Continuidade de cuidados e estado de saúde após a alta de unidades de longa duração

O envelhecimento da população portuguesa, o aumento da incidência de doenças crónicas e a existência de muitos idosos com necessidades de cuidados de continuidade, estiveram na génese da criação da Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados, estrutura que, entre outras respostas, disponibiliza internamentos em Unidades de Longa Duração e Manutenção. Objetivo: avaliar os resultados em saúde durante o internamento e após a alta de Unidades de Longa Duração e Manutenção. Método: estudo descritivo e analítico, longitudinal. Estudamos 52 idosos, na admissão, alta e seis meses após a alta. Para além de outras variáveis avaliou-se a independência funcional, o risco de quedas e o risco de desenvolvimento de úlceras por pressão. Resultados: os participantes tinham, em média, 79,1±8,5 anos, predominando o sexo masculino (51,9%). O tempo médio de internamento foi de 149 dias. A independência funcional melhorou ao longo do internamento, com manutenção aos seis meses após a alta. O risco de cair não registou alterações significativas nos três momentos avaliados. O risco de desenvolver úlceras por pressão diminuiu durante o internamento, com manutenção deste ganho no seguimento aos seis meses. Como desfechos adversos após a alta destacamos a institucionalização, a ocorrência de agudizações e a morte de 17,3% dos idosos. Discussão/Conclusões: apesar de termos constatado alguns ganhos em saúde na amostra estudada, os resultados sugerem a necessidade de uma continuada vigilância em saúde após a alta destas unidades.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Gravar Territórios: dois estudos de caso: Gravar Vila Flor e Gravar Sendim

Gravar Territórios é uma investigação em Arte e Educação sobre duas ações de cinevideo implementadas em duas escolas, onde ANDAR e GRAVAR foram detonadores para nos aproximarmos do que nos rodeia: as pessoas e os lugares. Acontece num tempo em que comunicamos através de imagens em que se “fotografa para existir”, mas no qual nos afastamos de nós próprios, do outro e do que nos rodeia. Um tempo de urgência para que o Ser Humano tome consciência da sua condição. O trabalho de pesquisa efetuado teve por base a proposta de sair da escola e andar. Andar na rua, na paisagem, nos lugares e encontrar as pessoas… Aqui a transformação acontece na experiência, nos encontros e no caminho onde educador, artista e estudante, caminham lado a lado. Para apurar esta tomada de consciência, proponho, olhar com outros olhos, ouvir com outros ouvidos e Gravar. Gravar, implica olhar, escolher pontos de vista, medir, enquadrar, focar e neste tempo de experimentação acontecem descobertas. Neste processo produzimos um filme documental e um mapa videográfico. Esta produção adopta contextos de trabalho, próximos do cinema documental e onde a câmera se apresenta como mediadora no estabelecimento de novas relações (dentro e fora da escola). Aprendemos sobre filmes, experimentando e produzindo. No seu visionamento percebemos que o cinema nos aproxima, emocionamo-nos com as imagens, deslumbramo-nos com os lugares que ainda não tínhamos visto e identificamo-nos com as pessoas. Acontece algo “mágico”: inexplicável e tão característico do cinema. Enquanto Artista/Investigadora/Educadora, proponho refletir sobre dinâmicas onde cada um possa educar o seu olhar e sobre a necessidade de sair da escola para criar novos contextos de aprendizagem, num processo de liberdade criativa de todos.Recording Territories is an investigation in Art and Education about two cine/video actions implemented in two schools, where WALKING and RECORDING were detonators to get closer to what surrounds us: people and places. This research takes place at a time when we communicate through images in which we “photograph to exist”, but in which we move away from ourselves, from the other and from what is around us. A time of urgency for the Human Being to become aware of his condition. The research work carried out was based on the proposal to leave school and walk. To walk on the street, in the landscape, in places and meeting people... Here the transformation takes place in the experience, in the get-togethers and in the path where educator, artist and student walk side by side. To clarifythis consciousness, I propose to look with different eyes, to listen with different ears and to Record. To record implies looking, choosing points of view, measuring, framing, focusing; and in this time of experimentation discoveries happen. Along the process, we produced a documentary film and a videographic map. This production adopts work contexts, close to documentary cinema and where the Camera presents itself as a mediator to establish new relationships (inside and outside the school). We learned about films, experimenting and producing. When viewing these films we realize that cinema brings us closer, we are moved by the images, we are dazzled by the places we had not yet seen and we identify with people. Something “magical” happens: inexplicable and so characteristic of cinema. As an Artist/Researcher/Educator, I propose to reflect about dynamics where each one can educate their eyes and about the need to go outside the school to create new learning contexts, in a process of creative freedom for all

