ABSTRACT
Introduction: One of the ways of coping with COVID-19 concerns aspects related to the production and dissemination of reliable, clear and quickly understood information. There are many communicational and informational actions and initiatives in favor of dissemination and of the means that guarantee the acceptability, adherence and compliance with the prevention and control measures of COVID-19. This research aims to develop a digital environment, understood here as a panel with topics related to COVID-19, based on SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language (SPARQL) queries and on the Wikidata dataset. Method: To do so, a theoretical and applied methodology is used, based on the Systematic Literature Review to support the construction of the conceptual corpus underlying the computational technologies from the Semantic Web and Linked Data and its application in the structuring and modeling of the environment, for making scientific data available and sharing. Results: The data collected in the Systematic Literature Review reveal little scientific production available at the international level, however, interesting initiatives are already concerned with the openness and availability of scientific data on the Web. In addition, the information panel on COVID-19 developed is categorized into six main axes, such as Map COVID-19, Symptoms of COVID-19, Possible treatments, Taxonomy, Related works and Related images. Conclusion: Thus, the information panel about COVID-19 presents itself as a digital environment that enhances the visualization, access and sharing of data and information for heterogeneous users, contributing to the transfer of consistent, structured and reliable information, as well as the promotion of public guidelines for controlling the spread of the disease. © 2020 Arakaki, Castro & Arakaki.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: SARS-CoV-2 infection may lead to the development of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Scarce data is available regarding safety and efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in IBD patients, which may present differences between subgroups. Lower immunological response could require an additional booster injection. Aims & Methods: Prospective study including adult patients with IBD after complete vaccination against SARS-COV-2 infection with BioNTech vaccine. Patients with previous SARS-COV-2 infection were excluded. A control group with healthy individuals matched for age and sex was also analyzed. Blood samples were collected 30 days after complete vaccination to quantify IgG antibody titers against SARS-CoV-2 in both groups. Result(s): Final sample included 81 IBD and 32 non-IBD patients, 55(48.7%) of them females, with a mean age of 40.2+/-13.0 years. From IBD patients, 58(71.6%) had CD and 23(28.4%) UC. IBD patients had significantly lower median anti-SARS-COV-2 IgG levels when compared to the control group (6479, IQR-10053 vs 13061, IQR-15539 AU/mL;p=0.003). Regarding IBD medication, significant lower levels of SARS-COV-2 IgG antibodies when compared to controls where observed in patients under thiopurines (5423, IQR-10260 AU/mL;p=0.011);methotrexate (834, IQR-4155 AU/mL;p=0.002);infliximab (5294, IQR-10392 AU/mL;p=0.001);and corticosteroids (548, IQR-n/a AU/mL;p=0.001). The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection after vaccination was also significantly higher in each of these treatments - healthy controls 25% vs thiopurines 50% (p=0.025), infliximab 43.8% (p=0.048), methotrexate 75% (p=0.041) and corticosteroids 100% (p=0.027). Conclusion(s): IBD patients under Immunomodulators, infliximab and corticosteroid treatment presented significantly lower anti-SARS-COV-2 IgG levels 30 days following complete vaccination when compared to healthy controls. These findings could support the benefit of an additional booster injection in this population.
ABSTRACT
Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection may lead to the development of the novel coronavirus disease, 2019 (COVID-19). Currently, little to no data is available regarding safety and efficacy of SARS-COV-2 vaccination in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients, which may present differences between subgroups, as these patients may exhibit impaired innate and adaptive immune system responses. Lower immunological response could, in this specific population, require an additional booster injection. Methods: We conducted a prospective study including adult patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) who have undergone complete vaccination against SARS-COV-2 infection with BioNTech® vaccine. Patients with previous SARS-COV-2 infection were excluded. Medical data regarding age, sex, IBD classification and current medication for IBD were collected. A control group with healthy individuals matched for age and sex was also analyzed. Blood samples were collected, 30 days after complete vaccination to quantify IgG antibody titers for SARS-COV-2 in both groups (IBD and non-IBD). Results: Our final sample included, 81 IBD and, 32 non-IBD patients, 55 (48.7%) of them females, with a mean age of, 40.2±13.0 years. From the IBD patients, 58(71.6%) had CD and, 23(28.4%) had UC. IBD patients had significantly lower anti-SARS-COV-2 IgG levels when compared to the control group (8950±9366 vs, 14834±11679 AU/mL;p=0.003). Regarding IBD medication, significant lower levels of SARS-COV-2 IgG antibodies when compared to control patients were found in patients under thiopurines (9074±9779 AU/mL;p=0.011);methotrexate (1987±2568 AU/mL;p=0.002);infliximab (7208±7276 AU/ mL;p=0.001);and corticosteroids (1065±933 AU/mL;p=0.001). Additionally, patients under combined therapy (infliximab plus thiopurines) presented with significantly lower antibodies titers when compared to patients treated with thiopurines in monotherapy (8130±11048 vs, 10563±5680 AU/mL;p=0.039). No significant differences were found in IBD patients under salicylates (10195±7371 AU/mL;p=0.226);adalimumab (15644±21467 AU/mL;p=0.336);vedolizumab (10464±9087 AU/mL;p=0.286) and ustekinumab (11366±10016 AU/mL;p=0.390). Conclusion: IBD patients presented with significantly lower anti- SARS-COV-2 IgG levels, 1 month after complete vaccination against SARS-COV-2 infection compared to healthy controls. Thiopurines, methotrexate, infliximab and corticosteroid treatment were associated with significantly lower antibodies levels. These findings may express the benefit of an additional booster injection in this population.
ABSTRACT
From state-based developmentalism to community-based initiatives to market-based conservation, the Brazilian Amazon has been a laboratory of development interventions for over 50 years. The region is now confronting a devastating COVID-19 pandemic amid renewed environmental pressures and increasing social inequities. While these forces are shaping the present and future of the region, the Amazon has also become an incubator of local innovations and efforts confronting these pressures. Often overlooked, place-based initiatives involving individual and collective-action have growing roles in promoting regional sustainability. We review the history of development interventions influencing the emergence of place-based initiatives and their potential to promoting changes in productive systems, value-aggregation and market-access, and governance arrangements improving living-standards and environmental sustainability. We provide examples of initiatives documented by the AGENTS project, contextualizing them within the literature. We reflect on challenges and opportunities affecting their trajectories at this critical juncture for the future of the region. © 2021 The Authors
ABSTRACT
Introduction: One of the ways of coping with COVID-19 concerns aspects related to the production and dissemination of reliable, clear and quickly understood information. There are many communicational and informational actions and initiatives in favor of dissemination and of the means that guarantee the acceptability, adherence and compliance with the prevention and control measures of COVID-19. This research aims to develop a digital environment, understood here as a panel with topics related to COVID-19, based on SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language (SPARQL) queries and on the Wikidata dataset. Method: To do so, a theoretical and applied methodology is used, based on the Systematic Literature Review to support the construction of the conceptual corpus underlying the computational technologies from the SemanticWeb and Linked Data and its application in the structuring and modeling of the environment, for making scientific data available and sharing. Results: The data collected in the Systematic Literature Review reveal little scientific production available at the international level, however, interesting initiatives are already concerned with the openness and availability of scientific data on theWeb. In addition, the information panel on COVID-19 developed is categorized into six main axes, such as Map COVID-19, Symptoms of COVID-19, Possible treatments, Taxonomy, Related works and Related images. Conclusion: Thus, the information panel about COVID-19 presents itself as a digital environment that enhances the visualization, access and sharing of data and information for heterogeneous users, contributing to the transfer of consistent, structured and reliable information, as well as the promotion of public guidelines for controlling the spread of the disease.