Proteomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in first episode psychosis - Protein and peptide-centered approaches to elucidate potential diagnostic biomarkers.

Diagnosing patients suffering from psychotic disorders is far from being achieved with molecular support, despite all the efforts to study these disorders from different perspectives. Characterizing the proteome of easily obtainable blood specimens, such as the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), has particular interest in biomarker discovery and generating pathophysiological knowledge. This approach has been explored in psychiatry, and while generating valuable information, it has not translated into meaningful biomarker discovery. In this project, we report the proof-of-concept of a methodology that aims to explore further information obtained with classical proteomics approaches that is easily overlooked. PBMC samples from first-episode psychosis and control subjects were subjected to a SWATH-MS approach, and the classical protein relative quantification was performed, where 389 proteins were found to be important to distinguish the two groups. Individual analysis of the quantified peptides was also performed, highlighting peptides of unchanged proteins that were significantly altered. With the combination of protein- and peptide-centered proteomics approaches, it is possible to highlight that information about proteoforms, namely regulation at the peptide level possibly due to post-translational modifications, is routinely overlooked and that its diagnostic potential should be further explored. SIGNIFICANCE: Our exploratory findings highlight the potential of MS-based proteomics strategies, combining protein- and peptide-centered approaches, to aid clinical decision-making in first-episode psychosis, helping to establish early biomarkers for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Particularly, the less popular peptide-centered approach allows the identification/measurement of overlooked modulated peptides that may have potential biomarker characteristics. The application in parallel of protein- and peptide-centered strategies is transversal to research of other diseases, potentially allowing a more comprehensive characterization of the metabolic/pathophysiological alterations related to a specific disease.

Oral Health Literacy and Determinants among an Elderly Community in Portugal.

High average life expectancy has caused an increase in the elderly population and with it arises the need to characterize this population regarding their health and, in particular, their oral health. The purpose of this study was to assess and characterize oral health, oral rehabilitation, oral health literacy, oral health perception and quality of life in a sample of elderly participants of a physical activity program in Portugal. An observational cross-sectional study was designed with a group of 206 individuals. All the individuals were clinically assessed, DMFT, PSR and the plaque index were registered, and a questionnaire was applied in the form of a "face-to-face" interview with questions related to the quality of life related to oral health (GOHAI index and the REALD-30 scale). Of the 206 study participants, 90.3% admit brushing their teeth daily, 6.3% practice daily flossing, and 5.8% had a dental appointment in the last 12 months. Applying the REALD-30 scale, 22.7% have a low level (score 0-14), 43.7% a moderate level (score 15-22) and 33.6% a high level (score 23-29) of oral health literacy. The GOHAI scale reveals that 37.4% have a high self-perception of their oral health. A considerable proportion of the sample studied present a moderate level of oral health literacy. Therefore, educating each person about their oral health when participating in a specific health program and developing proposals for oral health promotion activities should be widely considered as a strategy towards primary prevention. Future oral health literacy sessions should be held in order to improve oral health and quality of life among the community.

Robustness of Wave-Particle Duality under Unruh Effect.

By considering a uniformly accelerated two-level system in an initial superposition state of a qubit, we investigate the loss of coherence induced by the acceleration. In addition, we investigate the impact of acceleration on the complementarity relation in a quantum interferometric circuit or quantum scattering circuit. We present an alternative approach to exploring acceleration effects through examination of quantum coherence decay and degradation in the interference pattern. Our investigations help to provide understanding of the consequences of decoherence induced by the Unruh effect on the wave-particle duality of a uniformly accelerated qubit.

Perception of Need for Further Refinement in a Clear Aligner Treatment among Orthodontists, Dentists and Laypeople: A Retrospective Study.

Clear aligner treatment often requires further refinement to improve the orthodontic treatment outcome. However, the perceptions of treatment outcomes evaluated by orthodontists and dentists are sparse, and laypeople's perceptions have yet to be explored. Here, we explore the perceptions of orthodontists, dentists, and laypeople concerning the treatment outcomes achieved after completing the first sequence of aligners. This cross-sectional study involved 37 orthodontists, 67 dentists, and 93 laypeople. We administered an online questionnaire containing intra-oral photographs of nine completed cases with pre- and post-first sequences of aligners. As a control, we used a digital prediction system for the treatment outcome. Self-perception was reported using a visual analog scale. Both orthodontists and dentists had similar perceptions about treatment outcomes (p = 0.363) but significantly differed from laypeople (p ≤ 0.0001). Both orthodontists and dentists recommended further treatment; orthodontists were more critical than dentists (p ≤ 0.001). Orthodontists were more critical than dentists in their evaluations of the need for further treatments; however, their perceptions of treatment outcomes were similar. Laypeople were more satisfied with the treatment outcomes, were less concerned with occlusion, and were more focused on the aesthetic results of the treatment.

Validity and reliability of the Portuguese version of the rapid estimate of adult literacy in dentistry: REALD-29 PT.

BACKGROUND: Health literacy is a main factor in health for its improvement, allowing the individuals to have a greater capacity to engage and participate in collective health promotion actions. The evaluation of functional health literacy is essential to determine the ability that each individual has to understand basic health information. The present study aimed to perform the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-30 to the Portuguese language and test the reliability and validity of this version. METHODS: After translation and cultural adaptation, the instrument was applied to a group of individuals that participate in the program Atividade Senior, developed by the municipality of Viseu, Portugal. The final sample was composed by 206 participants that accepted responding to the translated version of the instrument. Statistical validation was accomplished to complete the process and obtain the final instrument. One question was removed for the creation of the final instrument with 29 questions, therefore being named Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-29 PT. RESULTS: The Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-29 PT presented good internal reliability. Cronbach's alpha ranged from 0.89 to 0.90 when words were deleted individually. The analysis of test-retest reliability revealed excellent reproducibility. We can verify that the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Dentistry-29 PT scale for assessment of oral health literacy among older adults presents an acceptable internal consistency, with a global Cronbach´s alpha of 0.894. CONCLUSIONS: The new scale can be applied to assess oral health literacy among older Portuguese adults, presenting an acceptable internal consistency and is validated to assess oral health literacy and is crucial in epidemiological studies.

Centric relation: A matter of form and substance.

The recent review article by Zonnenberg, Türp and Greene 'Centric relation critically revisited - What are the clinical implications'? opens an important debate by addressing topics of central relevance in Dentistry, namely the relationship between occlusion and the condyle-to-glenoid-fossa position, and the need for diagnostic assessment and therapeutic alteration of the condylar position in orthodontic patients. Zonnenberg, Türp and Greene concluded that the mandibular condyle is correctly situated in most orthodontic patients. Thus, in their view, orthodontists can disregard this aspect during treatment, and rely on the plastic properties of the masticatory supporting structures, while aiming at finishing the cases in a good occlusal relationship. We think that this approach fails to consider that biological variation of the stomatognathic structures can also be pathological and that, as dental occlusion determines condylar relative position within the glenoid fossa, changes in the occlusion are likely to alter the original condylar-to-glenoid-fossa relation. Hence, we claim that whenever the occlusal relationship must be changed, the clinician should carefully monitor the condyle position and the mandibular function to prevent possible iatrogenic effects. To advance the discourse on the topic, we invite Zonnenberg, Türp and Greene to clarify their definition of 'average patient' and their interpretation of 'full-mouth orthodontic and orthognathic treatment', their understanding of 'biologically acceptable condylar relationship', their justification of maximum intercuspation as reference position, the extent to which they think it is safe to rely on the TMJ resilience, and finally their alternative to centric relation in the treatment of patients needing condylar repositioning.

PAH source differentiation between historical MGP and significant urban influences for sediments in San Francisco Bay.

A forensic source evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in nearshore sediments in San Francisco Bay examined total PAH greater than ambient concentrations in sediments, and potential pyrogenic source relationships with respect to PAH compounds typically associated with point and nonpoint pyrogenic source types, including PAHs potentially associated with historical manufactured gas plant (MGP) operations. Diagnostic source ratio analysis was employed for determination of potential PAH source relationships. A two-model approach indicated distinct potential source signatures, as identified from the distributions of higher PAH concentrations in some sediments. Source characterization was aided by Polytopic Vector Analysis (PVA) and data visualization with t-Distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE). Two signatures exhibited pyrogenic character likely consistent with historical MGP sources, and one signature was related to creosote. A distinct and significant source of PAHs to the investigation area sediment consisted of ubiquitous nonpoint and potential unidentified point sources is termed "urban influence".

A scientometric review of global research on sustainability and project management dataset.

There are few works that have attempted to map the global research on sustainability and project management. This research utilizes scientometric review of global sustainability and project management research in 2006-2018, through co-word analysis, co-author analysis, journal analysis, institution analysis, and country analysis. A total of 400 bibliographic records from the Web of Science and Scopus core collection databases were selected and analyzed. The findings reveal an evolution of the research field based on the concepts in the Brundtland Commission report to considering sustainability Triple Bottom Line in project management activities. The purpose of this data article is to provide an understanding of the status quo and the trend for research on sustainability and project management in the world.

Characterisation and origins of melanin-concentrating hormone immunoreactive fibres of the posterior lobe of the pituitary and median eminence during lactation in the Long-Evans rat.

