Publications by authors named "Luis Dias"

Honey can benefit from non-thermal processing techniques such as high-pressure processing (HPP) to improve its quality and bioactivity. This study investigated the impact of HPP (600 MPa for 5, 10, and 15 min) on honey's quality, including the levels of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and phenolic profile. HPP treatment did not significantly affect HMF or TPC levels but led to selective changes in the phenolic profile.

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Mediterranean agroecosystems' vulnerability to hydroclimatic extremes threatens their resilience and sustainability. Nature-based Solutions present a sustainable strategy to address global challenges. This meta-analysis of 70 studies developed in Mediterranean climates identified solutions to improve soil health and water quality in agroecosystems by estimating their effects on soil organic matter, organic carbon, water, erosion, and Kjeldahl nitrogen, total nitrogen, nitrate, total phosphorus, phosphate, and suspended solids, respectively.

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Bone defects in animals can arise from various causes, including diseases, neoplasms, and most commonly, trauma. Comminuted fractures that exceed the critical size may heal poorly due to deficient or interrupted vascularization, resulting in an insufficient number of progenitor cells necessary for bone regeneration. In this context, 3D printing techniques using poly-L-lactic acid/graphene oxide (PLLA/GO) aim to address this issue by creating customized scaffolds combined with canine placenta hydrogel and mesenchymal stem cells for use in goat mandibles, compared to a control group using titanium plate fixation.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the effectiveness of combining distal femoral osteotomy (DFO) and modified tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (mTPLO) to treat dogs with medial patellar luxation (MPL) and cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD) along with certain bone deviations.
  • A total of 12 dogs underwent the combined surgical procedures, with evaluations showing significant improvements in bone angles and successful healing rates over follow-up periods.
  • Results indicated that lameness was resolved in all dogs by 90 days post-surgery, with no major complications reported, suggesting this treatment approach is effective for affected canines.
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Objective:  To describe a modification of the tibial plateau leveling osteotomy technique wherein a double cut is made in the same plane to level the tibial plateau (double-cut tibial plateau leveling osteotomy [DCTPLO]) for treating dogs with cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) and excessive tibial plateau angle (eTPA) diseases.

Study Design:  The DCTPLO technique was performed on 18 stifles in dogs with CrCL and an eTPA (>34°). This study evaluated the accuracy of preoperative planning, feasibility of the technique, postoperative clinical outcomes, radiographic examinations at the postoperative follow-up for the first 120 days, evolution of the tibial plateau angle (TPA), time of union of the osteotomy, apposition of the implants, and possible complications.

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Extreme weather events driven by climate change threaten the resilience of urban structures and urban dwellers. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are an effective tool to reduce urban vulnerability to climate risks and, at the same time, develop more liveable urban areas. Despite the acknowledged positive impacts of individual observed NbS, numerous questions persist unanswered.

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Subglottic stenosis is characterized by the narrowing of the airway at the inferior edge of the cricoid cartilage level. It is either congenital or acquired, the latter being more commonly secondary to internal iatrogenic trauma. Airway management of these cases is challenging and requires multidisciplinary discussion.

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In this study, we monitored the fermentative process of L. leaves (grapevine), spontaneously or promoted by , in both solid and liquid media. We also aimed to evaluate the effect on the bioactivity and shelf life of yogurt incorporating fermented and non-fermented grapevine leaves compared to yogurt produced with the preservative potassium sorbate.

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The aims of this study were to describe and compare the meat quality characteristics of male and female kids from the "Serrana" and "Preta de Montesinho" breeds certified as "Cabrito Transmontano" and reinforce the performance of near-infrared reflectance (NIR) spectra in predicting these quality characteristics and discriminating among breeds. Samples of ( = 32; sixteen per breed; eight males and eight females) were used. Breed significantly affected meat quality characteristics, with only color and fatty acid (FA) (C12:0) being influenced by sex.

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Dairy products are highly susceptible to contamination from microorganisms. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and propolis film as protective coatings for cheese. For this, microbiological analyses were carried out over the cheese' ripening period, focusing on total mesophilic bacteria, yeasts and moulds, lactic acid bacteria, total coliforms, , and .

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Unlabelled: Multidisciplinary team from three universities based in the "Centro" Region of Portugal developed diverse approaches as parts of a project dedicated to enhancing and expanding Predictive, Preventive, and Personalized Medicine (3PM) in the Region. In a sense, outcomes acted as a proof-of-concept, in that they demonstrated the feasibility, but also the relevance of the approaches. The accomplishments comprise defining a new regional strategy for implementing 3PM within the Region, training of human resources in genomic sequencing, and generating good practices handbooks dedicated to diagnostic testing via next-generation sequencing, to legal and ethical concerns, and to knowledge transfer and entrepreneurship, aimed at increasing literacy on 3PM approaches.

