Worldwide Effects of Coronavirus Disease Pandemic on Tuberculosis Services, January–April 2020

Coronavirus disease has disrupted tuberculosis services globally. Data from 33 centers in 16 countries on 5 continents showed that attendance at tuberculosis centers was lower during the first 4 months of the pandemic in 2020 than for the same period in 2019. Resources are needed to ensure tuberculosis care continuity during the pandemic

Dental Pulp Biomarkers: a scoping review

Pulp inflammation is a process mediated by cellular and molecular changes. The molecular response appears to precede the cellular response, marked by a change in the profile of inflammatory biomarkers in the pulp tissue. Evidence indicates that the qualitative and quantitative measurement of biomarkers in samples of pulp blood vessels can determine the stage of pulp tissue inflammation, potentially representing an objective and accurate method for determining the state of the pulp and assisting in predicting prognosis. Therefore, the aim of this study is to analyze the available literature on biomarkers related to degenerative and inflammatory processes of dental pulp, through the evaluation of the scope of preclinical and clinical studies. This scope review will be conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses - scoping reviews extension (PRISMA-ScR). The following clinical question was formulated: "What are the biomarkers related to degenerative and inflammatory processes of dental pulp?" Two independent reviewers will conduct an electronic search in the databases EMBASE, PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, Web of Science, and Lilacs. After identification in the database, the studies will be imported into the Mendeley Desktop software. The two reviewers will independently extract data from included articles into a standardized data spreadsheet in Microsoft. Methodological quality will be assessed based on the 21-item Animal Research checklist. Bias will be assessed using the SYRCLE's risk of bias tool for animal studies. Descriptive presentation of the data will be performed, using tables, graphs, and text, focusing on study characteristics and results

O professorado como projeto profissional. Práticas e perspectivas dos atores no princípio

En esta investigación indagamos cómo realizó un grupo de estudiantes su entrada al profesorado de Educación Primaria en 2010, explorando distintos temas vinculados a la elección de la carrera, planteada desde cierta indeterminación. Para muchos de ellos, la docencia era un proyecto alternativo, ya que tenían experiencias previas de estudio. Varios de los ingresantes ya tenían experiencias previas sobre la transmisión de saberes y conocimientos. La habían realizado enseñando música, catequesis, o apoyo escolar. Esto fue analizado teóricamente desde la idea del “trabajo con el otro”, para sostener la elección del profesorado. Desde aquí se plantea una idea fuerte asociada a la transmisión de valores, y a la idea de servicio religioso. Sin embargo, cuestionamos esta idea de vocación, y analizamos el tema desde el concepto de trayectorias sociales y habitus, para entender que se trata de un proceso de construcción social, que se hace en el entorno de la familia. Muchos de los jóvenes entrevistados tenían en sus familias integrantes que se dedicaban a la docencia, y en el momento de optar por el magisterio, ésta fue una decisión consultada con ellos. También abordamos las cuestiones de género en relación con la docencia como una opción profesional. Aquí pudimos observar que hay una fuerte asociación entre la docencia y la figura de la madre, en particular en lo que refiere al cuidado y contención de los niños en la primera infancia. En esta investigación analizamos distintos aspectos del proceso de ingreso al magisterio, relevando y documentando la perspectiva y los puntos de vista de un grupo de ingresantes en cuanto actores sociales, para comprender que estos procesos y problemáticas, si bien acontecen en el ámbito del instituto de formación docente, y específicamente dentro del profesorado, son construcciones que se originan en las tramas del contexto social y familiar.PALABRAS CLAVEDocencia, elección vocacional, trayectorias sociales y familiares, género, vínculos socialesIn this study we investigate how a group of students started their careers as primary school teachers in 2010, by exploring different topics related to the choice of career from a position of uncertainty. For many of the students, teaching was an alternative, as they had already had experience of studying, and several knew about the transmission of knowledge, through their experience of teaching Music, Catequesis or Student Support.  This was analysed from a theoretical point of view based on the notion of “working with the other” to support the choice of teaching leading to the idea of the transmission of values and religious service.  However, we also questioned the idea of vocation, which we analysed from the perspective of social trajectories and habitus, in order to understand that this was a process of social construction which takes place in the family.  Many of the young people consulted had family members who were teachers and they had asked their advice when they were taking the decision about entering the profession. We also discussed the question of gender in relation to teaching as a professional option.  We noted a strong association between teaching and the mother figure, particularly with respect to the care and control of young children. In this study we analyse different aspects of the process of entering the teaching profession, documenting and highlighting the views and opinions of a group of student teachers as social actors, in order to understand that these processes and issues, although occurring in the context of a teacher training institution, are constructions which originate in the daily life of social and family backgrounds. KEY WORDS Teaching, career choice, social and family trajectories, gender, social relationsNesta pesquisa indagamos sobre como um grupo de estudantes realizou sua entrada a docência na Educação Primaria em 2010, explorando distintos temas vinculados à eleição da carreira, explicada desde certa indeterminação. Para muitos deles, a docência era um projeto alternativo, já que tinham experiências previas de estudo. Vários dos ingressantes já tinham experiências previas sobre a transmissão de saberes e conhecimentos. Já tinham ensinado música, catequese ou realizado apoio escolar. Este fato foi analisado teoricamente desde a ideia do “trabalho com o outro”, para sustentar a eleição do professorado. Desde aqui se explica uma ideia forte associada à transmissão de valores e a ideia de serviço religioso. Entretanto, questionamos a ideia da vocação, e analisamos o tema desde o conceito de trajetória social e habitus, para entender que se trata de um processo de construção social que se constrói em torno da família. Muitos dos jovens entrevistados tinham nas suas famílias integrantes que exerciam a docência e no momento de optar pelo magistério, esta foi uma decisão consultada com eles. Também abordamos as questões de gênero em relação à docência como uma opção profissional. Aqui pudemos observar que existe uma forte associação entre a docência e a figura de mãe, em particular no que se refere ao cuidado e a contenção das crianças na primeira infância. Nesta investigação analisamos distintos aspectos do processo de ingresso ao magistério, fazendo ênfase e documentando a perspectiva e ponto de vista de um grupo de ingressantes como  atores sociais, para compreender que estes processos e problemáticas, se bem acontecem no âmbito de instituto de formação docente, e especificamente dentro do professorado, são construções que se originam nas tramas do contexto social e familiar. PALAVRAS-CHAVE Docência, eleição vocacional, trajetórias sociais e familiares, gênero, vínculos sociai

Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment Completion while Shifting Prescription from Isoniazid-Only to Rifampicin-Containing Regimens: A Two-Decade Experience in Milan, Italy

To tackle the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, in 2014 the World Health Organization launched the End TB Strategy, which includes action to prevent latent TB infection (LTBI) reactivation. Available preventive treatments (PT) are based on either isoniazid (INH) alone or rifampicin (RIF)-containing regimens. This study aims to assess and compare PT completion rates, the occurrence of adverse events, and the time of dropout among those receiving INH-alone or RIF-containing regimens at Villa Marelli Institute, Milan, Italy, covering the period from 1992 to 2018. A total of 19,670 subjects, belonging to various risk groups—mainly young (median age of 29 years), foreign-born (73.3%), and males (58.8%)—with presumed LTBI were prescribed PT (79.3% INH-alone and 20.7% RIF-containing regimens). The treatment completion rate was 79.4% on average, with higher rates among those receiving RIF-containing regimens (85.6%) compared to those that were prescribed INH-alone (77.8%) (p < 0.0001). Notably, some of the high-risk groups for progression of LTBI were more likely to complete PT from RIF-containing regimens. These groups included recent TB contact (89.9%, p < 0.0001), healthcare workers (93.5%, p < 0.0001), and homeless people (76.6%, p < 0.0001). Irrespectively of the chosen PT regimen, most of the dropouts occurred between the start of the treatment and the first follow-up visit (14.3%, 15.2% for those on INH-alone vs. 11.1% for those on RIF-containing regimens). Further shortening of the PT regimen is therefore an aim to ensure adherence, even though it might need further efforts to enhance the patient’s attitude towards starting and carrying out PT

Allelic HLA Matching and Pair Origin Are Favorable Prognostic Factors for Unrelated Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Neoplastic Hematologic Diseases: An Italian Analysis by the Gruppo Italiano Trapianto di Cellule Staminali e Terapie Cellulari, Italian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and Associazione Italiana di Immunogenetica e Biologia dei Trapianti

