COVID-19 among healthcare workers in a Southern Brazilian Hospital and evaluation of a diagnostic strategy based on the RT-PCR test and retest for Sars-CoV-2.

OBJECTIVE: Healthcare workers are at risk for COVID-19 contamination. It is important to protect them in order to reduce nosocomial transmission and maintain the assistance capacity of health systems. To evaluate the diagnostic test and retest strategy with RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and factors associated with the diagnosis of COVID-19 among healthcare workers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in a Brazilian hospital. From April 27 to June 16, 2020, symptomatic healthcare workers underwent an RT-PCR test on upper respiratory tract specimens as soon as possible and, if negative, it was repeated close to the 5th day of symptom evolution. Working areas were divided into assistance areas dedicated or not dedicated to COVID-19 and non-assistance areas. The type of activity was divided into assistance or non-assistance activity. RESULTS: 775 individuals were evaluated. 114 were diagnosed with COVID-19, of whom 101 followed the testing protocol. A second RT-PCR identified five (4.9%) of the positive cases. Working in an area dedicated to patients with COVID-19 was more prevalent among positive cases (35.1% x 19.8%, p=0.001) as well as working in an assistance activity (80.7% x 70.8%, p=0.031). CONCLUSIONS: A second RT-PCR test after the 5th day of symptom evolution showed limited diagnostic improvement. The adoption of a single test-based strategy, carried out at the right time after the onset of symptoms, allows the optimal use of resources. Working in a COVID-19 dedicated area and in direct contact with patients is related to a higher prevalence of COVID-19 among symptomatic healthcare workers.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor mRNA expression and autophosphorylation in human myometrium and leiomyoma.

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common tumors of the genital tract. Growth factors seem to be implicated in the development of leiomyoma. The aim of this study was to determine insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1-R) mRNA levels and IGF-1-R tyrosine kinase activity in normal myometrium and leiomyoma. Plasma membranes of myometrium and leiomyoma of 14 women subjected to hysterectomy were prepared, and samples were incubated in the absence or presence of recombinant human IGF-1 to assess the tyrosine kinase activity (Western blot). Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for IGF-1-R was used to determine IGF-1-R mRNA levels. IGF-1-R mRNA levels in myometrium (0.8216 +/- 0.096) and in leiomyoma (0.7905 +/- 0.136) were not statistically significantly different (p = 0.648). The degree of IGF-1-R autophosphorylation stimulated by recombinant IGF-1 was not different in myometrium (1.020 +/- 0.120) and leiomyoma (1.620 +/- 0.656) either (p = 0.075). There was no difference in IGF-1-R expression and IGF-1-R autophosphorylation between normal myometrium and leiomyoma.