Mental health research in South America: Psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees' perceived resources and barriers.

As mental health issues continue to rise in Latin America, the need for research in this field becomes increasingly pressing. This study aimed to explore the perceived barriers and resources for research and publications among psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees from nine Spanish-speaking countries in South America. Data was collected through an anonymous online survey and analyzed using descriptive methods and the SPSS Statistical package. In total, 214 responses were analyzed. Among the participating psychiatrists, 61.8% reported having led a research project and 74.7% of them reported having led an academic publication. As for the psychiatry trainees, 26% reported having conducted research and 41.5% reported having published or attempted to publish an academic paper. When available, having access to research training, protected research time and mentorship opportunities were significant resources for research. Further support is needed in terms of funding, training, protected research time and mentorship opportunities. However, despite their efforts to participate in the global mental health discussion, Latin American psychiatrists and psychiatry trainees remain largely underrepresented in the literature.

Pulmonary Inflammatory Response in Lethal COVID-19 Reveals Potential Therapeutic Targets and Drugs in Phases III/IV Clinical Trials.

Background: It is imperative to identify drugs that allow treating symptoms of severe COVID-19. Respiratory failure is the main cause of death in severe COVID-19 patients, and the host inflammatory response at the lungs remains poorly understood. Methods: Therefore, we retrieved data from post-mortem lungs from COVID-19 patients and performed in-depth in silico analyses of single-nucleus RNA sequencing data, inflammatory protein interactome network, and shortest pathways to physiological phenotypes to reveal potential therapeutic targets and drugs in advanced-stage COVID-19 clinical trials. Results: Herein, we analyzed transcriptomics data of 719 inflammatory response genes across 19 cell types (116,313 nuclei) from lung autopsies. The functional enrichment analysis of the 233 significantly expressed genes showed that the most relevant biological annotations were inflammatory response, innate immune response, cytokine production, interferon production, macrophage activation, blood coagulation, NLRP3 inflammasome complex, and the TLR, JAK-STAT, NF-κB, TNF, oncostatin M signaling pathways. Subsequently, we identified 34 essential inflammatory proteins with both high-confidence protein interactions and shortest pathways to inflammation, cell death, glycolysis, and angiogenesis. Conclusion: We propose three small molecules (baricitinib, eritoran, and montelukast) that can be considered for treating severe COVID-19 symptoms after being thoroughly evaluated in COVID-19 clinical trials.

[Evolution and impact of the infodemic on the child population in times of COVID-19Evolução e impacto da infodemia na população infantil em tempos de COVID-19]. / Evolución e impacto de la infodemia en la población infantil en tiempos de COVID-19.

The provision of timely, clear, correct information is an important strategy for controlling panic and containing a pandemic outbreak. However, as this task has not been prioritized in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a new lethal enemy has emerged that now poses another crisis, namely, the "infodemic", with consequences that have affected the entire population worldwide. In particular, it has increased the vulnerability of a group that is not often discussed: children, who constitute our study population.This article provides an analysis aimed at demystifying false constructs about the low impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the child population. It gives a chronological description of the different events that were the building blocks of the infodemic, affecting this population in three phases: first, at the onset of the pandemic, when its effects on children were ignored altogether; second, when children were stigmatized as "super-spreaders"; and third, when the crisis resulting from a failure to transmit information to this population group became evident.The world is facing both the pandemic and a pressing need for communicative justice, which includes children as a primary target group. Taking a social determinants approach, this article proposes a new normal that includes using accurate and clear information to empower children to combat the infodemic virus from an early age.

Fornecer informações claras, corretas e oportunas constitui uma importante estratégia para controlar o pânico e conter uma pandemia. Porém, por não ser prioritário, dá origem a mais um inimigo mortal que atualmente configura outra crise dentro da pandemia de SARS-CoV-2, a infodemia. A infodemia tem consequências que repercutem em toda a população mundial, prejudicando sobretudo um grupo pouco falado e que é a nossa população de estudo: as crianças.Este artigo propõe uma análise reflexiva para desmitificar falsos constructos sobre o baixo impacto da pandemia de COVID-19, com a descrição cronológica dos diferentes eventos ocorridos que foram edificando os pilares da infodemia na população infantil. São considerados três momentos: o primeiro, no início da pandemia, com a invisibilização das crianças diante do vírus; o segundo, a estigmatização das crianças como "supertransmissores"; e o terceiro momento em que se evidencia a crise decorrente da falha em comunicar informações sobre este grupo populacional.O mundo enfrenta a pandemia e também uma necessidade atual de justiça comunicativa que englobe as crianças como grupo primário de atenção. Com uma abordagem de uma perspectiva de determinação social, propõe-se uma nova normalidade que inclua o empoderamento infantil com a divulgação de fatos claros para combater, desde a tenra idade, o vírus da infodemia.

