Procriação Medicamente Assistida em Ciclo Natural: Avaliação dos Resultados de um Departamento de Medicina da Reprodução

Introdução: As técnicas de procriação medicamente assistida em ciclo natural têm sido investigadas, sobretudo em mulheres com má resposta à estimulação ovárica convencional, observando-se melhor recetividade endometrial, custo inferior e possibilidade de realização de ciclos sucessivos. Como desvantagens salientam-se: menor eficácia por ciclo de tratamento e maior taxa de cancelamento. O objetivo definido para este trabalho foi determinar a taxa de gravidez evolutiva em mulheres inférteis, submetidas a procriação medicamente assistida em ciclo natural. Material e Métodos: Estudo retrospetivo de 149 ciclos de procriação medicamente assistida sem estimulação ovárica de 50 mulheres inférteis, entre janeiro de 2011 e outubro de 2014. Resultados: As mulheres submetidas a procriação medicamente assistida em ciclo natural tinham, em média, 36,1 anos. Aproximadamente metade (46,0%) dos ciclos realizaram-se em más respondedoras. No dia do desencadeamento da ovulação o diâmetro médio do folículo foi 17,5 mm. Cancelaram-se 23 ciclos (15,4%) previamente ao desencadeamento. Em 8 ciclos (5,3%) ocorreu ovulação entre o desencadeamento e a punção folicular. Na maioria dos ciclos (n = 118; 79,2%) efetuou-se punção folicular, realizando-se técnica de procriação medicamente assistida em 71 (47,6%), maioritariamente injeção intracitoplasmática. A taxa de fecundação global foi 63,8%. Em 40 ciclos (26,8%) houve transferência embrionária. A taxa de implantação e de gravidez evolutiva por transferência embrionária foram de 35,0% e 25,0%, respetivamente. A maioria das gestações ocorreu em más respondedoras, conforme critérios de Bolonha. Discussão: Apesar de a taxa de gravidez por ciclo iniciado ser de 6,7%, a taxa de gravidez evolutiva por transferência embrionária é bastante satisfatória, sendo mulheres com respostas desfavoráveis em tratamentos prévios. As taxas relativamente elevadas de cancelamento do ciclo são atenuadas pela simplicidade e menor custo destes ciclos. Conclusão: Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho demonstram que as técnicas de procriação medicamente assistida em ciclo natural podem ser uma alternativa de tratamento à estimulação ovárica em doentes com mau prognóstico, cuja alternativa seria o recurso à doação de ovócitos

Evaluation of Fluoride Release, pH and Microhardness of Glass Ionomer Cements

Objective: To evaluate fluoride release, pH and microhardness of glass ionomer cements (GIC). Material and Methods: Four different cements: Vidrion ® R (G1), Vitro Fil ® (G2), Maxxion ® (G3) and Magic Glass ® (G4) and a composite resin (G5 - control group) comprised the sample. Thirty specimens were manufactured (10 mm x 3 mm) and stored in deionized water. Analyses were performed after 24 hours, 7 days and 28 days. The following devices were used for measurements: fluorometer, pH meter and microhardness tester. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, Friedman and Wilcoxon tests (α = 0.05) using the SPSS ® software (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 17. Results: GICs were able to release fluoride; however, the amount released decreased with increasing immersion time (p <0.002). The pH of all products increased over time, the lowest value was identified for Magic Glass (5.93) and the highest for Maxxion (6.94) at time of 24 h. Materials showed significant decrease in surface microhardness, especially G4 for presenting the lowest recorded values (p <0.05). Conclusion: GICs are fluoride-releasing restorative materials with pH favorable to oral homeostasis and good mechanical behavior

Building a Portuguese Coalition for Biodiversity Genomics

The diverse physiography of the Portuguese land and marine territory, spanning from continental Europe to the Atlantic archipelagos, has made it an important repository of biodiversity throughout the Pleistocene glacial cycles, leading to a remarkable diversity of species and ecosystems. This rich biodiversity is under threat from anthropogenic drivers, such as climate change, invasive species, land use changes, overexploitation or pathogen (re)emergence. The inventory, characterization and study of biodiversity at inter- and intra-specific levels using genomics is crucial to promote its preservation and recovery by informing biodiversity conservation policies, management measures and research. The participation of researchers from Portuguese institutions in the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative, and its pilot effort to generate reference genomes for European biodiversity, has reinforced the establishment of Biogenome Portugal. This nascent institutional network will connect the national community of researchers in genomics. Here, we describe the Portuguese contribution to ERGA’s pilot effort, which will generate high-quality reference genomes of six species from Portugal that are endemic, iconic and/or endangered, and include plants, insects and vertebrates (fish, birds and mammals) from mainland Portugal or the Azores islands. In addition, we outline the objectives of Biogenome Portugal, which aims to (i) promote scientific collaboration, (ii) contribute to advanced training, (iii) stimulate the participation of institutions and researchers based in Portugal in international biodiversity genomics initiatives, and (iv) contribute to the transfer of knowledge to stakeholders and engaging the public to preserve biodiversity. This initiative will strengthen biodiversity genomics research in Portugal and fuel the genomic inventory of Portuguese eukaryotic species. Such efforts will be critical to the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity and will contribute to ERGA’s goal of generating reference genomes for European species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

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The same was observed when assessing left atrial abnormality, i.e. the presence of at least one of the former transesophageal echocardiogram changes. On multivariate analysis, clinical parameters from CHADS 2 (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age 6 75, diabetes mellitus and stroke) and CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc (age 65-74, history of vascular disease, and female gender along with the clinical variables from CHADS 2 ) were predictors of transesophageal echocardiogram changes and an additive predictive value was found for eGFR. Conclusions: Our results suggest an association between compromised renal function as assessed through eGFR and markers of left atrial stasis in patients with AF. The increased risk of stroke in this population may be due to thromboembolism

Mean platelet volume is associated with the presence of left atrial stasis in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Background: Mean platelet volume has been associated with stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, its role as a predictor of left atrial stasis, assessed by transesophageal echocardiography, in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation has not yet been clarified. Methods: Single center cross-sectional study comprising 427 patients admitted to the emergency department due to symptomatic atrial fibrillation and undergoing transesophageal echocardiogram evaluation for exclusion of left atrial appendage thrombus before cardioversion. All patients had a complete blood count performed in the 12 hours prior to transesophageal echocardiogram. Markers of left atrial stasis were sought: left atrial appendage thrombus, dense spontaneous echocardiographic contrast and low flow velocities in the left atrial appendage. The presence of at least one of the former markers of left atrial stasis was designated left atrial abnormality. Binary logistic multivariate analysis was used for obtaining models for the prediction of transesophageal echocardiogram endpoints. Results: Left atrial appendage thrombus was found in 12.2%, dense spontaneous echocardiographic contrast in 29.7%, low flow velocities in 15.3% and left atrial abnormality in 34.2%. Mean platelet volume (exp β = 3.41 p = 0.048) alongside with previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (exp β = 5.35 p = 0.005) and troponin I (exp β = 5.07 p = 0.041) were independent predictors of left atrial appendage thrombus. Mean platelet volume was also incorporated in the predictive models of dense spontaneous echocardiographic contrast, low flow velocities and left atrial abnormality, adding predictive value to clinical, echocardiographic and laboratory variables. Conclusions: These findings suggest that mean platelet volume may be associated with the presence of markers of left atrial stasis, reinforcing a likely cardioembolic mechanism for its association with stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation

Antitumoral and Antimicrobial Activities of Block Copolymer Micelles Containing Gold Bisdithiolate Complexes

Gold(III) bisdithiolate complexes have been reported as potential antimicrobial and antitumoral agents. The complex [Au(cdc)2]− (cdc=cyanodithioimido carbonate) displayed antimicrobial and outstanding antitumor activity against the ovarian cancer cells A2780 and A2780cisR, which are sensitive and resistant to cisplatin, respectively. However, poor water solubility may hamper its clinical use. Block copolymer micelles (BCMs) may solubilize hydrophobic drugs, improving their bioavailability and circulation time in blood. Aiming to provide water solubility, prolonged availability, and enhanced therapeutic indexes, BCMs loaded with [Au(cdc)2]− were synthesized and characterized. The BCM-[Au(cdc)2] micelles were prepared with a loading efficiency of 64.6% and a loading content of 35.3 mg [Au(cdc)2]−/gBCM. A hydrodynamic diameter of 77.31 ± 27.00 nm and a low polydispersity index of 0.18 indicated that the micelles were homogenous and good candidates for drug delivery. Cytotoxic activity studies against A2780/A2780cisR cells showed that BCM-[Au(cdc)2] maintained relevant cytotoxic activity comparable to the cytotoxicity observed for the same concentration of gold complexes. The Au uptake in A2780 cells, determined by PIXE, was ca. 17% higher for BCMs-[Au(cdc)2] compared to [Au(cdc)2]−. The BCMs-[Au(cdc)2] presented antimicrobial activity against S. aureus Newman and C. glabrata CBS138. These results evidenced the potential of BCM-[Au(cdc)2] for drug delivery and its promising anticancer and antimicrobial activities

Sono-Biosynthesis and Characterization of AuNPs from Danube Delta Nymphaea alba Root Extracts and Their Biological Properties

Root extracts from Danube Delta Nymphaea alba were used to prepare gold nanoparticles (AuNPRn) by reducing HAuCl4 at different pHs (6.4–8.4) using ultrasonic irradiation: an easy, cheap, eco-friendly and green approach. Their antibacterial and anticancer activities were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and A2780 ovarian cancer cells, respectively. The AuNPRn were characterized concerning their phytoconstituents (polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins) and gold content. All of the nanoparticles were negatively charged. AuNPRn exhibited a hydrodynamic size distribution ranging from 32 nm to 280 nm, with the larger nanoparticles being obtained with an Au/root extract ratio of 0.56, pH 7 and 10 min of sonication (AuNPR1), whereas the smallest were obtained with an Au/root extract ratio of 0.24, pH 7.8 and 40 min of sonication (AuNPR4). The TEM/SEM images showed that the AuNPRn had different shapes. The ATR-FTIR indicated that AuNPRn interact mainly with hydroxyl groups present in the polyphenol compounds, which also confirm their high antioxidant capacity, except for AuNPR2 obtained at pH 6.4. Among the AuNPRn, the smallest ones exhibited enhanced antimicrobial and anticancer activities

Characterization of the medical department of pharmaceutical companies operating in Portugal

In a context of strong regulatory demands and high economic pressures and constraints, medical departments within pharmaceutical companies, have demonstrated its strategic relevance even though the functions to embrace are not globally consensual. In this context, a study that intended to analyse the management of medical activities, in pharmaceutical companies operating in Portugal, including allocated human resources and investment trends, was implemented. Quantitative information was collected through an electronic survey, in pharmaceutical companies with activity in Portugal. The analysis of the results supported the conclusion that the majority of the companies are affiliates of international companies and that 79% of them have formalized medical departments. The human resources of the medical departments of the participant companies include several professional classes, with predominance of pharmacists. Globally, the number of employees of the medical area has registered a systematic growth in the last years. It was also possible to conclude that the majority of the companies are increasing the investment in medical affairs activities. This study enables the understanding of these activities in pharmaceutical companies operating in Portugal, within the international panorama of pharmaceutical industry. It contributes to improve the knowledge about the relevance of medical departments while enabling the definition of novel pathways to increase the competiveness and sustainability of the companies