Development and Manufacturing of a Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composite Spar Produced by Oven Vacuum Bagging.

The limited recyclability of fibre-reinforced thermoset composites has fostered the development of alternative thermoplastic-based composites and their manufacturing processes. The most common thermoplastic-based composites are often costly due to their availability in the form of prepreg materials and to the high pressure and temperatures required for their manufacturing. Yet, the manufacturing of economic and recyclable composites, made of semi-preg composite materials using traditional composite manufacturing technologies, has only been proved at a laboratory scale through the manufacturing of flat plates.

Antiandrogen Withdrawal Syndrome After Discontinuation of Enzalutamide in Patients With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: A Report of Two Clinical Cases and a Literature Review.

Metastatic prostate cancer treatment is based on androgen deprivation, with pharmacological or surgical castration. This treatment may be complemented with the addition of antiandrogenic drugs. In the setting of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression and subsequent suspension of the antiandrogenic drug, there might occur a phenomenon of antiandrogen withdrawal, leading to a decrease in PSA and/or improvement in imaging or clinical outcomes after discontinuation of the antiandrogenic agent.

Association between sociodemographic and clinical features, health behaviors, and health literacy of patients with prostate cancer and prostate cancer prognostic stage.

Patient characteristics may influence access and acceptance of Prostate Specific Antigen test, and therefore, the timing of prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis. A group of 361 patients from a cohort (n = 451) diagnosed with PCa in 2018-2020 at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto was evaluated before treatment, using a structured interview, the Medical Term Recognition Test, and the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire QLQ-PR25. PCa prognostic stages (I, II, III, IV) were attributed according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer eighth edition.

Association between Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontal Diseases.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are chronic inflammatory diseases that affect the supporting tissues of the teeth. Although induced by the presence of bacterial biofilms, other factor, such as tobacco smoking, drugs, and various systemic diseases, are known to influence their pathogenesis. Diabetes and periodontal diseases correspond to inflammatory diseases that have pathogenic mechanisms in common, with the involvement of pro-inflammatory mediators.

Anxiety and Depression in Patients with Prostate Cancer, at Cancer Diagnosis and after a One-Year Follow-Up.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent among men, and psychological symptoms may affect many patients. This study aims to describe the prevalence of probable anxiety and depression before PCa treatments and after one year and to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with these outcomes. Between February 2018 and March 2020, 292 patients recently diagnosed with PCa were recruited at the Instituto Português de Oncologia-Porto.

Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment before Prostate Cancer Treatment.

Cognitive impairment is common among patients with different types of cancer, even before cancer treatment, but no data were reported among patients with prostate cancer (PCa), who may be at high risk due to advanced age. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of cognitive impairment before PCa treatment. Between February 2018 and April 2021, the NEON-PC cohort recruited 605 patients with PCa proposed for treatment at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto.

Design and development of a novel double-chamber syringe concept for venous catheterization.

This paper presents the optimization process for the development of an innovative double chamber syringe. Several aspects are involved such as design, functionality, fluid-structure interaction and friction between solids. To assist in the development of this medical device, a numerical based methodology was developed and validated in order to predict the syringe´s functionality, as well as its production by injection molding.

Reviewing Treatment Options for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma: Is There Still a Place for Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) Monotherapy?

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) comprises a highly heterogeneous group of kidney tumours built upon distinct genetic- and epigenetic-driven mechanisms and molecular pathways. Therefore, responsiveness to treatment is considerably variable across patients, adding an extra layer of complexity to the already challenging therapeutic decision process. The last decade brought an unprecedented shift in the medical approach to advanced or metastatic RCC; in fact, immunotherapy-based combinations have significantly transformed the therapeutic arsenal and clinical outcomes of these patients.

Venous thromboembolism and prostate cancer: what about genetic markers?

To review the existing literature concerning the relationship between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and prostate cancer (PC) and explore the putative biological and clinical implications of VTE genetic markers on PC patients by screening the PubMed database. Considering the roles of VTE genome-wide association studies-identified genetic determinants in disease development in the general population, these variants might also underlie the susceptibility for PC-related VTE. Therefore, they could help to identify those with a positive benefit-to-harm ratio for thromboprophylaxis approaches during cancer therapy management, thereby improving patient's prognosis.

Study Protocol for Two-Steps Parallel Randomized Controlled Trial: Pre-Clinical Usability Tests for a New Double-Chamber Syringe.

A new double-chamber syringe (DUO Syringe) was developed for intravenous drug administration and catheter flushing. This study presents a protocol for pre-clinical usability tests to validate the golden prototype of this new device, performed in a high-fidelity simulation lab by nurses. A two-steps parallel randomized controlled trial with two arms was designed (with standard syringes currently used in clinical practice and with the DUO Syringe).

Prionace glauca skin collagen bioengineered constructs as a promising approach to trigger cartilage regeneration.

Representing a strategy of marine by-products valorization, based on isolation of biocompounds and assessment of biomedical applicability, the potential of blue shark (Prionace glauca (PG)) skin collagen to induce chondrogenic differentiation of human adipose stem cells (hASC) was investigated, with and without exogenous stimulation. For that, a cryogelation method was applied to produce highly interconnected porous 3-dimensional (3D) constructs made of collagen and collagen:hyaluronic acid (20:1). In vitro studies reveal that hASC adhere abundantly to the constructs which then suggests the early chondrogenic differentiation of those cells.

Usability Assessment of an Innovative Device in Infusion Therapy: A Mix-Method Approach Study.

Flushing a venous access device is an important procedure to maintain their patency and prevent malfunctioning and complications. An innovative double-chamber syringe was developed, allowing for the assessment of catheter patency, drug delivery and final flush. This study aims to assess the usability of this new device, considering three development stages (concept, semi-functional prototype, functional prototype).

YB-1 variant and androgen receptor axis-targeted agents in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients.

To evaluate the influence of  rs10493112 variant as a genetic marker for response to second-generation androgen receptor axis-target agents. A hospital-based cohort study of 78 patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer was conducted. Genotyping was performed by TaqMan allelic discrimination technology.

Development of an innovative double-chamber syringe for intravenous therapeutics and flushing: Nurses' involvement through a human-centred approach.

Background: In nursing practice, flushing the catheters pre and post-drug administration is considered an important clinical procedure to prevent complications, and requires the use of several syringes to comply with international standards of care. We envisioned an innovative double-chamber syringe that enables the filling and administration of both solutions. Following current international recommendations, the development of new medical devices should integrate Health Technology Assessment.

Combining 1,3-Ditriazolylbenzene and Quinoline to Discover a New G-Quadruplex-Interactive Small Molecule Active against Cancer Stem-Like Cells.

Quadruplex nucleic acids are promising targets for cancer therapy. In this study we used a fragment-based approach to create new flexible G-quadruplex (G4) DNA-interactive small molecules with good calculated oral drug-like properties, based on quinoline and triazole heterocycles. G4 melting temperature and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-stop assays showed that two of these compounds are selective G4 ligands, as they were able to induce and stabilize G4s in a dose- and DNA sequence-dependent manner.

The grapevine VvCAX3 is a cation/H exchanger involved in vacuolar Ca homeostasis.

The grapevine VvCAX3 mediates calcium transport in the vacuole and is mostly expressed in green grape berries and upregulated by Ca , Na and methyl jasmonate. Calcium is an essential plant nutrient with important regulatory and structural roles in the berries of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.).

First example of peptides targeting the dimer interface of Leishmania infantum trypanothione reductase with potent in vitro antileishmanial activity.

A series of 9-mer and 13-mer amide-bridged cyclic peptides derived from the linear prototype Ac-PKIIQSVGIS-Nle-K-Nle-NH (Toro et al. ChemBioChem2013) has been designed and synthesized by introduction of the lactam between amino acid side chains that are separated by one helical turn (i, i+4). All of these compounds were tested in vitro as both dimerization and enzyme inhibitors of Leishmania infantum trypanothione reductase (Li-TryR).

Using a nitrilase for the surface modification of acrylic fibres.

The surface of an acrylic fibre was modified with a commercial nitrilase (EC 3.5.5.