The InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: DNA barcodes of Portuguese moths.

Background: The InBIO Barcoding Initiative (IBI) Dataset - DS-IBILP08 contains records of 2350 specimens of moths (Lepidoptera species that do not belong to the superfamily Papilionoidea). All specimens have been morphologically identified to species or subspecies level and represent 1158 species in total. The species of this dataset correspond to about 42% of mainland Portuguese Lepidoptera species. All specimens were collected in mainland Portugal between 2001 and 2022. All DNA extracts and over 96% of the specimens are deposited in the IBI collection at CIBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources. New information: The authors enabled "The InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: DNA barcodes of Portuguese moths" in order to release the majority of data of DNA barcodes of Portuguese moths within the InBIO Barcoding Initiative. This dataset increases the knowledge on the DNA barcodes of 1158 species from Portugal belonging to 51 families. There is an increase in DNA barcodes of 205% in Portuguese specimens publicly available. The dataset includes 61 new Barcode Index Numbers. All specimens have their DNA barcodes publicly accessible through BOLD online database and the distribution data can be accessed through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

The InBIO barcoding initiative database: DNA barcodes of Iberian Trichoptera, documenting biodiversity for freshwater biomonitoring in a Mediterranean hotspot.

Background: The Trichoptera are an important component of freshwater ecosystems. In the Iberian Peninsula, 380 taxa of caddisflies are known, with nearly 1/3 of the total species being endemic in the region. A reference collection of morphologically identified Trichoptera specimens, representing 142 Iberian taxa, was constructed. The InBIO Barcoding Initiative (IBI) Trichoptera 01 dataset contains records of 438 sequenced specimens. The species of this dataset correspond to about 37% of Iberian Trichoptera species diversity. Specimens were collected between 1975 and 2018 and are deposited in the IBI collection at the CIBIO (Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Portugal) or in the collection Marcos A. González at the University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain). New information: Twenty-nine species, from nine different families, were new additions to the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). A success identification rate of over 80% was achieved when comparing morphological identifications and DNA barcodes for the species analysed. This encouraging step advances incorporation of informed Environmental DNA tools in biomonitoring schemes, given the shortcomings of morphological identifications of larvae and adult Caddisflies in such studies. DNA barcoding was not successful in identifying species in six Trichoptera genera: Hydropsyche (Hydropsychidae), Athripsodes (Leptoceridae), Wormaldia (Philopotamidae), Polycentropus (Polycentropodidae) Rhyacophila (Rhyacophilidae) and Sericostoma (Sericostomatidae). The high levels of intraspecific genetic variability found, combined with a lack of a barcode gap and a challenging morphological identification, rendered these species as needing additional studies to resolve their taxonomy.

The InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: DNA barcodes of Portuguese Hemiptera 01.

BACKGROUND: The InBIO Barcoding Initiative (IBI) Hemiptera 01 dataset contains records of 131 specimens of Hemiptera. Most specimens have been morphologically identified to species or subspecies level and represent 88 species in total. The species of this dataset correspond to about 7.3% of continental Portuguese hemipteran species diversity. All specimens were collected in continental Portugal. Sampling took place from 2015 to 2019 and specimens are deposited in the IBI collection at CIBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources. NEW INFORMATION: This dataset increases the knowledge on the DNA barcodes and distribution of 88 species of Hemiptera from Portugal. Six species, from five different families, were new additions to the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), with another twenty five species barcodes' added from under-represented taxa in BOLD. All specimens have their DNA barcodes publicly accessible through BOLD online database and the distribution data can be accessed through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Eutettix variabilis and Fieberiella florii are recorded for the first time for Portugal and Siphanta acuta, an invasive species, previously reported from the Portuguese Azores archipelago, is recorded for the first time for continental Portugal.

The InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: contribution to the knowledge on DNA barcodes of Iberian Plecoptera.

