were included in the studies. A total of 19 laboratory studies used hydrogen peroxide, 21 studies used ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, 4 studies used ethylene oxide, 11 studies used dry heat, 9 studies used moist heat, 5 studies used ethanol, two studies used isopropanol solution, 11 studies used microwave oven, 10 studies used sodium hypochlorite, 7 studies used autoclave, 3 studies used an electric rice cooker, 1 study used cleaning wipes, 1 study used bar soap, 1 study used water, 1 study used multi-purpose high-level disinfection cabinet, and another 1 study used chlorine dioxide. Five methods that are promising are as follows: hydrogen peroxide vapor, ultraviolet irradiation, dry heat, wet heat/pasteurization, and microwave ovens. CONCLUSIONS: We have presented the best available evidence on mask decontamination; nevertheless, its applicability is limited due to few studies on the topic and the lack of studies on real environments.

An update on the occurrence of Paracoccidioides species in the Midwest region, Brazil: Molecular epidemiology, clinical aspects and serological profile of patients from Mato Grosso do Sul State.

BACKGROUND: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic and endemic fungal infection in Latin American, mainly in Brazil. The majority of PCM cases occur in large areas in Brazil, comprising the South, Southeast and Midwest regions, with the latter demonstrating a higher incidence of the species Paracoccidioides lutzii. METHODOLOGY AND MAIN FINDINGS: This study presents clinical, molecular and serological data of thirteen new PCM cases during 2016 to 2019 from the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, located in the Midwest region, Brazil. From these thirteen cases, sixteen clinical isolates were obtained and their genomic DNAs were subjected to genotyping by tub1 -PCR-RFLP. Results showed Paracoccidioides brasiliensis sensu stricto (S1) (11/16; 68.8%), Paracoccidioides restrepiensis (PS3) (4/16; 25.0%) and P. lutzii (1/16; 6.2%) as Paracoccidiodes species. Therefore, in order to understand whether the type of phylogenetic species that are circulating in the state influence the reactivity profile of serological tests, we performed double agar gel immunodiffusion (DID), using exoantigens from genotyped strains found in this series of PCM cases. Overall, our DID tests have been false negative in about 30% of confirmed PCM cases. All patients were male, most with current or previous rural activity, with ages ranging from 17 to 59 years, with 11 patients (84.6%) over 40 years of age. No clinical or epidemiological differences were found between Paracoccidioides species. However, it is important to note that the only case of P. lutzii died as an outcome. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests P. brasiliensis sensu stricto (S1) as the predominant species, showing its wide geographic distribution in Brazil. Furthermore, our findings revealed, for the first time, the occurrence of P. restrepiensis (PS3) in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Despite our setbacks, it would be interesting to provide the complete sequencing of these clinical isolates to complement the molecular information presented.

Prediction of Conserved Peptides of Paracoccidioides for Interferon-γ Release Assay: The First Step in the Development of a Lab-Based Approach for Immunological Assessment during Antifungal Therapy.

Impaired antigen-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) is a primary immunological disturbance observed in individuals that develop paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) after exposure to Paracoccidioides spp. Restoration of Paracoccidioides-specific CMI is crucial to stop the antifungal treatment and avoid relapses. A convenient and specific laboratory tool to assess antigen specific CMI is required for the appropriate clinical treatment of fungal infections, in order to decrease the time of antifungal therapy. We used an interferon-γ release assay strategy, used in the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection, to address our aims in this study. Information on proteins secreted by two well-studied representative strains-Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb18) and P. lutzii (Pb-01)-were explored using PubMed or MEDLINE. From 26 publications, 252 proteins were identified, of which 203 were similar according to the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool. This enabled a selection of conserved peptides using the MEGA software. The SignalP-5.0, TMHMM, IEDB, NetMHC II, and IFNepitope algorithms were used to identify appropriate epitopes. In our study, we predicted antigenic epitopes of Paracoccidioides that could bind to MHC class II and induce IFN-γ secretion. These T cell epitopes can be used in the development of a laboratory tool to monitor the CMI of patients with PCM.

Risk Stratification and Factors Associated with Abandonment of Tuberculosis Treatment in a Secondary Referral Unit.

PURPOSE: To study the factors associated with the risk of discontinuing active tuberculosis treatment among patients in an outpatient referral unit and to analyze the association between patients' abandonment risk score and their odds of discontinuing the treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this cohort study, tuberculosis patients were prospectively followed up from June 2012 through July 2019 at a secondary tuberculosis referral unit in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. At initial consultation, patients were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire and were assigned a score for the risk of treatment abandonment by the nurse. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-eight patients were included in the study, of which 65.0% (96/148) were male. Their mean age was 43.3 ± 14.8 years (range: 18-89 years). Smoking, drug use, repeated admissions, and a high abandonment risk score were the variables associated with the highest risk of discontinuing the treatment. The rate of tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus coinfection was 37.2%. The overall rate of global treatment abandonment was 10.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.1-16.2). Upon stratification of patients that abandoned by the risk score, 22.9% (8/35) of the ones that abandoned had a high risk, 10.9% (6/55) had an intermediate risk, and 3.5% (2/58) had a low risk of treatment abandonment. In multivariate analysis, the factors associated with abandoning the treatment were smoking [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.91 (95% CI: 1.08, 22.32)] and undergoing retreatment (aOR) = 3.66 (95% CI: 1.04, 12 88). CONCLUSION: Smoking and undergoing retreatment were independent risk factors for tuberculosis treatment abandonment in this center. Risk stratification can help prioritize the strengthening of treatment adherence among patients at higher risk of abandoning treatment in referral units.

