ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: SARS-CoV-2 infection usually presents similarly to other respiratory viral pathogens. Children and adolescents do not present as a group that is highly affected by the disease, having low infection rates. However, limited publications are associated with the findings of pneumonia in pediatric patients with COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical and epidemiological aspects of children and adolescents hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 in a pre-Amazon region. METHODS: A retrospective study, carried out in four public hospitals in São Luís, Brazil where medical records of children and adolescents aged from 0 to 13 years, of both sexes, with clinical diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia were evaluated from March 2020 to March 2021. RESULTS: Almost 40.0% of children were aged between 1 year and 5 years. Of the 128 children who had SARS-CoV-2, 3 are of indigenous ethnicity. Additionally, 78.6% of the children had fever and there was no significant difference between COVID-19 patients and those of other respiratory viruses. Eighteen patients had chronic neurological disease, which is the most common comorbidity observed in patients with coronavirus infection. Ground glass opacity attenuation was observed in 24.8% of children and adolescents with COVID-19. Anemia and increased inflammatory response markers were related to SARS-CoV-2 infection. More than 90.0% of patients admitted to hospital, regardless of etiology, were treated with antibiotics. Eighteen patients died. Pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome (PMIS) was diagnosed in 17 patients. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 in children and adolescents is mild, but the condition of patients with PMIS is more serious, with an increase in inflammatory biomarkers which can lead to death. Therefore, rapid diagnosis and differentiation of agents causing respiratory diseases are necessary for better therapeutic decision making, since the results of this study make us question the excessive use of antibiotics without meeting well-defined clinical-epidemiological criteria.
ABSTRACT
Hashimoto thyroiditis is an autoimmune disease characterized by hypothyroidism and a high level of anti-thyroid autoantibodies. It has shown to negatively impact female fertility; however, the mechanisms are unclear. Ovarian follicular fluid appears to be the key to understanding how Hashimoto thyroiditis affecst fertility. Thus, we aimed to evaluated the metabolic profile of follicular fluid and antithyroid autoantibody levels in the context of Hashimoto thyroiditis. We collected follicular fluid from 61 patients, namely 38 women with thyroid autoantibody positivity and 23 women as negative controls, undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment. Follicular fluid samples were analyzed using metabolomics, and thyroid autoantibodies were measured. Fifteen metabolites with higher concentrations in the follicular fluid samples from Hashimoto thyroiditis were identified, comprising five possible affected pathways: the glycerophospholipid, arachidonic acid, linoleic acid, alpha-linolenic acid, and sphingolipid metabolism pathways. These pathways are known to regulate ovarian functions. In addition, antithyroglobulin antibody concentrations in both serum and follicular fluid were more than tenfold higher in women with Hashimoto thyroiditis than in controls. Our data showed that the metabolic profile of follicular fluid is altered in women with Hashimoto thyroiditis, suggesting a potential mechanistic explanation for the association of this disease with female infertility.
Subject(s)
Autoimmune Diseases , Hashimoto Disease , Humans , Female , Follicular Fluid , Autoantibodies , MetabolomicsABSTRACT
O Brasil é um país que possui um litoral onde se deparam grandes cidades e com grande fluxo de atividades humanas, o que pode levar a contaminação por microrganismos e parasitos. Diante desse contexto, o objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a ocorrência parasitária e microbiológica em areia de praias de São Luís, Maranhão. Para tal, foram coletadas quatro amostras de três praias, totalizando assim 12 amostras, cada área foi dividida em quatro faixas distintas, sendo duas secas e duas úmidas, e para cada amostra foram introduzidos coletores estéreis na areia com profundidade de 20 centímetros. As amostras foram identificadas e colocadas em caixa de isopor e foram conduzidas ao laboratório para análises, a parasitológica foi através do método de sedimentação espontânea e centrifugação e para a microbiológica utilizou-se o kit COLItest® para determinação de coliformes totais e termotolerantes (Escherichia coli). As areias, 100% (12/12) encontravam-se positivas para helmintos e/ou protozoários, sendo que o helminto e protozoário de maior ocorrência foram: 100% (12/12) Trichuris trichiura e 83,3% (10/12) Giardia lamblia, respectivamente. As análises microbiológicas, apresentaram 66,6% (8/12) com contaminação por coliformes totais, e 58,3% (7/12) para Escherichia coli, o ponto de coleta 3 da areia seca da praia de São Marcos (Sm3S) apresentou a maior contaminação por Escherichia coli (4,33x102 UFC/mL). As praias da orla marítima chamada Litorânea em São Luís estão contaminadas por parasitas como também por bactérias oriundas de fontes que entraram em contato com fezes seja de animais ou de humanos. Assim, aumenta-se a probabilidade de indivíduos que frequentem esses ambientes de adquirirem infecções.
Brazil has a coastline with large cities and a great flow of human activities, which can lead to contamination by microorganisms and parasites. Given this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the parasitic and microbiological events in the sand of beaches in São Luís, Maranhão. Therefore, four samples were collected from three beaches, thus totaling 12 samples. Each area was divided into four distinct segments, two dry and two wet, and for each sample, sterile collectors were inserted into the sand at a depth of 20 centimeters. The samples were identified, placed in a Styrofoam box, and taken to the laboratory for analysis. The parasitological analysis was performed through spontaneous sedimentation and centrifugation, while the microbiological analysis used the COLItest® kit to determine total and thermotolerant coliforms (Escherichia coli). All the sand samples were positive (100%) for helminths and/or protozoa, and the most frequent helminth and protozoan were Trichuris trichiura (100%; n=12 ) and Giardia lamblia (83.3%; n=10), respectively. Microbiological analyses showed that 66.6% (8/12) were contaminated by total coliforms and 58.3% (7/12) by Escherichia coli. Collection point 3 of dry sand from São Marcos beach (Sm3S) showed the highest contamination by Escherichia coli (4.33x102 CFU/mL). The beaches on the seafront called Litorânea in São Luís are contaminated by parasites and fecal bacteria from animals or human sources on the beach. Thus, the probability of acquiring infections increases among individuals visiting these environments.
ABSTRACT
Introdução: As adolescentes merecem atenção especial em saúde pública, pois ao iniciar atividade sexual se expõem aos riscos das DSTs, da gravidez indesejada, do câncer cervical e de outras doenças inflamatórias pélvicas. Objetivos: Avaliar os aspectos ginecológicos e a frequência de infecções do trato genital inferior em adolescentes. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo de caso-controle, onde foram estudadas pacientes adolescentes (n=68) e adultas (n=112) atendidas em uma clínica privada, que presta atendimento em ginecologia e obstetrícia. Excluíram-se aquelas que apresentavam qualquer tipo problema que impossibilitasse a realização dos exames necessários (sangramento genital, uso de cremes ou gel vaginal ou relação sexual em intervalo inferior a 72 horas da consulta médica) e as que não assinaram o Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido (TCLE). As pacientes foram submetidas à anamnese e exame físico, com coleta de material para a realização de citologia, exame a fresco e pesquisa do DNA do Papilomavírus humano (HPV), pela técnica de captura híbrida II. Quando necessário realizou-se a biópsia de colo uterino, guiada pela colposcopia. No teste de significância estatística das diferenças observadas na análise, utilizou-se o teste do qui-quadrado e/ou o teste T de Student, dependendo da natureza dos dados comparados. O nível de significância adotado na análise foi de 5%. Resultados: A frequência de infecção pelo HPV diagnosticada pela captura híbrida foi de 47,3% para as pacientes adultas e de 35,3% para as adolescentes (p=0,42). A frequência de neoplasia intraepitelial de alto grau foi mais frequente em pacientes adultas, mas as adolescentes apresentaram 19% de neoplasia intraepitelial cervical diagnosticada pela histopatologia. Conclusão: Identificou-se percentual elevado de neoplasia intraepitelial cervical em adolescentes, o que pode estar associado ao comportamento de risco deste grupo, com trocas frequentes de parceiros e prática do sexo sem proteção.
Background: Adolescents deserve special attention in public health, because when they start sexual activity these are individuals exposed to the risks of STDs, unwanted pregnancies, cervical cancer and other pelvic inflammatory diseases. Aim: To evaluate the frequency of gynecological and lower genital tract infections in adolescents. Methods: This is a case-control study where patients were studied, both adolescents (n = 68) and adults (n=112) attended a private clinic. We excluded those who had any problems that hinder the achievement of the necessary examinations (vaginal bleeding, use of creams or gels or vaginal intercourse at an interval less than 72 hours of medical consultation) and that did not sign the informed consent. The patients underwent history and physical examination, with collection of material for the Pap smear and research DNAHPV, the technique of hybrid capture II. When appropriate a cervix biopsy was done guided by colposcopy. Statistical analysis were performed considering p<0.05. Results: The frequency of HPV infection diagnosed by hybrid capture was 47.3% for adult patients and 35.3% for girls (p=0.42). The frequency of intraepithelial neoplasia of high degree was more frequent in adult patients, but 19% of adolescents had cervical intraepithelial neoplasia diagnosed by histopathology. Conclusion: We identified a high percentage of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in adolescents, which may be associated with a risky behavior in this group, with frequent partners changes and practice of unprotected sex.
