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Abstract Background In Parkinson's patients, intestinal dysbiosis can occur years before clinical diagnosis, implicating the gut and its microbiota in the disease. Recent evidence suggests the gut microbiota may trigger body-first Parkinson Disease (PD), yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate how a dysbiotic microbiome through intestinal immune alterations triggers PD-related neurodegeneration. Methods To determine the impact of gut dysbiosis on the development and progression of PD pathology, wild-type male C57BL/6 mice were transplanted with fecal material from PD patients and age-matched healthy donors to challenge the gut-immune-brain axis. Results This study demonstrates that patient-derived intestinal microbiota caused midbrain tyrosine hydroxylase positive (TH +) cell loss and motor dysfunction. Ileum-associated microbiota remodeling correlates with a decrease in Th17 homeostatic cells. This event led to an increase in gut inflammation and intestinal barrier disruption. In this regard, we found a decrease in CD4 + cells and an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines in the blood of PD transplanted mice that could contribute to an increase in the permeabilization of the blood–brain-barrier, observed by an increase in mesencephalic Ig-G-positive microvascular leaks and by an increase of mesencephalic IL-17 levels, compatible with systemic inflammation. Furthermore, alpha-synuclein aggregates can spread caudo-rostrally, causing fragmentation of neuronal mitochondria. This mitochondrial damage subsequently activates innate immune responses in neurons and triggers microglial activation. Conclusions We propose that the dysbiotic gut microbiome (dysbiome) in PD can disrupt a healthy microbiome and Th17 homeostatic immunity in the ileum mucosa, leading to a cascade effect that propagates to the brain, ultimately contributing to PD pathophysiology. Our landmark study has successfully identified new peripheral biomarkers that could be used to develop highly effective strategies to prevent the progression of PD into the brain. Graphical Abstract

The presence of Cigano/Roma students in secondary education in Portugal is still a rarity, considering that less than 3% of young Ciganos/Roma attend secondary education. This article aims to highlight the need for a comprehensive understanding of the perceptions of school teachers and principals on educational (under)achievement, absenteeism and school integration of Cigano students. To this end, we analyse data from an online questionnaire survey of a sample of 819 teachers, school principals and deputy principals and other senior management staff in schools of the Metropolitan Areas. These respondents express persistent representations and stereotypes in relation to the educational trajectories of Cigano students, especially in assigning prime causes of school failure to factors relating to the students' family or own intrinsic issues, rarely indicating institutional factors or those linked to their teaching practices. Although this is a study centred on Portugal, the lessons drawn from it can point to new directions for other contexts, as the educational achievement of Cigano students represents an opportunity and an invitation to transform and upgrade school institutions as well as the educational system as a whole, which should be more innovative, reflexive and increasingly open to the community.

Abstract In recent decades an extensive mortality and decline of Quercus suber populations mainly caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi has been observed. In the current study, a chestnut gene homologous to ginkbilobin-2 (Cast_Gnk2-like), which in Ginkgo biloba codifies an antifungal protein, was transferred into cork oak somatic embryos of three different embryogenic lines by Agrobacterium mediated transformation. The transformation efficiency varied on the genotype from 2.5 to 9.2%, and a total of 22 independent transformed lines were obtained. The presence of Cast_Gnk2-like gene in transgenic embryos was verified in all lines by PCR. The number of transgene copies was estimated by qPCR in embryogenic lines with high proliferation ability and it varied between 1 and 5. In addition, the expression levels of Cast_Gnk2-like gene were determined in the embryogenic lines, with higher levels in lines derived from the genotype ALM6-WT. Transgenic plants were obtained from all transgenic lines and evaluated after cold storage of the somatic embryos for 2 months and subsequent transfer to germination medium. In vitro tolerance tests made under controlled conditions and following zoospore treatment showed that plants overexpressing Cast_Gnk2-like gene improved tolerance against Pc when compared to wild type ones.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic and related disruptive consequences in the economic, health, and educational sectors have impacted people’s lives, contributing to a context of increased economic and social vulnerability. The pandemic has revealed and accentuated social inequalities and discrimination based on racial or ethnic origin. This study aimed to contribute to the promotion of the mental health and well-being of migrant populations living in Portugal via the definition of an analytical framework and recommendations emerging from the EQUALS4COVID19 project. Methods To gather information on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and resilience determinants among immigrants, a mixed-methods approach was implemented in 2022, combining a cross-sectional survey targeting immigrant adults in Portugal, focus groups with immigrants, focus groups with healthcare professionals, and in-depth individual interviews with stakeholders involved in the implementation of measures related to mental health and well-being during the pandemic. The analysis followed an integrated framework; quantitative data informed the script of qualitative data collection methods, and qualitative analysis informed the reinterpretation of quantitative data. Results The survey with 604 Brazilian and Cape Verdean immigrants revealed that gender (being a woman) was associated with both psychological distress and depression-related symptomatology and that the perception of discrimination was a major risk factor for psychological suffering, while perceived social support and individuals’ resilience characteristics were protective factors. Qualitative data provided deeper insights into these findings, revealing the ways mental health is affected by social structures, such as gender and ethnic hierarchies. Migrants tend to work in precarious jobs requiring physical presence, which, together with dense housing conditions, puts them at higher risk of infection. The deterioration of the economic conditions of the general population has also increased the perception of ethnic-racial discrimination, which was found to be related to the increase in insecurity and anxiety-related symptomatology among the migrant population. Newly arrived migrants, with reduced support networks, experienced a greater sense of insecurity as well as concern and anguish regarding relatives who live far away, in their home country. Migrant women reported greater family-related distress, including work-life balance problems. Conclusions Proposals to address mental health inequalities should be considered in the context of the necessary global changes both at the societal level and in the delivery of mental health services. Additionally, they should be considered with the active involvement of migrants, families, and communities in the design and delivery of mental health promotion and care processes.

Introdução: Os antimicrobianos constituem um grupo de medicamentos comumente prescrito em hospitais. A resistência aos antimicrobianos é considerada atualmente como um problema de saúde pública, relacionada ao aumento da morbimortalidade dos pacientes hospitalizados e com relevante impacto econômico. A atuação efetiva do profissional farmacêutico em equipe multiprofissional para a escolha racional dos antimicrobianos e a nas discussões clínicas permite detectar problemas sobre as indicações e uso dos antibióticos e gera informações para atualização e implantação de políticas de antimicrobianos. Objetivo: Apresentar os principais antibióticos prescritos em uma maternidade para tratamento ou profilaxia de infecções em puérperas e gestantes e as indicações de uso mais frequentes. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo de corte transversal realizado em uma maternidade pública de ensino na cidade de Salvador, Bahia, do período de abril de 2016 a março de 2017. Os dados foram extraídos das fichas de antimicrobianos solicitadas antes da liberação do medicamento prescrito. Resultados: Um total de 1091 indicações de uso de antimicrobianos no período. Destas, 38,7% foram de uso profilático e 61,3% de uso terapêutico. As indicações mais frequentes para profilaxia foram Rotura Prematura de Membranas Ovulares – RPMO 43,9%, seguido de Trabalho de Parto Prematuro –TPP 20%, Bolsa Rota 13,6%, Profilaxia de estreptococo do grupo B 4,1%, e profilaxia cirúrgica 3,2%. Houve casos de indicações descritas como profiláticas para situações de necessidade terapêutica: abortamento infectado, infecção do trato urinário - ITU, corioamnionite, sífilis, vulvovaginite fúngica, abscesso cutâneo, endometrite e mastite, com frequência superior a 1%. As indicações mais frequentes para terapêutica foram ITU 23%, Sífilis, 18,2%, Abortamento infectado 10,2%, Corioamnionte 9% e Pielonefrite 7,3%. Dentre as indicações para terapêutica havia 25 casos de RPMO, 3,7%. Os antimicrobianos foram prescritos de forma isolada ou associados. Os antibióticos mais comumente prescritos foram a Ampicilina, usada isoladamente em 288 casos, para situações profiláticas e terapêuticas. Em sequência, tivemos a Penicilina Benzatina com 12%, indicada exclusivamente para sífilis, a Cefalexina 9,5%, Ceftriaxona 6,1%, Cefalotina 4,9% e Cefazolina 3,6%. Os esquemas de antimicrobianos mais prescritos foram compostos por Clindamicina + Gentamicina 10,5% e Ampicilina + Azitromicina 4,7%. Discussão e Conclusão: Para um melhor controle sobre o consumo de antimicrobianos os hospitais devem instituir medidas restritivas com elaboração de políticas de vigilância sobre as prescrições e protocolos de indicação terapêutica. Estas ações conduzem a um uso racional destes medicamentos e possibilitam melhor controle sobre o uso e indução de resistências.