BACKGROUND: The use of DNA barcoding allows unprecedented advances in biodiversity assessments and monitoring schemes of freshwater ecosystems; nevertheless, it requires the construction of comprehensive reference collections of DNA sequences that represent the existing biodiversity. Plecoptera are considered particularly good ecological indicators and one of the most endangered groups of insects, but very limited information on their DNA barcodes is available in public databases. Currently, less than 50% of the Iberian species are represented in BOLD. NEW INFORMATION: The InBIO Barcoding Initiative Database: contribution to the knowledge on DNA barcodes of Iberian Plecoptera dataset contains records of 71 specimens of Plecoptera. All specimens have been morphologically identified to species level and belong to 29 species in total. This dataset contributes to the knowledge on the DNA barcodes and distribution of Plecoptera from the Iberian Peninsula and it is one of the IBI database public releases that makes available genetic and distribution data for a series of taxa.The species represented in this dataset correspond to an addition to public databases of 17 species and 21 BINs. Fifty-eight specimens were collected in Portugal and 18 in Spain during the period of 2004 to 2018. All specimens are deposited in the IBI collection at CIBIO, Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources and their DNA barcodes are publicly available in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) online database. The distribution dataset can be freely accessed through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Principles of Care.

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is an autosomal co-dominant inherited disorder that results in decreased circulating levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin (also known as alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor) and predisposes affected individuals to early onset lung and liver disease. There is currently no cure for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. However, appropriate treatment and a high standard of clinical care can prevent patients from being seriously affected and having to undergo major medical interventions, such as organ transplantation. Beyond managing the symptoms associated with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor therapy is the only treatment for the condition's underlying cause. Early diagnosis is important to ensure efficient therapeutic strategies and to minimize further deterioration of lung function. alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is under diagnosed globally, partly because the disease has no unique presenting symptoms. This document was prepared by a Portuguese multidisciplinary group and it aims to set out comprehensive principles of care for Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. These include the importance of registries, the need for clinical research, the need for consistent recommendations (regarding diagnosis, treatment and monitoring), the role of reference centres, the requirement for sustained access to treatment, diagnostic and support services, and the role of patient organizations.

A deficiência de alfa-1 antitripsina é uma doença hereditária autossómica co-dominante que resulta numa diminuição dos níveis plasmáticos de alfa-1 antitripsina (também conhecida por inibidor da alfa-1 proteinase) e predispõe os indivíduos afetados ao desenvolvimento de doença pulmonar e hepática precoce. Atualmente não existe cura para a deficiência de alfa-1 antitripsina. No entanto, o tratamento adequado e um elevado padrão de cuidados clínicos podem prevenir que os doentes sejam gravemente afetados e terem que se submeter a intervenções médicas major, como o transplante de órgão. Para além de atuar nos sintomas associados à deficiência de alfa-1 antitripsina, a terapêutica com o inibidor da alfa-1 proteinase é o único tratamento disponível que atua na causa subjacente desta patologia. O diagnostico precoce é importante para assegurar a implementação de estratégias terapêuticas eficientes e para minimizar a destruição adicional da função pulmonar. A deficiência de alfa-1 antitripsina está globalmente sub diagnosticada, em parte devido ao fato desta doença não apresentar sintomas únicos. Este documento foi preparado por um grupo multidisciplinar e visa estabelecer princípios de cuidados abrangentes para a deficiência de alfa-1 antitripsina. Estes incluem a importância dos registros, a necessidade de investigação clinica, a necessidade de recomendações consistentes (no que diz respeito ao diagnostico, tratamento e monitorização), o papel dos centros de referência, a necessidade de acesso sustentado ao tratamento, diagnostico e serviços de suporte, e o papel das associações de doentes.

Evidências de validade de uma medida de dificuldades de decisão de carreira / Validity evidences of a measure of career decision-making difficulties / Evidencias de validez de una medida de dificultades de decisión de carrera

As dificuldades emocionais e de personalidade na decisão são um dos problemas vocacionais mais severos e apresentam consequências significativas para a intervenção de carreira. O objetivo deste estudo consistiu na obtenção de evidências acerca da validade de construto da versão reduzida da Escala dos Fatores Emocionais e de Personalidade na Decisão de Carreira (EPCD), através da análise das associações desta com a adaptabilidade, ansiedade, otimismo e identidade vocacional. A validade estrutural das respostas foi examinada através de uma análise fatorial exploratória (AFE). A amostra foi constituída por 231 estudantes portugueses. A EPCD correlacionou-se positivamente com a ansiedade e negativamente com a adaptabilidade, otimismo e identidade vocacional. As análises multivariadas mostraram que a identidade vocacional e a ansiedade traço tiveram uma contribuição mais importante na predição dos scores da EPCD nos diferentes modelos testados (Mdn R²ajustado = .49). A AFE revelou que as respostas das subescalas se estruturam nos três fatores principais definidos para o EPCD. As implicações dos resultados para a intervenção de carreira são discutidas.

Emotional and personality-related career decision-making difficulties are one of the most severe vocational problems and have significant consequences for career intervention. The purpose of this study was to obtain validity evidences (construct validity) about the scores derived from the Emotional and Personality-Related Career Decision-Making Difficulties Scale (EPCD), through the analysis of their associations with an adaptability, anxiety, optimism and vocational identity. The structural validity of the responses was examined using an exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The sample consisted of 231 Portuguese students. EPCD correlated positively with anxiety and negatively with adaptability, optimism and vocational identity. Multivariate analyses revealed that vocational identity and trait anxiety had a major contribution in predicting EPCD scores in the different models tested (Mdn R²adjusted = .49). The EFA revealed that the subscale scores are structured on the three main factors defined for the EPCD. The implications of outcomes for career intervention are discussed.

Las dificultades emocionales y de la personalidad en la toma de decisión son unos de los problemas vocacionales más graves y tienen un impacto significativo en la elección de carrera. El objetivo de este estudio fue la obtención de evidencias de validez de constructo de la versión reducida de la Escala de Factores Emocionales y de la Personalidad en la Elección de la Carrera (EPCD), mediante el análisis de las relaciones de esta con la adaptabilidad, la ansiedad, el optimismo y la identidad vocacional. La validez estructural de las respuestas se examinó mediante un análisis factorial exploratorio (AFE). La muestra estuvo constituida por 231 estudiantes portugueses. La EPCD se correlacionó positivamente con la ansiedad y negativamente con la adaptabilidad, el optimismo y la identidad vocacional. Los análisis multivariados mostraron que la identidad vocacional y la ansiedad como rasgo tuvieron una determinación relativa más importante en la predicción de los puntajes de la EPCD (Mdn R²ajustado = .49). La AFE evidenció que las respuestas de las subescalas se estructuran en los tres factores principales definidos para la EPCD. Por último, se abordan las implicaciones de los resultados para la elección de carrera.

Relationship between rumen ciliate protozoa and biohydrogenation fatty acid profile in rumen and meat of lambs.

