Brown rotting fungus closely related to Pseudomerulius curtisii (Boletales) recorded for the first time in South America.

In the region of Santa Maria, Southern Brazil, we have analyzed morphologically and molecularly some interesting brown-rotting mushroom specimens closely related to Pseudomerulius curtisii. Except for minor differences in morphology and ITS sequence similarity, collections have corresponded to P. curtisii by basidiospore size and shape, the kind of hyphal system, the macromorphology, the slightly unpleasant pungent spicy smell turning stronger upon drying and, particularly, by the highly supported and closely related clade after phylogenetic analysis. Perhaps due the rarity in nature, morphological data are not abundant in literature and appears to be somewhat incomplete to discordant for the species, so we provide a more detailed description and illustrations from collected specimens

Leveraging the Country-of-Origin Image by managing it at different levels

The study aims to articulate the Country-of-Origin Image (COI) at different levels (country, industry and firm levels) by advancing the knowledge and exploring ways to manage the COI at different levels underpinned on corporate brand and brand architecture strategies. For that, a mixed-methods approach was conducted where a qualitative study—looking into the case of the Brazilian Machinery Solutions Programme (BMS)—was carried out in combination with a quantitative survey held with a specific target country (Colombia). Data for the quantitative study were collected with 89 Colombian industrial buyers using Brazil as a manufacturer-supplier and country of reference. Findings indicate the relevance of managing the COI at different levels and highlight the development of the COI at the industry level. This demonstrates that nation-branding and COI literature should be developed and articulated using strategic marketing programmes and brand architecture elements. The study advances the body of knowledge in the COI literature by analysing it within three different levels and offers a framework to manage the COI using corporate brand and brand architecture elements, which is beneficial to institutions, governments, trade agencies, industry associations and firms to leverage the COI by understanding aspects of it transferrable to industry and firm levels

Brown rotting fungus closely related to Pseudomerulius curtisii (Boletales) recorded for the first time in South America

In the region of Santa Maria, Southern Brazil, we have analyzed morphologically and molecularly some interesting brown-rotting mushroom specimens closely related to Pseudomerulius curtisii. Except for minor differences in morphology and ITS sequence similarity, collections have corresponded to P. curtisii by basidiospore size and shape, the kind of hyphal system, the macromorphology, the slightly unpleasant pungent spicy smell turning stronger upon drying and, particularly, by the highly supported and closely related clade after phylogenetic analysis. Perhaps due the rarity in nature, morphological data are not abundant in literature and appears to be somewhat incomplete to discordant for the species, so we provide a more detailed description and illustrations from collected specimens

Management of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patients With Lung Cancer: Experience From a Thoracic Oncology Center

Background: Cancer patients appear to be at a higher risk of complications from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Specific data related to lung cancer (LC) patient management, active treatment, and/or recent diagnosis are still very limited. Here, we aimed to investigate the clinical presentation, baseline features, and clinical outcomes of LC patients with COVID-19. Methods: A retrospective case study was performed at Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São Joao, a tertiary hospital in the North of Portugal. Data from LC patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were collected during the first 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020–January 2021). Results: Twenty-eight patients with active LC were diagnosed with COVID-19, being adenocarcinoma the most common histological type present (n = 13, 46.4%). Sixteen patients had metastatic stage IV LC (61.5%). Twenty-five patients (89.3%) had relevant comorbidities including hypertension (39.3%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (32.1%). For patients undergoing antineoplastic treatment, the median time from the last chemotherapy administration to COVID-19 diagnosis was of 16 days (interquartile range = 13–41 days). Half of patients were previously on corticosteroid therapy. Twenty patients (71.4%) needed hospitalization, 18 received oxygen therapy (64.3%), 3 (10.7%) of them received high-flow nasal cannula with good tolerability, and 1 (3.6%) needed non-invasive ventilation. Hydroxychloroquine and antibiotics were given to 4 (14.3%) and 12 (42.9%) patients, respectively. Seven patients (25%) died at a median time of 5 days following COVID-19 diagnosis. Conclusion: This is one of the first studies reporting the adverse outcomes associated with COVID-19 in LC patients at same time that adds evidence regarding the need to create protocols and guidelines to reduce the infection risk in such patients.NC-M acknowledges the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the Horizon 2020 Program (PTDC/PSI-GER/28076/2017)

Functional interactions between polypyrimidine tract binding protein and PRI peptide ligand containing proteins.

Polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTBP1) is a heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) that plays roles in most stages of the life-cycle of pre-mRNA and mRNAs in the nucleus and cytoplasm. PTBP1 has four RNA binding domains of the RNA recognition motif (RRM) family, each of which can bind to pyrimidine motifs. In addition, RRM2 can interact via its dorsal surface with proteins containing short peptide ligands known as PTB RRM2 interacting (PRI) motifs, originally found in the protein Raver1. Here we review our recent progress in understanding the interactions of PTB with RNA and with various proteins containing PRI ligands.This work was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council [grant number BB/H004203/1 (to C.W.J.S.)]; the Wellcome Trust [grant number 092900 (to C.W.J.S.)]; the Boehringer Ingelheim Fond (to J.A.); the Medical Research Council [grant number MR/M026302/1 (to D.B.A. and D.E.V.P.)]; the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais [grant number MR/M026302/1 (to D.B.A. and D.E.V.P.)]; and the National Health and Medical Research Council CJ Martin Fellowship [grant number APP1072476 (to D.B.A.)]

Soluble human Suppression of Tumorigenicity 2 is associated with endoscopic activity in patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis treated with golimumab

Suppressor of Tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) is an IL33 receptor detected in the mucosa and serum of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. We evaluated soluble ST2 (sST2) as a surrogate biomarker of disease outcome and therapeutic response, in moderate-to-severe UC patients treated with golimumab.Agência financiadora Merck Sharp and Dohme, Lda, Portugal MK8259-22info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Swimming exercise demonstrates advantages over running exercise in reducing proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Experimental studies in animal models have described the benefits of physical exercise (PE) to kidney diseases associated with hypertension. Land- and water-based exercises induce different responses in renal function. Our aim was to evaluate the renal alterations induced by different environments of PE in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The SHRs were divided into sedentary (S), swimming exercise (SE), and running exercise (RE) groups, and were trained for 8 weeks under similar intensities (60 min/day). Arterial pressure (AP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded. The renal function was evaluated through urinary volume at each week of training; sodium and potassium excretions, plasma and urinary osmolarities, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), levels of proteinuria, and renal damage were determined. SE and RE rats presented reduced mean AP, systolic blood pressure, and HR in comparison with S group. SE and RE rats showed higher urine osmolarity compared with S. SE rats showed higher free water clearance (P < 0.01), lower urinary density (P < 0.0001), and increased weekly urine volume (P < 0.05) in comparison with RE and S groups. GFR was increased in both SE and RE rats. The proteinuria of SE (7.0 ± 0.8 mg/24 h) rats was decreased at the 8th week of the PE in comparison with RE (9.6 ± 0.8 mg/24 h) and S (9.8 ± 0.5 mg/24 h) groups. The glomerulosclerosis was reduced in SE rats (P < 0.02). SE produced different response in renal function in comparison with RE, in which only swimming-trained rats had better profile for proteinuria and glomerulosclerosis

Migrations and habitat use of the smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena) in the Atlantic Ocean

The smooth hammerhead shark, Sphyrna zygaena, is a cosmopolitan semipelagic shark captured as bycatch in pelagic oceanic fisheries, especially pelagic longlines targeting swordfish and/or tunas. From 2012 to 2016, eight smooth hammerheads were tagged with Pop-up Satellite Archival Tags in the inter-tropical region of the Northeast Atlantic Ocean, with successful transmissions received from seven tags (total of 319 tracking days). Results confirmed the smooth hammerhead is a highly mobile species, as the longest migration ever documented for this species (> 6600 km) was recorded. An absence of a diel vertical movement behavior was noted, with the sharks spending most of their time at surface waters (0-50 m) above 23 degrees C. The operating depth of the pelagic long-line gear was measured with Minilog Temperature and Depth Recorders, and the overlap with the species vertical distribution was calculated. The overlap is taking place mainly during the night and is higher for juveniles (similar to 40% of overlap time). The novel information presented can now be used to contribute to the provision of sustainable management tools and serve as input for Ecological Risk Assessments for smooth hammerheads caught in Atlantic pelagic longline fisheries.Oceanario de Lisboa through Project "SHARK-TAG: Migrations and habitat use of the smooth hammerhead shark in the Atlantic Ocean"; Investigador-FCT from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia) [Ref: IF/00253/2014]; EU European Social Fund; Programa Operacional Potencial Human

Assessment of pain during rest and during activities in the postoperative period of cardiac surgery

OBJECTIVE: to assess the intensity and site of pain after Cardiac Surgery through sternotomy during rest and while performing five activities. METHOD: descriptive study with a prospective cohort design. A total of 48 individuals participated in the study. A Multidimensional Scale for Pain Assessment was used. RESULTS: postoperative pain from cardiac surgery was moderate during rest and decreased over time. Pain was also moderate during activities performed on the 1st and 2nd postoperative days and decreased from the 3rd postoperative day, with the exception of coughing, which diminished only on the 6th postoperative day. Coughing, turning over, deep breathing and rest are presented in decreased order of intensity. The region of the sternum was the most frequently reported site of pain. CONCLUSION: the assessment of pain in the individuals who underwent cardiac surgery during rest and during activities is extremely important to adapt management and avoid postoperative complications and delayed surgical recovery

The dose–response relationship between training-load measures and aerobic fitness in elite academy soccer players

The aim of the current study is to examine the dose-response relationships between training load (TL) measures and the consequent changes in aerobic fitness. Data were collected over the 6-week pre-season period in elite youth soccer players. Participants completed a lactate threshold test to identify changes in treadmill speed at 2 mmol · l (S2) and 4 mmol · l (S4). Internal TL was quantified with the following training impulse (TRIMP) methods: Banister TRIMP, Edwards TRIMP, Lucia TRIMP, individual TRIMP (iTRIMP) and rate of perceived exertion was also collected. External TL measures were total distance, PlayerLoad, high speed running (14.4-19.8 km · h ), very high-speed running (19.8-25.2 km · h ) and maximal sprint distance (>25.2 km · h ). Individual high-speed distance was derived from each participants treadmill speed at S4. Different Bayesian regression models were run with different likelihood functions. The best-fitting models with both the lowest out-of-sample prediction error and the highest variance explained ( ) were used. iTRIMP had the strongest relationships with changes in S2 (r = 0.93, = 0.90) and S4 (r = 0.88, = 0.82). Explained variance ranged from 10%-69% and 11%-38% for all other internal TL measures and external measures, respectively. In summary, the iTRIMP method demonstrates a dose-response relationship with changes in aerobic fitness in elite youth soccer players