Publications by authors named "Goncalo Costa"

Article Synopsis
  • * Current research methods include gravimetric analysis and advanced techniques like GARField-NMR and optical coherence tomography, which provide data in various dimensions.
  • * This study introduces terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) as a new method for analyzing the drying process, offering 2D hydration maps of polymer latexes and confirming known drying phenomena.
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Background: Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is frequently administered before percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Current guidelines, however, do not provide clear recommendations for UFH pretreatment before arrival at the coronary catheterization laboratory.

Methods: Between June and July 2023, we systematically searched PubMed , Embase , and Cochrane databases for studies comparing UFH pretreatments in patients with STEMI.

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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a progressive liver disease, affecting 38% of adults globally. If left untreated, NAFLD may progress to more advanced forms of the disease, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver cirrhosis, and fibrosis. Early NAFLD detection is critical to prevent disease progression.

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Transdermal drug delivery patches are a good alternative to hypodermic drug injection. The drug delivery efficiency depends strongly on the hydration of the skin under treatment, and therefore, it is essential to study the effects on the skin induced by the application of these medical-grade patches. Terahertz (THz) spectroscopy shows great promise for non-invasive skin evaluation due to its high sensitivity to subtle changes in water content, low power and non-ionizing properties.

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Background: Clinical practice guidelines recommend oral anticoagulation (OAC) for stroke prevention in selected patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, some patients still experience thrombo-embolic events despite adequate anticoagulation. The optimal management of these cases remains uncertain, leading to practice pattern variability.

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Epilepsy affects around 1% of the population worldwide. Anti-epileptic drugs are an excellent option for controlling seizure occurrence but do not work for around one-third of patients. Warning devices employing seizure prediction or forecasting algorithms could bring patients new-found comfort and quality of life.

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We propose a polarization sensitive terahertz time-domain spectrometer that can record orthogonally polarized terahertz fields simultaneously, using fibre-coupled photoconductive antennas and a scheme that modulated the emitter's polarization. The s and p channels of the multi-pixel terahertz emitter were modulated at different frequencies, thereby allowing orthogonal waveforms to be demultiplexed from the recorded signal in post-processing. The performance of the multi-pixel emitter used in this multiplexing scheme was comparable to that of a commercial single-polarization H-dipole antenna.

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γδ T cells are regarded as promising effector lymphocytes for next-generation cancer immunotherapies. In spite of being relatively rare in human peripheral blood, γδ T cells are more abundant in epithelial tissues where many tumors develop, and have been shown to actively participate in anticancer immunity as cytotoxic cells or as "type 1" immune orchestrators. A major asset of γδ T cells for tackling advanced cancers is their independence from antigen presentation via the major histocompatibility complex, which clearly sets them apart from conventional αβ T cells.

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Transdermal drug delivery (TDD) has been widely used in medical treatments due to various advantages, including delivering drugs at a consistent rate. However, variations in skin hydration can have a significant effect on the permeability of chemicals. Therefore, it is essential to study the changes in skin hydration induced by TDD patches for better control of the delivery rate.

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Divergence in acoustic signals may have a crucial role in the speciation process of animals that rely on sound for intra-specific recognition and mate attraction. The acoustic adaptation hypothesis (AAH) postulates that signals should diverge according to the physical properties of the signalling environment. To be efficient, signals should maximize transmission and decrease degradation.

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Neuronal regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS) is an important field of research with relevance to all types of neuronal injuries, including neurodegenerative diseases. The glial scar is a result of the astrocyte response to CNS injury. It is made up of many components creating a complex environment in which astrocytes play various key roles.

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Objective: Timing of intervention for patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis (AS) remains controversial. To compare the outcomes of early aortic valve replacement (AVR) versus watchful waiting (WW) in patients with asymptomatic severe AS.

Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases, in December 2021, for studies comparing early AVR with WW in the treatment of asymptomatic severe AS.

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Aims And Objectives: Vitamin D deficiency is a common finding and there is a suggested association with hypertension. Resistant hypertension is a clinical problem observed in 5-30% of hypertensive patients. Renal denervation (RDN) has been used for patients with resistant hypertension and has proven to lower blood pressure.

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Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), one of the most common forms of chronic liver disease, is characterized by the excessive accumulation of lipid species in hepatocytes. Recent studies have indicated that in addition to the total lipid quantities, changes in lipid composition are a determining factor in hepatic lipotoxicity. Using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry, we analyzed the esterified fatty acid composition in 24 strains of male and female Collaborative Cross (CC) mice fed a high fat/high sucrose (HF/HS) diet for 12 weeks.

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Article Synopsis
  • Mammals are facing global threats, with about 26% of species in jeopardy due to habitat loss, pollution, and human actions, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.
  • The "Mammals in Portugal" data set provides over 105,000 records of 92 mammal species across mainland Portugal and its islands from 1873 to 2021, primarily collected through live observations and sign surveys.
  • It emphasizes the conservation status of various species, including those classified as threatened by the IUCN, and aims to support future research and conservation initiatives.
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Background: Cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is one of the leading causes of degenerative cervical myelopathy and the most common cause of spinal cord dysfunction in the elderly worldwide. Although there is emerging evidence that most patients improve after surgery, the key clinical and imaging factors predicting outcome remain uncertain. Our purpose is to evaluate preoperative and postoperative morphometric parameters on magnetic resonance imaging and their relation with neurological outcome at discharge and at 12-month follow-up.

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Patients with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) are at increased risk of major adverse limb events (MALE). The efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in this context is evolving. To assess the efficacy and safety of DOAC combined with aspirin compared to the use of antiplatelet agents in patients with symptomatic lower extremity (LE) PAD.

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Lymphomas are malignant lymphoid tumours arising from lymphocytic cells. They usually develop in the lymphoid tissues and can spread to other organs; however, primary extra-nodal locations such as the spinal epidural space are less common. The authors report the case of a primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the thoracic spine in a 65-year-old man, who presented to the emergency department with signs of upper motor neuron lesion.

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