Impressions on European physiology education and research-A quick view from the Portuguese experience.

The Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) are celebrating 25 years of free mobility and career opportunities. Despite its progress, disparities exist in the effectiveness of this initiative across EHEA countries. Physiology is a mandatory component of health science curricula but lacks standardized educational benchmarks, leading to limited societal awareness and professional opportunities.

Role of sex and training characteristics on exercise effects on cardiovascular aging: protocol for a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading global cause of mortality worldwide especially in older adults. Although it is known that regular exercise reduces cardiovascular diseases incidence, its effects on specific cardiovascular aging parameters considering the influence of sex and different exercise designs are still not fully understood. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of different physical exercise protocols on age-related cardiovascular outcomes in older adults.

Omnivore and vegetarians show similar body composition and skin physiology across body regions-A comparative analysis.

Background: Skin physiology seems to be influenced by dietary choices and body composition, although links between these factors remain poorly characterised. In the present manuscript, we elaborate on the potential relationships among food groups, body composition and skin physiology in omnivores and vegetarians.

Material And Methods: This cross-sectional observational study involved 181 participants, 129 omnivores and 52 vegetarians.

What have we learned on pre, very early, and early systemic sclerosis microcirculatory pathophysiology? A scoping review.

Objective: Microvascular dysfunction is an early event in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). The objective of this scoping review is to update the current information and the level of knowledge about the mechanisms of microvascular dysfunction in pre-SSc, very early diagnosis of SSc (VEDOSS) and early SSc.

Methods: A PubMed® database search allowed us to include original data from full-length articles in English in which the main topic was microvascular dysfunction in pre-SSC, VEDOSS or early SSc.

Charting the course of Physiology within the post-Bologna European higher education area: Insights from Portugal.

The future of physiology has been a recurrent concern for physiologists and Physiological Societies within post-Bologna Europe and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Our paper provides an overview of Physiology teaching and research in Portugal, an EU member state and part of the EHEA. A descriptive study was designed to analyze data publicly available from the National Higher Education Directorate agency (DGES) from September to November 2022 to find all Portuguese syllabi containing at least one discipline related to human Physiology.

Lower-Limb Perfusion and Cardiovascular Physiology Are Significantly Improved in Non-Healthy Aged Adults by Regular Home-Based Physical Activities-An Exploratory Study.

Common daily activities including walking might be used to improve cardiovascular health in the presence of disease. Thus, we designed a specific home-based physical activity program to assess cardiovascular indicators in an older, non-active, non-healthy population. Ten participants, with a mean age of 62.

Studying Erythromelalgia Using Doppler Flowmetry Perfusion Signals and Wavelet Analysis-An Exploratory Study.

Erythromelalgia (EM) is a rare disease, which is still poorly characterized. In the present paper, we compared the hand perfusion of one female EM patient, under challenges, with a healthy control group. Using a laser Doppler flowmeter (LDF) with an integrated thermal probe, measurements were taken in both hands at rest (Phase I) and after two separate challenges-post-occlusive hyperemia (PORH) in one arm (A) and reduction of skin temperature (cooling) with ice in one hand (B) (Phase II).

Nurse-led intervention for the management of bariatric surgery patients: A systematic review.

The prevalence of obesity has become a global health concern, and severe obesity is associated with various chronic diseases and decreased quality of life. Bariatric surgery has shown success in treating obesity. Nevertheless, some patients experience weight regain and unsatisfactory outcomes.

Contemporary views on the future of physiology-a report from the 2019 P-MIG focus group.

Physiologists are seen as professionals with a unique understanding of life, health, and disease, essential to the progression of knowledge regarding human functions and health. Among these experts however, the thematic of the "Future of Physiology" has been regularly present in the agenda of physiology organizations around the world as various uncertainties about teaching and research in human physiology emerged. The Physiology Majors Interest Group (P-MIG) 2019 meeting provided the occasion for some strategic reasoning and planning, aiming to identify the trends that might drive future changes in human physiology.

Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Its Relationship to Metabolic Markers and Body Composition in Portuguese University Students.

Background: Transitioning to university involves several changes, which might affect dietary habits. The present study aimed to assess the potential relationships involving adherence to the MedDiet, body composition, and metabolic markers within a Portuguese university sample.

Methods: A cross-sectional study involved 70 participants, 52 women, and 18 men (23.

Bioimpedance and Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry Are Not Equivalent Technologies: Comparing Fat Mass and Fat-Free Mass.

Bioimpedance (BIA) is the most frequently used technology for body composition assessment at a daily clinical level, mostly due to its low price and user-friendly operation. However, many doubts persist regarding its physiological meaning and applicability. The present study aimed to compare one BIA system and the Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) for the characterization of body composition in a previously selected cohort of healthy adult participants.

The Impact of Kefir on Epidermal Water Homeostasis in Healthy Human Skin.

Kefir, a symbiotic consortium of diverse bacteria and yeasts, is one of the most popular probiotic foods on the market. Its consumption has been referred to as beneficial in human skin health, namely in the reinforcement of skin's barrier function. This benefit likely results from the productive activity of lactic acid bacteria during kefir fermentation.

The Long-Term Association between Physical Activity and Weight Regain, Metabolic Risk Factors, Quality of Life and Sleep after Bariatric Surgery.

