Antioxidant capacities of flavones and benefits in oxidative-stress related diseases

Flavonoids, a group of secondary metabolites widely distributed in the plant kingdom, have been acknowledged for their interesting medicinal properties. Among them, natural flavones, as well as some of their synthetic derivatives, have been shown to exhibit several biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-allergic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective and antimicrobial. The antioxidant properties of flavones allow them to demonstrate potential application as preventive and attenuating agents in oxidative stress, i.e., a biological condition that is closely associated to aging process and several diseases. Some flavones interfere in distinct oxidative-stress related events by directly reducing the levels of intracellular free radicals (hydroxyl, superoxide and nitric oxide) and/or of reactive species (e.g. hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite and hypochlorous acid) thus preventing their amplification and the consequent damage of other biomolecules such as lipids, proteins and DNA. Flavones can also hinder the activity of central free radical-producing enzymes, such as xanthine oxidase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH-oxidase) or inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and can even modulate the intracellular levels of pro-oxidant and/or antioxidant enzymes. The evaluation of flavones antioxidant ability has been extensively determined in chemical or biological in vitro models, but in vivo therapy with individual flavones or with flavones-enriched extracts has also been reported. The present manuscript revises relevant studies focusing the preventive effects of flavones on stress-related diseases, namely the neurological and cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes and its associated complications

Mediterranean diet: a precious tool for fighting inflammatory diseases

Epidemiological studies indicate that populations who consume foods rich in specific polyphenols have lower incidence of inflammatory diseases. In turn, Mediterranean diet, claimed for its several health benefits, provides a wide range of foods which are particularly enriched sources of polyphenols, some of which known for their anti-inflammatory properties. In this context, various herbs, vegetables and fruits, as well as fruit derivative products, such as wine and virgin olive oil, are believed to have an important role preventing and/or ameliorating inflammatory conditions through diet. Additionally, they are strong candidates for anti-inflammatory drugs. In general, the anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols involve the modulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression including cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, nitric oxide synthases and several pivotal cytokines such as TNF-α, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), mainly by acting through nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Since inflammation is a phenomenon present in many chronic diseases including cancer, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease, the modulation of the aforementioned markers by polyphenols may positively contribute for the prevention and/or amelioration of these diseases. The present chapter focus various edible Mediterranean typical foods known for their anti-inflammatory properties, as well as the main pheno-lic constituents associated to the protection process and their underlying mechanisms of action

Valores pessoais e comprometimento afetivo em conselhos municipais de assistência social

As pesquisas em comprometimento afetivo têm crescido nas últimas décadas, enfocando diversas realidades organizacionais, embora não tenham ainda contemplado a dos conselhos gestores municipais, não obstante a relevância das funções sociais que desempenham. Buscando suprir essa lacuna e também aprofundar a compreensão acerca do papel dos valores pessoais como antecedentes do comprometimento afetivo, este artigo analisou a relação entre esses dois construtos junto aos conselheiros municipais de assistência social do Estado de Minas Gerais. A amostra envolveu 204 participantes, que responderam ao Questionário de Perfil de Valores Pessoais (PQ-21) e à Escala de Comprometimento Afetivo (ECOA). Análises de regressão hierárquica demonstraram que os tipos motivacionais benevolência e poder, bem como o fator de ordem superior autotranscendência ofereceram predição ao comprometimento afetivo, sendo que o poder estabeleceu com este uma relação negativa. Reflexões acerca das implicações e das limitações da pesquisa são apresentadas, bem como sugestões para estudos futuros

The Importance of Design in the Development of a Portable and Modular Iot-Based Detection Device for Clinical Applications

The integration of human factors engineering methods within the medical device design and development process has been highlighted by international standards organizations. Such methods are contributing to the development of safer medical devices, more suitable to users' needs. Errors during device operation might hamper effective patient diagnosis and treatment, or eventually lead to injury or death. Thus, the designing process of a medical device is indeed crucial to user experience and safety operation. This paper presents a human-centred design analysis of a novel IoT-based screening prototype (iLoF) based on Artificial Intelligence algorithms built-in in a patented-photonics system developed by a deep tech startup. The influence of the design process during the development of the prototype was addressed, based on a human-centred design methodology and considering the device's application environment. iLoF's prototype on-field applicability was evaluated considering a single case-study carried out at one of the main hospitals in Portugal through interviews to ten healthcare professionals with high experience in laboratorial testing. A benchmark assessment and a comparison matrix along with the market products are also presented to fully understand the technology state and to find new solutions that can influence iLoF's product development. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Laparoscopic Nephrectomy in Pediatric age

Objectivos: Numerosas séries têm sido publicadas documentando a experiência em nefrectomias por via transperitoneal e retroperitoneal. Este artigo pretende documentar as primeiras 10 nefrectomias e nefroureterectomias laparoscópicas via transperitoneal realizadas no Hospital D. Estefânia. Material e Métodos: Revisão retrospectiva de cinco nefrectomias e cinco nefroureterectomias laparoscópicas realizadas no período de Fevereiro a Setembro de 2010 em crianças com idades compreendidas entre os 2 e os 18 anos. Todos os doentes foram referenciados por complicações de rins não funcionantes. Os procedimentos, via transperitoneal, foram unilaterais, com recurso a 3 portas. Foi igualmente efectuada a análise da duração da cirurgia, taxa de conversão, tempo de internamento e complicações associadas à técnica. Resultados: Todos os rins foram removidos com sucesso por via laparoscópica, sem necessidade de conversão em nenhum dos casos. O tempo operatório médio foi de 103 minutos. Cinco doentes tiveram alta ao 2º dia de pós-operatório, três doentes ao 3º dia de pós-operatório e dois doentes, pela complexidade médico-cirúrgica inerente tiveram internamentos mais prolongados. Não se verificaram complicaçõesno per- ou pós-operatório, com retoma precoce da actividade normal em todos os doentes. Conclusão: A nefrectomia laparoscópica na criança parece ser uma alternativa viável e segura à cirurgia aberta. Consideramos necessário a aquisição de mais experiência para reduzir os tempos operatórios e definir a sua verdadeira eficácia. A experiência adquirida com outros procedimentos laparoscópicos transperitoneais foi determinante na opção por esta via (versus retroperitoneal)

Hérnia de Spiegel Associada a Criptorquidia Homolateral - A Propósito de um Caso Clínico

A hérnia de Spiegel (HS) é uma entidade clínica infrequente, sendo particularmente rara na criançaa. Embora possa associar-se a fatores adquiridos, na criança a maioria dos casos parece dever-se a alterações congénitas. A HS associa-se muitas vezes com outros defeitos congénitos, sendo a associação mais frequente a criptroquidia ipsilateral, observando-se com elevada frequência a presença do testículo no saco herniário e não se identificando gubernáculo ou canal inguinal. Dado o risco de encarceramento e estrangulamento do conteúdo da HS, o seu diagnóstico precoce e tratamento atempado são essenciais. O tratamento consiste na herniorrafia e orquidopexia extra-dartos, que deverá ser realizada através de um túnel subcutâneo caso não se identifique canal inguinal. A frequência entre HS e criptorquidia homolateral sugere que a normal presença do testículo seja sempre pesquisada aquando do diagnóstico de HS, e que esta associação deve ser tida em consideração em casos de criptorquidia com testículo não palpável no seu habitual trajeto. Neste artigo descrevemos um caso clínico de um lactente com HS associada a criptorquidia, que foi submetido a herniorrafia e orquidopexia extradartos com criação de um trajeto inguinal para o testículo, abaixo do transverso do abdómen

Use of CPAP to Reduce Arterial Stiffness in Moderate-to-Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnoea, Without Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (STIFFSLEEP): an Observational Cohort Study Protocol

INTRODUCTION: Sleepiness is a cardinal symptom in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) but most patients have unspecific symptoms. Arterial stiffness, evaluated by pulse wave velocity (PWV), is related to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular (CV) risk. Arterial stiffness was reported to be higher in patients with OSA, improving after treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). This study aims to assess whether the same effect occurs in patients with OSA and without sleepiness. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This observational study assesses the CV effect of CPAP therapy on a cohort of patients with moderate-to-severe OSA; the effect on the subcohorts of sleepy and non-sleepy patients will be compared. A systematic and consecutive sample of patients advised CPAP therapy will be recruited from a single outpatient sleep clinic (Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central-CHLC, Portugal). Eligible patients are male, younger than 65 years, with confirmed moderate-to-severe OSA and apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI) above 15/hour. Other sleep disorders, diabetes or any CV disease other than hypertension are exclusion criteria. Clinical evaluation at baseline includes Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and sleepiness is defined as ESS above 10. OSA will be confirmed by polygraphic study (cardiorespiratory, level 3). Participants are advised to undertake an assessment of carotid-femoral PWV (cf-PWV) and 24 hours evaluation of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), at baseline and after 4 months of CPAP therapy. Compliance and effectiveness of CPAP will be assessed. The main outcome is the variation of cf-PWV over time

A Case of Late-Diagnosed Ovotesticular Disorder of Sex Development

We report acase of!ovotesticular disorder of sex development!(DSD) with ambiguous genitalia, 46XX presenting the clinical, laboratory, imaging and operative findings and highlighting the pertinent features of this case. Results of hormonal, genetic testing and histopathology findings are reviewed. Diagnosis of true hermaphroditism is well defined and the condition can be recognized even prenatally. Conservative gonadal surgery is the procedure of choice after the diagnosis of true hermaphroditism, if the risk of a gonadal malignancy is low. Continued follow-up is necessary because of the multiple psychological, gynecological and urological problems encountered postpubertally by these patients

Coaching: a reference model for the practice of nurse-leaders in the hospital context

The objectives of the present study was to evaluate the leadership of nurses by using the coaching strategy as a managerial tool, and identify, measure and analyze the acquisition of competencies from the view of nurse-coaches. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional, exploratory and field study that was performed using a quantitative approach. Situational Leadership was selected as the theoretical framework and the research instrument was submitted to statistical and content analyses and was applied on 11 nurse leaders of a large scale private general hospital located in São Paulo. The results showed that participants gained new knowledge, confirmed the Situational Leadership model as the recognized being a coach leader, with a style that is mainly aimed at tasks and people, according to the situation involved, and pointed out the following skills as determinant of coaches: communication, giving and receiving feedback, assigning and gaining power and having an influence. Finally, the attitudes reflected the practice of coaching.El estudio objetivó evaluar el liderazgo ejercido por enfermeras con uso de coaching como herramienta gerencial, identificar, mensurar y analizar la adquisición de competencias percibidas por enfermeras que actúan como coachs. Estudio descriptivo, transversal, exploratorio, de campo, con abordaje cuantitativo. El Liderazgo Situacional se seleccionó como referencial teórico y el instrumento investigativo fue sometido a análisis estadísticos y de contenido, aplicado a 111 enfermeras líderes en hospital general privado de gran porte de San Paulo. Los resultados evidenciaron que hubo incorporación de nuevos conocimientos, confirmaron el modelo de Liderazgo Situacional al reconocer al líder coach teniendo un estilo predominantemente orientado a tareas y personas, según la situación involucrada, y también indicaron con foco en las habilidades preponderantes del coach: comunicación, dar y recibir feedback, dar y ganar poder y ejercer influencia; que las actitudes reflejaron el ejercicio de liderazgo coaching.O presente estudo teve por objetivos avaliar a liderança exercida pelas enfermeiras com uso do coaching como ferramenta gerencial, identificar, mensurar e analisar a aquisição de competências percebidas pelas enfermeiras que atuam como coaches, Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, transversal, exploratório e de campo, com abordagem quantitativa. A Liderança Situacional foi selecionada como referencial teórico e o instrumento de pesquisa foi submetido a análises estatísticas e de conteúdo, aplicado em 111 enfermeiras líderes em um hospital geral, privado, de grande porte da cidade de São Paulo. Os resultados evidenciaram que houve incorporação de novos conhecimentos, confirmaram o modelo de Liderança Situacional ao reconhecer ser líder coach, tendo o estilo predominantemente orientado às tarefas e às pessoas, segundo a situação envolvida, e ainda, indicaram como habilidades preponderantes do coach: a comunicação, dar e receber feedback, dar e ganhar poder e exercer influência, que as atitudes refletiram o exercício o liderança coaching