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The present study aimed to inspect the serum levels of the soluble receptors, sTNFR1 and sTNFR2, in patients with COVID-19. The large production of inflammatory cytokines is an essential process in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. TNF is a multifaceted proinflammatory cytokine which has soluble and membrane receptors. Thus, knowing the role of these receptors will help better understand this disease's immunopathogenesis. We included 131 patients confirmed for SARS-CoV-2, separated into three groups: ward patients without O2 support, group A (n = 14); ward patients with O2 support, group B (n = 85), and patients in an intensive care unit (ICU), group C (n = 32), making up the receptors dosed by flow cytometry. The results showed that sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 are associated with disease severity, being higher in group C when compared to group A. As for the levels of receptors and their relationship with the degree of lung involvement, we found higher values of sTNFR1 in patients in group 1 (pulmonary involvement < 25%), suggesting that inflammatory processes related to TNF are not necessarily associated with the primary site of infection. When we analysed the patients who passed away compared to those who recovered, both receptors significantly increased the mortality numbers. These findings suggest a relevant influence of soluble receptors in the inflammatory processes involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Wherefore, we suggest using these receptors as biomarkers of severity and mortality of the disease., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Background: Nitazoxanide exerts antiviral activity in vitro and in vivo and anti-inflammatory effects, but its impact on patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia is uncertain., Methods: A multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 19 hospitals in Brazil. Hospitalized adult patients requiring supplemental oxygen, with COVID-19 symptoms and a chest computed tomography scan suggestive of viral pneumonia or positive RT-PCR test for COVID-19 were enrolled. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive nitazoxanide (500 mg) or placebo, 3 times daily, for 5 days, and were followed for 14 days. The primary outcome was intensive care unit admission due to the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. Secondary outcomes included clinical improvement, hospital discharge, oxygen requirements, death, and adverse events within 14 days., Results: Of the 498 patients, 405 (202 in the nitazoxanide group and 203 in the placebo group) were included in the analyses. Admission to the intensive care unit did not differ between the groups (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], 0.68 [0.38-1.20], p = 0.179); death rates also did not differ. Nitazoxanide improved the clinical outcome (2.75 [2.21-3.43], p < 0.0001), time to hospital discharge (1.37 [1.11-1.71], p = 0.005), and reduced oxygen requirements (0.77 [0.64-0.94], p = 0.011). C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and ferritin levels were lower in the nitazoxanide group than the placebo group on day 7. No serious adverse events were observed., Conclusions: Nitazoxanide, compared with placebo, did not prevent admission to the intensive care unit for patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia., Clinical Trial Registration: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (REBEC) RBR88bs9x; ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04561219., Competing Interests: CM was employeed by AAC&T Research Consulting LTDA. The remaining 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 Rocco, Silva, Cruz, Tierno, Rabello, Junior, Haag, de Ávila, da Silva, Mamede, Buchele, Barbosa, Cabral, Junqueira, Araújo-Filho, da Costa, Alvarenga, Moura, Carajeleascow, de Oliveira, Silva, Soares, Fernandes, Fonseca, Camargos, Reis, Franchini, Luiz, Morais, Sverdloff, Martins, Felix, Mattos-Silva, Nogueira, Caldeira, Pelosi and Lapa-e-Silva.)

Introduction: Carbapenemase-resistant enterobacteria that produce the bla NDM gene are found worldwide. However, this is the first report of blaNDM in Klebsiella aerogenes in Brazil., Methods: The identification of bacterial species was performed using anautomated system and confirmed by biochemical tests, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and detection of resistance genes., Results: The clinical isolate showed minimum inhibitory concentration resistance to meropenem and polymyxin B at 8mg/L and 4mg/L, respectively. Only the blaNDM gene was detected., Conclusions: The current report of the blaNDM gene in isolated MDR enterobacteria indicates that this gene can spread silently in a hospital setting.

Background: Zika virus (ZIKV) is a recently emerged arbovirus, which infection during pregnancy is associated with a series of congenital malformations, collectively denominated Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Following infection, ZIKV RNA has a median duration period of 10 days in plasma and up to 6 months in semen in immunocompetent adult individuals. Moreover, ZIKV is able to replicate and persist in fetal brains and placentas, consequently, infection is associated with pregnancy loss, albeit the pathogenic mechanisms are still unknown., Case Presentation: Here we report a CZS case of an infant born during the ZIKV outbreak in northeast Brazil, the child presented recurrent episodes of seizures with prolonged presence of ZIKV RNA on the central nervous system (CNS) and blood. ZIKV RNA was identified and partially sequenced from a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) obtained from the infant with 6 months of life, and later from another sample after the infant completed 17 months of life. Commonly congenital infections were discarded based on STORCH (syphilis, toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus) negative laboratory results. Presence of specific ZIKV antibodies on both mother and children confirmed the association of severe microcephaly and ZIKV infection, diagnosed after birth., Conclusions: Altogether, our data raise the possibility that CZS cases may result in prolonged viral presence, these findings could be useful for therapy and diagnostic recommendations.

Several immune markers have been studied in controlling American tegumentary leishmaniosis based on mouse models. However, there is a lack of studies regarding human tegumentary leishmaniosis caused by Leishmania braziliensis. In this study, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α was found to be an important effector element in the localized control of human cutaneous and mucocutaneous lesions.