Introdução: A prescrição é o ponto de partida para a utilização de medicamentos dentro de uma unidade hospitalar, sendo vista como um instrumento de comunicação entre os profissionais de saúde. Portanto, deve seguir normas legais a fim de garantir uma prescrição segura e eficiente. O erro de medicação é definido como qualquer evento evitável que, de fato ou potencialmente, possa levar ao uso inadequado de medicamento, podendo ou não provocar danos, sendo o erro de prescrição um tipo frequente dentro da assistência à saúde. A avaliação previa da prescrição pelo profissional farmacêutico é um mecanismo importante para identificação destes erros e pelo qual se inicia o processo de intervenção junto à equipe multiprofissional, buscando minimizar danos ao paciente. Objetivo: Identificar os tipos de erros de prescrição em uma maternidade de ensino. Método: Estudo de corte transversal realizado entre março e dezembro de 2016, na farmácia de dispensação, responsável pelo atendimento das prescrições do Alojamento Conjunto e Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal. Os dados foram coletados através da avaliação farmacêutica das prescrições diárias e registrados em planilha especifica. Os tipos de erros de prescrição analisados foram: apresentação/dose, posologia, indicação, via de administração, ilegibilidade/rasura, abreviatura contraindicada e ausência de motivo para uso de medicamentos não sistemáticos (se necessário), Tais erros foram extraídos de Boletim do Instituto para Práticas Segura no Uso de Medicamentos (ISMP). A taxa de erro de prescrição foi calculada através do número de erros sobre número total de prescrições avaliadas. Resultados: Das 22790 prescrições atendidas 19286 (85%) foram analisadas pelo farmacêutico e destas 3217 apresentaram erros. O número total de erros foi de 3501, sendo 2284 (12%) de apresentação/dose, 216 (1,1%) de posologia, 10 (0,05) de indicação, 83 (0,4%) de via de administração, 1005 (5%) de ilegibilidade/rasura, 40 (0,2%) de abreviatura contraindicada e 463 (2,4%) de ausência de motivo para uso de medicamentos não sistemáticos. Discussão e Conclusão: Os erros de prescrição são frequentes em unidades hospitalares, alguns são mais comuns quando a prescrição é manual como, por exemplo, ilegibilidade ou rasura. Portanto a avaliação farmacêutica é uma atividade de suma importância para a redução de danos aos pacientes advindos dos erros de prescrição. Além disso, ações educativas, avaliação e monitoramento permanente dos processos clínicos são essenciais.

is a gram-positive facultative anaerobic agent. It is a human skin colonizer that can be responsible for opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. To date, the infections caused by this agent are related to bone, joint, eye, peritoneal dialysis catheters, abscesses or infected vascular grafts. Overall, it has a favorable outcome with good response to vancomycin, teicoplanin or linezolide, and so it has not been considered a concerning pathogenic agent. We present the first case in scientific literature with isolation of in pericardial fluid in the setting of infectious bacterial pericarditis, with an aggressive course and poor evolution.

A inteligência emocional é um aspeto fulcral na educação. O estudo de teor misto (exploratório, transversal, descritivo, analítico e interpretativo) numa turma do 4º ano do Ensino Básico português, pretendeu desenvolver as habilidades socio-emocionais nos alunos, tendo decorrido em 2022. As técnicas: observação participante; aplicação do Teste Sociométrico de Amizade e Questionário de Habilidades Emocionais, nas fases Pré e Pós de aplicação dum Programa de Inteligência Emocional (18 sessões), com respetiva metodologia de ação; entrevista semiestruturada à professora; ‘focus group’; notas de campo. Os objetivos foram seguintes: Conhecer as emoções boas e menos boas; Analisar se os alunos identificam, controlam e lidam com as suas emoções e dos seus pares; Desenvolver as habilidades socio-emocionais pelo Programa; Identificar as relações interpessoais de amizade dos alunos; Consciencializar os professores para educação das emoções na sua prática educativa. Os resultados evidenciaram como as práticas dos alunos influenciaram significativamente na inteligência emocional e estas no seu desempenho e clima de aula (convivência). O teste e questionário comprovaram (fase Pós-teste) que o programa foi útil nos alunos melhorando a convivência diária da turma, o ambiente educativo e convivências escolar. Essa comprovação ficou bem expressa nas relações de amizade (sociograma) e nas pontuações obtidas no questionário (fase Pós) aplicação programa. A eficácia do programa permitiu incremento das relações interpessoais, desenvolvimento das habilidades sociais e uma melhoria na autoestima/empatia e gestão e controlo das emoções pelos alunos.

Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the second cause of death worldwide. The increasing burden of stroke underscores the importance of optimising rehabilitation protocols. Virtual reality (VR) can improve poststroke prognosis. A VR software combining gamification, full immersion and stroke specificity (ie, the Development and validation of a novel viRtual rEality software for improving diSability and quality of lifE in patients with sTroke (RESET) software) might substantially improve disability and quality of life (QoL). However, this technology is still very scarce. The RESET trial aims to assess the effects of an early 10-week gamified, fully immersive and stroke-specific VR intervention (ie, starting at week 3 poststroke) on disability and QoL in people with stroke in the subacute phase. People with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke (n=94) aged ≥18 years will be randomised to receive (1) usual care (UC), (2) commercial VR or (3) gamified, fully immersive and stroke-specific VR (RESET). The three groups will receive UC (ie, three sessions/week of 90 min of standard rehabilitation). The VR groups will additionally receive three VR sessions of 20 min per week. The outcome measures will be assessed at baseline (week 2 from stroke occurrence), week 13 (approximately 90 days from the event) and week 26 (approximately 6 months from the event). The primary outcome is disability measured with the Barthel Index. Secondary outcomes include QoL, upper-extremity and lower-extremity motor function, gross manual dexterity, handgrip strength and cognitive function. This study will unravel the effects of a gamified, fully immersive and stroke-specific VR software on disability and QoL in patients with stroke in the early subacute phase.NCT06132399.

O objetivo foi avaliar atributos produtivos e nutricionais da forragem hidropônica de milho, em diferentes estágios, cultivada em substratos de capim-elefante e serragem de madeira. Foram estabelecidos dois tratamentos (T), com diferentes substratos: T1 – capim-elefante picado e desidratado e T2 – serragem de madeira. No 13º e 20º dias após a semeadura, amostras da forragem foram coletadas para avaliação do desenvolvimento das plântulas, produção de biomassa e composição nutricional. O substrato capim-elefante promoveu melhor desenvolvimento das plântulas, maior produção de biomassa e concentração de matéria mineral, aos 13 dias, quando a serragem de madeira promoveu maior concentração de matéria seca, proteína bruta, lignina e carboidrato não fibrosos (P

The Eugénio de Almeida Foundation’s Casa de Fresco is a historical monument of valuable historic–artistic significance, which currently reveals an assortment of biofilms due to the proliferation of microorganisms in the stone and rocaille elements. The biodeterioration in this area was studied as part of the Conservation and Restoration Project. We effectively characterized the local microbial community using modern high-throughput DNA analysis. Our results suggested the existence of a variety of lichens or lichenized fungi, including genera such as Variospora, Verrucaria, Circinaria, and Caloplaca. Furthermore, we detected several prokaryote microorganisms related to the identification of these lichens. To properly deal with this microbiological issue and avoid fungal recolonization, we evaluated available commercial antimicrobial treatments.

Coastal habitats are increasingly threatened by multiple anthropogenic-related activities, which include ocean warming and loss of structural habitat complexity. These two pressures have the potential to severely affect the structure and function of marine biodiversity. Early life stages of many fish species recruit to coastal habitats at the end of their pelagic phase, benefiting from access to food, shelter and protection. However, changes in temperature have been shown to influence ecologically relevant behaviours in post-settlement stage fish, and the loss of structural habitat complexity has been related to low recruitment and deleterious behaviours of fish in coastal habitats. Here, we evaluated the individual and interactive effects of prolonged exposure to increasing temperature and changed structural habitat complexity on routine swimming speed and escape response of post-settlement white seabream, Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758). Fish were reared under different temperatures (control 19 °C; high 22 °C) and structural habitat complexity (low and high) scenarios, in a cross-experimental design, and the routine swimming and escape responses were analyzed after 6 weeks of exposure. Change in temperature did not induce alterations at the behavioural level, but loss of structural habitat complexity increased speed and distance travelled during routine swimming, and responsiveness to a stimulus during the escape response behaviour. The interaction of the two factors did not influence performance. Determining how species are affected by changes in their environment, and the mechanisms that underlie these changes, will be critical to understanding the fish recruitment and populations’ fitness and survival.

