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The present chapter focuses on the mechanisms of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, pathogenesis, and the possible therapeutic strategies targeted to the viral receptors, purinergic and kallikrein-kinin systems. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binds with high affinity to the human ACE2 receptor on host cells, but it can also interact with other receptors and enzymes. Following viral infection, a plethora of subsequent molecular and cellular alterations occurs in the host. These alterations, which include the cytokine and bradykinin storms, as well as exacerbated ATP signalling, have been implicated in the genesis and progression of the signs and symptoms observed in COVID-19 patients. These routes and systems provide important targets for developing specific and effective anti-COVID-19 drugs, as well as reveal a novel understanding of pathogenesis and tropism of SARS-CoV-2. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022.
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Objective: to identify the contributions of the Humanitude Care Methodology in the comprehensive care provided to the elderly in a long-term care institution during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive research study. Data collection took place through individual online interviews in September and October 2020 with eight caregivers of elderly people from a long-term care institution for aged people in Portugal. Thematic categorization was adopted for analysis and treatment of the information. Results: the contributions of the Humanitude Care Methodology contemplated operationalization of the humanization of care, that is, approach, consolidation, professionalization of the relationship, and intentionality in the interaction. It also contemplated the organizational system with changes in care and opening to the outside and, finally, contributions to aged people such as acceptance of the care provided, decrease in agitation, promotion of autonomy and self-care, respect, satisfaction and promotion of verticality. Conclusion: the strategies related to the Humanitude Care Methodology facilitate the care practices during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Although organizational and operational matters of the care provided were altered, it was possible to maintain comprehensive care for aged people, due to the fact that the principles of Humanitude were already integrated in the institution’s care practices. © 2022, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. All rights reserved.
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Objective: Report the experience generated from the application of a virtual culture circle on interprofessionalism to face the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Sixteen university students from the courses of: medicine, nursing, psychology, physiotherapy and pharmacy participated in the culture circle. In a playful way, the three phases of the culture circle invented were covered, making in analogy with the use of the lab coat, which is a common work implement of the aforementioned courses. Results: Students were able to reveal the interprofessionality in health and to redefine their possible performance as part of a team. The feeling of fear and insecurity were constant among the participants, probably influenced by the political context and the lack of coherent plans with the world health authorities. Conclusions: The experience of participating in the culture circle promoted the awareness of students about the difficulties of being inserted in the health system. © 2021, Fundacion Index. All rights reserved.
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Objective: to reflect on how undergraduate Nursing teachers experience the activities of their work process in the COVID-19 pandemic context. Method: a qualitative and reflection study of the action-participant research type, grounded on Paulo Freire’s assumptions. The participants were 20 undergraduate Nursing teachers from public and private universities in southern Brazil. Paulo Freire’s Research Itinerary was carried out through Thematic Research, Coding, Decoding, and Critical Unveiling, in a Virtual Culture Circle held in August 2020. Results: the Nursing teachers discussed about the repercussions of remote teaching on their health. They reflected on their feelings in facing this teaching modality and on how they develop in the pandemic context. Conclusion: the results contribute to the nurses’ evidence-based practice, strengthening decision-making regarding the teachers’ work process in the COVID-19 pandemic context. © 2021, Universidade Federal do Parana. All rights reeserved.
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The present work aims to make a brief historical analysis of the surfacing concept of agroecological food, initially focused on Nutritional Food Security (SAN in Portuguese), but which encompasses other meanings nowadays, such as social, political, and playful relations. Using rice as a representative food in this article due to its constant presence in Brazilian food, connections with agroecology and its social movement are addressed and used to identify food as a political movement. We also address the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic in data for the current food industry. The methodology used in this article was the bibliographic and documentary review combined with the analysis of news, websites, and survey of databases. Our final considerations point to the need to rethink the Brazilian agricultural model and the role that small producers play in it and, above all, to the urgency of formulating public policies to encourage the production, price regulation, and distribution of food in Brazil. © Praksis 2021.
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Objective: Objective: to understand the experience of coping with COVID-19, as perceived by women undergoing cancer treatment. Method: qualitative, participatory action research based on the three phases of Paulo Freire's Research Itinerary: Thematic Investigation;Coding and Decoding;and Critical Unveiling. A Culture Circle was held online with 12 women from different places in Brazil undergoing breast cancer treatment. Results: in the virtual Culture Circle, they discussed two themes: challenges in coping with cancer and COVID-10;and learning generated in that experience, with a view to rebirth from their own ashes. Final considerations: the pandemic has prompted thinking about living. Accordingly, women undergoing cancer treatment and also under social restrictions were able to express their feelings, and in discovering and rediscovering weaknesses and strengths, to resignify themselves and to grow in a society that can and should deploy strategies for health promotion. © 2020, Centro de Estudos da Faculdade de Enfermagem da UERJ. All rights reserved.
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Objective: To understand the repercussions of Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) from the perspective of schoolchildren. Materials and method: A qualitative study, of the participant action type, based on Paulo Freire’s theoretical and methodological precepts. The participants were 10 children living in the coastal area of Santa Catarina, Brazil, from a virtual culture circle held in July 2020. An analogy was made with the colored pencil to go through the stages of the research itinerary. Results: Two generative themes emerged for dis-cussion: the good things of the COVID-19 pandemic and the “cannots” of the pandemic. In the first theme, they highlighted more time with the family and strengthening family ties, proximity to pets, and self-care. In the second, they pointed out the impossibility of playing with friends, celebrating birthdays and hugging people. Conclusions: The children identified positive and negative points experienced during the pandemic and unveiled the challenges of transforming moments of social isolation into spaces of family proximity, although restricted to their homes. © 2020, Universidad de La Sabana. All rights reserved.
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Domestic violence has its roots in gender inequalities and the concentration of power, which became even more evident with the pandemic of the new coronavirus (covid-19). Given this scenario, this paper discusses the increase in domestic violence in Vila dos Pescadores during the pandemic and the coping mechanisms employed by the community. The research comprised two phases: 1) a documentary analysis based on articles, texts and data on domestic violence and the covid-19 pandemic, including the territory studied;2) a fieldwork in which semi-structured interviews and conversation circles were conducted. Data were analyzed based on Depth Hermeneutics, proposed by Thompson. Results showed that, despite the inefficiency of attention and care provided by the State, community-based institutions present in the neighborhood played an important role in confronting dramatic experiences of distress and abandonment of women in vulnerable situations. This was achieved by the implementation of a community-based association, a space for sensitive listening and user embracement, and other referrals, such as health protection and justice services. Copyright © 2022, Universidade de Sao Paulo. Museu de Zoologia. All rights reserved.
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Objective: to understand the repercussions of COVID-19 and possibilities for health promotion in combating the pandemic, as perceived by undergraduate nursing students. Method: this qualitative, participatory-action study rested on Paulo Freire’s Research Itinerary, which comprises three dialectical phases: Thematic Investigation;Encoding and Decoding;Critical Unveiling. After approval by the Research Ethics Committee, two Virtual Culture Circles were held in October 2020 with the participation of 23 nursing students at a public university in southern Brazil, but living in different places. Results: two themes were discussed: repercussions of COVID-19 and possibilities for health promotion. The impacts of the pandemic were clearly reflected in the students’ biopsychosocial and spiritual well-being. Conclusions: it is urgent to promote students’ health with a view to uncovering feelings and announcing strategies for overcoming difficulties, with an emphasis on awakening the capacity for coping and resilience. © 2021, Centro de Estudos da Faculdade de Enfermagem da UERJ. All rights reserved.
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Objective: to understand the meanings of COVID-19 vaccination to immunized elderly. Method: this qualitative, participant action study was based on the assumptions of Paulo Freire and approved by the research ethics committee. Sampling was by the snowball technique. The three stages of the Research Itinerary were: Thematic Research;Encoding and Decoding;and Critical Unveiling. A virtual Culture Circle was held in March 2021, with the participation of 11 elderly people without cognitive impairment, living in the south of Brazil and immunized against COVID-19. The first participant belonged to the social circle of one of the researchers. Results: two generator themes emerged: 1) COVID-19: birds trapped in their cages;and 2) COVID-19 vaccination: the time to fly again is coming. Conclusions: vaccination against COVID-19 for the elderly meant happiness, protection, hope, relief, tranquility and hope of returning to routine activities. © 2021, Centro de Estudos da Faculdade de Enfermagem da UERJ. All rights reserved.
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Objective: to reveal the perceptions of the elderly about the repercussions of COVID-19 on the elderly. Method: exploratory, descriptive study with a qualitative approach. Twenty elderly residents in Santa Catarina, Brazil participated in the study. Data collection took place through semi-structured questions, through video call on WhatsApp due to the pandemic. For the organization and analysis of data, content analysis was used. Results: two categories emerged: 1) Feelings of the elderly awakened in the face of COVID-19;2) Experiences of the elderly in the pandemic context. Conclusion: the pandemic situation aroused feelings of sadness, loneliness, anxiety, homesickness and fear in the elderly, in addition to difficulties in adapting to isolation, in the face of physical distancing from family and friends, with interruption of leisure, work and physical activities. However, technologies were allies in maintaining contact with other people, despite the difficulties in handling.
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Objective: to understand older adults’ perceptions about how to face COVID-19. Method: a qualitative research study of the participant-action type, with its theoretical basis grounded on Paulo Freire, adapted to the reality of the pandemic. The Research Itinerary stages were followed with an analogy to wine: Thematic Research for color;Coding-Decoding for sweetness and acidity;and Critical Unveiling for alcohol. A virtual Culture Circle was held in August 2020, including 23 older adults from a Cohabitation Center in southern Brazil. Results: Generating Themes: 1) Bitter repercussions of COVID-19, especially fears, insecurity, anxiety, lack of interaction with people, and missing how daily life was before isolation;2) Sweet repercussions of COVID-19, unveiling hope, faith, reinvention of life, lessons learned, feeling loved, cared for and supported, even if at a distance. Conclusion: maintenance of the older adults’ physical and mental capacity in the face of social tragedies must be guided by guidelines on comprehensive care protocols to prevent diseases and promote health. © 2021 This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original article is properly cited.