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Introduction: Schoolteachers have reported multiple demands contributing to poor perceptions regarding their quality of life and high rates of musculoskeletal disorders. However, there are few studies about the association between musculoskeletal disorders and quality of life from the end of the academic period during the COVID-19 pandemic., Objective: Evaluate musculoskeletal disorders rates and their association with quality of life perceptions among teachers from the last academic period during the COVID-19 pandemic., Participants and Methods: A total sample of 161 Chilean schoolteachers was included in a cross-sectional study musculoskeletal disorders prevalence was evaluated using the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire, and quality of life was evaluated through the Short-Form 12 Health Survey Instrument. A logistic regression was applied to evaluate the association between musculoskeletal disorders and quality of life perceptions adjusted by gender, age, and contract type., Results: 98% of teachers have suffered from some type of musculoskeletal disorders during the last 12 months, and 64% have had six or more painful regions. Women showed a higher musculoskeletal disorders rate than men. The group of teachers with the most musculoskeletal disorders (≥p50) saw significantly greater risk of low scores on the physical (OR: 2.16; p  < 0.05) and mental components (OR: 4.86; p  < 0.01) of quality of life, regardless of gender, age, and contract type., Conclusion: High musculoskeletal disorders rates suggest that preventive and informative actions must be taken regarding these disorders in order to protect teachers' mental and physical health, considering the effects of the school year and the COVID-19 health crisis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Vega-Fernández, Gonzalez-Torres, Solis-Soto and Lizana.)

Type II pneumocytes are the target of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which alters their redox homeostasis to increase reactive oxygen species (ROS). Melatonin (MT) has antioxidant proprieties and protects mitochondrial function. In this study, we evaluated whether treatment with MT compensated for the redox homeostasis alteration in serum from COVID-19 patients. We determined oxidative stress (OS) markers such as carbonyls, glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), thiols, nitrites (NO 2 - ), lipid peroxidation (LPO), and thiol groups in serum. We also studied the enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), reductase (GR), thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), extracellular superoxide dismutase (ecSOD) and peroxidases. There were significant increases in LPO and carbonyl quantities ( p ≤ 0.03) and decreases in TAC and the quantities of NO 2 < 0.001) in COVID-19 patients. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes such as ecSOD, TrxR, GPx, GST, GR, and peroxidases were decreased ( - ≤ 0.04) after the MT treatment. The treatment with MT favored the activity of the antioxidant enzymes that contributed to an increase in TAC and restored the lost redox homeostasis. MT also modulated glucose homeostasis, functioning as a glycolytic agent, and inhibited the Warburg effect. Thus, MT restores the redox homeostasis that is altered in COVID-19 patients and can be used as adjuvant therapy in SARS-CoV-2 infection.p < 0.001) in COVID-19 patients. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes such as ecSOD, TrxR, GPx, GST, GR, and peroxidases were decreased ( p ≤ 0.04) after the MT treatment. The treatment with MT favored the activity of the antioxidant enzymes that contributed to an increase in TAC and restored the lost redox homeostasis. MT also modulated glucose homeostasis, functioning as a glycolytic agent, and inhibited the Warburg effect. Thus, MT restores the redox homeostasis that is altered in COVID-19 patients and can be used as adjuvant therapy in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

In patients with severe pneumonia due to COVID-19, the deregulation of oxidative stress is present. Nuclear erythroid factor 2 (NRF2) is regulated by KEAP1, and NRF2 regulates the expression of genes such as NFE2L2-KEAP1, which are involved in cellular defense against oxidative stress. In this study, we analyzed the participation of the polymorphisms of NFE2L2 and KEAP1 genes in the mechanisms of damage in lung disease patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with COVID-19 and a control group were included. Organ dysfunction was evaluated using SOFA. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed and classified as moderate or severe by ventilatory status and by the Berlin criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome. SNPs in the gene locus for NFE2L2, rs2364723C>G, and KEAP1, rs9676881A>G, and rs34197572C>T were determined by qPCR. We analyzed 110 individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection: 51 with severe evolution and 59 with moderate evolution. We also analyzed 111 controls. Significant differences were found for rs2364723 allele G in severe cases vs. controls (p = 0.02); for the rs9676881 allele G in moderate cases vs. controls (p = 0.04); for the rs34197572 allele T in severe cases vs. controls (p = 0.001); and in severe vs. moderate cases (p = 0.004). Our results showed that NFE2L2 rs2364723C>G allele G had a protective effect against severe COVID-19, while KEAP1 rs9676881A>G allele G and rs34197572C>T minor allele T were associated with more aggressive stages of COVID-19.

This study aimed to determine the cumulative incidence, prevalence, and seroconversion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its associated factors among healthcare workers (HCWs) of a University Hospital in Bogotá, Colombia. An ambispective cohort was established from March 2020 to February 2021. From November 2020 to February 2021, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured on two occasions 14-90 days apart to determine seroprevalence and seroconversion. We used multivariate log-binomial regression to evaluate factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among 2,597 HCWs, the cumulative incidence of infection was 35.7%, and seroprevalence was 21.5%. A reduced risk of infection was observed among those aged 35-44 and ≥45 years (adjusted relative risks [aRRs], 0.84 and 0.83, respectively), physicians (aRR, 0.77), those wearing N95 respirators (aRR, 0.82) and working remotely (aRR, 0.74). Being overweight (aRR, 1.18) or obese (aRR, 1.24); being a nurse or nurse assistant (aRR, 1.20); working in the emergency room (aRR, 1.45), general wards (aRR, 1.45), intensive care unit (aRR, 1.34), or COVID-19 areas (aRR, 1.17); and close contact with COVID-19 cases (aRR, 1.47) increased the risk of infection. The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection found in this study reflects the dynamics of the first year of the pandemic in Bogotá. A high burden of infection calls for strengthening prevention and screening measures for HCWs, focusing especially on those at high risk., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is the second rate-limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway. This enzyme is present in the cytoplasm of all mammalian cells, and its activity is essential for an adequate functioning of the antioxidant system and for the response of innate immunity. It is responsible for the production of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), the first redox equivalent, in the pentose phosphate pathway. Viral infections such as SARS-CoV-2 may induce the Warburg effect with an increase in anaerobic glycolysis and production of lactate. This condition ensures the success of viral replication and production of the virion. Therefore, the activity of G6PD may be increased in COVID-19 patients raising the level of the NADPH, which is needed for the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems that counteract the oxidative stress caused by the cytokine storm. G6PD deficiency affects approximately 350-400 million people worldwide; therefore, it is one of the most prevalent diseases related to enzymatic deficiency worldwide. In G6PD-deficient patients exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the amount of NADPH is reduced, increasing the susceptibility for viral infection. There is loss of the redox homeostasis in them, resulting in severe pneumonia and fatal outcomes.

The infection with SARS-CoV-2 impairs the glucose−insulin axis and this contributes to oxidative (OS) and nitrosative (NSS) stress. Here, we evaluated changes in glucose metabolism that could promote the loss of redox homeostasis in COVID-19 patients. This was comparative cohort and analytical study that compared COVID-19 patients and healthy subjects. The study population consisted of 61 COVID-19 patients with and without comorbidities and 25 healthy subjects (HS). In all subjects the plasma glucose, insulin, 8-isoprostane, Vitamin D, H2S and 3-nitrotyrosine were determined by ELISA. The nitrites (NO2−), lipid-peroxidation (LPO), total-antioxidant-capacity (TAC), thiols, glutathione (GSH) and selenium (Se) were determined by spectrophotometry. The glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR (p < 0.001), 8-isoprostanes, 3-nitrotyrosine (p < 0.001) and LPO were increased (p = 0.02) while Vitamin D (p = 0.01), H2S, thiols, TAC, GSH and Se (p < 0.001) decreased in COVID-19 patients in comparison to HS. The SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in alterations in the glucose−insulin axis that led to hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and IR in patients with and without comorbidities. These alterations increase OS and NSS reflected in increases or decreases in some oxidative markers in plasma with major impact or fatal consequences in patients that course with metabolic syndrome. Moreover, subjects without comorbidities could have long-term alterations in the redox homeostasis after infection.

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of the study was to estimate the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among HCWs in Cochabamba, Bolivia and to determine the potential risk factors. In January 2021, a cross-sectional SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence study was conducted in 783 volunteer clinical and non-clinical HCWs in tertiary care facilities. It was based on IgG detection using ELISA, chemiluminiscence, and seroneutralisation tests from dried blood spots. Analysis revealed a high seroprevalence (43.4%) of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. The combination of anosmia and ageusia (OR: 68.11; 95%-CI 24.83-186.80) was predictive of seropositivity. Belonging to the cleaning staff (OR: 1.94; 95%-CI 1.09-3.45), having more than two children in the same house (OR: 1.74; 95%-CI 1.12-2.71), and having been in contact with a close relative with COVID-19 (OR: 3.53; 95%-CI 2.24-5.58) were identified as risk factors for seropositivity in a multivariate analysis. A total of 47.5% of participants had received medication for COVID-19 treatment or prevention, and only ~50% of symptomatic subjects accessed PCR or antigenic testing. This study confirms a massive SARS-CoV-2 attack rate among HCWs in Cochabamba by the end of January 2021. The main risk factors identified are having a low-skilled job, living with children, and having been in contact with an infected relative in the household.

