A Partner in Crime With Aβ in the Pathology of Alzheimer's Disease

We acknowledge iNOVA4Health—UID/Multi/04462/2019, a program financially supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia/Ministério da Educação e Ciência, through national funds and co-funded by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. Funding from the INTERFACE Programme, through the Innovation, Technology and Circular Economy Fund (FITEC) is gratefully acknowledged. This study was also supported by FCT via PTDC/BIA-MOL31104/2017 and UID/Multi/04462/2019-SubProj iNOVA4Health 44 to RM and PD/BD/135504/2018 to AR. Sociedade Portuguesa de Diabetologia for the Nuno Castelo-Branco Prize−2016, attributed to RM, was also acknowledged. IM acknowledges FCT-MCTES Program Concurso de Estímulo ao Emprego Científico (CEECIND/01670/2017).Diabetes affects hundreds of millions of patients worldwide. Despite the advances in understanding the disease and therapeutic options, it remains a leading cause of death and of comorbidities globally. Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP), or amylin, is a hormone produced by pancreatic β-cells. It contributes to the maintenance of glucose physiological levels namely by inhibiting insulin and glucagon secretion as well as controlling adiposity and satiation. IAPP is a highly amyloidogenic polypeptide forming intracellular aggregates and amyloid structures that are associated with β-cell death. Data also suggest the relevance of unprocessed IAPP forms as seeding for amyloid buildup. Besides the known consequences of hyperamylinemia in the pancreas, evidence has also pointed out that IAPP has a pathological role in cognitive function. More specifically, IAPP was shown to impair the blood–brain barrier; it was also seen to interact and co-deposit with amyloid beta peptide (Aß), and possibly with Tau, within the brain of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, thereby contributing to diabetes-associated dementia. In fact, it has been suggested that AD results from a metabolic dysfunction in the brain, leading to its proposed designation as type 3 diabetes. Here, we have first provided a brief perspective on the IAPP amyloidogenic process and its role in diabetes and AD. We have then discussed the potential interventions for modulating IAPP proteotoxicity that can be explored for therapeutics. Finally, we have proposed the concept of a “diabetes brain phenotype” hypothesis in AD, which may help design future IAPP-centered drug developmentstrategies against AD.publishersversionpublishe

Caracóis endémicos dos Açores : estivação como mecanismo de resposta aos fatores ambientais

A secção Biologia é coordenada pelo Professor Universitário Armindo Rodrigues.[…] Estudos realizados sobre caracóis terrestres endémicos dos Açores têm revelado que estes, ao contrário do observado noutras espécies de moluscos da América do Sul e do Norte, tem a capacidade de se reproduzir durante todo o ano, o que tem sido atribuído a características climáticas propicias verificadas no arquipélago, em termos de temperatura, precipitação ou humidade do solo. A montanha do Pico (Ilha do Pico) é o melhor “laboratório” dos Açores para avaliar como fatores abióticos, que variam ao longo de um gradiente altitudinal, podem desencadear respostas fisiológicas e comportamentais numa espécie, com significado na sua reprodução e sobrevivência. […]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Reproductive biology of Oxychilus(Atlantoxychilus) spectabilis (Milne-Edwards, 1885) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) : a gametogenic approach

The taxonomic status and anatomy of Oxychilus (Atlantoxychilus) spectabilis (Milne-Edwards, 1885), an endemic land snail from Santa Maria Island, Azores, has been subject of detailed study, yet information about its life history is wanting. This study describes the reproductive cycle of O. (A.) spectabilis and assesses the validity of three morphometric shell parameters as maturation diagnostic characters. Our results indicate that individuals are reproductively more active from May to November. However, the availability of spermatozoa throughout the year and the residual values of mature oocytes during the remaining months seem to provide minimum conditions for reproduction all year round. The snail has a functional protandric tendency and gonadal maturation is initially triggered by photophase and after regulated by temperature. The positive correlation between gonadal maturation and morphometric shell characters indicate that these parameters might be a useful tool for the diagnosis of snail’s maturation

