COVID-19 Mortality and Case-Fatality Rates in Sergipe State, Northeast Brazil, From April to June 2020

Information on how coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mortality is related to population characteristics in low- and middle-income countries is still limited. We described the deaths from COVID-19 in Sergipe state, Northeast Brazil, from April 2 to June 27, 2020. For this purpose, we conducted a study composed of (i) a case series study of all deaths due to COVID-19 and (ii) a population-based study to verify the behavior of the mortality and case-fatality rates (CFR) related to COVID-19. Data from 605 deaths due to COVID-19 were used to describe the characteristics of individuals with the disease, as well as the differences in gender, age, and comorbidities. Additionally, population data were extracted to estimate the mortality and CFR by population stratum. We also performed an adjusted CFR analysis including a time lag of 14 days between the onset of symptoms and reporting deaths. Of the 605 patients included in this study, 321 (53.1%) were males and the median age was 67.0 years. Most patients (n = 447, 73.9%) who died from COVID-19 had at least one pre-existing clinical condition. The mortality rate was 29.3 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants and the crude CRF was 2.6% (95% CI 2.4–2.8). CFR was higher in males (3.1%, 95% CI 2.8–3.4; p < 0.001) and people aged =60 years (14.2%, 95% CI 13.0–15.6; p = 0.042). About 25% of patients died during the first 24-h post-hospital admission. The adjusted CFR for a 14-day time lag was ~2-fold higher than the crude CFR over the study period.We dedicated this article to all health professionals who are facing COVID-19. This study was part of the EpiSERGIPE project. NM thanks the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the Horizon 2020 Program (PTDC/PSI-GER/280 76/2017)

Volatile constituents and behavioral change induced by Cymbopogon winterianus leaf essential oil in rodents

Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt (‘Java citronella’) is an important essential oil yielding aromatic grass cultivated in India and Brazil and its volatile essential oils extracted from its leaves are used in perfumery, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and flavoring industries. However, there is no report on any psychopharmacological study of C. winterianus leaf essential oil (LEO) available to date. In this study, the pharmacological effects of the LEO were investigated in animal models and its phytochemical analyses. GC-MS analysis showed a mixture of monoterpenes, as citronellal (36.19%), geraniol (32.82%) and citronellol (11.37%). LEO exhibited an inhibitory effect on the locomotor activity of mice, an antinociceptive effect by increasing the reaction time in the writhing and capsaicin tests. All doses induced a significant increase in the sleeping time of animals not having modified however, the latency. The LEO did not alter the remaining time of the animals on the rota-rod apparatus. These results suggest a possible central effect.Key words: Cymbopogon winterianus, essential oil, CNS, behavioral effects, analgesic

Carvacrol, (-)-borneol and citral reduce convulsant activity in rodents

Carvacrol, a monoterpenic phenol present in essential oils of the Labiatae family, has been used through the ages as a source of flavor in food and for medicinal purposes. Borneol is a monoterpene found in several species of Artemisia and Dipterocarpaceae, used for anxiety, pain and anesthesia in traditional Chinese. Citral, a mixture of two geometrical isomers (neral and geranial), is one of the most important compounds in some citrus oils and has central nervous system (CNS) properties. The anticonvulsant effect of carvacrol (CARV), (-)-borneol (BOR) and citral (CIT) was investigated in two animal models of epilepsy. Mice were pretreated with CARV, BOR or CIT (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) or maximal electroshock (MES) tests, the two most important animal epilepsy tests. The latency for development of convulsions and protection percentage was recorded. In order to investigate the involvement of GABAergic system, flumazenil was utilized. These monoterpenes, CARV in a higher, but not in a lower dose (p &lt; 0.001), BOR and CIT in all doses (p &lt; 0.05 or p &lt; 0.001), were capable of promoting an increase of latency for the development of convulsions induced by PTZ. Additionally, these compounds were efficient in preventing the tonic convulsions (p &lt; 0.05) induced by MES. However, the GABAergic neurotransmitter system might be involved, at least in BOR effects. Henceforth, our results suggest that CARV, BOR and CIT possess anticonvulsant activity effect against PTZ-induced convulsions and MES.Key words: Carvacrol, (-)-borneol, citral, anticonvulsant activit

Hesperetin-loaded lipid-core nanocapsules in polyamide: a new textile formulation for topical drug delivery

Paula dos Passos Menezes,1 Luiza Abrah&atilde;o Frank,2 Bruno dos Santos Lima,1 Yasmim Maria Barbosa Gomes de Carvalho,1 Mairim Russo Serafini,1 Lucindo Jos&eacute; Quintans-J&uacute;nior,3 Adriana Raffin Pohlmann,4 S&iacute;lvia Stanis&ccedil;uaski Guterres,2 Adriano Antunes de Souza Ara&uacute;jo1 1Department of Pharmacy, Federal University of Sergipe, S&atilde;o Crist&oacute;v&atilde;o, Sergipe, Brazil; 2College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; 3Department of Physiology, Federal University of Sergipe, S&atilde;o Crist&oacute;v&atilde;o, Sergipe, Brazil; 4Institute of Chemistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil Abstract: Chronic venous insufficiency is characterized by chronic reflux disorder of blood from the peripheral to the central vein, with subsequent venous hypertension and resulting changes in the skin. Traditionally, nonsurgical treatments relied on the use of compression therapy, and more recently a variety of flavonoids have been shown to have positive effects. There have also been developments of more effective drug delivery systems using various textiles and nanotechnology to provide new therapeutic options. Our objective was to use nanotechnology to develop a new formulation containing hesperetin (Hst), a substance not previously used in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency, impregnated into textile fibers as a possible alternative treatment of venous diseases. We prepared the nanocapsules using the interfacial deposition of preformed polymer method with an Hst concentration of 0.5&nbsp;mg/mL and then characterized the size and distribution of particles. To quantify the Hst in the samples, we developed an analytical method using high-performance liquid chromatography. Studies of encapsulation efficiency (98.81%&plusmn;0.28%), microscopy, drug release (free-Hst: 104.96%&plusmn;12.83%; lipid-core nanocapsule-Hst: 69.90%&plusmn;1.33%), penetration/permeation, drug content (0.46&plusmn;0.01&nbsp;mg/mL) and the effect of washing the textile after drug impregnation were performed as part of the study. The results showed that nanoparticles of a suitable size and distribution with controlled release of the drug and penetration/permeation into the skin layers were achieved. Furthermore, it was established that polyamide was able to hold more of the drug, with a 2.54 times higher content than the cotton fiber; after one wash and after five washes, this relation was 2.80 times higher. In conclusion, this is a promising therapeutic alternative to be further studied in clinical trials. Keywords: lipid-core nanocapsules, polymer, hesperetin, fabrics, impregnation, medical textiles, polyamide, poly(&epsilon;-caprolactone