FIBRILACIÓN AURICULAR EN PACIENTES SOMETIDOS A LA HEMODIÁLISIS CONTINUA

Objetivo: describir la prevalencia de fibrilación auricular, el perfil epidemiológico y eltratamiento que se utiliza en pacientes sometidos a la hemodiálisis constante.Método: estudio cuantitativo, trasversal, que se realizó en 2017, con 110 pacientes ingresadosen un Centro de Terapia Intensiva de un gran hospital particular en Porto Alegre.Resultados: se evidenciaron 36 (32,7%) ocurrencias de fibrilación auricular durante lahemodiálisis, con predominancia de la raza blanca, sexo masculino en 25 (69,4%) y promediode edad de 75,2 ± 10,5. Se verificó que 22 (61,1%) presentaron el primero episodio deFibrilación Auricular. La hipertensión arterial sistémica y la obesidad fueron las comorbilidadesde más prevalencia. Hubo evidencia mayor de cardioversión farmacológica en 30 y eléctricaen seis pacientes.Conclusión: se evidenció alta prevalencia de fibrilación auricular en pacientes sometidos a lahemodiálisis constante, lo que apunta para la necesidad de competencias específicas de losprofesionales para la identificación, la administración de las complicaciones cardiológicas ylos registros de cualidad acerca de los eventos.Objetivo: descrever a prevalência de fibrilação atrial, o perfil epidemiológico e o tratamento utilizado em pacientes submetidos à hemodiálise contínua.Método: estudo quantitativo, transversal, realizado em 2017, com 110 pacientes internados num Centro de Terapia Intensiva de hospital privado de grande porte de Porto Alegre.Resultados: evidenciaram-se 36 (32,7%) ocorrências de fibrilação atrial durante a hemodiálise, com predominância da raça branca, sexo masculino em 25 (69,4%) e idade média de 75,2 ± 10,5. Verificou-se que 22 (61,1%) desencadearam o primeiro episódio de Fibrilação Atrial. A hipertensão arterial sistêmica e a obesidade foram as comorbidades de maior prevalência. Houve evidência maior de cardioversão química em 30 e elétrica em seis pacientes.Conclusão: evidenciou-se alta prevalência de fibrilação atrial em pacientes submetidos à hemodiálise contínua, o que denota a necessidade de competências específicas dos profissionais para a identificação, manejo das intercorrências cardiológicas e registros de qualidade acerca dos eventos.Objective: to describe the prevalence of atrial fibrillation, the epidemiological profile and thetreatment used in patients undergoing continuous hemodialysis.Method: Quantitative cross-sectional study conducted in 2017 with 110 patients admitted toan intensive care center of a large private hospital in Porto Alegre.Results: The study found 36 (32.7%) episodes of atrial fibrillation during hemodialysis. Mostpatients were white males: 25 (69.4%) with a mean age of 75.2 ± 10. Also, 22 (61.1%) experiencedtheir first episode of atrial fibrillation. Systemic arterial hypertension and obesitywere the most prevalent comorbidities. There was evidence of chemical cardioversion in 30patients and electrical cardioversion in six patients.Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of atrial fibrillation in patients receiving continuoushemodialysis. Thus, health professionals must have specific skills for the identification andmanagement of heart disorders and accurate and complete records about the events

SARS-CoV-2 uses CD4 to infect T helper lymphocytes

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent of a major global outbreak of respiratory tract disease known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 infects mainly lungs and may cause several immune-related complications, such as lymphocytopenia and cytokine storm, which are associated with the severity of the disease and predict mortality. The mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in immune system dysfunction is still not fully understood. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infects human CD4+ T helper cells, but not CD8+ T cells, and is present in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage T helper cells of severe COVID-19 patients. We demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S) directly binds to the CD4 molecule, which in turn mediates the entry of SARS-CoV-2 in T helper cells. This leads to impaired CD4 T cell function and may cause cell death. SARS-CoV-2-infected T helper cells express higher levels of IL-10, which is associated with viral persistence and disease severity. Thus, CD4-mediated SARS-CoV-2 infection of T helper cells may contribute to a poor immune response in COVID-19 patients.</p

SARS-CoV-2 uses CD4 to infect T helper lymphocytes

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent of a major global outbreak of respiratory tract disease known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 infects mainly lungs and may cause several immune-related complications, such as lymphocytopenia and cytokine storm, which are associated with the severity of the disease and predict mortality. The mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 infection may result in immune system dysfunction is still not fully understood. Here, we show that SARS-CoV-2 infects human CD4+ T helper cells, but not CD8+ T cells, and is present in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage T helper cells of severe COVID-19 patients. We demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (S) directly binds to the CD4 molecule, which in turn mediates the entry of SARS-CoV-2 in T helper cells. This leads to impaired CD4 T cell function and may cause cell death. SARS-CoV-2-infected T helper cells express higher levels of IL-10, which is associated with viral persistence and disease severity. Thus, CD4-mediated SARS-CoV-2 infection of T helper cells may contribute to a poor immune response in COVID-19 patients.</p

Coal extraction causes sediment toxicity in aquatic environments in Santa Catarina, Brazil

This study evaluated water parameters in ponds affected by coal extraction. Allium cepa assay was used to measure genotoxicity/mutagenicity of the sediment. Samples were collected from four ponds in the southern state of Santa Catarina. Water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and turbidity were measured. Sediments were analyzed for heavy metals. Elutriate samples were prepared at a ratio of 1:4 sediment:water. Allium cepa bulbs were placed in samples prepared from each pond, with ultrapure water used as negative control and methyl methane sulfonate as positive control. Root length, mitotic index, chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei, and nuclear abnormalities were measured. The pH of two ponds, as well as electrical conductivity and dissolved oxygen of all ponds were below the minimum limits set by Brazilian regulation. All heavy metals analyzed were found in all sediment samples, but only Cd concentration was above the legal limit set by Brazilian law. Allium cepa root growth for samples from Ponds 1, 2, and 4 was significantly lower than the negative control. Meristematic cells exposed to elutriate samples showed no significant changes in cell division. There was a significant increase in total chromosomal aberrations in all treated samples in comparison with the negative control. This study demonstrates that even low concentrations of heavy metals can damage exposed biota, possibly due to synergistic effects. We also found the A. cepa bioassay to be a simple and useful tool for genotoxicity/mutagenicity analyses, and recommend its use for environmental monitoring and management in areas influenced by mining activities