Estaquia de rizomas do carapiá, planta medicinal em extinção Rhizome cuttings of Carapiá, a medicinal plant vulnerable to extinction

Dorstenia cayapia Vellozo, Moraceae (carapiá) é uma erva medicinal e nativa do Brasil. Pertence à categoria "vulnerável", devido à drástica redução dos seus habitats e ao declínio populacional. Esta pesquisa foi realizada em casa de vegetação pertencente ao Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia. Teve como objetivo obter informações agronômicas que permitam cultivar e explorar racionalmente o carapiá, visando a obtenção de material cultivado para produtos fitoterápicos e indústria química. O material vegetal foi coletado em Raul Soares-MG, em um resquício de Floresta da Encosta Atlântica. Nesse experimento de estaquia de rizomas avaliaram-se três substratos: Substrato comercial, S1 (40% terra + 40% esterco bovino + 20% húmus) e S2 (20% terra + 20% esterco bovino + 40% húmus + 20% vermiculita); três partes de rizoma: apical, basal e mediano e dois tipos de bandeja de poliestireno expandido com 128 e 200 células. Adotaram-se estacas com o tamanho médio de 2 cm, que foram plantadas de acordo com o geotropismo positivo. Conduziu-se o experimento de abril a junho de 2007. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualisado em esquema fatorial (3x3x2). Determinou-se a brotação (%) aos 30 e 68 dias após o plantio (DAP) e as massas fresca e seca da parte aérea (folhas e inflorescências) e da parte subterrânea (rizomas e raiz) aos 68 DAP. Os substratos não tiveram efeito na brotação dos rizomas em bandejas aos 30 DAP. A brotação da parte apical do rizoma foi superior às brotações das posições basal e mediana do rizoma aos 68 DAP. Comparando o uso das bandejas de 128 e de 200 células, a brotação dos rizomas foi superior com o uso da bandeja de 128 células. Pode-se recomendar, para o plantio de Dorstenia cayapia, o corte da parte apical do rizoma, evitando-se assim, o arranquio da planta inteira, auxiliando na preservação dos indivíduos em seu ambiente natural e possibilitando sua propagação assexuada.<br>Dorstenia cayapia Vellozo, Moraceae (carapiá) is a Brazilian native medicinal herb that is classified as "vulnerable" because of the drastic reduction of its habitat and its declining population. This study was carried out in a greenhouse at the Center for Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The objective of the study was to obtain informations about cultivation and exploration of carapiá to obtain plant material for phytotherapy and chemical industry products. Plant material was collected in Raul Soares, Minas Gerais State, in a fragment of the Atlantic Coastal Forest. Three substrates were evaluated in the rhizome cutting experiment: Commercial substrate, S1 (40% soil + 40% cattle manure + 20% humus); S2 (20% soil + 20% cattle manure + 40% humus + 20% vermiculite); three sections of the rhizome: apical, basal and intermediate and two types of trays: 128 and 200 cells. Medium sized cuttings (2 cm) were prepared and planting was done according to positive geotropism. The experiment was carried out from April to June 2007 and the experimental design was completely randomized as a 3x3x2 factorial. Dry mass was determined for the above ground (leaves and inflorescences) and for the under ground (roots and rhizomes) parts of the plant. The rhizome tip sprouting was greater than those of the median and basal sections. Rhizome sprouting was better in the 128-cells tray than in the 200-cell tray. Collecting cuttings from the top of the rhizomes could be recommended for planting because it avoids removing the entire plant, thus preserving the plants in their environment and providing for the possibility of asexual propagation

Recurrent COVID-19 including evidence of reinfection and enhanced severity in thirty Brazilian healthcare workers

BACKGROUND: There is growing concern about individuals reported to suffer repeat COVID-19 disease episodes, these in a small number of cases characterised as de novo infections with distinct sequences, indicative of insufficient protective immunity even in the short term. METHODS: Observational case series and case-control studies reporting 33 cases of recurrent, symptomatic, qRT-PCR positive COVID-19. Recurrent disease was defined as symptomatic recurrence after symptom-free clinical recovery, with release from isolation >14 days from the beginning of symptoms confirmed by qRT-PCR. The case control study-design compared this group of patients with a control group of 62 patients randomly selected from the same COVID-19 database. RESULTS: Of 33 recurrent COVID-19 patients, 26 were female and 30 were HCW. Mean time to recurrence was 50.5 days which was associated with being a HCW (OR 36.4 (p <0.0001)), and blood type A (OR 4.8 (p = 0.002)). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were signifcantly lower in recurrent patients after initial COVID-19  (2.4 ± 0.610; p<0.0001) and after recurrence (6.4 ± 11.34; p = 0.007).  Virus genome sequencing identified reinfection by a different isolate in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first detailed case series showing COVID-19 recurrence with qRT-PCR positivity. For one individual detection of phylogenetically distinct genomic sequences in the first and second episodes confirmed bona fide renfection, but in most cases the data do not formally distinguish between reinfection and re-emergence of a chronic infection reservoir. These episodes were significantly associated with reduced Ab response during initial disease and argue the need for ongoing vigilance without an assumption of protection after a first episode

Acidentes do trabalho entre trabalhadores de enfermagem de um hospital universitário The occurrence of work accidents among nursing personnel at a university hospital

Foi realizado um estudo descritivo com trabalhadores de enfermagem para avaliar determinados aspectos epidemiológicos dos acidentes de trabalho acontecidos. No período de 1² de janeiro a 30 de junho de 1995 foram estudados 100 acidentes do trabalho ocorridos, o que correspondem a 8,2% de incidência acumulada no período para uma população de 1.218 trabalhadores pesquisados. Como síntese o estudo reconstroi o acidente do trabalho acontecido e os múltiplos fatores de risco presentes nas condições de trabalho de trabalhadores de enfermagem de um hospital universitário.<br>A descriptive study was conducted to assess the epidemiological aspects of the work accidents that occur among nursing personnel. The study consisted of a population of 1, 218 workers and assessed 100 accidents, that corresponded to 8.2% of all accidents that took place during the period, January 1" 1995 to June 3th 1995. The summary of this study evaluates the work accidents that occur among these nursing personnel and the risk factors presented by the working conditions of a university hospital