Some reflections on the Late Prehistory of the Montemuro region and its surroundings (central-northern Portugal): Metal artefacts and their context

Neste artigo oferecemos uma revisão exaustiva da metalurgia do Calcolítico e Idade do Bronze da serra do Montemuro e áreas geográficas imediatas, identificáveis com o interflúvio Douro/Paiva e os planaltos centrais. O repertório de materiais conhecidos ascende a 13 objectos, que estudamos prestando especial atenção aos seus problemas de identificação, contextualização e composição química. Apresentamos novas análises de um machado de alvado e fazemos a revisão da informação analítica disponível para outros três artefactos. Os diferentes metais e ligas empregadas explicam-se, em parte, pelas diferenças cronológicas entre as peças, mas também por razões de carácter cultural. Na área de estudo documentam-se machados de alvado em ligas binárias e ternárias, tratando-se de uma zona transicional ou de fronteira entre as situadas a norte (machados de alvado com ligas ternárias) e a sul (ligas binárias). Os achados de dois moldes metálicos, um deles na área limítrofe, apontam também para a produção local de diferentes tipos de machados no Bronze Final. Visando uma futura contextualização crono-cultural das comunidades, procede-se à tentativa de integração e comparação dos elementos arqueológicos, procurando o seu enquadramento na Pré e Proto-história regionalThis article provides a thorough review of the Chalcolithic and Bronze Age metallurgy from the Montemuro range and its adjacent area, located between the Rivers Douro and Paiva and on the central high plateau. The known repertoire is made up of 13 artefacts, which are studied here paying particular attention to the problems of their identification, contextualization and chemical composition. We present new analyses of a socketed axe and we review the analytical results available for another three objects. The several metals and alloys can be explained, to some extent, by the chronological differences between the artefacts, as well as to cultural factors. Socketed axes with both binary and ternary alloys are detected in the study area, which is considered a transitional or border zone between those located to the north (socketed axes with leaded alloys) and those to the south (socketed axes with binary alloys). The finds of two metallic moulds, one of them in the adjacent area, points to the local production of several types of axes during the Late Bronze Age. Aiming at a future chrono-cultural contextualization of these communities, we attempt to integrate the archaeological information into a wider framework, that of the regional late prehistor

Mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes: A new possible therapeutic strategy for Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. Clinically, it is characterized by severe motor complications caused by a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons (DAn) and dopamine loss. Current treatment is focused on mitigating the symptoms through administration of levodopa, rather than on preventing DAn damage. Therefore, the use and development of neuroprotective/disease-modifying strategies is an absolute need, which can lead to promising gains on PD translational research. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)–derived exosomes have been proposed as a promising therapeutic tool, since it has been demonstrated that they can act as biological nanoparticles with beneficial effects in different pathological conditions, including PD. Thus, considering their potential protective action in lesioned sites, MSCs-derived exosomes might also be active modulators of the neuroregeneration processes, opening a door for their future use as therapeutical strategies in human clinical trials. Therefore, in this review, we analyze the current understanding of MSCs-derived exosomes as a new possible therapeutic strategy for PD, by providing an overview about the potential role of miRNAs in the cellular and molecular basis of PD.This research was funded by Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology(FCT): IF Development Grant (IF/00111/2013) to AJ Salgado) and Post-Doctoral Fellowship to F.G. Teixeira (SFRH/BPD/118408/2016). This article has been developed under the scope of the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000023, supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). This work has been funded by FEDER funds, through the Competitiveness Internationalization Operational Programme (POCI), and by National funds, through FCT, under the scope of the projects POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007038 and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029751.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Laparoscopic colorectal resection for a giant colonic diverticulum - video vignette

