Analysis of the spatial-temporal dynamics of incidence, mortality and test rates (rapid and RT-PCR) of COVID-19 in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Introduction: A novel type of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is responsible for an unprecedented pandemic with profound socioeconomic consequences. Owing to its recent discovery, the virus that emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019 still represents a great unknown to researchers. This study aims to establish the spatio-temporal associations of the incidence, mortality, and the rate of both rapid and RT-PCR tests in Minas Gerais. Methods: This is a quantitative analysis of secondary data based on a cross-sectional research design. Incidence, mortality, date of the first notification of COVID-19 and number of rapid and RT-PCR tests were obtained from the sources: Laboratory Environment Manager, e-SUS epidemiological surveillance platform and SES-MG. Pearson coefficient for correlation was calculated to establish the level of association between the relevant data. Descriptive statistical procedures were used to provide a comprehensive understanding of the distribution of incidence, mortality and test rates in the territory. Results: Positive correlations were found between the rate of rapid tests and incidence; rate of RT-PCR tests and incidence/mortality. At the municipal level, incidence, mortality, rate of rapid tests and RT-PCR revealed a negative correlation with days elapsed since the First Notified Case. The same effect occurs, at different intensities, at the level of health macro-regions. Discussion: The heterogeneity of the incidence and mortality of COVID-19 in the territory of Minas Gerais, as well as the rate of tests (rapid and RT-PCR) may be caused, in part, due to the different dates of introduction of the virus in the municipalities/macro-regions. It is speculated that this phenomenon occurs due to the dynamics of regional and inter-regional flows of people

Analysis of the spatio-temporal dynamics of incidence, mortality and test rates (rapid and RT-PCR) of COVID-19 in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Background and Objectives: A novel type of coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, is responsible for an unprecedented pandemic with profound socioeconomic consequences. Owing to its recent discovery still represents a great unknown to researchers. Thus, this study aims to establish the spatio-temporal associations of the incidence, mortality, and the rate of both rapid and RT-PCR tests in Minas Gerais. Methods: This is a quantitative analysis of secondary data based on a cross-sectional research design. Incidence, mortality, date of the first notification of COVID-19 and number of rapid and RT-PCR tests were obtained from the sources: “GAL”, “e-SUS VE” and “SES-MG”. Pearson coefficient for correlation was calculated to establish the level of association between the relevant data. Descriptive statistical procedures were used to provide a comprehensive understanding of the distribution of incidence, mortality and test rates in the territory. Results: Positive correlations were found between the rate of rapid tests and incidence; rate of RT-PCR tests and incidence/mortality. At the municipal level, incidence, mortality, rate of rapid tests and RT-PCR revealed a negative correlation with days elapsed since the First Notified Case. The same effect occurs at the level of health macro-regions. Conclusion: The heterogeneity of the incidence and mortality of COVID-19 in the territory of Minas Gerais, as well as the rate of tests may be caused, in part, due to the different dates of introduction of the virus in the municipalities/macro-regions. It is speculated that this phenomenon occurs due to the dynamics of regional and inter-regional flows of people

A importância da idade na síndrome metabólica em pacientes portadoras de ovários policísticos

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and individual characteristics of the metabolic syndrome (MBS) in sergipanas women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) using age as an association variable. It is a cross-sectional study involving 50 women aged 25-50 years old with PCOS in accord with Rotterdam criteria (2003). For the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) was considered. The prevalence of the MBS was 56%. As for the individual components of MS, was evident: abdominal circumference > 88 cm in 72%, triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL in 32%, HDL-cholesterol <50 mg/dl in 54%, fasting glucose ≥ 110 mg/dl in 26%, systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 mmHg in 52% and diastolic blood pressure ≥ 85 mmHg in 40%. Patients aged equal or over 35 years had a higher percentage of Abdominal Circumference (AC) > 88 cm (40%), modified triglyceride levels (20%), HDL-cholesterol to levels below 50 mg/dl (34%), altered levels of fasting glucose (22%), systolic blood pressure (SBP) equal to or above 130 mmHg (36%) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) equal to or above 85 mmHg (26%). There was a statistically significant association (p <0.05) between age and the following variables: AC, triglycerides, fasting glucose and DBP. There was a significant prevalence of MS in more than half the women studied, indicating increased chances for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and pointing out the need for tracking cardiovascular risk among women with clinical manifestations of PCOS

Meningite tuberculosa : avaliação da reação em cadeia da polimerase como ferramenta diagnóstica : um estudo piloto

Meningitis is a severe and potentially fatal form of tuberculosis. The diagnostic workup involves detection of acidfast bacilli in the cerebrospinal fluid by microscopy or culture. However the difficulty in detecting the organism poses a challenge to diagnosis. Use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the diagnostic approach to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) meningitis has been reported as a fast and accurate method, with several commercial kits available. As an alternative, some institutions have been developing inexpensive in-house assays. In our institution, we use an inhouse PCR for tuberculosis. The performance of our PCR for the diagnosis of MTB meningitis was analyzed in 148 consecutive patients, using MTB culture as the gold standard. Sensitivity of cerebrospinal fluid PCR for the diagnosis of MTB meningitis was 50%, specificity was 98.6%, and concordance with culture was 96% (kappa = 0.52). The performance of our PCR is similar to that obtained with the available commercial kits.Meningite é uma forma grave e potencialmente fatal de tuberculose. O diagnóstico envolve a detecção de bacilos álcool-ácido resistentes no líquido cefalorraquidiano por microscopia ou cultura. Entretanto, a dificuldade de detectar o organismo representa um desafio ao diagnóstico. O uso da reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) na abordagem diagnóstica de meningite causada por Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) tem sido relatado como um método rápido e preciso, com diversos kits comerciais disponíveis. Como alternativa, algumas instituições vêm desenvolvendo testes in house com baixo custo. Em nossa instituição, usamos PCR in house para tuberculose. O desempenho de nossa PCR para o diagnóstico de meningite causada por MTB foi analisado em 148 pacientes consecutivos, usando a cultura do MBT como padrão-ouro. A sensibilidade da PCR no líquido cefalorraquidiano para o diagnóstico de meningite causada por MTB foi de 50%, especificidade de 98,6% e concordância coma cultura de 96% (kappa = 0,52). O desempenho de nossa PCR é semelhante ao obtido com os kits comerciais disponíveis

Analysis of the accidents at work in the nursing staff: an integrative review

Objective: To analyze work-related injuries in nursing staff. Method: Integrative review in which the sample was obtained by articles of national and international journals that were available on the SciELO and LILACS databases, between 2007-2011. Results: We found 212 publications, of which 18 were selected after applying the inclusion criteria. A large number of publications were found in SciELO (61%) and there was equality in the number of publications in the years 2007-2009 and 2011 (22,2%). After examination, it was noticed that the nursing staff is very struck by accidents, and that the sharps are the main villains in this sense, and biological material is also very present. Conclusion: It is concluded that not only the workers should have care knowledge in their workplace, but also the health institutions have to meet their obligations in order to protect the workers

PERCEPCIONES DEL AGENTE COMUNITARIO DE SALUD ACERCA DE SU ACTUACIÓN EN LA ESTRATEGIA SALUD DE LA FAMILIA

O estudo teve por objetivo descrever a percepção de Agentes Comunitários de Saúde acerca do seu processo de trabalho na Estratégia Saúde da Família. Trata-se de pesquisa exploratório-descritiva de abordagem qualitativa na qual participaram oito sujeitos, um de cada unidade com Estratégia Saúde da Família do Município de Quixadá - Ceará. Os dados foram coletados em 2011 por meio de entrevista; os depoimentos foram submetidos à leitura exaustiva e à análise de conteúdo de Bardin, dos quais emergiram seis categorias. Identificou-se a existência de relação positiva entre os Agentes Comunitários de Saúde e os enfermeiros das unidades e que a falta de insumos geram entraves ao desempenho adequado das atividades desses trabalhadores. É fundamental que o enfermeiro tenha sensibilidade para identificar as dificuldades apresentadas pelos agentes no que diz respeito ao seu cotidiano de trabalho.El estudio tuvo el objetivo de describir la percepción de Agentes Comunitarios de salud acerca de su proceso de trabajo en la Estrategia Salud de la Familia. Es una investigación exploratorio-descriptiva de abordaje cualitativo de la cual participaron ocho sujetos, un de cada unidad con Estrategia Salud de la Familia del municipio de Quixadá - Ceará. Los datos fueron recogidos en 2011 por medio de entrevista; las deposiciones fueron sometidas a la lectura exhaustiva y al análisis de contenido de Bardin, de los cuales surgieron seis categorías. Se identificó la existencia de relación positiva entre los Agentes Comunitarios de Salud y los enfermeros de las unidades y que la falta de insumos genera trabas al desempeño adecuado de las actividades de eses trabajadores. Es fundamental que el enfermero tenga sensibilidad para identificar las dificultades presentadas por los agentes acerca de su cotidiano de trabajo.The study aimed to describe community health assistants’ perception of their work processes in the Family Health Strategy. It is exploratory-descriptive research with a qualitative approach. Eight people participated, one from each of the Family Health Strategy units in the town of Quixadá in the state of Ceará. The data was collected in 2011 through interviews: the statements were submitted to close reading and Bardin’s content analysis, from which six categories emerged. The study showed the existence of a positive relationship between community health assistants and the nurses in the health units, and that a shortage of materials hindered adequate performance of these workers’ activities. It is fundamental that the nurse should be sensitive to identifying the difficulties mentioned by the assistants concerning their daily work routines

Comunicação de notícias difíceis: o papel da relação dos médicos com a família

O processo de comunicar más notícias a familiares constitui-se como um desafio para profissionais da saúde. Assim, este trabalho teve como objetivo apresentar os relatos de médicos em relação ao processo de comunicar notícias difíceis às famílias e envolveu uma amostra de 19 médicos dos programas de residência do Hospital Universitário de Brasília (HUB), entre eles 15 residentes e 4 staffs das áreas de Cirurgia Geral, Clínica Médica, Ginecologia e Obstetrícia e Pediatria. Os dados foram coletados a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas e posteriormente analisados com o método do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Os resultados apontam dificuldades em comunicar notícias difíceis aos familiares e em manejar suas reações, sendo a atenção e o cuidado com a singularidade de cada família uma estratégia importante. A partir disso, é possível concluir a necessidade de implementação, na formação médica, o preparo para comunicar notícias difíceis a pacientes e familiares

Educação em saúde com crianças indígenas em meio a pandemia COVID-19: relato de experiência: Health education for indigenous children in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: an experience report

A educação em saúde é vista como o processo educativo de criação de conhecimentos em saúde com o objetivo de aumentar a autonomia das pessoas no autocuidado. A atenção à saúde da criança indígena tem como prioridade a proteção, prevenção e promoção de agravos por meio da implementação de políticas e programas focando na melhoria das condições socioculturais, ambientais e de saúde, levando em conta suas as variadas culturas existentes (BORGES & DE OLIVEIRA, 2016). Trata-se de um estudo descritivo do tipo relato de experiência desenvolvida com base na visita acadêmica a uma aldeia indígena da etnia Sateré Mawé

Microscopic and Microchemical Characterization of Leaves and Stems of Acmella bellidioides

Abstract Acmella bellidioides (Asteraceae), commonly known as "arnica-do-campo", is a South American native medicinal plant mainly found in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. The indigenous people in these regions use the flowers of this plant to treat diseases of the digestive, musculoskeletal and sensory systems. Many Acmella species are morphologically similar, and there are a few anatomical studies available in the literature that can be used to identify and distinguish them. Several other members of Asteraceae, such as Calea uniflora, Chaptalia nutans, Porophyllum ruderale, Pseudobrickellia brasiliensis and Solidago chilensis, are also called "arnica-do-campo" or "arnica". Applying the same common name to several other species makes it difficult to identify the plant correctly and allows it to be more easily adulterated. The present study characterizes A. bellidioides using microscopy and microchemical techniques to provide pharmacobotanical data to support the authentication of the species. The notable anatomical markers identified in A. bellidioides are hypostomatic leaves, anomocytic stomata, peltate glandular trichomes on the leaf abaxial surface, midrib vascular system with three collateral bundles in an open arch, and the presence of prismatic crystals in the leaves and stems. These characteristics can help species identification and differentiation of A. bellidioides from other Acmella species and Asteraceae species known as arnica-do-campo