Influence of synthesis parameters on properties and characteristics of poly (urea-formaldehyde) microcapsules for self-healing applications.

Poly(urea-formaldehyde) (PUF) microcapsules filled with dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) were prepared by in situ polymerisation and the effect of synthesis parameters, such as pH of the solution and agitation rate, on microcapsules size and shell thickness was evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR) were performed. Adjusted pH conditions (pH = 3.5) and agitation rate (1350 RPM) were found using a design of experiments (DOE). SEM results indicated that microcapsule size was directly affected by agitation rate, whereas shell thickness was mostly affected by pH. After obtaining adjusted synthesis conditions, microcapsules presenting mean size of 60 µm and mean shell thickness of 4 µm were embedded in an epoxy matrix for evaluating the self-healing effect. FTIR and SEM analyses in damaged samples suggested that a healing agent was delivered to the crack location.

Acute HIV infection presenting as hemophagocytic syndrome with an unusual serological and virological response to ART.

BACKGROUND: HIV clinical presentation in the acute stage is variable and some of its virological and immunological aspects are not completely understood. Most cases of HIV- associated reactive hemophagocytic syndrome have been reported in patients with advanced stages of HIV and to our knowledge, there are only 8 cases in the English literature presenting during acute HIV infection, most in East Asia, being this the first case in a European patient. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a European Caucasian 27- year old woman with a primary HIV- infection presenting with extremely low CD4+ T cell count who developed a haemophagocytic syndrome after starting ART and in whom we documented a very unusual serological and virological response, characterized by an impaired HIV- antibody production and a 12 month time frame to reach an undetectable viral load, despite no evidence of resistance. CONCLUSIONS: This case report apart from describing an unusual clinical presentation of an acute HIV infection as hemophagocytic syndrome provides useful information that might contribute for understanding some subtle issues in acute HIV infection, namely the dynamics of virological and immunological aspects after antiretroviral therapy initiation.

Serological screening in a large-scale municipal survey in Cascais, Portugal, during the first waves of the COVID-19 pandemic: lessons for future pandemic preparedness efforts.

Background: Serological surveys for SARS-CoV-2 were used early in the COVID-19 pandemic to assess epidemiological scenarios. In the municipality of Cascais (Portugal), serological testing combined with a comprehensive socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral questionnaire was offered to residents between May 2020 and beginning of 2021. In this study, we analyze the factors associated with adherence to this municipal initiative, as well as the sociodemographic profile and chronic diseases clinical correlates associated to seropositivity. We aim to contribute with relevant information for future pandemic preparedness efforts. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with non-probabilistic sampling. Citizens residing in Cascais Municipality went voluntarily to blood collection centers to participate in the serological survey. The proportion of participants, stratified by socio-demographic variables, was compared to the census proportions to identify the groups with lower levels of adherence to the survey. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify socio-demographic, clinical and behavioral factors associated with seropositivity. Results: From May 2020 to February 2021, 19,608 participants (9.2% of the residents of Cascais) were included in the study. Based on the comparison to census data, groups with lower adherence to this survey were men, the youngest and the oldest age groups, individuals with lower levels of education and unemployed/inactive. Significant predictors of a reactive (positive) serological test were younger age, being employed or a student, and living in larger households. Individuals with chronic diseases generally showed lower seroprevalence. Conclusion: The groups with low adherence to this voluntary study, as well as the socio-economic contexts identified as more at risk of viral transmission, may be targeted in future pandemic situations. We also found that the individuals with chronic diseases, perceiving higher risk of serious illness, adopted protective behaviors that limited infection rates, revealing that health education on preventive measures was effective for these patients.

Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects of Cutaneous and Mucosal Leishmaniases in Portugal: Retrospective Analysis of Cases Diagnosed in Public Hospitals and Reported in the Literature between 2010 and 2020.

