Anemia grave como apresentação de linfoma T Angioimunoblástico : um caso clínico

Introdução: O linfoma T Angioimunoblástico é uma entidade rara, que representa 1 a 2% dos linfomas não Hodgkin, com envolvimento sistémico associado a fenómenos auto-imunes.1,2 Caracteriza-se por um comportamento agressivo e clinicamente por uma apresentação súbita de sintomas constitucionais, adenomegálias generalizadas, hepatoesplenomegália, anemia e hipergamaglobulinemia.2 Objetivos: Partilhar apresentação de um caso clínico de Linfoma T Angioimunoblástico e suas particularidades transfusionais. Métodos: Observação, exame objectivo e recolha de história clínica junto da doente. Consulta de registos clínicos no programa Sorian e recolha de dados analíticos relevantes nos programas WebAppolo, ASIS e registos de estudos pré-transfusionais realizados no SSMT. Recolha de dados, telefonicamente, junto do IPST, relativamente aos estudos pré-transfusionais realizados no mesmo. Resultados: Doente do sexo feminino, 72 anos, autónoma, sem antecedentes transfusionais, apresentava em consulta de ambulatório queixas de dor abdominal difusa, com três dias de evolução, sem alterações do trânsito intestinal. Exame objectivo sem alterações relevantes. Analiticamente apresentava Hb 11.1 g/dL. Realizou TC abdominal que mostrou “expressão quística parapiélica bilateral, adenomegálias ileo-pélvicas, pequenas adenopatias periaórticas e densificação retroperitoneal”. Duas semanas mais tarde inicia quadro de cansaço para pequenos esforços, associado a anorexia, perda de peso e palidez cutânea, pelo que recorre ao Serviço de Urgência. Apresentava-se hemodinamicamente estável, pálida, com sudorese, apirética, polipneica. Sat O2-97% com 2L/min de O2. Ligeira dor à palpação abdominal nos quadrantes inferiores, sem defesa. Analiticamente: Hb 3.1 g/dL normocitica/normocrómica. Não reunia critérios de anemia hemolítica. Foram requisitadas duas Unidades (U) de Concentrado Eritrocitário (CE). No estudo pré-transfusional, método em gel, encontrou-se: PAI positiva – Poliaglutinação (3+) tanto em meio de LISS/Coombs como enzimático. TAD positivo (Poliespecífico 4+; Monoespecíficos - IgG 4+; IgM 3+; C3c 3+; C3d 4+; Título de IgG 1:100); Provas de compatibilidade (PC), com várias unidades de CE, positivas (de pelo menos 2+) . Foi decidido protelar a transfusão por estabilidade hemodinâmica da doente. No dia seguinte por valor de Hb 2.6g/dL e agravamento do estado clínico, realizou, após administração de Hidrocortisona 200 mg e Clemastina 2mg, transfusão de 1 U de CE compatibilizada no IPST (PC positiva 1+, método em tubo). A transfusão decorreu sem intercorrências, no controlo pós-transfusional (CPT) - Hb 4.0g/dL, com melhoria franca da sintomatologia. Inicia corticoterapia (Prednisolona 1 mg/Kg/dia). Foi de novo transfundida dois dias mais tarde, Hb 3,7 g/dL, tendo sido enviada Unidade do (1U CE - IPST - PC negativa) . Não se registaram intercorrências, CPT - Hb 5.4g/dL. Após 8 dias de Internamento, e a realização de diversos MCDTs foi diagnosticado um Linfoma T Angioimunoblástico. Conclusão: O Linfoma T Angioimunoblástico pode apresentar-se com um quadro clínico inicial de anemia grave, de instalação rápida, que pelas suas características imunologicas, pode obrigar ao adiamento da transfusão. REFERÊNCIAS BIBLIOGRÁFICAS 1- Zão, I., Dias, M., Castro, M., Coutinho, R., Cabral, R., Regadas, L., Casais, C., Xavier, L., Gonçalves, C., Mota, A., Pinho, L., Coutinho, J., . Manifestações auto-imunes do linfoma T angioimunoblástico . , 2017, Reunião Anual SPH, PO47 2- Xu, B., Liu. P., No Survival Improvement for Patients with Angioimmunoblastic T-Cell Lymphoma over the Past Two Decades: A Population-Based Study of 1207 Cases, 2014, PLOS ONE, Volume 9, Issue 3; e92585info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Eco-friendly methods for extraction and modification of cellulose: an overview

Cellulose is the most abundant renewable polymer on Earth and can be obtained from several different sources, such as trees, grass, or biomass residues. However, one of the issues is that not all the fractionation processes are eco-friendly and are essentially based on cooking the lignocellulose feedstock in a harsh chemical mixture, such as NaOH + Na2S, and water, to break loose fibers. In the last few years, new sustainable fractionation processes have been developed that enable the obtaining of cellulose fibers in a more eco-friendly way. As a raw material, cellulose’s use is widely known and established in many areas. Additionally, its products/derivatives are recognized to have a far better environmental impact than fossil-based materials. Examples are textiles and packaging, where forest-based fibers may contribute to renewable and biodegradable substitutes for common synthetic materials and plastics. In this review, some of the main structural characteristics and properties of cellulose, recent green extraction methods/strategies, chemical modification, and applications of cellulose derivatives are discussed.BDE 05|POCI-01-0247-FEDER021874; 2022.07519.PTDCinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Fast ray-tracing algorithm for circumstellar structures (FRACS). II. Disc parameters of the B[e] supergiant CPD-57° 2874 from VLTI/MIDI data

B[e] supergiants are luminous, massive post-main sequence stars exhibiting non-spherical winds, forbidden lines, and hot dust in a disc-like structure. The physical properties of their rich and complex circumstellar environment (CSE) are not well understood, partly because these CSE cannot be easily resolved at the large distances found for B[e] supergiants (typically \ga 1~kpc). From mid-IR spectro-interferometric observations obtained with VLTI/MIDI we seek to resolve and study the CSE of the Galactic B[e] supergiant CPD-57\degr\,2874. For a physical interpretation of the observables (visibilities and spectrum) we use our ray-tracing radiative transfer code (FRACS), which is optimised for thermal spectro-interferometric observations. Thanks to the short computing time required by FRACS ($<10$~s per monochromatic model), best-fit parameters and uncertainties for several physical quantities of CPD-57\degr\,2874 were obtained, such as inner dust radius, relative flux contribution of the central source and of the dusty CSE, dust temperature profile, and disc inclination. The analysis of VLTI/MIDI data with FRACS allowed one of the first direct determinations of physical parameters of the dusty CSE of a B[e] supergiant based on interferometric data and using a full model-fitting approach. In a larger context, the study of B[e] supergiants is important for a deeper understanding of the complex structure and evolution of hot, massive stars

Incorporation of curcumin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles into yogurt:Tribo-rheological properties and dynamic in vitro digestion

The incorporation of nanostructures loaded with bioactive compounds into food matrices is a promising approach to develop new functional foods with improved nutritional, health profiles and good sensorial properties. The rheological and tribological properties of yogurt enriched with curcumin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) were evaluated. Also, the TCA solubility index, the bioaccessibility of curcumin and cell viability were assessed after dynamic in vitro digestion. The presence of SLN in yogurt did not affect its rheological properties; however, SLN addition increased the lubrication capability of yogurt. After in vitro digestion, yogurt with added SLN (yogurt_SLN) presented a lower TCA solubility index (22 %) than the plain yogurt (39 %). The bioaccessibility and stability of curcumin were statistically similar for yogurt_SLN (30 % and 42 %, respectively) and SLN alone (20 % and 39 %, respectively). Regarding cell viability results, the intestinal digesta filtrates of both controls (i.e., SLN alone and plain yogurt) did not affect significantly the cell viability, while the yogurt_SLN presented a possible cytotoxic effect at the concentrations tested. In general, the incorporation of SLN into yogurt seemed to promote the mouthfeel of the yogurt and did not adversely affect the bioaccessibility of curcumin. However, the interaction of SLN and yogurt matrix seemed to have a cytotoxic effect after in vitro digestion, which should be further investigated. Despite that, SLN has a high potential to be used as nanostructure in a functional food as a strategy to increase the bioactive compounds bioaccessibility.Raquel F. S. Gonçalves and Jean-Michel Fernandes acknowledges the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for their fellowships (SFRH/BD/140182/2018 and SFRH/BD/147286/2019, respectively). Joana T. Martins acknowledges FCT for her Assistant Researcher Contract (2022.00788.CEECIND). This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit, and by LABBELS – Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A Leishmania-specific hypothetical protein expressed in both promastigote and amastigote stages of Leishmania infantum employed for the serodiagnosis of, and as a vaccine candidate against, visceral leishmaniasis

Background: LiHyV is an antigenic hypothetical protein present in both promastigote and amastigote stages of Leishmania infantum, which was recently identified by an immunoproteomic approach. A recombinant version of this protein (rLiHyV) was evaluated as a diagnostic marker for canine VL (CVL). In addition, the prophylactic efficacy of the rLiHyV protein, and two of its CD8+ T cell epitopes, has been analyzed in a murine model of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Methods: Initially, the rLiHyV protein was evaluated by an ELISA technique for the serodiagnosis of CVL. Secondly, vaccines composed of the recombinant protein and both chemically synthesized peptides, combined with saponin as an adjuvant; were administered subcutaneously into BALB/c mice. The cellular and humoral responses generated by vaccination were evaluated. In addition, the parasite burden and immune response were studied 10 weeks after L. infantum infection. Results: The rLiHyV protein was recognized by antibodies of VL dogs. No cross-reactivity was obtained with sera from dogs vaccinated with a Brazilian commercial vaccine, with sera from animals infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, Babesia canis and Ehrlichia canis, or those from non-infected animals living in an endemic area for leishmaniasis. After challenge with L. infantum, spleen cells of BALB/c mice vaccinated with rLiHyV/saponin stimulated with parasite antigens showed a higher production of IFN-γ, IL-12 and GM-CSF, than the same cells obtained from mice vaccinated with the individual peptides, or mice from control (inoculated with saline or saponin) groups. This Th1-type cellular response observed in rLiHyV/saponin vaccinated mice was accompanied by the induction of parasite-specific IgG2a isotype antibodies. Animals immunized with rLiHyV/saponin showed significant reductions in the parasite burden in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and in the lymph nodes draining the paws relative to control mice. Conclusions: The present study showed for the first time that the L. infantum LiHyV protein could be considered as a vaccine candidate against L. infantum infection, as well as a diagnostic marker for CVLThis work was supported by grants from Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Nanobiofarmacêutica (INCT-Nanobiofar), FAPEMIG (CBB-APQ-00819-12), and CNPq (APQ-472090/2011-9, RHAE-456287/2012-4, APQ-482976/2012-8, and APQ-488237/2013-0). MACF is a grant recipient of FAPEMIG/CAPES. EAFC and APF are grant recipient of CNP

Avaliação do Cenário Agropecuário Atual de Assentamentos Rurais do MATOPIBA.

Land use and suitability are essential tools for territorial planning of rural settlement. This work describes an analysis of these factors in a group of 18 MATOPIBA consolidated rural settlements created more than 10 years ago. These settlements are located in 12 different cities, 1 in Bahia, 6 in Maranhão and 11 in Tocantins, summarizing more than 77 thousand hectares and sheltering almost one thousand families. Regional scale data allows an overview of the situation. A land use analysis indicates a majority of natural vegetation and pasture, which represents 56% and 36%, respectively. Land suitability presents that 63% of the area is suitable for crops use and 36% for pasture. The intensive use for crops heavily depends on the use of technology. This can be a limiting factor for the development of many rural settlements. The intensive use to the land for agriculture heavily depends on the technology application. These results provide a background to discussions about suitable land use and regional development

Acute viral bronchiolitis: Physician perspectives on definition and clinically important outcomes

BACKGROUND:Two key limitations hamper intervention research in bronchiolitis: the absence of a clear definition of disease, and the heterogeneous choice of outcome measures in current clinical trials. We assessed how paediatricians and general practitioners (GPs) perceived definition and clinically important outcomes in bronchiolitis. METHODS:A nationwide online survey (ABBA study) was conducted through the Portuguese Society of Paediatrics and GPs' mailing lists. We assessed agreement with statements on bronchiolitis definition, and participants were asked to score the relative importance of several outcomes. Principal component analysis (PCA) explored dimensions underlying disease definition. Outcomes were ranked by mean score and proportion given highest score. RESULTS:We included 514 paediatricians and 165 GPs (overall 59% were board-certified). Most paediatricians (76.5%) agreed with a definition based on coryza, wheezing and/or crackles/rales, compared to 38.1% GPs (P < 0.001). Less than 5% physicians agreed with a definition commonly used in clinical trials (<12 months, first episode of wheeze). We retained three dimensions on PCA: one based on coryza, rales/crepitations and no sudden onset; another on number of episodes and age; and a third on wheeze. Dimensions varied by physician specialization and training (P < 0.01). Hospital admission and respiratory distress were top rated outcomes by both groups of physicians. CONCLUSIONS:Physician definitions of bronchiolitis have considerable variability and often mismatch those of clinical trials. Rating of important outcomes was consistent. Our results highlight the need for a robust standardized definition of acute bronchiolitis in infants and support the development of a core outcome set for future clinical trials

Large atom number dual-species magneto-optical trap for fermionic 6Li and 40K atoms

We present the design, implementation and characterization of a dual-species magneto-optical trap (MOT) for fermionic 6Li and 40K atoms with large atom numbers. The MOT simultaneously contains 5.2x10^9 6Li-atoms and 8.0x10^9 40K-atoms, which are continuously loaded by a Zeeman slower for 6Li and a 2D-MOT for 40K. The atom sources induce capture rates of 1.2x10^9 6Li-atoms/s and 1.4x10^9 40K-atoms/s. Trap losses due to light-induced interspecies collisions of ~65% were observed and could be minimized to ~10% by using low magnetic field gradients and low light powers in the repumping light of both atomic species. The described system represents the starting point for the production of a large-atom number quantum degenerate Fermi-Fermi mixture

Why place matters in residential care: the mediating role of place attachment in the relation between adolescents’ rights and psychological well-being

Little evidence exists on the relationship between rights’ perceptions and well-being outcomes during the adolescence, and particularly in care, as well as on the mediating role of place attachment. Young people in residential care are psychologically and socially vulnerable, showing greater difficulties than their peers do in the family. Youth’s rights fulfilment in residential care may positively affect their psychological functioning together with positive attachments to this place. A sample of 365 adolescents in residential care settings (M = 14.71, SD = 1.81) completed a set of self-reported measures, specifically, the Rights perceptions scale, the Place attachment scale and Scales of psychological well-being. Results revealed significant mediating effects of place attachment (Global scale and subscales of Friends Bonding and Place Dependence) on the relationship between Participation and Protection rights in residential care and Psychological well-being (Positive Relations with others, Personal Growth and Self-Acceptance). The positive role of rights fulfilment in residential care, specifically participation opportunities, as well as the role of youth’s attachment to the care setting are discussed based on previous evidence and theoretical assumptions. A set of practical implications is described.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio