RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar a gravidade da infecção por COVID-19 em pacientes oncológicos, determinando os aspectos clínicos e epidemiológicos associados ao pior desfecho, seja em termos de mortalidade, necessidade de internação em unidade de terapia intensiva ou ventilação mecânica. Métodos Pacientes com câncer e diagnóstico confirmado por laboratório de COVID-19 foram identificados nos bancos de dados de um hospital oncológico entre 16 de março e 29 de maio de 2020. Os dados coletados incluíram história, idade, sexo e comorbidades dos pacientes, além dos tipos de câncer e do tratamento anticâncer. Resultados Dentre os 105 pacientes analisados, a idade variou de 18 a 92 anos, e 80,9% eram do sexo feminino. Dispneia foi o sintoma inicial mais prevalente entre os que morreram (30,4%). No momento do diagnóstico da infecção, 57,1% apresentavam doença metastática e 60% performance status ruim (Eastern Cooperative Oncologic Group ≥2). A taxa de mortalidade geral foi 40,95% e superior entre os homens e pacientes com baixo nível de performance status (p<0,0001). Conclusão Este coorte é um dos estudos mais robustos do Brasil, descrevendo características clínicas e epidemiológicas de pacientes com câncer e COVID-19. Os achados do estudo alertam para a vulnerabilidade dos pacientes oncológicos na pandemia atual e demonstram alta mortalidade por COVID-19 em pacientes do sexo masculino e com pior performance status. Essa análise pode ajudar a selecionar os pacientes que podem se beneficiar de isolamento rigoroso e até mesmo da interrupção do tratamento, reduzindo a exposição à infecção.

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the severity of COVID-19 in cancer patients to describe clinical and epidemiological factors associated with poor outcomes (mortality and need of intensive care unit admission or mechanical ventilation). Methods Retrospective data from patients with cancer and laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19, obtained between March 16 and May 29, 2020, were retrieved out of a cancer center database. Data analyzed included patient history, age, sex, comorbidities, types of cancer and anticancer therapy. Results This sample comprised 105 patients aged 18-92 years, 80.9% of whom were females. Dyspnea was the most prevalent initial symptom (30.4%) among patients who died (p<0.0001). Overall, 57.1% of patients had metastatic disease and 60% had poor performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncologic Group ≥2) at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis. The overall mortality rate was 40.95%. Mortality rates were higher in male patients and those with poor performance status (p<0.0001). Conclusion This cohort is one of the largest Brazilian studies describing clinical and epidemiological features of patients with cancer and concurrent COVID-19. Findings of this study emphasize the vulnerability of cancer patients in the current pandemic, and indicate high mortality from COVID-19 among male cancer patients and cancer patients with poor performance status. This analysis may assist the selection of patients who may benefit from strict isolation and eventual discontinuation of anticancer therapy to reduce exposure to infection.

Although many species of the genus Trigona have been taxonomically described, cytogenetic studies of these species are still rare. The aim of the present study was to obtain cytogenetic data by conventional staining, C banding and fluorochrome staining for the karyotype characterization of the species Trigona fulviventris. Cytogenetic analysis revealed that this species possesses a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 32, different from most other species of this genus studied so far. This variation was probably due to the centric fusion in a higher numbered ancestral karyotype, this fusion producing the large metacentric chromosome pair and the lower chromosome number observed in Trigona fulviventris. Heterochromatin was detected in the pericentromeric region of the first chromosome pair and in one of the arms of the remaining pairs. Base-specific fluorochrome staining with 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) showed that the heterochromatin was rich in AT base pairs (DAPI+) except for pair 13, which was chromomycin A3 (CMA3) positive indicating an excess of GC base pairs. Our data also suggests that there was variation in heterochromatin base composition.