Bariatric surgery is currently regarded as a safe and effective long-term procedure for the treatment of obesity and related comorbidities. We analyzed the association between physical activity (PA), weight regain, metabolic risk factors and quality of life in patients submitted to bariatric surgery. This study also aimed to preliminarily assess how physical activity and weight regain may be associated with sleep quality and sedentary behavior.

Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography for Functional Imaging in Vascular Research.

Microcirculatory impairment has been recognized in various disease processes, underlying this growing theme within vascular research. In recent years, the development of live imaging systems has set the (analytical) pace in both basic and clinical research, with the objective of creating new instruments capable of providing real-time, quantifiable endpoints with clinical interest and application. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are available, among other techniques, but cost, image resolution, and reduced contrast are recognized as common challenges.

Comparison between Different Groups of Vegetarianism and Its Associations with Body Composition: A Literature Review from 2015 to 2021.

Background: Vegetarian and vegan diets have become increasingly popular in the last years for many reasons, including their association with various health benefits when compared to omnivorous diets. The main objective of the study was to collect recent (2015-2021) scientific evidence for potential implications between a vegetarian/vegan diet and an individuals' body composition.

Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, with 22 studies selected for inclusion in our collective evaluation.

Scaphoid Dislocation: A Rare Pattern of Wrist Instability - A Case Report.

Introduction: Scaphoid dislocations are rare injuries, usually resulting from high-energy trauma and therefore associated to other lesions which may obscure the diagnosis.

Case Presentation: The authors present a case of a 59-year-old man with a partial complex dislocation of the scaphoid, diagnosed 6 days after the initial injury. Closed reduction was unsuccessfully attempted, so the patient was submitted to open reduction and internal fixation.

Homemade Kefir Consumption Improves Skin Condition-A Study Conducted in Healthy and Atopic Volunteers.

Diet has a fundamental role in the homeostasis of bodily functions, including the skin, which, as an essential protective barrier, plays a crucial role in this balance. The skin and intestine appear to share a series of indirect metabolic pathways, in a dual relationship known as the "gut-skin axis". Hence, the gut-skin axis might be receptive to modulation via dietary modification, where probiotics can be included, thus representing a potential therapeutic target in inflammatory skin diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD), in order to control and/or ameliorate symptoms.

Trapezium and Bennett Fracture - A Rare Base Thumb Fracture Pattern:A Case Report.

Introduction: Trapezium fracture is a rare entity whose treatment is controversial. The reported cases range from conservative treatment to surgical treatment with good reported results.

Case Report: This paper reports a clinical case of trapezium-metacarpal fracture-dislocation associated with trapezius fracture and Bennett fracture, surgically treated with excellent functional and radiological results.

Lower Limb Dynamic Activity Significantly Reduces Foot Skin Perfusion: Exploring Data with Different Optical Sensors in Age-Grouped Healthy Adults.

Introduction: The human lower limb is widely used as a model to study in vivo microcirculatory physiology and pathophysiology. It is a preferential target for critical comorbidities (overweight, diabetes, and peripheral vascular disease). Movement and activity are consistently regarded as beneficial, but the related adaptive physiology is still poorly understood.

Characterization of Kefir Produced in Household Conditions: Physicochemical and Nutritional Profile, and Storage Stability.

Kefir, a traditional fermented food, has numerous health benefits due to its unique chemical composition, which is reflected in its excellent nutritional value. Physicochemical and microbial composition of kefir obtained from fermented milk are influenced by the type of the milk, grain to milk ratio, time and temperature of fermentation, and storage conditions. It is crucial that kefir characteristics are maintained during storage since continuous metabolic activities of residual kefir microbiota may occur.

Screening the dermatological potential of species components: antioxidant and inhibitory capacities over elastase, collagenase and tyrosinase.

A series of spp. plant extracts (aqueous, acetonic, methanolic and ethyl acetic) obtained from eight different species, and previously isolated compounds (ranging from polyphenols, diterpenes and triterpenes), were assayed for inhibition of the skin-related enzymes tyrosinase, collagenase and elastase, and for studying their antioxidant properties. The ethyl acetic extracts of and registered the highest antioxidant activity, whereas acetonic, methanolic and ethyl acetic extracts of , , and concerning the enzymatic inhibition assays revealed high anti-tyrosinase and anti-collagenase activities.

The revised EEMCO guidance for the in vivo measurement of water in the skin.

Background: Noninvasive quantification of stratum corneum water content is widely used in skin research and topical product development.

Methods: The original EEMCO guidelines on measurements of skin hydration by electrical methods and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by evaporimeter published in 1997 and 2001 have been revisited and updated with the incorporation of recently available technologies.

Results: Electrical methods and open-chamber evaporimeters for measurement of TEWL are still the preferred techniques to measure the water balance in the stratum corneum.

Unsaponifiable matter from oil of green coffee beans: cosmetic properties and safety evaluation.

Context: Unsaponifiable matter (UM), a fraction of green coffee oil (GCO) contains functional compounds responsible for desirable cosmetic properties such as UV-B absorption.

Objectives: To evaluate oil content and sun protection factor (SPF) variability of the two most important species of coffee and, the toxic and cytotoxic effects, as well as cosmetic properties, including antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of UM obtained from green Coffea arabica seed oil.

Materials And Methods: The safety and potential cosmetic properties of UM extracted from green coffee oil (GCO) were evaluated by the brine shrimp viability and the MTT cytotoxicity assays.