Criptococose Cutânea Primária em Paciente Imunocompetente: Um Relato de Caso

Cryptococcosis is a systemic infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, an encapsulated opportunistic yeast. It primarily causes significant infections in immunocompromised individuals and the symptoms vary according to the integrity of the immune system. Cutaneous cryptococcosis affects about 20% of patients with disseminated cryptococcosis, but primary cutaneous cryptococcosis (PCC) without systemic infection is rare. A 76-year-old male patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and dyslipidemia, presented with a violaceus inflammatory skin plaque with blisters that progressed despite intravenous ceftriaxone for 7 days. Histopathology of an incisional biopsy was compatible with the diagnosis of cutaneous cryptococcosis. There was a complete response to fluconazole 300 mg/day for 3 months. No systemic disease was detected and there was no evidence of immunosuppression. The importance of including cutaneous cryptococcosis in the differential diagnosis of skin lesions in patients without immunosuppression or the use of immunosuppressive therapy is emphasized. The cutaneous manifestations of the infection can be the first indication for a disseminated disease, therefore, its early recognition is essential to obtain a good prognosis.A criptococose é uma infecção sistémica causada por Cryptococcus neoformans, levedura oportunista encapsulada. Esta infeção ocorre principalmente em indivíduos imunocomprometidos e os sintomas variam de acordo com a integridade do sistema imunológico. A criptococose cutânea afeta aproximadamente 20% dos pacientes com criptococose disseminada, mas a criptococose cutânea primária (PCC) sem infecção sistémica é rara. Um paciente do sexo masculino de 76 anos, com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica, hipertensão arterial e dislipidemia, apresentou-se com placa cutânea inflamatória violácea com bolhas que progrediu apesar de ceftriaxone endovenoso por 7 dias, sem sucesso. A biópsia incisional revelou o diagnóstico histopatológico de criptococose cutânea. As lesões resolveram após tratamento com fluconazol 300 mg/dia durante 3 meses. Não se detectou doença sistémica e não havia qualquer evidência de imunossupressão. Enfatiza-se a importância da inclusão da criptococose cutânea no diagnóstico diferencial das lesões cutâneas, mesmo em pacientes sem terapia imunossupressora. As manifestações cutâneas da infecção podem ser o primeiro indício para uma doença disseminada, pelo que o seu reconhecimento precoce é fundamental para um bom prognóstico

Tectonostratigraphy of Middle and Upper Palaeozoic black shales from the Porto-Tomar-Ferreira do Alentejo shear zone (W Portugal): new perspectives on the Iberian Massif

Middle/late Devonian and early Carboniferous metasedimentary sequences in the northernmost region (Porto-Espinho-Tomar) of the Ossa-Morena Zone (Portuguese Iberian Variscan Massif) contain black shales of very low to low-grade metamorphism. These metasedimentary rocks form a discrete NNW-SSE structure within a major shear zone (Porto-Tomar-Ferreira do Alentejo) and remain subparallel to the observed regional major structures (folding, thrusts or overthrusts). These black shales are overhanged and then imbricated in an upper Proterozoic metamorphic substratum. A multi-disciplinary study of these metasedimentary rocks from the Espinho-Tomar region has tectonostratigraphy, palynology, organic petrology and clay mineralogy combined methods. This approach provides new insights into the tectonic evolution and geological framework of Palaeozoic basement of the Iberian Variscides. Palaeoenvironmental and tectonostratigraphic implications on the Iberian geodynamic framework are discussed.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6X0V-4B1S5T3-3/1/df2a39b964c83f2e1e28dfb7cc85309

An iterative pilot-data-aided estimator for SFBC relay-assisted OFDM-based systems

In this article, we propose and assess an iterative pilot-data-aided channel estimation scheme for space frequency block coding relay-assisted OFDM-based systems. The relay node (RN) employs the equalise-and-forward protocol, and both the base station (BS) and the RN are equipped with antenna arrays, whereas the user terminal (UT) is a single-antenna device. The channel estimation method uses the information carried by pilots and data to improve the estimate of the equivalent channels for the path BS-RN-UT. The mean minimum square error criterion is used in the design of the estimator for both the pilot-based and data-aided iterations. In different scenarios, with only one data iteration, the results show that the proposed scheme requires only half of the pilot density to achieve the same performance of non-data-aided schemes

Combined distributed turbo coding and space frequency block coding techniques

The distributed space-time (frequency) coding and distributed channel turbo coding used independently represent two cooperative techniques that can provide increased throughput and spectral efficiency at an imposed maximum Bit Error Rate (BER) and delay required from the new generation of cellular networks. This paper proposes two cooperative algorithms that employ jointly the two types of techniques, analyzes their BER and spectral efficiency performances versus the qualities of the channels involved, and presents some conclusions regarding the adaptive employment of these algorithms. © 2010 V. Bota et al.FP7/ICT/2007/21547

Combined distributed turbo coding and space frequency block coding techniques

The distributed space-time (frequency) coding and distributed channel turbo coding used independently represent two cooperative techniques that can provide increased throughput and spectral efficiency at an imposed maximum Bit Error Rate (BER) and delay required from the new generation of cellular networks. This paper proposes two cooperative algorithms that employ jointly the two types of techniques, analyzes their BER and spectral efficiency performances versus the qualities of the channels involved, and presents some conclusions regarding the adaptive employment of these algorithms. © 2010 V. Bota et al.FP7/ICT/2007/21547

Combined distributed turbo coding and space frequency block coding techniques

The distributed space-time (frequency) coding and distributed channel turbo coding used independently represent two cooperative techniques that can provide increased throughput and spectral efficiency at an imposed maximum Bit Error Rate (BER) and delay required from the new generation of cellular networks. This paper proposes two cooperative algorithms that employ jointly the two types of techniques, analyzes their BER and spectral efficiency performances versus the qualities of the channels involved, and presents some conclusions regarding the adaptive employment of these algorithms. © 2010 V. Bota et al.FP7/ICT/2007/21547

O Design Universal Para Apprendizagem e a Pedagogia das Estacoes: As Multiplas Temporalidades / Espacialidades do Aprender nas Escolas.

This article explores school inclusion processes, with a view to problematizing the learning hegemonies of time and space in educational institutions. It presents partial results of the research project; 'A Escola Para Todos' (The School for All) and responds to the question: How can Universal Design for Learning (UDL), which is somewhat similar to the 'pedagogy of the seasons,' qualify inclusive experiences in schools? By providing an integrative review of the salient features of UDL and pedagogy of the seasons, the paper questions the hegemony of time-space teaching and learning in schools by drawing on narrative theory. Methodologically, this part of the research provides an integrated reflection on critical conceptual attributes incorporating; UDL, the temporalities and spatialities of learning, and concepts of inclusive education. The results of this stage of the research show that it is necessary to overcome the hegemony of time and linear space in learning and teaching processes in order to arrive at school inclusion. Despite similarities between UDL and 'pedagogy of the seasons' tensions remain between these approaches. Not least as reflected in the overcoming of paradoxes such as the necessity to address universal requirements while also tending to particular learner requirements, or equally, while recognizing the variability of strategies without losing sight of more global pedagogical approaches. This challenge is accentuated when the UDL concept of 'expert learners' is further interrogated