Introduction: Saliva is a glandular fluid with specific physical and chemical properties that coats the mouth cavity. The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to various SARS-CoV-2-related effects, including sensory sequelae. Studying the salivary parameters of patients with these sequelae treated with photobiomodulation is crucial for improving treatment approaches for this highly contagious virus which spreads through salivary droplets. Objective: This study aimed to assess the salivary parameters of individuals with COVID-19-induced taste and smell dysfunctions treated with photobiomodulation. Method: A pilot clinical study was conducted with blinded participants diagnosed with COVID-19 and experiencing taste and smell dysfunctions for more than 30 days. They were randomly allocated to different groups. The study evaluated taste and smell functions using established indices, measured salivary parameters, and administered weekly sessions of low-power laser treatment for five weeks. Results: Data analysis revealed an average participant age of 36 years, with a higher prevalence of female participants. Taste and smell results were expressed as mean ± mean standard error. Pre-treatment salivary parameters showed no significant differences between groups. Following photobiomodulatio therapy, no significant differences were observed, except for a positive effect on salivary flow in the treated group. Conclusion: In COVID-19 patients, saliva was not associated with taste and smell dysfunctions. Additionally, photobiomodulation treatment did not affect salivary flow, pH, or buffering capacity. Therefore, while this study suggests photobiomodulation as a safe treatment option, further research is needed to determine its effectiveness in improving taste and smell functions.

Taste and smell disturbances (TSD) as sequelae of COVID-19 are a relevant health problem that affect patients' quality of life, without any effective treatments or protocols to mitigate these conditions. The pathophysiology of APO is not yet known, but it is speculated that the maintenance of chronic inflammation might contribute to the persistence of these symptoms. In this study, we sought to evaluate photobiomodulation (PBM) as a therapeutic possibility for controlling changes in taste and smell resulting from COVID-19. We also evaluated whether PBM interferes with the profile of salivary inflammatory mediators. Then, 23 individuals with APO were allocated into 3 groups, according to the therapeutic protocol (oral-PBM, n=11; nasal-PBM, n=8; and sham, n=5); additionally, ten individuals without complaints of disturbances in smell and taste, were enrolled as a control group. Patients in the oral-PBM and nasal-PBM groups were treated with photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), at a wavelength of 810nm, with different protocols, in 10 clinical sessions, applied at a minimum interval of 48h, while in the sham group, the laser application was simulated. Disturbances in taste and smell (measured using the Connecticut olfactory test, CCCRC and the adapted Mueller taste test) were characterized at the beginning of treatment and after the 5th and 10th PBM sessions, when saliva was also collected for identification of inflammatory mediators. We observed an increased expression of MPO, IL-1β, IL-8 and IL-10 in the saliva of patients with TSD compared to the control group. Furthermore, we found that PBM interfered with the perception of taste and smell in patients with oronasal disorders resulting from COVID-19, but did not significantly change the concentration of NO, MPO, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α in saliva after 10 PBM sessions, regardless of the protocol adopted. These results indicate that PBM is a promising therapy for controlling TSD, however, the mechanisms that lead to clinical improvement in patients are not associated with changes in the profile of inflammatory mediators in saliva.

With a high transmissibility rate, the COVID-19 pandemic presented high morbidity and mortality in a short period, challenging clinical practice regarding effective and safe treatment around the world. Since the beginning of the pandemic, different drug therapies have been tested at different stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of which, Methylprednisolone - a potent anti-inflammatory steroid, and Tocilizumab - an antiinterleukin 6 (IL-6) monoclonal antibody, reduced deaths and length of stay in clinical trials. The objective of the study was to analyze the clinical evolution and performance of corticosteroids and Tocilizumab in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. A retrospective cohort study was carried out on patients with COVID19 admitted to Hospital Sobrasa de Teixeira de Freitas - Bahia. Medical records were reviewed in order to obtain the most relevant demographic and clinical-evolutionary data. Data were tabulated in Microsoft® Excel and analyzed in IBM SPSS Statistics 21. For descriptive analyses, absolute or relative frequencies were used with 95% confidence intervals. The test was used to verify the associations of proportions in the different categories of the variables analyzed. The study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Southern Bahia, under protocol number 63275922.4.0000.8467. From March 2020 to May 2021, 530 patients were included, of which 354 (66.79%) were men and 176 (33.21%) women, in a predominant age group between the 3rd and 5th decades of life, and an average of 54.37 ± 11.3 years. Regarding signs and symptoms, 519 (97.92%) were symptomatic and the majority presented cough 378 (71.32%), dyspnea 294 (55.47%), fever 321 (60.57%) and myalgia 129 (24.34%). Two hundred and eighty-one (53%) patients presented one or more comorbidities, of which systemic arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus were present in 192 (36.23%) and 103 (19.43%) cases, respectively. Regarding diagnosis, 302 (56.98%) patients underwent the RT-PCR, 33 (6.23%) the rapid TR-antigen test, 11 (2.08%) the TRantibody test for SARS-COV 2 and seven (1.32%) the serological test for SARS-COV 2 (ELISA, CLIA or immunofluorescence). The diagnosis of infection based on clinical and epidemiological criteria was demonstrated in 177 (33.4%) patients. Regarding the length of stay in the ward, 374 (70.57%) were hospitalized for less than 5 days, 146 (27.55%) between 5 and 10 days and 10 (1.89%) for 10 days or more. Of the 31 (5.85%) patients admitted to the Intensive Care Center, 11 (35.48%) remained hospitalized for less than 5 days, 13 (41.94%) between 5 and 10 days and seven (22.58% ) for more than 10 days. During hospitalization, 232 (43.77%) patients used ventilatory support, of these, 186 (80.17%) used only a nasal catheter and 12 (5.17%) were intubated. Computed tomography was performed in 506 (95.47%) patients, of which 243 (48%) had between 25-50% pulmonary involvement, 180 (35.57%) values greater than 50% and 83 (16.04 %) values less than 25%. In total, 523 (98.68%) patients used corticosteroids, of which 328 (61.89%) used Methylprednisolone, 77 (14.53%) Dexamethasone, 19 (3.58%) Prednisolone and 11 (2 .08%) of Prednisone. Tocilizumab was prescribed in 94 (17.74%) cases. The isolated use or combination of antimicrobials was observed in 63 (13.37%) cases. Regarding the length of stay, of the patients who only used corticosteroids, 237 (55.34%) stayed for less than 5 days, 173 (40.33%) between 5 and 10 days, and 19 (4.33%) for more than 10 days. Of those who used corticosteroids and tocilizumab during hospitalization, 38 (41.30%) stayed for less than 5 days, 49 (53.26%) between 5-10 days, and 5 (5.43%) for more than 10 days . Ventilatory support was necessary in 180 (41.96%) of patients who used only corticosteroids, and not necessary in 249 (58.04%), while it was necessary in only 48 (52.1%) of patients who used corticosteroids and  tocilizumab, and not necessary in 44 (47.83%). As for laboratory tests, the group that used corticosteroids and Tocilizumab combined presented a higher index of Creactive Protein (138 vs. 81.9), Lactate dehydrogenase (379.6 vs. 341.2) and Ferritin (1134.1 vs. 852.3), at admission, compared to the group that used only corticosteroids (p<0.001). Regarding clinical evolution, 509 (96.04%) recovered and were discharged from the hospital, 6 (1.13%) died and 12 (2.26%) were transferred to field hospitals or neighboring municipalities. The survival of study patients was significantly associated with the use of Methylprednisolone both by uni (p=0.41) and multivariate analysis (p=0.36). Expanding knowledge regarding clinical practice and understanding the therapeutic potential of corticosteroids and Tocilizumab in infected individuals are relevant for decision-making in the hospital environment, as well as the adoption of public health measures that minimize the impacts of the disease. 

In Alcobaça city, in the extreme south of Bahia, eucalyptus silviculture increased from 8.2% in 1984 to 37.6% in 2017 in land occupation, in contrast there was a reduction in forest area (shrubs and forests) of 43.1% to 20.8 (IBGE, 2017). There is a kind of “islanding” of rural communities traditionally established in the locality because of the advance of Eucalyptus cultivation. This social and physical isolation associated with migration to urban areas, which contributes to socio-productive disorder and the deterritorialization of farmers. The objective of this study will be to analyze the situation of food and nutritional (in)security in farmers living in the rural area of the municipality of Alcobaça-BA. This is an observational, descriptive and exploratory cross-sectional study, of a mixed nature, which will select individuals who are within the Family Farming category who will respond to a questionnaire and participate in an anthropometric assessment. Sociodemographic data of the participants will be collected, such as age (years), gender, education (years), marital status (married/stable union, separated/divorced, single and widowed), family composition, occupation of family members, average family income (in reais), and means of transporting agricultural production and whether it has a Declaration of Eligibility for the National Program for Strengthening Family Agriculture (DAP). Data on the environmental issue will be part of the questionnaire in order to obtain information about the relationship with comprehensive health: access to treated water, sewage collection and treatment, disposal of domestic waste and use of pesticides in farming. The Brazilian Scale of Food Insecurity questionnaire will be adopted and the frequency of food availability and consumption will be collected using the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Anthropometric measurement and nutritional diagnosis will occur according to the recommendations adopted by the Nutritional and Food Surveillance System of the Ministry of Health (SISVAN), which adopts the recommendations of the World Health Organization. The selection of individuals will consider the number of 2431 rural units that have a Rural Environmental Registry. A confidence level of 95% and five percentage points as an acceptable error will be used. The information will be consolidated in a database, extracted from the questionnaire and stored in an electronic spreadsheet. The data collected will be analyzed and compared with national and state indices. Descriptive and inferential statistics will be applied using SPSS software. The project will be submitted to the Ethics Committee and Research with Human Beings of the Federal University of Southern Bahia - UFSB. 

Introduction: The dissemination of knowledge is defined as an active process, which aims to deliver information from clear, simple, action-oriented messages and adapted for each audience. Currently, social media (Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, WeChat and others) represent an efficient tool for disseminating knowledge. In this sense, social media can contribute to the dissemination of knowledge to workers, professionals, researchers and others interested in the field of ergonomics and workers' health. Objective: To evaluate the use of Social Media as a tool for the Dissemination of Knowledge in Ergonomics and Occupational Health. Materials and methods: This dissertation will present papers with 3 distinct and complementary study designs. A Systematic Review (where the protocol is currently presented); An exploratory and descriptive study, based on data mining available on Instagram (IG). Where in an initial search it identified the three most used terms: "Worker's Health", "Occupational Health" and "Ergonomics". Then, 3 consecutive searches were performed for each term, with a filter for the “account” option, to identify the associated available profiles. These profiles were visited to collect information. And finally, a study that is an exploratory study, with a quantitative approach, with an analytical character and a longitudinal section (of which the project of its creation will be presented). Preliminary and expected results: 167 profiles were found. Among them, 45 were excluded due to duplicity and 92 were exclusively to offer some product or service. Thus, 30 profiles were selected for data analysis. 3 were institutional, which exposed services they provided, actions they performed and information on workers' health; 6 of the profiles were directly associated with research on workers' health, who disseminated their research and also disseminated studies related to workers' health; 10 profiles were dedicated purely to disseminating information about workers' health, another 7 profiles were dedicated to information on disciplines and extension projects, where they presented their actions and even indications of health protection measures in the work environment, as well as as some related concepts and laws; 1 was dedicated to publicizing an event and 1 profile was dedicated to publicizing vacancies in occupational health. It is also expected to analyze the content of the publications of the analyzed profiles, as well as the typography of the posts. Preliminary and expected conclusions: A few of them publish scientific studies or make an explicit approach to science in their publications. They point to a gap and the need for further studies addressing the typography of publications and their impact on the population that consumes this content. As this is a gap, it is expected that the Review will provide guidance on the existing evidence, highlighting the need to carry out a study and also the need to seek a methodology that addresses the needs of research in the social media environment. And in the third study, it is expected that a successful practice of promoting workers' health will be demonstrated, which can be replicated in other areas of knowledge.

O óleo essencial de Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) Marchand é bem conhecido e indicado em estudos etnobotânicos para várias enfermidades e com diversas formas de manipulação, sem ser levado em consideração a toxidade do mesmo. A realização de ensaios de avaliação toxicológica é de suma importância para atestar se os compostos químicos presentes na espécie em estudo não exercem atividades tóxicas que inviabilizem seu uso para fins terapêuticos. Assim, a presente pesquisa tem como principal objetivo avaliar a atividade citotóxica de P. heptaphyllum in vitro, utilizando raízes de Allium cepa e células de mamíferos, e levantar as informações etnobotânicas de uso do óleo essencial. Para testar o potencial citotóxico, genotóxico e mutagênico foi utilizado óleo essencial P. heptaphyllum em diferentes concentrações frente o sistema de bioensaio A. cepa, e o método do MTT para avaliar a viabilidade celular em células de mamíferos HEPG2 e BGM. Para levantamento etnobotânico foi realizado uma revisão sistemática e onsiderados artigos publicados entre o ano de 2013 e 2023. A revisão sistemática possibilitou verificar que há poucas pesquisas sobre as indicações de uso do óleo essencial e da resina de P. heptaphyllum, e que se concentram na região da Amazônia, especialmente. A principal forma de uso da espécie é a inalação e defumação da resina, indicada principalmente para tratar problemas respiratórios e dores de cabeça. Não houve relatos etnobotânicos sobre toxicidade do óleo. Entretanto, após a exposição de A. cepa por 120 h às diferentes concentrações do óleo essencial de P. heptaphyllum, foi possível observar que o tamanho das raízes apresentou diferenças significativas entre alguns dos tratamentos, indicando toxidade do óleo. As concentrações de 1000, 250, 100 e 50 µg/mL diferiram significativamente do controle negativo; e a análise do índice de mutagenicidade apontou que houve diferença significativa entre a concentração de 1000 µg/mL e as demais concentrações, indicando que o óleo essencial apresentou algum potencial mutagênico. The oil also inhibited the growth of BGM and HEP cells at concentrations of 1000 and 500 ppm, presenting toxicity. A CI 50 foi de 369,6 e 375 ppm para as células BGM e HEP, respectivamente

Introduction: Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (TL) is an infectious, non-contagious disease that causes ulcers on the skin and mucous membranes, caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. In Brazil, there are seven species of leishmania involved in the occurrence of cases of this disease. Therefore, therapeutic treatment is challenging, especially for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses and individuals with a depressed immune system. With a medicinal arsenal consisting mainly of parenteral drugs, and with frequent side effects, the search for therapeutic guidance for this disease, which occurs predominantly in rural areas, is faced with precarious health structures, especially for the pediatric population. Objective: To investigate the main treatments used for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in children andtheir implications. Methodology: Concerns a systematic review of the literature on medications used to treat cutaneous leishmaniasis in children. The selection of articles analyzed followed in the form of a flow, according to the guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), with the Acronym PICOS defining the eligibility criteria for children, available treatments, supportive care, relapses and healing. The electronic search took place in the following databases: LILACS, SCIELO and PUBMED, using the Boolean operator AND with the combination of the following descriptors: “cutaneous leishmaniasis ", "treatment" and “children”. Studies that were not focused on the treatment of leishmaniasis were excluded, such as those that report responses and pathways of action of the immune system or epidemiological distribution, and only articles on treatments used in LT in pediatric patients that had been published in the last five years were selected. Results: The systematic review highlighted five main treatments for leishmaniasis in pediatric patients, namely: pentavalent antimonials, amphotericins, pentamidine, miltefosine and azoles. The results highlight a great concern about the toxicity of the drugs adopted and their side effects, especially in the treatment of children, with pentavalent antimonies as the main promoters of adverse reactions and toxicity. Furthermore, some of the articles analyzed point out the low cure rate of pentamidine and, in certain species of Leishmania, the ineffectiveness of azoles. Therefore, amphotericins (mainly liposomal version B) and miltefosine showed the best results in relation to their performance in the treatment of leishmaniasis in children. However, the need for more research and larger samples is highlighted to assess the viability and applicability of these medications.