Prevalence and predictors of self-medication to prevent or treat COVID-19 among undergraduate students in Southern Brazil.

Self-medication (SM) is the practice of consuming medicines without a prescription. Despite being a potentially dangerous action, SM is practiced globally and has been highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate SM for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 and the factors associated with this practice among undergraduate students in Southern Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and November 2020 using an electronic questionnaire to collect information about the practice of SM and the associated sociodemographic characteristics, health perception, and lifestyle. We collected 1,553 responses and identified a prevalence of 14.9% for SM. The risk factors for SM were earning between BRL 2,101 and BRL 5,250, studying at a public university, and studying a distance undergraduate course. The protective factors were age above 30 years, female sex, working or participating in internships, occasionally recommending their own medications to other people, and worsening health during the pandemic. The main drugs or products used were ivermectin, vitamins C and D, tea, azithromycin, zinc, and propolis. Our data could help in the development of health education measures to reduce SM among undergraduate students and guide the population regarding the risks of this practice.

Effects of Progesterone on Preclinical Animal Models of Traumatic Brain Injury: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Since the publication of two phase III clinical trials not supporting the use of progesterone in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), several possible explanations have been postulated, including limitations in the analysis of results from preclinical evidence. Therefore, to address this question, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of progesterone as a neuroprotective agent in preclinical animal models of TBI. A total of 48 studies were included for review: 29 evaluated brain edema, 21 evaluated lesion size, and 0 studies reported the survival rate. In the meta-analysis, it was found that progesterone reduced brain edema (effect size - 1.73 [- 2.02, - 1.44], p < 0.0001) and lesion volume (effect size - 0.40 [- 0.65, - 0.14], p = 0.002). Lack of details in the studies hindered the assessment of risk of bias (through the SYRCLE tool). A funnel plot asymmetry was detected, suggesting a possible publication bias. In conclusion, preclinical studies show that progesterone has an anti-edema effect in animal models of TBI, decreasing lesion volume or increasing remaining tissue. However, more studies are needed using assessing methods with lower risk of histological artifacts.

Behind teaching-learning strategies in physiology: perceptions of students and teachers of Brazilian medical courses.

The teaching-learning process must constantly overcome the barriers imposed by rapid scientific and technological advances, as well as changes in the profiles of students and access to information. This study intended to analyze the perceptions of students and professors of medical courses of the teaching-learning strategies used in physiology at different Brazilian universities as well as the factors that influence or hinder the learning of this discipline. Questionnaires were analyzed from 174 students and 16 professors of physiology from medical courses of 20 higher education institutions (public and private) in a southern Brazilian state. The teaching strategies most used by physiology teachers coincided with the classroom activities that students consider to have the greatest contribution to their learning (expository classes/lectures, tests and questionnaires, problem-based learning/clinical case studies, and demonstrative/practical classes). It was also evidenced that teachers' didactic is considered as a very influencing factor for the students during their learning process, whereas the teachers pointed out daily pedagogical practice as the most relevant factor in the development of their skills within the classroom. In addition, some factors hindering the teaching-learning process of physiology were identified by the respondents, such as large amounts of information, little time for study outside the classroom, previous knowledge, and intrinsic difficulty of the discipline. Finally, students tended to study alone and generally used teachers' slides and their own notes as study materials. The continuous assessment of the perceptions, needs, and difficulties of students and teachers plays an essential role in improving the teaching-learning process.

Is a higher altitude associated with shorter survival among at-risk neonates?

