Multiple effects of toxins isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus on the hepatitis C virus life cycle

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the main causes of liver disease and transplantation worldwide. Current therapy is expensive, presents additional side effects and viral resistance has been described. Therefore, studies for developing more efficient antivirals against HCV are needed. Compounds isolated from animal venoms have shown antiviral activity against some viruses such as Dengue virus, Yellow fever virus and Measles virus. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the complex crotoxin (CX) and its subunits crotapotin (CP) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2-CB) isolated from the venom of Crotalus durissus terrificus on HCV life cycle. Huh 7.5 cells were infected with HCVcc JFH-1 strain in the presence or absence of these toxins and virus was titrated by focus formation units assay or by qPCR. Toxins were added to the cells at different time points depending on the stage of virus life cycle to be evaluated. The results showed that treatment with PLA2-CB inhibited HCV entry and replication but no effect on HCV release was observed. CX reduced virus entry and release but not replication. By treating cells with CP, an antiviral effect was observed on HCV release, the only stage inhibited by this compound. Our data demonstrated the multiple antiviral effects of toxins from animal venoms on HCV life cycle

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia: clinical aspects and preventive and therapeutic strategies

Abstract Background Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is the result of a complex process in which several prenatal and/or postnatal factors interfere with lower respiratory tract development, leading to a severe, lifelong disease. In this review, what is presently known regarding BPD pathogenesis, its impact on long-term pulmonary morbidity and mortality and the available preventive and therapeutic strategies are discussed. Main body Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is associated with persistent lung impairment later in life, significantly impacting health services because subjects with BPD have, in most cases, frequent respiratory diseases and reductions in quality of life and life expectancy. Prematurity per se is associated with an increased risk of long-term lung problems. However, in children with BPD, impairment of pulmonary structures and function is even greater, although the characterization of long-term outcomes of BPD is difficult because the adults presently available to study have received outdated treatment. Prenatal and postnatal preventive measures are extremely important to reduce the risk of BPD. Conclusion Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a respiratory condition that presently occurs in preterm neonates and can lead to chronic respiratory problems. Although knowledge about BPD pathogenesis has significantly increased in recent years, not all of the mechanisms that lead to lung damage are completely understood, which explains why therapeutic approaches that are theoretically effective have been only partly satisfactory or useless and, in some cases, potentially negative. However, prevention of prematurity, systematic use of nonaggressive ventilator measures, avoiding supraphysiologic oxygen exposure and administration of surfactant, caffeine and vitamin A can significantly reduce the risk of BPD development. Cell therapy is the most fascinating new measure to address the lung damage due to BPD. It is desirable that ongoing studies yield positive results to definitively solve a major clinical, social and economic problem

Recurrent COVID-19 including evidence of reinfection and enhanced severity in thirty Brazilian healthcare workers

BACKGROUND: There is growing concern about individuals reported to suffer repeat COVID-19 disease episodes, these in a small number of cases characterised as de novo infections with distinct sequences, indicative of insufficient protective immunity even in the short term. METHODS: Observational case series and case-control studies reporting 33 cases of recurrent, symptomatic, qRT-PCR positive COVID-19. Recurrent disease was defined as symptomatic recurrence after symptom-free clinical recovery, with release from isolation >14 days from the beginning of symptoms confirmed by qRT-PCR. The case control study-design compared this group of patients with a control group of 62 patients randomly selected from the same COVID-19 database. RESULTS: Of 33 recurrent COVID-19 patients, 26 were female and 30 were HCW. Mean time to recurrence was 50.5 days which was associated with being a HCW (OR 36.4 (p <0.0001)), and blood type A (OR 4.8 (p = 0.002)). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were signifcantly lower in recurrent patients after initial COVID-19  (2.4 ± 0.610; p<0.0001) and after recurrence (6.4 ± 11.34; p = 0.007).  Virus genome sequencing identified reinfection by a different isolate in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first detailed case series showing COVID-19 recurrence with qRT-PCR positivity. For one individual detection of phylogenetically distinct genomic sequences in the first and second episodes confirmed bona fide renfection, but in most cases the data do not formally distinguish between reinfection and re-emergence of a chronic infection reservoir. These episodes were significantly associated with reduced Ab response during initial disease and argue the need for ongoing vigilance without an assumption of protection after a first episode

Construction and validation of educational material for the health promotion of individuals with HIV

Objetivo: desenvolver e validar uma tecnologia educacional para pessoas vivendo com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana. Método: estudo metodológico, para a elaboração do material educativo. Definiram-se as necessidades educacionais, seleção dos conteúdos e ilustrações, a partir de entrevistas com a população-alvo. A seguir, realizou-se a redação, elaboração e montagem do layout do material e posterior validação por especialistas. A validação de conteúdo foi estabelecida a partir do Level Content Validity Index maior que 0,8. Resultados: o material educativo foi elaborado para adultos vivendo com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana com o enfoque na promoção da saúde e qualidade de vida e foram elaborados em cinco volumes. A validação foi realizada por 22 juízes multiprofissionais selecionados de acordo com os critérios estabelecidos no estudo. Todos os itens foram avaliados como pertinentes pelos juízes e a média obtida com o referido índice foi de 0,97. Conclusão: a cartilha elaborada foi validada quanto ao conteúdo, linguagem e aparência junto a especialistas na temática. Acredita-se que, por meio desta tecnologia, é possível contribuir com a alfabetização em saúde e o empoderamento das pessoas vivendo com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana, fortalecendo sua autonomia.Objetivo: desarrollar y validar una tecnología educativa para personas que viven con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana. Método: estudio metodológico para la elaboración de material educativo. Se definieron necesidades educativas, selección de contenido e ilustraciones, a partir de entrevistas con la población objetivo. Luego, se llevó a cabo la redacción, elaboración y montaje del diseño del material y posterior validación por parte de especialistas. La validación de contenido se estableció a partir del Level Content Validity Index superior a 0,8. Resultados: el material educativo fue desarrollado para adultos que viven con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana con enfoque en la promoción de la salud y la calidad de vida y se desarrolló en cinco volúmenes. La validación fue realizada por 22 jueces multiprofesionales seleccionados de acuerdo con los criterios establecidos en el estudio. Todos los ítems fueron evaluados como pertinentes por los jueces y el promedio obtenido con el índice referido fue de 0,97. Conclusión: el folleto elaborado fue validado en términos de contenido, lenguaje y apariencia junto a especialistas en el tema. Se cree que, a través de esta tecnología, es posible contribuir a la alfabetización en salud y al empoderamiento de las personas que viven con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana, fortaleciendo su autonomía.Objective: to develop and validate an educational technology for individuals living with the human immunodeficiency virus. Method: a methodological study, for the elaboration of educational material. The educational needs, content selection, and illustrations were defined from interviews with the target population. Afterward, we carried the writing, the material layout elaboration, and assembly and, subsequently, it was validated by specialists. The content validation was established from the Level Content Validity Index higher than 0.8. Results: the educational material was prepared for adults living with the human immunodeficiency virus, with a focus on health promotion and quality of life, and was prepared in five volumes. The validation was made by 22 multi-professional judges selected according to the criteria established in the study. All items were evaluated as relevant by the judges and the average obtained with the index was 0.97. Conclusion: the booklet has been validated in terms of content, language, and appearance by experts in the field. We believe that through this technology it is possible to contribute to the health literacy and empowerment of individuals living with the human immunodeficiency virus, strengthening their autonomy