Journals4Free : um novo portal de acesso a conteúdos de publicações periódicas em acesso aberto

O portal Journals4Free (http://www.journals4free.com), criado em novembro de 2011, é um diretório de publicações periódicas que disponibilizam os seus conteúdos, parcial ou completamente, em acesso aberto. Diferentemente de outros portais - como o DOAJ -, o J4F inclui também informação de periódicos cujos conteúdos têm algum período de embargo antes de ficarem disponíveis em acesso aberto e de periódicos que têm em acesso aberto apenas conteúdos de anos passados. Assim, encontram-se no J4F publicações em quatro tipos de situações: - publicações que disponibilizam o seu conteúdo em acesso aberto imediatamente após a publicação, sem adiamento ou período de embargo (periódicos de 'acesso aberto', no sentido restrito); - publicações que disponibilizam o seu conteúdo livremente apenas após um período de embargo (que pode variar de alguns meses a alguns anos); - publicações que mantêm em acesso aberto conteúdos de anos passados; - publicações que deixaram de ser publicadas mas cujos conteúdos estão em acesso aberto. O J4F regista neste momento mais de 6.000 títulos e tem como objetivo ser o mais completo portal no seu género a nível mundial até junho de 2012, com um número superior a 8.000 títulos. Além da listagem de periódicos, o J4F permite a pesquisa por assunto e ISSN e fornece possibilidades de limitação dos resultados, restringindo as pesquisas apenas aos periódicos indexados em algumas das mais importantes bases de dados internacionais (PubMed, Embase, Scopus e bases de dados do Institute for Scientific Information). Esta funcionalidade de limitação de resultados resulta do reconhecimento de que, numa época de grande expansão do número de periódicos em acesso aberto, total ou parcial, muitos têm a sua importância reconhecida internacionalmente pelas bases de dados de referência, enquanto outros tem pouco ou nenhum reconhecimento internacional.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Atividade física na gravidez e a sua influência nos ganhos ponderais

Comparativamente às grávidas com um peso saudável, as grávidas com excesso de peso ou obesidade têm um aumentado de diabetes gestacional, pré-eclâmpsia, parto induzido, cesariana, prematuridade e macrossomia. Existem várias recomendações quanto à prática de atividade física. Vários estudos revelam que esta prática tem efeitos positivos no que diz respeito ao cumprimento das recomendações do ganho ponderal na gravidez. No entanto, alguns estudos revelaram não haver diferenças no ganho ponderal materno entre grávidas que praticam e as que não praticam exercício.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Global variation in diabetes diagnosis and prevalence based on fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1c

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are both used to diagnose diabetes, but these measurements can identify different people as having diabetes. We used data from 117 population-based studies and quantified, in different world regions, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, and whether those who were previously undiagnosed and detected as having diabetes in survey screening, had elevated FPG, HbA1c or both. We developed prediction equations for estimating the probability that a person without previously diagnosed diabetes, and at a specific level of FPG, had elevated HbA1c, and vice versa. The age-standardized proportion of diabetes that was previously undiagnosed and detected in survey screening ranged from 30% in the high-income western region to 66% in south Asia. Among those with screen-detected diabetes with either test, the age-standardized proportion who had elevated levels of both FPG and HbA1c was 29-39% across regions; the remainder had discordant elevation of FPG or HbA1c. In most low- and middle-income regions, isolated elevated HbA1c was more common than isolated elevated FPG. In these regions, the use of FPG alone may delay diabetes diagnosis and underestimate diabetes prevalence. Our prediction equations help allocate finite resources for measuring HbA1c to reduce the global shortfall in diabetes diagnosis and surveillance

Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults

Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI <18·5 kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). For schoolaged children and adolescents, we report thinness (BMI <2 SD below the median of the WHO growth reference) and obesity (BMI >2 SD above the median). Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining underweight or thinness. Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesit

Global variations in diabetes mellitus based on fasting glucose and haemogloblin A1c

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) are both used to diagnose diabetes, but may identify different people as having diabetes. We used data from 117 population-based studies and quantified, in different world regions, the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes, and whether those who were previously undiagnosed and detected as having diabetes in survey screening had elevated FPG, HbA1c, or both. We developed prediction equations for estimating the probability that a person without previously diagnosed diabetes, and at a specific level of FPG, had elevated HbA1c, and vice versa. The age-standardised proportion of diabetes that was previously undiagnosed, and detected in survey screening, ranged from 30% in the high-income western region to 66% in south Asia. Among those with screen-detected diabetes with either test, the agestandardised proportion who had elevated levels of both FPG and HbA1c was 29-39% across regions; the remainder had discordant elevation of FPG or HbA1c. In most low- and middle-income regions, isolated elevated HbA1c more common than isolated elevated FPG. In these regions, the use of FPG alone may delay diabetes diagnosis and underestimate diabetes prevalence. Our prediction equations help allocate finite resources for measuring HbA1c to reduce the global gap in diabetes diagnosis and surveillance.peer-reviewe

