Hyperglycaemic Hemichorea

Background: Hyperkinetic disorders such as hemichorea can be caused by cerebrovascular, infectious or inflammatory diseases or by metabolic conditions such as hyperglycaemia. Hyperglycaemic hemichorea is a rare movement disorder which is frequently misdiagnosed. It is characterized by involuntary, continuous, non-patterned movements on one side of the body, basal ganglia lesions seen on head CT or MRI, and clinical improvement after blood glucose normalization. We describe the case of a female patient with uncontrolled diabetes who presented with hemichorea. Case presentation: We report the case of a 69-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes who presented with abnormal movements of the right upper limb. She had no neurological signs other than hemichorea. Her blood glucose level was 349 mg/dl and her glycosylated haemoglobin level (HbA1c) was 10.5%. Head CT and MRI showed no changes in the basal ganglia or ischaemic lesions. The patient was started on insulin and haloperidol with clinical improvement. Conclusion: Larger case series are needed to establish better understanding of the physiopathological mechanisms and diagnostic criteria of hyperglycaemic hemichorea. The most important diagnostic criterion is clinical improvement after glycaemic control

Optimization of zirconia surface textured designs using Nd:Yag laser for biomedical applications

The development of surface textured designs has influence in primary stability of surgically placed implants since a textured surface allows to firmer mechanical link to the surrounding tissue. Laser technology has been investigated to develop new surface designs on green zirconia compacts by cold pressing. Nd:Yag laser were used to produce several strategies and different laser parameters (laser power, speed and laser passages) were tested to evaluate their impact on cavities geometry and depth. The surface texture designs were analysed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and regular geometries such as cavities or pillars were observed. The distance between lines have a strong impact on texturing quality and should be combined with optimum power and speed conditions. Regarding the optimized conditions, several surface textured patterns were created in both green and sintered zirconia compacts. This study allowed to conclude that only some texturing strategies are suitable to obtain high quality surface textured patterns. Otherwise, the remaining strategies are potential solutions for obtaining high quality machined structures (laser does not machine cavities but crosses the entire bulk). High strength zirconia scaffolds were machined by laser and CNC machining technologies and the two promising technologies were compared.This work is supported by FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) through the grant SFRH/BD/148031/2019, the project UIDB/04436/2020 and UIDP/04436/2020

Práticas artísticas no ensino básico e secundário

O terceiro número da Revista Matéria-Prima afirma-se como mais uma plataforma de disseminação e de registo na área da educação e ensino artísticos. Ao propor-se o desafio da Matéria-Prima está a lançar-se um repto de intervenção e partilha a três tipos de intervenientes na educação pela arte: — Os professores, profissionais experimentados; — Os que se iniciam na profissão, através da frequência de mestrados e estágios formativos; — Os investigadores e professores universitários desta área. Esta chamada coloca em cima da mesa a partilha das experiências didácticas em sala de aula, a pesquisa sobre práticas profissionais. Experiências, algumas bem-sucedidas, outras menos, porventura, todas com um mérito substancial, que é a vontade de estabelecer comunidade entre os interessados pela educação artística. Este conjunto de textos poderá ajudar a cartografar práticas que se observam bastante distintas, entre as realidades dos países representados, Portugal, Espanha, Brasil, Argentina. Observa-se também que a prática dos educadores está longe de ser homogénea. É surpreendente determinar as diferenças entre contextos e regiões. Se umas são mais metódicas, e por isso consistentes, outras abrem-se à descoberta. Em todas um ponto de encontro: a revista Matéria-Prima, que assim assume cada vez mais o seu nome como um desígnio de intervenção.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Joint Observation of the Galactic Center with MAGIC and CTA-LST-1

MAGIC is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs), designed to detect very-high-energy gamma rays, and is operating in stereoscopic mode since 2009 at the Observatorio del Roque de Los Muchachos in La Palma, Spain. In 2018, the prototype IACT of the Large-Sized Telescope (LST-1) for the Cherenkov Telescope Array, a next-generation ground-based gamma-ray observatory, was inaugurated at the same site, at a distance of approximately 100 meters from the MAGIC telescopes. Using joint observations between MAGIC and LST-1, we developed a dedicated analysis pipeline and established the threefold telescope system via software, achieving the highest sensitivity in the northern hemisphere. Based on this enhanced performance, MAGIC and LST-1 have been jointly and regularly observing the Galactic Center, a region of paramount importance and complexity for IACTs. In particular, the gamma-ray emission from the dynamical center of the Milky Way is under debate. Although previous measurements suggested that a supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* plays a primary role, its radiation mechanism remains unclear, mainly due to limited angular resolution and sensitivity. The enhanced sensitivity in our novel approach is thus expected to provide new insights into the question. We here present the current status of the data analysis for the Galactic Center joint MAGIC and LST-1 observations

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Novas drogas sintéticas e as smart-shops : realidade nacional no contexto internacional

