High-Dose Convalescent Plasma for Treatment of Severe COVID-19.

To assess whether high-dose coronavirus disease (COVID-19) convalescent plasma (CCP) transfusion may benefit patients with severe COVID-19, we conducted a multicenter randomized trial in Brazil. Patients with severe COVID-19 who were within 10 days of initial symptom onset were eligible. Patients in the CCP group received 3 daily doses of CCP (600 mL/d) in addition to standard treatment; control patients received standard treatment only. Primary outcomes were death rates at days 30 and 60 of study randomization. Secondary outcomes were ventilator-free days and hospital-free days. We enrolled 107 patients: 36 CCP and 71 control. At day 30, death rates were 22% for CCP and 25% for the control group; at day 60, rates were 31% for CCP and 35% for control. Needs for invasive mechanical ventilation and durations of hospital stay were similar between groups. We conclude that high-dose CCP transfused within 10 days of symptom onset provided no benefit for patients with severe COVID-19.

Inclusion of Madagascar cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) meal in the diet of cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) in captivity: Influences on offspring development.

The use of unconventional food for animals is becoming more common. The objective was to evaluate the inclusion of Madagascar cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) meal in the diet of cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) chicks in captivity. Twenty-eight cockatiel chicks were used during 90 days of experiment. The animals were divided into two groups: a control group (receiving commercial feed + seed mixture) and a test group (receiving a control diet supplemented with Madagascar cockroach meal). The cockroach meal was mixed into commercial feed at a ratio of 14:1 (commercial feed: cockroach meal; 6.6% inclusion). Parents of the chicks were fed the experimental diets 30 days before egg laying to evaluate the influence of the cockroach meal on offspring development in the nest (1 to 30 days of age). Body development of the birds was evaluated every three days from the first to the 30th day of age and then every 15 days from the 31st to the 90th day of age. The cockroach meal did not influence (P > .05) the growth characteristics, body weight, total length or length of the animal's beaks, wings or tails, but increased seed consumption from the 31st to the 90th day of age. It is concluded that the cockroach meal can be used in the diet of growing cockatiels at an addition level of 6.6%.

Aspectos psicológicos e psiquiátricos do transplante de medula óssea / Psychological and psychiatric aspects of bone marrow transplantation

A intensidade e a complexidade envolvidas no transplante de medula óssea (TMO) em seus vários níveis, produz profundos efeitos psicológicos no paciente, na família e na equipe profissional. Ignorar esta realidade e reduzir os problemas do TMO a seus aspectos puramente técnicos pode trazer consequências catastróficas para o paciente e seus familiares e ameaçar a sobrevivência da equipe. Neste trabalho, säo discutidos três aspectos muito importantes de saúde mental no TMO, enfatizando a prática desenvolvida na Unidade de TMO do HCFMRP: 1) os múltiplos papéis desempenhados pela assistência psiquiátrica na Unidade de TMO, desde a prescriçäo de psicofármacos até o apoio à equipe multiprofissional em grupos de reflexäo; 2) uma análise dos sentimentos vivenciados pelo paciente submetido ao TMO nas diferentes fases do transplante (pré, intra e pós-TMO) sob a perspectiva da esperança de cura; 3) uma avaliaçäo da qualidade de vida dos pacientes submetidos ao TMO, a curto e médio prazos, integrando vários instrumentos de análise, incluindo técnicas projetivas.