El litoral: problemática y gestión

Sin resume

Fatores que influenciam a extensão e profundidade do vocabulário de adultos portugueses

Diante da dificuldade em encontrar provas de avaliação de vocabulário direcionadas a população adulta portuguesa, este estudo teve como primeiro objetivo a construção e validação de um instrumento de avaliação do vocabulário. Assim, foram criadas duas provas de escolha múltipla, uma de sinónimos e outra de antónimos, para avaliar a extensão e profundidade do vocabulário de adultos portugueses. O segundo objetivo foi investigar quais os fatores que podem influenciar a extensão e profundidade do vocabulário e, para tal, foi também criado um questionário sociodemográfico e de hábitos de leitura. Participaram no estudo 732 adultos, de todos os distritos portugueses, tendo sido avaliados 86 de forma presencial e os demais de forma online. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que as provas construídas parecem medir de forma robusta o que se propõem, demonstrando uma boa consistência interna, assim como correlações moderadas com provas existentes que avaliam o vocabulário. Ã análise de regressão relativa ao contributo das variáveis sociodemográficas e de exposição à leitura indicou que os melhores preditores para o vocabulário da população adulta portuguesa são a escolaridade, a idade e a leitura de livros. Os resultados são discutidos visando não somente melhor entender o vocabulário, mas também a sua integração com outras dimensões da linguagem, passando pela importância da necessidade da elaboração de instrumentos de medida que atendam ao rigor científico e com a qualidade necessária para apoiar as decisões clínicas e/ou académicas na avaliação neuropsicológica da linguagem..Faced with the difficulty in finding vocabulary assessment tests targeted at the Portuguese adult population, this study aimed at the construction and validation of a vocabulary assessment instrument. Two multiple-choice tests were created, one for synonyms and the other for antonyms, to assess the extent and depth of the vocabulary of Portuguese adults. The second aim of this study was to investigate which factors can influence the extension and depth of vocabulary and, for that, a sociodemographic and reading habits questionnaire was also created. 732 adults participated in the study, from all Portuguese districts, 86 of which were evaluated in person and the others online. The results obtained suggest that the constructed tests seem to robustly measure what they propose, demonstrating good internal consistency, as well as moderate correlations with existing tests that assess vocabulary. The regression analysis on the contribution of sociodemographic variables and exposure to reading indicated that the best predictors for the vocabulary of the Portuguese adult population are education, age, and book reading. The results are discussed in order not only to better understand the vocabulary but also to integrate it with other dimensions of language, including the importance of the need to develop measurement instruments that meet scientific rigor and with the necessary quality to support clinical and /or academics in the neuropsychological assessment of language

Flipped classroom applied to Neurosurgery in undergraduate medical education

To compare the academic achievement obtained in Neurosurgery in a class of undergraduate students according to the pedagogical methodology employed: flipped classroom (FC) versus traditional lecture. Students’ satisfaction with the FC model is also analyzed. A quasi-experimental study was designed. The traditional lecture was the pedagogical method employed in teaching units (TUs) 1, 2, and 3 (61, 60, and 66 enrolled students, respectively), whereas TU 4 (69 enrolled students) used the FC methodology. The dropout rate was lower, whereas the academic achievement and the rate of correct answers were higher in TU 4 compared to the rest of the TUs, but these results were not statistically significant. However, the mean score obtained in Neurosurgery was significantly higher in TU 4 compared to the rest of the TUs (p = 0.042). Active learning activities based on clinical cases were positively emphasized. The main weakness was with the time consumed for video-recorded lecture viewing. The FC approach showed better academic results than traditional lectures when comparing students in the same Medical School during the same academic year undergoing the same exam. The students rated the FC approach positively, considering it stimulating and useful for learnin

Neuroprotective efect of indomethacin in normal perfusion pressure breakthrough phenomenon

Loss of cerebral autoregulation in normal perfusion pressure breakthrough (NPPB) phenomenon has been reported in other Central Nervous System diseases such as neonatal intraventricular haemorrhage. Several studies have demonstrated that low-dose indomethacin prevents this latter condition. A previous rat model was used to resemble NPPB phenomenon. Study animals were distributed in 4 groups that received 3 doses of indomethacin at different concentrations prior to fistula occlusion 60 days after its creation. Control animals received saline solution. Intracranial pressure (ICP) increased in all groups following fistula creation, whereas mean arterial pressure (MAP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) decreased as a manifestation of cerebral hypoperfusion and intracranial hypertension. The administration of indomethacin was associated with raised MAP and CPP, as well as decreased ICP. Sodium fluorescein extravasation was slight in study animals when comparing with control ones. Histological analysis evidenced diffuse ischaemic changes with signs of neuronal apoptosis in all brain layers in control animals. These findings were only focal and slight in study animals. The results suggest the usefulness of indomethacin to revert, at least partially, the haemodynamic effects of NPPB phenomenon in this experimental model, as well as to reduce BBB disruption and histological ischemia observed in absence of indomethacinThis study has been supported by the Spanish Ministries of Economy and Competitiveness in collaboration with the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) under Grant FIS PI 12/0290

Tunneled antibiotic-impregnated vs. bolt-connected, non-coated external ventricular drainage: a comparison of complications

External ventricular drainage (EVD) is a common emergency neurosurgical procedure, but it is not free of adverse events. The aim of this study is to compare the complication rate of two frequently used EVD types, namely, tunneled antibiotic-impregnated catheters (Bactiseal©) and bolt-connected non-coated devices (Camino©). All EVDs placed between 1 March 2015 and 31 December 2017 were registered. Procedures performed with any catheter different from Bactiseal© or Camino© EVD with incomplete follow-up and those EVDs placed due to infectious disease were excluded. Demographic and clinical variables, as well as the overall complication rate (infection, hemorrhage, obstruction, malposition of the catheter, and involuntary pull-out of the device) and the need for replacement of the EVD, were collected. A total of 77 EVDs were finally considered for analysis (40 Bactiseal® and 37 Camino®). There was a statistically significant difference in diagnosis and also in the location of the procedure, as more bolt-connected EVD was placed outside the operating room (97.3 vs. 23.5%, p < 0.001) due to emergent pathologies such as vascular diseases and spontaneous hemorrhages. In the univariate analysis, a statistically significantly higher rate of catheter involuntary pull-out (29.7 vs. 7.5%, p = 0.012) and the need for EVD replacement (32.4 vs. 12.5%, p = 0.035) was found in the Camino cohort. However, those differences could not be confirmed with multivariable analysis, which showed no association between the type of catheter and any of the studied complications. Ventriculostomy duration was identified as a risk factor for infection (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02–1.18). No significant differences were observed regarding infection, hemorrhage, obstruction, malposition, involuntary catheter pull-out, and the need for EVD replacement when comparing non-impregnated bolt-connected EVDs (Camino®) with tunneled antibiotic-impregnated catheters (Bactiseal®). The duration of EVD was associated with an increased risk of infection

Porcine circovirus 3 is highly prevalent in serum and tissues and may persistently infect wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa)

Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV‐3) prevalence has been minimally investigated in wild boar; dynamics of infection and viral tissue distribution are currently unknown. In this study, serum samples from 518 wild boar (from years 2004 to 2018) were used to study frequency of infection. Also, serum samples from 19 boar captured and recaptured at least two times for a period of time from 1 month to 1 year were collected to determine PCV‐3 infection dynamics. Finally, to elucidate PCV‐3 DNA organic distribution, sera, different tissues and faeces were obtained from 35 additional wild boar. PCV‐3 DNA was extracted and amplified with a conventional PCR. For the PCV‐3 PCR‐positive sera from the longitudinally sampled and different tissue types, a quantitative PCR was performed. Genome sequence was obtained from a number of PCV‐3 PCR‐positive samples from different years, different time‐points of infection and tissues. Obtained results confirmed the susceptibility of wild boar to the virus, showing high frequency of PCV‐3 detection (221 out of 518, 42.66%) and demonstrating circulation at least since 2004. Compiled data indicate the possibility of long‐term infections, since 5 out of 10 PCV‐3 PCR‐positive boars longitudinally sampled showed positivity in samplings separated for more than 5 months. All tested tissue types' harboured PCV‐3 genome, with the highest percentage of PCR positivity in submandibular lymph node, tonsil, lung, liver, spleen and kidney. The amount of DNA in all tested PCV‐3 PCR‐positive samples was moderate to low. All partial and complete PCV‐3 sequences obtained from wild boar displayed high nucleotide identity, higher than 98%. In conclusion, this study further confirms that wild boar is susceptible to PCV‐3 infection, showing high frequency of detection in this animal species. Furthermore, PCV‐3 can be found in different tissues of wild boar and is apparently able to cause persistent infection.Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnologia Agraria y Alimentaria. Grant Number: E‐RTA2017‐00007‐00‐0

Oral extrusion of a vertebral body replacement device after chordoma tumor growth and radiation: case report and review

