A COVID-19 isolation facility for people experiencing homelessness in Berlin, Germany: a retrospective patient record study.

Introduction: People experiencing homelessness (PEH) are disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For many PEH it is impossible to isolate due to the lack of permanent housing. Therefore, an isolation facility for SARS-CoV-2 positive PEH was opened in Berlin, Germany, in May 2020, offering medical care, opioid and alcohol substitution therapy and social services. This study aimed to assess the needs of the admitted patients and requirements of the facility. Materials and methods: This was a retrospective patient record study carried out in the isolation facility for PEH in Berlin, from December 2020 to June 2021. We extracted demographic and clinical data including observed psychological distress from records of all PEH tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. Data on duration and completion of isolation and the use of the facilities' services were analyzed. The association of patients' characteristics with the completion of isolation was assessed by Student's t-test or Fisher's exact test. Results: A total of 139 patients were included in the study (89% male, mean age 45 years, 41% with comorbidities, 41% non-German speakers). 81% of patients were symptomatic (median duration 5 days, range 1-26). The median length of stay at the facility was 14 days (range 2-41). Among the patients, 80% had non-COVID-19 related medical conditions, 46% required alcohol substitution and 17% opioid substitution therapy. Three patients were hospitalized due to low oxygen saturation. No deaths occurred. Psychological distress was observed in 20%, and social support services were used by 65% of PEH. The majority (82%) completed the required isolation period according to the health authority's order. We did not observe a statistically significant association between completion of the isolation period and sociodemographic characteristics. Conclusion: The specialized facility allowed PEH a high compliance with completion of the isolation period. Medical care, opioid and alcohol substitution, psychological care, language mediation and social support are essential components to address the specific needs of PEH. Besides contributing to infection prevention and control, isolation facilities may allow better access to medical care for SARS-CoV-2 infected PEH with possibly positive effects on the disease course.

Molecular characteristics of granulosa and cumulus cells and oocyte competence in Nelore cows with low and high numbers of antral follicles.

The aims of this study were to investigate whether the number of antral follicles (AF) in the ovaries of Nelore cows is influenced with the developmental competence of oocytes to reach the blastocyst stage and to quantify the mRNA abundance of genes associated with folliculogenesis and oogenesis in granulosa and cumulus cells. A total of 168 cows were distributed into two experimental groups according to the number of AF, low (≤31) and high AF (≥92), which were determined based on the mean number of AF (61.14) ± SD (30.43). Granulosa and cumulus cells were used to assess the mRNA expression of 16 genes. Cumulus cells from cows with low AF had higher mRNA expression of genes involved in meiosis resumption (NPR-2, NPR-3) and cumulus cell expansion (FGF10), as well as a transcription factor involved in the regulation of oocyte maturation and cell proliferation (STAT3). Conversely, granulosa cells from females with high AF had higher expression of PGR and AMHR2a, which are involved in meiosis resumption and cumulus cell expansion. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from 356 cows with low and high AF populations to evaluate embryo development. Cleavage and blastocyst rates did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, our findings revealed that genes involved in folliculogenesis and oogenesis are differently expressed in cumulus and granulosa cells of cows having low and high numbers of AF. These molecular differences suggest that the regulation of oocyte maturation, meiotic resumption and cumulus expansion may be influenced by the number of AFs. However, the variations in gene expression were not associated with in vitro oocyte developmental competence to reach the blastocyst stage, which confirms that oocytes from Nelore cows with low and high numbers of AF are similarly able to mature, regulate the fertilization process and support pre-implantation embryo development.

Pregnancy Rates to Fixed Embryo Transfer of Vitrified IVP Bos indicus, Bos taurus or Bos indicus × Bos taurus Embryos.

The pregnancy rates obtained after the transfer of cryopreserved in vitro-produced (IVP) embryos are usually low and/or inconsistent. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pregnancy rates of Holstein, Gyr and Holstein × Gyr cattle after the transfer of vitrified IVP embryos produced with X-sorted sperm. Seventy-two Gyr and 703 Holstein females were subjected to ovum pickup (OPU) sessions, followed by in vitro embryo production using semen from sires of the same breeds. Embryos (1636 Holstein, 241 Gyr and 1515 Holstein × Gyr) were exposed to forskolin for 48 h prior to vitrification. The pregnancy rate achieved with Gyr dam and sire was 46.1%, which was similar (p = 0.11) to that of Holstein dam and Gyr sire (40.3%). Crossing Gyr dams with Holstein sires resulted in a pregnancy rate of 38.9% and did not differ (p = 0.58) from the pregnancy rate obtained with the cross between Holstein dams and Gyr sires. The rate obtained with Holstein dam and sire was 32.5%. The average pregnancy rate was 36.6%, and no difference was found in the proportion of female foetuses (88.8%, in average) among breeds (p > 0.05). In conclusion, transfer of cryopreserved X-sorted embryos represents an interesting choice for dairy cattle. Despite the small differences between pregnancy rates, we highlight the efficiency of this strategy for all of the racial groups studied.

MALDI-MS lipid profiles of oocytes recovered by ovum pickup from Bos indicus and 1/2 indicus × taurus with high vs low oocyte yields.

The aim of the present study was to compare the lipid profile in oocytes of indicus and 1/2 indicus × taurus cows with high and low antral follicle count (AFC)/oocyte yields. After an OPU procedure (D0), antral follicles ≥3 mm were counted by ultrasonography (D4, 19, 34, 49, 64), and cows were assigned to groups with either high AFC (≥30 follicles; indicus, NH group; 1/2 indicus × taurus, AH group) or low AFC (≤15 antral follicles; indicus, NL group; 1/2 indicus × taurus, AL group). The lipid profiles of the oocytes were determined by MALDI-MS. For GI, GII and GIII oocytes, the indicus samples tend to cluster separately from the 1/2 indicus × taurus samples. The lipid species [PC (P-38:5) + H](+) and/or [PC (P-36:2) + Na](+) , [PC (38:2) + H](+) , [PC (38:5) + Na](+) and [TAG (60:8) + NH(4) ](+) were more abundant in indicus (NH and NL groups) than 1/2 indicus × taurus. The higher lipid content in the indicus oocytes likely reflects differences in the rate of lipid metabolism and may contribute to oocyte competence and embryo development.

[The cholesterol-lowering effect of black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) without hulls in hypercholesterolemic rats]. / Efeito do feijão preto (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) sem casca na redução do colesterol sangüíneo de ratos hipercolesterolêmicos.

The cholesterol-lowering property of beans has been shown in several studies. The propose of the present work was to investigate the effect of black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) without hulls on blood cholesterol of hypercholesterolemic rats. Four groups of 8 male rats, Wistar strain, initial body weight of 200 g were kept at +/- 25 degrees C in a light-dark cycle of 12 h, for 28 days. The group Standard received a basal casein diet. Group Control received the basal diet added of 1% cholesterol plus 0.1% cholic acid. The group BB received a diet similar to the Control, substituted by 30% black beans, on dry-weight. The group SBB received black beans without hulls, equivalent to 30% of whole beans. The addition of cholesterol and cholic acid raised blood cholesterol levels of rats on Control diet by 58%, in relation to the Standard. BB diet reduced blood cholesterol by 15% (non-significant-NS) and SBB diet reduced (p < 0.05) by 35%, in relation to the Control diet. The levels of HDL-cholesterol were reduced (p < 0.05) by both bean diets. SBB diet promoted a higher excretion of fecal cholesterol, compared to the Control. This suggests that beans without hulls promote a higher cholesterol output and that the whole beans, although had lowered blood cholesterol (NS), kept it in the enterohepatic circulation. The hypocholesterolemic compounds of beans seem to be located in the inner part of the grain. Further studies are necessary to identify these compounds and to elucidate their mechanisms of action.

[The cholesterol-lowering effect of black, carioquinha and red beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) in hypercholesterolemic rats]. / Efeito dos feijões (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) preto, carioquinha e vermelho na redução do colesterol sangüíneo de ratos hipercolesterolêmicos.

The propose of the present work was to investigate the cholesterol-lowering effect of black carioquinha and red beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.), widely consumed in Brazil, in hypercholesterolemic rats. Five groups of 8 male rats, Wistar strain, initial body weight of 200 g were kept at 25 degrees in a light-dark cycle of 12 h, for 28 days. The group Standard received a basal casein diet. Group Control was formulated by the addition of 1% cholesterol to the basal diet to produce hypercholesterolemia in the rats. The other groups received similar diets to the Control, substituted by 30% black (BB), carioquinha (CB) or red (RB) beans, on dry-weight. The addition of 1% cholesterol promoted an increase of 49% in the levels of total blood cholesterol on Control group, compared with the Standard. The bean diets reduced total blood cholesterol (non-significant): BB reduced 16%, RB 12% and CB 11%, in relation to the Control. The addition of cholesterol to the diets promoted lipid deposition in the rat livers, even in those fed the bean diets. It seems that the reduction of cholesterol in blood is followed by its retention in the rat livers.