Comparison of Light-Based Devices in the Treatment of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction

Purpose: To compare different light-based devices, namely, intense pulsed light (IPL) and IPL with low-level light therapy (LLLT), in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). Methods: This was a prospective, observational study that included patients with MGD. Group 1 included 58 eyes treated with IPL (eye-light®, Espansione Marketing S.p.A., Bologna, Italy), followed by LLLT (my-mask®, Espansione Marketing S.p.A., Bologna, Italy); Group 2 included 60 eyes treated with IPL (E>Eye®, E-Swin, Houdan, France); and Group 3 included 58 eyes treated with IPL (Thermaeye Plus®, OptiMed, Sydney, Australia). The presence of symptoms (Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI)) and ocular surface changes were evaluated at baseline, three weeks, and six months after treatment. Results: At week three, there was an improvement in the OSDI in all groups (p<0.001), without differences among them (p=0.339). The lipid layer thickness (LLT) increased in Groups 1 and 2 (p<0.001), with a similar variation (p=0.144). Patients with superior OSDI and lower LLT at baseline had the greatest improvement in the respective parameters (p<0.001). The basal tear flow increased in Group 1 (p=0.012). Corneal staining (CS) significantly decreased in Groups 2 (p<0.001) and 3 (p<0.001). At six months, compared to three weeks, there was further improvement in the OSDI (p<0.001) and the LLT (p=0.007), in Group 1, and an increase in the presence of CS in Group 3 (p=0.011). Conclusion: IPL treatment led to a sustained decrease in patients' symptoms, even after six months. Different IPL devices seem to have different beneficial effects. Adding LLLT to IPL appears to have an additional long-term beneficial effect as well as positive effects on the lacrimal gland.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Scutoids are a geometrical solution to three-dimensional packing of epithelia

As animals develop, tissue bending contributes to shape the organs into complex three-dimensional structures. However, the architecture and packing of curved epithelia remains largely unknown. Here we show by means of mathematical modelling that cells in bent epithelia can undergo intercalations along the apico-basal axis. This phenomenon forces cells to have different neighbours in their basal and apical surfaces. As a consequence, epithelial cells adopt a novel shape that we term “scutoid”. The detailed analysis of diverse tissues confirms that generation of apico-basal intercalations between cells is a common feature during morphogenesis. Using biophysical arguments, we propose that scutoids make possible the minimization of the tissue energy and stabilize three-dimensional packing. Hence, we conclude that scutoids are one of nature's solutions to achieve epithelial bending. Our findings pave the way to understand the three-dimensional organization of epithelial organs.España Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología BFU2013-48988-C2-1-P and BFU2016-8079

Silvopastoral systems as a tool for territorial sustainability and biodiversity

Rural and livestock population evolution in the inner north of Portugal has demonstrated a great regression with consequences for environment and nature conservation. In this context, and taking into account that pastoral activity has shaped the natural areas of mountain territories since its beginning and that territories are currently part of Natura 2000 network, rethinking the importance of such activity has become vital. The constraints affecting daily tasks performed by shepherds and livestock breeders as well as the installed social segregation are a strong limitation. However, current research developed in the context of nature conservation has demonstrated the importance of the landscape mosaic promoted by grazing in the preservation of priority habitats. In this way, it is urgent to assess the issue of shepherds and livestock breeders’ image in terms of their roles, relationships and concerns, as well as to assess pastoralism socioeconomics in regard to self-consumption, market and rural self-sufficiency. In this perspective, this work presents an analysis of the adaptation of grazing to current times, perceiving its limitations and success potential.This work is supported by European Structural and Investment Funds, FEDER component, through the Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme (COMPETE 2020) [Project No. 006971 (UID/SOC/04011)], and national funds, through FCT, Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under project UID/SOC/04011/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A successful dental management in a child with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome:rare case of Cornelia de Lange Syndrome in child

