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Introduction: Lactoferrin (Lf) is an important immunomodulator in infections caused by different agents. During SARS-CoV-2 infection, Lf can hinder or prevent virus access to the intracellular environment. Severe cases of COVID-19 are related to increased production of cytokines, accompanied by a weak type 1 interferon response., Methods: We investigated the influence of bovine Lf (bLf) in the immune response during SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro and in vivo assays., Results: Our results show a strong binding between bLf and TLR4/NF-κB in silico , as well as an increase in mRNA expression of these genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated with bLf. Furthermore, the treatment increased TLR4/TLR9 mRNA expression in infected K18-hACE2 mouse blood, indicating an activation of innate response. Our results show that, when bLf was added, a reduction in the NK cell population was found, presenting a similar effect on PD-1 in TCD4 + and TCD8 + cells. In the culture supernatant of PBMCs from healthy participants, bLf decreased IL-6 levels and increased CCL5 in COVID-19 participants. In addition, K18-hACE2 mice infected and treated with bLf presented an increase of serum pro-inflammatory markers (GM-CSF/IL-1β/IL-2) and upregulated mRNA expression of IL1B and IL6 in the lung tissue. Furthermore, bLf treatment was able to restore FTH1 levels in brain tissue., Discussion: The data indicate that bLf can be part of a therapeutic strategy to promote the immunomodulation effect, leading to homeostasis during COVID-19., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Silva, Machado, Nascimento, Rodrigues, Coelho, Tubarão, da Rosa, Bayma, Rocha, Frederico, Silva, Cunha, de Souza, Souza, Barros, Fiscina, Ribeiro, de Carvalho, da Silva, Muller, Azamor, Melgaço, Gonçalves and Ano Bom.)

Background: Laparoscopy represented one of the most innovative surgical techniques approached in the surgery field. Dexmedetomidine association with general anesthesia promotes the response control to trauma by altering the neuroinflammatory reflex, provides better clinical outcomes in the postoperative period and reduces the excessive use of drugs with risk for addiction. This trial aims to evaluate the potential drug treatment of dexmedetomidine on organic function, with the targets in neuroinflammation, perioperative pain control and blood pressure measurements in a medium-sized surgical model., Methods: Fifty-two patients were randomized in two groups: Sevoflurane and Dexmedetomidine - A (dexmedetomidine infusion [1 μg/kg loading, .2-.5 μg/kg/h thereafter]) vs Sevoflurane and Saline .9% - B. Three blood samples were collected at three times: before surgery, 4 to 6 hours after surgery and 24 hours postoperatively. The primary outcome was inflammatory and endocrine mediators dosage analisys. Finally, we evaluated pain and opioid use as secondary outcomes, also the hemodynamic values., Results: In Dexmedetomidine group A, a reduction of Interleukin 6 was found during 4-6 hours after surgery. A reduction of IL-10 was noted in the measurement of its values 24 hours after the procedure, with statistical significance. Also, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well heart rate were attenuated, and there was a lower incidence of pain and opioid consumption in the first postoperative hour ( P < .0001) in the anesthetic recovery room., Conclusions: Dexmedetomidine provided anti-inflammatory activity, sympatholytic effect and analgesia with cardiovascular safety. It reinforces the therapeutic nature of highly selective α2-adrenergic agonists when combined within anesthetic interventions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Objectives: The aim of the manuscript was to analyze the effects of two rest periods between volume-equated resistance exercise (RE) on inflammatory responses (cytokines and leukocyte) and muscle damage., Methods: Ten trained men (26.40 ± 4.73 years, 80.71 ± 8.95 kg, and 176.03 ± 6.11 cm) voluntarily participated in training sessions consisting of five sets of 10 reps performed at 10-RM on (1) the barbell bench press followed by (2) leg press, with either 1- or 3-min rest between sets and exercises. Circulating concentrations of different biomarkers was measured before (Pre), and after 3 h (excepted for cytokines), 6, 12, and 24 h from exercise. The rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was recorded after each set on both planned visits., Results: We found greater increases triggered by the 1-min rest period in Creatine Kinase (CK), occurring from 12 to 24 h post-exercise compared to the 3-min rest condition. A significant increase in the 1-min rest condition was also observed in the total number of leukocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes. The 1-min rest period also triggered increases compared to baseline in pro-inflammatory cytokines [Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), p  = 0.004; tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), p  = 0.01; and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), p  = 0.01], which were more evident after 6 and 12 h post-exercise. Similarly, increases in anti-inflammatory cytokines [Interleukin 5 (IL-5), p  = 0.01; Interleukin 6 (IL-6), p  = 0.01; and Interleukin 10 (IL-10), p  = 0.01] at all time-points were observed., Conclusion: Our results indicate that a 1-min rest condition in volume-equated RE promoted greater overall muscle tissue damage with a longer duration of the inflammatory processes compared to a 3-min rest., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Senna, Dantas, Scudese, Brandão, Lira, Baffi, Ribeiro, Simão, Thomas and Bianco.)

A prevalence of 3.47% of asymptomatic Chlamydia trachomatis urethritis has been previously reported among males living with HIV infection in Brazil. This study aims to assess the recurrence of C. trachomatis urethritis three years later in the same cohort of patients and analyze associated risk factors. A total of 115 male patients diagnosed with HIV infection, with no symptoms of urethritis and observed since May of 2015 in followup visits were enrolled. They had urine samplers tested by PCR for C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae between February and March 2018. Results: Three of the four patients who had asymptomatic C. trachomatis urethritis three years before were recurrently positive for C. trachomatis urethritis. Two new patients were diagnosed as positives, accounting for a total asymptomatic C. trachomatis urethritis prevalence of 4.34%. The prevalence during the whole study was 5.21%. The relative risk for a new urethritis episode among those previously diagnosed with urethritis is RR=41.62 (95% CI: 9.42-183.84), p < 0.01. Patients who presented asymptomatic urethritis anytime and who were recurrently positive for C. trachomatis had a lower mean age (p<0.01). Married individuals were protected regarding asymptomatic urethritis [p<0.01, OR = 0.04 (0.005-0.4)] and had lower risk to develop recurrence [p<0.01, RR = 0.86 (0.74-0.99)]. Illicit drugs users had risk associated to asymptomatic urethritis [p=0.02, OR= 5.9 (1.03-34)] and higher risk to develop recurrence [p<0.01, RR=1.1 (1-1.22)]. Conclusion: The recurrence of asymptomatic C. trachomatis urethritis after treatment among males living with HIV infection in Brazil can be considered high and should not be neglected.

Aims: To improve RT-qPCR with an internal control and a synthetic standard curve to detect HEV in HIV co-infected patients., Methods and Results: A single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) and a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) synthetic curve were designed, compared to the international reference panel for HEV genotypes, and tested to quantify and detect a reference panel for HEV genotypes. The detection limit of the RNA synthetic curve (50 copies per ml) was better than the DNA synthetic curve (100 copies per ml) and the WHO standard curve (250 copies per ml). Then, 280 serum samples from HIV-positive patients were tested for HEV RNA, which was detected in 3·6% of serum samples. The viral load ranged from 2 × 10 2 copies per ml to 4·78 × 10 8 copies per ml. HEV IgM/IgG antibodies were not detected in the RNA-positive patients. Sequencing analysis of HEV showed that the virus belongs to genotype 3 (HEV GT3)., Conclusions: Real-time PCR was a useful tool to estimate co-infection with HEV/HIV, even in patients with low viral loads and undetectable anti-HEV IgG and IgM antibodies., Significance and Impact of the Study: Hepatitis E virus genotype 3 (HEV GT3) has been associated with silent chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in HIV-positive subjects worldwide, but there is a lack of data on this co-infection in Brazil., (© 2018 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Objectives: The increase in HIV transmissibility in non-ulcerative sexually transmitted infection is already well-established. It is estimated that symptomatic carriers of N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis have a relative risk of 4.8-fold and 3.6-fold, respectively, for the sexual acquisition of HIV. This type of evaluation for asymptomatic urethritis is necessary to reinforce strategies to combat HIV transmission. This study aims to assess the prevalence of patients with asymptomatic urethritis among men diagnosed with HIV-1 and determine the risk factors associated with this infection., Methods: We enrolled a total of 115 male patients aged 18 years or older who have been diagnosed with HIV infection and have no symptoms of urethritis or other sexually transmitted infections and who have been evaluated between May and August 2015 in a follow-up visit at the Immunology Outpatient Clinic of a Brazilian University Hospital., Results: Four asymptomatic patients were positive for C. trachomatis and were considered asymptomatic carriers of urethritis. Prevalence was 3.47%. Patients who were positive for C. trachomatis urethritis had a lower mean age (p = 0.015)., Conclusion: The presence of asymptomatic sexually transmitted infection is a challenge in clinical practice. We recommend that, in outpatient practice, the habit of inquiring on previous sexual behavior to obtain more information about risks and associations with asymptomatic sexually transmitted infection, a routine physical examination and complementary tests to detect STI pathogens should be performed to discard these conditions. The development of rapid tests for this purpose should also be encouraged.