Leishmania infantum, a zoonotic vector-born parasite, is endemic in the Mediterranean region, presenting mostly as visceral (VL), but also as cutaneous (CL) and mucosal leishmaniasis (ML). This study aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the CL and ML cases diagnosed in mainland Portugal between 2010 and 2020. Collaboration was requested from every hospital of the Portuguese National Health System. Cases were screened through a search of diagnostic discharge codes or positive laboratory results for Leishmania infection. Simultaneously, a comprehensive literature search was performed. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were performed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics. A total of 43 CL and 7 ML cases were identified, with a predominance of autochthonous cases (86%). In CL, immunosuppressed individuals constituted a significant proportion of patients (48%), and in this group, disseminated CL (22%) and simultaneous VL (54%) were common. In autochthonous cases, lesions, mostly papules/nodules (62%), were frequently observed on the head (48%). The approach to treatment was very heterogeneous. ML cases were all autochthonous, were diagnosed primarily in older immunosuppressed individuals, and were generally treated with liposomal amphotericin B. The findings suggest a need for enhanced surveillance and reporting, clinical awareness, and diagnostic capacity of these forms of leishmaniasis to mitigate underdiagnosis and improve patient outcomes. A holistic One Health approach is advocated to address the multifaceted challenges posed by leishmaniases in Portugal and beyond.

Can the use of the CROS system provide head shadow effect contribution to unilateral Cochlear Implant Users?

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of the CROS system on the head shadow effect in unilateral implant users. METHODS: Prospective cross-sectional study, approved by the ethics committee under protocol 2.128.869. Eleven adults with post-lingual deafness users of unilateral Advanced Bionics CI were selected. Speech recognition was evaluated with recorded words presented at 65dBA at 0o azimuth and at 90o on the side contralateral to the CI, with noise at 55dBA, using CI alone and CI + CROS system. The results were analyzed using paired t-test with a 0.05 alpha. RESULTS: The mean speech recognition scores were significantly better with CI + CROS in relation to the condition of CI alone (p <0.05, p <0.005 and p <0.005 respectively). In the presentation at 0o azimuth, no significant differences were found. CONCLUSION: Users of unilateral CI without useful residual hearing for the use of hearing aids or unable to undergo bilateral surgery can benefit from the CROS device for speech recognition, especially when the speech is presented on the side contralateral to the CI.

NIH stroke scale and unfavourable outcomes in acute ischaemic stroke: retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the determining factors of severe functional impairment (SFI) outcome at discharge and in-hospital mortality in patients who had an acute ischaemic stroke and thus favouring early implementation of primary palliative care (PC). METHODS: A retrospective descriptive study by the analysis of 515 patients who had an acute ischaemic stroke admitted at stroke unit, aged≥18 years, from January 2017 to December 2018. Previous clinical and functional status data, National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on admission, and data related to the evolution during hospitalisation were evaluated, relating them to the SFI outcome at discharge and death. The significance level was set at 5%. RESULTS: Of 515 patients included, 15% (77) died, 23.3%(120) had an SFI outcome and 9.1% (47) were evaluated by the PC team. It was observed that NIHSS Score≥16 is responsible for a 15.5-fold increase in the occurrence of death outcome. The presence of atrial fibrillation was responsible for a 3.5-fold increase in the risk of this outcome. CONCLUSION: NIHSS Score is an independent predictor of in-hospital death and SFI outcomes at discharge. Knowledge about the prognosis and risk of developing unfavourable outcomes is important for planning the care of patients affected by a potentially fatal and limiting acute vascular insult.

Rifampicin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in a Tuberculosis Patient: Treatment Dilemma?

Acute kidney injury related to rifampin is usually a clinical diagnosis. We report a case of a man being treated for pulmonary tuberculosis with acute tubulointerstitial nephritis related to rifampicin. LEARNING POINTS: Rifampicin can cause acute kidney injury.Renal impairment may develop weeks after rifampicin administration was started.

Orbital Apex Syndrome due to Orbital Mucormycosis after Teeth Infection: A Successful Case Report.

Rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis is a severe and rapidly progressive fungal infection associated with low survival rates. Early diagnosis and proper management are mandatory. We report the case of a 20-year-old female with diabetic ketoacidosis and teeth infection, who presented with sudden orbital apex syndrome. Several surgical procedures were necessary to provide a definite histopathological diagnosis of the fungal infection. Ultimately, given the progressive aggravation of the infection and the ineffectiveness of antifungal and antibiotic agents, an orbital exenteration was performed. A mycobacteriological examination revealed a polymicrobial culture with Mucorales. One year after the initial presentation, the patient is alive and with a good general health condition.

Central Auditory Nervous System Stimulation through the Cochlear Implant Use and Its Behavioral Impacts: A Longitudinal Study of Case Series.

The purpose of this study was to investigate, over a period of five years, the cortical maturation of the central auditory pathways and its impacts on the auditory and oral language development of children with effective use and without effective use of a Cochlear Implant (CI). A case series study was conducted with seven children who were CI users and seven children with normal hearing, with age- and gender-matched to CI users. The assessment was performed by long-latency auditory evoked potentials and auditory and oral language behavioral protocols. The results pronounced P1 latency decrease in all CI users in the first nine months. Over five years, five children with effective CI use presented decrease or stabilization of P1 latency and a gradual development of auditory and oral language skills, although, for most of the children, the electrophysiological and behavior results remained poor than their hearing peers' results. Two children who stopped the effective use of CI after the first year of activation had worsened auditory and oral language behavioral skills and presented increased P1 latency. A negative correlation was observed between behavioral measures and the P1 latency, the P1 component being considered an important clinical resource capable of measuring the cortical maturation and the behavioral evolution.

Aortic Prosthesis-Associated MDR Pseudomonas Infections as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge.

Endovascular prostheses are used to treat life-threatening conditions such as ruptured aortic aneurysms. Prosthetic infection cause significant morbidity and mortality, posing important diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. It is particularly difficult to diagnose and, in the era of multidrug resistance (MDR), these type of infections may become even more difficult to treat. Herein, we reported a case of a secondary prosthetic endovascular infection following repeated bacteremia episodes from a urinary source. This case illustrates an MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa aortic infection that was difficult to diagnose with no oral antibiotic treatment options.

Azole-resistant Candida albicans Spondylodiscitis After Bariatric Surgery: A Case Report.

CASE: We present a case of azole and partial caspofungin-resistant Candida albicans spondylodiscitis, after bariatric surgery with bowel perforation. Treatment included debridement and several months of anidulafungin, complemented with antibacterial therapy because of relapse for bacterial superinfection. After treatment, the infection did not recur clinically or radiologically during one and half years follow-up. CONCLUSION: Although C. albicans spondylodiscitis is rare, fungi should be suspected as a causative agent. Adequate history, imaging and laboratory testing, and medical and surgical treatment should be performed to successfully eradicate the infection and resolve potential neurological deficits.

Chronic meningococcemia.

The spectrum of Neisseria meningitidis-associated clinical entities involves mild forms of disease, without neurological involvement or sepsis, and asymptomatic carrier states. Rarely, N. meningitidis bacteremia can be associated with a prolonged fever with or without arthritis, which we designate as chronic meningococcemia. Chronic meningococcemia is an uncommon entity, usually associated to serogroup B N. meningitidis. Diagnosis is frequently delayed as blood cultures collected outside febrile periods can be negative. We present a case of chronic meningococcemia in a 22-year-old woman with no relevant clinical background, presenting with fever, arthralgia and exanthem. Due to the potential for progression to more severe disease and the risk of N. meningitidis transmission and development of secondary cases, a high degree of clinical suspicion is required to ensure prompt recognition and adequate treatment. Our patient had a favorable outcome probably due to early recognition and adequate treatment, which is critical for the resolution of the disease without complications.

Quality assessment of adult intensive care services: application of a tool adjusted to the reality of low-income countries. / Avaliação da qualidade de serviços de medicina intensiva adulto: aplicação de ferramenta ajustada à realidade de países de baixa renda.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of adult intensive care units. METHODS: This population-based, cross-sectional, observational, analytical study evaluated management type in Maranhão, Brazil. An assessment instrument was applied that assigned scores to each service (maximum 124 points). The units were categorized as insufficient (< 50% of the maximum score), typical (≥ 50% and <80% of the maximum score), or sufficient (≥ 80% of the maximum score). RESULTS: Of the 26 intensive care units in Maranhão, 23 were evaluated; 15 (65.2%) were located in the state capital, and 14 (60.9%) were public. The mean final score was 67.2 (54.2% of the maximum). The worst performance was observed with regard to processes (50.9%) in the units located outside the capital (p = 0.037) and for hospitals with 68 beds or fewer (p = 0.027). The result of the assessment categorized services as a function of the overall total points earned. Specifically, 8 (34.8%) services were assessed as insufficient, 13 (56.5%) were assessed as typical, and 2 (8.7%) were assessed as sufficient. CONCLUSION: The majority of the intensive care units in this study were assessed as typical. These services must be better qualified. The priorities are the processes of the units located outside the capital and in small hospitals.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a qualidade de unidades de terapia intensiva adulto. MÉTODOS: Estudo populacional, transversal, observacional, analítico, do tipo avaliação para gestão, no Estado do Maranhão. Um instrumento de avaliação foi aplicado, atribuindo pontuações para cada serviço (máximo 124). As unidades foram categorizadas como insuficientes (< 50% da pontuação máxima), regulares (≥ 50% e < 80% da pontuação máxima) ou suficientes (≥ 80% da pontuação máxima). RESULTADOS: Das 26 unidades de terapia intensiva do Estado, 23 foram avaliadas; 15 (65,2%) estavam localizadas na capital, e 14 (60,9%) eram públicas. A pontuação final média foi de 67,2 (54,2% do máximo possível). O pior desempenho ocorreu nos processos (50,9%), nas unidades fora da capital (p = 0,037) e em hospitais com número de leitos ≤ 68 (p = 0,027). O resultado da avaliação consistiu na categorização dos serviços em função do total geral de pontos alcançados, a saber: 8 (34,8%) serviços receberam avaliação insuficiente, 13 (56,5%) regular e 2 (8,7%) suficiente. CONCLUSÃO: A maioria das unidades do estudo recebeu avaliação regular. Tais serviços necessitam ser melhor qualificados. As prioridades são os processos de unidades localizadas fora da capital e em hospitais de pequeno porte.

Sequential bilateral cochlear implant: results in children and adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: The use of the bilateral cochlear implants can promote the symmetrical development of the central auditory pathways, thus benefiting the development of auditory abilities and improving sound localization and the ability of auditory speech perception in situations of competitive noise. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the ability of speech perception in children and adolescents using sequential bilateral cochlear implants, considering the association of these variables: age at surgery, time of device use and interval between surgeries. METHODS: A total of 14 individuals between 10 and 16 years of age, who demonstrated surgical indication for the use of sequential bilateral cochlear implants as intervention in the auditory habilitation process, were assessed. The speech perception ability was assessed through sentence lists constructed in the Portuguese language, presented in two situations: in silence, with fixed intensity of 60dB SPL, and in competitive noise, with a signal-to-noise ratio of +15dB. The evaluation was performed under the following conditions: unilateral with the first activated cochlear implant, unilateral with the second activated cochlear implant and bilateral with both devices activated. RESULTS: The results of the speech perception tests showed better performance in both silence and in noise for the bilateral cochlear implant condition when compared to the 1st cochlear implant and the 2nd cochlear implant alone. A worse result of speech perception was found using the 2nd cochlear implant alone. No statistically significant correlation was found between age at the surgical procedure, interval between surgeries and the time of use of the 2nd cochlear implant, and the auditory speech perception performance for all assessed conditions. The use of a hearing aid prior to the 2nd cochlear implant resulted in benefits for auditory speech perception with the 2nd cochlear implant, both in silence and in noise. CONCLUSION: The bilateral cochlear implant provided better speech perception in silence and in noise situations when compared to the unilateral cochlear implant, regardless of the interval between surgeries, age at the surgical procedure and the time of use of the 2nd cochlear implant. Speech perception with the 1st cochlear implant was significantly better than with the 2nd cochlear implant, both in silence and in noise. The use of the hearing aid prior to the 2nd cochlear implant influenced speech perception performance with the 2nd cochlear implant, both in silence and in noise.

