ABSTRACT Background: New-onset chronic pain has been acknowledged as part of the post-COVID-19 condition. However, available fine-grained data about its clinical phenotype, trajectories and main associated characteristics remain scarce. We described the distinct temporal evolutions of post-COVID-19 pain and their epidemiological and phenotypical features. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study enrolled post-COVID-19 condition patients (i.e. who had persisting COVID-19-related symptoms over 30 days since their first positive laboratory test), whose COVID-19 diagnosis had been supported by RT-PCR of oral/nasopharyngeal swab or serology. They underwent in-person evaluations with a structured interview, pain and quality-of-life-related questionnaires and thorough physical examination. Chronic pain (CP) and probable neuropathic pain (NP) were defined according to IASP criteria. Results: The present study included 226 individuals, 177 (78.3 %) of whom presented over 3 months since their first COVID-19 symptom. New-onset pain occurred in 170 (75.2 %) participants and was chronic in 116 (68.2 %). A chronic course was associated with COVID-19-related hospitalization, new-onset fatigue, lower cognitive performance, motor and thermal sensory deficits, mood and sleep impairments and overall lower quality-of-life levels. Probable NP occurred in only 7.6 % new-onset pain patients, and was associated with pain chronification, new-onset fatigue, motor and thermal sensory deficits, mechanical allodynia and lower rates of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Previous CP was reported by 86 (38.1 %) individuals and had aggravated after the infection in 66 (76.7 %) of them, which was associated with orthostatic hypotension. Conclusions: Post-COVID pain phenomena follow different paths, which are associated with specific clinical and epidemiological features, and possibly distinct underlying mechanisms, prognostic and therapeutic implications. Significance: COVID-19-related pain usually follows a chronic course and is non-neuropathic. Its possible courses and phenotypes are associated with distinct clinical and epidemiological features. This suggests differing underlying mechnisms, which may have significant prognostic and therapeutic implications.

RESUMEN Antecedentes: El dolor crónico de nueva aparición se considera que forma parte de la condición o afección post-COVID-19. Sin embargo, los datos detallados existentes sobre el fenotipo clínico, las trayectorias y las principales características asociadas siguen siendo escasos. Describimos las distintas evoluciones temporales del dolor post-COVID-19 y sus rasgos epidemiológicos y fenotípicos. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo y transversal de pacientes con afección post-COVID-19 (es decir, con síntomas persistentes relacionados con la COVID-19 durante 30 días desde la primera prueba positiva de laboratorio) cuyo diagnóstico de COVID-19 estuviera basado en la RT-PCR de un frotis oral/nasofaríngeo o una serología. Se sometieron a evaluaciones presenciales mediante una entrevista estructurada, cuestionarios de dolor y calidad de vida y una exploración física exhaustiva. El dolor crónico (DC) y el dolor neuropático (DN) probablemente se definieron conforme a los criterios IASP. Resultados: El presente estudio incluyó 226 individuos, 177 (78,3 %) de los cuales se presentaron pasados más de 3 meses desde el primer síntoma de COVID-19. Tenían dolor de nueva aparición 170 (75,2 %) de los participantes y dolor crónico 116 (68,2 %). El curso crónico se asociaba a hospitalización por COVID-19, fatiga de nueva aparición, menor rendimiento cognitivo, déficits motores y sensitivos térmicos, alteraciones del ánimo y el sueño, y niveles generalmente inferiores de calidad de vida. El DN probable afectaba a solo el 7,6 % de los pacientes con dolor de nueva aparición y se asociaba a cronificación del dolor, fatiga de nueva aparición, déficits motores y de sensación térmica, alodinia mecánica y tasas menores de vacunación frente al SARS-CoV-2. Referían DC previo 86 (38,1 %) individuos, y este había empeorado tras la infección en 66 (76,7 %) de ellos, lo que se asociaba a hipotensión ortostática. Conclusiones: Los fenómenos dolorosos post-COVID siguen diferentes trayectorias que se asocian a rasgos clínicos y epidemiológicos específicos, y posiblemente a distintos mecanismos de base y diferentes implicaciones pronósticas y terapéuticas. Significado: El dolor relacionado con la COVID-19 sigue normalmente un curso crónico y no es neuropático. Los posibles cursos y fenotipos se asocian a rasgos clínicos y epidemiológicos distintos. Esto sugiere que los mecanismos de base difieren, lo que podría tener implicaciones pronósticas y terapéuticas importantes.

Silent transmission of Mycobacterium leprae, as evidenced by stable leprosy incidence rates in various countries, remains a health challenge despite the implementation of multidrug therapy worldwide. Therefore, the development of tools for the early diagnosis of M. leprae infection should be emphasised in leprosy research. As part of the continuing effort to identify antigens that have diagnostic potential, unique M. leprae peptides derived from predicted virulence-associated proteins (group IV.A) were identified using advanced genome pattern programs and bioinformatics. Based on human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-binding motifs, we selected 21 peptides that were predicted to be promiscuous HLA-class I T-cell epitopes and eight peptides that were predicted to be HLA-class II restricted T-cell epitopes for field-testing in Brazil, Ethiopia and Nepal. High levels of interferon (IFN)-γ were induced when peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from tuberculoid/borderline tuberculoid leprosy patients located in Brazil and Ethiopia were stimulated with the ML2055 p35 peptide. PBMCs that were isolated from healthy endemic controls living in areas with high leprosy prevalence (EChigh) in Ethiopia also responded to the ML2055 p35 peptide. The Brazilian EChigh group recognised the ML1358 p20 and ML1358 p24 peptides. None of the peptides were recognised by PBMCs from healthy controls living in non-endemic region. In Nepal, mixtures of these peptides induced the production of IFN-γ by the PBMCs of leprosy patients and EChigh. Therefore, the M. leprae virulence-associated peptides identified in this study may be useful for identifying exposure to M. leprae in population with differing HLA polymorphisms.

It is a research developed at a Human Milk Bank to inquire as the mother givers had become Human Milk (HM) giver of a Human Milk Bank(HMB). To identify, according to these, which the reasons that had stimulated them to be givers.Qualitative research through a HMB in a maternity of great transport of Fortaleza-Ce in 2005. The collection of the data consisted of structuralized interview does not contend given of identification and two questions with 24 givers of HM through the domiciliary visit. The organization of the data was in Bardin (2004) through subjects and categories. After deep readings we extract the meaning of you say them. The subjects and categories that more importance were had been respectively "Use of informative resources" and "Written Communication". Already the subjects and categories that had had little importance had been: "Situational adequacy" and "Visit to the Milk Bank.One concludes that the distribution of folders informative was to the way most common to become givers, the telephone used in the cadastre of the donation, and the milk excess was the first reason that had taken them the donation.

Pesquisa realizada em um banco de leite para averiguar como as mães-nutrizes tornaram-se doadoras de Leite Humano(LH) de um Banco de Leite Humano(BLH). Identificar, segundo essas, quais os motivos que as impulsionaram a serem doadoras. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa realizada através de um BLH numa maternidade de grande porte de Fortaleza-Ce em 2005. A coleta dos dados consistiu de entrevista não estruturada contendo dados de identificação e duas questões norteadoras com 24 doadoras de LH através da Visita Domiciliar. A organização dos dados foi pautada em Bardin(2004) através de temas e categorias. Após leituras profundas extraímos o significado das falas. Os temas e categorias que mais se sobressaíram foram respectivamente Uso de recursos informativos e Comunicação escrita. Já os temas e categorias que tiveram menos importância foram: Adequação situacional, Visita ao Banco de Leite. Conclui-se que a distribuição dos folders informativos foi à maneira mais comum para se tornarem doadoras, o telefone utilizado no cadastramento da doação, e o excesso de leite foi o primeiro motivo que as levaram a doação.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis whose interaction with the host may lead to a cell-mediated protective immune response. The presence of interferon<FONT FACE=Symbol>-g</FONT> (IFN-gamma) is related to this response. With the purpose of understanding the immunological mechanisms involved in this protection, the lymphoproliferative response, IFN<FONT FACE=Symbol>-g</FONT> and other cytokines like interleukin (IL-5, IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF<FONT FACE=Symbol>-a</FONT>) were evaluated before and after the use of anti-TB drugs on 30 patients with active TB disease, 24 healthy household contacts of active TB patients, with positive purified protein derivative (PPD) skin tests (induration > 10 mm), and 34 asymptomatic individuals with negative PPD skin test results (induration < 5 mm). The positive lymphoproliferative response among peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients showed high levels of IFN<FONT FACE=Symbol>-g</FONT>, TNF<FONT FACE=Symbol>-a</FONT>, and IL-10. No significant levels of IL-5 were detected. After treatment with rifampicina, isoniazida, and pirazinamida, only the levels of IFN<FONT FACE=Symbol>-g</FONT> increased significantly (p < 0.01). These results highlight the need for further evaluation of IFN<FONT FACE=Symbol>-g</FONT> production as a healing prognostic of patients treated.