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The knee is one of the most stressed joints of the human body, being susceptible to ligament injuries and degenerative diseases. Due to the rising incidence of knee pathologies, the number of knee X-rays acquired is also increasing. Such X-rays are obtained for the diagnosis of knee injuries, the evaluation of the knee before and after surgery, and the monitoring of the knee joint’s stability. These types of diagnosis and monitoring of the knee usually involve radiography under physical stress. This widely used medical tool provides a more objective analysis of the measurement of the knee laxity than a physical examination does, involving knee stress tests, such as valgus, varus, and Lachman. Despite being an improvement to physical examination regarding the physician’s bias, stress radiography is still performed manually in a lot of healthcare facilities. To avoid exposing the physician to radiation and to decrease the number of X-ray images rejected due to inadequate positioning of the patient or the presence of artefacts, positioning systems for stress radiography of the knee have been developed. This review analyses knee positioning systems for X-ray environment, concluding that they have improved the objectivity and reproducibility during stress radiographs, but have failed to either be radiolucent or versatile with a simple ergonomic set-up.

The promotion of angiogenesis is a fundamental step for efficient organ/tissue reconstitution and replacement. Thus, several strategies to promote vascularization of scaffolds were studied to satisfy this unsolved clinical need. The interface between cells and substrates is a determinant for the success of tissue engineering (TE) strategies. Substrateâ s topography is reported to play a key role in influencing endothelial cell behavior, namely, on its proliferation, metabolic activity, morphology, migration, and secretion of cytokines and chemokines. Therefore, surface topography of the biomaterial-based grafts is a crucial property that is considered in the development of a new TE approach. Herein, we hypothesize that the surface of Rubus fruticosus leaf plays a crucial role in driving angiogenesis since its architecture resembles the vascular structures at a biologically relevant size scale. For this, we produced biomimetic polycaprolactone (PCL) membranes (BpMs) replicating the surface topography of a R. fruticosus leaf by replica molding and nanoimprint lithography. Our results showed an enhanced performance in terms of proliferation of the human endothelial cell line on top of the BpM. Moreover, an asymmetric cellular spatial distribution among the surface of the BpM was observed. These cells seem to have higher density for longer time periods in the region that replicates the leaf veins. Finally, we assess the angiogenic capacity through a chick chorioallantoic membrane assay, revealing that BpMs are more prone to support angiogenesis than flat PCL membranes. We strongly believe that this strategy can bring new insights into developing TE strategies with an enhanced performance in terms of the vascular integration between the host and the scaffolds implanted., This work is a result of the project FROnTHERA (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000023), supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the doctoral programme in Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells (PD/59/2013 and PD/BD/128087/2016), and by the project Cells4_IDs (PTDC/BTM-SAL/28882/2017). The authors would like to acknowledge "BLUEBIOLAB.Laboratorio Transfronterizo de Biotecnologia Marina".0474_BLUEBIO-LAB_1_E financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

RESUMO Objetivo O estudo teve como objetivos o desenvolvimento e validação de conteúdo de um Programa de Intervenção em Processamento Auditivo, destinado a crianças em idade escolar, com perturbação do processamento auditivo, falantes do português europeu. Método A primeira etapa consistiu no desenvolvimento do programa e respetivo manual de instruções, que inclui objetivos, atividades, procedimentos, materiais, reforços, instruções e estímulos verbais utilizados, para as competências auditivas de discriminação auditiva, atenção auditiva, memória auditiva, fechamento, figura-fundo; separação binaural, integração binaural e fusão binaural; a segunda etapa consistiu na validação de conteúdo, por dois painéis de peritos que analisaram o programa, através de um questionário. A validade de conteúdo foi calculada usando o índice de validade de conteúdo. Resultados A avaliação do programa revela uma excelente validade de conteúdo. Alguns itens foram modificados depois da análise dos comentários e sugestões dos peritos (ex: instruções, desníveis de intensidade, personagem principal). Conclusão O estudo permitiu o desenvolvimento e validação de um programa de intervenção em processamento auditivo, com estímulos verbais, selecionados de acordo com critérios linguísticos rigorosos. Futuramente, está prevista a realização de estudos de aceitabilidade e eficácia do programa junto da população alvo. ABSTRACT Purpose The study aimed at the development and content validation of an Auditory Processing Intervention Program for school-aged European Portuguese speaking children with Auditory Processing Disorder. Methods The first step was the program’s development and its instructions manual, which includes objectives, activities, procedures, materials, reinforcement, instructions, and verbal stimuli used, for the following auditory skills: auditory discrimination, auditory attention; auditory memory; auditory closure; figure-ground; auditory separation; auditory integration; binaural fusion; content validation was performed next, with two expert panels analyzing the program, through the use of a questionnaire. Content validity was calculated using the content validity index. Results Program evaluation shows an excellent content validity. Some items were modified after analyzing the experts’ comments and suggestions (e.g. instructions, intensity differences, main character). Conclusion This work allowed the development and content validation of an auditory processing intervention program, with verbal stimuli, selected according to strict linguistic criteria. In the future, the acceptability and efficacy of this program with the target population should be analyzed.

A avaliação é algo recorrente na rotina das instituições de ensino, sendo uma ferramenta de grande importância para diagnótiscos e desenvolvimento dos alunos e ela sempre será questionada e discutida, na tentativa de buscar a melhor forma. Por ser de grande importância, o tema foi amplamente estudado para o embasamento teórico da pesquisa. Sendo assim, a pesquisa tem caráter bibliográfico e também de metodologia empírica, pois a coleta de dados aconteceu com 10 profissionais da escola campo de estágio, Escola Municipal Doutor Severino Alves de Sá, na cidade de Salgueiro-PE, através de um questionário, contendo 10 perguntas. O estudo tem natureza quantitativa e qualitativa. O questionário foi idealizado para conhecer as dificuldades e as perspectivas das docentes dos anos iniciais e os resultados foram transformados em percentual para uma melhor análise dos dados. Um dos dados obtidos com o questionário é que 90% dos professores sentem dificuldades de avaliar o aluno de forma remota e outro dado alarmante é que na escola campo, devido a pandemia, os alunos regrediram no processo de aprendizagem, devido a ausência de responsáveis para o acompanhamento, a carência de acesso a meios tecnológicos, e a ausência do contato entre professor e aluno. Percebe-se que para atingir resultados positivos com os alunos, a escola necessita de uma maior participação dos pais na vida escolar de seus filhos.---Assessment is something recurrent in the routine of educational institutions, being a very important tool for diagnosis and student development, and it will always be questioned and discussed, in an attempt to find the best way. Because it is of great importance, the topic has been extensively studied for the theoretical basis of the research. Thus, the research has a bibliographic character and also an empirical methodology, as the data collection took place with 10 professionals from the internship field school, Doutor Severino Alves de Sá Municipal School, in the city of Salgueiro-PE, through a questionnaire containing 10 questions. The study is quantitative and qualitative in nature. The questionnaire was designed to understand the difficulties and perspectives of teachers in the early years and the results were transformed into percentages for a better data analysis. One of the data obtained from the questionnaire is that 90% of teachers have difficulties in evaluating the student remotely and another alarming fact is that in the field school, due to the pandemic, students regressed in the learning process, due to the absence of guardians for monitoring, lack of access to technological means, and lack of contact between teacher and student. It is noticed that to achieve positive results with students, the school needs greater participation by parents in their children's school life

To determine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic (COVID-19-P) on clinical and health organisational variables of patients evaluated by Liaison Psychiatry (LP).Revision of all collaboration requests (CR) to LP for patients hospitalised in a Portuguese General Hospital during the second wave of COVID-19-P, from 1 October to 31 December of 2020. Medical charts were analysed and selected variables were compared with those of the homologous non-pandemic period. Data were statistically analysed.There was a 22.3% decrease in the number of CR in 2020. The most frequently given reasons for CR were depressive symptoms, psychomotor agitation, and difficulties in adapting to the disease in both years. However, 5.9% more patients reported suicidal ideation in 2020. The hospitalisation length before CR was smaller in 2020 than in 2019 (9 vs 11). There was a higher proportion of patients followed in a psychiatric consultation and previously taking psychotropic medication before hospitalisation in 2020 than in 2019. After the assessment, the trend was that both groups did not meet diagnostic criteria for any disorder and no pharmacological adjustment was needed.This study highlights the need to better characterise the indirect repercussion of COVID-19-P, and focus on the prevention and treatment of mental illness particularly in adverse contexts.Key PointsFewer collaboration requests to liaison psychiatry during the second wave of COVID-19;Collaboration requests were made earlier in the hospitalisation;For patients with more medical comorbidities, psychiatric history, and psychotropic medication;Most because of depressive symptoms and more with suicidal ideation;Fewer collaboration requests to liaison psychiatry during COVID-19;Made earlier in the hospitalisation;For patients with more medical comorbidities, psychiatric history, and medication;Most because of depressive symptoms and more with suicidal ideation.

The Iberian ribbed newt (Pleurodeles waltl) constitutes a central model for probing the basis of regeneration. Here, we present the sequencing and chromosome-scale assembly of the 20.3GbP.waltlgenome, which exhibits the highest level of contiguity and completeness among giant genomes. We uncover that DNA transposable elements are the major contributors to its expansion, with hAT transposons comprising a large portion of repeats. Several hATs are actively transcribed and differentially expressed during adultP.waltllimb regeneration, along with domesticated hAT transposons of the ZBED transcription factor family. Despite its size, syntenic relationships are conserved across the genome. As an example we show the high degree of conservation of the regeneration-associated Tig1 locus with several neighbouring genes. Together, theP.waltlgenome provides a fundamental resource for the study of regenerative, developmental and evolutionary principles.

The successful integration of transplanted three-dimensional tissue engineering (TE) constructs depends greatly on their rapid vascularization. Therefore, it is essential to address this vascularization issue in the initial design of constructs for perfused tissues. Two of the most important variables in this regard are scaffold composition and cell sourcing. Collagens with marine origins overcome some issues associated with mammal-derived collagen while maintaining their advantages in terms of biocompatibility. Concurrently, the freshly isolated stromal vascular fraction (SVF) of adipose tissue has been proposed as an advantageous cell fraction for vascularization purposes due to its highly angiogenic properties, allowing extrinsic angiogenic growth factor-free vascularization strategies for TE applications. In this study, we aimed at understanding whether marine collagen 3D matrices could support cryopreserved human SVF in maintaining intrinsic angiogenic properties observed for fresh SVF. For this, cryopreserved human SVF was seeded on blue shark collagen sponges and cultured up to 7 days in a basal medium. The secretome profile of several angiogenesis-related factors was studied throughout culture times and correlated with the expression pattern of CD31 and CD146, which showed the formation of a prevascular network. Upon in ovo implantation, increased vessel recruitment was observed in prevascularized sponges when compared with sponges without SVF cells. Immunohistochemistry for CD31 demonstrated the improved integration of prevascularized sponges within chick chorioalantoic membrane (CAM) tissues, while in situ hybridization showed human cells lining blood vessels. These results demonstrate the potential of using cryopreserved SVF combined with marine collagen as a streamlined approach to improve the vascularization of TE constructs., This research has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 805411); Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under doctoral fellowship PD/BD/135252/2017 and individual grant IF/00347/2015; European Regional Development Fund, through INTERREG España-Portugal 2014-2020 under BLUEBIOLAB (0474_BLUEBIOLAB_1_E) project, through Atlantic Area Programme under BLUEHUMAN (EAPA_151/2016) project and through NORTE2020/PT2020 Programme under ATLANTIDA (Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000040) project.

The increase of both arterial occlusive diseases and coronary heart diseases leads to a higher demand for small-diameter vascular grafts ( 6 mm), they are associated with thrombosis, intimal hyperplasia, calcification, and chronic inflammation when used as small-diameter vascular grafts. Therefore, natural materials have been studied for this application. In this study, a decellularized human chorion membrane (dHCM) vascular graft with a 3-4 mm diameter was created. Herein, the biocompatibility of dHCM with endothelial cells was demonstrated in vitro and ex ovo. Blood biocompatibility of dHCM was also shown by studying plasma protein adsorption, platelet adhesion and activation, and its hemolytic potential. Furthermore, dHCM antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus were also studied. In summary, the dHCM reticular layer side presented all the needed characteristics to be used in the inner side of a vascular graft. Additionally, the mechanical properties of the dHCM tubular construct were studied, being similar to the ones of the saphenous vein, the gold standard for autologous small-diameter vessel replacement.

Review question / Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the effect of dietary supplements on athletic performance in elite soccer players. Eligibility criteria: This review will be conducted based on the PRISMA guidelines and the PICOS approach. Articles were eligible if they were published or in-press in peer-reviewed journals (i.e., abstracts published in conference proceedings, books, theses, and dissertations will not be considered), published in English language with available abstract for screening. The PICOS approach will be established as follows: Population: highly trained or elite, adult (>18 years old) male or female soccer players; Intervention: use of one or more dietary supplements for performance; Comparison: same conditions with placebo or without dietary supplements; Outcome: athletic or soccer-related performance outcomes; Study design: intervention in parallel groups or with crossover, blind or double-blind, and randomized controlled trials (experimental studies).

The promotion of angiogenesis is a fundamental step for efficient organ/tissue reconstitution and replacement. Thus, several strategies to promote vascularization of scaffolds were studied to satisfy this unsolved clinical need. The interface between cells and substrates is a determinant for the success of tissue engineering (TE) strategies. Substrate's topography is reported to play a key role in influencing endothelial cell behavior, namely, on its proliferation, metabolic activity, morphology, migration, and secretion of cytokines and chemokines. Therefore, surface topography of the biomaterial-based grafts is a crucial property that is considered in the development of a new TE approach. Herein, we hypothesize that the surface of

In this report, the author intends to reinforce the need to test for another potencial causes of pneumonia which present with similar symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection and can also be responsible for outbreaks and sometimes fatal, particularly Legionnaires’ disease. Legionellabacteria are aerobic, gram-negative, ubiquitous freshwater and soil inhabitants. Pneumonia is the most commonly described manifestation of Legionella infection (Legionnaires’ disease), acquired through inhalation of aerosolized water droplets containing the bacteria. Legionella pneumophilais the most consistently reported species, being an important cause of severe community-acquired pneumonia that often requires hospitalization and is fatal in approximately 10% of cases. Most cases present sporadically, however, outbreaks can occur when there are appropriate conditions for bacteria to grow and spread, like stagnating water in piping systems in large facilities. Furthermore, the pathogenesis of Legionella pneumonia is complex and it is clinically and radiographically similar to other forms of pneumonia. In the context of pandemic COVID-19, the use of Legionella urinary antigen testing continues to be crucial and strongly recommended. Thus, in the outbreak faced in the author’s hospital, this screening method proved to be effective and all cases of Legionellapneumonia were promptly recognized and notified, allowing public health measures to be taken to prevent the development of other potencial clusters.

Resumen: Introducción: A pesar del tratamiento con hipotermia, el 40% de los neonatos con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica fallecen o sufren discapacidad moderada-grave. La espectroscopia cercana al infrarrojo (NIRS) se propone como una herramienta útil y no invasiva para establecer el pronóstico. Objetivos: Evaluar el valor pronóstico de la NIRS en el resultado del neurodesarrollo entre los 18-36 meses en neonatos con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica, y establecer el tiempo y los puntos de corte de la saturación cerebral de oxígeno que mejor se relacionan con el pronóstico. Pacientes y métodos: Se incluyeron todos los neonatos a término con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica, sometidos a hipotermia y NIRS, entre 2013-2016. Con respeto al resultado se constituyeron 3 grupos: neurodesarrollo normal, discapacidad moderada y grave. Resultados: Se incluyeron 28 neonatos (edad gestacional mediana: 39 semanas; peso al nacimiento mediano: 3.195 g). La saturación cerebral de oxígeno tendió a aumentar desde una mediana de 65% hasta 85% a las 48 horas de vida. El resultado del neurodesarrollo fue normal en 28,6%, el 35,7% adquirió discapacidad moderada y el 35,7% discapacidad grave (3 fallecieron). Se halló una diferencia estadística entre los grupos a las 48 horas (p = 0,005) y después de la hipotermia (p = 0,03), con valores más altos en los pacientes con discapacidad. Teniendo en cuenta el grupo con discapacidad grave frente a los otros, la curva de ROC a las 48 horas resultó en un área debajo de la curva (AUC) significativa de 0,872 (p = 0,001), con un punto de corte de saturación cerebral de oxígeno de 83,5%. Después de la hipotermia los valores de saturación cerebral de oxígeno por debajo del 66,0% (AUC 0,794; p = 0,017) predijeron el desarrollo normal, mientras que valores por encima del 82% (AUC 0,881; p = 0,001) predijeron discapacidad grave. Conclusiones: El NIRS parece constituir una herramienta útil en la predicción del resultado del neurodesarrollo de pacientes con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica, incluso después de la hipotermia, con valores más altos de saturación cerebral de oxígeno en pacientes con discapacidad. Abstract: Introduction: Despite treatment with hypothermia, 40% of newborns with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy die or suffer moderate to severe disability. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could be a useful, non-invasive tool to establish the prognosis. Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic value of NIRS in predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 to 36 months in newborns with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, and to establish the time points and cut-off values of regional cerebral oxygen saturation that exhibit the strongest correlation to these outcomes. Patients and methods: The study included all term newborns with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy managed with hypothermia and NIRS between 2013 and 2016. We established 3 outcome categories: normal neurodevelopment, moderate disability and severe disability. Results: The sample comprised 28 newborns (median gestational age, 39 weeks; median birth weight, 3195 g). The median regional cerebral oxygen saturation increased from 65% to 85% at 48 hours post birth. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were normal in 28.6%, while 35.7% developed moderate disability and 35.7% severe disability; 3 patients died. We found a statistically significant difference between groups at 48 hours (P = .005) and after hypothermia (P = .03), with higher values in patients with disability. When we compared patients in the severe disability group with the other groups, we found a statistically significant area under the ROC curve at 48 hours of 0.872 (P = .001) applying a regional cerebral oxygen saturation cutoff of 83.5%. After hypothermia, regional cerebral oxygen saturation values below 66.0% (AUC, 0.794; P = .017) predicted normal development, while values above 82% (AUC, 0.881; P = .001) predicted severe disability. Conclusions: NIRS seems to be a valuable tool to predict neurodevelopmental outcomes in patients with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, even after hypothermia, with higher cerebral oxygen saturation values in patients with disability.

Introduction: Despite treatment with hypothermia, 40% of newborns with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy die or suffer moderate to severe disability. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could be a useful, non-invasive tool to establish the prognosis. Objectives: To evaluate the prognostic value of NIRS in predicting neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18–36 months in newborns with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, and to establish the time points and cut-off values of regional cerebral oxygen saturation that exhibit the strongest correlation to these outcomes. Patients and methods: The study included all term newborns with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy managed with hypothermia and NIRS between 2013 and 2016. We established 3 outcome categories: normal neurodevelopment, moderate disability and severe disability. Results: The sample comprised 28 newborns (median gestational age, 39 weeks; median birth weight, 3195 g). The median regional cerebral oxygen saturation increased from 65% to 85% at 48 h post birth. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were normal in 28.6%, while 35.7% developed moderate disability and 35.7% severe disability; 3 patients died. We found a statistically significant difference between groups at 48 h (P = .005) and after hypothermia (P = .03), with higher values in patients with disability. When we compared patients with severe disability group with the other groups, we found a statistically significant area under the ROC curve at 48 h of 0.872 (P = .001) applying a regional cerebral oxygen saturation cutoff of 83.5%. After hypothermia, regional cerebral oxygen saturation values below 66.0% (AUC, 0.794; P = .017) predicted normal development, while values above 82% (AUC, 0.881; P = .001) predicted severe disability. Conclusions: NIRS seems to be a valuable tool to predict neurodevelopmental outcomes in patients with hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, even after hypothermia, with higher cerebral oxygen saturation values in patients with disability. Resumen: Introducción: A pesar del tratamiento con hipotermia, el 40% de los neonatos con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica fallecen o sufren discapacidad moderada-grave. La espectroscopia cercana al infrarrojo (NIRS) se propone como una herramienta útil y no invasiva para establecer el pronóstico. Objetivos: evaluar el valor pronóstico de la NIRS en el resultado del neurodesarrollo entre los 18–36 meses en neonatos con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica y establecer el tiempo y los puntos de corte de la saturación cerebral de oxígeno que mejor se relacionan con el pronóstico. Pacientes y métodos: Se incluyeron todos los neonatos a término con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica, sometidos a hipotermia y NIRS, entre 2013−2016. Con respeto al resultado, se constituyeron tres grupos: neurodesarrollo normal, discapacidad moderada y grave. Resultados: Se incluyeron 28 neonatos (edad gestacional mediana: 39 semanas; peso al nacimiento mediano: 3195 gramos). La saturación cerebral de oxígeno tendió a aumentar desde una mediana de 65% hasta 85%, a las 48 horas de vida. El resultado del neurodesarrollo fue normal en 28,6%, el 35,7% adquirió discapacidad moderada y el 35,7% discapacidad grave (tres fallecieron). Se halló una diferencia estadística entre los grupos a las 48 horas (p = 0,005) y después de la hipotermia (p = 0,03), con valores más altos en los pacientes con discapacidad. Teniendo en cuenta el grupo con discapacidad grave frente a los otros, la curva de ROC a las 48 horas resultó en un área debajo de la curva (AUC) significativa de 0,872 (p = 0,001), con un punto de corte de saturación cerebral de oxígeno de 83,5%. Después de la hipotermia, los valores de saturación cerebral de oxígeno por debajo del 66,0% (AUC 0,794; p = 0,017) predijeron el desarrollo normal mientras que valores por encima del 82% (AUC 0,881; p = 0,001) predijeron discapacidad grave. Conclusiones: El NIRS parece constituir una herramienta útil en la predicción del resultado del neurodesarrollo de pacientes con encefalopatía hipóxico-isquémica, incluso después de la hipotermia, con valores más altos de saturación cerebral de oxígeno en pacientes con discapacidad.

Contains fulltext : 229055.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) Phytochemical antioxidants like gallic and caffeic acid are constituents of the normal human diet that display beneficial health effects, potentially via activating stress response pathways. Using primary human skin fibroblasts (PHSFs) as a model, we here investigated whether such pathways were induced by novel mitochondria-targeted variants of gallic acid (AntiOxBEN(2)) and caffeic acid (AntiOxCIN(4)). Both molecules reduced cell viability with similar kinetics and potency (72 h incubation, IC50 ~23 μM). At a relatively high but non-toxic concentration (12.5 μM), AntiOxBEN(2) and AntiOxCIN(4) increased ROS levels (at 24 h), followed by a decline (at 72 h). Further analysis at the 72 h timepoint demonstrated that AntiOxBEN(2) and AntiOxCIN(4) did not alter mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ), but increased cellular glutathione (GSH) levels, mitochondrial NAD(P)H autofluorescence, and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) protein levels. In contrast, cytosolic SOD1 protein levels were not affected. AntiOxBEN(2) and AntiOxCIN(4) both stimulated the gene expression of Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2; a master regulator of the cellular antioxidant response toward oxidative stress). AntiOxBEN2 and ANtiOxCIN4 differentially affected the gene expression of the antioxidants Heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) and NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone) 1 (NQO1). Both antioxidants did not protect from cell death induced by GSH depletion and AntiOxBEN(2) (but not AntiOxCIN(4)) antagonized hydrogen peroxide-induced cell death. We conclude that AntiOxBEN(2) and AntiOxCIN(4) increase ROS levels, which stimulates NRF2 expression and, as a consequence, SOD2 and GSH levels. This highlights that AntiOxBEN(2) and AntiOxCIN(4) can act as prooxidants thereby activating endogenous ROS-protective pathways.

BACKGROUND: Currently there is no consensus on which are the characteristics of rehabilitation approaches (bottom-up or top-down) most effective in the rehabilitation of ADLs in people with Neglet Syndrome (NS). AIM: To characterize the approaches (bottom-up or top-down) with more impact on ADLs in adults and elderly with NS. METHODS: This systematic review was carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) recommendation. A bibliographic search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, PEDro and Cochrane databases. Experimental studies were considered in which at least one technique of the bottom-up and top-down approaches was used. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for RCTs tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. The following combination of keywords was used: Negligence Syndrome OR Unilateral Syndrome OR Negligence (...) AND Activities OF Daily OR Daily Life (...) AND Treatment OR Intervention OR Technique (...). RESULTS: 16 studies were included, which 9 include techniques from the bottom-up approach, 6 include techniques from the top-down approach and 1 article includes two techniques, each belonging to each approach. The techniques of the bottom-up approach that increased independence in the ADLs were Visuomotor Feedback Training, Smooth Pursuit Eye Movement Training and the combination of Eye Patching with Constraint-induced Therapy. In the top-down approach, the techniques with the same results were Visual Scanning, Mental Practice, Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation. CONCLUSION: Both bottom-up and top-down approaches increase independence in ADLs. Each approach contains techniques with a significant positive impact on ADLs such as Visuomotor Feedback Training and Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation. The present work also allowed a critical analysis to the classification of the approaches in bottom-up and top-down, since they are not different to the category of rehabilitation mechanisms.

For the purposes of professional development clinical education is crucial to speech-language pathologists (SLP). There is limited information about clinical education of SLP students in Portugal. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the mutual perceptions of Portuguese SLP’s clinical educators and students’ of SLPin a Portuguese private University Clinic. Five SLP clinical educators and nine students participated in a one on one semi-structured interview. Content analysis was used to explore interview data. The analysis led to the identification of four themes shared by both groups.Findings from this study provided an insight about clinical education characteristics and challenges reported by clinical educators and students in Portugal and to compare those results with others mentioned in other countries.The findings of this study suggest that clinical educators and students identify, in general, similar characteristics regarding effective/non-effective clinical educator profile and benefits regarding clinical education process. The sample provides preliminary data on Portuguese clinical educator’s and student’s experience of clinical education., Para el desarrollo profesional la educación clínica es crucial en los logopedas. Hay información limitada sobre la educación clínica de los estudiantes de Logopedia (Terapeutas da Fala) en Portugal. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir y comparar las percepciones mutuas de los educadores clínicos y estudiantes de Logopedia portugueses en una clínica universitaria portuguesa privada.Cinco educadores clínicos de logopedia y nueve estudiantes participaron en una entrevista semiestructurada individual. El análisis de contenido se utilizó para explorar los datos de la entrevista. El análisis condujo a la identificación de cuatro temas compartidos por ambos grupos.Los resultados de este estudio proporcionaron una idea sobre las características y los desafíos de la educación clínica informados por educadores clínicos y estudiantes en Portugal y para comparar esos resultados con otros mencionados en otros países.Los resultados de este estudio sugieren que los educadores clínicos y los estudiantes identifican, en general, características similares con respecto al perfil del educador clínico efectivo / no efectivo y los beneficios con respecto al proceso de educación clínica. La muestra proporciona datos preliminares sobre la experiencia de educación clínica del educador clínico y del estudiante.

