Editorial
Authors: Bernardo-Fiho Mario 
Published: April 2021

The coronavirus pandemic is disrupting the personallives of the populations across the world, includinguniversities and research institutes. Unusual words havebeen normally used, such as social distancing, isolation,quarentine, and lockdown to try to avoid the spread ofthe virus, and to minimize the undesirable conditionsof the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, universitiesand research institutes are working very hard to findout how the disease can be stopped and its effectsmitigated. Medications are under study and there areefforts towards the prompt availability of vaccines tothe populations. At the same time, there is not a clearstrategy defined with medications and vaccines; the usethe facial masks and frequent washing hands have beenalso stimulated.There are ongoing researches related to theCOVID-19 in several topics, and there is a growingnumber of publications in this topic. Several scientificjournals, in various countries, are publishing papers onthe COVID-19 outbreak and so is the Brazilian Journalof Health and Biomedical Sciences (BJHBS).The current issue (2020/1) has papers in varioussubjects. In the originals section, the first is about theCOVID-19 and it shows the work process and mentalhealth care at the Psychosocial Care Center of theUniversidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (CAPSUERJ) in the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim was toreport and analyze the reorganization of CAPS UERJ’swork processes, in view of the public political virtuethat determines social distance in the midst of theCOVID-19 pandemic, considering its specificities andits commitment to territorial logic.A Randomized Controlled Trial investigated theacute musculoskeletal and cognitive effects of stochasticresonance whole-body vibration (SR-WBV). Theindividuals were allocated randomly in a verum (6 Hz,SR-WBV) or sham (2 Hz, SR-WBV) condition. Inhibitorycontrol was measured with the Stroop Test beforeand after the exercise. Also, muscle stiffness, musclerelaxation, sense of balance and surefootedness wereassessed in a questionnaire before and after the exercise.The findings indicated that S-WBV seems to be anappropriate method to improve not only physiologicalmeasurements but newly also cognition, i.e. inhibitorycontrol. SR-WBV exercise reduces interference andincreases inhibitory control in a young and healthysample.An association between severe chronic periodontitis(PD) and cutaneous microvascular reactivity inhypertensive patients is presented. PD is characterizedas a destructive disease that affects the tissues thatsupport the teeth, reaching gums, periodontal ligaments,cement and alveolar bone. It aimed to evaluate a possibleassociation between severe chronic periodontitis oncutaneous microvascular reactivity in hypertensivepatients, as well as to verify relationship between bodyadiposity and PD in a clinical study.Venous ulcers (VU) is the subject of the next originalpaper. The VU generate physical, emotional, social andeconomic changes for patients, and the occurrence ofinfection in these wounds aggravates this situation. Thearticle is entitled “Performance of Hidrofiber technologyand Ag+ EXTRA technology as a cover for infectedVU” and it aimed i) to identify the socioeconomiccharacteristics of patients with infected venous ulcersselected for the study; ii) to describe the intensity ofpain reported by patients, during the dressing removalprocedure; and iii) to analyze the evolution of clinicalsigns of infection of infected VU during the treatmentof lesions with Hidrofiber technology and Ag + EXTRAtechnology for five weeks.Review articles cover various topics: the presentedition brings a narrative review about inflammatorybowel disease (IBD) women’s sexual and reproductivehealth. IBD is a chronic idiopathic condition involvingthe gastrointestinal tract. The disease prevalence isincreasing worldwide, affecting women in childbearingage. The aim was to present an approach of clinicaland practical review of the women´s sexual andreproductive health in IFD with focus in gynaecologicaland obstetrical management.Empathy is defined as a psychological processguided by mechanisms that encompass the affective,cognitive and behavioral spheres regarding theobservation of the other’s experience, essential to themedical field in establishing trust between doctor andpatient. The second review of the issue aimed to identifythe variables that can influence the levels of empathyduring medical graduation, such as gender, year ofgraduation and choice of medical specialty.Editorial10 bjhbs.hupe.uerj.brThe benefits of the hot tub in reducing pain inpreterm newborns (PTNB) is the subject of the lastpaper, presented as an integrative review. PTNB isthe baby born after the termination of pregnancybefore completing 37 weeks of gestation. In view ofthe numerous consequences of this early birth, thesensation of pain is identified with greater intensity, asits inhibitory pathways are not fully developed in thePTNB. This integrative review concludes that, possibly,hot tub is able to offer PTNB a humanized approach,considered one of the most indicated techniques.Finally, a case report involving a female patientwith psoriasis on irregular treatment with methotrexate,folic acid, and cyclosporine presenting erythrodermaassociated with epidermal desquamation, mucositis andpancytopenia is discussed.The COVID-19 has affected directly the professionallives of the individuals, including those involved inthe preparation of the journals. In the case of BJHBS,we take the opportunity to register our special thanksfor the actions of those responsible for sectors of theUniversidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. In our case, wemention: the Director of Hospital Universitário PedroErnesto, the Director of Policlínica Piquet Carneiro,and the Director of the Faculdade de Ciências Médicas.Those actions have permitted the home office of theprofessionals involved with the preparation of thisissue of BJHBS that is now available for you, reader ofthe BJHBS.Enjoy the reading and take care!