Lethal and intentional violent crimes against women in Alagoas, Northeast Brazil: a comparative study before and during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Background: The death of women as a result of violent crime has become a major social and health problem worldwide. Most of these crimes are committed by their partners. The Covid-19 pandemic seems to have amplified the problem, given that measures to contain the spread of the disease have exposed women to more prolonged contact with their aggressors.

AIDS mortality in Brazil, 2012-2022: a time series study.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is a health problem in Brazil and worldwide. Without treatment, the infection can progress to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), with a high mortality potential. The objective of this study was to analyze the time trend of AIDS mortality in Brazil, macro-regions, federal units and their respective capitals, from 2012 to 2022.

Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) as a potential biomarker for predicting death in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Background: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an acute-phase protein that belongs to the pentraxin family, which plays an important role in the body's defense against pathogens. PTX3 levels have been associated with inflammatory processes, and it is a possible biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of different infectious diseases, including COVID-19. The objective of this study was to analyze the potential of PTX3 as a plasma biomarker for predicting death in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Primary care performance measurement in Brazil (Previne Brasil Program), 2022-2023.

Background: Previne Brasil is a new way of financing Primary Health Care (PHC) in Brazil that places users of public health services at the center of the system's analysis and attention through the use of seven performance indicators. This study aims to analyze the performance of Primary Health Care in Brazil under the new financing model (Previne Brasil) in the period from the first four months of 2022 to the first four months of 2023.

Methods: This is a territorial ecological study using secondary data from the Primary Care Health Information System (SISAB).

Spatiotemporal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 lineages during 2020-2021 in Pernambuco-Brazil.

SARS-CoV-2 virus emerged as a new threat to humans and spread around the world, leaving a large death toll. As of January 2023, Brazil is among the countries with the highest number of registered deaths. Nonpharmacological and pharmacological interventions have been heterogeneously implemented in the country, which, associated with large socioeconomic differences between the country regions, has led to distinct virus spread dynamics.

High production polymorphisms protect against COVID-19 complications in critically ill patients: A retrospective cohort study.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) binds to SARS-CoV-2, inhibits infection of susceptible cells, and activates the complement system via the lectin pathway. In this study, we investigated the association of polymorphisms with the risk of hospitalization and clinical worsening in patients with COVID-19. A total of 550 patients with COVID-19 were included (94 non-hospitalized and 456 hospitalized).

On the feasibility of Vis-NIR spectroscopy and machine learning for real time SARS-CoV-2 detection.

The pandemic caused by Covid-19 is still present around the world. Despite advances in combating the disease, such as vaccine development, identifying infected individuals is still essential to optimize the control of human-to-human transmission of the virus. The main technique for detecting the virus is the RT-PCR method, which, despite its high relative cost, has a high accuracy in detecting the coronavirus.

Association of PTX3 gene polymorphisms and PTX3 plasma levels with leprosy susceptibility.

Background: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a soluble pattern recognition receptor that plays a crucial role in modulating the inflammatory response and activating the complement system. Additionally, plasma PTX3 has emerged as a potential biomarker for various infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of PTX3 gene polymorphisms and PTX3 plasma levels with susceptibility to leprosy and clinical characteristics.

Mpox in Northeast Brazil: Spatiotemporal analysis and predictors associated with confirmed diagnosis.

The mpox outbreaks reported in several countries from May 2022 have shown an epidemiological profile different from that observed in previous years, raising a global public health alert. This issue is particularly important for Brazil, the second country with the highest number of mpox cases. Herein, we performed a retrospective cross-sectional study on mpox cases notified in Pernambuco state, northeastern Brazil, between July 2022 and March 2023.

Bridging the Gaps: Investigating the Complex Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tuberculosis Records in Brazil.

Background: This study aimed to analyze the temporal evolution, spatial distribution, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis records in a northeastern state of Brazil.

Methods: This is an ecological study involving all diagnoses of Tuberculosis (TB) in residents of the state of Pernambuco/Brazil. Data were extracted from the National System of Notifiable Diseases.

Assessment of clinical characteristics and viral load in individuals infected by Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2.

In late 2021, a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 called Omicron emerged, replacing Delta worldwide. Although it has been associated with a lower risk of hospitalization and severe forms of COVID-19, there is little evidence of its relationship with specific symptoms and viral load. The aim of this study was to verify the relationship between Delta and Omicron variants of concern, viral load, and the occurrence of symptoms in individuals with COVID-19.

Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in older indigenous peoples of Brazil: findings from a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent disease worldwide, with increasing incidence particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Indigenous communities have poorer CKD outcomes due to limited access to healthcare. They are also experiencing a shift toward a sedentary lifestyle and urbanization-related dietary changes, increasing the risk of CKD-related risk factors.

Change in Rotavirus Vaccine Coverage in Brazil from before (2015-2019) through the COVID-19 Pandemic Period (2020-2021).

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a reduction in vaccination coverage of children and adolescents was observed in several countries. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the pandemic, in the first two years, on human rotavirus vaccine (HRV) coverage in Brazil compared with previous years. The number of doses of HRV administered in the period from January 2015 to December 2021 and its annual vaccination coverage were analyzed.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the actions of the Schistosomiasis Control Program in an endemic area in Northeastern Brazil.

Schistosomiasis remains a serious public health concern in Brazil and the Schistosomiasis Control Program (PCE) was elaborated to assist in the control of the disease. Nevertheless, the irruption of the COVID-19 pandemic may have impacted the program. Herein, we assessed the impact of the pandemic on PCE actions in an endemic area in the region with the highest positivity rate for schistosomiasis in Brazil.

Coagulopathy and the humoral response against viral proteins in patients at different stages of COVID-19.

Background: Patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) often present with coagulopathies and have high titres of circulating antibodies against viral proteins.

Objectives: Herein, we evaluated the association between D-dimer and circulating immunoglobulin levels against viral proteins in patients at different clinical stages of COVID-19.

Methods: For this, we performed a cross-sectional study involving patients of the first wave of COVID-19 clinically classified as oligosymptomatic (n = 22), severe (n = 30), cured (n = 27) and non-infected (n = 9).

A Polymorphism in the TMPRSS2 Gene Increases the Risk of Death in Older Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19.

Background: Transmembrane serine protease type 2 (TMPRSS2) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) are the main molecules involved in the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into host cells. Changes in TMPRSS2 expression levels caused by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may contribute to the outcome of COVID-19. The aim was to investigate the association between TMPRSS2 gene polymorphisms and the risk of death in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Association of polymorphisms in long pentraxin 3 and its plasma levels with COVID-19 severity.

COVID-19 is an infectious respiratory disease caused by SARS-CoV-2. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is involved in the activation and regulation of the complement system, demonstrating an important role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. The aim was to evaluate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in PTX3 and its plasma levels with the severity of COVID-19.

Temporal trend, space risk and factors associated with the occurrence of dengue in northeast Brazil, 2009-2018.

Background: Dengue is an acute viral disease of major relevance and impact on public health, causing major epidemics around the world, especially in tropical regions. Here we aimed to analyse the temporal trend and spatial risk, as well as social vulnerability factors, associated with the occurrence of dengue in the state of Bahia, Brazil between 2009 and 2018.

Methods: This is an ecological study carried out with all suspected cases of dengue in Bahia between 2009 and 2018.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Brazil: Is the WHO End TB Strategy at Risk?

In 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the "post-2015 End TB strategy", that aims to end the global tuberculosis (TB) epidemic by 2030. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted global public health and the strict measures to control the coronavirus spread can affect the management of other diseases, such as TB. Herein, we aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis of TB in Brazil, during 2020.

Lack of Association of Polymorphisms in and Genes with Fibrosis Severity in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C.

The IL-22 pathway has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. However, little is known about the role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-22-related genes in relation to the severity of liver fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the association of polymorphisms in and genes with the severity of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Time trend, social vulnerability, and identification of risk areas for tuberculosis in Brazil: An ecological study.

Introduction: Tuberculosis is one of the ten leading causes of death and the leading infectious cause worldwide. The disease represents a challenge to health systems around the world. In 2018, it is estimated that 10 million people were affected by tuberculosis, and approximately 1.

A time series analysis of detection and mortality of hepatitis C in Brazil, 2008-2018.

Background: The 69th World Health Assembly approved the Global Health Sector Strategy to eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection by 2030. In Brazil, efforts have been undertaken to achieve this goal; there are, however, great challenges. It is important to understand the disease profile in different regions of the country in order to design strategies to fight the disease nationwide.