Polymeric nanoparticles and nanomicelles of hydroxychloroquine co-loaded with azithromycin potentiate anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect.

The outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has put the world in an unprecedented scenario. To reestablish the world routine as promote the effective treatment of this disease, the world is looking for new (and old) drug that can efficiently kill the virus. In this study, we have developed two nanosystems: polymeric nanoparticles and nanomicelles-based on hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. The nanosystem was fully characterized by AFM and DLS techniques. Also, the nanosystems were radiolabeled with 99mTc and pulmonary applied (installation) in vivo to evaluate the biological behavior. The toxicity of both nanosystem were evaluated in primary cells (FGH). Finally, both nanosystems were evaluated in vitro against the SARS-CoV-2. The results demonstrated that the methodology used to produce the nanomicelles and the nanoparticle was efficient, the characterization showed a nanoparticle with a spherical shape and a medium size of 390 nm and a nanomicelle also with a spherical shape and a medium size of 602 nm. The nanomicelles were more efficient (~ 70%) against SARS-CoV-2 than the nanoparticles. The radiolabeling process with 99mTc was efficient (> 95%) in both nanosystems and the pulmonary application demonstrated to be a viable route for both nanosystems with a local retention time of approximately, 24 h. None of the nanosystems showed cytotoxic effect on FGH cells, even in high doses, corroborating the safety of both nanosystems. Thus, claiming the benefits of the nanotechnology, especially with regard the reduced adverse we believe that the use of nanosystems for COVID-19 treatment can be an optimized choice. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40097-022-00476-3.

Mucormicose Disseminada Pós COVID-19 em paciente de 55 anos na Amazônia Ocidental: Relato de caso

Uma temida doença fúngica surpreendeu e se tornou um alerta para casos graves de COVID-19, principalmente aos profissionais de saúde envolvidos com a pandemia. Designado como fungo preto para serviços de saúde pública na Índia, onde os dados relatados refletem um aumento de mais de oitenta vezes o aumento esperado para Rhizopus entre as comunidades. A doença tornou-se ainda mais preocupante devido à alta mortalidade já estabelecida como infecção oportunista, aliada ao prognóstico reservado para todos os infectados e internados pelos critérios de gravidade do SARS-CoV-2. Esse paciente, que foi submetido à corticoterapia, em dose excessiva, portanto imunossupressora, desenvolveu uma forma clínica grave e disseminada. Verificou-se a progressão das lesões e, portanto, o alto risco de letalidade transcirúrgica, ou, ainda, pela insuficiência de conduta na remoção das lesões a contento. Assim, a opção terapêutica é o uso associado de micafungina, anfotericina B lipossomal e isavuconazol para a fase regressiva. O paciente permanece internado com melhora progressiva e discreta. Até a oportunidade de reavaliação da cirurgia pela colaboração interespecialista.Alternate : A feared fungal disease surprised and became a warning to severe cases of COVID-19, especially to health professionals involved with the pandemic. Designated as black fungus for public health services in India, where reported data reflects an increase of more than eighty times the expected increase for Rhizopus among the communities. The disease has become even more worrisome due to the high mortality already established as an opportunistic infection, coupled with the reserved prognosis for all those infected and hospitalised by the SARS-CoV-2 severity criteria. This patient, who was submitted to corticosteroid therapy, in an excessive dose, therefore immunosuppressive, developed a severe, disseminated clinical form. It was verified the progression of the lesions and thus the high risk of trans- surgical lethality, or, also, by the insufficiency of conduct in removing the lesions to their satisfaction. Thus, the therapeutic option is the associated use of micafungin, liposomal amphotericin B and isavuconazole for the regressive phase. The patient remains hospitalised with progressive and discrete improvement. Until the opportunity of reevaluation of the surgery by the interspecialty collaboration.

Online information related to childhood cancer and COVID-19 pandemic: a thematic analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze online information available on the internet about COVID-19 and childhood cancer and discuss its reach potential with regard to supporting family functioning. METHOD: Documentary research supported by thematic analysis and the concept of family functioning and support. A total of 27 publications available on the websites of reference institutions in pediatric oncology, from March 1 to May 31, 2020, were analyzed. RESULTS: Two themes guided the presentation of results with emphasis on language and sustainability assumptions to content, and to conveyed meanings and intentionality. The publications prospect families/people with basic knowledge about COVID-19 and have little information specific to the relationship with childhood cancer. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Threatening circumstances require informational support. This study revealed incipient of specificity and a prescriptive tone in the online information available in early times of the pandemic, questioning the scope of support for family functioning.