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Sphenoid meningoencephaloceles are rare, and their treatment is challenging. In this report, we describe two clinical cases of sphenoid meningoencephalocele, in which one patient presented with a cerebrospinal fluid leak after repeated head trauma, while in the other, sphenoid meningoencephalocele was detected during the study of memory impairment as the patient was otherwise asymptomatic. The CT scans showed bony dehiscence on the lateral wall of the sphenoid sinus filled with soft tissue that was confirmed by MRI as being herniated brain tissue.

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Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is an exceedingly rare and aggressive hematologic malignancy. In the current World Health Organization classification, it is classified among histiocytic/dendritic cell neoplasms. This report describes the case of an 85-year-old female with a complex medical history, including rheumatoid arthritis, who presented with a one-month history of low-grade fever, anorexia, and unexplained weight loss.

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 Balloon eustachian tuboplasty (BET) allows the treatment of the main etiology of eustachian tube disfunction (ETD).  To evaluate the efficacy of isolated BET, through objective and subjective results, in the short and medium term, in patients with chronic obstructive ETD.  Adult patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive ETD who underwent BET between January 2018 and December 2020 were enrolled in the study.

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Synonymous single nucleotide variants (sSNVs) do not alter the primary structure of a protein, thus it was previously accepted that they were neutral. Recently, several studies demonstrated their significance to a range of diseases. Still, variant prioritization strategies lack focus on sSNVs.

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This study involved a comprehensive examination of sensory attributes in dry-cured Bísaro loins, including odor, androsterone, scatol, lean color, fat color, hardness, juiciness, chewiness, flavor intensity and flavor persistence. An analysis of 40 samples revealed a wide variation in these attributes, ensuring a robust margin for multivariate calibration purposes. The respective near-infrared (NIR) spectra unveiled distinct peaks associated with significant components, such as proteins, lipids and water.

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Article Synopsis
  • * This paper suggests using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) for assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals, advocating for absolute evaluations over relative comparisons to ensure clear assessment outcomes.
  • * It discusses various options for aggregating data on multiple attributes, highlighting the importance of considering data quality and providing comprehensive insights beyond just overall results to understand the strengths and weaknesses of evaluated options.
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Geopropolis has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. In this study, the botanical origin, physicochemical profile, and biological activities of geopropolis from harvested during rainy and dry seasons were investigated. Palynological analysis identified over 50 pollen types, with and being the predominant types.

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Purpose: This study compared, through biomechanical evaluation under ventral flexion load, four surgical techniques for ventral stabilization of the atlantoaxial joint in dogs.

Methods: In total, 28 identical atlantoaxial joint models were created by digital printing from computed tomography images of a dog, and the specimens were divided into four groups of seven. In each group, a different technique for ventral stabilization of the atlantoaxial joint was performed: transarticular lag screws, polyaxial screws, multiple screws and bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate-PMMA), and atlantoaxial plate.

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In Mediterranean catchments, such as the Sorraia catchment in Portugal, it is expected that climate change will increase drought stress and the deterioration of water quality in reservoirs. Sustainable land management (SLM) practices are seen as an adaption measure for those problems, but the effectiveness on improving climate change impacted water availability and quality on catchment scale is still poorly understood. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of SLM practices in adapting the impacts of climate change on water availability and quality of the Montargil and Maranhão reservoirs in the Sorraia catchment.

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Propolis is a natural product produced by bees that contains a complex mixture of compounds, including phenolic compounds and flavonoids. These compounds contribute to its biological activities, such as antioxidant capacity. This study analysed the pollen profile, total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant properties, and phenolic compound profile of four propolis samples from Portugal.

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Lumbosacral plexopathy (LSP) encompasses a group of disorders affecting post-ganglionic fibers derived from the L1-S4 roots. The differential diagnosis is challenging and includes other neuropathies of medullary, radicular, or peripheral origin. Defining the etiology is equally crucial, as LSP management relies on its cause.

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This paper proposes and applies a multicriteria decision analysis framework tailored to assess measures for reducing the concentration of microplastics and macroplastics in seas, by implementing ground-breaking clean-up technologies and addressing different types of pollutant sources. Environmental, socio-economic and financial impacts are considered to provide a ranking of these measures for better-informed decision making. The data required to evaluate the performance of the technologies in different locations and scales are analyzed to understand the consequences of the different measures in terms of plastic pathways and sites, and the amounts accumulated, using innovative simulation models.

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