What drives beliefs in COVID-19 conspiracy theories? The role of psychotic-like experiences and confinement-related factors

Rationale The COVID-19 pandemic is a worldwide threat to public health and the global economy. The climate of fear and uncertainty associated with the pandemic has fostered the emergence of a wide range of COVID-19 conspiracy theories that have the potential to shape public opinion and hinder the effective dissemination of valid information. Beliefs in conspiracy theories have been associated with maladaptive personality traits such as schizotypy and paranoia, as well as other non-psychotic psychological characteristics (e.g., social isolation, stress). Methods An online survey was conducted to examine the associations between beliefs in COVID-19 conspiracy theories and psychotic-like experiences in a Portuguese community sample (N = 438), while also addressing the role of sociodemographic variables, psychological outcomes (e.g., stress, affective states), confinement-related factors (e.g., confinement conditions/behaviors), and pandemic-related factors (e.g., health concerns, financial issues). Results Findings suggest that psychotic-like experiences are associated with beliefs in COVID-19 conspiracy theories, particularly perceptual abnormalities and persecutory ideation. Moreover, increased health-related concerns and reduced education levels also seem to be liability factors for these conspiracy beliefs. Conclusion These results add important insights into how the adherence to illogical and erroneous disease-related arguments can be related to psychotic-like experiences. COVID-19 conspiracy theories are yet another major challenge that governments and policymakers must contemplate when defining strategic directions to manage the current and future pandemics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mollusks Found Inside Octopus (Mollusca, Cephalopoda) Pots in the State of Ceara, Northeast Brazil

The fishery of octopus in the State of Ceará is being carried out in the coast of Fortaleza, Redonda Beach (Icapuí) and Itarema where 2 species can be found, Octopus insularis and O. vulgaris. The objective of this study was to investigate which prey species of mollusks were found inside the pots used in the octopus fishery. Unbaited octopus pots were set in Redonda Beach at 30 meters depth, in Fortaleza at 27 meters depth, and in Itarema at 30 meters depth. The species found inside the octopus pots that were consumed by Octopus vulgaris and O. insularis were mainly gastropods and bivalves. It was found 32 species of mollusks, being 17 of gastropods and 15 of bivalves. Redonda Beach presented the higher number of mollusk species in the octopus pots, with 85% of the total. The most preyed gastropod species was Aliger costatus (35.6%) and the most preyed bivalve species was Anadara notabilis (54.5%). Among the gastropods, 54% had a bore hole, the majority on the spire in the ventral side of the shell. This location is probably due to the presence of the columelar muscle, where it can inject the poison. Only 4.3 % of the bivalves found inside the octopus pots presented bore holes. Empty shells were censured in the field to indicate the magnitude of octopus predation relative to other sources of mortality and the percentage of empty shells with octopus drill holes ranged from 14% to 69%

Análise clínica e epidemiológica dos pacientes com HIV/AIDS internados em um Hospital de Referência na Região Nordeste do Brasil

The AIDS epidemic has become a worldwide phenomenon of enormous magnitude and extension, deeply transforming medical practices and public health initiatives. This retrospective survey aimed to analyze clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with HIV/AIDS admitted to the Institute of Tropical Diseases Natan Portella, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, from January, 2001 through December, 2004. Of the 828 patients, 43% were from other states and 71.3% were men. Average patient age was 35.4 ± 11.5 years-old and 85.5% were illiterate or had primary education. The main form of exposure to HIV was heterosexual behavior (54.1%), while injectable drug use was confirmed by only 2.7% of registered cases. The most frequent infectious complications were candidiasis (42.4%) and pneumocystosis (22.2%). Sixty-eight cases (8.2%) of visceral leishmaniasis were registered. Using multivariate analysis, individuals aged over 40 years-old, patients with active tuberculosis, Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and central nervous system cryptococcosis showed increased risk of death. In this study, young male adults with low educational levels predominated and the most frequent opportunistic infections were candidiasis and pneumocystosis.A epidemia de AIDS tornou-se um fenômeno mundial de grande magnitude e extensão, transformando profundamente a prática médica e as iniciativas em saúde pública. O estudo retrospectivo analisou as características clínicas e epidemiológicas dos pacientes com HIV/AIDS internados no Instituto de Doenças Tropicais Natan Portella, Teresina, Piauí, Brasil, de janeiro de 2001 a dezembro de 2004 . Dos 828 pacientes, 43% eram provenientes de outros estados e 71,3% eram do sexo masculino. A idade média foi 35,4 ± 11,5 anos. Eram analfabetos ou cursaram até o ensino fundamental 85,5%. A principal via de exposição ao HIV foi o comportamento heterossexual (54,1%), enquanto o uso de drogas injetáveis foi observado em apenas 2,7% dos casos registrados. As complicações infecciosas mais freqüentes foram candidíase (42,4%) e pneumocistose (22,2%). Foram computados 68 casos de leishmaniose visceral. Em análise multivariada, idade acima de 40 anos, portadores de tuberculose, pneumonia por Pneumocystis carinii, neurocriptococcose associaram-se a maior risco de evolução para o óbito. Predominaram, neste estudo, adultos jovens do sexo masculino, com baixa escolaridade, tendo como infecções oportunistas mais freqüentes candidíase e pneumocistose

Non-compliance with health surveillance is a matter of Biosafety: a survey of latent tuberculosis infection in a highly endemic setting

Objective This study aimed at identifying demographic, socio-economic and tuberculosis (TB) exposure factors associated with non-compliance with the tuberculin skin test, the management and prevention of non-compliance to the test. It was carried out in the context of a survey of latent TB infection among undergraduate students taking healthcare courses in two universities in Salvador, Brazil, a city highly endemic for TB. Methods This is a cross-sectional study of 1164 volunteers carried out between October 2004 and June 2008. Bivariate analysis followed by logistic regression was used to measure the association between non-compliance and potential risk factors through non-biased estimates of the adjusted OR for confounding variables. A parallel evaluation of occupational risk perception and of knowledge of Biosafety measures was also conducted. Results The non-compliance rate was above 40% even among individuals potentially at higher risk of disease, which included those who had not been vaccinated (OR 3.33; 95% CI 1.50 to 7.93; p=0.0018), those reporting having had contact with TB patients among close relatives or household contacts (p=0.3673), or those whose tuberculin skin test status was shown within the survey to have recently converted (17.3% of those completing the study). In spite of the observed homogeneity in the degree of Biosafety knowledge, and the awareness campaigns developed within the study focussing on TB prevention, the analysis has shown that different groups have different behaviours in relation to the test. Family income was found to have opposite effects in groups studying different courses as well as attending public versus private universities. Conclusions Although the data presented may not be directly generalisable to other situations and cultural settings, this study highlights the need to evaluate factors associated with non-compliance with routine testing, as they may affect the efficacy of Biosafety program

MOBILITY RESTRICTIONS FOR THE CONTROL OF COVID-19 EPIDEMIC

Objective: To determine whether the SEIR model, associated to mobility changes parameters, can determine the likelihood of establishing control over an epidemic in a city, state or country. Study design and setting: The critical step in the prediction of COVID-19 by a SEIR model are the values of the basic reproduction number (R0) and the infectious period, in days. R0 and the infectious periods were calculated by mathematical constrained optimization, and used to determine the numerically minimum SEIR model errors in a country, based on COVID-19 data until April 11th. The Community Mobility Reports from Google Maps (<https://www.google.com/covid19/mobility>) provided mobility changes on April 5th compared to the baseline (Jan 3th to Feb 6th). The data was used to measure the non-pharmacological intervention adherence. The impact of each mobility component was calculated by logistic regression models. COVID-19 control was defined by SEIR model R0<1.0 in a country. Results: The ECDC has registered 1,653,204 COVID-19 worldwide on April 11th. Sixteen countries presented 78% of all cases. Of the six Google Maps mobility parameters, the “Stay at home” parameter was the strongest one to control COVID-19 in a country: an increase of 50% in mobility trends for places of residence has a 99% chance of outbreak control. Conclusions: Residential mobility restriction presented itself as the most effective measure. The SEIR model associated with mobility parameters proved to be a useful tool in determining the chance of COVID-19 outbreak control

Systems of low frequency tapping using stimulant on rubber plantations in Mato Grosso state, Brazil

Visando estudar sistemas de baixa freqüência de sangria em seringueira (Hevea spp.) com uso de estimulante, em setembro de 1989 foram instalados dois experimentos com tratamentos comuns, em áreas de produtores. Foram utilizados clones IAN 717 e IAN 873, painel virgem com oito anos de idade. O delineamento foi o de blocos ao acaso com seis tratamentos e quatro repetições. O tempo de duração foi de 40 meses de sangria. Nas condições em que o trabalho foi conduzido, observou-se superioridade dos sistemas de baixa freqüência d/4 e d/7. A incidência de secamento do painel foi maior no clone IAN 717, e no entanto este clone obteve melhor desempenho em termos de produção de borracha seca.The aim of this work was to study systems of low frequency tapping in rubber trees (Hevea spp.) using a stimulant. For this purpose, in September 1989, two experiments with common treatments were installed in producer areas. The clones IAN 717 and IAN 873 with virgin panel and eight years old were used. Six treatments and four repetitions in casual blocks were utilized during 40 months of tapping. Under the conditions of the experiment the superiority of the systems of low frequency tapping d/4 and d/7 was observed. The incidence of panel drying was higher on IAN 717, even though this clone had the best performance in terms of production of dry rubber

Litogeoquímica e geocronologia dos ortognaisses migmatíticos do Domo de Itabaiana, Sergipe: uma suíte do tipo tonalito, trondhjemito e granodiorito?

