Three years of COVID-19 pandemic: comparative analysis of incidence, lethality and mortality among the States of the south region of Brazil / Três anos de pandemia da COVID-19: análise comparativa da incidência, letalidade e mortalidade entre os Estados da região sul do Brasi

Introduction: the first COVID-19 case in Brazil was confirmed on February 26, 2020. As of March 17, 2023, the Ministry of Health reported 699,634 deaths from COVID-19, with a case fatality rate of 1.9%. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil extends to socioeconomic and healthcare systems, reflecting significant regional disparities. Objective: To analyze mortality, incidence, and case fatality rates for COVID-19 in the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina, in the southern region of Brazil. Methods: This is an ecological time-series study using official Brazilian secondary data for COVID-19 cases and deaths. Data were extracted from the dashboard of the State Health Department of Santa Catarina and Paraná. Temporal series were developed for trend analysis using the Prais-Winsten regression model. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA 14.0 software (College Station, TX, USA, 2013). Results: In the analysis of rates over the entire period, trends for mortality, case fatality, and incidence in the state of Santa Catarina are decreasing, decreasing, and stationary, respectively. In Paraná, rates over the entire period showed a stationary trend for mortality, decreasing for case fatality, and increasing for incidence. Conclusion: COVID-19 had a devastating effect on the states of Santa Catarina and Paraná. Both states experienced the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic, with higher case fatality and mortality rates observed in Paraná, while Santa Catarina had a higher incidence rate over the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Maduración dentaria en jovenes venezolanos estimada mediante el método de demirjian y colaboradores / Dental maturation in venezuelan young estimated though demirjian et al method

El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar la maduración dentaria en jóvenes venezolanos estimada mediante el método de Demirjian y cols. Se analizaron 284 radiografías panorámicas de pacientes de ambos sexos con edades cronológicas entre 8- 20 años. Se estudio la maduración dentaria de los 7 dientes inferiores izquierdos de acuerdo a los estadios del método de Demirjian y cols. y se calculó la edad dentaria. Se obtuvieron la media y la desviación estándar de la edad cronológica (EC) y la ED, la media de la EC a la cual se observaron los diferentes estadios de maduración y diferencias de medias entre la EC y la ED calculada. Al comparar las medias de las edades cronológicas en las que se observaron los estadios de maduración dentaria, las hembras tuvieron un desarrollo más avanzado que los varones. Se evidencio que el 100% de madurez dentaria, comienza a alcanzase alrededor de lo 13-14 años en la muestra estudiada. Contrastando la media de la EC con la ED, pudo verificarse que en ambos sexos, existe una consistente subestimación de la edad a partir de los 16 años, por ello en una submuestra de los grupos 8-16 se obtuvieron las diferencias de media entre la EC y ED, y se encontró una sobrestimación de la edad, estadísticamente significativa (-0,66 ±1,14 varones; -0,40± 1,38 hembras). Los datos del presente trabajo podrían ser utilizados como referencia de la maduración dentaria de los individuos de la muestra...

The aim of the present investigation was to study the dentaria maturation of Venezuelan young estimated though Demirjian´s et al. method. Two hundred and eighty four dentaria panoramic radiographs from patients of both sexes, with chronological ages between 8-20 years, were analyzed. Dentaria maturation of the 7 left lower teeth was calculated, according to the stages proposed by Demirjian et al. and dentaria age was calculated (DA) following the method of the author. Mean values and standard deviation of the chronological age (CA) and DA, by age group, mean of the CA to which different stages of maturation were observed and mean differences between the CA and the DA, were calculated. When comparing the mean chronological ages witch the dentaria maturation stages were observed; females had more advanced development than males. It was noticed that 100% of dentaria maturity, was reached out around 13-14 years in the studied sample. Contrasting mean CA with DA, it could be confirmed that in both sexes, there is a consistent underestimation of age from 16 years, so in a subsample of 8-16 groups mean differences between the EC and ED were obtained, and found an statistically significant overestimation of age (males -0.66 ± 1.14, females -0.40 ± 1.38). The data presented here could be used as a reference for dentaria maturation of the individuals in the sample...

