A perspective of the Portuguese consumer awareness, beliefs and preferences towards piglet castration methods and its implications on the meat quality

Received: January 31st, 2021 ; Accepted: May 8th, 2021 ; Published: May 13th, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] male piglets by surgical procedures without anaesthesia, with analgesia and/or anaesthesia and, recently, immunological-chemical castration are practices to avoid unwanted or aggressive sexual behaviour, and to prevent the development of meat boar taint. This exploratory study aims to investigate Portuguese consumer’s awareness, beliefs and attitudes in issues like boar taint, piglet’s castration and pork meat quality, observing possible demographic trends. It is also intended to identify clusters of consumers with similar attitudes, crossing them with demographic data to verify the existence of patterns in Portugal related to these issues. To attain this objective, a consumer’s survey was performed through an online questionnaire open for 30 days. A total of 158 respondents completed the survey. Almost a half (46%) of respondents stated their unknowledge about boar taint. Surgical castration and its effects are topics with which older consumers with a rural background are more familiar with, while immunological-chemical castration is still unknown to most consumers: 65% of consumers said they were not aware of this method, and 75% did not know whether it is an effective method for eliminating boar taint. Hierarchical clustering followed by K-means analysis segmented consumers into three clusters characterized according to their opinions, mainly divided by ethical and chemical-free orientations and by a more conservative meat quality and flavour-oriented attitudes, generally independent of prevailing demographics. In general, there were no defined opinions about the subjects under study, due mainly to the lack of information or knowledge. Nevertheless, cluster classification revealed differences in consumer’s opinions, especially regarding the reasons for castration and the pain inflicted, about meat quality and the willingness to buy pork from entire males or to pay more for this type of product

The inflammatory response in the regression of lumbar disc herniation

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is highly associated with inflammation in the context of low back pain. Currently, inflammation is associated with adverse symptoms related to the stimulation of nerve fibers that may lead to pain. However, inflammation has also been indicated as the main factor responsible for LDH regression. This apparent controversy places inflammation as a good prognostic indicator of spontaneous regression of LDH. This review addresses the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in LDH regression, including matrix remodeling and neovascularization, in the scope of the clinical decision on conservative versus surgical intervention. Based on the evidence, a special focus on the inflammatory response in the LDH context is given, particularly in the monocyte/macrophage role. The phenomenon of spontaneous regression of LDH, extensively reported in the literature, is therefore analyzed here under the perspective of the modulatory role of inflammation.This work was financed by project “Bioengineered Therapies for infectious diseases and tissue regeneration” (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000012), supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), by FEDER/COMPETE 2020 (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT/MCTES in the framework of the project "Institute for Research and Innovation in Health Sciences" (POCI-01- 0145-FEDER-007274). Cunha C and Gonçalves RM acknowledge FCT by their postdoc fellowship (SFRH/BDP/87071/2012) and FCT Investigator Grant (IF/ 00638/2014), respectively. Silva AJ acknowledges her fellowship under the framework of the project Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000012

The effect of feed supplementation with inulin on boar taint levels and meat quality of entire male pigs

Received: March 19th, 2022 ; Accepted: May 3rd, 2022 ; Published: July 5th, 2022 ; Correspondence: [email protected] and androstenone are the two main compounds responsible for the foul odour in entire male pigs’ meat, known as boar taint. This study evaluated the effect of feed supplementation with inulin on the boar taint levels of 30 entire male pigs. Two months before slaughter, the animals were allocated into three groups (n = 10). The control group received a standard commercial diet. The other groups were fed the same commercial diet with 3% and 6% added inulin, respectively. Results showed that inulin addition to the feed significantly reduced skatole levels in the pigs’ adipose tissue compared with the control group. The levels of androstenone were not affected by the dietary approach. Although there were differences in some parameters, the supplementation with inulin did not promote extensive changes in the meat quality parameters between the tested groups. When raising entire males, supplementation with inulin in finishing diets could be considered to reduce the boar taint perception by the consumer

Congresso Nacional das Tecnologias da Saúde (CNTS): livro de resumos

Livro de resumos do Congresso Nacional das Tecnologias da Saúde (CNTS), que se realizou no Instituto Politécnico de Bragança em 5, 6 e 7 de Abril de 2019.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Optical Coherence Tomography Features of Active and Inactive Retinal Neovascularization in Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

PURPOSE: To describe spectral domain-optical coherence tomography features of retinal neovascularization in proliferative diabetic retinopathy and thus to identify novel signs of new vessel activity. METHODS: Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Data were collected over a 9-month period. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography scans were performed over areas of new vessel complexes (NVC) in both the disk and elsewhere, and were qualitatively graded by two masked observers. New vessel complexes activity was determined using clinical and angiographic criteria and correlated with spectral domain optical coherence tomography features. RESULTS: Forty-three eyes of 30 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy were included. Sixty-one NVC lesions (neovascularization of the disk—37.7%, neovascularization elsewhere—62.3%) were captured by spectral domain-optical coherence tomography and analyzed. Among them, 63.9% were classified as active and 36.1% as quiescent. Five distinctive features were identified as significantly different between active and quiescent NVC: the presence of vitreous hyperreflective dots in active NVC (P = 0.002) and the presence of epiretinal membrane (P = 0.04), inner retinal tissue contracture (P = 0.03), vitreous invasion (P = 0.02), and protrusion towards vitreous (P = 0.002) in quiescent NVC. CONCLUSION: In this exploratory study, the presence of vitreous hyperreflective dots, epiretinal membrane, inner retinal tissue contracture, vitreous invasion, and vitreous protrusion were identified as distinct signs of disease activity. Such parameters may be useful as a noninvasive imaging modality in eyes undergoing treatment for proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Immunoglobulin genes implicated in glioma risk

Both genetic and environmental factors are thought to be causal in gliomagenesis. Several genes have been implicated in glioma development, but the putative role of a major immunity-related gene complex member, immunoglobulin heavy chain γ (IGHG) has not been evaluated. Prior observations that IGHG-encoded γ marker (GM) allotypes exhibit differential sensitivity to an immunoevasion strategy of cytomegalovirus, a pathogen implicated as a promoter of gliomagenesis, has lead us to hypothesize that these determinants are risk factors for glioma. To test this hypothesis, we genotyped the IGHG locus comprising the GM alleles, specifically GM alleles 3 and 17, of 120 glioma patients and 133 controls via TaqMan® genotyping assay. To assess the associations between GM genotypes and the risk of glioma, we applied an unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounding variables. In comparison to subjects who were homozygous for the GM 17 allele, the GM 3 homozygotes were over twice as likely, and the GM 3/17 heterozygotes were over three times as likely, to develop glioma. Similar results were achieved when analyzed by combining the data corresponding to alleles GM 3 and GM 3/17 in a dominant model. The GM 3/17 genotype and the combination of GM 3 and GM 3/17 were found to be further associated with over 3 times increased risk for high-grade astrocytoma (grades III-IV). Allele frequency analyses also showed an increased risk for gliomas and high-grade astrocytoma in association with GM 3. Our findings support the premise that the GM 3 allele may present risk for the development of glioma, possibly by modulating immunity to cytomegalovirus

Graphene and polarisable nanoparticles: Looking good together?

Several potentially interesting plasmonic effects can arise from combining graphene with polarisable nanoparticles (NPs), such as metallic or dielectric spheres, related to surface plasmon-polaritons (SPPs) supported by the latter in the terahertz (THz) spectral range. Owing to the electromagnetic coupling between the graphene SPPs and dipole moments of polarisable (nano-) particles deposited on top of it, the optical properties of such a composite system have some new features as compared to its constituents. First, the NP’s polarisability is renormalised due to the electromagnetic back action of SPPs which are excited in graphene when an external propagating electromagnetic wave impinges on the particle. The coupling also results in a considerable enhancement of the THz radiation absorption in graphene, while the reflection drops to zero. This effect can be potentially interesting e.g. for cloaking in a certain THz frequency range.We are grateful to the European Commission for funding through the Graphene Flagship Core 1 Project (№ 696656). Financial support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) is also acknowledged. Additionally, JES acknowledges the support of the Center for Nanostructured Graphene (CNG) at the Technical University of Denmark during 2015. The CNG is sponsored by the Danish National Research Foundation, Project No. DNRF58

Amiloidose renal: classificação de 102 casos consecutivos

Amyloidoses are a group of heterogeneous diseases classified according to the nature of their causative amyloid proteins. Commonly, paraffin-embedded tissue is used for the typing of amyloid by immunohistochemistry. DNA analysis should always be considered if hereditary amyloidosis is suspected. Since the kidneys are one of the organs that are most commonly involved in amyloid deposition in systemic amyloidoses, we screened 102 consecutive cases with biopsy-proven amyloid disease by immunohistochemistry. DNA analysis was performed to confirm a diagnosis of hereditary amyloidosis. Demographic characteristics, underlying disease and clinical data at the time of renal biopsy were obtained by retrospective review of medical records. The amyloidosis type according to immunohistochemical amyloid protein identification was AA in 60 (58.8%) patients, AL in 21 (20.6%), AFib in four (3.9%), ATTR in two (2.0%), AApoAI in one (1.0%), ALys in one (1.0%) and combined AL and AA in one (1.0%). The type of protein could not be classified in 12 (11.7%) patients: eight (7.8%) because of negative immunohistochemistry and four (3.9%) due to the lack of adequate tissue. DNA analysis confirmed AFib and ATTR cases by the identification of the point mutations FGA p.Glu545Val and TTR p.Met51Val, respectively. Mean age at diagnosis was 53.3 years (49.4 for AA, 63.0 for AL and 53.9 for AFib). Chronic infections were the most frequent disorder associated with AA amyloidosis, mainly tuberculosis, and only one patient had familial AA associated with Muckle-Wells syndrome. Nephrotic syndrome was the most frequent clinical manifestation, independently of the amyloid type. In our series, AA amyloidosis is still the most frequent type of systemic amyloidoses. Six patients had unequivocal hereditary amyloidosis. Immunohistochemistry did not establish the precursor protein in almost 8% of patients; however, an improvement could be obtained using a wider panel of amyloid antibodies.As amiloidoses são um grupo heterogéneo de doenças classificadas de acordo com a composição das suas proteínas amiloidogénicas. Frequentemente, os tecidos preservados em parafina são usados para identificação imunohistoquímica. A análise de ADN deve ser sempre considerada se houver suspeita de amiloidose hereditária. Dado que os rins são um dos órgãos mais frequentemente envolvidos nas amiloidoses sistémicas, procedemos à classificação imunohistoquímica de 102 casos consecutivos de doença amiloide confirmada por biópsia renal. A análise de ADN foi realizada para confirmar o diagnóstico de amiloidose hereditária. As características demográficas, doença subjacente e dados clínicos à data da biópsia foram obtidos pela revisão retrospetiva dos registos médicos. O tipo de amiloidose obtido por identificação imunohistoquímica foi AA em 60 (58,8%) doentes, AL em 21 (20,6%), AFib em quatro (3,9%), ATTR em dois (2,0%), AApoAI em um (2,0%), ALys em um (2,0%), e em um (2,0%) coexistiam os tipos AL e AA. Em 12 (11,7%) não foi identificado o tipo de amiloide: oito (7,8%) por imunohistoquímica negativa e quatro (3,9%) devido a amostra insuficiente. A análise de ADN confirmou os casos AFib e ATTR pela identificação das mutações pontuais FGA p.Glu545Val e TTR p.Met51Val, respetivamente. A média de idade à data do diagnóstico foi 53,3 anos (49,4 para AA, 63,0 para AL e 53,9 para AFib). As infeções crónicas foram a principal causa de amiloidose AA, sobretudo a tuberculose, e foi apenas identificada uma AA familiar associada a síndrome de Muckle-Wells. A síndrome nefrótica foi a manifestação clínica mais frequente, independentemente do tipo de amiloide. Na nossa série, a amiloidose AA continua a ser a amiloidose sistémica mais frequente. Seis doentes tiveram amiloidose hereditária inequívoca. A imunohistoquímica não identificou a proteína precursora em quase 8% dos doentes; contudo, a utilização de um painel de anticorpos mais alargado poderá melhorar o diagnóstico

Pro-inflammatory triggers in childhood obesity: correlation between leptin, adiponectin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in a group of obese Portuguese children

INTRODUCTION: Pediatric obesity is increasingly prevalent in the Portuguese population. Adipocyte dysfunction results in the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators that are responsible for the low-grade inflammatory process that characterizes obesity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between markers of adiposity, inflammation and adipokines in a Portuguese obese pediatric population. METHODS: One hundred and twenty children of both sexes, aged 6-17 years, were included in this study. The control group consisted of 41 healthy normal-weight children. The variables analyzed were age, gender, body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass percentage, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leptin and adiponectin. RESULTS: There were significant differences between controls and obese children for all parameters analyzed. In the obese group, after controlling for age and gender, hs-CRP (p=0.041), adiponectin (p=0.019) and leptin (p<0.001) still showed significant statistical differences. A direct correlation was found between hs-CRP, leptin, body mass index and waist circumference, the strongest being with leptin (r=0.568; p<0.001). This trend remained statistically significant, regardless of gender or pubertal age. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the role of leptin, adiponectin and hs-CRP in the genesis of endothelial dysfunction, they may be used in clinical practice for risk stratification, as well as in the assessment of weight control programs