Cost-effective alternatives to facilitate biomonitoring and bioassessment of neotropical streams.

A reliable response of bioindicators to environmental variation is a cornerstone for effective bioassessment and biomonitoring. Fish and aquatic macroinvertebrates are widely used as bioindicators of different human impacts in freshwater ecosystems, but the cost-effectiveness of their usage can be improved through the use of surrogates. We investigated congruence patterns between using different taxonomic and numeric resolutions for aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish to assess community-environment relationships.

Understanding the Role of Irisin in Longevity and Aging: A Narrative Review.

Irisin is a protein resulting from a proteolytic cleavage of fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FND5). The ability of irisin to modulate adipocyte and control glucose metabolism in human metabolic diseases gave rise to the hypothesis that irisin could have a pivotal role in aging-related diseases. Although in animal models, increased levels of irisin have been positively associated with better health outcomes, in humans, its role remains controversial.

Translation and Adaptation of the STOPP/START Criteria Version 3 for Potentially Inappropriate Prescribing in Older People to European Portuguese: A Study Protocol.

Introduction: As the global population ages, managing medication use in older adults becomes increasingly complex due to polypharmacy and the associated risks of adverse drug events. To improve the safety and appropriateness of medication use in the older population, tools like the Screening Tool of Older Persons' Prescriptions (STOPP) and Screening Tool to Alert doctors to Right Treatment (START) criteria have been developed. The availability of updated criteria is crucial to better support healthcare professionals in Portuguese-speaking regions.

Health Professionals' Perceptions about Prostate Cancer-A Focus Group Study.

Prostate cancer (PCa) accounts for 20% of new cancer cases and 10.5% of cancer-associated mortality in Portugal. Associated risk factors include advanced age, family history, genetic alterations, and race/ethnicity.

Usability of APIMedOlder: A Web Application to Manage Potentially Inappropriate Medication in Older Adults.

Introduction: Considering the increase in the proportion of the older population worldwide, the demand for health system resources also arises. These tools optimize clinical decision-making, thus avoiding iatrogenesis and thus contributing to a better quality of life for the older population. In response, we created an online web application, the APIMedOlder, that provides access to healthcare professionals to allow healthcare professionals to access potentially inappropriate medication identification criteria through a useful tool with a simplified profile, allowing its applicability in clinical practice.

Potentially inappropriate anticholinergic drug use among older adults in primary healthcare: prevalence and determinants.

Background: Considering the vulnerability of older adults to adverse drug reactions, medications with strong anticholinergic properties are considered potentially inappropriate for this population. This study aims to characterize older adults' profile of anticholinergics use and to identify the factors associated with their potentially inappropriate use.

Research Design And Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 1200 older adults in primary health care centers of Portugal between April 2021 and August 2022.

Unmasking vaccine hesitancy and refusal: a deep dive into Anti-vaxxer perspectives on COVID-19 in Spain.

Background: At the time of the emergence of COVID-19, denialist and anti-vaccine groups have also emerged and are shaking public confidence in vaccination.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using online focus groups. Participants had not received any doses of vaccination against the disease.

Camera trap surveys of Atlantic Forest mammals: A data set for analyses considering imperfect detection (2004-2020).

Camera traps became the main observational method of a myriad of species over large areas. Data sets from camera traps can be used to describe the patterns and monitor the occupancy, abundance, and richness of wildlife, essential information for conservation in times of rapid climate and land-cover changes. Habitat loss and poaching are responsible for historical population losses of mammals in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot, especially for medium to large-sized species.

Evaluation of dietary lignin on broiler performance, nutrient digestibility, cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations, gut morphometry, and lipid oxidation.

Two trials were performed in order to evaluate the effects of dietary Kraft lignin inclusion on broiler performance, ileal nutrient digestibility, blood lipid profile, intestinal morphometry, and lipid oxidation of meat. Trial 1 was conducted in order to evaluate performance and ileal digestibility for the period of 1 to 21 d of age, randomly distributing 490 day-old broiler chicks across 5 dietary treatments with 14 replicates containing 7 birds each in metabolic cages, while trial 2 was executed in order to evaluate performance, blood parameters, intestinal morphometry, carcass yield and abdominal fat, and lipid oxidation for the period of 1 to 42 d of age, randomly distributing 900 day-old broiler chicks across 5 dietary treatments with 15 replicates of 12 birds each in floor pens, being each bird in trial 2 challenged with coccidiosis vaccine at 10 d of age. The treatments used in both trials were: positive control (PC): basal diet + antimicrobial; negative control (NC): Basal diet; NC1: NC + 1% lignin; NC2: NC + 2% lignin; NC3: NC + 3% lignin.

Comparing AGS Beers 2019, STOPP version 2, and EU(7)-PIM list in Portuguese older adults in primary health care.

Purpose: This study aims to identify PIM prevalence in older adults according to the 2019 Beers criteria, Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions version 2 (STOPP v2) criteria, and the Portuguese EU(7)-PIM list and also to analyze the concordance between these criteria.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among 1200 Portuguese older adults (≥ 65 years old), users of primary health care. Demographic, clinical, and pharmacological data were collected concerning the period between April 2021 and August 2022.

Stereoselective bioaccumulation of chiral anticoagulant rodenticides in the liver of predatory and scavenging raptors.

Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) are persistent chiral pesticides used to control rodent populations. Raptors are protected species and may be exposed through the ingestion of rodents contaminated with SGARs. Commercial formulations of SGARs are a mixture of four stereoisomers (E1, E2, E3, E4): the cis- and trans-diastereoisomers are each a racemic mixture of two enantiomers.

Barriers and facilitators of health professionals in adopting digital health-related tools for medication appropriateness: A systematic review.

Objective: Digital health is described as the use and development of all types of digital technologies to improve health outcomes. It could be used to prevent medication errors, a priority for health systems worldwide. However, the adoption of such tools remains slow.

Magnitude and Determinants of Long-term Use of Proton Pump Inhibitors Among Portuguese Older Adults in Primary Health Care.

Purpose: Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) have been associated with several adverse effects of particular concern in older populations. Their use for a period longer than 8 weeks is not recommended for older adults. Strategies to discontinue PPIs have been offered; however, their use remains high.

Incorporating biodiversity responses to land use change scenarios for preventing emerging zoonotic diseases in areas of unknown host-pathogen interactions.

The need to reconcile food production, the safeguarding of nature, and the protection of public health is imperative in a world of continuing global change, particularly in the context of risks of emerging zoonotic disease (EZD). In this paper, we explored potential land use strategies to reduce EZD risks using a landscape approach. We focused on strategies for cases where the dynamics of pathogen transmission among species were poorly known and the ideas of "land-use induced spillover" and "landscape immunity" could be used very broadly.

Understanding vaccination hesitation among health professionals: a systematic review of qualitative studies.

Objectives: In terms of vaccination, people trust healthcare professionals (HCPs) more than any other source of information. They are the cornerstone of vaccination as they can move undecided populations not only towards vaccination but also towards non-vaccination. The aim of this systematic review was to explore the knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and barriers associated with own vaccination and patient recommendation in HCPs.

Wildfire and smoke association with COVID-19 cases in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil.

Objectives: In 2020, Brazil experienced two concurrent public health challenges related to respiratory disease: wildfires and increased mortality due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Smoke from these wildfires contributed to a variety of air pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM). The present study aims to investigate the effects of environmental and socio-economic factors on COVID-19 hospitalisation in the Pantanal.

Elemental distribution and source analysis of atmospheric aerosols from Meycauayan, Bulacan, Philippines.

One of the industrialized cities in the Philippines is Meycauayan, Bulacan. This study reports the elemental distribution and source apportionment in eight varying land cover-land use type sampling points located along the Marilao-Meycauayan- Obando Rivers System. Elemental analysis was conducted using a scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive x-ray.

Synchronous Double Primary Cancer Complicated With Severe Hypercalcemia.

Hypercalcemia of malignancy (HCM) is an important cancer-related medical emergency. It is a sign of advanced disease with a poor prognosis. We report a case of a 55-year-old man who presented with decreased sensorium, constipation for 4 days, dysphonia, and weight loss for the past three months.

Long-COVID-19 clinical and health outcomes: an umbrella review.

Background: A growing interest in long-term sequelae of COVID-19 has prompted several systematic literature reviews (SLRs) to evaluate long-COVID-19 effects. However, many of these reviews lack in-depth information on the timing, duration, and severity of these conditions.

Objectives: Our aim was to synthesize both qualitative and quantitative evidence on prevalence and outcomes of long-term effect of COVID-19 through an umbrella review.

Impact of Iron Mining Activity on the Endophytic Fungal Community of .

(J. U. Santos) is an endemic plant species in Morro do Urucum in the Pantanal wetland (Brazil).

Sociodemographic determinants of digital health literacy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Differences in digital health literacy levels are associated with a lack of access to digital tools, usage patterns, and the ability to effectively use digital technologies. Although some studies have investigated the impact of sociodemographic factors on digital health literacy, a comprehensive evaluation of these factors has not been conducted. Therefore, this study sought to examine the sociodemographic determinants of digital health literacy by conducting a systematic review of the existing literature.

Active Pharmacovigilance Study: A Follow-Up Model of Oral Anti-Cancer Drugs under Additional Monitoring.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are responsible for almost 5% of hospital admissions, making it necessary to implement different pharmacovigilance strategies. The additional monitoring (AM) concept has been highlighted and intended to increase the number of suspected ADRs reported, namely in medicines with limited safety data. A prospective, descriptive study of active pharmacovigilance (AP) was conducted between 2019 and 2021 in the Local Health Unit of Matosinhos (LHUM) (Porto, Portugal).