BACKGROUND The coronaviruses (CoVs) called the attention of the world for causing outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV), in Asia in 2002-03, and respiratory disease in the Middle East (MERS-CoV), in 2012. In December 2019, yet again a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) first identified in Wuhan, China, was associated with a severe respiratory infection, known today as COVID-19. This new virus quickly spread throughout China and 30 additional countries. As result, the World Health Organization (WHO) elevated the status of the COVID-19 outbreak from emergency of international concern to pandemic on March 11, 2020. The impact of COVID-19 on public health and economy fueled a worldwide race to approve therapeutic and prophylactic agents, but so far, there are no specific antiviral drugs or vaccines available. In current scenario, the development of in vitro systems for viral mass production and for testing antiviral and vaccine candidates proves to be an urgent matter. OBJECTIVE The objective of this paper is study the biology of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero-E6 cells at the ultrastructural level. METHODS In this study, we documented, by transmission electron microscopy and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the infection of Vero-E6 cells with SARS-CoV-2 samples isolated from Brazilian patients. FINDINGS The infected cells presented cytopathic effects and SARS-CoV-2 particles were observed attached to the cell surface and inside cytoplasmic vesicles. The entry of the virus into cells occurred through the endocytic pathway or by fusion of the viral envelope with the cell membrane. Assembled nucleocapsids were verified inside rough endoplasmic reticulum cisterns (RER). Viral maturation seemed to occur by budding of viral particles from the RER into smooth membrane vesicles. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Therefore, the susceptibility of Vero-E6 cells to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the viral pathway inside the cells were demonstrated by ultrastructural analysis.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surveillance, in Brazil, initiated shortly after its description, in China. Our aim was to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and additional pathogens in samples from the initial phase of the outbreak in Brazil, from late February to late March. From 707 samples analysed, 29 (4.1%) were SARS-CoV-2 positive. Fever and cough were their most prevalent symptoms. Co-detection of rhinovirus was observed in 2 (6.9%) cases. Additional pathogens were identified in 66.1% of the SARS-CoV-2 negative cases, mainly rhinovirus and influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. Thus, we emphasise the importance of differential diagnosis in COVID-19 suspected cases.

Abstract: Introduction: Web-based interventions for smoking cessation are an innovative strategy to reduce the burden of smoking. Although many web-based interventions are freely available in many languages and have proven to be effective, so far no study has covered in detail the association between depression and smoking. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of depression among users of the Viva sem Tabaco, a web-based intervention for smoking cessation. Method: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. In the internet-based intervention participated 1 433. Inclusion criteria were: being 18 years or older and a smoker; exclusion criteria were: omitting to fill out two questions of the screening depression questionnaire PHQ-2 and having made multiple accesses within a limited time span, characterizing invalid access. At the end, the sample had 461 participants. Participants answered questions related to sociodemographic characteristics, tobacco history, depression (PHQ-2 and PHQ-9), alcohol use, and intervention use. Results: Participants average age was 42.3 years (SD = 12.1). Most participants were female (67%), and 70% were employed during the time of the study. From the total sample, 36.4% of the participants presented depression according to PHQ-2. Being screened with depression was associated with tobacco dependence (OR = 1.10; 95% CI = 1.00, 1.20), and associated with not having a job (OR = .53; 95% CI = .29, .97). Discussion and conclusion: Depression may be a factor to be considered in programs that offer support to quit smoking through the internet for Portuguese Speakers.

Resumen: Introducción: Las intervenciones en línea para la interrupción del tabaquismo son una estrategia innovadora para reducir el nivel de consumo de tabaco. Aunque hay muchas intervenciones en línea gratuitas en varios idiomas que han demostrado ser eficaces, ningún estudio ha abarcado detalladamente la asociación entre depresión y tabaquismo. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la prevalencia de depresión entre usuarios de una intervención en línea para dejar de fumar. Método: Se trata de un estudio transversal retrospectivo. 1 433 participantes fueron invitados para participar de la intervención mediada por internet. Los criterios de inclusión fueron tener 18 años o más y ser fumador; los criterios de exclusión fueron no haber marcado dos preguntas del cuestionario de detección de depresión PHQ-2 y haber realizado múltiples accesos dentro de un lapso de tiempo limitado, lo que se caracterizó como un acceso no válido. Los participantes (N = 461) respondieron a preguntas relacionadas con características sociodemográficas, historia del tabaco, depresión (PHQ-2 y PHQ-9), uso de alcohol y uso de la intervención. Resultados: De la muestra total, el 36.4% de los participantes presentaron depresión de acuerdo con el PHQ-2. La depresión se asoció con la dependencia del tabaco (OR = 1.10; 95% IC = 1.00, 1.20) y asociada con no tener un empleo (OR = .53; 95% IC = .29, .97). Discusión y conclusión: La depresión es un factor que se debe considerar en los programas que ofrecen apoyo para dejar de fumar a través de Internet para hablantes de portugués.

O artigo é dedicado ao estudo de trabalhadores rurais de Barras, Piauí, que migram repetidas vezes para os estados do Pará, Mato Grosso e Goiás e vivenciam formas de trabalho análogo à escravidão. Após um longo período do ano longe de casa, eles chegam cheios de notícias sobre o trabalho duro e a exploração, o pouco salário, as ilusões, as agruras, o engodo praticado pelos empreiteiros, sobre o que os faz ter vontade de voltar para o seu mundo. E, passado o período da entressafra, partem novamente, vestidos em suas melhores roupas como em um dia de festa, imbuídos pelo desejo de materializar sonhos, maravilhados por um mundo cujos perigos lhes impõem desafios.

This article is concerned with the study of rural workers in Barras, Piauí, who repeatedly migrate to the states of Pará, Mato Grosso and Goiás and experience forms of slave-like labor. After a long period living away from home, they arrive full of news about hard work and exploitation, low wages, illusions, hardships, and the deceptions practiced by the contractors, which makes them want to return to their own world. After the end of the inter-harvest period, they go again, dressed in their best clothes as a feast day, imbued with the desire to materialize dreams, amazed by a world whose dangers pose challenges to them.