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Since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, Brazil has become one of the countries most affected by this disease. A year into the pandemic, a second wave of COVID-19 emerged, with a rapid spread of a new SARS-CoV-2 lineage of concern. Several vaccines have been granted emergency-use authorization, leading to a decrease in mortality and severe cases in many countries. However, the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants raises the alert for potential new waves of transmission and an increase in pathogenicity. We compared the demographic and clinical data of critically ill patients infected with COVID-19 hospitalized in Rio de Janeiro during the first and second waves between July 2020 and October 2021. In total, 106 participants were included in this study; among them, 88% had at least one comorbidity, and 37% developed severe disease. Disease severity was associated with older age, pre-existing neurological comorbidities, higher viral load, and dyspnea. Laboratory biomarkers related to white blood cells, coagulation, cellular injury, inflammation, renal, and liver injuries were significantly associated with severe COVID-19. During the second wave of the pandemic, the necessity of invasive respiratory support was higher, and more individuals with COVID-19 developed acute hepatitis, suggesting that the progression of the second wave resulted in an increase in severe cases. These results can contribute to understanding the behavior of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil and may be helpful in predicting disease severity, which is a pivotal for guiding clinical care, improving patient outcomes, and defining public policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the oral lesions of individuals with kidney disease immediately before and shortly after kidney transplantation, taking into account the immunosuppressive regimen, antiviral prophylaxis and type of transplantation.Methods: A prospective observational cohort study was carried from January 2017 to January 2018. Eighty individuals aged 18 years or older who were admitted for kidney transplantation were eligible to participate. Clinical data regarding medical history, immunosuppressive therapy, antiviral prophylaxis, laboratorial data and oral examination were performed by the same trained researcher, in three different moments: 24 hours before transplantation (1st time point), 15-20 days (2nd time point) and 45-60 days (3rd time point) after transplantation.Results: In the first, second and third time points, it was found that 3.7% (3/80), 23.7% (18/76) and 25.7% (19/74) of the participants showed oral soft tissue lesions. Ulcers and candidiasis were the most frequent oral lesions, and they were associated with the use of everolimus (p = .005) and azathioprine (p = .034), respectively. Less patients reported xerostomia after transplantation than before (p < .001).Conclusions: Oral lesions are common in the short term after renal transplantation and are particularly related to both toxicities of immunosuppressive drugs and immunosuppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the present study was to delineate the epidemiological profile of young patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated at a healthcare service in northeastern Brazil. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was performed involving the quantitative analysis of 51 medical records from patients diagnosed with SCC between 1998 and 2013. All patients aged ≤50 years were included in the study. Statistical analysis involved Pearson's χ2‐test, Fisher's exact test, and the Mann‐Whitney U‐test, with the level of significance set at 5% (P < .05). Results: The mean age was 46 ± 7.94 years, and males accounted for 80.4% of the sample. The tongue was the most affected site (37.3%). Most tumors were classified as stage III (26.3%) or IV (42.1%). Surgery associated with chemotherapy was the most common therapeutic approach (39.3%). Female patients had a lower mean age (P = .013) and less advanced clinical staging (P = .022). Smoking was more associated with male sex (P = .043). Conclusion: SCC in young patients is more common in males aged 46 ± 7.94 years, with the tongue being the most affected anatomic site. Important differences were found in clinical‐epidemiological features between young men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]