Evolución e impacto de la infodemia en la población infantil en tiempos de COVID-19

[RESUMEN]. La provisión de información oportuna, clara y correcta constituye una importante estrategia de control del pánico y de contención de un brote pandémico; sin embargo, al no ser una de las tareas prioritarias, da lugar a otro de los enemigos letales, que hoy en día enmarca otra crisis dentro de la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 como lo es la infodemia, cuyas consecuencias han afectado a toda la población a nivel mundial, vulnerando especialmente a un grupo del que poco se habla, y que constituye nuestra población de estudio, los niños. En este artículo se propone un análisis reflexivo que desmitifique falsos constructos acerca del bajo impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19, a través de una descripción cronológica de los diferentes eventos alrededor de la población infantil, que fueron construyendo los pilares de la infodemia en esta población, planteando tres momentos: el primero, al inicio de la pandemia, con una invisibilización de los niños ante el virus; el segundo momento de estigma bajo la figura de “super contagiadores” y el tercer momento donde se evidencia la crisis consecuencia del fracaso en la comunicación de información en este grupo poblacional. El mundo se enfrenta a la pandemia y además a la necesidad actual de una justicia comunicativa, que incluya a los niños como grupo primario de atención. Con un abordaje desde la determinación social, se plantea una nueva normalidad que incluya el empoderamiento de los niños con información real y clara para combatir, desde su corta edad, el virus de la infodemia.

[ABSTRACT]. The provision of timely, clear, correct information is an important strategy for controlling panic and containing a pandemic outbreak. However, as this task has not been prioritized in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a new lethal enemy has emerged that now poses another crisis, namely, the "infodemic", with consequences that have affected the entire population worldwide. In particular, it has increased the vulnerability of a group that is not often discussed: children, who constitute our study population. This article provides an analysis aimed at demystifying false constructs about the low impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the child population. It gives a chronological description of the different events that were the building blocks of the infodemic, affecting this population in three phases: first, at the onset of the pandemic, when its effects on children were ignored altogether; second, when children were stigmatized as "superspreaders"; and third, when the crisis resulting from a failure to transmit information to this population group became evident. The world is facing both the pandemic and a pressing need for communicative justice, which includes children as a primary target group. Taking a social determinants approach, this article proposes a new normal that includes using accurate and clear information to empower children to combat the infodemic virus from an early age.

[RESUMO]. Fornecer informações claras, corretas e oportunas constitui uma importante estratégia para controlar o pânico e conter uma pandemia. Porém, por não ser prioritário, dá origem a mais um inimigo mortal que atualmente configura outra crise dentro da pandemia de SARS-CoV-2, a infodemia. A infodemia tem consequências que repercutem em toda a população mundial, prejudicando sobretudo um grupo pouco falado e que é a nossa população de estudo: as crianças. Este artigo propõe uma análise reflexiva para desmitificar falsos constructos sobre o baixo impacto da pandemia de COVID-19, com a descrição cronológica dos diferentes eventos ocorridos que foram edificando os pilares da infodemia na população infantil. São considerados três momentos: o primeiro, no início da pandemia, com a invisibilização das crianças diante do vírus; o segundo, a estigmatização das crianças como “supertransmissores”; e o terceiro momento em que se evidencia a crise decorrente da falha em comunicar informações sobre este grupo populacional. O mundo enfrenta a pandemia e também uma necessidade atual de justiça comunicativa que englobe as crianças como grupo primário de atenção. Com uma abordagem de uma perspectiva de determinação social, propõe-se uma nova normalidade que inclua o empoderamento infantil com a divulgação de fatos claros para combater, desde a tenra idade, o vírus da infodemia.

In silico Analyses of Immune System Protein Interactome Network, Single-Cell RNA Sequencing of Human Tissues, and Artificial Neural Networks Reveal Potential Therapeutic Targets for Drug Repurposing Against COVID-19.

Background: There is pressing urgency to identify therapeutic targets and drugs that allow treating COVID-19 patients effectively. Methods: We performed in silico analyses of immune system protein interactome network, single-cell RNA sequencing of human tissues, and artificial neural networks to reveal potential therapeutic targets for drug repurposing against COVID-19. Results: We screened 1,584 high-confidence immune system proteins in ACE2 and TMPRSS2 co-expressing cells, finding 25 potential therapeutic targets significantly overexpressed in nasal goblet secretory cells, lung type II pneumocytes, and ileal absorptive enterocytes of patients with several immunopathologies. Then, we performed fully connected deep neural networks to find the best multitask classification model to predict the activity of 10,672 drugs, obtaining several approved drugs, compounds under investigation, and experimental compounds with the highest area under the receiver operating characteristics. Conclusion: After being effectively analyzed in clinical trials, these drugs can be considered for treatment of severe COVID-19 patients. Scripts can be downloaded at https://github.com/muntisa/immuno-drug-repurposing-COVID-19.

Statistical data driven approach of COVID-19 in Ecuador: R 0 and R t estimation via new method.

The growth of COVID-19 pandemic throughout more than 213 countries around the world have put a lot of pressures on governments and health services to try to stop the rapid expansion of the pandemic. During 2009, H1N1 Influenza pandemic, statistical and mathematical methods were used to track how the virus spreads around countries. Most of these models that were developed at the beginning of the XXI century are based on the classical susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model developed almost a hundred years ago. The evolution of this model allows us to forecast and compute basic and effective reproduction numbers (R t and R 0 ), measures that quantify the epidemic potential of a pathogen and estimates different scenarios. In this study, we present a traditional estimation technique for R 0 with statistical distributions by best fitting and a Bayesian approach based on continuous feed of prior distributions to obtain posterior distributions and computing real time R t . We use data from COVID-19 officially reported cases in Ecuador since the first confirmed case on February 29th. Because of the lack of data, in the case of R 0 we compare two methods for the estimation of these parameters below exponential growth and maximum likelihood estimation. We do not make any assumption about the evolution of cases due to limited information and we use previous methods to compare scenarios about R 0 and in the case of R t we used Bayesian inference to model uncertainty in contagious proposing a new modification to the well-known model of Bettencourt and Ribeiro based on a time window of m days to improve estimations. Ecuadorian R 0 with exponential growth criteria was 3.45 and with the maximum likelihood estimation method was 2.93. The results show that Guayas, Pichincha and Manabí were the provinces with the highest number of cases due to COVID-19. Some reasons explain the increased transmissibility in these localities: massive events, population density, cities dispersion patterns, and the delayed time of public health actions to contain pandemic. In conclusion, this is a novel approach that allow us to measure infection dynamics and outbreak distribution when not enough detailed data is available. The use of this model can be used to predict pandemic distribution and to implement data-based effective measures.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a practical comprehensive literature review.

INTRODUCTION: The exponential growth of SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission during the first months of 2020 has placed substantial pressure on most health systems around the world. The complications derived from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vary due to comorbidities, sex and age, with more than 50% of the patients requiring some level of intensive care developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The authors carried out an extensive and comprehensive literature review on SARS-CoV-2 infection, the clinical, pathological, and radiological presentation as well as the current treatment strategies. AREAS COVERED: Various complications caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection have been identified, the most lethal being the acute respiratory distress syndrome, caused most likely by the presence of severe immune cell response and the concomitant alveolus inflammation. The new treatment strategies are updated, and the analysis of the physiopathology is included in this review. EXPERT OPINION: ARDS is one of the most frequent complications in patients with COVID-19. Information regarding the etiology and physiopathology are still unfolding and for the prevention and amelioration, good clinical management, adequate ventilatory support and the use of systemic corticoids seem to be the most efficient way to reduce mortality and to reduce hospital lengths.