Dilated Fourth Ventricle in Fetuses with Trisomy 18, Trisomy 13 and Triploidy at 11-13 Weeks' Gestation

&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Objective:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; To determine if in fetuses with aneuploidies the diameter of the fourth cerebral ventricle at 11–13 weeks’ gestation is different from euploid fetuses. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Methods:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; The fourth ventricle at 11–13 weeks’ gestation was assessed in 62 cases of trisomy 21, 32 of trisomy 18, 10 of trisomy 13, and 12 of triploidy and compared to 410 normal euploid fetuses. Transvaginal sonography was carried out and 3D brain volumes were acquired. The fetal head was assessed in an axial plane and the diameter of the fourth ventricle was measured. Values in aneuploid and euploid fetuses were compared. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Results:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; The diameter of the fourth ventricle in trisomy 18, trisomy 13 and triploidy, but not in trisomy 21, was significantly higher than in euploid fetuses. In the euploid fetuses the median diameter of the fourth ventricle was 1.9 mm and the 95th percentile was 2.5 mm. The measurements were above the median and the 95th percentile in 25 (78.1%) and 17 (53.1%) cases of trisomy 18, in 10 (100%) and 8 (80.0%) of trisomy 13, and in 10 (83.3%) and 10 (83.3%) of triploidy. &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Conclusions:&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; In trisomy 18, trisomy 13 and triploidy the diameter of the fourth ventricle at 11–13 weeks’ gestation is increased.</jats:p

Physical activity and self-esteem during pregnancy

The aims of this paper are to examine the accomplishment of the recommendations of physical activity (PA) practice in accordance with the recommendations of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM); verify if the sociodemographic variables (SDV) influence women’s self-esteem; investigate if there are differences in pregnant women’s self-esteem who practiced or not structured physical activity (SPA) before pregnancy, and of pregnant women who met the recommendations or not during pregnancy. A sample of 44 pregnant women was evaluated in two stages: between the 10th and 13th week of pregnancy (1st trimester- 1T) and between the 20th and 23rd week of gestation (2nd trimester - 2T). The PA was assessed by accelerometry and self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Sociodemographic variables and SPA before pregnancy were assessed through a self-administered questionnaire. Over 60% of the sample did not meet recommendations for PA practice in any of the trimester. There were no significant differences between self-esteem for each of the SDV, with the exception of the higher monthly income (1T) and marital status (2T), associated with better self-esteem. There were significant differences in self-esteem among pregnant women or unstructured PA performed before pregnancy (1T and 2T). The completion, or not, of ACSM recommendations did not seem to impact on self-esteem during pregnancy. Most pregnant women did not met the ACSM recommendations for PA practice. It was found that marital status and higher incomes have influenced positively self-esteem, as well as the practice of SPA, before pregnancy.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Montmorillonite Nanoclay and Formulation with Satureja montana Essential Oil as a Tool to Alleviate Xanthomonas euvesicatoria Load on Solanum lycopersicum

Bacterial spot (BS) of tomato (S. lycopersicum), caused by Xanthomonas spp., namely X. euvesicatoria (Xeu), is one of the major threats for the production of this crop worldwide. Developing new biocontrol solutions against this disease will allow disease management strategies to be less based on Cu compounds. Nanoclays, such as montmorillonite (NMT), have been under investigation for their antimicrobial activity, or as delivery tools/stabilizers for organic compounds, such as essential oils (EOs), that also possess antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens. This work aims to assess how the application of NMT alone or incorporating S. montana EO on Xeu-infected hosts (var. Oxheart) affects the shoots&rsquo; redox status and antioxidant defense mechanisms. In vitro shoots, grown on Murashige and Skoog medium, were divided in two groups, Xeu-infected and uninfected (control) shoots. Shoots of each group were then treated with NMT, S. montana EO, EO-NMT. Results show that the NMT was able to reduce Xeu bacterial amount, while reducing ROS production and keeping the transcript levels of the defense-related genes close to those of the control. When applied to uninfected shoots, the treatments triggered the production of ROS and upregulated the phenylpropanoid and hormone pathway, which suggest that they act as defense elicitors. Globally, the results indicate that NMT has the potential to integrate BS management strategies, due to its antimicrobial activity, and that EO and/or nanoclays could be successfully employed as new disease preventive strategies, since they enhance the healthy shoots&rsquo; defense, thus potentially limiting the pathogen establishment