Strong specific anti-viral responses in pediatric COVID-19 patients in South Brazil (preprint)

Epidemiological evidence that COVID-19 manifests as a milder disease in children compared to adults has been reported by numerous studies, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have not been characterized. It is still unclear how frequently children get infected, and/or generate immune responses to SARS-CoV-2. We have performed immune profiling of pediatric and adult COVID-19 patients in Brazil, producing over 38 thousand data points, asking if cellular or humoral immune responses could help explain milder disease in children. In this study, pediatric COVID-19 patients presented high viral titers. Though their non-specific immune profile was dominated by naive, non-activated lymphocytes, their dendritic cells expressed high levels of HLA-DR and were low in CX3CR1, indicating competence to generate immune responses that are not targeted to inflamed tissue. Finally, children formed strong specific antibody and T cell responses for viral structural proteins. Children’s T cell responses differed from adults in that their CD8+ TNFα+ T cell responses were low for S peptide but significantly higher against N and M peptide pools. Altogether, our data support a scenario in which SARS-CoV-2 infected children may contribute to transmission, though generating strong and differential responses to the virus that might associate with protection in pediatric COVID-19 presentation.

The dialogical experience of being a mother of a child and a nurse in the covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand the experience of being a mother of a child and a nurse working in the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: a research study with a qualitative approach, conducted with 17 participants from different cities of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Data collection took place in the months of April and May 2020, through semi-structured interviews conducted via an open access virtual communication platform. The data were thematically analyzed, based on the Complexity Paradigm. Results: the absence and mismatch of scientific and systematic information at the beginning of the pandemic, the fragile institutional support, and the concern of contamination of the children generated stress and anguish in the mother-nurses. The support previously offered by schools and family members was hindered by the pandemic, leading to a greater demand for parental care. Creative strategies to provide distraction, as well as religiousness and spirituality were valued to face the chaos experienced. Conclusion: nurses, while being valued as important frontline professionals in the fight against the pandemic, are invisible in their personal-affective dimension and in that of being a mother. The study indicates the need for structural institutional policies so that mother-nurses are placed in a position of equality and safety for the full exercise of the profession and a healthy intra-family relationship, especially in contexts of adversity such as that experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESUMEN Objetivo: comprender la experiencia de ser madre de un niño y enfermera en ejercicio de la profesión durante la pandemia del COVID-19. Método: investigación con enfoque cualitativo, realizada con 17 participantes de diferentes municipios del estado de San Pablo, Brasil. La recolección de datos tuvo lugar en los meses de abril y mayo de 2020 por medio de entrevistas semiestructuradas realizadas a través de una plataforma virtual de comunicación de acceso libre. Los datos fueron analizados temáticamente, sobre la base del Paradigma de la Complejidad. Resultados: la ausencia y disparidad de información científica y sistemática al inicio de la pandemia, el débil apoyo institucional y la preocupación por contaminar a los hijos generaron estrés y angustia en las madres enfermeras. El apoyo antes ofrecido por las escuelas y los familiares se vio perjudicado por la pandemia, derivando en una mayor demanda de cuidados por parte de los padres. Se valorizaron estrategias creativas para proporcionar distracción, al igual que la religiosidad y la espiritualidad, para enfrentar el caos de la presente realidad. Conclusión: las enfermeras, a la vez que son valorizadas como importantes profesionales importantes de la primera línea de lucha contra la pandemia, se encuentran invisibilizadas en su dimensión personal-afectiva e de ser madres. El estudio indica la necesidad de implementar políticas institucionales estructurantes para que las madres enfermeras sean colocadas en una posición de igualdad y seguridad para el pleno ejercicio de la profesión para hacer posible una relación intrafamiliar saludable, especialmente en contextos de adversidades como el vivido durante la pandemia del COVID-19. RESUMO Objetivo: compreender a experiência de ser mãe de criança e enfermeira atuante na pandemia da COVID-19. Método: pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, com 17 participantes de diferentes municípios do estado de São Paulo, Brasil. A coleta de dados ocorreu nos meses de abril e maio de 2020, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas via plataforma virtual de comunicação de acesso livre. Os dados foram analisados tematicamente, apoiados no Paradigma da Complexidade. Resultados: a ausência e desencontro de informações científicas e sistemáticas no início da pandemia, o frágil apoio institucional e a preocupação de contaminação dos filhos geraram estresse e angústia nas mães enfermeiras. O suporte antes ofertado pelas escolas e familiares foi prejudicado pela pandemia, levando a maior demanda de cuidado parental. Estratégias criativas para proporcionar distração, bem como a religiosidade e a espiritualidade foram valorizadas para o enfrentamento do caos vivido. Conclusão: as enfermeiras, ao mesmo tempo que são valorizadas enquanto profissionais importantes da linha de frente no combate à pandemia, são invisibilizadas na sua dimensão pessoal-afetiva e do ser mãe. O estudo indica a necessidade de políticas institucionais estruturantes para que as mães enfermeiras sejam colocadas numa posição de igualdade e segurança para o exercício pleno da profissão e da relação intrafamiliar saudável, especialmente em contextos de adversidades como o vivenciado na vigência da pandemia pela COVID-19.

The dialogical experience of being a mother of a child and a nurse in the covid-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand the experience of being a mother of a child and a nurse working in the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: a research study with a qualitative approach, conducted with 17 participants from different cities of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Data collection took place in the months of April and May 2020, through semi-structured interviews conducted via an open access virtual communication platform. The data were thematically analyzed, based on the Complexity Paradigm. Results: the absence and mismatch of scientific and systematic information at the beginning of the pandemic, the fragile institutional support, and the concern of contamination of the children generated stress and anguish in the mother-nurses. The support previously offered by schools and family members was hindered by the pandemic, leading to a greater demand for parental care. Creative strategies to provide distraction, as well as religiousness and spirituality were valued to face the chaos experienced. Conclusion: nurses, while being valued as important frontline professionals in the fight against the pandemic, are invisible in their personal-affective dimension and in that of being a mother. The study indicates the need for structural institutional policies so that mother-nurses are placed in a position of equality and safety for the full exercise of the profession and a healthy intra-family relationship, especially in contexts of adversity such as that experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. RESUMEN Objetivo: comprender la experiencia de ser madre de un niño y enfermera en ejercicio de la profesión durante la pandemia del COVID-19. Método: investigación con enfoque cualitativo, realizada con 17 participantes de diferentes municipios del estado de San Pablo, Brasil. La recolección de datos tuvo lugar en los meses de abril y mayo de 2020 por medio de entrevistas semiestructuradas realizadas a través de una plataforma virtual de comunicación de acceso libre. Los datos fueron analizados temáticamente, sobre la base del Paradigma de la Complejidad. Resultados: la ausencia y disparidad de información científica y sistemática al inicio de la pandemia, el débil apoyo institucional y la preocupación por contaminar a los hijos generaron estrés y angustia en las madres enfermeras. El apoyo antes ofrecido por las escuelas y los familiares se vio perjudicado por la pandemia, derivando en una mayor demanda de cuidados por parte de los padres. Se valorizaron estrategias creativas para proporcionar distracción, al igual que la religiosidad y la espiritualidad, para enfrentar el caos de la presente realidad. Conclusión: las enfermeras, a la vez que son valorizadas como importantes profesionales importantes de la primera línea de lucha contra la pandemia, se encuentran invisibilizadas en su dimensión personal-afectiva e de ser madres. El estudio indica la necesidad de implementar políticas institucionales estructurantes para que las madres enfermeras sean colocadas en una posición de igualdad y seguridad para el pleno ejercicio de la profesión para hacer posible una relación intrafamiliar saludable, especialmente en contextos de adversidades como el vivido durante la pandemia del COVID-19. RESUMO Objetivo: compreender a experiência de ser mãe de criança e enfermeira atuante na pandemia da COVID-19. Método: pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, com 17 participantes de diferentes municípios do estado de São Paulo, Brasil. A coleta de dados ocorreu nos meses de abril e maio de 2020, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas via plataforma virtual de comunicação de acesso livre. Os dados foram analisados tematicamente, apoiados no Paradigma da Complexidade. Resultados: a ausência e desencontro de informações científicas e sistemáticas no início da pandemia, o frágil apoio institucional e a preocupação de contaminação dos filhos geraram estresse e angústia nas mães enfermeiras. O suporte antes ofertado pelas escolas e familiares foi prejudicado pela pandemia, levando a maior demanda de cuidado parental. Estratégias criativas para proporcionar distração, bem como a religiosidade e a espiritualidade foram valorizadas para o enfrentamento do caos vivido. Conclusão: as enfermeiras, ao mesmo tempo que são valorizadas enquanto profissionais importantes da linha de frente no combate à pandemia, são invisibilizadas na sua dimensão pessoal-afetiva e do ser mãe. O estudo indica a necessidade de políticas institucionais estruturantes para que as mães enfermeiras sejam colocadas numa posição de igualdade e segurança para o exercício pleno da profissão e da relação intrafamiliar saudável, especialmente em contextos de adversidades como o vivenciado na vigência da pandemia pela COVID-19.