Intervenção arqueológica no sítio das Atafonas: análise antropológica

Os trabalhos arqueológicos realizados no sítio das Atafonas (Torre de Coelheiros, Évora) revelaram a existência de restos osteológicos em duas das três sepulturas identificadas. Na Sepultura 1 detectou-se um ossário, com um número mínimo de quatro indivíduos. Da análise do desgaste dentário dos dentes exumados, obtiveram-se idades à morte não muito superiores a 15 anos. Na Sepultura 2 foram identificados vestígios de uma inumação, em fossa, de um indivíduo, com uma idade à morte compreendida entre os 10-12 anos. Na Sepultura 3, não foram descobertos restos osteológicos

Diagnose sexual em restos humanos: o caso das sepulturas coletivas

Dissertação de mestrado, Arqueologia, Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, 2014Em sepulturas coletivas, como a do Algar do Bom Santo (Alenquer, Portugal), a diagnose sexual é efetuada recorrendo a outros ossos que não o coxal, com metodologias desenvolvidas em coleções de esqueletos identificados. Tal deve-se a um duplo facto: este osso encontrar-se frequentemente fragmentado e o material esquelético não estar, usualmente, em conexão anatómica, impossibilitando a determinação do sexo de um esqueleto inteiro pelo coxal. Daqui surgem dois problemas: a não utilização do coxal na diagnose sexual, o osso mais dimórfico do esqueleto humano, e a aplicação de métodos desenvolvidos em material esquelético contendo possíveis discrepâncias biológicas. O presente trabalho irá avaliar a fiabilidade desta abordagem, utilizando a série osteológica neolítica exumada do Algar do Bom Santo. Serão utilizados os úmeros e os fémures maturos por serem ossos com um dimorfismo sexual e uma representatividade elevados nestes contextos. Para tal, a par dos métodos convencionais, serão aplicadas metodologias desenvolvidas na própria série, utilizando as medidas convencionais e as presentes nas superfícies articulares das epífises. A escolha destas porções anatómicas deve-se a estas apresentarem um grau de dimorfismo sexual elevado, podendo assim refletir padrões, caso existam, nas proporções sexuais. Os resultados serão analisados ao nível das respetivas medidas de tendência central (média e mediana) e comparados com os indicadores morfológicos. Por fim, será efetuada uma comparação com as séries osteológicas coevas e espacialmente próximas ao Algar do Bom Santo

Human Segmentation In Funerary Practices. The Middle Neolithic Cemetery Cave Of Bom Santo (Montejunto Mountain Range, Portugal)

UID/ANT/04038/2019 IF/00127/2014Ongoing multidisciplinary studies of skeletonized human remains from the Middle Neolithic Bom Santo Cave (Lisbon, Portugal) is indicating a very heterogeneous population at various levels (diets, mobility and genetics). The current interpretation suggests that its socioeconomic and funerary territories encompassed the lower Tagus, its tributaries and the granitic sectors of the Mora–Pavia area in the Alentejo. Archaeothanatological analyses indicated mutually exclusive funerary practices: secondary depositions at Room A and primary and secondary depositions at Room B. Polished stone tools are evenly distributed in both rooms, while ornaments, pottery, flint blades and sheep/goat phalanges are almost restricted to Room A. Such distribution patterns reflects the coexistence of distinct funerary practices in which Room A is part of a much complex behaviour that included primary depositions, exhumation, transportation and re-deposition of human bone remains between different sectors of the cave and/or cemeteries (caves, dolmens) of the above-described territory. Thus, a more dynamic (in its rituals) and wider (in its geography) set of funerary practices than usually perceived — in which the intentional segmentation of human skeletons is attested — seems to have taken place at the onset of megalithism in central-southern Portugal.publishersversionpublishe

Tumores carcinóides : o papel da broncoscopia

Trabalho Final do Curso de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2020Os tumores carcinóides broncopulmonares representam um tumor maligno e raro do pulmão. Esta neoplasia deriva de células neuroendócrinas, o que lhe confere a capacidade de secretar hormonas e substâncias bioativas, no entanto, as síndromes paraneoplásicas representam apenas uma pequena fatia das manifestações clínicas. Segundo as características histológicas apresentadas os tumores carcinóides podem ser divididos em dois tipos: Carcinóides Típicos e Carcinóides Atípicos. Esta classificação assume importância pois apresenta implicações prognósticas e terapêuticas. Em comparação com outras neoplasias do pulmão, os tumores carcinóides apresentam melhor prognóstico e carácter mais indolente. A cirurgia permanece ao longo das últimas décadas o gold standard do tratamento destes tumores, no entanto, grande parte destes apresentam uma localização central e um crescimento polipóide, o que possibilita o acesso à broncoscopia. O papel pré-cirúrgico da endoscopia está bem definido em doentes com complicações obstrutivas, com o objetivo de melhorar o performance status aquando da intervenção cirúrgica, para além disso, permite um melhor estudo da base tumoral e assim condiciona um planeamento cirúrgico mais claro. No entanto, ao longo os últimos anos tem surgido uma tentativa por parte de muitos autores de selecionar os doentes que poderão beneficiar da broncoscopia como terapêutica curativa. Série de casos: Foram apresentados quatro doentes com diagnóstico de Tumor Carcinóide Pulmonar submetidos a broncoscopia e laserterapia pré-cirúrgica. Três dos quatro doentes apresentados eram previamente saudáveis, destes as manifestações apresentadas que motivaram a investigação etiológica foram a existência de episódio súbito de hemoptises em dois dos doentes e a existência de tosse recorrente associada a pneumonia obstrutiva num dos casos. Um dos pacientes tinha história de tumor carcinóide diagnosticado previamente, a broncoscopia revelou a existência de metastização do mesmo na traqueia, carina e brônquio intermédio. Discute-se a importância da citorredução pré-cirúrgica e da terapêutica ablativa por broncoscopia como tratamento definitivo em casos selecionados.Bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors represent a rare malignant tumor of the lung. This neoplasm derives from neuroendocrine cells, which gives it the ability to secrete hormones and bioactive substances; however, paraneoplastic syndromes represent only a small fraction of the clinical manifestations. According to the histological characteristics presented the carcinoid tumors can be divided into two types: Carcinoids Typical and Atypical Carcinoids. This classification is important because it has prognostic and therapeutic implications. Compared with other lung neoplasms, carcinoid tumors have a better prognosis and more indolent character. Surgery has remained the gold standard for the treatment of these tumors over the past few decades, however most of these have a central location and polypoid growth which allows access to bronchoscopy. The preoperative role of endoscopy is well defined in patients with obstructive complications, with the objective of improving the performance status during the surgical intervention, in addition, allows a better study of the tumor base and thus conditions a clearer surgical planning. However, over the last few years there has been an attempt by many authors to select patients who may benefit from bronchoscopy as curative therapy. Case series: Four patients diagnosed with Pulmonary Carcinoid Tumors and submitted to bronchoscopy and pre-surgical laser therapy were presented. Three of the four patients presented were previously healthy. Of these the manifestations that led to the etiological investigation were the existence of a sudden episode of hemoptysis in two of the patients and the presence of recurrent cough associated with obstructive pneumonia in one of the cases. One of the patients had a history of a previously diagnosed carcinoid tumor and bronchoscopy revealed metastasis of the same in the trachea, carina and intermediate bronchus. It is discussed the importance of preoperative cytoreduction and ablative bronchoscopy therapy as definitive treatment in selected cases

Surviving cardiac arrest: what happens after admission to the intensive care unit?

Patients successfully resuscitated from cardiac arrest (CA) are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for post-resuscitation care. These patients' prognosis remains dismal, with only a minority surviving to hospital discharge. Understanding the clinical factors involved in the management of these patients is essential to improve their prognosis.Introdução: Doentes ressuscitados de uma paragem cardiorrespiratória (PCR) são admitidos em Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) para receber cuidados pós-reanimação, mas apenas uma minoria sobrevive até à alta hospitalar. Compreender os fatores clínicos envolvidos na sua abordagem é essencial para melhorar o prognóstico. Objetivos: Caracterizar a população admitida na UCI após reanimac¸ão bem-sucedida e analisar os fatores associados aos outcomes. Métodos: Realizamos um estudo retrospetivo e descritivo com doentes admitidos após PCR na UCI, de janeiro de 2014 a dezembro de 2018. Analisaram-se os fatores demográficos, caraterísticas da PCR, abordagem precoce e outcomes neurológico e de mortalidade. Resultados: Foram admitidos 187 doentes, com uma mediana de 67 anos; 39% sofreram PCR pré-hospitalar, 87% apresentavam ritmo inicial não desfibrilhável e a etiologia presumida mais frequente foi a cardíaca (31%). A mortalidade intra-hospitalar foi 63%; 31% dos sobreviventes tinha disfunc¸ão neurológica significativa à data da alta hospitalar (CPC 3 ou 4). O atraso no início do suporte básico de vida (SBV), score SAPS II mais elevado e maior durac¸ão indexada de suporte vasopressor foram preditores independentes de mortalidade intra-hospitalar. O ritmo desfibrilhável foi associado a melhoria da sobrevida. Um valor de Escala de Coma de Glasgow mais elevado na alta da UCI e menor durac¸ão de internamento na UCI foram preditores de melhor outcome neurológico. Conclusão: Este estudo salienta o impacto prognóstico do ritmo desfibrilhável e confirma a importância do início imediato de SBV e da rápida desfibrilhação, reforçando a necessidade de capacitar a população intra e extra-hospitalar.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Unbalanced sex-ratio in the Neolithic individuals from the Escoural Cave (Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal) revealed by peptide analysis

The sex profile estimation of pre-historic communities is often complicated by the commingled and scattered nature of skeletal assemblages. Demographic profiles are usually lacking and provide very truncated representations of these populations but proteomic analysis of sex-specific amelogenin peptides in tooth enamel brings new promise to these studies. The main objective was to obtain the sex profile of the human assemblage recovered from the Neolithic cave-necropolis of Escoural (Montemor-o-Novo, southern Portugal) through liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The secondary objective was to analyse sex-specific linear enamel hypoplasias (LEH), and to test the reliability of canine odontometric sex estimation. Sex estimation through peptide analysis was carried out in 36 left permanent canines which were macroscopically examined for the presence of LEH. The canine buccolingual diameter was used for odontometric sex estimation. The obtained sex ratio (0.5:1, M:F) is biased to female individuals, probably due to cultural factors since the natural sex ratio of the human population falls between 0.95:1 and 1.02:1 (M:F). A high frequency of LEH was observed, but with no significant sexual differences (p = 0.554). The mean LEH age of onset occurred at 3 years of age, with no significant differences between the sexes (p = 0.116), and was possibly related to the weaning process. Odontometric sex estimation revealed a correct classification of 80%, with a high number of males mistakenly attributed to females. This study is one of the largest samples subjected to peptide analysis, and thus demonstrates its usefulness on the research of commingled and scattered skeletal assemblages

Phenotypic and proliferative modulation of human mesenchymal stem cells via crosstalk with endothelial cells

AbstractThe purpose of this work was to investigate if a coculture system of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) with endothelial cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells, HUVEC) could modulate the phenotype and proliferation of harvested MSCs. In addition to previous investigations on the crosstalk between these two cell types, in the present work different relative cell ratios were analyzed for long, therapeutically relevant, culture periods. Moreover, MSCs osteogenic commitment was assessed in a non-osteogenic medium and in the presence of HUVECs through magnetic cell separation, cell quantification by flow cytometry, morphology by fluorescent microscopy, metabolic activity and gene expression of osteogenic markers. Collectively, the present findings demonstrate that, by coculturing MSCs with HUVECs, there was not only the promotion of osteogenic differentiation (and its enhancement, depending on the relative cell ratios used), but also a significant increase on MSCs proliferation. This augmentation in cell proliferation occurred independently of relative cell ratios, but was favored by higher relative amounts of HUVECs. Taken together, this data suggests that HUVECs not only modulate MSC phenotype but also their proliferation rate. Therefore, a coculture system of MSCs and HUVECs can a have a broad impact on bone tissue engineering approaches

Bronze Age funerary spaces in Outeiro Alto 2 (Brinches, Serpa, Portugal): the hipogea cemetery

The Outeiro Alto 2 (Brinches, Serpa, Portugal) is part of a wider range of archaeological sites recently excavated on the left bank of the Guadiana River, Baixo Alentejo, in the context of the Empreendimento de Fins Múltiplos de Alqueva - EDIA (Alqueva Dam). The chronology of its occupation extends from the Final Neolithic to the Bronze Age, also through Chalcolithic, and it is located on a gentle hill with a wide view of the landscape. In this study we present the data concerning to the occupation of the site during the Bronze Age, more specifically the hypogea necropolis. It is a cultural reality badly known and scarcely characterized and documented until recently, proper to the region, but where it becomes evi- dent the influence of Argaric Culture, especially in the funerary rituals.Outeiro Alto 2 (Brinches, Serpa) forma parte de un amplio conjunto de yacimientos arqueológicos recientemente excavados en la margen izquierda del río Guadiana, en el Bajo Alentejo, en el contexto de Empreendimento de Fins Múltiplos de Alqueva (EDIA). Su cronología de ocupación se extiende desde el Neolítico final hasta la Edad del Bronce, pasando por el Calcolítico, y se localiza en una suave colina con un amplio dominio del paisaje. En este estudio se presentan los datos relativos a la ocupación del sitio durante la Edad del Bronce, más concretamente la necrópolis de hipogeos. Se trata de una realidad cultural poco conocida, escasamente caracterizada y documentada hasta hace relativamente poco tiempo, propia de la región, pero donde resulta evidente la influencia de la cultura argárica, sobre todo en lo que a los rituales funerarios se refiere

Hydrogel depots for local co-delivery of osteoinductive peptides and mesenchymal stem cells

The outcome of cell-based therapies can benefit from carefully designed cell carriers. A multifunctional injectable vehicle for the co-delivery of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and osteoinductive peptides is proposed, to specifically direct hMSCs osteogenic differentiation. The osteogenic growth peptide (OGP) inspired the design of two peptides, where the bioactive portion of OGP was flanked by a protease-sensitive linker, or its scrambled sequence, to provide faster and slower release rates, respectively. Peptides were fully characterized and chemically grafted to alginate. Both OGP analogs released bioactive fragments in vitro, at different kinetics, which stimulated hMSCs proliferation and osteogenesis. hMSCs-laden OGP-alginate hydrogels were tested at an ectopic site in a xenograft mouse model. After 4 weeks, OGP-alginate hydrogels were more degraded and colonized by vascularized connective tissue than the control (without OGP). hMSCs were able to proliferate, migrate outward the hydrogels, produce endogenous extracellular matrix and mineralize it. Moreover, OGP-groups stimulated hMSCs osteogenesis, as compared with the control. Overall, the ability of the proposed platform to direct the fate of transplanted hMSCs in loco was demonstrated, and OGP-releasing hydrogels emerged as a potentially useful system to promote bone regeneration