Infection by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) leads to multi-organ failure associated with a cytokine storm and septic shock. The virus evades the mitochondrial production of interferons through its N protein and, from that moment on, it hijacks the functions of these organelles. The aim of this study was to show how the virus kidnaps the mitochondrial machinery for its benefit and survival, leading to alterations of serum parameters and to nitrosative stress (NSS). In a prospective cohort of 15 postmortem patients who died from COVID-19, six markers of mitochondrial function (COX II, COX IV, MnSOD, nitrotyrosine, Bcl-2 and caspase-9) were analyzed by the immune colloidal gold technique in samples from the lung, heart, and liver. Biometric laboratory results from these patients showed alterations in hemoglobin, platelets, creatinine, urea nitrogen, glucose, C-reactive protein, albumin, D-dimer, ferritin, fibrinogen, Ca²⁺, K⁺, lactate and troponin. These changes were associated with alterations in the mitochondrial structure and function. The multi-organ dysfunction present in COVID-19 patients may be caused, in part, by damage to the mitochondria that results in an inflammatory state that contributes to NSS, which activates the sepsis cascade and results in increased mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Objective: To analyze the situation experienced by the agricultural organizations in the Yaqui Valley in relation to the way they generate knowledge and their capacity for innovation in health contingency. Methodology: Through qualitative research using interview guides with various farmers in the Yaqui Valley. Results: It was found that the agricultural sector quickly adapted to the appearance of Covid-19, seeking to generate ideas and strategies that allow them to obtain more knowledge about their crops. Limitations: The sector's barriers to participating in this type of research need to be pointed out as a limitation. The above is due to two main points: crime and extortion. They argue that they have been contacted by supposed institutes with the intention of contacting business appointments, and in the end, they result in telephone blackmail. Therefore, not all agricultural producers show openness regarding collaboration for the project, which makes obtaining information even more complex. Conclusion: The agricultural organizations seek to manage their knowledge through innovation, specifically product innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Baghdad Science Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

