Organic Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Consumption Profile of a Portuguese Consumer Sample.

The production and consumption of organic products have been increasing in Portugal, as well as in the European Union as a whole. The main objective of this work is to understand the consumption habits of organic medicinal and aromatic plants (OMAPs) among Portuguese adults. An online questionnaire was distributed using social networks, resulting in the collection and statistical analysis of 300 responses.

A Narrative Review of Alternative Protein Sources: Highlights on Meat, Fish, Egg and Dairy Analogues.

The research and development of alternatives to meat (including fish) and dairy products for human consumption have been increasing in recent years. In the context of these alternatives, there is a diversity of products such as tofu, tempeh, seitan, pulses, algae, seeds, nuts and insects. Apart from these, some products require new technical processes such as needed by milk drink alternatives, mycoprotein and meat, cheese and fish analogues.

Self-Determined Motivation and Competitive Anxiety in Athletes/Students: A Probabilistic Study Using Bayesian Networks.

This study attempts to analyze the relationship between two key psychological variables associated with performance in sports - Self-Determined Motivation and Competitive Anxiety - through Bayesian Networks (BN) analysis. We analyzed 674 university students that are athletes from 44 universities that competed at the University Games in Mexico, with an average age of 21 years (SD = 2.07) and with a mean of 8.

Mitochondria-rich cells changes induced by nitrite exposure in tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum Cuvier, 1818).

The gill mitochondria-rich cells of the juvenile Amazonian fish Colossoma macropomum were analyzed using light and scanning and transmission electron microscopy after 96 h exposure to 0.04 and 0.2 mM nitrite.

Relationships between cooperation and goal orientation among male professional and semi-professional team athletes.

In team sports, athletes' goals may focus on the task (enhancing performance, developing better skills, etc.) or on ego (being better than the others, achieving superiority, etc.).

Systemic rhabdomyolysis induced by venom of freshwater stingrays Plesiotrygon iwamae and Potamotrygon motoro (Chondrichthyes-Potamotrygonidae) from the Amazon Basin.

Injuries caused by freshwater stingrays are characterized by intense pain and pathological changes at the lesion site, including oedema, erythema and, in most cases, necrosis. In this study, the systemic myotoxic activity induced by mucus extracts from the dorsal region and stinger of the stingrays Plesiotrygon iwamae and Potamotrygon motoro was described, analysed and quantified. Twenty-four hours after injection of 400 μg of the extracts into the gastrocnemius muscle of mice, the following effects were observed: coagulative necrosis of the muscle tissue, muscle fibre regeneration and the presence of inflammatory infiltrates, including neutrophils, macrophages, and a reduced number of eosinophils and lymphocytes.

Assessment of a new lateral flow immunochromatographic (LFIC) assay for the okadaic acid group of toxins using naturally contaminated bivalve shellfish from the Portuguese coast.

A new rapid assay for the okadaic acid group of toxins, based on lateral flow immunochromatographic (LFIC) test strips developed by Jellett Rapid Testing Ltd., was assessed on naturally contaminated bivalves from the Portuguese coast. One prototype was evaluated using samples harvested during 2005, extracted with 80% methanol, followed by dilution with the running buffer of a methanolic extract after alkaline hydrolysis for esters.

Quantification of total chromium and hexavalent chromium in UHT milk by ETAAS.

Procedures for the quantification of total chromium and hexavalent chromium in UHT milk samples are presented. Total chromium was determined directly in milk with the addition of a surfactant and a mixture of Pd and Mg as a chemical modifier. For the selective separation of hexavalent chromium, the sample pre-treatment consisted in precipitation of proteins and elution of the supernatant through a Chromabond NH2 column.

Lorazepam in the treatment of neurosis.

An open study was carried out in 40 ambulatory neurotic patients with classical symptoms of anxiety to assess which of their symptoms responded most readily and favourably to treatment with lorazepam. Doses ranged from 2 mg to 15 mg daily and were adjusted to individual patient needs. The study period lasted 4 weeks and patients' individual symptoms were assessed weekly on a 4-point severity rating scale.