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Dermatophytosis is a cutaneous mycosis caused by a plethora of keratinophilic fungi, but Trichophyton rubrum is the most common etiological agent. Despite its high prevalence worldwide, little is known about the host defense mechanisms in this infection, particularly the in situ immune response. Using an immunohistochemistry approach, we investigated the density of CD1a+, factor XIIIa+ and CD68+ cells in the skin of dermatophytosis patients. Langerhans cells (CD1a+ cells) were significantly decreased in the epidermis of patients, both in affected and unaffected areas. In the dermis, however, no differences in the density of macrophages (CD68+ cells) and dermal dendrocytes (factor XIIIa+ cells) were observed. These results suggest that the decreased number of Langerhans cells may be a risk factor for development of dermatophytosis.

Neutrophils are the first leukocytes recruited to the site of infection and are thought to be responsible for fungal elimination from the skin such as dermatophytes. Neutrophils are able to secrete reactive oxygen species (ROS) and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that can kill different fungi, including Aspergillus, spp., Candida albicans, and Phialophora verrucosa. However, NET production in response to Trichophyton rubrum, the main etiologic agent of dermatophytosis, has yet to be studied. We demonstrated that human neutrophils produce NETs against different morphotypes of T. rubrum in a dose-dependent manner and NET formation is dependent on ROS production. In addition, ROS production by human neutrophils in response to T. rubrum is dependent on NADPH oxidase, but not on fungal viability. NETs mediated killing of T. rubrum. Collectively, these results demonstrate that T. rubrum was able to trigger the production of NETs, suggesting that these extracellular structures may represent an important innate immune effector mechanism controlling physiological response to T. rubrum infection.

NETosis is recognized as an important source of autoantigens. Therefore, we hypothesized whether the pristane-induced lupus mice model shows early activation of neutrophils, the presence of low-density granulocytes (LDGs), and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) release, which could contribute to the development of a lupus phenotype. Twelve female wild-type Balb/c mice were intraperitoneally injected with pristane (n = 6; pristane group) or saline (n = 6; control group). Five days after the injection, blood, peritoneal lavage, bone marrow, and spleen samples were collected for flow cytometry analyses of activated neutrophils (Ly6G+CD11b+), LDGs (CD15+CD14low), and NETs release (Sytox Green+). The pristane-induced mice group had a significantly increased number of blood activated neutrophils and LDGs as well as NETs released by these cells compared to the saline-injected control group and the basal values determined 12 days before the injection. The pristane group also had a significantly increased number of activated neutrophils, LDGs, and NETs released compared to the control group for the peritoneal lavage and bone marrow, except total cell count in spleen. We demonstrated early changes in the innate immune response such as an increased number of activated neutrophils and LDGs and mainly increased NETosis in the pristane-induced mice model which may be considered as the primary event triggering lupus development.

Shallow urban polluted reservoirs at tropical regions can be hotspots for CO 2 and CH 4 emissions. In this study, we investigated the relationships between eutrophication and GHG emissions in a highly urbanized tropical reservoir in São Paulo Metropolitan Area (Brazil). CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes and limnological variables (water and sediment) were collected at three sampling stations classified as hypereutrophic and eutrophic. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the principal component analysis (PCA) determined the most significant parameters to CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes. ANOVA showed significant differences of CO 2 and CH 4 fluxes between sampling stations with different trophic state. The hypereutrophic station showed higher mean fluxes for both CO 2 and CH 4 (5.43 ± 1.04 and 0.325 ± 0.167 g m −2 d −1 , respectively) than the eutrophic stations (3.36 ± 0.54 and 0.060 ± 0.005 g m −2 d −1 ). The PCA showed a strong relationship between nutrients in the water column (surface and bottom) and GHG fluxes. We concluded that GHG fluxes were higher whenever the trophic state increases as observed previously in temperate and tropical reservoirs. High concentrations of nutrients in the water column in the studied area support the high production of autotrophic biomass that, when sedimented, ends up serving as organic matter for CH 4 producers. These outcomes reinforce the necessity of water quality improvement and eutrophication mitigation in highly urbanized reservoirs in tropical regions. Graphical abstract