Fluorescent labels, commonly used in highly sensitive analytical techniques for detecting and tracking biomolecules in critical fields like cellular biology, medicine, medicinal chemistry, and environmental science, are currently too expensive for routine use in standard applications, with most exhibiting small Stokes shifts. This limitation underscores the potential of 4-diethylaminobenzaldehyde derivatives as a cost-effective alternative for developing new, bright fluorophores with larger Stokes shifts. In this work, using 4-diethylaminobenzaldehyde as starting material, we developed a simple, cost-effective, and efficient synthetic strategy to produce new affordable small molecules as effective fluorescent labels for biomolecules. Density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory calculations were also conducted to gain insights into the observed photophysical properties.

Workplace bullying can be defined as the repeated occurrence of aggressive behaviour by one or more persons in a position of power towards the victim. This phenomenon remains insufficiently researched among education professionals, especially between different levels of education. With this in mind, the present study aims to assess and characterise this phenomenon in the Portuguese teacher population, as well as its consequences. A digital questionnaire was used for the study, which includes a socio-demographic component and two scales, namely the LIPT-60 scale and the WBMMS scale. The questionnaire was published online and made accessible to all teachers employed in schools in Portugal. The final sample consisted of 2003 teachers. The obtained results revealed that 22.5% of the sample acknowledged experiencing workplace bullying. The most prevalent aggressive behaviours included communication blockage and defamation and disregard for work. Vertical descent emerged as the most common form of bullying. More than half of the victims reported experiencing health issues, with a quarter of them requiring a medical certificate. Finally, we would like to emphasize the significance of this study as an initial step towards the prevention and reduction of workplace bullying among Portuguese teachers.

Resumo A integração de emigrantes no mercado de trabalho tem efeitos na trajetória migratória da própria pessoa e na sua interação com a sociedade de acolhimento. É frequentemente trespassada por dificuldades de ajustamento do capital humano e das competências profissionais às necessidades do mercado de trabalho. A migração qualificada ilustra com particular acuidade a heterogeneidade destes processos. Com efeito, a empregabilidade da emigração qualificada não é uniforme. Alguns/mas emigrantes, embora com uma qualificação de nível superior, podem encontrar-se a desempenhar profissões não qualificadas - situação de sobre-qualificação. Com base em dois estudos sobre a emigração portuguesa, apuraram-se taxas de sobre-qualificação na ordem dos 18,1% e dos 16,9%. Identificaram-se consequências negativas desta sobre-qualificação: insatisfação com o trabalho e baixos salários. Identificaram-se também fatores associados a esta sobre-qualificação: a idade jovem, a formação em ciências sociais e humanas e a residência em países clássicos da emigração portuguesa com elevado peso de emigração pouco qualificada.

Abstract The Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal carries unique social and cultural significance as a world cultural heritage, but with the acceleration of global urbanization, it has potentially severe environmental risks under continuous anthropogenic disturbances. Therefore, to protect the ecological and cultural values of the Grand Canal, it is necessary to assess the corresponding relationship of water quality to land use and the perception of ecosystem services that focus on cultural ecosystem services (CES). This study aims to analyze the water quality response to land use in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, describe the land use types closely related to water quality, and propose corresponding management strategies for enhancing CES. This study investigated the impacts of land use structure and landscape pattern on water quality by calculating the correlation between land use structure and landscape pattern indices and water quality in buffer zones of different distances on both sides of the canal. The results show that green land dominates the land use structure and can effectively reduce water pollution in the canal. On the other hand, urban impervious surfaces showed a significant positive correlation with pollution contributing to low water quality. We accessed the impact of water quality on the perception of CES in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal and proposed optimization strategies for promoting CES. Both content analysis and thematic analysis were applied to analyze the impact of the water environment quality of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal on the perception of CES. We found that the perceptions of CES along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal are associated with the public’s opinions on its cultural heritage services and artistic inspiration services. The perceptions of CES are closely related to the quality of the water environment and riparian greenness, which affect the values of cultural heritage and conservation of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.