Evaluation of phonological working memory and impulsivity of drugs users treated at an integrated care center for mental health

OBJETIVO: avaliar a memória operacional fonológica e relacionar com a impulsividade de pacientes em tratamento no Centro de Atenção Integrada à Saúde Mental. MÉTODO: 29 usuários: 21 do gênero masculino e 8 do feminino, usuários de substâncias psicoativas, com 37,9±10,5 anos de idade e 10,59±3,53 anos de escolaridade; e 30 voluntários: 19 do gênero masculino e 11 do feminino, com 32,4±11,9 anos de idade e 11,07±3,29 anos de escolaridade, sem histórico psiquiátrico ou de dependência química foram convocados à avaliação de: 1) memória operacional para palavras e pseudo-palavras; 2) impulsividade em seus fatores de segunda ordem (impulsividade atencional, motora e de não planejamento). RESULTADOS: o desempenho dos usuários de substâncias psicoativas na avaliação da memória em comparação ao grupo controle foi pior tanto no span auditivo de palavras e pseudo-palavras como também no número total de recordação de palavras e pseudo-palavras. Na avaliação da impulsividade, os usuários apresentaram escores elevados em contraposição aos sujeitos controle em todos os subtipos de impulsividade, inclusive no total. Na análise de correlação dos dados não foram encontradas relações entre os escores de impulsividade e memória. CONCLUSÃO: : este padrão de respostas indica comprometimento da memória operacional fonológica provavelmente independente do alto nível de impulsividade apresentado pelos usuários de drogas. Estas análises contribuem para propor estratégias de tratamento direcionadas às alterações detectadas.PURPOSE: to evaluate the phonological working memory abilities and check possible influences of impulsivity in patients starting treatment at the program for Alcohol and Drug users at CAISM. METHOD: 29 patients: 21 males and 8 females, drug users, 37.9±10.5 year old and with 10.59±3.53 years of schooling; and 30 volunteers: 19 males and 11 female, 32.4±11.9 year old and 11.07±3.29 years of schooling, with no psychiatric history or substance abuse freely participated. The subjects were asked to attend the specific evaluation, aiming to assess: 1) phonological working memory for words and pseudowords, 2) impulsivity in its second order factors (attention impulsiveness, motor and non-planning). RESULTS: concerning the performance of the subjects in the drug users' group in the evaluation of phonological working memory when compared to the control group we found a reduction in both the auditory word span and pseudowords, as well as the total number of correct recalls of words and pseudowords. In the evaluation of impulsivity, the group of drug users had high scores comparing to control subjects in all subtypes related to impulsivity, including the total score of impulsivity. There were no correlations among impulsivity scores and words and/or pseudowords' span. CONCLUSION: this pattern of responses indicates impairment in verbal working memory processing and high level of impulsivity in this population of chronic drug users. The poor performance of chronic drug users on all tests of phonological working memory is probably not due to the increased noted impulsivity. These analyses help to plan treatment strategies intended towards the detected alterations

Acute effects of power and resistance exercises on hemodynamic measurements of older women

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effects of resistance training (RT) and power training (PT) on the hemodynamic parameters and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability of older women. Materials and methods: A randomized experimental design was used in this study. Twentyone older women (age: 67.1 +/- 4.6 yearsbody mass index: 28.03 +/- 4.9 kg/m2systolic blood pressure: 135.1 +/- 21.1 mmHg) were recruited to participate in this study. Volunteers were randomly allocated into PT, RT, and control session (CS) groups. The PT and RT groups underwent a single session of physical exercise equalized by training volume, characterized by 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions in 8 different exercises. However, RT group performed exercise at a higher intensity (difficult) than PT (moderate) group. On the other hand, concentric contractions were faster in PT group than in RT group. Hemodynamic parameters and saliva samples (for NO quantification) were collected before and during an hour after exercise completion. Results: Results demonstrated post-exercise hypotension during 35 minutes in the PT when compared to rest period (P= 0.001). In turn, RT showed decreased heart rate and double product (P, 0.001) during the whole evaluation period after exercise completion compared with the rest period. NO levels increased in the PT and RT during the whole evaluation period in relation to rest period. However, there were no differences between PT, RT, and CS regarding hemodynamic and NO evaluations. Conclusion: Data indicate that an acute session of power and resistance exercise can be effective to cause beneficial changes on hemodynamic parameters and NO levels in older women.Univ Estadual Campinas, Appl Kinesiol Lab LCA, Sch Phys Educ, Ave Erico Verissimo,701 Cidade Univ Zeferino Vaz, BR-13083851 Campinas, SP, BrazilUniv Mogi das Cruzes, Ctr Hlth Sci, Mogi Das Cruzes, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Med Sch, Hypertens Unit, Heart Inst InCor, Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniv Catolica Brasilia, Sch Phys Educ, Brasilia, DF, BrazilCommun Ctr Older People Poa, Poa, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Dept Immunobiol, Lab Transplantat Immunol, Inst Biomed Sci, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Nephrol Div, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Sch Arts Sci & Humanities, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Nephrol Div, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

VÍRUS DA BRONQUITE INFECCIOSA AVIÁRIA: PERFIS DE IMUNOGENICIDADE E NOVOS PATOTIPOS NO BRASIL – REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

A bronquite infecciosa das galinhas (BIG) é uma doença infecciosa causada pelo coronavírus aviário (vírus da bronquite infecciosa – VBI) que está amplamente disseminada entre as criações avícolas comerciais na maior parte do mundo. O VBI apresenta alta capacidade de variabilidade genética, o que se traduz pelo aparecimento de alterações marcantes na composição, estrutura e propriedades antigênicas de suas proteínas. Diante disso, este trabalho tem por objetivo realizar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre os novos patotipos desses vírus que surgiram nas últimas décadas abordando principalmente seus perfis de imunogenicidade. Com o aparecimento de variantes antigênicas e biológicas entre as estirpes do VBI nos últimos anos, ocorreu o surgimento de diferentes genótipos, sorotipos e patotipos deste vírus o que proporcionou um aumento nas falhas vacinais contra esta doença

Investigating autonomic nervous system dysfunction among patients with post-COVID condition and prolonged cardiovascular symptoms

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and arterial pressure (AP) variability and their responses to head-up tilt test (HUTT) were investigated in Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) patients reporting tachycardia and/or postural hypotension. Besides tachycardia, PCS patients also showed attenuation of the following HRV parameters: RMSSD [square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal-to-normal (NN) intervals] from statistical measures; the power of RR (beat-to-beat interval) spectra at HF (high frequency) from the linear method spectral analysis; occurrence of 2UV (two unlike variation) pattern of RR from the nonlinear method symbolic analysis; and the new family of statistics named sample entropy, when compared to control subjects. Basal AP and LF (low frequency) power of systolic AP were similar between PCS patients and control subjects, while 0 V (zero variation) patterns of AP from the nonlinear method symbolic analysis were exacerbated in PCS patients. Despite tachycardia and a decrease in RMSSD, no parameter of HRV changed during HUTT in PCS patients compared to control subjects. PCS patients reassessed after 6 months showed higher HF power of RR spectra and a higher percentage of 2UV pattern of RR. Moreover, the reassessed PCS patients showed a lower occurrence of 0 V patterns of AP, while the HUTT elicited HR (heart rate) and AP responses identical to control subjects. The HRV and AP variability suggest an autonomic dysfunction with sympathetic predominance in PCS patients. In contrast, the lack of responses of HRV and AP variability indices during HUTT indicates a marked impairment of autonomic control. Of note, the reassessment of PCS patients showed that the noxious effect of COVID-19 on autonomic control tended to fade over time

Consultas neurológicas e diagnósticos em um grande hospital universitário dedicado a COVID-19

