Cardio-renal syndrome: the challenge in heart failure treatment

Heart failure is a chronic and progressive disease that is estimated to affect approximately 20 million people worldwide and is one of the major public health problems. Its prevalence is reaching epidemic levels with about 550,000 new cases diagnosed annually, partly due to increased life expectancy in developed countries. And as it is a systemic disease, it can cause dysfunction in various organs, but especially in the kidney. The renal failure is often associated with heart failure and, when present together, make the treatment more complex and the prognosis is worse. This is the cardio-renal syndrome. The definition of cardio-renal syndrome varies according to the working groups, and there isn't a consensus. The exact cause of deterioration of renal function and the mechanism behind this interaction are complex, multifactorial in nature and not fully known at present. The treatment available is the one used for the treatment of heart failure. It is necessary to maintain the normal function of filtration, secretion and reabsorption in kidney to have a real improvement of the clinical condition of the patient. Patients with higher risk of developing nephropathy and those who have diagnosed renal failure should have prescribed drugs that are handled very carefully. But as in many other clinical situations, there aren't perfect drugs available to treat cardio-renal syndrome and the existing ones may have serious side effects in medium/long term causing the deterioration of renal function and possibly an increased mortality. The treatment is truly challenging in patients with severe fluid overload that is refractory to diuretics. This article aims to present the existing definitions of cardio-renal syndrome, its epidemiology, describe the current knowledge about the pathophysiology and its relationship to therapeutic interventions, some actual strategies and future technologies in an attempt to preserve the kidney, mainly during the decompensation of chronic heart failure

Repeated-sprint sequences during female soccer matches using fixed and individual speed thresholds.

The main objective of this study was to characterize the occurrence of single sprint and repeated-sprint sequences (RSS) during elite female soccer matches, using fixed (20 kmh) and individually based speed thresholds (>90% of the mean speed from a 20 m sprint test). Eleven elite female soccer players from the same team participated in the study. All players performed a 20 m linear sprint test, and were assessed in up to 10 official matches using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Magnitude-based inferences were used to test for meaningful differences. Results revealed that irrespective of adopting fixed or individual speed thresholds, female players produced only a few RSS during matches (2.3 ± 2.4 sequences using the fixed threshold and 3.3 ± 3.0 sequences using the individually based threshold), with most sequences composing of just two sprints. Additionally, central defenders performed fewer sprints (10.2 ± 4.1) than other positions (full backs: 28.1 ± 5.5; midfielders: 21.9 ± 10.5; forwards: 31.9 ± 11.1; with likely to almost certainly differences associated with effect sizes ranging from 1.65 to 2.72) and sprinting ability declined in the second half. The data do not support the notion that RSS occurs frequently during soccer matches in female players, irrespective of using fixed or individual speed thresholds to define sprint occurrence. However, repeated sprint ability development cannot be ruled out from soccer training programs due to its association with match-related performance

Valorization of chestnut shells for hydrogen production by Clostridium butyricum fermentation

Chestnut shell s (CS) is an agronomic waste generated from the peeling process of the chestnut fruit. It is well-known that the extract of CS contains high amounts of tannins, which are polyphenolic antioxidants1, but this agronomic residue also contains about 36% sugars in form of polysaccharides, and no utilization of chestnut shells as potential source of fermentable sugars has been considered so far. As consequence, this waste represents an interesting exploitable source for monosaccharides production, and in this study we evaluated the potential of biohydrogen production from CS hydrolyzate

Temporal patterns of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) mitochondrial DNA variation in the archipelago of Azores (Portugal)

Morphological and molecular studies have been carried out on different Mediterranean and Atlantic island populations of honey bees. A previous genetic survey of the Azorean honey bees, carried out by De la Rúa and colleagues (2006), showed their genetic distinctiveness from continental populations and their close relationship with NW African populations. Herein we present the results of a more comprehensive survey (samples collected from all the islands of the archipelago) of the mitochondrial DNA variation exhibited by the honey bee populations of Azores. Using previously obtained results from honey bee samples collected in 2001, we assess the temporal maternal variation of these populations over a 9 year time frame

A landscape genetics approach to unravel the complex evolutionary history of the Iberian honey bee hybrid zone

