Contacto linguístico entre o português e o espanhol no Arquipélago da Madeira: caracterização sociolinguística e dificuldades dos alunos luso-venezuelanos na aprendizagem da língua portuguesa

Embora não seja um facto conhecido, o Espanhol é uma língua minoritária no seio de Portugal. É a língua materna ou segunda língua de milhares de pessoas que residem no Arquipélago da Madeira. Trata-se dos luso-venezuelanos, portugueses (neste caso, madeirenses) que emigraram para a Venezuela, assim como os seus descendentes. Este trabalho pretende contribuir para o estudo da população luso-venezuelana da Região Autónoma da Madeira, tanto do ponto de vista quantitativo como de uma perspetiva sociolinguística. Para cumprir com o primeiro objetivo, aportamos dados estatísticos sobre os residentes que nasceram na Venezuela, os emigrantes retornados e a população de procedência venezuelana matriculada nas escolas da região. Para lograr o segundo objetivo – a caracterização sociolinguística – realizamos um inquérito aos alunos luso-venezuelanos do 12º ano. No âmbito desta pesquisa, os estudantes preencheram uma ficha sociolinguística, na qual indicaram aspetos como a idade de chegada a Portugal, as línguas faladas nas esferas privada e social e a profissão e o nível académico dos pais, entre outros. O dito inquérito também incluiu um teste de autoperceção de competências linguísticas em Espanhol e em Português e um questionário sobre as dificuldades de aprendizagem da gramática portuguesa, nas áreas da fonética e da morfossintaxe. Tanto a investigação como o processamento dos resultados foram efetuados desde uma perspetiva eclética, empregando métodos inspirados na Linguística Contrastiva e na Sociolinguística.Although it is not officially recognised, Spanish is a minority language that is used in some parts of Portugal. It is the mother tongue or second language of thousands of people who live in the Madeira archipelago (situated in the North Atlantic, almost 1,000 kilometres from Lisbon and 400 kilometres from the Spanish island of Gran Canaria). These people are known as the «Luso-Venezuelans», a term that refers to the Portuguese (or in this case the Madeirans) who emigrated to Venezuela and their descendants. This investigation aims to contribute to the study of the Luso-Venezuelan population of the Autonomous Region of Madeira from a both a quantitative and sociolinguistic perspective. We firstly provide statistical data on residents who were born in Venezuela, emigrants who have returned to Madeira and the number of children and youngsters of a Venezuelan background who attend the region’s schools. To obtain a socio-linguistic perspective we carried out a survey of LusoVenezuelan students from twelfth grade (the last year of schooling, prior to attending university). In this survey, the students were asked the age at which they arrived in Portugal, the languages they speak at home and in social contexts, the occupation and level of studies of their parents, among other things. The survey also included a test of their own perception of their level of Spanish and Portuguese and a questionnaire on the difficulties of learning Portuguese grammar with regard to phonetics and morpho-syntax. Both the study itself and the processing of the data obtained were conducted from an eclectic point of view using Contrastive Linguistic and Sociolinguistic methodology

Radiation and Stemness Phenotype May Influence Individual Breast Cancer Outcomes: The Crucial Role of MMPs and Microenvironment

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the mainstay treatments for cancer but in some cases is not effective. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) within the tumor can be responsible for recurrence and metastasis after RT. Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), regulated mainly by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), may also contribute to tumor development by modifying its activity after RT. The aim of this work was to study the effects of RT on the expression of MMPs, TIMPs and HDACs on different cell subpopulations in MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 cell lines. We assessed the in vitro expression of these genes in different 3D culture models and induced tumors in female NSG mice by orthotopic xenotransplants. Our results showed that gene expression is related to the cell subpopulation studied, the culture model used and the single radiation dose administered. Moreover, the crucial role played by the microenvironment in terms of cell interactions and CSC plasticity in tumor growth and RT outcome is also shown, supporting the use of higher doses (6 Gy) to achieve better control of tumor developmentThis research was funded by the FUNDACIÓN PROGRESO Y SALUD, Consejería de Igualdad, Salud y Políticas Sociales, Junta de Andalucía (PI-730), the INSTITUTO DE SALUD CARLOS III, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (PIE16-00045) and by the Chair “Doctors Galera-Requena in cancer stem cell research” (CMC-CTS963)

Percepção da imagem corporal em indivíduos pós-cirurgia bariátrica e sua relação com transtornos alimentares

