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Examines the kernel and acceleration properties of certain sequence transformations (ST) involving the sequence for which the limit is to be computed, an error estimate and a linear difference operator. Extrapolation methods; Convergence acceleration; ST properties corresponding to different classes of linear operators; Corresponding difference equations.

Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a serious condition that can lead to partial or complete paraplegia or tetraplegia. Currently, there are few therapeutic options for these conditions, which are mainly directed toward the acute phase, such as surgical intervention and high-dose steroid administration. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) have been shown to improve neurological function following spinal cord injury. The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and potential efficacy of MSC transplantation in patients with cervical traumatic SCI., Methods: We included seven subjects with chronic traumatic SCI (> 1 year) at the cervical level, classified as American Spinal Cord Injury Association impairment scale (AIS) grade A. Subjects received two doses of autologous bone marrow derived MSC, the first by direct injection into the lesion site after hemilaminectomy and the second three months later by intrathecal injection. Neurologic evaluation, spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), urodynamics, and life quality questionnaires were assessed before and after treatment., Results: Cell transplantation was safe without severe or moderate adverse effects, and the procedures were well tolerated. Neurological evaluation revealed discrete improvements in sensitivity below the lesion level, following treatment. Five subjects showed some degree of bilateral sensory improvement for both superficial and deep mechanical stimuli compared to the pretreatment profile. No significant alterations in bladder function were observed during this study., Conclusion: Transplantation of autologous MSC in patients with chronic cervical SCI is a safe and feasible procedure. Further studies are required to confirm the efficacy of this therapeutic approach., Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02574572, identifier NCT02574572., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Macêdo, de Freitas Souza, Villarreal, Silva, da Silva, de Souza, da Silva Paixão, da Rocha Bezerra, da Silva Moura Costa, Brazão, Marins Filho, Matos, dos Santos and Soares.)

Plant defensins are small antimicrobial proteins (AMP) that participate in the immune defense of plants through their antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activities. PgD1 is a defensin from Picea glauca (Canadian Pine) and has antifungal activity against plant pathogens. This activity positions it as an alternative biotechnological agent to pesticides commonly used against these plant fungi diseases. The present study aimed to recombinantly produce PgD1 in Escherichia coli to characterize its in vitro antifungal potential against different phytopathogens. To achieve this, the coding gene was amplified and cloned into pET30a( +). Recombinant plasmid was subsequently introduced into E. coli for the soluble expression of defensin PgD1. To evaluate the antifungal activity of the expressed protein, the growth inhibition test was used in solid and liquid media for approximately 7 days against significant plant pathogens, that cause significant crop damage including: Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Colletotrichum musae, Colletotrichum graminicola and Fusarium oxysporum. Additionally, stability assessments included temperature variation experiments and inhibition tests using dithiothreitol (DTT). The results showed that there was significant inhibition of the fungal species tested when in the presence of PgD1. Furthermore, defensin proved to be resistant to temperature variations and demonstrated that part of its stability is due to its primary structure rich in cysteine ​​residues through the denaturation test with dithiothreitol (DTT) where the antifungal activity of PgD1 defensin was inhibited. These data indicate that recombinant PgD1 could be utilized as a plant protection technology in agriculture., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Thelazia callipaeda , also known as the "oriental eye worm", is a zoonotic parasitic nematode with a wide range of hosts, particularly wild and domestic carnivores, but also lagomorphs and humans. Currently, ocular thelaziosis presents an expanding distribution range throughout Europe, including Portugal. This study provides an update on T . callipaeda infection reports (30 studies) in European wildlife comprising 54 host-locality records in 10 host species from nine European countries. The prevalence of T . callipaeda varied widely, with ranges from around 1% in red foxes and European hares to almost 50% in red foxes. The lowest mean intensity was 2.7 nematodes/host in European wildcats and the highest was 38.0 nematodes/host in wolves. In addition, a massive infection with T. callipaeda in a juvenile male red fox from eastern-central Portugal is also described, representing the southernmost report in a wild animal in this country. A total of 188 nematodes (139 females and 49 males) were collected from both eyes and were submitted to morphological and molecular characterization. Collected nematodes were morphologically identified as T . callipaeda . Given the endemicity of T . callipaeda in eastern-central Portugal, surveillance system should be implemented to monitor its presence among wild and domestic animals., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. Given their role as Guest Editors, Ana Cláudia Coelho, Ana Patrícia Lopes and Luís Cardoso had no involvement in the peer review of this article and have no access to information regarding its peer review. Full responsibility for the editorial process for this article was delegated to Professor Aneta Kostadinova (Editor-in-Chief)., (© 2024 Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Coxiella burnetii is the etiologic agent of Q fever, a worldwide zoonosis. Cattle, sheep and goats are considered the main reservoirs of the disease. Transmission to humans occurs mainly through the inhalation of infectious aerosols from milk, faeces, urine, and birth products from infected ruminants. In this study, a 2-year longitudinal approach was performed to ascertain the excretion of C. burnetii in bulk tank milk samples of sheep from a mountain plateau in central Portugal, with sampling conducted during the years 2015 and 2016. From a total of 156 bulk tank milk samples tested by qPCR, only one showed to be positive for C. burnetii (1.28% [95%CI: 0.03-6.94]), from 2015, the first year of collection. Bidirectional sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of IS1111 transposase partial region confirmed the presence of C. burnetii DNA. The presence of C. burnetii in raw milk samples highlights the necessity for additional research to determine if raw milk is a potential source for human infection. Animal health surveillance and prevention measures against this zoonotic disease should be considered., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: Plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) technology creates blood-derived products with growth factors that promote wound healing and regeneration. The goal of this study was to assess the potential role of PRGF products as wound modulators in trabeculectomy. Our premise is that due to PRGF's regenerative and antifibrotic properties, its use in trabeculectomy may produce a more physiological bleb, without altering IOP reduction., Methods: A retrospective, longitudinal study was conducted in a Hospital in Portugal. Patients with eyes with open angle glaucoma were included. Trabeculectomy was performed on all patients using PRGF membrane (mPRGF) under the conjunctiva, as adjuvant. Data regarding patients' demographics and number of medications used, was collected. Intraocular pressure (IOP) before surgery, 8 days, 1 month, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month and 1 year after surgery was recorded. Bleb morphology was classified according to Moorfields Bleb Grading System 6 months after surgery., Results: Nine eyes of 9 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 71 ± 5.1 years old. Six were male. Mean IOP decreased from 24.0 ± 8.8 mmHg pre-surgery to 12.9 ± 2.6 mmHg at one year follow-up. The number of hypotensive drugs (mean ± SD) was 4.3 ± 0.9 preoperatively and 0.8 ± 1.1 at 1-year. Complete success was defined as IOP equal to or less than 21 mm Hg without ocular hypotensive medications and qualified success as IOP equal to or less than 21 mm Hg with medications. Complete success was 66.7% and qualified success was 100% at 1 year follow-up., Conclusion: In our study, trabeculectomy with mPRGF demonstrated both safety and efficacy. Low values of bleb height (1.6 ± 0.8) were recorded. mPRGF could improve wound healing and produce a more well-tolerated, favourable bleb, avoiding antimetabolite complications., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Purpose: Patients with post prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) seem to have different needs. Therefore, device post-operative readjustability may be a beneficial feature in PPI management, even though it lacks study support. The purpose of this study is to describe our surgical technique for male sling (MS) implantation, assess outcomes, and the impact of readjustability., Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 89 consecutive patients who underwent PPI correction with MS Argus-T™ (Promedon, Córdoba, Argentina) from 2009 to 2021. The median follow-up was 48 months (12-120). Data were collected in a dedicated database. Perioperative variables were assessed. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Clinical and urodynamic variables were correlated with the need for readjustments and success., Results: In this cohort, objective success was achieved in 80.5% of the patients (65.9% cured and 14.6% improved). A total of 85.4% of the patients met the criteria for subjective success (74.4% cured and 11% improved). For the subgroup of patients who received previous treatment for urethral stricture (US), 79% achieved objective success (63.2% cured, 15.8% improved), and 84.2% achieved subjective success (78.9% cured, 5.3% improved). For the subgroup of patients who received previous radiotherapy (RT) before sling surgery, 68.7% achieved objective success (37.5% cured, 31.2% improved), and 75% achieved subjective success (37.5% cured, 37.5% improved). Procedures for device readjustment were necessary for 27.7% of patients in the total study population. RT and previous US treatment were predictive factors for the need of readjustment, with rates of 66.7% and 61.1% (OR: 8.46; CI: 2.46-29.00; p = 0.001/OR: 6.41; CI: 2.05-20.03; p = 0.001, respectively)., Conclusions: MS adjustability improved success rates, especially among irradiated patients and those with previous US. RT was an adverse predictor of total continence status even after readjustments., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Paratuberculosis, or Johne's disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a chronic granulomatous enteritis affecting both domestic and wild ruminants. The agent was also found in wild mammals such as wild boar ( Sus scrofa ); however, the role of wild mammals in the epidemiology of MAP is unclear. During the research period, 941 free-ranging wild boar ( S. scrofa ) legally hunted in two locations in the central-eastern region of Portugal were examined. Ninety-seven wild boars exhibited one or more gross lesions and were tested for the presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis using acid-fast staining, mycobacterial culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and histopathological examination. Forty-five animals (46.4%, 95% CI: 36.5-56.3%) were identified as infected, as indicated by positive results in culture and/or PCR. The findings revealed that the most significant risk factor was being a juvenile compared to yearlings and adults (OR = 10.2, 95% CI: 2.2-48.0). Based on our results, 37.9% ( n = 11) of the infected animals were considered suitable for human consumption. Our findings offer novel insights into mycobacterial infections in wild boar populations in Portugal and suggest that wild boar could be a source of human infection if zoonotic potential is considered.