Quality of life and cochlear implant: results in adults with postlingual hearing loss.

INTRODUCTION: Considering the variability of results found in the clinical population using a cochlear implant, researchers in the area have been interested in the inclusion of quality of life measures to subjectively assess the benefits of the implantation. OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of life of adult users of cochlear implant. METHODS: A cross-sectional and clinical study in a group of 26 adults of both genders, with mean duration of cochlear implant use of 6.6 years. The Nijmegen Cochlear Implantation Questionnaire and the generic World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire were sent electronically. RESULTS: The best assessed domain in the quality of life assessment for the cochlear implantation questionnaire was the social domain, whereas for the quality of life questionnaire it was the psychological domain. The variables, gender, time of cochlear implant use and auditory modality did not influence the results of both questionnaires. Only the variable level of education was correlated with the environment domain of the quality of life questionnaire. The variable telephone speech comprehension was associated with a better perception of quality of life for all the domains of the specific questionnaire and for the self-assessment of quality of life in general. CONCLUSION: From the users' perspective, both questionnaires showed that cochlear implant brought benefits to different aspects related to quality of life.

Implementation and impact of an audit and feedback antimicrobial stewardship intervention in the orthopaedics department of a tertiary-care hospital: a controlled interrupted time series study.

A prospective audit and feedback antimicrobial stewardship intervention conducted in the Orthopaedics Department of a university hospital in Portugal was evaluated by comparing an interrupted time series in the intervention group with a non-intervention (control) group. Monthly antibiotic use (except cefazolin) was measured as the World Health Organization's Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical defined daily doses (ATC-DDD) from January 2012 to September 2016, excluding the 6-month phase of intervention implementation starting on 1 January 2015. Compared with the control group, the intervention group had a monthly decrease in the use of fluoroquinolones by 2.3 DDD/1000 patient-days [95% confidence interval (CI) -3.97 to -0.63]. An increase in the use of penicillins by 103.3 DDD/1000 patient-days (95% CI 47.42 to 159.10) was associated with intervention implementation, followed by a decrease during the intervention period (slope = -5.2, 95% CI -8.56 to -1.82). In the challenging scenario of treatment of osteoarticular and prosthetic joint infections, an audit and feedback intervention reduced antibiotic exposure and spectrum.

Role of organisational factors on the 'weekend effect' in critically ill patients in Brazil: a retrospective cohort analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Higher mortality for patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) during the weekends has been occasionally reported with conflicting results that could be related to organisational factors. We investigated the effects of ICU organisational and staffing patterns on the potential association between weekend admission and outcomes in critically ill patients. METHODS: We included 59 614 patients admitted to 78 ICUs participating during 2013. We defined 'weekend admission' as any ICU admission from Friday 19:00 until Monday 07:00. We assessed the association between weekend admission with hospital mortality using a mixed logistic regression model controlling for both patient-level (illness severity, age, comorbidities, performance status and admission type) and ICU-level (decrease in nurse/bed ratio on weekend, full-time intensivist coverage, use of checklists on weekends and number of institutional protocols) confounders. We performed secondary analyses in the subgroup of scheduled surgical admissions. RESULTS: A total of 41 894 patients (70.3%) were admitted on weekdays and 17 720 patients (29.7%) on weekends. In univariable analysis, weekend admitted patients had higher ICU (10.9% vs 9.0%, P<0.001) and hospital (16.5% vs 13.5%, P<0.001) mortality. After adjusting for confounders, weekend admission was not associated with higher hospital mortality (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.12, P=0.095). However, a 'weekend effect' was still observed in scheduled surgical admissions, as well as in ICUs not using checklists during the weekends. For unscheduled admissions, no 'weekend effect' was observed regardless of ICU's characteristics. For scheduled surgical admissions, a 'weekend effect' was present only in ICUs with a low number of implemented protocols and those with a reduction in the nurse/bed ratio and not applying checklists during weekends. CONCLUSIONS: ICU organisational factors, such as decreased nurse-to-patient ratio, absence of checklists and fewer standardised protocols, may explain, in part, increases in mortality in patients admitted to the ICU mortality on weekends.

