In this exclusively pediatric cohort, positivity for C4d in the mesangial area was an independent predictor of renal function deterioration in IgAN.

Involvement of the kidneys by lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most severe clinical manifestations seen in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). LN is more frequent and severe in pediatric patients and has been associated with higher morbidity and mortality rates. This narrative review aimed to describe the general aspects of LN and its particularities when affecting children and adolescents, while focusing on the disease's etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, renal tissue alterations, and treatment options.

Introduction: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most important systemic mycosis in South America. Central nervous system involvement is potentially fatal and can occur in 12.5% of cases. This paper aims to contribute to the literature describing eight cases of neuroparacoccidioidomycosis (NPMC) and compare their characteristics with patients without neurological involvement, to identify unique characteristics of NPCM. Methods: A cohort of 213 PCM cases was evaluated at the Infectious Diseases Clinic of the University Hospital, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil, from October 1976 to August 2008. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, therapeutic and follow-up data were registered. Results: Eight patients presented NPCM. The observed NPCM prevalence was 3.8%. One patient presented the subacute form of PCM and the other seven presented the chronic form of the disease. The parenchymatous form of NPCM occurred in all patients. 60% of the patients who proceeded from the north/ northeast region of Minas Gerais State developed NPCM. The neurological involvement of a mother and her son was observed. NPCM patients exhibited demographical and clinical profiles similar to what is described in the literature. When NPCM cases were compared to PCM patients, there were differences in relation to origin and positive PCM family history. Conclusions: The results corroborate the clinical view that the neurological findings are extremely important in the evaluation of PCM patients. Despite the limitations of this study, the differences in relation to patient's origins and family history point to the need of further studies to determine the susceptibility factors involved in the neurological compromise.

Liver test abnormalities are frequently observed in COVID-19 patients and are associated with worse prognosis. However, information is limited about pathological changes in the liver in this infection, so the mechanism of liver injury is unclear. Here we describe liver histopathology and clinical correlates of 27 patients who died of COVID-19 in Manaus, Brazil. There was a high prevalence of liver injury (elevated ALT and AST in 44% and 48% of patients, respectively) in these patients. Histological analysis showed sinusoidal congestion and ischemic necrosis in more than 85% of the cases, but these appeared to be secondary to systemic rather than intrahepatic thrombotic events, as only 14% and 22% of samples were positive for CD61 (marker of platelet activation) and C4d (activated complement factor), respectively. Furthermore, the extent of these vascular findings did not correlate with the extent of transaminase elevations. Steatosis was present in 63% of patients, and portal inflammation was present in 52%. In most cases hepatocytes expressed angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is responsible for binding and entry of SARS-CoV-2, even though this ectoenzyme was minimally expressed on hepatocytes in normal controls. However, SARS-CoV-2 staining was not observed. Most hepatocytes also expressed ITPR3, a calcium channel that becomes expressed in acute liver injury. Conclusion: The hepatocellular injury that commonly occurs in patients with severe COVID-19 is not due to the vascular events that contribute to pulmonary or cardiac damage. However, new expression of ACE2 and ITPR3 with concomitant inflammation and steatosis suggests that liver injury may result from inflammation, metabolic abnormalities and perhaps direct viral injury.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a polymorphic systemic granulomatous mycosis determined by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and P. lutzii and constitutes one of the 10 leading causes of morbidity and mortality by the parasitic diseases endemic in Brazil. The need for updates on the etiology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis is a for routinely including this disease in the differential diagnosis of current medical practice, recognizing it early and treating it properly, so as to avoid progression with sequelae and death.A paracoccidioidomicose (PCM) é uma micose granulomatosa sistêmica, polimórfica, determinada pelos Paracoccidioides brasiliensis e P. lutzii e constitui-se em uma das 10 causas de morbimortalidade entre as doenças endêmicas parasitárias no Brasil. A atualização do conhecimento sobre sua etiologia, epidemiologia e patogênese constitui estímulo para que seja incluída no espectro do diagnóstico diferencial da prática médica

Our preliminary findings indicate, for the first time, that positivity for CD44 in PECs seems to be a pathological marker of renal function deterioration in pediatric patients with FSGS.

