Assessing the Clinical Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 Gamma Variant on Intensive Care Unit Admissions: Insights from a Reference Hospital in Northeastern Brazil.

The global challenge posed by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic underscores the critical need for ongoing genomic surveillance to identify emerging variants and formulate effective public health strategies. This retrospective observational study, conducted in a reference hospital in Northeast Brazil and comprising 2116 cases, employed PCR genotyping together with epidemiological data to elucidate the impact of the Gamma variant during its emergence, revealing distinct patterns in hospitalization rates, severity of illness, and outcomes. The study emphasizes the challenges posed by the variant, particularly an increased tendency for ICU admissions and respiratory support, especially among adults aged 18 to 59 without comorbidities. Laboratory analyses further demonstrate elevated inflammatory, coagulation, and hepatic markers in the Gamma variant cohort, suggesting a more severe systemic response. Despite limitations, including a retrospective approach and single-institution data, the study underscores the importance of ongoing genomic surveillance. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights into the impact of the Gamma variant on COVID-19 dynamics, advocating for continued research and surveillance to inform effective public health strategies regarding evolving viral variants.

Evidences of validity and reliability of the Luria-Nebraska Test for Children

Abstract This paper aimed to verify evidences of validity and reliability of Luria-Nebraska Test for Children (TLN-C, in Portuguese). Three hundred eighty-seven students aged 6­13 years old, with learning difficulties, comprised the study. They were assessed with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III) and TLN-C; and effect of age differences, as well as accuracy rating by internal consistency were investigated. Age effects were found for all subtests and in the general score, except for receptive speech subtest, even when total IQ effect was controlled. Reliability analysis had satisfactory results (0.79). The TLN-C showed evidences of validity and reliability. Receptive speech subtest requires revision. (AU)

Sons and daughters with a parent hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit / Filhos com pais hospitalizados em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva

The aim of this study, in the area of Hospital Psychology, was to comprehend the experience of sons and daughters whose mother or father was hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit. Participants were 10 sons and daughters who responded to a socio-demographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview, which were submitted to Content Analysis. The following were verified in the interviews: feelings of suffering and fear; concerns regarding the fact that the patient spends most of the time alone; lack of trust regarding the treatment offered by the healthcare team for the patient; lack of motivation to continue day by day routines; positive reappraisal such as personal, spiritual and professional growth, and satisfaction with the hospital team's care to the family. This data highlights the needs of these sons and daughters during their parent's hospitalization in an Intensive Care Unit and may support more effective care from the healthcare team for this population.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo, na área da Psicologia Hospitalar, foi compreender a experiência de filhos que possuem a mãe ou o pai internado em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. Participaram 10 filhos, de ambos os sexos, que responderam a uma Ficha Sociodemográfica e a uma Entrevista Semidirigida que foi submetida à Análise de Conteúdo. Nas entrevistas, constatou-se : sofrimento, medo e temor; preocupações quanto ao fato de o paciente ficar a maior parte do tempo sozinho, desconfiança quanto ao tratamento oferecido pela equipe de saúde ao paciente, perda da motivação de realizar suas rotinas, reestruturação positiva, tipo: crescimento pessoal, espiritual, profissional e satisfação em relação ao tratamento dispensado à família, pela equipe de saúde. Estes dados indicam as maiores necessidades dos filhos durante a internação de seus genitores na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva e podem subsidiar uma prática mais efetiva da equipe de saúde junto a essa população.(AU)

Sons and daughters with a parent hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit / Filhos com pais hospitalizados em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva

The aim of this study, in the area of Hospital Psychology, was to comprehend the experience of sons and daughters whose mother or father was hospitalized in an Intensive Care Unit. Participants were 10 sons and daughters who responded to a socio-demographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview, which were submitted to Content Analysis. The following were verified in the interviews: feelings of suffering and fear; concerns regarding the fact that the patient spends most of the time alone; lack of trust regarding the treatment offered by the healthcare team for the patient; lack of motivation to continue day by day routines; positive reappraisal such as personal, spiritual and professional growth, and satisfaction with the hospital team's care to the family. This data highlights the needs of these sons and daughters during their parent's hospitalization in an Intensive Care Unit and may support more effective care from the healthcare team for this population...

O objetivo deste estudo, na área da Psicologia Hospitalar, foi compreender a experiência de filhos que possuem a mãe ou o pai internado em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva. Participaram 10 filhos, de ambos os sexos, que responderam a uma Ficha Sociodemográfica e a uma Entrevista Semidirigida que foi submetida à Análise de Conteúdo. Nas entrevistas, constatou-se : sofrimento, medo e temor; preocupações quanto ao fato de o paciente ficar a maior parte do tempo sozinho, desconfiança quanto ao tratamento oferecido pela equipe de saúde ao paciente, perda da motivação de realizar suas rotinas, reestruturação positiva, tipo: crescimento pessoal, espiritual, profissional e satisfação em relação ao tratamento dispensado à família, pela equipe de saúde. Estes dados indicam as maiores necessidades dos filhos durante a internação de seus genitores na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva e podem subsidiar uma prática mais efetiva da equipe de saúde junto a essa população...

Monitoramento de crianças com indicadores de risco para a deficiência auditiva / Monitoring of children with risk indicators for hearing loss

OBJETIVO: descrever uma proposta de monitoramento de crianças, no primeiro ano de vida, que não foram identificadas na triagem auditiva neonatal, mas apresentavam indicadores de risco para deficiência auditiva. MÉTODO: participaram do estudo 258 crianças de risco que haviam obtido o resultado "passa" no Programa de Triagem Auditiva Neonatal Universal da Maternidade Santa Isabel - Bauru/SP no período de junho a novembro de 2008. Foi aplicado, via telefone, um questionário de acompanhamento do desenvolvimento da audição e da linguagem, validado em estudo anterior, contendo questões sobre a audição e a linguagem. Para cada questão havia duas possibilidades de resposta "sim" ou "não" e considerou-se como "falha", a obtenção de pelo menos uma resposta "não". Tal resultado refletia no agendamento da criança para realização de uma avaliação audiológica imediata. RESULTADOS: o questionário foi aplicado com 169 famílias, com as demais não foi obtido contato. Deste total, 164 (97,04%) apresentaram resultado "passa" e cinco (2,96%) resultado "falha". Dentre as cinco crianças, apenas três compareceram para avaliação audiológica e destas, uma não apresentava alterações e duas apresentavam perda auditiva condutiva. Observou-se prevalências distintas entre os fatores de risco e não houve relação (p>0,05) dos mesmos com a evasão no processo de monitoramento. CONCLUSÃO: o monitoramento por meio de aplicação de questionário via telefone mostrou-se viável, entretanto, é necessário o desenvolvimento de estratégias que favoreçam sua execução.

PURPOSE: to describe the proposal of monitoring children in the first year of life, who were not identified in the newborn hearing screening program but had risk factors for hearing loss. METHOD: the study included 258 risk children who had obtained the result "pass" in the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program of Hospital Santa Isabel - Bauru/SP, from June to November 2008. It was applied by the telephone, a validated questionnaire in a previous study, containing questions about hearing and language. For each question there were two possible answers: "yes" or "no" and we considered "failure" to obtain at least one "no" answer. With such result, the child was scheduled to perform an immediate hearing evaluation. RESULTS: the questionnaire was applied with 169 families; with the others, there was no contact. From the total, 164 (97,04%) obtained "passed" and five (2,96%) "failed". Between these five children, only three showed up for hearing evaluation and one had no disorders; two presented conductive hearing loss. It was observed distinct prevalence among the risk factors and there was no relation (p>0,05) of the risk factors with the evasion in the monitoring process. CONCLUSION: the monitoring through a questionnaire applied by telephone proved to be feasible, however, it is necessary to develop strategies to support their execution.