ObjectiveThis study investigated the efficacy of cognitive functional therapy (CFT) versus a sham procedure for pain intensity and disability for patients with non-specific chronic low back pain (CLBP).MethodsThis is a randomised sham-controlled trial conducted in a primary care public health service. A total of 152 participants were randomly assigned to the CFT group (n=76) and the sham group (n=76). The CFT group received six 1 hour individualised sessions; the sham procedure group received six individual sessions of neutral talking+detuned photobiomodulation (low-level laser therapy) equipment. Both groups received an education booklet with information on strategies for CLBP self-management. Primary outcomes were pain intensity and disability at 6 weeks. Participants were assessed preintervention, postintervention (at 6 weeks), and 3 and 6 months after randomisation.ResultsWe obtained primary outcome data from 97.4% (n=74) of participants in the CFT group and 98.7% (n=75) from the sham group. The CFT group showed greater effects in pain intensity (mean difference (MD)=−1.8; 95% CI −2.5 to −1.1) and disability (MD=−9.9; 95% CI −13.2 to −6.5) postintervention compared with the sham group. The effect remained at the 3-month and 6-month follow-ups.ConclusionsCFT showed sustained clinical efficacy compared with a sham procedure for treating pain intensity and disability in patients with CLBP.Trial registration numberThis trial was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04518891 and was previously published https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35788240/.

A series of 11 new N,S-acetal juglone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated against T. cruzi epimastigote forms. These compounds were obtained in good to moderate yields using a microwave irradiation protocol. Among all compounds, two N,S-acetal analogs, showed significant trypanocidal activity. Notably, one compound 11g exhibited selectivity index 10-fold higher than the reference drug benznidazole for epimastigote. The compound 11h was more effective for amastigote forms. Both prototypes exhibited S.I. higher than the benznidazole description. Thus, both compounds proving to be useful candidate molecules to further studies in infected animals.