Fungal community in olive fruits of cultivars with different susceptibilities to anthracnose and selection of isolates to be used as biocontrol agents

Olive anthracnose is an important fruit disease in olive crop worldwide. Because of the importance of microbial phyllosphere to plant health, this work evaluated the effect of cultivar on endophytic and epiphytic fungal communities by studying their diversity in olives of two cultivars with different susceptibilities to anthracnose. The biocontrol potency of native isolates against Colletotrichum acutatum, the main causal agent of this disease, was further evaluated using the dual-culture method. Fungal community of both cultivars encompassed a complex species consortium including phytopathogens and antagonists. Host genotype was important in shaping endophytic but not epiphytic fungal communities, although some host-specific fungal genera were found within epiphytic community. Epiphytic and endophytic fungal communities also differed in size and in composition in olives of both cultivars, probably due to differences in physical and chemical nature of the two habitats. Fungal tested were able to inhibited C. acutatum growth (inhibition coefficients up to 30.9), sporulation (from 46 to 86%) and germination (from 21 to 74%), and to caused abnormalities in pathogenic hyphae. This finding could open opportunities to select specific beneficial microbiome by selecting particular cultivar and highlighted the potential use of these fungi in the biocontrol of olive anthracnose.This work was funded by National Funds through FCT – Foundation for Science and Technology under the project “EndoBio – Isolation and selection of endophytic fungi from olive tree for the biological control of Colletotrichum acutatum and Verticillium dahliae” (PTDC/AGR-PRO/ 4354/2012).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A avaliação da usabilidade de interfaces web: o teste de usabilidade

Lição apresentada à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do título de agregado em Ciências da Informação, especialidade em Sistemas, Tecnologias e Gestão da InformaçãoN/

Quality of life and chronic disease in patients receiving primary health care

Problem Statement: Chronic disease entails physical, psychological and social issues with a decrease in the quality of life. The assessment of QoL has been applied as indicator in patients with chronic diseases. Research Questions: What is the quality of life in patients with chronic disease? What are the socio-demographic variables that influence the quality of life in patients? Purpose: To assess the quality of life in patients suffering from chronic disease and identify socio-demographic variables which influence the quality of life of patients suffering from chronic disease. Research Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study using a sample composed of 228 users (134 females) from a Family Health Unit in the municipality of Viseu. Data collection was made by means of a questionnaire, consisting of sociodemographic variables, the SF-12 scale and the existence of chronic disease was assessed through the questions – “Do you currently suffer from any chronic disease?”; “If so, which one(s)?”. Findings: The most common chronic diseases were hypertension (59.9%). Female patients with a chronic disease reported worse physical functioning, role-physical and role-emotional; increased bodily pain and better quality of life regarding general health. Male patients showed worse role-physical, increased bodily pain and vitality. Sociodemographic variables which were associated with quality of life were area of residence, academic qualifications and work situation. Conclusion: Chronic disease affects quality of life negatively. Quality of life in both patients groups was associated with socio-demographic variables. Health-related quality of life is an essential issue and should be considered as a priority in health policies.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Risco de úlceras por pressão e dependência funcional numa unidade de cuidados continuados de longa duração e manutenção

Foi realizado um estudo descritivo, retrospetivo e de natureza quantitativa estudando a população de utentes internados numa Unidade de Cuidados Continuados de Longa Duração e Manutenção (Miranda do Douro) desde a sua abertura até a atualidade* (N=151), com base em três objetivos principais: (1) determinar o perfil sociodemográfico e clínico dos utentes; (2) avaliar os níveis de dependência no momento de admissão e alta; (3) estratificar o risco de desenvolvimento de úlcera por pressão aquando do ingresso na unidade. Os dados foram recolhidos através dos processos dos utentes, tendo em conta uma ficha previamente estruturada com base nas variáveis a incluir no estudo. Quanto aos instrumentos utilizámos a Escala de Braden, para determinar o risco de desenvolver UP e a Escala de Barthel na admissão e alta para avaliar os níveis de dependência funcional. Concluímos que a avaliação do risco de desenvolver UP é uma componente chave da prevenção em cuidados continuados. A avaliação permite identificar utentes mais suscetíveis ao desenvolvimento deste tipo de feridas, e adequar os cuidados às suas necessidades. Ganhos importantes em autonomia foram conseguidos durante o período em análise. Apesar da tipologia de cuidados, patologias incapacitantes associadas, idade avançada, é possível conseguir reabilitar para algumas tarefas básicas e instrumentais de vida diária

A 30-year long-term experience in appendix neuroendocrine neoplasms—granting a positive outcome

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) are the most common tumor of the appendix and have an excellent prognosis. Appendiceal tumors diagnosed between 1989 and 2019 were reviewed, and clinical data were collected from patient files. Part of the series was immuno-profiled for markers related to cell cycle proliferation and/or senescence-type, apoptotic, and metastatic potential. Appendix NENs were detected in 74 patients, with 0.47% of incidence per appendectomy. The median age of the patients was 21.5 years, with two age peaks of incidence at 17.0 and 55.2 years. The median tumors size was 5.8 mm, and most were smaller than 10 mm. Lymphovascular and perineural invasion, as well as necrosis, was associated with larger tumor size. G1 tumors composed 96.0% of the cohort. The presence of moderate/strong p16 and the absent/low Bcl-2 expression was frequently observed and associated with a smaller size. This study represents one of the largest cohorts and with a long follow-up. For tumors smaller than 10 mm appendicectomy was sufficient as a curative procedure, as revealed by the good outcome. This series presented a 100% disease-free survival. The indolent phenotype of appendix NENs is supported by the expression of markers that point towards a strong inhibition of cell replication and growth inhibition.This study was supported by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior by a research contract to João Vinagre (CEECIND/00201/2017). Further funding was obtained from the project “Advancing cancer research: from basic knowledge to application” NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000029: “Projetos Estruturados de I & D & I”, funded by Norte 2020—Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. Additional funding was obtained from the project PTDC/MED-ONC/31438/2017 (The other faces of Telomerase: Looking beyond tumor immortalization), supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), COMPETE 2020—Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization (POCI) and by Portuguese funds through FCT under project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016390: CANCEL STEM”

Core I gene is overexpressed in Hürthle and non-Hürthle cell microfollicular adenomas and follicular carcinomas of the thyroid

BACKGROUND: Most of the steps involved in the initiation and progression of Hürthle (oncocytic, oxyphilic) cell carcinomas of the thyroid remain unknown. METHODS: Using differential display and semiquantitative RT-PCR we found, among other alterations, overexpression of the gene encoding the Core I subunit of the complex III of the mitochondrial respiratory chain in a follicular carcinoma composed of Hürthle cells. RESULTS: Similar high levels of Core I gene expression were detected in nine follicular carcinomas (seven with Hürthle cell features), in seven microfollicular adenomas (one with Hürthle cell features) and in one micro/macrofollicular adenoma, in contrast to a lower/normal expression in nine papillary carcinomas (three with Hürthle cell features) and five macrofollicular adenomas (one of which displaying Hürthle cell features). No significative correlation was found between Core I overexpression and the proliferative activity of the lesions. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that Core I overexpression in thyroid tumours is not associated with malignancy, Hürthle cells or proliferative activity. The pathogenetic mechanism linking Core I overexpression to the microfollicular pattern of growth of thyroid tumours remains to be clarified

Start-up and operation of two large-scale biofilters installed at a municipal solid waste treatment plant

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