3D echoendoscopy and miniprobes for rectal cancer staging

Background: rectal cancer staging using rigid probes or echoendoscopes has some limitations. The aim of the study was to compare rectal cancer preoperative staging using conventional endoluminal ultrasonography with three-dimensional endoscopic ultrasonography and miniprobes. Materials and methods: sixty patients were included and evaluated with: a) a conventional echoendoscope (7.5 and 12 MHz); b) miniprobes (12 MHz); and c) the Easy 3D Freescan software for three-dimensional endoscopic ultrasonography. The reference or gold standard was conventional endoluminal ultrasonography in all cases and pathological assessment for those without preoperative therapy. The differences in T and N staging accuracy in both longitudinal and circumferential extension were evaluated. Results: with regard to T staging, conventional endoluminal ultrasonography had an accuracy of 85% (compared to pathological analysis), and the agreement between miniprobes vs conventional endoluminal ultrasonography (kappa = 0.81) and three-dimensional endoscopic ultrasonography vs conventional endoluminal ultrasonography (k = 0.87) was significant. In addition, miniprobes had an accuracy of 82% and three-dimensional endoscopic ultrasonography had a higher accuracy (96%). With regard to N staging, conventional endoluminal ultrasonography had an accuracy of 91% with a sensitivity of 78%. However, the agreement between miniprobes and conventional endoluminal ultrasonography and three-dimensional endoscopic ultrasonography and conventional endoluminal ultrasonography (k = 0.70) was lower. Interestingly, miniprobes had a lower accuracy of 81% whereas three-dimensional endoscopic ultrasonography had an accuracy of 100% without any false negative. No false positives were observed in any of the techniques. Accuracy for T and N staging was not influenced by longitudinal or circumferential extensions of the tumor in all types of endoscopic ultrasonography analyzed. Conclusions: miniprobes and especially three-dimensional endoscopic ultrasonography may be relevant during rectal cancer staging.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Determinants influencing distance learning at health technology higher education institutions in Portugal

POAT-01-6177-FEDER-000047FCT_UIDB/05608/2020. FCT_UIDP/05608/2020.introducing distance learning within higher education institutions (HEIs) is a key societal issue, especially in the health sector, due to its in vivo learning nature. Public policies play an important role in these digital environments. This study aims to identify the determinants influencing national public policies that foster digital learning transformation in Health HEIs in Portugal. A prospective survey, using the structural analysis of Godet’s method, is conducted, and data are gathered from different health sector stakeholders. Despite the efforts to increase digital literacy and funding for digital learning in HEIs, a weak strategy and implementation of a national plan for distance learning in Health HEIs are still prevalent. The driver to success is grounded on national and international cooperation between health professionals, hospitals, and HEIs through transferability processes of innovative practices.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Project PTDC/CTE-GIX/098968/2008 - High resolution stratigraphy of the Lower Jurassic organic-rich marine series in the Lusitanian Basin (Portugal): Initial expectations and results

Apresenta-se neste trabalho uma caracterização e os principais resultados do Projecto “Estratigrafia de alta resolução das séries marinhas ricas em matéria orgânica do Jurássico Inferior da Bacia Lusitânica”, financiado pela Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portugal). Este projecto centrou-se numa análise estratigráfica multidisciplinar baseada num vasto conjunto de parâmetros bióticos e abióticos da sucessão margo-calcária rica em matéria orgânica do Jurássico Inferior da bacia, envolvendo sete objetivos principais: 1. Análise sedimentológica (mineralógica, textural e composicional) e sequencial da sucessão hemipelágica do Jurássico Inferior (Sinemuriano superior–Toarciano); 2. Precisões biostratigráficas a partir do registo de amonóides do intervalo compreendido entre o Sinemuriano superior e o Pliensbaquiano superior; 3. Análise paleontológica e paleoecológica da macrofauna bentónica (fundamentalmente braquiópodes e bivalves); 4. Análise biostratigráfica, taxonómica e paleoecológica da fauna de ostracodos (Sinemuriano–Toarciano); 5. Análise quimiostratigráfica baseada principalmente nos isótopos estáveis de carbono (Sinemuriano–Pliensbaquiano); 6. Análise geoquímica e de petrografia orgânica (carbono orgânico total, pirólise Rock-Eval e biomarcadores) do Sinemuriano–Pliensbaquiano; 7. Análise dos padrões de variação dos raios gama (Sinemuriano–Toarciano.This work presents the main results of the Project ”High resolution stratigraphy of the Lower Jurassic organic-rich marine series in the Lusitanian Basin (Portugal)”, supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology. This project was focused on a multidisciplinary stratigraphic analysis based on the study of a range of biotic and abiotic parameters of the Lower Jurassic marl–limestone succession rich in organic matter, embracing seven main objectives: 1. Sedimentological (mineralogical, textural and compositional) and sequential analysis of the whole Lower Jurassic hemipelagic succession (Upper Sinemurian–Toarcian); 2. Ammonite biostratigraphic precisions of the Upper Sinemurian and Upper Pliensbachian; 3. Palaeontological and palaeoecological analysis of the benthic macrofauna (especially brachiopods and bivalves); 4. Biostratigraphical, taxonomic and palaeoecological analysis of the ostracod fauna (Sinemurian–Toarcian); 5. Chemostratigraphic analysis based mainly on carbon stable isotopes (Sinemurian–Pliensbachian); 6. Organic geochemical and petrographic analysis (total organic carbon, palynofacies, Rock-Eval pyrolysis and biomarkers) of the Sinemurian–Pliensbachian; 7. Vertical variation patterns of gamma-ray analysis (Sinemurian–Toarcian). Besides the new results in each specific scientific domain (for example, biostratigraphy, palaeoecology, sedimentology, sequence stratigraphy and cyclicity, chemostratigraphy and organic geochemistry), the integration of all data, in several cases at highresolution level, allows emphasizing the achievement of two main transverse goals: the improvement of the stratigraphy and sedimentary knowledge of the Lower Jurassic series of western Iberia margin, with implications in the palaoenvironmental and palaeoceanographic interpretations of the Tethyan pre-Atlantic basins dynamics and global correlation; taking into consideration the huge number of organic geochemical parameters analyzed, the results of this research contributed significantly to understand the role of the different Sinemurian and Pliensbachian organic-rich intervals as potential hydrocarbon generation sources (quality of organic matter and maturation).Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEFondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (COMPETE- FEDER)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)pu

Scientists’ warning on affluence

For over half a century, worldwide growth in affluence has continuously increased resource use and pollutant emissions far more rapidly than these have been reduced through better technology. The affluent citizens of the world are responsible for most environmental impacts and are central to any future prospect of retreating to safer environmental conditions. We summarise the evidence and present possible solution approaches. Any transition towards sustainability can only be effective if far-reaching lifestyle changes complement technological advancements. However, existing societies, economies and cultures incite consumption expansion and the structural imperative for growth in competitive market economies inhibits necessary societal change