Nutritional status in perianal Crohn's disease: are we underestimating the impact?

Symptomatic perianal disease is common in patients with Crohn's disease (CD), and perianal fistulas represent the primary form of anal involvement. This type of involvement is associated with a poor prognosis and a disabling course. The treatment is challenging and involves both surgical and medical approaches.

Bioactive natural products from orchids native to the Americas - A review.

The purpose of this review is to provide information on the traditional uses, phytochemical and pharmacological studies performed with species of orchids native to the Americas and the Caribbean Islands. The treatment of inflammation is the most traditional use for plants of this family, specially in Central America, while anti-inflammatory and anticancer assays are oftenly reported in pharmacological investigations. From the chemical point of view, they are sources of phenanthrenoids and stilbenes, rare secondary metabolites not commonly found in other families of plants, as well as cycloartane triterpenes, pyrrolizidine alkaloids and flavonoids.

Racing Performance of the Quarter Horse: Genetic Parameters, Trends and Correlation for Earnings, Best Time and Time Class.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sprint racing performance of Quarter Horses in Brazil. Estimating genetic parameters, trends and correlations were obtained by single- and two-trait analyses using Bayesian inference (earnings to 2 years of equestrian age, best time and time class at distances of 301 m and 402 m). The data comprised a period of 38 equestrian years (1978 to 2015) with 23,482 sprint race records from 5861 animals.

Novel Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Robustness and Stability in Probiotic Bifidobacteria.

Some probiotic bifidobacteria are highly robust and shelf-stable, whereas others are difficult to produce, due to their sensitivity to stressors. This limits their potential use as probiotics. Here, we investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the variability in stress physiologies of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp.

Left ventricular noncompaction associated with a pathogenic mutation in the MYH7 gene: Known mutation, different phenotype.

Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a genetically heterogeneous cardiomyopathy, with familial and sporadic forms, but genetic testing only identifies a pathogenic mutation in a minority of cases. The main complications are heart failure, embolism and dysrhythmias. Herein we report a familial case of LVNC associated with a mutation in the MYH7 gene and review the literature regarding controversies in LVNC.

Genotype-environment interaction for milk production of Gyr cattle in Brazil and Colombia.

Background: Genotype by environment interactions (G × E) can play an important role in cattle populations and should be included in breeding programs in order to select the best animals for different environments.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the G × E for milk production of Gyr cattle in Brazil and Colombia by applying a reaction norm model used genomics information, and to identify genomic regions associated with milk production in the two countries.

Methods: The Brazilian and Colombian database included 464 animals (273 cows and 33 sires from Brazil and 158 cows from Colombia) and 27,505 SNPs.

Immunoglobulin G4-Associated Cholangitis: Two Case Reports and Clinical Use of Classic and Emerging International Diagnostic Criteria.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease is a multisystem disorder with unique gastrointestinal tract manifestations, often simulating neoplasms and other inflammatory conditions. Appropriate clinical suspicion and application of internationally validated criteria can assist in making the proper diagnosis. This article describes two cases of patients presenting with biliary tract manifestations simulating lymphoproliferative disease and adenocarcinoma, respectively.

Predictors of Fabry disease in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: How to guide the diagnostic strategy?

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is a treatable cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We aimed to determine the independent predictors of FD and to define a clinically useful strategy to discriminate FD among HCM.

Methods: Multicenter study including 780 patients with the ESC definition of HCM.

Simple, fast and environmentally friendly method to determine ciprofloxacin in wastewater samples based on an impedimetric immunosensor.

In this study an impedimetric immunosensor was developed in order to determine ciprofloxacin (CIP) in wastewater samples, an emergent contaminant widely found in wastewater. To achieve this, an anti-ciprofloxacin antibody was immobilized on the surface of a printed carbon electrode. Then, the developed immunosensor was applied in wastewater samples from Université Laval residences (Québec, Canada) through the load transfer resistance ( ) using [Fe(CN)] as a redox probe, and the average CIP concentration was found to be 2.

Impact of Recreational Sports Activities on Metabolic Syndrome Components in Adolescents.

We investigated the impact of a sports activities program on metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and pre-MetS among adolescents. Blood samples, blood pressure, weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat percentage, frequency of food consumption, daily time in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sedentary behavior (SB) of 92 male adolescents aged 14-18 years (16.07 ± 0.

Effects of isotemporal substitution of sedentary behavior with light-intensity or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity on cardiometabolic markers in male adolescents.

Increasing prevalence of sedentary behavior (SB) combined with low levels of physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents has become a growing public health concern. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the daily behavioral pattern of adolescents and examine the isotemporal substitution effects of SB with light-intensity PA (LIPA) or moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) on cardiometabolic markers. In this cross-sectional study, the daily behavioral pattern of Brazilian male adolescents was objectively measured for 7 days.

Can Replacing Sitting Time with Standing Time Improve Adolescents' Cardiometabolic Health?

