Chronic Enteroviral Meningoencephalitis in a Boy with X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia

Os autores apresentam um caso clínico de encefalite crónica a enterovírus num rapaz de 9 anos com agamaglobulinémia congénita ligada ao cromossoma X (doença de Bruton). Apesar da terapêutica intraventricular com doses elevadas de gamaglobulina, registou-se uma progressão da doença com deterioração neurológica maciça e morte. Discutem-se os aspectos diagnósticos e terapêuticos desta situação

Associação entre inimigos naturais e Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) na cultura do milho.

O experimento foi realizado na safra de verão, em área de cerrado, em Sete Lagoas, MG. Foi avaliada a ocorrência de inimigos naturais associados à Spodoptera frugiperda, na cultura do milho (Híbrido BRS 3123), partindo-se de uma única infestação artificial com uma postura da praga a cada cinco plantas, através de amostragens (20 plantas por parcela) realizadas a cada dois dias, sendo a primeira realizada dois dias após a infestação e a última, 16 dias após a infestação. As lagartas coletadas foram colocadas individualmente em copos de plástico contendo dieta artificial até a emergência dos parasitóides ou do adulto da praga. Foram observados os predadores de ovos e lagartas Orius sp. (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) e Doru luteipes Scudder (Dermaptera: Forficulidae). Entre os parasitóides, Chelonus insularis (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), presente em todas as coletas, respondeu por 91% do parasitismo. Também da ordem Hymenoptera, foram identificados Eiphosoma laphygmae Costa Lima (Ichneumonidae), Exasticolus fuscicornis (Cameron) (Braconidae), Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) (Braconidae), Campoletis flavicincta (Ashmead) (Ichneumonidae) e Pristomerus spinator (Fabricius) (Ichneumonidae). Archytas incertus (Macquart) (Diptera: Tachinidae) também foi coletado na área experimental

Aspectos biológicos de Campoletis flavicincta (ASHMEAD) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) e interações com o vírus da poliedrose nuclear de Spodoptera frugiperda.

O Vírus da Poliedrose Nuclear de Spodoptera frugiperda (VPN - Sf) e o parasitóide Campoletis flavicincta competem pelo mesmo recurso: lagartas de S. frugiperda nos estádios iniciais. Foram estudados alguns aspectos biológicos do parasitóide e avaliada a sua capacidade de diferenciar lagartas sadias e infectadas. Mais de um ovo do parasitóide foi encontrado dentro da maioria das lagartas de S. frugiperda. O período de incubação dos ovos de C. flavicincta foi de aproximadamente 48 horas. Cerca de 24 horas após a eclosão das larvas do parasitóide, foi possível notar que apenas uma das larvas cresceu. Provavelmente, na competição intra-específica, a eliminação das larvas concorrentes do parasitóide dentro de uma mesma lagarta aconteça pelo ataque físico, dada à morfologia das larvas de primeiro estádio (presença de mandíbulas, que inexistem nos estádios posteriores). No tratamento sem opção de escolha, mais ovos foram depositados em lagartas sadias. No teste em olfatômetro, a presença de lagartas de S. frugiperda (infectadas ou não) determinou a maior atração de fêmeas. A existência de discriminação entre lagartas sadias e infectadas pode minimizar o impacto negativo do vírus sobre o parasitóide. Os dados relativos às interações desses dois organismos, que mantêm relações estreitas entre si, devem nortear as decisões que garantam uma maior biodiversidade no agroecossistema do milho

Relação entre a lagarta-do-cartucho e seus agentes de controle biológico natural na produção de milho.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo quantificar as perdas na cultura do milho BRS 3123 decorrentes do ataque da lagarta-do-cartucho (Spodoptera frugiperda), na ausência e presença de seus inimigos naturais. Aos 15 dias depois da emergência da planta, foi realizada uma infestação artificial da praga (uma postura por metro quadrado). As lagartas alimentaram-se da planta, sem a interferência de seus inimigos naturais, pela utilização de uma gaiola de proteção (inicial, de dois dias depois da infestação, até uma proteção máxima de 16 dias). O dano da praga, determinado por uma escala de notas de O (plantas sem dano) a 5 (plantas mortas), foi em média de 4,01, 1,39,1,09 e 0,93 para o período de proteção da praga de 16,6,4 e 2 dias, respectivamente. Na ausência de agentes de controle biológico, o ataque da praga ocasionou perdas na produção de matéria seca de 47,27% e perdas no rendimento de grãos de 54,49%. Os resultados evidenciaram a importância dos inimigos naturais na supressão de lagartas de S. frugiperda na cultura de milho

ROAZ Autonomous Surface Vehicle Design and Implementation

The design of an Autonomous Surface Vehicle for operation in river and estuarine scenarios is presented. Multiple operations with autonomous underwater vehicles and support to AUV missions are one of the main design goals in the ROAZ system. The mechanical design issues are discussed. Hardware, software and implementation status are described along with the control and navigation system architecture. Some preliminary test results concerning a custom developed thruster are presented along with hydrodynamic drag calculations by the use of computer fluid dynamic methods

Cut-off points of the 1-minute sit-to-stand test to detect functional impairment and mortality risk in people with COPD

Introduction: Functional status is a key outcome in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and can be defined as an individual’s ability to perform normal daily activities required to meet basic needs, fulfill usual roles, and maintain health and well-being. The 1-minute sit-to-stand test (1-min STS) is a wellestablished measure to assess functional status in people with COPD that can be used in different settings (e.g., office, clinic, hospital, home) with limited resources (i.e., a chair and a stopwatch). This test is a strong predictor of exacerbations, hospitalizations and mortality in people with COPD. Yet, cut-off points to determine functional impairment with the 1-min STS in people with COPD are lacking for use in clinical practice. Recently, our group established a cut-off (19.5 repetitions) for increased mortality risk, however, it still lacks external validation. Objectives: To explore the predictive ability of the 1-min STS to detect functional impairment and the validity of the previously established cut-off for increased risk of mortality in people with COPD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with people with COPD. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), lung function, the 1-min STS and the five-repetitions sit-to-stand tests were collected. We used two cut-offs for the five-repetitions sit-to-stand test known to be associated with low functional performance (12.1 seconds) and increased risk of mortality (15.98 seconds) in people with COPD. Receiver operating characteristics analysis (ROC) was performed and the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were calculated. The optimal cut-off points were identified by the highest Younden index. Results: In total, 302 people with COPD (67.5 ± 10.4 years; 79.1% male; BMI 26.7 ± 4.6 kg/m²; FEV1 55.2 ± 20.4%predicted) participated. Cut-off points in the 1-min STS of 23.5 repetitions for low functional performance (AUC = 0.92; 95%CI 0.89-0.95; 96.4% sensitivity; 80.9% specificity; accuracy = 0.84) and 18.5 repetitions for increased risk of mortality (AUC = 0.97; 95%CI 0.94-0.987; 95.5% sensitivity; 88.6% specificity; accuracy = 0.89) were found in people with COPD. Conclusions: The 1-min STS showed an outstanding discriminative ability and excellent accuracy in determining low functional performance and increased risk of mortality in people with COPD. A cut-off of 23.5 repetitions can be used to identify people with functional impairment. The cut-off point found for increased risk of mortality is similar to the previously published using the 6-minute walk test as an anchor, reinforcing the validity of this cut-off. These cut-offs support healthcare professionals in tailoring an appropriate management plan for this treatable trait and might possibly contribute to the implementation of timely preventive or palliative strategies.publishe

Primeiro transplante renal ABO-incompatível realizado em Portuga

Kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) improving survival and quality of life for most recipients. In our country, potential living donors have been refused due to the ABO incompatibility barrier. However, ABO -incompatible living donor kidney transplant is presently common practice in several countries with good outcomes. The authors describe a case of a 49-year-old female patient, with chronic kidney disease due to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, who had started haemodialysis 10 months before and with blood group O. The living donor was a 53-year-old sister with blood group B. The desensitization protocol was based on rituximab and plasmapheresis. The induction protocol used was basiliximab, tacrolimus, mofetil mycophenolate and metilprednisolone. Five days post -transplant she presented a normal graft function that remained during the eight months follow -up. This case reveals the first ABO incompatible living donor kidney transplant performed in Portugal with excellent outcomeO transplante renal é a modalidade de tratamento da doença renal crónica estadio 5 associada a melhores sobrevivência e qualidade de vida. No nosso país muitos potenciais dadores vivos têm sido recusados devido à incompatibilidade ABO. Contudo, o transplante renal de dador vivo ABO incompatível é hoje prática comum em diversos países com resultados positivos. Os autores descrevem o caso de doente do sexo feminino, de 49 anos, com doença renal crónica secundária a doença renal poliquística autossómica dominante, que havia iniciado hemodiálise 10 meses antes e com grupo sanguíneo O. O dador vivo foi uma irmã de 53 anos, grupo sanguíneo B. O protocolo de dessensibilização baseou -se em rituximab e plasmaferese. O protocolo de indução foi com basiliximab, tacrolimus, micofenolato de mofetil e metilprednisolona. Evoluiu com função normal do enxerto 5 dias pós-transplante que se manteve durante o follow-up de 8 meses. Este caso clínico ilustra o primeiro transplante renal de dador vivo ABO incompatível efectuado em Portugal com excelente resultad

ISePorto Robotic Soccer Team: A New Player Generation

Proceedings of the Scientific Meeting of the Portuguese Robotics Open 2004This paper describes the recent modifications in ISePorto MSL robotic football team and future improvements concerning the development and evolution of the team. The robot was substantially redesigned in order to achieve high reliability, allow better control and coordination capabilities and substantial increase in perception. New mechanical and hardware redesign is presented. Motion control subsystems, new vision hardware sensor and overall architecture are described. The team redesign is done for preparation for participating in the Robocup 2004. The main goal is to achieve not only an important evolution in the team control and coordination but also increased overall reliability

Malignancy after renal transplantation: a single-centre experience

Introduction: Malignancy management in renal transplant recipients is becoming a major factor affecting long‑term patient survival. Thus, we intended to evaluate both incidence and prognosis of malignant diseases following renal transplantation at a single centre in Portugal. Methods: We studied retrospectively the 2,358 patients who underwent kidney transplantation (KT) between 1983 and 2014. Apart from descriptive analysis, both demographic and clinical characteristics of cancer and non‑cancer cancer patients were compared. Results: During a median follow‑up of 118 (IQR 57‑179) months, 139 patients (5.8%) developed 158 de novo malignancies, with a median time from KT to diagnosis of 76..5 (IQR 21.0‑132.0) months. When compared to non‑cancer patients, they were older at KT date, had longer graft survival and a lower living donor recipients’ prevalence. As for post-transplant malignancies analysis, the most common were non‑cutaneous non‑lymphomatous cancers (49.4%, n=78), skin cancers (35.4%, n=56) and post‑transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (9.5%, n=15). Considering specific diagnosis, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma with 17.1% and 16.5% respectively, and non‑Hodgkin lymphomas with 7.6%, were the most frequent. Global mortality among cancer patients was 36.0%, with a median time of 9.7 (IQR 1.9‑17.5) months from time of diagnosis to death. As for survival analysis, cancer patient survival was significantly lower while censored graft survival was significantly higher in this group. Conclusion: Incidence and characteristics of malignancy following renal transplantation in our unit are similar to those globally described, despite some traits probably a result of specific ethnic and environmental characteristics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio