Clinical outcomes in newborns of pregnant women with COVID-19: integrative review.

OBJECTIVES: to analyze clinical outcomes in newborns of pregnant women with COVID-19. METHODS: integrative review conducted in PubMed, Web of Knowledge, SCOPUS, CINHAL; 2,111 studies were obtained, and 8 articles comprised the final sample. RESULTS: clinical outcomes in neonates of pregnant women positive for COVID-19 were classified according to the following categories: a) contamination by COVID-19, reported in 62.5% of the studies; b) hospital discharge due to improvement, mentioned in 37.5% of the articles; c) death, representing rare cases in 25% of the sample. The most prevalent gestational complication was prematurity, mentioned in 75% of the studies. This complication has been observed due to cases of premature rupture of membranes and placental abruption. CONCLUSIONS: despite the knowledge of asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic behavior in neonates, it is important to continue the search for new clinical data, as this public has uncertain reactions to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Treatment of Parkinson's disease by deep brain stimulation: a bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: For more than 30 years, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been a therapeutic tool for Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment. DBS can ameliorate several motor and non-motor symptoms and improve the patients' quality of life. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the global scientific production of original and review articles on Parkinson's disease treatment using deep brain stimulation. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive, bibliometric study with a quantitative approach. METHOD: The research protocol was conducted in March 2023 using the Web of Science database. Six hundred eighty-four articles were included in the analysis. Data were imported into RStudio Desktop Software, linked to R Software. The Bibliometrix R package, its Biblioshiny web interface, and VOSviewer software were used for the analysis. RESULTS: The international production began in 1998. Movement Disorders is the journal with the largest number of published articles and the most cited. Michael Okun and Andres Lozano are the authors who produced the most in this area. The University of Florida is the most active affiliated institution in Brazil. The United States has the largest number of collaborations and is mainly published by local researchers. In contrast, countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada have a high number of multi-country publications. The 15 most cited studies predominantly investigated subthalamic nucleus stimulation. CONCLUSION: DBS for Parkinson's disease is a relatively novel therapeutic approach, with studies that have expanded over the last twenty-five years. Most scientific production was quantitative and restricted to specialized journals. The United States, Europe, and China held the most articles.

Disrupted autonomic pathways in spinal cord injury: Implications for the immune regulation.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) disrupts critical autonomic pathways responsible for the regulation of the immune function. Consequently, individuals with SCI often exhibit a spectrum of immune dysfunctions ranging from the development of damaging pro-inflammatory responses to severe immunosuppression. Thus, it is imperative to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the extent and mechanisms through which SCI-induced autonomic dysfunction influences the immune response. In this review, we provide an overview of the anatomical organization and physiology of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), elucidating how SCI impacts its function, with a particular focus on lymphoid organs and immune activity. We highlight recent advances in understanding how intraspinal plasticity that follows SCI may contribute to aberrant autonomic activity in lymphoid organs. Additionally, we discuss how sympathetic mediators released by these neuron terminals affect immune cell function. Finally, we discuss emerging innovative technologies and potential clinical interventions targeting the ANS as a strategy to restore the normal regulation of the immune response in individuals with SCI.

Use of technologies by nurses to promote breastfeeding: a scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: To map evidence on technologies used by nurses to promote breastfeeding in Health Services. METHOD: This is a scoping review, based on the recommendations of the Joanna Briggs Institute and following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews, carried out in 2022. The searches took place in seven databases, using the following combined descriptors: "nurse", "technology", "breastfeeding", and "health services". RESULTS: Fifteen articles were found, the first from 2000 and the last from 2022, all published in English with a predominance of productions in the United States of America (n = 5) and Brazil (n = 3). The link was the technology present in most studies (n = 11). However, with regard to classification, educational and hard technologies were the most used in promotion strategies (n = 14 and n = 12), respectively. CONCLUSION: The articles showed a variety of technologies used to promote breastfeeding in health services, and thus, contributing for the maintenance and duration of breastfeeding.

Segurança dos profissionais de saúde que atuaram na linha de frente da pandemia por covid-19 no Brasil / Safety of health professionals who worked in the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil / Seguridad de los profesionales de la salud que actuaron en primera línea de la pandemia de COVID-19 en Brasil

RESUMO: Objetivou-se avaliar a segurança dos profissionais de saúde que atuaram no combate à pandemia de covid-19 em 2020 nos serviços de saúde brasileiros. Realizou-se inquérito on line, conduzido entre junho e setembro de 2020, com profissionais de saúde de instituições públicas e privadas brasileiras, com base no questionário Health workers exposure risk assessment and management in the context of COVID-19 virus, da Organização Mundial de Saúde, sendo analisados 2.832 registros. Raça/cor e categoria profissional foram variáveis relacionadas ao aumento de casos de covid-19 dentre os profissionais. Os que se autodeclararam não brancos, técnicos e auxiliares de enfermagem tiveram chance maior de resultado positivo, indicando maior suscetibilidade à infecção relacionada ao nível socioeconômico e/ou categoria profissional e papel desempenhado no cuidado ao paciente. As variáveis estrutura das unidades de saúde, localização, teste e disponibilidade de equipamentos de proteção individual relacionaram-se ao grau de risco de contrair a doença. Ressalta-se a importância da garantia de insumos e equipamentos aos profissionais de saúde, sobretudo em um contexto pandêmico e entre aqueles com baixo nível socioeconômico que atuam na linha de frente. Riscos em situações de emergência e escassez devem ser prospectivamente monitorados, ajustando-se às iniciativas no tocante à segurança do paciente.

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of health professionals who worked in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 in Brazilian health services. An online survey was conducted between June and September 2020, with health professionals from Brazilian public and private institutions, based on the Health workers exposure risk assessment and management in the context of COVID-19 virus, from the World Health Organization, and 2,832 records were analyzed. Race/color and professional category were variables related to the increase of covid-19 cases among professionals. Those who self-declared themselves non-white, technical and nursing assistants had a higher chance of positive results, indicating a higher susceptibility to infection related to socioeconomic level and/or professional category and a role played in patient care. The variables structure of the health units, location, test and availability of personal protective equipment were related to the degree of risk of contracting the disease. The importance of ensuring inputs and equipment to health professionals is highlighted, especially in a pandemic context and among those with low socioeconomic level who work on the front line. Risks in emergency and scarcity situations should be prospectively monitored, adjusting to patient safety initiatives.

RESUMEN: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la seguridad de los profesionales de la salud que actuaron en la lucha contra la pandemia de COVID-19 en 2020 en los servicios de salud brasileños. Entre junio y septiembre de 2020 se realizó una encuesta en línea con profesionales de la salud de instituciones públicas y privadas brasileñas, basada en la evaluación y gestión del riesgo de exposición de los trabajadores de la salud en el contexto del virus COVID-19, de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, y se analizaron 2.832 registros. Raza/color y categoría profesional fueron variables relacionadas con el aumento de casos de COVID-19 entre profesionales. Los que se autodeclararon no blancos, técnicos y auxiliares de enfermería tuvieron una mayor probabilidad de resultados positivos, lo que indica una mayor susceptibilidad a la infección relacionada con el nivel socioeconómico y/o categoría profesional y un papel desempeñado en la atención al paciente. Las variables estructura de las unidades de salud, ubicación, prueba y disponibilidad de equipo de protección personal se relacionaron con el grado de riesgo de contraer la enfermedad. Se destaca la importancia de garantizar insumos y equipos a los profesionales de la salud, especialmente en un contexto pandémico y entre aquellos con bajo nivel socioeconómico que trabajan en primera línea. Los riesgos en situaciones de emergencia y escasez deben ser monitoreados prospectivamente, ajustándose a las iniciativas de seguridad del paciente.

Spatial-temporal risk clusters, social vulnerability, and identification of priority areas for surveillance and control of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Maranhão, Brazil: an ecological study.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected disease widely distributed in Maranhão, Brazil and presents a significant public health problem. However, its transmission dynamics and determining factors are not clearly understood. In this context, geospatial technologies help interpret the process. This study, then, characterized the space-time dynamics and the influence of social vulnerability on CL in an endemic area in Northeast Brazil. This is an ecological study about new cases of CL in Maranhão, from 2007 to 2020, obtained directly from the Notifiable Diseases Information System. The incidence rate was smoothed using a spatial empirical Bayesian method. Subsequently, global and local Moran statistics and their association with social vulnerability indicators were determined. Disease distribution was not random but grouped in space and time. All Social Vulnerability Index domains were positively correlated with the CL incidence. A likely cluster was detected in western Maranhão (P < 0.001), which encompassed 18 municipalities, from January 2007 to December 2013, with a high relative risk (5.06). The research findings suggest that planning public health actions and allocating resources should be prioritized in these areas to help effectively reduce the incidence of the disease.

Global research trends related to coronavirus disease 2019 and the aged: a bibliometric analysis

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: A bibliometric analysis covering only the production of original studies or considering world production until 2022 has yet to be conducted. The creation and advancement of vaccines have also influenced research priorities, demonstrating the need for a new approach to this subject. OBJECTIVES: To analyze worldwide scientific production related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the aged and to describe what has already been produced. DESIGN AND SETTING: Bibliometric analysis with a quantitative approach. METHOD: The search terms "COVID-19," "SARS-CoV-2," "Aged," and "Elderly" were used to retrieve articles from the Web of Science database. A total of 684 articles were included in the analysis. Data were imported into RStudio Desktop Software and linked to R Software. The Bibliometrix R package and VOSviewer software were used for analysis. RESULTS: Most articles were published in 2020. These were produced by 4,937 authors and published in 379 journals. The keyword most used by the authors was "COVID-19." Publications from 77 countries were obtained. China had the highest article production ranking, and Spain collaborated the most. The articles addressed the implications of the pandemic on the aged, the relationship between vaccination in the aged, and the implications for the disease itself. CONCLUSION: Further research should be conducted, mainly concerning vaccines and vaccination of the aged, owing to the need for and importance of immunization in this risk group, including assessing the long-term effects of vaccines.

Treatment of Parkinson's disease by deep brain stimulation: a bibliometric analysis

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: For more than 30 years, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been a therapeutic tool for Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment. DBS can ameliorate several motor and non-motor symptoms and improve the patients' quality of life. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the global scientific production of original and review articles on Parkinson's disease treatment using deep brain stimulation. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive, bibliometric study with a quantitative approach. METHOD: The research protocol was conducted in March 2023 using the Web of Science database. Six hundred eighty-four articles were included in the analysis. Data were imported into RStudio Desktop Software, linked to R Software. The Bibliometrix R package, its Biblioshiny web interface, and VOSviewer software were used for the analysis. RESULTS: The international production began in 1998. Movement Disorders is the journal with the largest number of published articles and the most cited. Michael Okun and Andres Lozano are the authors who produced the most in this area. The University of Florida is the most active affiliated institution in Brazil. The United States has the largest number of collaborations and is mainly published by local researchers. In contrast, countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada have a high number of multi-country publications. The 15 most cited studies predominantly investigated subthalamic nucleus stimulation. CONCLUSION: DBS for Parkinson's disease is a relatively novel therapeutic approach, with studies that have expanded over the last twenty-five years. Most scientific production was quantitative and restricted to specialized journals. The United States, Europe, and China held the most articles.

Facilitators and barriers to adherence to medical recommendations among adolescents with cancer: A systematic review.

We aimed to systematically review barriers/facilitators of adherence among adolescents with cancer (aged 10-24 years), following a comprehensive approach to adherence that goes beyond medication-taking. Empirical studies published in English exploring determinants of adherence to medical recommendations among adolescents with cancer were identified in MEDLINE, PsycInfo, and Web of Science, up to October 2021. Records and full-text articles were reviewed by two independent reviewers, and results were classified according to the World Health Organization's (WHO) multidimensional adherence model. Eighteen studies were included. Despite heterogeneity in the definition and measurement of adherence, literature supported barriers/facilitators at patient, treatment, condition, healthcare team/system, and social/economic levels. Specifically, patient-related factors (i.e., psychological functioning and beliefs about disease and treatment) and social-related factors (i.e., family functioning) were major determinants of adolescent adherence. Few studies were conducted, and inconsistent findings were displayed for other dimensions (i.e., healthcare team/system, treatment, and condition-related factors). Adherence is a complex and multidetermined phenomenon. More research is needed to provide critical insights for policymakers and healthcare professionals in planning practices and interventions that effectively address meaningful barriers/facilitators of adolescents' adherence.

Neuroprotective effects of crude extracts, compounds, and isolated molecules obtained from plants in the central nervous system injuries: a systematic review.

The number of people with central nervous system (CNS) injuries increases worldwide and only a few therapies are used to mitigate neurological damage. Crude extracts, compounds, and isolated molecules obtained from plants have neuroprotective effects; however, their actions on the central nervous system are still not fully understood. This systematic review investigated the neuroprotective effects of crude extracts, compound, and isolated molecules obtained from plants in different CNS lesions. This PICO (Population/Problem, Intervention, Control, Outcome) systematic review included in vivo and in vitro studies that used small rodents as experimental models of CNS injuries (P) treated with crude extracts, compounds, and/or isolated molecules obtained from plants (I), compared to non-intervention conditions (C), and that showed a neuroprotective effect (O). Fourteen out of 5,521 studies were selected for qualitative analysis. Several neuroprotective effects (improvement of antioxidant activity, modulation of the inflammatory response, tissue preservation, motor and cognitive recovery) in the brain and spinal cord were reported after treatment with different doses of crude extracts (10 studies), compounds (2 studies), and isolated molecules (2 studies). Crude extracts, compounds, or isolated molecules obtained from plants showed promising neuroprotective effects against several CNS injuries in both the brain and spinal cord, regardless of gender and age, through the modulation of inflammatory activity and oxidative biochemistry, tissue preservation, and recovery of motor and cognitive activity.

Impact of COVID-19 on the registration of tegumentary leishmaniasis cases in Maranhão, Brazil / Impacto da COVID-19 no registro de casos de leishmaniose tegumentar no Maranhão, Brasil / Impacto de la COVID-19 en el registro de casos de leishmaniasis tegumentaria en Maranhão, Brasil

Background and Objectives: Elucidating the potential impact of COVID-19 on surveillance interventions and programs, such as the tegumentary leishmaniasis one, during the first year of the pandemic can help understand its consequences for notification systems, which can inform immediate public policy and health education actions, as well as highlight the need to implement new strategies to strengthen epidemiological surveillance services. The objective of the present study was to analyze the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the number of cases of tegumentary leishmaniasis in Maranhão, Brazil. Methods: Ecological study of confirmed cases of tegumentary leishmaniasis in the period from January 2015 to December 2020. Data were obtained from the Brazilian Information System for Notifiable Diseases. The P-score metrics were used to evaluate the possible underreporting of tegumentary leishmaniasis. Results: In the period from 2015 to 2020, 7,886 new cases of the disease were registered. For the year 2020, 1,346 cases were expected, but 1,158 were notified, which represented a decrease of 13.94%. The regional health centers of São Luís, São João dos Patos, and Presidente Dutra showed the greatest drops in possible expected new cases. Conclusion: The challenges in diagnosing tegumentary leishmaniasis cases seem to have intensified in the context of COVID-19 in Maranhão, which signals an important alert for health services and managers.(AU)

Justificativa e Objetivos: O potencial impacto da COVID-19 nas intervenções e nos programas de vigilância, como a leishmaniose tegumentar, durante o primeiro ano da pandemia, auxilia no entendimento das consequências da pandemia nos sistemas de notificação, com o intuito de subsidiar ações imediatas de políticas públicas e educação em saúde, além de evidenciar a necessidade de implementação de novas estratégias de fortalecimento dos serviços de vigilância epidemiológica. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o possível impacto da pandemia da COVID-19 no número de registros de casos de leishmaniose tegumentar no Maranhão, Brasil. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo ecológico dos casos confirmados de leishmaniose tegumentar no período de janeiro de 2015 a dezembro de 2020. Os dados foram obtidos do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação. A métrica P-score foi utilizada para avaliar os possíveis subregistros de leishmaniose tegumentar. Resultados: No período de 2015 a 2020, foram registrados 7.886 casos novos da doença. Para o ano de 2020, eram esperados 1.346 casos, porém 1.158 foram notificados, o que representa uma diminuição de 13,94%. As regionais de saúde de São Luís, São João dos Patos e Presidente Dutra apresentam as maiores quedas de possíveis novos casos esperados. Conclusão: Os desafios no diagnóstico dos casos de leishmaniose tegumentar parecem ter se intensificado no contexto da COVID-19 no Maranhão, o que sinaliza um alerta importante para os serviços de saúde e gestores.(AU)

Justificación y Objetivos: El posible impacto de la COVID-19 en las intervenciones y programas de vigilancia, como el de la leishmaniasis tegumentaria, durante el primer año de la pandemia, ayuda a comprender las consecuencias de la pandemia en los sistemas de notificación, con el fin de subsidiar las acciones inmediatas de política pública y educación para la salud, además de resaltar la necesidad de implementar nuevas estrategias para fortalecer los servicios de vigilancia epidemiológica. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar el posible impacto de la pandemia de COVID-19 en el número de registros de casos de leishmaniasis tegumentaria en Maranhão, Brasil. Métodos: Se trata de un estudio ecológico de los casos confirmados de leishmaniasis tegumentaria desde enero de 2015 hasta diciembre de 2020. Los datos se obtuvieron del Sistema de Información de Enfermedades de Declaración Obligatoria. Se utilizó la métrica P-score para evaluar los posibles subregistros de leishmaniasis tegumentaria. Resultados: Entre 2015 y 2020, se registraron 7.886 nuevos casos de la enfermedad. Para 2020 se esperaban 1.346 casos, pero se notificaron 1.158, lo que representa una disminución del 13,94%. Los centros regionales de salud de São Luís, São João dos Patos y Presidente Dutra presentaron las mayores caídas en los posibles nuevos casos esperados. Conclusión: Los desafíos en el diagnóstico de los casos de leishmaniasis tegumentaria parecen haberse intensificado en el contexto de la COVID-19 en Maranhão, lo que señala una alerta importante para los servicios y gestores de salud.(AU)

Global research trends related to coronavirus disease 2019 and the aged: a bibliometric analysis.

BACKGROUND: A bibliometric analysis covering only the production of original studies or considering world production until 2022 has yet to be conducted. The creation and advancement of vaccines have also influenced research priorities, demonstrating the need for a new approach to this subject. OBJECTIVES: To analyze worldwide scientific production related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the aged and to describe what has already been produced. DESIGN AND SETTING: Bibliometric analysis with a quantitative approach. METHOD: The search terms "COVID-19," "SARS-CoV-2," "Aged," and "Elderly" were used to retrieve articles from the Web of Science database. A total of 684 articles were included in the analysis. Data were imported into RStudio Desktop Software and linked to R Software. The Bibliometrix R package and VOSviewer software were used for analysis. RESULTS: Most articles were published in 2020. These were produced by 4,937 authors and published in 379 journals. The keyword most used by the authors was "COVID-19." Publications from 77 countries were obtained. China had the highest article production ranking, and Spain collaborated the most. The articles addressed the implications of the pandemic on the aged, the relationship between vaccination in the aged, and the implications for the disease itself. CONCLUSION: Further research should be conducted, mainly concerning vaccines and vaccination of the aged, owing to the need for and importance of immunization in this risk group, including assessing the long-term effects of vaccines.

Modeling the Batch Sedimentation of Calcium Carbonate Particles in Laboratory Experiments-A Systematic Approach.

The design of continuous thickeners and clarifiers is commonly based on the solid flux theory. Batch sedimentation experiments conducted with solid concentrations still provide useful information for their application. The construction of models for the velocity of settling allows the estimation of the flux of solids throughout time, which can, in turn, be used to find the area of the units required to achieve a given solid concentration in the clarified stream. This paper addresses the numerical treatment of data obtained from batch sedimentation experiments of calcium carbonate particles. We propose a systematic framework to fit a model that is capable of representing the process features that involve (i) the numerical differentiation of data to generate initial estimates for the instantaneous velocity of settling; (ii) the integration of a differential equation to fit the model for the velocity of settling; and (iii) the assessment of the quality of the fit using common statistical indicators. The model used for demonstration has a theoretical basis combined with an empirical component to account for the effect of the particle concentrations and their state of aggregation. The values of the numerical parameters obtained are related to the characteristic dimensions of the aggregates and their mass-length fractal dimensions.

Image dataset of urine test results on petri dishes for deep learning classification.

Recent advancements in image analysis and interpretation technologies using computer vision techniques have shown potential for novel applications in clinical microbiology laboratories to support task automation aiming for faster and more reliable diagnostics. Deep learning models can be a valuable tool in the screening process, helping technicians spend less time classifying no-growth results and quickly separating the categories of tests that deserve further analysis. In this context, creating datasets with correctly classified images is fundamental for developing and improving such models. Therefore, a dataset of urine test Petri dishes images was collected following a standardized process, with controlled conditions of positioning and lighting. Image acquisition was conducted by applying a hardware chamber equipped with a led lightning source and a smartphone camera with 12 MP resolution. A software application was developed to support image classification and handling. Experienced microbiologists classified the images according to the positive, negative, and uncertain test results. The resulting dataset contains a total of 1500 images and can support the development of deep learning algorithms to classify urine exams according to their microbial growth.

Bibliometric Analysis of Global Scientific Production on COVID-19 and Vaccines.

This bibliometric analysis aims to analyze the global scientific production of COVID-19 and vaccines. First, a search for scientific articles was performed using the advanced query in the Web of Science™ database, more precisely in its core collection, on 18 February 2023. Data from 7754 articles were analyzed using the Bibliometrix R package and the Biblioshiny application. The evaluated articles were published mainly in 2022 (60%). The scientific journals that published the most about COVID-19 and vaccines were "Vaccines", "Vaccine" and "Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics". The University of Oxford was the most productive institution, with the authors of the articles mainly originating from the United States, China and the United Kingdom. The United States, despite having carried out the most significant number of collaborations, published mainly with local researchers. The 15 most cited articles and the KeyWords Plus™ evidenced the focus of the published articles on the safety and efficacy of vaccines against COVID-19, as well as on the evaluation of vaccine acceptance, more specifically on vaccine hesitancy. Research funding came primarily from US government agencies.

Representações sociais elaboradas por discentes de enfermagem sobre a prevenção da covid-19 / Social representations elaborated by nursing students about covid-19 prevention / Representaciones sociales elaboradas por estudiantes de enfermería sobre la prevención del covid-19

RESUMO Objetivo: apreender as representações sociais elaboradas por discentes de enfermagem sobre a prevenção da COVID-19. Método: pesquisa exploratória-descritiva e qualitativa. Os dados foram produzidos por meio de entrevistas com 32 participantes, realizadas no período de setembro de 2021 a julho de 2022. O Cenário do estudo foi uma instituição de ensino superior pública, localizada na região nordeste do Brasil. Os dados foram processados utilizando o software IRaMuTeQ. Resultados: a gênese das representações sociais da prevenção da COVID-19 apontou dois eixos: Organização de ideias sobre as medidas de prevenção da COVID-19; e a Eficiência, confiabilidade e fonte das informações obtidas. Considerações Finais: as representações sociais evidenciaram o saber sobre as medidas de prevenção da COVID-19, oportunizaram o esclarecimento sobre a origem dos saberes dos discentes e de especificidades que consideram importantes. Espera-se que esse estudo possa servir como alicerce para novas pesquisas e/ou intervenções com discentes de enfermagem.

ABSTRACT Objective: to understand the social representations elaborated by nursing students about the prevention of COVID-19. Method: exploratory-descriptive and qualitative research. Data were produced through interviews with 32 participants, conducted in the period from September 2021 to July 2022. The Study Setting was a public higher education institution, located in the northeastern region of Brazil. Data were processed using IRaMuTeQ software. Results: the genesis of the social representations of COVID-19 prevention pointed to two axes: Organization of ideas about COVID-19 prevention measures, and Efficiency, reliability and source of the information obtained. Final Considerations: the social representations showed the knowledge about the prevention measures of COVID-19, provided an opportunity to clarify the origin of the students' knowledge and the specificities they consider important. It is hoped that this study can serve as a foundation for further research and/or interventions with nursing students.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Apreciar las representaciones sociales elaboradas por discentes de enfermería sobre la prevención del COVID-19. Método: investigación exploratoria-descriptiva y cualitativa. Los datos fueron producidos a través de entrevistas con 32 participantes, realizadas en el período de septiembre de 2021 a julio de 2022. El escenario del estudio fue una institución pública de enseñanza superior, localizada en la región nordeste de Brasil. Los datos fueron procesados utilizando el software IRaMuTeQ. Resultados: la génesis de las representaciones sociales de la prevención del COVID-19 apuntaba a dos ejes: Organización de ideas sobre las medidas de prevención del COVID-19; y Eficacia, fiabilidad y fuente de las informaciones obtenidas. Consideraciones Finales: Las representaciones sociales mostraron el conocimiento sobre las medidas de prevención del COVID-19, proporcionando una oportunidad para aclarar el origen del conocimiento de los estudiantes y las especificidades que ellos consideran importantes. Se espera que este estudio pueda servir de base para futuras investigaciones y/o intervenciones con estudiantes de enfermería.

Using rheological monitoring to determine the gelation kinetics of chitosan-based systems.

The modeling of polymeric reactions is a topic of large interest. The gelation reactions that may result from self-crosslinking or hybrid (agent based-) crosslinking are examples with interest specially in biomaterials applications. The composition of polymer entities during the reaction is hard to follow, and their concentration is not a good measure of the system dynamics. One alternative is monitoring the rheological behavior of the reacting mass, and relate the elastic modulus of the mixture with the rheological degree of conversion. In this paper we use rheological data to fit Malkin and Kulichikin (1996) [1] based models to describe the crosslinking of chitosan. First, the self-crosslinking of chitosan is considered. Then, the agent-based crosslinking reaction promoted by genipin is addressed. We use dynamical rheological data to fit the reaction models. The model fitting problem generated using Maximum Likelihood principle with heteroscedastic prediction error variance is formulated as a Dynamic Optimization problem and subsequently solved with a sequential approach. Parametric confidence regions are computed using the linear approximation of the covariance matrix at the optimum. Further, the parameters correlation matrix is also determined and used to qualitatively infer about the practical identifiability. The reaction order obtained for self-crosslinking kinetics is 1.3375 ± (0.0151) - approximately of first order -, and is 2.2402 ± (0.0373) for hybrid crosslinking (approximately of second order). In both cases we prove the error variance model is heteroskedastic and the model is identifiable. The approach proposed herein can be extended to other polymer systems.

Possible adverse effects of low-level laser on oral and oropharyngeal cancer cells: A scope review.

BACKGROUND: The effects of laser therapy on normal cells are well known and accepted, but the impact of this therapy on malignant cells are not yet fully understood. This review aims to map and outline what the scientific literature addresses on the effects of laser therapy on malignant cells. METHODS: This review article followed the guidelines of the PRISMA-ScR protocol, being all the search, analysis, and selection of articles based on it. RESULTS: After all application of the predetermined criteria, five studies were included, dated between the years 2013 and 2021. With the complete reading of the selected studies, 100% of the articles were classified as category III of the Agency for Healthcare as Research and Quality classification. Similar themes among the papers included were investigated and compared. In these five studies, the visible red and near infrared wavelengths were used, and energy densities varied between 1 and 5 J/cm2 . It was observed that low-level laser could alter the expression of cell proliferation and migration proteins, such as cyclin D1, E-cadherin, and ß-catenin. In addition, changes related to increased cell viability and metabolism were also identified. CONCLUSION: The low-level laser seems to positively regulate the proliferative, migratory, and viability capacity of neoplastic cells, depending on the protocol used. All these studies included in the review are equivalent to in vitro studies; the cells are not in such a complex environment as is an organized tissue, making it necessary to carry out more complex tests, such as in vivo research.