Background: the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CDLs) is a rare and complex syndrome characterized, basically, by psychomotor retardation associated with a number of congenital malformations. Aims: this paper reports the case of an 11-year-old female child diagnosed with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome (CdLS) and her successful dental management. Case report: the patient had severe mental retardation, definite negative behavior and the clinical findings included oral and physical changes. The patient's oral hygiene was deficient with the presence of calculus and gingivitis, besides several active caries lesions in permanent and deciduous dental elements. The treatment consisted in guidance for caregivers about oral hygiene and diet, and the dental procedures were performed under general anesthesia. Currently, the patient is accompanied by monthly follow-ups. Conclusions: the lack of knowledge about oral hygiene and cariogenic diets was identified as a one of the reasons for the oral diseases present. Due to the need to care for the other more serious and complex health problems, the oral diseases had evolved faster than usual and thus were difficult to treat and maintain thereafter. Under such conditions, the dentist plays a key role within a multidisciplinary team. From the guidance and knowledge provided in the dental clinic, there was a significant improvement in the life quality of the child and her family

Identification of Biomphalaria sp. and other freshwater snails in the large-scale water transposition project in the Northeast of Brazil

The wide eco-bio-social intervention generated by the SaoFrancisco River Integration Project (PISF) may contribute to the dispersion or introduction of schistosomiasis intermediate hosts in areas without prior recording. The objective was to characterize the limnic malacofauna and its distribution along watersheds involved in the PISF. A cross-sectional study based on the collection of mollusks from 33 water bodies, from Aurora, Brejo Santo, Jaguaretama, Jaguaribara, Jati e Mauriti municipalities in the Ceara (CE) State was developed. The conchological characteristics were used to identify snails at the genus level. The snails of the genus Biomphalaria were analyzed for the presence of Schistosoma mansoni cercariae and the molecular identification (only mollusks from Brejo Santo-CE) for differentiation between species. The following species were found: Biomphalaria sp.; Drepanotrema sp.; Melanoides sp.; Physa sp.; and Pomacea sp. Pomacea sp. (75.8%) and Biomphalaria sp. (72.7%) were the most prevalent species. All municipalities showed Biomphalaria sp. Biomphalaria straminea (Porcos Stream) and Biomphalaria kuhniana was identified in the Boi 1 and Cipo reservoirs (Brejo Santo). The evaluated municipalities under the influence of the PISF present areas with potential for schistosomiasis transmission. It is necessary to intensify control actions and health surveillance in these areas

Objective Structured Clinical Examination’s adaptation for final evaluation of the curricular component “Semiological Bases”

BACKGROUND: The combination of both physiological knowledge of a variety of sistems and the clinical findings it is of extreme relevance to the medical student learning process. The proposal of a simulated enviroment, with clinical data collection and regular physical examination, is crucial to this process. The Semiological bases of Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública module, used by the OSCE’s 4th semester medical students, capacitate them for such means. SUMMARY OF WORK: The evaluation logistic was divided into two segments: the first one was made through a theorical exam with close questioning, exhibiting images and videos, but also containing an open-ended question requesting a construction of a fictional clinical case; in the second one it was applied a practical exam segmented by different fields of medical knowledge (neurological, cardiovascular and respiratory/abdomen), with the evaluation of 120 students and followed by the teacher’s feedbacks at the conclusion of each field exam. SUMMARY OF RESULTS: The experience was important, however, it is notable the need for a complex management and understanding of the evaluational process. Discussion between students and teachers happened in behalf of the development of such proposal. CONCLUSIONS: The application of theorical exams throughout the semester combined with a practical exam (the OSCE) at the conclusion of the curricular component Bases Semiológicas had significant weight to the whole process

A National Wide Collaborative Study

INTRODUCTION: Even though the risk of COVID-19 in pregnancy may be increased, large-scale studies are needed to better understand the impact of the infection in this population. The aim of this study is to describe obstetric complications and the rate of vertical transmission in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Detected cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy were registered in Portuguese hospitals by obstetricians. Epidemiological, pregnancy and childbirth data were collected. RESULTS: There were 630 positive cases in 23 Portuguese maternity hospitals, most at term (87.9%) and asymptomatic (62.9%). The most frequent maternal comorbidity was obesity. The rates of preterm birth and small-to-gestational-age were 12.1% and 9.9%, respectively. In the third trimester, 2.9% of pregnant women required respiratory support. There were eight cases (1.5%) of fetal death, including two cases of vertical transmission. There were five cases of postpartum respiratory degradation, but no maternal deaths were recorded. The caesarean section rate was higher in the first than in the second wave (68.5% vs 31.5%). RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 positivity among newborns was 1.3%. CONCLUSION: SARS-Cov-2 infection in pregnancy may carry increased risks for both pregnant women and the fetuses. Individualized surveillance and the prophylaxis of this population with vaccination. is recommended in these cases.publishersversionepub_ahead_of_prin

Avaliação do Enade na área de pedagogia: análises e discussões à luz das diretrizes curriculares de formação do pedagogo

Este texto apresenta reflexões da Comissão Assessora de Área de Pedagogia do Enade 2014 acerca da relação entre os conteúdos constantes nas questões do Enade/Pedagogia em 2008, 2011 e 2014 e as Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais para o Curso de Graduação em Pedagogia/2006. Traz um breve histórico do curso de Pedagogia no Brasil, evidencia as diretrizes de formação do pedagogo, expõe a pesquisa documental como metodologia, a qual utilizou o software Alceste para tratar os dados, cuja análise será exibida na sequência. Constatou-se que essas provas do Enade trazem elementos que revelam a existência de convergência entre a orientação da formação e a avaliação do curso, porém, devido ao contexto amplo de avaliação de política de formação, não é possível verificar, plenamente, todos os elementos constitutivos dessa formação. Palavras-chave: Formação de Professores. Currículo de Pedagogia. Enade

Author Correction: Ionizing radiation modulates human macrophages towards a pro-inflammatory phenotype preserving their pro-invasive and pro-angiogenic capacities.

This Article contains an error in the description of the data presented in Figure 2. Each blot demonstrating a protein of interest, or of its phosphorylated form, is matched with the expression of β-actin, used as loading control. The majority of the proteins were separated in different gels, apart from proteins p105, p50 and Bcl-xL which were run in the same gel and have the same loading control. As a result, the Figure 2 legend, “Ionizing radiation induces macrophage NF-κB activation and increases Bcl-xL expression. (A) Evaluation of RelA phosphorylation (Ser536) and RelB, cRel, p100/p52 and p105/p50 subunit expression, 1 and 6 h after irradiation (2, 6 and 10 Gy). (B) RelB nuclear translocation 6 h after macrophage irradiation (10 Gy). Histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and β-actin were used as loading controls for nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions, respectively. (C) Evaluation of Bcl2 and Bcl-xL expression after macrophage irradiation. Western blot images are representative of protein expression/phosphorylation status in distinct donors (at least n = 4), evaluated in two independent experiments.” should read: “Ionizing radiation induces macrophage NF-κB activation and increases Bcl-xL expression. (A) Evaluation of RelA phosphorylation (Ser536) and RelB, cRel, p100/p52 and p105/p50 subunit expression, 1 and 6 h after irradiation (2, 6 and 10 Gy). (B) RelB nuclear translocation 6 h after macrophage irradiation (10 Gy). Histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and β-actin were used as loading controls for nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions, respectively. (C) Evaluation of Bcl2 and Bcl-xL expression after macrophage irradiation. Western blot images are representative of protein expression/phosphorylation status in distinct donors (at least n = 4), evaluated in two independent experiments. The β-actin loading control of the panels comprised by p105, p50 (2A) and Bcl-xL (2C) is the same, since proteins were separated in the same gel electrophoresis.