MODELA DBT: Model-driven elaboration language applied to dynamic binary translation

Industrial solutions design is a highly complex topic due to the challenge of integrating multiple technologies into a single solution, the inherent complexity of the problems to be solved and also because the proposed solutions often require a great level of interoperability among their components and also the outside world. Dynamic Binary Translation has been used as a tool to deal with such interoperability issues, e.g., legacy support, virtualization and secure execution, among others. However its integration in the industry as an end-product is hampered by the intricate variability management required in this subject. To address these issues and in an attempt to power DBT utilization as an interoperability-providing tool, we propose a model-driven DSL modeling language for DBT architectures. The developed DSL proved to be efficient to model an in-house DBT engine, and MODELA DBT, a framework for ready-to-use DBT solutions was obtained. MODELA DBT provides design validation, easy configuration of customizable DBT parameters and components, as well as code generation features.This work has been supported by COMPETE: POCI-Ol-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e figuration granularity, code generation efficiency and design verification. Tecnologia within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2013. F. Salgado is supported by FCT (grant SFRH/BD/81681/2011)

Short-term transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduces pain and improves the masticatory muscle activity in temporomandibular disorder patients: a randomized controlled trial

Studies to assess the effects of therapies on pain and masticatory muscle function are scarce. Objective To investigate the short-term effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) by examining pain intensity, pressure pain threshold (PPT) and electromyography (EMG) activity in patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Material and Methods Forty patients with myofascial TMD were enrolled in this randomized placebo-controlled trial and were divided into two groups: active (n=20) and placebo (n=20) TENS. Outcome variables assessed at baseline (T0), immediately after (T2) and 48 hours after treatment (T1) were: pain intensity with the aid of a visual analogue scale (VAS); PPT of masticatory and cervical structures; EMG activity during mandibular rest position (MR), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and habitual chewing (HC). Two-way ANOVA for repeated measures was applied to the data and the significance level was set at 5%. Results There was a decrease in the VAS values at T1 and T2 when compared with T0 values in the active TENS group (

A conceptual social media tool for supporting collaborative university-industry R&D programs

This paper aims to help professionals and academics involved in collaborative university-industry RD programs and projects, by presenting a conceptual social media tool that can be used to improve communication and collaboration between internal stakeholders. The social media tool conceptualization was developed based on a case study research strategy. The case selected was a large publicly funded RD collaborative program that covers 30 RD projects carried out by a university and an industry partner. During the case study analysis three research methods were applied: participant observation, document analysis, and focus groups. The social media tool is conceptualized in seven functional building blocks: identity, relationships, sharing, presence conversations, reputation and groups. For each building block, its main objectives and requirements are detailed, within this particular context of collaborative university-industry RD programs and projects.This research is sponsored by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia FCT (SFRH/BPD/111033/2015), and by the Portugal Incentive System for Research and Technological Development. Project in co-promotion nº 36265/2013 (Project HMIExcel - 2013-2015)

Covid-19, distanciamento social e terceira idade

A COVID-19 é uma doença que pode ser letal, principalmente para as pessoas na terceira idade e/ou com comorbidades. O distanciamento social determinado a todas as pessoas e, principalmente, necessário aos idosos. Como se trata de um dos grupos mais vulneráveis, originou-se o questionamento: a terceira idade está cumprindo esse distanciamento e como eles estão se sentindo? Desta forma, o objetivo da pesquisa foi verificar se os idosos estão cumprindo o distanciamento social e como eles estão se sentindo no período da pandemia. A pesquisa utilizada foi a qualitativa, pela abertura das questões e sua análise. O instrumento foi a entrevista. Participaram deste trabalho 20 idosos, acima de 60 anos. Os principais resultados da pesquisa foram:  os idosos em sua maioria receberam visitas no período da pandemia e relataram ter saído de casa; 11 entrevistados relataram ter tido algum problema de saúde, relacionados a doenças físicas e a transtornos psíquicos, como ansiedade e depressão. Espera-se que o trabalho realizado e divulgado possa ser uma contribuição para o conhecimento dos idosos durante o distanciamento social, devido à pandemia, e seu comportamento nesse período.Palavras-chave: COVID-19 e terceira idade. Distanciamento social e idosos. Comportamento dos idosos na pandemia

