Endothelial function, arterial stiffness and heart rate variability of patients with cardiovascular diseases hospitalized due to COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may cause vascular (e.g., endothelial dysfunction, and arterial stiffness), cardiac, autonomic (e.g., heart rate variability [HRV]), and systemic inflammatory response via direct viral attack, hypoxia-induced injury, or immunological dysregulation, especially in those patients with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, to date, no study has shown prevalence of endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness and heart rate variability assessed by bedside peripheral arterial tonometry in patients with previous CVD hospitalized in the acute phase of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of endothelial dysfunction, arterial stiffness, and altered HRV in patients with CVD hospitalized due to COVID-19. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2020 to February 2021. Included male and female adult patients aged 40 to 60 years with previous CVD and diagnosed with COVID-19. Anthropometric data, comorbidities, and blood tests were analyzed. Endothelial function, arterial stiffness, and HRV were assessed using peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), and the statistical significance was set at 5%. RESULTS: Fourteen (51.8%) patients presented endothelial dysfunction (reactive hyperemia index = 1.2 ± 0.3) and enhancement in the high-frequency component of HRV (p < 0.05). There was a high prevalence of endothelial dysfunction, especially in patients with chronic heart failure (10 (71.4%)). Patients with preserved endothelial function showed a high augmentation index normalized to a heart rate of 75 bpm (p < 0.01), suggesting arterial stiffness. CONCLUSION: Patients with CVD hospitalized due to COVID-19 presented endothelial dysfunction assessed using PAT, which could be used as a biomarker for arterial stiffness and altered HRV. The possibility of detecting vascular and autonomic changes during phase II of COVID-19 may help to prevent possible long-term complications.

Perspectivas de qualidade de vida no trabalho: um estudo com supervisores de call center / Perspectives of quality of work life: a study with call center supervisors

A centralidade do trabalho na vida das pessoas tornou necessária a reflexão sobre a complexa relação estabelecida entre a sociedade e o trabalho. Desta forma, surge o conceito de Qualidade de Vida no Trabalho (QVT) e estabelece de forma genérica, mesmo diante de diferentes definições, a preocupação com o bem-estar geral e a saúde de trabalhadores. O objetivo deste artigo foi identificar a perspectiva de supervisores de call center sobre a QVT, a partir de um estudo descritivo, transversal e qualitativo. Fizeram parte deste estudo 30 supervisores de duas organizações privadas do setor de call center, sendo eles os gestores diretos das equipes de atendimento. Foi utilizada uma entrevista semiestruturada e os dados foram analisados através de análise de conteúdo temática na perspectiva de Bardin. Os resultados apontam para a necessidade latente de ações e práticas organizacionais efetivas voltadas à QVT por parte das empresas do segmento de call center.(AU)

The centrality of work in people’s lives made it necessary to reflect on the complex relationship determined between society and work. Thus, the Quality of Work Life (QWL) concept rises and generally establish, even if faced with different definitions, the concern with the workers well-being and health. The aim of this article is to identify the call center supervisor’s perspective about QWL, from a descriptive, cross sectional, qualitative study approach. Thirty supervisors from two private organizations in the call center sector collaborated with this study, being them the direct managers of the service teams. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and Bardin’s thematic analysis of the qualitative data were used as the research method. The results point to a latent need of effective organizational actions and practices toward a QWL by the companies in the call center business segment.(AU)

A meta-analysis shows that seaweeds surpass plants, setting life-on-Earth's limit for biomass packing.

BACKGROUND: As plants, algae and some sessile invertebrates may grow in nearly monospecific assemblies, their collective biomass increases and if they compete hard enough some die, freeing up space. The concurrent increase in biomass and decrease in density is called self-thinning, and its trajectory over time or maximum values represent a boundary condition. For a single stand developing over time the boundary defines the carrying capacity of the environment but the most extreme trajectories emulate the efficiency of species in packing biomass into space. RESULTS: Here we present a meta-analysis of compiled data on biomass and density from 56 studies of 42 species of seaweeds from 8 orders within 3 phyla scattered through the world's oceans. Our analysis shows that, with respect to biomass, seaweeds are the most efficient space occupiers on Earth because they transgress previously fixed limits derived from land plants. This is probably because seaweeds are not limited by water and do not need structures for its transport or for transpiration; they photosynthesise and uptake nutrients over their entire surface; they are attached to the substrate by holdfasts that are small proportional to their volume or weight compared to roots; water provides them better support, reducing the need for tissues for rigidity. We also identified a biomass concentration common to plants and seaweeds which represents the threshold that no life on the planet can pass. Using each stand's distance to the biomass-density boundary, we determined that within the seaweeds the efficiency of space occupation differed amongst taxonomic and functional groups as well as with clonality and latitude. CONCLUSIONS: Algae occupy space more efficiently than plants, most likely because the watery environment facilitates the physical processes and integration of space occupation. The distance-to-the-boundary proves a good metric to discriminate among groups and may be useful for comparison of the most efficient biomass producing systems, or for the identification of systems impacted by pollution.

Estresse e síndrome de Burnout em profissionais de enfermagem que atuam na nefrologia: uma revisão integrativa / Stress and Burnout syndrome among nursing professinals working in nephrology: an integrative review / Strés y agotamiento profesional en los trabajadores de enfermería de nefrología una revisión integradora

Objective: The chronic work-related stress can lead to Burnout syndrome development. Nurses working in nephrology are also predisposed to the occurrence of stress and Burnout. Objectives: The study's goal has been to identify the scientific production related to Burnout and stress in nephrology nursing workers; and also, discussing the risk factors with regards to Burnout and stress in nephrology nursing. Methods: This is an integrative review. The sampling was composed by 5,253 articles, which after refinement gave 13 complete articles. Results: From those 13 articles, 8 presented high levels of stress and/or Burnout among nurses in the hemodialysis sector, and 5 indicated that Burnout was either below the average of the origin countries or compared to other health care sectors. Conclusion: Given the results, it is expected to amplify the scientific vision toward the issues of stress and Burnout syndrome in nursing professionals working in nephrology by identifying the factors that may influence the health care

Objetivo: O estresse ocupacional crônico pode ocasionar o desenvolvimento da síndrome de Burnout. Enfermeiros atuantes na nefrologia também estão predispostos à ocorrência do estresse e Burnout. Objetivos: Identificar a produção científica relacionada à Burnout e estresse em trabalhadores de enfermagem da nefrologia; discutir os fatores de risco e os fatores relacionados ao Burnout e ao estresse em trabalhadores de enfermagem que atuam na nefrologia. Método: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa. A amostra foi composta por 5253 artigos e após refinamento, foram obtidos 13 artigos completos. Resultados: Deste número, oito apresentaram altos níveis de estresse e/ou Burnout entre enfermeiros da hemodiálise e cinco apontaram o Burnout abaixo da média dos países de origem ou comparados a outros setores de cuidado em saúde. Conclusão: Com este resultado, espera-se ampliar a visão sobre o estresse e Burnout em enfermeiros que atuam em nefrologia identificando os fatores que podem influenciar na assistência

Objetivo: Estrés laboral crónico puede conducir al desarrollo del síndrome de quemarse pelo trabajo. Las enfermeras que trabajan en nefrología también están predispuestas a la aparición de estrés y agotamiento. Metas: Identificar la producción científica relacionada con el agotamiento y el estrés en los trabajadores de enfermería de nefrología; analizar los factores de riesgo y los factores relacionados con el agotamiento y el estrés en los trabajadores de enfermería que trabajan en nefrología. Método: Se trata de una revisión integradora. La muestra fue de 5253 artículos y después de refinamiento se obtuvieron 13 artículos completos. Resultados: De estos ocho presentada altos niveles de estrés y / o agotamiento en cinco enfermeras de hemodiálisis y el desgaste en punta por debajo de la media de los países de origen o en comparación con otros sectores. Conclusión: Con este resultado, esperamos visión más amplia del estrés y el agotamiento de las enfermeras que trabajan en nefrología identificar los factores que pueden influir en la asistencia