From Illness to Resilience: Mediating Factors of Quality of Life in Patients with Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of childhood morbidity, with an estimated prevalence of 0.8-1%. However, advances in diagnosis and treatment now allow 90% of childhood CHD patients to survive to adulthood, leading to increased interest in their quality of life (QoL). In this study, we examine the impact of clinical and psychosocial variables, including the number of surgical interventions (NSI), age at surgery, school achievement, and social support, as mediating factors of QoL in CHD patients. Methods: The study included 233 CHD patients (132 males) with an average age of 15.2 ± 2.07 years, including 80 with cyanotic CHD and 153 with acyanotic CHD. The severity of illness ranged from mild to severe, with 30 patients having a severe illness, 119 having a moderate illness, and 84 having a mild illness. One-hundred-sixty-three patients underwent surgery. Clinical data on diagnosis, the severity of CHD, the type of CHD, and surgical interventions were collected from patient records, and a semi-structured interview was conducted to explore the relationship between CHD diagnosis and various aspects of life. QoL was assessed using the Abbreviated World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-Bref) questionnaire. Results: Ten mediation models were analyzed, each with three hypotheses (paths). In all models the first hypothesis was supported. Analyses of the second and third hypotheses revealed three feasible models of mediation through the effect of NSI on QoL in CHD patients. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that patients with more severe and cyanotic CHD generally require more surgical interventions, which may increase the risk of negative outcomes and affect patients' perception of QoL. These results have important implications for healthcare providers and psychologists who work with childhood CHD patients.

Methods and cell-based strategies to produce antibody libraries: current state.

Antibodies are critical components of the adaptive immune system, whose therapeutic applications have been growing exponentially in the last years. Discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies encompasses in vivo immunization, synthetic libraries, and surface display methodologies. To overcome some of their limitations, several platforms in higher eukaryotic cells have been developed. Moreover, these platforms aim to replicate in the bench both primary and secondary antibody diversification mechanisms that occur in vivo. Here, we describe the latest strategies that have been used to mirror both naïve and affinity-maturated antibody repertoire. KEY POINTS: • Therapeutic antibodies are one of the most promising classes of drugs to fight diseases. • Antibodies discovered through hybridoma or display technologies require further engineering. • Innovative antibody discovery platforms in higher eukaryotic cells have been developed.

Purification Methodology for Viable and Infective Plasmodium vivax Gametocytes That Is Compatible with Transmission-Blocking Assays.

Significant progress toward the control of malaria has been achieved, especially regarding Plasmodium falciparum infections. However, the unique biology of Plasmodium vivax hampers current control strategies. The early appearance of P. vivax gametocytes in the peripheral blood and the impossibility of culturing this parasite are major drawbacks. Using blood samples from 40 P. vivax-infected patients, we describe here a methodology to purify viable gametocytes and further infect anophelines. This method opens new avenues to validate transmission-blocking strategies.

Clinical profile of 93 cases of 46, XY disorders of sexual development in a referral center.

The term DSD refers to disorders that affect the normal process of sexual development causing disagreement between chromosomal, gonadal and phenotypic sex, and this study aimed to describe the clinical profile of a group with DSD 46, XY joined on DSD Clinic of Hospital of Salvador, Bahia Clinics. It was a retrospective study of medical records of survey data of 93 patients with DSD 46, XY. Among the patients studied 50.5% had no defined etiology and 20.4% had androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS), 63.4% had been initially recorded in males, 31 (33.3%) in females, being that in two it was necessary to reassignment. All patients with complete AIS pure gonadal dysgenesis and had female genitalia. Others have been diagnosed with genital ambiguity or severe hypospadias and cryptorchidism. The gonads were palpable at the first consultation in 75.3% of patients. It is important to establish an active surveillance program for these patients. The first assessment took place before the age of ten in more than 50% of cases, which shows that much needs to be done for medical education and community about the DSD. Because the phenotypic variability of sexual development disorders was noted that the clinical profile of patients studied ranged between different etiologies, including hindering the diagnostic conclusion of these individuals.

Social determinants and access to health services in patients with COVID-19: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the association between social determinants of health and access to health services for COVID-19 patients. METHOD: Analytical, cross-sectional study, carried out in three states in the Northeast of Brazil (Ceará, Maranhão and Pernambuco), with 968 patients, using questionnaires with sociodemographic data, determinants and the Primary Care Assessment Tool, adapted to the reality of COVID-19, with 58 items, classified as high (score ≥ 6.6) and low (score < 6.6), whose high value reveals better standards of access to health services. The Chi-square test was used for comparative analysis. RESULTS: There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the domains of the instrument and the following determinants: age, skin color, body mass index, origin, schooling, employment, services close to home, first service, income and means of transport. CONCLUSION: Access to health services for people with COVID-19 was associated with various determinants, including individual, behavioural and social ones, correlated with the structural and organizational aspects of the health services offered by the three states of Northeastern Brazil.

Treatment patterns and preferences of people living with HIV starting or switching antiretroviral therapy: Real-world evidence from Portugal.

BACKGROUND: There is a lack of up-to-date real-life evidence on antiretroviral therapy (ART) strategies among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Portugal. This study aimed to describe the treatment strategy used in PLWH either initiating or switching ART. METHODS: Non-interventional, cross-sectional, multicenter study carried out between December 2019 and October 2021 in Portugal. RESULTS: A total of 237 PLWH were included in this study, 171 of whom were ART-experienced and 66 were ART-naïve. The study showed that triple regimens were the most common ART strategy and integrase strand transfer inhibitors-based therapy was the most frequently used therapeutic class in both ART-naïve and ART-experienced PLWH. Nevertheless, about a third of PLWH who started a triple regimen transitioned to a dual regimen. Patient-reported outcomes revealed high HIV literacy and similar ART preferences in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: This real-world study showed that triple regimens were the most widely used ART strategy, even after the European AIDS Clinical Society guidelines introduced the recommendation of a dual regimen for naïve patients. The cohorts of this study presented a high level of HIV literacy at the time of inclusion. Our findings highlighted that taking pills only once a day is considered a very important feature for most patients.

Protective effect of diphenyl diselenide against peroxynitrite-mediated endothelial cell death: a comparison with ebselen.

Excess production of superoxide (O2(-)) and nitric oxide (NO) in blood vessel walls may occur early in atherogenesis leading to the formation of peroxynitrite, a strong oxidant and nitrating agent. This study was designed to determine the effect of diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2, a synthetic organoselenium compound, in comparison with ebselen, on peroxynitrite-mediated endothelial damage. Experimental results showed that pre-incubation of BAEC (24 h) with low concentrations of (PhSe)2 (0.5 and 1 µM) protected the cells from peroxynitrite-dependent apoptosis and protein tyrosine nitration. The intracellular levels of GSH were almost completely depleted by peroxynitrite and, although the compounds did not restore its normal levels, (PhSe)2 per se significantly increased GSH in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, (PhSe)2, which was about two times more active as a GPx mimic than ebselen, induced a significantly higher increase in both cellular GPx expression and activity. Taking into account the kinetics of the reaction between peroxynitrite and (PhSe)2, our data indicate that (PhSe)2 protects BAEC against peroxynitrite-mediated cell damage not by a direct reaction, but rather by increasing cellular GPx expression as a consequence of enhanced nuclear translocation of Nrf-2, which together with the increase in intracellular GSH, may work catalytically to reduce peroxynitrite to nitrite.

Primary Health Care assessment in the COVID-19 pandemic from physicians' and nurses' perspective.

OBJECTIVES: to assess the operationalization of Primary Health Care in the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Primary Care Assessment Tool: PCATool-Brasil attributes, from physicians' and nurses' perspective. METHODS: a cross-sectional study, carried out with 99 physicians and nurses from Basic Health Units in a state in northeastern Brazil, with the aid of the adapted instrument PCATool-Brasil. RESULTS: Essential Score was classified as high performance (6.6) and General Score as low performance (6.5). First Contact Access, Care Integration, and Community Guidance scores were <6.6. The best performances were attributed to the Longitudinality, Comprehensiveness and Family Guidance services (scores>6.6). CONCLUSIONS: the attributes of Primary Health Care, in general, showed values above or close to the cut-off point in the assessment. These data can support strategies for local and national managers to strengthen Primary Health Care in the COVID-19 pandemic and future public health emergencies.

Data Processing to Probe the Cellular Hydrogen Peroxide Landscape.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) regulates signaling pathways by modulating the activity of redox-sensitive proteins denominated redox switches. The magnitude of the transient variations in localized H2O2 pools during signaling events and how these variations impact redox switches present in the cell remain elusive. A canonical model with two chemical reactions comprising the oxidation/reduction cycle of a redox switch is described. The model is dimensionless with respect to the redox switch concentration. Thus, the time-series data required to apply the equations deduced is the percentage of oxidation of a redox switch, avoiding the application of absolute concentrations that are often difficult to measure experimentally. Here, we describe detailed protocols for the processing of experimental data with the canonical model to probe the absolute concentrations of H2O2 found in the vicinity of redox switches and probes, as well as the kinetic parameters that describe the reduction and oxidation of redox switches. The protocols are an analytical tool that helps to depict the cellular hydrogen peroxide signaling landscape, giving new insights on H2O2 signaling mechanisms, and hold the potential to be a framework for a future redox kinetomics analytical platform.

Deaths due to COVID-19 in a state of northeastern Brazil: spatiotemporal distribution, sociodemographic and clinical and operational characteristics.

BACKGROUND: The detection of spatiotemporal clusters of deaths by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is essential for health systems and services, as it contributes to the allocation of resources and helps in effective decision making aimed at disease control and surveillance. Thus we aim to analyse the spatiotemporal distribution and describe sociodemographic and clinical and operational characteristics of COVID-19-related deaths in a Brazilian state. METHODS: A descriptive and ecological study was carried out in the state of Maranhão. The study population consisted of deaths by COVID-19 in the period from 29 March to 31 July 2020. The detection of spatiotemporal clusters was performed by spatiotemporal scan analysis. RESULTS: A total of 3001 deaths were analysed with an average age of 69 y, predominantly in males, of brown ethnicity, with arterial hypertension and diabetes, diagnosed mainly by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in public laboratories. The crude mortality rates the municipalities ranged from 0.00 to 102.24 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants and three spatiotemporal clusters of high relative risk were detected, with a mortality rate ranging from 20.25 to 91.49 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants per month. The headquarters was the metropolitan region of São Luís and municipalities with better socio-economic and health development. CONCLUSIONS: The heterogeneous spatiotemporal distribution and the sociodemographic and clinical and operational characteristics of deaths by COVID-19 point to the need for interventions.

Ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion in patients with diabetic foot: a mid-range theory.

OBJECTIVE: to develop a mid-range theory for nursing diagnosis ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion in patients with diabetic foot. METHOD: the theory construction was carried out in six stages: approach definition; theoretical-conceptual model definition; definition of the main concepts; pictogram development; construction of propositions and establishment of causal relationships evidence for practice. RESULTS: twelve etiological factors and 22 clinical indicators were included in the theory, some of which were not listed in NANDA International (Inc.) and others were adapted to better characterize patients with diabetic foot. A pictogram was constructed and eight propositions were established to verify causal relationships and evidence for practice. CONCLUSION: medium-range theory made it possible to broaden the concepts and demonstrate the causal relationships between the elements of ineffective peripheral tissue perfusion, providing subsidies to minimize gaps in knowledge and assist clinical nursing practice.

Assessment of tissular integrity in patients with diabetic foot.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impairment of tissue integrity in patients with diabetic foot and verify its association with time of diagnosis of the disease. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted with 134 patients in an outpatient clinic located in the Northeast region of Brazil. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection, which was subjected to descriptive analysis and the Mann-Whitney U non-parametric test. RESULTS: Indicators with the lowest average score were: skin temperature, sweating, skin lesions, right and left pedal pulses, right and left tibial pulses. Patients less than ten years old had worse scores on thickness, elasticity, right tibial pulse and tissue integrity. Those with a diagnosis time of more than ten years had a greater impairment of sensation and right pulse. CONCLUSION: All indicators showed some impairment of tissue integrity, and the time of diagnosis of the disease was associated with six of these.

