Ilheus virus is an arbovirus with the potential for central nervous system involvement. Accurate diagnosis is a challenge due to similar clinical symptoms and serologic cross-reactivity with other flaviviruses. Here, we describe the first documented case of a fatal outcome following the identification of Ilheus virus in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a patient with cerebral encephalitis in Brazil.

Enterovirus (EV) is commonly associated with central nervous system (CNS) syndromes. Recently, gastroenteric viruses, including rotavirus (RVA), human astrovirus (HAstV), and norovirus (NoV), have also been associated with CNS neurological disorders. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of EV, RVA, HAst, and NoV associated to CNS infections with undiagnosed etiology in Northwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil, and to conduct the molecular characterization of the positive samples detected. A total of 288 cerebrospinal fluid samples collected from July to December 2017 were tested for EV and NoV by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR), HAstV by conventional RT‐PCR, and RVA by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Positive‐EV samples were inoculated in cells lines, amplified by RT‐PCR and sequenced. RVA, NoV, and HAstV were not detected. EV infection was detected in 5.5% (16/288), and five samples successful genotyped: echovirus 3 (E3) (1/5), coxsackie virus A6 (CVA6) (1/5), and coxsackie virus B4 (CVB4) (3/5). Meningitis was the main syndrome observed (12/16; 75%). CVA6, CVB4, and E3 were identified associated with aseptic meningitis. Reports of CVA6 associated with aseptic meningitis are rare, E3 had not been previously reported in Brazil, and epidemiological data on CVB4 in the country is virtually unknown. The present investigation illustrates the circulation of diverse EV types in a small regional sample set and in a short period of time, highlighting the importance of an active EV surveillance system in CNS infections. Enhanced understanding of undiagnosed CNS infections will assist in public health and health care planning.

Two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocols showed low sensitivity (36% and 53% for TB AMPLICOR and MPB64 nested PCR, respectively), when compared with classic microbiological methods (73% and 54% for Ziehl-Neelsen staining and culture, respectively), in the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis in 91 patients in southeastern Brazil. Only three PCR-positive, microbiologically negative patients were found. Analysis of sequential cerebrospinal fluid samples by nested PCR detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA up to 29 days after the introduction of antituberculosis chemotherapy. Key-words: Diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis. PCR. Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Resumo Dois protocolos de reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) apresentaram baixa sensibilidade (36% e 53%, respectivamente), para TB AMPLICOR e PCR aninhado baseado no gene MPB64), quando comparados aos métodos microbiológicos clássicos (73% e 54% respectivamente para baciloscopia e cultura), no diagnóstico de meningite tuberculosa em 91 pacientes do sudeste do Brasil. Somente três pacientes apresentaram PCR positiva e microbiologia negativa. A análise de amostras seqüenciais de líquor com a PCR aninhada detectou DNA de Mycobacterium tuberculosis até 29 dias após a introdução de tratamento. Palavras-chaves: Diagnóstico da meningite tuberculosa. PCR. Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) presents as an exaggerated immune reaction that occurs during dysregulated immune restoration in immunocompromised patients in late-stage human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection who have commenced antiretroviral treatments (ART). Virtually any opportunistic pathogen can provoke this type of immune restoration disorder. In this review, we focus on recent developments in the identification of risk factors for Cryptococcal IRIS and on advancements in our understanding of C-IRIS immunopathogenesis. We overview new findings in blood and cerebrospinal fluid which can potentially be useful in the prediction and diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis IRIS (CM-IRIS). We assess current therapeutic regimens and novel treatment approaches to combat CM-IRIS. We discuss the utility of biomarkers for clinical monitoring and adjusting treatment modalities in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients co-infected with Cryptococcus who have initiated ART.

Arbovirus infections are increasingly important causes of disease, whose spectrum of neurological manifestations are not fully known. This study sought to retrospectively assess the incidence of arboviruses in cerebrospinal fluid samples of patients with neurological symptoms to inform diagnosis of central and peripheral nervous system disorders. A total of 255 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected from January 2016 to December 2017 were tested for dengue virus (DENV 1-4), Zika virus (ZIKV), and Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in addition to other neurotropic arboviruses of interest, using genetic and serologic assays. Of the 255 CSF samples analyzed, 3.53% (09/255) were positive for arboviruses presenting mainly as meningitis, encephalitis, and cerebrovascular events, of which ZIKV was detected in 2.74% (7/255), DENV in 0.78% (2/255), in addition to an identified ILHV infection that was described previously. All the cases were detected in adults aged 18 to 74 years old. Our findings highlight the scientific and clinical importance of neurological syndromes associated with arboviruses and demonstrate the relevance of specific laboratory methods to achieve accurate diagnoses as well as highlight the true dimension of these diseases to ultimately improve public health planning and medical case management.