SARS-CoV-2 infects type II pneumocytes and disrupts redox homeostasis by overproducing reactive oxygen species (ROS). N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is a precursor of the synthesis of glutathione (GSH) and it restores the loss of redox homeostasis associated to viral infections. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of the treatment with NAC on the enzymatic antioxidant system in serum from patients infected by SARS-CoV-2. We evaluated the enzymatic activities of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), -S-transferase (GST), and reductase (GR) by spectrophotometry and the concentrations of the glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), thiols, nitrites (NO2–), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in serum. The activity of the extracellular super oxide dismutase (ecSOD) was determined by native polyacrylamide gels, and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) was measured by ELISA. A decrease in the activities of the ecSOD, TrxR, GPx, GST GR, (p = 0 ≤ 0.1), and the GSH, TAC, thiols, and NO2– (p ≤ 0.001) concentrations and an increase in LPO and 3-NT (p = 0.001) concentrations were found in COVID-19 patients vs. healthy subjects. The treatment with NAC as an adjuvant therapy may contribute to a reduction in the OS associated to the infection by SARS-CoV-2 through the generation of GSH. GSH promotes the metabolic pathways that depend on it, thus contributing to an increase in TAC and to restore redox homeostasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In patients with severe pneumonia due to COVID-19, the deregulation of oxidative stress is present. Nuclear erythroid factor 2 (NRF2) is regulated by KEAP1, and NRF2 regulates the expression of genes such as NFE2L2-KEAP1, which are involved in cellular defense against oxidative stress. In this study, we analyzed the participation of the polymorphisms of NFE2L2 and KEAP1 genes in the mechanisms of damage in lung disease patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients with COVID-19 and a control group were included. Organ dysfunction was evaluated using SOFA. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed and classified as moderate or severe by ventilatory status and by the Berlin criteria for acute respiratory distress syndrome. SNPs in the gene locus for NFE2L2, rs2364723C>G, and KEAP1, rs9676881A>G, and rs34197572C>T were determined by qPCR. We analyzed 110 individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection: 51 with severe evolution and 59 with moderate evolution. We also analyzed 111 controls. Significant differences were found for rs2364723 allele G in severe cases vs. controls (p = 0.02); for the rs9676881 allele G in moderate cases vs. controls (p = 0.04); for the rs34197572 allele T in severe cases vs. controls (p = 0.001); and in severe vs. moderate cases (p = 0.004). Our results showed that NFE2L2 rs2364723C>G allele G had a protective effect against severe COVID-19, while KEAP1 rs9676881A>G allele G and rs34197572C>T minor allele T were associated with more aggressive stages of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation in medical emergencies of COVID-19 patients represents a challenge to regulate preventive and timely management. There are key imaging and laboratory tools to classify the severity. The aim of the study was to evaluate the chest CT score performance and prognostic indices in COVID-19 patients to predict the progression to critical illness. This was a retrospective study between run between April and December 2020, in which 109 patients were included. Patients of any age and gender and who required hospitalization due to a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis by RT-PCR and chest CT and laboratory were analyzed. In 75% of them, there was at least one comorbidity, and 30% developed critical illness, and the average mortality was 10%. In 49.5%, there was a CORADS-5 on admission, and in 50%, there was a peripheral distribution of the interstitial infiltrate in the left lower lobe. The risk factors were FiO2, CT score > 18, and the NRL index. The combination of the high-risk Quick COVID-19 Severity Index (qCSI) plus CT score > 18 indices was the best prediction index for the development of a critical condition. The combined use of indices in infected COVID-19 patients showed diagnostic accuracy and predicted severity. Imaging and the laboratory tests are key tools independent of the wave of recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a worldwide need for mental health interventions to address the mental health needs of children under 12 who are returning to school in the post-COVID-19 environment. The basic characteristics of child-focused, post-crisis interventions are currently unknown, but they are essential for developing high-quality, expedient RTC programs. We conducted a rapid systematic review, via established PICO methodology, to appraise the characteristics of such interventions. We queried databases (PubMed, PsycInfo, ERIC) for English and Spanish publications describing mental health interventions to reduce mental health symptoms and sequelae among children exposed to disasters and other community crises. We described the following characteristics: type of intervention, length, number of sessions, number of staff delivering the intervention, and other characteristics. A total of 18 original articles met the inclusion criteria: 11 correspond to a controlled trial type of study and 15 addressed PTSD after disaster or crisis situations. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) was the most common intervention type, school-based/related interventions were the most common method, and five articles described an important role of teachers as mediators of therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The kidnapping of the lipid metabolism of the host's cells by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) allows the virus to transform the cells into optimal machines for its assembly and replication. Here we evaluated changes in the fatty acid (FA) profile and the participation of the activity of the desaturases, in plasma of patients with severe pneumonia by SARS-CoV-2. We found that SARS-CoV-2 alters the FA metabolism in the cells of the host. Changes are characterized by variations in the desaturases that lead to a decrease in total fatty acid (TFA), phospholipids (PL) and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs). These alterations include a decrease in palmitic and stearic acids (p ≤ 0.009) which could be used for the formation of the viral membranes and for the reparation of the host's own membrane. There is also an increase in oleic acid (OA; p = 0.001) which could modulate the inflammatory process, the cytokine release, apoptosis, necrosis, oxidative stress (OS). An increase in linoleic acid (LA) in TFA (p = 0.03) and a decreased in PL (p = 0.001) was also present. They result from damage of the internal mitochondrial membrane. The arachidonic acid (AA) percentage was elevated (p = 0.02) in the TFA and this can be participated in the inflammatory process. EPA was decreased (p = 0.001) and this may decrease of pro-resolving mediators with increase in the inflammatory process. The total of NEFAs (p = 0.03), PL (p = 0.001), cholesterol, HDL and LDL were decreased, and triglycerides were increased in plasma of the COVID-19 patients. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 alters the FA metabolism, the changes are characterized by alterations in the desaturases that lead to variations in the TFA, PL, and NEFAs profiles. These changes may favor the replication of the virus but, at the same time, they are part of the defense system provided by the host cell metabolism in its eagerness to repair damage caused by the virus to cell membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Española de Cirugía Oral y Maxilofacial is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Cirugia Oral y Maxilofacial (SECOM) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of middle school students' learning attitudes and risk perception toward COVID-19 on their poor academic performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began. This study limited the sample to middle school students who responded that their academic performance was an A or B grade during the last academic year in 2019. For this study, 268 respondents were selected and logistic regression was employed. Self-motivated studying time and positive attitudes toward online learning predicted consistent academic performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Middle school students' preference toward an in-person classroom format was related to poor academic performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began. A risk perception toward COVID-19 was related to poor academic performance since the COVID-19 pandemic began. It is imperative to provide educational programs which help students develop self-motivated studying habits to maintain their academic performance during COVID-19. Policymakers in schools should consider providing in-person options for students who are more academically successful in such an environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]