Comparison of the Psychosis Proneness Based on the Existence of Persecutory Delusions and Grandiose Delusions in Nonclinical Population / 신경정신의학

OBJECTIVES: Delusions are prevalent even among members of the general population, and persecutory delusions (PDs) and grandiose delusions (GDs) are most frequently found. In this study, we investigated the differences in the dimensions of delusional ideation, reported psychosis proneness, and subjective psychotic symptoms in nonclinical individuals stratified according to the existence of PDs and GDs. METHODS: A total of 311 nonclinical individuals completed the Peters et al Delusions Inventory 40 (PDI-40), Perceptual Aberration Scale (PAS), Magical Ideation Scale (MIS), Schizotypal Personality Scale (STA), and Symptom Check List-90-R (SCL-90-R). Individuals were grouped according to four types based on the existence of PDs and GDs in PDI-40 items. RESULTS: An analysis of variance revealed that the four groups differed significantly in total delusion score, distress, preoccupation, and conviction level of delusional ideation, PAS, MAS, STA, in total SCL-90-R scores, and all SCL-90-R sub symptoms. In post-hoc analysis, the group with both PDs and GDs showed the highest scores in all measures, compared with the other three groups. CONCLUSION: We found that individuals with both PDs and GDs have a tendency to possess another delusional ideation and reported more distress, preoccupation, and conviction level of delusional ideation, psychosis proneness, and subjective symptoms. Existence of both PDs and GDs significantly elevated psychosis proneness in comparison to having only either one of them.

Descomposición ee la hojarasca y su relación co los macroinvertebrados acuáticcos del río gaira (santa marta ­ Colombia) / Leaf Litter Decomposition and its Relation with Aquatic Macroinvertebrates of the Gaira River (Santa Marta ­ Colombia)

Se evaluó la tasa de descomposición de la hojarasca, de cuatro especies nativas y tres especies exóticas, seleccionadas por su mayor frecuencia en la vegetación de la ribera del río Gaira, localizado en la Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Se seleccionaron cuatro tramos de muestreo a diferentes alturas. Adicionalmente, se determinaron riqueza, abundancia y función trófica alimenticia de los macroinvertebrados que colonizaron los sustratos artificiales que contenían la hojarasca. En el tramo medio se presentó el mayor coeficiente de descomposición de especies nativas y exóticas (K-W=15,9; n= 23; p= 0,001 y KW=15,5; n=36; p=0,0014 respectivamente). Las especies nativas presentaron la mayor tasa de descomposición (K-W=4; n=47; p=0,04), siendo la especie Pithecellobium longifolium en el tramo medio, la que presentó la mayor pérdida de peso en el tiempo. Se presentan relaciones entre tasa de descomposición, conductividad y temperatura. El ensamblaje de macroinvertebrados estuvo representado por 41 taxones, con una abundancia de 1895 individuos que aportaron una biomasa de 2,27 g. La estructura funcional de los macroinvertebrados asociados a la hojarasca, estuvo representada en los tramos alto, medio y bajo por Plecopteros (Depredadores) del género Anacroneuria con 10,14%, 68,43% y 7,60% respectivamente. Dípteros depredadores del taxón Tanypodinae fueron dominantes en la desembocadura con 0,51%. Los resultados de este estudio permiten determinar que la presencia de macroinvertebrados asociados a la hojarasca no está condicionada por la especie vegetal (nativa o exótica), porque no se observaron diferencias entre estas que generen un efecto sobre la tasa de descomposición.

The rate of decomposition of leaf litter of four native species and three exotic species were evaluated. They were selected due to the most frequently collected by the bank vegetation Gaira River, located on the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. We took four sampling sections at different heights. Furthermore, it was evaluated the richness, abundance and trophic function of macroinvertebrates that colonized the artificial substrates containing leaf packs or meshes. The middle part had the greatest rate of decomposition of native and exotic species (KW = 15.9, n = 23, p = 0.001 and KW = 15.5, n = 36, p = 0.0014 respectively). The native species had the highest rates (KW = 4, n = 47, p = 0.04), with the species Pithecellobium longifolium in the middle stretch, which had the greatest mass loss over time. Descriptively a relationship between decomposition rate and current velocity is presented. The macroinvertebrate assemblage was represented by 41 taxa, with an abundance of 1895 individuals which provided a biomass of 2.27 g. The functional structure of macroinvertebrates associated with leaf litter was represented in the upper, middle and low reaches by Plecoptera (Predators) of the genus Anacroneuria with 10.14%, 68.43% and 7.60% respectively. The taxon Tanypodinae (Diptera) predators were dominant in the mouth with 0.51%. The result of this study can determinate whether the presence of macroinvertebrates associated with leaf litter, is not conditioned by the plant species (native or exotic), and not enter these differences that create an effect on the rate of descomposition.

