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The use of standardized imaging protocols is paramount in order to facilitate comparable, reproducible images and, consequently, to optimize patient care. Standardized MR protocols are lacking when studying head and neck pathologies in the pediatric population. We propose an international, multicenter consensus paper focused on providing the best combination of acquisition time/technical requirements and image quality. Distinct protocols for different regions of the head and neck and, in some cases, for specific pathologies or clinical indications are recommended. This white paper is endorsed by several international scientific societies and it is the result of discussion, in consensus, among experts in pediatric head and neck imaging.

Neste trabalho objetivou-se relatar o uso de permanganato de potássio e azul de metileno (cloreto de metiltionina) no tratamento de lesão cutânea da pirarara exposta para visitação pública. Pirarara, nome comum para espécie Phractocephalus hemioliopterus, é originária da bacia amazônica e bastante valorizada na aqüicultura pelo fácil manejo, adaptação ao cativeiro e pela bela fisionomia e coloração, porém muito susceptível à infestação por ectoparasitas acarretando em mortalidades tanto no aspecto produtivo como no mercado pet. A adesão de anelídeos na pele desta espécie alocada no aquário público da cidade de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brasil, levou à lesão cutânea grave e infecção secundária por fungos e bactérias necessitando de tratamento medicamentoso. O diagnóstico foi feito através de achados macroscópicos e das características fisiológicas e comportamentais do animal e o tratamento durou trinta e quatro dias. Após identificação da lesão, os ectoparasitas foram retirados manualmente e o peixe foi conduzido ao tanque escavado isolando-o de outros animais e sem acesso aos visitantes. Adotou-se, respectivamente, o tratamento tópico de 10 gramas e 2 gramas por metro cúbico de permanganato de potássio e azul de metileno até o desaparecimento total da ferida e cura do animal. Com recuperação clínica, o peixe retornou ao aquário exposto à visitação.

Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) are a feared complication after transplant. They are mostly of B cell origin and are frequently Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive, particularly in early onset PTLD. Later on, non-B and EBV-negative PTLD are increasingly reported. EBV seronegative receptors (particularly when paired with an EBV seropositive donor) together with the net degree of immunosuppression-a concept often difficult to quantify-are the most consistently described risk factors for the development of PTLD. Conversely, its association with a particular immunosuppressive agent or other virus, namely cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or disease, has been inconsistently reported. We present a challenging case where an EBV negative monomorphic peripheric T-cell lymphoma was diagnosed in the first year after kidney transplant in a patient with a recent history of CMV disease from a resistant strain.

A cárie dentária continua sendo uma doença com maior prevalência a nível mundial, ela atinge toda faixa etária da sociedade, a preocupação com a saúde dos estudantes universitários deve estar entre as principais prioridades para qualquer instituição de ensino superior. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo com abordagem quantitativa, cujo objectivo foi determinar a prevalência de cárie dentária e factores relacionados em estudantes de Medicina Dentária do 4º ano do Instituto Superior Politécnico da Caála, matriculados no ano acadêmico 2021/2022. Participaram do estudo 23 estudantes. As análises de dados foram feitas inicialmente no programa Microsoft Excel, posteriormente processados e analisados no programa SPSS, com as variáveis apresentadas em tabelas. A prevalência de cárie dentária encontrada foi de 100%. A maior prevalência foi para o gênero feminino com cerca de 56.5% e 43.5% foi para masculino. A população mais afetada estava entre 24 e 34 anos de idade com 65.2% de prevalência de cárie, 69.6% dos estudantes consomem diariamente alimentos e bebidas que contêm açúcar 6 ou mais vezes, 56.5% faziam a sua higienização oral apenas uma vez por dia e 82.6% não recorriam as consultas dentárias. Conclui-se que a prevalência de cárie dentária em estudantes do curso de Medicina Dentária do 4 º do Instituto Superior Politécnico da Caála matriculados no ano acadêmico 2021/2022 é alta e o estilo de vida dos estudante constituiu um factor determinante na prevalência encontrada.

Currently, different types of raw materials are under investigation to fulfil the demand for pellet-based renewable energy. The aim of this study was to experimentally quantify and characterise the gaseous and particulate matter (PM10) emissions from the combustion of a pelletised invasive species growing in the Portuguese coastal areas. The combustion of acacia pellets in a stove used for domestic heating led to a noticeable production of environmentally relevant contaminants, such as carbon monoxide (CO, 2468 ± 485 mg MJ−1), sulphur dioxide (SO2, 222 ± 115 mg MJ−1) and nitrogen oxides (NOx, 478 ± 87 mg MJ−1). Besides gaseous pollutant emissions, substantial particle emissions (118 ± 14 mg MJ−1) were also generated. Particles consisted mostly of inorganic matter, mainly alkaline metals, sulphur and chlorine. About 25%wt. of the PM10 emitted had carbonaceous nature. The chromatographically resolved organic compounds were dominated by anhydrosugars, especially levoglucosan (284 μg g−1 PM10), and several types of phenolic compounds. Retene (8.77 μg g−1 PM10) was the chief compound among polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

The aim of this study was a detailed chemical characterisation of the particles released during the preparation of popular Portuguese dishes. PM2.5 samples were collected from the exhaust stacks on the roofs of a university canteen, a charcoal-grilled chicken restaurant and a wood-oven roasted piglet restaurant. The speciation of organic compounds was carried out by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The canteen was responsible for the lowest emissions of PM2.5, while emissions from the roasted piglet restaurant were the highest. Naphthalene was quantified as the most abundant aromatic compound in particle emissions from the canteen, while phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene and chrysene were the dominant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in samples from the other establishments. Benzo[a]pyrene equivalent concentrations obtained for the charcoal-grilled chicken and piglet restaurant indicate a dangerous carcinogenic potential to human health. Cholesterol was the prevalent sterol. Its highest values were obtained in particles from the charcoal-grilled chicken restaurant (621 ± 233 μg g−1 PM2.5). Oleic and palmitoleic were the unsaturated fatty acids identified at highest concentrations (from trace levels to 34.4 and to 6.89 mg g−1 PM2.5, respectively). Resin acids, such as dehydroabietic and abietic, were detected in all samples from the wood-oven roasted piglet restaurant. Nicotinamide was the amide detected at highest amount in emissions from the university canteen during the preparation of stews (7.67 mg g−1 PM2.5). Levoglucosan and its isomers were identified in all samples from the roasted piglet restaurant, but only the first monosaccharide anhydride was present in emissions from the university canteen and the charcoal-grilled chicken restaurant. Additionally, emission rates were estimated for the most representative compounds, taking into account the specific activity of each restaurant.

In this study, a characterization of particulate matter (PM 10 ) is performed in a suburban area in Northwestern Spain (A Coruna, Galicia), in order to establish the interrelationships between major components, as well as between these components and submicron particles. 140 PM 10 samples were collected from April 2014 to January 2015 and numerous chemical parameters, such as carbonaceous fraction, including water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), major ions, and carbon and nitrogen isotopic ratios, were determined. Data on ultrafine particles for one season were also recorded. Nanoparticle modes showed a correlation between them and with all of the carbonaceous fractions (especially elemental carbon and Aitken mode) and some meteorological parameters (humidity and solar radiation). Their correlations suggested the possible influence of a few industrial sources, depending on the prevailing winds. Isotopic data indicated the presence of a significant input from combustion sources during the cold period and primary biogenic input during the spring, reinforced by OC/EC ratios and WSOC values. Organic carbon (OC), the main component of carbonaceous fraction, correlates seasonally with elemental carbon (EC), setting a fitting to a potential equation during the winter. These parameters also suggested a significant presence of secondary organic aerosol in the area, except in the spring. A high contribution of secondary inorganic aerosol was also observed, with ammonium sulfate (all of the seasons), sodium nitrate with a marine contribution (except in the autumn), and potassium sulfate (except in the spring) as the main species. The Atlantic Ocean's influence was observed as a contribution of sea salt to PM 10 of 23.4% on average, up to 84.5% on certain days, and a strong relationship between sea salt and secondary aerosol.

Road dust resuspension is one of the main sources of particulate matter with impacts on air quality, health and climate. With the aim of characterising the thoracic fraction, a portable resuspension chamber was used to collect road dust from five main roads in Oporto and an urban tunnel in Braga, north of Portugal. The PM10 samples were analysed for: i) carbonates by acidification and quantification of the evolved CO2, ii) carbonaceous content (OC and EC) by a thermo-optical technique, iii) elemental composition by ICP-MS and ICP-AES after acid digestion, and iv) organic speciation by GC-MS. Dust loadings of 0.48±0.39mgPM10m-2 were obtained for asphalt paved roads. A much higher mean value was achieved in a cobbled pavement (50mgPM10m-2). In general, carbonates were not detected in PM10. OC and EC accounted for PM10 mass fractions up to 11% and 5%, respectively. Metal oxides accounted for 29±7.5% of the PM10 mass from the asphalt paved roads and 73% in samples from the cobbled street. Crustal and anthropogenic elements, associated with tyre and brake wear, dominated the inorganic fraction. PM10 comprised hundreds of organic constituents, including hopanoids, n-alkanes and other aliphatics, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), alcohols, sterols, various types of acids, glycerol derivatives, lactones, sugars and derivatives, phenolic compounds and plasticizers. In samples from the cobbled street, these organic classes represented only 439μgg-1PM10, while for other pavements mass fractions up to 65mgg-1PM10 were obtained. Except for the cobbled street, on average, about 40% of the analysed organic fraction was composed of plasticizers. Although the risk via inhalation of PAH was found to be insignificant, the PM10 from some roads can contribute to an estimated excess of 332 to 2183 per million new cancer cases in adults exposed via ingestion and dermal contact.

BackgroundPeritoneal dialysis (PD) is an effective renal replacement technique. However, every year a considerable number of patients are transferred to hemodialysis (HD). Our aim was to identify those at risk, in order to place an arteriovenous fistula (AVF).MethodsCase-control study enrolling all prevalent patients in 2014 and 2015 in our clinic. Groups: 72 case patients who were transferred definitively to HD, 111 control patients (remaining on PD, transplanted, recovered renal function, or deceased).ResultsA total of 183 patients were eligible, with a mean age of 55.2 ± 14.8 years, 56.3% male, 31.1% diabetic, and 49.7% on continuous ambulatory PD. The mean follow-up time was 42.1 ± 25.6 months. Eighty-five patients had an AVF. The groups differed in diabetic nephropathy etiology, and in some PD-related characteristics (Kt/V, creatinine clearance, residual renal function, mean ultrafiltration, natriuretic peptide, peritonitis, hospitalizations, and hypervolemia). In multivariate analysis, Kt/V < 1.7 (odds ratio [OR] 3.00, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20 – 7.50], albumin < 35 g/L (OR 4.03, 95% CI: 1.26 – 12.92), number of hospitalizations 1 to 3 (OR 2.74, 95% CI: 1.15 – 6.53) and 4 or more (OR 10.48, 95% CI: 3.62 – 30.36), and 2 or more peritonitis episodes (OR 2.50, 95% CI: 1.03 – 6.07) were predictors of PD transfer to HD. In those patients who were transferred to HD, 34 initiated HD by AVF, 2 needed a catheter due to a non-functioning AVF, and 36 did not have an AVF needing catheter placement.ConclusionsLow Kt/V, low albumin, higher number of hospitalizations, and peritonitis were factors associated with PD transfer to HD, probably indicative of a high-risk PD population where arteriovenous access should be weighed.

Beauty salons are considered occupational environments where the staff personnel and clients are exposed to high levels of airborne pollutants. In this study, air quality monitoring was carried out in L ́eon, Spain. Tem- perature, relative humidity, CO2, CO and particulate matter were continuously monitored inside and outside areas of the salon. PM10 was simultaneously collected onto filters. Volatile organic compounds and carbonyls were sampled inside the salon. Indoor PM10 concentrations exceeded the recommended 24-h guideline of 50 μg m3. A detailed PM10 chemical characterisation included organic and elemental carbon, trace elements, water- soluble ions and organic speciation. Indoor vs outdoor ratios of PM10, as well as the majority of PM10-bound organic compounds, were >1. During work periods, organic carbon accounted for 29.5 ± 1.8 and 16.2 ± 4.5 % wt. of PM10 indoors and outdoors, respectively. More than 200 individual organic compounds were detected in the PM10, including aliphatic alcohols, fatty acids, phthalates, glycerol derivatives, fatty acid alkyl esters, phenolic compounds, alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, among others. Many of them are part of formulations widely used in hair cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products. Inadequate ventilation, working activities and the use of specific products can greatly contribute to high indoor levels of organic air pollutants. Formaldehyde revealed a cancer risk of 4.6 × 10 6, higher than the guideline level, suggesting a “possible risk” for workers. The total excess lifetime cancer risk from exposure to multiple compounds was 9.3 × 10 6, which is lower than the acceptable risk, but not negligible. published

Observational cross-sectional study carried out in a pediatric neurodevelopment unit of a tertiary-care hospital. A sample of 355 children with median ((min.–max.) 1.0–17.3) years with intellectual ...

