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Summary: Insomnia disorder is characterized by disruption in sleep continuity and an overall dissatisfaction with sleep. A relevant feature of insomnia is sleep effort, which refers to both cognitive and behavioural conscious attempts to initiate sleep. The Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale is a self‐report tool developed to assess this construct. The objective of the current scoping review was to map how sleep effort has been discussed in the literature and operationalized through its respective measure. Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and PsycInfo databases were used to search for potential studies. The search query used in databases was the specific name of the self‐reported tool itself (Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale) and "sleep effort" term. This scoping review followed JBI guidelines. To be included, records pertaining to any type of study that mentioned the Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale were considered. No language constraint was used. At the end, 166 initial records were retrieved. From those, 46 records met eligibility criteria and were analysed. Among the main findings, it was observed that the Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale has been increasingly used in recent years, with a notable observed upward trend, especially in the last 2 years. In addition to the original measure, only three published adapted versions of the instrument were identified. This suggests that there is limited research on adapting the scale for different populations or contexts. Sleep effort has been increasingly studied in the last few years. Nonetheless, more research on the Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale tool is recommended, including cross‐cultural adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article published in the Journal of Medical Virology discusses the deep sequencing of the dengue virus genome in Southern Brazil from 2022 to 2023, revealing simultaneous circulation and coinfection of different dengue virus serotypes. The study utilized genomic sequencing to detect and characterize coinfection events, identifying four codetection cases involving different clades of the virus. The research highlights the complexity of viral dynamics and the potential implications of coinfection on disease control and severity, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and further studies in this area. [Extracted from the article]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the estrogen depression during orthodontic tooth movement on alveolar bone microarchitecture and periodontal ligament. Female Wistar rats were divided into two groups, one consisting of non‐ovariectomized animals subjected to orthodontic tooth movement, and one comprising ovariectomized animals subjected to orthodontic tooth movement. Micro‐CT assessment of bone volume to total volume (BV/TV), total porosity, trabecular thickness (Tb.Th), trabecular number (Tb.N), and trabecular separation (Tb.Sp) in the alveolar bone of the orthodontically moved tooth was performed. Histomorphometric analyses were made in the periodontal ligament, and immunoexpression of RANK, RANKL, OPG, and TUNEL were quantified. Orthodontic tooth movement in the group of ovariectomized rats was faster than in non‐ovariectomized animals. The alveolar bone area showed lower values of BV/TV and trabecular thickness, and higher bone porosity and trabeculae numbers in the ovariectomized rats. Histological analyses in the ovariectomized group revealed an increase in collagen fibers in the periodontal ligament. The apoptotic cell counts in the periodontal ligament were higher in the group of ovariectomized rats than in the sham‐operated rats. Ovariectomy resulted in an increase in tooth movement and alteration of the alveolar bone microstructure in the first 7 day of orthodontic tooth movement, and in the presence of apoptotic cells in the periodontal ligament. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Insomnia is a highly prevalent sleep disorder. It is the most frequent sleep complaint among Higher Education students. The Sleep Condition Indicator is a self‐report tool aimed at assessing insomnia based on the DSM‐5 criteria. The principal goal of this study was to establish preliminary psychometric properties of the European Portuguese version of the Sleep Condition Indicator in a sample of Higher Education students. Data from a diverse pool of Higher Education students (N = 537) were collected online over a month. Most participants were women (75%) and aged approximately 27 years. The Sleep Condition Indicator demonstrated good internal consistency (α = 0.85), with all the items accounting significantly for the scale reliability. The most appropriate factor structure considering the ordinal nature of the items was unidimensional, with all items explaining 64% of the total variance. However, a two‐factor structure (sleep pattern and sleep‐related impact) was also plausible when other statistical estimators were used. The Sleep Condition Indicator correlated significantly with insomnia severity, vulnerability to stress‐related sleep disturbance, and self‐reported daytime sleepiness. The optimal cut‐off point established based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was ≤ 16. A short version comprising only two items was also viable as suggested by the literature. The Sleep Condition Indicator is a reliable and valid tool for screening for insomnia. More studies with other groups are now required, specifically with clinical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) is an aggressive and distinct oral disorder with a high potential for malignant transformation (MT). It presents as multifocal lesions that progress over time and frequently recur, often developing carcinomas. Accurately diagnosing PVL is crucial to distinguish it from other oral mucosa lesions that have a lower risk of cancer progression. However, due to the diverse histological features observed in PVL, identifying clinical criteria and histological patterns that can be applied by unfamiliar professionals is challenging. In this study, we present a case of PVL associated with dysplasia in a 53‐year‐old female patient. The patient exhibited macular and leukoplakic nonscrapable lesions disseminated throughout the oral cavity, with continuous growth. The diagnosis of PVL was established during an 18‐month follow‐up. This case highlights the difficulties faced by both clinicians and pathologists in diagnosing PVL, emphasizing the need for careful evaluation and accurate diagnosis, particularly in patients with unusual oral lesions, and highlighting the discrepancies observed in the application of available protocols to our particular case. Distinguishing PVL from similar conditions can be challenging due to overlapping clinical signs and indistinct histopathological features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case report describes different repair techniques used to reconstruct a large scalp defect in a brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans) hit by a vehicle. Three reconstructive procedures were performed in two surgical stages. The repair techniques had successful outcomes on the patient's rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New photoluminescent materials have numerous possibilities in many different areas from technological applications to contemporary glass art and design, encouraging the development of new forms and products. Glass luminescent materials, known for their exceptional durability and recyclability, position glass as an ideal solution for fostering a more sustainable future. In recent years, white luminescence in glass and ceramics has been the subject of several investigations about its possible application in white light‐emitting diodes (WLED). Color coordinates and CIE chromaticity diagrams serve as valuable tools to represent and define the range of luminescent colors achievable in a particular composition. These aid in understanding wheter a composition can be used to produce white luminescence or various other colors. In this study, a soda‐lime silicate glass composition was doped with a mixture of different lanthanide oxides to increase the luminescence color palette. The same glass sample can also present different colors by changing the excitation light, allowing higher tunability of luminescent colors. It was effectively demonstrated the extensive spectrum of colors produced, which was represented through luminescence color coordinates for all synthesized glasses. Moreover, the possibility of detecting if an excited state process is occurring was studied by calculating the lanthanides factors and comparing them with those used in the glass synthesis. Nevertheless, it is shown that the energy transfer process has to be significant to influence the color coordinates and the calculation of the factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to characterize sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, use of lipid‐lowering therapies (LLTs), and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) control in a population with increased cardiovascular (CV) risk. Methods: A cross‐sectional observational study that uses electronic health records of patients from one hospital and across 14 primary care health centers in the North of Portugal, spanning from 2000 to 2020 (index date). Patients presented at least (i) 1 year of clinical data before inclusion, (ii) one primary care appointment 3 years before the index date, and (iii) sufficient data for CV risk classification. Patients were divided into three cohorts: high CV risk; atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk equivalents without established ASCVD; evidence of ASCVD. CV risk and LDL‐C control were defined by the 2019 and 2016 European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) dyslipidemia guidelines. Results: A total of 51 609 patients were included, with 23 457 patients classified as high CV risk, 19 864 with ASCVD equivalents, and 8288 with evidence of ASCVD. LDL‐C control with 2016 ESC/EAS guidelines was 32%, 10%, and 18% for each group, respectively. Considering the ESC/EAS 2019 guidelines control level was even lower: 7%, 3%, and 7% for the same cohorts, respectively. Patients without any LLT prescribed ranged from 37% in the high CV risk group to 15% in patients with evidence of ASCVD. Conclusion: We found that LDL‐C control was very low in patients at higher risk of CV events. An alarming gap between guidelines on dyslipidemia management and clinical implementation persists, even in those at very high risk or with established ASCVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The aim of the current study was to conduct a reliability generalisation (RG) meta‐analysis of Cronbachʼs alpha for the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). A systematic search of three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) from inception to 12 March 2021 was performed. Publications that reported Cronbachʼs alpha for the total ISI score were included. Only psychometric‐focussed studies were considered. Meta‐analysis was carried out using a random‐effects model to derive a pooled estimate of Cronbachʼs alphas. The number of participants in the included publications ranged from 25 to 12,056, with 33 studies (42 estimates) comprising internal consistency coefficients, and a combined sample size of N = 29,688. The age range of the included publications was from 13.4 to 74.3 years. Data extraction implied 33 publications out of 706 found through the database search. Cronbachʼs alphas ranged from 0.65 to 0.92. The majority of the reported coefficients were ≥0.7 and presented a low risk of bias (n = 32). The pooled alpha coefficient was 0.83 (IC [0.81–0.85]; SE = 0.009) with high heterogeneity among the included publications (I2 = 97%). Subgroup analyses including moderators such as continent, setting, risk of bias, and age did not affect significantly the overall result. In general, the cumulative estimate of Cronbachʼs alpha for the ISI is good. However, this finding should be interpreted with caution since there is a high heterogeneity level and some of the studies might not have checked the assumptions underlying Cronbach's alphas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of the melting conditions and furnaces used to the obtained final colors has always been a question raised when investigating formulations and recipes of historical glasses. The focus of the present work is the reproduction of three recipes of red enamel glass of the manuscript by Neri, L'arte vetraria (1612) following the translation and comments by Kunckel's in Ars Vitraria Experimentalis (1679). The reproductions include the production of each individual compound of the selected recipes following instructions, and the final glass production in electric and wood‐fire furnaces to assess the effect of different melting conditions. A multianalytical approach was used to fully characterize the produced samples allowing the study of the enamel chemical composition, color, crystals formations, and thermal properties. The results indicate that no significant color differences may be attributed to the melting conditions. However, it revealed that the samples produced in the electric furnace at 1200°C present a high crystallinity degree and the formation of white crystals at room temperature in a short period of time. The formation of crystals on glass is critical, and historically, to avoid it, these recipes must have been made at temperatures between 1050 and 1100°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral leukoplakia (OL) and proliferative verrucous leukoplakia (PVL) are oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) that microscopically show no or varying degrees of dysplasia. Even sharing clinical and microscopic aspects, PVL shows a more aggressive clinical behaviour, with a malignant transformation rate greater than 40%. Inflammatory infiltrate associated with dysplastic lesions may favour malignant transformation of OPMDs. This study aimed to evaluate the density of T cells and cytokines in dysplastic lesions from OL and PVL patients. Additionally, we evaluated whether soluble products produced in vitro by dysplastic keratinocytes are capable of modulating apoptosis rates and Th phenotype (Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The density of CD3, CD4 and CD8 T cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Cytokines and chemokines profile from frozen tissue samples were analysed using the LUMINEX system. Apoptosis rates and Th phenotype modulation were evaluated by flow cytometry. Our results showed an increase in the number of CD8 T cell in the subepithelial region from PVL dysplastic lesions in relation to OL samples. PVL showed increased levels of IL‐5 and a decrease in IL‐1β and IFN‐γ levels compared to OL. Soluble products of PVL and oral carcinoma cell cultures were able to reduce apoptosis rate and promote an imbalance of Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg. The high‐subepithelial density of CD8 T cells and immune imbalance of T lymphocytes subsets probably play an important role in the pathogenesis of PVL and may explain its more aggressive behaviour in relation to OL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydropeaking is widely known for changing the quantity and quality of the available habitat downstream of hydroelectric facilities, thus affecting all stages of fish life cycles. Hydropeaking impacts on salmonids are widely studied, but knowledge of its effects on cyprinids, which are dominant in Mediterranean areas, is scarce. In this study, 11 Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei, Steindachner 1864) were tagged with radio transmitters equipped with ElectroMyoGram (EMG) sensors, aiming: to (a) assess the behaviour, fine‐scale movements and habitat selection of the target species in response to periods of artificial and abrupt flow variations (i.e., hydropeaking); and (b) identify, which environmental variables and, in particular, flow components can influence the species behaviour. Results from the six barbel that provided analysable data indicate that fish were more active during the day and in periods of ecological flow. Moreover, during hydropeaking, especially during the increase in flow magnitude, fish activity decreased with the tagged fish showing a refuge‐seeking behaviour. This information can be used to minimize the changes caused in the aquatic habitat and fish communities occurring downstream of hydroelectric dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swimming performance is a determinant characteristic for the survival of fish species and is related to their response to environmental disturbance. In this study, we evaluated how seasonal environmental variability of Mediterranean intermittent rivers influences swimming performance of a resident Iberian fish, the ruivaco, Achondrostoma oligolepis. Approximately forty fish of A. oligolepis were captured in each annual season (i.e. winter, spring, summer and autumn), from a Portuguese intermittent river, and compared in terms of swimming behaviour and capacity (Ucrit test). We found a clear distinction in fish willingness to swim and swimming performance between seasons. Fish were more willing to swim during autumn and winter, as opposed to less energetic behaviour during spring and summer. Higher Ucrit values were observed during autumn (0.42 ± 0.17 m/s) and winter (0.48 ± 0.25 m/s), which in the studied river are typically characterised by high flows, strongly influenced by rainfall patterns. Results from this study contribute to increase the knowledge on movement dynamics of small, typically known as resident, fish species and how this relates to natural and seasonal environmental variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Insomnia is the most prevalent sleep complaint, but remains largely an unidentified public health issue. The Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) is a brief self‐report questionnaire to assess insomnia, long‐established both in clinical and research settings. The present study aimed to analyse the reliability, validity, and accuracy of the ISI European Portuguese version. After the translation protocol, 1,274 participants (65.54% female), with a mean (SD, range) age of 37.52 (16.82, 18–95) years, completed the ISI. This sample included 250 patients with insomnia from a Sleep Medicine Centre, presenting a diagnosis of insomnia disorder (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition; International Classification of Sleep Disorders, Third Edition), and 1,024 individuals from the community. A group of 30 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was also recruited. Cronbach's α was 0.88 (internal consistency), and corrected item‐total correlations ranged from 0.56 to 0.83. An exploratory factor analysis (oblique rotation) revealed a two‐factor solution for both clinical and community samples. The ISI total score significantly differentiated insomnia disorder, no insomnia, and OSA subgroups with a large effect size (η2 = 0.42). The correlation between ISI and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index supported concurrent validity (0.82), and discriminant validity was confirmed by a moderate correlation between ISI and Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (0.32). The area under the curve was 0.88, and the optimal cut‐off to detect clinical insomnia was 14 (82.1% sensitivity, 79.5% specificity). In conclusion, the Portuguese version of the ISI is a reliable and valid measure of insomnia in clinical and non‐clinical populations. Our present study also contributes to relevant data for the international literature regarding the cut‐off score of the scale for the detection of clinical insomnia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we describe a successful surgical management of a distal fibular fracture combined with a tarsocrural luxation and multiple metatarsal fractures in the left foot of a southern brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans). We achieved satisfactory outcome by applying intramedullary pinning for each of the bone fractures and closed reduction of joint luxation—kept in place only by bone alignment, without further ligament reconstruction. Bone healing occurred uneventfully within eight weeks and the monkey's foot regained its normal function. Therefore, we could properly release the patient back into the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catadromous life cycle of the European eel encompasses a spawning migration to the Sargasso Sea. Prior to their migration, eels develop a silver coloration being referred to as "silver eels." Due to the dramatic European eel recruitment decline, it is crucial to quantify silver eel escapement to evaluate the success of measures taken under Eel Management Plans (Regulation EC (1100/2007)). Thus, the percentage of silver eels escaping from the River Mondego (Portugal) was estimated during two consecutive spawning seasons (2014–2016) and their migratory behaviour was studied. Thirty‐six male silver eels were tagged with acoustic transmitters and their downstream migration was tracked using automatic receivers deployed at four locations along the river course, from the first impassable obstacle up to the river mouth (67 km). Among the tagged eels, 15 (42%) escaped to the sea. In both years, individuals displayed faster migration speed in the downstream reaches of the river. BRT ("Boosted Regression Trees") models were used to explain downstream migration and escapement of silver eels. The analyses revealed that the downstream migration is triggered by several environmental variables with water conductivity as the most influential predictor. Escapement of eels from the estuary occurred a few hours after their arrival and was primarily explained by the offshore wind intensity, which promotes a current in the coast that may favour their transport to the open sea. These findings contribute to a better understanding of silver eel migration in southern latitudes and highlight and reinforce the need to monitor spawner escapement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to contribute to the rediscovery of old technologies in the art of stained‐glass painting with grisaille, a dark color paint, used to create contours and shadows, produced by mixing ground lead‐based glass with coloring agents such as iron and copper. The reproduction of selected recipes belonging to five different treatises, dated from the 10th to the 19th century was designed to study the evolution of the composition and production technology of this historical paint and the repercussions of this development on the thermal compatibility of the grisailles with the glass substrates.The results indicate that the raw materials and the production methods remained roughly the same throughout the centuries. However, the chemical composition of the lead‐based glass and the source of colorants (burned metals were replaced by ochre's and earths in the 19th century) did change. These modifications impacted on the morphology of the grisailles paint layers towards a greater homogeneity. The results also reveal low thermal compatibility between these two materials, associated with both the composition and the morphology of the grisaille. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have inability to maintain the normal levels of protein metabolism products, blood pressure and hematocrit. Periodontal disease involves an inflammatory destructive process. Identification of opportunistic viruses is extremely important as they are associated with co-morbidities. The objective of this study was to analyse the presence of human herpesviruses in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) from patients with CKD.Methods: One hundred and thirty one individuals were divided depending on the stage of CKD: Group 1 (clearance of creatinine > 75 mL/min) patients with no renal disease (n = 24); Group 2 (clearance of creatinine of 11-75 mL/min) patients with renal disease (n = 67); Group 3 (clearance of creatinine < 10 mL/min) patients on hemodialysis (n = 40). The parameters of periodontal disease were evaluated. The viral detection was assessed by PCR.Results: considering the three groups, the prevalence of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) were 9% in saliva and 5% in GCF; Epstein-Barr virus 36% in saliva and 39% in GCF; human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) 11% in GCF; varicella zoster virus 6% in saliva and 3% in GCF; of human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) 6% in saliva and 2% in GCF; and HHV-7 44% in saliva and 8% in GCF. Of these patients, 46.48% presented with severe periodontitis. A statistically significant association between HSV-1 and HCMV was found in hemodialysis patients and severe periodontitis was also more frequent among them.Conclusion: These findings show the importance of evaluating the periodontal disease and detecting herpesviruses in patients with CKD as the inflammatory process observed in these clinical conditions may worsen the course of both periodontal disease and CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Vulvovaginal candidosis (VVC) is the second most common vaginal infection (20–25%), and about 90% of all VVC cases are caused by Candida albicans. Unprotected sexual intercourse has been implicated as one of the risk factors that lead to an outbreak of VVC. To further investigate the relevance of this particular risk factor, in this study, we aim to evaluate the effect of human semen in the promotion of the growth of C. albicans. Methods: The disposable amount of 41 samples of semen obtained from infertility patients were included in this study, with informed consent. The spermogram and physical characteristics of the samples were performed at the Unit; this information was provided with the anonymity of the samples. Samples were inoculated with a calibrated suspension of C. albicans ATCC 10231 in culture media. After the incubation time, C. albicans CFU/mL was determined. Results: We found that semen allowed the growth of C. albicans (4.30 ± 1.00 CFU/mL), but not as much as the culture medium (9.45 ± 1.90 CFU/mL). Interestingly, we found that the increase in viscosity impaired significantly C. albicans growth. In addition, in what respects to the rate of multiplication of C. albicans in semen, we observed two different trends. However, we found no relation between these and the physical characteristics of the semen samples in which these behaviors were differently observed. Conclusion: Semen has the ability to sustain C. albicans growth, but further studies are needed to elucidate its role in VVC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study evaluated and compared cardiorespiratory and blood gas parameters, as well as sedation, analgesia and recovery of two protocols: ketamine (10 mg/kg) or dexmedetomidine (10 μg/kg), with midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.3 mg/kg), IM (KBM and DBM, respectively) in brown howler monkeys (Alouatta guariba clamitans). Material and methods: Twelve brown howler monkeys were selected in two groups and evaluated for cardiorespiratory parameters and sedation, from 5‐30 minutes after latency. Blood gas and arterial lactate were taken at 5 and 30 minutes. In the end, time and quality of recovery were evaluated. Results: The HR in DBM group was significantly lower at all times. The sedation score was higher in DBM. Recovery in DBM was faster. All animals had moderate hypoxaemia. Conclusion: Both protocols produce satisfactory anaesthesia and analgesia, but DBM provides deeper sedation with faster recovery. Oxygen supplementation is recommended in both due to hypoxaemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inflammatory/immunological serum markers are useful for the early detection of organ dysfunction, helping the diagnosis of sepsis. Although the detection of blood biomarkers is a standard practice, the use of noninvasive samples (eg saliva) would be beneficial. Aim: To investigate the saliva of hospitalized patients with and without sepsis and identify the levels of inflammatory markers such as C‐reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin 6 (IL‐6) and nitric oxide (NO). Methods: Saliva samples were collected from 26 patients in intensive care unit with diagnosis of sepsis and from 26 without sepsis (control). The levels of CRP were determined by using latex agglutination test, whereas those of procalcitonin and IL‐6 by ELISA and NO by the Griess reaction. Results: Of 26 patients with sepsis, 14 were males (54%) with a mean age of 63.81 ± 3.48 years. The control group