Immunoglobulins concentration and B cell counts as severity markers in adult community-acquired pneumonia: Cross sectional study.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a worldwide cause of morbidity and mortality. Immunoglobulins (Igs) and B cells quantification studies in CAP are few and show discrepancies. Serum IgA acts as a powerful natural anti-inflammatory factor, but its role in the CAP has not yet been defined. The highly sensitive xMAP Luminex technique allows better immunoglobulins quantification. The aim of this study was to analyze the relation between clinical severity and circulating Igs and B cells in adults with CAP.Igs (M, A, G1, G2, G3, and G4) and B cells were quantified in peripheral blood of 190 Chilean patients ≥18 years old hospitalized for CAP and in 21 adults without respiratory disease, using xMAP Luminex and flow cytometry, respectively. Clinical history was recorded and PSI and CURB-65 scores were calculated for evaluation of clinical severity.The total IgM, IgG2 and total IgG levels were lower in CAP than in asymptomatic adults (P < .05). No significant differences of Igs levels were found between patients classified as severe and mild by PSI and CURB-65 scores. Fatal cases had higher levels of IgA (P < .05). No differences in CD19 B cells frequency was found between CAP and asymptomatic adults (P = .40). In PSI severe cases, CD19 B cells were significantly lower than in mild cases (P = .008). No differences were found in CURB-65 severe and mild groups (P = .11). In fatal cases (11/82) group, CD19 B cells frequency was lower than in 71 survivors (P = .2). No differences in memory B lymphocytes were detected between asymptomatic and CAP adults, severe and mild patients, survivors and fatal cases (P > .05).Serum IgA levels were significantly higher in fatal CAP cases, raising it as a potential biomarker for severe disease considering its relatively universal availability. In PSI severe patients, B cells showed lower levels and could have a role on its physiopathology. Finding new markers rooted in physiopathology could improve the possibility of scoring severe CAP cases. Luminex technology showed promising quantification serum Igs.

[Calculating the risk of acquiring measles of chileans traveling abroad]. / Riesgo de contagio de sarampion para un viajero chileno en 2017.

BACKGROUND: There is always a risk of importing infectious diseases when travelling abroad. AIM: To estimate the effective risk of a Chilean of acquiring measles during a travel by countries where measles outbreaks have been reported, considering the present level of immunity in the country. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Previously established mathematical models using differential equations were applied to calculate the risk of acquiring measles of people traveling to endemic areas. RESULTS: The probability of acquiring measles of a voyager is 8.11 x 10-8. CONCLUSIONS: These estimations help decision making about preventive measures for travelers to endemic measles areas.

Riesgo de contagio de sarampion para un viajero chileno en 2017 / Calculating the risk of acquiring measles of chileans traveling abroad

Background: There is always a risk of importing infectious diseases when travelling abroad. Aim: To estimate the effective risk of a Chilean of acquiring measles during a travel by countries where measles outbreaks have been reported, considering the present level of immunity in the country. Material and Methods: Previously established mathematical models using differential equations were applied to calculate the risk of acquiring measles of people traveling to endemic areas. Results: The probability of acquiring measles of a voyager is 8.11 x 10-8. Conclusions: These estimations help decision making about preventive measures for travelers to endemic measles areas.

Human bocavirus in children with acute gastroenteritis, Chile, 1985-2010.

We detected human bocavirus in 89 (19.3%) of 462 fecal samples collected during 3 periods from 1985 through 2010 from children <5 years of age in Chile who were hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis. Our findings confirm the long-term circulation of human bocavirus in Chile.

[Detection of human metapneumovirus in children hospitalized for acute lower respiratory infection in Santiago, Chile]. / Detección de metapneumovirus humano en niños hospitalizados por infección respiratoria aguda baja en Santiago, Chile.

BACKGROUND: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has recently been described as a new causal agent of acute low respiratory infection (ALRI) in children. In South America, detection has been reported only in Brazil and Argentina. AIM: To detect hMPV in children hospitalized for ALRI in Santiago, Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect N gene of hMPV in 182 nasopharyngeal aspirates that were negative for common respiratory viruses, obtained from children hospitalized for ALRI during 2003. RESULTS: Ten samples (5.4%) were positive, most of them detected during spring months. CONCLUSIONS: Since hMPV was detected among infants with ALRI in Santiago, further studies on their prevalence should be done in South America.

Virology of infantile chronic recurrent parotitis in Santiago de Chile.

Infantile chronic recurrent parotitis (ICRP) has been attributed to multiple causes, including viral infections, and therefore its treatment remains empirical. Our aim was to evaluate the involvement of respiratory and oropharyngeal viruses in acute episodes of ICRP. Seventy children were studied, 50 patients and 20 age-matched controls, in a 2-year follow-up study. Saliva samples were taken from the parotid duct and analyzed by viral isolation and immunofluorescence for adenovirus (Ad), respiratory sincitial virus (RSV), parainfluenza virus (PI), influenza virus (Flu), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV). Paired sera samples were tested by ELISA for anti-Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) IgG and anti-mumps IgM and IgG. Viral infections were detected in 7/50 (14%) cases of the ICRP group: one CMV; 2 Enteroviruses isolated in human embryonic lung fibroblast cells; 1 Flu A; and 3 mumps virus. No EBV seroconversions were detected. In the control group, 2 out of the 20 children had an asymptomatic mumps positive IgM titer. Our data indicate that the main respiratory and oropharyngeal viruses are not the cause of acute episodes of ICRP in Chilean children.

Prevalencia de agentes enteropatógenos en síndrome diarreico agudo en niños hospitalizados y ambulatorios / Prevalence of enteropathogen in agents in acute diarrhea syndrome in impatient and out patient children

Para conocer importancia relativa de agentes enteropatógenos bacterianos y virales en niños con diarrea aguda que necesitan atención médica de nivel primario o secundario, se efectuó un estudio etiológico durante 2 períodos de verano. Primer período, verano 1983, 102 pacientes que cumplían con definición pre establecida de diarrea aguda (58 de hospital, 44 de consultorio) y 66. controles; segundo período, verano 86 se estudiaron 161 pacientes con diarrea (80 hospitalizados, 81 ambulatorios) y 71 controles pareados por edad. En el grupo con diatte los principales agentes detectados fueron E. coli enteropatógeno (ECEO) (37%), E. coli enterotoxiogénico (ECET) (21%), rotavirus (16%) shigella (12%). En el grupo control se aislaron ECEP, ECET, campylobacter y rotavirus; la frecuencia de ECEP, shigella y rotavirus fue significativamente inferior. En los pacientes hospitalizados por diarrea, con especto a los ambulatorios la prevalencia de ECEP y rotavirus en hospitalizados fue significativamente superior. Hubo mayor tendencia al aislamiento más frecuente de campylobacter en los pacientes ambulatorios

Infección intrahospitalaria por rotavirus en lactantes, Santiago, Chile / Hospital rotavirus infection in infants, Santiago, Chile

En Santiago, Chile, entre 1979 y 1984 se investigó, mediante la técnica de electroforesis del ARN vírico, la infección por rotavirus en 1 033 niños menores de dos años hospitalizados por diarrea en el servicio de pediatría del Hospital Roberto del Río. La aparición frecuente de diarrea intrahospitalaria causada por rotavirus fue motivo de un estudio adicional de seguimiento en 139 niños hospitalizados entre septiembre y diciembre de 1983. En total, el 26,8% de los 1 033 ingresos fue positivo para rotavirus con porcentajes más altos entre los niños de 6 a 23 meses de edad y significativamente menores en los lactantes de 0 a 5 meses. Si bien los casos de diarrea aguda aumentaron en las épocas calurosas, los rotavirus se detectaron durante todo el año, con mayor frecuencia en otoño y predominio del subgrupo II. Un estudio preliminar de seguimiento intrahospitalario indicó que el 11,5% de los 139 lactantes hospitalizados presentó diarrea nosocomial causada en el 75% de los casos por rotavirus. Se concluye que estos resultados justifican investigaciones más profundas sobre la frecuencia de infecciones intrahospitalarias por rotavirus

Anticuerpos contra virus rubeola y herpes en mujeres que atienden recién nacidos hospitalizados / Antibodies against rubella and herpes virus in women attending hospitalized newborn infants

Los virus herpes simplex y rubeola son capaces de producir infecciones connatales graves, para las cuales existe actualmente prevención. Se investigó la presencia de anticuerpos contra ambos en una población femenina que trabaja en el sector salud frente a estos virus. Se estudiaron 3 grupos de mujeres, 89 eran estudiantes de medicina o enfermería, 35 profesionales de las mismas disciplinas y 32 auxiliares de enfermería en una Unidad de Recién Nacidos. El 99,4% de las mujeres investigadas tenía anticuerpos antirubeola, confirmándose que existe un alto grado de inmunidad contra el virus en el población femenina adulta chilena. Con respecto al virus herpes, se encontraron tasas de seropositividad significativamente mayores en el personal auxiliar de recién nacidos (94%) que en las estudiantes y profesionales (74%). Se encontró también con mayor frecuencia antecedentes de infecciones herpéticas en dicho grupo (48,5%), situación que es especialmente significativa dado que se trata de personal que trabaja directamente con recién nacidos

Eritema infeccioso: una parvovirosis / Infectious erythema: a parvovirosis

Se realizó una actualización de eritema infeccioso, una enfermedad exantemática de la infancia que recientemente se ha asociado a parvovirus humanos y se presentan 2 casos en que se comprobó el diagnóstico por alza de IgM específica, mediante la técnica de Radioinmunoanálisis

Rotavirus en diarreas de evolucion prolongada. / Rotavirus in diarrheas of prolonged course

Dada la alta frecuencia de hallazgo de rotavirus en diarreas agudas, decidimos estudiar la participacion de este virus en diarreas de evolucion prolongada, que es una forma evolutiva menos frecuente y con multiples agentes causales. Se estudiaron 43 ninos menores de 1 ano hospitalizados en el Servico de Lactante del Hospital Roberto del Rio entre Septiembre de 1980 y Mayo de 1981, que evolucionaron con sindrome diarreico prolongado. Se investigo en las deposiciones la presencia de bacterias y parasitos por metodos habituales, y de rotavirus por la tecnica de ELISA indirecta. Ademas se estudio la presencia de intolerencia a disacaridos y de possibles focos infecciosos extradigestivos. Se encontro rotavirus en 46.5%, bacterias en 62.8%, parasitos enteropatogenos en 11.6%.Se encontro intolerencia a disacaridos en 55% de los lactentes rotavirus positivo y en 26% de los negativos, diferencia estadisticamente significativa. Se discute la importancia de los distintos agentes, con especial enfasis en el papel que juegan los rotavirus