The impact of Covid-19 on the Mental Health of the Portuguese Population

Introduction

Covid-19 does not only have repercussions on the physical level, representing a new way of life, both individually and in society. The pandemic results in invisible consequences for the population’s mental health.

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the consequences of Covid-19 on mental health in Portugal with a view to understanding and promoting the well-being and happiness of the Portuguese.

Methods

The study included 111 young people and adults, aged between 18 and 58 years (M= 21.81, SD= 5.34), with 43.7% males and 52.7% females. A sociodemographic questionnaire was applied to all participants, as well as the Échelle de Mesure des Manifestations du Bien-Être Psychologique (ÈMMBEP; Massé et al., 1998 - Portuguese translation by Monteiro, Tavares & Pereira, 2012) which translates into a response scale 5-point Likert type, with five subscales, including happiness. In addition, a semistructured interview with data collection instruments was administered.

Results

The results obtained demonstrate the negative impact of Covid-19 on the level of well-being, regardless of the participant’s gender or age.

Conclusions

The data presented point to the need to sensitize individuals to the risk of the pandemic in terms of mental health, thus increasing society’s awareness of the psychological effects of this new global disease. Therefore, coping mechanisms are essential to promote well-being and successfully overcome the pandemic.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Metarhizium anisopliae sensu lato (s.l.) oil-in-water emulsions drastically reduced Rhipicephalus microplus larvae outbreak population on artificially infested grass

Rhipicephalus microplus Canestrini, 1887 (Arachnida: Ixodidae) is a mandatory bloodsucking ectoparasite, and it is considered one of the main sanitary problems in livestock. In the development of new technologies for controlling ticks, Metarhizium anisopliae complex (M. anisopliae s. l.) Sorokın, 1883 (Ascomycota: Clavicipitaceae) have been shown to be an effective and safe alternative. However, when applied in the field, abiotic factors may directly influence their microbial activity, and different oily adjuvants enhance fungal efficacy, stability and viability under environmental conditions. Here, the efficacy of two Metarhizium anisopliae s.l. isolates (CG 148 and CG 347) were compared in mineral oil (MO) or vegetable oil (VO) emulsions to control cattle ticks under semi-natural conditions, as well as their persistence in the soil over time. Engorged female ticks were placed on the soil of grass pots previously treated or not with conidial oil-in-water emulsions. Both M. anisopliae s.l. oil-in-water emulsions tested were able to control R. microplus, achieving up to 100% daily efficacy, and remained viable in the soil for up to 60 days after treatment. These results show the prospective applicability of Metarhizium spp. to control the cattle tick and a real possibility for its control in the environment.

Simultaneous HPLC determination of flavonoids and phenolic acids profile in Pêra-Rio orange juice

The aim of this study was to develop and validate an HPLC-DAD method to evaluate the phenolic compounds profile of organic and conventional Pêra-Rio orange juice. The proposed method was validated for 10 flavonoids and 6 phenolic acids. A wide linear range (0.01-223.4μg·g^-1), good accuracy (79.5-129.2%) and precision (CV≤3.8%), low limits of detection (1-22ng·g^-1) and quantification (0.7-7.4μg), and overall ruggedness were attained. Good recovery was achieved for all phenolic compounds after extraction and cleanup. The method was applied to organic and conventional Pêra-Rio orange juices from beginning, middle and end of the 2016 harvest. Flavones rutin, nobiletin and tangeretin, and flavanones hesperidin, narirutin and eriocitrin were identified and quantified in all organic and conventional juices. Identity was confirmed by mass spectrometry. Nineteen non-identified phenolic compounds were quantified based on DAD spectra characteristic of the chemical class: 7 cinnamic acid derivatives, 6 flavanones and 6 flavones. The phenolic compounds profile of Pêra-Rio orange juices changed during the harvest; levels increased in organic orange juices, and decreased or were about the same in conventional orange juices. Phenolic compounds levels were higher in organic (0.5-1143.7mg·100g^-1) than in conventional orange juices (0.5-689.7mg·100g^-1). PCA differentiated organic from conventional FS and NFC juices, and conventional FCOJ from conventional FS and NFC juices, thus differentiating cultivation and processing.

Outcomes from patients with presumed drug resistant tuberculosis in five reference centers in Brazil

Background

The implementation of rapid drug susceptibility testing (DST) is a current global priority for TB control. However, data are scarce on patient-relevant outcomes for presumptive diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis (pDR-TB) evaluated under field conditions in high burden countries.

Methods

Observational study of pDR-TB patients referred by primary and secondary health units. TB reference centers addressing DR-TB in five cities in Brazil. Patients age 18 years and older were eligible if pDR-TB, culture positive results for Mycobacterium tuberculosis and, if no prior DST results from another laboratory were used by a physician to start anti-TB treatment. The outcome measures were median time from triage to initiating appropriate anti-TB treatment, empirical treatment and, the treatment outcomes.

Results

Between February,16th, 2011 and February, 15th, 2012, among 175 pDR TB cases, 110 (63.0%) confirmed TB cases with DST results were enrolled. Among study participants, 72 (65.5%) were male and 62 (56.4%) aged 26 to 45 years. At triage, empirical treatment was given to 106 (96.0%) subjects. Among those, 85 were treated with first line drugs and 21 with second line. Median time for DST results was 69.5 [interquartile - IQR: 35.7–111.0] days and, for initiating appropriate anti-TB treatment, the median time was 1.0 (IQR: 0–41.2) days. Among 95 patients that were followed-up during the first 6 month period, 24 (25.3%; IC: 17.5%–34.9%) changed or initiated the treatment after DST results: 16/29 MDRTB, 5/21 DR-TB and 3/45 DS-TB cases. Comparing the treatment outcome to DS-TB cases, MDRTB had higher proportions changing or initiating treatment after DST results (p = 0.01) and favorable outcomes (p = 0.07).

Conclusions

This study shows a high rate of empirical treatment and long delay for DST results. Strategies to speed up the detection and early treatment of drug resistant TB should be prioritized.

Monitoring the active sessile-colonisation of two drinking water distribution systems based on the protein contents in native biofilm samples

Biofilms are present to a greater or lesser degree in virtually all drinking water distribution systems. In order to investigate the relative intensity and the spatial and temporal distributions of the active sessile-colonization, protein was determined in native biofilm samples from the Oeiras-Amadora (OADS) and the Almada (ADS) distribution systems in Portugal. Samples (25 cm2) were taken from lengths of asbestos cement pipes of different ages and diameters. Protein was detected at levels from 0.3 to 68 microg/cm2 in samples from all analysed pipe diameters and ages. At OADS, protein was found at 0.3 to 1 mg/cm2 in 99% of the samples. At ADS, protein was only found in 30% of the samples, but at significantly higher levels (0.3 to 68 mg/cm2). In addition to displaying a more intense and scattered active colonization, ADS's oldest-pipes (in use for over 30 years) solely exhibited protein at the highest levels found (> 19 mg/cm2), in contrast with the younger pipes where protein levels ranged from 0.3 to 19 mg/cm2. Observed results suggest that the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of the active biofilm colonization may vary significantly among drinking water networks and may have a rather slow evolution, possibly at the decades scale.

[Reversion of cardiogenic shock by direct angioplasty of the right coronary artery: a case report]

A 57 year-old male patient developed cardiogenic shock after inferior wall myocardial infarction. Cinecoronariography demonstrated a critical distal lesion of the right coronary artery. Transluminal percutaneous coronary angioplasty was carried out four hours after onset of pain and thirty minutes after hospital admission. Residual lesion was 40% and the patient recovered from cardiogenic shock.