Spatial-temporal gait parameters in RA post-menopausal women fallers and non-fallers

This study aimed to compare spatial-temporal gait parameters and its intra-individual variability of RA post-menopausal women fallers with non-fallers. Twenty-six RA post-menopausal women were selected and answered the question: "How many times did you fall last year?". Subjects with at least one fall in previous year were allocated to fallers group. Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score was used to assess functional capacity. Optoelectrical 3D motion analyses were used to gait assessment (Vicon® system, 9 infrared cameras, 200 Hz). Subjects walked barefoot at natural and self-selected speed. Seven trials of the left and right foot-steps on a force plate were collected. Thirteen subjects had at least a fall in previous year. Fallers were older and showed higher HAQ scores (p<0.05). They yielded lower gait speed, lower cadence, lower stride length, higher stance phase, higher double support phase, and lower single support phase (p<0.001). Regarding intra-individual variability, the fallers group showed higher coefficient of variation values for all spatial-temporal gait parameters (p<0.05), except for double support phase. Age seems to be an important variable concerning falls in these patients. RA post-menopausal women with falls history yielded changes in spatial-temporal gait parameters and in its intra-individual variability, and presented a lower functional capacity

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies and rheumatoid factor in Sjögren's syndrome

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP-Abs), IgM and IgA rheumatoid factors (RFs) in primary Sjogren's Syndrome (pSS). Materials and Methods:We compared clinical and serological. characteristics of 31 pSS and 31 Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients. Both, anti-CCP-Abs and RFs (IgM, IgA) directed against Fc determinants of IgG from humans and rabbit were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We included 31 blood donors as control group for the evaluation of RFs and anti-CCP-Abs. Nine (29%) pSS patients presented arthritis, and 10 (32,3%) RA patients also had secondary Sjogren's syndrome (sSS) Results: IgM and IgA RFs prevalence was similar in pSS and RA, whichever the antigene (Human or Rabbit IgG) used. However, RA patients with sSS showed a tendency to present more often RF positivity, longer disease duration and higher ESR and CRP when compared with pSS patients with arthritis. Anti-CCP-Abs were detected in 64,5% of RA patients and in only 6,9% of pSS patients (p<0,0005). Anti-CCP-Abs were more often positive in RA patients with sSS (RA/sSS) (8 patients, 80%) than in RA patients without sSS (18 patients, 58,1%), and were absent in pSS patients with arthritis. RF-positive pSS patients presented more often pulmonary involvement and higher inflammatory parameters, and less often neuropathy compared to RF-negative patients. In controls, anti-CCP-Abs were absent and REs were negligible. Conclusions: Anti-CCP-Abs were detected in only a few pSS patients, none of whom presented arthritis, which contrasts with the high frequency of these antibodies in RA/sSS. These results suggest that anti-CCP-Abs could be useful in the distinction between pSS and RA with sSS. Although not useful for the differential diagnosis between RA and pSS, RFs may have a prognostic role in pSS.publishersversionpublishe

The Effect of a Proprioceptive Exercises Programme on Disease Activity and Gait Biomechanical Parameters of Post-Menopausal Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis

This study aimed to assess the effects of a proprioceptive exercises programme on disease activity and on ankle kinematic and kinetic parameters of post-menopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis. Twenty-seven post-menopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis were allocated to exercise group (n = 15) or control group (n = 12). Exercise group intervention: proprioceptive exercises (12 weeks; 3 one-on-one workouts/week; 30 min/workout). Control group intervention: stretching exercises (12 weeks; 1 one-on-one workout every two weeks; 30 min/workout). Disease Activity Score (28 joints) was used to assess disease activity. A 3D motion analysis system (9 cameras, 200 Hz) and a force plate (1000 Hz) were used to collect kinematic and kinetic data during a barefoot walking at self-selected speed. For each subjects’ foot, 7 trials of the stance phase were collected. One subject withdrawal was registered in exercise group. Post-intervention, exercise group’ subjects yielded higher gait speed, shorter stance phase, shorter controlled dorsiflexion sub-phase, and higher ankle power peak (p < 0.05), however, they showed no differences in Disease Activity Score, ankle moment of force peak, and variability of biomechanical parameters; control group’ subjects showed no differences in all parameters. Proprioceptive exercises seemed to be a safe option to gain gait biomechanical improvements in post-menopausal women with rheumatoid arthritis

Application of the CATA methodology with children: Qualitative approach on ballot development and product characterization of innovative products

There is an increasing importance of the role of children and adolescents in the food market and to successfully develop food products intended for them, it is necessary to apply proper sensory evaluation methodologies. Although children can execute traditional methods for food liking and preference evaluation, traditional sensory descriptive methods may not be suitable for them and it is necessary to assess their ability to perform novel sensory profiling methods. Thus, this study aimed to assess children’s acceptance of an innovative food product – cookies incorporating fermented grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) flour – and their ability to describe a sensory profile using a Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) approach. Two different types of cookies (salty and sweet) were developed, differing in the level of substitution of wheat flour by fermented grass pea flour (between 0 and 40%). The cookies were evaluated by two sensory panels of 60 children (8–12 years), who assessed the overall liking using a 7-point facial hedonic scale and the sensory profile of the samples using a CATA ballot with 21 sensory terms previously developed through focus groups with children. Children showed the ability to discriminate the different samples with the hedonic scale and according to their sensory profile. Results revealed that the focusgroup with children is an adequate way to generate CATA ballots and that the CATA approach is adequate to evaluate how children discriminate the sensory profile of food products. Furthermore, the food neophobia level of the children negatively impacted their acceptance of the food productsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Uma experiência de «token economy» num hospital psiquiátrico para doentes crónicos

Os autores apresentam os resultados de um programa de token economy, aplicado a um hospital de doentes crónicos, com uma população de 130 doentes, dos quais 37 estão envolvidos no programa. Este número, constituído por 26 esquizofrénicos, 6 oligofrénicos, 2 acoólicos crónicos e 3 epilépticos, foi seleccionado tendo em conta os objectivos a que o programa se propunha, nomeadamente: aumento do tempo de ocupação no trabalho, higiene pessoal e aptidões de auto-suficiência. Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que a T. E. é um método capaz de aumentar gradualmente a taxa de ocupação e de conseguir aptidões facilitadoras que preparam o doente para uma vida auto-suficiente. ------- ABSTRACT ------ The authors present the results of a programme of token economy, used with 37 patients of a hospital for chronic patients, with a total number of 130. The selected group was formed by 26 schizophrenics, 6 oligophrenics, 2 acoholics and 3 epileptic patients, chosen taking into account the main purposes of the prugramme: increasing the time spent in work, personal higienic habits and self-maintainance skills. The obtuined results showed that token economy is a method which is capable of increase the patient's rate of occupation and also the self-maintainance skills

Association between EBV serological patterns and lymphocytic profile of SjS patients support a virally triggered autoimmune epithelitis

Sjögren's syndrome (SjS) is characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands, i.e. autoimmune epithelitis. Lymphocytes are central in SjS pathogenesis, with B-cell hyperactivity mediated by T-cells. B-cells are main targets of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, a frequently-suggested trigger for SjS. We aimed to evaluate how the EBV infection modulates B and T-cell subsets in SjS, including as controls Rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) and healthy participants (HC). SjS patients presented decreased CXCR5+T-cells, although IL21-secreting Tfh and Tfc cells were increased. Tfc were positively correlated with ESSDAI scores, suggesting their relevant role in SjS pathogenesis. As previously described, SjS patients showed expanded circulating naïve B-cell compartments. SjS patients had a higher incidence of EBV-EA-D-IgG+ antibodies, characteristic of recent EBV-infection/reactivation. SjS patients with past infection or recent infection/reactivation showed increased CXCR3+Th1 and CXCR3+Tfh1 cells compared to those without active infection. SjS patients with a recent infection/reactivation profile presented increased transitional B-cells compared to patients with past infection and increased plasmablasts, compared to those without infection. Our results suggest EBV-infection contributes to B and T-cell differentiation towards the effector phenotypes typical of SjS. Local lymphocyte activation at ectopic germinal centres, mediated by Tfh and Tfc, can be EBV-driven, perpetuating autoimmune epithelitis, which leads to gland destruction in SjS.publishersversionpublishe

Reuma.pt/vasculitis - the Portuguese vasculitis registry

BACKGROUND: The vasculitides are a group of rare diseases with different manifestations and outcomes. New therapeutic options have led to the need for long-term registries. The Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register, Reuma.pt, is a web-based electronic clinical record, created in 2008, which currently includes specific modules for 12 diseases and > 20,000 patients registered from 79 rheumatology centres. On October 2014, a dedicated module for vasculitis was created as part of the European Vasculitis Society collaborative network, enabling prospective collection and central storage of encrypted data from patients with this condition. All Portuguese rheumatology centres were invited to participate. Data regarding demographics, diagnosis, classification criteria, assessment tools, and treatment were collected. We aim to describe the structure of Reuma.pt/vasculitis and characterize the patients registered since its development. RESULTS: A total of 687 patients, with 1945 visits, from 13 centres were registered; mean age was 53.4 ± 19.3 years at last visit and 68.7% were females. The most common diagnoses were Behçet's disease (BD) (42.5%) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) (17.8%). Patients with BD met the International Study Group criteria and the International Criteria for BD in 85.3 and 97.2% of cases, respectively. Within the most common small- and medium-vessel vasculitides registered, median [interquartile range] Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) at first visit was highest in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) (17.0 [12.0]); there were no differences in the proportion of patients with AAV or polyarteritis nodosa who relapsed (BVAS≥1) or had a major relapse (≥1 major BVAS item) during prospective assessment (p = 1.00, p = 0.479). Biologic treatment was prescribed in 0.8% of patients with GCA, 26.7% of patients with AAV, and 7.6% of patients with BD. There were 34 (4.9%) deaths reported. CONCLUSIONS: Reuma.pt/vasculitis is a bespoke web-based registry adapted for routine care of patients with this form of rare and complex diseases, allowing an efficient data-repository at a national level with the potential to link with other international databases. It facilitates research, trials recruitment, service planning and benchmarking.publishersversionpublishe

Data_Sheet_1_Integrating Phenotypic and Gene Expression Linkage Mapping to Dissect Rust Resistance in Chickling Pea.xlsx

Supplementary Table 1: Primer sequences used for RT-qPCR analysis. Supplementary Table 2. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for the effects of Genotype, Repetition, interaction between Genotype and Repetition. Supplementary Table 3. List of candidate genes underlying Lathyrus cicera pQTLs for rust resistance based on orthologous positions in the Pisum sativum genome.Rusts are among the most important foliar biotrophic fungal diseases in legumes. Lathyrus cicera crop can be severely damaged by Uromyces pisi, to which partial resistance has been identified. Nevertheless, the underlying genetic basis and molecular mechanisms of this resistance are poorly understood in L. cicera. To prioritise the causative variants controlling partial resistance to rust in L. cicera, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, segregating for response to this pathogen, was used to combine the detection of related phenotypic- and expression-quantitative trait loci (pQTLs and eQTLs, respectively). RILs’ U. pisi disease severity (DS) was recorded in three independent screenings at seedling (growth chamber) and in one season of exploratory screening at adult plant stage (semi-controlled field conditions). A continuous DS range was observed in both conditions and used for pQTL mapping. Different pQTLs were identified under the growth chamber and semi-controlled field conditions, indicating a distinct genetic basis depending on the plant developmental stage and/or the environment. Additionally, the expression of nine genes related to U. pisi resistance in L. cicera was quantified for each RIL individual and used for eQTL mapping. One cis-eQTL and one trans-eQTL were identified controlling the expression variation of one gene related to rust resistance – a member of glycosyl hydrolase family 17. Integrating phenotyping, gene expression and linkage mapping allowed prioritising four candidate genes relevant for disease-resistance precision breeding involved in adaptation to biotic stress, cellular, and organelle homeostasis, and proteins directly involved in plant defence.Peer reviewe

Integrating Phenotypic and Gene Expression Linkage Mapping to Dissect Rust Resistance in Chickling Pea

Rusts are among the most important foliar biotrophic fungal diseases in legumes. Lathyrus cicera crop can be severely damaged by Uromyces pisi, to which partial resistance has been identified. Nevertheless, the underlying genetic basis and molecular mechanisms of this resistance are poorly understood in L. cicera. To prioritise the causative variants controlling partial resistance to rust in L. cicera, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, segregating for response to this pathogen, was used to combine the detection of related phenotypic- and expression-quantitative trait loci (pQTLs and eQTLs, respectively). RILs' U. pisi disease severity (DS) was recorded in three independent screenings at seedling (growth chamber) and in one season of exploratory screening at adult plant stage (semi-controlled field conditions). A continuous DS range was observed in both conditions and used for pQTL mapping. Different pQTLs were identified under the growth chamber and semi-controlled field conditions, indicating a distinct genetic basis depending on the plant developmental stage and/or the environment. Additionally, the expression of nine genes related to U. pisi resistance in L. cicera was quantified for each RIL individual and used for eQTL mapping. One cis-eQTL and one trans-eQTL were identified controlling the expression variation of one gene related to rust resistance - a member of glycosyl hydrolase family 17. Integrating phenotyping, gene expression and linkage mapping allowed prioritising four candidate genes relevant for disease-resistance precision breeding involved in adaptation to biotic stress, cellular, and organelle homeostasis, and proteins directly involved in plant defence.This work was supported by the EU project LEGATO (FP7 grant agreement no. 613551), the Spanish Agencia Estatal Investigación project PID2020-11468RB-100, and the Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia project PTDC/AGR-TEC/0992/2014 and Research Unit UID/04551/2020. CS and DCM were also supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia: CEECIND/00198/2017, Research Contract by Stimulus of Scientific Employment, Individual Support 2017 program; and PD/BD/128498/2017, Ph.D. grant, respectively.Peer reviewe