Assessment of the Interferon-Lambda-3 Polymorphism in the Antibody Response to COVID-19 in Older Adults Seropositive for CMV.

BACKGROUND: Here, we investigated the impact of IFN-lambda-3 polymorphism on specific IgG responses for COVID-19 in older adults seropositive for CMV. METHODS: Blood samples of 25 older adults of both sexes were obtained at three different times: during a micro-outbreak (MO) of SARS-CoV-2 in 2020; eight months after (CURE); and 30 days after the administration of the second dose of ChadOx-1 vaccine (VAC). The specific IgG for both SARS-CoV-2 and CMV antigens, neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, and also the polymorphism profile for IFN-lambda-3 (rs12979860 C > T) were assessed. RESULTS: Higher levels of specific IgG for SARS-CoV-2 antigens were found in the MO and VAC than in the CURE time-point. Volunteers with specific neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 showed better specific IgG responses for SARS-CoV-2 and lower specific IgG levels for CMV than volunteers without specific neutralizing antibodies. Significant negative correlations between the specific IgG levels for SARS-CoV-2 and CMV were found at the MO time-point, as well as in the group of individuals homozygous for allele 1 (C/C) in the MO time-point and heterozygotes (C/T) in the CURE time-point. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that both CMV seropositivity and the homozygosis for allele 1 (C/C) in IFN-lambda-3 gene can negatively impact the antibody response to COVID-19 infection and vaccination in older adults.

Low frequency of SARS-CoV2 infection in daycare centers during the reopening of school activities in the Southeast's poor area of Brazil.

SARS-Cov2 has already infected over 482 million people and caused more than 6.1 million deaths. The beginning of the pandemic has led the health authorities of several countries to adopt non-pharmacological preventive measures such as daycare closures. The reopening took place when the country had the highest rates of infection and mortality (mainly due to the gamma variant (P.1) outbreak) and the beginning of the vaccination program. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of SARS-CoV2 in daycare after educational activities resumed. The study was conducted in seven childcare facilities. Swab samples from the nasopharynx were collected from children and staff members. The viral RNA was obtained through PureLink RNA extraction kit purification and SARS-CoV2 presence was detected using the All plex SARS-CoV2 kit. The study population included 201 participants, including daycare workers and children. The average age of the workers and children is 40 and 3 years old, respectively. Among the children, 47.5% are female and among the workers, 91.4%. One (0.5%) test came out positive for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, which was from a sample of an asymptomatic childcare worker, and no secondary infections were detected. Considering that the return to daycare activities occurred during a period with a high number of deaths and a lack of vaccines throughout the country, the small number of cases indicates the effectiveness of the several preventive measures used by daycare centers in preventing SARS-CoV2 transmission.

Fake news and covid-19: a concern due to the low vaccine coverage in Brazil / Fake News e covid-19: uma preocupação devido à baixa cobertura de vacinação no Brasil

Abstract This study comprised the application of a survey in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2 different periods of 2020: the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic and the disease's first peak (from March to April, 100 interviews) to the time of stability in case fatality rates (from May to July, 100 interviews); the questionnaire included was composed of 14 multiple-choice questions to evaluate the importance of mass communication channels, including social media, and the level of importance attributed to preventive measures at the beginning of the pandemic. The changes in people's behavior, even in a group with more schooling, which initially considered preventive measures to be very important (91%) but, in the second survey, was reduced to 82%. The reinforcement of preventive measures to reduce cases and deaths by covid-19 in Brazil is urgent, allied to recommendations with clear information on the importance of vaccination to avoid low rates as the current situation of vaccine coverage for preventable diseases.

Resumo Foi conduzida uma pesquisa em São Paulo, no Brasil, em 2 períodos distintos de 2020: sendo o primeiro no início da pandemia do covid-19 com um elevado pico de incidência da doença (de março a abril, foram realizadas 100 entrevistas) até o momento de estabilidade nas taxas de letalidade (de maio a julho, foram realizadas outras 100 entrevistas), composto por 14 questões de múltipla escolha para avaliar a importância dos canais de comunicação em massa (incluindo as redes sociais) e o nível de importância atribuído às medidas preventivas no início da pandemia. As mudanças no comportamento das pessoas, mesmo dentro de um grupo de nível educacional alto, que inicialmente considerava as medidas preventivas muito importantes (91%), apresenta considerável queda na segunda pesquisa realizada (redução para 82%). Há a necessidade urgente de reforço de medidas preventivas para redução de casos e óbitos por covid-19 no Brasil, aliadas a recomendações com informações claras como a importância da vacinação para evitar baixas taxas de cobertura vacinal que se apresentam em outras doenças preveníveis por vacinas.

Medical Students Show Lower Physical Activity Levels and Higher Anxiety Than Physical Education Students: A Cross-Sectional Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: This study aimed to compare the time in physical activity (PA) [light (LPA), moderate and vigorous (MVPA)] and sedentary behavior (SB) (weekdays, weekends, or both) between Medical (MED) and Physical Education (PE) students who underwent remote classes imposed by the COVID-19. In addition, we compared symptoms of depression and anxiety and sleep quality. Methods: A cross-sectional study (272 MED and 95 PE students). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Beck Inventory (Anxiety, Depression), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality were used to assess PA and SB, anxiety and depression symptoms, and quality of sleep, respectively. The data are presented as median and interquartile intervals 25-75. Results: We observed statistically significant differences between MED and PE students for MVPA [MED: 165 min per week (0-360) vs. PE: 420 min per week (180-670), p < 0.001], SB Total [MED: 10 h per day (8-12) vs. PE: 7 h per day (5-10), p < 0.001)], and anxiety symptoms [MED: 13 points (5-23) vs. PE: six points (2-16), p < 0.001)]. Conclusion: Together, our findings indicate that MED students spent less time in MVPA and more time in SB than PE students. MED students also presented worse mental health in the pandemic situation imposed by the COVID-19.