Clinical Features Related to Severity and Mortality among COVID-19 Patients in a Pre-Vaccine Period in Luanda, Angola.

Background: Infection due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with clinical features of diverse severity. Few studies investigated the severity and mortality predictors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Africa. Herein, we investigated the clinical features of severity and mortality among COVID-19 patients in Luanda, Angola. Methods: This multicenter cohort study involved 101 COVID-19 patients, between December 2020 and April 2021, with clinical and laboratory data collected. Analysis was done using independent-sample t-tests and Chi-square tests. The results were deemed significant when p < 0.05. Results: The mean age of patients was 51 years (ranging from 18 to 80 years) and 60.4% were male. Fever (46%), cough (47%), gastrointestinal symptoms (26.7%), and asthenia (26.7%), were the most common symptoms. About 64.4% of the patients presented coexistent disorders, including hypertension (42%), diabetes (17%), and chronic renal diseases (6%). About 23% were non-severe, 77% were severe, and 10% died during hospitalization. Variations in the concentration of neutrophil, urea, creatinine, c-reactive protein, sodium, creatine kinase, and chloride were independently associated with severity and/or mortality (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Several factors contributed to the severity and mortality among COVID-19 patients in Angola. Further studies related to clinical features should be carried out to help clinical decision-making and follow-up of COVID-19 patients in Angola.

Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and risk factors among healthy blood donors in Luanda, Angola.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 emerged in China and spread throughout the world due to its rapid transmission. The exposure rate in the healthy population is unknown, mainly in resource-limited countries. Herein, we estimated the seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and risk factors among blood donors in Luanda, the capital city of Angola. METHODS: This was a retrospective study conducted with 343 blood donors. Chi-square and logistic regression were calculated to predict the independent variable for SARS-CoV-2 infection and deemed significant when p < 0.05. RESULTS: Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 was 4.7%. Positivity rates varied to age groups (3.5-14.3%), gender (0-5%), area of residence (3.1-.6%), educational level (5.1-10.2%), occupation (4.4-7.7%), and the blood donor category (2.0-5.1%). Past and recent infections were detected in 3.2% and 1.5%, respectively. Blood donors under the age of 20 years (OR: 4.58, p = 0.241) and from non-urbanized areas (OR: 1.86, p = 0.293) presented a high risk related to infection. The infection was higher in blood group A and lower in blood group O. The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection has increased from January 2020 (OR: 0.03, p = 0.001) to August 2020 (OR: 0.57, p = 0.426). CONCLUSIONS: We provide an estimate of the exposure of healthy blood donors in Luanda. Also, we detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 in January 2020, indicating that the SARS-CoV-2 could have been imported during the first month of 2020. Further studies should be performed to assess the exposure rate in different groups from Angola.

Tradução para portuguêse validação cultural da Empowerment Assessment Rating Scale / Translation to Portuguese and cultural validation of the Empowerment Assessment Rating Scale

Introduction: To assess the level of community empowerment, Laverack proposes an instrument called the Empowerment Assessment Rating Scale (EARS), which has nine assessment domains related to community empowerment. Objectives: Translate to Portuguese and culturally validate the EARS for an ACeS community, a hospital community, a business community, and a school community. A review of the Portuguese translation was developed, a review group was set up to analyze the resulting document, by consensus a new scale called the Escala de Avaliação do Empoderamento Comunitário (EAvEC) was developed, and the retroversion was developed. Same review group conducted a new evaluation of the resulting version, comparing them with the original in English. The study was carried out at a Hospital in the Azores Archipelago, three Health Centers Organizations in the North of Portugal, an Education-oriented Company in Greater Porto and a School Community in Mozambique, where the focus group scale was applied based on a problematic chosen for intervention. Results: EVaEC retained the nine evaluation domains of the original scale and its translated version did not change after its cultural adaptation. The level of community empowerment was identified in each of the communities, analyzed in the form of a radar chart, with the clustered image of all domains. Discussion / Conclusions: EVaEC is a useful tool for community intervention and is being used to assess community empowerment in the MAIEC project of theCentre for Interdisciplinary Research in Health at Universidade Católica Portuguesa

