Candida spp. colonization among intensive care unit patients : preliminary results

Communication abstract: Proceedings of the 5th International Congress of CiiEM - Reducing inequalities in Health and Society, held at Egas Moniz’ University Campus in Monte de Caparica, Almada, from June 16th to 18th, 2021.This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Candida spp. colonization is recognized as a major risk factor for invasive candidiasis. To assess patient colonization, upon admission and during their stay in intensive care units (ICU), a surveillance study has been conducted since January 2020, in the Lisbon area of Portugal. A total of 219 swab samples were obtained from 113 ICU patients. The yeast identification was conducted by microbiological conventional and molecular methods. Upon admission to the ICU, 27% of patients were already colonized, and 17% became colonized during their ICU stay. Candida albicans was the most isolated species. These results may offer an opportunity for prevention of candidemia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Beclin 1 mitigates motor and neuropathological deficits in genetic mouse models of Machado-Joseph disease

Machado-Joseph disease or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, the most common dominantly-inherited spinocerebellar ataxia, results from translation of the polyglutamine-expanded and aggregation prone ataxin 3 protein. Clinical manifestations include cerebellar ataxia and pyramidal signs and there is no therapy to delay disease progression. Beclin 1, an autophagy-related protein and essential gene for cell survival, is decreased in several neurodegenerative disorders. This study aimed at evaluating if lentiviral-mediated beclin 1 overexpression would rescue motor and neuropathological impairments when administered to pre- and post-symptomatic lentiviral-based and transgenic mouse models of Machado-Joseph disease. Beclin 1-mediated significant improvements in motor coordination, balance and gait with beclin 1-treated mice equilibrating longer periods in the Rotarod and presenting longer and narrower footprints. Furthermore, in agreement with the improvements observed in motor function beclin 1 overexpression prevented neuronal dysfunction and neurodegeneration, decreasing formation of polyglutamine-expanded aggregates, preserving Purkinje cell arborization and immunoreactivity for neuronal markers. These data show that overexpression of beclin 1 in the mouse cerebellum is able to rescue and hinder the progression of motor deficits when administered to pre- and post-symptomatic stages of the diseas

Accelerated aging tests for solar absorber coatings

ABSTRACT: The need of a higher role of solar energy within the energy mix in the coming decades obliges the systems to increase their performance and reliability. It is demanded that the solar absorbers, as the key component of solar thermal systems, should be low cost with high efficiency for extended lifetimes under different kinds of environments. Commercially, there are two different types of solutions as selective solar absorbers coatings: coatings obtained by physical vapor deposition (PVD) and by paint coatings (PC). These coatings present different physical and chemical characteristics. Therefore, it is important to know how these coatings degrade over time in different environments. Results obtained with two different PVD coatings and three PC, under different accelerated aging tests, are presented. The aging tests performed included different environmental stress corrosion conditions: temperature, humidity, chlorides, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Cyclic variation of corrosion promoting gases (sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide), higher humidity, salt spraying and drying seem to be an aging test that reflects the different environments where the solar thermal collectors are exposed. In addition to the contaminants, drying / wetting cycles also play an important role in degradation mechanisms of absorber coatings.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Absence of SARM1 rescues development and survival of NMNAT2-deficient axons.

SARM1 function and nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 2 (NMNAT2) loss both promote axon degeneration, but their relative relationship in the process is unknown. Here, we show that NMNAT2 loss and resultant changes to NMNAT metabolites occur in injured SARM1-deficient axons despite their delayed degeneration and that axon degeneration specifically induced by NMNAT2 depletion requires SARM1. Strikingly, SARM1 deficiency also corrects axon outgrowth in mice lacking NMNAT2, independently of NMNAT metabolites, preventing perinatal lethality. Furthermore, NAMPT inhibition partially restores outgrowth of NMNAT2-deficient axons, suggesting that the NMNAT substrate, NMN, contributes to this phenotype. NMNAT2-depletion-dependent degeneration of established axons and restricted extension of developing axons are thus both SARM1 dependent, and SARM1 acts either downstream of NMNAT2 loss and NMN accumulation in a linear pathway or in a parallel branch of a convergent pathway. Understanding the pathway will help establish relationships with other modulators of axon survival and facilitate the development of effective therapies for axonopathies

Gestão da dor na pessoa em situação crítica vítima de trauma torácico:uma revisão integrativa da literatura / Pain management in critically ill thoracic trauma patients: an integrative literature review

Introdução: A dor na pessoa em situação crítica vítima de trauma torácico tem-se revelado como o principal fator de risco para o agravamento e surgimento de comorbilidades, sendo por isso imprescindível que os enfermeiros incorporem uma intervenção multimodal na gestão da dor, com o intuito de obter um melhor outcome. Objetivos: Identificar quais as intervenções de enfermagem para a gestão da dor na pessoa em situação crítica vítima de trauma torácico. Metodologia: Revisão Integrativa da Literatura (RIL) desenvolvida através da pesquisa científica nas bases de dados CINHAL® e MEDLINE®. Os procedimentos metodológicos têm como objetivo responder à seguinte questão de investigação: “Quais as intervenções de enfermagem na gestão da dor na pessoa em situação crítica vítima de trauma torácico?” Resultados: Do processo de identificação, seleção e elegibilidade, resultaram 48 artigos, publicados entre 2016 e 2021, dos quais foram incluídos nove artigos para análise e extração de dados. Conclusão: É emergente a realização de estudos de enfermagem com foco nesta temática, com vista a prestação de cuidados de enfermagem baseados em evidência. A literatura destaca que deve ser realizada uma intervenção multimodal, onde a comunhão entre intervenções farmacológicas e não-farmacológicas se revela estruturante para uma gestão eficaz da dor na pessoa em situação crítica vítima de trauma torácico

Tratamento via macroterapia e acupuntura para tabagismo

This is an exploratory study of an integrative literature review with a qualitative approach, carried out in the LILACS, BDENF and SciELO databases. The study demonstrates the profile of patients undergoing treatment for smoking and then the patients' understanding of the use of acupuncture in the treatment. The age between 30 and 40 years of age draws the attention of the rate of people smokers and health problems such as anxiety, depression, cardiovascular diseases are frequent. The analyzed patients participated in more than three group sessions, where the degree of nicotine dependence is considered medium. In view of these results, it is possible to affirm that the treatments for smoking in the Basic Health Unit have great relevance for the primary health of the population, considering the number of smokers and the consequences of cigarette use. And acupuncture therapy in a unique way brings countless benefits to patients undergoing treatment and a better quality of life. Highlighting the profiles of patients cared for in primary health care.Trata-se de um estudo exploratório de revisão integrativa da literatura de abordagem qualitativa, realizado nas bases de dados LILACS, BDENF e SciELO. O estudo demonstra o perfil dos pacientes em tratamento de tabagismo e, em seguida a compreensão dos pacientes sobre o uso de acupuntura no tratamento. A idade entre 30 e 40 anos de idade chama a atenção do índice de pessoas fumantes e os problemas de saúde como ansiedade, depressão, doenças cardiovasculares são frequentes. Os pacientes analisados participaram de mais de três sessões em grupo, onde percebe-se ainda que o grau de dependência de nicotina é considerado médio. Diante desses resultados é possível afirmar que os tratamentos do tabagismo na Unidade Básica de Saúde têm grande relevância para a saúde primária da população tendo em vista o número de fumantes e as consequências do uso dos cigarros. E, a terapia com a acupuntura de modo singular traz inúmeros benefícios para os pacientes em tratamento e maior qualidade de vida.  Destacando os perfis dos pacientes atendidos na saúde primária

Tratamento via macroterapia e acupuntura para tabagismo

This is an exploratory study of an integrative literature review with a qualitative approach, carried out in the LILACS, BDENF and SciELO databases. The study demonstrates the profile of patients undergoing treatment for smoking and then the patients' understanding of the use of acupuncture in the treatment. The age between 30 and 40 years of age draws the attention of the rate of people smokers and health problems such as anxiety, depression, cardiovascular diseases are frequent. The analyzed patients participated in more than three group sessions, where the degree of nicotine dependence is considered medium. In view of these results, it is possible to affirm that the treatments for smoking in the Basic Health Unit have great relevance for the primary health of the population, considering the number of smokers and the consequences of cigarette use. And acupuncture therapy in a unique way brings countless benefits to patients undergoing treatment and a better quality of life. Highlighting the profiles of patients cared for in primary health care.Trata-se de um estudo exploratório de revisão integrativa da literatura de abordagem qualitativa, realizado nas bases de dados LILACS, BDENF e SciELO. O estudo demonstra o perfil dos pacientes em tratamento de tabagismo e, em seguida a compreensão dos pacientes sobre o uso de acupuntura no tratamento. A idade entre 30 e 40 anos de idade chama a atenção do índice de pessoas fumantes e os problemas de saúde como ansiedade, depressão, doenças cardiovasculares são frequentes. Os pacientes analisados participaram de mais de três sessões em grupo, onde percebe-se ainda que o grau de dependência de nicotina é considerado médio. Diante desses resultados é possível afirmar que os tratamentos do tabagismo na Unidade Básica de Saúde têm grande relevância para a saúde primária da população tendo em vista o número de fumantes e as consequências do uso dos cigarros. E, a terapia com a acupuntura de modo singular traz inúmeros benefícios para os pacientes em tratamento e maior qualidade de vida.  Destacando os perfis dos pacientes atendidos na saúde primária

Avaliação de alternativas aos revestimentos com alcatrão de hulha para estruturas de aço total ou parcialmente imersas em estuário e água do mar

Na procura de revestimentos anticorrosivos para protecção de estruturas de aço total ou parcialmente imersas em estuário e água do mar, que sejam alternativas mais ecológicas aos revestimentos com alcatrão de hulha ainda utilizados, foi desenvolvido um projecto no qual se comparam revestimentos epoxídicos comerciais com um revestimento de alcatrão de hulha epoxídico de referência, também comercial. Este trabalho inclui, para além da avaliação da protecção anticorrosiva dos revestimentos envolvidos no projecto, quer em laboratório, quer em exposição natural em estuário (rios Sado e Tejo) e em mar (Sines) durante quatro anos, a caracterização laboratorial das tintas integradas nos diferentes esquemas de pintura que deram origem aos revestimentos em estudo. Os resultados da avaliação no fim de dois anos de exposição natural, complementados com os ensaios em laborató permitiram concluir que dois dos quatro revestimentos alternativos estudados apresentaram melhor comportamento anticorrosivo do que o revestimento com alcatrão de hulha epoxídico usado como referência

Peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations in prostate cancer - data from an animal model

Introduction: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers among men worldwide. The presence of immune cells in human cancer raises a fundamental question in oncology. The interaction between immune system and PCa is an important field for translational research. This work aimed to characterize the peripheral lymphocyte subpopulations in a PCa animal model. Methods: Twenty-five male Wistar Unilever rats (Rattus norvegicus) with twelve weeks of age were randomly divided into two groups: Control (n=10) and Induced (n=15). All procedures were approved by the Portuguese Competent Authority (DGAV no. 021326). Prostate lesions were induced through the administration of flutamide (50 mg/kg, TCI Chemicals, USA), testosterone propionate (100 mg/kg, TCI Chemicals, USA) and N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (30 mg/kg, Sigma Chemical Co., Spain), and crystalline testosterone implants. Animals were humanely sacrificed at 61 weeks of age. Peripheral blood of all animals was collected by intracardiac puncture and transferred into tubes containing EDTA salt as an anticoagulant for flow cytometry analysis. The following conjugated monoclonal antibodies were used: cyCD3-BV421, CD3-FITC, CD25-APC, CD45-BV510, CD127-PE, CD161-FITC, CD4-PE/Cy7, CD45RA-APC/Cy7, OX-82-PE and CD8a-PerCP. The flow cytometry immunophenotyping was performed in a BD FACSCantoTM II cytometer (BD Biosciences, USA) and data were analysed with InfinicytTM, flow cytometry software 1.7 version. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25. The differences were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. Results: Although differences did not reach the level of statistical significance, the populations of CD3+ and CD4+ lymphocytes were higher in control group when compared with induced group (p>0.05). Similarly, CD8+ lymphocyte population was higher in control group than in induced group (9.56±0.74 vs 6.38±0.32) (p<0.05). Inversely, the population of regulatory T cells (TRegs) (2.99±0.46 vs 4.630±0.35), the TRegs/CD8 ratio (0.35±0.09 vs 0.45±0.08) and the TRegs/Natural Killer ratio (0.52±0.05 vs 1.03±0.13) were higher in induced group when compared with control one (p<0.05). Conclusion: The population of Tregs increased in induced animals, while the population of NK decreased in these animals, which is in accordance with data previously published by other authors reporting the increase of Tregs and decrease of NK cells in animals with cancer. The characterization of these immune system subpopulation can be important for other studies such as preclinical cancer models