[Hansen's disease in children under fifteen years-old in Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil]. / Hanseníase em menores de 15 anos no Vale do Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais, Brasil.

Hansen's disease has a slow evolution, which mostly affects the adult population. Detecting cases in children shows that the endemic continues and there is early exposure of the population to the bacillus. This is an ecological study with the objective of analyzing the occurrence of Hansen's disease in children under fifteen in the Jequitinhonha Valley through epidemiological and operational indicators. The results show that the endemic continues in the region, demonstrating that the health services are not proactive and must implement specific prevention and control measures for this age group in order to reduce the transmission of the disease and the possible damage it can bring to the life of individuals, especially when it affects them in their childhood.

Cortical maturation of long latency auditory evoked potentials in hearing children: the complex P1-N1-P2-N2. / Maturação dos potenciais evocados auditivos de longa latência em crianças ouvintes: análise do complexo P1-N1-P2-N2.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to monitor the emergence and changes to the components of the Long Latency Auditory Evoked Potentials (LLAEP) in normal hearing children. METHODS: This longitudinal study included children of both genders: seven aged between 10 and 35 months, and eight children between 37 and 63 months. The electrophysiological hearing evaluation consisted of analysis of LLAEP obtained in a sound field generated with loudspeakers positioned at an azimuth of 90°, through which the syllable /ba/ was played at an intensity of 70 dB HL. Each child underwent an initial evaluation followed by two re-evaluations three and nine months later. RESULTS: The emergence of LLAEP components across the nine-month follow-up period was observed. P1 and N2 were the most common components in children of this age range. There was no statistically significant difference regarding the occurrence of P1, N1, P2, and N2 components amongst younger and older children. Regarding latency values, the greatest changes overtime were observed in the P1 component for younger children and in the N2 component for older children. Only the P1 component significantly differed between the groups, with the highest latency values observed in younger children. CONCLUSION: LLAEP maturation occurs gradually and the emergence of complex components appears to be related more to the maturation of the central auditory nervous system than to chronological age.

Maturation of long latency auditory evoked potentials in hearing children: systematic review. / Maturação dos potenciais evocados auditivos de longa latência em crianças ouvintes: revisão sistemática.

PURPOSE: To analyze how Auditory Long Latency Evoked Potentials (LLAEP) change according to age in children population through a systematic literature review. RESEARCH STRATEGIES: After formulation of the research question, a bibliographic survey was done in five data bases with the following descriptors: Electrophysiology (Eletrofisiologia), Auditory Evoked Potentials (Potenciais Evocados Auditivos), Child (Criança), Neuronal Plasticity (Plasticidade Neuronal) and Audiology (Audiologia). SELECTION CRITERIA: Level 1 evidence articles, published between 1995 and 2015 in Brazilian Portuguese or English language. DATA ANALYSIS: Aspects related to emergence, morphology and latency of P1, N1, P2 and N2 components were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 388 studies were found; however, only 21 studies contemplated the established criteria. P1 component is characterized as the most frequent component in young children, being observed around 100-150 ms, which tends to decrease as chronological age increases. The N2 component was shown to be the second most commonly observed component in children, being observed around 200-250 ms.. The other N1 and P2 components are less frequent and begin to be seen and recorded throughout the maturational process. CONCLUSION: The maturation of LLAEP occurs gradually, and the emergence of P1, N1, P2 and N2 components as well as their latency values are variable in childhood. P1 and N2 components are the most observed and described in pediatric population. The diversity of protocols makes the comparison between studies difficult.