Objectives : To compare the RT-PCR Allplex SARS-CoV-2/FluA/FluB/RSV Assay (Allplex assay) with other methods of detection of VOC B.1.1.7. Methods : Suspected and non-suspected cases of VOC B.1.1.7 were defined according to the VirSNiP assay, which detects N501Y and deletion H69-V70. For pre-screening, the Allplex™ and TaqPath assays were used. Results : One hundred and sixteen suspected and 113 non-suspected cases were included. In the suspected cases, the Allplex assay showed N-gene dropout, or delayed Ct values of 6.27±1.21 and 6.66±1.41 compared with those of the RdRP and S-gene target, respectively. Agreement between the Allplex and TaqPath assays was 100% when the RdRP and S-gene targets had Ct values <35. Agreement between the Allplex and VirSNiP assays was 100% with Ct value <30. Conclusions : The Allplex assay showed excellent agreement with the current pre-screening method for VOC B.1.1.7. In addition, its automated processing enhances the feasibility of widespread use in laboratories.

Nos últimos cinquenta anos, a agricultura brasileira sofreu, positivamente, radicais inovações. O investimento em pesquisa contribuiu para o desenvolvimento de tecnologias aplicadas ao setor, incluindo aprimoramento de sementes, solo e maquinário. Com esse avanço, a produção mundial de alimentos está passando por uma nova onda de revolução, encabeçada pelo uso de dados através de ferramentas tecnológicas. A implantação dessas tecnologias depende de, ao menos, dois fatores: infraestrutura no campo e desejo de inovar por parte dos produtores rurais. Inserido neste contexto, o intuito deste trabalho é identificar o grau de transformação digital e adoção de tecnologias em propriedades rurais. A metodologia de pesquisa aqui aplicada foi de natureza descritiva e exploratória. Como principal resultado, nota-se a aptidão dos produtores rurais, em geral, à adoção de novas ferramentas tecnológicas em suas atividades, apesar de alguns obstáculos estruturais a serem superados para conectividade e uso de dados no campo.

Background: In Ecuador, a high mortality was observed during the maximum peak of COVID-19 cases in spring/summer 2020. Thus, 10000 thousand more deaths were registered in 2020 compared to 2019 in the same period time. A few researchers in Latin America have identified clinical conditions that could be associated with severity and mortality of this disease. The aim of this study was to describe main clinical characteristics and risk factors in patients with COVID-19 in the Ecuadorian context. Methods: A cross sectional analytic study was conducted from March to July 2020. Adult patients with COVID-19 confirmed by PCR test and admitted in emergency service was included in this study. Descriptive statistical measures were computed, and Chi-squared and logistic regression were performed to analyze associations between categorical variables. Results: The main results of 157 patients, showed that had a high prevalence of comorbidities (45%), and the case-fatality rate in this group was around 37%. Hypertension (17.83%) and diabetes (14.65%) were the most prevalent chronic diseases with a significant difference between sex groups (p value 0.00). Risk factor such as age more than 65 years, presence of comorbidities such as non-communicable diseases, and abnormalities in blood markers like urea, AST, lactate, leucocytes, PO2 and D-dimer increased risk to die in this population. Conclusions: The elevated prevalence of non-communicable diseases (hypertension and diabetes) contributed to a high mortality in adult patients with COVID-19. Huge challenges must face health care systems in the Latin America countries due to the high prevalence of these diseases.

Este artículo reflexiona sobre el proceso de integración latinoamericana y andina y su evolución, desde sus orígenes hasta el estado en que se encuentra en la actualidad. La integración es abordada como un conjunto de mecanismos mediante los cuales los países se asocian con determinados objetivos políticos, comerciales, sociales y culturales. El proceso de integración latinoamericana transitó por todos ellos, pero ha presentado más voluntad e intenciones que resultados concretos. El presente trabajo expone algunos de dichos logros, así como plantea la labor pendiente en materia de integración en nuestra región.