This study investigated the associations between abundance of rumen ciliate protozoa and the proportion of the main bioactive fatty acids related to rumen biohydrogenation, as 18:0, t10-18:1, t11-18:1, c9,t11-18:2, 18:3n-3 and 18:2 n-6, in rumen and meat of growing lambs, using data derived from 3 production experiments. A global correlation analysis and a linear regression analysis considering the effect of the experiment were performed. Ten of the 86 lambs involved in the experiments did not present ciliate cells in rumen liquor and the remaining lambs presented an average of 1.35 × 106ciliates / ml rumen liquor. From the nine genera of ciliates identified, Entodinium was the most abundant, averaging 1.17 × 106 cells / ml of rumen liquor. A large variation among lambs was observed for both rumen concentration and community structure of ciliates. Rumen t11-18:1 (P < 0.001) and meat deposition of t11-18:1 (P < 0.001) and of c9,t11-18:2 (P < 0.001) increased linearly with total ciliates, whereas the t10/t11 ratio in rumen (P = 0.002) and in meat (P = 0.036) decreased linearly. Entodiniomorphids seems to be strongly related with meat deposition oft11-18:1 and c9,t11-18:2 and with the reduction of the trans-10 shifted pathway. Completeness of RBH decreased linearly with Holotrichs (P = 0.029), Entodiniomorphids (P = 0.029), Isotricha (P = 0.011) and Epidinium (P = 0.027) abundances. Rumen 18:0 also decreased linearly with increasing counts of total ciliates (P = 0.015), Holotrichs (P = 0.020), Entodiniomorphids (P = 0.010) and Isotricha (P = 0.014). Rumen protozoa were positively linked with the deposition of healthy bioactive FA and simultaneously negatively associated with the occurrence of trans-10 shift.

Envelhecimento Ativo e Saudável: resultado-piloto do programa de intervenção "VintAGEING+Felizes" / Active and Healthy Aging: pilot result of the "VintAGEING+Happy" Intervention Program / Envejecimiento activo y saludable: resultado piloto del Programa de Intervención "VintAGEING+Felices"

Ações de prevenção e de manutenção da saúde do idoso, na sua comunidade e no seu domicílio, devem ser resultado de um esforço de parcerias públicas e/ou privadas, academia e serviço. O programa intitulado, VintANGEING+Felizes, tem como finalidade realizar um trabalho multidisciplinar de intervenção comunitária, disponibilizando o conhecimento científico e contribuindo para o cumprimento das diretrizes e das políticas de atenção pública à saúde do idoso, na direção do envelhecimento ativo e saudável.

Actions to prevent and maintain the health of the elderly, in their community and at home, should be the result of an effort of public and / or private partnerships, academia and service. The VintANGEING+Happy Program aims to carry out a multidisciplinary work of community intervention, providing scientific knowledge and contributing to the compliance with the guidelines and policies of public attention to the health of the elderly in the direction of active and healthy aging.

Las acciones de prevención y mantenimiento de la salud de los ancianos, en su comunidad y en el hogar, deben ser el resultado de un esfuerzo de asociaciones públicas y / o privadas, gimnasio y servicio. El programa VintANGEING+Felizes tiene como objetivo llevar a cabo un trabajo multidisciplinario de intervención comunitaria, proporcionando conocimiento científico y contribuyendo al cumplimiento de las directrices y políticas de atención de salud pública para personas mayores, en la dirección del envejecimiento activo y saludable.

The Portuguese Severe Asthma Registry: Development, Features, and Data Sharing Policies.

The Portuguese Severe Asthma Registry (Registo de Asma Grave Portugal, RAG) was developed by an open collaborative network of asthma specialists. RAG collects data from adults and pediatric severe asthma patients that despite treatment optimization and adequate management of comorbidities require step 4/5 treatment according to GINA recommendations. In this paper, we describe the development and implementation of RAG, its features, and data sharing policies. The contents and structure of RAG were defined in a multistep consensus process. A pilot version was pretested and iteratively improved. The selection of data elements for RAG considered other severe asthma registries, aiming at characterizing the patient's clinical status whilst avoiding overloading the standard workflow of the clinical appointment. Features of RAG include automatic assessment of eligibility, easy data input, and exportable data in natural language that can be pasted directly in patients' electronic health record and security features to enable data sharing (among researchers and with other international databases) without compromising patients' confidentiality. RAG is a national web-based disease registry of severe asthma patients, available at asmagrave.pt. It allows prospective clinical data collection, promotes standardized care and collaborative clinical research, and may contribute to inform evidence-based healthcare policies for severe asthma.

The effects of austerity measures on quality of healthcare services: a national survey of physicians in the public and private sectors in Portugal.

BACKGROUND: The European Union member countries reacted differently to the 2008 economic and financial crisis. However, few countries have monitored the outcomes of their policy responses, and there is therefore little evidence as to whether or not savings undermined the performance of health systems. We discuss the situation in Portugal, where a financial adjustment program was implemented between 2011 and 2014, and explore the views of health workers on the effects of austerity measures on quality of care delivery. METHODS: A nationwide survey of physicians' experiences was conducted in 2013-2014 (n = 3442). We used a two-step model to compare public and private services and look at the possible moderating effects of the physicians' specialty and years of practice. Our data analysis included descriptive statistics, the independent t test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), multivariate logistic regression, General Linear Model Univariate Analysis, non-parametric methods (bootstrap), and post hoc probing. RESULTS: Mainly in the public sector, the policy goal of maintaining quality of care was undermined by a lack of resources, the deterioration in medical residency conditions, and to a lesser extent, greater administrative interference in clinical decision-making. Differences in public and private services showed that the effects of the austerity measures were not the same throughout the health system. Our results also showed that physicians with similar years of practice and in the same medical specialty did not necessarily experience the same pressures. CONCLUSIONS: The debate on the effects of austerity measures should focus more closely on health workers' concrete experiences, as they demonstrate the non-linearity between policy setting and expected outcomes. We also suggest that it is necessary to explore the interplay between lower quality and the undermining of trust relationships in health.

[Satisfação com o Internato Médico em Portugal]. / Satisfação com o Internato Médico em Portugal.

INTRODUCTION: In the last years, the global context of medical education and Medical Residency programs in Portugal suffered substantial changes. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate and characterize medical residents ́ satisfaction with medical residency programs in Portugal and to identify features that could be improved. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We utilized as model the survey Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure that has been developed in the United Kingdom and is speci cally targeted to medical residents. The survey was translated and adapted to the Portuguese reality. The survey was available online during April and May of 2016. RESULTS: A total of 3456 responses were obtained, corresponding to a response rate of 35%. Endocrinology/Nutrition, Cardiology, Anesthesiology, Family Physician and Gastroenterology were the specialties in which the degree of satisfaction was higher, while Forensic Medicine, Medical Oncology, Internal Medicine, General Surgery and Pneumology showed the lowest level of satisfaction. DISCUSSION: This study presented a high response rate when compared to previous studies. Portuguese medical residents presented high levels of satisfaction. Depending on year of medical residency, region, type of specialty and type of hospital marked asymmetries were noticed. CONCLUSION: The survey ́s results should constitute in the future a support tool for the implementation of local and national measures relating to the medical residency. It is advisable to regularly conduct satisfaction surveys to medical residents.

Introdução: Nos últimos anos, o contexto global da formação médica, e em particular do Internato Médico em Portugal, sofreu profundas alterações. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar e caracterizar a satisfação dos médicos internos com a realização do Internato Médico em Portugal e identificar aspetos passíveis de melhoria.Material e Métodos: Foi utilizado como modelo de inquérito o questionário Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measuredesenvolvido no Reino Unido e dirigido a médicos internos, o qual foi traduzido e adaptado à realidade portuguesa. O questionário esteve disponível online durante os meses de abril e maio de 2016.Resultados: Foram obtidas 3456 respostas, correspondendo a uma taxa de resposta de 35%. Endocrinologia/Nutrição, Cardiologia, Anestesiologia, Medicina Geral e Familiar e Gastrenterologia foram as especialidades nas quais o grau de satisfação foi mais elevado,enquanto que Medicina Legal, Oncologia Médica, Medicina Interna, Cirurgia Geral e Pneumologia apresentaram o grau de satisfaçãomais baixo.Discussão: O presente estudo apresenta uma elevada taxa de resposta comparativamente com estudos prévios. A nível nacional, no global, os médicos internos apresentaram níveis elevados de satisfação, destacando-se marcadas assimetrias de acordo com o ano de especialidade, região, tipologia de instituição e de especialidade.Conclusão: Os resultados deste inquérito poderão constituir uma ferramenta de apoio à implementação de medidas de âmbito local enacional relacionadas com o Internato Médico, sendo desejável a realização regular de inquéritos de satisfação aos médico internos.

