Efficacy of convalescent plasma in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: findings from a controlled trial

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven the search for alternative therapies, including convalescent plasma, historically used in infectious diseases. Despite results in other diseases, its effectiveness against COVID-19 remains uncertain with conflicting results in clinical trials. A pragmatic, single-center, prospective, and open randomized controlled trial was carried out in a hospital in Brazil, with the aim of evaluating the impact of convalescent plasma on the clinical improvement of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) ordinal scale was used to measure clinical improvement, focusing on the reduction in disease severity by up to 2 points, while antibody and C-reactive protein levels were monitored over time. After hospital admission, participants were randomized 1:1 to receive convalescent plasma and standard treatment or to be part of the control group with standard treatment. Follow-up was carried out on days 1, 3, 7, 14 and/or at discharge. From January 14 to April 4, 2022, 38 patients were included, but 3 were excluded due to protocol deviations, resulting in a total of 35 patients: 19 in the control group and 16 in the plasma group. There was no significant difference in clinical improvement between the convalescent plasma group and the control group, nor in secondary outcomes. The study had limitations due to the small number of patients and limited representation of COVID-19 cases. Broader investigations are needed to integrate therapies into medical protocols, both for COVID-19 and other diseases. Conducting randomized studies is challenging due to the complexity of medical conditions and the variety of treatments available.

Epidemiological aspects of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis in State of Alagoas, Northeast, Brazil / Aspectos epidemiológicos da leishmaniose visceral canina e humana no estado de Alagoas, Nordeste, Brasil

Abstract Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL), caused by protozoans of the genus Leishmania, it is a worldwide of great importance disease. In the northeast region of Brazil, the state of Alagoas has an endemic status for ZVL. Thus, this work aimed to analyze the epidemiological situation of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis in Alagoas, Northeast, Brazil, from 2007 to 2013. We conducted a descriptive, observational, retrospective study using secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System, the Center of Zoonosis Control of Maceió, and the Central Laboratory of Public Health of Alagoas. During the studied period, it was observed that the highest incidence of human visceral leishmaniasis was in 2011 and the lowest in 2013. On the other hand, canine visceral leishmaniasis had its highest incidence in 2007 and its lowest in 2012. Of the 55 municipalities in the State of Alagoas that showed human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL), São José da Tapera presented an average of 4.4 cases over the past five years, being classified as of intense transmission. Regarding canine visceral leishmaniasis, in the same studied period, 45,112 dogs were examined in the State, of which 4,466 were positive. It resulted, thus, in a 9.9% positivity rate. Conclusions: Our data are important because canine infection is an important risk factor for the human disease.

Resumo Leishmaniose visceral zoonótica, causada por protozoários do gênero Leishmania, é uma doença importante no mundo. Na região nordeste do Brasil, do estado de Alagoas é endêmico para LVZ. Neste sentido, este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a situação epidemiológica da leishmaniose visceral humana e canina em Alagoas, Nordeste, Brasil, no período de 2007 a 2013. Foi realizado um estudo descritivo, observacional, retrospectivo, usando-se secundário do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN), Centro de Controle de Zoonoses de Maceió (CCZ) e Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública de Alagoas (LACEN/AL). Durante o período de estudo, observou-se que o ano de maior incidência de Leishmaniose visceral humana (LVH) foi o de 2011 e o de menor foi no ano de 2013. Já a LVC teve maior incidência em 2007 e menor em 2012. Dos 55 municípios do Estado de Alagoas que apresentaram LVH, São José da Tapera apresentou uma média de casos de 4,4 nos últimos cinco anos classificado como de transmissão intensa; No que diz respeito à leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC), no mesmo período de estudo, foram examinados 45.112 cães no Estado, dos quais 4.466 foram positivos. Resultou assim, em uma taxa de 9,9% de positividade. Nossos dados são importantes porque a infecção canina é um importante fator de risco para a doença humana.

Germinoma de haste hipofisária: relato de caso e revisão de literatura / Pituitary stalk germinoma: case report and literature review

Os germinomas intracranianos são histologicamente indistinguíveis do neurinoma testicular e disgerminoma ovariano; eles ocorrem mais frequentemente na região pineal, supra-selar e gânglios da base. O envolvimento primário do germinoma na haste hipofisária é raro. Neste artigo, relatamos um germinoma da haste hipofisária e revisamos a literatura sobre o assunto.