Association between knowledge and adherence to foot self-care practices performed by diabetics.

OBJECTIVES: to verify the association between knowledge and adherence to foot self-care practices performed by patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. METHODS: cross-sectional, descriptive study carried out with 197 patients in basic health units located in the Northeast region of Brazil. For data collection, we used a semi-structured questionnaire that addressed issues inherent to knowledge and Diabetes Self-Care Activities. RESULTS: we observed that patients with moderate knowledge about self-care practices were more likely to perform foot self-examination, dry the interdigital spaces, moisturize their feet with creams and oils, observe the presence of mycosis and ingrown toenail when compared to patients with insufficient knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: the patients' level of knowledge was closely related to the self-care activities carried out, which reinforces the importance of nurses working on training those on essential health care.

Chimeric polymers formed from a monomer capable of free radical, oxidative and electrochemical polymerisation.

A new monomer, which incorporates both aniline and methacrylamide functional groups, was shown to possess orthogonal polymerisation behaviour to produce conjugated polyaniline suitable for a wide range of applications.

Social determinants and access to health services in patients with COVID-19: a cross-sectional study / Determinantes sociales y acceso a los servicios sanitarios en pacientes con COVID-19: un estudio transversal / Determinantes sociais e acesso aos serviços de saúde em pacientes com COVID-19: estudo seccional

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the association between social determinants of health and access to health services for COVID-19 patients. Method: Analytical, cross-sectional study, carried out in three states in the Northeast of Brazil (Ceará, Maranhão and Pernambuco), with 968 patients, using questionnaires with sociodemographic data, determinants and the Primary Care Assessment Tool, adapted to the reality of COVID-19, with 58 items, classified as high (score ≥ 6.6) and low (score < 6.6), whose high value reveals better standards of access to health services. The Chi-square test was used for comparative analysis. Results: There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the domains of the instrument and the following determinants: age, skin color, body mass index, origin, schooling, employment, services close to home, first service, income and means of transport. Conclusion: Access to health services for people with COVID-19 was associated with various determinants, including individual, behavioural and social ones, correlated with the structural and organizational aspects of the health services offered by the three states of Northeastern Brazil.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Verificar la asociación de los determinantes sociales de la salud con el acceso de los pacientes con COVID-19 a los servicios de salud. Método: Estudio analítico, transversal, realizado en tres estados del Nordeste de Brasil (Ceará, Maranhão y Pernambuco), con 968 pacientes, utilizando cuestionarios con datos sociodemográficos, determinantes y la Herramienta de Evaluación de la Atención Primaria (PCATool), adaptada a la realidad de la COVID-19, con 58 ítems, clasificados en alto (puntuación ≥ 6,6) y bajo (puntuación < 6,6), cuyo valor alto revela mejores estándares de acceso a los servicios de salud. Se utilizó la prueba de chi-cuadrado para analizar las comparaciones. Resultados: Hubo diferencia significativa (p < 0,05) entre los dominios del instrumento y los siguientes determinantes: edad, color de piel, índice de masa corporal, origen, escolaridad, empleo, servicios cercanos al domicilio, primer servicio, ingreso y medio de transporte. Conclusión: El acceso a los servicios de salud de las personas con COVID-19 se asoció a diversos determinantes, entre ellos individuales, comportamentales y sociales, correlacionados con los aspectos estructurales y organizativos de los servicios de salud ofrecidos por los tres estados del nordeste de Brasil.

