Implementação de um Estudo de Efetividade da Vacina Contra a Gripe no Contexto Hospitalar em Portugal: Projeto EVA Hospital

Introduction: The project ‘Integrated Monitoring of Vaccines in Europe’ aimed to measure seasonal influenza vaccine effectiveness against hospitalised adults, aged 65 years and over, with influenza. We describe the protocol implementation in Portugal. Material and Methods: We implemented a test-negative design, targeting community-dwelling patients aged 65 years old and over hospitalised with severe acute respiratory illness. Patients were reverse transverse-polymerase chain reaction tested for influenza. Cases were those positive for influenza while others were controls. Most variables were collected using hospital medical records. Selection bias was evaluated by comparison with the laboratory influenza test requests database according to demographic characteristics. Crude, season-adjusted influenza vaccine effectiveness was estimated as = 1 – odds ratio, and 95% confidence intervals were obtained by conditional logistical regression, matched with the disease onset month. Results: The recruitment rate was 37.8%. Most participants (n = 368) were female (55.8%) and aged 80 years old and over (55.8%). This was similar to values for potentially eligible severe acute respiratory illness patients (80 years old and over: 56.8%, female: 56.2%). The proportion of missing values was below 2.5% for 20 variables and above 5% (maximum 11.6%) for six variables. Influenza vaccine effectiveness estimates were 62.1% against AH1pdm09 (95% confidence intervals: -28.1 to 88.8), 14.9% against A(H3N2) (95% confidence intervals: -69.6 to 57.3), 43.6% against B/Yam (95% confidence intervals: -66.2 to 80.8). Discussion: Given the non-existence of a coded admission database in either participating hospital the selection of severe acute respiratory illness due to clinical features was the feasible one. These results are only valid for the older adult population residing in the catchment area of the two participating hospitals who were admitted to a public hospital with severe influenza or SARI symptoms. Conclusion: Despite the low participation rate, we observed comparable characteristics of participants and eligible severe acute respiratory illness patients. Data quality was high, and influenza vaccine effectiveness results were in accordance with the results of meta-analyses and European season-specific estimates. The final sample size was low, which inhibited obtaining estimates with good precision.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A cDNA microarray approach to decipher sunflower (Helianthus annuus) responses to the necrotrophic fungus Phoma macdonaldii

To identify the genes involved in the partial resistance of sunflower (Helianthus annuus) to the necrotrophic fungus Phoma macdonaldii, we developed a 1000‐element cDNA microarray containing carefully chosen genes putatively involved in primary metabolic pathways, signal transduction and biotic stress responses. A two‐pass general linear model was used to normalize the data and then to detect differentially expressed genes. This method allowed us to identify 38 genes differentially expressed among genotypes, treatments and times, mainly belonging to plant defense, signaling pathways and amino acid metabolism. Based on a set of genes whose differential expression was highly significant, we propose a model in which negative regulation of a dual‐specificity MAPK phosphatase could be implicated in sunflower defense mechanisms against the pathogen. The resulting activation of the MAP kinase cascade could subsequently trigger defense responses (e.g. thaumatin biosynthesis and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activation), under the control of transcription factors belonging to MYB and WRKY families. Concurrently, the activation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), which is implicated in cell death inhibition, could limit pathogen development. The results reported here provide a valuable first step towards the understanding and analysis of the P. macdonaldii–sunflower interaction

Quantum enhanced positioning and clock synchronization

A wide variety of positioning and ranging procedures are based on repeatedly sending electromagnetic pulses through space and measuring their time of arrival. This paper shows that quantum entanglement and squeezing can be employed to overcome the classical power/bandwidth limits on these procedures, enhancing their accuracy. Frequency entangled pulses could be used to construct quantum positioning systems (QPS), to perform clock synchronization, or to do ranging (quantum radar): all of these techniques exhibit a similar enhancement compared with analogous protocols that use classical light. Quantum entanglement and squeezing have been exploited in the context of interferometry, frequency measurements, lithography, and algorithms. Here, the problem of positioning a party (say Alice) with respect to a fixed array of reference points will be analyzed.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication by Natur

Quantum teleportation with nonclassical correlated states in noninertial frames

Quantum teleportation is studied in noninertial frame, for fermionic case, when Alice and Bob share a general nonclassical correlated state. In noninertial frames two fidelities of teleportation are given. It is found that the average fidelity of teleportation from a separable and nonclassical correlated state is increasing with the amount of nonclassical correlation of the state. However, for any particular nonclassical correlated state, the fidelity of teleportation decreases by increasing the acceleration.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, expanded version to appear in Quantum Inf. Proces

Observation of Electron-Hole Puddles in Graphene Using a Scanning Single Electron Transistor

The electronic density of states of graphene is equivalent to that of relativistic electrons. In the absence of disorder or external doping the Fermi energy lies at the Dirac point where the density of states vanishes. Although transport measurements at high carrier densities indicate rather high mobilities, many questions pertaining to disorder remain unanswered. In particular, it has been argued theoretically, that when the average carrier density is zero, the inescapable presence of disorder will lead to electron and hole puddles with equal probability. In this work, we use a scanning single electron transistor to image the carrier density landscape of graphene in the vicinity of the neutrality point. Our results clearly show the electron-hole puddles expected theoretically. In addition, our measurement technique enables to determine locally the density of states in graphene. In contrast to previously studied massive two dimensional electron systems, the kinetic contribution to the density of states accounts quantitatively for the measured signal. Our results suggests that exchange and correlation effects are either weak or have canceling contributions.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure

The Demise of Multidrug-Resistant HIV-1: the National Time Trend in Portugal

OBJECTIVES: Despite a decreasing mortality and morbidity in treated HIV-1 patients, highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) can still fail due to the development of drug resistance. Especially, multidrug-resistant viruses pose a threat to efficient therapy. We studied the changing prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR) over time in a cohort of HIV-1-infected patients in Portugal. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used data of 8065 HIV-1-infected patients followed from July 2001 up to April 2012 in 22 hospitals located in Portugal. MDR at a specific date of sampling was defined as no more than one fully active drug (excluding integrase and entry inhibitors) at that time authorized by the Portuguese National Authority of Medicines and Health Products (INFARMED), as interpreted with the Rega algorithm version 8.0.2. A generalized linear mixed model was used to study the time trend of the prevalence of MDR. RESULTS: We observed a statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of MDR over the last decade, from 6.9% (95% CI: 5.7-8.4) in 2001-03, 6.0% (95% CI: 4.9-7.2) in 2003-05, 3.7% (95% CI: 2.8-4.8) in 2005-07 and 1.6% (95% CI: 1.1-2.2) in 2007-09 down to 0.6% (95% CI: 0.3-0.9) in 2009-12 [OR=0.80 (95% CI: 0.75-0.86); P<0.001]. In July 2011 the last new case of MDR was seen. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of multidrug-resistant HIV-1 is decreasing over time in Portugal, reflecting the increasing efficiency of HAART and the availability of new drugs. Therefore, in designing a new drug, safety and practical aspects, e.g. less toxicity and ease of use, may need more attention than focusing mainly on efficacy against resistant strains.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

2.5PN kick from black-hole binaries in circular orbit: Nonspinning case

Using the Multipolar post-Minskowskian formalism, we compute the linear momentum flux from black-hole binaries in circular orbits and having no spins. The total linear momentum flux contains various types of instantaneous (which are functions of the retarded time) and hereditary (which depends on the dynamics of the binary in the past) terms both of which are analytically computed. In addition to the inspiral contribution, we use a simple model of plunge to compute the kick or recoil accumulated during this phase.Comment: To appear in Proceedings of "Relativity and Gravitation - 100 Years after Einstein in Prague" Ed. J. Bicak (2013

Measuring local depletion of terrestrial game vertebrates by central-place hunters in rural Amazonia

The degree to which terrestrial vertebrate populations are depleted in tropical forests occupied by human communities has been the subject of an intense polarising debate that has important conservation implications. Conservation ecologists and practitioners are divided over the extent to which community-based subsistence offtake is compatible with ecologically functional populations of tropical forest game species. To quantify depletion envelopes of forest vertebrates around human communities, we deployed a total of 383 camera trap stations and 78 quantitative interviews to survey the peri-community areas controlled by 60 semi-subsistence communities over a combined area of over 3.2 million hectares in the Médio Juruá and Uatumã regions of Central-Western Brazilian Amazonia. Our results largely conform with prior evidence that hunting large-bodied vertebrates reduces wildlife populations near settlements, such that they are only found at a distance to settlements where they are hunted less frequently. Camera trap data suggest that a select few harvest-sensitive species, including lowland tapir, are either repelled or depleted by human communities. Nocturnal and cathemeral species were detected relatively more frequently in disturbed areas close to communities, but individual species did not necessarily shift their activity patterns. Group biomass of all species was depressed in the wider neighbourhood of urban areas rather than communities. Interview data suggest that species traits, especially group size and body mass, mediate these relationships. Large-bodied, large-group-living species are detected farther from communities as reported by experienced informants. Long-established communities in our study regions have not “emptied” the surrounding forest. Low human population density and low hunting offtake due to abundant sources of alternative aquatic protein, suggest that these communities represent a best-case scenario for sustainable hunting of wildlife for food, thereby providing a conservative assessment of game depletion. Given this ‘best-case’ camera trap and interview-based evidence for hunting depletion, regions with higher human population densities, external trade in wildlife and limited access to alternative protein will likely exhibit more severe depletion

Neonatal Auditory Screening in 17 732 Neonates

Introdução: A surdez infantil representa uma das anomalias congénitas mais frequentes. Em Portugal, foi desenvolvido o Grupo de Rastreio e Intervenção na Surdez Infantil (GRISI), cujo principal objetivo é implementar um programa de rastreio nacional através da aplicação de técnicas e métodos definidos e semelhantes nos vários hospitais. Objetivos: Analizar a polupação de recém-nascidos rastreados num hospital periférico, no que concerne à presença de fatores de risco para surdez e resultados dos testes de rastreio. Material e métodos: Foram consultados os processos das crianças nascidas no Hospital Professor Doutor Fernando Fonseca, entre 2010 e 2015. Foram analisados os fatores de risco para surdez e os resultados dos testes de rastreio. Foram calculados a efetividade do rastreio assim como o índice de referenciação para consulta de Otorrinolaringologia. Os dados foram analizados através do programa informático SPSS®, atribuindo-se validade estatística a valores de p<0.05. Resultados: Verificou-se o nascimento de 18019 crianças. O programa de rastreio foi efetuado em 17732 recém-nascidos. A efetividade do rastreio foi de 98,7%. O índice de referenciação para consulta foi de 2,3%. 402 crianças não passaram o rastreio. 354 crianças possuiam fatores de risco para surdez. Discussão: O programa de rastreio foi considerado efetivo e o índice de referenciação foi inferior a 4%. Os principais fatores de risco foram: muito baixo peso ao nascer, baixo índice Apgar e consumo de fármacos ototóxicos. Conclusão: Os autores consideram importante a consciencialização dos resultados do programa de rastreio, para que este possa ser melhorado.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

PAKs supplement improves immune status and body composition but not muscle strength in resistance trained individuals

Mixed formula supplements are very popular among recreational and professional weightlifters. They are usually known as PAKs and they are supposed to have a synergistic effect of their different nutrients. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of chronic (4 weeks) PAKS supplementation in combination with strength training on body composition, immune status and performance measures in recreationally trained individuals with or without PAKs supplementation. Methods: Twelve male subjects (Placebo n = 6 and PAKs supplement n = 6) were recruited for this study. The body composition, one maximum strength repetition tests and immune status were assessed before and after 4 week supplementation. Our data showed that, 4 week PAK supplementation associated with strength exercise not was effective in change strength than compared with placebo group. However, we observed that, PAK supplement was able to improve immune status and reduced body composition when compared with placebo group. These results indicate that, a mixed formula supplement is able to improve immune status and body composition but not maximum strength in recreational strength trained subjects in a 4 weeks period