Trabalho final de mestrado integrado em Medicina (Medicina Legal), apresentado á Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de CoimbraNovas drogas psicoativas têm entrado no mercado internacional e, mais importante ainda, nacional, nos últimos anos. Apresentando-se inicialmente como substâncias legais, têm como objetivo substituir muitos dos efeitos adquiridos pelas drogas ilegais e, desta forma, contornar a lei. Os casos de emergência, internamento e mesmo morte têm aumentado assustadoramente. O primeiro fenómeno a que se assistiu no nosso país verificou-se na Ilha da Madeira, no ano de 2011, seguindo-se os casos de intoxicação que rapidamente se seguiram em todo o continente, levando a uma verdadeira epidemia. Esta situação séria e difícil de controlar em termos de Saúde Pública, levou à implementação de medidas legais para controlar estas substâncias. Este trabalho procura, assim, proceder a uma revisão da literatura relativamente às novas substâncias psicoativas, dando especial enfoque aos grupos com maior representatividade em termos de consumo e perigo para a saúde pública: canabinóides sintéticos, feniletilaminas e seus derivados, derivados da catinona, e piperazinas e derivados. Procura, igualmente, avaliar a magnitude do impacto deste fenómeno refletindo sobre as estratégias de controlo integradas num paralelo entre o contexto nacional e internacional. Verifica-se, desta forma, que o plano de ação adotado na maioria dos países, inclusive em Portugal, assenta num pressuposto de prevenção secundária de danos, exercendo o controlo precoce de determinada substância através de ilegalização temporária. Contudo, é de facto preocupante que, apesar de toda a ação legislativa criteriosamente realizada para controlar a venda deste tipo de substâncias, predomine uma evolução rápida do mercado, no sentido de criar novos compostos similares aos que haviam sido proibidos. O controlo e restrição deste tipo de substâncias tornam-se, assim, dependentes, em grande medida, do conhecimento por parte da sociedade dos riscos inerentes à sua utilização. A consciencialização dos seus efeitos, bem como o fornecimento de informações claras revela-se, assim, de extrema importância.New psychoactive drugs have been entering the international market and, more importantly, the Portuguese market in the last few years. Initially presented as legal substances, their first objective is to replace the many acquired effects produced by illegal drugs and, in that, get a head start from the law. The first records of this phenomenon in our country take us back to year 2011, in Madeira Island, but it rapidly took over the continent, spreading like an epidemic. This serious public health problem difficult to handle with, lead to the implementation of legal regulations to control these substances. The aim of the present work is to provide enough information about these psychoactive substances, giving a special focus to some groups that present a significant importance in terms of consumer acceptance and public health concern: synthetic cannabinoids, phenylethylamines and derivatives, cathinone derivatives and piperazines along with its own derivatives. At the same time, to evaluate the impact of this phenomenon putting some thought on integrated control strategies and comparing the national and international context. As it shows, the adopted course of action for most countries, including Portugal, rests on a secondary damage prevention assumption, precociously controlling the substance through temporary outlawing. As these careful legal actions to control the selling of these substances take place, it is important to watch the rapid market evolution which systematically creates new products to replace and simulate the ones already criminalized. Control and restriction of these kinds of substances becomes, in great length, dependent on society’s knowledge of the involved risks with its consumption. Awareness of these drugs effects, as well as the providing of clear information on the matter is now, more than ever, extremely important

Effect of the Fran CrossFit Workout on Oxygen Uptake Kinetics, Energetics, and Postexercise Muscle Function in Trained CrossFitters

PURPOSE: Fran is one of the most popular CrossFit benchmark workouts used to control CrossFitters' improvements. Detailed physiological characterization of Fran is needed for a more specific evaluation of CrossFitters' training performance improvements. The aim of the study was to analyze the oxygen uptake (V˙O2) kinetics and characterize the energy system contributions and the degree of postexercise fatigue of the unbroken Fran.METHODS: Twenty trained CrossFitters performed Fran at maximal exertion. V˙O2 and heart-rate kinetics were assessed at baseline and during and post-Fran. Blood lactate and glucose concentrations and muscular fatigue were measured at baseline and in the recovery period.RESULTS: A marked increase in V˙O2 kinetics was observed at the beginning of Fran, remaining elevated until the end (V˙O2peak: 49.2 [3.7] mL·kg-1·min-1, V˙O2 amplitude: 35.8 [5.2] mL·kg-1·min-1, time delay: 4.7 [2.5] s and time constant: 23.7 [11.1] s; mean [SD]). Aerobic, anaerobic lactic, and alactic pathways accounted for 62% (4%), 26% (4%), and 12% (2%) of energy contribution. Reduction in muscle function in jumping ability (jump height: 8% [6%], peak force: 6% [4%], and maximum velocity: 4% [2%]) and plank prone test (46% [20%]) was observed in the recovery period.CONCLUSIONS: The Fran unbroken workout is a high-intensity effort associated with an elevated metabolic response. This pattern of energy response highlights the primary contribution of aerobic energy metabolism, even during short and very intense CrossFit workouts, and that recovery can take &gt;24 hours due to cumulative fatigue.</p

Mechanical stimulation of human chondrocytes by ultrasound as a bioinspired strategy to regenerate knee cartilage

9th International Conference on Mechanics of Biomaterials and Tissues (ICMOBT), 16-20 December 2023.[Excerpt] Articular cartilage is naturally subjected to mechanical forces during knee joint loading. A constant and physiological loading of articular cartilage is essential for chondrocytes, the resident cells, that sense the mechanical deformations, activating their intracellular mechanisms to regulate and maintain the tissue homeostasis. However, either excessive or low magnitude mechanical loading may disturb this homeostasis and induce cartilage damage [1]. Cartilage injuries affect, approximately, 900,000 patients in USA per year, leading to more than 200,000 surgical procedures, with an annual incidence growth of 5% [2]. Current treatments fail in restoring articular cartilage, only delaying the progression of its degeneration, which ultimately results in osteoarthritis. Knee osteoarthritis is a major public health concern and one of the major causes of disability worldwide, affecting 7% of the global population and this is expected to increase over the years [3]. There is a significant economic and clinical need for new therapies that could induce cartilage regeneration or, at least, stop further degeneration by stimulating the natural cartilage biomechanical environment. [...]This work was supported by FCT through the reference project Stimcart - PTDC/EME-EME/4520/2021

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved