Fighting the pandemic with collaboration at heart: Report from cardiologists in a COVID-19-dedicated Portuguese intensive care unit.

Introduction And Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread quickly around the world. Although mainly a respiratory illness, there is growing interest in non-respiratory manifestations, particularly cardiovascular ones. At our center, mobilization of cardiologists with intensive care training was needed.

Leptin Receptor Expression in GABAergic Cells is Not Sufficient to Normalize Metabolism and Reproduction in Mice.

Previous studies indicate that leptin receptor (LepR) expression in GABAergic neurons is necessary for the biological effects of leptin. However, it is not clear whether LepR expression only in GABAergic neurons is sufficient to prevent the metabolic and neuroendocrine imbalances caused by LepR deficiency. In the present study, we produced mice that express the LepR exclusively in GABAergic cells (LepRVGAT mice) and compared them with wild-type (LepR+/+) and LepR-deficient (LepRNull/Null) mice.

Characteristics of Reliever Inhaler Users and Asthma Control: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study in Portuguese Community Pharmacies.

Purpose: SABA overuse might indicate poorly managed or uncontrolled asthma and be responsible for poor health outcomes. The aim of this study integrated in new fourth multi-design SABINA+ pillar was to characterize the population using short-acting β-agonists for asthma and examine the patterns of its use among community pharmacy customers in Portugal, as well as identify characteristics associated with disease control and explore potential differences between GINA treatment steps.

Patients And Methods: This cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in Portuguese community pharmacies between 29 May 2018 and 15 August 2018.

Histological scores and tumor size on stage II in adrenocortical carcinomas.

Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACC) are aggressive tumors with a poor prognosis. Histological scores are advised for the diagnosis, however, there are borderline cases that may be misjudged as adrenocortical adenomas (ACA). The three main scores used are: Weiss Modified System (WMS), Reticulin Algorithm (RA), and Helsinki Score (HS).

In-Line Rheo-Optical Investigation of the Dispersion of Organoclay in a Polymer Matrix during Twin-Screw Compounding.

The dispersion mechanisms in a clay-based polymer nanocomposite (CPNC) during twin-screw extrusion are studied by in-situ rheo-optical techniques, which relate the CPNC morphology with its viscosity. This methodology avoids the problems associated with post extrusion structural rearrangement. The polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix, which can be processed at ambient and low temperatures, is used to bypass any issues associated with thermal degradation.

The State of Web Accessibility for tourists with disabilities: a comparative study between different tourism supply agents.

Purpose: This study intends to examine the web accessibility of three tourism supply agents (hotels, travel agents and museums). The results obtained contribute to observing whether there are differences in levels of web accessibility among these tourism supply agents and, based on the problems identified, suggest strategies to overcome these problems.

Methods: To evaluate the level of web accessibility of tourism supply agents, two automatic online tools (AccessMonitor and TAW), which consider Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), version 2.

Reduced calf circumference is an independent predictor of worse quality of life, severity of disease, frequent exacerbation, and death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to a pulmonary rehabilitation program: A historic cohort study.

Background: Muscle wasting is associated with worse outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. We assessed the association of calf circumference (CC) measurements with clinical outcomes in COPD patients referred to an outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program (PRP).

Methods: In this single-center, retrospective study, we analyzed demographic and clinical data ( spirometry tests, comorbidities, COPD exacerbations, dyspnea scoring, exercise capacity, quality-of-life scores, BMI, CC measurements, and all-cause deaths [for 2 years]) from COPD patients PRP medical records.

Motivational Strategies Used by Exercise Professionals: A Latent Profile Analysis.

Background: Using self-determination theory as a framework, the aim of this study was 2-fold: (1) identify different profiles of motivational strategies used by exercise professionals and (2) examine associations of these motivational profiles with work-related variables: measures, perceived job pressures, need satisfaction/frustration, and perceived exercisers' motivation.

Methods: Participants were 366 exercise professionals (193 males; experience = 7.7 [5.

Topographic laparoscopy for buffaloes in the quadruped position.

This study aimed to describe the anatomical topography of the abdominal cavity of buffaloes in the quadruped position to establish the best endosurgical access and vantage points and identify possible limitations. Laparoscopies were performed on 10 healthy female buffaloes obtained from the Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia to explore possible access points to the abdomen. Techniques for assessing and possibly observing certain organs and structures through the left and right flanks of 10 animals have been described.

Effectiveness of medical ethics education: a systematic review.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Background Medical ethics is universally accepted as a fundamental part of medical education.

