Fluoxetine Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using a Lignocellulosic Substrate Colonized by the White-Rot Fungus Pleurotus ostreatus

One of the main challenges in both the design of new wastewater treatment plants and the expansion and improvement of existing ones is the removal of emerging pollutants. Therefore, the search for economic and sustainable treatments is needed to enhance the removal of pharmaceuticals. The potential of a lignocellulosic substrate colonized by Pleurotus ostreatus, a waste from mushroom production, to remove fluoxetine from aqueous solutions was studied. Batch assays were performed to remove 600 µg∙L−1 fluoxetine from aqueous solutions using the colonized mushroom substrate (CMS) and crude enzyme extracts. The removal efficiencies achieved were, respectively, ≥83.1% and 19.6% in 10 min. Batch assays with sterilized CMS and 1-aminobenzotriazole (to inhibit cytochrome P450 enzymes) showed that the higher removal efficiencies achieved in the CMS assays may be attributed to the synergistic contribution of biosorption onto the CMS and lignin modifying enzymes activity, namely laccase activity. A column assay was performed with the CMS, fed with 750 µg∙L−1 fluoxetine aqueous solution. The removal efficiency was 100% during 30 min, decreasing to a final value of 70% after 8 h of operation. The results suggested that CMS can be a promising eco-friendly alternative to remove fluoxetine from aqueous solutions

Avaliação comparativa clínico-radiográfica e histopatológica de lesões periapicais inflamatórias crônicas

O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar uma avaliação comparativa entre os aspectos clínico-radiográficos e histopatológicos das lesões periapicais inflamatórias crônicas. Através deste, foram avaliadas 164 lesões inflamatórias crônicas periapicais provenientes de dentes de indivíduos, independendo de idade, raça e sexo. Foram encaminhados casos condizentes com periodontite apical crônica e processo cístico inflamatório avaliados através do exame clínico-radiográfico. Após procedimento cirúrgico, a análise histopatológica foi realizada. Os resultados clínico-laboratoriais foram submetidos à análise estatística. Os resultados mostraram que há constância de fatores de interferência na evolução do processo reparatório periapical representados com ênfase pelo biofilme microbiano apical e/ou por corpos estranhos tanto endógenos como os critais de colesterol quanto exógenos como os materiais endodônticos extravasados indigeríveis ou de difícil digestão; e que alguns processos císticos são passíveis de reversão com o tratamento endodôntico. Nesta pesquisa pode-se observar que é difícil para o clínico ajustar parâmetros definindo a hipótese diagnóstica das lesões periapicais inflamatórias crônicas.The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate the clinical, radiographic and histological aspects of chronic inflammatory periapical lesions. One hundred and sixty-four lesions of human teeth, independent of age, race and sex, were evaluated by clinical, radiographic and histological analyses conducted after surgical endodontic treatment. Our results showed that there was uniformity in the interference factors on the evolution of periapical healing such as the apical biofilm and/or endogenous (cholesterol crystals) or exogenous (extruded endodontic materials that are indigestible or of difficult digestion) foreign bodies and that some cysts are reversible with endodontic treatment. We conclude that it is difficult for the clinician to adjust parameters defining a diagnosis of chronic inflammatory periapical lesions

Evaluating SARS-CoV-2 Seroconversion Following Relieve of Confinement Measures

Funding: This work was supported by FCT grants (PTDC/MECREU/29520/2017 to HS and CHRC UIDB/4923/2020, UIPD/4923/2020). JG, MJJ, and DAS are supported by FCT through /BD/128343/2017, PTDC/EGE-OGE/32573/2017, and PD/BD/137409/2018, respectively. The anti-SARSCoV-2 ELISA assay was developed within the context of Serology4COVID consortium, in which IBET (Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica) produced and purified the Spike protein. This initiative was supported by Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation’s Emergency Fund for COVID-19, Sociedade Francisco Manuel dos Santos and Oeiras Municipality.Seroprevalence studies are crucial both for estimating the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and to provide a measure for the efficiency of the confinement measures. Portuguese universities were closed on March 16th 2020, when Portugal only registered 62 SARS-CoV-2 infection cases per million. We have validated a SARS-CoV-2 ELISA assay to a stabilized full-length spike protein using 216 pre-pandemic and 19 molecularly diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 positive individual's samples. At NOVA University of Lisbon, presential work was partially resumed on May 25th with staggered schedules. From June 15th to 30th, 3–4 weeks after the easing of confinement measures, we screened 1,636 collaborators of NOVA university of Lisbon for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 spike specific IgA and IgG antibodies. We found that spike-specific IgG in 50 of 1,636 participants (3.0%), none of which had anti-spike IgA antibodies. As participants self-reported as asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic, our study also provides a measurement of the prevalence of asymptomatic/paucisymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections. Our study suggests that essential workers have a 2-fold increase in viral exposure, when compared to non-essential workers that observed confinement. Additional serological surveys in different population subgroups will paint a broader picture of the effect of the confinement measures in the broader community.publishersversionpublishe

Internal carotid artery trauma due to elongated styloid process – a review of case reports

INTRODUCTION: Stylocarotid syndrome is caused by the conflict between the styloid process and the vascular structures leading to carotid artery dissection (CAD) or compression. Being headache the most common initial symptom in patients with spontaneous CAD, eagle syndrome could be one explanation for some so-called spontaneous dissections since this symptom is also common in this syndrome. METHODS: Afrer analyzing the reported cases on Pubmed and Embase databases we divided the cases in compression and CAD groups ending up with completely different groups in terms of clinical presentation, management and follow-up. RESULTS: While management of compression group seems quite straightforward, the same is not true when CAD is present. Whether delayed styloidectomy after medical management plays a role in CAD, as it does for the compression group, is something to investigate

Staff SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence and Mental Health as Key Factors in University Response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Copyright © 2021 Lopes, Henriques, Santos-Dias, Nunes-da-Silva, Gonçalves, de Sousa, Abdulghani, Eletério, Braga, Soares, Branco, Canhão and Rodrigues.Background: In response to rapid global spread of the newly emerged coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), universities transitioned to online learning and telework to decrease risks of inter-person contact. To help administrators respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and better understand its impacts, we surveyed SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence among NOVA University employees and assessed community mental health. Methods: Data were collected from voluntary participants at six NOVA University locations, in the Lisbon metropolitan area, from June 15-30, 2020. All subjects provided written informed consent. Of 1,627 recruited participants (mean age 42.0 ± 12.3 years), 1,624 were tested. Prior to blood collection, participants completed a questionnaire that assessed: COVID-19 symptoms during the previous 14 days, chronic non-communicable diseases, chronic medication, anxiety, and depression symptoms. SARS-CoV-2 serology tests were then performed, and results communicated approximately 4 days after blood draw. Participants with positive serology tests were contacted to assess COVID-19 symptoms since February. Results: Estimated prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies was 3.1% (n = 50), of which 43.5% reported symptoms in the previous 4 months. The Medical School had the highest seroprevalence (6.2%). Participants reported having at least one chronic disease (63.7%), depression-like symptoms (2.1%), and anxiety symptoms (8.1%). Rates of depression and anxiety symptoms were significantly higher in women, with sleep hours and occasional alcohol consumption negatively associated with depression. Male gender, older age, and sleep hours negatively associated with anxiety symptoms. School of employment and presence of comorbidities positively associated with anxiety. Conclusion: By measuring seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among NOVA employees and assessing subjects' mental health, we aim to help administrators at European public universities in urban areas, such as Lisbon, Portugal, better understand the needs of their communities. This study resulted in implementation of a stricter contingency plan in the Medical School, while other schools continued to follow Government mitigation guidelines. These findings may also guide the development of tailored strategies to ensure physical and mental health of the academic community during this pandemic crisis. We conclude that, together with COVID-19 contingency plans, psychological support services and facilities to help people effectively face pandemic-associated challenges and minimise anxiety and depression should be implemented.publishersversionpublishe

Redução de divergências no recebimento de pedidos dos clientes

Uma empresa de cosméticos está enfrentando um problema relacionado a erros nos pedidos recebidos dos clientes, gerando divergências de informação com o sistema da empresa, ocasionando atraso e retrabalho do processamento de pedidos. Com base nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho é a redução de divergências no recebimento de pedidos dos clientes. Como método, utilizou-se o A3, congregando as seguintes ferramentas para chegar à solução do problema: brainstorming com a equipe; 5 Porquês para identificação da causa raiz; Diagrama Ishikawa; e Carta de Controle. A implantação do plano de ação permitiu uma redução expressiva no indicador de pedidos rejeitados. Com isto, foi possível reduzir os impactos na cadeia para o processamento dos pedidos destes clientes

Qualidade dos cuidados de enfermagem e satisfação do paciente atendido em um hospital de ensino

OBJECTIVES: assess the quality of nursing care, the patients' satisfaction and the correlation between both. METHOD: cross-sectional study, involving 275 patients hospitalized at a teaching hospital in the Central-West of Brazil. The data were collected through the simultaneous application of three instruments. Next, they were included in an electronic database and analyzed in function of the positivity, median value and Spearman's correlation coefficients. RESULTS: among the nursing care assessed, only two were considered safe - hygiene and physical comfort; nutrition and hydration - while the remainder were classified as poor. Nevertheless, the patients were satisfied with the care received in the domains assessed: technical-professional, confidence and educational. This can be justified by the weak to moderate correlation that was observed among these variables. CONCLUSION: Despite the quality deficit, the patients' satisfaction level with the nursing care received was high. These results indicate that the institution needs to center its objectives on a continuing evaluation system of the care quality, aiming to attend to the patients' expectations.OBJETIVOS: evaluar la calidad de los cuidados de enfermería, la satisfacción del paciente y la correlación entre ambos. MÉTODO: estudio trasversal con 275 pacientes internados en un hospital de enseñanza de la región Centro-Oeste de Brasil. Los datos fueron recolectados mediante la aplicación simultánea de tres instrumentos. A seguir, fueron digitalizados en un banco de datos electrónico y analizados en función de la positividad, valor de mediana y coeficientes de correlación de Spearman. RESULTADOS: entre los cuidados de enfermería evaluados, solamente dos fueron considerados seguros - higiene y conforto físico; nutrición e hidratación - y los demás clasificados como pobres. Sin embargo, los pacientes se mostraron satisfechos con los cuidados recibidos en los dominios evaluados: técnico-profesional, confianza y educacional. Eso puede ser justificado por la correlación débil a moderada observada entre esas variables. CONCLUSIÓN: A pesar del déficit de cualidad, fue encontrado alto nivel de satisfacción de los pacientes con los cuidados de enfermería recibidos. Tales resultados indican la necesidad de que la institución centre sus objetivos en un sistema de evaluación permanente de la cualidad del cuidado, visando atender a las expectativas de los pacientes.OBJETIVOS: avaliar a qualidade dos cuidados de enfermagem, a satisfação do paciente e a correlação entre ambos. MÉTODO: estudo transversal, realizado com 275 pacientes internados em um hospital de ensino da Região Centro-Oeste do Brasil. Os dados foram obtidos por meio da aplicação simultânea de três instrumentos. A seguir, foram digitados em banco de dados eletrônico e analisados em função da positividade, valor de mediana e coeficientes de correlação de Spearman. RESULTADOS: dentre os cuidados de enfermagem avaliados, apenas dois foram considerados seguros - higiene e conforto físico; nutrição e hidratação - e os demais foram classificados como pobres. Todavia, os pacientes mostraram-se satisfeitos com os cuidados recebidos nos domínios avaliados: técnico-profissional, confiança e educacional. Isso pode ser justificado pela correlação fraca a moderada observada entre essas variáveis. CONCLUSÃO: apesar do déficit de qualidade, houve alto nível de satisfação dos pacientes com os cuidados de enfermagem recebidos. Tais resultados apontam a necessidade de a instituição centrar seus objetivos num sistema de avaliação permanente da qualidade do cuidado, visando o atendimento das expectativas dos pacientes

The Lantern, 2022-2023

The Genie and the Scotsman • Taxi Driver Savior Complex • Midnight Waltz • Eulogy of Caution • Don\u27t cry over spilled milk!! • I am the spider • The Lamb • The Witch and the Shepherd • Nostalgia • In the Summer I Want Light • I Am (Not) • Thanatophobia • We\u27re not children anymore • Hamlet\u27s Fool • Lemon • the last two people in the world • Amongst Chaos (what captivated me) • How About Now, Billy Joel • Bug Trap • Spring, Musser Hall, Room 219 • Time\u27s Denial • A Song of History • A Haiku for You • Hello! My Name Is: • Toilet Humor • Waterfalls • Communion • Shift • Mama Told Me Not To Waste My Life • Writer\u27s Block • Sharp-Tongued Women • Off Trail • Paper Bag Town • Serenity • Landscape of Ursinus Courtyard • Image #07, Affinist designer • Love Birds • Discount Narnia • False Security • Stripes and Illusions • The Burning of Ophelia • Molly\u27s Folly • The Son of Bethany • Meta • Little Blue Sailboats • Grease Trap • Hitchhiking With My Eyes Closed • The Donna of Our Time • The Magic of Cooking • The Closing Shift • A Baptism of Teeth • Dear Beloved • How Kansas Got to Chicago • Anywhere, if you look hard enoughhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1191/thumbnail.jp