Márcia dos Santos Rizzo

This study aims to evaluate the effect of vaccination in Brazil against COVID-19 by studying correlations. An ecological study was carried out that looked at the number of cases, stratifying them by the variants of concern (VOC) of SARS-CoV-2 and its sublineages, deaths, vaccination coverage and stringency index, evaluating the relationship of these variables using Kendall’s tau correlation coefficient (τ). It was possible to observe a strong correlation between the increase in vaccination coverage, total vaccinations (τ = -0.702, p < 0.001, 95%CI [-0.723; -0.679]) and immunized individuals (τ = -0.717, p < 0.001, 95%CI [-0.737; -0.695]), and the reduction in new deaths. There is also a relationship with the decrease in new cases, although considerably weaker. When stratifying by VOC, what stands out is what was observed in omicron and its sublineages, whose vaccination proved incapable of containing, suggesting that the negative correlation (τ = -0.199, p < 0.001, 95%CI [-0.249; -0.141]) between the number of estimated cases and the stringency index may be part of the explanation. The COVID-19 pandemic has required a cohesive, global effort to deal with it, and the effect of vaccination on reducing new cases and deaths for the Brazilian population is undeniable; however, it is important to combine these measures with other preventive actions.

Resumo O trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito da vacinação no Brasil contra a COVID-19 pelo estudo de correlações. Realizou-se um estudo ecológico que abordou a quantidade de casos, estratificando-os por variantes de preocupação (VOC) do SARS-CoV-2 e suas sublinhagens, óbitos, cobertura vacinal e índice de restrições, avaliando a relação dessas variáveis por meio do coeficiente de correlação tau de Kendall (τ). Foi possível observar uma forte correlação entre aumento da cobertura vacinal, total de vacinações (τ = -0,702, p < 0,001, IC95% [-0,723; -0,679]) e indivíduos imunizados (τ = -0,717, p < 0,001, IC95% [-0,737; -0,695]), e a redução de novos óbitos. Observou-se também relação na redução de novos casos, no entanto consideravelmente mais fraca. Quando se estratifica pelas VOC, destaca-se o observado na ômicron e suas sublinhagens, cuja vacinação mostrou-se incapaz de conter, sugerindo que a correlação negativa (τ = -0,199, p < 0,001, IC95% [-0,249; -0,141]) da quantidade de casos estimados e do índice de restrições pode ser parte da explicação. A pandemia de COVID-19 necessitou de um esforço coeso e global para seu enfretamento, sendo inegável o efeito da vacinação na diminuição de novos casos e óbitos para a população brasileira, todavia, nota-se a importância da combinação dessas medidas com outras ações preventivas.

Quantitative analyses in drug-delivery research are frequently distributed across multiple tools, which increases manual handling and the risk of transcription errors. NanoEDW 1.0 is an open source Python application that integrates calibration-curve generation, encapsulation-efficiency (EE%) calculation, and release kinetics modeling in a single, streamlined workflow. This study aims to validate the performance of NanoEDW 1.0 by benchmarking it against spreadsheet/OriginLab^® OriginPro 2025 analyses on experimental datasets from polymeric nanocarrier systems commonly used in drug encapsulation. The software performs linear regression to convert absorbance into concentration, computes EE% from raw experimental values, and fits drug-release profiles to classical models (including zero/first-order, Higuchi, Korsmeyer–Peppas, Weibull, and Modified Gompertz) using non-linear least squares with standard goodness-of-fit metrics (R², RMSE). Results show close agreement with reference workflows for calibration parameters and EE%, as well as statistically comparable release-model fits, while reducing manual steps and analysis time. In conclusion, the validation confirms that NanoEDW 1.0 can streamline routine analyses and enhance reproducibility and accessibility in nanopharmaceutical research; source code and example datasets are provided to foster adoption.

Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de espécies do gênero Candida em assentos sanitários de hospitais públicos e privados de Teresina-PI e verificar seu perfil de sensibilidade a antifúngicos. Método: Foram analisadas 8 amostras, em duplicatas, das superfícies dos assentos sanitários masculinos e femininos. Resultados: As leveduras do gênero Candida foram detectadas em 18,75% das amostras, sendo 6,25% identificadas como C. krusei e 12,5% como C. glabrata. Ambas as espécies apresentaram inibição significativa pelos antifúngicos cetoconazol e nistatina, com a nistatina mostrando maior diâmetro de halo e uma ação mais eficaz. No entanto, houve variações nos dados de variância e desvio padrão. Para concentrações menores, a inibição do fluconazol e da nistatina foi reduzida. Conclusão: A presença dessas espécies em ambientes hospitalares destaca a necessidade de vigilância e controle rigorosos para prevenir infecções fúngicas, contribuindo para a redução da morbidade e mortalidade associadas a essas infecções.

The development of anticancer drugs is costly and time intensive. Computational approaches optimize the process by studying molecules such as naphthoquinones. This research explores the quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSPR) and molecular interactions among 2,2-dimethyl-3-((3-nitrophenyl)amino)-2,3-dihydronaphtho[1,2-b]furan-4,5-dione (QPhNO₂), a Nor-β-Lapachone derivative with anticancer properties, and the following polymers for nanoencapsulation: polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA). Spartan 14 optimized the compounds using density functional theory (DFT), while ArgusLab performed docking, and Discovery Studio analyzed post-docking results. Simulations indicated that polymers with larger energy gaps are more stable and less prone to deformation than QPhNO₂, facilitating interaction with polymer chains. The binding energies for PMMA/QPhNO₂, PCL/QPhNO₂, and PLGA/QPhNO₂ interactions were −4.607, −4.437, and −1.814 kcal/mol, respectively. Docking analysis revealed non-bonded interactions between polymers and QPhNO₂. These findings highlight the role of computational methods in nanoencapsulation and molecular characterization, guiding the development of future analogs and combinations.

Annona muricata is a fruit species belonging to the Annonaceae family, which is native to the warmer tropical areas of North and South America. A large amount of discarded residue from A. muricata is of interest for obtaining new industrial inputs. To propose the applications of the biopolymer from A. muricata residues (Biop_AmRs), this study aimed to characterize this input chemically and functionally, as well as to evaluate its potential for hemocompatibility and cytotoxicity activity in vitro. Biop_AmRs is an anionic heteropolysaccharide composed of glucose, arabinose, xylose, galactose, mannose, uronic acid, and proteins. This biopolymer exhibited a semicrystalline structure and good thermal stability. Biop_AmRs exhibited excellent water holding capacity, emulsifying properties, and mucoadhesiviness and demonstrated hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility on the L929 cell line. These results indicate possible applications for this biopolymer as a potential environmentally friendly raw material in the food, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and cosmetic industries.

This study aims to evaluate the hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic and aortic morphometric effects of fish oil rich in omega-3 in hypercholesterolemic BALB/c mice. This is an experimental model that included 16 male BALB/c mice (Mus musculus) divided into three groups (G1 (standard commercial chow and 0.9% saline solution), G2 (hypercholesterolemic diet and 0.9% saline solution) and G3 (hypercholesterolemic diet and fish oil)) for 8 weeks. There was no significant difference in the treatment with omega-3-rich fish oil in the lipid profile (p > 0.05). In the histological analysis, group G2 detected the presence of hepatitis and liver tissue necrosis, but this was not observed in group G3. As for the morphometry in the light area of the vessel, the G1 group had a higher score (2.62 ± 0.36 mm²) when compared to G2 (2.10 ± 0.16 mm²) and G3 (2.26 ± 0.25 mm²) (p < 0.05). The vessel wall thickness did not differ between the groups (p > 0.05). It is concluded that supplementation with fish oil rich in omega-3 carried out in this study may have a protective effect on liver tissue, but it has not yet improved the lipid and morphometric profile. Despite this research being preliminary, it is a relevant study with future prospects for improving the doses of EPA and DHA in order to better elucidate the benefits of fish oil in models of dyslipidemia.

To evaluate the possible renal and hepatic alteration by root canal filling pastes in mice.