High anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroconversion rates before the second wave in Manaus, Brazil, and the protective effect of social behaviour measures: results from the prospective DETECTCoV-19 cohort

Background: The city of Manaus, Brazil, has seen two collapses of the health system due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We report anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibody seroconversion rates and associated risk factors in Manaus residents before the second wave of the epidemic in Brazil. Methods: A convenience sample of adult (aged ≥18 years) residents of Manaus was recruited through online and university website advertising into the DETECTCoV-19 study cohort. The current analysis of seroconversion included a subgroup of DETECTCoV-19 participants who had at least two serum sample collections separated by at least 4 weeks between Aug 19 and Oct 2, 2020 (visit 1), and Oct 19 and Nov 27, 2020 (visit 2). Those who reported (or had no data on) having a COVID-19 diagnosis before visit 1, and who were positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibodies at visit 1 were excluded. Using an in-house ELISA, the reactivity index (RI; calculated as the optical density ratio of the sample to the negative control) for serum anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibodies was measured at both visits. We calculated the incidence of seroconversion (defined as RI values ≤1·5 at visit 1 and ≥1·5 at visit 2, and a ratio >2 between the visit 2 and visit 1 RI values) during the study period, as well as incidence rate ratios (IRRs) through cluster-corrected and adjusted Poisson regression models to analyse associations between seroconversion and variables related to sociodemographic characteristics, health access, comorbidities, COVID-19 exposure, protective behaviours, and symptoms. Findings: 2496 DETECTCoV-19 cohort participants returned for a follow-up visit between Oct 19 and Nov 27, 2020, of whom 204 reported having COVID-19 before the first visit and 24 had no data regarding previous disease status. 559 participants were seropositive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid IgG antibodies at baseline. Of the remaining 1709 participants who were seronegative at baseline, 71 did not meet the criteria for seroconversion and were excluded from the analyses. Among the remaining 1638 participants who were seronegative at baseline, 214 showed seroconversion at visit 2. The seroconversion incidence was 13·06% (95% CI 11·52–14·79) overall and 6·78% (5·61–8·10) for symptomatic seroconversion, over a median follow-up period of 57 days (IQR 54–61). 48·1% of seroconversion events were estimated to be asymptomatic. The sample had higher proportions of affluent and higher-educated people than those reported for the Manaus city population. In the fully adjusted and corrected model, risk factors for seroconversion before visit 2 were having a COVID-19 case in the household (IRR 1·49 [95% CI 1·21–1·83]), not wearing a mask during contact with a person with COVID-19 (1·25 [1·09–1·45]), relaxation of physical distancing (1·31 [1·05–1·64]), and having flu-like symptoms (1·79 [1·23–2·59]) or a COVID-19 diagnosis (3·57 [2·27–5·63]) between the first and second visits, whereas working remotely was associated with lower incidence (0·74 [0·56–0·97]). Interpretation: An intense infection transmission period preceded the second wave of COVID-19 in Manaus. Several modifiable behaviours increased the risk of seroconversion, including non-compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions measures such as not wearing a mask during contact, relaxation of protective measures, and non-remote working. Increased testing in high-transmission areas is needed to provide timely information about ongoing transmission and aid appropriate implementation of transmission mitigation measures. Funding: Ministry of Education, Brazil; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas; Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/WHO.World Health OrganizationRevisión por pare

Antigen-Specific Antibody Signature Is Associated with COVID-19 Outcome

Numerous studies have focused on inflammation-related markers to understand COVID-19. In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) protein-specific IgA, total IgG and IgG subclass response in COVID-19 patients and compared this to their disease outcome. We observed that the SARS-CoV-2 infection elicits a robust IgA and IgG response against the N-terminal (N1) and C-terminal (N3) region of the N protein, whereas we failed to detect IgA antibodies and observed a weak IgG response against the disordered linker region (N2) in COVID-19 patients. N and S protein-specific IgG1, IgG2 and IgG3 response was significantly elevated in hospitalized patients with severe disease compared to outpatients with non-severe disease. IgA and total IgG antibody reactivity gradually increased after the first week of symptoms. Magnitude of RBD-ACE2 blocking antibodies identified in a competitive assay and neutralizing antibodies detected by PRNT assay correlated with disease severity. Generally, the IgA and total IgG response between the discharged and deceased COVID-19 patients was similar. However, significant differences in the ratio of IgG subclass antibodies were observed between discharged and deceased patients, especially towards the disordered linker region of the N protein. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 infection is linked to an elevated blood antibody response in severe patients compared to non-severe patients. Monitoring of antigen-specific serological response could be an important tool to accompany disease progression and improve outcomes

Rendimento, composição tecidual e musculosidade da carcaça de cordeiros Santa Inês alimentados com diferentes níveis de feno de flor-de-seda na dieta Yield, tissue composition and carcass muscularity of Santa Inês lambs fed diets with different ratios of forage sorghum hay to silk flower hay

Foi avaliada a inclusão de níveis crescentes de feno de flor-de-seda (Calotropis procera SW) (FFS) em substituição ao feno de sorgo forrageiro (Sorghum bicolor, L.) (FSF) na dieta e seus possíveis efeitos sobre os rendimentos verdadeiro, biológico e comercial, a perda ao resfriamento, o rendimento dos cortes, a composição tecidual e a musculosidade da carcaça de cordeiros Santa Inês. Foram utilizados 24 cordeiros (machos não-castrados) distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualisado, com quatro tratamentos (relações FSF:FFS: 100:0, 66:33, 33:66 e 0:100). Os animais foram abatidos com 30,0 (±0,4) kg ou aos 70 dias de experimento. Não houve efeito das relações FSF:FFS na dieta sobre os rendimentos biológico, verdadeiro e comercial, sendo obtidos valores médios de 53,17; 45,97 e 44,34%, respectivamente. Foram observadas diferenças significativas no peso vivo ao abate, no peso de corpo vazio, nos pesos de carcaça quente e de carcaça fria, no rendimento dos cortes, na composição tecidual e na musculosidade da carcaça. À exceção dos cortes paleta e perna, as variáveis apresentaram valores mais elevados quando fornecidos os menores níveis de FFS na dieta. O feno de flor-de-seda pode ser utilizado na alimentação de cordeiros para produção de carne em proporções de até 16,5% da dieta (33% da fração volumosa), pois não ocasiona prejuízo à qualidade da carcaça.<br>This study evaluated the effects of different dietary ratios of forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L) hay (FSH) to silk flower hay (Calotropis procera SW) (SFH) on true, biological, and retail carcass yields, carcass cooling losses, retail cut yields, tissue composition and carcass muscularity of Santa Inês lambs. Twenty-four intact male lambs were assigned to one of the following four treatments: 100:0 FSH:SFH, 66:33 FSH:SFH , 33:66 FSH:SFH, or 0:100 FSH:SFH in a completely randomized design (six animals/treatment). Animals were slaughtered at 30.0±0.4 kg of body weight or at 70 days of experiment. There was no effect of treatments on the biological, true, and retail carcass yields, which averaged, respectively 53.17, 45.97%, and 44.34%. Except for shoulder clod and leg cuts, increasing the dietary levels of SFH significantly reduced the slaughter body weight, empty body weight, hot and cold carcass weights, retail cut yields, tissue composition, and carcass muscularity. It can be concluded that the inclusion of up to 16.5% of the diet DM (33% of the dietary forage) as SFH had no detrimental effect on carcass quality

Características quantitativas da carcaça de cordeiros de diferentes genótipos submetidos a duas dietas Quantitative traits of carcass from lambs of different genotypes submitted to two diets

Objetivou-se avaliar as características quantitativas de carcaça de cordeiros de diferentes genótipos recebendo diversos níveis de energia na dieta. Foram utilizados 54 cordeiros não-castrados, sendo 18 Santa Inês (SI), 18 F1Dorper × Santa Inês (Dp × SI) e 18 F1 Santa Inês × Sem Raça Definida (SI × SRD), com idade média de 150 dias e peso médio de 22,60 kg no início do experimento. As dietas continham 17% de proteína bruta e 2,40 Mcal/kg MS ou 2,90 Mcal/kg MS. Os cordeiros alimentados com a dieta contendo 2,90 Mcal/kg MS apresentaram maior peso corporal e de carcaça, área de olho-de-lombo, percentual de gordura interna, índice de musculosidade, índice de compacidade da carcaça, percentual de gordura e menor relação músculo:gordura. As carcaças desses cordeiros obtiveram também menores perdas por resfriamento e maior peso e percentual de paleta e perna. As carcaças dos cordeiros Dorper × Santa Inês foram superiores em espessura de gordura subcutânea, medida GR (gordura sobre a 12ª costela a 11 cm de distância da linha média lombo), percentual de gordura, relação músculo:osso, índice de musculosidade, peso e percentual de lombo. Os cordeiros Santa Inês apresentaram maior relação músculo:gordura. A dieta e o genótipo influenciam as características quantitativas de carcaça de cordeiros.<br>The objective of this study was to evaluate the quantitative carcass traits of lambs from different genotypes receiving different levels of energy in the diet. Fifty-four non-castrated lambs - 18 Santa Inês (SI), 18 F1Dorper × Santa Inês (Dp × SI) and 18 F1Santa Inês × No defined breed (SI × NDB) - of average 150 days old and 22.6-kg BW were used in the beginning of the experiment. Diets contained 17% crude protein and 2.40 Mcal/kg DM or 2.90 Mcal/kg DM. Lambs fed the diet containing 2.90 Mcal/kg DM showed higher final live and carcass weight, loin eye area, percentage of internal fat, muscularity index, compactness of the carcass index, percentage of fat and lower muscle:fat relation. These lambs' carcasses also presented lower percentage of cold loss and higher weight and percentage of shoulder and leg. Carcasses of Dp × SI lambs were superior in fat thickness, GR site, percentage of fat, muscle:bone relation, muscularity index, weight and percentage of loin. Santa Inês sheep showed higher muscle:fat relation. Both diet and genotype influence quantitative carcass traits of lambs

Comments on a notorious verdict : the trial of Lula

“Comments on a notorious verdict: The trial of Lula” might be the most important judicial document published in Brazil for decades. The present selection of articles came to exist after a spontaneous movement, and significant enough as well, of Brazilian and foreign lawyers who carefully verified the verdict rendered in the extent of the procedure which was processed at the 13ª Vara Federal de Curitiba, in the case that was known at the media as “the Guarujá triplex”. From the Introduction by Geraldo Prad

Comenta&#769;rios a uma sentenc&#807;a anunciada : o processo Lula

“Comentários a uma sentença: o Caso Lula” é talvez o mais importante documento jurídico publicado no Brasil em décadas. A presente coletânea de artigos nasceu de um movimento espontâneo e bastante significativo de juristas brasileiros e estrangeiros que examinaram cuidadosamente a sentença proferida no âmbito do processo que tramitou na 13ª Vara Federal de Curitiba, no caso que ficou conhecido na mídia como o do “tríplex do Guarujá”. <br>De la presentación de Geraldo Prad