Introdução e objetivo: A obesidade é uma doença crônica não transmissível, considerada pela Organização Mundial de Saúde uma epidemia mundial. A Cirurgia Bariátrica (CB) é uma alternativa do tratamento da obesidade. Além dos impactos físicos, a obesidade acarreta também impacto psicológico, que reflete de forma negativa na vida do indivíduo, e pode persistir ou se intensificar no pós-cirúrgico. O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar a percepção e satisfação da imagem corporal de indivíduos pós-cirurgia bariátrica. Materiais e métodos: Trata-se de uma pesquisa do tipo transversal, quantitativa de caráter descritivo, cuja coleta foi realizada online através do Google Forms. A percepção e a satisfação quanto à imagem corporal foram investigadas através da Escala de Silhuetas para Cirurgia da Obesidade (ESCO). Os dados foram submetidos à análise descritiva para a caracterização da população estudada, foi realizada uma Matriz de Correlações e considerou-se o nível de significância de 5%. Discussão: De acordo com a Sociedade Brasileira de CB e Metabólica, mais de 70% das CBs realizadas no Brasil são feitas em mulheres, com média de idade entre 35 e 50 anos. Resultados e conclusão: A população estudada foi predominantemente do sexo feminino (90,2%) e a idade média foi de 37,8 anos. Quanto à percepção da imagem corporal, 29,4% dos participantes se classificaram com IMC menor que o atual calculado, em contrapartida 70,6% se percebiam com um IMC maior do que realmente possuíam. Os pacientes submetidos à CB permanecem insatisfeitos com sua imagem corporal e demonstram comportamento de risco para transtornos alimentares

Incidence, morbidity, mortality and disparities in dementia: A population linked electronic health records study of 4.3 million individuals

INTRODUCTION: We report dementia incidence, comorbidities, reasons for health-care visits, mortality, causes of death, and examined dementia patterns by relative deprivation in the UK. METHOD: A longitudinal cohort analysis of linked electronic health records from 4.3 million people in the UK was conducted to investigate dementia incidence and mortality. Reasons for hospitalization and causes of death were compared in individuals with and without dementia. RESULTS: From 1998 to 2016 we observed 145,319 (3.1%) individuals with incident dementia. Repeated hospitalizations among senior adults for infection, unknown morbidity, and multiple primary care visits for chronic pain were observed prior to dementia diagnosis. Multiple long-term conditions are present in half of the individuals at the time of diagnosis. Individuals living in high deprivation areas had higher dementia incidence and high fatality. DISCUSSION: There is a considerable disparity of dementia that informs priorities of prevention and provision of patient care

Estimating excess 1-year mortality associated with the COVID-19 pandemic according to underlying conditions and age: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The medical, societal, and economic impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has unknown effects on overall population mortality. Previous models of population mortality are based on death over days among infected people, nearly all of whom thus far have underlying conditions. Models have not incorporated information on high-risk conditions or their longer-term baseline (pre-COVID-19) mortality. We estimated the excess number of deaths over 1 year under different COVID-19 incidence scenarios based on varying levels of transmission suppression and differing mortality impacts based on different relative risks for the disease. METHODS: In this population-based cohort study, we used linked primary and secondary care electronic health records from England (Health Data Research UK-CALIBER). We report prevalence of underlying conditions defined by Public Health England guidelines (from March 16, 2020) in individuals aged 30 years or older registered with a practice between 1997 and 2017, using validated, openly available phenotypes for each condition. We estimated 1-year mortality in each condition, developing simple models (and a tool for calculation) of excess COVID-19-related deaths, assuming relative impact (as relative risks [RRs]) of the COVID-19 pandemic (compared with background mortality) of 1·5, 2·0, and 3·0 at differing infection rate scenarios, including full suppression (0·001%), partial suppression (1%), mitigation (10%), and do nothing (80%). We also developed an online, public, prototype risk calculator for excess death estimation. FINDINGS: We included 3 862 012 individuals (1 957 935 [50·7%] women and 1 904 077 [49·3%] men). We estimated that more than 20% of the study population are in the high-risk category, of whom 13·7% were older than 70 years and 6·3% were aged 70 years or younger with at least one underlying condition. 1-year mortality in the high-risk population was estimated to be 4·46% (95% CI 4·41-4·51). Age and underlying conditions combined to influence background risk, varying markedly across conditions. In a full suppression scenario in the UK population, we estimated that there would be two excess deaths (vs baseline deaths) with an RR of 1·5, four with an RR of 2·0, and seven with an RR of 3·0. In a mitigation scenario, we estimated 18 374 excess deaths with an RR of 1·5, 36 749 with an RR of 2·0, and 73 498 with an RR of 3·0. In a do nothing scenario, we estimated 146 996 excess deaths with an RR of 1·5, 293 991 with an RR of 2·0, and 587 982 with an RR of 3·0. INTERPRETATION: We provide policy makers, researchers, and the public a simple model and an online tool for understanding excess mortality over 1 year from the COVID-19 pandemic, based on age, sex, and underlying condition-specific estimates. These results signal the need for sustained stringent suppression measures as well as sustained efforts to target those at highest risk because of underlying conditions with a range of preventive interventions. Countries should assess the overall (direct and indirect) effects of the pandemic on excess mortality. FUNDING: National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, Health Data Research UK

