Photodynamic inactivation of Rhizopus oryzae - in vitro study

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several complications arose in infected patients, one of them being mucormycosis, which is an extremely aggressive fungal disease with a high mortality rate, especially in patients with compromised immune systems. Most cases of mucormycosis are caused by the fungus Rhizopus oryzae, also known as black fungus, with 90% of cases affecting the rhinocerebral site. The treatment tools used are based on high doses of amphotericin B and posaconazole, associated with surgical resections when possible. However, even with aggressive antifungal treatment, the estimated attributable mortality rate is high [1]. In the absence of surgical debridement of the infected tissue, antifungal treatment alone is not curative. So there is a need for development of adjuvant treatments. Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy (aPDT) may constitute an auxiliary therapeutic option for mucormycosis [2]. Due to the lack of reports on the photodynamic inactivation of R. oryzae, we investigated different protocols Photodithazine (PDZ) as a photosensitizer. The response on the fungus growing rate under distinct treatment parameters as photosensitizer concentration, incubation time, and association with surfactant, will be presented for both white and black hyphal phases, and infective spore phase. Preliminary results show the potential use of photodynamic therapy for the inactivation and growth control of the R. oryzae.Copyright © 2023

COVID-19 vaccines effectiveness against symptomatic disease and severe outcomes, 2021-2022: a test-negative case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing symptomatic and severe disease. STUDY DESIGN: This was an observational test-negative case-control study. METHODS: Study participants were adults with at least one symptom included in the World Health Organization COVID-19 definition who sought health care in a public emergency department between 1 November 2021 and 2 March 2022 (corresponding with the fifth pandemic wave in Portugal dominated by the Omicron variant). This study used multivariable logistic regression models to estimate and compare the odds ratio of vaccination between test-positive cases and test-negative controls to calculate the absolute and relative vaccine effectiveness. RESULTS: The study included 1059 individuals (522 cases and 537 controls) with a median age of 56 years and 58% were women. Compared with the effectiveness of the primary vaccination scheme that had been completed ≥180 days earlier, the relative effectiveness against symptomatic infection of a booster administered between 14 and 132 days earlier was 71% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 57%, 81%; P < 0.001). The effectiveness of the primary series against symptomatic infection peaked at 85% (95% CI: 56%, 95%) between 14 and 90 days after the last inoculation and decreased to 34% (95% CI: -43%, 50%) after ≥180 days. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the known immunological evasion characteristics of the Omicron variant, results from this study show that vaccine effectiveness increases after booster administration. COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness decreases to less than 50% between 3 and 6 months after completion of the primary cycle; therefore, this would be an appropriate time to administer a booster to restore immunity.

Factors associated with disability in patients after discharge from Intensive Care Units COVID-19

Objective: to evaluate factors associated with disability of patients after hospital discharge in COVID-19intensive care units. Methods: cross-sectional analytical research with sociodemographic, clinical, self-perception of health and WHODAS 2.0 scale data of patients discharged from a teaching hospital. Patients admitted to an intensive care unit for COVID-19 for more than eight days, discharged from the hospital at least 365 days before data collection and older than 18 years were included. Information analysis was performed using data mining. Results: 32 individuals were eligible, 25% were disabled. These individuals presented low cognition, mobility, self-care, limitation in daily activities, justified by biological and clinical parameters. Still, 37% by obesity and polymedication, 75%, impaired concentration and 50%, neurological developments. The length of hospitalization and the therapeutic resources demanded in this period were also associated with the disability observed. Conclusion: the COVID-19 virus added to the length of hospitalization and clinical factors ware related to disability 12 months after hospital discharge with strong presence of neurological symptoms. Contributions to practice: it is expected to contribute to the understanding of the long-term impacts of COVID-19, enabling to offer better assistance and quality of life to patients affected by the disease.

Investigating Remote Teaching: How Google Meet and Zoom Affect Teachers and Students’ Experience

Due to the suspension of in-person classes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, educational institutions had to adapt to remote teaching. Thus, videoconferencing tools were adopted to make it possible. However, using these tools can impact the remote teaching experience. In this paper, we present an investigation about the Google Meet and Zoom. We considered teacher and students profiles concerning Usability, a quality attribute that allows assessing the ease of use of user interfaces, and the User Experience (UX), which provides a holistic view focusing on subjective aspects such as affect and emotions. The purpose of Usability and UX is to understand the impacts of the tools on the quality of the remote teaching experience. Our results indicate that besides the tools, the interaction between teacher and student, in the context of synchronous classes, impacts the remote teaching experience, being an essential aspect of discussion and enabling further investigations within the technology-supported education community. Copyright © 2022 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved.

The relationship between nutritional deficiencies and mental health

The objective of this mini review was to discuss the relationship between nutritional deficiencies and mental health, and to present a structure that helps to visualize these associations based on a literature review and the scenarios of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted to demonstrate the effect of the nutritional deficiencies on the occurrence and/or worsening of mental health problems, mainly related to the most drastic measures of social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies have already shown that a nutritionally unbalanced diet may be associated with greater chances of mental health problems. Insufficient levels of micronutrients can, by regulating the stress response, immune and oxidative systems, negatively affect brain functions and, consequently, cognitive functions and mental health of individuals. The current pandemic of COVID-19 reveals an increase in food and nutritional insecurity, and a worsening of this situation among already vulnerable populations. Micronutrient deficiencies may be exacerbated in a context of increased food insecurity and the COVID-19 pandemic, which may contribute to increased mental health problems.

