Abstract A plethora of prolonged COVID-19 symptoms, or late manifestations has been reported after acute disease and labeled “post-COVID”. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of and risk factors for post-COVID up to 12 weeks after the onset of acute COVID-19. An electronic survey was conducted to evaluate post-COVID-19 symptoms, disease severity, demographics, and pre-existing diseases. The participants were recruited through 88,648 SMS messages, and post on social media. The associations between variables were explored through multivariate models. From 6,958 respondents with confirmed COVID-19, 753 (10.8%) required hospitalization, and 5,791 (83.2%) exhibited at least one post-COVID manifestation. Hair loss (49.4%), memory loss (40.7%), low attention (37.0%), fatigue (34.2%), anxiety (31.2%), and headache (29.6%) were the most reported post-COVID manifestations. Female sex, myalgia, anosmia, and severe disease were associated with most post-COVID manifestations. Pre-existing depression was associated with the development of neuropsychiatric manifestations. Post-COVID manifestations were identified in most patients following COVID-19 infection, placing a supplementary burden on the healthcare system. Hair loss, fatigue, and neuropsychiatric symptoms were the most prevalent post-COVID manifestations. Female sex, myalgia, anosmia, and more severe disease are risk factors for multiple post-COVID manifestations.

ABSTRACT It is essential to determine the productive potential and quality of forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) silages using alternative and organic inputs, such as poultry litter (PL), intending to higher efficiency, and sustainable development of animal production systems in the world. Poultry litter fertilization has been widely used in crops for silage production, where it is believed that fertilization with PL can influence the fermentation profile and composition of forage sorghum silages. The objective of this study was to evaluate different levels of fertilization with PL on the agronomic and quality characteristics of forage sorghum silage ‘BRS Ponta Negra’. For determination of agronomic and productive characteristics, randomized blocks design was adopted, the treatments were different PL levels: 5, 10, and 15 Mg ha-1. While for the evaluation of silage characteristics, the design was completely randomized. With fertilizer doses, a linear increase was observed for plant height, stem diameter, leaf length, and consequently for fresh and DM productions. Linear reduction was observed for neutral detergent fiber, while crude protein and pH contents of silages increased linearly with PL levels. Quadratic effect occurred for gas and effluent losses. Poultry litter may be an alternative source to supply the N needs in the production of sorghum for silage under experimental similar conditions. Associating productivity with cultivation efficiency, the PL level 13.46 Mg ha-1 is recommended for presenting the highest N agronomic efficiency and good nutritional quality of the silage.

Surfactants are amphipathic compounds containing both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, capable to lower the surface or interfacial tension. Considering the advantages of the use of biosurfactants produced by microorganisms, the aim of this paper was to develop and characterize a biosurfactant produced by Streptomyces sp. DPUA1559 isolated from lichens of the Amazon region. The microorganism was cultured in a mineral medium containing 1% residual frying soybean oil as the carbon source. The kinetics of biosurfactant production was accompanied by reducing the surface tension of the culture medium from 60 to values around 27.14 mN/m, and by the emulsification index, which showed the efficiency of the biosurfactant as an emulsifier of hydrophobic compounds. The yield of the isolated biosurfactant was 1.74 g/L, in addition to the excellent capability of reducing the surface tension (25.34 mN/m), as observed from the central composite rotational design when the biosurfactant was produced at pH 8.5 at 28°C. The critical micelle concentration of the biosurfactant was determined as 0.01 g/mL. The biosurfactant showed thermal and pH stability regarding the surface tension reduction, and tolerance under high salt concentrations. The isolated biosurfactant showed no toxicity to the micro-crustacean Artemia salina, and to the seeds of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.). The biochemistry characterization of the biosurfactant showed a single protein band, an acid character and a molecular weight around 14.3 kDa, suggesting its glycoproteic nature. The results are promising for the industrial application of this new biosurfactant.

Halophilic microorganisms are able to grow in the presence of salt and are also excellent source of enzymes and biotechnological products, such as exopolysaccharides (EPSs) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). Salt-tolerant bacteria were screened in the Organic Composting Production Unit (OCPU) of São Paulo Zoological Park Foundation, which processes 4 ton/day of organic residues including plant matter from the Atlantic Rain Forest, animal manure and carcasses and mud from water treatment. Among the screened microorganisms, eight halotolerant bacteria grew at NaCl concentrations up to 4 M. These cultures were classified based on phylogenetic characteristics and comparative partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as belonging to the genera Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Brevibacterium. The results of this study describe the ability of these halotolerant bacteria to produce some classes of hydrolases, namely, lipases, proteases, amylases and cellulases, and biopolymers. The strain characterized as of Brevibacterium avium presented cellulase and amylase activities up to 4 M NaCl and also produced EPSs and PHAs. These results indicate the biotechnological potential of certain microorganisms recovered from the composting process, including halotolerant species, which have the ability to produce enzymes and biopolymers, offering new perspectives for environmental and industrial applications.

Objetivo: avaliar os resultados do tratamento videolaparoscópico de 32 pacientes com endometrioma ovariano. Métodos: estudo retrospectivo que incluiu trinta e duas pacientes encaminhadas ao setor de Endoscopia Ginecológica do Serviço de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia do Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual "Francisco Morato de Oliveira" - São Paulo, as quais tinham diagnóstico clínico e ultra-sonográfico de endometrioma ovariano e foram tratadas por videolaparoscopia. Onze pacientes com endometriomas com diâmetro menor que 3 cm foram submetidas à drenagem do endometrioma e exérese da cápsula na primeira laparoscopia. Vinte e uma pacientes com endometriomas com diâmetros maior que 3 cm foram submetidas à drenagem do endometrioma e lavagem do cisto na primeira laparoscopia. A seguir, utilizaram análogo do GnRH por quatro meses (1 ampola mensal) e então foram submetidas à segunda laparoscopia para retirada da cápsula do endometrioma. O exame histopatológico do material obtido na cirurgia foi realizado em todos os casos. Avaliou-se o resultado imediato do procedimento e a freqüência de recidivas. Resultados: não se registraram intercorrências cirúrgicas ou complicações pós-operatórias. Ocorreram três recidivas em um período de seis a doze meses, todas no grupo de 21 pacientes com endometriomas com o diâmetro maior que 3 cm. Conclusão: o tratamento videolaparoscópico dos endometriomas ovarianos com retirada da cápsula apresenta bons resultados e baixo índice de recidiva.

SUMMARY Purpose: to evaluate the videolaparoscopic surgical mana-gement of 32 patients with ovarian endometrioma. Method: retrospective study of thirty-two patients admitted to the Gynecologic Endoscopy Section - Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of the Hospital do Servidor Público Estadual "Francisco Morato de Oliveira" - São Paulo - Brazil with clinical and ultrasonographic diagnosis of ovarian endometrioma, who have been submitted to videolaparoscopic surgery. Eleven of them had endometriomas less than 3 cm and had the tumor emptied and the capsule excised at the first laparoscopy. Twenty-one patients with endometriomas larger than 3 cm were submitted to emptying and washing of the cyst at the first laparoscopy. These women used GnRH analogues for four months (1 dose each month) and were then submitted to a second laparoscopy when the capsule was excised. Histopathologic study was performed in the surgical tissues of all cases. The early results of the procedure and the recurrence rate were evaluated. Results: there were no surgical intercurrent episodes or postsurgical complications. The problem was solved in all but three patients among the 21 with endometriomas larger than 3 cm. These patients presented recurrence of the disease within a period of 6 to 12 months. Conclusion: the videolaparoscopic surgical management of ovarian endometriomas, with capsule excision, showed good results and small number of recurrences.