The main objective of this work is to extend the knowledge of indoor air quality by using a numerical tool to calculate the concentrations of pollutants in the indoor air of a classroom. The application of a numerical model allowed to quantitatively assess the impact of several proposed improvement measures, through the simulation of scenarios. The numerical model CONTAM was used to characterise the indoor air quality in a classroom of an elementary school, in terms of concentrations of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and particulate matter. The results of the CONTAM simulations were compared to measurements performed during monitoring campaigns (SINPHONIE project). The simulated and measured carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide concentrations inside the classroom are in good agreement. Furthermore, for particulate matter, simulated values show a significant difference from measured values, which are higher overall. With the goal of maximising the indoor air quality of the classroom, several alternative scenarios were simulated. The door and windows of the classroom were opened or closed at different times for each scenario. The scenario promoting the best indoor air quality (i.e. with the lowest concentrations of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide) is the one in which the door is only open to allow students to get in and out of the room, and the window is kept half-open during the entire day.

A sampling campaign of size segregated particulate matter (PM0.5, PM0.5–1, PM1–2.5 and PM2.5–10) was carried out at two sites, one in a road tunnel (Braga, Portugal) and another at an urban background location in the neighbourhood. Particle-bound polycyclic aromatic compounds were extracted with organic solvents and analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Twenty six parent and alkyl-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 4 azaarenes (AZAs), 15 nitrated and 15 oxygenated derivatives (NPAHs and OPAHs) were analysed. On average, submicron particles (PM1) in the tunnel comprised 93, 91, 96 and 71% of the total PAHs, OPAHs, NPAHs and AZAs mass in PM10, respectively. Tunnel to outdoor PAH concentration ratios between 10 and 14 reveal the strong contribution of fresh exhaust emissions to the PM loads. The dominant PAHs in the tunnel were pyrene, retene and benzo[ghi]perylene, accounting for 20, 17 and 8% of the total PAH levels in PM10, respectively. Isomer ratios indicated the importance of unburnt fuel as a significant PAH source. The only NPAH consistently present in all samples was 5-nitroacenaphthene. Indanone and 1,8-naphthalic anhydride were the most abundant OPAHs, accounting for 25 and 17% of the total concentrations of this organic class, respectively. Other abundant OPAHs were 1,4-naphthoquinone, 9-fluorenone, 1,2-acenaphthylenequinone and 7H-benz[de]anthracene-7-one. Individual emission factors (μg veh− 1 km− 1) were estimated and compared with those obtained in other tunnel studies.

A one-year aerosol sampling campaign, between 2016 and 2017, was conducted in a suburban area of León city, Spain. An association between the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) results and air masses through circulation weather types was carried out, through the construction of linear models from the PM10 concentrations and its chemical composition. The aerosol sources, identified by PMF six-factor solution, were: traffic (29%), aged sea salt (26%), secondary aerosols (16%), dust (13%), marine aerosol (7%) and biomass burning (3%). Traffic and secondary factors showed the highest PM10 contribution in the hybrid cyclonic types with wind component from the first and second quadrant. Anticyclonic types with wind component from the first quadrant exhibited high values of secondary, aged sea salt and dust factors. The highest contributions of the dust factor were also associated with northerly types. The linear models built for estimating the source apportionment of PM10, from aerosol chemical composition and geostrophic flow, showed positive coefficients for: westerly flows (WF) in marine factor, southerly flows (SF) in secondary and traffic factors, and shear southerly vorticities (ZS) in dust factor. Negative dependences were observed for ZS in aged sea salt factor and for SF in dust factor. The PM10 mass concentration calculated by the linear models and by the PMF model were strongly correlated. This can be very useful to determine the contribution of a specific source to PM10 in León, only by knowing some meteorological and chemical variables. published

Passive diffusion tubes for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbonyls and low volume particulate matter (PM2.5) samplers were used simultaneously in kitchens and outdoor air of four dwellings. PM2.5 filters were analysed for their carbonaceous content (organic and elemental carbon, OC and EC) by a thermo-optical technique and for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) and plasticisers by GC-MS. The morphology and chemical composition of selected PM2.5 samples were characterised by SEM-EDS. The mean indoor PM2.5 concentrations ranged from 14 &micro, g m&minus, 3 to 30 &micro, 3, while the outdoor levels varied from 18 &micro, 3. Total carbon represented up to 40% of the PM2.5 mass. In general, the indoor OC/EC ratios were higher than the outdoor values. Indoor-to-outdoor ratios higher than 1 were observed for VOCs, carbonyls and plasticisers. PAH levels were much higher in the outdoor air. The particulate material was mainly composed of soot aggregates, fly ashes and mineral particles. The hazard quotients associated with VOC inhalation suggested a low probability of non-cancer effects, while the cancer risk was found to be low, but not negligible. Residential exposure to PAHs was dominated by benzo[a]pyrene and has shown to pose an insignificant cancer risk.

Introduction Myringotomy with tympanostomy tube is the most common otologic surgery and some patients are still advised to avoid water. However, there is no evidence supporting this, with published papers questioning the need for this advice. Methods A Multiphase Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was created using computerized tomography images of a child's healthy ear. It was then used to study the flow of fluids through the external ear, tympanic cavity, and auditory tube, with and without submersion. Results The model accurately described the behavior of the air retained in the patient's nasopharynx and tympanic cavity. A simulated elevation of pressure in the external auditory canal without submersion, without increase of pressure in the nasopharynx, demonstrated that fluids promptly crossed the tympanostomy tube into the middle ear. However, simulated elevation of pressure in the external auditory canal with concurrent elevation of air pressure in the nasopharynx during submersion did not lead to passive tube opening nor to any detectable flow through the tympanostomy tube. Conclusions In the model, submersion increases pressure in the nasopharynx which offsets the pressure in the external auditory canal. So, in the absence of a pressure gradient, no passive tubal opening took place, and no air or fluid flow was detected through the transtympanic tube. This model now includes the exhaust function of the auditory tube in the model and shows its relevance.

A receptor modelling study was performed to identify source categories and their contributions to the PM10 total mass at the Cape Verde archipelago. Trajectory statistical methods were also used to characterize the main atmospheric circulation patterns causing the transport of air masses and to geographically identify the main potential source areas of each PM10 source category. Our findings point out that the variability of the PM10 levels at Cape Verde was prompted by the advections of African mineral dust. The mineral dust load was mainly composed by clay-silicates mineral derived elements (22% of the PM10 total mass on average) with lower amounts of carbonates (9%). A clear northward gradient was observed in carbonates concentration that illustrates the differences in the composition according to the source regions of mineral dust. Mineral dust was frequently linked to industrial emissions from crude oil refineries, fertilizer industries as well as oil and coal power plants, located in the northern and north-western coast of the African continent (29%). Sea salt was also registered in the PM10 mass during most part of the sampling period, with a lower impact in the PM10 levels than the mineral dust one (26%). Combustion aerosols (6%) reached the highest mean values in summer as a consequence of the emissions from local-regional sources. Biomass burning aerosols produced from October to November in sub-sahelian latitudes, had a clear influence in the content of elemental carbon (EC) recorded at Cape Verde but a small impact in the PM10 total mass levels. A minor contribution to the PM10 mass has been associated to secondary inorganic compounds-SIC. Namely, ammonium sulfate and nitrate (SIC 1–5%) and calcium sulfate and nitrate (SIC 2–3%). The main origin of SIC 1 was attributed to emissions of SO2 and NOx from industrial sources located in the northern and north-western African coast and from wildfires produced in the continent. SIC 2 had a clear regional origin in the summer period. However, in the winter period there were probably contributions of soil emissions of evaporate minerals from regions of eastern Algeria. The location of Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean at subtropical latitudes, and the absence of relevant local sources of anthropogenic atmospheric pollutants, becomes this archipelago, a perfect site to study the impact of external contributions on the background levels of PM10 registered over the north-eastern tropical Atlantic.

Wood combustion experiments were carried out in a Portuguese woodstove to determine the effects of biofuel type, ignition technique, biomass load and cleavage, as well as secondary air supply, on the chemical composition of particles (PM 10 ). Two typical wood fuels in the Iberian Peninsula were tested: pine ( Pinus pinaster ), a softwood, and beech ( Fagus sylvatica ), a hardwood. PM 10 samples were analysed for organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), levoglucosan and 56 elements. Total carbon (TC) represented 54–73 wt.% of the particulate mass emitted during the combustion process, regardless of wood species burned or operating condition tested. The carbonaceous component of PM 10 was dominated by OC. The OC content of PM 10 was higher when higher loads were fed into the combustion chamber, for both fuels. EC represented from 8 to 35 wt.% of the particulate mass. OC/EC ranged from 1.1 to 6.1 (avg. 3.0 ± 1.8) for pine combustion and from 1.1 to 3.4 (avg. 2.0 ± 0.8) for beech combustion. The lowest OC/EC ratios for both woods were observed for ignition from the top. Levoglucosan was found in all samples, representing from 3.7 to 7.5 wt.% and from 4.2 to 8.9 wt.% of PM 10 emitted from the combustion of pine and beech, respectively. The use of low loads of fuel generated high amounts of levoglucosan either for pine or beech. Altogether, trace elements obtained by ICP-MS and ICP-AES comprised from 0.46 wt.% to 1.41 wt.% and from 0.87 wt.% to 2.36 wt.% of the PM 10 mass for pine and beech combustion, respectively. Among elements, K, Ca, Na, Mg, Fe and Al contributed to more than 75% of the total ICP-MS mass. Potassium was the major element in almost all PM 10 samples.

Logs of three common Southern and mid-European woods (Quercus pyrenaica, Populus nigra and Fagus sylvatica) were burned in two different combustion appliances, a fireplace and a stove. The flue gas composition was monitored continuously in the exhaust ducts of both burning appliances for total hydrocarbons (THC) and carbon oxides (CO2 and CO). Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter below 2.5 μm (PM2.5) was sampled in a dilution tunnel under isokinetic conditions and chemically characterised for water soluble-inorganic ions, organic and elemental carbon and levoglucosan, mannosan, and galactosan. The evolution of the emission factors of these components throughout the combustion cycle was studied. The fireplace was the combustion appliance with the highest CO, CO2, THC and PM2.5 emission factors. The carbonaceous matter represented 72–84% of the particulate mass emitted, regardless of species burned and combustion devices. OC/EC ratios were higher for the fireplace than for the stove, and showed a significant potential relation with K+/levoglucosan. The dominant water soluble inorganic ions in smoke particles were K+, PO 4 3 − , SO 4 2 − , and Na+. Anhydrosugar emissions were strongly enhanced in the start-up phase, when lower temperatures are registered, and decreased progressively until the glowing combustion phase. However, K+ emission seems to be higher in flaming-dominated combustion at higher temperature. Statistical analyses, including the Kruskal–Wallis test, principal component analysis and Pearson correlation between emission factors, were carried out. A significant correlation between NH4+ and levoglucosan was found for both appliances.

article i nfo Wood combustion experiments were carried out to determine the effect of ignition technique, biomass load and cleavage, as well as secondary air supply, on carbon monoxide (CO), total hydrocarbon (THC), particulate matter (PM10) and particle number emissions from a woodstove. Wood from two typicaltree species in theIberian Pen- insula was selected: pine (Pinus pinaster) and beech (Fagus sylvatica). The highest CO and total hydrocarbon emission factors (EFs) were observed, respectively, for pine and beech, for high and low fuel loads. The highest PM10EFwasrecordedfortheoperationwithlowloadsforbothwoods.Secondaryairsupplyproducedthelowest PM10emission factors. The top ignition can decrease the PM10 EF to less than half when compared with the com- mon technique of lighting from the bottom. The lowest particle number emission factors were observed when operating with high loads of split beech logs and when using secondary air supply during the combustion of pine. Regarding particle number distributions, the highest geometric mean diameter (Dg), for both woods, were observed when operating with high loads (with split and non-split wood).

The rate of invasive pneumococcal disease has markedly declined after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugated vaccines. In spite of the high effectiveness of this vaccine, there are some reports of vaccine failure and vaccine breakthroughs. Data on children with pneumococcal pneumonia in a European tertiary Hospital, from 2012 to 2014, were retrospectively collected before the implementation of pneumococcal conjugated vaccines in our country. We found four cases of pneumococcal serotype 3 vaccine failure and three cases of vaccine breakthroughs (two with serotype 3 and one with serotype 19A). All of these children were previously healthy.