RESUMO Objetivo: Verificar a associação dos determinantes sociais da saúde com o acesso de pacientes com COVID-19 aos serviços de saúde. Método: Estudo analítico, transversal, desenvolvido em três estados do Nordeste brasileiro (Ceará, Maranhão e Pernambuco), com 968 pacientes, utilizando-se de questionários de dados sociodemográficos, determinantes e do Primary Care Assessment Tool, adaptado para realidade da COVID-19, com 58 itens, classificado em alto (escore ≥ 6,6) e baixo (escore < 6,6), cujo valor alto revela melhores padrões de acesso aos serviços de saúde. Para análise comparativa, empregou-se o teste do Qui-quadrado. Resultados: Verificou-se diferença significativa (p < 0,05) entre os domínios do instrumento e os seguintes determinantes: idade, cor da pele, índice de massa corporal, procedência, escolaridade, vínculo empregatício, serviços próximos à residência, primeiro serviço de atendimento, renda e meios de transporte. Conclusão: O acesso aos serviços de saúde de pessoas com COVID-19 esteve associado aos diversos determinantes, sendo estes individuais, comportamentais, sociais, correlacionados aos aspectos estruturais e organizacionais dos serviços de saúde ofertados pelos três estados do Nordeste brasileiro.

Resveratrol disrupts peroxynitrite-triggered mitochondrial apoptotic pathway: a role for Bcl-2.

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene) is a phytochemical believed to be partly responsible for the cardioprotective effects of red wine due to its numerous biological activities. Here, we studied biochemical pathways underlying peroxynitrite-mediated apoptosis in endothelial cells and potential mechanisms responsible for resveratrol cytoprotective action. Peroxynitrite triggered endothelial cell apoptosis through caspases-8, -9 and -3 activation implying both mitochondrial and death receptor apoptotic pathways. Resveratrol was able to prevent peroxynitrite-induced caspases-3 and -9 activation, but not caspase-8 activation. Additionally, peroxynitrite increased intracellular levels of Bax without affecting those of Bcl-2, increasing consequently the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. This ratio decreased when cells where pre-incubated with 10 and 50 muM resveratrol, mainly due to resveratrol ability per se to increase Bcl-2 intracellular levels without affecting Bax intracellular levels. These results propose an additional mechanism whereby resveratrol may exert its cardioprotective effects and suggest a key role for Bcl-2 in the resveratrol anti-apoptotic action, especially in disrupting peroxynitrite-triggered mitochondrial pathway.

Comparing Reverse Complementary Genomic Words Based on Their Distance Distributions and Frequencies.

In this work, we study reverse complementary genomic word pairs in the human DNA, by comparing both the distance distribution and the frequency of a word to those of its reverse complement. Several measures of dissimilarity between distance distributions are considered, and it is found that the peak dissimilarity works best in this setting. We report the existence of reverse complementary word pairs with very dissimilar distance distributions, as well as word pairs with very similar distance distributions even when both distributions are irregular and contain strong peaks. The association between distribution dissimilarity and frequency discrepancy is also explored, and it is speculated that symmetric pairs combining low and high values of each measure may uncover features of interest. Taken together, our results suggest that some asymmetries in the human genome go far beyond Chargaff's rules. This study uses both the complete human genome and its repeat-masked version.

Violência por parceiro íntimo na gestação e repercussão na saúde da mulher e do concepto / Violence by intimate partner in pregnancy and repercussion on women's and concept health / Violencia por parte de la pareja íntima en el embarazo y repercusión en la salud de la mujer y del concept

Objetivo: Identificar as evidências científicas sobre as repercussões da Violência do Parceiro Íntimo (VPI) na gravidez sobre a saúde da mulher e do feto. Método: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura. As buscas na literatura foram realizadas na Biblioteca Virtual de Saúde; Medline via Pubmed e Web of Science. Resultados: Foram incluídos 21 artigos. Os estudos demonstram que mulheres vítimas na gravidez apresentam maior vulnerabilidade a sofrimento psicológico, apresentando elevação nos níveis de estresse, tristeza, angústia, transtorno mental comum e ideação suicida. Elas são mais suscetíveis abaixa adesão ao pré-natal e a problemas ginecológicos e obstétricos, apresentando chances elevadas de infecção no trato urinário e vaginais, aumento do risco de internações pré-natais e maiores chances de evoluírem para morbidade materna aguda grave. Para a saúde do concepto, exposição a violência está relacionada a chance aumentada a ocorrência de aborto espontâneo, crescimento intrauterino restrito, parto prematuro, baixo peso ao nascer, morte perinatal, mortalidade infantil e na infância. Ainda foi demonstrado que a violência materna no período gestacional está associada a baixa adesão a imunização da criança, menor duração do aleitamento materno e com a necessidade de encaminhar a criança para o acompanhamento especializado para a triagem neonatal auditiva. Conclusão: O impacto da VPI em mulheres grávidas e em seus filhos evidencia a importância de uma maior atenção a essa problemática. No entanto, a desigualdade de gênero representa o cerne das possibilidades de romper o ciclo da VPI no período gestacional e suas consequências para saúde do binômio mãe-bebê.

