Enrichment of Rare Variants of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Genes in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether there is an enrichment of rare variants in familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)-associated genes among patients with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) with or without macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). METHODS: Targeted sequencing of HLH genes (LYST, PRF1, RAB27A, STX11, STXBP2, UNC13D) was performed in sJIA subjects from an established cohort. Sequence data from control subjects were obtained in silico (dbGaP:phs000280.v8.p2). Rare variant association testing (RVT) was performed with sequence kernel association test (SKAT) package. Significance was defined as p < 0.05 after 100,000 permutations. RESULTS: Sequencing data from 524 sJIA cases were jointly called and harmonized with exome-derived target data from 3000 controls. Quality control operations produced a set of 480 cases and 2924 ancestrally-matched control subjects. RVT of cases and controls revealed a significant association with rare protein-altering variants (minor allele frequency [MAF] < 0.01) of STXBP2 (p = 0.020), and ultra-rare variants (MAF < 0.001) of STXBP2 (p = 0.006) and UNC13D (p = 0.046). A sub-analysis of 32 cases with known MAS and 90 without revealed a significant difference in the distribution of rare UNC13D variants (p = 0.0047) between the groups. Additionally, sJIA patients more often carried ≥ 2 HLH variants than did controls (p = 0.007), driven largely by digenic combinations involving LYST. CONCLUSION: We identified an enrichment of rare HLH variants in sJIA patients compared with controls, driven by STXBP2 and UNC13D. Biallelic variation in HLH genes was associated with sJIA, driven by LYST. Only UNC13D displayed enrichment in patients with MAS. This suggests that HLH variants may contribute to the pathophysiology of sJIA, even without MAS.

Enrichment of Rare Variants of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Genes in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Objective: To evaluate whether there is an enrichment of rare variants in familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) genes and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) with or without macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). Methods: Targeted sequencing of HLH genes (LYST, PRF1, RAB27A, STX11, STXBP2, UNC13D) was performed in sJIA subjects from an established cohort. Sequence data from control subjects were obtained in silico (dbGaP:phs000280.v8.p2). Rare variant association testing (RVT) was performed with sequence kernel association test (SKAT) package. Significance was defined as p<0.05 after 100,000 permutations. Results: Sequencing data from 524 sJIA cases were jointly called and harmonized with exome-derived target data from 3000 controls. Quality control operations produced a set of 481 cases and 2924 ancestrally-matched control subjects. RVT of sJIA cases and controls revealed a significant association with rare protein-altering variants (minor allele frequency [MAF]<0.01) of STXBP2 (p=0.020), and ultra-rare variants (MAF<0.001) of STXBP2 (p=0.007) and UNC13D (p=0.045). A subanalysis of 32 cases with known MAS and 90 without revealed significant association of rare UNC13D variants (p=0.0047). Additionally, sJIA patients more often carried ≥2 HLH variants than did controls (p=0.007), driven largely by digenic combinations involving LYST. Conclusion: We identified an enrichment of rare HLH variants in sJIA patients compared with healthy controls, driven by STXBP2 and UNC13D. Biallelic variation in HLH genes was associated with sJIA, driven by LYST. Only UNC13D displayed enrichment in patients with MAS. This suggests that HLH variants may contribute to the pathophysiology of sJIA, even without MAS.

Autoinflammatory diseases: a Latin American multicenter study according to age and sex / Doenças autoinflamatórias: um estudo multicêntrico latino-americano de acordo com o sexo e a idade

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate autoinflammatory diseases (AID) according to age at diagnosis and sex, and response to therapy in a large population. Methods: This is a cross-sectional observational study of a Latin American registry using a designed web system for data storage, collected between 2015 and 2018. Any altered findings during follow-up were recorded. The forms were translated into Portuguese and Spanish, including demographic, clinical, laboratory, genetic and treatment characteristics. Results: We included 152 patients, 51.3% male and 75% Caucasian. The median age at disease onset was 2.1 years (0-15.6 years) and median age at diagnosis 6.9 years (0-21.9 years); 111 (73%) were children (0-9 years old), and 41 (27%) were adolescents and young adults (AYA) (10-21 years old). Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis syndrome (PFAPA) occurred in 46/152 (30%), chronic non-bacterial osteomyelitis (CNO) in 32/152 (21%), and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in 24/152 (15.7%). PFAPA was significantly higher in young children than in AYA (38.7% vs. 7.3%, p<0.001), while CNO were lower (13.5% vs. 41.5%, p<0.001). The frequency of females was significantly higher in CNO (28.4% vs. 14.1%, p=0.031) and lower in FMF (8.1% vs. 23.1%, p=0.011). The most used drugs were glucocorticoids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), and colchicine. Glucocorticoids and colchicine treatment were used in all AID with good to moderate response. However, cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) seemed unresponsive to glucocorticoids. NSAIDs and methotrexate were the main medications used to treat CNO. Conclusions: Differences among AID patients were observed in the LA population regarding sex and age at disease diagnosis.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar as doenças autoinflamatórias (DAI) de acordo com sexo e idade no momento do diagnóstico e a resposta terapêutica em uma grande população. Métodos: Este é um estudo observacional transversal de um registro latino-americano que usou um sistema de dados coletados entre 2015 e 2018. Quaisquer achados alterados ao longo do acompanhamento foram registrados. Os formulários foram traduzidos para os idiomas português e espanhol, incluindo características demográficas, clínicas, laboratoriais, genéticas e de tratamento. Resultados: Incluímos 152 pacientes, sendo 51,3% do sexo masculino e 75% da raça branca. A média de idade de início da doença foi de 2,1 anos (0-15,6 anos) e a média de idade de diagnóstico 6,9 anos (0-21,9 anos); 111 (73%) eram crianças (0-9 anos) e 41 (27%) adolescentes/adultos jovens (10-21 anos). A síndrome de febre periódica, estomatite aftosa, faringite e adenite (PFAPA) ocorreu em 46/152 (30%), osteomielite não bacteriana crônica (CNO) em 32/152 (21%) e febre familiar do Mediterrâneo (FMF) em 24/152 (15,7%). A PFAPA foi significativamente maior em crianças pequenas (38,7 vs. 7,3%, p<0,001), e a CNO, em adolescentes/adultos jovens (13,5 vs. 41,5%, p<0,001). A frequência do sexo feminino foi significativamente maior na CNO (28,4 vs. 14,1%, p=0,031) e menor na FMF (8,1 vs. 23,1%, p=0,011). Os medicamentos mais utilizados foram glicocorticoides, anti-inflamatórios não esteroidais (AINE) e colchicina. O tratamento com glicocorticoides e colchicina foi usado em todas as DAI com resposta boa a moderada. No entanto, as síndromes periódicas associadas à criopirina (CAPS) pareciam não responder aos glicocorticoides. AINE e metotrexato foram os principais medicamentos utilizados no tratamento da CNO. Conclusões: Diferenças de pacientes com DAI foram observadas na população latino-americana em pacientes agrupados por sexo e idade ao diagnóstico da doença.

Prevalence of psychological and mental health symptoms among nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Americas: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

To assess the prevalence of mental health symptoms in nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic on the American continent. A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies that estimated the prevalence of mental health symptoms in nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic was performed through bibliographic database searches. A three-level meta-analysis model was used with the inverse variance method, tau was estimated via restricted maximum likelihood and logistic transformation, and heterogeneity was presented as tau2 and I2. Of the 7467 studies obtained, 62 were included in the meta-analysis, which involved 52 270 nursing professionals. The overall prevalence for at least one mental health symptom was 56.3% (50.4%, 62.1%; I2 = 98.6%, p < 0.001). Eight mental health symptoms were found; among them, the most prevalent were burnout (52.1%, 37.1%, 88.8%; I2 = 98.5%, p < 0.001) and fear (52.1%, 30.1%, 73.3%; I2 = 98.1%, p < 0.001). The prevalence of mental health symptoms in nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic on the American continent was high, and strategies should be developed and implemented by managers and government agencies to promote the well-being, physical and mental health of nursing professionals. Studies like this one are necessary to highlight the need for efforts in the implementation of promotion and prevention actions to be developed by health organisations, managers and leaders with a view to improving the quality of life of nursing workers.

Fusion of PspA to detoxified pneumolysin enhances pneumococcal vaccine coverage.

Despite the implementation of conjugate vaccines in several countries, S. pneumoniae continues to pose a great burden worldwide, causing around 1 million annual deaths. Pneumococcal proteins have long been investigated as serotype-independent vaccines against this pathogen, with promising results. However, it is a consensus that one antigen alone will not be sufficient to provide long-term protection with wide coverage. Amongst the most well studied pneumococcal proteins are PspA and pneumolysin (Ply), two major virulence factors required by the bacterium for successful invasion of host tissues. PspA is highly immunogenic and protective, but it is structurally variable; pneumolysin is conserved among different pneumococci, but it is toxic to the host. To overcome these limitations, N-terminal PspA fragments have been genetically fused to non-toxic pneumolysin derivatives (PlD) to create PspA_PlD chimeras. Mouse immunization with these fusions confers protection against pneumococcal strains expressing heterologous PspAs, which correlates with antibody-induced complement C3 deposition on the surface of multiple pneumococcal strains. Analysis of mutant strains lacking PspA or Pneumolysin shows that both proteins contribute to the antibody-mediated enhancement in complement deposition induced by the fusion. These results expand previous data evaluating PspA_PlD and demonstrate that the fusion combines the protective traits of both proteins, inducing antibodies that efficiently promote complement deposition on multiple strains and cross-protection.

Teleenfermería en salud mental: efecto sobre los síntomas de ansiedad y el consumo de alcohol durante la pandemia de COVID-19 / Telenursing in mental health: effect on anxiety symptoms and alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic / Telenfermagem em saúde mental: efeito em sintomas de ansiedade e consumo de álcool durante a pandemia COVID-19

Objetivo: investigar el efecto de una intervención a distancia sobre los síntomas de ansiedad y el consumo de alcohol en usuarios del servicio de Atención Primaria de Salud. Método: estudio cuasiexperimental, realizado con 1270 participantes que respondieron al Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test y al State-Trait Anxiety Inventory 6. De estos, 1033 encuestados obtuvieron puntajes de síntomas de ansiedad moderada/grave (STAI-6 > 3) y consumo de alcohol de riesgo moderado/grave (AUDIT-C>3), y recibieron las intervenciones mediante llamada telefónica con un seguimiento de siete y 180 días. Para analizar los datos se utilizó un modelo de regresión de efectos mixtos. Resultados: el efecto de la intervención realizada fue positivo para reducir los síntomas de ansiedad entre T0 y T1 (µ=1,6 p<0,001) y para reducir el patrón de consumo de alcohol entre t1 y t3 (µ=1,57 p< 0,001). Conclusión: los resultados del seguimiento sugieren que la intervención tuvo un efecto positivo en la reducción de la ansiedad y el patrón de consumo de alcohol que tiende a mantenerse en el tiempo. Existe evidencia de que la intervención propuesta puede ser una alternativa para la atención preventiva en salud mental, en situaciones donde se comprometa la accesibilidad del usuario o del profesional.

Objective: to investigate the effect of a remote intervention on anxiety symptoms and alcohol use in users of the Primary Health Care service. Method: a quasi-experimental study conducted with 1,270 participants who answered the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6. Of these, 1,033 interviewees scored for moderate/severe anxiety symptoms (STAI-6 > 3) and moderate/severe risk alcohol use (AUDIT-C > 3), and received the interventions via telephone calls with follow-up periods lasting seven and 180 days. For data analysis, a mixed-effects regression model was used. Results: the effect of the intervention performed was positive in reducing anxiety symptoms between T0 and T1 (µ=1.6, p<0.001) and in reducing the alcohol use pattern between T1 and T3 (µ=1.57, p<0.001) Conclusion: the follow-up results suggest a positive effect of the intervention in reducing anxiety and the alcohol use pattern, which tends to be maintained over time. There is diverse evidence that the intervention proposed can be an alternative for preventive care in mental health, in situations where accessibility of the user or the professional is compromised.

Objetivo: investigar o efeito de uma intervenção remota nos sintomas de ansiedade e no uso de álcool em usuários do serviço de Atenção Primária à Saúde. Método: estudo quase experimental, realizado com 1270 participantes que responderam o Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test e a State-Trait Anxiety Inventory 6. Desses, 1033 entrevistados pontuaram para sintomas de ansiedade moderada/severa (STAI-6>3) e uso de risco de álcool moderado/severo (AUDIT-C>3), e receberam as intervenções via chamada telefônica com follow-up de sete e 180 dias. Para análise dos dados utilizou-se um modelo de regressão de efeitos mistos. Resultados: o efeito da intervenção realizada foi positivo na redução dos sintomas de ansiedade entre T0 e T1 (µ=1,6 p<0.001) e na redução do padrão de uso de álcool entre t1 e t3 (µ=1,57 p<0.001). Conclusão: os resultados do follow-up sugerem efeito positivo da intervenção na redução da ansiedade e no padrão de uso de álcool, o qual tende a se manter ao longo do tempo. Há evidências de que a intervenção proposta pode ser uma alternativa para o cuidado preventivo em saúde mental, em situações nas quais a acessibilidade do usuário ou do profissional encontram-se comprometidas.

Intervenção Breve para uso de Substâncias Psicoativas no Brasil: revisão sistemática / Brief Intervention for Psychoactive Substance use in Brazil: a systematic review

RESUMO As Intervenções Breves têm sido preconizadas há mais de 20 anos pela Organização Mundial da Saúde como uma estratégia de prevenção aos problemas relacionados ao uso de Substâncias Psicoativas, tendo como prioridade a aplicação nos serviços de atenção primária à saúde visando a diminuição dos riscos relacionados a esse fenômeno. Diante disso, o objetivo do presente estudo foi mapear e descrever as evidências científicas existentes na literatura sobre o uso de Intervenção Breve para o uso de Substâncias Psicoativas desenvolvidas no Brasil. Trata-se de revisão sistemática. As buscas foram realizadas em sete fontes de informações, em agosto de 2021. Todos os estudos foram desenvolvidos com abordagem quantitativa. O álcool esteve presente na maioria dos estudos, seguido da maconha e nicotina. O cenário predominante foi a unidade básica de saúde, com público de adultos de ambos os sexos e universitários. A maioria apresentou como proposta a Intervenção Breve grupal presencial e somente dez indicaram o referencial norteador da Intervenção Breve utilizada. No Brasil, as Intervenções Breves são incipientes e os estudos apresentados não destacam com exatidão o referencial norteador da intervenção utilizada.