had the same distribution for gender, with mean age 65.04 ± 4.07 years. Sepsis group showed higher salivary concentrations of CRP, PCT, IL‐6 and NO, with only levels of IL‐6 being statistically different (P =.0001). Conclusions: Patients with sepsis had significantly higher levels of IL‐6 in their saliva, suggesting that this biological sample could be useful in the diagnosis of this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness (Ra), and the morphology and composition of filler particles of different composites submitted to toothbrushing and water storage. Disc‐shaped specimens (15 mm × 2 mm) were made from five composites: two conventional (Z100™, and Filtek™ Supreme Ultra Universal, 3M), one "quick‐cure" (Estelite ∑ Quick, Tokuyama), one fluoride‐releasing (Beautiful II, Shofu), and one self‐adhering (Vertise Flow, Kerr) composite. Samples were finished/polished using aluminum oxide discs (Sof‐Lex, 3M), and their surfaces were analyzed by profilometry (n = 5) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM; n = 3) at 1 week and after 30,000 toothbrushing cycles and 6‐month water storage. Ra data were analyzed by two‐way analysis of variance and Tukey's test (α = 0.05). Filler particles morphology and composition were analyzed by SEM and X‐ray dispersive energy spectroscopy, respectively. Finishing/polishing resulted in similar Ra for all the composites, while toothbrushing and water storage increased the Ra of all the tested materials, also changing their surface morphology. Beautifil II and Vertise Flow presented the highest Ra after toothbrushing and water storage. Filler particles were mainly composed of silicon, zirconium, aluminum, barium, and ytterbium. Size and morphology of fillers, and composition of the tested composites influenced their Ra when samples were submitted to toothbrushing and water storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halicephalobus gingivalis is a small saprophytic rhabditid nematode, represented only by females with a typical rhabditoid oesophagus and one egg in the uterus, capable of infecting vertebrates. This opportunistic parasite present in the soil, manure and decaying humus, is thought to penetrate through previous injuries to the mouth, eyes and skin of horses and migrate to various organs. The brain is one such organ, where the females lay their eggs, leading to malacia and causing a sudden onset of neurological signs, such as anorexia, ataxia, urinary incontinence, blindness, decreased menace and tonal reflexes, tremors and aggressiveness. The disease is invariably fatal whenever brain lesions are present, and the diagnosis usually achieved only post‐mortem. The present work aims to describe the first case of infection by H. gingivalis ever reported in Portugal. An 8‐year old warmblood horse presented with an 8‐day history of progressive blindness involving the left eye, initially with normal pupillary reflexes, advancing to bilateral blindness and increasing deterioration in clinical condition. After euthanasia, the animal was submitted for necropsy. Organ samples were collected and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin for routine histopathology. A large mass was found in the left kidney corresponding to fibrous tissue heavily infiltrated with inflammatory cells and numerous nematodes. In the brain, multiple, bilateral and asymmetrical foci of malacia containing several rhabditoid nematodes, larvae and zygotes, and high numbers of inflammatory cells were found. The nematodes were identified as H. gingivalis. The clinical history, necropsy and histological findings presented constitute a typical case of H. gingivalis infection in a horse, never previously described in Portugal to the authors' best knowledge. Humans can be infected by contact with contaminated manure, which makes this nematode a public health concern, especially for people living and/or working in close proximity to horses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients have a poor response to conventional chemotherapy. The survival of chemoresistant cells is thought to depend on leukemia‐bone marrow (BM) microenvironment interactions, which are not well understood. The CXCL12/CXCR4 axis has been proposed to support AML growth but was not studied at the single AML cell level. We recently showed that T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL) cells are highly motile in the BM; however, the characteristics of AML cell migration within the BM remain undefined. Here, we characterize the in vivo migratory behavior of AML cells and their response to chemotherapy and CXCR4 antagonism, using high‐resolution 2‐photon and confocal intravital microscopy of mouse calvarium BM and the well‐established MLL‐AF9‐driven AML mouse model. We used the Notch1‐driven T‐ALL model as a benchmark comparison and AMD3100 for CXCR4 antagonism experiments. We show that AML cells are migratory, and in contrast with T‐ALL, chemoresistant AML cells become less motile. Moreover, and in contrast with T‐ALL, the in vivo exploratory behavior of expanding and chemoresistant AML cells is unaffected by AMD3100. These results expand our understanding of AML cells‐BM microenvironment interactions, highlighting unique traits of leukemia of different lineages. Using intravital imaging, we show that cell motility is a characteristic feature of both acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL). However, in contrast to T‐ALL, chemoresistant AML cells are less migratory. Furthermore, CXCR4 regulates bone marrow (BM) retention of both leukemias, but is redundant in fine‐tuning leukemia‐supporting interactions between parenchymal AML cells and the BM microenvironment. In contrast, T‐ALL cells depend on CXCR4 to interact with and survive within the BM parenchyma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myeloid sarcoma (MS), granulocytic sarcoma or chloroma, is defined as a localized extramedullary mass of blasts of granulocytic lineage with or without maturation, occurring outside the bone marrow. MS can be diagnosed concurrently with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). The authors report a case of sacral MS occurring as a relapse of myeloid leukemia in a 5-year-old girl who was taken to the emergency department with radiculopathy symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expression pattern of genes coding for enzymes of the retinoic acid (RA) synthetic and degradation pathways was characterized in adult female zebrafish Danio rerio. Females were conditioned until maturation and post‐spawn expression dynamics were determined. A striking upregulation of cyp26b1, but not cyp26a1, was observed following egg deposition, decreasing to initial levels during recovery. A similar, yet lower, fluctuation was observed for aldh1a2 and rdh10a, the enzymes participating in the two‐step RA biosynthesis cascade. The present work highlights the dynamics of the adult D. rerio oogenesis and uncovers novel, yet elusive, metabolic contributors. Possible compartmentalized roles for the different gene paralogue isoforms are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When making foraging decisions, female primates may follow specific behavioral strategies that reflect their reproductive state. Lactation is considered the most energetically costly phase for females, but we argue that gestation is also energetically expensive for squirrel monkeys. In this study, we examined whether female squirrel monkeys (a seasonally breeding primate) in different reproductive phases showed significant differences in their foraging ecology. We sampled two wild groups of squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri collinsi) using the focal animal method, during 12 months (June 2014 to May 2015). During this time, we quantified the effect of reproductive state (mating, gestation, and lactation) and sex (females vs. males) on activity budgets, foraging efficiency, dietary composition, and nearest neighbors. We found significant effects of both sex and reproductive phase on the mean proportion of time spent foraging, resting, traveling, and being social. Females consumed more insects than did males at all times; among females, time spent eating prey and fruit varied according to reproductive state. These data suggest that, due to their life history and seasonal breeding, reproduction is a costly activity for female Saimiri, and not only during lactation. Therefore, adopting the appropriate behavioral strategies is essential to reduce energetic deficits in females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. To assess the clinical periodontal and medical parameters in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) at different levels of renal disease. Background. CRF is a progressive and irreversible loss of renal function associated with a decline in the glomerular filtration rate. Periodontal disease is a destructive inflammatory disease affecting periodontal tissues that shows high prevalence in patients with CRF. Materials and Methods. 102 CRF patients were included and divided into an early stage group (EG), predialysis group (PDG), and hemodialysis group (HDG). The medical parameters were taken from the patients’ records. Results. Periodontal clinical condition differed among the CRF groups. Clinical attachment loss was greater in the HDG and PDG group compared to the EG (p=0.0364); the same was observed in the Plaque Index (p=0.0296); the others periodontal parameters did not show any differences. Ferritin levels were significantly higher in the HDG when compared to the EG and PGD (p<0.0001), and fibrinogen was higher in PDG compared with the others (p<0.0001); the triglycerides also showed higher values in the HDG compared with the other groups (p<0.0001). Conclusion. The patients with renal involvement should have a multidisciplinary approach to an improvement in their oral and systemic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arachnoid granulations are structures filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that extend into the venous sinuses through openings in the dura mater and allow the drainage of CSF from subarachnoid space into venous system. Usually they are asymptomatic but can be symptomatic when large enough to cause sinus occlusion. We report a rare case of a brain herniation into a giant arachnoid granulation in an asymptomatic elderly male patient, which was discovered incidentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To describe pulmonary transit time ( nPTT) and myocardial perfusion ( nMP) normalised to heart rate in dogs with stable ACVIM stage C myxomatous mitral valve disease ( MMVD) and to assess short-term effects of pimobendan on these variables. We hypothesised that nPTT and nMP would increase in dogs with MMVD compared with normal dogs. Additionally, we hypothesised that treatment with pimobendan would decrease nMP and nPTT in dogs with MMVD. Design Prospective, single-blind study involving 6 normal dogs and 12 dogs with MMVD. Methods Dogs with MMVD were treated with enalapril and furosemide for at least 1 month prior to examination. All dogs underwent standard and contrast echocardiographic examinations at the beginning of the study ( T0). At this time, MMVD dogs were randomly assigned to receive either pimobendan (0.4-0.6 mg/kg) or not. All dogs with MMVD were re-evaluated by standard and contrast echocardiography after 1 week ( T1) and nPTT and nMP were measured. Results nPTT was significantly increased in dogs with MMVD (P = 0.0063), compared with normal dogs. It was significantly decreased at T1 in dogs receiving pimobendan (P = 0.0250). The nMP was not significantly different in dogs with MMVD, compared with healthy dogs (P = 0.2552), and it was not significantly different at T1 in the treatment group (P = 0.8798). Conclusions Contrast echocardiography was a valid, complementary tool for echocardiographic analysis of dogs with MMVD. Pimobendan decreased nPTT in dogs affected by MMVD. Myocardial perfusion was not different in dogs with severe MMVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular automata (CA) are discrete dynamical systems that, out of the fully local action of its state transition rule, are capable of generating a multitude of global patterns, from the trivial to the arbitrarily complex ones. The set of global configurations that can be obtained by iterating a one-dimensional cellular automaton for a finite number of times can always be described by a regular language. The size of the minimum finite automaton corresponding to such a language at a given time step provides a complexity measure of the underlying rule. Here, we study the time evolution of elementary CA, in terms of such a regular language complexity. We review and expand the original results on the topic, describe an alternative method for generating the subsequent finite automata in time, and provide a method to analyze and detect patterns in the complexity growth of the rules. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 21: 267-279, 2016 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Testosterone and related compounds are the most recurrent doping substances. The steroid profile, consisting of the quantification of testosterone and its metabolites, has been described as the most significant biomarker to detect doping with pseudo-endogenous anabolic steroids. The steroidal module of the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) was launched by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2014. To assess the value of introducing the module to its anti-doping programme, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) decided to analyze retrospectively the steroid profile data of 4195 urine samples, collected from 879 male football players and analyzed in 12 WADA-accredited laboratories between 2008 and mid-2013. This study focused on the evaluation of T/E ratios. The coefficient of variation (CV) and the adaptive model were the two statistical models used to study the longitudinal follow-up. A CV of 46% was determined to be the maximal natural intra-individual variation of the T/E when the sequence consisted of single data points analyzed in different laboratories. The adaptive model showed some profiles with an atypical T/E sequence and also enabled an estimate of the prevalence of external factors impacting the T/E sequences. Despite the limitations of this retrospective study, it clearly showed that the longitudinal and individual follow-up of the T/E biomarker of the players is a good tool for target testing in football. UEFA has therefore decided to implement the steroidal module of the ABP from the start of the next European football season in September 2015. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 56‐year‐old woman complained of atypical chest pain. At initial diagnostic workup, chest radiograph and transthoracic echocardiogram depict specific findings that raised the suspicion of pericardial agenesis. Cardiac computed tomography showed extreme levoposition of the heart and interposition of lung parenchyma between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. Those findings were consistent with the diagnosis of left‐side pericardial agenesis, which was subsequently confirmed in cardiac magnetic resonance study. Left‐side pericardial agenesis is rare and can result in nonspecific symptoms. An integrated multimodality imaging approach may provide incremental value on diagnosis approach. Its benign prognosis allows a conservative approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Upon infection of a mammalian host, Plasmodium parasites first replicate inside hepatocytes, generating thousands of new parasites. Although Plasmodium intra-hepatic development represents a substantial metabolic challenge to the host hepatocyte, how infected cells respond to and integrate this stress remains poorly understood. Here, we present proteomic and transcriptomic analyses, revealing that the endoplasmic reticulum ( ER)-resident unfolded protein response ( UPR) is activated in host hepatocytes upon Plasmodium berghei infection. The expression of XBP1s-the active form of the UPR mediator XBP1-and the liver-specific UPR mediator CREBH is induced by P. berghei infection in vivo. Furthermore, this UPR induction increases parasite liver burden. Altogether, our data suggest that ER stress is a central feature of P. berghei intra-hepatic development, contributing to the success of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Pulmonary hypertension ( PH) is common in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease ( MMVD) but its effect on clinical outcome has not been investigated. Hypothesis/objectives The presence of PH worsens the outcome in dogs with MMVD. To compare survival times of dogs with MMVD and PH to those without PH. Animals Two hundred and twelve client-owned dogs. Methods Case review study. Medical records of dogs diagnosed with ACVIM stage B2 and C MMVD between January 2010 and December 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. Long-term outcome was determined by telephone interview or from the medical record. End of the observation period was March 2013. PH was identified if tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity was >3 m/s. Results Two hundred and twelve were identified. Eighty-three dogs (39%) had PH. PH was more commonly identified in stage C compared to B2 ( P < .0001). One hundred and five (49.5%) dogs died during the observation period. Median survival time for the entire study population was 567 days (95% CI 512-743). Stage C ( P = .003), the presence of PH ( P = .009), left atrial to aortic root ratio ( LA/ Ao) >1.7 ( P = .0002), normalized left-ventricular end-diastolic diameter ( LVEDn) >1.73 ( P = .048), and tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient ( TRPG) >55 mmHg ( P = .009) were associated with worse outcomes in the univariate analyses. The presence of TRPG >55 mmHg ( HR 1.8 95% CI 1-2.9; P = .05) and LA/ Ao > 1.7 ( HR 2 95% CI 1.2-3.4; P = .01) remained significant predictors of worse outcome in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions and Clinical Importance In dogs with MMVD, moderate to severe PH worsens outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Squirrel monkeys (genus Saimiri) are agile, arboreal primates that are seldom captured in the wild due to their small body size (<1 kg) and large, non-cohesive social groups (40-50 individuals). However, long-term studies on these primates often require captures and permanent identification of individuals, in order to monitor their behavior and health. Here we report on a novel trapping method successfully used to capture Saimiri collinsi, in Eastern Amazonia, Brazil. Our objective was to capture as many individuals as possible from one social group of approximately 50 individuals, ranging over 150 ha of terra firme forest. Captures occurred in November and December 2013. We habituated animals to feed on a large platform located in a 123.5 m2 area enclosed by a green net (3 m high). Multiple individuals could freely enter and exit the area via four ropes affixed from surrounding trees to the platform. Once individuals were feeding inside the netted area on selected trapping days, the ropes were dropped remotely, eliminating their escape routes. We successfully trapped 21 different individuals of the social group (14 adults and 7 immatures) with this method. We conclude that this is a conceptually simple, effective method for trapping squirrel monkeys in most habitats, and possibly other small arboreal primates that live in large social groups. The present method was more effective than previous methods utilized to capture squirrel monkeys in the field, and has the advantages of: allowing for safe capture of several individuals simultaneously; enabling re-captures; releasing of animals as a group at the site of capture; use of soft netting which facilitates safe capture of the monkeys. Am. J. Primatol. 77:239-245, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a clinical case of a 40-year-old male with surgically corrected congenital heart disease ( CHD) 10 years earlier: closure of ostium primum, mitral annuloplasty, and aortic valve and root surgery. The patient was admitted with acute heart failure. Transesophageal echocardiography ( TEE) revealed a dysmorphic and severely incompetent aortic valve, a partial tear of the mitral valve cleft repair and annuloplasty ring dehiscence. A true left ventricular-to-right atrial shunt confirmed a direct Gerbode defect. The authors aim to discuss the diagnostic challenge of adult CHD, namely the key role of TEE on septal defects and valve regurgitations description. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a 15-min High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) elution program, the current study compared pigment extraction efficiencies in aerobic anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (AAPB; Dinoroseobacter shibae, Roseobacter denitrificans, Erythrobacter longus, and a strain of Rhodovulum sp. isolated from Tagus estuarine intertidal sediments - SPS1025T) using four extraction times (15, 30, 60, and 120 min) and three solvents (acetone, acetone/methanol, and methanol). Overall, increasing extraction time showed no significant effect on bacteriochlorophyll a (BChl a) and carotenoid extraction efficiencies in all strains. BChl a extraction efficiency was significantly higher in the mixture acetone/methanol and methanol, but methanol induced significantly higher BChl a degradation for all strains. Carotenoid extraction efficiencies were dependent on solvent and pigment polarity. Non-polar carotenoids were better extracted with acetone and polar carotenoids with methanol. We suggest the application of the used HPLC procedure for the quantification of photosynthetic pigments in AAPB due to its high sample throughput and peak resolution. We also recommend the use acetone/methanol for extraction of AAPB photosynthetic pigments with extraction periods of 15 min to achieve higher BChl a extraction yields and minimize carotenoid degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF) exerts trophic actions to motoneurons and modulates nonneuronal restorative events, but its effects on neuroplasticity responses after spinal cord (SC) injury are unknown. Rats received a low thoracic SC photothrombotic ischemia and local injection of PEDF and were evaluated behaviorally six weeks later. PEDF actions were detailed in SC ventral horn (motor) in the levels of the lumbar central pattern generator (CPG), far from the injury site. Molecules related to neuroplasticity (MAP-2), those that are able to modulate such event, for instance, neurotrophic factors (NT-3, GDNF, BDNF, and FGF-2), chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPG), and those associated with angiogenesis and antiapoptosis (laminin and Bcl-2) and Eph (receptor)/ephrin system were evaluated at cellular or molecular levels. PEDF injection improved motor behavioral performance and increased MAP-2 levels and dendritic processes in the region of lumbar CPG. Treatment also elevated GDNF and decreased NT-3, laminin, and CSPG. Injury elevated EphA4 and ephrin-B1 levels, and PEDF treatment increased ephrin A2 and ephrins B1, B2, and B3. Eph receptors and ephrins were found in specific populations of neurons and astrocytes. PEDF treatment to SC injury triggered neuroplasticity in lumbar CPG and regulation of neurotrophic factors, extracellular matrix molecules, and ephrins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The benefit of pimobendan in delaying the progression of preclinical dilated cardiomyopathy ( DCM) in Dobermans is not reported. Hypothesis That chronic oral administration of pimobendan to Dobermans with preclinical DCM will delay the onset of CHF or sudden death and improve survival. Animals Seventy-six client-owned Dobermans recruited at 10 centers in the UK and North America. Methods The trial was a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel group multicenter study. Dogs were allocated in a 1:1 ratio to receive pimobendan (Vetmedin capsules) or visually identical placebo. The composite primary endpoint was prospectively defined as either onset of CHF or sudden death. Time to death from all causes was a secondary endpoint. Results The proportion of dogs reaching the primary endpoint was not significantly different between groups ( P = .1). The median time to the primary endpoint (onset of CHF or sudden death) was significantly longer in the pimobendan (718 days, IQR 441-1152 days) versus the placebo group (441 days, IQR 151-641 days) (log-rank P = 0.0088). The median survival time was significantly longer in the pimobendan (623 days, IQR 491-1531 days) versus the placebo group (466 days, IQR 236-710 days) (log-rank P = .034). Conclusion and Clinical Importance The administration of pimobendan to Dobermans with preclinical DCM prolongs the time to the onset of clinical signs and extends survival. Treatment of dogs in the preclinical phase of this common cardiovascular disorder with pimobendan can lead to improved outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the effect of a cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitor, celecoxib (CEL), on bladder cancer inhibition in a rat model, when used as preventive versus as curative treatment. The study comprised 52 male Wistar rats, divided in 5 groups, during a 20-week protocol: control: vehicle, carcinogen: 0.05% of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN), CEL: 10mg/kg/day of the selective COX- 2 inhibitor Celebrex, preventive CEL (CEL+BBN-P), and curative CEL (BBN+CEL-C) groups. Although tumor growth was markedly inhibited by the preventive application of CEL, it was even aggravated by the curative treatment. The incidence of gross bladder carcinoma was: control 0/8(0%), BBN 13/20(65%), CEL 0/8(0%), CEL+BBN-P 1/8(12.5%), and BBN+CEL-C 6/8(75%). The number and volume of carcinomas were significantly lower in the CEL+BBN-P versus BBN, accompanied by an ample reduction in hyperplasia, dysplasia, and papillary tumors as well as COX-2 immunostaining. In spite of the reduction of tumor volumes in the curative BBN+CEL-C group, tumor malignancy was augmented. An anti-inflammatory and antioxidant profile was encountered only in the group under preventive treatment. In conclusion, preventive, but not curative, celecoxib treatment promoted a striking inhibitory effect on bladder cancer development, reinforcing the potential role of chemopreventive strategies based on cyclooxygenase 2 inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background information. Free sialic acid storage diseases are caused by mutations of a lysosomal sialic acid transporter called sialin. We showed recently that the milder clinical form, Salla disease, and a related non-Finish case, are characterized by residual transport, whereas sialin mutants found in lethal infantile cases are inactive. In the present study, we have characterized the molecular effects of a putative polymorphism (M316I) and of four pathogenic mutations associated with either infantile (G127E and R57C) or Salla-like (G409E) phenotypes, or both (G328E). The transport activity of human sialin was analysed using a novel assay that was based on a construct without the functional lysosomal sorting motif, which is expressed at the plasma membrane.Results. The lysosomal localization of human sialin was not (M316I and G328E) or only partially (R57C, G127E and G409E) affected by the missense mutations. In contrast, all pathogenic mutations abolished transport, whereas the putative M316I polymorphism induced an approx. 5-fold decrease of sialic acid transport.Conclusions. The molecular effects of the R57C and G127E mutations strengthen the conclusion that the infantile phenotype is caused by loss-of-function mutations. On the other hand, the milder severity of the heterozygous G409E patient may reflect an incomplete expression of the splicing mutation present on the second allele. In the case of the G328E mutation, found in the homozygous state in a clinically heterogeneous family, the apparent severity of the transport phenotype suggests that the genetic or environmental factors underlying this clinical heterogeneity might be protective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on Haliotis midae. It is an important species within the South African fisheries industry, having an output of nearly 750 tonnes in 2005. It is not yet domesticated, and few breeding programs have been undertaken. Molecular work on the species has been limited to population structure studies and some percentage analyses. At present 11 polymorphic microsatellite loci have been reported for Haliotis midae. The article reports the characterization of a further 63 microsatelite loci that will facilitate future molecular studies and breeding programs.