INTRODUCTION: We hypothesize that high altitudes could have an adverse effect on neonatal health outcomes, especially among at-risk neonates. The current study aims to assess the association between higher altitudes on survival time among at-risk neonates. METHODS: Retrospective survival analysis. Setting: Ecuadorian neonates who died at ≤28 days of life. Patients: We analyzed the nationwide dataset of neonatal deaths from the Surveillance System of Neonatal Mortality of the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador, registered from 126 public and private health care facilities, between January 2014 to September 2017. Main outcome measures: We retrospectively reviewed 3016 patients. We performed a survival analysis by setting the survival time in days as the primary outcome and fixed and mixed-effects Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for each altitude stratum of each one of the health care facilities in which those neonates were attended, adjusting by individual variables (i.e., birth weight, gestational age at birth, Apgar scale at 5 minutes, and comorbidities); and contextual variables (i.e., administrative planning areas, type of health care facility, and level of care). RESULTS: Altitudes of health care facilities ranging from 80 to <2500 m, 2500 to <2750m, and ≥2750 m were associated respectively with 20% (95% CI: 1% to 44%), 32% (95% CI:<1% to 79%) and 37% (95% CI: 8% to 75%) increased HR; compared with altitudes at <80 m. CONCLUSION: Higher altitudes are independently associated with shorter survival time, as measured by days among at-risk neonates. Altitude should be considered when assessing the risk of having negative health outcomes during neonatal period.

Resveratrol Derivatives as Potential Treatments for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease.

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons in different regions of the nervous system. Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are the two most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, and the symptoms associated with these pathologies are closely related to the regions that are most affected by the process of neurodegeneration. Despite their high prevalence, currently, there is no cure or disease-modifying drugs for the treatment of these conditions. In the last decades, due to the need for the development of new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, several authors have investigated the neuroprotective actions of naturally occurring molecules, such as resveratrol. Resveratrol is a stilbene found in several plants, including grapes, blueberries, raspberries, and peanuts. Studies have shown that resveratrol presents neuroprotective actions in experimental models of AD and PD, however, its clinical application is limited due to its rapid metabolism and low bioavailability. In this context, studies have proposed that structural changes in the resveratrol molecule, including glycosylation, alkylation, halogenation, hydroxylation, methylation, and prenylation could lead to the development of derivatives with enhanced bioavailability and pharmacological activity. Therefore, this review article aims to discuss how resveratrol derivatives could represent viable molecules in the search for new drugs for the treatment of AD and PD.

Caso clínico: Enfermedad Veno-Oclusiva Hepática secundaria a Quimioterapia en un paciente con Sarcoma de Ewing / Case report: Veno-Occlusive liver disease secondary to Chemotherapy in a patient with Ewing's Sarcoma

Introducción: La enfermedad veno-oclusiva hepática o síndrome de obstrucción sinusoidal se caracteriza clínicamente por presentar hepatomegalia dolorosa, ictericia, ascitis, edema y aumento de peso, que generalmente ocurre como una complicación del trasplante de médula ósea. Caso clínico: Se trata de un escolar masculino de 9 años de edad con Sarcoma de Ewing quien presentó una Enfermedad Veno-oclusiva Hepática secundaria a la administración de quimioterapia con ciclofosfamida y vincristina. Evolución: Se realizó el diagnóstico diferencial con daño hepático por causas infecciosas y autoinmunes a través de pruebas serológicas y biopsia. Conclusión: Siendo este el primer reporte que describe la asociación entre la enfermedad Veno-oclusiva Hepática con Sarcoma de Ewing.

Introduction: Hepatic Veno-occlusive Disease or Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome is a clinical syndrome characterized by painful hepatomegaly, jaundice, ascites, edema and weight gain, which usually occurs as a complication of bone marrow transplantation. Clinical Case: We describe a new case of male school age 9 with Ewing Sarcoma who had Hepatic Veno-occlusive Disease secondary to chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and vincristine. Evolution: We set the differential diagnosis from liver damage due to infection and autoimmune diseases through serological tests and biopsy. Conclusion: This is the first report that describes the association between Ewing Sarcoma and Hepatic Veno-occlusive Disease.

[Mycobacterium scrofulaceum infection in a pediatric patient from the Galapagos Islands - Ecuador]. / Infección por Mycobacterium scrofulaceum en un niño de las Islas Galápagos - Ecuador.

