Coronavirus disease-related in-hospital mortality: a cohort study in a private healthcare network in Brazil.

COVID-19-related in-hospital mortality has been reported at 30.7-47.3% in Brazil, however studies assessing exclusively private hospitals are lacking. This is important because of significant differences existing between the Brazilian private and public healthcare systems. We aimed to determine the COVID-19-related in-hospital mortality and associated risk factors in a Brazilian private network from March/2020 to March/2021. Data were extracted from institutional database and analyzed using Cox regression model. Length of hospitalization and death-related factors were modeled based on available independent variables. In total, 38,937 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized of whom 3058 (7.8%) died. Admission to the intensive care unit occurred in 62.5% of cases, and 11.5% and 3.8% required mechanical ventilation (MV) and renal replacement therapy (RRT), respectively. In the adjusted model, age ≥ 61 years-old, comorbidities, and the need for MV and/or RRT were significantly associated with increased mortality (p < 0.05). Obesity and hypertension were associated with the need for MV and RRT (p < 0.05).

Production and characterization of electrospun silk fibroin based asymmetric membranes for wound dressing applications.

Nowadays, wound dressings with improved properties are under development and among them, asymmetric membranes have gained an increasing interest due to their two-layered structure that mimic both the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin. Herein, a new asymmetric membrane was produced using the electrospinning technique. The top layer was produced with silk fibroin (SF) and poly(caprolactone) to reproduce the dense nature and waterproof ability of the epidermis. On the other hand, the dermis-like bottom layer was manufactured with SF and hyaluronic acid loaded with an herbal drug (thymol (THY)). All the data gathered showed that the produced electrospun asymmetric membrane exhibited the porosity, wettability, and mechanical properties suitable for the healing process. Further, the in vitro data also demonstrated that the human fibroblast is able to adhere and spread at the membranes' surface, thus confirming their biocompatibility. Moreover, the incorporation of THY into the bottom layer of the membrane, improved its antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Overall, the obtained results demonstrate the appropriateness of the produced membrane for wound healing applications.

Electrospun polymeric nanofibres as wound dressings: A review.

Skin wounds have significant morbidity and mortality rates associated. This is explained by the limited effectiveness of the currently available treatments, which in some cases do not allow the reestablishment of the structure and functions of the damaged skin, leading to wound infection and dehydration. These drawbacks may have an impact on the healing process and ultimately prompt patients' death. For this reason, researchers are currently developing new wound dressings that enhance skin regeneration. Among them, electrospun polymeric nanofibres have been regarded as promising tools for improving skin regeneration due to their structural similarity with the extracellular matrix of normal skin, capacity to promote cell growth and proliferation and bactericidal activity as well as suitability to deliver bioactive molecules to the wound site. In this review, an overview of the recent studies concerning the production and evaluation of electrospun polymeric nanofibrous membranes for skin regenerative purposes is provided. Moreover, the current challenges and future perspectives of electrospun nanofibrous membranes suitable for this biomedical application are highlighted.

Recent advances on antimicrobial wound dressing: A review.

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) have high rates of morbidity and mortality associated. Despite the successful treatment of some SSTIs, those affecting the subcutaneous tissue, fascia, or muscle delay the healing process and can lead to life-threatening conditions. Therefore, more effective treatments are required to deal with such pathological situations. Recently, wound dressings loaded with antimicrobial agents emerged as viable options to reduce wound bacterial colonization and infection, in order to improve the healing process. In this review, an overview of the most prominent antibacterial agents incorporated in wound dressings along with their mode of action is provided. Furthermore, the recent advances in the therapeutic approaches used in the clinic and some future perspectives regarding antibacterial wound dressings are also discussed.