ObjectiveThe adherence to public health recommendations to control COVID-19 spread is influenced by public knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP). We performed this cross-sectional study to assess the levels and determinants of public KAP towards COVID-19 in a large, multinational sample.DesignCross-sectional study (survey).SettingThe questionnaire was distributed to potential respondents via online platforms.Participants71 890 individuals from 22 countries.MethodsWe formulated a four-section questionnaire in English, followed by validation and translation into seven languages. The questionnaire was distributed (May to June 2020) and each participant received a score for each KAP section.ResultsOverall, the participants had fair knowledge (mean score: 19.24±3.59) and attitudes (3.72±2.31) and good practices (12.12±1.83) regarding COVID-19. About 92% reported moderate to high compliance with national lockdown. However, significant gaps were observed: only 68.2% knew that infected individuals may be asymptomatic; 45.4% believed that antibiotics are an effective treatment; and 55.4% stated that a vaccine has been developed (at the time of data collection). 71.9% believed or were uncertain that COVID-19 is a global conspiracy; 36.8% and 51% were afraid of contacting doctors and Chinese people, respectively. Further, 66.4% reported the pandemic had moderate to high negative effects on their mental health. Female gender, higher education and urban residents had significantly (p≤0.001) higher knowledge and practice scores. Further, we observed significant correlations between all KAP scores.ConclusionsAlthough the public have fair/good knowledge and practices regarding COVID-19, significant gaps should be addressed. Future awareness efforts should target less advantaged groups and future studies should develop new strategies to tackle COVID-19 negative mental health effects.

BACKGROUND Lower limb ulcers are a serious medical and socioeconomic problem throughout the world. One type of chronic wound of the lower extremities is the venous ulcer. Therapeutic methods for treating venous ulcer include the use of the Unna boot. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness of the customized Unna boot in the treatment of venous ulcers and to monitor the subsequent development and healing of the lesions. METHODS Prospective exploratory and quantitative longitudinal study, conducted at the "Outpatients Department (Wound Care) of the Grupo da Fraternidade Espírita Irmão Alexandre" in the city of Pouso Alegre (MG), Brazil, in 2008. The sample consisted of 32 patients with venous ulcers who underwent treatment with the Unna boot and 11 patients (control group), who used a simple bandage application. The patients'lesions were monitored over a three month period. RESULTS The average age of the predominently female (65.1%) patients was 61.88. From observing the differences in healing times at the three evaluation stages, it was clear that after the initial evaluation the wound area decreased in Groups 1 and 2 (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONThe use of the customized Unna boot contributes to quicker healing. However, over a period of three months the simple bandage applications were seen to be just as effective as the Unna boot method.

