Homem, a ciência e a bioética

O Homem actual continua com a (e pela) ciência, a gozar das inovações que quase diariamente ela lhe proporciona, a acreditar no seu potencial benéfico, a investir no seu fomento, a aceitá-la como indiscutível e dogmático factor do seu próprio desenvolvimento. Mas o uso de algumas descobertas científicas, vieram demonstrar que a ciência nem sempre se faz a favor, mas algumas vezes contra o Homem. A ficção tornou-se realidade e ao Homem parece nada ser impossível. Os únicos limites apontados à ciência são os que ela própria encerra, decorrentes de conhecimentos ainda não plenamente desenvolvidos e capacidades ainda não totalmente dominadas. Mas estes limites intrínsecos à ciência afinal são sempre provisórios e ultrapassáveis. É neste progresso desenfreado que urge dominar, orientar o seu desenvolvimento, o que exige o estabelecimento prioritário de limites nas área de investigação a empreender. O problema do aparente irreprimível progresso científicotecnológico vem a ser travado pela bioética, entendida então primariamente como um meio de imposição de limites à ciência, através da criação de orientações diversas de pensamento e de acção que determinam modos de pensar e agir, de interpretar e de intervir, às vezes bem distintos entre si, e de normas que regulamentam algumas intervenções. O problema que se evidencia então como prioritário é o de defender a dignidade do Homem, de preservar a sua identidade face ao perigo eminente da sua artificialização. Exige-se assim uma reflexão sobre a especificidade do ser Homem que venha a possibilitar, com uma legitimidade acrescida fundada na identidade do Homem, o estabelecimento de parâmetros para a intervenção científico-tecnológica. Esta só se justificará na medida em que promova as condições de realização do Homem, que contribua para a perfectibilidade do seu modo de ser e de existir

Electrotechnologies applied to microalgal biotechnology Applications, techniques and future trends

Electrotechnologies are based on the direct application of an external electric field through a given semi-conductive material. These technologies are part of a wide range of biotechnological processes, considered cost-effective and environmentally-friendly in view of the less intensive use of non-renewable resources and high levels of energetic efficiency. In this regard, electrotechnologies are a promising processing tool to overcome some of the microalgae's exploitation limitations. The application of electric field-based techniques can cover upstream (i.e. electroporation for genetic transformation, inactivation of culture contaminants, and improvement of growth kinetics) and downstream processes (e.g. harvesting and extraction methods). Pulsed electric fields (PEF) and moderate electric fields (MEF), targeted at microalgae cellular permeabilization and subsequent extraction of valuable compounds, count with a substantial body of fundamental research which puts them on the front row to become mainstream techniques in a near future. This review provides comprehensive knowledge systematization of the current status of the direct application of these techniques on microalgal biotechnology, as wells as future trends and challenges regarding developments in electrotechnologies to be applied to microalgae industrial exploitation.Thisresearch workwas supported by theGrants SFRH/BPD/98694/ 2013 (Bruno Fernandes), SFRH/BD/110723/2015 (Rui Rodrigues), SFRH/BPD/81887/2011 (Ricardo Pereira) and SFRH/BD/52335/2013 (Pedro Geada) from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Portugal). Luís Loureiro is recipient of a fellowship supported by a doctoral advanced training (call NORTE-69-2015-15) funded by the European Social Fund under the scope of Norte2020 - Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. This study was also supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit and COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-FEDER-006684), Project UID/Multi/04423/2013, Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462), FCT Strategic Project of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, by the project NOVELMAR (reference NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000035), co-financed by the North Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Norte 2020) under the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), through the ERDF and by BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER 000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 – Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

TÉCNICA DE CRISS-CROSS NO TRATAMENTO DE TROMBOSE VENOSA PROFUNDA DO MEMBRO INFERIOR — A PROPÓSITO DE UM CASO CLÍNICO

Introdução: A técnica criss-cross combina acesso vascular anterógrado e retrógrado da veia poplítea, de modo a obter recanalização venosa em doentes com trombose venosa profunda (TVP) ileofemoral associada a trombose das veias poplítea e gemelares.  Caso clínico: Doente do sexo feminino de 57 anos, com antecedentes de histerectomia radical e linfadenectomia de nódulos linfáticos pélvicos em 2013, devido a neoplasia uterina, com consequente linfedema crónico do membro inferior direito. Admitida na urgência por edema grave do membro inferior direito, com 7 dias de evolução. À observação, a paciente apresentava edema da coxa e perna, cianose da perna, dor gemelar, extremidades quentes e pulsos distais palpáveis. Estudo com ecodoppler a objetivar trombose dos eixos venosos do membro inferior direito. Estudo com TC contrastado excluiu extensão proximal do trombo para a veia ilíaca comum direita ou veia cava; excluiu tromboembolismo pulmonar e evidenciou clips cirúrgicos em proximidade com a veia ilíaca externa direita, causando uma respetiva redução luminal superior a 50%. A doente foi submetida a trombectomia e fibrinólise dirigida por cateter. Obteve-se acesso vascular através de punção ecoguiada da veia poplítea. Após colocação de introdutores em sentido retrógrado e anterógrado, realizou-se trombectomia das veias gemelares até à veia femoral comum, com recurso a aspiração por cateter. Instituiu-se perfusão de alteplase e heparina não fracionada por via periférica, mantidas durante 72 horas, com controlo angiográfico a cada 24h. Após recanalização satisfatória, realizou-se angioplastia com balão 14x40mm, seguida de stent 14x80mm na veia ilíaca externa. Não ocorreram complicações hemorrágicas major. O tratamento invasivo foi complementado com drenagem postural e meia elástica compressiva, permitindo melhoria clínica imediata e progressiva. Após dois dias, a doente recebeu alta medicada com heparina de baixo peso molecular. Em consulta de follow-up após um mês, constatou-se melhoria clínica progressiva e alterada hipocoagulação para rivaroxabano ad aeternum.  Conclusão: A técnica de criss-cross permite recanalização do inflow e outflow, restaurando patência venosa e mantendo a função valvular, aspetos com eventual papel crítico nos resultados após TVP ileofemoral extensa.

Invasive fish disrupt host-pathogen dynamics leading to amphibian declines

Sudden disease outbreaks may not necessarily reflect a recent pathogen introduction but may instead arise from the disruption of a host-pathogen equilibrium. Together with invasive species, emerging pathogens pose significant threats to biodiversity. The dynamics of each stressor have been studied separately, yet rarely when interacting. Using a 40-year dataset, we tested the hypothesis that the introduction of an invasive fish leads to such a disruption, manifested by ranavirosis outbreaks on amphibian hosts. MCP sequencing revealed the historical presence of two major Ranavirus clades, with low prevalence. The introduction of fish was not followed by the emergence of new viruses, but rather by an increase in the prevalence of the strains already present, fitting the ‘endemic pathogen hypothesis’. Two decades after the first die-offs, one amphibian species persists in extremely low numbers, but Ranavirus prevalence is closer to the enzootic phase that preceded the outbreaks. Models show that host population collapse and lack of recovery are best explained by the concerted interaction of Ranavirus and invasive fish. We provide robust evidence that invasive species can impact naïve communities by disrupting the host-pathogen balance, exacerbating health threats. This study emphasizes the importance of exploring the historical interactions between multiple stressors to understand population declines.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Minimal change nephrotic syndrome after stem cell transplantation: a case report and literature review

Graft-versus-host disease is one of the most frequent complications occurring after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Recently, renal involvement has been described as a manifestation of chronic graft-versus-host disease. Immunosuppression seems to play a major role: clinical disease is triggered by its tapering and resolution is achieved with the resumption of the immunosuppressive therapy. Prognosis is apparently favourable, but long term follow up data are lacking