Screw migration following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is a very rare complication and it is often related to device failure. Even more exceptional is the extrusion of an intervertebral graft. We report the second case of migration and extrusion through the oral cavity of a cervical vertebral body replacement device (expandable cylinder) in a patient that had undergone cervical corpectomy due to a vertebral chordoma. The antecedent of radiation therapy as well as progressive tumor re-growth may have favored the development of this complication. A literature review is adde

Non-communicating hydrocephalus from pork tapeworm obstructing the foramina of Monro and its endoscopic management; a case report from Europe

Introduction: Taenia solium is the main causative agent of neurocysticercosis. The tapeworm can manifest inside the ventricles, usually in the form of intracranial hypertension. We present a case of hydrocephalus as a result of a neurocysticercosis lesion obstructing both foramina of Monro. Research question: A comprehensive review of the management is provided, as well as video footage (an invaluable resource to compare, critique and learn with other institutions). Material and methods: A 23-year-old female from Honduras presented with a 7-day complaint of headache. On exam, she was hyperreflexic, but otherwise normal. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a non-specific lesion at the level of the foramina of Monro, with associated hydrocephalus. Additional testing was normal. Results: The patient underwent an endoscopic ventriculoscopy with partial excision of the lesion and subsequent implantation of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. On postoperative MRI, hydrocephalus resolved and pathological analysis identified the parasite as Taenia solium. Albendazole was administered for 14 days. Discussion and conclusion: Neurocysticercosis should be considered in patients presenting with hydrocephalus, especially those from endemic areas. The long-term prognosis of ventricular neurocysticercosis might be favourable, provided that adequate care is given timely. Endoscopic surgery seems to be effective for the removal of parasitic lesions. However, studies comparing open versus endoscopic surgery are lacking. The majority of cases in the literature correspond to America and Asia. This case shows that neurocysticercosis is also present in Europe, and that a high index of suspicion is necessar

Long-term dietary folate deficiency accelerates progressive hearing loss on CBA/Ca mice

This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).Dietary folic acid deficiency induced early hearing loss in C57BL/6J mice after two-months, corroborating the epidemiological association previously described between vitamin deficiency and this sensory impairment. However, this strain is prone to early hearing loss, and hence we decided to analyze whether the effects exerted by folate deprivation follow the same pattern in a mouse strain such as CBA/Ca, which is resistant to hearing impairment. Here, we show results of a long-term study on hearing carried out on CBA/Ca mice subjected to dietary folate deprivation. Systemic changes included decreased serum folate levels, hyperhomocysteinemia and signs of anemia in the group fed the folate-deficient diet. Initial signs of hearing loss were detected in this strain after 8-months of vitamin deficiency, and correlated with histological damage in the cochleae. In conclusion, the data presented reinforce the importance of adequate folic acid levels for the auditory system and suggest that the impact of dietary deficiencies may depend on the genetic background.RM was a fellow of the JAE-CSIC predoctoral program. This work was supported by grants of the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (SAF2014-53979-R to IV; BFU2009-08977 to MP), the European Union (FP7-AFHELO and TARGEAR to IV).Peer reviewe

Desfronde y tasa de Descomposición foliar en rebollar-pinar de repoblación con distinto grado de clara

El desfronde representa un factor clave en el funcionamiento de los ecosistemas forestales. Por un lado representa el mayor aporte de nutrientes en sistemas naturales y, por otro, su acumulación en el suelo constituye un banco de elementos esenciales que, por descomposición y mineralización, se integran en el suelo y en los ciclos biogeoquímicos. Este trabajo analiza el efecto de la clara en la producción de desfronde, la eficiencia en el uso del nitrógeno y en la tasa de descomposición de la hojarasca en una masa mixta de Pinus pinaster Ait. procedente de repoblación sobre una masa natural de Quercus pyrenaica Wild. El sitio experimental está situado en los Montes de Toledo y consta de tres tratamientos: control, clara moderada y clara fuerte con tres réplicas en un diseño de cuadrado latino. Los datos de desfronde proceden de recogida mensual en cestos y separación en fracciones para el cálculo de la materia seca. El nitrógeno se analizó en muestras compuestas cada tres meses. Para el estudio de la tasa de descomposición se utilizaron bolsas con mezcla de acículas y hojas, recolectándose y analizándose también cada tres meses. Los resultados muestran picos de desfronde en los meses de verano y en el otoño. La mayor producción de desfronde se observa en las parcelas testigo. La aplicación de las claras no supone grandes diferencias ni en el desfronde ni en la eficencia en el uso del nitrógeno. Por el contrario las claras ralentizan la tasa de descomposición de las hojas de rebollo