Introduction: The surgical treatment of organ removal seems to meet a number of pathologies that emerge as health needs of populations. In this context, the state of uncertainty is installed.Objective: To investigate the uncertainty in illness in surgical patients of organ removal.Method: Cross-sectional study developed with patients admitted to the surgical outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were collected, in addition to applying Mishel uncertainty in illness scale.Results: The profile of medical diagnoses in the 60 participants showed that the most frequent diseases were the neoplasms. As for the scale application, 68% of the participants presented scores greater than or equal to 80 points. The value found for the Cronbach’s Alpha was 0.842. The surgical procedures abdominal hysterectomy and mastectomy, which were the most prevalent for the participants, are associated with uncertainty domains.Conclusions: High levels of uncertainty demonstrated the need for the management of this condition. The psychosocial aspects of surgical treatments are disregarded at the expense of the clinical restoration, circumstances that neglect the patient’s emotional suffering. The improvement of communication between the health professional and the patient can influence to prevent the manifestation of the lack of information, one of the forms of expressing uncertainty. Aspects such as the patient’s socioeconomic profile, educational level and income must be taken into account in the surgical treatment of organ removal. The uncertainty experienced by these patients needs to be better known and widely disseminated to gain prominence in the health care setting. Introducción: El tratamiento quirúrgico de la extirpación de órganos parece satisfacer una serie de patologías que surgen como necesidades de salud de las poblaciones. En este contexto, se instala el estado de incertidumbre.Objetivo: Investigar la incertidumbre de la extracción de un órgano en pacientes quirúrgicos.Método: Estudio transversal realizado con pacientes hospitalizados en la clínica quirúrgica de un hospital universitario. Variables sociodemográficas y clínicas fueron recogidas, además, se aplicó la escala de incertidumbre en la enfermedad de Mishel.Resultados: El perfil de diagnósticos médicos en los 60 participantes mostró que las enfermedades más frecuentes fueron las neoplasias. Con relación a la aplicación de la escala, el 68% de los participantes presentaron puntuaciones mayores o iguales a 80 puntos. El valor hallado para el alfa de Cronbach fue de 0,842. Los procedimientos quirúrgicos histerectomía abdominal y mastectomía, que fueron los más frecuentes para los participantes, están asociados con áreas de incertidumbre.Conclusiones: Los altos niveles de incertidumbre demostraron la necesidad de la gestión de esta condición. Los aspectos psicosociales de los tratamientos quirúrgicos son desconsiderados a expensas de la restauración clínica, circunstancias en que se descuida el sufrimiento emocional del paciente. La mejora de la comunicación entre los profesionales de la salud y el paciente puede influir para prevenir la manifestación de la falta de información, una de las formas de la expresión de la incertidumbre. Aspectos como el perfil socioeconómico del paciente, el nivel educativo y los ingresos deben tenerse en cuenta en el tratamiento quirúrgico de la extracción de órganos. La incertidumbre experimentada por estos pacientes debe conocerse mejor y difundirse ampliamente para que estos aspectos se destaquen en el entorno de la atención médica. Introdução: O tratamento cirúrgico de retirada de órgãos surge para atender a uma diversidade de patologias que emergem como necessidade de saúde apresentadas pelas populações, sendo considerado um procedimento que provoca no paciente sentimentos de incerteza.Objetivo: Investigar a incerteza na doença, em pacientes cirúrgicos submetidos à retirada de órgão.Método: Estudo transversal desenvolvido com pacientes internados na clínica cirúrgica de um hospital universitário. Coletaram-se as variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas e aplicou-se a escala da incerteza na doença de Mishel (MUIS).Resultados: O perfil de diagnósticos médicos nos 60 participantes revelou que as doenças mais frequentes foram as neoplasias. Quanto a aplicação da escala, 68% dos participantes apresentaram escores maiores ou iguais a 80 pontos. O valor encontrado para o Alpha de Cronbach foi de 0,842. Os procedimentos cirúrgicos, histerectomia via abdominal e mastectomia, os quais foram os mais prevalentes para os participantes, se associam aos domínios da incerteza.Conclusões: Elevados níveis de incerteza evidenciaram a necessidade do manejo dessa condição. Os aspectos psicossociais dos tratamentos cirúrgicos acabam secundarizados em detrimento do reestabelecimento clínico, circunstância em que se negligencia o sofrimento emocional do paciente. A melhora da comunicação entre o profissional da saúde e o paciente pode influenciar para que não ocorra a manifestação da falta de informação, uma das formas de expressão da incerteza. Aspectos como perfil socioeconômico do paciente, escolaridade e renda devem ser levados em consideração no tratamento cirúrgico de retirada de órgãos. A incerteza vivenciada por esses pacientes precisa ser mais conhecida e amplamente disseminada para ganhar destaque no ambiente de saúde.  

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has created an urgent need for rapid, accurate, and cost-effective diagnostic tools. In this study, an economical electrochemical immunosensor for the rapid diagnosis of COVID-19 was developed and optimized based on charge transfer resistance (Rct) values obtained by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) from the interaction between antibodies (anti-SARS-CoV-2) immobilized as a bioreceptor and the virus (SARS-CoV-2). The sensor uses modified pencil graphite electrodes (PGE) coated with poly(4-hydroxybenzoic acid), anti-SARS-CoV-2, and silver nanoparticles. The immobilization of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was optimized at a concentration of 1:250 for 30 min, followed by blocking the surface with 0.01% bovine serum albumin for 10 min. The optimal conditions for virus detection in clinical samples were a 1:10 dilution with a response time of 20 min. The immunosensor responded linearly in the range of 0.2–2.5 × 106 particles/μL. From the relationship between the obtained signal and the concentration of the analyzed sample, the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) obtained were 1.21 × 106 and 4.04 × 106 particles/μL, respectively. The device did not cross-react with other viruses, including Influenza A and B, HIV, and Vaccinia virus. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the six immunosensors prepared using the shared-pool sample was 3.87. Decreases of 22.3% and 12.4% were observed in the response values of the ten immunosensors stored at 25 °C and 4.0 °C, respectively. The sensor provides timely and accurate results with high sensitivity and specificity, offering a cost-effective alternative to the existing diagnostic methods.

