[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on percutaneous coronary interventions in Portugal]. / Impacto da pandemia por COVID-19 nas intervenções coronárias percutâneas em Portugal.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed an unprecedented burden on healthcare systems worldwide, changing the profile of interventional cardiology activity. OBJECTIVES: To quantify and compare the number of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) performed for acute and chronic coronary syndromes during the first COVID-19 outbreak with the corresponding period in previous years. METHODS: Data on PCI from the prospective multicenter Portuguese Registry on Interventional Cardiology (RNCI) were used to analyze changes in PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) and chronic coronary syndromes (CCS). The number of PCIs performed during the initial period of the COVID-19 outbreak in Portugal, from March 1 to May 2, 2020, was compared with the mean frequency of PCIs performed during the corresponding period in the previous three years (2017-2019). RESULTS: The total number of PCIs procedures was significantly decreased during the initial COVID-19 outbreak in Portugal (-36%, p<0.001). The reduction in PCI procedures for STEMI, NSTE-ACS and CCS was, respectively, -25% (p<0.019), -20% (p<0.068) and -59% (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the corresponding period in the previous three years, the number of PCI procedures performed for STEMI and CCS decreased markedly during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal.

Investigation of the Azorean Camellia sinensis Processing Conditions to Maximize the Theaflavin 3,3'-di-O-Gallate Content as a Potential Antiviral Compound.

The molecular constituents of Camellia sinensis, in particular epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) and, more remarkably, the galloylated theaflavins, mainly theaflavin-3,3'-di-O-gallate (TF-3,3'-DG), have been reported to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), an enzyme required for the cleavage of its polyproteins, to produce vital individual functional proteins for viral cell replication. Our results for total catechin content revealed the values of 174.72, 200.90, and 211.75 mg/g dry weight (DW) in spring, and the values of 183.59, 191.36, and 215.09 mg/g DW in summer, for tea plantation zones 1, 2, and 3, respectively. For the TF-3,3'-DG content, the values of 2.68, 1.13, and 3.72 mg/g DW were observed in spring, and the values of 3.78, 2.06, and 8.91 mg/g DW in summer for zones 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In the same zone, different contents of TF-3,3'-DG were observed across plucking months of April, June, and August, with values of 1.13, 2.77, and 4.18 mg/g DW, respectively, showing higher values in summer. Different values of TF-3,3'-DG contents were also observed in the same tea plantation zone but from different plant parts, revealing higher values in the bud and the first and second leaves (3.62 mg/g DW) and lower values in the third and fourth leaves (1.14 mg/g DW). The TF-3,3'-DG content increased from 3.31 to 4.98 mg/g DW with increased fermentation time from 1 to 3 h, respectively, and increased for lower temperature and longer fermentation time. The aim of this study was to investigate the processing conditions that lead to maximum TF-3,3'-DG content and, given its potential impact as an inhibitor of the 3CLpro enzyme, to create a novel antiviral Azorean black tea.

Bromelain, a Group of Pineapple Proteolytic Complex Enzymes (Ananas comosus) and Their Possible Therapeutic and Clinical Effects. A Summary.

Bromelain is a complex combination of multiple endopeptidases of thiol and other compounds derived from the pineapple fruit, stem and/or root. Fruit bromelain and stem bromelain are produced completely distinctly and comprise unique compounds of enzymes, and the descriptor "Bromelain" originally referred in actuality to stem bromelain. Due to the efficacy of oral administration in the body, as a safe phytotherapeutic medication, bromelain was commonly suited for patients due to lack of compromise in its peptidase efficacy and the absence of undesired side effects. Various in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that they are anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-thrombotic, fibrinolytic, and facilitate the death of apoptotic cells. The pharmacological properties of bromelain are, in part, related to its arachidonate cascade modulation, inhibition of platelet aggregation, such as interference with malignant cell growth; anti-inflammatory action; fibrinolytic activity; skin debridement properties, and reduction of the severe effects of SARS-Cov-2. In this paper, we concentrated primarily on the potential of bromelain's important characteristics and meditative and therapeutic effects, along with the possible mechanism of action.