Relações entre capacidades musicais, consciência fonológica e desempenho da leitura em crianças do 1º e 2º ano de escolaridade

Dissertação de mestrado, Neurociências Cognitivas e Neuropsicologia, Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Universidade do Algarve, 2015O presente estudo teve como principal objetivo investigar a relação entre capacidades musicais, processamento fonológico (consciência fonológica e memória de trabalho verbal) e desempenho na leitura em crianças do primeiro e segundo ano de escolaridade bem como se a relação entre capacidades musicais e leitura é mediada pela consciência fonológica. Fizeram parte da amostra total do estudo 34 crianças do primeiro e do segundo ano de escolaridade, sendo 13 do sexo masculino e 21 do sexo feminino, com idades compreendidas entre os 6 anos e os 8 anos. Para avaliar as funções cognitivas foram aplicadas provas de inteligência não-verbal, capacidades musicais, consciência fonológica implícita e explícita, deleção de fonemas, leitura de palavras e pseudopalavras e memória de trabalho verbal. Os resultados revelaram que a consciência fonológica e a leitura de um modo geral correlacionam-se mais com as tarefas rítmicas do que com as tarefas melódicas avaliadas. Assim, a capacidade musical (mais concretamente a produção rítmica) correlaciona-se de forma positiva e significativa com a consciência fonológica e com a leitura. Pode dizer-se ainda que o desempenho rítmico prediz a capacidade de leitura mesmo quando a influência da consciência fonológica é removida, no entanto esse efeito torna-se menos significativo quando a variável consciência fonológica é tida em conta. Neste sentido, as capacidades musicais contribuem para o desempenho da leitura por si só, no entanto, as capacidades musicais podem precisar de mecanismos auditivos comuns aos da consciência fonológica que são também necessários para a leitura

Otimização do processo de produção de um intermediário de Cloridrato de Minociclina

Um processo de otimização visa estudar as condições, eventualmente alterando-as, de modo a melhor a eficácia eficiência de determinado sistema. O processo em questão, trata-se um de um processo de síntese química, que se destina à produção de cloridrato de minociclina, um API (active pharmaceutical ingredient), sendo necessárias 7 etapas até à obtenção do produto puro. Esta dissertação tem como objetivo a realização de um estudo intensivo à quarta etapa do processo de produção desta tetraciclina, em que é sintetizada a molécula de 7HT. O 7HT resulta de uma reação de substituição eletrofílica na molécula de DOT.B, e cujo eletrófilo é um composto azo. Atualmente a conversão do reagente limitante (DOT.B) dá-se em cerca de 99%, obtendo-se uma seletividade a 7HT de 75%. Este valor deve-se à ocorrência de reações secundárias, onde se sintetizam produtos como o 9HT, 7,9 diHT e a 4epi-7HT, resultantes da substituição na posição 9, 7 ou em ambas, sendo por isso necessária a otimização deste processo, maximizando a seletividade a 7HT. Num estudo à alteração de parâmetros reacionais e de solventes empregues, avaliou-se que a reação ou tinha as condições necessárias para sintetizar/precipitar o 7HT obtendo-se melhorias inferiores a 1% na seletividade, ou inibia, por completo a sua síntese/precipitação. Apenas a aplicação de uma temperatura de reação mais baixa (-10ᵒC), originou um ligeiro aumento da seletividade (77%), aumentando a pureza do 7HT em 2%. Relativamente às impurezas foi possível conhecer e aplicar condições que permitem otimizar a sua composição no produto obtido, através da diminuição da DOT.B não reagida. A diluição do ácido no meio reacional, assim como o tempo de reação permitem reduzir o teor em DOT.B e 7,9HT em 50% e 60% no produto final. Com este estudo, averiguou-se ainda que a diferença nos tempos de operação aplicados à escala industrial e à escala laboratorial é a principal causa para as inconsistências encontradas no teor de impurezas do 7HT. A realização de um estudo cinético possibilitou conhecer, com mais detalhe, o mecanismo das reações secundárias e confirmar que o tempo mínimo necessário para a obtenção do produto com a composição atual é de uma hora, enquanto o processo é efetuado com duas horas de reação

Mastadenovirus Molecular Diversity in Waste and Environmental Waters from the Lisbon Metropolitan Area