MAMMALS IN PORTUGAL : A data set of terrestrial, volant, and marine mammal occurrences in P ortugal

Mammals are threatened worldwide, with 26% of all species being includedin the IUCN threatened categories. This overall pattern is primarily associatedwith habitat loss or degradation, and human persecution for terrestrial mam-mals, and pollution, open net fishing, climate change, and prey depletion formarine mammals. Mammals play a key role in maintaining ecosystems func-tionality and resilience, and therefore information on their distribution is cru-cial to delineate and support conservation actions. MAMMALS INPORTUGAL is a publicly available data set compiling unpublishedgeoreferenced occurrence records of 92 terrestrial, volant, and marine mam-mals in mainland Portugal and archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira thatincludes 105,026 data entries between 1873 and 2021 (72% of the data occur-ring in 2000 and 2021). The methods used to collect the data were: live obser-vations/captures (43%), sign surveys (35%), camera trapping (16%),bioacoustics surveys (4%) and radiotracking, and inquiries that represent lessthan 1% of the records. The data set includes 13 types of records: (1) burrowsjsoil moundsjtunnel, (2) capture, (3) colony, (4) dead animaljhairjskullsjjaws, (5) genetic confirmation, (6) inquiries, (7) observation of live animal (8),observation in shelters, (9) photo trappingjvideo, (10) predators dietjpelletsjpine cones/nuts, (11) scatjtrackjditch, (12) telemetry and (13) vocalizationjecholocation. The spatial uncertainty of most records ranges between 0 and100 m (76%). Rodentia (n=31,573) has the highest number of records followedby Chiroptera (n=18,857), Carnivora (n=18,594), Lagomorpha (n=17,496),Cetartiodactyla (n=11,568) and Eulipotyphla (n=7008). The data setincludes records of species classified by the IUCN as threatened(e.g.,Oryctolagus cuniculus[n=12,159],Monachus monachus[n=1,512],andLynx pardinus[n=197]). We believe that this data set may stimulate thepublication of other European countries data sets that would certainly contrib-ute to ecology and conservation-related research, and therefore assisting onthe development of more accurate and tailored conservation managementstrategies for each species. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite thisdata paper when the data are used in publications.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The burden of mental disorders, substance use disorders and self-harm among young people in Europe, 1990-2019 : Findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Mental health is a public health issue for European young people, with great heterogeneity in resource allocation. Representative population-based studies are needed. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2019 provides internationally comparable information on trends in the health status of populations and changes in the leading causes of disease burden over time. Methods Prevalence, incidence, Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) and Years of Life Lost (YLLs) from mental disorders (MDs), substance use disorders (SUDs) and self-harm were estimated for young people aged 10-24 years in 31 European countries. Rates per 100,000 population, percentage changes in 1990-2019, 95% Uncertainty Intervals (UIs), and correlations with Sociodemographic Index (SDI), were estimated. Findings In 2019, rates per 100,000 population were 16,983 (95% UI 12,823 - 21,630) for MDs, 3,891 (3,020 4,905) for SUDs, and 89.1 (63.8 - 123.1) for self-harm. In terms of disability, anxiety contributed to 647.3 (432 -912.3) YLDs, while in terms of premature death, self-harm contributed to 319.6 (248.9-412.8) YLLs, per 100,000 population. Over the 30 years studied, YLDs increased in eating disorders (14.9%;9.4-20.1) and drug use disorders (16.9%;8.9-26.3), and decreased in idiopathic developmental intellectual disability (-29.1%;23.8-38.5). YLLs decreased in self-harm (-27.9%;38.3-18.7). Variations were found by sex, age-group and country. The burden of SUDs and self-harm was higher in countries with lower SDI, MDs were associated with SUDs. Interpretation Mental health conditions represent an important burden among young people living in Europe. National policies should strengthen mental health, with a specific focus on young people. Funding The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)Peer reviewe