Fiabilidad y validez del EASYCare-2010 Standard para evaluar a las personas mayores en Atención Primaria de Salud en Portugal

Introduction The EASYCare is a multidimensional assessment tool for older people, which corresponds to the concerns and priorities of older people in relation to their needs, health, and quality of life. The EASYCare instrument has been used in many countries worldwide. Lack of reliability evidence has recently been raised by researchers. This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the EASYCare-2010 instrument in community-dwelling Portuguese older people attended in Primary Health Care centres. Methods The sample for this transversal study (N = 244) was collected from Portuguese Primary Health Care Centers. Categorical Principal Component Analysis was used to assess the underlying dimensions of EASYCare-2010. Construct validity was evaluated through correlation with the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument-Short Form. Results A two-factor model (labelled “mobility and activities of daily life”, and “general well-being and safety”) was found. The EASYCare-2010 instrument showed acceptable levels for internal consistency (≥0.70). The EASYCare-2010 factors were correlated with measures of quality of life. Results showed that in most polytomous items, some of the more extreme categories were not considered at all or only by a residual number of participants. Conclusion EASY Care -2010 version is a valid and reliable instrument for holistic assessment of the older people attended in Primary Health Care centres in Portugal

Threats to Health and Well-being Perceived by Older people in Poland and Portugal

Introduction: According to the OECD, Portugal and Poland rank below average in several well-being measures such as income and wealth, and health status. Investigating how people perceive the threats to health in these two countries, is an important issue to address priority needs. To meet this need, the objective of this paper was to compare the perceptions of the threats to the health and well-being among the Polish and Portuguese older persons and explore differences between the countries in respect of patterns of self-rated health. Material and Methods: A Cross-sectional study with two convenience samples from primary health care services of Poland and Portugal was conducted; 480 adults aged 65 and over (247 Portuguese) were included. The EASYCare standard assessment of 2010 was applied under a joint project of both countries. The association between ‘self-rated unhealthy’ and socio-demographic and threats to health variables was examined using logistic regression. Results: In both countries about two thirds of the older persons self-rated their health as unhealthy. Having more than enough finances was associated with a significant lower odds of being unhealthy compared with those without enough finances at the end of the month (Portugal: OR = 0.25, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.63; Poland: OR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.88). Visual problems, bodily pain, memory loss, feeling bored or lonely and reporting shortness of breath during normal activities was consistently associated with fair or poor self-rated health. Discussion: These findings provide important information regarding the health profile of older people which can help in the development of people-centred health systems where their lives and well-being can be improved. Conclusion: The unhealthy perception of older people was consistently associated with indicators of major health threats

MAT I/III deficiency in Portugal: high frequency of R264H mutation in a small area of Douro high lands

Introduction: Methionine adenosyltransferase deficiency (MAT I/III deficiency, OMIM 250850) is an inborn error of metabolism resulting in isolated hypermethioninemia and usually inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. A dominant form has been exceptionally reported, associated with a single mutation (R264H). Methods: MAT I/III deficiency is detected by newborn screening (NBS) as a differential diagnosis of classical homocystinuria. Both screenings are based in the methionine measurement by tandem mass spectrometry, and approximately 600,000 newborns were already screened in our laboratory. Suspected cases are confirmed through MAT1A gene analysis. Results: Twenty-three MAT I/III deficient patients were identified through newborn screening. Twelve of them were identified in a small area of Douro high lands, and all revealed to be heterozygous for R264H mutation. Family studies allowed the identification of fifteen additional heterozygotes in this area and seem to indicate a single origin for this allele. Some of the identified heterozygotes present clinical signs which may be related with MAT I/III deficiency. Discussion: The first cause of persistent isolated hypermethioninemia in Portuguese newborns is MAT I/III deficiency due to R264H heterozygosity (21 out of 24 cases). A hot spot for R264H mutation seems to exist in a small area of Douro high lands. Family studies corroborated the importance of carriers identification and counseling

Phylogenomic Analyses of 2,786 Genes in 158 Lineages Support a Root of the Eukaryotic Tree of Life between Opisthokonts and All Other Lineages

Advances in phylogenomics and high-throughput sequencing have allowed the reconstruction of deep phylogenetic relationships in the evolution of eukaryotes. Yet, the root of the eukaryotic tree of life remains elusive. The most popular hypothesis in textbooks and reviews is a root between Unikonta (Opisthokonta + Amoebozoa) and Bikonta (all other eukaryotes), which emerged from analyses of a single-gene fusion. Subsequent, highly cited studies based on concatenation of genes supported this hypothesis with some variations or proposed a root within Excavata. However, concatenation of genes does not consider phylogenetically-informative events like gene duplications and losses. A recent study using gene tree parsimony (GTP) suggested the root lies between Opisthokonta and all other eukaryotes, but only including 59 taxa and 20 genes. Here we use GTP with a duplication-loss model in a gene-rich and taxon-rich dataset (i.e., 2,786 gene families from two sets of 155 and 158 diverse eukaryotic lineages) to assess the root, and we iterate each analysis 100 times to quantify tree space uncertainty. We also contrasted our results and discarded alternative hypotheses from the literature using GTP and the likelihood-based method SpeciesRax. Our estimates suggest a root between Fungi or Opisthokonta and all other eukaryotes; but based on further analysis of genome size, we propose that the root between Opisthokonta and all other eukaryotes is the most likely

Intellectual functioning in children with epilepsy: Frontal lobe epilepsy, childhood absence epilepsy and benign epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes

Purpose The purpose of our study is to describe intellectual functioning in three common childhood epilepsy syndromes – frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE), childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) and benign epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes (BECTS). And also to determine the influence of epilepsy related variables, type of epilepsy, age at epilepsy onset, duration and frequency of epilepsy, and treatment on the scores. Methods Intellectual functioning was examined in a group of 90 children with epilepsy (30 FLE, 30 CAE, 30 BECTS), aged 6–15 years, and compared with a control group (30). All subjects obtained a Full Scale IQ ≥ 70 and they were receiving no more than two antiepileptic medications. Participants completed the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – Third Edition. The impact of epilepsy related variables (type of epilepsy, age at epilepsy onset, duration of epilepsy, seizure frequency and anti-epileptic drugs) on intellectual functioning was examined. Results Children with FLE scored significantly worse than controls on WISC-III Verbal IQ, Full Scale IQ and Processing Speed Index. There was a trend for children with FLE to have lower intelligence scores than CAE and BECTS groups. Linear regression analysis showed no effect for age at onset, frequency of seizures and treatment. Type of epilepsy and duration of epilepsy were the best indicators of intellectual functioning. Conclusion It is crucial that children with FLE and those with a longer active duration of epilepsy are closely monitored to allow the early identification and evaluation of cognitive problems, in order to establish adequate and timely school intervention plans

Maternal Glutaric aciduria type I and newborn screening

Introduction: Expanded Newborn Screening (NBS) programs based on MS/MS, result in a massive increase of screened metabolic disorders and detected patients. Alongside with the detection of classical forms of screened metabolic disorders, milder forms (many whose existence was unknown until now) are being detected, representing major challenges in respect to follow up protocols. Disease spectrum of screened disorders is being stretched, through the detection of undiagnosed mothers through their son’s newborn screening results. In these cases, abnormal screening results are due to maternal rather to neonatal disease. The most common examples are newborns from mothers 3-mthylcroyonyl-CoA-carboxylase deficiency (with newborns usually presenting elevated 3-hydroxy-isovalerylcarnitine and/or low free carnitine) and from mothers with Primary Carnitine Deficiency (with newborns usually presenting low free carnitine). More rarely low free carnitne values in the newborns have been associated to other maternal conditions, namely glutaric aciduria type I. Glutaric aciduria type I (GAI) (MIM# 231670) is an autosomal recessive inherited metabolic caused by a defect of the enzyme glutaryl-CoA dehydrogenase. Clinically GAI, a neurometabolic disorder firstly described by Goodman is characterised by a progressive neurodegeneration that typically manifests acutely in infants during a intercorrent illness. The well known phenotypic presentations are fronto-temporal brain atrophy with macrocephaly and acute encephalopathic episodes with striatal necrosis followed by dystonic-dyskinetic movement disorder.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Oxidation of potato starch with different sodium hypochlorite concentrations and its effect on biodegradable films

AbstractThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of oxidation with sodium hypochlorite at different concentrations of active chlorine (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 g/100 g) on the physicochemical, morphological, pasting, thermal and gel texture properties of potato starch. The native and oxidized starches were used in different concentrations (3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 g starch/100 mL) for the preparation of biodegradable films using glycerol as plasticizer. The films were evaluated for their mechanical properties, color, water solubility and permeability of water vapor. The degree of oxidation potato starches was more intense as there was an increased concentration of active chlorine in the reaction. Films made with oxidized starch with the highest level of active chlorine had lower tensile strength when compared to native starch films. Also, these films had a lower water solubility and water vapor permeability as compared to the native starch films

Effect of olive-pomace based conditioners on soil aggregation stability: preliminary results from a micro-scale experiment

A aplicação de condicionadores ao solo visa o reforço da estabilidade da agregação (EA) e da sua resistência à erosão. O bagaço de azeitona (BA) húmido, proveniente da produção de azeite em duas fases, pode ser utilizado na compostagem e obtenção de condicionadores orgânicos (CBA). O trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar resultados de ensaio experimental realizado para avaliar a influência de CBA na EA. O ensaio comportou dois solos de potencialmente distinto grau de agregação (1, franco-limoso; 2, franco-argiloso), nos quais se aplicaram três CBA, em três doses. Amostras de agregados (1-2 mm) foram misturadas com condicionador moído (<0,75 mm), submetidas a ciclos diários de humedecimento e secagem, e coletadas em 5 momentos ao longo do período experimental de 30 dias. A EA foi determinada por agitação e crivagem em húmido. Confirmou-se a hipótese de o solo 2 possuir EA significativamente superior à do solo 1. Neste, a adição dos condicionadores aumentou significativamente a proporção de agregados estáveis relativamente ao solo original, em todas as dosagens, o que não se verificou no solo 2. A incorporação de CBA em solos cultivados com olival, contribuindo para a economia circular, melhora a proteção do solo pelo incremento de agregados estáveis.The application of soil conditioners aims to reinforce aggregate stability (AS) and soil resistance to erosion. The wet olive pomace (OP), from olive oil production in two phases, can be used in composting and obtaining organic conditioners (OPC). The objective of this work is to present the results of an experiment carried out to evaluate the influence of OPC on AS. The experiment involved two soils of potentially different degrees of aggregation (1, silt loam; 2, clay loam), in which three OPC were applied, in three doses. Aggregate samples (1-2 mm) were mixed with conditioner (<0.75 mm), subjected to daily cycles of wetting and drying, and collected at 5 moments along the 30-day experimental period. AS was determined by shaking and wet sieving. The hypothesis that soil 2 has a significantly higher AS than soil 1 was confirmed. In this, the addition of conditioners significantly increased the proportion of stable aggregates as compared to the original soil, at all dosages, which was not observed in soil 2. The incorporation of OPC in soils cultivated with olive groves, contributing to the circular economy, improves soil protection by increasing stable aggregates.Os autores agradecem o suporte do projeto BIOMA (POCI-01-0247-FEDER-046112) e do programa de dupla diplomação entre a Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná e o Instituto Politécnico de Bragança.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

FUNGOS FILAMENTOSOS ISOLADOS DA PELAGEM DE COELHOS E PORQUINHOS-DA-ÍNDIA CLINICAMENTE SAUDÁVEISNA CIDADE DE SALVADOR/BAHIA, BRASIL

Zoonotic fungi associated with tissues of domestic animals are potential risks to public health. The objective of this work was to identify the main filamentous fungi associated with the hair of clinically healthy rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) in the city of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. The hair samples were collected from 18 guinea pigs and 6 domiciled rabbits, from juveniles to adults and from different homes. Samples were collected from the dorsal, ventral and caudal of the ear tip, using the technique of manual plucking. Cultivation was performed in Dermatobac® medium according to the laboratory routine. The fungi isolated from guinea pigs were Tricophytonmentagrophytes (66.6%), Aspergillus spp. (44.4%), Penicillium spp. (5.5%), Mucor spp. (5.5%) and Litcheimia (5.5%); and in rabbits Tricophytonmentagrophytes (50%), Curvularia spp. (50%), Penicillium spp. (11.1%) and Aspergillus spp. (11.1%). All fungi isolated have zoonotic potential, which should be considered as a criterion for assessing public health and for breeding by immunocompromised contacts.Fungos zoonóticos associados aos tecidos dos animais domésticos são potenciais riscos à saúde pública. O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar os principais fungos filamentosos associados ao pelo de coelhos (Oryctolaguscuniculus) e porquinhos-da-índia (Caviaporcellus) clinicamente saudáveis da cidade de Salvador, Bahia, Brasil. As amostras de pelo foram coletadas de 18 porquinhos-da-índia e 6 coelhos domiciliados, de juvenis à adultos e oriundos de diferentes residências. As coletas foram decorrentes da região dorsal, ventral e caudal a pina da orelha, por meio da técnica de arrancamento do pelo manualmente. O cultivo foi realizado em meio Dermatobac®de acordo com a rotina laboratorial. Os fungos isolados nos porquinhos-da-índia foram o Tricophytonmentagrophytes (66,6%), oAspergillus spp. (44,4%), o Penicillium spp. (5,5%), o Mucor spp. (5,5%) e o Litcheimia (5,5%); e em coelhos Tricophytonmentagrophytes (50%), Curvularia spp. (50%), Penicillium spp. (11,1%) e Aspergillus spp. (11,1%). Todos os fungos observados possuem potencial zoonótico, o que deve ser considerado como critério de avaliação à saúde pública e para criação por contactantes imunocomprometidos

USABILIDADE DE PRODUTOS DE TECNOLOGIA ASSISTIVA PARA ATIVIDADES DE VIDA DIÁRIA DE PESSOAS COM DOENÇA DE PARKINSON

The objective of this field research was to evaluate the usability of 3D Assistive Technology products for the daily activities of patients with Parkinson's disease, considering the variables related to the user and the performance of the task (efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction). The results allowed to establish requirements for product design, to promote autonomy and independence for the population studied.O objetivo desta pesquisa de campo foi avaliar a usabilidade de produtos de Tecnologia Assistiva, impressos em 3D, para atividades de vida diária de pacientes com Doença de Parkinson, considerando as variáveis ligadas ao usuário e ao desempenho da tarefa (eficiência, eficácia e satisfação). Os resultados permitiram estabelecer requisitos para o projeto de produtos, para favorecer autonomia e independência à população estudada