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Patients with severe COVID-19 develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) that may progress to cytokine storm syndrome, organ dysfunction, and death. Considering that complement component 5a (C5a), through its cellular receptor C5aR1, has potent proinflammatory actions and plays immunopathological roles in inflammatory diseases, we investigated whether the C5a/C5aR1 pathway could be involved in COVID-19 pathophysiology. C5a/C5aR1 signaling increased locally in the lung, especially in neutrophils of critically ill patients with COVID-19 compared with patients with influenza infection, as well as in the lung tissue of K18-hACE2 Tg mice (Tg mice) infected with SARS-CoV-2. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of C5aR1 signaling ameliorated lung immunopathology in Tg-infected mice. Mechanistically, we found that C5aR1 signaling drives neutrophil extracellular traps-dependent (NETs-dependent) immunopathology. These data confirm the immunopathological role of C5a/C5aR1 signaling in COVID-19 and indicate that antagonists of C5aR1 could be useful for COVID-19 treatment., Introduction COVID-19 is the major acute global public health issue in this century. Patients with severe COVID-19 develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which may progress to organ dysfunction and [...]

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD), also known as chronic renal insufficiency (CRI), can be defined by a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 60mL/min/1.73m^2 associated with an albumin-to-creatinine ratio greater than 30mg of albumin per 1g of creatinine. CKD is a significant factor leading to a decline in the quality of life, increased morbidity, and a substantial reduction in life expectancy. Currently, it is estimated that there are 3.9 million patients worldwide on renal replacement therapy for CKD. Recent data indicates that in the United States of America (USA), more than 500,000 people suffer from renal failure or insufficiency. In Brazil, epidemiological data is incomplete and outdated. In 2016, there were 122,825 patients in Brazil on renal replacement therapy. Objectives: This literature review aims to assess the prevalence, severity, and therapeutic recommendations for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in patients with CKD undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: A literature review was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and SciELO databases with keywords including "Obstructive Sleep Apnea", "Chronic kidney disease", "End-stage renal disease", "sleep disorders", "hemodialysis", "CPAP", "Continuous positive airway pressure", and "Physiotherapy." Only studies published in the last twenty years and in the English language were included. Results: Despite scientific evidence demonstrating a high prevalence of OSA in CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis, there are still a lack of studies examining the effects of Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on the clinical outcomes of these patients. In the scientific literature, only three randomized clinical trials were found that investigated the impact of CPAP therapy on improving kidney function. Consequently, there is a critical need for clinical studies to assess the effects of CPAP therapy in CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis. It is also essential to highlight the role of physiotherapy in managing sleep disorders and aiding in the adaptation and monitoring of patients undergoing CPAP therapy. Conclusion: This literature review concluded that more randomized controlled studies are necessary to better define the optimal therapy for OSA in CKD patients, with the goal of preventing a decline in GFR progression, reducing morbidity and mortality, and enhancing overall quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The choice of an exercise in clinical speech therapy practice must consider the clinical objectives to be achieved, therefore, it is important to identify and analyze the physiology of the muscles involved in the proposed action. Swallowing videofluoroscopy is a non-invasive radiological examination, which allows dynamic visualization of the swallowing phases, assists in defining therapeutic approaches and contributes to scientific research. Objective: to study the mechanical phenomena that occur in the oral cavity, oropharynx and laryngopharyngeal region under the action of blowing through an occluded straw and measure the spaces resulting from the exercise. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, involving healthy individuals accordind according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study will follow the recommendations of The Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE). Anamnesis, clinical evaluation of the oral cavity and image capture will be carried out through videofluoroscopy of swallowing. Measurements will be carried out with the subjects at rest position, during the preparation and execution of the blowing exercise with an occluded straw and comparison of the measurements obtained to verify possible gains in amplitude in the intraoral, oropharyngeal and laryngopharyngeal space. Discussion: The blowing exercise with an occluded straw, used in the clinical practice of speech therapy, has shown positive results in terms of gaining muscle strength and improving the clinical condition of patients. However, this technique does not present scientific evidence that proves its application as a therapeutic resource favorable to gaining mobility and strength of the velopharyngeal, lingual and suprahyoid muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the scientific community grapples with the increasing symptomatology stemming from COVID-19, it is becoming increasingly evident that this systemic disease extends beyond its acute respiratory manifestations. While the world was still grappling with the immediate consequences of the pandemic, such as pneumonia, pulmonary thromboembolism, and heightened cardiovascular risk, a series of questions arose concerning the long-term sequelae. The mechanisms and implications of these sequelae remain elusive. Objective: This review explores the impact of COVID-19 on lung function and underscores the significance of thorough assessment and treatment for post-COVID-19 patients, often referred to as Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 (PACS). COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, exerts its primary effects on the respiratory system and can lead to chronic complications affecting various organ systems. Methods: We carried out searches in three main databases and gray literature, in English, without date restrictions. Results: Lung function assumes a pivotal role, as a substantial number of patients report persistent dyspnea and other respiratory symptoms even after recovery from the acute infection. These lingering symptoms significantly impair patients' quality of life and functional capacity. This study underscores the necessity of precise assessments of lung function, encompassing pulmonary function tests and computed tomography scans, to identify abnormalities and guide treatment strategies. Moreover, we emphasize the vital role of therapeutic interventions and multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs aimed at enhancing the quality of life for PACS patients. Final Considerations: While there exist recommendations for post-COVID-19 rehabilitation, further research is imperative to validate the effectiveness of these interventions and establish a robust evidence base. In summary, this review underscores the enduring impact of COVID-19 on lung function and underscores the importance of individualized care and ongoing research efforts to cater to the needs of post-COVID-19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands provide vital habitat for biodiversity and relevant ecosystem services to human population. The rapid transformation of freshwater wetlands to grow food crops became the wetlands strongly threatened by human activities. Restoration efforts related to wetlands have been widely attempted; however, science‐based guidelines are relatively scarce. Here, we analyzed whether different levels of topsoil addition from natural wetlands in the sediment from rice fields influence the zooplankton communities. Our hypothesis was that the richness and abundance of hatchlings would be higher in treatments with high topsoil addition from natural wetlands, followed by treatments with low addition. In the laboratory, eight field sediment samples were incubated for zooplankton hatching in four treatments: rice fields, rice fields added with low (5%) and medium (30%) quantities of sediment from natural wetlands, and natural wetlands. A total of 4,493 hatchlings belonging to 24 taxa were observed in the experiment. While zooplankton richness and abundance did not differ between sediment treatments, significant differences in species composition associated with topsoil addition were observed. SIMPER analysis showed that topsoil addition from natural wetlands enhanced the abundance of cladocerans and larval copepods. Our results showed that sediments from natural wetlands have a bank of zooplankton dormant eggs that can help the recovery of wetlands disturbed by rice fields. The addition of natural wetland sediments in areas disturbed by rice fields modifies the zooplankton composition of the rice fields, aiding the recovery of disturbed natural wetlands for rice production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Elevation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is the hallmark of the dyslipidemia observed in hypothyroidism, but alterations on high-density lipoprotein (HDL) plasma levels and metabolism are less understood. The aim of this study was to explore aspects of HDL metabolism and enzymes that act on HDL after a short period of overt hypothyroidism., Methods: Eighteen women (age 44 ± 11 years; body mass index 27.9 ± 5.2 kg/m 2 ) were studied before total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer, when they were euthyroid, and after thyroidectomy, in overt hypothyroidism for three weeks, following levothyroxine withdrawal for performance of a whole-body scan., Results: Thyrotropin and free thyroxine confirmed hypothyroidism; low thyroglobulin and radioiodine uptake indicated near absence of thyroid tissue. LDL cholesterol (125 ± 35 vs. 167 ± 40 mg/dL; p = 0.0002), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C; 39 ± 8 vs. 46 ± 10 mg/dL; p = 0.0025), non-HDL-C (149 ± 38 vs. 201 ± 46 mg/dL; p < 0.0001), unesterified cholesterol (53 ± 10 vs. 70 ± 16 mg/dL; p = 0.0003), apolipoprotein (apo) A-I (1.32 ± 0.19 vs. 1.44 ± 0.22 g/L; p < 0.04), and apo B (0.97 ± 0.25 vs. 1.31 ± 0.28 g/L; p < 0.0001) plasma concentrations were all higher in hypothyroidism compared to values in the euthyroid state, but triglycerides and Lp(a) were unchanged. There were no changes in HDL particle size and lipid composition, cholesteryl ester transfer protein and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase concentrations and in paraoxonase-1 activity. Regarding the in vitro assay to estimate lipid transfer to HDL, there were no changes when comparing the euthyroid to the hypothyroid state, but when adjusted for HDL-C, the unesterified cholesterol (0.14 ± 0.03 vs. 0.11 ± 0.02; p < 0.0001), triglycerides (0.11 ± 0.02 vs. 0.09 ± 0.02; p < 0.0001), phospholipids (0.44 ± 0.09 vs. 0.40 ± 0.07; p = 0.0205), and esterified cholesterol (0.14 ± 0.03 vs. 0.13 ± 0.03; p = 0.0043) transfer to HDL were all diminished in hypothyroidism., Conclusions: In short-term hypothyroidism, HDL-C increased, but this did not increase the capacity of the HDL fraction to receive lipids or the activity of paraoxonase-1, the anti-oxidation enzyme associated to HDL.