Evaluating the resistance to sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps Put) and its relationship with high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit in wheat

Trabalho final de mestrado integrado em Medicina, apresentado à Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Coimbra.Em consequência de um fenómeno global de envelhecimento populacional, é expectável um aumento na prevalência de demência. A demência vascular é a segunda causa mais comum de demência, depois da doença de Alzheimer. Trata-se de uma entidade clínica bastante heterogénea, sendo o acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) um dos seus mecanismos subjacentes. No entanto, nem todos os doentes desenvolvem demência após AVC, e nem sempre ela é do tipo vascular. Idade avançada, características do AVC, as suas complicações, e evidências neuro-imagiológicas de lesão cerebral acrescida, parecem determinar o desenvolvimento de demência. Evitar a recorrência do AVC, através do controlo de fatores de risco vasculares é, por enquanto, a única forma reconhecida de prevenção.As people live longer, an increase in prevalence and burden of dementia is to be expected worldwide. Vascular dementia is the second most common cause of dementia, second to Alzheimer’s disease. It is a heterogeneous clinical entity, with stroke being one of the responsible mechanisms. However, not all stroke patients develop dementia, and not always in the vascular form. Older age, stroke-related factors, its complications and other neuroimaging changes, seem to determine the occurrence of dementia after a stroke. Avoiding recurrence of stroke by careful monitoring and treatment of vascular risk factors is, for now, the only recognized preventive strategy of poststroke dementia

A 10 Year Survey on Childhood CNS Tumors

AbstractObjectiveTumors of the central nervous system constitute the largest group of solid neoplasms in children and are second only to leukemia in their overall frequency during childhood. The main purpose of the present study is to determine the incidence, age, sex, location and histological diagnosis of CNS tumors in children, less than 15 years of age, in the Mofid Children's Hospital, in the past 10 years. Materials and MethodsIn this descriptive retrospective study we reviewed the medical records of 143 children with diagnosis of CNS tumors admitted during the past 10 years in neurology and surgery departments of Mofid Children's Hospital between the years 1996 and 2006.ResultsDuring the 10 year study period, CNS tumor was diagnosed in 143 patients; of these tumors, 119 were intracranial and 58 were intraspinal; 51.3% of brain tumors were located in the supratentorial and 48.7% in the infratentorial regions. The most common intracranial neoplasms were astrocytic tumors (36.8%), embryonal tumors (31.1%) and ependymal tumors (13.4%). Of the intraspinal neoplasms the most frequently noted were embryonal tumors(37.5%), mesenchymal meningothelial tumors (20.8%), followed by astrocytic tumors (16.7%). The median age at diagnosis was 8.9 ± 4.1 years with a male to female ratio of 1.4:1 (PConclusionBrain tumors in children constitute a diverse group in terms of incidence,distribution and histopathological diagnosis.

A panel data approach towards the effectiveness of energy policies in fostering the implementation of solar photovoltaic technology: Empirical evidence for Asia-Pacific

Today, the growing Asia-Pacific population causes a dramatic growth in energy supply to meet energy demand. The rapid rise in energy demand is causing concern in the region. Thus, the present study scrutinizes the effect of energy policy involvement in steering-up renewable energy development by empirically assessing the role of policy instruments in encouraging residen-tial-scale and commercial-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems. The analysis is performed using a fixed effects estimator on a selected range of policy approaches (market-pull policies and tax incentives) and a technology-push policy (capital grants) in selected Asia-Pacific countries between 1998 and 2015. The return on investment is estimated to measure the incentives of feed-in tariff (FIT) tariff policies for both residential-scale and commercial-scale PV systems. This study has shown the im-portance of a strategic combination between technology-push and market-pull policies as comple-mentary to adopting technology and increasing renewable energy utilization for solar PV systems on a residential scale. Investigations into the effectiveness of regulatory support policies for solar PV systems indicate that energy policies are necessary to facilitate solar PV growth on a residential scale in the Asia-Pacific.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ANALISIS PERKEMBANGAN PELAKSANAAN PERSILANGAN SAPI MADURA DENGAN SAPI LIMOUSIN DI PULAU MADURA (The Development Analysis the Crossing of Madura x Limousin Cattle Implementation in Madura Island)

This paper presents a description of performance and development of crossbreed (madura cattle x limousine cattle) implementation. The research method used survey, direct field observation and literature study (The results of previous research began in 1998 or for almost two decades since the program was applied). The location of research in the crossbreed central area of madura island such as Gili Iyang island (crossbreeding centre in Sumenep regency), Larangan and Kadur district fattening zone in Pamekasan regency), Camplong and Jrengik district in Sumenep regency; meanwhile Galis and Kokop district in Bangkalan regency. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistic. The results showed that Madura Island was adaptive for first generation madrasin cows (G1) and not adaptive for G2 or G3. For the sustainability of Madura cattle population, inseminators are not allowed to inseminate crossing cattle with limousine stra

Sentinel hospital-based surveillance of Rotavirus diarrhea in Iran

Background. Rotavirus is the most common causes of severe, acute diarrhea during childhood and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. We established active hospital-based surveillance of childhood diarrhea to assess the scope of severe rotavirus disease in Iran. Methods. From May 2006 through April 2007, prospective surveillance of rotavirus diarrhea among children aged <5 years was conducted in 5 sentinel hospitals in Iran. Stool samples were tested for rotavirus using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay, and rotavirus-positive samples were genotyped using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results. Of 2198 children admitted to the hospital for acute gastroenteritis, 1298 (59.1%) had stool samples test positive for rotavirus by enzyme immunoassay. Of the rotavirus episodes, 85% occurred during the first 2 years of life, with the peak prevalence of severe rotavirus disease occurring from September through January. Among the 110 rotavirus-positive samples that were genotyped, G4P[8] was the most commonly detected rotavirus genotype (30.9% of strains). Other commonly detected genotypes included P[8] with G nontypeable (21.8%), G4 with P nontypeable (13.6%), G1[P8] (10.9%), and G2[P4] (5.5%). Conclusions. Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea in Iran, which indicates that safe and effective rotavirus vaccination in Iran is a public health priority. © 2009 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved

Family History as a Risk for Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Cancer: A Case Control Study

Abstract Background: Although, family history of cancer is an important risk factor for upper gastrointestinal cancers development, but limited information is available on the upper gastrointestinal cancers associated with family history in Iran. The purpose of this study was to define upper gastrointestinal cancers risk associated with family history of cancer

Hepatitis C virus genotype frequency in Isfahan province of Iran: a descriptive cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The hepatitis C virus is a small, enveloped, single-stranded, positive sense RNA virus with a large genetic heterogeneity. Isolates have been classified into at least eleven major genotypes, based on a nucleotide sequence divergence of 30-35%. Genotypes 1, 2 and 3 circulate around the world, while other genotypes are mainly restricted to determined geographical areas. Genotype determination of HCV is clinically valuable as it provides important information which can be used to determine the type and duration of therapy and to predict the outcome of the disease.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Plasma samples were collected from ninety seven HCV RNA positive patients admitted to two large medical laboratory centers in Isfahan province (Iran) from the years 2007 to 2009. Samples from patients were subjected to HCV genotype determination using a PCR based genotyping kit. The frequency of HCV genotypes was determined as follows: genotype 3a (61.2%), genotype 1a (29.5%), genotype 1b (5.1%), genotype 2 (2%) and mixed genotypes of 1a+3a (2%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Genotype 3a is the most frequent followed by the genotype 1a, genotype 1b and genotype 2 in Isfahan province, Iran.</p