The reduction in vehicle exhaust emissions achieved in the last two decades is offset by the growth in traffic, as well as by changes in the composition of emitted pollutants. The present investigation illustrates the emissions of eight in-use gasoline and diesel passenger cars using the official European driving cycle and the ARTEMIS real-world driving cycles. Measurements comprised gaseous regulated pollutants (CO, CO_2, NO_x and hydrocarbons), particulate matter and its carbonaceous content (organic and elemental carbon, OC and EC), as well as about 20 different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the C_6-C_11 range. It was observed that some of the vehicles do not comply with the corresponding regulations. Significant differences in emissions were registered between driving cycles. Not all regulated pollutants showed a tendency to decrease from Euro 3 to Euro 5. The particulate carbon emission factors were significantly lower under the ARTEMIS Road compared with the ARTEMIS Urban driving cycle with cold start. In general, cold start-up driving conditions produced the highest emission factors. A tendency to the decline of carbonaceous emissions from Euro 3 to Euro 5 diesel vehicles was observed, whilst this trend was not registered for petrol-powered cars. The fraction of total carbon composed of EC was much lower in particles emitted by petrol vehicles (＜ 10%) than by diesel engines (50-95%). However, the EC content in emissions from more modern vehicles equipped with diesel particulate filter (DPF) is almost negligible. Among VOCs, benzene, toluene and xylenes were generally the dominant species. A significant decrease in emissions from Euro 4 to Euro 5 petrol-powered vehicles was observed. The trend in VOC emissions is unclear when diesel engines are considered. During DPF regeneration cycles, pollutant emissions are several times larger than those during normal engine operation.

A sampling campaign was conducted in the Liberdade Avenue tunnel (Braga, Portugal) during a week (with 56,000 vehicles) to monitor black carbon (eBC-equivalent black carbon) by means of an Aethalometer AE-31, and gaseous pollutants (CO2, CO, NOx). Inside the tunnel, the mean eBC mass concentration was 21 ± 10 μg m-3, reaching a maximum hourly value of 49.0 μg m-3. An hourly and weekday-weekend study was carried out. Regarding the Absorption Ångström exponent (AAE), a mean value of 0.97 ± 0.10 was obtained, for a source of practically pure traffic. There was a positive significant correlation between eBC and the number of light vehicles (r = 0.47; p

Introdução: Oxigenoterapia domiciliária de longa duração está indicada em doentes com hipoxémia crónica. Pretendemos descrever a população em programa de oxigenoterapia domiciliária de longa duração acompanhada numa Unidade de Pneumologia Pediátrica de Hospital Terciário entre 2003-2012 e comparar com revisão de 1991-2000; verificar conformidade com orientações nacionais e internacionais, refletindo sobre necessidade de orientações nacionais especificamente pediátricas, inexistentes em Portugal.Material e Métodos: Estudo retrospetivo, descritivo e comparativo por consulta de processo clínico. Pesquisa de orientações sobre oxigenoterapia em idade pediátrica.Resultados: Incluímos 86 doentes (59,3% rapazes). A idade mediana de início da oxigenoterapia foi 0,0 (0,0-216,0) meses e a duração mediana de 15,0 (3,0-223,0) meses. O diagnóstico mais frequente foi displasia broncopulmonar (53,5%), seguindo-se bronquiolite obliterante (14,0%), doença neurológica (10,5%), fibrose quística (8,1%), síndromes polimalformativas (5,8%), doença de células falciformes (3,5%), outras doenças pulmonares neonatais (2,3%) e doenças pulmonares intersticiais (2,3%). Mantêm acompanhamento 53 (61,6%) doentes, 38 mantendo oxigenoterapia; 12 (13,9%) faleceram. O tempo mediano de seguimento foi 39,5 (1,0-246,0) meses, mínimo nas outras doenças pulmonares neonatais e máximo na fibrose quística. Comparativamente ao estudo anterior revela aumento relativo dos lactentes com bronquiolite obliterante e displasia broncopulmonar, aumento da duração nestes últimos e inclusãode doentes neurológicos e hematológicos.Discussão: A prescrição de oxigenoterapia domiciliária de longa duração em pediatria ocorre sobretudo em doenças específicas dos lactentes e idade pré-escolar. Doentes neurológicos e hematológicos são novos grupos de prescrição, à semelhança da literatura internacional.Conclusão: O conhecimento da realidade nacional e orientações pediátricas são relevantes para organização de cuidados eprescrição racional.Palavras-chave: Criança; Cuidados de Longa Duração;Insuficiência Respiratória; Oxigenoterapia.

Volatile organic compound (VOC) samples were collected from the exhaust stacks on the roofs of a university canteen, a charcoal-grilled chicken restaurant and a wood-oven roasted piglet restaurant on sorbent tubes with Carbopack B and C packing and analysed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography-flame ionisation detection. Concurrent sampling of carbonyls was also conducted using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine cartridges with analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography. Two main reasons may have contributed to the emission of much lower levels in the exhaust of the kitchen of the university canteen: (i) hoods having thick filters and (ii) use of gas and electricity as energy sources for cooking. Larger emission rates of 2-butanone were measured from boiled dishes prepared in the canteen than those from other menus. Chlorinated VOCs have only been detected in samples of the chicken restaurant. Benzene was the compound with the highest emission rates from the chicken and piglet restaurants (201 and 178 kg year−1, respectively). In general, the emissions from most dishes presented a higher concentration of acetaldehyde compared to formaldehyde. The ozone formation potentials of VOCs and carbonyls emitted by the two restaurants are incomparably higher than those estimated for the university canteen. The reactivity of VOCs from the chicken and piglet restaurants is higher than those reported for vehicle emissions or other sources.

Winter aerosol samples were daily collected during one-month long campaign in Oporto and Coimbra. The high-volume PM 2.5 samples were solvent extracted and their organic content separated into several functional groups, which were then analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The organic compounds identified and quantified revealed some differences between samples from the two urban areas. In general, the levels of total hydrocarbons in the urban background station of Oporto were higher than those of Coimbra. Concentration ratios between specific compounds and the presence of molecular markers derived from petroleum, such as hopanes, pristane and phytane, point out vehicles as the main source of pollutants. The contribution of biogenic compounds, mainly hydrocarbons associated with the waxy cuticle of vegetation, is also observable in both cities. The benzo[a]pyrene equivalent daily values were frequently higher than 1 ng m − 3 in Oporto suggesting an additional cancer risk for the population. The PM 2.5 mass attributable to vehicle emissions is higher in the background atmosphere of Oporto than in Coimbra. On weekends, biomass burning emissions could represent up to 74% of the organic carbon content of the urban aerosols.