SARS-CoV-2 reinfection: report of two cases in Southeast Brazil

From February 26, 2020 to March 11, 2021, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in 11,439,558 cases and 277,102 deaths in Brazil. Among them, 2,195,130 cases and 63,965 deaths occurred in Sao Paulo State, Southeast Brazil. The recent emergence and rise of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 is of concern because of their higher transmissibility and possible association with more severe disease. Cases of SARS-CoV-2 reinfections have been described since December 2020 in Brazil. This report describes two cases of COVID-19 reinfection, that occurred five and six months after the first infection, during the second wave of the pandemic in Sao Paulo State. Both patients presented mild symptoms in the two COVID-19 episodes and different lineages of SARS-CoV-2 were identified: B.1.1.33 and B.1.1.28 lineages in case 1 and B1.1.128 and P. 2 lineages in case 2

CONHECIMENTO DE ENFERMEIROS A PACIENTES EM USO DE PROTOCOLO DE SEPSE

A definição ampla de sepse segundo a literatura é definida pela “presença de disfunção orgânica ameaçadora à vida secundária à resposta desregulada do organismo à infecção”.Os critérios da síndrome da resposta inflamatória sistêmica (SRIS) não é mais necessários para a definição. No entanto, todos os casos de sepse devem ser considerados como doença grave, de forma que a expressão “sepse grave” deve ser abolida. Já, o choque séptico define-se como “um subgrupo dos pacientes com sepse que apresentam acentuadas anormalidades circulatórias, celulares e metabólicas e associadas com maior risco de morte do que a sepse isoladamente. São critérios diagnósticos de choque séptico são a “necessidade de vasopressor para manter uma pressão arterial média acima de 65mmHg após a infusão adequada de fluidos, associada a nível sérico de lactato acima de 2mmol/L”. Embora, as definições tenham sido defendidas por muitas sociedades de terapia intensiva em todo o mundo, também geraram muita controvérsia, principalmente no que se refere ao aumento da especificidade à custa de redução da sensibilidade.Assim, é válido salientar que estes novos conceitos podem ser aplicados na prática diária dos profissionais de enfermagem, tendo como foco os programas de melhoria da qualidade que são a pedra fundamental de esforços para redução das taxas de mortalidade por sepse no mundo e no Brasil que atualmente se encontram em taxas inaceitáveis

Spatial, spatio-temporal, and origin-destination flow analyses of patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome hospitalized for COVID-19 in Southeastern Brazil, 2020-2021

Brazil experienced one of the fastest increasing numbers of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases worldwide. The Sao Paulo State (SPS) reported a high incidence, particularly in Sao Paulo municipality. This study aimed to identify clusters of incidence and mortality of hospitalized patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome for COVID-19 in the SPS, in 2020–2021, and describe the origin flow pattern of the cases. Cases and mortality risk area clusters were identified through different analyses (spatial clusters, spatio-temporal clusters, and spatial variation in temporal trends) by weighting areas. Ripley’s K12-function verified the spatial dependence between the cases and infrastructure. There were 517,935 reported cases, with 152,128 cases resulting in death. Of the 470,441 patients hospitalized and residing in the SPS, 357,526 remained in the original municipality, while 112,915 did not. Cases and death clusters were identified in the Sao Paulo metropolitan region (SPMR) and Baixada Santista region in the first study period, and in the SPMR and the Campinas, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Barretos, and Sorocaba municipalities during the second period. We highlight the priority areas for control and surveillance actions for COVID-19, which could lead to better outcomes in future outbreaks