: HLA molecules are important for immunoreactivity in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The Gruppo Italiano Trapianto di Cellule Staminali e Terapie Cellulari, Italian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and Associazione Italiana di Immunogenetica e Biologia dei Trapianti promoted a retrospective observational study to evaluate HLA matching and the impact of allelic HLA mismatching and non-HLA factors on unrelated Italian HSCT outcomes. From 2012 to 2015, 1788 patients were enrolled in the study. The average donor age was 29 years and the average recipient age was 49 years. As a conditioning regimen, 71% of the patients received myeloablative conditioning. For GVHD prophylaxis, 76% received either antithymocyte or anti-T lymphocyte globulin, cyclosporine A, and methotrexate. Peripheral blood was the stem cell source in 80%. The median duration of follow-up was 53 months. Regarding HLA matching, 50% of donor-recipient pairs were 10/10 matched, 38% had 1 mismatch, and 12% had 2 or more mismatches. A total of 302 pairs shared Italian origin. Four-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, GVHD-free relapse-free survival, and relapse rates were 49%, 40%, 22%, and 34%, respectively. The 4-year NRM was 27%, and the 100-day cumulative incidence of grade ≥II acute GVHD (aGVHD) was 26%. In multivariate analysis, 9/10 and ≤8/10 HLA allele-matched pairs were associated with worse OS (P = .04 and .007, respectively), NRM (P = .007 and P < .0001, respectively), and grade III-IV aGVHD (P = .0001 and .01, respectively). Moreover, the incidences of grade II-IV aGVHD (P = .001) and chronic GVHD (P = .002) were significantly lower in Italian pairs. In conclusion, 10/10 HLA matching is a favorable prognostic factor for unrelated HSCT outcome in the Italian population. Moreover, the presence of 2 HLA-mismatched loci was associated with a higher NRM (P < .0001) and grade II-IV aGVHD (P = .006) and a poorer OS (P = .001) compared with 1 HLA-mismatched locus in early or intermediate disease phases. Finally, we found that Italian donor and recipient origin is a favorable prognostic factor for GVHD occurrence

Allelic HLA Matching and Pair Origin Are Favorable Prognostic Factors for Unrelated Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Neoplastic Hematologic Diseases: An Italian Analysis by the Gruppo Italiano Trapianto di Cellule Staminali e Terapie Cellulari, Italian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and Associazione Italiana di Immunogenetica e Biologia dei Trapianti

: HLA molecules are important for immunoreactivity in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The Gruppo Italiano Trapianto di Cellule Staminali e Terapie Cellulari, Italian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and Associazione Italiana di Immunogenetica e Biologia dei Trapianti promoted a retrospective observational study to evaluate HLA matching and the impact of allelic HLA mismatching and non-HLA factors on unrelated Italian HSCT outcomes. From 2012 to 2015, 1788 patients were enrolled in the study. The average donor age was 29 years and the average recipient age was 49 years. As a conditioning regimen, 71% of the patients received myeloablative conditioning. For GVHD prophylaxis, 76% received either antithymocyte or anti-T lymphocyte globulin, cyclosporine A, and methotrexate. Peripheral blood was the stem cell source in 80%. The median duration of follow-up was 53 months. Regarding HLA matching, 50% of donor-recipient pairs were 10/10 matched, 38% had 1 mismatch, and 12% had 2 or more mismatches. A total of 302 pairs shared Italian origin. Four-year overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, GVHD-free relapse-free survival, and relapse rates were 49%, 40%, 22%, and 34%, respectively. The 4-year NRM was 27%, and the 100-day cumulative incidence of grade ≥II acute GVHD (aGVHD) was 26%. In multivariate analysis, 9/10 and ≤8/10 HLA allele-matched pairs were associated with worse OS (P = .04 and .007, respectively), NRM (P = .007 and P < .0001, respectively), and grade III-IV aGVHD (P = .0001 and .01, respectively). Moreover, the incidences of grade II-IV aGVHD (P = .001) and chronic GVHD (P = .002) were significantly lower in Italian pairs. In conclusion, 10/10 HLA matching is a favorable prognostic factor for unrelated HSCT outcome in the Italian population. Moreover, the presence of 2 HLA-mismatched loci was associated with a higher NRM (P < .0001) and grade II-IV aGVHD (P = .006) and a poorer OS (P = .001) compared with 1 HLA-mismatched locus in early or intermediate disease phases. Finally, we found that Italian donor and recipient origin is a favorable prognostic factor for GVHD occurrence