The Identification Potential of Atherosclerotic Calcifications in the Context of Forensic Anthropology

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease that, in its more developed stages, can lead to the calcification of fatty plaques on the walls of arteries, resulting in the appearance of new bone elements. It is a condition that has been studied and documented little in the context of paleopathology, especially in the framework of forensic anthropology. This article analyzed the skeletal remains of 71 individuals (35 females and 36 males) from the Luís Lopes Identified Collection of the National Museum of Natural History and Science in Lisbon, 31 of whom had an autopsy report. An attempt was made to ascertain whether these bone elements resulting from atherosclerotic calcification would resist cadaveric decomposition and whether they would be recoverable several years after burial, and a survey was carried out of their distribution according to sex and age, as well as their association with other pathologies, such as osteoporosis and cardiac and renal pathologies. An imaging analysis of an atherosclerotic plaque was also carried out to complement the macroscopic analysis and present other methods of identifying plaques. It was concluded that each atherosclerotic calcification has a unique profile, which can be useful for identification, especially in cases where the individual shows a severe condition. In terms of identification potential, the analysis of calcified atherosclerotic plaques can be useful, as they can corroborate or reject an identification. However, it always requires the existence of ante-mortem imaging exams and must always be used in addition to other identification methods. Regardless of the identification, these plaques are bone elements resulting from a pathology and should, therefore, be known and recognized by the scientific community.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Incidence of chestnut blight and diversity of vegetative compatible types of Cryphonectria parasitica in Trás-os-Montes (Portugal)

In 1989, the first cases of chestnut blight were recognised in Portugal. Quarantine measures for this A2 quarantine organism (OEPP) were not sufficient to control the disease and a program to eradicate chestnut blight was implemented in 1998. The distribution and incidence of chestnut blight were surveyed in Bragança and Vinhais, in the Trás-os-Montes region in the north of Portugal where chestnut groves are economically important. The survey found that all communities have blighted chestnut trees except one in Bragança and one other in Vinhais. Bragança has an average of 10.3% blighted chestnut trees and Vinhais 8.0%, but the disease incidence varied greatly among different communities and among sample sites in the same community. Based on the merging/barrage response, four vegetative compatible types were detected in eight sub-populations of C. parasitica studied in the region of Trás-os-Montes (P-1, P-2, P-3, P-5). P-2 is the most frequent and the only type present in five sub-populations of C. parasitica. More vc types were found in Vinhais where there was one sub-population with P-1, one with P-3, and one with P-1 and P-2. P-5 was found only once, and it showed a barrage response with all other testers

O Cancro do Castanheiro no Nordeste Transmontano: medidas para travar o seu desenvolvimento

Durante o ano transacto detectamos no concelho de Bragança, mais um foco de "cancro do castanheiro", micose provocada pelo fungo Cryphonectria parasítica Murr. E And. Esta doença começou na década de 80 a ter alguma importância no nosso país, pois é difícil travar o seu desenvolvimento, quando 0 inóculo se encontra presente nas árvores

Aspergillus Species and Antifungals Susceptibility in Clinical Setting in the North of Portugal: Cryptic Species and Emerging Azoles Resistance in A. fumigatus

Aspergillus spp. are agents of a broad-spectrum of diseases among humans. Their growing resistance to azoles, the cornerstone in the management of human aspergillosis, is a worrisome problem around the world. Considering lack of data from Portugal on this topic, particularly from the northern region, a retrospective surveillance study was planned to assess frequency of cryptic Aspergillus species and azoles resistance. A total of 227 clinical isolates, mainly from the respiratory tract (92.1%), collected from three hospitals serving a population of about three million people, were studied for their epidemiology and antifungal susceptibility patterns determined by the E.DEF.9.3 protocol of EUCAST. Employing molecular methods, seven Aspergillus complexes were identified; Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto was the most frequent isolate (86.7%). A 7.5% prevalence of cryptic species was found; A. welwitschiae (A. niger complex-3.1%) and A. lentulus (A. fumigatus complex-2.2%) were the most frequent. Amongst cryptic species, it was found a percentage of resistance to voriconazole, posaconazole and isavuconazole of 47.1, 82.4, and 100%, respectively. Five A. fumigatus sensu stricto showed pan-azole resistance. Sequencing their cyp51A gene revealed the presence of one isolate with TR46/Y121F/T289A mutation and two isolates with TR34/L98H mutation. This study emphasizes the need to identify strains to the species level and to evaluate their antifungal susceptibility in all human originated Aspergillus spp. isolates, particularly those from invasive aspergillosis.This work was supported by Grant IN-PT-131-1755 from Gilead Sciences.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Systemic immunity against soil borne Phytophthora and control of ink disease of chestnut by foliar spray of potassium phosphonate

Chestnut ink disease represents a great risk for chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) in all regions of chestnut production of Europe and North America. Induced by soil borne oomycetes, Phytophthora cinnamomi and P. cambivora, both parasites infect the root system and cause root and collar rot resulting in dieback, decline and finally, the death of infected trees. There are no single control measures for root rot pathogens and control with systemic and selective oomycetes biochemical substances can be important as part of the integrated disease management of these soil borne parasites. In this work we studied the effect of potassium phosphonate to protect roots from P. cinnamomi. Chestnut seedlings were planted in potting mix previously inoculated with P. cinnamomi (Pr 120). One group of five pots, with three seedlings each were submitted to potassium phosphonate foliar spraying (3 ml L-1Atlante®) and another group of five pots were water foliar sprayed. Seedlings had been grown in a nursery for 120 days. At the end of the experiment, visual symptoms of the crown and root system were assessed. Parameters related with roots: root length, root rot length, root number, root rot number, crown diameter, height and biomass were evaluated. Statistic significant differences between treatments were obtained in all root studied variables. Potassium phosphonate by foliar spraying prevented P. cinnamomi infections of roots of chestnut and can be a key factor in the management of ink disease of chestnut

An efficient assay for detection of Phytophthora cinnamomi in the rhizosphere of Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.)

O ciclo biológico de Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands e P. cambivora (Petri) Buisman espécies associadas com a Doença da Tinta do Castanheiro, ocorre integralmente no ambiente solo. A presença de qualquer uma destas espécies parasitas inviabiliza as novas plantações de castanheiro e coloca sérios problemas à manutenção dos soutos já instalados. Para garantir a ausência de propágulos dos parasitas no material de multiplicação do castanheiro e avaliar o estado sanitário dos solos é necessário que os métodos de detecção sejam sensíveis e rápidos, o que nem sempre é conseguido com as espécies de Phytophthora cujo ciclo de vida ocorre no ambiente solo. Neste estudo desenvolveuse e optimizou-se um método de biodetecção conjugado com a utilização de meios de cultura selectivos. Como material biológico utilizaram-se discos de folha de castanheiro (Castanea sativa), azevinho (Ilex aquifolium) e camélia (Camellia japonica), em condições de temperatura constante (25º) e em condições normais de laboratório com a adição ou não de biocidas (pimaricina e penicilina) na água de diluição do solo. Os discos de folha de castanheiro foram mais eficientes na detecção de Phytophthora, obtendo-se maior percentagem de isolamentos positivos no meio de cultura selectivo (P10VPH). Os resultados obtidos neste estudo permitiram estabelecer um protocolo experimental de fácil utilização e tornar mais eficiente a detecção de Phytophthora cinnamomi associada com a Doença da Tinta do Castanheiro

Postural balance in elderly evaluated in a force platform: the vestibular system and its importance in the aging process

Balance dysfunction remains a significant factor for disability in the elderly [1]. Several mechanisms have been proposed do explain the changes in balance during aging. Balance disorders represent a growing public health problem due to the association with falls and fall related injuries [2]. The complexity of the balance system, however, often requires a thorough, multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and successful treatment of balance impairment [3]. The vestibular system detects head movement in space and in turn generates reflexes that are crucial for daily activities, such as stabilizing the visual axis and maintaining head and body posture [4]. To measure postural balance an accurate and reliable instrument is needed that can numerically reflect the importance of the different variables involved in human balance [5]. With this study it’s our aim to directly determine the balance of older people and to establish the importance of the vestibular system in aging. University of León, León, Spain The data of postural balance in three test conditions was collated with a Metitur® force platform (normal standing with eyes open, normal standing with eyes closed, foam standing with eyes open and foam standing with eyes closed, with 30 seconds duration each). Height was measured with a Seca® We evaluated 49 elderly (42 woman and 7 men) with a mean age of 68,73±9,39 years and with a BMI of 28,63±4,77. The postural balance data obtained was: stadiometer: subjects were asked to stand with back, buttocks and heels against the stadiometer. Subject’s feet were together and flat on the floor and their heads in the Frankfort plane. Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 3,56±1,39 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 6,82±2,5 mm/s Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 4,51±2,35 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 10,96±4,75 mm/s Mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open – 4,37±1,67 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open – 9,29±2,86 Mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes closed – 5,59±2,62 Mean y speed in foam standing with eyes closed – 15,01±4,29 Establishing correlations, we observed that the age is positively correlated to different types of evaluations in foam: mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open (0,358*; p=0,011), mean y-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open (0,419**, p=0,002), mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes closed (0,331*, p=0,02) and mean y-axis speed in foam standing with eyes closed. Comparing the subjects studied with reference values of same age and sex [5], we can observe that our subjects achieve better results (less velocity) in both “x” and “y” axis (subjects versus references values): Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 3,56±1,39 mm/s vs. 4,18±081 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 6,82±2,5 mm/s vs. 7,27±1,84 mm/s Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 4,51±2,35 mm/s vs. 5,68±1,44 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 10,96±4,75 mm/s vs. 12,20±3,01 mm/s Taking into account the results in the different tests, the platform software assigns a classification to the importance of the different systems involved in balance. The vestibular system is itself responsible for 55,19% of the total balance of the studied subjects. The subjects of our sample had better results when compared with reference values of some age and sex. They also tended to have more pronounced sway with age in foam standing with eyes open and in foam standing with eyes closed, in both “x” and “y” axis, which means that the vestibular system has a very important role in the balance of the elderly subjects we have studied

Postural balance in elderly evaluated in a force platform: the vestibular system and its importance in the aging process

Balance dysfunction remains a significant factor for disability in the elderly [1]. Several mechanisms have been proposed do explain the changes in balance during aging. Balance disorders represent a growing public health problem due to the association with falls and fall related injuries [2]. The complexity of the balance system, however, often requires a thorough, multidisciplinary approach to the evaluation and successful treatment of balance impairment [3]. The vestibular system detects head movement in space and in turn generates reflexes that are crucial for daily activities, such as stabilizing the visual axis and maintaining head and body posture [4]. To measure postural balance an accurate and reliable instrument is needed that can numerically reflect the importance of the different variables involved in human balance [5]. With this study it’s our aim to directly determine the balance of older people and to establish the importance of the vestibular system in aging. University of León, León, Spain The data of postural balance in three test conditions was collated with a Metitur® force platform (normal standing with eyes open, normal standing with eyes closed, foam standing with eyes open and foam standing with eyes closed, with 30 seconds duration each). Height was measured with a Seca® We evaluated 49 elderly (42 woman and 7 men) with a mean age of 68,73±9,39 years and with a BMI of 28,63±4,77. The postural balance data obtained was: stadiometer: subjects were asked to stand with back, buttocks and heels against the stadiometer. Subject’s feet were together and flat on the floor and their heads in the Frankfort plane. Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 3,56±1,39 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 6,82±2,5 mm/s Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 4,51±2,35 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 10,96±4,75 mm/s Mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open – 4,37±1,67 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open – 9,29±2,86 Mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes closed – 5,59±2,62 Mean y speed in foam standing with eyes closed – 15,01±4,29 Establishing correlations, we observed that the age is positively correlated to different types of evaluations in foam: mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open (0,358*; p=0,011), mean y-axis speed in foam standing with eyes open (0,419**, p=0,002), mean x-axis speed in foam standing with eyes closed (0,331*, p=0,02) and mean y-axis speed in foam standing with eyes closed. Comparing the subjects studied with reference values of same age and sex [5], we can observe that our subjects achieve better results (less velocity) in both “x” and “y” axis (subjects versus references values): Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 3,56±1,39 mm/s vs. 4,18±081 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes open – 6,82±2,5 mm/s vs. 7,27±1,84 mm/s Mean x-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 4,51±2,35 mm/s vs. 5,68±1,44 mm/s Mean y-axis speed in normal standing with eyes closed – 10,96±4,75 mm/s vs. 12,20±3,01 mm/s Taking into account the results in the different tests, the platform software assigns a classification to the importance of the different systems involved in balance. The vestibular system is itself responsible for 55,19% of the total balance of the studied subjects. The subjects of our sample had better results when compared with reference values of some age and sex. They also tended to have more pronounced sway with age in foam standing with eyes open and in foam standing with eyes closed, in both “x” and “y” axis, which means that the vestibular system has a very important role in the balance of the elderly subjects we have studied

Tratamento da Distonia Laríngea com Toxina Botulínica

INTRODUÇÃO: A distonia laríngea focal engloba um conjunto de processos patológicos, caracterizados por contrações involuntárias e intermitentes dos músculos intrínsecos da laringe, que podem prejudicar predominantemente a fonação ou a respiração. A injeção de toxina botulínica nos músculos afetados provoca uma paralisia transitória, permitindo um bom controlo sintomático nestes pacientes. MÉTODOS: Análise retrospetiva dos doentes com distonia laríngea submetidos a tratamento com toxina botulínica no Serviço de ORL do CHVNG/E, entre janeiro/2011 e dezembro/2016. RESULTADOS: Durante o período de 6 anos foram identificados 11 doentes com distonia laríngea (91% sexo feminino, idade média 42 anos). Neste grupo 45,5% apresentavam distonia laríngea fonatória de tipo adutor e 9,1% de tipo misto, enquanto 45,5% apresentavam distonia laríngea respiratória. Estes pacientes foram submetidos a 43 injeções de toxina botulínica (média de quatro procedimentos/doente), em que 39,5% foram realizadas em ambulatório sob controlo eletromiográfico e 60,5% ocorreram sob anestesia geral. As injeções foram unilaterais em 30,2% e bilaterais em 67,4%. A dose média injetada foi de 11,7 U por sessão. A melhoria sintomática parcial ou total ocorreu em 83,7%, com ocorrência de episódios de engasgamento para líquidos após 20,9% dos procedimentos. A mediana de duração do benefício da toxina botulínica foi de 7 meses. DISCUSSÃO E CONCLUSÃO: A distonia laríngea tem origem em alterações neurológicas crónicas do processamento motor central e, devido às dificuldades no seu diagnóstico, ocorrem consideráveis atrasos no início de uma intervenção terapêutica apropriada. Entre as inúmeras propostas de tratamentos médicos e cirúrgicos, a toxina botulínica mantém-se, na atualidade, como o tratamento de primeira linha, embora a otimização individual da dose terapêutica possa condicionar os resultados iniciais

Detecção precoce de neoplasias cutâneas em cuidados de saúde primários - Relato de uma experiência

Introdução: As neoplasias cutâneas são frequentes em Portugal. Estima-se para o melanoma uma incidência de 8/100.000 hab/ano e para os epiteliomas uma incidência de 100/100.000 hab/ano. A incidência do melanoma tem aumentado em 6 a 7% ao ano. Vinte por cento dos doentes com melanoma morrerão da doença e metade destes com menos de 40 anos. Este aumento deve-se não só ao surgimento de novos casos, mas também à maior procura de serviços. Metodologia: Este trabalho relata uma experiência ao longo de 22 meses (Julho/2008 a Maio/2010) de exérese de lesões cutâneas com recurso a procedimentos invasivos mínimos. Foram intervencionados 282 utentes, dos quais 164 (58%) do sexo feminino, incluídos em todas as faixas etárias. Resultados: Foram realizados 341 procedimentos, dos quais 170 (49,8%) com recurso a exame histológico para confirmação diagnóstica. As lesões mais comuns foram: quisto epidérmico, nevo melanocítico dérmico e nevo melanocítico composto. Foram também identificadas as seguintes lesões pré-malignas: queratose solar actínica, corno cutâneo, lesão induzida por HPV, nevo melanocítico atípico e nevo melanocítico congénito. Além disso, encontraram-se as seguintes lesões malignas: carcinoma espino-celular in situ, carcinoma baso-celular e melanomas. Em todos os casos de lesões pré-malignas foi confirmada histologicamente a exérese com margens livres e todos os casos de lesões malignas foram encaminhados aos cuidados secundários. Discussão: Esta experiência mostra que é possível estender a detecção precoce e o tratamento do cancro cutâneo aos cuidados de saúde primários. A relação de proximidade deste serviço foi muito bem aceite pelos utentes, pois encurtou distâncias e tempos de espera. Será de considerar no futuro o estudo do custo-eficácia e impacto na saúde da população