Between 2016 and 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted in the central region of Portugal in order to better understand the epidemiology and public health risks resulting from the handling and consumption of game animals infected with Brucella spp. The seroprevalence and risk factors for Brucella spp. seropositivity were evaluated. Antibodies against Brucella spp. were determined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Results showed that in the 650 serum samples collected from red deer ( n = 298) and wild boars ( n = 352) in Portugal, 21.7% ( n = 141; 95% CI: 18.6-25.1%) tested positive. Wild boar had a significantly higher prevalence (35.5%; 95% CI: 30.5-40.8%) than red deer (5.4%, 95% CI: 3.1-8.6%; p ≤ 0.001). Risk factors for seropositivity were investigated using multivariable logistic regression models. The odds of being seropositive was 8.39 (95% CI: 4.75-14.84; p ≤ 0.001) times higher in wild boar than in red deer. Correlations between sex, age, body condition, and seropositivity could not be observed. The higher seroprevalence in wild boar suggests that this species may primarily contribute to the Brucella spp. ecology in central Portugal.

The effect of anti-algics on tumor progression and the overall survival of patients is controversial and remains unclear. Herein, we disclose the in vitro effects of the local anesthetics lidocaine, ropivacaine, and levobupivacaine on breast (MCF7), prostate (PC3, LNCaP), and bladder (TCCSUP, HT1376) cancer cell lines, both as monotherapy and in combination with standard-of-care therapeutics. Assays for cell proliferation, viability, death profile, and migration were performed. Additionally, we explored the clinical outcomes of opioid use through a cross-sectional study involving 200 metastatic prostate cancer patients. The main clinical data collected included the type of opioid therapy administered, dosage, treatment duration, disease progression, and overall survival. Results obtained demonstrate that treatment with local anesthetics has a promising selective anti-tumor effect on these types of cancer, with higher effects when associated with docetaxel. This points out the use of local anesthetics as an added value in the treatment of prostate carcinoma patients. Alternatively, chronic opioid use was correlated with reduced overall survival ( p < 0.05) and progression-free survival ( p < 0.05) at each treatment line in the observational study. While these results provide valuable insights, larger prospective studies are imperative to comprehensively evaluate the clinical impact of opioid analgesics in prostate cancer patients.

Dysregulation of the DNA damage response may contribute to the sensitization of cancer cells to DNA-targeting agents by impelling cell death. In fact, the inhibition of the DNA repair pathway is considered a promising anticancer therapeutic strategy, particularly in combination with standard-of-care agents. The xanthonoside XGAc was previously described as a potent inhibitor of cancer cell growth. Herein, we explored its antitumor activity against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), ovarian cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells as a single agent and in combination with the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) olaparib. We demonstrated that XGAc inhibited the growth of TNBC, ovarian and PDAC cells by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. XGAc also induced genotoxicity, inhibiting the expression of DNA repair proteins particularly involved in homologous recombination, including BRCA1, BRCA2 and RAD51. Moreover, it displayed potent synergistic effects with olaparib in TNBC, ovarian cancer and PDAC cells. Importantly, this growth inhibitory activity of XGAc was further reinforced in a TNBC spheroid model and in patient-derived ovarian cancer cells. Also, drug-resistant cancer cells showed no cross-resistance to XGAc. Additionally, the ability of XGAc to prevent cancer cell migration was evidenced in TNBC, ovarian cancer and PDAC cells. Altogether, these results highlight the great potential of acetylated xanthonosides such as XGAc as promising anticancer agents against hard-to-treat cancers.

Purpose: Studies of flash glucose monitoring systems (FGMSs) in pregnancy are insufficient, especially in gestational diabetes (GD). Our aim was to evaluate Freestyle Libre's usability and accuracy (compared to self-monitoring of blood glucose [SMBG]) for GD patients in real-life conditions., Methods: This is a prospective study with pregnant women diagnosed with GD (n = 24 for the usability analysis; n = 19 for the accuracy analysis). The study duration was up to 28 days (lifetime of two sensors). Participants executed a minimum of four daily FGMS readings obtained immediately after capillary SMBG. Analytical accuracy was assessed with mean absolute relative difference (MARD) and mean absolute difference (MAD); clinical accuracy was assessed with Surveillance Error Grid (SEG). Usability was evaluated with a user acceptability questionnaire., Results: The mean pregestational BMI was 25.21 ± 5.15 kg/m 2 (mean ± SD), the mean gestational age was 30.31 ± 2.02 weeks, and the mean glucose values were 76.63 ± 7.49 mg/dL. A total of 1339 SMBG-FGMS pairs of values were obtained. Analytical accuracy was good with an overall MARD of 14.07% and an in-target MARD of 13.79%. The number of SMBG-FMGS pairs for above-target values was low (122 of 1339) with an associated MARD of 17.95%. Clinical accuracy of the FGMS was demonstrated, with 94.4% of values in the no-risk or slight, lower risk zones of the SEG. FGMS accuracy was unaffected by pregestational BMI or gestational age. The user acceptability questionnaire showed high levels of satisfaction, with 95.8-100% preferring FGMS to SMBG. No unexpected or severe adverse effects occurred., Conclusion: FGMS showed good performance in GD regarding accuracy and usability. Larger studies are needed to corroborate our results, verify the analytical accuracy of above-target values as this glucose range might lead to initiation or adjustment of pharmacological therapy, and ultimately establish definitive recommendations regarding prescription of FGMS for GD patients., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Hellenic Endocrine Society.)

Among the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervids is now a rising concern in wildlife within Europe, after the detection of the first case in Norway in 2016, in a wild reindeer and until June 2022 a total of 34 cases were described in Norway, Sweden and Finland. The definite diagnosis is post-mortem , performed in target areas of the brain and lymph nodes. Samples are first screened using a rapid test and, if positive, confirmed by immunohistochemistry and Western immunoblotting. The study of the genetics of the prion protein gene, PRNP , has been proved to be a valuable tool for determining the relative susceptibility to TSEs. In the present study, the exon 3 of PRNP gene of 143 samples from red deer ( Cervus elaphus ) and fallow deer ( Dama dama ) of Portugal was analysed. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in red deer - codon A136A, codon T98A, codon Q226E - and no sequence variation was detected in fallow deer. The low genetic diversity found in our samples is compatible with previous studies in Europe. The comparison with results from North America suggests that the free-ranging deer from our study may present susceptibility to CWD, although lack of experimental data and the necessity of continuous survey are necessary to evaluate these populations.

Background: Overweight and obesity are global health issues, impacting a significant portion of young adults. Obesity is a complex condition influenced by genetics and environmental factors, leading to increased susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Irisin, a protein derived from the cleavage of fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5, may have relationship with these cardiometabolic diseases., Objective: This systematic review aims to examine the relationship between serum irisin levels and obesity, particularly in individuals predisposed to cardiovascular risk factors., Methods: A thorough literature search was conducted in multiple databases, including "Science Direct," "Scopus," "PubMed," and "Lilacs," from July 2020. Inclusion criteria encompassed subjects with metabolic disorders (with or without obesity, BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 ), clinical trials, and observational studies published between 2010 and June 2020. Exclusion criteria were animal studies, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, studies evaluating only healthy subjects, and those investigating disorders beyond cardiometabolic diseases., Results: Out of 151 identified articles, 30 met the inclusion criteria. These studies, published between 2013 and 2020, assessed adults (≥21 years) and included 26 observational studies and 4 clinical trials ( n  = 7585 subjects). All studies examined irisin's role in obesity and CVDs, often including associated diseases such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Despite varying sample sizes, the samples within the articles were homogeneous. Observational studies exhibited a low risk of bias in at least 60% of the evaluated domains. Clinical trials demonstrated a low risk of bias in at least 50% of the domains. Limitations . Although the systematic review provides valuable insights, it is limited by the available literature and the varying methodologies used across studies., Conclusion: The review suggests that irisin plays a significant role as both a preventive measure and a biomarker for comorbidities linked to obesity and cardiometabolic disorders. Future research should focus on standardized irisin measurement methods and diverse populations to further elucidate its mechanisms of action., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Jorge da Silva Pinho-Jr et al.)

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic foodborne virus with an annual infection prevalence of 20 million human cases, which seriously affects public health and economic development in both developed and developing countries. To better understand the epidemiology of HEV in Central Portugal, a cross-sectional study was conducted from 2016 to 2023 with sera samples from wild ungulates. The seroprevalence and risk factors for HEV seropositivity were evaluated in the present study. Specifically, antibodies against HEV were determined by a commercial enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA). Our results show that in the 650 sera samples collected from 298 wild red deer and 352 wild boars in Portugal, 9.1% red deer and 1.7% wild boar were positive for antibodies to HEV. Regarding age, the seropositivity in juvenile wild ungulates was 1.3%, whereas it was 7.2% in adults. Logistic regression models investigated risk factors for seropositivity. The odds of being seropositive was 3.6 times higher in adults than in juveniles, and the risk was 4.2 times higher in red deer than in wild boar. Both wild ungulate species were exposed to HEV. The higher seroprevalence in red deer suggests that this species may make a major contribution to the ecology of HEV in Central Portugal. Further research is needed to understand how wildlife affects the epidemiology of HEV infections in Portugal.

Talaromyces marneffei is a zoonotic fungus that mostly infects immunocompromised individuals. For the first time, this fungus was isolated in an adult beech marten (Martes foina) hit by a car, found dead in Penamacor, Portugal. During the necropsy, different samples (skin, fur, lymph nodes, lung, spleen, kidneys, and brain) were collected and processed for microbiology (including mycology) and molecular biology. T. marneffei was identified through its mycological characteristics and confirmed by PCR in hair samples. No other lesions or alterations were reported, except a concomitant presence of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in lung, kidney and brain samples. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first description of this fungus beech marten, as well as the first case of co-infection with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in wildlife fauna. These results suggest a sylvatic life-cycle of T. marneffei, involving beech martens, in Portugal., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The author(s) declare no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this article., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To evaluate and report the visual habits and requirements of a sample of presbyopic patients using an advanced sensor., Methods: Transversal study collecting clinical data from 40 presbyopes candidates for presbyopia-correction intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with mean age of 61.0 years (43-80 years). A complete ophthalmological examination was performed in all patients including visual, refractive, an ocular biometric analysis. Furthermore, patients were instructed about the use of the Vivior Monitor system (Vivior AG, Zürich, Switzerland), which consists of a series of sensors attached to the rim of the patient's glasses that capture information about the visual behavior of the patient. This device was worn for a period of 36 hours or more. The data collected were transferred to a database and analyzed., Results: Mean percentages of time dedicated to distance, intermediate, and near vision were 27.25 ± 11.93% (5-65%), 30.23 ± 9.36% (12-50%), and 42.53 ± 14.96% (13-78%), respectively. Mean percentages of time performing activities under photopic, mesopic, and scotopic conditions were 37.08 ± 23.20% (5-87%), 33.65 ± 13.84% (6-67%), and 29.28 ± 17.03% (4-65%). The percentage of time with digital screens ranged from 2% to 48%. Age was significantly correlated with the percentage of time dedicated to distance vision ( r  = 0.317, p =0.047) and to activities performed under photopic conditions ( r  = -0.344, p =0.030)., Conclusions: Distance and illumination conditions used to perform different daily life visual activities vary significantly among presbyopes, with a trend to the dedication of more time to intermediate and near visual activities performed under photopic and mesopic conditions. Data interpretation should be done with care until a proper validation of the device used., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Filomena Ribeiro et al.)

Mycobiota are essential to the health of any living being, creating a balanced and complex interaction between bacteria, the immune system, and the tissue cells of the host. Talaromyces marneffei (also known as Penicillium marneffei) is a dimorphic fungus, endemic in South Asia, which often causes a life-threatening systemic fungal infection (called penicilliosis), particularly in immunocompromised hosts. Nasal swabs from 73 healthy volunteers were analysed to characterize their mycobiota, through its cultural characteristics, morphology, and molecular methods (PCR). All volunteers were also asked to answer to an anonymous questionnaire. Three women were positive (and asymptomatic) for T. marneffei. One of them was reported to have lupus. This study contributes to improving our knowledge about human normal mycobiota, identifying mycotic agents that may cause complicated systemic infections (as T. marneffei), especially in immunosuppressed patients, as well as other possible risk factors of exposure or prognosis., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The International Society for Human and Animal Mycology.)

Q fever is caused by the pathogen Coxiella burnetii and is a zoonosis that naturally infects goats, sheep, and cats, but can also infect humans, birds, reptiles, or arthropods. A survey was conducted for the detection of antibodies against C. burnetii in a sample of 617 free-ranging wild ruminants, 358 wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) and 259 red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), in east-central Portugal during the 2016-2022 hunting seasons. Only adult animals were sampled in this study. Antibodies specific to C. burnetii were detected using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; IDVet ® , Montpellier, France) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The seroprevalence of C. burnetii infection was 1.5% ( n = 9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7-2.8%). Antibodies against C. burnetii were detected in 4/358 wild boar (1.1%; 95% CI: CI: 0.3-2.8%) and 5/259 red deer (1.9%; 0.6-4.5%). Results of the present study indicate that antibodies against C. burnetii were present in wild boar and red deer in Portugal. These findings can help local health authorities to focus on the problem of C. burnetii in wildlife and facilitate the application of a One Health approach to its prevention and control.

Objective: To assess the influence of vitamin D on body weight loss in women who had previously undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Methodology: This is an analytical, longitudinal and retrospective study comprising 40 women of reproductive age who had previously undergone RYGB. To investigate the influence of the serum concentrations of vitamin D on body weight reduction, the variables were analyzed in the pre-operative period (T0), in the first (T1) and in the second postoperative year (T2) and were stratified according to the BMI measured in T1 and T2. In addition, in the pre-operative period, participants were subdivided into groups based on adequacy (G1), deficiency (G2) and insufficiency (G3), according to their serum concentrations of vitamin D. Results: Although weight loss occurred in a substantial way in T1, it continued to decrease in T2 (p = 0.017). The women who reached normal weight within two years of surgery showed the lowest vitamin D concentrations preoperatively when compared to those who were overweight (p = 0.011). Women with preoperative vitamin D deficiency showed increased concentrations in the assessed times (p < 0.001), while the opposite (p = 0.001) occurred in women with adequacy. Conclusion: The study showed that inadequacy of vitamin D does not interfere with weight loss in the two-year-follow-up after RYGB and highlights that vitamin D can present a differentiated response postoperatively, to the detriment of the pre-operative period.

The indiscriminate use of pesticides has led to an increased risk of environmental contamination and pest resistance worldwide, favoring the development of less hazardous formulations. The commercial insecticide ZEUS® (Ihara, Brazil) combining dinotefuran and lambda-cyhalothrin was recently formulated in order to meet the environmental sustainability and food security. However, little is known about the potential toxic effects of ZEUS® to aquatic species. Thus, we report, for the first time, the biochemical and histological responses in tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) following 96 h exposure to 0.01 mg/L, 0.05 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L ZEUS®. Different biochemical endpoints, including acetylcholinesterase (AChE), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), were assessed as potential biomarkers of insecticide effects. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) was evaluated as a marker of phase II biotransformation, and histopathological changes were measured to indicate gill alterations following ZEUS® exposure. After 96 h exposure, ZEUS® treatment increased GST activity in the liver of fish exposed to the highest concentration, while the intermediate dose increased both renal GGT and hepatic ALP activities. These findings reflect the importance of the liver and kidneys in the detoxification of ZEUS® and highlight the need to understand further toxicity effects. Likewise, the histopathological analysis of gills provided evidence that ZEUS® caused moderate damages. Despite biomarkers alterations reported for O. niloticus following ZEUS® exposure, by comparing our findings with data on toxicity of individual compounds, the commercial ZEUS® mixture seems to present similar or even lower adverse effects on freshwater fish., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Low urinary citrate and crystal deposition accelerated cystogenesis in an experimental model of polycystic kidney disease (PKD).Hypocitraturia, frequently observed in patients with autosomal dominant PKD (ADPKD) could contribute to disease progression.Present findings suggest lower urinary citrate in early PKD was associated with faster eGFR decline and worse kidney survival., Competing Interests: E.J. Hoorn reports serving on the editorial boards for American Journal of Physiology – Renal Physiology, JASN, and Journal of Nephrology; receiving research funding from Aurinia; serving as a board member for the Dutch Federation of Nephrology and the European Renal Association Working Group on Inherited Kidney Diseases; and receiving honoraria from UpToDate. M. Salih reports serving on the scientific advisory board of NedMed.nl, and receiving research funding from Otsuka (unrestricted grant). All remaining authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 by the American Society of Nephrology.)

Purpose: Children should feel sad when they believe that a negative outcome is permanent. The sadness that an oral problem might bring tends to contribute to children's loneliness and increase the social stress levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of untreated dental caries, dental pain, malocclusion, and traumatic dental injury on prevalence of sadness related to oral health among Brazilian children., Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out with 397 children aged 8-10 years randomly selected from public and private schools in Diamantina, Brazil. The Brazilian version of the CPQ 8-10 was applied. Sadness was collected through the question, "In the last month how often did you feel sad because of your teeth or mouth?" and dental pain through the question, "In the last month, how many times have you had pain in your teeth?" One calibrated examiner (Kappa value intra examiner: 0.77-0.91; Kappa value inter examiner: 0.80-1.00) performed the exam for dental caries (DMFT), malocclusion (DAI), and dental trauma (O'Brien). Parents answered questions addressing socioeconomic issues. Descriptive analyses, Chi-square test, and hierarchical Poisson regression models were performed (IC 95%; p < 0.05).", Results: The prevalence of sadness related to oral health was 30.5% (n = 121). Sadness related to oral health was associated with untreated dental caries (PR: 1.46; 95% CI 1.32-2.46; p = 0.001 ) and dental pain (PR: 2.91; 95% CI 2.00-4.22; p < 0.001). Other clinical variables analyzed (traumatic dental injury and malocclusion) were not significantly associated with sadness related to oral health., Conclusions: Children with untreated dental caries and dental pain presented a higher report of sadness related to oral health., (© 2021. European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry.)

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the clinical outcomes after cataract surgery with implantation of 3 types of trifocal diffractive intraocular lenses (IOLs)., Setting: Hospital da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal., Design: Prospective comparative case series., Methods: Patients undergoing phacoemulsification cataract surgery with implantation of 1 of the 3 trifocal IOLs were enrolled: TECNIS Synergy (Synergy group, 30 patients), Acrysof PanOptix (PanOptix group, 30 patients), and POD F (Finevision group, 30 patients). The outcomes of distance, intermediate, and near visual acuity (VA), refraction, defocus curve, photic phenomena, and spectacle independence were evaluated at the 3-month follow-up., Results: 180 eyes of 90 patients were enrolled. No statistically significant differences were found between groups in monocular distance-corrected intermediate (Synergy group 0.04 ± 0.11, PanOptix group 0.05 ± 0.09, and Finevision group 0.08 ± 0.10; P = .107) and near VA (0.01 ± 0.08, 0.01 ± 0.06, and 0.04 ± 0.10, respectively; P = .186). Similarly, no statistically significant differences among groups were found in binocular uncorrected distance (P = .572), near (P = .929), and intermediate VA (P = .327). By contrast, statistically significant differences between groups were found in the visual acuity for the vergence demands of -0.50, -1.00, -2.00, -3.50, and -4.00 diopters (P ≤ .045). No statistically significant differences among groups were found in the frequency, severity, and bothersomeness of different disturbing visual symptoms, including glare and halos (P ≥ .129). More than 87 (96%) of patients in all groups did not require the use of spectacles at any distance postoperatively., Conclusions: The 3 trifocal IOLs evaluated provided an effective visual rehabilitation with minimal incidence of photic phenomena. A trend to obtain a wider range of functional focus was observed with the TECNIS Synergy IOL., (Copyright © 2021 Published by Wolters Kluwer on behalf of ASCRS and ESCRS.)

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common types of cancer and the second leading cause of death in women. Local anaesthetics (LAs) and opioids have been shown to influence cancer progression and metastasis formation in several pre-clinical studies. However, their effects do not seem to promote consensus. A systematic review was conducted using the databases Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, and Web of Science (2010 to December 2021). Search terms included "lidocaine", "ropivacaine", "levobupivacaine", "morphine", "methadone", "breast cancer", "breast carcinoma" and "breast neoplasms" in diverse combinations. The search yielded a total of 784 abstracts for initial review, 23 of which met the inclusion criteria. Here we summarise recent studies on the effect of analgesics and LAs on BC cell lines and animal models and in combination with other treatment regimens. The results suggest that local anaesthetics have anti-tumorigenic properties, hence their clinical application holds therapeutic potential. Regarding morphine, the findings are conflicting, but this opioid appears to be a tumour-promoting agent. Methadone-related results are scarce. Additional research is clearly required to further study the mechanisms underlying the controversial effects of each analgesic or LA to establish the implications upon the outcome and prognosis of BC patients' treatment.

Purpose: To evaluate clinical outcomes delivered by a new hybrid presbyopia-correcting intraocular lens (IOL): TECNIS Synergy ZFR00V IOL model (Johnson & Johnson Vision)., Setting: Hospital da Luz Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal., Design: Prospective observational study., Methods: Patients undergoing bilateral IOL implantation were included. Visual acuity (VA) was measured for far distance, intermediate (66 cm), and near (40 cm) vision under both photopic and mesopic conditions. In addition, at the 3-month follow-up visit, the defocus curve was obtained for binocular vision, and questionnaires were administered to measure spectacle independence and level of satisfaction ( quality of vision and Catquest-SF9) with the surgical outcomes., Results: 54 eyes of 27 patients were included. At the 3-month follow-up, under photopic conditions, VA values were as follows: corrected distance VA (CDVA) = -0.02 ± 0.07, distance-corrected intermediate VA = 0.03 ± 0.11, and distance-corrected near VA (DCNVA) = 0.00 ± 0.08, whereas under mesopic conditions, VA values were as follows: CDVA = -0.01 ± 0.05 and DCNVA = 0.07 ± 0.09. The binocular defocus curve revealed that mean VA was better than 0.30 logMAR within the +1.00 to -4.00 diopters (D) interval, and better than 0.10 logMAR between +0.50 and -3.00 D. All patients achieved distance vision spectacle freedom, whereas 3.7% of them said they used them in certain intermediate or near vision situations. As much as 88% of the patients reported being fairly satisfied or very satisfied., Conclusions: The TECNIS Synergy ZFR00V IOL model used for cataract surgery is capable of restoring visual function while providing very good intermediate and near vision, under both photopic and mesopic conditions, resulting in a high level of patient satisfaction., (Copyright © 2021 Published by Wolters Kluwer on behalf of ASCRS and ESCRS.)

Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases are a fatal group of infectious, inherited and spontaneous neurodegenerative diseases affecting human and animals. They are caused by the conversion of cellular prion protein (PrP C ) into a misfolded pathological isoform (PrP Sc or prion- proteinaceous infectious particle) that self-propagates by conformational conversion of PrP C . Yet by an unknown mechanism, PrP C can fold into different PrP Sc conformers that may result in different prion strains that display specific disease phenotype (incubation time, clinical signs and lesion profile). Although the pathways for neurodegeneration as well as the involvement of brain inflammation in these diseases are not well understood, the spongiform changes, neuronal loss, gliosis and accumulation of PrP Sc are the characteristic neuropathological lesions. Scrapie affecting small ruminants was the first identified TSE and has been considered the archetype of prion diseases, though atypical and new animal prion diseases continue to emerge highlighting the importance to investigate the lesion profile in naturally affected animals. In this report, we review the neuropathology and the neuroinflammation of animal prion diseases in natural hosts from scrapie, going through the zoonotic bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), the chronic wasting disease (CWD) to the newly identified camel prion disease (CPD).

Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) have become a popular solution for tracking human motion. The main problem of using IMU data for deriving the position of different body segments throughout time is related to the accumulation of the errors in the inertial data. The solution to this problem is necessary to improve the use of IMUs for position tracking. In this work, we present several Machine Learning (ML) methods to improve the position tracking of various body segments when performing different movements. Firstly, classifiers were used to identify the periods in which the IMUs were stopped (zero-velocity detection). The models Random Forest, Support Vector Machine (SVM) and neural networks based on Long-Short-Term Memory (LSTM) layers were capable of identifying those periods independently of the motion and body segment with a substantially higher performance than the traditional fixed-threshold zero-velocity detectors. Afterwards, these techniques were combined with ML regression models based on LSTMs capable of estimating the displacement of the sensors during periods of movement. These models did not show significant improvements when compared with the more straightforward double integration of the linear acceleration data with drift removal for translational motion estimate. Finally, we present a model based on LSTMs that combined simultaneously zero-velocity detection with the translational motion of sensors estimate. This model revealed a lower average error for position tracking than the combination of the previously referred methodologies.

Rationale & Objective: Glomerular C4d (C4dG) as an indicator of the lectin pathway of complement activation in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) has been associated with more severe kidney damage. Recent studies have suggested that vascular lesions in IgAN biopsy specimens with complement deposition are also associated with disease progression. We aimed to study the clinical significance of arteriolar C4d (C4dA) in IgAN kidney biopsy tissue., Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Setting & Participants: Kidney biopsy specimens from 126 adults with IgAN diagnosed by Oxford classification criteria were stained using immunohistochemistry and classified according to C4dG and C4dA deposition. Additionally, vascular lesions including acute and chronic microangiopathy, arteriolar hyalinosis, and arterial intima fibrosis were characterized., Predictor: C4dA., Outcome: Progressive kidney disease, defined as a decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate by≥50% or occurrence of kidney failure., Analytical Approach: The association of C4dA and C4dG with baseline clinical and histologic characteristics, as well as progressive kidney disease, were assessed with survival analysis using multivariable Cox regression analysis., Results: C4dA was identified in 21 (17%) patients and was associated with mean arterial pressure, arterial intima fibrosis, and chronic microangiopathy. C4dA was also significantly associated with C4dG and both were associated with progressive kidney disease. In regression analysis, C4dA remained significantly associated with progressive kidney disease after adjusting for other significant predictors, including baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, mean arterial pressure, and the presence of crescents., Limitations: Findings based on the retrospective evaluation of a single center's experience, limited number of events, a small number of patients with a broad range of kidney disease stages, and use of immunohistochemistry rather than immunofluorescence to detect C4d., Conclusions: C4dA is a potential biomarker for disease progression in IgAN. It should be further investigated in larger cohorts to determine the value of C4dA in improving prediction of IgAN disease progression., (Copyright © 2020 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare the nutritional status of vitamin D, calcium, and serum concentrations of parathyroid hormone (PTH) between women undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) who became pregnant and women who did not become pregnant during the same postoperative period, as well as the impact of these changes on maternal and child health., Methods: This is a longitudinal and retrospective study of women who previously underwent RYGB, paired by age and preoperative body mass index (BMI), divided into two groups: group 1 (G1), comprising 79 women who did not become pregnant, and group 2 (G2), comprising 40 pregnant women assessed in the overall trimesters. Both groups were analyzed before surgery (T0) and in the same interval after surgery: less than or equal to 1 year (T1) or greater than 1 year (T2), with a 2-year period at the most. Serum concentrations of vitamin D, calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and gestational and neonatal complications were investigated. Statistical analysis was performed by the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 21.0 (p < 0.05)., Results: Despite the additional nutritional demands at pregnancy, women evaluated after 1 year of RYGB had the highest demands of vitamin D when compared with pregnant women in the second trimester(p = 0.04). Women who became pregnant within 1 year of bariatric surgery were more likely to develop a urinary tract infection which, in turn, was associated with vitamin D inadequacy (p = 0.02).In the same period, the concentrations of calcium in the second and third trimesters showed a strong correlation with the number of pregnancies (R = 0.8, p = 0.008, R = 0.8, p = 0.003) and deliveries (R = 0.7, p = 0.013, R = 0.8, p = 0.006) and its nutritional status in the first trimester also showed a strong correlation with the occurrence of small newborns for gestational age/large for gestational age (SGA/LGA) (R = 0.8, p = 0.007)., Conclusion: Since the highest vitamin D depletions occurred in G1 when compared with G2, the study suggests that a period of time for supplementation and its adjustments in post-bariatric pregnancy may be beneficial. It also encourages further investigation on the number of pregnancies/deliveries during prenatal care, due to vitamin D influence on the nutritional status of calcium, and it points out that changes in concentrations of this vitamin in pregnant women may lead to SGA/LGA newborns' births.

The amnion is a layer of the foetal membrane that has mechanical protection function and allows expansion and growth. The diseases that affect amnion have rarely been reported in horses. Amnionitis and funiculitis have been implicated as components of abortions as observed in abortions caused by the mare reproductive loss syndrome. Here, we report an abortion at 240-day gestation of a 7-year-old Anglo-Arabian mare with a history of previous stillbirth. Blood samples from both mare and foetus were collected for serological testing. Fragments from the placenta were taken for macroscopic and histopathological examinations. The results of these tests ruled out leptospirosis and concluded that the cause of the abortion was non-infectious chronic amnionitis. Moreover, the decreased vascularization in the placenta was consistent with placental insufficiency. This case highlights the importance of monthly ultrasound monitoring in equine pregnancy in order to diagnose placental insufficiency. The study also confirmed the efficiency of the histopathological examination for the definitive diagnosis of placental inflammation and for the study of foetal vascularization to rule out placental insufficiency in equine reproduction., (© 2020 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Despite the high prevalence of canine Leishmania infantum infection in Portugal, significant differences associated with different risk factors can be found between geographically contiguous areas. In this study, a geographical area within the central region of Portugal (municipalities of Proença-a-Nova, Mação and Vila de Rei) was investigated. An epidemiological survey involved the analysis by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of serum samples collected during the anti-rabies vaccination campaign from 282 dogs. Geospatial analysis showed the distribution of geospatial prevalence of leishmaniosis and has delimited two areas (clusters) with a statistically significant higher risk of seropositivity in dogs (p =  0.003 and p = 0.027, for clusters 1 and 2, respectively). The highest seroprevalence (56.0%; CI: 41.2-70.0) was found in Vila de Rei. Five land occupation types showed a possible influence on the geographic distribution of seropositivity, with statistically significant differences between seropositive and seronegative dogs. Land occupied by temporary irrigated crops (p =  0.026), olive groves (p =  0.013), complex cultural systems and parcelling (p =  0.021), open forests, logging and new plantations (p =  0.043) and watercourses (p =  0.012) influenced the geographical distribution of canine Leishmania infection. Seropositive dogs had a greater average area of occupied land (i.e. open forests, logging and new plantations) than the seronegative ones (3.1439 km 2 versus 2.5650 km 2 , respectively; p =  0.043)., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We report a case of Talaromyces marneffei skin infection in an Egyptian mongoose ( Herpestes ichneumon) in Portugal. The isolated fungus was identified through its mycologic characteristics, morphology, and PCR amplification.

Purpose: To investigate Occult Stress Urinary Incontinence (OSUI) using physical exam (PE) and urodynamics (UDS) in women with advanced pelvic organ prolapse (POP), and compare the two methods., Methods: This study comprised 105 women with POP stage-III and -IV, according to POP quantification (POP-Q) system, evaluated prospectively between January and December 2015. A standard history, an incontinence questionnaire and PE were completed before the investigation of the OSUI that was performed in the supine and standing positions, reducing the prolapse using gauze and Cheron dressing forceps. The stress test was performed with and without the prolapse reduction., Results: The mean patient age was 65.7 years, mean parity 5.1 and mean body mass index 27.4. From a total of 105 patients, 70 (66.7%) presented with POP-Q stage III and 35 (33.3%) stage IV. Sixty-three (60%) women were identified as having OSUI, 27 (25.7%) as continent, and 15 (14.3%) having stress urinary incontinence. From the 63 OSUI subjects, 48 (76.2%) were identified in both evaluations, eight were identified only during PE, and seven only during UDS. The sensitivity to detect OSUI during PE and UDS was 88.9 and 87.3%, respectively (P = .783). The kappa value to measure the agreement between both tests was .648 (95% CI .441-.854)., Conclusion: UDS and PE are equivalent and concordant to demonstrate OSUI, thus it is not necessary to perform UDS to exclusively identify OSUI. UDS utility in OSUI patients, to evaluate urethral and detrusor function, deserves further investigation.

Introduction: evidence indicates that vitamin A is involved in regulating fat mass. A low consumption of vitamin A has been reported in individuals with obesity, as have lower concentrations of this vitamin, than in eutrophic individuals when their dietary intake of vitamin A is not significantly different., Objective: to investigate vitamin A nutritional status and its association with body mass index (BMI) and body fat in women who have the recommended dietary intake of vitamin A., Methods: cross-sectional study with 200 women, paired by age and by the dietary intake of vitamin A recommended. Participants were divided into four groups, according to BMI. Anthropometric data were evaluated (weight, BMI and waist circumference [WC]), as well as the diagnosis of night blindness (NB). Lipid and glycemic profiles were measured. The cut-off points for deficiency of serum concentrations of retinol and β-carotene were < 1.05 μmol/l and 40 μg/dl, respectively. The recommended dietary intake of vitamin A was 700 μg/day. RESULTS: there was a significant drop in retinol concentrations according to BMI (p < 0.001) and WC (p < 0.001). We found β-carotene to behave similarly (p = 0.005; p < 0.001). We found NB in 7.5% of overweight (OW) cases and 20.0% of obesity class II (OII), and no functional alteration was found in the eutrophic group (EU). Inadequate levels of retinol and β-carotene increased the odds ratio for the occurrence of OW, obesity class I (OI) and OII, as well as inadequate WC., Conclusion: even with recommended intake of vitamin A, we found a biochemical and functional inadequacy of vitamin A nutritional status,associated with overweight, obesity and body adiposity.

Objective: To assess the influence of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), total gestational weight gain (TGWG), and pre-pregnancy surgical success on the nutritional status of vitamin D, calcium, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the trimesters of pregnancy of women who previously underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB)., Methodology: This is an analytical, longitudinal, and retrospective study comprising 42 pregnant women who previously underwent RYGB. Concentrations of vitamin D 3 , calcium, and PTH were assessed in all trimesters. Anthropometric variables necessary for calculating TGWG, surgical success, and BMI were collected preoperatively and over the trimesters of pregnancy., Results: A total of 97.1% had vitamin D 3 inadequacy at some point in pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy BMI, even when classified as overweight, may have exacerbated the serum concentrations of this vitamin in the third trimester (p = 0.011), and it was significantly lower in women with normal weight and/or obesity (p = 0.039). It was evidenced that both pre-pregnancy BMI and TGWG above the recommended optimal weight can be associated with calcium homeostasis, especially early in pregnancy. It was also shown that surgical success in the pre-pregnancy period may have influenced the serum concentrations of vitamin D in the second trimester of pregnancy (p = 0.013)., Conclusion: This study draws attention to the importance of monitoring the nutritional status of vitamin D 3 and calcium in the prenatal period due to its relationship with pre-pregnancy BMI, TGWG, and surgical success.

Background Aims: The potential of cell therapies to improve neurological function in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) is currently under investigation. In this context, the choice of cell type, dose, route and administration regimen are key factors. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) can be easily obtained, expanded and are suitable for autologous transplantation. Here we conducted a pilot study that evaluated safety, feasibility and potential efficacy of intralesional MSCs transplantation performed through image-guided percutaneous injection, in subjects with chronic complete SCI., Methods: Five subjects with chronic traumatic SCI (>6 months), at thoracic level, classified as American Spinal Cord Injury Association impairment scale (AIS) grade A, complete injury, were included. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP), spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and urodynamics were assessed before and after treatment. Autologous MSCs were injected directly into the lesion site through percutaneous injection guided by computerized tomography (CT)., Results: Tomography-guided percutaneous cell transplantation was a safe procedure without adverse effects. All subjects displayed improvements in spinal cord independence measure (SCIM) scores and functional independence measure (FIM), mainly due to improvements in bowel movements and regularity. Three subjects showed improved sensitivity to tactile stimulation. Two subjects improved AIS grade to B, incomplete injury, although this was sustained in only one of them during the study follow-up., Conclusion: Autologous bone marrow MSC transplantation, performed through CT-guided percutaneous injection, was shown to be safe and feasible. Further studies are required to demonstrate efficacy of this therapeutic scheme., (Copyright © 2017 International Society for Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Simple, economic and environmental friendly high-performance liquid chromatography methods for levofloxacin and minocycline quantification in biomimetic media were developed and validate including their stability at body temperature, an often neglected evaluation parameter. Both methods are similar only differing in the wavelength setting, i.e., for levofloxacin and minocycline quantification the UV detection was set at 284 and at 273 nm, respectively. The separation of both antibiotics was achieved using a reversed-phase column and a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water (15:85) with 0.6% triethylamine, adjusted to pH 3. As an internal standard for levofloxacin quantification, minocycline was used and vice versa. The calibration curves for both methods were linear (r = 0.99) over a concentration range of 0.3-16 μg/mL and 0.5-16 μg/mL for levofloxacin and minocycline, respectively, with precision, accuracy and recovery in agreement with international guidelines requirement. Levofloxacin revealed stability in all media and conditions, including at 37°C, with exception to freeze-thaw cycle conditions. Minocycline presented a more accentuated degradation profile over prolonged time courses, when compared to levofloxacin. Reported data is of utmost interest for pharma and biomaterials fields regarding the research and development of new local drug-delivery-systems containing either of these two antibiotics, namely when monitoring the in vitro release studies of those systems., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction and Objective: The R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry system (RNS) has been validated in multiple open, laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomy series. The aim of this study was to test the accuracy of R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry system in predicting perioperative outcomes in surgical treatment of kidney tumors <7.0cm in a prospective model., Materials and Methods: Seventy-one patients were selected and included in this prospective study. We evaluate the accuracy of RNS in predicting perioperative outcomes (WIT, OT, EBL, LOS, conversion, complications and surgical margins) in partial nephrectomy using ROC curves, univariate and multivariate analyses. R.E.N.A.L. was divided in 3 groups: low complexity (LC), medium complexity (MC) and high complexity (HC)., Results: No patients in LC group had WIT >20 min, versus 41.4% and 64.3% MC and HC groups respectively (p=0.03); AUC=0.643 (p=0.07). RNS was associated with convertion rate (LC:28.6% ; MC:47.6%; HC:77.3%, p=0.02). Patients with RNS <8 were most often subjected to partial nephrectomy (93% x 72%, p=0.03) and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (56.8% x 28%, p=0.02), AUC=0.715 (p=0.002). The RNS was also associated with operative time. Patients with a score >8 had 6.06 times greater chance of having a surgery duration >180 min. (p=0.017), AUC=0.63 (p=0.059). R.E.N.A.L. score did not correlate with EBL, complications (Clavien >3), LOS or positive surgical margin., Conclusion: R.E.N.A.L. score was a good method in predicting surgical access route and type of nephrectomy. Also was associated with OT and WIT, but with weak accuracy. Although, RNS was not associated with Clavien >3, EBL, LOS or positive surgical margin., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None declared., (Copyright® by the International Brazilian Journal of Urology.)

Paratuberculosis or Johne's disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map), is a chronic granulomatous enteritis affecting both domestic and wild ruminants. The present work is part of a wider set of studies designed to assess the prevalence of paratuberculosis in free ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus). With that purpose, 877 free-ranging red deer legally hunted in the Centre-eastern Portugal were submitted to necropsy and sampled for molecular methods, microbiology and histopathology. Thirty-seven (4.2%) kidneys revealed acid-fast bacilli when screened with the Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Map was detected by IS900 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in thirty (81.1%) of the Ziehl-Neelsen positive kidneys. Subsequent PCR and/or culture from the different organs of the 37 examined animals allowed us to detect 86.4% (32 animals) infected red deer. Our results suggest that renal involvement in Map infected deer may be underdiagnosed and thus the routine examination of this organ and its inclusion in PCR techniques designed for Map detection could substantially improve the diagnostic of paratuberculosis in red deer.

This article explores technology as romantic culture in the second half of the nineteenth century. It details how new urban nocturnal experiences emerged from the Lisbon Industrial Institute (Instituto Industrial) founded in 1852. It combines the interest in the space of science production, typical of history of science and science studies, with the attention to production and consumption of lighting more commonly found in history of technology and urban history literature. Engineers' practices are put in a cultural continuum with poetry, opera, and modern city life at large. Industrial Institute directors Vitorino Damásio and Fonseca Benevides are described as romantic engineers for whom technology overcame differences between humans through the forging of new social bonds, produced new aesthetic experiences and new ways of feeling, expressed nature's harmony, and led to heroic lives.

Aim: The role of post-reperfusion biopsy findings as a predictor of early and long-term graft function and survival is still a target of research., Methods: We analyzed data from 136 post-reperfusion biopsies performed in deceased donor renal transplanted patients from November 2008 to May 2012. We analyzed the presence of acute tubular necrosis (ATN), arteriolar hyalinosis (AH), intimal thickness (IT), interstitial fibrosis (IF) and glomerulosclerosis (GS). We also analyzed the impact of donor features on the following outcomes: delayed graft function (DGF) and chronic allograft dysfunction defined as eGFR < 60 mL/min at 1 year., Results: The mean donor age was 41 years, 26% of whom were extended criteria donors (ECD), 33% had hypertension and 50% had cerebral vascular accident (CVA) as the cause of death. ATN was present in 87% of these biopsies, AH in 31%, IF in 21%, IT in 27% and GS in 32%. DGF occurred in 80% and chronic allograft dysfunction was present in 53%. AH was the only histological finding associated with DGF and chronic allograft dysfunction at 1 year. Patients with AH had a lower eGFR at 1 year than patients without it (49.8 mL/min × 64.5 mL/min, P = 0.02). In the multivariate analysis, risk variables for development of chronic graft dysfunction were male sex (odds ratio [OR] = 3.159 [CI: 1.22-8.16]; P = 0.018), acute rejection (OR = 8.91 [CI: 2.21-35.92]; P = 0.002), donor hypertension (OR = 2.94 [CI: 1.10-7.84]; P = 0.031), AH (OR = 3.96 [CI: 1.46-10.70]; P = 0.007) and eGFR at discharge (OR = 0.96 [CI: 0.93-0.98]; P = 0.005). In multivariate analysis, risk factors for AH were donor age ≥ 50 years (OR = 2.46 [CI: 1.10-5.44]; P = 0.027) and CVA as the cause of donor death (OR = 2.33 [CI: 1.05-5.15]; P = 0.007)., Conclusion: The presence of AH in post-reperfusion biopsies is a marker of ageing and vascular disease and was associated with DGF and a one year poorer renal function. AH in donor biopsies superimposed to long ischaemic time is a predictor of renal function. The management of immunosuppression based on the presence of AH in post-reperfusion biopsy could be useful to improve long term graft function., (© 2015 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology.)

The complete genome sequence of Bluetongue virus (BTV) serotype 17 strain 17/BRA/2014/73, isolated from a sheep in Brazil in 2014, is reported here. All segments clustered with western topotype strains and indicated reassortment events with other BTV from the Americas. The strain 17/BRA/2014/73 represents a novel reference strain for BTV-17 from South America., (Copyright © 2016 Matos et al.)

A survey to determine the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis in wild mammals in Portugal was conducted by testing samples from hunted animals and those found dead between 2009 and 2013. In this study, we investigated 2116 wild mammals. Post-mortem examinations were performed, and tissues were collected from wild mammals representing 8 families and 11 different species, with a total of 393 animals analysed. Cultures were performed, and acid-fast isolates were identified by PCR. Tissues were also screened for Mycobacterium bovis by directly extracting DNA and testing for the Mycobacterium bovis-specific sequences. Mycobacterium bovis prevalence was 26.9% (95% CI: 22.8-31.5%). Mycobacterium bovis was recorded in 106 of the 393 studied species: prevalence by species were 26.9% (95% CI: 16.8-40.2%) in red foxes, 20.0% (95% CI: 7.0-45.2%) in Egyptian mongooses, 21.4% (95% CI: 16.2-27.7%) in wild boar and 38.3% (95% CI: 29.9-47.4%) in red deer. Mycobacterium bovis infection was detected in six of eight taxonomic families. For some species, the small sample sizes obtained were a reflection of their restricted range and low abundance, making estimates of infection prevalence very difficult (1 beech marten of 4; 1 Eurasian otter of 3; 2 common genet of 3). Infection was not detected in European badgers, hedgehog, wild rabbits and hare. The results of this study confirm the presence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in wild carnivores in Portugal., (© 2014 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)