Introduction: Almost 20 years since the beginning of affirmative action implementation, there is still much discussion about the real effectiveness of these measures, especially regarding academic performance, comparing “quota holders” to “non-quota holders”, with doubts arising about whether the former can keep up with the latter. Objective: To establish a profile and compare the academic performance and other aspects related to the academic life of “quota holder” students (Inclusion Program with Merit in Public Higher Education in São Paulo - PIMESP) with the other students in their respective classes selected via broad competition (BC). Method: Retrospective cohort of 1st to 3rd-year medical students, divided in BC or PIMESP. The following were assessed: arithmetic mean of the final grades of the curricular subjects; final approval status (FAS) in the subjects; frequency; books borrowed from the library (BBLi) and participation in monitoring/academic center. Continuous variables were compared by Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney test and categorical by chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. Values p < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Of the 237 students included in the sample, all had completed the 1st year (2015, 2016 and 2017 entrants), 158 students (2015 and 2016 entrants) the 1st and 2nd years, and 78 (32.9%) had completed the 3rd year (2015 entrants) at the time of the survey. In the analysis of all those who had completed the 1st year, where 16% were PIMESP, there was a difference in mean final grades and FAS, higher for BC students and no difference for attendance, BBLi, participation in monitoring and academic center. In the analysis of those who had completed the 2nd year, where 15.8% were PIMESP, there was no difference between any of the studied variables. The analysis of those who had completed the 3rd year, where 15.4% were PIMESP, once again showed difference between the averages of final grades and FAS, higher for BC students, but with a less marked difference, and there were no significant differences for the other variables. Conclusion: We observed a fluctuation of academic performance among PIMESP students, towards inferior outcomes, when compared to BC students, throughout the first three years of medical school, but not for other variables. No increase in the dropout rate was observed, contrary to what is found in the literature.

Introduction: Almost 20 years since the beginning of affirmative action implementation, there is still much discussion about the real effectiveness of these measures, especially regarding academic performance, comparing “quota holders” to “non-quota holders”, with doubts arising about whether the former can keep up with the latter. Objective: To establish a profile and compare the academic performance and other aspects related to the academic life of “quota holder” students (Inclusion Program with Merit in Public Higher Education in São Paulo - PIMESP) with the other students in their respective classes selected via broad competition (BC). Method: Retrospective cohort of 1st to 3rd-year medical students, divided in BC or PIMESP. The following were assessed: arithmetic mean of the final grades of the curricular subjects; final approval status (FAS) in the subjects; frequency; books borrowed from the library (BBLi) and participation in monitoring/academic center. Continuous variables were compared by Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney test and categorical by chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. Values p < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Of the 237 students included in the sample, all had completed the 1st year (2015, 2016 and 2017 entrants), 158 students (2015 and 2016 entrants) the 1st and 2nd years, and 78 (32.9%) had completed the 3rd year (2015 entrants) at the time of the survey. In the analysis of all those who had completed the 1st year, where 16% were PIMESP, there was a difference in mean final grades and FAS, higher for BC students and no difference for attendance, BBLi, participation in monitoring and academic center. In the analysis of those who had completed the 2nd year, where 15.8% were PIMESP, there was no difference between any of the studied variables. The analysis of those who had completed the 3rd year, where 15.4% were PIMESP, once again showed difference between the averages of final grades and FAS, higher for BC students, but with a less marked difference, and there were no significant differences for the other variables. Conclusion: We observed a fluctuation of academic performance among PIMESP students, towards inferior outcomes, when compared to BC students, throughout the first three years of medical school, but not for other variables. No increase in the dropout rate was observed, contrary to what is found in the literature.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) presents as an exaggerated immune reaction that occurs during dysregulated immune restoration in immunocompromised patients in late-stage HIV infection who commenced antiretroviral treatments. Virtually, any opportunistic pathogen can provoke this type of immune restoration disorders. In this review, we focus on recent development in the identification of risk factors for Cryptococcal IRIS and on advancements in our understanding of C-IRIS immunopathogenesis. We overview new findings in blood and cerebrospinal fluid which can potentially be useful in the diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis IRIS. We assess the utility of these biomarkers to identify putative host-based targets, which may justify a clinical need for improvement in monitoring a patient&rsquo;s laboratory results and adjusting treatment modalities in AIDS patients co-infected with Cryptococcus.