Chronic kidney disease is a disease with high morbidity and mortality. The daily life of affected patients includes negative feelings, fear of prognosis, disability, and economic dependence, as well as challenges related to changes in self-image. Religion and spirituality can be important resources in dealing with these difficulties. To test this hypothesis a qualitative, descriptive study was undertaken at the Hospital das Clínicas Samuel Libânio, Pouso Alegre/MG, in order to verify from the point of view of both doctors and patients if they believe that religion influences the treatment of the disease. For doctors, religion represents a strength and a comfort when facing any disease. Patients, however, identify religion with the hope that they will get better. While the significance of religion in their lives was different between the groups, both agreed that it represents a beneficial factor in the life of patients, providing relief, support and optimism. Keywords: Religion. Renal insufficiency, chronic. Qualitative research. Quality of life. Bioethics. ResumoReligião no tratamento da doença renal crônica: comparação entre médicos e pacientes A insuficiência renal crônica é uma doença de elevada morbimortalidade. O cotidiano dos pacientes acometidos reveste-se de sentimentos negativos, medo do prognóstico, incapacidade, dependência econômica, além daqueles relacionados à alteração da autoimagem. A religião e a espiritualidade podem ser recursos importantes para lidar com essas dificuldades. Para verificar essa hipótese, realizou-se no Hospital das Clínicas Samuel Libânio de Pouso Alegre/MG estudo qualitativo descritivo, objetivando avaliar, do ponto de vista do médico e do paciente, em que medida a religião influi no tratamento da doença. Para os médicos, a religião representa força e conforto no enfrentamento de qualquer doença. Já os pacientes, todavia, depositam na religião a esperança de que irão melhorar. O significado da religião em suas vidas foi distinto entre os dois grupos analisados; entretanto, ambos concordam que a religião configura um fator benéfico na vida do paciente, propiciando alívio, suporte e otimismo. Palavras-chave: Religião. Insuficiência renal crônica. Pesquisa qualitativa. Qualidade de vida. Bioética. ResumenReligión en el tratamiento de la enfermedad renal crónica: una comparación entre médicos y pacientes La insuficiencia renal crónica es una enfermedad con una elevada morbilidad y mortalidad. La vida diaria de los pacientes afectados es de sentimientos negativos, el miedo ante el pronóstico, la incapacidad, la dependencia económica, además de aquello relacionado con el cambio de imagen de sí mismo. La religión y la espiritualidad pueden ser recursos importantes para hacer frente a estas dificultades. Para comprobar esta hipótesis, se llevó a cabo en el Hospital das Clínicas Samuel Libânio, de Pouso Alegre/MG un estudio cualitativo, descriptivo, con el fin de verificar, desde el punto de vista del médico y del paciente en qué medida la religión influye en el tratamiento de...

PuRPOsE: To determine the optimum concentration of a gel obtained from unripe banana (Musa sapientum) peel for wound treatment in rats. METHOds:A randomized triple blind study was conducted with 40 Wistar rats, which were divided into 4 groups: CG, control group; G2%, 2% gel concentration group; G4%, 4% gel concentration group; and G10%, 10 % gel concentration group. The banana peel gel was applied daily, for 7 days, to a 4-cm² wound created on the back of each animal of all groups. After this period, the wounds were biopsied. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Kruskal-Wallis test complemented by the Student-Newman-Keuls test.REsuLTs: Macroscopic examination revealed that partial epithelialization occurred in all groups. Wound contraction was also observed in all groups and ranged from 1.38 to 1.57 mm in the study groups, and from 1.03 to 1.10 mm in the control group, with significant differences (p < 0.05) between the groups: CG and G10%, G2% and G4%, G2% and G10%. The interquartile deviation was smaller between the groups CG and G4%. CONCLusION:The 4% gel obtained from unripe banana peel (G4%) resulted in better epithelialization of wounds healed by secondary intention compared with other gel concentrations.Keywords: Musa sapientum. Wound Healing. Rats. REsuMO OBJETIVO: Avaliar a concentração ideal do gel da casca de Musa sapientum verde no tratamento de feridas em ratos.MéTOdOs: Estudo randomizado, triplo cego, com 40 ratos da linhagem Wistar divididos em quatro grupos: GC controle, G2% gel a 2%, G4% gel a 4%, G10% gel a 10%. Realizou-se aplicação diária do gel nas diferentes concentrações, durante sete dias, em uma ferida de 4 cm 2 realizada no dorso de cada rato. Após este período, as lesões foram biopsiadas. Para analise dos dados utilizou-se o teste de Kruskal-Wallis complementado pelo teste de Student-Newman-Keuls. REsuLTAdOs:Os achados macroscópicos demonstraram reepitelização parcial em todos os grupos. A contração da área da ferida variou entre 1,38 a 1,57 mm nos grupos de estudo, e entre 1,03 a 1,10 mm no grupo controle. Houve diferença significante (p < 0,05) entre os grupos: GC e G10%, G2% e G4%, G2% e G10%, sendo o desvio interquartílico menor entre os grupos GC e G4%.CONCLusãO: O gel a 4% da casca de M. sapientum verde promoveu maior área de epitelização em feridas com cicatrização por segunda intenção, em relação ao gel nas outras concentrações testadas.descritores: Musa sapientum. Cicatrização. Ratos. -Acta Cirúrgica Brasileira -Vol. 26 (5) 2011AtzingenI DANCV et al.