Effect of low dose colchicine on long term recurrence after atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: Colchicine is commonly used early after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation to reduce inflammation and reduce AF recurrence, but there is limited long-term efficacy data.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of low dose colchicine use on long-term AF recurrence after AF ablation.

Methods: From 2013 to 2021, all AF ablations performed at a single tertiary care medical center were analyzed for colchicine use, clinical and procedural characteristics, and AF recurrence.

Upcycling Fishing Net Waste and Metal Oxide from Electroplating Waste into Alga Cultivation Structures with Antibacterial Properties.

Plastic waste, especially discarded fishing nets, and electroplating sludges pose significant environmental challenges, impacting marine ecosystems and contributing to pollution. In alga cultivation, invasive microorganisms often hinder growth, necessitating strategies to combat these issues. This study aimed to develop recycled substrates for alga cultivation by repurposing fishing nets and enhancing their surfaces with antibacterial properties using copper oxide (CuO).

Selective IgM deficiency: evaluation of 75 patients according to different diagnostic criteria.

Selective IgM deficiency (SIgMD) has recently been included in the inborn errors of immunity classification. SIgMD has conflicting diagnostic criteria and diverse clinical and immunological findings. We aimed to assess the clinical and laboratory profiles of patients with SIgMD and to compare the data of patients diagnosed using two inclusion criteria.

Falls efficacy scale - Formal caregivers: Adaptation and validation in Portuguese nursing homes.

The literature review shows that the fear of falling is present in older persons', but also in their careers and influences the performance of activities of daily living. The objective of this methodological study was to adapt and validate the Falls Efficacy Scale - Formal Caregivers. The development of the examined scale was based on the Falls Efficacy Scale - International, which was adapted for assessing the fear of falling in formal caregivers.

Translating the Behaviour Change Technique Taxonomy v.1 to other languages: the approach used in European Portuguese (BCTTv1-PT).

Background: The Behaviour Change Techniques Taxonomy v1 (BCTTv1) is the most widely used classification of behaviour change techniques (BCTs), contributing to the accurate report and evaluation of behaviour change interventions and accumulation of evidence. This study reports a structured approach to adapt the BCTTv1 into European Portuguese (BCTTv1-PT).

Methods: A collaborative and iterative approach was used.

Biofilm matrix regulation by Zap1 under acidic conditions: transcriptomic and proteomic analyses.

The vaginal acidic environment potentiates the formation of biofilms, leading to complicated and recurrent infections. Importantly, the production of matrix is known to contribute to the recalcitrant features of biofilms. In this study, we reveal that Zap1 regulates the matrix of acidic biofilms and analyzed the modulation of their transcriptome (by microarrays) and matrix proteome (by LC-MS/MS) by Zap1.

A qualitative study of older adults: The difficulties and needs of returning home after hip fractures.

Background: Falls and consequent fractures are an increasing problem among older adults, with low rates of return to previous functional condition and a substantial risk of subsequent falls. This scenario points to the need for an improved response to this population's needs.

Objective: To define the difficulties and needs felt by older adults with hip fractures when returning home.

Unity gives strength: combining Bertaut's and Belov's concepts and the formalism of aperiodic crystals to solve magnetic structures of unprecedented complexity.

We draw attention to the exceptional work of Geers et al. [(2024). IUCrJ, 11, 910-920] on the analysis of magnetic phases, in which challenging magnetic structures are determined by a combination of modern computational methods and a connection between nuclear modulation and the ordering of magnetic moments is shown.

Analysis of magnetic structures in JANA2020.

JANA2020 is a program developed for the solution and refinement of regular, twinned, modulated, and composite crystal structures. In addition, JANA2020 also includes a magnetic option for solving magnetic structures from powder and single-crystal neutron diffraction data. This tool uses magnetic space and superspace symmetry to describe commensurate and incommensurate magnetic structures.

Robust pinned magnetisation in AIrO iridates, the case of ErIrO and LuIrO flux-grown single crystals.

In addition to complex spin-ice and spin-liquid states of rare-earth pyrochlore oxides, AIrO iridates have been recently proposed to host a cooling-field-controllable antiferromagnetic domain structure of iridium moments. Reliable and profound studies of the magnetic domain structure, including domains' interfaces, have been frequently limited by insufficient sample quality or lack of single crystals. We report the magnetic properties of the for-the-first-time synthesised LuIrO and ErIrO single crystals; focussing on the robust ferromagnetic component of magnetisation present in the material with the antiferromagnetically ordered state of the all-in-all-out (AIAO) type.

Analyzing innovative policies and practices for palliative care in Portugal: a qualitative study.

Background: Countries with formal policies for palliative care, and advanced and integrated practices in this field, such as Portugal, face challenges in achieving excellence in care, particularly in home-based assistance. Issues include care coordination among providers, confusion regarding the roles of each health care professional in the network, and a lack of monitoring and evaluation of actions. Our objective was to analyze the implementation of palliative care in primary health care in Portugal.

Spontaneous Peritoneal Hemorrhage and Anemia: A Rare Case Report of Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia manifesting with mucocutaneous bleeding symptoms, generally mild to moderate. The presence of severe symptoms or complications is rare but can be life-threatening and should be promptly diagnosed and treated. We present the case of a 14-year-old female presenting with abdominal tenderness and signs of peritoneal irritation and found to exhibit petechial rash in the buccal mucosa, scant petechiae, and superficial ecchymosis in both arms and legs on physical examination.

Guidelines for communicating commensurate magnetic structures. A report of the International Union of Crystallography Commission on Magnetic Structures.

A report from the International Union of Crystallography Commission on Magnetic Structures outlining the recommendations for communicating commensurate magnetic structures.

Development and Evaluation of Microencapsulated Oregano Essential Oil as an Alternative Treatment for Infections.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is characterized as a very common fungal infection that significantly affects women's health worldwide. Essential oils (EOs) are currently being evaluated as an alternative therapy. The development of efficient techniques such as micro- or nanoencapsulation for protecting and controlling release is essential to overcome the limitations of EO applications.

Person-centred care intervention to promote self-efficacy in patients following a myocardial infarction (P2MIR): a protocol of a qualitative study for cultural adaptation within a Portuguese healthcare context.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of death worldwide. Recovery from myocardial infarction is challenging as the causes of symptoms span multiple aspects of health not just physical conditions. Evidence has shown a gap between the waycare is provided in the clinical setting and the person's needs and preferences.

Visual vertigo in children: Adaptation and validation of the visual vertigo analogue scale to European Portuguese.

Background: Visual vertigo occurs after vestibular and non-vestibular pathology and can be present in children and adolescents. It can be assessed by "the Visual Vertigo Analogue Scale" (VVAS), a questionnaire with a Portuguese version for adults.

Objectives: To perform the adaptation to pediatric age and validation of VVAS in European Portuguese.

Association between plasma imatinib levels and response to treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia in patients from Manaus, Brazil.

Introduction: Imatinib mesylate (IM) is the drug of choice for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, despite most of the results obtained with this therapy being positive, some patients still present a suboptimal therapeutic response or still develop some type of resistance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate IM plasma levels in CML patients treated at a referral unit in Manaus and correlate them with variables that might interfere with these levels.

Validation of the Portuguese version of the Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) in a sample of bereaved individuals.

The Integration of Stressful Life Experiences Scale (ISLES) evaluates the ability to integrate stressful experiences into one's meaning system. The present study developed and validated a version of this scale for a bereaved Portuguese-speaking population, utilizing a sample of 242 adults who had lost a significant other to diverse causes of death. The sample was predominantly female, educated, married, or in consensual unions, and actively employed.

Improved professional competencies and leadership in PhD-prepared nurses and doctoral students after participating in the cross-national and web-based Nurse-Lead program.

Background: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)-prepared nurses are expected to exercise leadership in their various roles. Therefore, European nurse scholars developed a cross-national web-based Nursing Leadership and Mentoring Educational (Nurse-Lead) program.

Purpose: To evaluate changes in leadership practices, professional and research competencies as well as career development of PhD-prepared nurses and doctoral nursing students after participation in the Nurse-Lead program.

Cervical Disc Displacement in Military Pilots.

Introduction: Cervical disc displacement (CDD) may disqualify pilots from flying and have a profound impact on military unit capability. The objective of this retrospective database review is to characterize the incidence and demographic predictors of symptomatic cervical spine disc displacement in pilots of fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and ground-based controls.

Materials And Methods: The Defense Military Epidemiology Database was queried for first-occurrence ICD-9 code 722.