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Funding Information: This work was sponsored by national funds through FCT, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., within the scope of the projects CINTESIS, R&D Unit (reference UIDB/4255/2020) and “RISE—LA/P/0053/2020”. Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disease with no effective treatment. Altered microbiota composition seems implicated in disease etiology and therefore fecal microbial transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a possible treatment therapy. To clarify the clinical parameters impacting FMT efficacy, we conducted a systematic review with subgroup analysis. Methods: A literature search was performed identifying randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing FMT with placebo in IBS adult patients (8-week follow-up) with a reported improvement in global IBS symptoms. Results: Seven RCTs (489 participants) met the eligibility requirements. Although FMT seems not to be effective in global improvement of IBS symptoms, subgroup analysis shows that FMT through gastroscopy or nasojejunal tube are effective IBS treatments (RR 3.03; 95% CI 1.94–4.73; I2 = 10%, p < 0.00001). When considering non-oral ingestion routes, IBS patients with constipation symptoms are more likely to benefit from FMT administration (p = 0.003 for the difference between IBS subtypes regarding constipation). Fresh fecal transplant and bowel preparation seem also to have impact on FMT efficacy (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Our meta-analysis revealed a set of critical steps that could affect the efficacy of FMT as clinical procedure to treat IBS, nevertheless more RCTs are needed. publishersversion published

Nowadays, the Mediterranean freshwater systems face the threat of water scarcity, along with multiple other stressors (e.g., organic and inorganic contamination, geomorphological alterations, invasive species), leading to the impairment of their ecosystem services. All these stressors have been speeding up, due to climate variability and land cover/land use changes, turning them into a big challenge for the water management plans. The present study analyses the physicochemical and phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll-a) dynamics of a large reservoir, in the Mediterranean region (Alqueva reservoir, Southern Portugal), under diverse meteorological conditions and land cover/land use real scenarios (2017 and 2018). The most important stressors were identified and the necessary tools and information for a more effective management plan were provided. Changes in these parameters were further related to the observed variations in the meteorological conditions and in the land cover/land use. The increase in nutrients and ions in the water column, and of potentially toxic metals in the sediment, were more obvious in periods of severe drought. Further, the enhancement of nutrients concentrations, potentially caused by the intensification of agricultural activities, may indicate an increased risk of water eutrophication. The results highlight that a holistic approach is essential for a better water resources management strategy info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

In Mediterranean regions, climate changes have enlarged water limitation for crops, leading to an increased demand for irrigation water. During the hydrological years of 2016 and 2017, Portugal experienced a drought season that has extended throughout almost the entire mainland territory reaching a severe drought level. Under water scarcity conditions and high atmosphere evaporative demand, the risk of land salinization is one of the major threats to the sustainability of irrigated agriculture. Therefore, it is very important to assess the quality of irrigation water and the risks of salinity for crop production, in order to adopt appropriate management practices in irrigated areas. This study is focused on the salinity risks for the production of the most representative crops grown in the Alqueva irrigation area. This is a large irrigation scheme with a total area of 120 000 ha centered in the Alqueva reservoir. For the purpose of the study, a chemical assessment of some major inorganic ions (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, SO42- and Cl-), pH and electric conductivity (ECW), was conducted throughout 2017, on water samples collected on four platforms sited in the reservoir. Water quality for irrigation was evaluated considering both the Portuguese regulations and the FAO guidelines. Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) and soil salinity (ECe) were estimated, in order to assess potential sodium-related soil permeability and crusting problems, as well as, potential yield reductions in the most significant crops of the Alqueva perimeter. Higher ion concentrations and water salinity were quantified with the increase of atmosphere evaporative demand. Sodium hazard assessment showed slight to moderate risk of reduced infiltration rates, a result that should be taken into account when surface or sprinkler irrigation systems are used. Furthermore, relative yield reductions may be mainly found in horticultural crops, classified as moderately sensitive to sensitive in the salt tolerance scale.