Impactos emocionais e fisiológicos do isolamento durante a pandemia de COVID-19 / Emotional and physiological impacts of social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic

Resumo Objetivo: O objetivo deste artigo foi avaliar os impactos emocionais e fisiológicos do distanciamento social durante a pandemia da COVID-19. Metodologia: Participaram 238 indivíduos de ambos os sexos e de diferentes faixas etárias que estavam em isolamento social durante a pandemia da COVID-19 e utilizou-se como instrumento de coleta de dados um questionário. Resultados: Dos participantes 65,5% (n= 156) eram do sexo feminino e 33,3% (n= 80) masculino. Nas emoções, 73,1% dos participantes concordaram que sentiam-se frequentemente desconfortáveis por causa do isolamento, 66% ansiosos/agitados, 66,8% dos participante irritados/estressados e 66.7% tristes/indispostos. Conclusão: Concluiu-se que os participantes tenderam a apresentar alterações emocionais em suas rotinas, sendo nocivas à sua saúde como um todo. Os aspectos emocionais e fisiológicos do distanciamento social durante a pandemia da COVID-19 possuem potencial significativo para impactar diretamente na saúde física e mental dos indivíduos

Abstract Objective: The objective of this paper was to assess the emotional and physiological impacts of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: About 238 individuals participated of both sexes and different age groups who were in social isolation, during the COVID-19 pandemic and was used as a data collection instrument with a questionnaire. Result: Of the participants, 65.5% (n = 156) were female and 33.3% (n = 80) male. In terms of emotions, 73.1% of participants agreed that they often feet uncomfortable due to isolation; 66% anxious/agitated; 66.8% irritated/stressed and 66.7% sad/unwell. Conclusion: Concluded that the participants tended to have emotional in their routines, wich are harmful to their health as a whole. The emotional and physiological aspects of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic have significant potential to directly impact on individuals physical and mental health.

Resumen Objetivo: El propósito de este artículo fue evaluar los impactos emocionales y fisiológicos del distanciamiento social durante la pandemia de La COVID-19. Método: Participaron 238 individuos de ambos sexos y diferentes grupos de edad que se encontraban en aislamiento social durante la pandemia de la COVID-19 y fue utilizado como instrumento de recolección de datos un cuestionario. Resultados: De los participantes, el 65.5% (n = 156) eran mujeres y el 33.3% (n = 80) hombres. En términos emocionales, el 73.1% de los participantes estuvo de acuerdo en que a menudo se sentían incómodos debido al aislamiento, 66% ansiosos/agitados; 66.8% irritados/estresados y 66.7% tristes/mal. Conclusión: Se concluyó que los participantes presentaron cambios emocionales en sus rutinas, que son perjudiciales para su salud en general. Los aspectos emocionales y fisiológicos del distanciamiento social durante la pandemia de La COVID-19 tienen un potencial significativo para impactar diretamente en la salud física y mental de las personas en distanciamiento social.

Should COVID-19 be branded to viral thrombotic fever?

Coronaviruses can cause a diverse array of clinical manifestations, from fever with symptoms of the common cold to highly lethal severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS). SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus discovered in Hubei province, China, at the end of 2019, became known worldwide for causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Over one year's time period, the scientific community has produced a large bulk of knowledge about this disease and countless reports about its immune-pathological aspects. This knowledge, including data obtained in postmortem studies, points unequivocally to a hypercoagulability state. However, the name COVID-19 tells us very little about the true meaning of the disease. Our proposal is more comprehensive; it intends to frame COVID-19 in more clinical terminology, making an analogy to viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF). Thus, we found irrefutable evidence in the current literature that COVID-19 is the first viral disease that can be branded as a viral thrombotic fever. This manuscript points out that SARS-CoV-2 goes far beyond pneumonia or SARS. COVID-19 infections promote remarkable interactions among the endothelium, coagulation, and immune response, building up a background capable of promoting a "thrombotic storm," much more than a "cytokine storm." The importance of a viral protease called main protease (Mpro) is highlighted as a critical component for its replication in the host cell. A deeper analysis of this protease and its importance on the coagulation system is also discussed for the first time, mainly because of its similarity with the thrombin and factor Xa molecules, as recently pointed out by structural comparison crystallographic structures.