The two-component model (Fialho et al., 2006) was used to decouple the contributions of black carbon (BC) and iron oxides, present in dust, to the aerosol attenuation coefficient, measured with a multiwavelength Aethalometer. The model results were compared with the elemental carbon (EC) and iron concentrations determined in the laboratory from the analysis of aerosol particles collected with conventional samplers. The comparison was based on one year of data obtained at Praia, Santiago Island, Cape Verde, after side by side operation of the aerosol monitoring instruments. The linear regression equation that best describes the relationship between BC concentrations, derived from the Aethalometer, and EC concentrations, derived from a PM10 high-volume sampler after filter analysis with a thermal optical method, presents a slope of 1.01 ± 0.05 and a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.90, showing that the model worked as intended to describe BC concentrations without interferences from iron dust. On the other hand, the linear regression equation that best describes the relationship between the iron concentrations derived from the Aethalometer and elemental iron concentrations, derived from a PM10 lowvolume sampler after filter analysis by k0 e Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis, presents a slope of 0.495 ± 0.014 and a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.96. These results show that the two-component model underestimated the iron concentrations in dust aerosol, which was explained by differences in the size range of particles sampled with the Aethalometer and the PM10 low-volume sampler together with differences in the size distribution of iron oxides. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

An indoor/outdoor monitoring programme of PM10 was carried out in two sports venues (a fronton and a gymnasium). Levels always below 50 μg m(-3) were obtained in the fronton and outdoor air. Due to the climbing chalk and the constant process of resuspension, concentrations above 150 μg m(-3) were registered in the gymnasium. The chalk dust contributed to CO3 (2-) concentrations of 32 ± 9.4 μg m(-3) in this sports facility, which represented, on average, 18 % of the PM10 mass. Here, the carbonate levels were 128 times higher than those registered outdoors. Much lower concentrations, around 1 μg m(-3), were measured in the fronton. The chalk dust is also responsible for the high Mg(2+) concentrations in the gym (4.7 ± 0.89 μg m(-3)), unfolding a PM10 mass fraction of 2.7 %. Total carbon accounted for almost 30 % of PM10 in both indoor spaces. Aerosol size distributions were bimodal and revealed a clear dependence on physical activities and characteristics of the sports facilities. The use of climbing chalk in the gymnasium contributed significantly to the coarse mode. The average geometric mean diameter, geometric standard deviation and total number of coarse particles were 0.77 μm, 2.79 cm(-3) and 28 cm(-3), respectively.

The current study presents, for the first time, a long-term organic speciation of aerosol at the Cape Verde archipelago. The Cape Verde location, in the Atlantic Ocean, provides a unique laboratory to study background aerosol, long-range transport, aerosol mixing with mineral dust, biomass burning and sea surface components. In order to contribute to a better understanding of this environment, a one-year long measurement campaign was performed in Praia City, Santiago Island. PM 10 concentrations (20.5–370 μg/m 3 ) and the organic composition of PM 10 were influenced by the African dust influxes. The carbonaceous content of PM 10 was very low, suggesting that most of the mass has mineral origin. The PM 10 composition was essentially characterised by a large variety of organic compounds, which can be grouped into general compound classes, such as n -alkanes, n -alkanols, n -acids and sugars. The n -alkane total concentrations varied from 3.77 to 53.2 ng/m 3 . The n -alkanols distribution showed a significant biogenic contribution whether from microbial origin or from epicuticular plants during African dust outbreaks. The total concentrations of n -alkanoic acids varied from 0.011 to 4.51 ng/m 3 . The lower n -alkenoic acids content, obtained during the periods of long-range transport from Africa, indicated a more aged aerosol. The monosaccharide anhydrides were detected in all samples with a range of concentrations from 2.06 to 12.7 ng/m 3 .

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects approximately 1â3% of pediatric population and is associated with significant morbidity. As adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is its primary cause in children, elective adenotonsillectomy is the first treatment of choice. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been increasingly considered as an option, mainly for children with complex diseases, ineligible or waiting for surgeries, or after surgery failure. Objectives: To describe the experience in the management of children with complex OSA, and to evidence the feasibility and advantages of NIV. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 68 children on NIV, in whom complex OSA was the main indication for ventilation, in a Pediatric Respiratory Unit at a University Hospital between January 1997 and March 2012. Demographic and clinical data were collected on the underlying diagnosis, therapeutic interventions prior to NIV, NIV related issues and outcome. Results: Forty (59%) children were male, median age at starting NIV was 6 years and 7 months, with interquartile range (IQR) of 15â171 months. Twenty-two (32%) were infants and 25 (37%) adolescents.The most common diagnosis was congenital malformations and genetic disorders in 34 (50%) patients. Nine patients had cerebral palsy, 8 were post treatment for central nervous system tumors and 6 had inborn errors of metabolism. Three children had ATH and three obesity. The majority of patients (76%) had exclusively obstructive OSA and started CPAP. Ten patients had minor complications. Twenty-two patients stopped NIV due to clinical improvement, 8 were non-compliant and 8 patients died. NIV median duration was 21.5 months (IQR: 7â72). Conclusions: NIV is feasible and well tolerated by children with OSA associated with complex disorders, and has been shown to have few complications even in infants and toddlers. Resumo: Introdução: A apneia obstrutiva do sono (OSA) afeta aproximadamente 1â3% da população pediátrica e está associada com uma morbidade significativa. Como a hipertrofia adenotonsiliana (ATH) é a sua principal causa, a adenocele eletiva é a primeira opção terapêutica. A ventilação não invasiva (VNI) tem sido cada vez mais considerada como uma opção, principalmente para as crianças com doenças complexas, inelegíveis, à espera de cirurgias ou após falência do tratamento cirúrgico. Objetivos: Descrever a experiência no tratamento de crianças com OSA complexo e avaliação da viabilidade e das vantagens do NIV. Métodos: Estudo de coorte retrospetivo de 68 crianças em NIV, onde o complexo OSA foi a principal indicação para ventilação, numa Unidade Respiratória Pediátrica de um Hospital Universitário entre janeiro de 1997 e março de 2012. Os dados demográficos e clínicos recolhidos englobaram o diagnóstico subjacente, as intervenções terapêuticas prévias à NIV, as intercorrências relacionadas com a NIV e a evolução clínica. Resultados: Quarenta (59%) crianças eram do sexo masculino, idade média no início da NIV foi de 6 anos e 7 meses, com intervalo interquartil (IQR) de 15â171 meses. Vinte e duas (32%) eram crianças e 25 (37%) adolescentes.O diagnóstico mais comum foram as malformações congénitas e as doenças genéticas em 34 (50%) pacientes. Nove pacientes tiveram paralisia cerebral, 8 sequelas de pós-tratamento para tumores do sistema nervoso central e seis sofriam de erros inatos do metabolismo. Três crianças sofriam de ATH e três de obesidade. A maioria dos pacientes (76%) sofria exclusivamente de OSA obstrutiva e iniciou CPAP. Dois doentes sofriam complicações menores. Vinte e dois doentes pararam o NIV, devido a melhoria clínica, 8 eram não-conformes e 8 morreram. A duração média do NIV foi 21,5 meses (IQR: 7â72). Conclusões: A NIV é uma terapia viável e bem tolerada em crianças com OSA e doenças complexas, com poucas complicações, incluíndo em bebés e crianças pequenas. Keywords: Noninvasive ventilation, Obstructive sleep apnea, Children, Palavras-chave: Ventilação não invasiva, Apneia obstrutiva do sono, Crianças

Due to its location on West Coast of Africa, Cape Verde is highly influenced by Sahara Desert dust events being an optimum place to observe and study the African aeolian aerosol. During 2011, particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter lower than 10 μm (PM10) was sampled in Santiago Island and its chemical composition was evaluated by k 0-instrumental neutron activation analysis (k 0-INAA) and particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE). This study showed the existence of a seasonal intrusion of dust from Africa (that occurred from October to March) characterized by significant increases of PM10, mineral elements and anthropogenic particles concentrations. In 2011, the PM10 health-based air quality guidelines defined by WHO, EU and USEPA were exceeded. Cape Verde PM10 composition was characterized essentially by high concentrations of elements originating from the soil (Ca, Ce, Co, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Rb, S, Sc, Si, Sm, and Ti) and sea (Br, Cl, and Na); and low concentrations of anthropogenic elements (As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb, V, and Zn). k 0-INAA and PIXE were fundamental tools for the determination of airborne chemical elements in Cape Verde. Their multi-elemental capabilities in association with low detection limits made it possible to determine the majority of the element concentrations of environmental interest.

Airborne particulate matter (PM10) samples were collected daily, indoors and outdoors, in a primary school at Aveiro, Portugal, from February 28 to May 27, 2011. The carbonaceous content (organic and elemental carbon) was determined by a thermo-optical technique. The organic speciation of PM10 was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Mean PM10 levels of 107 and 36 µg/m 3 were obtained in the schoolroom and outdoors, respectively. On average, organic carbon accounted for 30.0% of the mass of PM10 indoors, whereas a lower mass fraction of 21.3% was found outdoors. The lack of correlation between indoor and outdoor organic carbon and the much higher indoor levels suggest significant contributions by indoor sources. The most abundant organic compound classes were acids, sugars, polyols and n-alkanes. Infiltration of outdoor particles leads to contamination of the schoolroom with vehicle emissions, as well as emissions related to the burning of biofuel in nearby restaurants and bakeries. However, the much higher indoor concentrations than in the outdoor air for the majority of compounds suggest that the origin of much of the particulate matter is from within the school building (due to school activities and materials, skin debris, microorganisms, and so on), and this also includes the formation of secondary organic aerosols. Based on the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, a negligible cancer risk was estimated in relation to the air within the school.

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease which can be primary or secondary to other autoimmune conditions and is defined by the occurrence of arterial or venous thrombosis, or pregnancy morbidity associated with persistently positive antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLA). The kidney may be affected by thrombosis at any level of its vasculature. When small vessels are involved, this results in thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), which can manifest as either acute vaso-occlusive or chronic vascular lesions in glomeruli, arterioles and interlobular arteries. We report the case of 26-year-old man, with a previous medical history suggestive of APS, who was found to have a small elevation in serum creatinine. A kidney biopsy was performed and revealed features of chronic TMA. Anticoagulation was begun and kidney function remained stable. However, one year later, upon suspension of anticoagulation, the patient developed acute kidney injury and a second kidney biopsy showed acute TMA. This case describes different manifestations of antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy (APSN) and highlights the importance of anticoagulation for thrombosis prevention. LEARNING POINTS Antiphospholipid syndrome nephropathy (APSN) can be a difficult diagnosis because (i) antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is not always clinically evident and (ii) APSN can manifest as subtle histological findings of chronic vascular damage which may be overlooked on a kidney biopsy. Acute kidney injury due to acute thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) may develop in a patient with chronic TMA, often after a precipitating event. In the case reported here, the most likely trigger was the suspension of anticoagulation after a surgical emergency. Long-term anticoagulation is the mainstay of treatment for both APS and APSN; discontinuing anticoagulation increases the risk of thrombosis and has to be carefully weighed against the risk of serious haemorrhage.

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM

The rate of invasive pneumococcal disease has markedly declined after the introduction of pneumococcal conjugated vaccines. In spite of the high effectiveness of this vaccine, there are some reports of vaccine failure and vaccine breakthroughs. Data on children with pneumococcal pneumonia in a European tertiary Hospital, from 2012 to 2014, were retrospectively collected before the implementation of pneumococcal conjugated vaccines in our country. We found four cases of pneumococcal serotype 3 vaccine failure and three cases of vaccine breakthroughs (two with serotype 3 and one with serotype 19A). All of these children were previously healthy.

The aim of this study was the detailed organic speciation of fine (PM 2.5 ) and coarse (PM 2.5–10 ) particles and gaseous carbonyl compounds from plumes emitted by wildfires during the summer of 2009 in Portugal. Complementary characterisation of the smoke particulate inorganic fraction, along with emission factors of major trace gases, have already been published in Atmospheric Environment. The detailed speciation of organic compounds in particle samples was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after multi-solvent extraction, flash chromatography on silica gel and appropriate derivatisation techniques. PM 2.5 constitutes an important fraction of PM 10 (PM 2.5 /PM 10 > 80%). Gaseous carbonyls were sampled from the Tedlar bags containing the smoke samples in DNHP cartridges and analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. A clear predominance of carbonaceous constituents was observed, with OC concentrations always much higher than EC in both particle size fractions (OC/EC >> 7). The chromatographically resolved organics were dominated by diterpenoids, acids, sugars, phenols and aliphatic compounds in both size fractions. Retene, a biomarker of softwood smoke, was the dominant aromatic hydrocarbon in samples. The major anhydrosugar detected was levoglucosan, followed by mannosan and galactosan. Among the measured oxygenated volatile organic compounds, the most abundant was acetaldehyde with EFs (dry basis) between 1.03 and 1.87 g kg −1 , followed by formaldehyde with values in the range of 0.09–0.96 g kg −1 . Propionaldehyde was the less abundant carbonyl, with values in the range of 0.03–0.17 g kg −1 .