Evolución e impacto de la infodemia en la población infantil en tiempos de COVID-19 / Evolution and impact of the infodemic on the child population in times of COVID-19 / Evolução e impacto da infodemia na população infantil em tempos de COVID-19

RESUMEN La provisión de información oportuna, clara y correcta constituye una importante estrategia de control del pánico y de contención de un brote pandémico; sin embargo, al no ser una de las tareas prioritarias, da lugar a otro de los enemigos letales, que hoy en día enmarca otra crisis dentro de la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 como lo es la infodemia, cuyas consecuencias han afectado a toda la población a nivel mundial, vulnerando especialmente a un grupo del que poco se habla, y que constituye nuestra población de estudio, los niños. En este artículo se propone un análisis reflexivo que desmitifique falsos constructos acerca del bajo impacto de la pandemia por COVID-19, a través de una descripción cronológica de los diferentes eventos alrededor de la población infantil, que fueron construyendo los pilares de la infodemia en esta población, planteando tres momentos: el primero, al inicio de la pandemia, con una invisibilización de los niños ante el virus; el segundo momento de estigma bajo la figura de "super contagiadores" y el tercer momento donde se evidencia la crisis consecuencia del fracaso en la comunicación de información en este grupo poblacional. El mundo se enfrenta a la pandemia y además a la necesidad actual de una justicia comunicativa, que incluya a los niños como grupo primario de atención. Con un abordaje desde la determinación social, se plantea una nueva normalidad que incluya el empoderamiento de los niños con información real y clara para combatir, desde su corta edad, el virus de la infodemia.

ABSTRACT The provision of timely, clear, correct information is an important strategy for controlling panic and containing a pandemic outbreak. However, as this task has not been prioritized in the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a new lethal enemy has emerged that now poses another crisis, namely, the "infodemic", with consequences that have affected the entire population worldwide. In particular, it has increased the vulnerability of a group that is not often discussed: children, who constitute our study population. This article provides an analysis aimed at demystifying false constructs about the low impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the child population. It gives a chronological description of the different events that were the building blocks of the infodemic, affecting this population in three phases: first, at the onset of the pandemic, when its effects on children were ignored altogether; second, when children were stigmatized as "super-spreaders"; and third, when the crisis resulting from a failure to transmit information to this population group became evident. The world is facing both the pandemic and a pressing need for communicative justice, which includes children as a primary target group. Taking a social determinants approach, this article proposes a new normal that includes using accurate and clear information to empower children to combat the infodemic virus from an early age.

RESUMO Fornecer informações claras, corretas e oportunas constitui uma importante estratégia para controlar o pânico e conter uma pandemia. Porém, por não ser prioritário, dá origem a mais um inimigo mortal que atualmente configura outra crise dentro da pandemia de SARS-CoV-2, a infodemia. A infodemia tem consequências que repercutem em toda a população mundial, prejudicando sobretudo um grupo pouco falado e que é a nossa população de estudo: as crianças. Este artigo propõe uma análise reflexiva para desmitificar falsos constructos sobre o baixo impacto da pandemia de COVID-19, com a descrição cronológica dos diferentes eventos ocorridos que foram edificando os pilares da infodemia na população infantil. São considerados três momentos: o primeiro, no início da pandemia, com a invisibilização das crianças diante do vírus; o segundo, a estigmatização das crianças como "supertransmissores"; e o terceiro momento em que se evidencia a crise decorrente da falha em comunicar informações sobre este grupo populacional. O mundo enfrenta a pandemia e também uma necessidade atual de justiça comunicativa que englobe as crianças como grupo primário de atenção. Com uma abordagem de uma perspectiva de determinação social, propõe-se uma nova normalidade que inclua o empoderamento infantil com a divulgação de fatos claros para combater, desde a tenra idade, o vírus da infodemia.

Clinical, molecular, and epidemiological characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), a comprehensive literature review.

Coronaviruses are an extensive family of viruses that can cause disease in both animals and humans. The current classification of coronaviruses recognizes 39 species in 27 subgenera that belong to the family Coronaviridae. From those, at least 7 coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections in humans. Four of these viruses can cause common cold-like symptoms. Those that infect animals can evolve and become infectious to humans. Three recent examples of these viral jumps include SARS CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS CoV-2 virus. They are responsible for causing severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and the most recently discovered coronavirus disease during 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19, a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. The rapid spread of the disease has taken the scientific and medical community by surprise. Latest figures from 20 May 2020 show more than 5 million people had been infected with the virus, causing more than 330,000 deaths in over 210 countries worldwide. The large amount of information received daily relating to COVID-19 is so abundant and dynamic that medical staff, health authorities, academics and the media are not able to keep up with this new pandemic. In order to offer a clear insight of the extensive literature available, we have conducted a comprehensive literature review of the SARS CoV-2 Virus and the Coronavirus Diseases 2019 (COVID-19).