SARS-CoV-2: a preliminary comparative epidemiological analysis between Brazil and the World

Introduction: The world is facing a public health emergency due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and on March 20th, 2020, COVID-19, the disease caused by this virus, was considered to be community transmission throughout Brazil. As the incidence, mortality and lethality of COVID-19 are not homogeneous for all countries or regions within the same country, it is essential to monitor the profile of epidemiological indicators in Brazil in relation to the world. Objective: This research aims to know the epidemiological characteristics of the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing data from Brazil with the total world data from countries with registered cases. Methods: The data used to calculate the incidence, mortality, lethality, percentage of recovered and active cases were obtained from Johns Hopkins University & Medicine Coronavirus Resource Center, between March 23rd and April 21st of 2020, totaling 30 days. Statistical tests of correlation and comparison of means were used to evaluate the relationship between incidence and mortality rates, the evolution of the epidemiological indicators over time and to make a comparison between Brazil and the world. Results: The curves of incidence, mortality, lethality and percentage of cases recovered in Brazil and in the world were relatively parallel at first, with lower values for Brazil compared to the world (p < 0.05). Unlike the other indicators, the percentage of the active cases was higher in Brazil than in the world (p < 0.05). There was also a trend of approximation of the curves throughout the evaluated period and a directly proportional positive correlation between incidence and mortality rates in the world and in Brazil (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The data analysis showed an expansion of the COVID-19 epidemic in Brazil, revealing the importance of establishing preventive measures aiming to control the infection rate by flattening the epidemiological curves and, finally, avoiding the collapse of local and regional health services

Cigarette Smoke During Breastfeeding in Rats Changes Glucocorticoid and Vitamin D Status in Obese Adult Offspring

Maternal smoking increases obesogenesis in the progeny. Obesity is associated with several hormonal dysfunctions. In a rat model of postnatal tobacco smoke exposure, we previously reported increased central fat depot and disruption of some hormonal systems in the adult offspring. As both glucocorticoids and vitamin D alter lipogenesis and adipogenesis, here we evaluated the metabolism of these two hormones in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and liver by Western blotting, and possible associations with lipogenesis biomarkers in adult rats that were exposed to tobacco smoke during their suckling period. At postnatal day (PN) 3, dams and offspring of both sexes were exposed (S group) or not (C group) to tobacco smoke, 4 × 1 h/day. At PN180, corticosteronemia was lower in S male and higher in S female offspring, without alterations in peripheral glucocorticoid metabolism and receptor. Adrenal ACTH receptor (MC2R) was higher in both sexes of S group. Despite unchanged serum vitamin D, liver 25-hydroxylase was higher in both sexes of S group. Male S offspring had higher 1α-hydroxylase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) in VAT. Both sexes showed increased ACC protein content and reduced sirtuin mRNA in liver. Male S offspring had lower liver peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α. Tobacco exposure during lactation induced abdominal obesity in both sexes via distinct mechanisms. Males and females seem to develop HPA-axis dysfunction instead of changes in glucocorticoid metabolism and action. Lipogenesis in VAT and liver, as well as vitamin D status, are more influenced by postnatal smoke exposure in male than in female adult rat offspring