Although the melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) and its coding mRNA are predominantly found in the tuberal hypothalamus, there is detectable synthesis of MCH in the preoptic hypothalamus exclusively in lactating dams, suggesting a participation of MCH in the alterations that take place after parturition. Also implicated in the dam physiology is oxytocin, a neurohormone released from the posterior pituitary that is necessary for milk ejection. Because the projection fields from oxytocin-immunoreactive (-IR) neurones and the mediobasal preoptic hypothalamus overlap and MCH-IR neurones are found in proximity to oxytocin neurones, we investigated the spatial relationship between MCH and oxytocin fibres. Accordingly, we employed multiple immunohistochemistry labelling for MCH and oxytocin for light and electron microscopy techniques, in addition to i.v. tracer injection combined with in situ hybridisation to identify MCH neurones that project to neurosecretory areas. As described for other strains, lactating Long-Evans dams also display immunoreactivity for MCH in the preoptic hypothalamus on days 12 and 19 of lactation. The appearance of these neurones is contemporaneous with an increase in MCH-IR fibres in both the internal layer of the median eminence and the posterior pituitary. In both regions, MCH- and oxytocin-IR fibres were found in great proximity, although there was no evidence for synaptic interaction between these two populations at the ultrastructural level. The tracer injection revealed that only mediobasal preoptic MCH neurones project to the posterior pituitary, suggesting a neuroendocrine-modulatory role for this population. When taken together, the results obtained in the present study indicate that neuroplasticity events at the mediobasal preoptic hypothalamus that occur during late lactation may be part of a neuroendocrinology control loop involving both MCH and oxytocin.

Hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone projections to the septo-hippocampal complex in the rat.

Melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) and neuropeptide glutamic acid-isoleucine (NEI) are expressed in neurons that are located mainly in the hypothalamus and project widely throughout the rat central nervous system. One of the main targets of melanin-concentrating hormone is the hippocampal formation, although the exact origin of the projections is unknown. By using injections of the retrograde tracer True Blue into the hippocampus, together with immunohistochemical analysis, we observed retrogradely labeled melanin-concentrating hormone-containing neurons in the lateral hypothalamic area, incerto-hypothalamic area, perifornical area, the periventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, and in the internuclear area (between the dorsomedial and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus), as well as a few retrogradely labeled and melanin-concentrating hormone-immunoreactive cells in the supramammillary nucleus. The afferents from the lateral hypothalamic area were confirmed using injection of the anterograde tracer biotinylated dextran amine, which enabled us to use histochemical analysis in order to visualize fibers and terminals in the hippocampal formation. In the medial septal nucleus, we found cholinergic neurons that are also putatively innervated by melanin-concentrating hormone immunoreactive fibers and project to the hippocampal formation. Finally, using two different protocols for immunoperoxidase, we were able to show GABAergic basket cells presumably innervated by melanin-concentrating hormone-immunoreactive fibers in the hippocampal formation. On the basis of the data collected herein, we hypothesize that the MCH/NEI projections from hypothalamic nuclei participate in spatial memory and learning through direct and indirect pathways. These pathways would enable the animal to organize its exploratory behavior during foraging.

A computerized tomography study of the morphological interrelationship between the temporal bones and the craniofacial complex.

The hypothesis that the temporal bones are at the center of the dynamics of the craniofacial complex, directly influencing facial morphology, has been put forward long ago. This study examines the role of the spatial positioning of temporal bones (frontal and sagittal inclination) in terms of influencing overall facial morphology. Several 3D linear, angular and orthogonal measurements obtained through computerized analysis of virtual models of 163 modern human skulls reconstructed from cone-beam computed tomography images were analyzed and correlated. Additionally, the sample was divided into two subgroups based on the median value of temporal bone sagittal inclination [anterior rotation group (n = 82); posterior rotation group (n = 81)], and differences between groups evaluated. Correlation coefficients showed that sagittal inclination of the temporal bone was significantly (P < 0.01) related to midline flexion, transversal width and anterior-posterior length of the basicranium, to the anterior-posterior positioning of the mandible and maxilla, and posterior midfacial height. Frontal inclination of the temporal bone was significantly related (P < 0.01) to basicranium anterior-posterior and transversal dimensions, and to posterior midfacial height. In comparison with the posterior rotation group, the anterior rotation group presented a less flexed and anterior-posteriorly longer cranial base, a narrower skull, porion and the articular eminence located more superiorly and posteriorly, a shorter posterior midfacial height, the palatal plane rotated clockwise, a more retrognathic maxilla and mandible, and the upper posterior occlusal plane more inclined and posteriorly located. The results suggest that differences in craniofacial morphology are highly integrated with differences in the positional relationship of the temporal bones. The sagittal inclination of the temporal bone seems to have a greater impact on the 3D morphology of the craniofacial complex than frontal inclination.

Left ventricular noncompaction: analysis of a pediatric population.

INTRODUCTION: Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a rare and potentially progressive cardiomyopathy, characterized by the persistence of multiple trabeculations and deep intratrabecular recesses in the ventricular myocardium. Although two-dimensional and color Doppler echocardiography are the most useful diagnostic modalities, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging has proved to have high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of this anomaly. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the clinical and imaging features of LVNC in a pediatric population and to assess their evolution. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a retrospective chart review of five pediatric patients with LVNC, followed at Coimbra Pediatric Hospital between January 1999 and December 2007. Median age at presentation was five months (ranging from one day to 13 years), and they were mainly male (1.5:1). Two of the children had a family history of sudden death. In one case the clinical presentation was cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation and in three others, congestive cardiac failure. None of the five cases had associated congenital cardiac anomalies. Involvement of the ventricular apical region was found in all cases. Four children additionally had ventricular dysfunction which improved with diuretic and vasodilator therapy. Mean follow-up was 34 months, ranging from six months to seven years. In one case a change in the morphological phenotype was noted, from a dilated to a hypertrophic form. In this case and in the child's father a mutation in the MYBPC3 gene was identified, which is associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. No thromboembolic phenomena or deaths occurred during the study period. CONCLUSION: In the pediatric population, congestive cardiac failure is the most common clinical presentation of LVNC, which can coexist with other cardiomyopathies, particularly dilated and hypertrophic forms. The sample presented in this analysis is statistically non-significant due to its limited size and the authors highlight the need for larger prospective studies in the pediatric population in order to clarify this disease and its diagnostic criteria.

Gestão de desempenho por competências: integrando a gestão por competências, o balanced scorecard e a avaliação 360 graus / Competence-based performance assessment: a model which integrates competence-based management, balanced scorecard and 360º feedback

Este artigo avalia a percepção de funcionários do Banco do Brasil acerca do novo modelo de gestão de desempenho adotado pela empresa. A pesquisa, de caráter descritivo e exploratório, utilizou-se de questionário semi-estruturado para coleta de dados quantitativos e qualitativos. A amostra foi constituída por 532 funcionários de nove unidades do banco, nas quais o modelo foi implementado para fins de validação. Foram realizadas análises descritivas, de variância e fatorial entre as variáveis componentes do estudo, e análise de conteúdo dos dados qualitativos. Os resultados indicam ser muito positiva a percepção dos sujeitos da pesquisa. O novo instrumento foi considerado mais eficaz, democrático e participativo, conseguindo integrar pressupostos de modelos e instrumentos de gestão referenciados pela literatura como modernos e eficazes, como a gestão por competências, o balanced scorecard e a avaliação 360 graus. Para finalizar, são apresentadas recomendações práticas e sugestões para realização de pesquisas futuras.

The present work aims to assess the perception of Bank of Brazil employees on the new model of performance assessment adopted by the bank. This exploratory and descriptive research used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect the quantitative and qualitative data. The sample consisted of 532 employees working in the nine branches of the bank where the model was implemented for validation. Descriptive, factorial and variance analyses were made on the variables involved in the study, and analysis of the qualitative data. The new tool was considered more effective, democratic, participative and able to integrate postulates of management models and tools such as Competence-Based Management, Balanced Scorecard and 360º Feedback, which are accredited by the literature as being modern and effective. Practical advice and future directions for this sort of research are provided.

Five years of teleconsultation: experience of the Cardiology Department of Coimbra Pediatric Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Telemedicine is an excellent tool to expand specialized medical care, providing better access for patients and lowering costs for their families. The objective of this work was to evaluate the reliability of teleconsultation in pediatric cardiology, with similar results to traditional consultation. It can be a useful tool to upgrade technical skills among the staff involved and to improve the quality of life of patients and families. METHODS: The authors present their 5 years' experience of pediatric cardiology teleconsultation involving Coimbra Central Pediatric Hospital and district hospitals in the central region of Portugal. During this period 1761 consultations, involving 1056 patients, were given with a pre-established weekly schedule for each hospital and joint online reports were produced, with data confidentiality assured. RESULTS: Cardiac murmur was the most common reason for consultation (73%). No heart disease was diagnosed in 49% of the patients. Among septal defects, accounting for 43%, ventricular septal defect was the most frequent (20%). Only 10% of all patients had to be seen in the Pediatric Hospital Cardiology Department. Six emergency consultations were requested. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric cardiology teleconsultation is a reliable procedure using the Medigraf platform, with a similar error rate to consultations by traditional methods. The costs are lower, especially for the families, who do not have to travel far from home or take time off work. The waiting time for a consultation is shorter and therapeutic decisions are faster. A pediatric cardiologist can cover a larger geographic area and the cooperative work during sessions is useful for exchanging knowledge and experiences.