Statement of Peer Review

In submitting conference proceedings to Medical Sciences Forum, the volume editors of the proceedings certify to the publisher that all papers published in this volume have been subjected to peer review as administered by the volume editors. Reviews were conducted by expert referees to meet the professional and scientific standard that is expected of a proceedings journal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development and evaluation of lessons for class and group situations in grade one

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Determinantes do consumo alimentar em adolescentes da Escola Secundária de Águas Santas

Dissertação de Mestrado em Ciências do Consumo Alimentar apresentada à Universidade AbertaOs hábitos e preferências alimentares adquiridos durante a infância e adolescência apresentam importantes repercussões no estado de saúde e no bem-estar físico e emocional dos próprios, sendo a obesidade um dos mais graves problemas de saúde pública da actualidade. São vários os factores que influenciam a aquisição de hábitos alimentares nesta faixa etária. Pretendeu-se avaliar a influência dos hábitos alimentares e das actividades de tempos livres numa amostra aleatória por cachos de adolescentes da Escola Secundária de Águas Santas a frequentar os 7º ou 9º ano de escolaridade. Aplicou-se um questionário, contemplando hábitos alimentares e de estilo de vida, características sócio-demográficas e dados antropométricos. A partir dos dados antropométricos, determinou-se o Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) e os respectivos percentil e Z-score obtidos com base nas tabelas, ajustadas para sexo e idade, do Center of Disease Control (CDC), EUA. Atendendo a esses valores, procedeu-se à classificação do peso dos adolescentes. Dos 134 adolescentes em análise, 22,4 % tem excesso de peso, sendo que 27 % das raparigas e 18 % dos rapazes tem excesso de peso com um odds-ratio de 1,7. Tendo-se procedido à pesquisa de relações entre as diferentes variáveis inquiridas e a classificação do peso dos adolescentes, encontraram-se relações significativas entre a categoria do peso dos adolescentes e o consumo regular do pequeno-almoço e a percepção dos adolescentes sobre o seu peso.Food habits and trends acquired during childhood and adolescence have important repercussions on the health as in their physical and emotional well being with obesity as one of the most serious public health problems of today. There are several factors that influence the acquisition of eating habits in this age group. We began to evaluate the influence of eating habits and down time activities in a random sampling of groups of teenagers from the Águas Santas High School in the 7th or 9th grade. A questionnaire was applied, looking into eating and lifestyle habits, social and demographic characteristics, and anthropometric data. From the anthropometric data we determined the Body Mass Index (BMI) and the respective percentile and Z-score obtained based on the tables, adjusted for gender and age, from the Centre of Disease Control (CDC), USA. Based on those values, we rated the teenager’s weight. From the 134 teenagers in analysis, 22.4 % have excess weight, more specifically 27 % of the girls and 18 % of the boys have excess weight with an odds-ratio of 1.7. Having searched the causal relations between several surveyed and the weight rating of teens, there were significant relations found between their weight category, the regular consumption of breakfast, and the teens perception of their weight

Prediction of apparent digestibility of hays from natural pastures of the Northeast region of Portugal

In the Northeast region of Portugal hays from natural pastures are traditionally used as the main feed during the period of drought and the evaluation of its nutritive value is essential. The aim of this study was to predict the apparent organic matter digestibility (OMD) of 21 hays from natural pastures based on chemical composition, pepsin-cellulase solubility of organic matter (OMS) and in vitro organic matter digestibility. Chemical composition of hays showed a wide range of values and acid detergent lignin (ADL) was the component that presented the highest variation (CV = 18.4%). The OMD varied between 516 and 658 g/kg OM. The best single OMD predictor was OMS (RSD = 2.8%, R2 = 0.52, P<0.001). Using multiple regression to predict OMD, the variables included in the model were OMS and ADL (OMD = 21.51 + 0.94 OMS – 0.83 ADL; RSD = 2.75%; R2 = 0.54; P<0.0001). According to principal component analysis (PCA) hays were divided in 3 groups and the multiple regression established for the larger group of hays (n=10) was: OMD = 4.13 + 0.85 OMS – 1.03 ADL; RSD = 2.13%, R2 = 0.77, P<0.0001. The OMS method was superior to chemical composition and to the in vitro rumen fluid method in predicting OMD of hays from natural pastures. Results from PCA suggested that it may be useful to group these hays according to its chemical composition to accurately predict OMD

Positive Mental Health Literacy: A Concept Analysis

Background: The positive component of Mental Health Literacy (PMeHL) refers to a person’s awareness of how to achieve and maintain good mental health. Although explored recently, the term still lacks a clear definition among healthcare practitioners. Aim: To identify the attributes and characteristics of PMeHL, as well as its theoretical and practical applications. Methods: Literature search (using the Medline and CINAHL databases) and review, covering the last 21 years, followed by concept analysis according to the steps described by Walker and Avant approach. Results: Positive component of Mental Health Literacy is considered one component of MHL, integrating positive mental health. The concept’s attributes include: (a) competence in problem-solving and self-actualization; (b) personal satisfaction; (c) autonomy; (d) relatedness and interpersonal relationship skills; (e) self-control; and (f) prosocial attitude. Four case scenarios (model, borderline, related and contrary cases) were used to clarify the antecedents (individual factors and social/contextual factors) and consequences (individual sphere; relational/social sphere; contextual/organizational sphere) of PMeHL. Conclusion: Positive component of Mental Health Literacy is considered a component of MHL, which deserves attention throughout the lifespan, in different contexts and intervention levels. Considering PMeHL as a multi-faceted and dynamic construct will help understand the mechanisms that improve mental health and promote healthy behaviors. Priority should be given to robust primary research focused on nursing interventions that enhance and sustain PMeHL in people and families.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The relation between lifestyles and positive mental health in Portuguese higher education students

Abstract: Healthy lifestyles are commonly associated with improved physical and mental health. Sleep patterns, nutrition, physical exercise, consumption of psychoactive substances, among others, can strongly influence positive mental health. The aims are: characterize lifestyles based on positive mental health clusters, considering the cross-sectional cohort sample of higher education students, and analyse the lifestyles associated with positive mental health. A cross-sectional, descriptive, correlational and multicentric study of quantitative approach was conducted. The Positive Mental Health Questionnaire was applied. Through the k-means method, four clusters were obtained based on positive mental health levels. The sample of 3647 higher education students was mostly female (78.8%), single (89.5%), with an average age of 23years (SD=6.68). Differences were found between clusters based on the sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyles. Findings in Cluster 1 were highlighted because they included students with a higher level of positive mental health, which was associated with greater satisfaction in affective relationships, higher recreational and sports activities, better sleep quality, a healthy diet, and lower medication and illicit drugs consumption. These key findings emphasize the promotion of healthy lifestyles and highlight the importance of positive mental health in promoting the health of higher education students.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessment of the Transmission Dynamics of Clostridioides difficile in a Farm Environment Reveals the Presence of a New Toxigenic Strain Connected to Swine Production

The recent increase in community-acquired Clostridioides difficile infections discloses the shift in this bacterium epidemiology. This study aimed at establishing a transmission network involving One Health components, as well as assessing the zoonotic potential and genomic features of dominant clones. Samples were collected from different compartments of animal, human and environmental origin, from an animal production unit. C. difficile isolates were characterized for toxigenic profile by multiplex-PCR, while genetic diversity was evaluated by PCR-ribotyping and whole genome-based analysis. The overall C. difficile prevalence was 37.2% (70/188), and included samples from environmental (58.3%, 35/60) and animal (31.5%, 35/111) compartments; human samples (n = 17) taken from healthy workers were negative. A predominant clone from RT033 was found in almost 90% of the positive samples, including samples from all compartments connected to the pig production unit, with core-genome single nucleotide variant (SNV)-based Analysis supporting a clonal transmission between them (mean distance of 0.1 ± 0.1 core-SNVs). The isolates from this clone (herein designated PT RT033) were positive for all C. difficile toxin genes (tcdA, tcdB, cdtA/cdtB). The phyloGenetic positioning of this clone was clearly distinct from the classical RT033 cluster, suggesting a different evolutionary route. This new clone shares genomic features with several RTs from the clade 5 Sequence Type (ST) 11, including a complete pathogenicity locus (PaLoc) that is more similar to the one found in toxigenic strains and contrasting to the less virulent classical RT033 (tcdA-, tcdB-, cdtA + /cdtB +). The presence of a tcdA gene truncated into two ORFs, not previously described, requires further evaluation concerning toxin functionality. We hypothesize that the unique combination of genetic elements found in the PT RT033 clone may contribute to host tropism and environmental dissemination and maintenance. This study constitutes the first report of a toxigenic RT033 clone and adds to the overall knowledge on Clade 5 sequence type 11, considered the C. difficile evolutionary lineage with the highest zoonotic potential. The presence of this clone in all compartments associated with the pig production unit suggests a transmission chain involving these animals and contributes to unveil the role played by animal and environmental reservoirs in this pathogen epidemiology.This work was supported by funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement No. 773830: One Health European Joint Programme. FA and RC were recipients of fellowships from the same programme.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

I Encontro Internacional de Literacia e Saúde Mental Positiva - Conference Proceedings

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genomic resources for a commercial flatfish, the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis): EST sequencing, oligo microarray design, and development of the Soleamold bioinformatic platform

Background: The Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis, is a highly prized flatfish of growing commercial interest for aquaculture in Southern Europe. However, despite the industrial production of Senegalese sole being hampered primarily by lack of information on the physiological mechanisms involved in reproduction, growth and immunity, very limited genomic information is available on this species. Results: Sequencing of a S. senegalensis multi-tissue normalized cDNA library, from adult tissues (brain, stomach, intestine, liver, ovary, and testis), larval stages (pre-metamorphosis, metamorphosis), juvenile stages (post-metamorphosis, abnormal fish), and undifferentiated gonads, generated 10,185 expressed sequence tags (ESTs). Clones were sequenced from the 3'-end to identify isoform specific sequences. Assembly of the entire EST collection into contigs gave 5,208 unique sequences of which 1,769 (34%) had matches in GenBank, thus showing a low level of redundancy. The sequence of the 5,208 unigenes was used to design and validate an oligonucleotide microarray representing 5,087 unique Senegalese sole transcripts. Finally, a novel interactive bioinformatic platform, Soleamold, was developed for the Senegalese sole EST collection as well as microarray and ISH data. Conclusion: New genomic resources have been developed for S. senegalensis, an economically important fish in aquaculture, which include a collection of expressed genes, an oligonucleotide microarray, and a publicly available bioinformatic platform that can be used to study gene expression in this species. These resources will help elucidate transcriptional regulation in wild and captive Senegalese sole for optimization of its production under intensive culture conditions

Comissão Coordenadora do Tratamento das Doenças Lisossomais de Sobrecarga − Relatório de actividades 2018

Relatório de atividades da Comissão Coordenadora do Tratamento das Doenças Lisossomais de Sobrecarga (CCTDLS) relativo ao ano de 2018. A CCTDLS funciona no âmbito do INSA, sendo constituída por profissionais designados pelo INSA, pelos Centros de Referência nesta área, pela Administração Central do Sistema de Saúde, pela Direção-Geral da Saúde e pela Autoridade Nacional do Medicamento e Produtos de Saúde (Infarmed). As Doenças Lisossomais de Sobrecarga (DLS) constituem um grupo de patologias raras, progressivas, com elevada morbilidade, que engloba, atualmente, mais de 60 patologias, cuja apresentação clínica é extremamente variável, podendo ir desde doença neurológica grave até a casos menos graves. Em Portugal, a prevalência deste tipo de patologias em recém-nascidos é de 25 por cada 100.000 nados vivos. Nos últimos anos, várias terapêuticas de substituição enzimática e de redução do substrato têm sido desenvolvidas possibilitando o tratamento dos doentes com algumas destas patologias, nomeadamente, a Doença de Gaucher, a Doença de Fabry, a Doença de Pompe, as Mucopolissacaridoses tipo I, II, IVA e VI, a Deficiência de lipase ácida lisossomal e a Doença de Niemann Pick tipo C. Do relatório anual da CCTDLS, relativo ao ano 2018, destaca-se a realização das seguintes atividades: i) Discussão e avaliação de 47 casos clínicos com emissão de 40 pareceres relativos a pedidos de início de tratamento (19), ajuste de dose (12), alteração do tratamento (8) e transferência de hospital (1). Foram emitidos pareceres para a Doença de Gaucher, Doença de Fabry, Mucopolissacaridoses tipo I, II e VI, Doença de Pompe e Doença de Niemann Pick tipo C; ii) Definição de critérios gerais de início e de suspensão de terapêuticas; iii) Monitorização da evolução clínica dos doentes com terapias em curso. Foi efetuada a monitorização de 29 doentes com Doença de Fabry (1 do Centro de Referência Centro Hospitalar Universitário S. João e 28 do Centro de Referência Hospital Senhora da Oliveira – Guimarães; iv) Avaliação e elaboração de protocolos de avaliação e seguimento das diferentes patologias de acordo com regras de anonimização; v) Atualização de dados referentes ao número total de doentes com DLS em tratamento no território continental, por centro hospitalar, por patologia e terapêutica; vi) Desenvolvimento de folhetos informativos para o doente.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio