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The article presents a study on detection of Bonamia exitiosa, a parasitic protist, in the European flat oyster Ostrea edulis in southern Portugal. It mentions of Bonamiosis as a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Bonamia that is responsible for mass mortalities in various oyster species worldwide. It mentions of four species of Bonamia that have been detected including B. ostreae, B. exitiosa and B. rougheyi.

Purpose: to identify and analyze the dimensions of meaning (or semantic universes) that organize the ideas, emotions and images in relation to the speech therapy professionals in health and non health professionals. Methods: a qualitative and quantitative study of crossover design, consisting of a sample of 166 individuals of both sexes, 40 (24.1%), speech therapists, 39 (23.5%), other health professionals and 87 (52.4%) not health professionals. (M= 36 years; Rangeage =18-75 years). We used a visual analogue scale, a socio-demographic questionnaire and a structured interview script, based on the technique of free recall, order and evocation axiom of importance. The qualitative data analysis was made using the Theory of Social Representations, together with Central Nucleus Theory and analysis of quantitative data using a database in Microsoft Excel, software SPSS 19.0 for Windows: Analysis of profiles through simple frequencies, means and standard deviations and organization structures analyzed by the technique of four frame houses. Results: obtained for inducing term speech evocations 830 after homogenization and analysis of evoked terms, reproduced 495 registration units, and a representational system of 13 categories. The core of therapy the representation is centered on communication skills, wellness, diagnosis and treatment of people with disease. Conclusion: the communication was more consensual semantic cognition about the social representation of speech therapy among professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bivalve mollusks are an important resource due to their socioeconomic value and to the historical and genetic value of some species. Two nationally important oyster species-Portuguese oyster (Crassostrea angulata) and Japanese oyster (Crassostrea gigas) from distinctive areas in Portugal were studied to evaluate their sanitary status. Oysters were sampled from four different sites in Portugal. Oysters collected from Japanese oyster populations were cultivated in a strong ocean-influenced environment and Portuguese oyster populations were cultivated in wild-beds. The histopathological examination of both oyster species revealed the presence of parasites in gills, mantle epithelium, digestive gland tubules and connective tissue, with a moderate prevalence. In both populations was observed hemocytosis in the connective tissue, edema and metaplasia in the digestive gland and tissues necrosis. In wild populations from Sado and Mira estuaries the prevalence of mud blisters and gill lesions were higher than from populations produced on 0.50 m tables from mudflats. Biosecurity measures and diagnostic techniques are fundamental to control pathogenic agents, including the identification of pathogens at an early stage in their life cycles. This will prevent diseases and improve pathogen reduction on transport of animals from different countries and regions to new production areas to avoid the transmission of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balance is a human beings capacity to remain erect and make sharp movements and rotations without wobbling or falling. The central nervous system has three sensorial systems (vestibular, visual, and somatosensory) responsible for capturing positional information, and it is necessary for the systems to work in harmony in order to achieve equilibrium. Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) is a computer system connected to a platform with different sensors. The sensors capture movement and monitor changes of weight at various spots in the feet in response to oscillations of the body under different sensory conditions. This summary demonstrates the utility and efficiency of CDP in diagnosing equilibrium disorders, and in rehabilitation through registering, analyzing, and quantifying different sensorial conditions. This allows one to observe the physical response to a received stimulus, in order to provide appropriate individual treatment to each patient. Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) has the following goals: facilitate the process of central compensation; improve the limits of postural stability and enhance motor control; and develop and improve strategies of equilibrium. It can help prevent falls in the elderly, diminishes anxiety and boosts self-confidence, and improves quality of life. A CDP exam requires an optokinetic stimulator, a projector, and a screen to project the images. The patient should be standing up, barefoot, on top of the platform, and should remain still during six different sensorial conditions: open eyes, fixed platform; closed eyes, fixed platform; optokinetic exposure, open eyes, fixed platform; open eyes, unstable platform; closed eyes, unstable platform; optokinetic exposure, open eyes, unstable platform. Oscillations in response to the stimuli are captured by the platform and analyzed. By determining the affected component, a suitable set of training exercises can be selected, usually for situations most difficult for the patient. To evaluate the patients perception about their own sense of balance, we use the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), a self-assessment that consists of 25 items which quantify the impact of symptoms and evaluates physical, functional, and emotional impacts. Testing before and after treatment allows progress to be monitored. Case report: Neurofibromatosis type II. Female patient, 60 years, with diagnosis of acoustic neuroma of left ear. The audiogram showed left sensorineural hearing loss with a tinnitus frequency of 4 kHz, low discrimination, with bow on campanula, left severe hipovalencia in videonystagmography, having undergone radiosurgery. After 2 years, returns with instability, having been diagnosed with right ear neuroma. Performs CDP and the analyzed parameters show the degree of use of different sensory inputs: Vestibular - 0%; Visual 100%; Somatosensorial - 70%. She did optokinetic treatment on the platform for 5 consecutive days, 10/15 daily minutes, 35-45°/sec, with progressively higher degrees of difficulty, particularly with head movements associated on pad and marking time at the same time (at 2nd and 4lh session respectively). 1st day pre-VR-DHI with 61% of total answers. At the end of the program, she repeated CDP which showed the following results: Vestibular - 100%; Visual - 100%; Somatosensorial - 100%; 5th day pos-VR-DHI with 30% of total answers. At the end, the patient experienced significant improvements and more confidence. Conclusions: CDP is an excellent way of evaluating and analyzing balance registration, allowing one to evaluate the outcome of RV by comparing posturography results pre and post RV. The possibility of identifying the affected sensorial area lets one adjust the treatment according to the capabilities and limitations of the patient, usually by motor control training exercises and habituation to the movement. This reduces/eliminates symptoms, increases mobility, and improves self-confidence and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, Marteilia sp. was detected by histological examination and in situ hybridisation in Ostrea edulis and Ostrea stentina collected in southern Iberian Peninsula. Marteilia refringens DNA was detected by PCR in O. edulis (collected in southern Portugal) and O. stentina (collected in southern Spain and Portugal). Sequencing analysis revealed the presence of M. refringens type O in O. edulis , and type O and M in O. stentina . This is the first confirmed detection of M. refringens in Portugal and the first report on the occurrence of M. refringens infecting O. stentina in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]