Evolution of the use of corticosteroids for the treatment of hospitalised COVID-19 patients in Spain between March and November 2020: SEMI-COVID national registry

Objectives: Since the results of the RECOVERY trial, WHO recommendations about the use of corticosteroids (CTs) in COVID-19 have changed. The aim of the study is to analyse the evolutive use of CTs in Spain during the pandemic to assess the potential influence of new recommendations. Material and methods: A retrospective, descriptive, and observational study was conducted on adults hospitalised due to COVID-19 in Spain who were included in the SEMI-COVID- 19 Registry from March to November 2020. Results: CTs were used in 6053 (36.21%) of the included patients. The patients were older (mean (SD)) (69.6 (14.6) vs. 66.0 (16.8) years; p < 0.001), with hypertension (57.0% vs. 47.7%; p < 0.001), obesity (26.4% vs. 19.3%; p < 0.0001), and multimorbidity prevalence (20.6% vs. 16.1%; p < 0.001). These patients had higher values (mean (95% CI)) of C-reactive protein (CRP) (86 (32.7-160) vs. 49.3 (16-109) mg/dL; p < 0.001), ferritin (791 (393-1534) vs. 470 (236- 996) µg/dL; p < 0.001), D dimer (750 (430-1400) vs. 617 (345-1180) µg/dL; p < 0.001), and lower Sp02/Fi02 (266 (91.1) vs. 301 (101); p < 0.001). Since June 2020, there was an increment in the use of CTs (March vs. September; p < 0.001). Overall, 20% did not receive steroids, and 40% received less than 200 mg accumulated prednisone equivalent dose (APED). Severe patients are treated with higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%. Conclusions: Patients with greater comorbidity, severity, and inflammatory markers were those treated with CTs. In severe patients, there is a trend towards the use of higher doses. The mortality benefit was observed in patients with oxygen saturation </=90%

Uso das terras da parte norte da bacia do Rio Descoberto, Distrito Federal, Brasil Land use in the northern region of the descoberto river watershed, Distrito Federal, Brazil

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o uso das terras da porção norte da Área de Proteção Ambiental do Rio Descoberto, englobando as microbacias dos Córregos Barrocão, Bucanhão e Capão da Onça, com auxílio de técnicas de geoprocessamento. Elaborou-se o mapa de uso das terras a partir de processamentos da imagem de satélite SPOT 4, obtida em 2003, por meio do software ENVI 3.6. Posteriormente, verificou-se a adequabilidade do uso das terras, com base em técnicas de cruzamento e operações de tabulação cruzada entre os mapas de uso e aptidão agrícola das terras, utilizando-se o software ArcView 8.3, permitindo a geração do mapa de adequabilidade de uso das terras. Pelos resultados, constatou-se que a maior parte da área estudada a utilização das terras está abaixo do seu potencial agrícola, caracterizando sustentabilidade da utilização dos recursos naturais, particularmente solos.<br>This work had the objective to evaluate the land use in the northern region of the Environmental Protection Area of Descoberto River, which encompasses the watersheds of the streams Barrocão, Bucanhão and Capão da Onça, accomplished with the support of geoprocessing techniques. A land use map of the area was produced through analysis and treatment of SPOT 4 satellite images, obtained in 2003, using the software ENVI 3.6. Then, the adequation of land use was checked using cross-tabulation between the maps of present and potential use for agriculture, with the software ArcView 8.3, allowing development of a map of land use suitability. The results showed that most of the area has been used under its agricultural potential, characterizing sustainability in the use of the natural resources, particularly of the soils

Antimicrobial efficacy of building material based on ZnO/palygorskite against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria

This study investigated ZnO nanoparticles immobilized in palygorskite clay mineral (Pal) that acted as an inorganic antimicrobial agent in a commercial mortar aiming to control microorganisms and improve safety and stability for building applications. ZnO/Pal nanocomposites were obtained by sol-gel methods at pH 7 and 11 and were calcined at 250 °C and 400 °C to evaluate different synthesis parameters. The mortar/ZnO/Pal composite was obtained using 5% (by weight) ZnO/Pal hybrid mixed with a commercial mortar. The results show that pH and calcination temperature influenced the properties of ZnO/Pal. ZnO was observed in the ZnO/Pal samples during the wurtzite phase by analyzing the XRD patterns. FTIR spectra illustrated the interactions between ZnO nanoparticles and the fibrous clay mineral. TG-DTG analysis showed the thermal events of Pal before and after zinc incorporation. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) evaluated ZnO morphology as spherical in shape and dispersed on the fibers of the clay minerals, which presented needle-like morphology. ZnO/Palygorskite showed a possible antibacterial effect when used in mortar formulation. The mortar/ZnO/Pal composites were effective against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria when tested by the direct contact method in darkness and in visible light and could be an alternative antimicrobial material for building surfaces.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

General features of the dissociative recombination of polyatomic molecules

We discuss some aspects of a simple expression for the low-energy dissociative recombination cross section that applies when the recombination process is dominated by the indirect mechanism. In most previous applications, this expression has been applied to capture into vibrationally excited Rydberg states with the assumption that capture is always followed by prompt dissociation. Here we consider the dissociative recombination of larger polyatomic ions and electrons. More specifically, we consider capture into electronically core-excited Rydberg states, and begin to assess its potential importance for larger systems