Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections worldwide. It is caused by the human papillomavirus, a DNA virus that infects epithelial cells in various mucous membranes and skin surfaces. HPV can be categorized into high-risk and low-risk types based on their association with the development of certain cancers. High-risk HPV types, such as HPV-16 and HPV-18, are known to be oncogenic and are strongly associated with the development of cervical, anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. These types of HPV can persist in the body for an extended period and, in some cases, lead to the formation of precancerous lesions that may progress to cancer if left untreated. Low-risk HPV types, such as HPV-6 and HPV-11, are not typically associated with cancer but can cause benign conditions like genital warts. Genital warts are characterized by the growth of small, cauliflower-like bumps on the genital and anal areas. Although not life-threatening, they can cause discomfort and psychological distress. HPV is primarily transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex. It can also be transmitted through non-penetrative sexual activities that involve skin-to-skin contact. In addition to sexual transmission, vertical transmission from mother to child during childbirth is possible but relatively rare. Prevention of HPV infection includes vaccination and safe sexual practices. HPV vaccines, such as Gardasil and Cervarix, are highly effective in preventing infection with the most common high-risk HPV types. These vaccines are typically administered to adolescents and young adults before they become sexually active. Safe sexual practices, such as consistent and correct condom use and limiting the number of sexual partners, can also reduce the risk of HPV transmission. Diagnosis of HPV infection can be challenging because the infection is often asymptomatic, especially in men. In women, HPV testing can be done through cervical screening programs, which involve the collection of cervical cells for analysis. Abnormal results may lead to further diagnostic procedures, such as colposcopy or biopsy, to detect precancerous or cancerous changes. Overall, HPV infection is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection with significant implications for public health. Vaccination, regular screening, and early treatment of precancerous lesions are key strategies to reduce the burden of HPV-related diseases and their associated complications. Education and awareness about HPV and its prevention are crucial in promoting optimal sexual health. This study aimed to carry out a literature review considering several aspects involving HPV infection: Global distribution, prevalence, biology, host interactions, cancer development, prevention, therapeutics, coinfection with other viruses, coinfection with bacteria, association with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), and association with anal cancer.

Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes that in recent years has spread rapidly across all continents. The dengue virus is transmitted by female mosquitoes, mainly of the Aedes aegypti species and, to a lesser extent, of the Aedes albopictus species. There are four distinct but closely related serotypes of the virus that causes dengue (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4). The present study evaluated and reviewd the temporal spreading and molecular evolution of dengue virus serotypes worldwide. A total of 1,581 dengue virus whole-genome sequences (WGSs) with available information from the country and sampling date (Jan/1944 – Jul/2022), were obtained. Bayesian coalescent analyses with dengue virus WGS were performed to study viral phylodynamic and phylogeography. The time of the Most Recent Common Ancestor (tMRCA) and 95% highest posterior density (HPD 95%) were estimated for each serotype. Bayes factor (BF) was determined to infer phylogeographic data. The results demonstrated that the tMRCA of DENV-1 was 1884-11-15 (HPD95%: 1882-01-28; 1890-08-27) in Southeast Asia, DENV-2 was 1723-01-29 (HPD95%: 1714-05-22; 1728-10-09) in Europe, DENV-3 was 1921-04-12 (HPD95%: 1918-05-25; 1924-03-13) in Southeast Asia, and DENV-4 was 1876-03-28 (HPD95%: 1865-08-02; 1899-08-27) in Southeast Asia. The molecular origin of the dengue virus was in Spain in 1682 (BF=38), later it was disseminated in Asia (Indonesia; BF=15) and Oceania (Papua New Guinea, BF=13) in 1847. After this period, the virus presented dissemination in Asia (Malaysia, BF=13; India, BF=28; and China BF=30) and in North America (USA; BF=35) in 1890. In South America, it was first disseminated to Ecuador in 1897 (BF=15) and then to Brazil in 1910 (BF=38). During this same period there were disseminations to countries such as Puerto Rico (BF=18) and to the African continent (Senegal; BF=14). After this period, the virus was widely disseminated, especially in the American and Asian continents. The dengue disease has had a significant impact on global health worldwide and the present study provides an overview of the molecular evolution of dengue virus serotypes (from 1944 to 2022).

Objectives: Despite its low sensitivity for the interstitial syndrome, chests X-Ray (XR) have been used on COVID-19 patients to exclude alternative diagnoses. Computed tomography (CT) scans can both exclude other pathological conditions and display a high level of sensitivity for the COVID-19 pneumonia. We therefore decided to compare the performance of lung ultrasonography (LUS) with that of lung CT scans in suspect or confirmed COVID-19 patients for the presence of interstitial pneumonia and the degree of lung injury. Methods: In a cross-sectional clinical study, LUS an CT were compared for the presence of interstitial pneumonia and the degree of lung injury in COVID-19 patients. Pearson’s and Spearman correlations analysis were performed to measure the degree of association between two methods. Bland–Altman plot was generated to provide a graphical visualization of the agreement between the two measurement methods. All statistical tests in this study were two-sided and p-values ≤ 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Results: A good correlation between LUS and CT scan was obtained for estimates of lung injury in pneumonia in a group of COVID-19 suspect and diagnosed patients (R 2= 0.7613; p <0.01). Agreement between LUS and CT values is assessed by constructing Bland-Altman plot. Conclusions: LUS, as compared to CT scans, is an effective method to estimate degrees of lung injury in COVID-19 patients in the emergency department.