O Domo de Itabaiana encontra-se inserido no Domínio Vaza Barris da Faixa de Dobramentos Sergipana, no Estado de Sergipe. Está representado por um complexo gnáissico-migmatítico, constituído por ortognaisses migmatizados, com intercalações de níveis anfibolíticos. O conjunto foi retrabalhado e soerguido durante o processo de deformação Neoproterozoica dessa faixa. Estudos petrográficos revelam que os ortognaisses são de composição tonalítica a granodiorítica, por vezes com feições desde protomiloníticas a miloníticas. A litogeoquímica evidenciou um caráter sódico nessas rochas, as quais foram analisadas em dois grupos distintos, em relação aos seus padrões em ETR e teores de K2O. Os litotipos com teores de K2O < 2,5% compreendem termos da série cálcio-alcalina de baixo K a cálcio-alcalina normal, enquanto aqueles com teores de K2O ≥ 2,5% compreendem termos posicionados na interface da série cálcio-alcalina normal com a série cálcio-alcalina de alto K. Os dois grupos possuem anomalias negativas de  Th-U, Ta-Nb e Ti, além de baixos teores de Y, apresentando um padrão fortemente fracionado, com o enriquecimento em terras raras leves e empobrecimento em terras raras pesadas. Apenas um grupo apresenta anomalia positiva de Sr e concavidade nos espectros dos terras raras pesados, feições também típicas dos TTGs arqueanos. Sugere-se que ambos possuem afinidade com TTGs e que o grupo mais enriquecido em K2O sofreu algum tipo de participação crustal em sua gênese. As análises geocronológicas determinaram uma idade de 2729 ± 12 Ma (LA-ICP-MS), interpretada como idade de cristalização dos ortognaisses. The Itabaiana Dome is inserted in the Vaza Barris Domain of the Sergipano Belt, in the state of Sergipe, Brazil. It comprises an gneissicmigmatitic complex composed of migmatized orthogneisses, with interbedded amphibolite levels. The set was reworked and uplifted during the Neoproterozoic deformation process this range. Petrographic studies show that the orthogneisses are tonalite to granodiorite composition, with features from the protomylonitics to mylonitic. The lithogeochemistry shows a strong sodic characteristic of these rocks, which were analyzed in two different group, considering their rare-earth elements (REE)’s pattern and K2O content. The lithotypes with the contents of K2O < 2,5% have a term of calcium alkaline series of low K to normal calcium alkaline. However, the ones with content K2O ≥ 2.5% consist in placed terms in the interface of a normal calcium alkaline series, with a high K calcium alkaline series. The two groups pose a negative anomaly of Th-U, Ta-Nb and Ti with low content of Y. They exhibit a strong fractional pattern, with light rare earth enrichment and depletion of heavy rare earths. Only one group shows a positive anomaly of Sr and the spectrum concavity of heavy rare earths, which are typical features of the Archean tonalite–trondhjemite–granodiorite — Archean TTGs. It is suggested that both has affinity with TTGs and the group that is more enriched in K2O received a type of crustal participation in its gneiss. The geochronological analyses determined age of 2729 ± 12 Ma (LA-ICP-MS), which is translated as the age of the rock crystallization of orthogneisses

Mapping of trace elements on the island of sal (cape verde) and blood concentrations in inhabitants.

Geochemical mapping provides a set of information that allows easy interpretation and helps in decision-making on public policies that address a balance between health, environment and economy of a country. The Sal island (Cape Verde) has an area of 216 km2. In this study, 60 topsoil samples were collected, corresponding to a density of 1/7 km2. Chemical analysis, including analytical quality control, was carried out following the recommendations of the "IGCP 259 - International Geochemical Mapping" project. The obtained map shows an ecological risk for mercury. At the same sites, 50% of participants had blood mercury levels above the guideline limit. The neuropsychologic assessment suggests a correlation between blood mercury levels and the incidence of cognitive disorders. The number of years participants resided in those danger areas correlated with cognitive impairment. The results also point to the area of residency as a relevant exposure factor. This strategy may be useful for predictive diagnosis in population screening for cognitive impairment. Improved diagnostic results can be obtained using blood mercury data along with Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores

Atrial fibrillation as a new prognosis factor in chronic patients after hospitalization: the CHRONIBERIA index

A collaborative project in different areas of Spain and Portugal was designed to find out the variables that influence the mortality after discharge and develop a prognostic model adapted to the current healthcare needs of chronic patients in an internal medicine ward. Inclusion criteria were being admitted to an Internal Medicine department and at least one chronic disease. Patients’ physical dependence was measured through Barthel index (BI). Pfeiffer test (PT) was used to establish cognitive status. We conducted logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models to analyze the influence of those variables on one-year mortality. We also developed an external validation once decided the variables included in the index. We enrolled 1406 patients. Mean age was 79.5 (SD = 11.5) and females were 56.5%. After the follow-up period, 514 patients (36.6%) died. Five variables were identified as significantly associated with 1 year mortality: age, being male, lower BI punctuation, neoplasia and atrial fibrillation. A model with such variables was created to estimate one-year mortality risk, leading to the CHRONIBERIA. A ROC curve was made to determine the reliability of this index when applied to the global sample. An AUC of 0.72 (0.7–0.75) was obtained. The external validation of the index was successful and showed an AUC of 0.73 (0.67–0.79). Atrial fibrillation along with an advanced age, being male, low BI score, or an active neoplasia in chronic patients could be critical to identify high risk multiple chronic conditions patients. Together, these variables constitute the new CHRONIBERIA index

Perfil epidemiológico do SUS: enxaqueca em caráter de urgência no Brasil, entre 2017 e 2021: Epidemiological profile of SUS: emergency migraine in Brazil, between 2017 and 2021

Introdução: Segundo a Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS), metade da população mundial sofre com dor de cabeça em alguma fase da vida, com maior prevalência em pessoas do sexo feminino. Estudos acerca da epidemiologia da cefaleia no Brasil encontraram altas prevalências na população brasileira, com variação entre 43% e 93%, equivalente e inferior quando comparadas a estimativa de prevalência no mundo, estimada em 46% da população adulta. Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo é caracterizar o perfil sociodemográfico e investigar a situação de internações por enxaqueca e outras síndromes de algias cefálicas na população diagnosticada no Brasil, no período de 2017 a 2021. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo epidemiológico descritivo, cujos dados foram obtidos por meio de consulta às bases de dados Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do SUS (SIH/SUS), disponibilizados pelo Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde (DATASUS), no endereço eletrônico (http://www.datasus.gov.br), além das bases de dados PUBMED, LILACS e SCIELO, referentes ao período de 2017 até 2021. Os dados obtidos foram organizados e analisados. Resultado e Discussão: O total do número de internações por enxaqueca, por todos os caráteres de atendimento, em todas as regiões do Brasil no período de 2017-2021, foi de 50.354 novos casos. Sendo que do total dos casos notificados, houve o predomínio na região Nordeste com 15.222 casos (30,22%), seguido pela região Sudeste com 14.865 casos (29,52%), da Sul com 14.693 (29,17%), da Norte com 3.064 (6,08%) e por fim a região Centro-Oeste com 2.510 (4,98%) dos casos. Já nos atendimentos de caráter de urgência, há um predomínio da região Sudeste com 30,35% do total dos casos, seguida pela região Nordeste com 29,37%, da Sul com 29,08%, da Norte com 6,13% e finalmente a Centro-Oeste com 5,04% dos casos de internamento em caráter de urgência. Quanto a relação mulher/homem, no ano de 2017 a proporção entre mulheres diagnosticadas para um homem era de 1,94:1 (6145/3158). E, durante os anos subsequentes (2018, 2019, 2020 e 2021), manteve-se o número de casos diagnosticados no Brasil sempre maior no gênero feminino do que no gênero masculino. Quanto a distribuição do número de internações por enxaqueca no Brasil, por caráter de urgência segundo a faixa etária, foi observado que nas crianças na faixa de 1-14 anos ocorre uma porcentagem de 0,77%- 5,21% dos casos, havendo predominância da enxaqueca em adultos na faixa etária entre 20-60 anos, com o pico na faixa de 30-39 anos (18,84%), reduzindo progressivamente até chegar na faixa > que 80 anos com 2,41% dos casos. Conclusão: A alta prevalência de enxaqueca nos atendimentos de urgência no Brasil, principalmente no sexo feminino e na faixa etária economicamente ativa da população, revela a necessidade de intensificação das práticas de prevenção e diagnóstico correto e precoce, baseados nos critérios da Classificação Internacional das Cefaleias. O tratamento deve ser instituído tão logo seja firmado o diagnóstico, de forma correta e efetiva. Existe a necessidade da profilaxia e do tratamento apropriado, à proporção que promova a melhoria da qualidade de vida dos pacientes e a reorientação dos custos hoje gerados pela promoção e prevenção dos episódios incapacitantes desse importante evento epidemiológico