Funding Information: This work received financial support from the AgriWWater Project (PTDC/CTA-AMB/29586/2017), iNOVA4Health (UID/Multi/04462/2019), and Global Health and Tropical Medicine Center (which is funded through FCT contract UID/Multi/04413/2013). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.In face of the absence of epidemiological data regarding the circulation of human adenoviruses (HAdV) in Portugal, this study aimed at the evaluation of their molecular diversity in waste and environmental waters in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA). Using samples collected between 2018 and 2021, the HAdV hexon protein-coding sequence was partially amplified using three nested touch-down PCR protocols. The amplification products obtained were analyzed in parallel by two approaches: molecular cloning followed by Sanger sequencing and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) using Illumina® sequencing. The analysis of NGS-generated data allowed the identification of a higher diversity of HAdV-A (19%), -B (1%), -C (3%), -D (24%), and -F (25%) viral types, along with murine adenovirus (MAdV-2; 30%) in the wastewater treatment plant samples. On the other hand, HAdV-A (19%), -D (32%), and -F (36%) were identified in environmental samples, and possibly MAdV-2 (14%). These results demonstrate the presence of fecal contamination in environmental waters and the assessment of the diversity of this virus provides important information regarding the distribution of HAdV in LMA, including the detection of HAdV-F41, the most frequently reported in water worldwide.publishersversionpublishe

Acalculous acute pancreatitis in a COVID-19 patient

© EFIM 2020. This article is licensed under a Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 4.0 License.Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a multisystemic condition caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) with manifestations ranging from mild upper respiratory symptoms to cytokine storm causing acute respiratory distress syndrome. Pancreatic exocrine tissue and endocrine islets both express angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the proven receptor for SARSCoV-2 cell internalization. An increase in pancreatic enzymes has been increasingly recognized in patients with COVID-19, but little is known about the real prevalence of acute pancreatitis in this population. We report a case of acute acalculous pancreatitis in a COVID-19 patient.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Brief report on double-chamber syringes patents and implications for infusion therapy safety and efficiency

This review aimed to map the existing patents of double-chamber syringes that can be used for intravenous drug administration and catheter flush. A search was conducted in the Google patents database for records published prior to 28 October 2020, using several search terms related to double-chamber syringes (DCS). Study eligibility and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. Of the initial 26,110 patents found, 24 were included in this review. The 24 DCS that were found display two or more independent chambers that allow for the administration of multiple solutions. While some of the DCS have designated one of the chambers as the flushing chamber, most patents only allow for the sequential use of the flushing chamber after intravenous drug administration. Most DCS were developed for drug reconstitution, usually with a freeze-dried drug in one chamber. Some patents were designed for safety purposes, with a parallel post-injection safety sheath chamber for enclosing a sharpened needle tip. None of the DCS found allow for a preand post-intravenous drug administration flush. Given the current standards of care in infusion therapy, future devices must allow for the sequential use of the flushing chamber to promote a pre-administration patency assessment and a post-administration device flush.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Anti-saccades in early stages of multiple sclerosis

Eye movements disability is common finding in multiple sclerosis but the exact stage at which changes are visible is not clear. The aim of study was to assess if anti-saccade planning and execution are altered at early stages of the disease.TEM-All with the Mutiple Sclerosis, Braga, Portugalinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tradução, adaptação cultural e validação do Inventário da Prática Centrada na Pessoa, profissionais de saúde (PCPI-S)

Aiming to translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically evaluate the Person-centred Practice Inventory – Staff (PCPI-S) for Portuguese healthcare professionals, this methodological study was conducted sequentially in two phases. Phase I followed the 10-steps recommendations from the ISPOR taskforce for translation and cultural adaptation of patient reported outcome measures. Phase II comprised a quantitative cross-sectional virtual survey of the translated PCPI-S with healthcare professionals, who were reached through snowball sampling from both primary and specialized care settings. The psychometric properties of the PCPI-S were determined by assessing reliability and construct validity. A sample of 304 healthcare professionals participated in Phase II. Ceiling effects were found. The overall internal consistency was excellent (>0.9). The confirmatory factor analysis showed a good model fit after minor modifications, revealing construct validity, and supporting the theoretical framework. In conclusion, the three-factorial model of PCPI-S adjusted to the studied sample is a valid and reliable instrument to assess the perceptions of healthcare professionals on person-centred practice in various Portuguese clinical contexts. Considering the ceiling effects, the effect of social desirability should be explored.Com o objetivo de traduzir, adaptar culturalmente e avaliar psicometricamente o Inventário para a Prática Centrada na Pessoa para profissionais de saúde (PCPI-S) em diversos contextos de prestação de cuidados, este estudo metodológico realizou-se em duas fases sequenciais. A Fase I seguiu as recomendações de dez etapas da taskforce da ISPOR para tradução e adaptação cultural de medidas de resultados auto reportados. A Fase II incluiu um estudo cross-sectional do PCPI-S traduzido com profissionais de saúde, que foram alcançados por meio de amostragem snowball em contextos de cuidados primários e diferenciados. A psicometria do PCPI-S foi analisada pela avaliação da confiabilidade e validade de construto. Uma amostra de 304 profissionais de saúde participou da Fase II. Efeitos de teto foram encontrados. A consistência interna geral foi excelente (> 0,9). A análise fatorial confirmatória mostrou um bom ajuste do modelo e validade de construto, refletindo o referencial teórico. Concluindo, o modelo tri-fatorial do PCPI-S ajustado à amostra estudada é um instrumento válido e fiável para avaliar as percepções dos profissionais de saúde sobre a prática centrada na pessoa em vários contextos de cuidados portugueses. Considerando os efeitos teto, a desejabilidade social deve ser explorada.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Short peripheral venous catheters contamination and the dangers of bloodstream infection in Portugal: an analytic study

Peripheral venous catheters (PVCs) are the most used vascular access devices in the world. However, failure rates remain considerably high, with complications such as PVC-related infections posing significant threats to patients’ well-being. In Portugal, studies evaluating the contamination of these vascular medical devices and characterizing the associated microorganisms are scarce and lack insight into potential virulence factors. To address this gap, we analyzed 110 PVC tips collected in a large tertiary hospital in Portugal. Experiments followed Maki et al.’s semi-quantitative method for microbiological diagnosis. Staphylococcus spp. were subsequently studied for the antimicrobial susceptibility profile by disc diffusion method and based on the cefoxitin phenotype, were further classified into strains resistant to methicillin. Screening for the mecA gene was also done by a polymerase chain reaction and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)-vancomycin as determined by E-test, proteolytic and hemolytic activity on skimmed milk 1% plate and blood agar, respectively. The biofilm formation was evaluated on microplate reading through iodonitrotetrazolium chloride 95% (INT). Overall, 30% of PVCs were contaminated, and the most prevalent genus was Staphylococcus spp., 48.8%. This genus presented resistance to penicillin (91%), erythromycin (82%), ciprofloxacin (64%), and cefoxitin (59%). Thus, 59% of strains were considered resistant to methicillin; however, we detected the mecA gene in 82% of the isolates tested. Regarding the virulence factors, 36.4% presented α-hemolysis and 22.7% β-hemolysis, 63.6% presented a positive result for the production of proteases, and 63.6% presented a biofilm formation capacity. Nearly 36.4% were simultaneously resistant to methicillin and showed expression of proteases and/or hemolysins, biofilm formation, and the MIC to vancomycin were greater than 2 µg/mL. Conclusion: PVCs were mainly contaminated with Staphylococcus spp., with high pathogenicity and resistance to antibiotics. The production of virulence factors strengthens the attachment and the permanence to the catheter’s lumen. Quality improvement initiatives are needed to mitigate such results and enhance the quality and safety of the care provided in this field.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Foot and ankle disorders in nurses exposed to prolonged standing environments: a scoping review

Background: Prolonged standing environments constitute an occupational risk factor for nurses, particularly for developing foot and ankle disorders. The definitions and potential relationship to hours spent walking or standing are poorly understood. This scoping review aimed to synthesize the main disorders found on nurses’ ankles and feet, their prevalence, the influence of hours spent walking or standing, and gender differences. Methods: This review followed a previously published protocol. Primary and secondary studies were retrieved from relevant databases from December 2020 to March 2021. Potential articles were collated to Mendeley, and two independent reviewers assessed the title and abstracts. Studies meeting inclusion criteria were included. Two researchers retrieved and reviewed the full text of these studies independently. A predetermined extraction tool was used to retrieve relevant data, summarized in a tabular and narrative format. Findings: The most common disorder was pain, followed by numbness, burning feet, bunions, structural deformities, and calluses. Prevalence differed among studies, depending on settings and specific local policies. Discussion: Various foot and ankle disorders and related variables have been found, with clear gaps that may be addressed in the future. Conclusion/Applications to Practice:: Few studies have focused on nurses’ foot and ankle disorders. Mapping signs and symptoms may contribute to the future development of preventive interventions for nurses’ workplaces.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio