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Natural fibres have garnered substantial attention because of their eco-friendly attributes and versatility, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic ones. This review surveys plant fibres, including flax, hemp, jute, banana, and pineapple, emphasizing their diverse properties and applications in nonwoven materials. This research also examines the use of synthetic polymer composites blended with natural fibres to create high-performance nonwoven materials. Furthermore, this review outlines the primary applications of nonwovens manufactured with plant fibres through needle-punching. These applications span geotextiles, automotive interiors, construction materials, and more. The advantages, challenges, and sustainability aspects of incorporating natural fibres in needle-punched nonwovens are discussed. The focus is on mechanical and thermal properties and their adaptability for specific applications. This research provides valuable insights for researchers and industry professionals aiming to leverage the benefits of plant fibres in needle-punched nonwovens across various sectors.

Due to the continuous optimization of cutting plans, the cotton scrap size resulting from the cutting of components for clothing production (post-industrial residues) is often considered insufficient to obtain fibres with the proper length to produce a new yarn through mechanical recycling processes; so it is important to search for other applications for these wastes. In this context, small pieces of cotton were submitted to a shredding process to obtain recycled fibres. Cotton small pieces and recycled fibres were then submitted to a refining process to achieve refined fibres. Using these materials alone and in blends with refined and unrefined bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp (BEKP), wet-laid nonwovens were developed and characterized. An analysis of the results revealed that the replacement of unrefined BEKP by 70% cotton waste fibres in wet-laid nonwovens, reducing the use of virgin raw material, enhances the structures’ mechanical properties by 80% and 14%, for small pieces or recycled fibres, respectively. Additionally, refining small pieces of cotton seems to be more promising than refining recycled fibres, because less steps are required to obtain wet-laid nonwovens with better mechanical properties. These results highlight the potential of this approach to be explored further for different products and end applications.

Abstract Background Literature suggests colonic resection and primary anastomosis (RPA) instead of Hartmann’s procedure (HP) for the treatment of left-sided colonic emergencies. We aim to evaluate the surgical options globally used to treat patients with acute left-sided colonic emergencies and the factors that leading to the choice of treatment, comparing HP and RPA. Methods This is a prospective, international, multicenter, observational study registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. A total 1215 patients with left-sided colonic emergencies who required surgery were included from 204 centers during the period of March 1, 2020, to May 31, 2020. with a 1-year follow-up. Results 564 patients (43.1%) were females. The mean age was 65.9 ± 15.6 years. HP was performed in 697 (57.3%) patients and RPA in 384 (31.6%) cases. Complicated acute diverticulitis was the most common cause of left-sided colonic emergencies (40.2%), followed by colorectal malignancy (36.6%). Severe complications (Clavien-Dindo ≥ 3b) were higher in the HP group (P

Background: The comfort of the elderly in hospital settings requires special attention from the health care professionals involved, particularly nurses, since hospitalization often generates suffering and discomfort. In such contexts, it is essential to consider the specific characteristics of the elderly, taking into account their life experiences and their needs, to promote the health, well-being, and comfort of this population. Hence, the present work aimed to explore the nursing interventions that promote comfort among the elderly in hospital settings. Methods: A mixed descriptive exploratory study was conducted through the application of a questionnaire, using intentional non-probabilistic sampling. The study encompassed 55 elderly individuals hospitalized in the medical service of a public hospital located in Lisbon. Results: The results show that the participants perceived a reasonable level of comfort (5.65 ± 6.46). The following categories emerged from the content analysis: (1) physical interventions; (2) psycho-spiritual interventions; (3) socio-cultural interventions; and (4) environmental interventions. Conclusions: These findings help to understand comfort-promoting nursing interventions in the studied population. It was concluded that, to improve care quality, comforting interventions should focus on the elderly patient’s individuality, through support activities, empowerment, and the preservation/correction of the surrounding environment. Additionally, the provided care should be based on the real needs, expectations, preferences, and values of the elderly individual.

Market demands for sustainability has propelled the need for cost-effective manufacturing techniques and eco-friendly materials in several industries, such as the automotive. Bio-materials are a current trend due to qualities like renewability and biodegradability, combined with exceptional mechanical properties. The rise of biocomposites, especially those derived from bioprepregs materials, become a reality in this industry. With the uniqueness of a fully bio-based prepreg, where the matrix and reinforcements themselves are obtained from bio-sources such as plants, the industry can unlock the full potential of biocomposites, paving the way for a future where sustainable materials play a central role in automotive manufacturing. As sustainability remains a core priority, continued research, development, and collaboration will be crucial in realizing the vision of a more environmentally responsible automotive sector. Extensive research is necessary to comprehend the distinct properties of natural or natural based fibers and the biopolymeric materials and their intrinsic interactions associated a different type of process, such as hot-melt impregnation and coating, powder sputtering, film stacking, and hybrid structures.This article's primary objective is to review the current trends and developments in bioprepreg innovation, exploring formulation techniques and materials to achieve fully bio-based prepregs covering various textile bioprepregs, delving into their properties, reinforcement structures, matrix systems, processing technologies, performance achievements, and their applications, particularly in the automotive sector. Additionally, it briefly examines fully bio-based composites, representing a significant step towards mitigating the environmental impact of composite materials.

