Primary dengue haemorrhagic fever in patients from northeast of Brazil is associated with high levels of interferon-β during acute phase

Dengue is an acute febrile disease caused by the mosquito-borne dengue virus (DENV) that according to clinical manifestations can be classified as asymptomatic, mild or severe dengue. Severe dengue cases have been associated with an unbalanced immune response characterised by an over secretion of inflammatory cytokines. In the present study we measured type I interferon (IFN-I) transcript and circulating levels in primary and secondary DENV infected patients. We observed that dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) patients express IFN-I differently. While DF and DHF patients express interferon-α similarly (52,71 ± 7,40 and 49,05 ± 7,70, respectively), IFN- β were associated with primary DHF patients. On the other hand, secondary DHF patients were not able to secrete large amounts of IFN- β which in turn may have influenced the high-level of viraemia. Our results suggest that, in patients from our cohort, infection by DENV serotype 3 elicits an innate response characterised by higher levels of IFN- β in the DHF patients with primary infection, which could contribute to control infection evidenced by the low-level of viraemia in these patients. The present findings may contribute to shed light in the role of innate immune response in dengue pathogenesis.

Relation between leukocyte count, adiposity, and cardiorespiratory fitness in pubertal adolescents / Relação entre contagem de leucócitos, adiposidade e aptidão cardiorrespiratória em adolescentes púberes

Objective To compare the total and differential leukocyte count in obese and normal-weight adolescents, and to verify their possible relations with cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity indicators. Methods A cross-sectional study conducted with 139 adolescents (107 obese and 32 normal weight) aged between 13 and 18 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness was determined by direct gas analysis during an incremental treadmill test. Total leukocytes and subsets were estimated by flow cytometry. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The t-test for independent samples was used for comparison between groups. The relation between leukocytes, cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity indicators was verified by Pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression (adjusted for age and body mass index) tests. Results Obese adolescents had higher leukocyte (8.12±2.36u/L x 103; p=0.001), neutrophil (4.33±1.86u/L x 103; p=0.002), and monocyte (0.70±0.22u/L x 103; p=0.002) counts compared to the levels of normal weight subjects. After the necessary adjustments, cardiorespiratory fitness had a negative association with leukocytes, neutrophils, and monocytes in boys. Conclusion Obese adolescents had higher total and differential leucocyte count when compared to normal weight individuals. We also observed a weak positive association between adiposity and total leukocyte, monocyte, and neutrophil counts, and in boys, a negative association between cardiorespiratory fitness and total count of leukocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils. .

Objetivo Comparar a contagem total e diferencial de leucócitos de adolescentes obesos e eutróficos, e verificar suas possíveis relações com a aptidão cardiorrespiratória e indicadores de adiposidade. Métodos Estudo transversal realizado com 139 adolescentes (107 obesos e 32 eutróficos), com idades entre 13 e 18 anos. A aptidão cardiorrespiratória foi determinada por análise direta de gases durante um teste incremental em esteira rolante. As contagens de leucócitos totais e subconjuntos foram estimadas por citometria de fluxo. A composição corporal foi avaliada pelo método de dupla energia de raios X. O teste t para amostras independentes foi utilizado para comparação entre os grupos. A relação entre leucócitos, aptidão cardiorrespiratória e indicadores de adiposidade foi verificada por meio dos testes de correlação de Pearson e regressão linear múltipla (ajustado para idade e índice de massa corporal). Resultados Os adolescentes obesos apresentaram leucócitos (8,12±2,36u/L x 103; p=0,001), neutrófilos (4,33±1,86u/L x 103; p=0,002) e monócitos (0,70±0,22u/L x 103; p=0,002) mais elevados em comparação com os níveis dos eutróficos. Após os ajustes necessários, a aptidão cardiorrespiratória foi negativamente associada com leucócitos, neutrófilos e monócitos em meninos. Conclusão Adolescentes obesos apresentaram maior contagem de leucócitos totais e subpopulações, quando comparados aos eutróficos. Observou-se também uma fraca relação positiva entre adiposidade e leucócitos totais, monócitos ...

Prevalencia de la co-infección con hepatitis B y C en pacientes HIV positivos y factores de riesgo asociados / Prevalence of co-infection with hepatitis B and C in HIV-positive patients and associated risk factors

Los virus de la hepatitis B (HBV) y C (HCV) son, frecuentemente, causa de enfermedad hepática crónica en pacientes infectados por el HIV (HIV +), ya que tienen las mismas rutas de transmisión. Se ha informado de prevalencias variables de co-infección, dependiendo de la población bajo estudio. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia y los factores de riesgo asociados a la infección por HBV y HCV en pacientes HIV+ en el Hospital Universitario Oswaldo Cruz (HUOC) de Recife, Brasil, entre julio y spetiembre de 2004.

Hepatitis B and C are highly prevalent among HIV infected patients, resulting of shared transmission routes. Prevalences of HIV and hepatitis co-infections vary depending on the population studied. The main goal was to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors for HBV and HCV among HIV-infected patients. HIV infected patients at the Hospital Universitário Oswaldo Cruz (HUOC), Recife, Brazil, were studiend from July through September 2004.