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Anesthesia preoperative evaluation clinic (APEC) restructuring plan for improving the quality of surgical patient flow

Introduction: Anesthesia preoperative evaluation clinics (APECs) are useful for high-risk surgical patient care, as they improve perioperative outcomes and optimize patient care flow. At Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, APEC assesses 20% of all patients undergoing surgery, showing the importance of implementing strategies to improve outpatient clinic efficiency by prioritizing high-risk patients. Methods: Using a specific quality management tool for process improvement (PDCA, which stands for Plan/Do/Check/Act), new protocols were developed for patient referral and preoperative evaluation. Clinical staff was trained in the new routines, and an electronic screening system for patient referral was adopted. Data on patient profiles, referring surgical specialties, type of surgery, and waiting times for appointment and surgical procedure were compared before and after the intervention. Results: APEC performed 1,286 appointments between 2013 and 2016, including 733 pre-intervention and 553 post-intervention. There was a significant decrease in the appointments for patients undergoing minor surgery and an increase in the appointments for those undergoing major surgery. The waiting time between referral to APEC and first APEC appointment reduced from 46 to 16 days. In addition, there was an increase in vascular, orthopedic, and urology referrals, as well as a reduction in ophthalmology and general surgery referrals. Conclusions: The PDCA method assisted with conceiving, executing, and monitoring the implemented strategies for changing the profile of patients evaluated at APEC. The major challenge is to measure the long-term impact of this intervention and expand care through specific strategies for surgical specialties and procedures.(AU)

Monitorização cardiovascular no transoperatório / Cardiovascular monitoring in transoperatory

Neste capítulo apresentaremos os principais métodos de monitorização cardiovascular no transoperatório, suas indicações e contra-indicações, além das complicações.

In this chapter we will be presented the main cardiovascular monitoring methods in intraoperative anesthesia, their indications and contraindications, along with their complications.

Monitorização do bloqueio neuromuscular / Monitoring of neuromuscular block

Tradicionalmente, o bloqueio neuromuscular é avaliado através de critérios clínicos, entretanto a melhor maneira para se estimar a recuperação de um BNM é através do uso de estímulos elétricos em nervos motores periféricos. Este artigo visa à discutir como pode ser feito o monitoramento de bloqueios neuromusculares e os benefícios alcançados com essas técnicas.

Although neuromuscular blockade (NMB) is routinely estimated using clinical criteria, the best way to assess recovery of NMB is using electrical stimulus in peripheral motor nerves. This article aims to describe how neuromuscular blockade can be monitored and the benefits of using these techniques.

Complete spontaneous thrombosis of a non-giant middle cerebral artery aneurysm: report of two cases / Trombose espontânea de aneurisma da artéria cerebral média: relato de dois casos

Spontaneous intra-aneurysmal thrombosis occurs in approximately 50% of giant intracranial aneurysms. The incidence of this process is associated to location, size, and origin, and the natural history of spontaneous thrombosis occurrence in non-giant aneurysms is rare and still unclear. We describe two non-giant middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms that spontaneously thrombosed and comment the aspects of the literature.

Trombose intra-aneurismática espontânea ocorre em aproximadamente 50% dos aneurismas intracranianos gigantes. A incidência é associada a localização, tamanho e origem, e a história natural da ocorrência de trombose espontânea em aneurismas não gigantes é rara e ainda indefinida. Descrevemos dois aneurismas de artéria cerebral média com trombose espontânea e comentamos os aspectos da literatura.

Reação inflamatória após cranioplastia utilizando pericárdio bovino como substituto dural / Inflammatory reaction after cranioplasty using bovine pericardium as a dural susbstitute

Enxertos substituindo dura-máter são comumente aplicados em Neurocirurgia. O pericárdio bovino é considerado seguro e associado a raras complicações. Objetivamos mostrar caso de uma paciente com meningeoma do tubérculo selar, que apresentou uma complicação atípica após duroplastia utilizando pericárdio bovino para reconstrução da região fronto-temporal. Após dois dias de boa evolução pósoperatória, a paciente apresentou piora neurológica e a TC de crânio evidenciou hematoma intraparenquimatoso à direita, com edema peri-lesional, sendo necessária cirurgia para drenagem, e substituição do pericárdio bovino por enxerto de fáscia lata, com boa evolução pós-operatória. Pericrânio pediculado, fáscia temporal e fáscia lata constituem as mais efetivas e seguras escolhas para substituir dura-máter. Dentre os enxertos heterólogos e sintéticos utilizados, o pericárdio bovino é associado a poucas complicações. Todavia, intercorrências como reação inflamatória e infecção tem sido descritas relacionadas à substância glutaraldeído, presente neste enxerto.

Tumores intracranianos primários na infância / Primary intracranial tumors in childhood

Os tumores cerebrais da infância são a principal causa de morbimortalidade por câncer, diferindo dos tumores do sistema nervoso central nos adultos. Seu diagnóstico e tratamento evoluíram nas ultimas décadas, mas ainda há um longo caminho pela frente. Este capitulo tem o intuito de fazer uma revisão breve sobre este assunto.

Identification of candida spp. by phenotypic tests and PCR

The correct identification of Candida species is of great importance, as it presents prognostic and therapeutical significance, allowing an early and appropriate antifungical therapy. The purpose of this study was to identify isolates of Candida spp. from oral mucosa of 38 patients with oral candidosis evaluated in 2004 by phenotypic methods and PCR, discriminating C. albicans from the other Candida species. The tests used for phenotypic analysis were germ-tube and chlamydoconidia production, culture in CHROMAgarTM Candida, carbohydrate assimilation test, growth at 45ºC and culture in Tween 80 agar. Genotypic confirmation was performed by PCR. Phenotypic tests showed that 63.2 percent strains formed germ-tubes, 73.7 percent produced chlamydoconidia, and 63.2 percent showed green colonies in chromogenic medium, presumptively indicating C. albicans or C. dubliniensis. The carbohydrate assimilation test confirmed these results. A total of 21 percent strains were identified as C. krusei and 13.2 percent were indicative of C. tropicalis. Of these later strains, three produced chlamydoconidia. The association of other phenotypic tests with culture in Tween 80 agar identified 95.8 percent of strains as C. albicans and 4.2 percent as C. dubliniensis. All 24 strains indicative of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis were confirmed by PCR as C. albicans.

Identification of Candida spp. by phenotypic tests and PCR.

The correct identification of Candida species is of great importance, as it presents prognostic and therapeutical significance, allowing an early and appropriate antifungical therapy. The purpose of this study was to identify isolates of Candida spp. from oral mucosa of 38 patients with oral candidosis evaluated in 2004 by phenotypic methods and PCR, discriminating C. albicans from the other Candida species. The tests used for phenotypic analysis were germ-tube and chlamydoconidia production, culture in CHROMAgar™ Candida, carbohydrate assimilation test, growth at 45ºC and culture in Tween 80 agar. Genotypic confirmation was performed by PCR. Phenotypic tests showed that 63.2% strains formed germ-tubes, 73.7% produced chlamydoconidia, and 63.2% showed green colonies in chromogenic medium, presumptively indicating C. albicans or C. dubliniensis. The carbohydrate assimilation test confirmed these results. A total of 21% strains were identified as C. krusei and 13.2% were indicative of C. tropicalis. Of these later strains, three produced chlamydoconidia. The association of other phenotypic tests with culture in Tween 80 agar identified 95.8% of strains as C. albicans and 4.2% as C. dubliniensis. All 24 strains indicative of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis were confirmed by PCR as C. albicans.