This study aimed to assess the effects of isotemporal replacement of sitting time (SIT) with standing (STA) on cardiometabolic biomarkers. In this cross-sectional study, male adolescents wore the GT3X+ activity monitor for 7 days to measure the SIT and STA. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was estimated by a youth-specific cut-off point.

Short- and medium-term prognosis of Takotsubo syndrome in a Portuguese population.

Introduction: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by transient left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction.

Aim: To characterize a Portuguese population with TTS and to determine their short- and medium-term prognosis.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter study in Portuguese hospitals that included all patients diagnosed with TTS, initially retrospectively and subsequently prospectively.

Sputum from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients inhibits T cell migration in a microfluidic device.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common lung disease characterized by narrowed airways, resulting in serious breathing difficulty. Previous studies have demonstrated that inflammatory infiltration of leukocytes in the airway is associated with the pathogenesis of COPD. In the present study, we employed a microfluidic approach to assess the effect of COPD sputum on activated human peripheral blood T cell migration and chemotaxis under well-controlled gradient conditions.

Depression in medical students: insights from a longitudinal study.

Background: Factors associated with depression of medical students are poorly understood. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of depression in medical students, its change during the course, if depression persists for affected students, what are the factors associated with depression and how these factors change over time.

Methods: A prospective, longitudinal observational study was conducted at the Medical School of the University of Minho, Portugal, between academic years 2009-2010 to 2012-2013.

Population genetics of IFITM3 in Portugal and Central Africa reveals a potential modifier of influenza severity.

Influenza epidemics are a serious global public health and economic problem. The IFITM3 allele (rs12252-C) was suggested as a population-based genetic risk factor for severe influenza virus infection by A(H1N1)pdm09. We analyzed the population genetics of IFITM3 variants in the Portuguese general population (n = 200) and Central Africans (largely Angolan) (n = 148) as well as its association to influenza severity in Portuguese patients (n = 41).

M: A cell migration assay based on microfluidic device and smartphone.

Mobile sensing based on the integration of microfluidic device and smartphone, so-called MS technology, has enabled many applications over recent years, and continues to stimulate growing interest in both research communities and industries. In particular, it has been envisioned that MS technology can be developed for various cell functional assays to enable basic research and clinical applications. Toward this direction, in this paper, we describe the development of a MS-based cell functional assay for testing cell migration (the M).

Next-generation sequencing of hereditary hemochromatosis-related genes: Novel likely pathogenic variants found in the Portuguese population.

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by excessive iron absorption resulting in pathologically increased body iron stores. It is typically associated with common HFE gene mutation (p.Cys282Tyr and p.

Can IgG4 Levels Identify the Ulcerative Colitis Subtype of Inflammatory Bowel Disease?

Background: Pancreatitis and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency may occur as extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease. Recently, autoimmune pancreatitis and colitis have been described as presentations of IgG4-related disease. IgG4+ plasma cells have been identified in colon tissue from patients with refractory forms of inflammatory bowel disease.

Bioguided identification of antifungal and antiproliferative compounds from the Brazilian orchid Miltonia flavescens Lindl.

The Orchidaceae family is appreciated worldwide for the beauty of its flowers, and hundreds of species of this family occur in Brazil. Yet little is known about the potential of orchids for therapeutic application. We have investigated bioactive compounds produced by the South Brazilian orchid Miltonia flavescens Lindl.

Seedling development and evaluation of genetic stability of cryopreserved Dendrobium hybrid mature seeds.

Vitrification, a simple, fast, and recommended cryopreservation method for orchid germplasm conservation, was evaluated for Dendrobium hybrid "Dong Yai" mature seeds. The genetic stability of regenerated seedlings was also evaluated using flow cytometry. Mature seeds from this hybrid were submitted to plant vitrification solution (PVS2) for 0, 0.

[Syncope unit: experience of a center using diagnostic flowcharts for syncope of uncertain etiology after initial assessment].

Introduction And Objectives: Syncope is a common symptom that leads to 1% of admissions to hospital emergency departments, and is associated with high costs to the health system. The cardiology department of Faro Hospital has had a syncope unit since July 2007. The aim of this study is to analyze its results in terms of etiological diagnosis and treatment of syncope, using diagnostic flowcharts based on European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines.

[The impact of direct access to primary angioplasty on reducing the mortality associated with anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: the experience of the Algarve region of Portugal].

Introduction: There are few published data on mortality in anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in Portugal, particularly in centers with direct access to primary angioplasty. We present the experience of a center with direct access to primary angioplasty in the management of patients admitted with anterior STEMI.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 120 patients admitted with anterior STEMI in 2008 to Faro Hospital (Algarve region, Portugal).

[Fulminant myocarditis].

A 46-year-old woman was admitted due to diplopia because of ophthalmoplegia, which improved with corticosteroid therapy. Eight days later, she was admitted with fulminant myocarditis in cardiogenic shock, with severe left ventricular dysfunction and frequent episodes of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. As there was no clinical improvement, an endomyocardial biopsy was performed that revealed inflammatory infiltrate, vasculitis, and PCR positive for cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, parvovirus B19 and enterovirus.