Mycobacterium scrofulaceum is a slow-growing atypical mycobacteria with a reservoir in the environmen, and occasionally it causes disease in humans. The case of a 10-year-old patient with fever of four months of evolution is presented. Symptoms include bilateral adenopathies of neck, thorax, abdomen and inguinal region, rash, abdominal pain and vomiting; in addition, a positive serology for EBV and a culture of the left inguinal ganglia with growth of M. scrofulaceum were evidenced. Thus, this is the first report of human infection caused by the aforementioned mycobacterium in Ecuador, which it was particularly manifested with an unusual pattern of resistance.

Infección por Mycobacterium scrofulaceum en un niño de las Islas Galápagos - Ecuador / Mycobacterium scrofulaceum infection in a pediatric patient from the Galapagos Islands - Ecuador

Resumen Mycobacterium scrofulaceum es una micobacteria atípica de crecimiento lento que tiene como reservorio el ambiente. De forma ocasional causa enfermedad en humanos. Se presenta el caso de un niño de 10 años de edad con fiebre de cuatro meses de evolución, adenopatías cervicales, torácicas, abdominales e inguinales bilaterales, exantema, dolor abdominal y vómitos; con evidencia concomitante de serología positiva para el VEB y cultivo de los ganglios inguinales izquierdos con crecimiento de M. scrofulaceum. Es la primera comunicación de una infección causada por esta micobacteria en Ecuador, y que particularmente se presentó con un patrón de resistencia inusual.

Mycobacterium scrofulaceum is a slow-growing atypical mycobacteria with a reservoir in the environmen, and occasionally it causes disease in humans. The case of a 10-year-old patient with fever of four months of evolution is presented. Symptoms include bilateral adenopathies of neck, thorax, abdomen and inguinal region, rash, abdominal pain and vomiting; in addition, a positive serology for EBV and a culture of the left inguinal ganglia with growth of M. scrofulaceum were evidenced. Thus, this is the first report of human infection caused by the aforementioned mycobacterium in Ecuador, which it was particularly manifested with an unusual pattern of resistance.

Enfermedad Veno-oclusiva Hepática/Síndrome de Obstrucción Sinusoidal: actualización de los aspectos fisiopatológicos, criterios diagnósticos y opciones terapéuticas / Venous-Occlusive Hepatic Disease / Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome: update of the pathophysiological aspects, diagnostic criteria and therapeutic options

La enfermedad veno-oclusiva hepática o síndrome de obstrucción sinusoidal se caracteriza clínicamente por presentar hepatomegalia dolorosa, ictericia, ascitis, edema, aumento de peso y/o trombocitopenia refractaria, que generalmente ocurre como una complicación del trasplante de médula ósea y la quimioterapia en algunos tumores sólidos. La fisiopatología es compleja y se relaciona con daño endotelial en los sinusoides hepáticos que condiciona un estado proinflamatorio, protrombótico e hipofibrinolítico. El tratamiento varía de acuerdo a la severidad de cada caso, cuando son cuadros leves a moderados se presenta una resolución espontánea requiriendo medidas de soporte y tratamiento sintomático; mientras que en los casos severos o muy severos se requiere adicionar tratamiento específico debido a la alta mortalidad que presentan estos pacientes. Considerando la alta mortalidad y las escasas opciones terapéuticas aprobadas actualmente, la identificación de factores de riesgo sigue siendo la principal estrategia para disminuir la incidencia de esta enfermedad, de ahí la importancia de esta revisión.

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease or sinusoidal obstruction syndrome is clinically characterized by painful hepatomegaly, jaundice, ascites, edema, weight gain and / or refractory thrombocytopenia, which usually occurs as a complication of bone marrow transplantation and chemotherapy in some solid tumors. The pathophysiology is complex and is related to endothelial damage in the hepatic sinusoids that conditions a proinflammatory, prothrombotic and hypofibrinolytic state. The treatment depends on the severity of each case, when there are mild to moderate cases a spontaneous resolution is presented requiring support measures and symptomatic treatment; while in severe or very severe cases it is necessary to add specific treatment due to the high mortality that these patients present. Considering the high mortality and the scarce therapeutic options currently approved, the identification of risk factors remains the main strategy to reduce the incidence of this disease.