A giant colonic diverticulum (GCD) is a rare disease with less than 200 cases reported in the literature. By definition, a GCD is larger than 4cm in diameter with close sigmoid colon relationship in more than 90% of the cases. En bloc resection of the diverticulum with anterior sigmoid-rectal segment with primary anastomosis is the best treatment approach. The authors present a case of laparoscopic colorectal resection with partial cystectomy for a giant colonic diverticulum. A 62-years-old man with sigmoid colon diverticulosis and several episodes of diverticulitis presented at the office with a painless hypogastric/left iliac abdominal mass. CT scan showed a round 11 cm smooth walled structure filled with gas, adjacent to the sigmoid anti-mesenteric border and the urinary bladder. Four trocars were used for the laparoscopic approach. Step-by-step as follows: i. complete mobilization of colon splenic flexure. ii. Giant diverticulum dissection with partial bladder resection. iii. Bladder closure. iv. Sigmoid colon and intra-peritoneal rectum resection with primary anastomosis. The post-operative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged home on post-operative day 4. Vesical catheter was removed on post-operative day 10. Pathological specimen analysis confirmed the pre-operative diagnosis of a GCD. There is a consensus that this extremely rare diverticular disease complication should be approached with prompt standard resection due to high risk of diverticulum rupture. Laparoscopic approach seems to be feasible and safe despite of dissection higher complexity owing to the mega diverticulum. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Changes of the energetic profile in masters' swimmers over a season

The aim of this study was to track and compare the changes of performance and energetic profile of male and female masters swimmers during a season. Eleven female (age: 34.7±7.3-y) and fourteen male (age: 35.6±7.4-y) with 4.2±3.7-y and 3.9±1.6-y of experience in masters, respectively, performed an all-out 200 m freestyle to evaluate total energy expenditure (Etot), aerobic (Aer), anaerobic lactic (AnL) and alactic (AnAl) contributions. The oxygen uptake (VO2) was measured immediately after the 200 m trial and the VO2 reached during the trial was estimated through the backward extrapolation of the O2 recovery curve. Fingertip capillary blood samples were collected before the 200 m trial and 3, 5, and 7 minutes after its end. Significant differences were observed between male (TP1:177.50±30.96s; TP2:174.79±29.08s; TP3:171.21±22.38s) and female (TP1:205.18±24.47s; TP2: 197.45±20.97s; TP3: 193.45±18.12s) for 200 m freestyle performance at the three time periods (TPs). Male presented higher Etot in all TPs (TP1:230.40±48.40kJ; TP2:242.49±37.91kJ; TP3:257.94±46.32kJ) compared with that found for female swimmers (TP1:188.51±35.13kJ; TP2:193.18±20.98kJ; TP3:199.77±25.94kJ). Male presented higher AnL (TP1:33.42±6.82kJ; TP2:30.97±8.73kJ; TP3:30.66±8.27kJ) and AnAl (TP1:30.61±3.48kJ; TP2:30.61±3.48kJ; TP3:30.60±3.48kJ) than female (TP1:18.83±8.45kJ; TP2:14.98±4.17kJ; TP3:18.33±8.66kJ) and (TP1:24.32±2.22kJ; TP2:24.31±2.23kJ; TP3: 24.31±2.23kJ). Aerobic metabolism is the major contributor for Etot both in male (TP1:71.63±4.99%; TP2:74.05±5.03%; TP3:76.14±4.46%) and female swimmers (TP1:76.87±3.86%; TP2:79.40±3.63%; TP3:78.40±5.54%). The better performance obtained by male compared to female swimmers may be due to the different contributions of the energetic pathways. Aerobic metabolism was the major contributor to Etot in a 200 m race, in both genders. Partial aerobic contribution was higher in female, while partial anaerobic contribution was greater in male.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

SHE mapping report Lessons learnt from policies and practices of SHE member countries

The Schools for Health in Europe Network Foundation mapping (SHE mapping) survey is a cross-national study to map the level of implementation of health promotion in schools of the SHE member countries and how this implementation is carried out. SHE mapping collected international data on: the integration of the national Health Promoting School (HPS) policy into other national policies; how national policies frame school practices in the whole school approach of HPS; how national policies contribute to a healthy physical environment in the school setting; the contributions of national policies to a school’s social environment, favourable to health promotion; the guidelines, tools and resources for a school to become a HPS; the national process of monitoring / evaluation of HPS; health topics included in the national HPS policy; health promoting school label; sources of funding for national HPS; main expectations of the SHE national coordinators for their national HPS scheme; number of HPS in SHE member countries; HPS facilities; how inclusion of health promotion is done in the school curriculum; health topics worked regularly in HPS; learning methods / strategies in HPS; practices and suggestions for the SHE School Manual and its two accompanying tools; facilitating factors and barriers faced by HPS in the SHE member countries. Data were collected using the Survey Monkey. All SHE national and regional coordinators from the 37 SHE member countries were invited to complete a questionnaire, upon completion of a statement of informed consent. Data were received from 75.7% of countries, but after removal of the incomplete questionnaires and two SHE regional coordinators who responded in duplicate for their country, because it was not possible to gather information from regions as there were only three regional coordinators who answered, 64.9% of countries were analysed.Este trabalho é financiado por Fundos Nacionais através da FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia no âmbito do projeto do CIEC (Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança da Universidade do Minho) com a referência UID/CED/00317/2019

