Alterações neurológicas associadas a SARS-CoV-2: uma revisão de literatura: Associated neurological changes the SARS-CoV-2: a literature review

Introdução. A doença comumente conhecida por COVID-19 é capaz de ser encontrada em todos os órgãos e sistemas. Contudo o SNC pode ser afetado de forma que cause danos significativos aos que foram acometidos pela mesma. Desta forma, este trabalho é uma revisão acerca dos achados e suas manifestações para que possamos no futuro triar, buscar e analisar fatores neurologicamente afetados. Objetivo. Analisar e revisar matérias que possam auxiliar no detalhamento acerca de alterações neurológicas oriundas da COVID-19. Método. A estratégia utilizada contou com estudos, tendo por base uma análise em plataformas como o Google Acadêmico, PubMed, SciELO, Medical Subject Heading (MeSH), nas quais cada fonte de dados contou com um estudo acerca dos títulos, assuntos e tipos específicos na língua portuguesa e inglesa. Resultados. Foi possível ao longo de 16 artigos analisados, observar que grande parte da população analisada teve alterações, sejam elas leves como mialgia, disfunções de olfato e paladar, podendo a ter alterações graves como o Acidente Vascular Cerebral (AVC). Além disso, foi possível observar que pacientes com morbidades como a DM e a HAS tiveram maiores propensões a doenças cerebrovasculares. Conclusão. Este estudo oferece uma nova forma de pensar e analisar as alterações causadas pela COVID-19, associado com as alterações neurológicas. Com isso, podemos ajudar a identificar e classificar as possíveis alterações, a fim de auxiliar no combate a alterações severas

Indução de hipotensão pós-exercício como técnica terapêutica em indivíduos com hipertensão arterial sistêmica

A hipertensão arterial sistêmica é uma doença de enorme importância a nível de saúde pública nacional e internacional, fato corroborado pela expressividade da prevalência dentre a população, associado a um quadro de morbimortalidade extremamente significativo. Os principais fatores de risco associados à doença são comuns a maioria da população e o enfrentamento dos mesmos, compõem a melhor estratégia no combate a hipertensão arterial sistêmica. Nesse contexto, o combate ao sedentarismo demonstra ser medida de elevada recomendação científica, com a indução da hipotensão pós-exercício (HPE) mediante a prática de exercícios físicos sendo uma importante ferramenta não-medicamentosa no combate à doença. A atual pesquisa objetivou realizar uma revisão de literatura sobre a indução de hipotensão pós-exercício como técnica terapêutica da hipertensão arterial sistêmica. Trata-se de uma revisão de literatura realizada por meio de buscas nos bancos de dados Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), National Library of Medicine (PubMed) e Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo). As palavras-chave utilizadas foram “hipotensão pós-exercício”, “exercício” e “pressão sanguínea” e seus correspondentes em inglês associados ao operador booleano AND. Na literatura selecionada foram encontrados estudos que evidenciaram uma redução dos níveis de pressão arterial após a realização de exercícios físicos de modo significativo. Estudos demonstraram que a pressão arterial pode ser reduzida por até oito horas através do fenômeno da hipotensão pós-exercício, sendo um mecanismo que pode ser obtido tanto em atividades aeróbias quanto resistidas, além de exercícios mistos. Redução da pressão arterial sistólica de 6,9 mmHg a 5,6 mmHg após uma hora de exercício foi verificada, demonstrado capacidade como ente terapêutico de relevância. A hipertensão arterial sistêmica demonstrou ao longo das décadas ser uma doença de enorme importância, e o seu combate, atuando na prevenção e redução de eventos adversos se faz uma medida imperiosa pelos sistemas de saúde mundiais

Severe acute respiratory infections in the 2012/2013 season studied by the Portuguese Laboratory Network for Influenza Diagnosis

During the 2009/10 influenza pandemic, a network of 14 laboratories located in the main reference hospitals from Portugal mainland, Madeira and Azores was established for the diagnosis of the new influenza A(H1N1)2009 pandemic strain. Since then, the network performs laboratory diagnosis of influenza as well as other respiratory pathogens, thus contributing to the laboratory diagnosis of respiratory disease in Portugal. This network is a valuable complement of the National Influenza Surveillance Programme (mainly based on primary healthcare units), enabling a more accurate knowledge of the aetiology of the severe respiratory infections, especially in hospitalized cases. The present study describes the severe acute respiratory infections, in the 2012/2013 season, diagnosed by the laboratory network. From the 14 laboratories, 11 reported cases of respiratory disease during 2012/2013 season. The laboratory network performs diagnosis of influenza A and B viruses and other respiratory agents by PCR based methods, also enabling the detection of mixed infections. All 14 laboratories perform the detection of influenza A(H1)pdm09, 4 perform the influenza A(H1) seasonal and A(H3) subtyping, and 10 participants also detect influenza B. Eight laboratories implemented methodologies for the detection of other infectious agents associated with respiratory disease. The antigenic characterization of 8 isolated viruses [3 A(H1)pdm09 and 5 B/Yamagata] was performed at the National Influenza Reference Laboratory. The genetic analysis of the HA1 subunit of the haemagglutinin gene was performed in 17 viruses [7 A(H1)pdm09, 1 A(H3) and 9 B/Yamagata]. Twenty nine A(H1)pdm09 and 5 B/Yamagata were tested for antiviral susceptibility [PCR(NA)-H275Y and/or MUNANA phenotypic assays for oseltamivir and zanamivir]. The 11 laboratories reported a total of 1470 respiratory disease cases, from week 39/2012 to 21/2013 [peak of 205 (13.9%) cases during week 10/2013]. Influenza was identified in 504 cases. Influenza A was detected in 352 (70.0%) cases: 297 (59.0%) cases were A(H1)pdm09, 48 (10.0%) cases were not subtyped, and 7 (1.0%) cases were A(H3). Influenza B was identified in 152 (30%) of the influenza cases. During the 2012/2013 season, 311 (21.2%) reported cases were hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU), the majority of them had between 50-54 years (34; 10.9%), followed by the age groups 45-49 and 55-59 years old (28; 9.0% each). The causal agent was identified in 160 (51.4%) ICU cases. Influenza was identified in 120 (38.5%) patients, other respiratory agents were detected in 40 (12.8%), within these, multiple infections were present in 18 (5.7%). Bacteria were identified in 31 (10.0%) cases mainly associated with RSV and hRV. Among ICU influenza cases, the most detected virus was A(H1)pdm09 (82; 62.0%). However, cases of A(H3) (3; 2.0%), A unsubtyped (8; 7.0%) and B (27; 23.0%) were also detected. As expected, the highest number of ICU influenza positive cases was detected in week 10/2013 (18; 15.0%), coincident with the highest number of influenza cases during all season. ICU flu cases were detected predominantly in individuals between 50-54 years (18; 15.0%). From the ICU reported cases, 6 (1.9%) died. The influenza A(H1)pdm09 virus was detected in 2 man between 50-59 years old from these 6 fatal outcomes. The isolated influenza A viruses were similar to the 2012/2013 vaccine strains. The influenza B/Yamagata viruses showed a greater antigenic and genetic variability. The Portuguese Laboratory Network for Influenza Diagnosis plays a major role in the diagnosis of acute respiratory infections in Portugal, providing a more accurate knowledge of the respiratory agents involved. During the 2012/2013 season, the influenza A(H1)pdm09 virus predominated in co-circulation with influenza B virus. The A(H1)pdm09 virus was the responsible for the majority of the flu cases admitted in the ICU and may have been the cause of death in two cases. Bacterial and other viral agents have been identified in some of the severe cases reported. The majority of the characterized influenza viruses were similar to the vaccine strains and none of the virus showed reduced susceptibility to oseltamivir or zanamivir

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora