Water quantity and quality under future climate and societal scenarios: a basin-wide approach applied to the Sorraia river, Portugal

Water resources are impacted by several stressors like over-population and over consumption that compromises their availability. These stressors are expected to progressively intensify due to climate change in most regions of the world, with direct impact on watersheds and river systems. This study investigates the effect of different watershed pressure scenarios due to climate change in the hydrological regime of the Sorraia River basin, Portugal. This catchment includes one of the largest irrigated areas in the country, thus being strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities, associated to hydrological (irrigation, flow regulation, damming) and nutrient stressors. The SoilWater Assessment Tool has been used to simulate water flow and nutrient dynamics in the watershed while considering inputs from two climate models and three societal scenarios. Results have shown that the predicted rainfall reductions will have a significant impact on river flow and nutrient concentrations when compared to baseline conditions. River flow will expectably decrease by 75%, while nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in river water will expectably increase by 500% and 200%, respectively. These differences are more evident for storylines that consider increasing pressures such as population growth and agricultural expansion marked with unsustainable practices and increased reliance on technology. The results of this study indicate a possible future outcome and provide effective guidelines for the formulation of water management policies to counter the impacts of climate change and corresponding environmental pressures in the Sorraia River basininfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Decision-making support system in the diagnosis and treatment of person with chronic wounds: clinical wound support

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation of the trophic status in a Mediterranean reservoir under climate change: an integrated modelling approach

This study describes an integrated modelling approach to better understand the trophic status of the Montargil reservoir (southern Portugal) under climate change scenarios. The SWAT and CE-QUAL-W2 models were applied to the basin and reservoir, respectively, for simulating water and nutrient dynamics while considering one climatic scenario and two decadal timelines (2025–2034 and 2055–2064). Model simulations showed that the dissolved oxygen concentration in the reservoir’s hypolimnion is expected to decrease by 60% in both decadal timelines, while the chlorophyll-a concentration in the reservoir’s epiliminion is expected to increase by 25%. The total phosphorus concentration (TP) is predicted to increase in the water column surface by 63% and in the hypolimion by 90% during the 2030 timeline. These results are even more severe during the 2060 timeline. Under this climate change scenario, the reservoir showed a eutrophic state during 70–80% of both timelines. Even considering measures that involve decreases in 30 to 35% of water use, the eutrophic state is not expected to improveinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey of the Portuguese general population

The National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey of the Portuguese general population aimed to collect nationwide and regional data on dietary intake and physical activity, and their relation with health determinants, namely socioeconomic factors. Results from this project were obtained from a representative sample of the Portuguese population, aged between three months to 84 years of age, selected from the National Heath Registry, by multistage sampling (a sample size of 5068 individuals was estimated and 5811 participants with two dietary assessments were achieved). To accomplish the EFSA requirements, a minimum, of 260 individuals in each age group (130 by sex) was planned. Two face-to-face interviews were conducted at a health care centre or participant’s home. Dietary intake was obtained by two non-consecutive days of food diaries for children (<10 years old) and two non-consecutive 24-hours recalls for the older age groups, with a time interval between 8 and 15 days, complemented with a Food Propensity Questionnaire. An electronic platform based on a client-server architecture was used to manage the field work and to assist the data collection. The Electronic Assessment Tool for 24-hours recall (eAT24) allowed the collection of dietary data by an Automated Multiple-Pass Method for 24-hours. This interview-based dietary assessment instrument allowed obtaining a very detailed description and quantification of foods, recipes, and food supplements consumed in the course of the preceding day, and it had several adaptations, described in detail in this report. The survey outcomes support solid evidence-based information covering all age groups of the population, using harmonized methodologies at the European level, and will contribute to develop a national infrastructure for monitoring progress of specific targets supporting national and European policies and future interventions on diet, physical activity and food safety.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

RESEARCH GAPS IN THE ENDANGERED XENARTHRANS OF THE BRAZILIAN CERRADO AND IMPLICATIONS FOR CONSERVATION

The present study aims to characterize the scientific production about endangered species of the Xenarthra, a group that occurs in the Brazilian Cerrado. This descriptive and quantitative research was conducted using the Scopus database. The study species were selected using the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list of endangered species. Four species of endangered xenarthrans occurring in the Cerrado were identified. A total of 205 publications until 2017 were cataloged, including 99 (48%) publications on Myrmecophaga tridactyla (giant anteater), 73 (36%) publications on Bradypus variegatus (brown-throated sloth), 27 (13%) publications on Priodontes maximus (giant armadillo) and six publications (3%) on Tolypeutes tricinctus (brazilian three-banded armadillo). The areas of knowledge in general biology with the highest number of publications were ecology (22%), zoology (22%) and morphology (20%). Only 9% of the publications included genetic studies, moreover there is no genetic study on the Brazilian three-banded armadillo and on the giant armadillo in Brazil. Brazil had the highest number of published articles (112) (54%), the University of São Paulo (USP) (20 publications), the State University of São Paulo (UNESP) (9 publications), the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) (11 publications) and University of Brasilia (UnB) (8 publications) stood out, with 46 scientific publications combined. Therefore, it was possible to determine an urgent need for further studies about these species, especially in genetic, since population genetic diversity is one of the international criteria for placing a species on the endangered species list. Keywords: Brown-throated sloth. Giant anteater. Brazilian three-banded armadillo. Giant armadillo

Melatonina exógena e seus efeitos metabólicos: revisão da literatura

Introdução: A melatonina é um hormônio produzido majoritariamente pela glândula pineal e que tem ação direta sobre a regulação de processos fisiológicos, especialmente o ciclo circadiano. Objetivo: Demonstrar através da literatura, os diferentes efeitos fisiológicos relacionados à administração da melatonina exógena. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo e exploratório, baseado na sumarização de trabalhos recentes publicados em inglês ou português. Foram analisados e incluídos 25 artigos indexados nas bases de dados Scielo, Pubmed, Science Direct e Cochrane. Comentários: Este hormônio está diretamente envolvido na regulação de processos fisiológicos, como o ciclo circadiano, regulação imune e cardiovascular, atividade pró-oxidante e antioxidante e gastroproteção, além de possuir efeito neuroprotetor e neuromodulador. Conclusão: A melatonina está diretamente ligada a efeitos positivos em processos dos mais diversos sistemas corporais. Trata-se de uma molécula de administração segura e de boa tolerância, estando relacionada a poucos efeitos colaterais e não ocasionando sintomas de retirada

Integrating factors associated with complex wound healing into a mobile application: findings from a cohort study

Complex, chronic or hard-to-heal wounds are a prevalent health problem worldwide, with significant physical, psychological and social consequences. This study aims to identify factors associated with the healing process of these wounds and develop a mobile application for wound care that incorporates these factors. A prospective multicentre cohort study was conducted in nine health units in Portugal, involving data collection through a mobile application by nurses from April to October 2022. The study followed 46 patients with 57 wounds for up to 5 weeks, conducting six evaluations. Healing time was the main outcome measure, analysed using the Mann–Whitney test and three Cox regression models to calculate risk ratios. The study sample comprised various wound types, with pressure ulcers being the most common (61.4%), followed by venous leg ulcers (17.5%) and diabetic foot ulcers (8.8%). Factors that were found to impair the wound healing process included chronic kidney disease (U = 13.50; p = 0.046), obesity (U = 18.0; p = 0.021), non-adherence to treatment (U = 1.0; p = 0.029) and interference of the wound with daily routines (U = 11.0; p = 0.028). Risk factors for delayed healing over time were identified as bone involvement (RR 3.91; p < 0.001), presence of odour (RR 3.36; p = 0.007), presence of neuropathy (RR 2.49; p = 0.002), use of anti-inflammatory drugs (RR 2.45; p = 0.011), stalled wound (RR 2.26; p = 0.022), greater width (RR 2.03; p = 0.002), greater depth (RR 1.72; p = 0.036) and a high score on the healing scale (RR 1.21; p = 0.001). Integrating the identified risk factors for delayed healing into the assessment of patients and incorporating them into a mobile application can enhance decision-making in wound care.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pancreatic tuberculosis in a liver transplant recipient: a case report

The pancreatic form of tuberculosis (TB) is rare and its diagnosis is challenging, since it manifests itself with non-specific symptoms and non-pathognomonic radiological findings, mimicking a neoplasia of the pancreas. Here, we report the case of a patient who had previously undergone liver transplantation and sought care for abdominal pain, weight loss, anorexia, hematochezia and postprandial fullness. Following an exploratory laparotomy and nucleic acid amplification testing on a pancreatic sample that had been collected, the patient was diagnosed with pancreatic TB. The patient received anti-tubercular pharmacological therapy and required percutaneous biliary drainage. Awareness of the possibility of a pancreatic TB diagnosis is important for clinicians. This attention should be even greater in patients who have undergone transplants, who are immunodeficient or who are from endemic areas

National Food, Nutrition, and Physical Activity Survey of the Portuguese General Population (2015-2016): Protocol for Design and Development

Carla Lopes, Duarte Torres, Andreia Oliveira, Milton Severo, Sofia Guiomar, Violeta Alarcão, Elisabete Ramos, Sara Rodrigues, Sofia Vilela, Luísa Oliveira, Jorge Mota, Pedro J Teixeira, Paulo J Nicola, Simão Soares, Lene Frost Andersen, The IAN-AF Consortium. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 15.02.2018.Free PMC Article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5832902/BACKGROUND: The assessment of food consumption data using harmonized methodologies at the European level is fundamental to support the development of public policies. Portugal is one of the countries with the most outdated information on individual foodconsumption. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the design and methodology of the National Food, Nutrition and Physical ActivitySurvey, 2015-2016, developed to collect national and regional data on dietary habits, physical activity (PA), and nutritional status, in a representative sample of the Portuguese general population (3 months-84 years). METHODS: Participants were selected by multistage sampling, using the National Heath Registry as the sampling frame. Data collection, during 12 months, was harmonized according to European guidelines (EU-MENU, European Food Safety Authority [EFSA]). Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) was performed on a specific electronic platform synchronized with nutritional composition data and considering the FoodEx2 classification system. Dietary assessment was performed using 24-hour recalls (two nonconsecutive, 8-15 days apart) or food diaries in the case of children aged <10 years, complemented with a food propensity questionnaire; PA data (International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ], the Activity Choice Index [ACI], and 4-days PA diaries); sociodemographic data, and other health-related data were also collected. RESULTS: A sample of 6553 individuals completed the first interview, and 5811 participants completed two dietary assessments. The participation rate among eligible individuals was 33.38% (6553/19,635), considering the first interview, and 29.60% (5811/19,635) for the participants with two completed interviews (about 40% in children and adolescents and 20% in elderly individuals). Results of the survey will be disseminated in national and international scientific journals during 2018-2019. CONCLUSIONS: The survey will assist policy planning and management of national and European health programs on the improvement of nutritional status and risk assessment related to food hazards, and the enhancement of PA. The infrastructures and data driven from this Survey are a solid basis to the development of a future national surveillance system on diet, PA, and other health behaviors reproducible over time.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio