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Early diagnosis of COVID-19 in suspected patients is essential for contagion control and damage reduction strategies. We investigated the applicability of attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy associated with machine learning in oropharyngeal swab suspension fluid to predict COVID-19 positive samples. The study included samples of 243 patients from two Brazilian States. Samples were transported by using different viral transport mediums (liquid 1 or 2). Clinical COVID-19 diagnosis was performed by the RT-PCR. We built a classification model based on partial least squares (PLS) associated with cosine k-nearest neighbours (KNN). Our analysis led to 84% and 87% sensitivity, 66% and 64% specificity, and 76.9% and 78.4% accuracy for samples of liquids 1 and 2, respectively. Based on this proof-of-concept study, we believe this method could offer a simple, label-free, cost-effective solution for high-throughput screening of suspect patients for COVID-19 in health care centres and emergency departments.

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OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between social determinants and morbidities for the outcomes of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission and death by COVID-19 in Espírito Santo State, Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with secondary data from confirmed cases of COVID-19, reported in the Notifiable Diseases Information System. Poisson regression was used to estimate the prevalence ratios. RESULTS: 104,384 cases reported between February 28th and September 1st, 2020 were studied. The outcomes under study were more frequent among male, elderly, yellow, followed by black, uneducated and with multimorbidity. There was a higher risk of death among people over the age of 60 (PR=56.31 - 95%CI 34.24;92.61), multimorbidities (PR=3.63 - 95%CI 3.16;4.17), kidney disease (PR=3.42 - 95%CI 2.81;4.15) and neoplasms (PR=3.15 - 95%CI 2.41;4.13). CONCLUSION: The effect of social determinants and morbidities on hospitalization and deaths by COVID-19 is evident.

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There is an urgent need for ultrarapid testing regimens to detect the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2] infections in real-time within seconds to stop its spread. Current testing approaches for this RNA virus focus primarily on diagnosis by RT-qPCR, which is time-consuming, costly, often inaccurate, and impractical for general population rollout due to the need for laboratory processing. The latency until the test result arrives with the patient has led to further virus spread. Furthermore, latest antigen rapid tests still require 15-30 min processing time and are challenging to handle. Despite increased polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-test and antigen-test efforts, the pandemic continues to evolve worldwide. Herein, we developed a superfast, reagent-free, and nondestructive approach of attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy with subsequent chemometric analysis toward the prescreening of virus-infected samples. Contrived saliva samples spiked with inactivated γ-irradiated COVID-19 virus particles at levels down to 1582 copies/mL generated infrared (IR) spectra with a good signal-to-noise ratio. Predominant virus spectral peaks are tentatively associated with nucleic acid bands, including RNA. At low copy numbers, the presence of a virus particle was found to be capable of modifying the IR spectral signature of saliva, again with discriminating wavenumbers primarily associated with RNA. Discrimination was also achievable following ATR-FTIR spectral analysis of swabs immersed in saliva variously spiked with virus. Next, we nested our test system in a clinical setting wherein participants were recruited to provide demographic details, symptoms, parallel RT-qPCR testing, and the acquisition of pharyngeal swabs for ATR-FTIR spectral analysis. Initial categorization of swab samples into negative versus positive COVID-19 infection was based on symptoms and PCR results (n = 111 negatives and 70 positives). Following training and validation (using n = 61 negatives and 20 positives) of a genetic algorithm-linear discriminant analysis (GA-LDA) algorithm, a blind sensitivity of 95% and specificity of 89% was achieved. This prompt approach generates results within 2 min and is applicable in areas with increased people traffic that require sudden test results such as airports, events, or gate controls.

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Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre determinantes sociais e morbidades para os desfechos de internação, internação em unidade de terapia intensiva e óbito por COVID-19 no Espírito Santo, Brasil. Métodos: Estudo transversal, com dados secundários de casos confirmados de COVID-19 notificados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação. Utilizou-se regressão de Poisson para estimar as razões de prevalências. Resultados: Foram estudados 104.384 casos, notificados entre 28 de fevereiro e 1º de setembro de 2020. Os desfechos em estudo foram mais frequentes entre indivíduos do sexo masculino, idosos, de raça/cor da pele amarela ou preta, sem escolaridade, com multimorbidade. Todas as morbidades associaram-se a maior risco de desfechos desfavoráveis. Observou-se maior risco de óbito entre pessoas com idade superior a 60 anos (RP=56,31 - IC95% 34,24;92,61), multimorbidades (RP=3,63 - IC95% 3,16;4,17), doença renal (RP=3,42 - IC95% 2,81;4,15) e neoplasias (RP=3,15 - IC95% 2,41;4,13). Conclusão: Evidencia-se o efeito dos determinantes sociais e morbidades em internação e óbitos por COVID-19.

Objetivo: Analizar la asociación entre determinantes sociales y morbilidad para los resultados de hospitalización, ingreso en unidad de cuidados intensivos y muerte por COVID-19 en el Estado de Espírito Santo, Brasil. Métodos: Estudio transversal con datos secundarios de casos confirmados de COVID-19, reportados en el Sistema de Información de Enfermedades Notificables. Se utilizó la regresión de Poisson para estimar las razones de prevalencia. Resultados: Se estudiaron 104.384 casos notificados entre el 28 de Febrero y el 1 de Septiembre de 2020. Los desenlaces en estudio fueron más frecuentes entre hombres, ancianos, amarillos, seguidos de negros, no educados y con multimorbilidad. Hubo un mayor riesgo de muerte entre las personas mayores de 60 años (RP=56,31 - IC95% 34,24;92,61), multimorbilidades (RP=3,63 - IC95% 3,16;4,17), enfermedad renal (RP=3,42 - IC95% 2,81;4,15) y neoplasias (RP=3,15 - IC95% 2,41;4,13). Conclusión: El efecto de los determinantes sociales y las morbilidades sobre la hospitalización y las muertes por COVID-19 es evidente.

Objective: To analyze the association between social determinants and morbidities for the outcomes of hospitalization, intensive care unit admission and death by COVID-19 in Espírito Santo State, Brazil. Methods: Cross-sectional study with secondary data from confirmed cases of COVID-19, reported in the Notifiable Diseases Information System. Poisson regression was used to estimate the prevalence ratios. Results: 104,384 cases reported between February 28th and September 1st, 2020 were studied. The outcomes under study were more frequent among male, elderly, yellow, followed by black, uneducated and with multimorbidity. There was a higher risk of death among people over the age of 60 (PR=56.31 - 95%CI 34.24;92.61), multimorbidities (PR=3.63 - 95%CI 3.16;4.17), kidney disease (PR=3.42 - 95%CI 2.81;4.15) and neoplasms (PR=3.15 - 95%CI 2.41;4.13). Conclusion: The effect of social determinants and morbidities on hospitalization and deaths by COVID-19 is evident.

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Muscle damage affects the blood leukocyte profile. Resistance exercise (RE) with blood flow restriction (BFR) attenuates exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). PURPOSE: To evaluate muscle damage and the leukocyte profile in response to RE+BFR and to compare with high intensity RE. METHODS: Twenty volunteers performed the RE in the leg press apparatus in the following groups: RE80, 80% of 1RM (3 × until concentric muscle failure); RE40+BFR, 40% of 1RM with BFR (same total work of RE80 group). The BFR applied was 80% of the total occlusion pressure. RESULTS: There were no differences in the blood leukocyte profile among groups despite the lower exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in the RE40+BFR group (RE80: 10.07 ± 2.67 vs. RE40+BFR: 8.25 ± 0.96; cell × 103/mm3). Both groups showed leukocytosis (RE80: 7.59 ± 1.48 vs. 10.07 ± 2.67 and RE40+BFR: 6.57 ± 1.50 vs. 8.25 ± 0.96; cell × 103/mm3) and lymphocytosis (RE80: 2.48 ± 0.83 vs. 3.65 ± 1.31 and RE40+BFR: 2.22 ± 0.23 vs. 3.03 ± 0.65; cell × 103/mm3) immediately after exercise. Leukocytosis (ES 1.12 vs. ES 1.33) and lymphocytosis (ES 1.11 vs. ES 1.76) was greater in the RE40+BFR group. CONCLUSION: RE associated with BFR was accompanied by a greater leukocytosis and lymphocytosis immediately after exercise, with no difference in neutrophils. This leukocyte blood profile may be related to less muscle damage, as well as faster muscle recovery after 24 and 48 h post-exercise.

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We aimed to investigate the effect of linoleic acid (LA) treatment on the blood pressure and function of mesenteric resistance arteries (MRA) in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). Male SHR were treated daily with LA (15 mg/kg) or vehicle (control) for 15 days. Compared with controls, LA treatment decreased blood pressure and showed the following in MRA: (1) increased lumen and external diameter, (2) decreased wall:lumen ratio and wall thickness, (3) decreased stiffness and (4) less collagen deposition. LA treatment reduced the contractile response to phenylephrine, although there were no changes observed in MRA in regard to the acetylcholine or sodium nitroprusside responses. Incubation with L-NAME left-shifted the reactivity to phenylephrine only in the MRA treated group, suggesting that LA treatment can improve NO bioavailability. This result was accompanied by an increase "in situ" NO production. Incubation with tiron decreased vascular reactivity to phenylephrine in MRA in LA rats, which was accompanied by decreased superoxide anion production. Moreover, incubation with indomethacin (non-selective COX inhibitor, 10 µM), NS 398 (COX-2 specific inhibitor, 1 µM), furegrelate (TXA2 synthase inhibitor, 1 µM), SQ 29.548 (TP receptor antagonist, 1 µM) and SC 19220 (EP1 receptor antagonist, 10 µM) reduced the vasoconstrictor responses to phenylephrine in MRA in the treated group. These results were accompanied by a reduction in COX-2 protein expression. In conclusion, these findings show that LA treatment decreases blood pressure. In addition, the improvement of endothelial dysfunction and structural changes in this hypertension model may be responsible for the reduction in blood pressure.

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