IntroductionCOVID-19 may lead to persistent and potentially incapacitating clinical manifestations (post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC)). Using easy-to-apply questionnaires and scales (often by telephone interviewing), several studies evaluated samples of COVID-19 inpatients from 4 weeks to several months after discharge. However, studies conducting systematic multidisciplinary assessments of PASC manifestations are scarce, with thorough in-person objective evaluations restricted to modestly sized subsamples presenting greatest disease severity.Methods and analysesWe will conduct a prospective observational study of surviving individuals (above 18 years of age) from a cohort of over 3000 subjects with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who were treated as inpatients at the largest academic health centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil (Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo). All eligible subjects will be consecutively invited to undergo a 1–2-day series of multidisciplinary assessments at 2 time-points, respectively, at 6–9 months and 12–15 months after discharge. Assessment schedules will include detailed multidomain questionnaires applied by medical research staff, self-report scales, objective evaluations of cardiopulmonary functioning, physical functionality and olfactory status, standardised neurological, psychiatric and cognitive examinations, as well as diagnostic laboratory, muscle ultrasound and chest imaging exams. Remaining material from blood tests will be incorporated by a local biobank for use in future investigations on inflammatory markers, genomics, transcriptomics, peptidomics and metabolomics.Ethics and disseminationAll components of this programme have been approved by local research ethics committees. We aim to provide insights into the frequency and severity of chronic/post-COVID multiorgan symptoms, as well as their interrelationships and associations with acute disease features, sociodemographic variables and environmental exposures. Findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and at scientific meetings. Additionally, we aim to provide a data repository to allow future pathophysiological investigations relating clinical PASC features to biomarker data extracted from blood samples.Trial registration numberRBR-8z7v5wc; Pre-results.

BackgroundLittle is known about peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) use, appropriateness and device outcomes in Brazil.MethodsWe conducted an observational, prospective, cohort study spanning 16 Brazilian hospitals from October 2018 to August 2020. Patients ≥18 years receiving a PICC were included. PICC placement variables were abstracted from medical records. PICC-related major (deep vein thrombosis (DVT), central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) and catheter occlusion) and minor complications were collected. Appropriateness was evaluated using the Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters (MAGIC). Devices were considered inappropriate if they were in place for <5 days, were multi-lumen, and/or were placed in patients with a creatinine >2.0 mg/dL. PICCs considered appropriate met none of these criteria. Mixed-effects logistic regression models adjusting for patient-level and hospital-level characteristics assessed the association between appropriateness and major complications.ResultsData from 12 725 PICCs were included. Mean patient age was 66.4±19 years and 51.0% were female. The most common indications for PICCs were intravenous antibiotics (81.1%) and difficult access (62.7%). Most PICCs (72.2%) were placed under ultrasound guidance. The prevalence of complications was low: CLABSI (0.9%); catheter-related DVT (1.0%) and reversible occlusion (2.5%). Of the 12 725 devices included, a total of 7935 (62.3%) PICCs were inappropriate according to MAGIC. With respect to individual metrics for appropriateness, 17.0% were placed for <5 days, 60.8% were multi-lumen and 11.3% were in patients with creatinine >2.0 mg/dL. After adjusting for patient and hospital-level characteristics, multi-lumen PICCs considered inappropriate were associated with greater odds of major complications (OR 2.54, 95% CI 1.61 to 4.02).ConclusionsUse of PICCs in Brazilian hospitals appears to be safe and comparable with North America. However, opportunities to improve appropriateness remain. Future studies examining barriers and facilitators to improving device use in Brazil would be welcomed.