Impact of laryngeal sequelae on voice- and swallowing-related outcomes in paracoccidioidomycosis.

BACKGROUND: The present study was carried out aiming to evaluate the impact of laryngeal sequelae on the quality of life of treated paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Otorhinolaryngology Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Thirty-two PCM patients considered clinically and immunologically cured were included: 16 with laryngeal involvement during the active phase of the disease (laryngeal PCM group) and 16 without laryngeal involvement (control group). They were submitted to structured interview, otorhinolaryngology examination, videolaryngoscopy, videoendoscopic swallowing study, completed two questionnaires for voice self-assessment - Voice-related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) and Voice Handicap Index (VHI) - and were asked to score their voices on a scale from zero to 10 (self-assessment of vocal quality). RESULTS: Dysphonia was present in 50% of the cases. Patients with laryngeal PCM presented worse voice-related quality of life scores on the V-RQOL and poorer vocal quality self-assessment than the control group. No significant differences in the VHI were found between the groups. None of the participants developed dysphagic sequelae, although some minor changes were observed on videoendoscopic examination. CONCLUSION: There were no dysphagia complaints and only a few mild changes were found on the fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, suggesting that this evaluation should be performed only in specific cases. Patients with laryngeal involvement presented worse V-RQOL and self-assessment voice quality. This study contributes to the current knowledge of the functional assessment of the larynx affected by PCM and the impact of dysphonia on quality of life.

Anosmia in the course of COVID-19: A case report.

RATIONALE: A sudden onset of anosmia has been recently recognized as a symptom of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). PATIENT CONCERNS: Here, we describe a case of complete anosmia in a young male with COVID-19. Although he had fever and odynophagia, no abnormalities were observed in his nasopharyngeal mucosa, suggesting that his anosmia resulted from olfactory neuropathy. DIAGNOSES: COVID-19 was confirmed by RNA detection in nasopharyngeal swab specimen. INTERVENTIONS: The patient received olfactory training and B complex vitamins. OUTCOMES: On day 30, the patient reported complete recovery of his sense of smell. LESSONS: As early diagnosis is fundamental to control the spread of COVID-19 infection, we emphasize that anosmia identified in febrile cases during the COVID-19 epidemic may be a symptom indicative of the disease. Moreover, COVID-19-related anosmia can be completely reversible.

Vertebral tuberculosis as a paradoxical reaction to the treatment of pulmonary and meningeal tuberculosis in an immunocompetent patient: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Paradoxical reaction in tuberculosis (TB) is defined as the reappearance of general symptoms, aggravation of pre-existing diseases, or appearance of new lesions despite adequate anti-TB therapy. It may result from the hyperactivity of the immune response, resulting in an intense inflammation. There are few cases of vertebral TB reported as paradoxical reaction, mainly among immunocompetents patients. PATIENT CONCERNS: We describe a male immunocompetent patient with confirmed pulmonary and meningeal TB. He was readmitted after 60 days of adequate treatment, with vertebral TB and paravertebral abscess, despite clinical improvement of the other locations. We defined as an uncommon case of a paradoxical reaction, confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance and molecular rapid test for TB. DIAGNOSIS: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) was detected in cerebrospinal fluid by molecular rapid test (Gene Xpert MTB/ rifampicina method). Sputum research and culture were positive for the same agent. Lumbosacral spine nuclear magnetic resonance revealed bone destruction from T8 to T11, and a paravertebral collection was found. Gene Xpert MTB/rifampicina and culture were positive for M tuberculosis in the drained material of the paravertebral abscess. INTERVENTIONS: The paravertebral abscess was drainage by tomography-guided. Treatment with 4 anti-TB drugs was extended for 60 days and 2 anti-TB drugs was maintained for 10 months. There was a complete clinical improvement. OUTCOME: After draining the paravertebral abscess, the patient progressively improved and was discharged for outpatient follow-up. He was on antituberculous drugs for 1 year; subsequently, complete resolution of the infection was reported. CONCLUSION: Paradoxical reaction may be a difficult diagnosis in immunocompetent patient. Vertebral TB as a paradoxical reaction is an uncommon presentation. Therapeutic failure or resistance to treatment should be ruled out to confirm the diagnosis of paradoxical reaction.