Diagnostic value of magnetic susceptibility weighted imaging in diffuse axonal injury / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To study the diagnostic value of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in diffuse axonal injury (DAI) and investigate the relationship between SWI and clinical prognosis. MethodsTwenty patients (15 males and 5 females) with DAI were included in this study. Routine sequences (T1WI, T2WI and FLAIR) and SWI were performed on a 3.0 T MRI scanner. There were 8 cases whose Glasgow score scale (GCS) ranged from 3.0 to 5.0, 4 cases from 6.0 to 8.0 and 8 from 9.0 to 12.0. The interval time between injury and examination were from 3 hours to 20 days. The number and volume of lesions observed on SWI and routine sequence were compared using Mann-Whitney U-test and paired t-test. Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between the number and volume of all lesions and GCS. Results The lesions showed punctate, beaded, patchy and cord-like hypointense signal with various size on SWI (lesion diameter <2.0 cm). Distribution of lesions was multifocal with clear boundary. Routine MRI scan found a total of 78 lesions, while SWI sequence detected 424 lesions. The number of the lesions found on SWI was more than that on conventional MRI (U=-15.447,P＜0.01). The total volume of the lesions measured on routine MRI and SWI were 19 340 mm3 and 38 042 mm3, respectively. The total volume measured on SWI was more than that on routine MR (t=5.870,P＜0.01). The number and volume of all lesions were negatively correlated with GCS (r=-0.802, -0.767, P＜0.01). Conclusion SWI sequence could find more bleeding lesions than the routine MRI sequences. The number and the volume of the lesions were closely related to GCS. SWI showed high value in the diagnosis and prediction of the prognosis of DAI.

Expression of smad2/3 protein and the effects of flunarizine on its expression in brain tissue following transient cerebral ischemic reperfusion in gerbils / 中国医师杂志

Objective To study the expression of smad2/3 protein and the effects of flunarizine on the its expression in braln tissue following transient cerebral ischemie reperfusion in gerbils. Methods A cerebral ischemia-reperfusion model in gerbils was established by clamping both common carotids. Thirty-five gerbils were randomly divided into three groups, sham operation group, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion group and flunarizine treatment group. The expression of smad2/3 protein in brain tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry technique. Results Experimental results revealed that smad2/3 protein was expressed in neuroeyte in 35 gerbil brain. Compared with sham operation group, the expression of smad2/3 protein in neurecytes of cerebral isehemia-reperfusion group was evidently increased at the lst day, 3rd day and 7th day (P <0. 01). Compared with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion group, the expression of smad2/3 protein in neurecytes of gerbils in flunarizine treatment group was evidently decreased at these time point (P < 0.05). Condusions Smad2/3 protein was expressed in nettrcvytes of gerbils. Expression of smad2/3 protein in neuroeytes of gerbils was evidently increased following cerebral ischemic reperfusion, and its expression in flunarizine treatment group was evidently decreased.

Characteristics Analysis on Acupuncture Treatment of Stranguria in Ancient Times / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

This paper makes a statistical analysis on the acupuncture treatment of stranguria recorded in 62 ancient books with computer. The statistics show that the frequently treated meridians are Conception Vessel,three yin meridians of foot, and Bladder Meridian; the commonly treated areas are lower abdomen, midial aspects of legs, and lower back; the commonly used techniques are moxibustion, and needling.

ENZYME HISTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF EXPERIMENTAL RABBIT INCISED WOUND / 中国法医学杂志

Enzyme-histochemical investigations on experimental incised injury of thirty rabbits fortiming of wound were reported.In peripheral areas of wounds,strong reaction of six kinds ofdehydratase(ACP.AKP,ATP.ANAE.?—GA,?—Gr).were demonstrated 1～2 hrs followingincision while no reaction of four kinds of dehydrogenase(LDH.SDH.NADH.?—GPDH)werefound.The activity of dehydratase are explained by the enhanced metabolism of fibrocytes and theaggregation of acute inflammatory cells.The author suggests that the positive enzyme histochemicalreactions indicate the vital reaction in the first two hours,and PTAH staining is helpful for thediagnosis of micro—exudation of fibrin in the early stage of injury