ABSTRACT Brief Interventions have been recommended for more than 20 years by the World Health Organization as a strategy to prevent problems related to the use of Psychoactive Substances, with priority being applied in primary health care services in order to reduce the risks related to this substance. phenomenon. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to map and describe the existing scientific evidence in the literature on the use of Brief Intervention for the use of Psychoactive Substances developed in Brazil. This is a systematic review. Searches were carried out in seven sources of information in August 2021. All studies were developed with a quantitative approach. Alcohol was present in most studies, followed by marijuana and nicotine. The predominant scenario was the basic health unit, with a public of adults of both sexes and university students. The majority presented a brief face-to-face group intervention as a proposal and only ten indicated the guiding reference of the Brief Intervention used. In Brazil, Brief Interventions are incipient and the studies presented do not accurately highlight the guiding reference for the intervention used.

A green method for the authentication of sugarcane spirit and prediction of density and alcohol content based on near infrared spectroscopy and chemometric tools.

Cachaça is a Brazilian beverage obtained from the fermentation of sugarcane juice (sugarcane spirit) and is considered one of the most consumed alcoholic beverages in the world with a strong economic impact on the northeastern Brazil, more specifically in the Brejo. This microregion produces sugarcane spirits with high quality associated to edaphoclimatic conditions. In this sense, analysis for sample authentication and quality control that uses solvent-free, environmentally friendly, rapid and non-destructive methods is advantageous for cachaça producers and production chain. Thus, in this work commercial cachaça samples using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) were classified based on geographical origin using one-class classification Data-Driven in Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogy (DD-SIMCA) and One-Class Partial Least Squares (OCPLS) and predicted quality parameters of alcohol content and density based on different chemometric algorithms. A total of 150 sugarcane spirits samples were purchased from the Brazilian retail market being 100 from Brejo and 50 from other regions of Brazil. The one-class chemometric classification model was obtained with DD-SIMCA using the Savitzky-Golay derivative with first derivative, 9-point window and 1st degree polynomial as preprocessing algorithm and sensibility was 96.70 % and specificity 100 % in the spectral range 7,290-11,726 cm-1. Satisfactory results were obtained in the model constructs for density and the chemometric model, iSPA-PLS algorithm with baseline offset as preprocessing, obtained root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.0011 mg/L and Relative Error of Prediction (REP) of 0.12 %. The chemometric model for alcohol content prediction used the iSPA-PLS algorithm with Savitzky-Golay derivative with first derivative, 9-point window and 1st degree polynomial as algorithm as preprocessing obtaining RMSEP and REP of 0.69 and 1.81 % (v/v), respectively. Both models used the spectral range from 7,290-11,726 cm-1. The results reflected the potential of vibrational spectroscopy coupled with chemometrics to build reliable models for identifying the geographical origin of cachaça samples for predicting quality parameters in cachaça samples.

Telenursing in mental health: effect on anxiety symptoms and alcohol consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic. / Teleenfermería en salud mental: efecto sobre los síntomas de ansiedad y el consumo de alcohol durante la pandemia de COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: (1) A remote intervention with a positive impact on reducing anxiety and alcohol use. (2) Nursing as a protagonist of preventive care in mental health (3) A low-cost intervention that covers several population groups. (4) Telenursing in mental health as a care strategy during COVID-19. to investigate the effect of a remote intervention on anxiety symptoms and alcohol use in users of the Primary Health Care service. METHOD: a quasi-experimental study conducted with 1,270 participants who answered the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-6. Of these, 1,033 interviewees scored for moderate/severe anxiety symptoms (STAI-6 > 3) and moderate/severe risk alcohol use (AUDIT-C > 3), and received the interventions via telephone calls with follow-up periods lasting seven and 180 days. For data analysis, a mixed-effects regression model was used. RESULTS: the effect of the intervention performed was positive in reducing anxiety symptoms between T0 and T1 (µ=1.6, p<0.001) and in reducing the alcohol use pattern between T1 and T3 (µ=1.57, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: the follow-up results suggest a positive effect of the intervention in reducing anxiety and the alcohol use pattern, which tends to be maintained over time. There is diverse evidence that the intervention proposed can be an alternative for preventive care in mental health, in situations where accessibility of the user or the professional is compromised.

Use of surgical glue versus suture to repair perineal tears: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Surgical glue has been used in several body tissues, including perineal repair, and can benefit women. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate surgical glue compared to the polyglactin 910 suture in repairing first- and second-degree perineal tears and episiotomy in vaginal births. DESIGN: A parallel randomised controlled open trial. SETTING: Birth centre in Itapecerica da Serra, São Paulo, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: The participants were 140 postpartum women allocated into four groups: two experimental groups repaired with surgical glue (n = 35 women with a first-degree tear; n = 35 women with a second-degree tear or episiotomy); two control groups sutured with thread (n = 35 women with a first-degree tear; n = 35 women with a second-degree tear or episiotomy). The outcomes were perineal pain and the healing process. Data collection was conducted in six stages: (1) up to 2 h after perineal repair; (2) from 12 to 24 h postpartum; (3) from 36 to 48 h; (4) from 10 to 20 days; (5) from 50 to 70 days; and (6) from 6 to 8 months. ANOVA, Student's t, Monte Carlo, x-square and Wald tests were used for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: One hundred forty women participated in the first three stages, 110 in stage 4, 122 in stage 5, and 54 in stage 6. The women treated with surgical glue had less perineal pain (p ≤ 0.001). There was no difference in the healing process, but the CG obtained a better result in the coaptation item (p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Perineal repair with surgical glue has low pain intensity and results in a healing process similar to suture threads. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (UTN code: U1111-1184-2507; RBR-2q5wy8o); date of registration 01/25/2018; www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-2q5wy8/.

Sociodemographic and clinical variables as determinants of mortality and survival in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the Eastern Amazon.

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of sociodemographic and clinical variables as determinants of mortality and survival in patients with ST-segment elevation acute myocardial infarction in the Eastern Amazon. Design and methods: This observational, longitudinal, and retrospective study was conducted at the Gaspar Vianna Clinical Hospital Foundation in patients hospitalized from January 2017 to June 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: those who survived (G1) (n = 646) and those who died (G2) (n = 37). Sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with mortality and survival in these two groups were analyzed. Results: Patients with STEMI who had the highest risk of death were often the oldest (G1: 61.58 ± 10.74 years; G2: 69.57 ± 9.02 years; t = -4.492; p = 0.001), with Killip III-IV classifications (OR = 0.13; 95% CI = 0.02-0.71; p = 0.03), and with diseases such as heart failure (OR = 0.07; 95% CI = 0.004-1.50; p = 0.168) or renal failure (OR = 0.03; 95% CI = 0.006-0.16; p = 0.0001). In addition, female sex (hazard ratio = 2.073; 95% CI = 1.413-5.170), Killip III-IV classifications (hazard ratio = 4.041; 95% CI = 1.703-18.883) and the presence of heart failure (hazard ratio = 34.102; 95% CI = 4.410-263.684) or renal failure (hazard ratio = 14.278; 95% CI = 3.275-62.248) shortened in-hospital survival. Conclusions: Specific sociodemographic and clinical aspects influenced mortality and survival in patients with acute ST -elevation myocardial infarction.

Validity and Reliability of Four Parent/Patient-Reported Outcome Measures for Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Remote Monitoring.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to provide evidence of validity and reliability for 4 parent/child-reported outcome measures included in the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology juvenile idiopathic arthritis core domain set: the evaluation of the child's pain and level of disease activity, the assessment of morning stiffness duration, and an active joint count for proxy/self-assessment. METHODS: Patients were included in the multinational study Epidemiology Treatment and Outcome of Childhood Arthritis. Criterion validity was assessed by examining the correlation of the 4 tested measures with physician measures and the clinical Juvenile Arthritis Disease Activity Score in 10 joints (cJADAS10) in the whole sample and after grouping patients by International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) category, geographic area, and education level. Reliability was assessed comparing 2 visits 7-14 days apart with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). RESULTS: A total of 8,643 parents and 6,060 patients had all the evaluations available. Correlations of tested measures were moderate (0.4-0.7) with physician-reported measures. The level of correlation with the cJADAS10 remained stable after grouping patients by ILAR category, geographic areas, and level of education of the parent filling the questionnaire. In 442 parents and 344 children, ICCs ranged between 0.79 and 0.87 for parents and 0.81 and 0.88 for children. CONCLUSION: The 4 tested parent/child-reported outcomes showed good criterion validity and excellent reliability. These tools can be considered for remote patient assessment, when in-person evaluation might not be possible.

Estratégias preventivas ao suicídio para equipe de enfermagem na COVID-19: uma revisão de escopo / Estrategias preventivas al suicidio para un equipo de enfermería durante el COVID-19: una revisión de alcance / Suicide preventive strategies for the nursing team in the COVID-19: a scoping review

Resumo Objetivo Identificar as estratégias de prevenção da ideação suicida e do suicídio durante a pandemia de COVID-19 para a equipe de enfermagem. Métodos Revisão de escopo realizada nas bases de dados PubMed, BVS, SCOPUS, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO e na literatura cinzenta como Google Acadêmico. Resultados Compõem esta revisão 11 artigos, todos publicados em inglês, a maioria publicada no ano de 2021, nos Estados Unidos da América. As estratégias identificadas perpassam a psicoeducação; espaços para acolhimento das demandas dos profissionais, escuta, apoio e promoção de bem-estar; avaliação e rastreio da saúde mental; encaminhamento para serviços de apoio especializados; intervenção psicológica e aconselhamento; estratégias para reconhecer e lidar com gatilhos, emoções e pensamentos negativos; ações de autocuidado; escuta; apoio e promoção de bem-estar; dentre outras. Conclusão As estratégias que resultaram em impacto positivo na saúde mental das equipes de enfermagem foram a criação de espaços para acolhimento das demandas dos profissionais, escuta, apoio e promoção de bem-estar, além da avaliação e do rastreio da saúde mental como formas de prevenção às ações e às ideações suicidas. Destaca-se a importância de estudos que avaliem o efeito das estratégias na saúde mental das equipes de enfermagem para que protocolos possam ser criados na mitigação do problema.

Resumen Objetivo Identificar las estrategias de prevención de la ideación suicida y del suicidio durante la pandemia de COVID-19 para el equipo de enfermería. Métodos Revisión de alcance realizada en las bases de datos PubMed, BVS, SCOPUS, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO y en la literatura gris, como Google Académico. Resultados Integran esta revisión 11 artículos, todos publicados en inglés, la mayoría publicada en el año 2021, en Estados Unidos de América. Las estrategias identificadas abarcan la psicoeducación; espacios para la acogida de las demandas de los profesionales, escucha, apoyo y promoción del bienestar; evaluación y rastreo de la salud mental; derivación para servicios de apoyo especializados; intervención psicológica y orientación; estrategias para reconocer y lidiar con disparadores, emociones y pensamientos negativos; acciones de autocuidado; escucha; apoyo y promoción del bienestar; entre otras. Conclusión Las estrategias que tuvieron un impacto positivo en la salud mental de los equipos de enfermería fueron la creación de espacios para acoger las demandas de los profesionales, escucha, apoyo y para la promoción del bienestar, además de la evaluación y el rastreo de la salud mental como formas de prevención de las acciones y de las ideaciones suicidas. Se destaca la importancia de estudios que evalúen el efecto de las estrategias en la salud mental de los equipos de enfermería para que se puedan crear protocolos para mitigar el problema.

Abstract Objective To identify strategies for the prevention of suicidal ideation and suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic for the nursing team. Methods Scoping review performed in PubMed, VHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO databases and in the gray literature, such as Google Scholar. Results This review comprises 11 articles, all published in English, mostly in year 2021 in the United States of America. The identified strategies include psychoeducation; spaces for embracement of professionals' demands, listening, support and promotion of wellbeing; mental health assessment and screening; referral to specialized support services; psychological intervention and counseling; strategies for recognizing and dealing with triggers, emotions and negative thoughts; self-care actions, among others. Conclusion Strategies that had a positive impact on the mental health of nursing teams were the creation of spaces for embracement of professionals' demands, listening, support and promotion of wellbeing, and the assessment and screening of mental health as ways of preventing suicidal actions and ideations. The importance of studies that evaluate the effect of strategies on the mental health of nursing teams stands out, so that protocols can be created to mitigate the problem.

Fusion of PspA to detoxified pneumolysin enhances pneumococcal vaccine coverage

Despite the implementation of conjugate vaccines in several countries, S. pneumoniae continues to pose a great burden worldwide, causing around 1 million annual deaths. Pneumococcal proteins have long been investigated as serotype-independent vaccines against this pathogen, with promising results. However, it is a consensus that one antigen alone will not be sufficient to provide long-term protection with wide coverage. Amongst the most well studied pneumococcal proteins are PspA and pneumolysin (Ply), two major virulence factors required by the bacterium for successful invasion of host tissues. PspA is highly immunogenic and protective, but it is structurally variable; pneumolysin is conserved among different pneumococci, but it is toxic to the host. To overcome these limitations, N-terminal PspA fragments have been genetically fused to non-toxic pneumolysin derivatives (PlD) to create PspA_PlD chimeras. Mouse immunization with these fusions confers protection against pneumococcal strains expressing heterologous PspAs, which correlates with antibody-induced complement C3 deposition on the surface of multiple pneumococcal strains. Analysis of mutant strains lacking PspA or Pneumolysin shows that both proteins contribute to the antibody-mediated enhancement in complement deposition induced by the fusion. These results expand previous data evaluating PspA_PlD and demonstrate that the fusion combines the protective traits of both proteins, inducing antibodies that efficiently promote complement deposition on multiple strains and cross-protection.

IMPACTO-MR: um estudo brasileiro de plataforma nacional para avaliar infecções e multirresistência em unidades de terapia intensiva / IMPACTO-MR: a Brazilian nationwide platform study to assess infections and multidrug resistance in intensive care units

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever o IMPACTO-MR, um estudo brasileiro de plataforma nacional em unidades de terapia intensiva focado no impacto das infecções por bactérias multirresistentes relacionadas à assistência à saúde. Métodos: Descrevemos a plataforma IMPACTO-MR, seu desenvolvimento, critérios para seleção das unidades de terapia intensiva, caracterização da coleta de dados, objetivos e projetos de pesquisa futuros a serem realizados na plataforma. Resultados: Os dados principais foram coletados por meio do Epimed Monitor System® e consistiram em dados demográficos, dados de comorbidades, estado funcional, escores clínicos, diagnóstico de internação e diagnósticos secundários, dados laboratoriais, clínicos e microbiológicos e suporte de órgãos durante a internação na unidade de terapia intensiva, entre outros. De outubro de 2019 a dezembro de 2020, 33.983 pacientes de 51 unidades de terapia intensiva foram incluídos no banco de dados principal. Conclusão: A plataforma IMPACTO-MR é um banco de dados clínico brasileiro de unidades de terapia intensiva focado na pesquisa do impacto das infecções por bactérias multirresistentes relacionadas à assistência à saúde. Essa plataforma fornece dados para o desenvolvimento e pesquisa de unidades de terapia intensiva individuais e ensaios clínicos observacionais e prospectivos multicêntricos.

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the IMPACTO-MR, a Brazilian nationwide intensive care unit platform study focused on the impact of health care-associated infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria. Methods: We described the IMPACTO-MR platform, its development, criteria for intensive care unit selection, characterization of core data collection, objectives, and future research projects to be held within the platform. Results: The core data were collected using the Epimed Monitor System® and consisted of demographic data, comorbidity data, functional status, clinical scores, admission diagnosis and secondary diagnoses, laboratory, clinical, and microbiological data, and organ support during intensive care unit stay, among others. From October 2019 to December 2020, 33,983 patients from 51 intensive care units were included in the core database. Conclusion: The IMPACTO-MR platform is a nationwide Brazilian intensive care unit clinical database focused on researching the impact of health care-associated infections due to multidrug-resistant bacteria. This platform provides data for individual intensive care unit development and research and multicenter observational and prospective trials.

Infecções de sítio cirúrgico em cirurgias ortopédicas de um hospital do estado do Pará, Brasil / Infecciones del sitio quirúrgico de cirugía ortopédica en un hospital del estado de Pará, Brasil / Infections at the surgical site for orthopedic surgery in a hospital in the state of Pará, Brazil

Objetivo: avaliar as infecções de sítio cirúrgico em cirurgias ortopédicas de um hospital público de referência. Materiais e método: estudo descritivo, quantitativo e retrospectivo, com dados de 2.870 pacientes que realizaram cirurgia ortopédica e 60 prontuários de pacientes que desenvolveram infecção de sítio cirúrgico. A coleta ocorreu de janeiro de 2015 a dezembro de 2019 em um hospital de referência localizado no município de Santarém, Pará, Brasil. Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva e inferencial. Resultados: o sexo masculino predominou na amostra (65,7%) e nos pacientes com infecções de sítio cirúrgico (70%). A idade média da amostra foi de 44,6 ± 19,1 anos e dos pacientes com infecções de sítio cirúrgico de 46,2 ± 19,7 anos. Foi identificada frequência de infecções de sítio cirúrgico de 2,1%. Os fatores de risco associados às infecções de sítio cirúrgico foram duração da cirurgia, uso de implante, número de fraturas e uso de prótese de quadril ou outras. O perfil microbiológico foi composto de Staphylococcus aureus (35,1%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (13,5%) e Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13,5%). Conclusões: nas cirurgias ortopédicas, a equipe de saúde deve ficar atenta com as infecções de sítio cirúrgico em pacientes do sexo masculino, idosos, solteiros, com o ensino fundamental, bem como em cirurgias com longo tempo de duração, na presença de implante, com elevado número de fraturas e com o uso de próteses.

Objetivo: evaluar las infecciones del sitio quirúrgico para cirugías ortopédicas en un hospital público de referencia. Materiales y método: estudio descriptivo, cuantitativo y retrospectivo, con datos de 2.870 pacientes que se sometieron a cirugía ortopédica, donde 60 registros muestran que los pacientes desarrollaron infección del sitio quirúrgico. La recolección de datos ocurrió de enero de 2015 a diciembre de 2019 en un hospital de referencia en la ciudad de Santarém, Pará, Brasil. Los datos fueron analizados mediante estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Resultados: el sexo masculino predominó en la muestra (65,7 %) y en pacientes con infecciones del sitio quirúrgico (70 %). La edad media de la muestra fue de 44,6 ± 19,1 años, mientras que para los pacientes con infecciones del sitio quirúrgico fue de 46,2 ± 19,7 años. Se identificó una frecuencia de 2,1 % de infecciones del sitio quirúrgico. Los factores de riesgo asociados con esta afectación son: duración de la cirugía, el uso de un implante, el número de fracturas y el uso de prótesis de cadera (u otras). El perfil microbiológico estuvo compuesto por Staphylococcus aureus (35,1 %), Klebsiella pneumoniae (13,5 %) y Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13,5 %). Conclusiones: en cirugías ortopédicas, el equipo de salud debe estar atento a las infecciones del sitio quirúrgico en pacientes de sexo masculino, adultos mayores, solteros y con educación básica. Así mismo, deben monitorear este tipo de infecciones en cirugías de larga duración, en presencia de implante, con un alto número de fracturas en el paciente y el uso de prótesis.

Objective: To assess surgical site infections in orthopedic surgeries at a public reference hospital. Materials and method: Descriptive, quantitative and retrospective study, with data from 2,870 patients who underwent orthopedic surgery, where 60 patient records showed the development of surgical site infection. Data collection took place from January 2015 to December 2019 in a reference hospital in the city of Santarém, Pará, Brazil. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The male gender prevailed among the individuals in the sample (65.7%) and in the patients with surgical site infections (70%). The mean age of the sample was 44.6 ± 19.1 years and for patients with surgical site infections 46.2 ± 19.7 years. A 2.1% frequency of surgical site infection was identified. The risk factors associated with surgical site infection were: surgery duration, the use of an implant, the number of fractures, and the use of hip prostheses or others. The microbiological profile was composed by Staphylococcus aureus (35.1%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.5%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.5%). Conclusions: In orthopedic surgeries, the health team must be aware of surgical site infections in male, elderly and single patients, with elementary education, as well as in surgeries with a long duration, in the presence of an implant, a high number of fractures, and with the use of prostheses.

Spotlight on latent tuberculosis infection screening for juvenile idiopathic arthritis in two countries, comparing high and low risk patients.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatic diseases are associated with an increase in overall risks of tuberculosis (TB). The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of TB and the frequency of latent TB infection (LTBI), in clinical practice, for juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients from high and low risk of TB incidence endemic countries. METHODS: This is an international, multicenter, cross-sectional, observational study of data collection from Brazil and Registry of Portugal at REUMA.PT. The inclusion criteria were patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) with age ≤ 18 years who underwent screening for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection [tuberculin skin test (TST) and/or interferon gamma release assay (IGRA)]. Chest X-rays and history of exposure to TB were also assessed. RESULTS: 292 JIA patients were included; mean age 14.3 years, mean disease duration 7.5 years, 194 patients (66.4%) performed only TST, 14 (4.8%) only IGRA and 84 (28.8%) both. The frequency of LTBI (10.6%) and TB was similar between the two countries. The reasons for TB screening were different; in Brazil it was performed more often at JIA onset while in Portugal it was performed when starting Disease Modified Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARD) treatment (p < 0.001). Isoniazid therapy was prescribed in 40 (13.7%) patients (31 with LTBI and 9 with epidemiologic risks and/or due to contact with sick people). Only three patients (1%) developed active TB. CONCLUSION: We found nearly 10% of patients with LTBI, a small percentage of patients with treatment due to epidemiologic risks and only 1% with active TB. Distinct reasons and screening methods for LTBI were observed between the two countries.

Influence of the Polysaccharide Capsule on the Bactericidal Activity of Indolicidin on Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a pathogen responsible for high morbidity and mortality worldwide. The polysaccharide capsule confers protection against phagocytosis and influences many aspects of pneumococcal pathogenesis. The capsular polysaccharides (CPS) are highly immunogenic and exhibit great structural variability, with more than 100 serotypes described so far. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important part of the innate defense mechanisms against many pathogens. Indolicidin is a cationic AMP produced by bovine neutrophils, with bactericidal effects against several bacteria. CPS has been shown to interfere with the ability of AMPs to kill pneumococci, but the effects of capsule variability on susceptibility to indolicidin have not been explored. The present work determined the effects of capsule on resistance to indolicidin in vitro. Using a bactericidal plate assay, we observed that different pneumococcal serotypes exhibited variable resistance to indolicidin, which correlated with the capsule net charge. Interestingly, the effect of capsule expression on resistance to indolicidin was dependent on the serotype; bacteria with lower zeta potential were more resistant to indolicidin when capsule was present, while those with less negative surface charge were more resistant in the absence of capsule. The addition of purified CPS partially rescued the bacteria from the bactericidal effects of indolicidin, while the addition of anticapsular antibodies accentuated the peptide's bactericidal action, suggesting a possible new protective mechanism induced by polysaccharide-based pneumococcal vaccines.

Alcohol Use and Anxiety in Primary Health Care Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Phone-Based Study.

In March 2020, physical distancing and quarantine measures were implemented in Brazil, which may have affected the physical and mental health of the population. This cross-sectional study used a convenience sample and telephone-based interviews to identify anxiety symptoms and alcohol use patterns among 1,264 Brazilian primary health care (PHC) patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State 6 and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C) questionnaires were used to assess anxiety symptoms and alcohol use patterns, respectively. According to the AUDIT-C results, the prevalence of harmful drinking was 38.5%. Those who reported that their alcohol consumption decreased during the pandemic had high scores on the AUDIT-C, indicating a moderate/severe risk of drinking. Moderate or severe anxiety was observed in 60.1% of participants. These results highlight the needs to assess the pandemic's consequences on the mental health of the population and to encourage the implementation of preventive approaches in PHC settings to address anxiety and harmful alcohol consumption.