The use of fucoidan, a marine-origin bioactive polymer, is herein proposed as a component of an innovative and effective strategy against melanoma, one of the most aggressive skin cancers. First, fucoidan antitumor activity, in its soluble form, was assessed presenting increased cytotoxicity over melanoma cells when compared to human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. After this antitumor activity validation and trying to develop a more targeted and local strategy aiming to diminish the cytotoxic effects over noncancer cells, fucoidan was immobilized at the surface of an electrospun nanofiber mesh (NFM_Fu), envisioning the development of a therapeutic patch. The maximum immobilization concentration was 1.2 mg mLâ 1, determined by the Toluidine Blue Assay and confirmed by XPS. Furthermore, NFM_Fu is more hydrophilic than NFM, presenting a contact angle of 36°, lower than the 121° of the control condition. NFM_Fu was able to reduce human melanoma cell viability by 50% without affecting human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Taken together, these results set the basis for a valuable approach for melanoma treatment., This work was developed under the scope of the Structured Projects for R&D&I NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000021 and NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000023 supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020),under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement. The authors would like also to thank NORTE 2020 for financing the Ph.D.scholarship of C.O.“Norte-08-5369-000037”and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology for the Investigator Grant of A.M. (IF/00376/2014). Dr. Luísa Rodrigues is acknowledged by the XPS analysis.

Introduction Cannabis is probably the most commonly used illicit drug. It is often regarded as a relatively nonharmful experience, even though evidence indicates otherwise. Legalization of non-medical cannabis, which has already taken place in several countries, is currently a controversial issue. Objective To provide an up-to-date overview of current models and policies and their outcomes that can inform future political decisions regarding non-medical cannabis use. Methods PubMed/MEDLINE and Google Scholar scientific databases were searched for articles written in English, Spanish, and Portuguese published between 1990 and December 2020. The reference lists of these articles were similarly used as bibliography sources. Gray literature was also included. Results While non-medical cannabis has been decriminalized in many countries, it has only been legalized in Uruguay, Canada, and some U.S. states. Several benefits of legalization were identified: decreases in cannabis-related crimes, law-enforcement and judicial costs; reduction in synthetic cannabis supply; decline in black economies and possible diminution of other illegal drug buying; and tax revenue increases. Reported legalization problems included: increases in cannabis use; cannabis-related disorders; and cannabis-related accidents and hospitalizations. Harm-reduction strategies are available in the scientific literature. Conclusion Growing, although incomplete, evidence exists to guide policy makers, minimize cannabis-related harm, and positively contribute to public health, if the legalization path is to be followed. Dialogue between legislators and science should be encouraged. There are more than a few legalization pathways, with diverse economic, social and health wellbeing effects. Public health-driven, instead of profit-driven models, seem to offer the most benefits regarding non-medical cannabis legalization. Most of the true public health effects of cannabis legalization are still unknown, for we are still in the early stages of these policies and their implications. Future studies should address the medium-to-long-term social, economic, and health consequences of legalization policies.

Orthognathic surgery is a procedure used to correct intermaxillary discrepancies, thus promoting significant improvements in chewing and breathing. During the surgical planning stage, orthodontists often use two-dimensional imaging techniques. The assessment is based on CBCT images and dental cast models to overcome these limitations; however, the evaluation of soft tissues remains complex. The aim of the present study was to develop a co-registration method of CBCT and photo images that would result in realistic facial image reconstruction. CBCT images were three-dimensionally rendered, and the soft tissues were subsequently segmented resulting in the cranial external surface. A co-registration between the obtained surface and a frontal photo of the subject was then carried out. From this mapping, a photorealistic model capable of replicating the features of the face was generated. To assess the quality of this procedure, seven orthodontists were asked to fill in a survey on the models obtained. The survey results showed that orthodontists consider the three-dimensional model obtained to be realistic and of high quality. This process can automatically obtain a three-dimensional model from CBCT images, which in turn may enhance the predictability of surgical-orthognathic planning.

BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells' (MSC) therapeutic potential has been investigated for the treatment of several neurodegenerative diseases. The fact these cells can mediate a beneficial effect in different neurodegenerative contexts strengthens their competence to target diverse mechanisms. On the other hand, distinct disorders may share similar mechanisms despite having singular neuropathological characteristics. METHODS We have previously shown that MSC can be beneficial for two disorders, one belonging to the groups of Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs) - the Krabbe Disease or Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy, and the other to the family of Polyglutamine diseases (PolyQs) - the Machado-Joseph Disease or Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. We gave also input into disease characterization since neuropathology and MSC's effects are intrinsically associated. This review aims at describing MSC's multimode of action in these disorders while emphasizing to possible mechanistic alterations they must share due to the accumulation of cellular toxic products. RESULTS Lysosomal storage disorders and PolyQs have different aetiology and associated symptoms, but both result from the accumulation of undegradable products inside neuronal cells due to inefficient clearance by the endosomal/lysosomal pathway. Moreover, numerous cellular mechanisms that become compromised latter are also shared by these two disease groups. CONCLUSIONS Here, we emphasize MSC's effect in improving proteostasis and autophagy cycling turnover, neuronal survival, synaptic activity and axonal transport. LSDs and PolyQs, though rare in their predominance, collectively affect many people and require our utmost dedication and efforts to get successful therapies due to their tremendous impact on patient s' lives and society.

project LA/P/0140/2020 of the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy—i4HB. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Raw brewers’ spent grain (BSG), a by-product of beer production and produced at a large scale, presents a composition that has been shown to have potential as feedstock for several biological processes, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production. Although the high interest in the PHA production from waste, the bioconversion of BSG into PHA using microbial mixed cultures (MMC) has not yet been explored. This study explored the feasibility to produce PHA from BSG through the enrichment of a mixed microbial culture in PHA-storing organisms. The increase in organic loading rate (OLR) was shown to have only a slight influence on the process performance, although a high selectivity in PHA-storing microorganisms accumulation was reached. The culture was enriched on various PHA-storing microorganisms, such as bacteria belonging to the Meganema, Carnobacterium, Leucobacter, and Paracocccus genera. The enrichment process led to specialization of the microbiome, but the high diversity in PHA-storing microorganisms could have contributed to the process stability and efficiency, allowing for achieving a maximum PHA content of 35.2 ± 5.5 wt.% (VSS basis) and a yield of 0.61 ± 0.09 CmmolPHA/CmmolVFA in the accumulation assays. Overall, the production of PHA from fermented BSG is a feasible process confirming the valorization potential of the feedstock through the production of added-value products. publishersversion published

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Central / Hospital Santa Marta With the gains in life expectancy of patients (P) with heart disease, population with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) therapy for the treatment of heart failure and life-threatening arrhythmias has increasingly became a challenge, regarding the number of complications following an implantation. Aim: To analyze clinical outcomes of P with CIED participating in an integrated nursing approach in an outpatient clinic of a tertiary center. Methods: Systematic review of clinical follow-up data of P undergoing CIED implantation who were observed by a specialized nursing team after discharge. Data regarding complications related to the surgical wound, treatment, timings and outcomes were collected. Results: In 2020, out of 927 P treated with CIED in our center, 157 were referred to the nursing outpatient clinic due high risk features such as anticoagulation and frailty, previously identified surgical wound related complications or advanced hearth failure. The CIED observed were replaced devices (17%), cardioverter defibrillator (41%), cardiac resynchronization therapy with defibrillator (27%), pacemakers (11%), and event recorders (4%). In average, the first appointment took place 16 days after the procedure. In 73 cases, presenting with pocket complaints (hematoma - 34%, local edema or pain - 10%, wound scab - 36%, exteriorized suture or staple - 20%), the average number of days until medical discharge was 36 days, with an average of 5 appointments per patient. In this group, 42% were under oral coagulants, 38% under antiaggregant drugs and 11% under both. Treatment options included antibiotic prescription in 25% of the cases, cryotherapy in 22%, dressing of the surgical wound in 10% and absorbable suture or staple removal in 10%. Four P (0.43%) were submitted to complete system removal due to CIED infection. Conclusions: Surgical wound related complaints in CIED P are relatively common and represent a factor of morbidity and increase in public health spending. An integrated trained team may aid in the prompt identification and management of these complications.

Research on mitochondria-targeted active molecules became a hot topic in the past decade. Development of mitochondria permeability transition pore (mPTP )-targeting agents with clinical applications is needed not only because of the importance of the target in several diseases but also due to the fact that the current developed molecules have shown poor clinical success. In fact, only a reduced percentage reach mitochondria , effectively preventing pathological mPTP opening. The mitochondrial-targeting strategies should be a promising solution to increase the selectivity of compounds to the mPTP , reducing also their potential side effects. Chemical conjugation of bioactive molecules with a lipophilic cation such as the triphenylphosphonium (TPP

The study aimed at the development and content validation of an Auditory Processing Intervention Program for school-aged European Portuguese speaking children with Auditory Processing Disorder.The first step was the program's development and its instructions manual, which includes objectives, activities, procedures, materials, reinforcement, instructions, and verbal stimuli used, for the following auditory skills: auditory discrimination, auditory attention; auditory memory; auditory closure; figure-ground; auditory separation; auditory integration; binaural fusion; content validation was performed next, with two expert panels analyzing the program, through the use of a questionnaire. Content validity was calculated using the content validity index.Program evaluation shows an excellent content validity. Some items were modified after analyzing the experts' comments and suggestions (e.g. instructions, intensity differences, main character).This work allowed the development and content validation of an auditory processing intervention program, with verbal stimuli, selected according to strict linguistic criteria. In the future, the acceptability and efficacy of this program with the target population should be analyzed.O estudo teve como objetivos o desenvolvimento e validação de conteúdo de um Programa de Intervenção em Processamento Auditivo, destinado a crianças em idade escolar, com perturbação do processamento auditivo, falantes do português europeu.A primeira etapa consistiu no desenvolvimento do programa e respetivo manual de instruções, que inclui objetivos, atividades, procedimentos, materiais, reforços, instruções e estímulos verbais utilizados, para as competências auditivas de discriminação auditiva, atenção auditiva, memória auditiva, fechamento, figura-fundo; separação binaural, integração binaural e fusão binaural; a segunda etapa consistiu na validação de conteúdo, por dois painéis de peritos que analisaram o programa, através de um questionário. A validade de conteúdo foi calculada usando o índice de validade de conteúdo.A avaliação do programa revela uma excelente validade de conteúdo. Alguns itens foram modificados depois da análise dos comentários e sugestões dos peritos (ex: instruções, desníveis de intensidade, personagem principal).O estudo permitiu o desenvolvimento e validação de um programa de intervenção em processamento auditivo, com estímulos verbais, selecionados de acordo com critérios linguísticos rigorosos. Futuramente, está prevista a realização de estudos de aceitabilidade e eficácia do programa junto da população alvo.

Background/Objectives There continues to be a debate on whether Substance Addiction (SA) is best understood as a brain disease or a moral condition. We aim to review the current evidence about substance use disorder and to answer two questions: “should Substance Addiction be conceptualized as a medical disorder, a morality flaw or an intermediate construct?” and “can individuals with substance use disorders be held responsible for their behaviour and, if so, to what extent?”. Methods Systematic review of scientific literature (search of scientific articles in PubMed/MEDLINE database and use of a psychiatry textbook) related with SA and its relationship to free will. Results Besides the psychiatry textbook, 38 studies met the inclusion criteria. Much of the scientific knowledge related with SA is in its early stages. Several risk factors were found to influence SA's development. SA's neurobiology includes several brain circuits and neurotransmitters. Drug consumption involves a series of voluntary acts; howbeit, its development is associated with enduring changes in brain function related to automatized behaviour. SA can be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Conclusions Significant scientific evidence has been found not to consider SA as a simple morality flaw. Exclusively defining it as a medical diagnosis may be too short for its complexity, as a search for a broader multi-faceted perspective may be warranted. These individual's willpower and self-determination is not entirely preserved nor totally disrupted, and their accountability is a complex and not clear matter. Additional research is needed to further characterize SA and its mechanisms.

Summary Objectives This review aims to analyze the available data, mainly the most recent, regarding L-carnitine supplementation and exercise performance, in order to understand if L-carnitine can still be considered an ergogenic supplement. Moreover, it also aims to briefly analyze other potential uses, more specifically the effects on weight loss, recovery after exercise and aging. News A literature search, using the online scientific databases PubMed and Scopus, was conducted to identify studies related to L-carnitine supplementation and athletic performance. The discovery that skeletal muscle carnitine content can be increased through oral supplementation in humans represented a significant progress in this area. More recently, due to this discovery, new research has been done to investigate whether L-carnitine supplementation could have an impact on fuel metabolism. However, the inconsistency of results led to a change in the focus of research, shifting towards the investigation of the impact L-carnitine could have on the process of recovery after exercise and on aging. Prospects and projects In future research, this new area needs to be more explored. Nevertheless, the study of the L-carnitine supplementation impact on fuel selection during exercise should continue and it is crucial to use athletes. Conclusion Despite some performance benefits have been demonstrated, more research needs to be done. Presently, the available data is still not enough to widely recommend the use of L-carnitine supplements with the aim of improving exercise performance.

Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible, complex and progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Exogenous antioxidants can be beneficial for decreasing oxidative stress, as they are able to reward the lack of efficacy of the endogenous defense systems and raise the overall antioxidant response in a pathological condition. Along our overarching project related with the design and development of potent and safe multi-target mitochondriotropic antioxidants, based on dietary antioxidants, novel derivatives were obtained. Overall, mitochondriotropic antioxidants showed remarkable antioxidant and chelating properties, presenting low cytotoxic effects on human differentiated neuronal (SH-SY5Y) and hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells and exhibited neuroprotective properties on SH-SY5Y cells against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) oxidative insults. Moreover, compounds 58, 59, 62, 63, 66 and 67 were able to permeate a layer of hCMEC/D3 cells in a time-dependent manner. Mitochondriotropic antioxidant 67 stands out by its remarkable iron chelating and neuroprotective properties toward both H2O2 and 6-OHDA-induced oxidative damage, drug-like properties and BBB permeability.

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Acute episodes of Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder often require hospitalizations and/or psychiatry emergency room (PER) visits, with significant economic burden. Long-acting injectables (LAI), such as the once-monthly Palmitate Paliperidone LAI (1MPP) are effective in suppressing symptoms and raise treatment adherence. This study is the first aimed at evaluating long-term efficacy of initiation of 1MPP. This was a mirror-image study with a total 10 year observational length. Sample was divided into five different groups according to time span of observation: 2,4,6,8, and 10 years. Number of participants per group was 162, 129, 95, 77 and 35, respectively. Main outcomes were number and length of hospitalizations and number of PER visit. Significant reductions in these outcomes after initiation of 1MPP were found in all groups. Subgroups consisting only of patients with full adherence were evaluated, and these had better outcomes. A cost evaluation was also performed, which demonstrated decreases every year, for all main outcomes. Sensitivity analysis in the 2-year group showed results in this time-frame are independent of gender, diagnosis, previous LAI or 1MPP initiation setting. Initiation of 1MPP reduces number and length of hospitalizations up to 5 years, decreasing associated costs. This study increases evidence supporting use of 1MPP in patients with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder.