Search

Due to the negative effects of its main inflows, the water quality of Roxo stream, located in southern Portugal, an area characterized by Mediterranean climate, is degraded, causing consequences in irrigated agricultural activity. The eco technology of floating beds was used to improve the quality of this water. Three Vetiver zizinioides floating beds (3.3 m2/unit; density 40.5 plants/m2) were placed on the Roxo stream in May 2020 and the water quality was monitored until December 2020 in two places: at the floating beds location and 100 m higher up in the stream. The load mass was calculated for both sampling points and the removal rate for each parameter was monitored. The average removal rates obtained were: (i) TN = 33%; (ii) TP = 43%; (iii) COD = 44%; and (iv) Cl- = 15%. The DO level increased slightly, and the pH remained neutral. Although the water quality improved, the quality was still not high enough to be able to use the water for irrigation and to achieve good ecological status. Keywords: Roxo stream, surface water quality, real scale, floating beds, Vetiver zizinioides

Portugal is one of the richest countries in terms of variety of natural mineral waters in relation to territorial size. The aim of this work was to characterize the sensory features of eleven Portuguese natural mineral waters and correlated those with its chemical characteristics. The study of the Piper diagram concluded that the vast majority of these waters have low or very low mineralization content, with total mineralization values not more than 500 mgL-1, predominantly sodium bicarbonate or mixed sodium. The sensory analysis were carried out by 10 trained panelists according to ISO 8589: 2007 and had shown that the tasters were able to distinguish the sensory attributes of the waters, and thus being possible to stablish some correlation between the physical-chemical and sensory parameters. With Principal Component Analysis (PCA) it was possible to explain the percentage of variance between the main chemical components of the studied waters and its sensory characteristics. A significant positive correlation of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) with HCO3-(0.97), Ca2+ (0.93) and Mg2+ (0.91) had been showed, as well as the pH of the natural mineral waters with the salty (0.71) and the sweet (0.69) taste. The sweetest waters were Monchique Chic (3.4) and Monchique (3.3) and the least sweet was Luso. The most acid were Vitalis (3.4) and Luso (3.3) and the least acid ones were Monchique Chic (1.9) and Vimeiro Original (1.8). In terms of salty taste, the most salty samples were Monchique (4.2) with significant differences between all the other samples, and the least salty one was Salutis (1.8). The bitter waters were Monchique Chic (3.5) and Vimeiro Lisa (3.4) and the least one Vitalis (2.3). The water most scored in mineral flavor was Vimeiro Original (4.9) and the least one Salutis(2.7).

Higher Education Institutions have an important role in the promotion of sustainability. The sustainability has been seen not only as a component of education, research and innovation, but also as a social learning process within and beyond academia. The adherence of the four schools that belongs to IPBeja, to the Eco-Schools Program allows the environmental analysis of each. The present work intends to contribute to the creation of the Eco Green Campus in to Polytechnic Institute of Beja (IPBeja). Environmental audits were carried out on the four Schools and in the IPBeja common services facilities. The results shows that it is necessary to implement some measures in order to IPBeja become an Eco Green Campus, involving all academic community: improvement of resource management; reduction of waste and effluent production; waste recovery; reduction of water and energy consumption; use of renewable energy; promotion of sustainable mobility and adoption of sustainable public procurement. It was proposed a concept of an Eco Green Campus, the IPBeja Environmental Policy and Environmental Best Practices Guide, oriented for decision-makers and for the entire academic community. The creation of an Eco Green Campus is simultaneously a challenge and an opportunity to contribute and promote the Circular Economy.

Objective To evaluate the presence of white matter and hemorrhagic lesions in brain MRI of children and adolescents with Fabry disease (FD). Methods Brain MRI studies in 44 consecutive children and teenagers (20 boys, mean age 14.6 years, range 7–21 years) were evaluated using classic sequences as well as, GRE-weighted images, for white matter lesions (WML) and chronic microbleed detection. All patients lacked history of stroke or TIA. Brain MRI findings in 46 consecutive children and adolescents without FD, referred for the evaluation of headaches (36 females, mean age 14.1 years, range 7–21 years) were evaluated as a control group. Additionally, we assessed the clinical manifestations of FD. Results Seven children (15.9%) with FD had brain MRI evidence of asymptomatic WML (5 girls, mean age 14.8 years, range: 13–20 years) compared with 3 children (6.5%) in the control group (p = 0.01). Brain abnormalities in patients with FD revealed WML, deep gray matter and infratentorial involvement. Three patients presented two lesions each. None of the children showed microbleeds. Regarding clinical manifestations, 90.9% of the patients had signs or symptoms of FD. Conclusion We identified asymptomatic white matter brain lesions in 15.9% of children with FD without clinical history of stroke. FD is a treatable disorder that should be routinely included in the differential diagnosis of both symptomatic and asymptomatic brain lesions in children and adolescents. The detection of brain lesions may foster earlier treatment.

Intraneural perineurioma (IP) is an under-recognized hypertrophic peripheral nerve tumor. It affects young patients involving frequently the sciatic nerve and its branches and presents with a progressive, painless and predominantly motor deficit. Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) is a useful tool to localize the lesion, evaluate its extension, and discriminate between different etiologies. We reviewed the clinical records of 11 patients with pathologically confirm IP. Eight patients were males with mean age 19 years. Initial complains were unilateral steppage (seven patients), bilateral steppage (one patient), unilateral gastrocnemius wasting (one patient), unilateral thigh atrophy (one patient), and unilateral hand weakness (one patient). Nine patients had mild painless sensory loss. Examinations revealed involvement of sciatic nerve extending into the peroneal nerve (eight patients), posterior tibial nerve (one patient), radial nerve (one patient), and femoral nerve (one patient). MRN revealed enlargement of the affected nerve isointense on T1-weighted, hyperintense on T2 fat-saturated images, and with avid enhancement on post-contrast imaging. In all patients, a nerve biopsy confirmed the diagnosis. MRN allows early and non-invasive identification of this tumor and is a key tool providing localization and differential diagnosis in patients with slowly progressive focal neuropathies.

Human survival depends on the continuous supply of energy the demand of which has been steadily increasing. Sharp rises in fuel prices have had major repercussions on the economies of the countries with the greatest energy dependence, and make it imperative to change the attitudes and practices in business and social circles. Today, the problem involves meeting energy needs without negatively affecting the environment, as well as ensuring the well-being of current and future generations (sustainable development). The promotion of alternative energy is one of the priorities of the energy and environmental policy of European Union, since it is a decisive factor in reducing greenhouse gases, thus enabling compliance with the Paris agreement. In this work, the contribution of the photovoltaic systems installed for self-consumption in the headquarters of the parish council of São Bartolomeu de Messines, Algarve, Portugal, was assessed. The results indicate that a system with an installed capacity of 6 kW, requiring an investment around 10 000 €, could achieve its economic pay-back in 6.7 years, contributing to a reduction of the annual electricity bill in the building by 60%.

Introduction: Waste services are fundamental in modern societies as they contribute significantly to the social and economic development of the country. Therefore, they must comply with a set of principles, among which are the universality of access, continuity and quality of service and price efficiency and equity, constituting an important factor of social balance.From the point of view of regulation and evaluation of the quality of public services provided to users, The Water and Waste Services Regulation Authority (ERSAR) plays a leading role.Objectives: To analyze the service quality indicators (SQI) of a medium-sized city council for the period 2011 to 2016, which allow to evaluate in a technical, environmental and economic terms an municipal solid waste management system.Methods: The evaluation of municipal solid waste (MSW) management services is carried out through three groups of quality of service quality indicators (performance indicators): indicators that reflect the protection of user interests; indicators that reflect the sustainability of service management and, finally, indicators that translate environmental sustainability.Results: The results obtained in the service quality indicators for the evaluation of the goals of the Portuguese Strategic Plan for MSW Management (PERSU 2020) show that the city has yet to make an effort to meet the goals defined for the sector by 2020. Conclusions: Overall, the analysis shows that the system presents mainly levels medium and unsatisfactory quality of service., Introducción: Los servicios de residuos son fundamentales en las sociedades modernas, pues contribuyen significativamente al desarrollo social y económico del país. Por lo tanto, deben obedecer a un conjunto de principios, entre los cuales la universalidad del acceso, continuidad y calidad de servicio y eficiencia y equidad de precios, constituyéndose en un importante factor de equilibrio social.Desde el punto de vista de la regulación y evaluación de la calidad de los servicios públicos prestados a los consumidores, la Autoridad de regulación de los servicios de agua y de desechos (ERSAR) desempeña un papel de liderazgo. Objetivos: Analizar los indicadores de calidad de servicio (IQS) de un municipio de mediano porte para el período de 2011 a 2016, que permitan evaluar, en términos técnicos, ambientales y económicos, un sistema municipal de gestión de residuos sólidos. Métodos: La evaluación de los servicios de gestión de residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU) se realiza a través de tres grupos de indicadores de calidad de servicio (indicadores de desempeño): indicadores que reflejan la protección de los intereses de los consumidores; indicadores que reflejan la sostenibilidad de la gestión de servicios y, por último, indicadores que reflejan la sostenibilidad ambiental. Resultados: Los resultados obtenidos en la calidad de los indicadores de servicio para la evaluación de los objetivos del Plan Estratégico para la Gestión de RSU portuguesa (PERSU 2020) muestran que la ciudad todavía tiene que hacer un esfuerzo para alcanzar los objetivos fijados para el sector en 2020. Conclusiones: En general, el análisis muestra que el sistema presenta principalmente niveles medios e insatisfactorios de calidad de servicio.

Fabry disease (FD) is an X-linked lysosomal storage disease, with multisystemic glycosphingolipids deposits. Neuro-otological involvement leading to hearing loss and vestibular dysfunctions has been described, but there is limited information about the frequency, site of lesion, or the relationship with peripheral neuropathy. The aim was to evaluate the presence of auditory and vestibular symptoms, and assess neurophysiological involvement of the VIII cranial nerve, correlating these findings with clinical and neurophysiological features of peripheral neuropathy. We studied 36 patients with FD with a complete neurological and neuro-otological evaluation including nerve conduction studies, quantitative sensory testing (to evaluate small fiber by warm and cold threshold detection and cold and heat pain), vestibular evoked myogenic potentials, videonistagmography, audiometry and brainstem auditory evoked potentials. Neuro-otologic symptoms included hearing loss (22.2%), vertigo (27.8%) or both (25%). An involvement of either cochlear or vestibular function was identified in most patients (75%). In 70% of our patients the involvement of both cochlear and vestibular function could not be explained by a neural or vascular mechanism. Small fiber neuropathy was identified in 77.7%. There were no significant associations between neurootological and QST abnormalities. Neuro-otologic involvement is frequent and most likely under-recognized in patients with FD. It lacks a specific neural or vascular pattern, suggesting multi-systemic, end organ damage. Small fiber neuropathy is an earlier manifestation of FD, but there is no correlation between the development of neuropathy and neuro-otological abnormalities.

Alentejo is a region of Portugal located in the south of the country and the main economic activity is agriculture. In Alentejo the precipitation is very irregular. The problem of droughts often occurs. The Alqueva reservoir is the biggest reservoir in Europe and provides water for more than 120,000 hectares for agriculture. Before the use of the reservoir, the main agricultural products were cereals. Now farmers grow vegetables and they make an intensive culture of olive trees and almond trees. The Roxo reservoir is one of those will receive water from Alqueva in 2016. The increase of water in quantitative and qualitative terms can provide very significant increases in the growth of the soil production that we must monetize in the best way. The aim of this study was evaluate the quality of water resulting from the monitoring carried out during 2014/2015 in the hydraulic system and in the drainage network of the irrigation perimeter of Roxo's reservoir to be made a more sustainable management of irrigated area. The main conclusions were as follows: i) the water of the irrigation channel and drainage network show a mil to moderate degree of salinity risk; ii) doesn t show characteristics to modify the soil infiltration conditions; iii) indicates degree of restriction slight to moderate due to the amounts of Na+ and Cl-; iv) the drainage network presents toxicity due the chlorides and boron; v) the ammonia nitrogen and nitrate values were low. The application of nitrogenous fertilizers seems to influence the results.

Introduction The classic Guillain Barre syndrome (GBS) is characterized by motor weakness, hyporreflexia, but limited sensory deficits. Sensory variants involving either small or large fibers or both are unusual and represent a diagnostic challenge. Methods We described 6 patients presenting with the sensory variant of GBS and retrospectively analyzed the clinical and electrophysiological findings of patients fulfilling the criteria for Sensory GBS according to Oh et al. criteria. Results Six patients were identified (mean age 38 years: range 15–54 years). Four had a previous infection. They all consulted due to distal painful paresthesias and allodynia. On examination the 6 patients presented normal strength and normal cranial nerves through the course of the disease with reduced knee and ankle reflexes in 3 patients. Distal hyperesthesia to pinprick was identified in 3 and one of them additionally had hyperhidrosis and constipation. Two additional patients presented hypoesthesia to pinprick and temperature. One patient had distal proprioceptive sensory loss with sensory ataxia. CSF albumin cytological dissociation was present in 3 patients. Nerve conduction studies (NCS) identified a sensory motor demyelinating neuropathy in 2 patients. Among the 4 with normal NCS, 2 had abnormal cold and warm threshold in their QST evaluation. All patients received symptomatic treatment for the neuropathic pain and only two IvIg therapies. Longstanding pain, fatigue or both were persistent findings in 5 patients after a mean follow up of 6 months. Conclusion The sensory variant of GBS is both an infrequent presentation and a diagnostic challenge. Longstanding pain and fatigue are common persisting findings.

Objective To evaluate the most frequent diagnostic errors in patients with Fabry disease and the types of specialists most often consulted before diagnosis. Study design We evaluated 45 consecutive symptomatic patients with Fabry disease confirmed by enzymatic tests in males and genetic studies in females. We interviewed the patients, their mothers, or both regarding symptoms, age at onset, medical consultations, and recommended treatments. Results Neuropathic pain was the most frequent initial complaint, and rheumatic fever was the most common diagnosis. Seven patients were treated with penicillin for many years. Ten patients sought medical consultation because of abdominal pain and were diagnosed with food intoxication or nonspecific pain. Six patients sought consultation because of anhidrosis, considered of unclear cause, and angiokeratomas diagnosed as petechiae. Internists and pediatricians were the most frequently consulted specialists. The correct diagnosis was obtained after a mean of 19.7 years. Conclusions Pediatricians as well as internists commonly misdiagnose Fabry disease. Neuropathic pain, hypohidrosis, and recurrent abdominal pain in childhood or adolescence should include Fabry disease in the differential diagnosis to facilitate earlier diagnosis and treatment of these patients.

Sensory neuronopathies or ganglionopathies, or dorsal root ganglion disorders, represent a subgroup of peripheral nervous system diseases, frequently associated with dysinmune or neoplastic disorders and with toxic agents. A degeneration of both central and peripheral sensory proyections is present. Patients typically show early ataxia, loss of deep tendon reflexes and positive sensory symptoms present both in proximal and distal sites of the body. We retrospectively studied 10 cases with a final diagnosis of sensory neuronopathy. Sensory neuropathy was the presenting symptom and the course was subacute in all cases. Paresthesias in upper limbs were a predominant manifestation (100%). Other manifestations included: hypoesthesia (10/10), gait ataxia (8/10), autonomic symptoms (3/10) and perioral paresthesias (3/10). Electrophysiology showed sensory axonal neuronal pattern, with normal motor responses. Final diagnosis was acquired sensory neuronopathy in all patients, associated with Sjögren's syndrome in 2, with lupus erythematosus in 1, with rheumatoid arthritis in 1, with a cancer in 2 (paraneoplastic) and idiopathic in 4. In paraneoplastic cases, the tumor was small cell lung cancer in 1 (with positive anti-Hu antibodies), and epidermoid lung cancer in the other. Eight patients were treated with immunotherapy, high dose intravenous methylprednisolone and/or intravenous immunoglobulin; with poor response in 4 cases, neurologic improvement in 5, and without any change in 1 patient. The present work shows the typical clinical and electrophysiological pattern of subacute sensory neuronopathy, and the relevance of early treatment.

In order to search for early changes induced by the application of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) on motor nerve terminals, IgG from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and control subjects was injected subcutaneously into the levator auris muscle of mice. A week or a month after the last injection, endplate potentials were recorded. No changes in quantal content of transmitter release were observed. In control and ALS IgG-treated muscles, neurotransmitter release remained sensitive to P/Q-type and insensitive to N-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel (VSCC) blockers as in untreated muscles. In contrast, IgG from 5 of 8 different ALS patients induced a significant reduction in quantal content of the evoked response after incubation with nitrendipine, indicating that a novel sensitivity to this calcium channel blocker appears in these motor nerve terminals. These results indicate that ALS IgG induces plastic changes at nerve terminals. The expression of transmitter release coupled to L-type VSCC indicate that ALS IgGs are capable of inducing plastic changes at the nerve terminals that may participate in the process leading to neuronal death.

Chronic inflammatory sensory polyradiculopathy is a defined entity, frequently underdiagnosed, and potentially treatable. It must be suspected in patients with sensory ataxia, normal nerve conduction studies, and MRI with thickened lumbosacral nerve roots and gadolinium enhancement. We present the case of a 57-year-old man with marked sensory ataxia on his left leg. Examination showed normal strength, decreased knee and ankle jerks. Light touch and pinprick sensations were reduced below the knees. Vibration and joint position sense were absent at the feet. Nerve conduction studies were normal. Tibial sensory evoked potentials disclosed absent responses bilaterally. CSF was acellular with elevated protein. Lumbosacral magnetic resonance showed thickening of roots, with gadolinium enhancement. The patient was treated with IV-Ig, 2 g/kg, for 5 days with improvement of symptoms. The clinical course, elevated CSF protein, the evidence of root enhancement on the MRI, good response to immunotherapy, and the exclusion of other causes of sensory ataxia, were compatible with the diagnosis of chronic inflammatory sensory polyradiculopathy. To diagnose this disease the identification of isolated involvement of the sensory roots is required.

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) to transcranial and spinal stimulation from upper and lower limb muscles were elicited in 13 patients with syringomyelia. Seven had an associated Chiari type I anomaly. Diagnosis was confirmed by MRI. In 5 cases, SEPs and MEPs were performed before and after surgical treatment. Prolonged central motor conduction times or absent motor responses in upper or lower limbs were found in most patients. The greatest number of abnormalities was disclosed by measurement of CMCT followed by SEPs after tibial nerve stimulation. Two of 5 cases undergoing surgery improved clinically and showed reduction in CMCT after surgical treatment. Our study shows that MEPs were useful in the evaluation of neurophysiological status in syringomyelia patients, helping to estimate anterolateral spinal cord function.

Immune mediated mechanisms play a role in some forms of diabetic neuropathies. We studied a 17-year-old man who developed asymmetric weakness and atrophy in both upper arms soon after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Nerve conduction studies demonstrated multifocal motor conduction blocks, and serological investigations revealed subclinical Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin and cyclophosphamide led to clinical recovery. This is the first observation of an association between type 1 diabetes, multifocal motor neuropathy and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.

Herein we report a task-specific dystonia in a 48-year-old woman, with an unusual association between a familial harp-playing dystonia and essential tremor.

Twenty-six patients with syringomyelia were studied with polysomnography to determine the frequency of periodic limb movements (PLM) and its relationship to the presence of a Chiari anomaly, the severity of corticospinal tract involvement, and localization of the syrinx. Sixteen patients showed PLM in stages I and II of non-REM sleep and three PLM also while awake. There were no statistically significant differences in overall disability, corticospinal signs, presence of an associated Chiari anomaly, and disease duration between patients with and without PLM, although there was a trend for patients with PLM to have more severe disease. There was preservation of the lumbosacral enlargement of the spinal cord by the syrinx in all patients with PLM. The latency delay between lower and upper limb muscles was suggestive of conduction along propriospinal pathways. Syringomyelia may lead to an abnormal state of spinal hyperexcitability favoring the appearance of PLM. Detailed magnetic resonance image studies of patients with different localizations of the syrinx cavities may help to determine which tracts are involved in the production of PLM.