COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is involved in the activation and regulation of the complement system, demonstrating an important role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. The aim was to evaluate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in PTX3 and its plasma levels with the severity of COVID-19. This is a retrospective cohort study, carried out between August 2020 and July 2021, including patients with confirmed COVID-19 hospitalized in 2 hospitals in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Polymorphisms in PTX3 (rs1840680 and rs2305619) were determined by real-time PCR. PTX3 plasma levels were measured by ELISA. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were determined by flow cytometry. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify parameters independently associated with COVID-19 severity. P values  < 0.05 were considered significant. The study included 496 patients, classified as moderate ( n = 267) and severe ( n = 229) cases. The PTX3 AA genotype (rs1840680) was independently associated with protection against severe COVID-19 ( P = 0.037; odds ratio = 0.555). PTX3 plasma levels were significantly associated with COVID-19 severity and mortality ( P < 0.05). PTX3 levels were significantly correlated with IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein, total leukocytes, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, urea, creatinine, ferritin, length of hospital stay, and higher respiratory rate ( P < 0.05). Our results revealed a protective effect of the PTX3 AA genotype (rs1840680) on the development of severe forms of COVID-19. Additionally, PTX3 plasma levels were associated with the severity of COVID-19. The results of this study provide evidence of an important role of PTX3 in the immunopathology of COVID-19. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10238-022-00926-w.

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Background We described the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in groups of Brazilian Indigenous people at different degrees of urbanization. Methods The Project of Atherosclerosis among Indigenous populations (Projeto de Aterosclerose em Indígenas; PAI) is a cross-sectional study conducted in Northeast Brazil between August 2016–June 2017. It included three populations: Fulni-ô Indigenous people (lowest degree of urbanization), Truká Indigenous people (greater urbanization), and a highly urbanized non-Indigenous local cohort (control group). Participants were assessed to register sociodemographic, anthropometric, as well as clinical and laboratory-derived cardiovascular (CV) risk parameters. Age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was also computed. Nonparametric tests were used for group comparisons. Results Here we included 999 participants, with a predominance of females in all three groups (68.3% Control group, 65.0% Fulni-ô indigenous group, and 60.1% Truká indigenous group). Obesity was present in 45.6% of the urban non-Indigenous population, 37.7% Truká and in 27.6% Fulni-ô participants. The prevalence of hypertension was 29.1% (n = 297) with lower prevalence in the less urbanized Fulni-ô people (Fulni-ô – 18.2%; Truká – 33.9%; and Control – 33.8%; p < 0.001). In the elderly male population, the prevalence of hypertension was 18.7% in the Fulni-ô, 45.8% in the Truká, and 54.5% in the control group. Of the 342 participants that self-reported hypertension, 37.5% (n = 68) showed uncontrolled blood pressure (BP). Uncontrolled BP was more prevalent among Truká people when compared to Fulni-ô people and non-Indigenous participants (45.4%, 22.9%, and 40.7%, respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusions We found a higher cardiovascular risk in communities with a higher degree of urbanization, suggesting that living in towns and cities may have a negative impact on these aspects of cardiovascular health.

: Comunidades indígenas são detentoras de um rico conhecimento acerca do uso de plantas medicinais empregadas em seus complexos sistemas terapêuticos. Entretanto, apesar do avanço nas pesquisas etnomedicobotânicas que visam compreender a tríplice homem-saúde-flora, as insuficientes informações sobre o tema fragilizam o entendimento do real perfil de saúde dessas populações, inclusive sobre a saúde bucal. Desse modo, este estudo teve como objetivo realizar o levantamento de plantas medicinais utilizadas por comunidades indígenas brasileiras para saúde bucal, bem como investigar a bioatividade descrita para as espécies encontradas através de uma revisão sistemática. Os trabalhos acessados mencionam 17 etnoespécies com diferentes partes utilizadas, formas de preparo e modos de uso. Entre estas, 29% possuem propriedades descritas para odontologia, as quais corroboram a indicação tradicional, 47% possuem propriedades médicas que justificam a utilização, como antimicrobiana e anti-inflamatória, enquanto 24% não possuem potenciais para saúde disponível na literatura acessada. O levantamento endossa a riqueza do conhecimento botânico medicinal indígena do Brasil e sua eficácia na profilaxia e tratamento bucal, porém evidencia a necessidade de mais estudos direcionados à área.

Background: Although most coronavirus disease 2019 infections are mild, some patients have severe clinical conditions requiring hospitalization. Data on the severity of COVID-19 in Brazil are scarce and are limited to public databases. This study aimed to investigate the clinical and laboratory factors associated with the severity of COVID-19 in a cohort of hospitalized adults from two hospitals in Northeast Brazil.Methods: Patients over 18 years of age who were hospitalized between August 2020 and July 2021 with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 were included. The patients were classified into two groups: moderate and severe. Clinical, laboratory and imaging parameters were collected and compared between the groups. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to determine the predictors of COVID-19 severity.Results: This study included 495 patients (253 moderate and 242 severe). A total of 372 patients (75.2%) were between 18 and 65 years of age, and the majority were male (60.6%; n = 300). Patients with severe disease had higher levels of leukocytes, neutrophils, platelets, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, blood glucose, C-reactive protein, ferritin, D-dimer, aspartate aminotransferase, creatinine, and urea (p < 0.05). In multivariate logistic regression, the following variables were significant predictors of COVID-19 severity: leukocytes (odds ratio [OR] 3.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.12-5.06), international normalized ratio (INR) (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.14-0.33), and urea (OR 4.03; 95% CI 2.21-7.35). Conclusions:The present study identified the clinical and laboratory factors associated with the severity of COVID-19 in hospitalized Brazilian individuals.