While landscape genetics is in its infancy, it is a rapidly growing research field in part owing to the increasing availability of powerful molecular and analytical tools. By integrating landscape ecology, spatial statistics and population genetics, landscape genetics is allowing an unprecedented understanding of the microevolutionary processes shaping genetic variation, which has important implications for the advance of ecological and evolutionary knowledge. The Iberian honey bee provides a great model system to address evolutionary questions using a landscape genetics framework. First, previous studies suggest that the Iberian honey bee has a hybrid origin and hybrid zones have been favored by evolutionary biologists as powerful natural laboratories to study evolutionary processes. Second, with the publication of the honey bee genome and development of high‐density SNP markers, powerful tools are now available to dissect the relative importance of neutral and adaptive forces in shaping the Iberian honey bee hybrid zone, a goal of central importance as it leads to more robust inferences of demographic history and to identification of adaptive divergence. Herein, we will present an ongoing research project on the Iberian honey bee hybrid zone where the tools of landscape genetics and population genomics will be combined to unravel the challenging evolutionary history of the Iberian honey bee

Qualidade de vida e a autoperce??o da sa?de relacionada com a sa?de oral: o caso particular de idosos institucionalizados

Introdu??o: A Organiza??o Mundial da sa?de (WHO) inclui a sa?de oral (SO) no conceito global de sa?de e considera-a essencial para a qualidade de vida (QdV). Avaliar a qualidade de vida relacionada com a sa?de oral (QdVRSO) contribui para a aferi??o efetiva das necessidades. Objetivos: Caraterizar as vari?veis sociodemogr?ficas, cl?nicas e comportamentais da amostra. Analisar a rela??o entre estas e a QdVRSO. M?todos: Estudo quantitativo, transversal e correlacional. Realizaram-se entrevistas estruturadas fundamentadas num question?rio sociodemogr?fico constru?do para o efeito e na vers?o traduzida e adaptada para a popula??o portuguesa do Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14-PT) a 151 idosos de 9 Estruturas Residenciais para Pessoas Idosas (ERPI). Resultados: Predom?nio do g?nero feminino e vi?vos. A m?dia da idade ? de 84.4 ? 6.4 anos. A quase totalidade dos inquiridos tem antecedentes patol?gicos e toma medica??o. A maioria tem dentes naturais (65.6%), mas 31.8% nunca escovam os dentes e a boca. O score m?dio do OHIP-14-PT ? de 18.22. Os itens mais pontuados foram a Sensa??o de desconforto no ato de comer e a Necessidade de interromper as refei??es. H? diferen?as estatisticamente significativas entre o score total do OHIP-14-PT e a literacia dos inquiridos. Conclus?o: A amostra autorrelatou um n?vel moderado de QdVRSO. O edentulismo e a aus?ncia de uso de pr?tese dent?ria predizem pior QdVRSO. H? dificuldade no acesso dos idosos aos cuidados de sa?de oral.991B-C3B6-3D4F | Salete Soaresinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Soybean seed protein concentration is limited by nitrogen supply in tropical and subtropical environments in Brazil

Soybean production contributes to ca. 60% of global plant-based protein used for food and feed. Brazil is the largest soybean producer and exporter, with 60% from tropical and 40% from subtropical environments. Nitrogen (N) can play an essential role in the storage of proteins in seeds; thus, it could be a key factor in increasing the quantity and quality of seeds in high-yielding soybean crops. Unlike in temperate environments, there is a gap of knowledge on whether soybean grown under tropical and subtropical climates are limited by N-fertilization to sustain the seed yield increase without detriments in seed protein concentration. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of N-fertilization on soybean seed yield, protein, and oil concentrations in tropical and subtropical environments in Brazil, thus contributing to agricultural intensification procedures and food security studies. Two levels of N-fertilization (0 and 1000 ka/ha) were tested across 11 tropical or subtropical environments. The range of latitudes explored here was from 12º S to 29º S, representing the major soybean-producing regions in Brazil either under rainfed or irrigated conditions. We found that seed yield responses to N-fertilization were significant (in some environments under rainfed with an average increase of 7%) or not significant (in irrigated). Seed protein increases due to improved N-fertilization (on average 4% for irrigated and 12% for rainfed conditions) were much higher than previous reports from temperate environments. Regardless of N supply and water deficit, there was a trend of seed protein and oil concentration increasing toward lower latitudes

Psychometric properties of 4-item questionnaire for sleep habits and time in a South American paediatric population