Objective: To identify the scientific evidence on the repercussions of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in pregnancy on the health of the woman and the fetus. Method: This is an integrative literature review. Literature searches were performed in the Virtual Health Library; Medline via Pubmed and Web of Science. Results: 21 articles were included. Studies show that women victims of pregnancy are more vulnerable to psychological distress, with increased levels of stress, sadness, anguish, common mental disorder and suicidal ideation. They are more susceptible to poor adherence to prenatal care and to gynecological and obstetric problems, presenting high chances of urinary tract and vaginal infections, increased risk of prenatal hospitalizations and greater chances of progressing to severe acute maternal morbidity. For the health of the fetus, exposure to violence is related to an increased chance of spontaneous abortion, restricted intrauterine growth, premature birth, low birth weight, perinatal death, infant and childhood mortality. It has also been shown that maternal violence in the gestational period is associated with low adherence to the child's immunization, shorter duration of breastfeeding and the need to refer the child to specialized monitoring for neonatal hearing screening. Conclusion: The impact of IPV on pregnant women and their children highlights the importance of greater attention to this problem. However, gender inequality represents the coreof the possibilities of breaking the cycle of IPV in the gestational period and its consequences for the health of the mother-baby binomial.

Objetivo: Identificar la evidencia científica sobre las repercusiones de la Violencia de Pareja (VPI) en el embarazo sobre la salud de la mujer y el feto. Método: Esta es una revisión integradora de la literatura. Se realizaron búsquedas bibliográficas en la Biblioteca Virtual en Salud; Medline vía Pubmed y Web of Science. Resultados: se incluyeron 21 artículos. Los estudios muestran que las mujeres víctimas del embarazo son más vulnerables al malestar psicológico, con mayores niveles de estrés, tristeza, angustia, trastorno mental común e ideación suicida. Son más susceptibles a la mala adherencia al control prenatal ya los problemas ginecológicos y obstétricos, presentando altas posibilidades de infecciones urinarias y vaginales, mayor riesgo de hospitalizaciones prenatales y mayores posibilidades de progresar a morbilidad materna aguda severa. Para la salud del feto, la exposición a la violencia está relacionada con una mayor probabilidad de aborto espontáneo, crecimiento intrauterino restringido, parto prematuro, bajo peso al nacer, muerte perinatal, mortalidad infantil y en la niñez. También se ha demostrado que la violencia materna en el período gestacional está asociada con la baja adherencia a la vacunación del niño, la menor duraciónde la lactancia materna y la necesidad de derivar al niño a seguimiento especializado para el tamizaje auditivo neonatal. Conclusión: El impacto de la VPI en las mujeres embarazadas y sus hijos destaca la importancia de una mayor atención a este problema.Sin embargo, la desigualdad de género representa el núcleo de las posibilidades de romper el ciclo de la VPI en el período gestacional y sus consecuencias para la salud del binomio madre-bebé.

Primary Health Care assessment in the COVID-19 pandemic from physicians' and nurses' perspective / Evaluación de la Atención Primaria de Salud en la pandemia de COVID-19 desde la perspectiva de médicos y enfermeras / Avaliação da atenção primária à saúde na pandemia COVID-19 na perspectiva de médicos e enfermeiros

ABSTRACT Objectives: to assess the operationalization of Primary Health Care in the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Primary Care Assessment Tool: PCATool-Brasil attributes, from physicians' and nurses' perspective. Methods: a cross-sectional study, carried out with 99 physicians and nurses from Basic Health Units in a state in northeastern Brazil, with the aid of the adapted instrument PCATool-Brasil. Results: Essential Score was classified as high performance (6.6) and General Score as low performance (6.5). First Contact Access, Care Integration, and Community Guidance scores were <6.6. The best performances were attributed to the Longitudinality, Comprehensiveness and Family Guidance services (scores>6.6). Conclusions: the attributes of Primary Health Care, in general, showed values above or close to the cut-off point in the assessment. These data can support strategies for local and national managers to strengthen Primary Health Care in the COVID-19 pandemic and future public health emergencies.

RESUMEN Objetivos: evaluar la operacionalización de la Atención Primaria de Salud en la pandemia de la COVID-19, según los atributos del Instrumento de Evaluación de la Atención Primaria: PCATool-Brasil, en la perspectiva de médicos y enfermeros. Métodos: estudo transversal, realizado com 99 médicos e enfermeiros de Unidades Básicas de Saúde de um estado do Nordeste do Brasil, com auxílio do instrumento adaptado PCATool-Brasil. Resultados: Escore Essencial foi classificado como alto desempenho (6,6), e Escore Geral, como baixo desempenho (6,5). Las puntuaciones de acceso al primer contacto, integración de la atención y orientación comunitaria fueron <6,6. Los mejores desempeños fueron atribuidos a los servicios de Longitudinalidad, Integralidad y Orientación Familiar (puntuaciones > 6,6). Conclusiones: los atributos de la Atención Primaria de Salud, en general, presentaron valores superiores o cercanos al punto de corte en la evaluación. Estos datos pueden respaldar estrategias para que los administradores locales y nacionales fortalezcan la Atención Primaria de Salud en la pandemia de COVID-19 y futuras emergencias de salud pública.

RESUMO Objetivos: avaliar a operacionalização da Atenção Primária à Saúde na pandemia de COVID-19, segundo os atributos do Primary Care Assessment Tool: PCATool-Brasil, na perspectiva de médicos e enfermeiros. Métodos: estudo transversal, realizado com 99 médicos e enfermeiros de Unidades Básica de Saúde de um estado do Nordeste do Brasil, com auxílio do instrumento adaptado PCATool-Brasil. Resultados: Escore Essencial foi classificado como alto desempenho (6,6), e Escore Geral, como baixo desempenho (6,5). Os escores de Acesso de Primeiro Contato, Integração do Cuidado e Orientação Comunitária foram <6,6. Os melhores desempenhos foram atribuídos aos serviços Longitudinalidade, Integralidade e Orientação Familiar (escores > 6,6). Conclusões: os atributos da Atenção Primária à Saúde, em geral, apresentaram valores superiores ou próximos ao ponto de corte na avaliação. Esses dados podem subsidiar estratégias de gestores locais e nacionais para o fortalecimento da Atenção Primária à Saúde na pandemia de COVID-19 e futuras emergências de saúde pública.

Quantitative biology of hydrogen peroxide signaling.

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) controls signaling pathways in cells by oxidative modulation of the activity of redox sensitive proteins denominated redox switches. Here, quantitative biology concepts are applied to review how H2O2 fulfills a key role in information transmission. Equations described lay the foundation of H2O2 signaling, give new insights on H2O2 signaling mechanisms, and help to learn new information from common redox signaling experiments. A key characteristic of H2O2 signaling is that the ratio between reduction and oxidation of redox switches determines the range of H2O2 concentrations to which they respond. Thus, a redox switch with low H2O2-dependent oxidability and slow reduction rate responds to the same range of H2O2 concentrations as a redox switch with high H2O2-dependent oxidability, but that is rapidly reduced. Yet, in the first case the response time is slow while in the second case is rapid. H2O2 sensing and transmission of information can be done directly or by complex mechanisms in which oxidation is relayed between proteins before oxidizing the final regulatory redox target. In spite of being a very simple molecule, H2O2 has a key role in cellular signaling, with the reliability of the information transmitted depending on the inherent chemical reactivity of redox switches, on the presence of localized H2O2 pools, and on the molecular recognition between redox switches and their partners.