The efficacy, challenges, and facilitators of telemedicine in post-treatment cancer survivorship care: an overview of systematic reviews.

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine services have been increasingly used to facilitate post-treatment cancer survivorship care, including improving access; monitoring health status, health behaviors, and symptom management; enhancing information exchange; and mitigating the costs of care delivery, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. To inform guidance for the use of telemedicine in the post-COVID era, the aim of this overview of systematic reviews (SRs) was to evaluate the efficacy of, and survivor engagement in, telemedicine interventions in the post-treatment survivorship phase, and to consider implementation barriers and facilitators. METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched. SRs that examined the use of telemedicine in the post-treatment phase of cancer survivorship, published between January 2010 and April 2021, were included. Efficacy data were synthesized narratively. Implementation barriers and facilitators were synthesized using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. RESULTS: Twenty-nine SRs were included. A substantive body of evidence found telemedicine to benefit the management of psychosocial and physical effects, particularly for improving fatigue and cognitive function. There was a lack of evidence on the use of telemedicine in the prevention and surveillance for recurrences and new cancers as well as management of chronic medical conditions. This overview highlights a range of diverse barriers and facilitators at the patient, health service, and system levels. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights the benefits of telemedicine in addressing psychosocial and physical effects, but not in other areas of post-treatment cancer survivorship care. This large review provides practical guidance for use of telemedicine in post-treatment survivorship care.

Categories of intuitive reasoning and GeoGebra 3D: An experience with Brazilian students

This work presents the result of the application of a didactic sequence designed to understand the concept of the Cavalieri's Principle, supported by the GeoGebra application in its version for mobile phones - 3D Calculator. For this study, the Theory of Categories of Intuitive Reasoning, by Efraim Fischbein, was used as a conceptual basis. The objective of this work was to elaborate and develop a didactic sequence aiming to subsidize the learning of the Cavalieri's Principle from GeoGebra, as a way to help the student in the construction of geometric reasoning, through visualization, perception and intuition. The methodology of this work is qualitative research, exploratory type, being carried out from a didactic sequence developed in two meetings remotely, due to the scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic. The target audience of this research is a group of students aged 15-17 years from a public school in Fortaleza - CE, Brazil. In summary, it is pointed out that the intuitive reasoning categories mobilized from the use of GeoGebra have great potential to stimulate the evolution of the student's geometric thinking, through the development of perception, intuition and geometric visualization. © 2021 University of Helsinki. All rights reserved.

Mortality due to covid1-19 x protein supply. Is there a relationship?

Rationale: To evaluate whether there is a relationship between increased mortality from COVID 19, relate the offer of protection during the period in which he received enteral nutritional therapy. Methods: Retrospective, observational study, with analysis of 16 deaths by COVID-19, which occurred between the months of March and April / 2020, of patients admitted to an ICU of a particular hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. For inclusion criteria were adopted: adult patients, admitted to the ICU and who received enteral nutritional therapy for more than 72 hours. For calculations of nutritional offer, the ESPEN Guidelines for critical patients were used, considering the adequate offer or the minimum average value of 80%. The data were analyzed using Excel planning and statistically defined. Results: Of the 16 patients who died, 13 (81%) received enteral nutritional therapy (TNE) and, of these, 9 (69%) for a period longer than 72 hours, with the average age of those 71.6 years (σ 7, 12) and the average offer period for TNE was 13 days (σ 7.81). The average protein supply was 67.9% / day (σ 18.6) and only 2 patients (22.2%) received less than 80% of the protein target used. There was a weak correlation (r 0.379) between the days of diet and protein supply. There was a medium correlation (r 0.5250) between age and protein supply. Conclusion: Given the data, it is possible to conclude that an inadequate protein supply has contributed to the mortality of this group of patients, since only 2 patients (22.2%) receive less than 80% of the goal achieved, this is the first time tested in scientific studies is essential for the recovery of patients in the ICU. References: Barazzoni R et al., ESPEN expert statements and practical guidance for nutritional management of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection, Clinical Nutrition, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2020.03.022 Disclosure of Interest: None declared

Abortion and the COVID-19 pandemic: insights for Latin America

The COVID-19 pandemic may accentuate existing problems, hindering access to legal abortion, with a consequent increase in unsafe abortions. This scenario may be even worse in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Latin America, where abortion laws are already restrictive and access to services is already hampered. Our objective was to understand how different countries, with an emphasis on Latin Americans, have dealt with legal abortion services in the context of the COVID-19. Thus, we conducted a narrative review on abortion and COVID-19. The 75 articles included, plus other relevant references, indicate that the pandemic affects sexual and reproductive health services by amplifying existing problems and restricting access to reproductive rights, such as legal abortion. This impact may be even stronger in low- and middle-income countries, especially in Latin America, where access to legal abortion is normally restricted. The revision of sources in this article underlines the urgent need to maintain legal abortion services, both from women's perspective, in support of their reproductive rights, but also from that of the international commitment to achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Thereby, Latin American countries must place reproductive rights as a priority on their agendas and adapt legislation to accommodate alternative models of abortion care. Furthermore, our results underscore the need for clear information on the functioning of sexual and reproductive health services as essential for understanding the impact of the pandemic on legal abortion and to identify the groups most affected by the changes.