[Features of patients admitted with COVID-19 to a Chilean regional hospital during the first stages of the pandemic]. / COVID-19 en adultos en el Hospital de Puerto Montt en la primera etapa de la pandemia.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic posed a great strain in health services. AIM: To describe the epidemiological and clinical features of patients with SARS-CoV-2 admitted to a regional hospital in southern Chile between April and August 2020. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical records of all hospitalized patients with RT-PCR (+) for SARS-CoV-2 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: During the study period 226 patients aged 55 ± 18 years (55% men) were admitted. The main comorbidities were high blood pressure in 45%, diabetes in 31% and obesity in 21%. The main symptoms were dyspnea in 70%, cough in 69%, fever in 62% and myalgia in 47%. Pneumonia was the main cause of admission in 66%. Images on admission were compatible with pneumonia in 81%, and with a typical COVID-19 pattern in 84%. In 76% there was five-lobe involvement. Eighty-seven cases (39%) were admitted to critical care, with an APACHE score of 10.9 ± 7.1. Invasive mechanical ventilation was used in 16%, 30% required prone position and 13%, a high-flow nasal cannula. The mean stay in critical care was 13.3 days. The mean duration of invasive mechanical ventilation was 14.1 days. Antimicrobials were used in 55% and dexamethasone in 36%. Twenty-two (9.7%) patients aged 71.7 ± 14 died. A Charlson comorbidity index > 3, heart failure and connection to invasive mechanical ventilation were independent risk factors for death. An age > 65 years alone and other comorbidities were not risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Viral pneumonia is the main cause of hospitalization for COVID-19, usually extensive and bilateral. The greater severity and poor prognosis of these patients are mainly related to comorbidities.

[Clinical and epidemiological differences and similarities of viral pneumonias in two pandemics]. / Diferencias y similitudes clínicas y epidemiológicas de la neumonía viral en dos pandemias.

BACKGROUND: In a decade, we faced two pandemic viruses, influenza A H1N1pdm09 and SARS CoV-2, whose most serious manifestation is pneumonia. AIM: To compare the clinical, epidemiological and management aspects of pneumonias caused by each pandemic virus in adults requiring hospitalization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Comparative, observational study carried out at a regional Chilean hospital, including 75 patients with influenza A H1N1pdm09 prospectively studied in 2009 and 142 patients with SARS-CoV-2 studied in 2020. RESULTS: Patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were older (56 and 39.7 years respectively, p < 0.01) and had significantly more comorbidities. Cough, fever and myalgias were more frequent in influenza. Dyspnea was more frequent in COVID-19. Patients with COVID-19 had more extensive lung involvement and a longer hospitalization (13.6 and 8.6 days respectively, p = 0.01). There was no difference on ICU admission requirements and mortality attributable to pneumonia. Patients with influenza had greater APACHE scores and a higher frequency of a PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤ 200. During COVID-19pandemic chest sean replaced x-ray examination. Also high-flow nasal cannulas and awake prone position ventilation were added as treatments. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients were older, had fewer classic flu symptoms but more dyspnea and longer hospitalization periods than patients with influenza.

Influence of the substrate's hydrophilicity on the in vitro Schwann cells viability.

A series of polymeric biomaterials including poly (methyl acrylate) (PMA), chitosan (CHT), poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA), poly(hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA), and a series of random copolymers containing ethyl acrylate and hydroxyethyl acrylate monomeric units were tested in vitro as culture substrates and compared for their impact on the proliferation and expansion of Schwann cells (SCs). Immunocytochemical staining assay and scanning electron microscopy techniques were applied to perform a quantitative analysis to determine the correct maintenance of the cultured glial cells on the different biomaterials. The results strongly suggest that cell attachment and proliferation is influenced by the substrate's surface chemistry, and that hydrophobic biomaterials based on PMA, PEA, and the copolymers PEA and PHEA in a narrow composition window are suitable substrates to promote cell attachment and proliferation of SCs in vitro.

Diferencias y similitudes clínicas y epidemiológicas de la neumonía viral en dos pandemias / Clinical and epidemiological differences and similarities of viral pneumonias in two pandemics

BACKGROUND: In a decade, we faced two pandemic viruses, influenza A H1N1pdm09 and SARS CoV-2, whose most serious manifestation is pneumonia. AIM: To compare the clinical, epidemiological and management aspects of pneumonias caused by each pandemic virus in adults requiring hospitalization. Material and Methods: Comparative, observational study carried out at a regional Chilean hospital, including 75 patients with influenza A H1N1pdm09 prospectively studied in 2009 and 142 patients with SARS-CoV-2 studied in 2020. RESULTS: Patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were older (56 and 39.7 years respectively, p < 0.01) and had significantly more comorbidities. Cough, fever and myalgias were more frequent in influenza. Dyspnea was more frequent in COVID-19. Patients with COVID-19 had more extensive lung involvement and a longer hospitalization (13.6 and 8.6 days respectively, p = 0.01). There was no difference on ICU admission requirements and mortality attributable to pneumonia. Patients with influenza had greater APACHE scores and a higher frequency of a PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤ 200. During COVID-19pandemic chest sean replaced x-ray examination. Also high-flow nasal cannulas and awake prone position ventilation were added as treatments. Conclusions: COVID-19 patients were older, had fewer classic flu symptoms but more dyspnea and longer hospitalization periods than patients with influenza.

COVID-19 en adultos en el Hospital de Puerto Montt en la primera etapa de la pandemia / Features of patients admitted with COVID-19 to a Chilean regional hospital during the first stages of the pandemic

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic posed a great strain in health services. AIM: To describe the epidemiological and clinical features of patients with SARS-CoV-2 admitted to a regional hospital in southern Chile between April and August 2020. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical records of all hospitalized patients with RT-PCR (+) for SARS-CoV-2 were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: During the study period 226 patients aged 55 ± 18 years (55% men) were admitted. The main comorbidities were high blood pressure in 45%, diabetes in 31% and obesity in 21%. The main symptoms were dyspnea in 70%, cough in 69%, fever in 62% and myalgia in 47%. Pneumonia was the main cause of admission in 66%. Images on admission were compatible with pneumonia in 81%, and with a typical COVID-19 pattern in 84%. In 76% there was five-lobe involvement. Eighty-seven cases (39%) were admitted to critical care, with an APACHE score of 10.9 ± 7.1. Invasive mechanical ventilation was used in 16%, 30% required prone position and 13%, a high-flow nasal cannula. The mean stay in critical care was 13.3 days. The mean duration of invasive mechanical ventilation was 14.1 days. Antimicrobials were used in 55% and dexamethasone in 36%. Twenty-two (9.7%) patients aged 71.7 ± 14 died. A Charlson comorbidity index > 3, heart failure and connection to invasive mechanical ventilation were independent risk factors for death. An age > 65 years alone and other comorbidities were not risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Viral pneumonia is the main cause of hospitalization for COVID-19, usually extensive and bilateral. The greater severity and poor prognosis of these patients are mainly related to comorbidities.