Objectives: To assess the psychometric properties of 4-item questionnaire about sleep habits and time in South American children (3-10 years) and adolescents (11-18 years). Material and Methods: We evaluated 459 participants from seven South American cities. Two items from week and weekend days wake up time and bedtime were asked twice, with a 2-week interval. We calculated time spent in bed (subtracting wake up time from bedtime). Participants also answered the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) sleep time questionnaire. Results: The questionnaire showed acceptable temporal stability in children and adolescents on total days (rho >= 0.30; p<0.05). For total days, the questionnaire presented acceptable convergent validity only in children (rho from 0.48 to 0.62; p <= 0.01) compared with the HELENA questionnaire. Conclusion: The 4-item questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool for children; however, its validity is not consistent in adolescents for sleep habits and time

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Centro region of Portugal: a population based study of school age children within the ASDEU project

Introduction: Accurate prevalence estimates for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are fundamental to adequately program medical and educational resources for children. However, estimates vary globally and across Europe, and it is therefore wise to conduct epidemiological studies in defined geo-cultural contexts. Methods: We used a population screening approach to estimate the prevalence of ASD in the Centro region of Portugal, using a harmonized protocol as part of the Autism Spectrum Disorders in the European Union (ASDEU) project. Results: The overall prevalence was estimated at 0.5% (95% CI 0.3-0.7), higher in schools with Autism Units (3.3%, 95%CI 2.7-3.9) than in regular schools (0.3%, 95% CI 0.1-0.5) or schools with Multiple Disability Units (0.3%, 95% CI 0.04-0.6). Discussion: The results indicate that the diagnosis of ASD is followed by the most effective educational policies in Centro Region. The variability in prevalence estimates across the different regions from the ASDEU project, and globally, is discussed.The Autism Spectrum Disorders in the European Union project – ASDEU has been funded by the DG-SANTÉ, European Commission (grant number SANCO/2014/C2/035). This research was supported by national funds from FCT, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (UIDB/04046/2020 grant to BioISI).S

Robust multi-view approaches for retinal layer segmentation in glaucoma patients via transfer learning

[Absctract]: Background: Glaucoma is the leading global cause of irreversible blindness. Glaucoma patients experience a progressive deterioration of the retinal nervous tissues that begins with a loss of peripheral vision. An early diagnosis is essential in order to prevent blindness. Ophthalmologists measure the deterioration caused by this disease by assessing the retinal layers in different regions of the eye, using different optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanning patterns to extract images, generating different views from multiple parts of the retina. These images are used to measure the thickness of the retinal layers in different regions. Methods: We present two approaches for the multi-region segmentation of the retinal layers in OCT images of glaucoma patients. These approaches can extract the relevant anatomical structures for glaucoma assessment from three different OCT scan patterns: circumpapillary circle scans, macular cube scans and optic disc (OD) radial scans. By employing transfer learning to take advantage of the visual patterns present in a related domain, these approaches use state-of-the-art segmentation modules to achieve a robust, fully automatic segmentation of the retinal layers. The first approach exploits inter-view similarities by using a single module to segment all of the scan patterns, considering them as a single domain. The second approach uses view-specific modules for the segmentation of each scan pattern, automatically detecting the suitable module to analyse each image. Results: The proposed approaches produced satisfactory results with the first approach achieving a dice coefficient of 0.85±0.06 and the second one 0.87±0.08 for all segmented layers. The first approach produced the best results for the radial scans. Concurrently, the view-specific second approach achieved the best results for the better represented circle and cube scan patterns. Conclusions: To the extent of our knowledge, this is the first proposal in the literature for the multi-view segmentation of the retinal layers of glaucoma patients, demonstrating the applicability of machine learning-based systems for aiding in the diagnosis of this relevant pathology.This work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y Universidades, Government of Spain (grant number RTI2018-095894-B-I00); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Government of Spain through the research project with (grant numbers PID2019-108435RB-I00, TED2021-131201B-I00, and PDC2022-133132-I00); Consellería de Cultura, Educación, Formación Profesional e Universidades, Xunta de Galicia, Grupos de Referencia Competitiva (grant number ED431C 2020/24), predoctoral grant (grant number ED481A 2021/161); CITIC, Centro de Investigación de Galicia (grant number ED431G 2019/01), and receives financial support from Consellería de Cultura, Educación, Formación Profesional e Universidades, Xunta de Galicia, through the ERDF (80%) and Secretaría Xeral de Universidades (20%).Xunta de Galicia; ED431C 2020/24Xunta de Galicia; ED481A 2021/161Xunta de Galicia; ED431G 2019/0