ABSTRACT
Objective: The study aimed at analyzing the international scientific publications on coronavirus infection and patient safety in health care. Methods: This research is a bibliometric study carried out by searching published articles in theISIWebofKnowledge/WebofScience database and analyzing the results through bibliometric analysis software HistCite. The selected time frame was between 1970 and 2020, and we used the following descriptors: “coronavirus infection” OR “severe acute respiratory syndrome” OR “COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2”. Results: We found 5,434 publications in 1,491 different journals;they are written by 18,274 authors linked to 4,064 institutions, which are located in 104 countries. In the citations analysis, the h-index was 155, and the average of citations each article received was 30.79. Conclusion: During the studied period, the Web of Science database showed two peaks of publications on coronavirus infections.The first comprised 768 articles published between 2003 and 2004 when a new coronavirus caused an outbreak of severe acute respiratory failure. The second consisted of 576 articles published between 2019 and 2020, during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19. The knowledge on coronavirus infection should be widely shared so that new studies can be designed and the world scientific community can contribute to improving patient safety in healthcare and preventing new pandemics of severe acute respiratory infection caused by coronaviruses. © 2021 Nascimento et al.
ABSTRACT
Background: According to current evidence, the lungs are the most affected organ in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Recent data shows impairment of carbon monoxide diffusing capacity, decreased total lung capacity, and restrictive ventilatory defect in COVID-19 adult patients. Data in children are lacking. Our goal was to characterize clinically and demographically the pediatric population with asthma that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in our hospital during 2020 and evaluate the pulmonary function after the infection. Method: Cross-sectional study performed in Hospital Dona Estefânia, from March 2nd to December 31st, 2020. All pediatric asthmatic patients (<18 years) who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (RT-PCR test) were included. Asthma diagnosis was based on a previous physician's diagnosis or parent-reported history. A convenience sample of the asthmatic patients performed spirometry and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO). Results: We were able to identify 20 asthmatic patients [50% male;median age: 10.5 years old (P25- 75: 9- 14.5)]. Atopic comorbidities were present in 75% ( n = 15) (rhinitis the most frequent). According to GINA, 11 (55%) had mild and 9 (45%) moderate asthma. Five patients (25%) needed hospital admission because of COVID-19 infection, 3 had asthma exacerbation, and 3 had COVID-19 pneumonia. Nine of the 20 patients performed spirometry and DLCO after COVID-19 infection. Respiratory function was performed few months after the infection [median=3 months (P25- 75: 2- 6.5)]. In our sample, we found 2 patients with obstructive ventilation impairment and small airway dysfunction. We didn't find any statistically significant difference between de FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF25- 75, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) before and after COVID-19 infection. There were 2 asthmatics with impaired DLCO (65.1% and 64.7%). Conclusion: Two patients showed obstructive ventilation, but it could be due to the variable airflow limitation of asthma, and 2 had DLCO impairment. We didn't find any statistically significant difference between respiratory function before and after COVID-19 infection. However, this is a small sample, and further evaluations with larger populations are needed.
ABSTRACT
The ignition and spread of forest fires in the first four months of each year, in Portugal, has been a reality since the seventies, framed by specific socio-economic conditions and only mitigated by climatic conditions that are clearly unfavourable to their occurrence. Indeed, the simple observation of the statistical data related to forest fires allows the verification of this phenomenon, with the year of 2020 having the lowest number of occurrences in relation to the previous five years (2015-2019). However, and even with apparently favourable climatic conditions, in the period of 2020 there was a drastic reduction in the number of ignitions and burnt areas throughout the continental territory. This fact is only justified by social factors, namely those associated with the pandemic situation, generated by COVID-19, by the sanitary conditions associated with it and the consequent confinement measures imposed by the Portuguese government, especially during the period of the State of Emergency.
ABSTRACT
The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected millions of people worldwide and generated many sequels in the survivors, such as muscular pain and fatigue. These symptoms have been treated through pharmacological approaches;however, infected people keep presenting physical limitations. Besides, the COVID-19 damage to the central nervous system has also been related to the presence of some physical impairment, so strategies that focus on diverse brain areas should be encouraged. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-pharmacological tool that could be associated with pharmacological treatments to improve the central nervous system function and decrease the exacerbation of the immune system response. tDCS targeting pain and fatigue-related areas could provide an increase in neuroplasticity and enhancements in physical functions. Moreover, it can be used in infirmaries and clinical centers to treat COVID-19 patients.