Pulmonary and cardiovascular syndrome due to hantavirus: clinical aspects of an emerging disease in southeastern Brazil

A síndrome pulmonar e cardiovascular por hantavírus é doença causada pela aspiração de aerossóis dos dejetos de roedores silvestres contaminados por vírus da família Bunyaviridae. Estudamos manifestações clínicas e laboratoriais de 70 casos ocorridos de 1998 a 2007 na região de Ribeirão Preto, SP. A freqüência de sintomas foi dispnéia (87%), febre (81%), tosse (44%), cefaléia (34%), taquicardia (81%), hipotensão arterial (56%), hipóxia (49%), acidose metabólica (57%), linfocitopenia (51%), hematócrito >45% (70%), leucocitose com desvio à esquerda (67%), creatinina (51%) e uréia (42%) séricas elevadas. A letalidade (54,3%) ocorreu principalmente no 4o dia. Insuficiência respiratória, hipotensão arterial e choque ocorreu 24-48 horas; o hematócrito elevado e a plaquetopenia são sinais fortemente sugestivos da doença. A hipótese diagnóstica de pneumonia atípica associada a bom prognóstico (p:0,0136); a infusão hídrica >2.000ml e hipotensão arterial associadas a mau prognóstico (p:0,0286 e p:0,0453).Pulmonary and cardiovascular syndrome due to hantavirus is a disease caused by inhalation of aerosols from the excreta of wild rodents contaminated by viruses of the Bunyaviridae family. We studied the clinical and laboratory manifestations of 70 cases that occurred in the region of Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil, between 1998 and 2007. The frequency of symptoms was as follows: dyspnea (87%), fever (81%), coughing (44%), headache (34%), tachycardia (81%), low arterial blood pressure (56%), metabolic acidosis (57%), lymphocytopenia (51%), hematocrit > 45% (70%), leukocytosis with left deviation (67%), creatinine (51%) and urea (42%). Mortality (54.3%) occurred mainly on the fourth day. Respiratory insufficiency, low arterial blood pressure and shock occurred after 24 to 48 hours. High hematocrit and decreased platelet levels were signs strongly suggestive of the disease. The diagnostic hypothesis of atypical pneumonia was associated with a good prognosis (p = 0.0136). Fluid infusion greater than 2,000 ml and arterial hypotension were associated with a poor prognosis (p = 0.0286 and p = 0.0453)

From exercise intolerance to functional improvement: The second wind phenomenon in the identification of McArdle disease

McArdle disease is the most common of the glycogen storage diseases. Onset of symptoms is usually in childhood with muscle pain and restricted exercise capacity. Signs and symptoms are often ignored in children or put down to 'growing pains' and thus diagnosis is often delayed. Misdiagnosis is not uncommon because several other conditions such as muscular dystrophy and muscle channelopathies can manifest with similar symptoms. A simple exercise test performed in the clinic can however help to identify patients by revealing the second wind phenomenon which is pathognomonic of the condition. Here a patient is reported illustrating the value of using a simple 12 minute walk test.RSS is funded by Ciências sem Fronteiras/CAPES Foundation. The authors would like to thank the Association for Glycogen Storage Disease (UK), the EUROMAC Registry funded by the European Union, the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, the NHS National Specialist Commissioning Group and the Myositis Support Group for funding

Eventos adversos pós-vacinais em pacientes imunizados contra a COVID-19 em um município do sul de Santa Catarina no ano de 2021

The mass availability of vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is the result of worldwide scientific efforts. However, insecurity and popular hesitation permeate the antivaccine movements. Objective: Analyze the profile of Post-Vaccine Adverse Events (PVAE) in the city of Tubarão, SC, Brazil, in 2021. Methodology: Cross-sectional epidemiologicalstudy with data from all standard PVAE notification forms in the city of Tubarão-SC in 2021. The variables analyzed were the epidemiological profile of the patient, the immunobiological administered, the type of event and the evolution of the cases. The incidence rate (IR) was calculated for 10,000 doses ap-plied. Results: The study population was 274 patients, 73% were female, with a mean age of 39.8±14.5 years. A total of 197,001 doses were applied in the year 2021, resulting in an overall IR of 13.9. There were 206 reactions reported in pa-tients immunized withAstraZeneca (IR=29.1), 43 with Pfizer (IR=5.1), 18 with Coro-navac (IR=4.8) and seven with Janssen (IR=13.8).There were only seven cases classified as severe (IR=0.3) and, of these, one patient died, with no causal rela-tionship established. Conclusion: The overall incidence of serious events was low, which corroborates the safety profile of available immunobiologicals against COVID-19.A disponibilização em massa de vacinas contra o vírus SARS-CoV-2 é resultado de esforços científicos mundiais. Entretanto, a insegurança e a hesitação popular per-meiam os movimentos antivacinais. Objetivo: Analisar o perfil dos Eventos Adver-sos Pós-Vacinais (EAPV) na cidade de Tubarão-SC no ano de 2021. Metodologia: Estudo epidemiológico transversal com dados de todas as fichas de notificação padrão de EAPV no município de Tubarão em 2021. As variáveis analisadas foram o perfil epidemiológico do paciente, imunobiológico administrado, o tipo de evento e a evolução do caso. Calculou-se a taxa de incidência (TI) para 10 mil doses apli-cadas. Resultados: A população em estudo foi de 274 pacientes, sendo 73% do sexo feminino, com média das idades de 39,8±14,5 anos. Foram aplicadas 197.001 doses no ano de 2021, o que resultou em uma TI geral de EAPV de 13,9. Houve 206 reações notificadas em pacientes imunizados com a AstraZeneca (TI=29,1), 43 com a Pfizer (TI=5,1), 18 com a Coronavac (TI=4,8) e sete com a Janssen (TI=13,8). Houve apenas sete casos classificados como graves (TI=0,3) e, destes, um paciente evoluiu com óbito, sem relação causal estabelecida. Conclusão: A incidência geral de eventos graves foi baixa, o que corrobora o perfil de segurança dos imunobiológicos disponíveis contra a COVID-19