HPA e Nitro-HPA em Ambiente Semifechado Impactado por Emissão da Combustão de Diesel/Biodiesel (B5)

In order to verify the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-PAH (NPAH) associated with the fine fraction of particulate matter (PM1.0 and PM2.5) from the combustion of diesel/biodiesel mixture (B5), daily samples were carried out in the urban bus station of Londrina. A high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS) was used for the determination of nitro-PAH and the PAHs were determined by high performance liquid chromatography equipped with fluorescence detector (LC-FLD). 9 PAHs and 1-nitropyrene were determined. The concentrations of the PAHs with 4 to 6 rings (fluoranthene, pyrene, crysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene and dibenzo(a,h)antharacene) were higher in comparison to the lighter PAHs (acenaphthene, fluorene and anthracene). The ∑PAH associated to the PM1.0 corresponded to 66% of the PM2.5 with concentrations that exceed the levels recommended by WHO. The diagnostic ratios (DR) of PAHs and NPAH were calculated and the results suggest diesel/biodiesel (B5) emissions. The use of biofuel in Brazil is encouraged and the monitoring of changes in emissions arising from combustion processes is important and necessary to follow the change of air quality and the impact on the environment.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v7i3.73

HPA e Nitro-HPA em Ambiente Semifechado Impactado por Emissão da Combustão de Diesel/Biodiesel (B5)

In order to verify the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-PAH (NPAH) associated with the fine fraction of particulate matter (PM1.0 and PM2.5) from the combustion of diesel/biodiesel mixture (B5), daily samples were carried out in the urban bus station of Londrina. A high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-MS) was used for the determination of nitro-PAH and the PAHs were determined by high performance liquid chromatography equipped with fluorescence detector (LC-FLD). 9 PAHs and 1-nitropyrene were determined. The concentrations of the PAHs with 4 to 6 rings (fluoranthene, pyrene, crysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene and dibenzo(a,h)antharacene) were higher in comparison to the lighter PAHs (acenaphthene, fluorene and anthracene). The ∑PAH associated to the PM1.0 corresponded to 66% of the PM2.5 with concentrations that exceed the levels recommended by WHO. The diagnostic ratios (DR) of PAHs and NPAH were calculated and the results suggest diesel/biodiesel (B5) emissions. The use of biofuel in Brazil is encouraged and the monitoring of changes in emissions arising from combustion processes is important and necessary to follow the change of air quality and the impact on the environment.  DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17807/orbital.v7i3.73

SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity are associated with genetic variants affecting gene expression in a variety of tissues

Variability in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and COVID-19 disease severity between individuals is partly due to genetic factors. Here, we identify 4 genomic loci with suggestive associations for SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and 19 for COVID-19 disease severity. Four of these 23 loci likely have an ethnicity-specific component. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals in 11 loci colocalize with expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) associated with the expression of 20 genes in 62 tissues/cell types (range: 1:43 tissues/gene), including lung, brain, heart, muscle, and skin as well as the digestive system and immune system. We perform genetic fine mapping to compute 99% credible SNP sets, which identify 10 GWAS loci that have eight or fewer SNPs in the credible set, including three loci with one single likely causal SNP. Our study suggests that the diverse symptoms and disease severity of COVID-19 observed between individuals is associated with variants across the genome, affecting gene expression levels in a wide variety of tissue types

A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

peer reviewe

Carbonyl concentrations from sites affected by emission from different fuels and vehicles

AbstractConcentrations of carbonyl compounds were evaluated on places impacted by emissions from different fuels and vehicles. In order to evaluate the concentrations, four campaigns during the winter and summer of 2011 and 2012 were performed, inside a covered parking area in a commercial establishment where mainly gasohol and ethanol vehicles are in circulation. Also, measurements were done inside a semi–closed bus station, which is the direct source of emissions from heavy duty vehicles (i.e. buses) burning B3–diesel (3% biodiesel and 97% diesel). The results indicated that acetaldehyde is the main aldehyde emitted by light vehicles due to large use of ethanol in Brazil by these vehicles. In addition, the concentrations found in the bus station revealed that B3–diesel fuel increases the emissions of carbonyl compounds and that of acetaldehyde when compared with results from B0–diesel at same bus station. Possible impacts of changing diesel to B3–diesel indicate an increase of ozone formation. In terms of health, a lower impact was estimated considering only the changes in formaldehyde concentrations

Changes in surgicaL behaviOrs dUring the CoviD-19 pandemic. The SICE CLOUD19 Study

BACKGROUND: The spread of the SARS-CoV2 virus, which causes COVID-19 disease, profoundly impacted the surgical community. Recommendations have been published to manage patients needing surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic. This survey, under the aegis of the Italian Society of Endoscopic Surgery, aims to analyze how Italian surgeons have changed their practice during the pandemic.METHODS: The authors designed an online survey that was circulated for completion to the Italian departments of general surgery registered in the Italian Ministry of Health database in December 2020. Questions were divided into three sections: hospital organization, screening policies, and safety profile of the surgical operation. The investigation periods were divided into the Italian pandemic phases I (March-May 2020), II (June-September 2020), and III (October-December 2020).RESULTS: Of 447 invited departments, 226 answered the survey. Most hospitals were treating both COVID-19-positive and -negative patients. The reduction in effective beds dedicated to surgical activity was significant, affecting 59% of the responding units. 12.4% of the respondents in phase I, 2.6% in phase II, and 7.7% in phase III reported that their surgical unit had been closed. 51.4%, 23.5%, and 47.8% of the respondents had at least one colleague reassigned to non-surgical COVID-19 activities during the three phases. There has been a reduction in elective (>200 procedures: 2.1%, 20.6% and 9.9% in the three phases, respectively) and emergency (<20 procedures: 43.3%, 27.1%, 36.5% in the three phases, respectively) surgical activity. The use of laparoscopy also had a setback in phase I (25.8% performed less than 20% of elective procedures through laparoscopy). 60.6% of the respondents used a smoke evacuation device during laparoscopy in phase I, 61.6% in phase II, and 64.2% in phase III. Almost all responders (82.8% vs. 93.2% vs. 92.7%) in each analyzed period did not modify or reduce the use of high-energy devices.CONCLUSION: This survey offers three faithful snapshots of how the surgical community has reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic during its three phases. The significant reduction in surgical activity indicates that better health policies and more evidence-based guidelines are needed to make up for lost time and surgery not performed during the pandemic

COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative. A first update on mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a major public health threat, especially in countries with low vaccination rates. To better understand the biological underpinnings of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity, we formed the COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative1. Here we present a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of up to 125,584 cases and over 2.5 million control individuals across 60 studies from 25 countries, adding 11 genome-wide significant loci compared with those previously identified2. Genes at new loci, including SFTPD, MUC5B and ACE2, reveal compelling insights regarding disease susceptibility and severity.</p