Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados e Tempo de Internamento dos Doentes com Acidente Vascular Cerebral 2010-2011

INTRODUCTION: The National Post Hospital Care Project was created to provide a continuity of care after hospitalization or to functionally dependent people. Currently there is a great difficulty in the integration of patients. The objective of this paper is to compare the impact of the referral to the Project versus being discharged home, in the length of stay of stroke patients between 2010 and 2011. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients admitted to the Neurology Infirmary A and Stroke Unit of Coimbra's University Hospital, in 2010 and 2011. The cases analyzed were 1 209, featuring demographic data, length of stay, Rankin Score (mRS) and destination after discharge. The data was analyzed comparing the two years concerning the length of stay of stroke patients referred to the Project and those discharged home, given the their Rankin Score. RESULTS: In 2011, the number patients referred to the National Post Hospital Care Project was higher, 23.5% compared to 21.4%. The length of stay for the same Rankin Score of the patients referred to National Post Hospital Care Project, remained higher than those discharged home: for a Rankin Score of 1: 11, versus 26 days for the Project; Rankin Score 2: 13, versus 29 days for the project; Rankin Score 3: 13, versus 23 days for the Project; Rankin Score 4: 17, to 33 days for the Project, Rankin Score 5: 27, versus 39 days to the Project. After comparison between the length of stay of patient discharged of and those referred to the National Post Hospital Care Project, it was estimated that the referral represented an hospitalization excess of 1 718 days in 2010 and 1 198 days in 2011

Hepatite Sifilítica: uma Complicação Rara da Sífilis Secundária. O Reporte de um Caso

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum, progressing through active and latent stages if left untreated. Hepatic involvement can occur in secondary syphilis, but this is an uncommon complication, with few published case reports. A 34-year-old man without significant medical history was admitted to the gastroenterology department with a 2-week history of unexplained jaundice and acute cholestatic hepatitis. He also presented with erythematous papules and plaques in the genital area, suggestive of secondary syphilis. T. pallidum hemaglutination assay and venereal disease research laboratory test were both positive, the latter with a 1:16 titer. The diagnosis of secondary syphilis with hepatic involvement was considered. The improvement of cutaneous and laboratory findings after intramuscular benzathine penicillin injection supported this hypothesis. Symptomatic cholestatic hepatitis is a rare feature of the systemic spectrum of secondary syphilis. The clinical and laboratorial response after penicillin treatment is a strong clue for this diagnosis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Best Pratice Guide to Manage Vegetation and Promote Biodiversity in Linear Infrastructures

The present guide is based on the experience acquired in the framework of the LIFE LINES project (LIFE14 NAT/PT/001081) and intends to compile and disseminate the recommendable procedures for the management of biodiversity, particularly of plant diversity, in the marginal areas of linear infrastructures, primarily focusing on the national roads, decommissioned railways now used for recreation purposes (ecotrails) and power lines of very high voltage. The guide includes technical information for those in charge of the management of roads, trails and power lines (concession holders, municipalities), for environmental consultancy (Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente, Instituto de Conservação da Natureza e Florestas), and for landscape and agroforestry technicians, as well as for the general public

Effects of different drying processes on the concentrations of metals and metalloids in plant materials.

6 p.The drying process of fresh plant materials may affect the porous structure, dehydration and a number of quality characteristics of these materials. Therefore, this study has investigated the effect of different drying processes on the variation of metal and metalloid concentrations in the dried plant materials. Seven varieties of native plant species collected from Sa˜o Domingos mine were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis(INAA) to investigate the effects of freeze-drying (FD),ambient air-drying (AAD) and oven-drying (OD) process on the concentrations of metals and metalloids in the plant biomass. Comparison of ambient air-dried, oven-dried and freeze-dried preparations allows a phenomenological description of the dehydration artefacts. In the quantitative analysis of metals and metalloids, FD and OD plant samples show the higher concentrations of metals and metalloids when compared to those in the AAD plant biomass. The freeze-drying process is comparatively reliable for determination of metals and metalloids concentrations in plant materials.This research work was supported by the Fun- 242 dac¸a˜o para Cieˆncia e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) through research 243 contract PTDC/AMB/65462/2006—HYPERAS. The principal author 244 (H.M.A) thanks FCT for his post-doctoral grant.Peer reviewe

Determination of phytoextraction potential of plant speciesfor toxic elements in soils of abandoned sulphide-mining areas

This study has determined contamination levels in soils and plants from the Sa˜o Domingos mining area, Portugal, by k0-INAA. Total concentrations of As, Sb, Cr, Hg, Cu, Zn and Fe in soils were very high, exceeding the maximum limits in Portuguese legislation. Concentrations of toxic elements like As, Sb and Zn were highest in roots of Erica andevalensis, Juncus acutus, Agrostis castellana and Nicotiana glauca. Additionally, As, Br, Cr, Fe, Sb and Zn in all organs of most plants were above toxicity levels. Those species that accumulated relatively high concentrations of toxic elements in roots (and tops) may be cultivated for phytostabilisation of similar areas

Paraquat Intoxication – experience of an Internal Medicine ward for 18 years

Introduction: Paraquat is a contact herbicide commercially available since 1962. Paraquat intoxication (PI) is usually voluntary and highly lethal, since there is no effective antidote. Toxicity occurs through cyclic redox reactions, damaging mainly the kidneys and lungs. Aim, material and methods: featuring the clinical presentation, management and outcome of patients with PI over an 18 years period (from the 01st January 1993 to the 31st December 2010) through the retrospective analysis of clinical files and comparing the survivors and the deceased. Results: Thirty-one cases of Paraquat intoxication were included, with a male: female ratio 1:1. Age range from 13 to 80 years, mean age 42.4years (±18.7).All intoxications were voluntary and by oral route. There was statistical difference in the amount ingested (22.1 mL vs. 72.7 mL, p<0.0005). A non-significant trend to a longer delay until getting medical attention in the deceased group (1.6 h vs. 3.2 h, p=0.091). Statistical significance was found between mortality and leukocytosis, hypocapnea, hypoxemia, LDH, alkaline phosphatase and AST. There was no difference between groups according to treatment options, although hemocarboperfusion was used more often in the deceased group (53.9% vs. 66.7%, p=0.471) and corticosteroids in the survivor group (61.5% vs. 44.4%, p=0.350). Mortality rate was 58.1% (66.7% in the first 72 hours), due to respiratory insufficiency and multiple organ failure. Variable levels of pulmonary fibrosis occurred in 38.5% of the survivors. Discussion & Conclusion: Paraquat intoxication has a poor prognosis with limited efficiency of treatment approaches. The relation between Paraquat in the urine and the time elapsed after ingestion is the main determinant factor in the prognosis. In this study the presence of dyspnea, hypocapnea and hypoxemia was linked to a bad prognosis. There was no statistical difference between the available treatment options

Microplastic contamination of lettuces grown in urban vegetable gardens in Lisbon (Portugal)

: Urban vegetable gardens are very often a feature of cities that want to offer their citizens a more sustainable lifestyle by producing their own food products. However, cities can have significant pollution levels (or pollution hotspots) due to specific sources of pollution, such as traffic. Among the various pollutants, microplastics (MPs) are emerging as a consensual concern due to the awareness of the environmental contamination, their bioaccumulation potential and human intake, and, consequently unknown human health impacts. The present study compared the content of MPs in lettuce plants cultivated in Lisbon urban gardens with those cultivated in a rural area, as well as samples bought in supermarkets. Microplastics were detected in all washed leaves, with mean levels ranging from 6.3 ± 6.2 to 29.4 ± 18.2 MPs/g. Lettuce grown in urban gardens from areas with high traffic density showed higher MPs levels. Weak positive Spearman's rank correlations were found between MPs content and concentrations of Cu and S (determined by Particle Induced X-Ray Emission, PIXE), suggesting a possible role of traffic contribution to MPs levels, as both elements are considered traffic-source tracers. These results contribute to shed light on the MP contamination of vegetables grown in such urban environments, that may represent a potential MP exposure route through the dietary intake, corresponding to a 70% increase in annual MP intake compared to lettuces bought in supermarkets

Chemical characterization of atmospheric particulate matter and source apportionment in an urban-industrial area of the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Portugal)

Trabalho apresentado em 11th International Aerosol Conference (IAC2022), 4-9 de setembro 2022, Atenas, GréciaN/

Indoor school environment: easy and low cost to assess inorganic pollutants

Total particulate matter (TPM) was passively collected inside two classrooms of each of five elementary schools in Lisbon, Portugal. TPM was collected in polycarbonate filters with a 47 mm diameter, placed inside of uncovered plastic petri dishes. The sampling period was from 19 May to 22 June 2009 (35 days exposure) and the collected TPM masses varied between 0.2 mg and 0.8 mg. The major elements were Ca, Fe, Na, K, and Zn at μg level, while others were at ng level. Pearson′s correlation coefficients above 0.75 (a high degree of correlation) were found between several elements. Soil-related, traffic soil re-suspension and anthropogenic emission sources could be identified. Blackboard chalk was also identified through Ca large presence. Some of the determined chemical elements are potential carcinogenic. Quality control of the results showed good agreement as confirmed by the application of u-score test

Guião de Boas Práticas de Gestão da Vegetação para a Promoção e Biodiversidade em Infraestruturas Lineares

O presente guião de boas práticas tem por base a experiência adquirida ao longo do projeto LIFE LINES (LIFE14 NAT/PT/001081), pretendendo reunir e divulgar procedimentos recomendáveis para a gestão da biodiversidade, com ênfase na diversidade vegetal das zo nas marginais associadas às infraestruturas lineares, e focando-se, so bretudo, em estradas nacionais, ferrovias desativadas com uso recrea tivo (ecopistas) e linhas elétricas de muito alta tensão. O guião inclui informação técnica dirigida às entidades gestoras de estradas, caminhos pedestres e de linhas de muito alta tensão (con cessionárias, autarquias), a responsáveis pela Avaliação de Impacte Ambiental de infraestruturas lineares (Agência Portuguesa do Ambien te, Instituto de Conservação da Natureza e Florestas), a técnicos da área do paisagismo e operações agroflorestais, bem como informação dirigida ao público em geral