The systemic inflammatory response elicited by acute Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy plays a key role in the clinical outcomes in mothers and congenitally infected offspring. The present study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of GDF-3 and inflammasome-related markers in pregnant women during acute ZIKV infection. Serum samples from pregnant (n = 18) and non-pregnant (n = 22) women with acute ZIKV infection were assessed for NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18, and GDF3 markers through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ZIKV-negative pregnant (n = 18) and non-pregnant women (n = 15) were used as control groups. All serum markers were highly elevated in the ZIKV-infected groups in comparison with control groups (p < 0.0001). Among the ZIKV-infected groups, the serum markers were significantly augmented in the pregnant women in comparison with non-pregnant women (NLRP3 p < 0.001; IL-1β, IL-18, and GDF3 p < 0.0001). The IL-18 marker was found at significantly higher levels (p < 0.05) in the third trimester of pregnancy. Bivariate and multivariate analyses showed a strong positive correlation between GDF3 and NLRP3 markers among ZIKV-infected pregnant women (r = 0.91, p < 0.0001). The findings indicated that acute ZIKV infection during pregnancy induces the overexpression of GDF-3 and inflammasome-related markers, which may contribute to congenital disorders and harmful pregnancy outcomes.

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Ovarian tumors occupy the seventh position in the ranking of the most common neoplasms among women, being the eighth cause of mortality in relation to gynecological neoplasms. The Steroid Tumor Without Other Specification (NOS) corresponds to 60% of all ovarian tumors of steroid cells and is associated with the development of hyperandrogenic syndromes. Given the rarity of steroid cell tumors, it is important to describe the diagnostic and therapeutic methods used in the clinical approach in order to contribute information to the medical-scientific community. Objective: To describe a case report of a patient diagnosed with a type rare of tumor of cells that induce steroid hormones present in the ovary. Case report: We report a case of a 52-year-old post-menopausal patient with a history of previous surgery, clinically with signs of virilization and hisuristics with diagnostic conclusion of Steroid Tumor Without Other Specification. Conclusion: NOS tumor are rare and can be difficult to diagnose due to the similarity with several other hormonal disorders, mainly affecting postmenopausal women and in these cases bilateral salpingooferectomy surgery is the eligible therapy.

First environmental DNA (eDNA) record of central Amazon in a floodplain lake: extraction method selection and validation Primeiro registro de DNA ambiental (eDNA) da Amazônia central em um lago de várzea: seleção e validação de método de extração