Useful Ultrasonographic Parameters to Predict Difficult Laryngoscopy and Difficult Tracheal Intubation-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Unexpected difficult airway management can cause significant morbidity and mortality in patients admitted for elective procedures. Ultrasonography is a promising tool for perioperative airway assessment, nevertheless it is still unclear which sonographic parameters are useful predictors of difficult laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation. To determine the ultrasonographic predictors of a difficult airway that could be applied for routine practice, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted.

The Inhibitory Concentration of Natural Food Preservatives May Be Biased by the Determination Methods.

The demand for natural antimicrobials as food preservatives has increased due to the growing interest of the population for a healthy lifestyle. The application of screening methods to identify the antimicrobial activity of natural compounds is of great importance. The in vitro determination of antimicrobial activity requires determining their minimum inhibitory concentrations to assess microbial susceptibility.

Characterization of a R23 Isolated from Arugula by Whole-Genome Sequencing and Its Bacteriocin Production Ability.

is one of the lactic acid bacteria species most used as probiotics and starter cultures in food production. Bacteriocin-producers are also promising natural food preservatives. This study aimed to characterize R23 and its bacteriocins (R23 bacteriocins).

Effects of Combined and Alone Transcranial Motor Cortex Stimulation and Mirror Therapy in Phantom Limb Pain: A Randomized Factorial Trial.

Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a frequent complication in amputees, which is often refractory to treatments. We aim to assess in a factorial trial the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and mirror therapy (MT) in patients with traumatic lower limb amputation; and whether the motor cortex plasticity changes drive these results. In this large randomized, blinded, 2-site, sham-controlled, 2 × 2 factorial trial, 112 participants with traumatic lower limb amputation were randomized into treatment groups.

Psychedelics and health behaviour change.

Healthful behaviours such as maintaining a balanced diet, being physically active and refraining from smoking have major impacts on the risk of developing cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and other serious conditions. The burden of the so-called 'lifestyle diseases'-in personal suffering, premature mortality and public health costs-is considerable. Consequently, interventions designed to promote healthy behaviours are increasingly being studied, e.

Cross-contamination of lettuce with Campylobacter spp. via cooking salt during handling raw poultry.

Campylobacter spp. are the most common bacterial pathogens associated with human gastroenteritis in industrialized countries. Contaminated chicken is the food vehicle associated with the majority of reported cases of campylobacteriosis, either by the consumption of undercooked meat or via cross- contamination of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods during the handling of contaminated raw chicken parts and carcasses.

Adaptive evolution of Moniliophthora PR-1 proteins towards its pathogenic lifestyle.

Background: Plant pathogenesis related-1 (PR-1) proteins belong to the CAP superfamily and have been characterized as markers of induced defense against pathogens. Moniliophthora perniciosa and Moniliophthora roreri are hemibiotrophic fungi that respectively cause the witches' broom disease and frosty pod rot in Theobroma cacao. Interestingly, a large number of plant PR-1-like genes are present in the genomes of both species and many are up-regulated during the biotrophic interaction.

Effects of participation level and physical activity on eating behavior and disordered eating symptoms in the Brazilian version of the New Moves intervention: data from a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Background: Childhood and adolescent obesity is a worldwide public health concern. The New Moves program aims to change eating behavior (EB) and physical activity (PA).

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention and predictors of better outcomes relating to EB and PA levels.

Characterization of the onset of leptin effects on the regulation of energy balance.

Leptin is a hormone required for the regulation of body weight in adult animals. However, during the postnatal period, leptin is mostly involved in developmental processes. Because the precise moment at which leptin starts to exert its metabolic effects is not well characterized, our objective was to identify the approximate onset of leptin effects on the regulation of energy balance.

Salmonella in eggs: From shopping to consumption-A review providing an evidence-based analysis of risk factors.

Nontyphoidal salmonellae are among the most prevalent foodborne pathogens causing gastrointestinal infections worldwide. A high number of cases and outbreaks of salmonellosis are associated with the consumption of eggs and egg products, and several of these occur at the household level. The aim of the current study is to critically evaluate the current status of knowledge on Salmonella in eggs from a consumer's perspective, analyzing the hazard occurrence and the good practices that should be applied to reduce salmonellosis risk.

Prevalence and Interference of Chronic Pain Among People With Hemophilia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Chronic pain is a common condition among people with hemophilia (PWH), associated with joint deterioration due to repeated joint bleeds. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic pain due to haemophilia and to analyze its interference in the lives of patients. A systematic search was performed in May and June 2019 and updated in February 2021, using PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and SciElo.