RCAAP Repository

The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between the perspectives of higher education (study aspirations) and variables of a social nature (nationality, level of family education), and also to study the relationship between fulfilment (educational and personal) and professional aspirations throughout adolescence. The sample comprised 487 subjects from different school years (7th, 9th and 11th years), from schools of Greater Lisbon and inland Portugal. School performance was assessed through school grades in essential subjects, and personal fulfilment through the Children’s Rights Scale Tool; the pupils were also asked about the profession they would like to have and the education level they would like to attain. Analysis of the results enabled the observation of significant differences in the variables of both school and personal fulfilment, in terms of higher education perspectives (school and professional aspirations). The groups of pupils who had greater aspirations to move on to Higher Education returned more favourable results. These differences also included noticeable oscillations throughout the school years. The results were interpreted from a cognitive-social and developmental perspective, recognising the need for specific research and backing up the discussion through comparison with somewhat similar research projects.

Aims: In the randomized, placebo-controlled Colchicine Cardiovascular Outcomes Trial (COLCOT) of 4745 patients enrolled within 30 days after myocardial infarction (MI), low-dose colchicine (0.5 mg once daily) reduced the incidence of the primary composite endpoint of cardiovascular death, resuscitated cardiac arrest, MI, stroke, or urgent hospitalization for angina leading to coronary revascularization. To assess the in-trial period and lifetime cost-effectiveness of low-dose colchicine therapy compared to placebo in post-MI patients on standard-of-care therapy. Methods and results: A multistate Markov model was developed incorporating the primary efficacy and safety results from COLCOT, as well as healthcare costs and utilities from the Canadian healthcare system perspective. All components of the primary outcome, non-cardiovascular deaths, and pneumonia were included as health states in the model as both primary and recurrent events. In the main analysis, a deterministic approach was used to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for the trial period (24 months) and lifetime (20 years). Over the in-trial period, the addition of colchicine to post-MI standard-of-care treatment decreased the mean overall per-patient costs by 47%, from $502 to $265 Canadian dollar (CAD), and increased the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) from 1.30 to 1.34. The lifetime per-patient costs were further reduced (69%) and QALYs increased with colchicine therapy (from 8.82 to 11.68). As a result, both in-trial and lifetime ICERs indicated colchicine therapy was a dominant strategy. Conclusion: Cost-effectiveness analyses indicate that the addition of colchicine to standard-of-care therapy after MI is economically dominant and therefore generates cost savings.

Participation in sport and physical activity has been associated with a variety of positive consequences to young people’s physical, psychological, social, and spiritual health (Bouchard et al., 2012). Broadly defined, physical activity is thought to contribute to the development of internal and external health assets (Morgan and Ziglio, 2007), which allows participants to transfer skills to other contexts of life. For example, sports may help young people building a set of beliefs, skills, attributes, and knowledge leading to a healthy and productive life. Competence, confidence, character, compassion, and a sense of connection in young people are dimensions of healthy development that can be nurtured through sport and physical activity environments and applied to other domains (Lerner et al., 2009; Jones et al., 2011).

The topic of anti-TNF therapy discontinuation for patients with inflammatory bowel disease in long-term remission is of significance for both clinicians and patients, due to safety concerns, adverse effects, and cost. In the current pandemic era, it has regained renewed attention. However, disease relapse has been reported to occur in roughly 50% of patients, highlighting the need for the development of biomarkers that could help in selecting the best candidates for successful stopping.

Background: A low birth weight is an independent risk factor for adverse infant outcomes and a predictor of chronic disease in adulthood. In these situations, differentiating between prematurity and small for gestational age (SGA) or simultaneous conditions is essential to ensuring adequate care. Such diagnoses, however, depend on reliable pregnancy dating, which can be challenging in developing countries. A new medical optoelectronic device was developed to estimate gestational age (GA) at birth based on newborn skin reflection. Objective: This study will aim to evaluate the device's ability to detect prematurity or SGA, or both conditions simultaneously as well as predict short-term pulmonary complications in a cohort of low-birth-weight newborns. Methods: This study protocol was designed for a multicenter cohort including referral hospitals in Brazil and Mozambique. Newborns weighing 500-2500 g will be eligible for inclusion with the best GA available, considering the limited resources of low-income countries. Comparator-GA is based on reliable last menstrual period dating or ultrasound assessment before 24 weeks' gestation. Estimated GA at birth (Test-GA) will be calculated by applying a novel optoelectronic device to the newborn's skin over the sole. The average difference between Test-GA and Comparator-GA will be analyzed, as will the percentage of newborns who are correctly diagnosed as preterm or SGA. In addition, in a nested case-control study, the accuracy of skin reflection in the prediction of prematurity-related respiratory problems will be evaluated. The estimated required sample size is 298 newborns. Results: Teams of health professionals were trained, and standard operating procedures were developed following the good practice guidelines for the clinical investigation of medical devices for human participants. The first recruitment started in March 2019 in Brazil. Data collection is planned to end in December 2020, and the results should be available in March 2021. Conclusions: The results of this clinical study have the potential to validate a new device to easily assess postnatal GA, supporting SGA identification when pregnancy dating is unreliable or unknown.

AhR is a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays an important role in the innate and adaptive immune responses. In infection models, it has been associated with host responses that promote or inhibit disease progression. In pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis, a primary fungal infection endemic in Latin America, immune protection is mediated by Th1/Th17 cells and disease severity with predominant Th2/Th9/Treg responses. Because of its important role at epithelial barriers, we evaluate the role of AhR in the outcome of a pulmonary model of paracoccidioidomycosis. AhR-/- mice show increased fungal burdens, enhanced tissue pathology and mortality. During the infection, AhR-/- mice have more pulmonary myeloid cells with activated phenotype and reduced numbers expressing indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase 1. AhR-deficient lungs have altered production of cytokines and reduced numbers of innate lymphoid cells (NK, ILC3 and NCR IL-22). The lungs of AhR-/- mice showed increased presence Th17 cells concomitant with reduced numbers of Th1, Th22 and Foxp3+ Treg cells. Furthermore, treatment of infected WT mice with an AhR-specific antagonist (CH223191) reproduced the main findings obtained in AhR-/- mice. Collectively our data demonstrate that in pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis AhR controls fungal burden and excessive tissue inflammation and is a possible target for antifungal therapy.

RNA-seq experiments previously performed by our laboratories showed enrichment in intronic sequences and alterations in alternative splicing in dengue-infected human cells. The transcript of the SAT1 gene, of well-known antiviral action, displayed higher inclusion of exon 4 in infected cells, leading to an mRNA isoform that is degraded by non-sense mediated decay. SAT1 is a spermidine/spermine acetyl-transferase enzyme that decreases the reservoir of cellular polyamines, limiting viral replication. Delving into the molecular mechanism underlying SAT1 pre-mRNA splicing changes upon viral infection, we observed lower protein levels of RBM10, a splicing factor responsible for SAT1 exon 4 skipping. We found that the dengue polymerase NS5 interacts with RBM10 and its sole expression triggers RBM10 proteasome-mediated degradation. RBM10 over-expression in infected cells prevents SAT1 splicing changes and limits viral replication, while its knock-down enhances the splicing switch and also benefits viral replication, revealing an anti-viral role for RBM10. Consistently, RBM10 depletion attenuates expression of interferon and pro-inflammatory cytokines. In particular, we found that RBM10 interacts with viral RNA and RIG-I, and even promotes the ubiquitination of the latter, a crucial step for its activation. We propose RBM10 fulfills diverse pro-inflammatory, anti-viral tasks, besides its well-documented role in splicing regulation of apoptotic genes.

Neste estudo, procedeu-se à adaptação portuguesa de uma escala de empatia, ―A Questionnaire to Assess Affective and Cognitive Empathy in Children‖ (QACEC), de Zoll e Enz (2010). A amostra envolveu 328 alunos do ensino básico de escolas de Lisboa, 4º e 6º anos, com sujeitos do género masculino e feminino. A escala apresentou bons índices de consistência interna. Numa análise de componentes principais com rotação varimax, foram identificadas duas dimensões, a afectiva e a cognitiva. No estudo da validade externa, os factores da escala apareceram correlacionados, no sentido esperado, com variáveis específicas (género, retenções, idade, ano de estudo desejado e habilitações escolares dos pais). Os resultados sugerem que a versão agora adaptada apresenta boas qualidades psicométricas que a tornam útil na investigação em psicologia e em educação.

In this paper, we review current strategies for calculating toric intraocular lenses (IOLs). We discuss the prevalence and clinical relevance of astigmatism and the assessment of toric IOL candidates. We detail recommendations for evaluating astigmatism and current biometry and IOL power calculation techniques. Finally, error sources and results of current toric IOL calculators are discussed.

O estudo objetiva pesquisar como se caracterizam as oscilações do envolvimento de estudantes universitários e como se diferenciam os resultados no envolvimento em função do regime de frequência, presencial e a distância. A amostra foi de 1547 estudantes do ensino superior. O instrumento utilizado foi a escala “Envolvimento dos Alunos na Escola – uma Escala Quadridimensional (EAE-E4D). Na análise dos resultados, observou-se que na modalidade presencial a quantidade de estudantes com pontuações inferiores à média é maior, mostrando-se, assim, menos envolvidos que os alunos a distância; foi verificado que existem diferenças estatisticamente significativas no envolvimento em todas as dimensões e no envolvimento total, favoráveis aos sujeitos que estudam a distância. Os resultados foram interpretados a luz da literatura revista.

A presente pesquisa analisa as diferenças no envolvimento dos estudantes do Ensino Superior, definido como um processo de investimento motivacional na aprendizagem e na escola, em função das variáveis residência e ano académico. A amostra foi constituída por 715 estudantes tendo os dados sido recolhidos através de um inquérito on-line que incluiu a Escala de Envolvimento dos Alunos na Escola, uma Escala Quadri-Dimensional. Na análise dos resultados em função da residência, foram encontradas diferenças significativas no envolvimento, favoráveis aos estudantes não deslocados e, em função do ano académico, favoráveis, na dimensão afetiva, ao primeiro ano face ao grupo finalista e, na dimensão agenciativa, aos finalistas relativamente ao grupo do segundo ano. Os resultados foram interpretados à luz da literatura revista.

Os fungos estão presentes em qualquer parte do planeta, amplamente distribuídos pela natureza e, portanto, são encontrados em diferentes ambientes, sobre os animais e vegetais vivos, na matéria orgânica em decomposição, nos produtos alimentares e industriais. Os fungos desempenham papéis vitais no ambiente. Eles são essenciais para a reciclagem de nutrientes em todos os habitats terrestres porque são os decompositores dominantes dos componentes complexos dos restos vegetais, como a celulose e a lignina. Foram capazes de desenvolver hifas para penetrar em substratos sólidos e esporos para dispersão de longo alcance. Muitos deles são patogéneos, causam muitas doenças no Homem, nas plantas e animais, mas também estabelecem simbioses mutualistas com uma ampla gama de organismos. Os fungos possuem bastantes aplicações para benefício da vida humana. São importantes fontes de recursos, tendo grande importância em várias áreas, nomeadamente na medicina, farmácia, nutrição e biotecnologia. Na área da biotecnologia destaca-se a produção de nanopartículas, com importância na farmacologia; produção de biocombustíveis e degradação de contaminantes e a produção de enzimas que são utilizadas em diversas indústrias e possuem enorme importância a nível económico. Na agricultura apresentam um papel bastante importante na fitopatologia, e na veterinária têm relevância nas micoses produzidas, assim como na medicina. Ao longo dos anos houve também um grande desenvolvimento de fármacos, através da produção de metabolitos secundários. Desde há muitos milhares de anos que os fungos são utilizados a nível alimentar, com a utilização de cogumelos, que podem ser recolhidos da natureza e ingeridos diretamente e no fabrico de cerveja e pão por leveduras. Atualmente são também utilizados como probióticos e prebióticos que ajudam a manter uma vida saudável. Na natureza existem diferentes tipos de fungos. Encontram-se por todo o lado e afetam-nos todos os dias, de forma positiva ou negativa. É, por isso, importante conhecer as suas características para poder controlá-los ou explorá-los para nosso próprio benefício.

Phytocannabinoids are psychotropic substances ofcannabis with the ability to bind endocannabinoid (eCB) receptors that regulate synaptic activity in the central nervous system (CNS). Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are synthetic analogs of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the psychotropic compound of cannabis, acting as agonists of eCB receptor CB1. SC is an easily available and popular alternative to cannabis, and their molecular structure is always changing, increasing the hazard for the general population. The popularity of cannabis and its derivatives may lead, and often does, to a child's exposure to cannabis both in utero and through breastfeeding by a drug-consuming mother. Prenatal exposure to cannabis has been associated with an altered rate of mental development and significant changes in nervous system functioning. However, the understanding of mechanisms of its action on developing the human CNS is still lacking. We investigated the effect of continuous exposure to cannabinoids on developing human neurons, mimicking the prenatal exposure by drug-consuming mother. Two human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) lines were induced to differentiate into neuronal cells and exposed for 37 days to cannabidiol (CBD), Δ9-THC, and two SCs, THJ-018 and EG-018. Both Δ9-THC and SC, at 10 μM, promote precocious neuronal and glial differentiation, while CBD at the same concentration is neurotoxic. Neurons exposed to Δ9-THC and SC show abnormal functioning of voltage-gated calcium channels when stimulated by extracellular potassium. In sum, all studied substances have a profound impact on the developing neurons, highlighting the importance of thorough research on the impact of prenatal exposure to natural and SC.

Encontram-se atualmente descritas na literatura várias técnicas de conservação de alimentos, tendo todas elas o objetivo de aumentar o tempo de vida útil dos mesmos, evitando perdas nutricionais consideráveis. Uma das abordagens da Indústria alimentar tem consistido na utilização da energia ionizante para efeitos da conservação dos produtos alimentícios. A irradiação é um método físico que se baseia na exposição do alimento a uma determinada quantidade de radiação ionizante e por um determinado intervalo de tempo, tendo em conta as características do alimento a ser processado e a finalidade pretendida com a aplicação da técnica. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar um levantamento bibliográfico com o intuito de fazer uma avaliação do panorama geral dos efeitos do uso da radiação ionizante nos microrganismos e componentes nutricionais dos alimentos, suas vantagens, princípios e limitações. A irradiação é utilizada de forma a minimizar a flora microbiana e a diminuir a velocidade das reações químicas intrínsecas dos alimentos. No âmbito da conservação dos alimentos, os tipos de radiação envolvidos são os raios gama (os mais utilizados), os raios X e os eletrões de elevada energia. A preocupação dos consumidores em relação aos alimentos processados por esta técnica é considerada uma limitação na difusão da mesma. Não obstante, os vários estudos reportados na literatura têm vindo a comprovar que o método de irradiação dos alimentos continua a ter um potencial promissor para o futuro, tornando-se fundamental a correta divulgação das suas vantagens e segurança dos métodos de irradiação.

Anemia is a common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both in pediatric and in adult patients. Iron deficiency is the main cause of anemia in patients with IBD. Anemia is a clinically relevant comorbidity, with impact on patients' quality of life and it should be timely diagnosed and adequately treated. Currently, an active treatment approach is the recommended strategy, with evidence showing efficacy and safety of intravenous iron formulations. However, evidence in pediatric age remains scarce and no clinical recommendations exist for the diagnosis and treatment of this particular age group. The present document represents the first national consensus on the management of anemia in pediatric IBD and is therefore particularly relevant. The authors anticipate that the proposed recommendations will be useful in daily clinical practice for diagnosing and managing iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in the pediatric population with IBD.

The SPI (Figure 1) was founded in 1973 by group of 13 immunologists who felt the need to create a platform dedicated to education, interaction and state of the art discussion in fundamental and clinical immunology in Portugal. Since then, the Portuguese scientific landscape has tremendously expanded in size, quality and international competitiveness, with the SPI and its members following the same trend. Currently, we have over 400 registered members, who work in research institutes across Portugal, including Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM), Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Instituto de Investigação em Ciências da Vida e Saúde (ICVS), Centro de Neurociˆencias e Biologia Celular (CNC) and Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED) and abroad, universities and in clinical care encompassing the fields of immune development and tolerance, cancer immunology, allergy, autoimmunity, vaccination, transplantation and infectious diseases.

This paper presents the adaptation of the “Time Management Questionnaire” (TMQ) – drawn up by Britton and Tesser (1991), the final version of which has become known as the “Academic Time Management Questionnaire” (ATMQ). The sample comprised 705 Primary School and Secondary School pupils of both sexes. The factorial analysis of the results followed by varimax rotation led to three factors that explain 40.06% of the variance; the reliability coefficients were also ascertained. For the external validity study, the relationship between the ATMQ results and other school variables were considered, in which significant relations were observed, as expected. The data presented highlights the qualities of the ATMQ, as well as its usefulness in research. New data confirmed these qualities.

Objective: To investigate disease spread in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and determine the influence of lower (LMN) and upper motor neuron (UMN) involvement. Methods: We assessed disease spread in ALS in 1376 consecutively studied patients, from five European centers, applying an agreed proforma to assess LMN and UMN signs. We defined the pattern of disease onset and progression from predominant UMN or lower motor neuron (LMN) dysfunction in bulbar, upper limbs, lower limbs, and thoracic regions Non-linear regression analysis was applied to fit the data to a model that described the relation between two random variables, graphically represented by an inverse exponential curve. We analyzed the probability, rate of spread, and both combined (area under the curve). Results: We found that progression was more likely and quicker to or from the region of onset to close spinal regions. When the disease had a limb onset, bulbar motor neurons were more resistant. Furthermore, in the same time frame more patients progressed from bulbar to lower limbs than vice-versa, whether predominantly UMN or LMN involvement. Patients with initial thoracic involvement had a higher probability for rapid change. The presence of predominant UMN signs was associated with a faster caudal progression. Interpretation: Contiguous progression was leading pattern, and predominant UMN involvement is important in shortening the time for cranial-caudal spread. Our results can best be fitted to a model of independent LMN and UMN degeneration, with regional progression of LMN degeneration mostly by contiguity. UMN lesion causes an acceleration of rostral-caudal LMN loss.

Em vários países, as escolas estão hoje confrontadas com níveis de indisciplina e violência que, por vezes, tornam difícil um clima propício ao ensino e à aprendizagem. A avaliação de tais ocorrências tem sido feita de formas variadas e com diferentes graus e tipos de estruturação, ora por iniciativas ocorridas na escola, ora mais ligadas a estruturas do poder central (observatórios de violência escolar existentes em vários países), ora derivadas de centros de investigação específica. Neste contexto, o presente estudo inclui, num primeiro ponto, informação acerca da avaliação da disrupção escolar em geral, com a Escala de Disrupção Escolar Inferida pelos professores (EDEI e EDEI-2006)) e com a Escala de Disrupção Escolar Professada pelos alunos (EDEP). Num segundo momento, procedese à apresentação de novos elementos da adaptação da Peer Victimization Scale, em alunos adolescentes portugueses.

Este projeto tem como objetivo o desenvolvimento e otimização de formulações de champôs para uso veterinário contendo tensioativos “verdes”, utilizando para tal um decil glucosido e ingredientes condicionadores que permitam um bom pentear. Cada vez mais, os consumidores procuram uma formulação amiga do ambiente, preocupando-se com a sua pegada ecológica e pretendem uma fórmula mais suave que tenha bons resultados. Foram preparadas 4 formulações detergente e formadoras de espuma, duas com um tensioativo não iónico, decil glucosido (Oramix® NS 10), sendo que numa destas foi adicionado um condicionador “anti-frizz” amodimethicone (and) trideceth-12 (and) cetrimonium chloride (Emulsil® CC 30) e na outra não, e ainda duas com um tensioativo aniónico, lauril éter sulfato de sódio (Texapon® N70), com e sem o mesmo ingrediente condicionador “anti-frizz”. De seguida, foram escolhidas a duas melhores formulações, uma de cada categoria e adicionados óleos essenciais. Todas as formulações iniciais foram caracterizadas através de ensaios fisíco-químicos (pH, viscosidade, formação de espuma e ângulo de contacto) e in vitro (força de pentear em hastes de crina de cavalo). Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que os champôs com tensioactivos não iónicos contendo o ingrediente condicionador “anti-frizz”, óleos essências, proteínas, o complexo multivitamínico e cristais de mentol, apresentam melhores características e eficácia que os champôs com sulfatos. Foi realizado um teste in vivo em 5 golden retrievers para avaliar a capacidade de lavagem do champô e ainda um teste sensorial nos seus tutores. Foi concluído que os champôs “verdes” obtiveram melhores resultados, proporcionando um pelo sedoso, brilhante e com o volume adequado e alcançaram melhor aceitação por parte dos tutores, provando que para além dos resultados satisfatórios, a fórmula irá ser bem aceite pelo consumidor e, portanto, têm um futuro promissor na cosmética de uso veterinário Foi ainda criado um protocolo de aconselhamento de champôs adequado a cada tipo de pelo e à situação do animal, de maneira a auxiliar o farmacêutico a praticar um bom aconselhamento e, assim, obter a satisfação do cliente, levando à sua fidelização à farmácia.