Sumário executivo

Três espécies de térmitas são conhecidas actualmente nos Açores: Kalotermes flavicollis (térmita de madeira húmida europeia), Cryptotermes brevis (térmita de madeira seca das Índias Ocidentais), Reticulitermes grassei (térmita subterrânea europeia). Destas, duas, a Cryptotermes brevis e a Reticulitermes grassei estão a provocar grandes prejuízos nas cidades principais dos Açores (Angra do Heroísmo, Ponta Delgada e Horta) e prevê-se que nas próximas décadas possam igualmente ocorrer noutras partes do arquipélag

Hypocalcaemia as a Reversible Cause of Acute Heart Failure in a Long-Term Survivor of Childhood Cancer

Hypocalcaemia is known for its neuromuscular symptoms, which are rapidly alleviated by intravenous supplementation. Calcium is also essential for both cardiac cell excitability and contraction. We present a case of acute heart failure due to hypocalcaemia in a young male with a complex medical history

Vitamin D and autoimmunity in the Portuguese population

A vitamina D é única entre as vitaminas pois trata-se de uma verdadeira hormona, à qual tem sido atribuída grande importância na homeostasia do sistema imune, para lá do seu reconhecido papel no metabolismo fosfocálcico. A ampla expressão do seu recetor (VDR), e os numerosos locais de ligação deste em todo o genoma, dão suporte a essa hipótese. Alguns polimorfismos do gene do VDR têm sido associados com doenças autoimunes. Na população portuguesa, demonstramos que o polimorfismo Fok I do VDR está associado à esclerose múltipla (EM), e à gravidade da doença no lúpus eritematoso sistémico (LES). Os baixos níveis séricos de vitamina D também estão associados com um risco aumentado de desenvolver doenças autoimunes como o LES, a EM e a artrite reumatoide. A insuficiência de vitamina D é muito comum em Portugal, podendo afetar entre os 60% e os 95% da população em função da estação do ano e do índice de massa corporal. O desenvolvimento de estratégias para o rastreio da deficiência de vitamina D é crucial, particularmente em grupos de risco. Não existem ainda, no entanto, evidências suficientes que possibilitem emitir recomendações claras e bem fundamentadas para a suplementação de vitamina D como medida preventiva de doenças crónicas, tendo em conta os riscos e benefícios inerentes.Vitamin D is unique among vitamins, as it represents a real hormone to which great impor tance in the homeostasis of the immune system has been ascribed, beyond its known role in phosphocalcic metabolism. The wide expression of its receptor (VDR), and the numerous binding sites for this receptor along the genome suppor t this hypothesis. Some well known VDR polymorphisms have been associated with autoimmune disease susceptibility. In the Por tuguese population, we have shown that the VDR Fok I polymorphism is associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), and with disease severity in systemic lupus er y thematosus (SLE). Low vitamin D serum levels are also associated with an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as SLE, MS and rheumatoid ar thritis. Vitamin D insuf ficiency is ex tremely common in Por tugal, and can af fect 60% to 85% of the population, depending on the season of the year and body-mass index. The development of screening strategies for vitamin D deficiency is needed, par ticularly for high-risk individuals. However, sufficient evidences are not yet available to make it possible to provide clear and well founded recommendations for the use of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of chronic disease, taking into account the inherent risks and benefits.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A 60-year time series analyses of the upwelling along the Portuguese Coast

Coastal upwelling has a significant local impact on marine coastal environment and on marine biology, namely fisheries. This study aims to evaluate climate and environmental changes in upwelling trends between 1950 and 2010. Annual, seasonal and monthly upwelling trends were studied in three different oceanographic areas of the Portuguese coast (northwestern-NW, southwestern-SW, and south-S). Two sea surface temperature datasets, remote sensing (RS: 1985-2009) and International Comprehensive Ocean-Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS: 1950-2010), were used to estimate an upwelling index (UPWI) based on the difference between offshore and coastal sea surface temperature. Time series analyses reveal similar yearly and monthly trends between datasets A decrease of the UPWI was observed, extending longer than 20 years in the NW (1956-1979) and SW (1956-1994), and 30 years in the S (1956-1994). Analyses of sudden shifts reveal long term weakening and intensification periods of up to 30 years. This means that in the past 60 years a normal climate UPWI occurred along the Portuguese coast. An intensification of UPWI was recorded in recent decades regardless of the areas (RS: 1985-2009). Such an intensification rate (linear increase in UPWI) is only significant in S in recent decades (increase rate: ICOADS = 0.02 degrees C decade-1; RS = 0.11 degrees C decade-1) while in NW and SW the increase rate is meaningless. In NW more stable UPWI conditions were recorded, however average UPWI values increased in autumn and winter in NW in recently decades (RS: 1985-2009). An intensification rate of UPWI was recorded during summer (July, August and September) in SW and S in latter decades (RS: 1985-2009). The average UPWI values increased in recent decades in autumn in S. Marked phenological changes were observed in S in summer (before downwelling conditions prevail whilst recently when UPWI regimes prevail) with UPWI seasonal regime in S in recent decades becoming similar to those found in SW and NW. Results of this work can contribute to a better understanding of how upwelling dynamics affect/are correlated with biological data.Agência financiadora FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology UID/Multi/04326/2019 CLIMFISH project-A framework for assess vulnerability of coastal fisheries to climate change in Portuguese n2/SAICT/2017t-SAICTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cuadro explicativo de los diagnósticos de enfermería en una unidad de neumología

OBJECTIVES: To identify the most frequent nursing diagnoses according to NANDA International´s Taxonomy II; the defining characteristics, related factors and risk factors, in patients with respiratory disorders. METHODS: Cross-sectional study in a university hospital in São Paulo. The nursing diagnoses were determined by the researcher, and subjected to consensual validation by three experts. Results are based on absolute frequency and percentage. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were evaluated and 35 nursing diagnoses were identified that achieved consensus across the researcher and the experts. CONCLUSION: Epidemiological studies that report on the frequency of nursing diagnoses in a population contribute to organizing the knowledge base of nursing and the appropriate provision of nursing care required by a specific population.OBJETIVOS: Identificar los diagnósticos de enfermería más frecuentes, según la taxonomia II de la NANDA - I; las características definidoras, factores relacionados y de riesgo que dieron soporte a la elaboración de los mismos, en pacientes con disturbios respiratorios. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal, realizado en un hospital universitario de la ciudad de São Paulo. Los diagnósticos de enfermería fueron elaborados por la investigadora y sometido a la validación consensual de tres especialistas. Los resultados fueron descritos basados en la frecuencia absoluta y porcentual. RESULTADOS: Fueron evaluados treinta y cuatro pacientes presentando concordancia entre la investigadora y los especialistas 35 diagnósticos de enfermería. CONCLUSIÓN: Estudios epidemiológicos que informan sobre la frecuencia de los diagnósticos de enfermería en una población, contribuyen para organizar la base del conocimiento de enfermería y prever los cuidados de enfermería necesarios a una población específica.OBJETIVOS: Identificar os diagnósticos de enfermagem mais frequentes, segundo a taxonomia II da NANDA - I; as características definidoras, fatores relacionados e de risco que deram suporte para elaboração dos mesmos, em pacientes com distúrbios respiratórios. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, realizado em um hospital universitário da cidade de São Paulo. Os diagnósticos de enfermagem foram elaborados pela pesquisadora e submetido à validação consensual de três especialistas. Os resultados foram descritos baseados na frequência absoluta e percentual. RESULTADOS: Trinta e quatro pacientes foram avaliados e 35 diagnósticos de enfermagem apresentaram concordância entre a pesquisadora e os especialistas. CONCLUSÃO: Estudos epidemiológicos que informam sobre a frequência dos diagnósticos de enfermagem em uma população contribuem para organizar a base de conhecimento de enfermagem e prever os cuidados de enfermagem necessários a uma população específica.Hospital São PauloUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de EnfermagemHospital São PauloUNIFESP, EPESciEL

Inflammatory Cytokines Mediate the Induction of and Awakening from Metastatic Dormancy

Metastases arise from disseminated cancer cells (DCCs) that detach from the primary tumor and seed distant organs. There, quiescent DCCs can survive for an extended time, a state referred to as metastatic dormancy. The mechanisms governing the induction, maintenance, and awakening from metastatic dormancy are unclear. We show that the differentiation of dormancy-inducing CD8+ T cells requires CD4+ T cell help, and that IFNg directly induces dormancy in DCCs. The maintenance of metastatic dormancy, however, is independent of T cells. Instead, awakening from dormancy requires an inflammatory signal, and we identified CD4+ T cell-derived IL-17A as an essential wake-up signal for dormant DCCs in the lungs. Thus, the induction and awakening from metastatic dormancy require an external stimulus, while the maintenance of dormancy does not rely on the continuous surveillance by lymphocytes

MSc in immunology and vaccinology: the implementation of new vaccinology degree in Portugal

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Addressing the ageing workforce phenomenon in the food retail sector: challenges and solutions

Demographics have been changing inverting the age pyramid in developed countries. This shift raises challenges to many companies, which must regard the current tendency of an ageing workforce with increasing concerns and looking forward to anticipate the adversities that may come with this new tendency as the food retail sector seems to be no exception. This study concludes that companies are being reactive towards this phenomenon, therefore, the purpose is to identify the key challenges and solutions in order to mitigate both the risks and negative effects taking the example of a Portuguese company that operates in the mentioned sector of activity. The challenges and solutions identified are related to human resources management policies and practices as well as initiatives and implications that will be further discussed in this study