Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Children: A 10-Year Retrospective Study.

Background and objective Intestinal parasitic infections are a major public health concern, especially in low-income regions with poor sanitation. Our hospital caters to a large migrant population, but data on these infections in Portugal is limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of intestinal parasitic infections in pediatric patients from epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological perspectives.

Large-scale and long-term wildlife research and monitoring using camera traps: a continental synthesis.

Camera traps are widely used in wildlife research and monitoring, so it is imperative to understand their strengths, limitations, and potential for increasing impact. We investigated a decade of use of wildlife cameras (2012-2022) with a case study on Australian terrestrial vertebrates using a multifaceted approach. We (i) synthesised information from a literature review; (ii) conducted an online questionnaire of 132 professionals; (iii) hosted an in-person workshop of 28 leading experts representing academia, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and government; and (iv) mapped camera trap usage based on all sources.

The Unusual Mesophases and Properties Exhibited by a Family of Glycosteroids.

In this article we describe research on the synthesis and characterization of a family of "Janus" amphiphiles composed of disaccharide head groups and alkaloid units joined together via a methylene linker, and bearing a lateral aliphatic chain of varying length. The condensed phases formed by self-organization of the products as a function of temperature were characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, thermal polarized light microscopy, and small angle X-ray scattering, allied with computational modelling and simulations. Structural studies on heating specimens from the solid showed that some homologues exhibited lamellar, columnar and bicontinuous mesophases, whereas the same homologues revealed different phase sequences on cooling from the amorphous liquid.

GLAC-Unet: Global-Local Active Contour Loss with an Efficient U-Shaped Architecture for Multiclass Medical Image Segmentation.

The field of medical image segmentation powered by deep learning has recently received substantial attention, with a significant focus on developing novel architectures and designing effective loss functions. Traditional loss functions, such as Dice loss and Cross-Entropy loss, predominantly rely on global metrics to compare predictions with labels. However, these global measures often struggle to address challenges such as occlusion and nonuni-form intensity.

The impact of demographics and positioning on the imaging features of the optic nerve sheath and ophthalmic vessels.

Background: There are significant discrepancies in the optic nerve sheath diameter (ONSD) reported in the literature. We aimed to determine the ultrasonographic imaging features of ONSD and ophthalmic vessels in a healthy population, using a standardized protocol, and to estimate the effect of demographics and positioning changes on imaging measurements.

Methods: We measured the mean values of the ONSD in supine and sitting position and the Doppler imaging parameters of the ophthalmic, central retinal and short posterior ciliary arteries.

The Mental Health Literacy and Stigma Scale-Bilingual Cultural Adaptation: Validity and Reliability Pilot Study in Nursing Students.

Aim: To describe and evaluate the psychometric properties (reliability and construct validity) of the Mental Health Literacy and Stigma Scale-Bilingual (MHLaSS-B).

Design: This is a methodological study designed in a convenience sample of 271 Portuguese and Spanish nursing students who volunteered to participate in the research.

Methods: The Mental Health Literacy and Stigma Scale-Bilingual version (Spanish and Portuguese) was used for data collection.

Can the Urban Lifestyle Impact on Children BMI and Healthy Sleep?

Objectives: This study aimed to (i) compare children's lifestyle by urbanization level and (ii) examine the association between children's body mass index (BMI) and the risk of having unhealthy sleep (American Academy of Pediatrics).

Methods: Eight thousand one hundred fifty-nine children (4124 females) aged 6-9 years were observed and classified as urban or nonurban. Height and weight were measured, and the BMI was calculated.

Untreated women with first trimester fasting glycaemia 92-125 mg/dL and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in the 24-28th week OGTT: prevalence and predictors.

Introduction: Women with first trimester fasting glycaemia (FTFG) 92-125 mg/dL may present with normal 24-28th week OGTT (2T-OGTT). Predictors of persistent hyperglycaemia were scarcely investigated. We studied the prevalence and predictors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in the 2T-OGTT in women with untreated elevated FTFG.

Adolescents and parents experiencing parental cancer: construction of a nursing intervention model.

Objective: To develop a nursing intervention model for adolescents and parents experiencing parental cancer.

Method: Multimethod research, which integrated five studies: a scoping review and four qualitative studies. Considering the results of these studies, a nursing intervention model was constructed based on two theoretical frameworks, such as the A Model of Children's Adjustment to Parental Cancer, for adolescents, and Neuman Systems Model, for parents, and on a semantic framework, such as Nursing Ontology.

Quality and Regulatory Requirements for the Manufacture of Master Cell Banks of Clinical Grade iPSCs: The EU and USA Perspectives.

The discovery of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and protocols for their differentiation into various cell types have revolutionized the field of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Developing manufacturing guidelines for safe and GMP-compliant final products has become essential. Allogeneic iPSCs-derived cell therapies are now the preferred manufacturing alternative.

Taking time: Auditory statistical learning benefits from distributed exposure.

In an auditory statistical learning paradigm, listeners learn to partition a continuous stream of syllables by discovering the repeating syllable patterns that constitute the speech stream. Here, we ask whether auditory statistical learning benefits from spaced exposure compared with massed exposure. In a longitudinal online study on Prolific, we exposed 100 participants to the regularities in a spaced way (i.

Advancing Vascular Surgery: The Role Of Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning In Managing Carotid Stenosis.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases affect 17.7 million people annually, worldwide. Carotid degenerative disease, commonly described as atherosclerotic plaque accumulation, significantly contributes to this, posing a risk for cerebrovascular events and ischemic strokes.

High And Intermediate-High Risk Pulmonary Embolism Management: A 5-Year Intensive Care Unit Casuistic Review.

Background And Objectives: The optimal management of high-risk and intermediate-high-risk Pulmonary Embolism (PE) is a matter of ongoing debate. This paper aims to assess the short and long-term clinical outcomes associated with different treatment approaches for high-risk and intermediate-high-risk PE within an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and identify potential areas for improvement.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients admitted to an ICU with high and intermediate-high-risk PE between January 2018 and December 2023.

Segmentectomies: 5-Year Experience Of A Center.

Introduction: Segmental anatomical resections have been a subject of debate in recent years. There is increasing evidence that these procedures may offer some advantages in the treatment of early-stage lung cancer, with overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) similar to those seen in lobar anatomical resections.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent segmentectomy at Santa Marta Hospital (HSM) between January 2018 and September 2022.

Impact Of Open And Endovascular Caseload In Lower Limb Amputation In Portugal - An Analysis From 2000 To 2015.

Objectives: Effective revascularization is the cornerstone of limb salvage in chronic limb threatening ischemia. In recent years, less invasive endovascular revascularization techniques have supplanted surgical bypass as the primary mode of revascularization. The real impact of this transition is being increasingly questioned.

Pancoast Tumors: 11-Year Single-Centre Experience.

Introduction: Pancoast tumors encompass any tumor located on the lung apex, extending into structures in the thoracic inlet and, often, leading to the characteristic clinical syndrome. The main goal of this study is to analyze the response to multimodal treatment and outcome of patients with Pancoast tumors.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort single center study of patients with superior sulcus nonsmall cell lung carcinomas who underwent surgery between January of 2011 and February of 2022.

Tailored Perioperative Medicine For Frail Patients Undergoing Vascular Surgery: A Narrative Review.

Frailty is a concept that is emerging as an important tool in the preoperative assessment of patients. The incidence of frailty in vascular surgery patients is high and is expected to increase concomitantly with the aging of the population. The identification of these patients and their optimization in the perioperative period can lead to an improvement in their outcomes with a reduction in morbidity and mortality.

Sequential Double-Lung Transplantation In Kartagener Syndrome: A Case Report.

Kartagener syndrome (KS) is a rare congenital disorder, characterized by sinusitis, bronchiectasis and situs inversus. Lung transplantation is an effective treatment for end-stage lung failure, but dextrocardia and differences between hilar structures and pulmonary lobes require adjustments to conventional surgical technique. We present a case of a double-lung transplant without extracorporeal oxygenation in a 48-year-old male patient with KS.

Diversity in Partner Number Sexuality via Sexual Configurations Theory.

"Partner number sexuality" (P#S) refers to how many partners individuals have/are interested in having. Those with P#S outside of monogamous desires and/or practices commonly face stigma in North America and elsewhere. Yet theories of sexuality do not always make room for diverse P#S.