Comparison of the levels of depression and anxiety during the first and fourth waves of coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the levels of depression, anxiety, physical activity, and mobility restrictions between the first wave in June 2020 and the fourth wave in January 2022 of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Brazil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Brazilian citizens answered a self-administered questionnaire that included questions related to personal information, mobility restriction levels, physical activity levels, and the status of mood disorders in June 2020 (n=1853) and January 2022 (n=728). RESULTS: The levels of mobility restrictions (p<0.001), anxiety (p<0.001), and depression (p<0.001) significantly decreased from 2020 to 2022. In June 2020, 23.2% of the participants presented moderate to severe anxiety, and in January 2022, this percentage decreased to 14.8%. In June 2020, 29.6% of the participants presented moderate to severe depressive symptoms, and in January 2022 this percentage decreased to 19.3%. On the contrary, physical activity levels significantly increased between 2020 and 2022 (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: During the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, participants were less restricted and more physically active than in the first wave. Furthermore, anxiety and depression levels were significantly lower in the fourth wave than in the first wave. Despite this reduction, levels of anxiety and depression remain high; therefore, the authors suggest measures to encourage physical activity and promote mental health.

On the use of Europium (Eu) for designing new metal-based anticancer drugs.

Europium oxide (Eu2O3) was used to evaluate the affinity of this rare earth element for interacting with double-stranded (ds) DNA molecules. To perform the study, we used single molecule force spectroscopy with optical tweezers and gel electrophoresis assays. Force spectroscopy experiments show that Eu2O3 presents a strong interaction with dsDNA, and the binding is independent on the ionic strength used in the surrounding environment. Among the main characteristics of the interaction, Eu2O3 tends to bind in a cooperative way, forming bound clusters of ∼ 3 molecules, and presents a high equilibrium association binding constant on the order of 105 M-1. In addition, gel electrophoresis confirm the weak electrostatic character of the interaction and explicit show that Eu2O3 does not interfere on drug intercalation into the double-helix. Such results demonstrate the potential of europium for interacting with nucleic acids and strongly suggest that this rare earth element may be considered for the design of new metal-based anticancer drugs in the future.

Levantamento parasitológico realizado em munícipes do interior do estado de São Paulo (Brasil) entre os anos de 1957 a 1986

Parasitism caused by protozoa and helminths is a serious public health problem, affecting millions of individuals worldwide, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. From this perspective, a parasitological survey was conducted in 37 cities in the interior of the state of São Paulo. This study focused mainly on old places such as schools and rural and urban health units in the interior of the State of São Paulo between 1957 and 1986. The objective of this study was to conduct a comprehensive survey on the data found to diagnose the occurrence of parasitic diseases in the city. Population at that time, according to their rural and urban origin, age and gender. Thus, the proposal is to make the generated data available to all interested parties in an organized and systematized manner and to discuss the reality faced by the population regarding the current public policies in Brazil relating the sanitary conditions with the occurrence of endoparasites. According to the survey conducted in the municipalities studied, 274,487 occurrences of individuals positive for endoparasites were obtained from 391,633 samples collected. The highest frequency was found in children aged 1 to 10 years with 146,090 cases, accounting for 37,302% of the infected population. The percentage of parasitized individuals decreases with increasing age.

Os quadros de parasitismos causados por protozoários e helmintos constituem sérios problemas de saúde pública, por afetarem milhões de indivíduos em todo o mundo, sobretudo, nos países subdesenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento. Sob esta perspectiva foi realizado um levantamento parasitológico em 37 cidades do interior do Estado de São Paulo. Este estudo contemplou principalmente antigos locais como as escolas e unidades de saúde rurais e urbanas do interior do Estado de São Paulo entre os anos de 1957 e 1986. O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar um levantamento abrangente nos dados encontrados para diagnosticar a ocorrência de parasitoses na população da época, segundo sua origem rural e urbana, a faixa etária e o gênero. Dessa forma, a proposta é tornar os dados gerados disponíveis a todos os interessados de forma organizada e sistematizada e discutir a realidade enfrentada pela população frente às políticas públicas vigentes no Brasil relacionando as condições sanitárias com a ocorrência de endoparasitoses. Segundo o levantamento realizado nos municípios estudados, obteve-se 274.487 ocorrências de indivíduos positivos para endoparasitas a partir de 391.633 amostras coletadas. A maior frequência foi encontrada em crianças de 1 a 10 anos com 146.090 casos, sendo estes responsáveis por 37.302% da população infectada. A porcentagem de indivíduos parasitados diminui de acordo com o aumento da idade.

Mesodesma mactroides Gill Cells Exposed to Copper: Does Hyposmotic Saline Increase Cytotoxicity or Cellular Defenses?

Gill cells of filter feeding mollusks have cellular defense mechanisms, such as multixenobiotic resistance (MXR), that allow them to extrude possible contaminants. To analyze the cytotoxicity and cellular defenses of gills in the clam Mesodesma mactroides, gill cells were exposed to copper in both iso- and hyposmotic solutions. Analysis of MXR activity by fluorescence microscopy showed that hyposmotic saline activated defenses, whereas the presence of copper in isosmotic solution inhibited the activation of defenses. Cell viability was decreased in cells exposed to copper in isosmotic saline, but not in cells exposed to hyposmotic saline. We conclude that when cells cannot defend themselves due to decreased MXR, cell death occurs. In addition, gill cells under hyposmotic conditions have a greater capacity for defense and a lower rate of cellular mortality than when they are maintained under isosmotic conditions.

Energy transfer between CdS nanocrystals and neodymium ions embedded in vitreous substrates.

Experimental evidence has been observed for energy transfer from CdS nanocrystals, synthesized by the fusion method, to Nd(3+) ions embedded in vitreous substrates. These dot samples doped with neodymium have been investigated by combined optical absorption (OA), photoluminescence (PL), and time-resolved photoluminescence (PLRT) techniques. Radiative and nonradiative energy transfers between CdS dot and Nd(3+) ion levels, to our knowledge not reported before, can be clearly observed in the PL spectra where the emission band valleys correspond exactly to the energy absorption peaks of the doping ion. The PLRT data reinforce these energy transfer mechanisms in which the increasing overlap between the CdS PL band and the OA to the Nd(3+) levels decreases stimulated emissions from the doping ions.