Can birds play a role as High Nature Value indicators of montado system?

Montados form a heterogeneous landscape of wooded matrix dominated by cork and/or holm oak with open areas characterized by fuzzy boundaries. Montado supports a high biological diversity associated to low intensity management and a landscape diversity provided by a continuous gradient of land cover. Among other features this permits the classification of montados as a High Nature Value (HNV) system. We assessed the role of birds as HNV indicators for montado, and tested several bird groups—farmland, edge, forest generalists and forest specialists species; and some universal indicators such as species conservation status, Shannon’s diversity index and species richness. Our study areas covered the North–South distribution of cork oak in Portugal, and we surveyed the breeding bird communities across 117 sampling sites. In addition to variables related to management and sanitary status, we considered variables that characterize the landscape heterogeneity inside the montado—trees and shrub density and richness of woody vegetation. Our results suggest that specific bird guilds can be used as HNV indicators of particular typologies of montado, and highlight the need to develop an indicator that could be transversally applied to all types of montado.Companhia das Lezírias, S.A. e FC

Avaliação da influência altitudinal nas comunidades de aves dos montados de sobro em Portugal: aspectos biogeográficos e ecológicos

Os montados são sistemas agro-silvo-pastoris de origem antropogénica dominados pelo sobreiro (Quercus suber) e/ou azinheira (Q. rotundifolia). São considerados sistemas de Elevado Valor Natural (High Nature Value, HNV) e estão incluídos no Anexo I da Directiva Habitats da União Europeia (92/43/CEE). No entanto, alguns montados estão ameaçados devido ao abandono da terra, sobre-pastoreio e agentes patogénicos. Vários estudos têm demonstrado que a distribuição das aves nos montados está relacionada com a gestão das florestas e áreas agrícolas. Estes habitats são conhecidos por terem uma elevada riqueza de aves florestais e também espécies de áreas abertas. Com este estudo podemos concluir que a diversidade de espécies lenhosas beneficia o aparecimento de espécies de aves com diferentes requisitos de habitat. Demonstrou-se também que não existe uma relação significativa entre a distribuição da comunidade de aves e a altitude na nossa área de estudo. E por último, as espécies especialistas do sobreiro podem ser consideradas bioindicadores de áreas bem preservadas de montado uma vez que existem em maiores densidades quando o insecto C. florentinus aparece em menor frequência; ABSTRACT: The montados are agro-silvo-pastoral systems of anthropogenic origin dominated by cork oak (Quercus suber) and/or holm oak (Q. rotundifolia). They are considered High Nature Value Farmlands (HNVF) and are included in Annex I of the European Union Habitats Directive (92/43/CEE). Nevertheless, some of these habitats are threatened by land abandonment, overgrazing and pathogenic agents. Several studies have shown that bird distribution in montados is related to forest and farmland management. These habitats are known to have high richness in breeding birds as they encompass not only forest but also farmland species. However, the effects of landscape composition on avian communities in forest dominated landscapes are not well studied. With this study we can conclude that the diversity of woody species benefits the appearance of bird species with different habitat requirements. It was also demonstrated that there is no significant relation between the distribution of bird communities and altitude in our study area. Finally, cork oak specialists can be considered as bioindicators of well-preserved montados since they exist at greater densities when the insect C. florentinus appears less frequently

Cooperação empresarial em I&=eD : a percepção das empresas portuguesas sobre o papel das instituições de apoio

O título no SIFEUP é: Cooperação empresarial em ID+I. O papel das instituições de apoio ao ID+I em PortugalTese de mestrado. Inovação e Empreendedorismo Tecnológico. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200

『忠度集』の「恋のこころを」の題詠歌について

The Portuguese sole, Synaptura lusitanica Capello, 1868, is distributed from Portugal to Angola. In Portugal, it occurs on the west coast and on the south-eastern coast. The genetic and morphological variation of S. lusitanica was studied based on protein electrophoresis and morphometric and meristic analyses of samples collected in four areas along the Portuguese coast. The genetic analysis was based on 12 loci, 10 of which were polymorphic. The morphological analysis included 12 morphometric measurements and 7 meristic counts. Both analyses indicated divergence between the west coast sample (Setúbal) and the other samples collected in the south-eastern coast (Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António). Although the discreteness of the west coast individuals of S. lusitanica was not completely evident, a conservative approach to the fisheries management of this species would consider two independent stocks

Profile of female patients in the urogynecology ambulatory care of a Public Hospital in southern Brazil regarding urinary incontinence and quality of life

Introdução: A incontinência urinária (IU) é a perda involuntária de urina e pode ser classificada de acordo com os sintomas, sendo os tipos mais comuns: IU de esforço (IUE), IU de urgência (IUU) e IU mista (IUM). Ela causa impacto físico e psicológico negativo, piorando a qualidade de vida. A fisioterapia pélvica é importante no tratamento conservador da IU, pois é segura, não invasiva e com mínimos efeitos colaterais. Objetivos: Descrever o perfil das mulheres avaliadas pela fisioterapia pélvica no Ambulatório de Uroginecologia do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA) com relação à IU e qualidade de vida. Métodos: Estudo descritivo, transversal e retrospectivo, realizado a partir de informações dos prontuários das pacientes avaliadas pela fisioterapia pélvica no Ambulatório de Uroginecologia do HCPA, de agosto de 2013 a dezembro de 2014. Resultados: Dos 164 prontuários analisados, a média de idade das pacientes foi de 58,07 anos (±10,98), 55% realizaram parto normal, 51% fizeram episiotomia, todas eram multíparas, 60,4% apresentavam prolapso de órgão pélvico e a IUM foi a mais prevalente, sendo que 71,3% perdiam urina em jato. Quanto à força dos músculos do assoalho pélvico, a maioria apresentava grau 2 (31,1%), seguido de grau 1 (28%) e grau 3 (24,4%), conforme a Escala de Oxford Modificada, e 75,6% acionavam musculatura acessória. O International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIS-SF) mostrou que o impacto da IU foi grave em 62,8%. Conclusão: Este estudo permitiu identificar as principais demandas da população feminina com IU, facilitando o delineamento de estratégias de reabilitação eficazes e compatíveis com a prática clínica.Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) is an involuntary loss of urine and can be classified according to its symptoms. The most common types are the following: stress UI (SUI), urge UI (UUI), and mixed UI (MUI). It causes negative physical and psychological impact and consequent deterioration in quality of life. Pelvic physical therapy plays an important role in the conservative treatment of UI, since it is noninvasive, safe, and with minimal side effects. Objectives: To describe the profile of female patients evaluated through pelvic physiotherapy at the Urogynecology Ambulatory Care of Porto Alegre Clinical Hospital (HCPA) regarding urinary incontinence and quality of life. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, retrospective, documentary study that used information from the medical records of patients evaluated through pelvic physiotherapy at the Urogynecology Ambulatory Care of HCPA, from August 2013 to December 2014. Results: Of the 164 medical records analyzed, patients’ average age was 58.07 years (±10.98), 55% of them underwent vaginal delivery, 51% received episiotomy, all were multiparous, 60.4% had pelvic organ prolapse, and 71.3% had urinary leakage in jets. MUI was the most prevalent type of IU. Regarding the strength of pelvic floor muscles, most patients had grade 2 (31.1%), followed by grade 1 (28%) and grade 3 (24.4%), according to the modified Oxford Grading Scale. 75.6% of the patients used some accessory musculature. Quality of life was measured by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Short Form (ICIQ-SF), which showed that the impact of UI was severe in 62.8% of the patients. Conclusion: The present study identified the main demands of the female population with symptoms of UI, facilitating the design of effective rehabilitation strategies which are compatible with clinical practice

Hemolymph of triatomines presents fungistatic activity against Cryptococcus neoformans and improves macrophage function through MCP-I/TNF-α increase

Abstract Background: Triatomines are blood-feeding arthropods belonging to the subfamily Triatominae (Hemiptera; Reduviidae), capable of producing immunomodulatory and water-soluble molecules in their hemolymph, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). In this work, we evaluated the antifungal and immunomodulatory activity of the hemolymph of Meccus pallidipennis (MPH) and Rhodnius prolixus (RPH) against Cryptococcus neoformans. Methods: We assessed the activity of the hemolymph of both insects on fungal growth by a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. Further, RAW 264.7 macrophages were cultivated with hemolymph and challenged with C. neoformans. Then, their phagocytic and killing activities were assessed. The cytokines MCP-1, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-12, and IL-6 were measured in culture supernatants 4- and 48-hours post-infection. Results: Both hemolymph samples directly affected the growth rate of the fungus in a dose-dependent manner. Either MPH or RPH was capable of inhibiting fungal growth by at least 70%, using the lowest dilution (1:20). Treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with hemolymph of both insects was capable of increasing the production of MCP-I and TNF-α. In addition, when these cells were stimulated with hemolymph in the presence of C. neoformans, a 2- and a 4-fold increase in phagocytic rate was observed with MPH and RPH, respectively, when compared to untreated cells. For the macrophage killing activity, MPH decreased in approximately 30% the number of viable yeasts inside the cells compared to untreated control; however, treatment with RPH could not reduce the total number of viable yeasts. MPH was also capable of increasing MHC-II expression on macrophages. Regarding the cytokine production, MCP-I and TNF-α, were increased in the supernatant of macrophages treated with both hemolymphs, 4 and 48 hours after stimulation. Conclusion: These results suggested that hemolymph of triatomines may represent a source of molecules capable of presenting antifungal and immunomodulatory activity in macrophages during fungal infection

A multinodular goiter as the initial presentation of a renal cell carcinoma harbouring a novel VHL mutation

BACKGROUND: Secondary involvement of the thyroid gland is rare. Often the origin of the tumor is difficult to identify from the material obtained by fine-needle aspiration cytology. Renal cell carcinoma of the clear-cell type is one of the more common carcinomas to metastasize to the thyroid gland. Somatic mutations of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor gene are associated with the sporadic form of this tumor. We aimed to illustrate the potential utility of DNA based technologies to search for specific molecular markers in order to establish the anatomic site of origin. CASE PRESENTATION: A 54-yr-old Caucasian male complaining of a rapidly increasing neck tumor was diagnosed as having a clear-cell tumor by fine-needle aspiration cytology. A positive staining for cytokeratin as well as for vimentin and CD10 in the absence of staining for thyroglobulin, calcitonin and TTF1 suggested a renal origin confirmed by computed tomography. Using frozen RNA, obtained from cells left inside the needle used for fine needle aspiration cytology, it was possible to identify a somatic mutation (680 delA) in the VHL gene. CONCLUSION: In the presence of a clear-cell tumor of the thyroid gland, screening for somatic mutations in the VHL gene in material derived from thyroid aspirates might provide additional information to immunocytochemical studies and therefore plays a contributory role to establish the final diagnosis. Moreover, in a near future, this piece of information might be useful to define a targeted therapy

Estado ponderal das crianças da Unidade de Saúde familiar Cruz de Celas : análise de alguns comportamentos e influências para o excesso de peso e obesidade

Trabalho final de mestrado integrado em Medicina área científica de Clínica Geral, apresentado à Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de CoimbraIntrodução: o excesso de peso e obesidade infantil são um grave problema de saúde pública actualmente e que tem graves consequências. Neste sentido torna-se essencial tomar medidas preventivas, que devem ser baseadas em evidências de forma a serem desenvolvidas e orientadas de forma eficaz. Objectivos: este estudo, tem dois objectivos gerais, apurar a prevalência de obesidade e excesso de peso nas crianças da Unidade de Saúde Familiar – Cruz de Celas, e avaliar alguns hábitos e influências, verificando se têm relação com o estado ponderal das crianças. Desta forma, pretende-se perceber quais os hábitos, comportamentos e influências que equivalem a factores de risco para o desenvolvimento de excesso de peso, permitindo pensar de forma mais esclarecida e orientada nas acções contra o excesso de peso na infância. Metodologia: foi elaborado um questionário que foi preenchido durante entrevista aos pais que acompanhavam as crianças entre os 2 e os 11 anos à consulta, onde eram registadas as biometrias da criança e dos pais, alguns dados demográficos e comportamentos e atitudes relacionados com a alimentação e actividade física. Por fim, foi utilizado o programa Medicine One® para consultar as biometrias das crianças dessa idade e apurar qual a prevalência de excesso de peso e obesidade na população da Unidade de Saúde Familiar – Cruz de Celas dessa faixa etária. Resultados: verificou-se uma prevalência de 24,34% de excesso de peso e obesidade na população estudada. Foi possível apurar que, da amostra estudada, 48,7% dos pais possui um curso superior, e os seus filhos têm um menor risco relativo de excesso de peso 4,2 vezes inferior. Observou-se também que o excesso de peso das mães é um factor de risco para excesso de peso nos filhos, com um risco relativo de 3,8 vezes. A ingestão de fruta e vegetais é inferior na amostra do que é recomendado, e a maior ingestão destes alimentos estão relacionados com menor risco de excesso de peso. 35,3% dos pais de crianças com excesso de peso descreve o peso do seu filho como normal. As crianças sem excesso de peso praticam cerca de 4 vezes mais tempo de desporto extra-curricular, têm mais actividades ao ar livre e vêm cerca de 1,5h de televisão por dia, menos cerca de 40 minutos que as crianças com excesso de peso (2,3h). Conclusões: conclui-se que, nesta amostra, a menor escolaridade e o excesso de peso dos pais são factores de risco para desenvolvimento de excesso de peso nas crianças, devendo ser dada especial atenção a estas no sentido de vigiar e prevenir precocemente o excesso de peso. É necessário estimular a uma maior ingestão de vegetais e frutas e limitar a ingestão de sumos, refrigerantes e doces e guloseimas. Por fim concluiu-se que muitos pais não têm percepção do excesso de peso dos filhos e, portanto, da necessidade de modificar a alimentação ou outros hábitos. Assim, é fundamental sensibilizar os pais para esta realidade como passo crucial no combate à obesidade infantilIntroduction: overweight and children’s obesity are a major health problem today, with serious consequences. Due to that, its essential to take serious preventive actions, that should be based on scientific evidence, so that the best course of action can be chosen Objectives: this study has two major goals: assess children’s obesity and overweight prevalence in a Primary Health Care Facility (Cruz de Celas USF), and evaluate habits and influences, while trying to find if there is a connection with children’s weight. Thus trying to understand witch habits/influences/behaviors are risk factors to children’s overweight, allowing more clarified and objective oriented course of actions Methods: a essay was elaborated and filled during interviews with children’s parents that were between the ages of 2 and 11. At the same time children and parent’s biometric parameters, demographic data were evaluated and physical activities and food related behavior were assayed. With the help of Medicine One® children’s biometric parameters were gathered and the Children’s obesity and overweight prevalence was calculated in the Cruz de Celas USF’s population. Results: the prevalence of overweight and obesity assessed was 24,34%. It was observed that 48,7% of the parents had a high degree of education, and that their children had a lower risk (4,3 times less) of overweight. It was determined that mother’s overweight it’s a risk factor for children’s overweight, with 3,8 relative risk. Vegetables and fruit ingestion in the studied population is less that recommended, and a bigger intake of these types of food is associated with a lesser risk of overweight. Children that aren’t overweight have 4 times more extracurricular sport’s time, have more outdoors activity, and watch about 1,5h of TV for day (40 minutes less than overweight children- 2,3h). Conclusions: In this sample, lower degree of education and parent’s overweight are risk factor for children’s overweight, and special attention should be given to this population so that preventive measures be taken sooner. A bigger vegetable and fruit ingestion and lower juice/sodas/candy/treats ingestion is necessary. It was observed that most parents don’t have the correct perception of their children’s weight, therefore the need to change nutrition and other habits. Thus, parent’s sensibilization is a fundamental and crucial step in the war against children’s obesity