DISCUSSING ABOUT TEENAGE PREGNANCY WITH STUDENTS OF THE JOSÉ ESMERINDO RIBEIRO MUNICIPAL SCHOOL – PETROLINA/PECONVERSANDO SOBRE EL EMBARAZO EN LA ADOLESCENCIA CON ESTUDIANTES DE LA ESCUELA MUNICIPAL ESMERINDO RIBEIRO – PETROLINA/PETrabalhar para a promoção à saúde entre adolescentes constitui um desafio do cotidiano das equipes de saúde da família, principalmente no tocante à problemática da gravidez na adolescência, que perpassa tanto a educação quanto a saúde pública. Por ser multicausal, este problema necessita de intervenções que atuem intersetorialmente para uma abordagem mais integral e eficaz. O estudo trata de um relato de experiência de caráter descritivo realizado com adolescentes do quinto e sexto ano do ensino fundamental da Escola Municipal José Esmerindo Ribeiro, na zona rural do município de Petrolina – PE. Realizados no formato de oficinas, os encontros foram compostos por quatro momentos e desenvolvidos por profissionais de enfermagem lotadas na equipe de saúde da família Maria Tereza, Petrolina – PE. Participaram vinte adolescentes, em média, por encontro, dentre aqueles que verbalizaram interesse em participar do programa de atividade educativa ofertado pela unidade de saúde. A equipe de saúde, juntamente com a direção da escola, enviou aos pais e/ou responsáveis formulário de autorização quanto à liberação do adolescente para participação nas atividades. Os encontros envolveram exposição de filmes, interpretação de músicas, rodas de conversa, expressões teatrais e exposição oral. Dessa forma, o programa alcançou êxito entre o público de estudantes adolescentes e demonstra o potencial desses jovens como multiplicadores da informação sobre saúde, confirmando a possibilidade de ampliação das ações intersetoriais como oportunidades para a atuação na promoção à saúde.Palavras-chave: Adolescência; Atenção Básica; Sexualidade.ABSTRACTHealth promotion among teenagers constitutes a daily challenge to the family health teams, mainly regarding the issue of teenage pregnancy that involves both the Educational area and Public Health. Because of its multicausal aspect, this problem needs intersectoral interventions to achieve a more integral and effective approach. The study brings a report of the experience achieved with teenagers from 5th and 6th grade from the Public School José Esmerindo Ribeiro located on the rural area of Petrolina – PE. Held as workshops, the meetings were organized in 4 stages and conducted by professional Nurses, who worked at the Maria Tereza family health team of Petrolina – PE. About twenty teenagers attended the meetings, selected by their teachers among those who showed interest in participating of the program of educational activities offered by the Health Unit. The Health Unit, in combination with school administration, sent to the students’ parents or legal guardians an authorization form regarding the teenager clearance to participate in the activities. The meetings involved movie exhibition, song discussion, group debate, theatrical expressions and oral presentation. It is possible to consider that the program was successful among the teenage students group, which demonstrates their potential as health information multipliers and confirms the possibility of the expansion of intersectoral actions as opportunities to act on health promotion.Keywords: Adolescence; Basic Attention; Sexuality.RESUMENTrabajar promoviendo la salud entre los adolescentes constituye un desafío cotidiano de los equipos de salud familiar, principalmente en lo que se refiere a la problemática del embarazo en la adolescencia que atraviesa tanto la educación, como la salud pública. Por ser originado por varias causas, este problema necesita intervenciones que actúen intersectorialmente para un enfoque más integral y eficaz. El estudio trata de un relato de experiencia de carácter descriptivo realizado entre adolescentes del quinto y sexto año de la enseñanza fundamental de la Escuela Municipal José Esmerindo Ribeiro, en la zona rural del municipio de Petrolina – PE. Realizado en forma de talleres, las reuniones fueron compuestas de cuatro etapas y desarrolladas por profesionales de enfermería que hacen parte del equipo de salud familiar de María Teresa, Petrolina - PE. Participaron veinte adolescentes, en promedio, por encuentro, entre aquellos que verbalizaron interés en participar del programa de actividad educativa ofrecido por la unidad de salud. El equipo de salud, junto con la dirección de la escuela, envió a los padres y / o responsables formulario de autorización solicitando la liberación del adolescente para participar en las actividades. Los encuentros comprendían exposición de películas, interpretación de canciones, ruedas de conversación, expresiones teatrales y exposición oral. De esta forma, el programa alcanzó el éxito entre el público de estudiantes adolescentes y demuestra el potencial de esos jóvenes como multiplicadores de la información sobre salud, confirmando la posibilidad de ampliación de las acciones intersectoriales como oportunidades para la actuación en la promoción de la salud.Palabras clave: Adolescencia; Atención Básica; Sexualidad.

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