Background The collapsing variant of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is the most aggressive form of FSGS and is characterized by at least one glomerulus with segmental or global collapse and overlying podocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia. Viruses can act as aetiological agents of secondary FSGS. This study aims to establish an aetiological link between dengue virus (DENV) infection and the collapsing variant of FSGS and to analyse possible influences of the apolipoprotein 1 (APOL1) gene risk alleles on the disease. Methods Biopsies and medical records were gathered from 700 patients of the Instituto de Nefropatologia, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Screening for the collapsing variant of FSGS was performed and serological, immunohistochemical, tissue polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genetic analysis were conducted. Results Eight patients were identified with positive DENV serology and negative serological and/or tissue markers for hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, Epstein–Barr virus, human immunodeficiency virus, cytomegalovirus and parvovirus B19. In PCR analysis, six patients had positive markers for DENV strain genetic material, one patient had positive markers for co-infection of Zika virus (ZIKV) and DENV and one patient had positive markers only for ZIKV infection. Six of the eight patients did not show risk alleles of the APOL1 gene. One patient had only one risk allele (G1) and the sample from another did not contain enough DNA for genetic analysis to be performed. Conclusions This study provided strong evidence that DENV can infect renal tissue and possibly functions as a second hit to the development of the collapsing variant of FSGS. Nonetheless, this study also highlights the possible implication of ZIKV infection in FSGS and supports the argument that risk alleles of the APOL1 gene may not be implicated in the susceptibility to FSGS in these patients.

Symptomatic prostatic paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a very rare condition; however, it may express as a typical benign prostatic hyperplasia or a simulating prostatic adenocarcinoma. This case report presents PCM mimicking prostatic adenocarcinoma. The purpose of this paper is to call the general physician's attention to this important differential diagnosis.Key words: Paracoccidioides brasiliensis -paracoccidioidomycosis -prostatitis -prostate cancer Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is an important deep mycosis in Latin America. It is caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, whose spores enter the body via the respiratory tract and evolve either asymptomatically or in a sub-acute or chronic manner. The parasite is able to provoke several clinical presentations due to its capacity to disseminate itself from the lungs through the lymphatic system or via the blood stream to any organ or system. PCM mainly affects adult males, preferentially in the lungs, mucosa, skin and phagocytic-monocytic system (Paniago et al. 2003. On a smaller scale, it reaches the nervous, musculoskeletal and suprarenal systems (Paniago et al. 2003). Its clinical incidence in the urinary tract, especially in prostatic injuries, is not well known. In a few necropsy studies involving disseminated PCM cases, its incidence varies from 2.7-9% (Salfelder et al. 1969, Begliomini et al. 1993.Prostatic diseases have become more common due to the increase in the population's age. Generally, they appear in males over 40-years-old, being more often bacterial and viral infections, benign hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma. Prostatic adenocarcinoma is the most fearful lesion due to its malignant and metastatic potential, and it is seen clinically in 10% of cases. Its diagnosis must always be set apart because its mortality is 3%, making it the greatest cause of morbi-mortality among men (Crawford 2003).Fungal prostatitis is unusual, having as its most common agents Coccidioides immitis, Candida albicans, Aspergillus sp., Cryptococcus neoformans and Blastomyces dermatitidis, which mainly affect patients who are immune-suppressed. The symptomatic attack of the prostate by PCM has rarely been described. Its potential severity justifies the reporting of this case. In this paper, infection of the prostate by P. brasiliensis is described, mimicking cancer with urethral obstruction and urgent expansion of the bladder. Case studyAAF, a 54-year-old married rural worker who was born in and is a current resident of São Sebastião do Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Brazil, presented in December 2003 with palate stomatitis associated with dysphagia and odynophagia. A biopsy of this injury revealed P. brasiliensis. He was treated with Sulfametoxazol (800 mg) and Trimethoprim (160 mg) daily in an irregular way for 20 months. In December 2004, he started to complain of dysuria, polyuria and urinary urgency and frequency, which culminated after one year in prompt urinary retention. Concomitantly, a stomatitis with moriforme injury of the palate appeared.A digital r...