End of life person’s evaluation criteria in the decision making regarding artificial nutrition

Background: Artificial nutrition at the end of life is assumed as a medical intervention, however for a large percentage of person’s and families is considered as basic care [1]. Thinking about artificial nutrition and the end of life person, such as the person with advanced, incurable and progressive disease, with a survival expectancy between 3 to 6 months [2] is often reflected on a set of issues. This is a controversial discussion, about the quality of life resulting of one of these means and ethical questioning [3]. It’s relevant to look to the user/family as one, which motivates the urgent intervention of the nurses in decision-making support. Objective: Identify scientific evidence regarding the end-of-life evaluation criteria, to be considered in the nurses’ decision-making about artificial nutrition. Methods: Literature Review (15-06-2017) with PRISMA guidelines for reviews [4]. It’s relevant to look to the user/family as one, which motivates the urgent intervention of the nurses in decision-making support. Objective: Identify scientific evidence regarding the end-of-life evaluation criteria, to be considered in the nurses’ decision-making about artificial nutrition. Methods: Literature Review (15-06-2017) with PRISMA guidelines for reviews [4 in Academic Search Complete, Complementary Index, CINAHL Plus with Full Text®, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, ScieELO, MEDLINE®, Directory of Open Access Journals, Supplemental Index, ScienceDirect, Education Source, Business Source Complete and MedicLatina. Inclusion/exclusion criteria: nurses who care for adult/elderly persons at the end of life, excluding nurses who care for children; articles about nurses’ intervention in nutrition care to the person at the end of life and the person’s evaluation criteria; full text; in French/Spanish/English/Portuguese; peer-reviewed; published between 2000-2017. A sample of 11 articles was selected. Results: The evaluation criteria to be considered when making decisions on artificial nutrition are: the evaluation of symptoms/problems; emotional value of food; the meaning of the diet for the person at the end of life and definition of prognosis [3,5-6]. In every decision-making, it should be considered the existence of a clinical indication/treatment, a therapeutic objective and the informed consent of a user or legal guardian. Conclusions: It is concluded that the decision on artificial nutrition should integrate the person at the end of life and family, be taken by an interdisciplinary team, considering the definition of the prognosis and the effectiveness of the treatment applied [3]. The intervention of the nurse is understood as a primordial one, based on the best evidence, in relation of proximity [5] considered, simultaneously, the principle of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence and justice. There is little evidence of end-of-life nutrition and new studies on the role of nurses within the interdisciplinary team are suggested.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Weakness: The most frequent criterion among pre-frail and frail older Portuguese

Aim In Portugal, the burden of pre-frailty and frailty in community-dwelling older adults is still unknown. The purpose of this study is to estimate the frequency of frailty in a Portuguese sample with = 65 years and to evaluate its associated factors. We also intend to identify which criterion has more impact on the diagnosis of frailty. Methods 1457 older adults with = 65 years from the Nutrition UP 65 study were evaluated in a cross-sectional analysis. Frailty was identified according to Fried et al. by the presence of three or more of the following factors: unintentional weight loss, self-reported exhaustion, slowness, weakness and low physical activity. Pre-frailty was defined as the presence of one or two of these criteria. The association between individuals’ characteristics and frailty status was analysed through logistic regression analysis. Results The frequency of pre-frailty and frailty is 54.3% and 21.5%, respectively. In older adults classified as pre-frail or frail, 76.7% presented weakness and 48.6% exhaustion. In multivariate analyses, frailty was associated with age >75, lower education level, being single, divorced or widower, being professionally inactive, poor self-perception of health status, not drinking alcohol, being obese and undernourished or at undernutrition risk. Conclusion This condition is very prevalent in Portuguese older adults, one fifth are frail whereas half are pre-frail. Weakness identified by low handgrip strength is the most prevalent criterion in pre-frail and frail Portuguese older adults.This research was conducted according to the guidelines established by the Declaration of Helsinki, and the study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the department of “Ciências Sociais e Saúde” (Social Sciences and Health) from the “Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto” (PCEDCSS – FMUP 15/2015) and by the Portuguese National Commission of Data Protection (9427/2015). All study participants signed an informed consent form. Nutrition UP 65 is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through European Economic Area (EEA) Grants in 85% and by Faculdade de Ciências da Nutrição e Alimentação, Universidade do Porto in 15%. Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway sponsor initiatives and projects in various program areas, primarily focusing on reducing economic and social disparities. The European Economic Area Grants are managed by Administração Central do Sistema de Saúde through the Programa Iniciativas em Saúde Pública

Vegetable Garden at School

This project began in 2018/2019 due to the interests shown by three classes of the 5th year. Through a brainstorm, we realized that the concern about the lack of green spaces was common to several students of the school. Thus, the vegetable garden would make the school greener and more open to the community. The space for construction was chosen and partnerships were created with the department of environmental management and transport of Odivelas (CMO), and the school parents association. We have privileged collaborative and interdisciplinary work to streamline various activities throughout the school year. The study ofsoil, seeds, autochthonous plants and pollinating insects was done with the help of class teachers and librarian teachers. The days of the native forest and the tree were celebrated with the planting of trees and the holding of a plant fair. At school and throughout the year students disseminated their project through informative posters, school radio and the school's website

The association between 25(OH)D levels, frailty status and obesity indices in older adults

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is common in older adults and has been linked with frailty and obesity, but it remains to be studied whether frail obese older adults are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the association between frailty, obesity indices and serum 25(OH)D concentrations. Methods: 1447 individuals with 65 years or older, participating in a cross-sectional study (Nutrition UP 65) were included. Frailty, according to Fried et al., body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body roundness index (BRI) and body shape index (ABSI) were evaluated. A stepwise multinomial logistic regression was carried out to quantify the association between 25(OH)D quartiles and independent variables. Results: Median 25(OH)D levels were lower in individuals presenting both frailty and obesity (p<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, pre-frailty (OR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.63-4.33) and frailty (OR: 3.77; 95% CI: 2.08-6.83) were associated with increased odds of lower 25(OH)D serum levels (first quartile). Regarding obesity indices, the highest categories of BMI (OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.06-2.86), WC (OR: 3.46; 95% CI: 1.95-6.15), BRI (OR: 4.35; 95% CI: 2.60-7.29) and ABSI (OR: 3.17 95% CI: 1.86-5.38) were directly associated with lower 25(OH)D serum levels (first quartile). Conclusions: A positive association between frailty or obesity and lower vitamin D levels was found. Moreover, besides BMI and WC, other indicators of body adiposity, such as BRI and ABSI, were associated with lower 25(OH)D serum concentrations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Peixes marinhos costeiros da ilha de São Tomé (Golfo da Guiné).

Since the early works of Balthazar Osório, at the turn of the century, only few papers have been published on the ichthyofauna of São Tomé island. The papers dealing with these fishes were compilations of previous works or the results of a few scientific expeditions (e.g. "Galathea" and "Calypso"). In this paper, we present the results of several surveys carried out from the island over the last decade, together with an annotated revision of the known bibliography for the area. The result is an inventory of the coastal fish of São Tomé island. Our records (124 species belonging to 59 families) are based on fish captured, photographed or observed whilst diving and also on those landed by local artisanal fishermen. In this paper we report a total of 185 confirmed coastal species and 67 families. Twenty-seven of these are reported for the first time for the area, and three other unidentified species may represent new species to science. The best represented families are Carangidae (14 species), Serranidae (11 species), Gobiidae and Scombridae (8 species each). Despite its proximity to the African Continent, it is clear that these islands harbour a particular fish fauna, including several amphiatlantic species, which, in the eastern Atlantic, occur only around oceanic islands (e.g., Epinephelus ascencionis, Paranthias furcifer, Mulloidychtis martinicus, Bodianus pulchellus, Chromis multilineata, Gnatholepis thomsoni, Melychthis niger). The coastal ichthyodiversity of São Tomé is apparently poorer than that of the adjacent coasts, showing a significant influence of the islands further west, St. Helena and Ascencion

Effects of different slipping methods on the mortality of sardine, Sardina pilchardus, after purse-seine capture off the Portuguese Southern coast (Algarve)

The effects of two different slipping methods on the survival, physical and physiological response of sardines, Sardina pilchardus, captured in a purse-seine fishery were investigated in southern Portugal. Sardines were collected and transferred into holding tanks onboard a commercial fishing vessel after being captured, crowded and deliberately released using two slipping procedures: standard and modified. The standard slipping procedure aggregated fish at high densities and made them "roll over" the floatline, while the modified procedure aggregated the fish at moderate densities and enabled them to escape through an opening created by adding weights to the floatline. Both slipping methods were compared with minimally harmed non-slipped sardines (sardines collected from the loose pocket of the purse seine). Survival rates were monitored in captivity over 28 days using three replicates for each treatment. The estimated survival of sardines was 43.6% for the non-slipped fish, 44.7% for the modified slipping and 11.7% for the standard slipping treatments. Scale loss indicated the level of physical impact experienced, with dead fish from the non-slipped and modified slipping technique showing significantly lower scale loss than those fish from the standard slipping treatment within the same period. Of the physiological indicators of stress measured, cortisol, glucose, lactate and osmolality attained peak values during slipping and up to the first hours after introduction to captivity. This work indicates that although delayed mortality after release may be substantial, appropriately modified slipping techniques significantly enhance survival of slipped sardines.FCT [SFRH/BPD/116307/2016]; European Commission's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme [634495

Avaliação do grau de conformidade de produtores do Cerrado Mineiro com as exigências da Produção Integrada de Café- PIC

A Produção Integrada de Café ? PIC é uma norma que objetiva inserir a produção cafeeira no moderno conceito de desenvolvimento sustentável, seguido podendo ser utilizada por todos os setores do agronegócio interessados na certificação da produção de café. Realizou-se este trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar o grau de conformidade de produtores diante deste modelo de produção. A pesquisa desenvolveu-se na Associação dos Cafeicultores da Região de Patrocínio ? ACARPA, envolvendo 5% do universo de produtores de maneira aleatória, para diagnosticar a cafeicultura quanto à adoção de boas praticas agrícolas, referindo-se aos itens de conduta contidos na proposta da norma da Produção Integrada de Café, que inclui implantação da cultura, manejo do solo, proteção da planta, colheita e pós-colheita, gerenciamento organizacional, proteção ambiental e tratamento social. Os resultados indicam que os cafeicultores do cerrado mineiro apresentam conscientização em adotar as boas práticas agrícolas, existindo grande perspectiva para que a Produção Integrada de Café - PIC seja implementada. Este modelo de produção, a ser implementado de forma voluntária, é oportuno para que produtores e suas organizações possam realizar uma auto-avaliação e aprimorar as tomadas de decisões para garantir a sustentabilidade econômica, social e ambiental da cafeicultura

The apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii

PTDC/CVT-CVT/31840/2017EXPL/CVT-EPI/1945/2013Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous zoonotic parasite with an obligatory intracellular lifestyle. It relies on a specialized set of cytoskeletal and secretory organelles for host cell invasion. When infecting its felid definitive host, T. gondii undergoes sexual reproduction in the intestinal epithelium, producing oocysts that are excreted with the feces and sporulate in the environment. In other hosts and/or tissues, T. gondii multiplies by asexual reproduction. Rapidly dividing tachyzoites expand through multiple tissues, particularly nervous and muscular tissues, and eventually convert to slowly dividing bradyzoites which produce tissue cysts, structures that evade the immune system and remain infective within the host. Infection normally occurs through ingestion of sporulated oocysts or tissue cysts. While T. gondii is able to infect virtually all warm-blooded animals, most infections in humans are asymptomatic, with clinical disease occurring most often in immunocompromised hosts or fetuses carried by seronegative mothers that are infected during pregnancy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Patterns and drivers of rodent abundance across a South African multi-use landscape

Funding: This research was funded by FCT/MCTES, through national funds, and the co-funding by the FEDER, within the PT2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020 (cE3c: UIDB/00329/2020), and by the South African National Research Foundation, South Africa (UID 107099&115040). TAM thanks partial support by CEAUL (funded by FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Portugal, through the project UIDB/00006/2020).South Africa’s decentralized approach to conservation entails that wildlife outside formally protected areas inhabit complex multi-use landscapes, where private wildlife business (ecotourism and/or hunting) co-exist in a human-dominated landscape matrix. Under decentralized conservation, wildlife is perceived to benefit from increased amount of available habitat, however it is crucial to understand how distinct management priorities and associated landscape modifications impact noncharismatic taxa, such as small mammals. We conducted extensive ink-tracking-tunnel surveys to estimate heterogeneity in rodent distribution and investigate the effect of different environmental factors on abundance patterns of two size-based rodent groups (small-and medium-sized species), across three adjacent management contexts in NE KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a private ecotourism game reserve, mixed farms and traditional communal areas (consisting of small clusters of houses interspersed with grazing areas and seminatural vegetation). Our hypotheses were formulated regarding the (1) area typology, (2) vegetation structure, (3) ungulate pressure and (4) human disturbance. Using a boosted-regression-tree approach, we found considerable differences between rodent groups’ abundance and distribution, and the underlying environmental factors. The mean relative abundance of medium-sized species did not differ across the three management contexts, but small species mean relative abundance was higher in the game reserves, confirming an influence of the area typology on their abundance. Variation in rodent relative abundance was negatively correlated with human disturbance and ungulate presence. Rodent abundance seems to be influenced by environmental gradients that are directly linked to varying management priorities across land uses, meaning that these communities might not benefit uniformly by the increased amount of habitat promoted by the commercial wildlife industry.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Mitochondrial DNA data of Cabo Verde Immigrant Population Living in Lisboa

Póster apresentado em 8 th International Y Chromosome User Workshop 5 th International EMPOP Meeting, Innsbruck, September 06-08, 2012Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis found an important role in forensic genetics, especially when nuclear DNA analysis does not give a conclusive response. It is a powerful tool to exclude samples as originating from the same matriline. Features that increase the vested interest of mtDNA are the high copy number per cell, maternal inheritance, absence of recombination, and high mutation rate. Due to the higher overall mutation rate, the control region is comparatively enriched in sequence variation and therefore its analysis is important to establish haplotypes and haplogroups. Haplogroup assignment became noteworthy to clarify the history and demographic past of a population. As well as occurring all over Europe, in Portugal, and particularly in Lisboa, immigrant populations are increasing. The Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses is carrying out a comprehensive genetic study with the aim of portraying the genetic diversity of the immigrants who live in Lisboa. Within that objective, the present study intends to: obtain the mtDNA variability of Cabo Verde Immigrant Population Living in Lisboa and classify haplotypes into haplogroups. The studied population shows great interpopulation genetic variability due to the high frequency of unique haplotypes. Cabo Verde immigrants living in Lisboa exhibit haplotypes that belong to haplogroups observed in native Africans and in West Eurasian. MtDNA control region typing is extremely useful as a technique to differentiate among degraded samples frequently found in forensic genetics and to establish its global frequency when having knowledge of the genetic structure of populations.N/