Plaque Reduction Neutralization Test (PRNT) Accuracy in Evaluating Humoral Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2.

Massive vaccination positively impacted the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, being a strategy to increase the titers of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in the population. Assessing NAb levels and understanding the kinetics of NAb responses is critical for evaluating immune protection. In this study, we optimized and validated a PRNT assay to assess 50% virus neutralization and evaluated its accuracy to measure NAbs to the original strain or variant of SARS-CoV-2.

Burden of disease from COVID-19 and its acute and chronic complications: reflections on measurement (DALYs) and prospects for the Brazilian Unified National Health System.

COVID-19 is an acute infectious respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The disease is highly communicable and produces mild to severe symptoms, generating a high demand for intensive care and thousands of deaths. In March 2020, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and has already surpassed five million cases and 300,000 deaths in the world.

[Evolution of the burden of injuries in Brazil: a comparison between 1998 and 2008].

The objective of this study was to compare estimates of external causes based on the Global Burden of Disease in Brazil Study for the years 1998 and 2008. Methods included estimation of DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) and YLL (years of life lost), based on the methodology proposed in the Global Burden of Disease Study. Calculation of YLD (years lived with disability) required applying the same methodology in both years, with the 2008 methodology as the standard.

Morbidity and mortality associated with injuries: results of the Global Burden of Disease study in Brazil, 2008.

The aim of this study was to estimate the global burden of disease from external causes in 2008 in Brazil, based on DALYs (disability-adjusted life years). YLLs (years of life lost) were estimated according to the method proposed by Murray & Lopez (1996). Meanwhile, the method for estimating YLDs (years lived with disability) included methodological adjustments taking the Brazilian reality into account.