Evidence that high temperatures and intermediate relative humidity might favor the spread of COVID-19 in tropical climate: A case study for the most affected Brazilian cities.

This study aimed to analyze how meteorological conditions such as temperature, humidity and rainfall can affect the spread of COVID-19 in five Brazilian (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Manaus and Fortaleza) cities. The cities selected were those with the largest number of confirmed cases considering data of April 13. Variables such as number of cumulative cases, new daily cases and contamination rate were employed for this study. Our results showed that higher mean temperatures and average relative humidity favored the COVID-19 transmission, differently from reports from coldest countries or periods of time under cool temperatures. Thus, considering the results obtained, intersectoral policies and actions are necessary, mainly in cities where the contamination rate is increasing rapidly. Thus, prevention and protection measures should be adopted in these cities aiming to reduce transmission and the possible collapse of the health system.

On the use of surface neutron-gamma gauges to estimate soil water content.

Surface neutron-gamma gauges are handy instruments to measure soil water contents and bulk densities of surface layers. Although available for some decades, their optimal use is still not well established. This study is a contribution to improve their use, mainly in relation to calibration, and of the effect of soil dry bulk density on soil water content measurements.

[Dermatitis herpetiformis and latent celiac disease in two siblings]. / Dermatite erpetiforme e malattia celiaca silente in due fratelli.

The association between coeliac disease (CD) and dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is well known. Moreover, this cutaneous disease may be the only sign of an otherwise asymptomatic CD. Subjects presenting with both CD and DH generally show an HLA pattern in which A1, B8, DR2, DR7, DQw2 are the most frequent antigens one can find. We report about 2 brothers presenting with DH, clinically asymptomatic, without antigliadin serum antibodies (AGA), but positive to the research of antiendomysial (EMA) ones. The biopsy performed by digestive endoscopy showed a complete atrophy of duodenal villi and the diagnosis of CD was confirmed according to the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (ESPGAN) criteria. The diet without gluten caused the DH to recovery and the duodenal villi microscopic aspect to normalize as well. Both the brothers had the same HLA pattern: A1, B8, DR3-DR2, DQw2. Our clinical study suggests that it is very important, especially for the general practitioner, to recognize a DH and in every child presenting with a dermatitis like that it will be mandatory to perform a laboratory research of both AGA and EMA.

[Autoimmune endocrinopathies and Down's syndrome: a case report]. / Endocrinopatie autoimmuni e sindrome di Down: descrizione di un caso.

The authors refer about a girl, 16 years old, affected by Down's syndrome which developed diabetes mellitus (type I) and soon after hypothyroidism following autoimmune thyroiditis. They underline the usefulness of monitoring endocrine function in these patients.

[Considerations on the complications of epidemic parotitis]. / Considerazioni sulle complicanze di un'epidemia di parotite.

The AA describe 82 cases of complications occurred during an outbreak of mumps in 1980-81. Forty-two cases of meningitis, 4 of pancreatitis, 2 of orchitis and 2 cases of encefalitis occurred. All patients had eventual, complete recovery. The other cases are not specific complications. The treatment was almost entirely symptomatic. The headache of meningitis was relieved by a lumbar poncture. In the epicrisis of the AA these cases of complications have some importance in relation to the opportunity of getting herd vaccination against mumps.