Fetal Aortic and Umbilical Doppler Flow Velocity Waveforms in Pregnancy: The Concept of Aortoumbilical Column.

Low impedance within the uteroplacental circulation is crucial for fetal development. Flow velocity waveforms (FVW) have been established for the aortic and umbilical arteries in low-risk pregnancies during the second half of pregnancy, but data regarding early gestation is limited. Both vascular territories exhibit higher impedance patterns in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR), hypertensive disorders, fetal anemia, and chromosomal abnormalities.

Cyclists and autonomous vehicles at odds: Can the Transport Oppression Cycle be Broken in the Era of Artificial Intelligence?

Consequential historical decisions that shaped transportation systems and their influence on society have many valuable lessons. The decisions we learn from and choose to make going forward will play a key role in shaping the mobility landscape of the future. This is especially pertinent as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more prevalent in the form of autonomous vehicles (AVs).

Niche Differentiation at Multiple Spatial Scales on Large and Small Mediterranean Islands for the Endemic Pourr. ex Loisel. (Caryophyllaceae).

The aim of this work is to investigate niche variations in endemic (Caryophyllaceae, Angiosperms) on Mediterranean islands that differ in size. Six populations on both large and small islands were sampled across the geographic range of the species. For each population, 10 plots (1 × 2 m, with a 25 cm grill) were randomly placed to quantify environmental (abiotic and biotic factors and disturbance) and population (demographic structure and reproductive success) parameters.

Burnout syndrome and coping strategies in Portuguese oncology health care providers.

Background: Burnout is a multidimensional syndrome and includes symptoms of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment at work. Oncology health care providers are at high risk to develop symptoms of burnout because of work-related stressors. Adaptive coping strategies adopted to deal with stressors may prevent the development of burnout.

Nosocomial tuberculosis prevention in Portuguese hospitals: a cross-sectional evaluation.

Setting: Measures to control tuberculous infection are crucial to prevent nosocomial transmission and protect health care workers (HCWs). In Portugal, the extent of implementation of tuberculosis (TB) control measures in hospitals is not known.

Objective: To determine the current implementation of preventive measures for tuberculous infection at administrative, environmental and personal levels in Portuguese hospitals.

Quantitative modelling of hip fracture trends in 14 European countries: testing variations of a shared reversal over time.

Qualitative similarities between hip fracture trends in different countries suggests variations of the same epidemic. We tested a single statistical shape to describe time trends in Europe, while allowing for country-level variability. Using data from 14 countries, we modelled incidence rates over time using linear mixed-effects models, including the fixed effects of calendar year and age.

In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation of resveratrol-loaded nanoparticles: Focus on the challenges of in vitro methodologies.

Assessment of toxic effects is mandatory before market placement of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. Nanotoxicology is an emerging regulatory concern and still a challenging field. Topical application of resveratrol (RSV) has been extensively studied owing to its multi-mechanistic skin anti-aging effects.

infection in Portugal.

Background: Although the incidence rates of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been increasing in many countries, the basic epidemiology of NTM remains to be fully understood.

Objective: To assess the incidence, clinical relevance and geographical distribution of NTM disease in Portugal and to identify demographic and clinical characteristics associated with Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) disease.

Methods: Information stored in an electronic database of all NTM cases reported over an 11-year period was retrospectively reviewed.

Data Mining in HIV-AIDS Surveillance System : Application to Portuguese Data.

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is an infectious agent that attacks the immune system cells. Without a strong immune system, the body becomes very susceptible to serious life threatening opportunistic diseases. In spite of the great progresses on medication and prevention over the last years, HIV infection continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 36 million lives over the last 35 years since the recognition of the disease.

Longitudinal changes of cardiotocographic parameters throughout pregnancy: a prospective cohort study comparing small-for-gestational-age and normal fetuses from 24 to 40 weeks.

Objective: To compare longitudinal trends of cardiotocographic (CTG) parameters between small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and normal fetuses, from 24 to 41 weeks of pregnancy.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out in singleton pregnancies without fetal malformations. At least one CTG was performed in each of the following intervals: 24-26 weeks+6 days, 27-29 weeks+6 days, 30-32 weeks+6 days, 33-35 weeks+6 days, 36-38 weeks+6 days and ≥39 weeks.

Longitudinal clustering of tuberculosis incidence and predictors for the time profiles: the impact of HIV.

Background: Portugal remains the country with the highest tuberculosis (TB) incidence in Western Europe.

Objectives: To identify longitudinal trends in TB incidence in Portugal from 2002 to 2012 and investigate the longitudinal effect of sociodemographic and health-related predictors among the resident population on the TB incidence rate.

Methods: We used data from the National Tuberculosis Surveillance System and other national institutions.

Tuberculosis in native- and foreign-born populations in Portugal.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health problem, and during the last 20 years, industrialised countries have shown similar patterns in TB notifications: decreasing TB incidence in native populations and increasing incidence in foreign-born populations.

Objectives: To characterise risk factors associated with TB among native- and foreign-born TB patients in Portugal and identify barriers to the management of foreign cases.

Methods: Analysis of the data from the national tuberculosis surveillance system and data from an online survey of physicians managing TB cases in the country.

Relationship between body mass index and mean arterial pressure in normotensive and chronic hypertensive pregnant women: a prospective, longitudinal study.

Background: Being overweight is associated with both higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) during pregnancy and increased risk of gestational hypertensive disorders. The objective of this study was to determine and quantify the effect of body mass index (BMI) on mean arterial pressure (MAP) at several time points throughout pregnancy in normotensive (NT) and chronic hypertensive pregnant (HT) women.

Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was carried out in 461 singleton pregnancies (429 low-risk and 32 with chronic arterial hypertension), with measurements taken at the 1(st), 2(nd), and 3(rd) trimesters and at delivery.

Tuberculosis screening in patients receiving biological therapy.

Aim: Biological therapies are a risk factor for tuberculosis (TB). Portuguese recommendations recommend universal baseline screening for TB before starting biologics (2006) and annually thereafter if screened negative (2012 update). The gain with re-screening remains unknown.

Fetal-maternal interface impedance parallels local NADPH oxidase related superoxide production.

Blood flow assessment employing Doppler techniques is a useful procedure in pregnancy evaluation, as it may predict pregnancy disorders coursing with increased uterine vascular impedance, as pre-eclampsia. While the local causes are unknown, emphasis has been put on reactive oxygen species (ROS) excessive production. As NADPH oxidase (NOX) is a ROS generator, it is hypothesized that combining Doppler assessment with NOX activity might provide useful knowledge on placental bed disorders underlying mechanisms.

Uterine artery Doppler in the management of early pregnancy loss: a prospective, longitudinal study.

Background: The pharmacological management of early pregnancy loss reduced substantially the need for dilation and curettage. However, prognostic markers of successful outcome were not established. Thus the major purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the uterine artery pulsatility (PI) and resistance (RI) indices to detect early pregnancy loss patients requiring dilation and curettage after unsuccessful management.

Uterine artery impedance during the first eight postpartum weeks.

The aim of this study was to construct reference ranges for the uterine artery (UtA) mean pulsatility (PI) and resistance (RI) indices from 1-8 weeks postpartum. A prospective, cross-sectional, and observational study was performed with 320 healthy women from week 1 through week 8 postpartum. UtAs were examined transvaginally using colour and pulsed Doppler imaging, and the means of the right and left values of the PI and RI, as well as the presence or absence of a bilateral protodiastolic notch, were recorded.

Dietary patterns among 13-y-old Portuguese adolescents.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify dietary patterns in 13-y-old adolescents and to evaluate their association with socioeconomic and behavioral factors.

Methods: Data from 1489 adolescents born in 1990 and enrolled in schools of Porto, Portugal, in 2003-2004 (EPITeen study) were analyzed, after excluding those without information on the food frequency questionnaire and the outliers. The questionnaire items were grouped into 14 food groups and dietary patterns were identified by cluster analysis (k-means).

Kidney-brain link in traumatic brain injury patients? A preliminary report.

Background: Kidney hyperfiltration with augmented renal clearance is frequently observed in patients with traumatic brain injury. The aim of this study is to report preliminary findings about the relationship between brain autoregulation impairment, estimated kidney glomerular filtration rate and outcome in critically ill patients after severe traumatic brain injury.

Methods: Data collected from a cohort of 18 consecutive patients with severe traumatic brain injury managed with ICP monitoring in a Neurocritical Care Unit, were retrospectively analyzed.