Interaction between the New World begomovirus Euphorbia yellow mosaic virus and its associated alphasatellite: effects on infection and transmission by the whitefly Bemisia tabaci.

The majority of Old World monopartite begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae) are associated with satellite DNAs. Alphasatellites are capable of autonomous replication, but depend on the helper virus for movement, encapsidation and transmission by the insect vector. Recently, Euphorbia yellow mosaic alphasatellite (EuYMA) was found in association with Euphorbia yellow mosaic virus (EuYMV) infecting Euphorbia heterophylla plants in Brazil. The geographical range of EuYMA was assessed in a representative sampling of E. heterophylla plants collected in several states of Brazil from 2009 to 2014. Infectious clones were generated and used to assess the phenotype of viral infection in the presence or absence of the alphasatellite in tomato, E. heterophylla, Nicotiana benthamiana, Arabidopsis thaliana and Crotalaria juncea. Phenotypic differences of EuYMV infection in the presence or absence of EuYMA were observed in A. thaliana, N. benthamiana and E. heterophylla. Symptoms were more severe when EuYMV was inoculated in combination with EuYMA in N. benthamiana and E. heterophylla, and the presence of the alphasatellite was determinant for symptom development in A. thaliana. Quantification of EuYMV and EuYMA indicated that EuYMA affects the accumulation of EuYMV during infection on a host-dependent basis. Transmission assays indicated that EuYMA negatively affects the transmission of EuYMV by Bemisia tabaci MEAM1. Together, these results indicate that EuYMA is capable of modulating symptoms, viral accumulation and whitefly transmission of EuYMV, potentially interfering with virus dissemination in the field.

Hospitalizations and deaths of children and adolescents with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection due to COVID-19 during the epidemiological year of 2020.

This study aimed to analyze the profile of hospitalizations and factors associated with the deaths of children and adolescents with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) caused by SARS-CoV-2 nationwide. The study comprised 6,843 children and adolescents hospitalized in 2020 who tested positive for COVID-19, based on data from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System. Sociodemographic and clinical profiles, hospitalization frequency, lethality and recovery rates were analyzed. The outcome was recovery or death. The 6,843 children and adolescents comprised 1.9% of SARI hospitalized cases (n = 563,051). Of these, 57.7% developed critical SARI and 90% survived. Comorbidities were present in 40.8%, especially asthma, immunodepression, and neurological and cardiovascular diseases. The main symptoms were fever, cough, dyspnea, respiratory distress, and low oxygen saturation. Among those with critical SARI, 91.4% died. There was a higher frequency of children, especially those under five years of age and of mixed ethnicity. The highest hospitalization frequency occurred in the Southeastern and Northeastern regions, the highest recovery rates in the Southeastern and Southern regions, and the highest lethality rates in the Northern and Northeastern regions. Deaths were associated with ages ranging from 12 to 19 and being under one year of age, living in the Northern and Northeastern regions, progression to critical SARI, and having immunosuppression and cardiovascular disease. In contrast, asthma was associated with lower death rates. The frequency of complications and mortality rates caused by SARS-Cov-2 in the pediatric population are relevant, as well as the severity of the epidemic in the social inequality context and the health services' frailty.

Survival of patients with diabetes mellitus hospitalized for acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19.

Given the magnitude of COVID-19 and the increase in hospitalization cases for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), especially among patients with diabetes mellitus, it is essential to understand the epidemiological aspects inherent to the disease and the worsening of cases. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the survival of patients with diabetes mellitus hospitalized for SARS due to COVID-19 in different regions of Brazil. This is a longitudinal study, carried out based on data reported in the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System during the year 2020. The number of patients with diabetes mellitus among the hospitalized cases of SARS due to COVID-19 in the different regions of Brazil and the lethality rate among them were identified. A comparison of patient profiles of those who survived or did not survive and the Cox regression analysis were performed to evaluate the factors associated with shorter survival of patients. It was found that 51.4% of patients hospitalized with SARS due to COVID-19 had diabetes, and the case lethality rate among them was 45.0%. The Northeastern and Northern regions presented a higher proportion of patients with diabetes mellitus (56.5% and 54.3%, respectively) and a higher lethality rate (53.8% and 59.9%, respectively). The mean survival time of cases with diabetes mellitus hospitalized for SARS due to COVID-19 was estimated to be 35.7 days (0.5 days). A lower survival rate was observed among residents of the Northeastern and Northern regions with skin color reported as non-white, who required admission to Intensive Care Units and invasive mechanical ventilation, and presented respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, respiratory distress and an oxygen saturation lower than 95%. It is concluded that diabetes mellitus was responsible for the high occurrence and lethality, mainly in the Northeastern and Northern regions, among non-white patients and those with greater clinical severity, which reinforces the importance of taking measures aimed at supporting this population.

Hospitalizations and deaths of children and adolescents with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection due to COVID-19 during the epidemiological year of 2020

ABSTRACT This study aimed to analyze the profile of hospitalizations and factors associated with the deaths of children and adolescents with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) caused by SARS-CoV-2 nationwide. The study comprised 6,843 children and adolescents hospitalized in 2020 who tested positive for COVID-19, based on data from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System. Sociodemographic and clinical profiles, hospitalization frequency, lethality and recovery rates were analyzed. The outcome was recovery or death. The 6,843 children and adolescents comprised 1.9% of SARI hospitalized cases (n = 563,051). Of these, 57.7% developed critical SARI and 90% survived. Comorbidities were present in 40.8%, especially asthma, immunodepression, and neurological and cardiovascular diseases. The main symptoms were fever, cough, dyspnea, respiratory distress, and low oxygen saturation. Among those with critical SARI, 91.4% died. There was a higher frequency of children, especially those under five years of age and of mixed ethnicity. The highest hospitalization frequency occurred in the Southeastern and Northeastern regions, the highest recovery rates in the Southeastern and Southern regions, and the highest lethality rates in the Northern and Northeastern regions. Deaths were associated with ages ranging from 12 to 19 and being under one year of age, living in the Northern and Northeastern regions, progression to critical SARI, and having immunosuppression and cardiovascular disease. In contrast, asthma was associated with lower death rates. The frequency of complications and mortality rates caused by SARS-Cov-2 in the pediatric population are relevant, as well as the severity of the epidemic in the social inequality context and the health services' frailty.

Survival of patients with diabetes mellitus hospitalized for acute respiratory syndrome due to COVID-19

ABSTRACT Given the magnitude of COVID-19 and the increase in hospitalization cases for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), especially among patients with diabetes mellitus, it is essential to understand the epidemiological aspects inherent to the disease and the worsening of cases. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the survival of patients with diabetes mellitus hospitalized for SARS due to COVID-19 in different regions of Brazil. This is a longitudinal study, carried out based on data reported in the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System during the year 2020. The number of patients with diabetes mellitus among the hospitalized cases of SARS due to COVID-19 in the different regions of Brazil and the lethality rate among them were identified. A comparison of patient profiles of those who survived or did not survive and the Cox regression analysis were performed to evaluate the factors associated with shorter survival of patients. It was found that 51.4% of patients hospitalized with SARS due to COVID-19 had diabetes, and the case lethality rate among them was 45.0%. The Northeastern and Northern regions presented a higher proportion of patients with diabetes mellitus (56.5% and 54.3%, respectively) and a higher lethality rate (53.8% and 59.9%, respectively). The mean survival time of cases with diabetes mellitus hospitalized for SARS due to COVID-19 was estimated to be 35.7 days (0.5 days). A lower survival rate was observed among residents of the Northeastern and Northern regions with skin color reported as non-white, who required admission to Intensive Care Units and invasive mechanical ventilation, and presented respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, respiratory distress and an oxygen saturation lower than 95%. It is concluded that diabetes mellitus was responsible for the high occurrence and lethality, mainly in the Northeastern and Northern regions, among non-white patients and those with greater clinical severity, which reinforces the importance of taking measures aimed at supporting this population.

Degradation of Green Polyethylene by Pleurotus ostreatus.

We studied the biodegradation of green polyethylene (GP) by Pleurotus ostreatus. The GP was developed from renewable raw materials to help to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. However, little information regarding the biodegradation of GP discarded in the environment is available. P. ostreatus is a lignocellulolytic fungus that has been used in bioremediation processes for agroindustrial residues, pollutants, and recalcitrant compounds. Recently, we showed the potential of this fungus to degrade oxo-biodegradable polyethylene. GP plastic bags were exposed to sunlight for up to 120 days to induce the initial photodegradation of the polymers. After this period, no cracks, pits, or new functional groups in the structure of GP were observed. Fragments of these bags were used as the substrate for the growth of P. ostreatus. After 30 d of incubation, physical and chemical alterations in the structure of GP were observed. We conclude that the exposure of GP to sunlight and its subsequent incubation in the presence of P. ostreatus can decrease the half-life of GP and facilitate the mineralization of these polymers.