Optimization of high-throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing: an assessment of PCR pooling, mastermix use and contamination.

16S rRNA gene sequencing is widely used to characterize human and environmental microbiomes. Sequencing at scale facilitates better powered studies but is limited by cost and time. We identified two areas in our 16S rRNA gene library preparation protocol where modifications could provide efficiency gains, including (1) pooling of multiple PCR amplifications per sample to reduce PCR drift and (2) manual preparation of mastermix to reduce liquid handling.

Prophylaxis of Infective Endocarditis: A Cross Sectional Survey among Physician Members of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology.

Introduction: In the last decade, the downgrading of indications for antibiotic prophylaxis for infective endocarditis caused an uncertain impact on the incidence of this condition. Since no data is available on the practice of infective endocarditis prophylaxis in Portugal, we aimed to characterize the pattern of antibiotic use for infective endocarditis prophylaxis and the compliance/awareness of scientific guidelines among physician members of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology.

Material And Methods: A cross sectional observational study was conducted.

Infective Endocarditis as the Cause of Death: A Populationbased Study in Portugal, from 2002 to 2018.

Introduction: Infective endocarditis presents a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Population-based studies addressing mortality caused by infective endocarditis in Portugal are scarce. We aimed to study deaths caused by Infective endocarditis, as well as corresponding demographics and temporal trends.

The burden of infective endocarditis in Portugal in the last 30 years - a systematic review of observational studies.

Introduction: Infective endocarditis affects cardiac valves or devices and has a potentially uncertain prognosis. Little information is available on the epidemiology of this disease in Portugal.

Objective: A systematic review of all evidence published in the last 30 years to assess epidemiological data in patients hospitalized with infective endocarditis in Portuguese hospital centers.

Uterine cavity embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a rare solid tumor in childhood and adolescence. The higher incidence is predominant during the first two decades of life. According to the Intergroup RMS Study Group, the embryonal RMS (ERMS), botryoidal variant, constitutes a histological subtype characterized as a "grape-like" lesion of 2.