Publications by authors named "Sonia Silva"

Purpose Of This Research: To study the association between ICBs and LIDs and to assess the predictors of ICBs in this sample.

Methods: We intentionally evaluated 90 Brazilian PD patients younger than 60 in one evaluation that included the application of Questionnaire for Impulsive Compulsive Disorders - Current Short (QUIP-CS), Barratt Impulsive Scale-11 (BIS-11), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale parts III and IV, Unified Dyskinesia Rating Scale (UDysRS), and a cognitive assessment.

Results: ICB group had a longer PD duration (8.

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Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose a significant health challenge globally and in Portugal. Diagnostic challenges persist, especially in infants, where TB often presents with atypical symptoms. A previously healthy three-month-old male infant from Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal, was admitted with cough, rhinorrhea, respiratory distress, and high-grade fever.

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Curcumin has been proposed as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD) due to its ability to inhibit amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide aggregates and to destabilise pre-formed ones. Derivative 27 was synthesized to improve low-dose efficacy in the context of AD. Its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-amyloidogenic activities were evaluated in chemico, in vitro using AD and neuroinflammation cell models, and in vivo using the double-transgenic APP/PS1 mice.

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Mpox is a zoonotic disease caused by the Monkeypox virus (MPXV), and since May 2022, tens of thousands of cases have been reported in non-endemic countries. We aimed to evaluate the suitability of different sample types for mpox diagnostic and assess the temporal dynamics of viral load. We evaluated 1914 samples from 953 laboratory-confirmed cases.

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The vaginal acidic environment potentiates the formation of biofilms, leading to complicated and recurrent infections. Importantly, the production of matrix is known to contribute to the recalcitrant features of biofilms. In this study, we reveal that Zap1 regulates the matrix of acidic biofilms and analyzed the modulation of their transcriptome (by microarrays) and matrix proteome (by LC-MS/MS) by Zap1.

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Current therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) do not delay its progression, therefore, novel disease-modifying strategies are urgently needed. Recently, an increasing number of compounds from natural origin with protective properties against AD have been identified. Mixtures or extracts obtained from natural products containing several bioactive compounds have multifunctional properties and have drawn the attention because multiple AD pathways can be simultaneously modulated.

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Purpose: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is an important nosocomial pathogen. The capsular type (K-type) is considered a major virulence factor, contributing to the evasion of host defenses. The global spread and dissemination dynamics between K-types, sequence types (ST), antibiotic resistance genes, and virulence factors remain largely unknown in Portugal.

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Enterotoxigenic (ETEC) is the major bacterial cause of diarrheal diseases in pigs, particularly at young ages, resulting in significant costs to swine farming. The pathogenicity of ETEC is largely dependent on the presence of fimbriae and the ability to produce toxins. Fimbriae are responsible for their initial adhesion to the intestinal epithelial cells, leading to the onset of infection.

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Background: Low muscle mass quantity and quality (myosteatosis) can be evaluated by computed tomography (CT) by measuring skeletal muscle area and muscular attenuation, respectively, at the third lumbar vertebra. We aimed to define cut-off points of skeletal muscle area and muscular attenuation to predict mortality in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including non-dialysis CKD patients over two years, who underwent an opportunistic computed tomography within a two year period, and for whom creatinine was measured within 90 days of CT.

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L. is a traditional citrus fruit that is rich in bioactive compounds and has the potential to be used as a natural source of food additives. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and characterize the phenolic compounds present in the peels (including flavedo and albedo), pulp, and seeds of citron.

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Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is characterized as a very common fungal infection that significantly affects women's health worldwide. Essential oils (EOs) are currently being evaluated as an alternative therapy. The development of efficient techniques such as micro- or nanoencapsulation for protecting and controlling release is essential to overcome the limitations of EO applications.

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Background: Though maternal diabetes effects are well described in the literature, the effects of maternal diabetes in postnatal phases are often overlooked. Diabetic individuals have higher levels of circulating glycotoxins, and there is a positive correlation between maternal-derived glycotoxins and circulating glycotoxins in their progeny. Previous studies evaluated the metabolic effects of high glycotoxin exposure during lactation in adult animals.

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The olive tree is one of the most significant crops in the Mediterranean region. Its remarkable adaptability to various environments has facilitated olive cultivation across diverse regions and agricultural scenarios. The rising global demand for olive products, coupled with climate challenges, is driving changes in cultivation methods.

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We report an autochthonous case of mild unifocal chronic pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis in a 48-year-old previously healthy woman with no history of possible environmental exposures in endemic rural areas, supposedly resulting from reactivation of a latent pulmonary focus secondary to the use of methotrexate for the control of Chikungunya arthropathy. Laboratory investigation ruled out other immunosuppression. Her only symptoms were a dry cough and chest pain.

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Background: Small cell lung cancer is an aggressive tumor with a poor prognosis that requires prompt treatment. While radiotherapy may enhance survival when superior vena cava syndrome is present, radiation therapy-induced pericardial disease can be a potential complication.

Case Report: A 55-year-old man, who recently underwent radiotherapy for stage IV small-cell lung cancer complicated by superior vena cava syndrome, presented with chest pain and dyspnea.

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The importance of addressing the problem of biofilms in farm, wild, and companion animals lies in their pervasive impact on animal health and welfare. Biofilms, as resilient communities of microorganisms, pose a persistent challenge in causing infections and complicating treatment strategies. Recognizing and understanding the importance of mitigating biofilm formation is critical to ensuring the welfare of animals in a variety of settings, from farms to the wild and companion animals.

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Iron-magnetic nanoparticles (Fe-NMPs) are widely used in environmental remediation, while porphyrin-based hybrid materials anchored to silica-coated FeO-nanoparticles (FeO-NPs) have been used for water disinfection purposes. To assess their safety on plants, especially concerning potential environmental release, it was investigated for the first time, the impact on plants of a silica-coated FeO-NPs bearing a porphyrinic formulation (FORM) - FORM@NMP. Additionally, FORM alone and the magnetic nanoparticles without FORM anchored (NH@NMP) were used for comparison.

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Background: The use of a smartphone built-in microphone for auscultation is a feasible alternative to the use of a stethoscope, when applied by physicians.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aims to assess the feasibility of this technology when used by parents-the real intended end users.

Methods: Physicians recruited 46 children (male: n=33, 72%; age: mean 11.

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Klebsiella spp. are important pathogens of humans and companion animals such as cats and dogs, capable of causing severe life-threatening diseases. The aim of this study was to characterize the molecular and phenotypic properties of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Klebsiella oxytoca isolated from ill companion animals by whole genome sequencing, followed by in vitro assessment of biofilm formation and in vivo pathogenicity using the Galleria mellonella model.

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Type 2 diabetes (DM) continues to escalate, necessitating innovative therapeutic approaches that target distinct pathways and address DM complications. Flavonoids have been shown to possess several pharmacological activities that are important for DM. This study aimed to evaluate the in vivo effects of the flavonoid melanoxetin using Goto-Kakizaki rats.

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Article Synopsis
  • During the avian influenza outbreaks in France (2020/21 and 2021/22), the virus spread rapidly, leading to the slaughter of millions of birds as the only control method.
  • Researchers developed a MinION sequencing workflow to quickly analyze the genetic makeup of avian influenza strains, focusing on the hemagglutinin gene and the entire virus genome.
  • By sequencing 30 field samples and conducting phylogenetic analysis, they discovered connections between different outbreaks, indicating this method's potential for real-time monitoring and management of future viral outbreaks.
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Background: Preoperative exercise training is recommended for improvement of clinical outcomes after lung cancer (LC) surgery. However, its effectiveness in preventing postoperative decline in quality of life (QoL) remains unknown. This study investigated the effect of preoperative home-based exercise training (PHET) on QoL after LC surgery.

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The complex (MABC) is an emerging, difficult to treat, multidrug-resistant nontuberculous mycobacteria responsible for a wide spectrum of infections and associated with an increasing number of cases worldwide. Dominant circulating clones (DCCs) of MABC have been genetically identified as groups of strains associated with higher prevalence, higher levels of antimicrobial resistance, and worse clinical outcomes. To date, little is known about the genomic characteristics of MABC species circulating in Portugal.

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Cancer patients may experience significant distress. The "Emotion Thermometers" (ETs) are a short visual analogue scale used to screen patients for psychosocial risk. This study aimed to assess emotional distress in a large sample of cancer patients attending psychological services at an non-governmental organization (NGO), and to explore factors that may contribute to it.

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