Preclinical comparison of stem cells secretome and levodopa application in a 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is characterized by the massive loss of dopaminergic neurons, leading to the appearance of several motor impairments. Current pharmacological treatments, such as the use of levodopa, are yet unable to cure the disease. Therefore, there is a need for novel strategies, particularly those that can combine in an integrated manner neuroprotection and neuroregeneration properties. In vitro and in vivo models have recently revealed that the secretome of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) holds a promising potential for treating PD, given its effects on neural survival, proliferation, differentiation. In the present study, we aimed to access the impact of human bone marrow MSCs (hBM-MSCs) secretome in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) PD model when compared to levodopa administration, by addressing animals’ motor performance, and substantia nigra (SN), and striatum (STR) histological parameters by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression. Results revealed that hBM-MSCs secretome per se appears to be a modulator of the dopaminergic system, enhancing TH-positive cells expression (e.g., dopaminergic neurons) and terminals both in the SN and STR when compared to the untreated group 6-OHDA. Such finding was positively correlated with a significant amelioration of the motor outcomes of 6-OHDA PD animals (assessed by the staircase test). Thus, the present findings support hBM-MSCs secretome administration as a potential therapeutic tool in treating PD, and although we suggest candidate molecules (Trx1, SEMA7A, UCHL1, PEDF, BDNF, Clusterin, SDF-1, CypA, CypB, Cys C, VEGF, DJ-1, Gal-1, GDNF, CDH2, IL-6, HSP27, PRDX1, UBE3A, MMP-2, and GDN) and possible mechanisms of hBM-MSCs secretome-mediated effects, further detailed studies are needed to carefully and clearly define which players may be responsible for its therapeutic actions. By doing so, it will be reasonable to presume that potential treatments that can, per se, or in combination modulate or slow PD may lead to a rational design of new therapeutic or adjuvant strategies for its functional modeling and repair.This work was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER), through the Competitiveness Internationalization Operational Programme (POCI), and by National funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), under the scope of the projects POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029751 and POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007038. This article has also been developed under the scope of the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000023, supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER)

Será a internet útil para a prática clínica de Medicina Dentária?

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Water enema computed tomography (WE-CT) in the local staging of low colorectal neoplasms: comparison with transrectal ultrasound

BACKGROUND: To determine the accuracy of computed tomography performed with a water enema application (WE-CT) in the local staging of low colorectal neoplasms and to compare the results with those of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). METHODS: Forty patients with low colorectal tumors were evaluated prospectively by CT with the simultaneous administration of a lukewarm rectal enema (0.5-1.5 L). Thin slices (5 mm) and intravenous application of iodinated contrast media were routinely used. TRUS was performed in 18 patients. Tumor size, location, and staging according to the TNM classification of the UICC were registered. Tumors were classified as or 5 mm in diameter was seen (reading A); N+ if at least one peritumoral node > or = 5 mm or three peritumoral nodes < 5 mm were identified (reading B). RESULTS: For the tumor staging, WE-CT showed a sensitivity of 90%, a specificity of 73%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 90%, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 73%, and an accuracy of 85%. For TRUS, the results were sensitivity of 73%, specificity of 29%, PPV of 62%, NPV of 40%, and an accuracy of 39%. Concerning nodal staging with WE-CT, results were superior when reading A was used: sensitivity = 84%, specificity = 83%, PPV = 73%, NPV = 91%, and accuracy = 84%. TRUS showed a sensitivity of 29%, specificity of 100%, PPV of 100%, NPV of 67%, and an accuracy of 71%. CONCLUSION: WE-CT is a reliable technique for the local staging of low colorectal tumors that can be superior to TRUS. For diagnosis of peritumoral metastatic lymph nodes on WE-CT, the 5-mm diameter cutoff value is the most appropriate size criterion