Omega-3 fatty acids for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease

Background. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are defined as conditions involving decreased blood flow to the heart that can lead to heart attacks, stroke or other disorders. CVDs are a common cause of death in low- and middle-income countries. In South Africa (SA) in particular, CVD is the leading cause of death after HIV/AIDS, responsible for 1 in 6 deaths. CVD risk factors include unhealthy diets, hypertension, obesity, high cholesterol levels and diabetes. Omega-3 fatty acids may have a protective role in the risk of developing heart disease.Objectives. To evaluate the consequences of an increased intake of fish and plant-based omega-3 fatty acids on the risk of CVD mortality and events.Methods. The inclusion criteria for this review were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) lasting at least 12 months, which investigated men and women aged ≥18 years. These participants had to be at any risk of CVD while receiving dietary supplements and an advised diet to promote the intake of omega-3. This diet included oily fish, fish oils and seeds rich in omega-3. Comparisons with the interventions included the participants’ usual diet, no advice, no supplements, placebo or lower-dose omega-3. The review evaluated the effectiveness of these interventions on primary (e.g. CVD deaths and events), secondary (e.g. major adverse cerebrovascular or CVD events, body weight and other adiposity measures, and lipids) and tertiary (e.g. blood pressure and side-effects) outcomes.Results. Evidence from this review indicates that increasing the intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (LCn3) or alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) probably has little or no effect on all-cause CVD or coronary heart disease mortality. Evidence was of moderate certainty, except for all-cause mortality, where there was a high certainty.Conclusions. According to moderate- to high-certainty evidence, short-chain fatty acids and LCn3 have little or no effect on mortality or cardiovascular health. However, omega-3 ALA slightly reduces the risk of CVD events and arrhythmias

Perfil epidemiológico de enfermedades de las abejas adultas en diferentes regiones del centro de Portugal

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the adult honey bee's diseases at the Central Region of Portugal. Adult bee's samples were collected and analysed at the Laboratory of Honey Bee Pathology at Escola Superior Agraria de Bragança (LPAESAB). Samples were processed for epidemiological characterization of diseases of adult honey bees. In general, the prevalence of Varroa mites and Nosemosis increased over the years. Also, the results attained show that Varroatosis, Nosemosis and Myasis, occur along all the years and seasons. The diagnosis of Varroatosis and Nosemosis were higher (P<0,05) during Autumn than in the summer The Varroatosis and Nosemosis are both the major diseases of the adult honey bees presenting the higher concerns at regional and national level. Positive cases of Acarapisosis are indicative of a failure in acaricide treatment. We conclude that higher efforts are needed in order to define the strategies for the control of these diseases.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Perfil epidemiológico de enfermedades de las abejas adultas en diferentes regiones del centro de Portugal

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the adult honey bee's diseases at the Central Region of Portugal. Adult bee's samples were collected and analysed at the Laboratory of Honey Bee Pathology at Escola Superior Agraria de Bragança (LPAESAB). Samples were processed for epidemiological characterization of diseases of adult honey bees. In general, the prevalence of Varroa mites and Nosemosis increased over the years. Also, the results attained show that Varroatosis, Nosemosis and Myasis, occur along all the years and seasons. The diagnosis of Varroatosis and Nosemosis were higher (P<0,05) during Autumn than in the summer The Varroatosis and Nosemosis are both the major diseases of the adult honey bees presenting the higher concerns at regional and national level. Positive cases of Acarapisosis are indicative of a failure in acaricide treatment. We conclude that higher efforts are needed in order to define the strategies for the control of these diseases.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Using stochastic space-time models to map extreme precipitation in southern Portugal

The topographic characteristics and spatial climatic diversity are significant in the South of continental Portugal where the rainfall regime is typically Mediterranean. Direct sequential cosimulation is proposed for mapping an extreme precipitation index in southern Portugal using elevation as auxiliary information. The analysed index (R5D) can be considered a flood indicator because it provides a measure of medium-term precipitation total. The methodology accounts for local data variability and incorporates space-time models that allow capturing long-term trends of extreme precipitation, and local changes in the relationship between elevation and extreme precipitation through time. Annual gridded datasets of the flood indicator are produced from 1940 to 1999 on 800 m&amp;times;800 m grids by using the space-time relationship between elevation and the index. Uncertainty evaluations of the proposed scenarios are also produced for each year. The results indicate that the relationship between elevation and extreme precipitation varies locally and has decreased through time over the study region. In wetter years the flood indicator exhibits the highest values in mountainous regions of the South, while in drier years the spatial pattern of extreme precipitation has much less variability over the study region. The uncertainty of extreme precipitation estimates also varies in time and space, and in earlier decades is strongly dependent on the density of the monitoring stations network. The produced maps will be useful in regional and local studies related to climate change, desertification, land and water resources management, hydrological modelling, and flood mitigation planning

The importance of pelvic ring stabilization as a life-saving measure in pre-hospital - A case report commented by autopsy

Hip fractures with unstable pelvic ring have great morbidity and mortality rates. These fractures result from high energy trauma such as falls from heights, road accidents and collapsing structures or other similar mechanisms of action. We report the case of a 63 years old man, construction worker, who stood inside a ditch during a wall construction when he was surprised by this collapse, which resulted in direct trauma to the right thigh and pelvis. The autopsy revealed diaphysis fracture of the right femur with an open book pelvic fracture with severe hemorrhagic infiltration and hematoma of the pelvic muscles without arterial injury. Bone bleeding and the vascular damage associated with disruption of the sacroiliac ligaments promote a very significant bleeding. Simple maneuvers such as sheet circumferential compression to promote pelvic ring closure are effective on stabilizing and closure of the sacroiliac joint. Hip manipulation of the fracture was performed during the necropsy to demonstrate and prove how a simple sheet contention can promote stabilization of the pelvic ring by closing the sacroiliac joints in open book fractures.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Efeito de práticas parentais de controlo alimentar na ingestão de hortofrutícolas em crianças em idade pré-escolar

[resumo][abstract

Damage assessment of drilled hybrid composite laminates

Hole drilling operations are common in fibre reinforced plastics - FRP’s - to facilitate fastener assembly to other parts in more complex structures. As these materials are non-homogeneous, drilling causes some damages, like delamination, for example. Delamination can be reduced by a careful selection of drilling parameters, drill material and drill bit geometry. In this work two types of laminates are drilled using different machining parameters and comparing drill geometries. Results show the importance of a cautious selection of these variables when composites’ drilling is involved

Estimation of transported pollutant load in Ardila catchment using the SWAT model

Excess of organic matter and nutrients in the water body promotes algae blooms, which can accelerate the eutrophication process, situation often observed in the Ardila river. This river was identified as very polluted and classified as critical for Alqueva-Pedrogão System. The aim of this study was to estimate the transported nutrients load in a transboundary catchment using the SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model and to determine the contribution off nutrients load in the entire catchment. Ardila catchment is about 3711 Km2 and is located in the East part of Portugal (22%) and Badajoz province on Spanish soil (78%). It was discretized into 32 sub-basins using automated delineation routine, and 174 hydrologic response unit. Monthly average meteorological data (time period from 1947 to 1998) were used to generate daily values through the Weather Generator Model incorporated in SWAT. Real daily precipitation series data (1931 to 2003) were introduced. The model was calibrated and verified using: flow data (1950 to 2000) and nutrients (1981 to 1999). Model performance was evaluated using statistical parameters, such as Nach-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) and root mean square error (R2). Calibration and verification flow results showed a satisfactory agreement between simulated and measured monthly date from 1962 to 1972 (NSE=0.8; R2 = 0.9). The results showed that the most important diffuse pollution comes from the two main tributary off Spain. The estimated nitrogen load contribution per year was about 71% (Spain) and 29% (Portugal). The SWAT model application reveals a useful tool for integrated water management

Delamination analysis after carbon/epoxy plate drilling

Drilling of carbon fibre reinforced plates CFRP causes typical damages such as delamination and others. These damages, that cannot be visually detected, can cause the premature collapse of structures. Damage assessment is usually carried out using non-destructive inspections like radiography and ultrasonic C-scan.Damage extent can be evaluated by the use of damage criteria. One of them delamination factor was proposed by Chen, establishing a ratio between the maximum damaged diameter and the hole nominal diameter. Another one damage ratio was presented by Mehta comparing the damaged area with the hole average area. Both ratios allow for comparison between different drilling conditions.In this paper the images obtained are processed and analyzed using standard techniques from Computational Vision together with a processing platform already developed. An experimental evaluation using radiographic and C-scan images to obtain the referred ratios will be presented