A pandemia de covid-19 e as fake news: uma revisão da literatura / The COVID-19 pandemic and the fake news: a literature review

Resumo Este artigo apresenta os resultados da revisão narrativa sobre as fake news ocorridas durante o período mais crítico da pandemia de covid-19. Foi realizada uma busca por palavras nas bases de dados da BVSMS, BVSalud e Scielo, utilizando-se a expressão fake news AND covid-19, notícia falsa AND covid-19 e desinformación AND Covid-19, por ser expressões que atendiam aos dois idiomas selecionados para a revisão: português e espanhol. O critério de inclusão privilegiou os artigos que utilizaram a web como fonte das pesquisas, publicados entre 2020 e 2022. Foram analisados 24 artigos, sendo 14 escritos em língua portuguesa e 10 em espanhol. O ano de 2022 concentrou o maior número de publicações (n=11), e concluiu-se que as redes sociais são os veículos de maior disseminação desse tipo de desinformação. A disseminação das fake news durante o segundo ano da pandemia de covid-19 foi tão preocupante quanto a própria doença, mas a literatura ainda não explorou suficiente o fenômeno que ainda acompanha a pandemia ainda não finalizada. A maioria dos textos analisados aconselham a utilização da estratégia disseminadora de notícias para divulgar informações úteis sobre saúde, concluindo-se que os estudos analisados demonstraram que as notícias falsas estavam incompletas ou enganosas, mas a maioria foi não intencional.

Abstract This article presents the results of the narrative review on fake news that occurred during the most critical period of the COVID-19 pandemic. A word search was carried out in the BVSMS, BVSalud, and Scielo databases, using the expression fake news AND COVID-19, notícia falsa AND COVID-19, and desinformación AND COVID-19, since these expressions addressed the two languages selected for the review: Portuguese and Spanish. The inclusion criterion favored articles that used the web as a source of research, published between 2020 and 2022. A total of 24 articles were analyzed, 14 written in Portuguese and 10 in Spanish. The year 2022 concentrated the largest number of publications (n=11), and we concluded that social networks are the vehicles for the greatest dissemination of this type of information. The spread of fake news during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic was as worrying as the disease itself, but the literature has not explored sufficiently the phenomenon that still follows the pandemic still underway. Most of the analyzed texts advised to the use of the news dissemination strategy to disseminate useful information about health, concluding that the analyzed studies demonstrated that the false news were incomplete or misleading, but most were unintentional.

Prevalence of Treponemaspp. in endodontic retreatment-resistant periapical lesions

This study investigated the presence of the Treponema species in longstanding endodontic retreatment-resistant lesions of teeth with apical periodontitis, the association of this species with clinical/radiographic features, and the association among the different target species. Microbial samples of apical lesions were collected from twenty-five adult patients referred to endodontic surgery after unsuccessful root canal retreatment. Nested-PCR and conventional PCR were used for Treponema detection. Twenty-three periradicular tissue samples showed detectable levels of bacterial DNA. Treponema species were detected in 28% (7/25) of the cases. The most frequently detected species were T. socranskii (6/25), followed by T. maltophilum (3/25), T. amylovorum (3/25), T. lecithinolyticum(3/25), T. denticola (3/25), T. pectinovorum (2/25) and T. medium(2/25). T. vicentii was not detected in any sample. Positive statistical association was found between T. socranskiiand T. denticola,and between T. maltophilumand T. lecithinolyticum. No association was detected between the presence of any target microorganism and the clinical or radiographic features. Treponemaspp.are present, in a low percentage, in longstanding apical lesions from teeth with endodontic retreatment failure.

Micro-computed tomography and bond strength analysis of different root canal filling techniques.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and bond strength of three root filling techniques (lateral compaction, continuous wave of condensation and Tagger’s Hybrid technique [THT]) using micro‑computed tomography (CT) images and push‑out tests, respectively. Materials and Methods: Thirty mandibular incisors were prepared using the same protocol and randomly divided into three groups (n = 10): Lateral condensation technique (LCT), continuous wave of condensation technique (CWCT), and THT. All specimens were filled with Gutta‑percha (GP) cones and AH Plus sealer. Five specimens of each group were randomly chosen for micro‑CT analysis and all of them were sectioned into 1 mm slices and subjected to push‑out tests. Results: Micro‑CT analysis revealed less empty spaces when GP was heated within the root canals in CWCT and THT when compared to LCT. Push‑out tests showed that LCT and THT had a significantly higher displacement resistance (P < 0.05) when compared to the CWCT. Bond strength was lower in apical and middle thirds than in the coronal thirds. Conclusions: It can be concluded that LCT and THT were associated with higher bond strengths to intraradicular dentine than CWCT. However, LCT was associated with more empty voids than the other techniques.

Evaluation of cytotoxicity, antimicrobial activity and physicochemical properties of a calcium aluminate-based endodontic material

A calcium aluminate-based endodontic material, EndoBinder, has been developed in order to reduce MTA negative characteristics, preserving its biological properties and clinical applications. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity, antimicrobial activity, pH, solubility and water sorption of EndoBinder and to compare them with those of white MTA (WMTA). Material and Methods: Cytotoxicity was assessed through a multiparametric analysis employing 3T3 cells. Antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Staphylococcus aureus. (ATCC 25923) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10556) was determined by the agar diffusion method. pH was measured at periods of 3, 24, 72 and 168 hours. Solubility and water sorption evaluation were performed following ISO requirements. Data were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey`s test with a significance level of 5%. Results: EndoBinder and WMTA were non-cytotoxic in all tested periods and with the different cell viability parameters. There was no statistical differences between both materials (P>.05). All tested materials were inhibitory by direct contact against all microbial strains tested. EndoBinder and WMTA presented alkaline pH in all tested times with higher values of pH for WMTA (P<.05). Both materials showed values complying with the solubility minimum requirements. However, EndoBinder showed lower solubility than WMTA (P<.05). No statistical differences were observed regarding water sorption (P>.05). Conclusion: Under these experimental conditions, we concluded that the calcium aluminate-based endodontic material EndoBinder demonstrated suitable biological and physicochemical properties, so it can be suggested as a material of choice in root resorption, perforations and root-end filling. .