Fenotipagem eritrocitária em doadores de sangue no HEMOPI - PI (Teresina - Picos) e no hemocentro regional do Crato - CE

Em razão da melhor expectativa de vida e do envelhecimento da população,consequentemente, a melhora dos avanços técnicos e diagnósticos na Medicina, aliados anovas modalidades terapêuticas para doenças, cresce no mundo inteiro a transfusão deconcentrados de hemácias, plaquetas e plasma fresco congelado. Assim, a fenotipagemeritrocitária, tanto em receptores quanto em doadores de sangue, tem como finalidade reduziro número de reações transfusionais, prevenindo o aparecimento de anticorpos de forma maistardia, principalmente naqueles receptores candidatos a politransfusão. Além disso, afenotipagem eritrocitária é essencial na confirmação dos aloanticorpos formados, além defacilitar a identificação de anticorpos que poderão ser constituídos no futuro. O estudo tevecomo objetivo analisar as frequências dos principais antígenos de grupos sanguíneospertencentes aos sistemas ABO, Rh, Duffy, Kidd, MNS, e o antígeno K do sistema Kell, bemcomo estudar a associação entre esses grupos e a distribuição quanto à procedência e o gruporacial autorreferido, por serem esses os principais sistemas envolvidos em reaçãotransfusional hemolítica e causarem a doença hemolítica perinatal em todo o mundo. Foramanalisadas 532 amostras de doadores de sangue do Hemocentro do Estado do Ceará, regionaldo Crato, e Hemocentro do Estado do Piauí (Teresina e Picos)...

Due to better life expectancy and the aging of population, consequently the improvement oftechnical advances and diagnostics in medicine, combined with new therapeutic modalitiesfor different diseases, it is growing worldwide the transfusion of packed red blood cells,platelets and fresh frozen plasma. So, the erythrocyte phenotyping as in receptors as in blooddonors aims to reduce the number of transfusion reactions, preventing the appearance ofantibodies in a later way, mainly in those receptors candidates to poly-transfusion. Besidesthis the erythrocyte phenotyping is essential for confirmation of formed alloantibodies aswell as facilitating the identification of antibodies that can be formed in the future. This studyaimed to analyze the frequencies of the main antibodies of blood groups belonging to thesystems ABO, Rh, Duffy, Kidd, MNS, and K antigen of Kell system and to study theassociation between these groups and the distribution concerning the origin and the racialgroup self-referred. Being these, the main systems involved in hemolytic disease worldwide.532 samples of blood donors of hemocenter of Ceará State, regional of Crato and hemocenterof Piaui State (Teresina and Picos)...

[CD4+, CD8+ AND CD19+ cells in individuals with dyslipidemia]. / Populações Celulares Periféricas (CD4+, CD8+ e CD19+) em Indivíduos Dislipidémicos.

INTRODUCTION: The past decade has witnessed an increasing recognition that inflammatory mechanisms play a central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its complications. Recently, attention was focused on the potential role of plasma markers of inflammation as risk predictors among those at risk for cardiovascular events. Of these potential markers, C-reactive protein (CRP), IL6, metalloproteinases, ICAM, VCAM and other molecules, have been extensively studied. On the other hand, to our knowledge, there are only a few studies on the role of inflammatory cells, like T and B lymphocytes in the atherosclerosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: By flow cytometry analysis we have determined on dyslipidemic people and on a control group, the percentage of some peripheral inflammatory cells, like CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD56+, CD56CD8+, DN, CD25+, CD26+, CD25CD3+, CD26CD3+, CD25CD26CD3+, CCR5+, CCR5CD3+, CCR5CD4+, HLADR+, HLADRCD4+, HLADRCD8h+, HLADRCD8low+, HLADRCD8+, CD95+, CD95CD95L+, CD3CD95+, CD3CD95L+, CD62L+, CD3CD62L+, CD69+, CD69CD3+ e CD69CD4+. RESULTS: In the present study we have particularly studied the percentage of CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ cells. The CD4+ cells have been significantly reduced in the people with dyslipidemia. DISCUSSION: We do not know the peripheral numbers of the subtype Th1 and Th2, neither the percentage of CD4+CD25+ cells (regulatory T cells). We have not find any differences on the percentage from the CD8+ and CD19+ cells. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the identified limitations resulting from the small-sized samples, it was possible to show a reduction of some molecules after application of acetylsalicylic acid.