Background: More than one-third of COVID-19 patients present neurological symptomsranging from anosmia to stroke and encephalopathy. Furthermore, pre-existingneurological conditions may require special treatment and may be associated with worseoutcomes. Notwithstanding, the role of neurologists in COVID-19 is probablyunderrecognized. Objective: The aim of this study was to report the reasons forrequesting neurological consultations by internists and intensivists in a COVID-19-dedicated hospital. Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at Hospital dasClínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, a 900-bedCOVID-19 dedicated center (including 300 intensive care unit beds). COVID-19 diagnosiswas confirmed by SARS-CoV-2-RT-PCR in nasal swabs. All inpatient neurologyconsultations between March 23rd and May 23rd, 2020 were analyzed. Neurologistsperformed the neurological exam, assessed all available data to diagnose theneurological condition, and requested additional tests deemed necessary. Difficultdiagnoses were established in consensus meetings. After diagnosis, neurologists wereinvolved in the treatment. Results: Neurological consultations were requested for 89 outof 1,208 (7.4%) inpatient COVID admissions during that period. Main neurologicaldiagnoses included: encephalopathy (44.4%), stroke (16.7%), previous neurologicaldiseases (9.0%), seizures (9.0%), neuromuscular disorders (5.6%), other acute brainlesions (3.4%), and other mild nonspecific symptoms (11.2%). Conclusions: Mostneurological consultations in a COVID-19-dedicated hospital were requested for severeconditions that could have an impact on the outcome. First-line doctors should be able torecognize neurological symptoms; neurologists are important members of the medicalteam in COVID-19 hospital care.Introdução: Mais de um terço dos pacientes com COVID-19 apresentam sintomasneurológicos que variam de anosmia a AVC e encefalopatia. Além disso, doençasneurológicas prévias podem exigir tratamento especial e estar associadas a pioresdesfechos. Não obstante, o papel dos neurologistas na COVID-19 é provavelmentepouco reconhecido. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi relatar os motivos para solicitarconsultas neurológicas por clínicos e intensivistas em um hospital dedicado à COVID-19. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo realizado no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade deMedicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil, um centro dedicado à COVID-19 com900 leitos (incluindo 300 leitos para unidades de terapia intensiva). O diagnóstico deCOVID-19 foi confirmado por SARS-CoV-2-RT-PCR em swabs nasais. Todas asinterconsultas de neurologia hospitalar entre 23 de março e 23 de maio de 2020 foramanalisadas. Os neurologistas realizaram o exame neurológico, avaliaram todos os dadosdisponíveis para diagnosticar a patologia neurológica e solicitaram exames adicionaisconforme necessidade. Diagnósticos difíceis foram estabelecidos em reuniões deconsenso. Após o diagnóstico, os neurologistas participaram da condução dos casos.Resultados: Foram solicitadas consultas neurológicas para 89 de 1.208 (7,4%) empacientes internados por COVID-19 durante o período. Os principais diagnósticosneurológicos incluíram: encefalopatia (44,4%), acidente vascular cerebral (16,7%),doenças neurológicas prévias (9,0%), crises epilépticas (9,0%), transtornosneuromusculares (5,6%), outras lesões encefálicas agudas (3,4%) e outros sintomasleves inespecíficos (11,2%). Conclusões: A maioria das consultas neurológicas em umhospital dedicado à COVID-19 foi solicitada para condições graves que poderiam afetaro desfecho clínico. Os médicos na linha de frente devem ser capazes de reconhecersintomas neurológicos. Os neurologistas são membros importantes da equipe médica noatendimento hospitalar à COVID-19

First report of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 detection in two asymptomatic cats in the state of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil

Background and Aim: Despite worldwide case reports, including Brazilian cases, no frequency study on infection of pets by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been conducted to date in Brazil. Accordingly, the present study was aimed to assess dogs and cats belonging to positive owners in Recife, Northeastern Brazil. Materials and Methods: This was a longitudinal prospective study on dogs and cats in the city of Recife whose owners were in isolation at home due to a confirmed laboratory diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 through reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Oral and rectal swabs from the pets were tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific RNA by means of RT-qPCR. Results: Among the pets tested, 0/16 dogs and 2/15 cats were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Interestingly, the two positive cats were owned by two unrelated asymptomatic veterinary students, which, therefore, post a warning to veterinarians worldwide. Conclusion: The findings herein indicate that cats may act as sentinels for human cases, particularly sharing households with asymptomatic human cases. Although with small sampling and convenient recruiting, the presence of infected cats by SARS-CoV-2 was most likely due to close cat-human contact with positive owners, posting a human-animal health threat when pets share the same bed and interact with owners without protection, particularly during owner self-isolation. Thus, infected owners should follow the same human preventive guidelines with their pets to avoid spreading infection