The arrival of Zika virus in the Americas in recent years brought with it a dramatic increase in the rates of microcephaly in regions of Northeastern Brazil. It was from this region of the of the ...world that we began to understand that this flavivirus (once considered a less severe version of dengue) could have devastating consequences when the infection occurred in pregnant women who did not yet have immunity. We now understand that Zika Congenital Syndrome can have additional effects outside of the central nervous system, but its most lasting consequences are related to the brain infection in utero.
Here, we describe a serological enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the screening and identification of human SARS-CoV-2 seroconverters. This assay does not require the handling of infectious ...virus, can be adjusted to detect different antibody types in serum and plasma and is amenable to scaling. Serological assays are of critical importance to help define previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in populations, identify highly reactive human donors for convalescent plasma therapy and investigate correlates of protection.
Primary cutaneous nocardiosis accounts for 5–8 % of all nocardiosis cases and represents a diagnostic dilemma among immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. Herein, we present a case of a ...30-year-old male with history of psoriasis with recent addition of Apremilast. Patient received intralesional triamcinolone injections for psoriatic plaques on the hands and abdomen prior to traveling to warm climate vacation. While on vacation, patient developed hand swelling and painful, red nodules on the dorsal hands and abdomen, sites where he received intralesional injections. Patient was empirically given doxycycline, but continued to develop new nodules. An abdominal lesion was biopsied for H&E and tissue culture. Tissue culture revealed beaded gram-positive rods identified as Nocardia nova by MALDI-TOF. Patient was switched to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole with significant improvement. This case represents an atypical primary cutaneous nocardiosis with Nocardia nova most likely in the setting of intralesional steroid injections and possible contribution of Apremilast.
As the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic continues to expand, healthcare resources globally have been spread thin. Now, the disease is rapidly spreading across ...South America, with deadly consequences in areas with already weakened public health systems. The Amazon region is particularly susceptible to the widespread devastation from Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) because of its immunologically fragile native Amerindian inhabitants and epidemiologic vulnerabilities. Herein, we discuss the current situation and potential impact of COVID-19 in the Amazon region and how further spread of the epidemic wave could prove devastating for many Amerindian people living in the Amazon rainforest.
Zika Virus: More Questions Than Answers Maestre, Ana M.; Caplivski, Daniel; Fernandez-Sesma, Ana
EBioMedicine,
03/2016, Letnik:
5, Številka:
C
Journal Article
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that rarely causes pneumonia in otherwise healthy patients. We describe a case of community-acquired P. aeruginosa pneumonia in a previously ...healthy individual who likely acquired the infection from a home humidifier.
The HIV-Positive Traveler Bhadelia, Nahid, MD, MALD; Klotman, Mary, MD; Caplivski, Daniel, MD
The American journal of medicine,
07/2007, Letnik:
120, Številka:
7
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Abstract Antiretroviral therapy has led to a substantial increase in the life expectancy and quality of life for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients. Increasingly, physicians are ...asked to counsel them before international travel to regions in which infectious diseases are more prevalent. The pretravel evaluation requires an accurate assessment of the patient’s level of immune compromise as well as an understanding of the risks involved in travel to tropical countries. We review the safety and efficacy of travel medicine-related vaccines, important considerations when selecting antimalarial prophylaxis, and strategies for management of traveler’s diarrhea. The prevention of sexually transmitted infections while abroad also is an important public health intervention for both the traveler and the potential sexual partners abroad. Beyond the health-related issues in international travel, HIV-positive patients may confront some significant legal hurdles in crossing international borders. We provide guidance in navigating the diverse and complex issues that arise for the HIV-positive traveler.
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