This study estimated the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in urban cleaning and solid waste management workers during the transmission of the Omicron variant in one of the poorest regions of Brazil (the state of Sergipe). Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 494 workers, and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA was tested by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidities, vaccination status, mask use, and use of public transport to commute to the workplace were collected. The prevalence with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated from the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases among the total number of individuals tested. The prevalence ratio (PR) with a 95% CI was the measure of association used to evaluate the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the exposure variables. The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 22.5% (95% CI, 19.0 to 26.4). Individuals under the age of 40 had a higher prevalence of infection (PR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.30) as well as those who did not believe in the protective effect of vaccines (PR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.05 to 2.89). Our results indicate the need for better guidance on preventive measures against coronavirus disease 2019 among urban cleaning and solid waste management workers.

Objective: Atomoxetine and fluoxetine are psychopharmacologic agents associated with loss of appetite and weight. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is the cellular energy sensor that regulate metabolism and energy, being activated by fasting and inhibited by feeding in the hypothalamus. Methods: Human brain cell lines (SH-SY5Y and U-87 MG cells) were used to study the outcome of atomoxetine and fluoxetine treatment in the activity of AMPK-acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC)- carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1) pathway and upstream regulation by calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ) using immunoblotting and CPT1 enzymatic activity measures. Results: Phosphorylation of AMPK and ACC increased significantly after atomoxetine and fluoxetine treatment in the first 30–60 minutes of treatment in the two cell lines. Activation of AMPK and inhibition of ACC was associated with an increase by 5-fold of mitochondrial CPT1 activity. Although the neuronal isoform CPT1C could be detected by immunoblotting, activity was not changed by the drug treatments. In addition, the increase in phospho-AMPK and phospho-ACC expression induced by atomoxetine was abolished by treatment with STO-609, a CaMKKβ inhibitor, indicating that AMPK-ACC-CPT1 pathway is activated through CaMKKβ phosphorylation. Conclusion These findings indicate that at the cellular level atomoxetine and fluoxetine treatments may activate AMPK-ACC-CPT1 pathways through CaMKKβ in human SH-SY5Y and U-87 MG cells.

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to describe the clinical phenotypes of children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF); and to assess the role of pancreatic insufficiency and neonatal screening in diagnosis. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted, which included 77 patients attending a reference center of CF between 2014 and 2016. Epidemiological data, anthropometric measurements, and the presence of pulmonary, pancreatic, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary manifestations were evaluated based on clinical data and complementary examinations. RESULTS: Of the 77 patients, 51.9% were male, with a median age of 147 months (7.0-297.0 months), and the majority showed adequate nutritional status. The most common phenotype was pulmonary (92.2%), followed by pancreatic (87.0%), with pancreatic insufficiency in most cases. Gastrointestinal manifestation occurred in 46.8%, with constipation being the more common factor. Hepatobiliary disease occurred in 62.3% of patients. The group with pancreatic insufficiency was diagnosed earlier (5.0 months) when compared to the group with sufficiency (84.0 months) (p=0.01). The age of diagnosis was reduced following implementation of neonatal screening protocols for CF (6.0 months before vs. 3.0 months after, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: The pulmonary phenotype was the most common, although extrapulmonary manifestations were frequent and clinically relevant, and should mandate early detection and treatment. Neonatal screening for CF led to earlier diagnosis in patients with pancreatic failure, and therefore, should be adopted universally.
Adolescent* ; Child* ; Constipation ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Cystic Fibrosis* ; Diagnosis ; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Liver Diseases ; Male ; Neonatal Screening ; Nutritional Status ; Phenotype*

The available methods for veneer evaluation are limited to clinical and radiographic examinations, which may not allow the appropriate identification of failure. In this report, we demonstrate the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) as a noninvasive diagnostic and follow-up method to evaluate gingival recovery and the adhesive interface in aesthetic oral rehabilitation involving periodontal plastic surgery and ceramic laminate veneers. OCT was efficient for evaluating both soft and hard tissues, as well as the quality of the adhesive interface. In conclusion, OCT was found to be a promising approach for the professional evaluation of aesthetic oral rehabilitation, as it was capable of generating images that enabled the analysis of gingival recovery and the adhesive interface.
Adhesives ; Ceramics ; Dental Bonding ; Dental Veneers ; Esthetics, Dental ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gingivectomy ; Methods ; Rehabilitation ; Surgery, Plastic ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

Background and Objectives: Chloroquine and its analog hydroxychloroquine are derivatives of 4-aminoquinoline and are regularly used in the treatment of malaria and autoimmune diseases. Among the side effects of these drugs, alterations associated with the auditory system are frequently mentioned. Thus, the aim of this systematic review is to systematically review publications on hearing disorders and chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine use. Materials and Methods: Inclusion criteria were observational or interventional studies on audiological assessment in participants who were using chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine. The methodological quality was independently assessed by two reviewers using the Meta-Analysis of Statistics: assessment and review Instrument. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE tool. Results: A total of 1,372 non-duplicate papers were screened, out of which 17 were included in the final qualitative synthesis, and 5 studies in the meta-analysis. The odds ratio for the two subgroups evaluated did not show significance with no heterogeneity between the effects observed between the different diseases (I2=0%) and obtaining the global estimate of 0.76 (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.41–1.39; p>0.05). Despite the inclusion of papers with different disease samples, the heterogeneity observed in the analysis was low (I2= 0%) and prediction interval (95% PI=0.32–1.80; p>0.05) remained close to that estimated by the CI (95% CI=0.41–1.39; p>0.05). The certainty of the evidence assessed by the GRADE tool was considered very low due to the risk of bias, indirect evidence, and imprecision. Conclusions The findings of this study suggest that the use of chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine is not associated with hearing disorders.

Objective: To verify the trypanocidal effectiveness of aescin and aescin liposomes against Trypanosoma evansi in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Aescin and aescin liposomes were used in vitro on trypomastigotes at different concentrations (0.5%, 1.0% and 2.0%) and exposure times (0, 1, 3, 6 and 9 h). In vivo tests were performed using mice as the experimental model. Trypanosome evansi infected mice were treated with aescin and aescin liposomes with doses of 60 and 100 mg/kg during 4 d. Results: The three concentrations tested in free form and nanoencapsulated showed trypanocidal activity in vitro, completely eliminating the parasites in small concentration after 6 h of assay. Animals treated with aescin (100 mg/kg) and aescin liposomes (100 mg/kg) showed increase in longevity, however without curative effect. Conclusions: Active compounds present in natural products, such as aescin, may potentiate the treatment of trypanosomosis when used in association with other trypanocidal drugs.

Objective To isolate Candida albicans (C. albicans) from the urine of hospitalized patients and assess the virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility profiles of the isolates. Methods Yeasts were identified using the chromogenic medium CHROMagar™, the VITEK