Hospital Context Determinants of Variability in Healthcare-Associated Infection Prevalence: Multi-Level Analysis.

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) represent a major challenge in patient safety that affects services disproportionally. This paper aimed to assess how the HAI prevalence varies between hospital services and what contextual characteristics may explain such variance. A cross-sectional study was conducted on adult patients in Portuguese hospitals, using data from the European point prevalence survey of HAI prevalence.

Genital Warts in Women Vaccinated against HPV in Childhood: A Systematic Review.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection among young women. Notably, more than ten years after the introduction of HPV vaccination programs in Europe, it is essential to review the real-world evidence of the incidence of anogenital warts (GWs) among women vaccinated during childhood. In this systematic review, three databases were searched for studies published between January 2008 and September 2023.

Cellular responses to 3D printed dental resins produced using a manufacturer recommended printer versus a third party printer.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different 3D dental resins, using a manufacturer recommended printer and a third-party printer, on cellular responses of human gingival cells.

Materials And Methods: Three NextDent resins (Denture 3D+, C&B MFH and Crowntec) were used to produce specimens on printers NextDent 5100 (groups ND, NC and NT, respectively) and Phrozen Sonic Mini 4K (groups PD, PC and PT, respectively). Human gingival fibroblasts were cultured and biocompatibility was evaluated on days 1, 3 and 7.

A Comparison Study of Deep Learning Methodologies for Music Emotion Recognition.

Classical machine learning techniques have dominated Music Emotion Recognition. However, improvements have slowed down due to the complex and time-consuming task of handcrafting new emotionally relevant audio features. Deep learning methods have recently gained popularity in the field because of their ability to automatically learn relevant features from spectral representations of songs, eliminating such necessity.

Löfgren Syndrome: A Mosaic of Sarcoidosis Phenotypes.

Sarcoidosis is an autoimmune multisystemic granulomatous disease with an unknown etiology. Löfgren syndrome (LS), an infrequent initial presentation of acute sarcoidosis, is characterized by the classic triad of acute arthritis, erythema nodosum (EN), and bilateral hilar lymphadenopathy (BHL). The presence of this triad offers high diagnostic specificity for sarcoidosis, eliminating the need for a confirmatory biopsy.

Seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among health care workers in a Portuguese hospital.

Background: Health care workers (HCW) are presumably exposed to a higher risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2 and could possibly represent a source of transmission to susceptible patients. Thus, characterization of SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCW is necessary to better understand the determinants of viral transmission and properly implement strategies to prevent dissemination and protect HCW and vulnerable patients. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in a Portuguese tertiary hospital, in the period of July 2020 to March 2021, before the generalized use of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, characterize its evolution over time, and identify risk factors associated with seroconversion.

Surveillance of surgical site infection after colorectal surgery: comprehensiveness and impact of risk factors.

Objective: The incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) is highest after colorectal surgery. We assessed the impact of risk factors for SSI using the population attributable fraction (PAF).

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Cannabinoid-mediated targeting of mitochondria on the modulation of mitochondrial function and dynamics.

Mitochondria play a critical role in the regulation of several biological processes (e.g., programmed cell death, inflammation, neurotransmission, cell differentiation).

Hospital context in surgical site infection following colorectal surgery: a multi-level logistic regression analysis.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are associated with poor health outcomes. Their incidence is highest after colorectal surgery, with little improvement in recent years. The role of hospital characteristics is undetermined.

Synthetic Cannabinoids: A Pharmacological and Toxicological Overview.

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are a chemically diverse group of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) that target the endocannabinoid system, triggering a plethora of actions (e.g., elevated mood sensation, relaxation, appetite stimulation) that resemble, but are more intense than, those induced by cannabis.

Antidotal effect of cyclosporine A against α-amanitin toxicity in CD-1 mice, at clinical relevant doses.

Amanita phalloides is one of the most toxic mushrooms worldwide, being responsible for the majority of human fatal cases of mushroom intoxications. α-Amanitin, the most deleterious toxin of A. phalloides, inhibits RNA polymerase II (RNAP II), causing hepatic and renal failure.

Beyond the operating room: do hospital characteristics have an impact on surgical site infections after colorectal surgery? A systematic review.

Background: Hospital characteristics have been recognized as potential risk factors for surgical site infection for over 20 years. However, most research has focused on patient and procedural risk factors. Understanding how structural and process variables influence infection is vital to identify targets for effective interventions and to optimize healthcare services.

interactions between the ectomycorrhizal and the saprotroph fungi: morphological aspects and volatile production.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi are crucial for forests sustainability. For , ectomycorrhizal fungus is an important mutualist partner. Saprotrophic fungi , although used for biocontrol of root disease, it negatively affected the interaction between the and plant host roots, by compromise the formation of mycorrhizae.

Effectiveness of contact tracing and quarantine on reducing COVID-19 transmission: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Contact tracing and quarantine are common measures used in the management of infectious disease outbreaks. However, few studies have measured their impact on the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of those measures on reducing transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in a community setting.

The Synthetic Cannabinoids THJ-2201 and 5F-PB22 Enhance In Vitro CB Receptor-Mediated Neuronal Differentiation at Biologically Relevant Concentrations.

Recreational use of synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) before and during pregnancy poses a major public health risk, due to the potential onset of neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring. Herein, we report the assessment of the neurotoxic potential of two commonly abused SCs, THJ-2201 and 5F-PB22, particularly focusing on how they affect neuronal differentiation in vitro. Differentiation ratios, total neurite length, and neuronal marker expression were assessed in NG108-15 neuroblastoma x glioma cells exposed to the SCs at non-toxic, biologically relevant concentrations (≤1 μM), either in acute or repeated exposure settings.

Validation of a semi-automated surveillance system for surgical site infections: Improving exhaustiveness, representativeness, and efficiency.

Objectives: To assess whether electronic records data could improve the efficiency, exhaustiveness, and representativeness of SSI surveillance by selecting a group of high-risk patients for manual review.

Methods: Colorectal surgeries (2016-2018) and cholecystectomies (2017-2018) were selected. Post-surgical antibiotic use, positive culture, C-reactive protein (CRP) values, body temperature, leukocyte count, surgical re-intervention, admission to the emergency room, and hospital readmission were retrieved.

Application of chemometric tools for the comparison of volatile profile from raw and roasted regional and foreign almond cultivars ().

In almonds, volatile compounds are major contributors to flavour, being scarce the current knowledge about their volatile profile. Hence, this work intended to characterize the volatile profile, using headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, in raw and roasted almond cultivars (regional cvs. Amendoão, Bonita, Casanova, Molar and Pegarinhos and foreign cvs.

Volatile changes in cv. Verdeal Transmontana olive oil: From the drupe to the table, including storage.

This study focused on the volatile changes in cv. Verdeal Transmontana throughout the entire olive oil processing chain, from the drupe to olive oil storage up to 12 months, while correlating it with quality parameters and sensory quality. During crushing and malaxation, the volatiles formed were mainly "green-leaf volatiles" (GLVs), namely (E)-2-hexenal, hexanal, and 1-hexanol.

Olive cultivar and maturation process on the oviposition preference of Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae).

The olive fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi) (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a key-pest in the main olives producing areas worldwide, and displays distinct preference to different olive cultivars. The present work intended to study oviposition preference towards three Portuguese cultivars (Cobrançosa, Madural, and Verdeal Transmontana) at different maturation indexes. Multiple oviposition bioassays (multiple-choice and no-choice) were conducted to assess cultivar preference.

Antimicrobial activity of endophytic fungi from olive tree leaves.

In this study, the antimicrobial potential of three fungal endophytes from leaves of Olea europaea L. was evaluated and the host plant extract effect in the antimicrobial activity was examined. The volatile compounds produced by endophytes were identified by GC/MS and further correlated with the antimicrobial activity.

Ultrasound detects subclinical joint inflammation in the hands and wrists of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus without musculoskeletal symptoms.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and severity of ultrasonographic abnormalities of the hand and wrist of asymptomatic patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and compare these findings with those from patients with SLE with musculoskeletal signs or symptoms and healthy controls.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study that evaluated bilaterally, with grey-scale and power Doppler (PD) ultrasound (US), the dorsal hand (2nd to 5th metacarpophalangeal and 2nd to 5th proximal interphalangeal joints) and wrist (radiocarpal, ulnocarpal and intercarpal joints) of 30 asymptomatic patients with SLE, 6 symptomatic patients with SLE and 10 controls. Synovial hypertrophy (SH) and intra-articular PD signal were scored using semiquantitative grading scales (0-3).

Cooking impact in color, pigments and volatile composition of grapevine leaves (Vitis vinifera L. var. Malvasia Fina and Touriga Franca).

Grapevine leaves (Vitis vinifera L. var. Malvasia Fina and Touriga Franca) under culinary treatment (blanching and boiling at 60, 75 and 90min) were studied for their color, pigments and volatile fraction changes.

Selection of grapevine leaf varieties for culinary process based on phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties.

Grapevine leaves are an abundant sub-product of vineyards which is devalued in many regions. The objective of this work is to study the antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition of ten grapevine leaf varieties (four red varieties: Tinta Amarela, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca, and Touriga Nacional; and six white varieties: Côdega do Larinho, Fernão Pires, Gouveio, Malvasia Fina, Rabigato, and Viosinho) to select varieties to be used as food ingredients. White grapevine leaves revealed higher antioxidant potential.