Genome-wide association of functional traits linked with<i> Campylobacter jejuni </i>survival from farm to fork

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, primarily associated with the consumption of contaminated poultry. C. jejuni lineages vary in host range and prevalence in human infection, suggesting differences in survival throughout the poultry processing chain. From 7,343 MLST-characterised isolates, we sequenced 600 C. jejuni and C. coli isolates from various stages of poultry processing and clinical cases. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) in C. jejuni ST-21 and ST-45 complexes identified genetic elements over-represented in clinical isolates that increased in frequency throughout the poultry processing chain. Disease-associated SNPs were distinct in these complexes, sometimes organised in haplotype blocks. The function of genes containing associated elements was investigated, demonstrating roles for cj1377c in formate metabolism, nuoK in aerobic survival and oxidative respiration, and cj1368-70 in nucleotide salvage. This work demonstrates the utility of GWAS for investigating transmission in natural zoonotic pathogen populations and provides evidence that major C. jejuni lineages have distinct genotypes associated with survival, within the host specific niche, from farm to fork. </p

Guia d'intervenció grupal psicoeducativa en atenció primària

Atenció primària de salut; Formació psicoeducativa; Activitat grupal psicoeducativaPrimary health care; Psychoeducational training; Psychoeducational group activityAtención primaria de salud; Formación psicoeducativa; Actividad grupal psicoeducativaL'objectiu principal d´aquest document és actualitzar les guies de referència per dur a terme intervencions psicoeducatives grupals, i proporcionar una guia pels professionals sanitaris d'atenció primària.The main objective of this document is to update the reference guides to carry out group psychoeducational interventions, and to provide a guide for primary care health professionals.El objetivo principal de este documento es actualizar las guías de referencia para llevar a cabo intervenciones psicoeducativas grupales, y proporcionar una guía para los profesionales sanitarios de atención primaria.:e

The direct effect of fibroblast growth factor 23 on vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype and function

[Background] In chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, increased levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) are associated with cardiovascular mortality. The relationship between FGF23 and heart hypertrophy has been documented, however, it is not known whether FGF23 has an effect on vasculature. Vascular smooth muscle cells VSMCs may exhibit different phenotypes; our hypothesis is that FGF23 favours a switch from a contractile to synthetic phenotype that may cause vascular dysfunction. Our objective was to determine whether FGF23 may directly control a change in VSMC phenotype.[Methods] This study includes in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo experiments and evaluation of patients with CKD stages 2–3 studying a relationship between FGF23 and vascular dysfunction.[Results] In vitro studies show that high levels of FGF23, by acting on its specific receptor FGFR1 and Erk1/2, causes a change in the phenotype of VSMCs from contractile to synthetic. This change is mediated by a downregulation of miR-221/222, which augments the expression of MAP3K2 and PAK1. miR-221/222 transfections recovered the contractile phenotype of VSMCs. Infusion of recombinant FGF23 to rats increased vascular wall thickness, with VSMCs showing a synthetic phenotype with a reduction of miR-221 expression. Ex-vivo studies on aortic rings demonstrate also that high FGF23 increases arterial stiffening. In CKD 2–3 patients, elevation of FGF23 was associated with increased pulse wave velocity and reduced plasma levels of miR-221/222.[Conclusion] In VSMCs, high levels of FGF23, through the downregulation of miR-221/222, causes a change to a synthetic phenotype. This change in VSMCs increases arterial stiffening and impairs vascular function, which might ultimately worsen cardiovascular disease.This work was supported by a Spanish government grant from the Programa Nacional I+D+I 2013–2016 and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) grants PI18/0138 and PI21/0654 co-financing from European Funds (FEDER), Consejería de Salud (grants PI-0136 and PI-0169-2020) from the Junta de Andalucía, Framework Programme 7 Syskid UE grant FP7-241544, and EUTOX and REDinREN from the ISCIII. N.V. and J.M.D.-T. were supported by Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo (grant CVI-7925) from the Junta de Andalucía. Y.A. and J.R.M.-C. are senior researchers supported by the Nicolás Monardes Programme, Consejería de Salud-Servicio Andaluz de Salud (Junta de Andalucía).Peer reviewe