Pollutants inside school buildings may affect children's health and influence learning performance and attendance. This study investigated pollutant concentrations inside and outside school buildings at different locations (city centre and suburban) in Aveiro, Portugal, between April and June 2010. The aim was to evaluate simultaneously comfort parameters (temperature, relative humidity, CO2 and CO) and indoor and outdoor concentrations of VOCs, NO2, PM10 and bioaerosols. PM10 samples were analysed and characterised, for the first time, for the water soluble inorganic ions (WSII), organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), carbonates, and detailed organic speciation. The CO2 and bioaerosol levels were higher than the acceptable maximum values to the occupants' comfort. Concentrations of the traffic tracer NO2 were higher outdoors. The daily indoor PM10 levels were always higher than those outdoors, except on weekends, suggesting that the physical activity of pupils and class works highly contributed to the emission and resuspension of particles. Almost all identified VOCs showed I/O ratios higher than one, which denotes an important contribution from indoor sources at both schools. The suburban school was more exposed to industrial emissions than the institution located in the city centre. Especially at the city centre, infiltration of outdoor particulates leads to contamination of school indoor environment with vehicle emissions and biomass burning smoke likely coming from biofuel use in nearby restaurants and bakeries.

OBJECTIVE: To assess pulmonary function and the prevalence of atopy in school-age children who were very low birth weight as infants and to compare those who had bronchopulmonary dysplasia to those who did not. METHOD: We studied 85 (39 male and 46 female) at a mean age of 84 (range, 62 to 107) months who were very low birth weight infants. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was defined as oxygen dependency at 36 weeks gestational age. We excluded 8 patients (4 for cerebral palsy and 4 for no collaboration). Detailed perinatal and clinical data were collected. Lung function was evaluated using conventional spirometry. Atopy (assessed by the allergy skin-prick test) was considered when at least one positive skin test occurred in a panel of the most common environmental allergens in the local region. Comparisons between the bronchopulmonary dysplasia and no bronchopulmonary dysplasia groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney, χ2 and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: We compared the bronchopulmonary dysplasia (n = 13) and no bronchopulmonary dysplasia (n = 64) groups. Atopy was observed in 4 (30.8%) of the bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients and in 17 (26.6%) of the no bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients (p = 0.742). Two (15.4%) patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia had a family history of atopy vs. 17 (26.6%) in the no bronchopulmonary dysplasia group (p = 0.5). Lung function tests showed airway obstruction in 2 (15.4%) of the bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients and in 10 (15.6%) of the no bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients (p = 1.0). Four (33.3%) of the bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients had small airway obstruction vs. 14 (22.2%) of the no bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients (p = 0.466). CONCLUSION: Our data showed no significant differences in lung function between bronchopulmonary dysplasia and no bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients at school age and no evidence of an association between atopy and bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

In summer 2009, emissions of trace gases and aerosols from several wildfires occurring in Portugal were sampled. A portable high-volume sampler was used to collect sequentially, on quartz fibre filters, coarse (PM2.5–10) and fine (PM2.5) smoke particles. Tedlar air sampling bags have been used for complementary chemical characterisation of the gaseous phase. The carbonaceous content (elemental and organic carbon, EC/OC) of particulate matter was analysed by a thermal-optical transmission technique. The levels of almost 50 elements were quantified by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The water-soluble ions were obtained by ion chromatography. Emission factors of species that are favoured by the smouldering phase (e.g. CO) were above the values reported in the literature for biomass burning in other ecosystems. The CO emission factors were 231 ± 117 g kg−1 biomass (dry basis) burned. Emissions of compounds that are promoted in fresh plumes and during the flaming phase, such as CO2, were generally lower than those proposed for savannah and tropical forest fires. The CO2 emission factors ranged from about 1000 to 1700 g kg−1. Total hydrocarbons, PM2.5, PM10 and OC presented variable emissions, but in general substantially higher than values reported for wildfires in African and Amazonian biomes. The emission factors obtained in Portugal were as follows (in g kg−1 biomass, dry basis): 6–350 for total hydrocarbons, 0.5–42 for PM2.5, 1–60 for PM10, and 0.2–42 for OC (in PM10). The organic carbon-to-elemental carbon ratios measured in the present study largely exceeded those obtained by other researchers. The aerosol mass was dominated by organic matter (OC/PM2.5 = 50 ± 18%, OC/PM2.5–10 = 36 ± 18%). The metal elements represented, on average, 1.23 and 0.91%, while the measured water-soluble ions accounted for 2.6 and 2.1% of the PM2.5 and PM2.5–10 mass, respectively. Carbonates accounted for 0.15–3.1% (average = 0.83%) of PM2.5–10. The dominant elements were B, Ti, Mn, Cu, Zn, Zr and Ba.

Analysis of indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools usually reveals higher levels of pollutants than in outdoor environments. The aims of this study are to measure indoor and outdoor concentrations of NO(2), speciated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbonyls at 14 elementary schools in Lisbon, Portugal. The investigation was carried out in May-June 2009. Three of the schools were selected to also measure comfort parameters, such as temperature and relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO(2)), carbon monoxide (CO), total VOCs, and bacterial and fungal colony-forming units per cubic metre. Indoor concentrations of CO(2) in the three main schools indicated inadequate classroom air exchange rates. The indoor/outdoor (I/O) NO(2) ratio ranged between 0.36 and 0.95. At the three main schools, the total bacterial and fungal colony-forming units (CFU) in both indoor and outdoor air were above the advised maximum value of 500 CFU/m(3) defined by Portuguese legislation. The aromatic compounds benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes, followed by ethers, alcohols and terpenes, were usually the most abundant classes of VOCs. In general, the indoor total VOC concentrations were markedly higher than those observed outdoors. At all locations, indoor aldehyde levels were higher than those observed outdoors, particularly for formaldehyde. The inadequate ventilation observed likely favours accumulation of pollutants with additional indoor sources.

Elderly patients may present with prominent cognitive complaints and have performances in neuropsychological tests within the normal range for the age and education, and thus do not fulfill the criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). There is insufficient evidence to support the clinical decision in these cases (“pre-MCI”). Forty-three subjects, 11 controls, 15 “pre-MCI,” and 17 MCI, were followed for about three and half years with neuropsychological testing and magnetic resonance imaging including volumetric measurements of the hippocampus and amygdala. Two of the “pre-MCI” subjects suffered cognitive and functional deterioration and were diagnosed with dementia. Although the “pre-MCI” subjects as a group had no significant deterioration in neuropsychological tests, they suffered a decline in the total hippocampal volume (P = 0.04) along the follow-up time. In contrast, all control subjects remained stable and had no volumetric decreases. As expected, MCI patients underwent significant deterioration in several neuropsychological tests, often progressed to Alzheimer’s disease, and showed decreases both in total hippocampal and amygdalar volumes. Elderly people presenting with cognitive complaints may be in an initial phase of a degenerative disorder and should be followed clinically, even if they have normal neuropsychological tests.