Perda de peso como preditor de mau prognóstico em pacientes hospitalizados com COVID-19 / Weight loss as a predictor of poor prognosis in patients hospitalized for COVID-19

Objetivo: Avaliar a relação entre a perda de peso com marcadores de mau prognóstico em pacientes hospitalizados com COVID-19 no estado de Pernambuco. Métodos: Estudo multicêntrico, transversal, acoplado a algumas variáveis de análise prospectiva envolvendo 71 indivíduos com COVID-19 admitidos para internação em 8 hospitais públicos de Recife, no Estado de Pernambuco. Foram incluídos indivíduos de ambos os sexos, com idade ≥ 20 anos, hospitalizados, no período de junho de 2020 a junho de 2021. Foram coletados dados sociodemográficos, clínicos, nutricionais e marcadores prognósticos. Resultados: A média de idade foi 54,6±15,6 anos, sendo 54,9% dos indivíduos do sexo masculino. Verificou-se que 26,8% dos pacientes eram diabéticos e 52,1% eram hipertensos. O perfil antropométrico indicou 56,3% de excesso de peso e 5,6% de baixo peso. Observou-se rastreio positivo para sarcopenia em 16,9%. A mediana da perda de peso foi 3,1% (0,0-6,6%), sendo uma perda > 5% evidenciada em 29,6% da amostra. Verificou-se que a perda de peso foi mais frequente nos homens (16 (41,0%) vs. 5 (15,6%); p = 0,020) e que as variáveis demográficas, clínicas e nutricionais não se associaram à redução do peso corporal. Não houve associação estatística entre a perda de peso e as variáveis prognósticas (p NS). Conclusão: embora o estudo não tenha demonstrado associação entre a perda de peso e variáveis prognósticas, esta deve ser considerada na avaliação do paciente com COVID-19, devendo ser investigada e tratada como uma importante medida de promoção à saúde.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between weight loss and markers of poor prognosis in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the state of Pernambuco. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study coupled with prospective analysis variables involving 71 individuals with COVID-19 admitted for hospitalization in 8 public hospitals in Recife, in the State of Pernambuco. Individuals of both sexes, aged ≥ 20 years, hospitalized from June 2020 to June 2021 were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, and nutritional data and prognostic markers were collected. Results: The average age was 54.6±15.6 years, with 54.9% of individuals being male. It was found that 26.8% of the patients were diabetic and 52.1% were hypertensive. The anthropometric profile indicated that 56.3% were overweight and 5.6% were underweight. Positive screening for sarcopenia was observed in 16.9%. The median weight loss was 3.1% (0.0-6.6%), with a loss > 5% evident in 29.6% of the sample. It was found that weight loss was more frequent in men (16 (41.0%) vs. 5 (15.6%); p = 0.020) and that demographic, clinical, and nutritional variables were not associated with body weight loss. There was no statistical association between weight loss and prognostic variables (p NS). Conclusion: Although the study did not demonstrate an association between weight loss and prognostic variables, this should be considered when assessing patients with COVID-19 and should be investigated and treated as an essential health promotion measure.

Establishment, characterization, and cryopreservation of cell lines derived from red-rumped agouti (Dasyprocta leporina Linnaeus, 1758) - A study in a wild rodent.

Somatic cells can be used for rescuing wild mammals of ecological and economic importance, such as red-rumped agouti, through their application in advanced technologies. Thus, appropriate cell isolation, culture, and storage through cryopreservation can ensure the future safe use of these cells. We aimed to establish and evaluate the effects of culture time (second, fifth, and eighth passages) and cryopreservation on the morphology, viability, metabolism, proliferative activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and apoptosis on somatic cells derived from red-rumped agouti skin. Initially, we identified six dermal fibroblast lines by morphology, immunophenotyping, and karyotyping assays. In vitro culture after the second, fifth, and eighth passages, as well as the cryopreservation conditions used did not affect the metabolism or level of apoptosis. Nevertheless, cells in the fifth passage featured a reduction in proliferative activity and an increase in ROS levels when compared to second and eighth passage cells. Moreover, cryopreservation resulted in reduced ΔΨm when compared to non-cryopreserved cells. Additionally, cryopreserved cells showed a reduction in viability immediately after thawing; nevertheless, the viability of these cells was re-established after 11 days of in vitro culture and was similar to that of non-cryopreserved cells. In conclusion, we have shown that viable fibroblasts can be obtained from red-rumped agouti skin, featuring minimal changes after eight passages in in vitro culture systems. Additionally, adjustments to the cryopreservation protocol are necessary to reduce cellular oxidative stress caused by low temperatures.

Effects of cryopreservation techniques on the preservation of ear skin - An alternative approach to conservation of jaguar, Panthera onca (Linnaeus, 1758).

Currently, it has been observed that a considerable segment of the jaguar population is declining mainly because of hunting, and destruction and fragmentation of habitat. Given this scenario, efforts of the scientific community have been concentrated on the development of conservation strategies, such as the formation and use of somatic sample banks. We aimed to assess the effects of cryopreservation techniques of the ear skin of jaguar [slow freezing (SF) or direct vitrification in cryovials (DVC) or solid-surface vitrification (SSV)] on the morphological analysis and cell ability during the culture. All cryopreserved fragments regardless of the technique used, showed a reduction in the dermis and total thickness of the skin. Although a collagen matrix similar to the control group (fresh) has been observed only for the fragments from SF and SSV groups, all cryopreserved techniques were able to maintain normal patterns of the fibroblasts. Moreover, DVC and SSV methods maintained the proliferative activity of the tissues even after warming. After the culture, SF and SSV techniques were efficient for the recovery of the somatic cells according to most of the evaluated parameters, especially with regard to the duration of culture and cell metabolic activity. In conclusion, SSV was found to be a more efficient technique for cryopreserving jaguar skin when compared to DVC and SF. These results are relevant for the formation of somatic resource banks of this species, directed at cryopreserving adequate samplings of different individuals and generations for future applications in regenerative medicine, and assisted reproductive technologies.

Influence of storage time and nutrient medium on recovery of fibroblast-like cells from refrigerated collared peccary (Pecari tajacu Linnaeus, 1758) skin.

Animal cloning is a promising technology for biodiversity conservation, and its success depends on the recovery of nucleus donor cells. Specifically for collared peccaries, found sometimes in regions that are difficult to access, the storage at 4-6°C of skin tissues would be an alternative for the conservation of genetic material. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate different storage periods and the presence of a nutrient medium at 4-6°C on the recovery of somatic cells from the skin of collared peccaries. To analyze cell recovery rates, ear explants were distributed in non-refrigerated samples and samples refrigerated for 10, 30, and 50 d in the absence or presence of nutrient medium. All explants were analyzed by histologically and cultured. Only the fragments stored for 50 d without medium showed an increase in the total thickness of skin. Moreover, increased storage period, regardless of the presence of medium, increased the halo number and reduced the metabolic activity. After culture, only the fragments stored without medium for 50 d did not yield any somatic cells. Cells recovered from explants stored for 10 d showed similar characteristics to these recovered from non-refrigerated explants, regardless of the presence of medium, including the day at which explants achieved attachment and the total time to reach subconfluence. In conclusion, viable cells can be recovered from somatic tissues of collared peccaries stored for up to 50 d in the presence of medium, and tissues refrigerated for up to 10 d in the presence of medium yielded more viable cells.