Metabolic and immunological evaluation of patients with indeterminate and cardiac forms of Chagas disease.

ABSTRACT: Chagas disease affects approximately 7 million people, causing disability and mortality in the most productive life stages of infected individuals. Considering the lifestyle of the world population, metabolic syndrome is a synergistic factor for an increased cardiovascular risk of patients with Chagas disease.This study transversally evaluated the metabolic and immunological profiles of patients with indeterminate (IF) and cardiac (CF) forms of Chagas disease and their correlations with left ventricular dysfunction (LVD).Clinical and electrical bioimpedance analysis, levels of cytokines (interferon [IFN]-γ, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, interleukin [IL]-17, IL-10, and IL-33) and adipocytokines (adiponectin, leptin, and resistin), metabolic syndrome components, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels were assessed in 57 patients (13 IF and 44 CF) with a mean age of 61.63 ±â€Š12.1 years. Chest x-ray, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram were performed to classify the clinical forms.The CF group had a higher number of individuals with metabolic syndrome components blood pressure altered, while more participants in the CF group with LVD had low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. The IF group had more participants with a higher waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). No significant difference was observed between metabolic syndrome, cytokine and adipocytokine level, and clinical forms of the disease or in relation to LVD.Individuals with the IF showed metabolic and immunological profiles compatible with increased disease control, whereas those with CF showed marked inflammatory immune response.

Cytokine patterns in a prospective cohort of HIV-infected patients with cryptococcal meningitis following initiation of antifungal and antiretroviral therapy.

Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) is a life-threatening infection in HIV-infected patients, especially in resource-limited settings. Cytokine patterns in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and sera may be related to clinical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate cytokine patterns in the CSF and sera of HIV-infected patients with CM as well as the cytokines produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) when stimulated with LPS and cryptococcal GXM. CSF and serum levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-17A, INF-γ, TNF-α and CXCL-10 were measured in HIV-infected patients with CM (CM+ HIV+) at various time points. Cytokine levels were evaluated in the PBMC culture supernatants and the baseline values were compared to those of HIV-infected patients without CM (CM- HIV+) and healthy controls (CM- HIV-). CSF cytokine levels at admission (n = 33) were higher than levels among the 23 survivors at week 2, but statistically significant differences were observed for IL-8 and IFN-γ (p<0.05). CSF and serum levels of IL-4 and IL-17A at week 10 (n = 16) were lower than the baseline values, whereas IL-2 levels increased compared to week 2 (p<0.05). At week 16 (n = 15), CSF and serum levels of IL-4, IL-10 and CXCL-10 were decreased compared to the baseline values (p<0.05). PBMCs from CM- HIV- individuals produced significantly higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines in response to LPS, with the exception of TNF-α, which showed higher levels among CM+ HIV+ patients. The PBMCs of CM patients produced higher levels of IL-4 than those of CM- HIV- patients in response to GXM stimulation, and levels progressively decreased during treatment (p<0.05). Then, a progressive shift in cytokine expression favoring a Th1 pattern was observed, which is crucial in controlling cryptococcal infection. A better understanding of the protective immune response against Cryptococcus neoformans will help to develop novel strategies to improve the outcomes of patients with cryptococcosis.

Determinantes sócio-históricos do cuidado na estratégia saúde da família: a perspectiva de usuários da área rural / Socio-historical determinants of care in the family health strategy: a user perspective in the rural area

O presente estudo teve por objetivo identificar os determinantes sócio-históricos atribuídos pelos usuários às vivências de cuidado na Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) na área rural do município de Sacramento/MG. Trata-se de um estudo exploratório com abordagem qualitativa, utilizando para a coleta de dados a técnica de grupos focais e para a interpretação dos resultados, a análise de conteúdo. Foram constituídos três grupos com representantes das famílias de três, dentre seis, povoados rurais, totalizando 36 sujeitos, doze em cada grupo, residentes na área rural e usuários da ESF há pelo menos dois anos, escolhidos com base em fichas de cadastro das famílias na ESF estudada. Sob a perspectiva do materialismo histórico, a análise de conteúdo dos grupos foi concentrada em quatro categorias: disponibilidade; acesso a recursos; movimento social e condições materiais. Os resultados demonstraram satisfação dos usuários em relação à disponibilidade da equipe para a atenção, e o tato nas relações; engajamento na manutenção das condições de saúde e atuação na dimensão sócio-histórica do processo saúde/doença com objetivo de melhorar as condições de vida e trabalho. Houve insatisfação em relação ao aspecto organizacional, remetendo a tudo que ainda está insuficiente, precário ou inexistente nas comunidades. Observou-se na ação da equipe o desenvolvimento de capacidades junto à comunidade que garantiam seus direitos sociais e sua politização. Conclui-se que o enfrentamento do processo saúde/doença pela comunidade e equipe da ESF envolve outros elementos, além do conhecimento técnico-científico, que determinam a simetria do vínculo profissional/usuário viabilizando a produção conjunta de saúde na comunidade.

This study aimed to identify socio-historical determinants assigned by users to their experience of care in the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in the rural area of the municipality of Sacramento (Southeastern Brazil). This exploratory study with a qualitative approach used the focus group technique to collect data and content analysis to interpret the results. Three groups were formed with representatives from three out of six rural areas, totaling 36 subjects, twelve in each group. They lived in the rural area, had been FHS users for at least two years, and were chosen based on enrollment records of families in the FHS under study. From the perspective of historical materialism, the content analysis of the groups concentrated on four categories: availability, access to resources, social movement and material conditions. The results showed user satisfaction regarding the team's availability to provide care and tact in relationships, engagement in maintaining the health conditions, and action in the socio-historical dimension of the health/disease process in order to improve life and work conditions. There was dissatisfaction with the organizational aspect, referring to everything that is still insufficient, poor or non-existent in communities. We observed, in the team's actions, the development of capacities in the community that ensured their social rights and politicization. We conclude that the confrontation of the health/disease process by the community and by the FHS team involves other elements, in addition to technical and scientific knowledge, which determine the symmetry of the professional/user bond, enabling joint production of health in the community.

Cytokine profiles at admission can be related to outcome in AIDS patients with cryptococcal meningitis.

Cryptococcal meningitis (CM) remains as common life-threatening AIDS-defining illness mainly in resource-limited settings. Previous reports suggested that baseline cytokine profiles can be associated to fungal burden and clinical outcome. This study aimed to evaluate the baseline cytokine profiles in AIDS patients with CM and its relation with the outcome at weeks 2 and 10. Thirty AIDS patients with CM diagnosed by cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Cryptococcus neoformans positive culture, India ink stain and cryptococcal antigen test were prospectively evaluated. As controls, 56 HIV-infected patients without CM and 48 non-HIV individuals were included. Baseline CSF and sera levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-17A, INF-γ and TNF-α were measured by ELISA. Of 30 CM patients, 24 (80%) were male, median age of 38.1. The baseline CSF high fungal burden and positive blood culture were associated with a positive CSF culture at week 2 (p = 0.043 and 0.029). Most CSF and sera cytokines presented higher levels in CM patients than control subjects (p < 0.05). CSF levels of IL-8, IL-12p40, IL-17A, TNF-α, INF-γ and sera TNF-α were significantly higher among survivors at weeks 2 and 10 (p < 0.05). Patients with increased intracranial pression exhibited CSF IL-10 high levels and poor outcome at week 10 (p = 0.032). Otherwise, baseline CSF log10 IFN-γ and IL-17A were negatively correlated with fungal burden (r = -0.47 and -0.50; p = 0.0175 and 0.0094, respectively). The mortality rate was 33% (10/30) at week 2 and 57% (17/30) at week 10. The severity of CM and the advanced immunodeficiency at admission were related to a poor outcome in these patients. Otherwise, the predominant Th1 cytokines profile among survivors confirms its pivotal role to infection control and would be a prognostic marker in cryptococcal meningitis.

Central nervous system paracoccidioidomycosis in an AIDS patient: case report.

Up to now, over 200 patients with paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) associated to HIV infection have already been reported; however, the central nervous system involvement in this coinfection was rarely reported. This paper presents a 35-year-old Brazilian male AIDS patient who developed pulmonary PCM successfully treated with itraconazole. At the antiretroviral therapy starting, he had 32 CD4(+) T cells baseline count and high viral load levels. After 9 months, he presented severe fungal meningoencephalitis diagnosed by sublenticular enhanced nodular lesion at computerized tomography and magnetic resonance brain imaging and a positive Paracoccidiodes brasiliensis smear and culture from cerebrospinal fluid. At the time, a sixfold increase in CD4(+) T cell count and undetectable viral load level were evidenced. The patient received amphotericin B during 1 year presenting slow but progressive clinical improvement, and he is currently asymptomatic and without neurological disabilities. To our knowledge, this is the second case report of a patient with neuroparacoccidioidomycosis associated to HIV infection.