Performance of rK39-based immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic test for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis using whole blood, serum and oral fluid

BACKGROUND: The development of rK39-based immunochromatographic rapid diagnostic tests represents an important advance for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis, being cheap and easy to use at the point of care (POC). Although the use of rK39 have considerably improved the sensitivity and specificity of serological tests compared with total antigens, great variability in sensitivity and specificity was reported. This study aimed at the evaluation of "Kalazar Detect™ Rapid Test, Whole Blood" (Kalazar Detect RDT) for Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) diagnosis using oral fluid, whole blood and serum specimens collected at different endemic areas of VL of Brazil. METHODOLOGY: To evaluate Kalazar Detect RDT, oral fluid, whole blood and serum specimens from 128 VL patients, 85 healthy individuals, 22 patients with possible cross-reactivity diseases and 20 VL/aids coinfected patients were collected and assayed at the POC. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: The performance of Kalazar Detect RDT in whole blood and serum was similar; however, using oral fluid, the sensitivity was low. Particularly in samples from the city of Natal, Rio Grande do Norte state in Northeastern Brazil, we observed low sensitivity, 80.0% (95% CI: 62.7-90.5), using whole blood and serum, and poor sensitivity, 43.3% (95% CI: 27.4-60.8) with oral fluid. Those values were much lower than in the other regions, where sensitivity ranged from 92.7-96.3% in whole blood and serum, and 80.0-88.9% in oral fluid. Besides, in VL/aids coinfected patients, lower sensitivity was achieved compared with VL patients. In samples from Natal, the sensitivity was 0.0% (95% CI: 0.0-49.0) and 25.0% (95% CI: 4.6-69.9), using oral fluid and serum/whole blood, respectively; in samples from the other regions, the sensitivity ranged from 40.0-63.6% and 80.0-81.8%, respectively. As for specificity, high values were observed across the fluids, 100.0% (95% CI: 96.5-100.0) in whole blood, 96.3% (95% CI: 90.8-98.5) in serum, and 95.3% (95% CI: 89.5-98.0) in oral fluid; across localities, specificity ranged from 85.7-100.0%. Serum samples sent by the collaborating centers to Instituto de Medicina Tropical (n = 250) were tested by Kalazar Detect RDT, Direct Agglutination Test, Indirect immunofluorescence assay, Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and IT-Leish® RDT. The regional difference in the performance of rK39-based RDT and lower sensitivity in Leishmania/HIV coinfected patients raise concern on the routine use of these products for the diagnosis of VL

Impact of laryngeal sequelae on voice- and swallowing-related outcomes in paracoccidioidomycosis

The present study was carried out aiming to evaluate the impact of laryngeal sequelae on the quality of life of treated paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Otorhinolaryngology Outpatient Clinic of the University Hospital, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Thirty-two PCM patients considered clinically and immunologically cured were included: 16 with laryngeal involvement during the active phase of the disease (laryngeal PCM group) and 16 without laryngeal involvement (control group). They were submitted to structured interview, otorhinolaryngology examination, videolaryngoscopy, videoendoscopic swallowing study, completed two questionnaires for voice self-assessment - Voice-related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) and Voice Handicap Index (VHI) - and were asked to score their voices on a scale from zero to 10 (self-assessment of vocal quality). Results: Dysphonia was present in 50% of the cases. Patients with laryngeal PCM presented worse voice-related quality of life scores on the V-RQOL and poorer vocal quality self-assessment than the control group. No significant differences in the VHI were found between the groups. None of the participants developed dysphagic sequelae, although some minor changes were observed on videoendoscopic examination. Conclusion: There were no dysphagia complaints and only a few mild changes were found on the fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing, suggesting that this evaluation should be performed only in specific cases. Patients with laryngeal involvement presented worse V-RQOL and self-assessment voice quality. This study contributes to the current knowledge of the functional assessment of the larynx affected by PCM and the impact of dysphonia on quality of life.(AU)

Dynamics of plasma micronutrient concentrations and their correlation with serum proteins and thyroid hormones in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis.

Minerals, such as zinc, copper, and iron are reported to play roles in chronic infectious diseases; however, their role in paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) remains unknown. This study aimed to examine the micronutrient dynamics and their correlation with serum proteins and thyroid hormones in patients with PCM. In 14 patients with PCM and 10 healthy subjects, we evaluated the body mass index (BMI) along with serum levels of hemoglobin, iron, ferritin, zinc, copper, magnesium, albumin, globulin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (free T4), and triiodothyronine (T3). Evaluations were conducted at the first appointment, before treatment, and at the end of the first, second, fourth, and sixth month of PCM treatment. The control group was only evaluated once. We observed that before treatment, patients with PCM, had higher levels of copper and lower level of iron than those of the control group. After one month of treatment, the iron levels increased, whereas the levels of copper after six months of treatment. Reduction in inflammatory activity, indicated by the normalization of C-reactive protein, ferritin, albumin, and globulin levels, was observed during treatment. However, no correlation was observed between the serum levels of minerals and inflammatory activity or thyroid function in this study. In conclusion, our results showed higher serum copper levels in control group compared to those in pretreatment patients; the clinical importance of this observation should be investigated in further studies. After treatment, serum copper levels showed a tendency to decrease. In addition, serum iron levels were decreased at the stage of active disease, and were increased after treatment. Thus, serum iron levels can be used as a better biomarker for treatment control.