Evaluation of the greenhouse gas balance in the Eucalyptus globulus sector in Portugal

Este estudio evalúa el balance de gas invernadero en el sector del E. globulus en Portugal. Las eliminaciones y las emisiones de dióxido de carbono (CO2) y el metano (CH4) fueron calculadas a lo largo en todo el sector forestal, incluyendo el ecosistema forestal, el tratamiento industrial de madera y las etapas de empleo y la disposición final de productos forestales. El balance de gas invernadero fue calculado restándose la eliminación de carbono neto a las emisiones de carbono fósil y sumándose las emisiones de carbono como el CH4. El balance global de gas invernadero fue una eliminación neta de carbono que varió entre 401 y 1033 Gg Ceq yr-1, respectivamente con el cambio de reservas y los accesos de flujo atmosférico. La diferencia entre las dos estimaciones es equivalente al carbón exportado en productos de madera y forestales. Tanto productos forestales como forestales eran sumideros de carbono, como sus reservas han estado aumentando. Aproximadamente el 94 % del cambio total de reservas de carbono en el sector era debido al bosque, mientras que el papel era el producto forestal con la contribución principal al aumento de reservas de carbono. Emisiones de carbono de fósil consideradas para el 13 % de las emisiones totales de carbono en el sector y disminuido el retiro neto de carbono por 18 y el 34 %, respectivamente con el flujo atmosférico y los cambio de reservas. El carbón emitido como CH4 tuvo la importancia menor y, por consiguiente, era responsable de una disminución en el retiro neto de carbón de sólo 4 y el 8 %, respectivamente con el flujo atmosférico y los accesos de cambio de reservas.____________________________________This study evaluates the greenhouse gas balance in the E. globulus sector in Portugal. Removals and emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) were calculated along the whole forest sector, including the forest ecosystem, the industrial processing of wood and the stages of use and final disposal of forest products. The greenhouse gas balance was calculated by subtracting to the net carbon removal, the fossil carbon emissions and the additional emissions of carbon as CH4. Two different approaches were applied for estimating the net carbon removal in the sector: the stock-change and the atmospheric-flow approach. The global greenhouse gas balance was a net removal of carbon that varied between 401 and 1033 Gg Ceq yr-1, respectively with the stock-change and the atmospheric-flow approaches. The difference between the two estimates is equivalent to the carbon exported in wood and forest products. Both forest and forest products were carbon sinks, as their stocks have been increasing. About 94% of the total change in carbon stocks in the sector was due to forest, whereas paper was the forest product with the major contribution to the increase of carbon stocks. Fossil carbon emissions accounted for 13% of the total carbon emissions in the sector and decreased the net carbon removal by 18 and 34%, respectively with the atmospheric-flow and the stock-change approaches. Carbon emitted as CH4 was of minor importance and, consequently, was responsible for a decrease in the net carbon removal of only 4 and 8%, respectively with the atmospheric-flow and the stock-change approaches

Obstrução Intestinal de Causa Rara e Ecografia Point-of-Care - Em que Ponto nos Encontramos?

Malignant neoplasms of the small bowel, especially from the jejunum, are among the rarest types of cancer. Given its location, a delayed diagnosis is frequent and sometimes only made in an emergency context. The authors present a case of intestinal obstruction, where ultrasonography was pivotal in establishing a diagnosis. Point-of-care ultrasonography seems to be particularly sensitive in assessing emergency patients with abdominal pain, allowing effective orientation and saving human and technical resources.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efeitos da semicarbazida no esqueleto de ratos Wistar em crescimento.

The effects of semicarbazide hydrochloride on skeletal tissues were evaluated using Wistar rats. In the animals submitted to the administration of semicarbazide, radiological examination showed bone and articular alterations with growth plates enlargement. Histological exams showed irregular patterns and proliferation of chondrocytes and excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix. Immunohistochemical exams showed PCNA positive reaction in pre- and hypertrofic chondrocytes. These results confirm that semicarbazide induces important changes in skeletal tissues and that has potential utility in experimental osteolathryrism

Biodegradation kinetics of winery wastewater from Port Wine production

Winery wastewaters are characterised by seasonality and variable volume and organic load. This fact together with their high content of biodegradable compounds often results in problems in the operation of biological systems as they may lead to poor sludge settleability, floc disintegration and increased presence of solids in the treated effluent. Biodegradation of winery wastewater from a Port Wine production industry was studied in aerobic batch assays, varying substrate and biomass concentrations. More than 90 % of COD was removed in all cases, in a short period when biomass concentration was higher than 3 g VSS L–1. Data was correlated to several kinetic models, and Haldane model best fitted the experimental data, particularly for lower biomass concentrations. Therefore, an initial high biomass concentration should be present in aerobic treatment of winery wastewater, in order to cope with the large fluctuations in their organic loads. These batch assays are valuable for winery wastewater treatment, as they may simulate typical start-ups after short and long shutdown periods often observed in the winery industry.publishe

Estudo histopatológico de lesões ateroscleróticas em suínos de raça Alentejana.

Neste trabalho experimental procedeu-se à medição da espessura e à caracterização histológica de lesões ateroscleróticas, em suínos de raça Alentejana, procurando-se estabelecer uma relação entre estas e os valores dos parâmetros sanguíneos associados ao desenvolvimento deste processo patológico. As concentrações plasmáticas de triacilgliceróis, fosfolípidos, colesterol total, colesterol livre, LDLc e HDLc foram determinadas por métodos enzimáticos. Foram também feitas análises histopatológicas a amostras da artéria coronária esquerda. Os animais foram divididos em 2 grupos de 6 indivíduos cada: Grupo I, com elevada colesterolémia (4,25 mmol/L) e Grupo II, com níveis normais (2,53 mmol/L). Os valores do ganho médio diário (GMD) dos dois grupos foram semelhantes. Os animais do Grupo apresentaram valores significativamente mais elevados (P≤0,001) para: colesterol total, colesterol livre, colesterol esterificado e LDLc. A área de lesão foi significativamente superior (P≤0,05) no Grupo I. Verificou-se uma relação linear entre a área de lesão (fases iniciais do tipo I e II) e os teores plasmáticos de colesterol total, de LDLc e de colesterol livre, o que sugere a influência destes parâmetros na dimensão da área de lesão. Os resultados deste trabalho sugerem que os suínos de raça Alentejana podem desenvolver lesões ateroscleróticas ao longo do seu ciclo de vida, tal como o observado em humanos e outras raças de suínos. Estas lesões estão associadas a hipercolesterolemia que poderão ser devidas a mutações genéticas em apolipoproteínas, sistemas enzimáticos ou receptores. São necessários estudos futuros, quer a nível histológico quer a nível de biologia molecular, para um maior aprofundamento do conhecimento das lesões ateroscleróticas em suínos de raça Alentejana. The present study aimed to assess the histopathological characterization of atherosclerotic lesions in Alentejano pigs, and to evaluate the relationship between several blood parameters and lesions development. Histomorphometric determinations of atherosclerotic lesions were performed on the left coronary artery and plasmatic levels of triacylglycerols, phospholipids, and of total, free, LDL and HDL cholesterol were measured by enzymatic methods. Pigs were assigned to two groups (n=6): Group I, with hypercholesterolemic pigs (4,25 mmol/L), and Group II, with normocholesterolemic ones (2,53 mmol/L). Average daily gain was similar in both groups. Plasmatic levels of total, free, esterified and LDL cholesterol were significantly higher (P≤0,001) in Group I. The atherosclerotic lesion area was significantly higher (P≤0,05) in the same group. Linear correlations between atherosclerotic lesion area (in initial Phases I and II) and plasmatic levels of total, free and LDL cholesterol were observed. The results of this study suggest that the Alentejano pig, like humans and other swine, may develop atherosclerotic lesions during its life cycle. Such lesions, associated with hypercholesterolemia, may be due to genetic mutations in apolipoproteins, lipid enzymes or receptor genes. Further studies on molecular genetics and on hysthopathology of this type of atherosclerostic lesion, in Alentejano pigs are required

Factores Biomecânicos no Desenvolvimento de Patologias nos Membros Pélvicos em Avicultura Industrial

O crescente aparecimento de patologias nos membros pélvicos nos efectivos de frangos de carne e de perus, especialmente nas estirpes de crescimento rápido e de peso adulto elevado, que se traduzem em perdas económicas significativas, faz do estudo da biologia do osso, em particular das questões relacionadas com aspectos biomecânicos, uma área de primordial importância na indústria avícola. Pretende-se com a presente revisão evidenciar a associação que existe, em avicultura industrial, muito particularmente no sector da produção de carne, entre factores biomecânicos e o desenvolvimento de algumas patologias nos membros pélvicos

Real-Word Effectiveness and Safety of Dimethyl Fumarate in a Multiple Sclerosis Portuguese Population

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate postmarketing dimethyl fumarate (DMF) safety and effectiveness in a real-world population with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Methods: This was a retrospective, single-center study with RRMS patients treated with DMF. Demographic, clinical, and imagiological characteristics were analyzed, including annualized relapse rate (ARR), Expanded Disability Status Scale, "No Evidence of Disease Activity 3," previous treatment, adverse events, treatment duration, and reason for discontinuation. We investigated which baseline variables were associated with clinical and radiological outcomes. Results: We included 176 patients (70.4% females) with a median on-treatment follow-up time of 25.5 months. In total, 139 patients received prior disease-modifying therapies, and 37 were treatment-naive. Annualized relapse rate decreased by 77.1% in the total population (P < 0.001) and also decreased in the naive, tolerability switch, and efficacy switch groups by 95.8%, 56.7%, and 76.6% (P < 0.001). No Evidence of Disease Activity 3 status after 12 months of DMF treatment was maintained in 69.2% patients. Thirty patients (17%) discontinued treatment because of adverse drug reactions, and 21 (11.9%) because of lack of effectiveness. The occurrence of first relapse during follow-up was associated with higher ARR in the year before DMF start (hazard ratio, 4.833; P < 0.001) and prior exposure to multiple sclerosis treatments (tolerability and efficacy switchers). Conclusions: In this real-world audit, DMF appeared to be effective and safe for RRMS. Additionally, the study suggested that naive patients strongly benefit from DMF, and DMF also improves ARR in patients who switched from injectable therapies due to tolerability and efficacy issues.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Strychnine Intoxication: A Case Report

Strychnine acts as an inhibitor of post-synaptic neuronal inhibition and intoxication leads to distinct clinical manifestations which may culminate in death. Since its commercialization is prohibited in most countries, cases of strychnine intoxication are now rare. We present a case of an elderly patient who voluntarily ingested a white powder thought to be strychnine. He developed myoclonus, startle response, and episodes of generalized muscle contractions accompanied by respiratory arrest in one occasion. Diazepam, valproic acid and supportive treatments were able to control manifestations, however the patient died after 2 days. Our aim is to alert clinicians that, despite its rarity, strychnine intoxication may still be seen in emergency departments, and clinical outcome can be influenced by rapid recognition and timely institution of adequate treatment