Autor: Go! Mídia

What is coronavirus?

Coronavirus (ICD10) is a family of viruses that cause respiratory infections. The new coronavirus agent was discovered on the 31th December 2019 after cases registered in China. It causes the disease called coronavirus (COVID-19).

Most people are infected with common coronaviruses throughout their lives, with young children being more likely to become infected with the most common type of virus. The most common coronaviruses that infect humans are the alpha coronavirus 229E and NL63 and beta coronavirus OC43, HKU1.

The incubation period is the time it takes for the first symptoms to show since the infection by coronavirus, which can vary from 2 to 14 days.

In general, the transmission occurs only as long as symptoms last. Transmission may occur after symptoms go away, but the transmissibility period duration is unknown for the coronavirus. During incubation period and asymptomatic cases are not contagious.

What are the types of coronavirus?

Types of coronavirus known to date are:

• Alpha coronavirus 229E and NL63.
• Beta coronavirus OC43 and HKU1.
• SARS-CoV (causing Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome or SARS).
• MERS-CoV (causing Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS).
• SARS-CoV-2: a new type of coronavirus agent virus, called the coronavirus, which appeared in China on December 31, 2019.

How is the coronavirus transmitted?

Investigation on how transmission of the coronavirus takes place are still ongoing, but virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, that is, contamination happens by respiratory droplets or contact. Anyone who are in close contact (within about 1 meter) with someone with respiratory symptoms is at risk of being exposed to the infection.

It is important to note that person to person spread can occur continuously.

Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while others are less. It is not clear yet on how easily the coronavirus spreads from person to person.

Despite this, the transmission of coronaviruses usually occurs through the air or through personal contact with contaminated secretions, such as:

• Saliva droplets;
• sneeze;
• cough;
• phlegm;
• close person-to-person contact, such as touching or shaking hands;
• contact with contaminated objects or surfaces, followed by contact with the mouth, nose or eyes.

Coronavirus show less transmission rate compared to the flu virus.

The average incubation period for coronavirus is 5 days, with longer periods that can reach 12 days, period for the first symptoms to show after the infection.

How is coronavirus diagnosed?

The coronavirus is diagnosed by finding evidence of the virus in respiratory samples collected by aspiration of the airways or sputum induction. It is necessary to collect two samples in case of suspected coronavirus.

Both samples will be urgently sent to the Central Public Health Laboratory (Lacen).

One of the samples will be sent to the National Influenza Center (NIC) and  the other will be sent for metagenomic analysis.

To diagnose the disease, it is necessary to perform molecular biology tests to detect viral RNA. The diagnosis of the coronavirus is made with sample collection, which is indicated whenever a suspected case is identified.

The collection of nasopharyngeal aspirate (ANF) or combined swabs (nasal/oral) or a sample of lower respiratory secretion (sputum or tracheal lavage or lavage bronchial lavage) is recommended.

How is coronavirus treated?

There is no specific treatment for infections caused by human coronavirus. Rest and consumption of plenty of water are indicated, in addition to some measures to relieve symptoms, according to each case, such as:

• Use of medication for pain and fever (antipyretics and analgesics).
• Use of a humidifier in the bedroom or a hot shower to help relieve pain from sore throat and coughing.

As soon as the first symptoms appear, it is essential to seek immediate medical help to confirm the diagnosis and start the treatment.

All patients who are discharged during the first 7 days after the first symptoms (independent of fever), should be alerted to the possibility of late worsening of clinical conditions and warning signs of complications such as: fever (there may be initial cases without fever), increase or reappearance of fever or respiratory signs, tachycardia (increased heart beat rate), pleuritic pain (chest pain), fatigue (tiredness) and dyspnea (shortness of breath).

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

Coronavirus symptoms are mainly respiratory, similar to a cold. They can also cause infection of the lower respiratory tract, such as pneumonia. However, the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) still needs further studies and investigation to better characterize the symptoms of the disease.

The main symptoms known to date are:

• Difficulty breathing.

How to prevent coronavirus?

The Health Ministry provides basic care guidelines to reduce the overall risk of contracting or transmitting acute respiratory infections, including the coronavirus. Among the measures are:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, respecting the 5 moments of hygiene. If there is no soap and water available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with sick people.
• Stay home during sickness period.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze with a tissue and discard it.
• Clean and disinfect frequently objects and surfaces.

Health professionals should use standard precautions measures, for contact and droplet (surgical mask, gloves, non-sterile apron and goggles).

Source: www.saude.gov.br

www.anvisa.gov.br

According to a study by 24 researchers from universities in six countries based on medical records from 195 nations, 11 million people die every year from septicemia, more than cancer.

The researchers state that numbers are “alarming” because they doubled from previous estimates.

Most cases occur in low or middle income countries, but more and more wealthy nations are dealing with the problem.

Sepsis (or septicemia) is known as a “silent killer” because it is very difficult to be detected.

Sepsis is a systemic answer of the body to an infection, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or protozoa.

Normally, the immune system fightback the infection and prevent it from spreading. But, if the infection manages to advance through the body, the body’s defense releases a systemic inflammatory response in attempt to fight it so the immune system can collapse because, when fighting an infection, it also damages other parts of the body itself.

Ultimately it causes organ systems failure, and survivors can have serious sequelae.

When not diagnosed and treated quickly, it can compromise one or more organs of the patient and lead to death.

When the patient develops septic shock, blood pressure drops to low and dangerous levels, reducing the oxygenation of organs, compromising their function. Septic shock, according to the British Health Service (NHS), can occur as a complication of sepsis.

Any infectious process, pneumonia or urinary tract infection for example, can progress to sepsis.

Why was there a increase in numbers?

Previous global estimates, which reached 19 million cases and 5 million deaths per year, were based only on a few Western countries.

But the University of Washington analysis, published in the Lancet scientific journal and based on medical records from 195 nations, states about 49 million cases per year.

The 11 million deaths from sepsis represent 1 in 5 deaths worldwide.

“I worked in rural Uganda and we see cases of sepsis every day”, says researcher and assistant professor Kristina Rudd, from the University of Pittsburgh.

“So this discovery was not a surprise, but I didn’t expect it to be the double from previous estimates”.

The good news from the analysis is that the number of cases and deaths has been decreasing since 1990. There has been a 50% drop in the past two decades.

What can be done?

The reduction in the number of infections can lead to a reduction in numbers of sepsis cases.

For many countries, this means better basic sanitation, clean water and access to vaccines.

Another major challenge is to improve the diagnose system for sepsis so patients can be treated before it is too late.

Early treatment with antibiotics or antivirals to eliminate the infection can make a big difference.

“We need to renew the focus on preventing sepsis among newborns and fightback antibiotics resistance, an important factor in this disease”, said Mohsen Naghavi, researcher at the University  of Washington.

Source: bbc.com

Campylobacter is considered the most common bacterial cause of human gastroenteritis. It is one of the four major causes of diarrhea in the world, making it of great socioeconomic importance.

What is Campylobacter?

Campylobacter is a genus composed of zoonotic bacteria, with bacillary shape, which causes campylobacteriosis, a food poisoning. It is widely found in nature, being considered normal flora in several domestic and wild animals. The vast majority of species of the genus Campylobacter grows at a temperature of 37ºC, except for C. jejuni, C. coli and C. lari, which can grow at temperatures up to 42ºC. It is formed by one or more spiral flagella, which contributes to its pathogenicity increase.

Mechanism of virulence and infection

Campylobacter is an eukaryotic intracellular parasite. Colonization begins in the small intestinal cells, causing a decrease in its absorption capacity and subsequently it moves to the colon. The flagellum has a complex role in pathogenicity that includes, among others, protein secretion.

Recently, several virulence factors that may be involved in the pathogenicity of Campylobacter have been identified. Among the main ones are motility due to the flagellum, adherence abilitie and invasion of eukaryotic cells, lipopolysaccharide LPS with endotoxic activity and production of cytotoxins, such as CDTs that kills the infected cell.

What are the authorities doing about it?

The growing trend, which started in 2005, affects many countries, regardless of their level of development. The high incidence is found even in countries with a high development level, with chicken carcasses being the most important route of contamination. Thus, many national and international organizations, such as WHO and FDA, have identified the need for changes in regulations, through several studies carried out over the last decade.

This change is associated with microbiological criteria and resulted in ISO 10272: 2017 Microbiology of the food chain. Horizontal method for detection and enumeration of Campylobacter spp., formed by two parts: “Detection method” and “Colony-count technique”. The last part contains the techniques for sampling fresh chicken carcasses and meat. The sampling plan is intended to follow the same hygiene criteria approach established for Salmonella.

With the new regulations, a decrease in cases of campylobacteriosis is expected, contributing to a reduction in public health problems.

In December, the awareness ribbon is red. The month marks the fight against AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections, known as STIs. In this fight, information is essential. In addition to knowing the disease and its forms of transmission, it is important to share information throughout the year, on how to prevent it and give support for people with HIV, the human immunodeficiency virus.

Throughout the text, you will find the main aspects about this infectious agent and how its action in our organism can lead to the development of AIDS. Lets go?

What is HIV?

HIV is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system, infects and alters the function of lymphocytes, the body’s protective cells. They organize our immune response and prevent us from becoming more susceptible to other diseases. With the alteration of the DNA of these cells, the vírus increases its multiplication capacity. Thus, the infection spreads throughout the body.

It is also important to know that HIV is not synonym for AIDS. All over the world, there are people who live with the virus without developing the disease. However it remains transmissible. HIV is spread only through the exchange of body fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions and breast milk.

Day-to-day interactions, such as hugging, kissing and sharing objects, do not transmit the virus or AIDS. Raising awareness of friends, family and the population about this is a way to reduce prejudice against those who deal directly with HIV.

What are the preventive measures?

About prevention, there are strategies to prevent infection and strategies to prevent the virus from evolving to AIDS. In general, using condoms in all sexual relations is the main measure against HIV transmission. Never share syringes, needles and other sharp objects is also a necessary measure.

In case of exposure to risky situations, it is recommended get examed for a correct diagnose. The exam is simple and can be done by anyone. It is mandatory for pregnant women at the beginning of prenatal care. If the result is positive, it is possible to start a treatment that prevents the virus of being transmitted to the baby throughout pregnancy and at the delivery.

In 1980, the first antiretroviral drugs appeared, which inhibit the multiplication of the virus. The evolution of medicines has made AIDS, which before was almost always fatal, become a controllable condition. Although there is no cure, research with high technology, which is the basis for our work, continues to be carried out to change this scenario.

Get to know Renylab better and discover how we improve our services to develop products that contribute to the wellness of the population, respecting and esteeming people’s health.

Blue November is a worldwide movement that reinforces the importance of prevention and early diagnosis of prostate cancer. Like the Pink October, the campaign aims to raise public awareness and promote the practice of healthy habits. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among Brazilian men, and the main victims are men over 50 years old. In addition, people with first-degree relatives diagnosed with the disease, such as father, brother or son, are also at risk.

Understand the subject better

Prostate

It is a male gland, walnut shaped. It is below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The organ surrounds the initial portion of the urethra, and this tube is the one that eliminates urine from the bladder.

Symptoms

The man should look for a doctor if he notes signs or symptoms such as: difficulty to urinate, decreased urine flow, need to urinate more often during the day or night and presence of blood in the urine.

Diagnosis

Prostate cancer can be clinically, laboratory or radiologically diagnosed (early diagnosis). There is also the PSA test. It should be done annually to monitor changes in the prostate. The result may indicate inflammation, infections, hyperplasia (benign growth) and prostate cancer. Rectal examination and PSA measurement indicate the need for prostate biopsy.

Be forewarned

Healthy habits decrease the risk of prostate câncer.

• Maintain a healthy and balanced diet;
• Do not smoke;
• Identify and treat high blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol problems;
• Practice physical activities.

Goal:

• Differential culture medium for the presumptive identification of negative Enterobacteria oxidase.

Important details:

• Colonies must be freshly obtained (maximum of 24 hours) from Gram negative bacilli in suitable isolation media, such as MacConkey Agar, CLED etc.;
• Colonies should be analyzed whether they are lactose fermenters or not;
• If the strain is lactose negative, it must be subjected to the oxidase test. If it is positive oxidase, another identification methodology must be verified;
• The rugai medium is indicated only for fermenting bacteria;
• The colonies to be identified are sown by deep pricking and surface streaking in a tube;
• The procedure is followed by incubation at 35ºC for 18-24h.
• After incubation, the Modified Rugai medium is read, and the data can be checked directly online using the “Rugai test” tool on the RenyLab website: renylab.ind.br

Evidences:

Apex medium

• L-Tryptophan deamination: positive test when there is development of green bottle coloring at the apex of the tube.
• Sucrose fermentation: positive test when yellow color develops at the apex of the tube.
• Glucose fermentation: the appearance of yellow color in the lower portion of medium.
• Gas production from glucose: if the bacteria under study produces gas from glucose.
• Production of hydrogen sulphide (H2S): the production of hydrogen sulphide is observed by the appearance of black coloring.
• Urea hydrolysis: the test is considered positive when there is the formation of a bluish color in the lower portion of the medium.

Lysine medium

• Lysine decarboxylation: glucose fermentation reduces the pH changing the lysine medium to yellow. When the activity of the lysine decarboxylase enzyme occurs, the pH will increase, due to the transformation of lysine into a primary amine: cadaverine, and the medium will turn to purple again.
• Motility: when bacterial growth is restricted to the inoculation point, negative motility is considered, for positive motility there is diffuse growth with partial or complete turbidity of the medium.

Cotton plug

• Indole: the appearance of red color characterizes the positive test.

OBS: The Rugai medium with lysine does not allow a definitive and precise identification of the Enterobacteria species, being the use of a more specific methodology required.

Pink October is an international movement to raise awareness about the importance of prevention in the fight against breast cancer. The date is celebrated annually since the early 1990s and aims to share information about the disease, from preventive care to cure. Thus, it aims to contribute to the reduction of mortality resulting from the disease.

In 2010, INCA, the National Cancer Institute (in Brazil), adopted the campaign. Since then, it promotes events and creates educational materials to contribute to spread information and news about protective factors and the importance of early diagnosis. In addition to the foundation, in Brazil and worldwide, the Pink October is adopted by several entities and brands, including Renylab!

With a work that converts technology into health, we believe that wellness is everyone’s right. Encouraging physical self-care, self-knowledge and ensuring acess to information is also one of our goals. After all, the commitment to the individuals development is part of the company’s practice.

How to prevent breast cancer?

The risk of developing breast cancer can be reduced with simple habits, which make a difference in everyday life. Maintain a healthy weight and practice physical activities, are forms of prevention. In addition, it is recommended to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages in excess. Another protective factor is breastfeeding, as it decreases hormones levels in the body.

Finally, as well as keep attention to their own bodies, it is essential that women keep routine exams up to date. The most common exam is mammography, an x-ray of the breasts that allows the visualization of suspicious changes, recommended after the age of 40. Self-examination, also essential, can be performed by all women over 20.

Ready to embrace this cause? Take care of yourself, love yourself and prevent cancer! Now and ever.