Introdução: Os mecanismos imunológicos e inflamatórios têm um papel crucial no desenvolvimento da aterosclerose e na sua tradução clínica. São inúmeros os estudos que procuraram relacionar os mais diversos marcadores inflamatórios ­ leucócitos, proteína C reactiva, interleucinas, quimiocinas, moléculas de adesão, metaloproteinases, etc ­ com os factores de risco clássicos da aterosclerose, a formação da placa e os fenómenos clínicos. Não são tantos, que tenhamos conhecimento, os trabalhos que analisaram o comportamento das diversas células mononucleares na fisiopatologia da aterosclerose. Sendo os monócitos/macrófagos e os linfócitos células fundamentais no desencadear e posterior evolução desta doença vascular, procurámos determinar as percentagens das diversas populações celulares periféricas em indivíduos dislipidémicos e em normolipidémicos.Material e Métodos: Por citometria de fluxo, determinámos em indivíduos com dislipidemia e num grupo controlo, as concentrações no sangue periférico dos CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD56+, CD56CD8+, DN, CD25+, CD26+, CD25CD3+, CD26CD3+, CD25CD26CD3+, CCR5+, CCR5CD3+, CCR5CD4+, HLADR+, HLADRCD4+, HLADRCD8h+, HLADRCD8low+, HLADRCD8+, CD95+, CD95CD95L+, CD3CD95+, CD3CD95L+, CD62L+, CD3CD62L+, CD69+, CD69CD3+ e CD69CD4+. Resultados: Embora na sua grande maioria não tenham sido encontradas diferenças significativas entre os dois grupos de participantes, verificaram-se em algumas populações celulares, resultados que nos mereceram alguns comentários. Neste artigo debruçámo-nos apenas sobre as populações positivas para os CD4, CD8 e CD19.Discussão: A menor concentração das células CD4+ na nossa população de dislipidémicos foi aparentemente inesperada devido ao relacionamento existente entre este tipo celular, os factores de risco e a aterosclerose. Não foram determinados os subtipos Th1 e Th2, nem a população de células reguladoras CD4+CD25+, que poderiam explicar a menor percentagem de células CD4+ nos nossos dislipidémicos. Relativamente às células CD8+ e CD19+, apresentaram percentagens sobreponíveis nos dois grupos de participantes.Conclusões: Apesar das limitações evidenciadas em resultado da reduzida dimensão das populações, foi possível demonstrar uma redução em algumas moléculas após aplicação de ácido acetilsalicílico.

Selection of the derivatization reagent--the case of human blood cholesterol, its precursors and phytosterols GC-MS analyses.

Phytosterols (PS; ß-sitosterol and campesterol) and cholesterol precursors (CP; desmosterol and lathosterol) have been suggested as important biochemical markers of cholesterol intestinal absorption and liver biosynthesis, respectively. Given that these compounds appear in human blood in low amounts, sensitive and accurate methodology is required, such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) the most frequently used. One of the most critical factors of the GC analytical determination is the step of derivatization. Thus, the main objective of the present study was compare and select the better (one out of three) silylation mixtures as follows: N-methyl-N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide/ammonium iodide (MTBSTFA:NH(4)I), N-O-bis-(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide/trimethylchlorosilane (BSTFA:TMCS), and N-methyl-N-(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide/1,4-dithioerythritol/trimethyliodosilane (MSTFA:DTE:TMIS). The results of this study are discussed and accompanied by a brief review on the importance and principles of derivatization process, specifically in silylation reactions in GC-MS sterols analyses. Furthermore, a scrutiny of some published results is presented, along with additional information about mass spectral data of these potentially useful compounds. Interestingly, the results of the study showed that from the three validated methodologies, the selected one, based on the best relation specificity/sensibility, is MSTFA:DTE:TMIS. With this silylation procedure for simultaneous determination of PS and CP in human serum by GC-MS in selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode, good linearity (r(2)≥0.931), precision (repeatability ranging from 0.92 to 3.91 CV and intermediate precision ranging from 5.12 to 6.33) and recoveries (≥93.6%) were obtained. Thus, it proved to be a helpful methodology in the quantification of predominant serum cholesterol origin in each patient.

[Mediastinal hydatid cyst. Reflections on a case study]. / Quisto hidático do mediastino. A propósito de um caso clínico.

Hydatid cyst is a zoonotic cycle parasitic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm, whose larvae infect man as an intermediate host. It is one of the most serious lung diseases caused by helminths. It is rare to find it in the mediastinum; < 1%. The primitive, or seemingly primitive, location is due to the parasite in the cellular tissue of the mediastinum. The authors report the case of a sixteen year old male, admitted to the E.R. for left posterior chest pain which had spread to the upper left limb.

Metabolic syndrome in dyslipidemia consultations.

AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) in dyslipidemia consultations, according to the criteria established by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III); to classify patients with MS according to ATP III risk categories and prevention type (primary versus secondary); and to evaluate evolution to type 2 diabetes in these patients. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted based on analysis of the clinical records of 470 patients followed in dyslipidemia consultations at Internal Medicine II of Coimbra University Hospitals. MS was defined as the presence of three or more of the following abnormalities: waist circumference > 102/88 cm (male/female), triglyceride levels > or =150 mg/dl, HDL-cholesterol level < 40/50 mg/dl (male/female), blood pressure > or = 130/85 mmHg and fasting glucose > or = 110 mg/dl. The patients were classified into three risk categories according to the major risk factors defined by ATP III, regardless of LDL-cholesterol level. RESULTS: MS was diagnosed in 31.3% of the patients; 53.7% were male and mean age was 52.7+/-11.9 years. The most prevalent anomaly was hypertriglyceridemia (95.9%), followed by waist circumference (76.1%), HDL cholesterol (73.5%), blood pressure (69.4%) and fasting glycemia (36.7%). Based on the risk categories identified by ATP III, 30.6% of the patients had no or only one risk factor, 66.7% had multiple (2 or more) risk factors and 2.7% had coronary disease or an equivalent risk profile. 97.3% of the patients with MS were in primary prevention. 18.4% developed diabetes, the majority within 1-3 years of the first consultation. CONCLUSIONS: Our study identified a high MS prevalence in patients followed in dyslipidemia consultations, particularly in older age-groups. More than half of the MS patients had an intermediate risk profile and most of them were in primary prevention. We also found that a fifth of non-diabetic patients developed diabetes during follow-up.

Food poisoning by clenbuterol in Portugal.

This paper describes the occurrence of four cases of acute food poisoning, involving a total of 50 people, due to the ingestion of lamb and bovine meat containing residues of clenbuterol. Symptoms shown by the intoxicated people may be generally described as gross tremors of the extremities, tachycardia, nausea, headaches and dizziness. Analytical methodology developed for the determination of clenbuterol in meat, liver and blood samples is described. Procedures are described which should be followed when the described symptoms are evident in a group of people who have ingested contaminated meat, and particularly liver of ruminants.