Cross-linking mass spectrometry reveals structural insights of the glutamine synthetase from Leishmania braziliensis

BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by the parasite Leishmania braziliensis, commonly found in Brazil and associated with cutaneous and visceral forms of this disease. Like other organisms, L. braziliensis has an enzyme called glutamine synthetase (LbGS) that acts on the synthesis of glutamine from glutamate. This enzyme plays an essential role in the metabolism of these parasites and can be a potential therapeutic target for treating this disease. OBJECTIVES Investigate LbGS structure and generate structural models of the protein. METHODS We use the method of crosslinking mass spectrometry (XLMS) and generate structural models in silico using I-TASSER. FINDINGS 42 XLs peptides were identified, of which 37 are explained in a monomeric model with the other five indicating LbGS dimerization and pentamers interaction region. The comparison of 3D models generated in the presence and absence of XLMS restrictions probed the benefits of modeling with XLMS highlighting the inappropriate folding due to the absence of spatial restrictions. MAIN CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, we disclose the conservation of the active site and interface regions, but also unique features of LbGS showing the potential of XLMS to probe structural information and explore new drugs.

Coagulation modifiers targeting SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro for COVID-19 treatment: an in silico approach

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection depends on viral polyprotein processing, catalysed by the main proteinase (Mpro). The solution of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro structure allowed the investigation of potential inhibitors. This work aims to provide first evidences of the applicability of commercially approved drugs to treat coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). We screened 4,334 compounds to found potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication using an in silico approach. Our results evidenced the potential use of coagulation modifiers in COVID-19 treatment due to the structural similarity of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and human coagulation factors thrombin and Factor Xa. Further in vitro and in vivo analysis are needed to corroborate these results.

Pressão arterial de crianças e adolescentes de escolas públicas de Cuiabá, Mato Grosso / High blood pressure in children and teenagers from public schools in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso / Presión arterial de niños y adolescentes de escuelas publicas de Cuiabá - Mato Grosso

Objetivo: Verificar a prevalência de níveis pressóricos elevados em escolares de 11 a 14 anos no município de Cuiabá, MT, Brasil. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal realizado no periódo de maio a novembro de 2008. A amostragem foi por aglomerados, sendo selecionados nove, totalizando 329 escolares. Resultados: A idade média dos 329 escolares foi a de 12 anos, sendo 58,4 por cento do sexo masculino e 55,3 por cento da cor/etnia parda. O índice de hipertensão arterial foi de 11,2 por cento. Conclusão: A prevalência de hipertensão arterial foi de 11,2 por cento nos escolares estudados, sendo os fatores de risco o índice de massa corpórea elevado e cor/etnia parda. A partir do estudo, considera-se necessária a monitorização rotineira da pressão arterial em crianças e adolescentes, com a finalidade de prevenção da hipertensão arterial na vida adulta.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of high blood pressure among students aged 11 to 14 years from public schools in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to November 2008. Custer sampling technique was used to select clusters of 9 public schools. Results: The sample consisted of 329 students. They had a mean age of 12 years. More than a half of the students were "de cor parda - brown" (55.0 percent) and males (58.0 percent). A great number of students (11.2 percent) had high blood pressure. Conclusion: The prevalence of high blood pressure among the student was 11.2 percent. The two major risk factors for high blood pressure were body mass index and ethnicity (being "de cor parda - brown"). There is a need for routine monitoring and management of blood pressure in children and teenagers to prevent the development of high blood pressure in adulthood.

Objetivo: Verificar la prevalencia de niveles de presión elevados en escolares de 11 a 14 años del municipio de Cuiabá, MT - Brasil. Métodos: Se trata de un estudio transversal realizado en el período de mayo a noviembre del 2008. El muestreo fue realizado por conglomerados, siendo seleccionados nueve, dando un total de 329 escolares. Resultados: La edad promedio de los escolares participantes fue de 12 años, de los cuales el 58,4 por ciento del sexo masculino y el 55,3 por ciento de color/etnia parda. El índice de hipertensión arterial fue de 11,2 por ciento. Conclusión: La prevalencia de hipertensión arterial fue de 11,2 por ciento en los escolares estudiados, siendo los factores de riesgo el elevado índice de masa corporal y color/etnia parda. A partir del estudio, se considera que es necesaria la monitorización de rutina de la presión arterial en niños y adolescentes, con la finalidad de prevenir la hipertensión arterial en la vida adulta.