Observation of technique and tactics situations in handball avaliation of an instrument

FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), IDP (Instituto do Desporto de Portugal), AIESEP World Congres

Correlation equalities and upper bounds for the transverse Ising model

Starting from an exact formal identity for the two-state transverse Ising model and using correlation inequalities rigorous upper bounds for the critical temperature and the critical transverse field are obtained which improve effective results.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur

System of teachers behavior : methodology of applications

AIESEP World Congress, IDP, FC

Time management session system (GTS)

FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), IDP (Instituto do Desporto de Portugal), AIESEP World Congres

The influence of task in practice organization

FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), IDP (Instituto do Desporto de Portugal), AIESEP World Congres

Monte Carlo Study of Mixed-Spin S=(1/2,1) Ising Ferrimagnets

We investigate Ising ferrimagnets on square and simple-cubic lattices with exchange couplings between spins of values S=1/2 and S=1 on neighbouring sites and an additional single-site anisotropy term on the S=1 sites. Based mainly on a careful and comprehensive Monte Carlo study, we conclude that there is no tricritical point in the two--dimensional case, in contradiction to mean-field predictions and recent series results. However, evidence for a tricritical point is found in the three-dimensional case. In addition, a line of compensation points is found for the simple-cubic, but not for the square lattice.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figure

Long-Term Complications After Renal Transplantation

IN the past, every effort was directed at the prevention of acute rejection in renal transplant (RT) patients (pts). Ever since the introduction of the new immunosuppressive agents in the late 1990s, the short-term results of renal graft survival are considered satisfactory. In recent years, the prevention of long-term graft loss and the extension of life expectancy have gained new emphasis. The immunosuppressive agents though, namely calcineurin-inhibitors and steroids, may potentiate the development of several problems in RT pts: obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension,1 which are not only risk factors for cardiovascular disease but also for graft loss.2,3 We performed a retrospective analysis of all RTs performed at our unit that reached 10 years (y) with a functioning graft. The aim of the study was to evaluate long-term complications and, in view of the results, to seek a possible strategy that minimizes these problems

Effectiveness of Psycho-Educational Intervention in HIV Patients' Treatment

Adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) is the main prognostic factor associated with HIV disease progression and death. The aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a psycho-educational program to promote adherence to HAART in HIV patients. A longitudinal study (n = 102) over 9 months in an Infectious Diseases Hospital was carried out. Adherence to HAART was measured with standardized scales and values of viral load. Two groups were defined: adherents and non-adherents. In the latter, a psycho-educational program was implemented and 6 months later measured adherence to HAART. Knowledge about the infection, CD4 T lymphocytes and HIV-ribonucleic acid values were measured before and after this program. The sample was predominantly male (70%), heterosexual (78%), with a mean age of 49 (SD = 12.7) years, and 48% of participants were not adhering to HAART. After the program, non-adherence decreased to 21.6%. Knowledge about the infection increased from 79 to 97%. A significant increase in CD4 T lymphocytes (mean 540-580) and a decrease in viral load (mean 5411-3052) were observed, the latter of statistical significance. This program seems to be feasible and efficient, improving adherence to HAART

Pharmaceutical vehicles for vaginal and rectal administration of anti-hiv microbicide nanosystems

Prevention strategies play a key role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Vaginal and rectal microbicides hold great promise in tackling sexual transmission of HIV-1, but effective and safe products are yet to be approved and made available to those in need. While most efforts have been placed in finding and testing suitable active drug candidates to be used in microbicide development, the last decade also saw considerable advances in the design of adequate carrier systems and formulations that could lead to products presenting enhanced performance in protecting from infection. One strategy demonstrating great potential encompasses the use of nanosystems, either with intrinsic antiviral activity or acting as carriers for promising microbicide drug candidates. Polymeric nanoparticles, in particular, have been shown to be able to enhance mucosal distribution and retention of promising antiretroviral compounds. One important aspect in the development of nanotechnology-based microbicides relates to the design of pharmaceutical vehicles that allow not only convenient vaginal and/or rectal administration, but also preserve or even enhance the performance of nanosystems. In this manuscript, we revise relevant work concerning the selection of vaginal/rectal dosage forms and vehicle formulation development for the administration of microbicide nanosystems. We also pinpoint major gaps in the field and provide pertinent hints for future work.This work was supported by Programa Gilead GÉNESE, Gilead Portugal (refs. PGG/046/2015 and PGG/002/2016). This article is a result of the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000012, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This work was financed by FEDER-Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020-Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior in the framework of the project “Institute for Research and Innovation in Health Sciences” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007274), and also Partnership Agreement PT2020 UID/QUI/50006/2013-POCI/01/0145/FEDER/007265. J.G. gratefully acknowledges FCT for financial support (SFRH/BD/140271/2018 scholarship)

Renal Allograft Rupture: A Clinicopathologic Review

Transplantation Proceedings Volume 32, Issue 8, December 2000, Pages 2597-2598 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- doi:10.1016/S0041-1345(00)01801-7 | How to Cite or Link Using DOI Copyright © 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved. Cited By in Scopus (4) Permissions & Reprints Renal allograft rupture: a clinicopathologic review M Ramosa, , L Martinsa, L Diasa, A.C Henriquesa, J Soaresa, J Queirósa and A.M Sarmentoa aDepartments of Urology and Nefrology, Hospital Geral de Santo António, Oporto, Portugal Available online 19 December 2000. Article Outline Patients and methods Results Discussion References Renal allograft rupture (RAR) is a rare but very serious complication of renal transplantation, requiring emergency surgery. The most common cause is acute allograft rejection, but other causes such as renal vein thrombosis (RVT), acute tubular necrosis (ATN), renal biopsy, and lymphatic obstruction have been reported.[1] and [2] We reviewed our experience with the aim of identifying RAR predisposing conditions. Patients and methods In a consecutive series of 934 renal transplants performed between July 1983 and September 1999, 11 patients (1.2%) had RAR. In these cases we studied donor and recipient characteristics, preservation conditions, clinical signs and symptoms, treatment, and pathology findings. This group of patients was then compared with their paired cohort. Data analysis was computer-based. In the statistical analysis t test and Fisher’s exact test were used. Results All 11 kidneys that suffered RAR were from cadaver donors, nine male and two female. The mean age was 29.5 years with good terminal serum creatinine (mean 1.1 mg/dL). All organs were stored in Eurocollins solution and the mean cold ischemia time was 21 hours and 25 minutes (range, 10 hours to 29 hours and 20 minutes). Excluding one black patient, all recipients were Caucasian. Eight were female and 3 were male, with a mean age of 33.8 years. The mean HLA match was 1.7, and the mean peak panel reactive antibody (PRA) was 22% (range 0 to 93%) and current was 15% (range 0 to 67%). All patients had cyclosporine treatment, eight had delayed graft function requiring dialysis, and three underwent renal allograft biopsy. In two patients rupture occurred in the second allograft; the others were first transplants. The day of RAR was a mean of 5.3 (range 2 to 13). All patients had new onset of severe allograft pain, eight had a drop in daily hematocrit, and six had hypotension. The four patients with more precocious ruptures had sudden onset of bleeding through the drainage tube. Transplant nephrectomy was performed in 10 patients, and surgical conservative treatment with fibrin glue and collagen foam was performed in one. All patients survived RAR. Three had a second transplant and currently have functioning allografts. Pathology examination revealed RVT in three patients and some degree of rejection in the remaining eight. One patient had a rupture on the second day because of hyperacute rejection, and three had severe acute cellular rejection, but in four patients the dominant figure was ATN with minimal rejection. Excluding the patient with hyperacute rejection, the day of rupture was later for those with severe acute rejection, a mean of 9.6 days (range 6 to 13). In those with ATN, the day of RAR was a mean of 4.5 (range 3 to 6) and the patients with RVT had ruptures even sooner, on mean third day (range 2 to 4). Variables associated with RAR were: sex mismatch (P = .004), current PRA (P = .012), and a need for dialysis (P = .042). Age of the recipient, transplant number, cold ischemia time, total HLA match, and peak PRA were not associated with RAR. Discussion Higher current PRA and a need for dialysis are variables associated with rejection and ATN. Therefore they are expected to be related to rupture. The well-documented conditions that are associated with ATN and rejection3 must be the same, which in extreme conditions predispose to RAR. We find no explanation for the statistically significant association of sex mismatch and RAR, other than random error. Acute allograft rejection is the most frequent cause of graft rupture in the literature (60 to 80%),3 but ATN has received little note. In our series, ATN was responsible for 36% of the ruptures, as much as severe acute rejection. ATN alone can cause RAR,4 because of interstitial edema and rise in intrarenal pressure. But when associated with rejection, it seems that these two conditions can act synergistically to cause allograft rupture. Our data suggests that rupture occurs later when caused by rejection, rather than when RVT is responsible. To our knowledge this finding had never been reported in world literature. Perhaps the timing of RVT is related to technical problems, such as twisting and kinking of the vein or intima tear, although the thrombogenic effect of cyclosporine can also have a role in this process.5 All these patients were on cyclosporine therapy, which may explain the small number of RAR caused by rejection alone and the significant number of patients that had RVT (27%). It appears that cyclosporine therapy is changing the etiology of the graft rupture.6 References 1 T. Grochowiecki, J. Szmidt and K. Madej et al., Transplantation Proc 28 (1996), p. 3461. View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (2) 2 R.S. Lord, D.J. Effeney and J.M. Hayes et al., Ann Surg 177 (1973), p. 268. Full Text via CrossRef | View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (4) 3 G.J. Azar, A. Zarifian and G.D. Frentz et al., Clin Transplantation 10 (1996), p. 635. View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (12) 4 Y.H. Chan, K.M. Wong and K.C. Lee et al., Am J Kidney Dis 34 (1999), p. 355. Abstract | Article | PDF (86 K) 5 R.M. Jones, J.A. Murie and A. Ting et al., Clin Transplant 2 (1988), p. 122. 6 A.J. Richardson, R.M. Higgins and A.J. Jaskowski et al., Br J Surg 77 (1990), p. 558. Full Text via CrossRef | View Record in Scopus | Cited By in Scopus (19