This article aims to provide a guide that will help healthcare professionals and clinical researchers from all fields that deal with Kaplan-Meier curves. Survival analysis methods are among the most frequently used in the medical sciences and in clinical research. Overall survival, progression free survival, time to recurrence, or any other clinically relevant parameter represented by a Kaplan-Meier curve will be discussed. We will present a practical and straightforward interpretation of these curves, setting aside intricate mathematical considerations. Our focus will be on essential concepts that interface with biological sciences and medicine in order to guarantee proficiency in one of the most popular yet frequently misunderstood methods in clinical research. Being familiar with these concepts is not only essential for designing new clinical studies but also for critically assessing and interpreting published data.

A 13-year-old female adolescent was admitted to the Pediatric Emergency Department with abdominal pain and occasional vomiting, for three days.

Nowadays, despite the evolution of personal protective equipment (PPE), the number of firefighters injured and burned during fire extinguishing operations is still very high, leading in some cases to loss of life. Therefore, the research and development of new solutions to minimize firefighters’ heat load and skin burns, with consecutive improvements of commercial firefighters’ suits, is of extreme importance. The integration of phase change materials (PCMs) in a protective clothing system has been used to significantly reduce the incoming heat flux from the fire environment. This study consists in the development of a protective clothing system composed by a vest, specially designed to protect the torso (back, chest and abdomen) with a layer of PCM pouches, to be worn over a fire-resistant jacket – selection and design based on numerical models’ predictions. Therefore, several mockups were made, varying the number of PCM pouches and their distribution in the vest, allowing the creation of air ducts to increase the breathability of the vest. The most promising solutions are being evaluated in a real controlled environment, at a Portuguese National School of Firefighters (ENB) simulation site, using a fire manikin and thermocouples to monitor vest temperature during heat and flame exposure, and consequently to verify PCMs influence in heat protection. Results regarding the development of a PCM vest will be presented, focusing on the integration of PCM pouches and the thermal performance of the most promising solutions.

Microcellular Injection Molding (MIM) is a variant of injection molding technology used to manufacture plastic components, with a cellular structure and reduced weight. However, this technology is characterized for producing components with a poor surface finish and impacted structural integrity. To improve the molded surface appearance, the MIM process conditions have been thoroughly studied, nevertheless, some marks are often noticeable. For this reason, the combination of MIM with decorative technologies enables components with high surface finish, as well as, decorative and functional properties, among other benefits. Since the development of the technology surface improvement has been the focus of many research articles and recently, supported by the progress in machinery, technology integration has emerged as a solution. This review aims to expose the main advantages, disadvantages, and methods for surface improvement of MIM molded components. The key modifications and requirements for the tooling system as the supercritical fluid unit, the fuse, and mold modifications are discussed. The advantages of integration of these different processes with MIM technology are further described and a review of the progress so far is addressed as well as the incorporation of numerical simulation for the MIM components production. For that, technology integration of two-shot injection molding (2 K Shot), In-Mold Decoration (IMD), In-Mold Labeling (IML), and In-Mold Electronics (IME), which represent the biggest integration potential with MIM are examined.

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis represents a promising technology for green hydrogen production, but its widespread deployment is greatly hindered by the indispensable usage of platinum group metal catalysts, especially iridium (Ir) based materials for the energy-demanding oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Herein, we report a new sequential precipitation approach to the synthesis of mixed Ir-nickel (Ni) oxy-hydroxide supported on antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) nanoparticles (IrNi _y O _x /ATO, 20 wt.% (Ir + Ni), y = 0, 1, 2, and 3), aiming to reduce the utilisation of scarce and precious Ir while maintaining its good acidic OER performance. When tested in strongly acidic electrolyte (0.1 M HClO _4 ), the optimised IrNi _1 O _x /ATO shows a mass activity of 1.0 mA µ g _Ir ^−1 and a large turnover frequency of 123 s ^−1 at an overpotential of 350 mV, as well as a comparatively small Tafel slope of 50 mV dec ^−1 , better than the IrO _x /ATO control, particularly with a markedly reduced Ir loading of only 19.7 µ g _Ir cm ^−2 . Importantly, IrNi _1 O _x /ATO also exhibits substantially better catalytic stability than other reference catalysts, able to continuously catalyse acidic OER at 10 mA cm ^−2 for 15 h without obvious degradation. Our in-situ synchrotron-based x-ray absorption spectroscopy confirmed that the Ir ^3+ /Ir ^4+ species are the active sites for the acidic OER. Furthermore, the performance of IrNi _1 O _x /ATO was also preliminarily evaluated in a membrane electrode assembly, which shows better activity and stability than other reference catalysts. The IrNi _1 O _x /ATO reported in this work is a promising alternative to commercial IrO _2 based catalysts for PEM electrolysis.

Winemaking is one of the main Portuguese industries and has significantly grown in recent years, thus increasing the quantity of obtained residues. These wastes have a complex chemical composition and structure, and, for this reason, their treatment and valorisation are simultaneously a challenge and an opportunity. After an overview of the wine industry and its wastes, this article intends to review the different solid winemaking wastes, highlighting their chemical composition and structural characteristics, as well as their main potential applications. These wastes, such as grape stalks, can be directly applied as a source of bioenergy in the form of pellets or subjected to chemical/biological processing, resulting in valuable food additives, materials, or chemicals. Grape seeds provide food grade oil with potential biomedical applications. Grape skins are a promising source of biologically active substances. The sugar fraction of grape pomace can be biologically converted to a wide variety of bioproducts, like bioethanol, biogas, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and bacterial cellulose. The integration of the different processes into a biorefinery is also discussed, considering the characteristics of the Portuguese wine industry and pointing out solutions to valorise their wastes.

Enquadramento: As práticas clínicas simuladas, designadas por experiências clínicas simuladas ou simulação, são um processo formativo dinâmico e desafiador que decorre em ambiente controlado com recurso a cenários que recriam a realidade clínica. Objetivo: Estudar a satisfação dos estudantes de enfermagem com as práticas clínicas simuladas. Metodologia: Estudo descritivo-correlacional de abordagem quantitativa, com uma amostra de 223 estudantes de enfermagem. Aplicada a Escala de Satisfação com as Experiências Clínicas Simuladas (ESECS), constituída pelas dimensões: prática, cognitiva e realismo. Resultados: A satisfação média global com as práticas clínicas simuladas, foi de 7,501 na escala de 1–10. As características sociodemográficas, ano curricular e conteúdos, não foram preditivos da satisfação. Os estudantes apresentam-se em média mais satisfeitos na dimensão cognitiva e menos satisfeitos na dimensão realismo. Conclusão: Os estudantes apresentam-se satisfeitos com as práticas clínicas simuladas percecionando a sua importância para a aprendizagem, na aquisição de competências e maior capacidade de resposta no ensino clínico em contexto real. Tal reforça a pertinência do investimento, teórico, científico e prático, nesta estratégia de ensino.

Considering the high level of heat and flame exposure firefighters encounter while performing their work activities, personal protective equipment (PPE) is of the utmost importance to enhance their safety. Phase change materials (PCMs) are known as advanced materials able to absorb high amounts of thermal energy, with the potential to increase the thermal performance of protective clothing. In this work, a PCM-vest was developed for the first time, and its thermal performance was evaluated. A three-stage approach was followed: (1) at a small scale in the laboratory, the effect of different encapsulated PCMs on a multilayer assembly performance was evaluated; (2) in the laboratory, the essential requirements of heat and flame tests were assessed; and (3) in a simulated urban fire, the thermal performance of three different PCM-vests (different textiles and designs) was studied. As the main conclusions, the PCMs significantly affected the heating rate of the multilayer assembly, particularly when a PCM with higher latent heat was used. In some cases, the heat transfer index (HTI) doubled by comparison with the sample without PCMs. As a drawback and as expected, the cooling time was increased. The PCM-vest sample ensured the requirements of the heat and flame tests. Through this study, the positive impact of using PCMs to enhance the heat protection of conventional PPE can be highlighted.

Identifying bioactive molecules from marine organisms is still vastly understudied. Fish remain an untapped source of bioactive molecules, even when considering species whose toxicity to other fish species has been noticed before. We assessed potential applications of crude body mucus of the Lusitanian toadfish (Halobratachus didactylus) and characterized its peptide fraction composition. Mucus samples from three individuals (two wild and one captive) revealed potential antioxidant, antihypertensive, and antimicrobial activities. For antioxidant activity, the best results of 2371 ± 97 µmol Trolox Equivalent/g protein for ORAC and 154 ± 6 µmol Trolox Equivalent/g protein for ABTS were obtained. For antihypertensive activity, the relevant inhibitory activity of ACE resulted in IC50 of 60 ± 7 µg protein/mL. Antimicrobial activity was also identified against the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes. The peptide profile of the crude body mucus was obtained through size exclusion chromatography, with a conspicuous peak at ca. 800 Da. LC-MS/MS allowed the detection of the most probable peptide sequences of this dominant peptide. This is the first study where the bioactive potential of mucus from the Lusitanian toadfish is demonstrated. Peptides with such properties can be applied in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Technical clothing with light-responsive features for outdoor sports practiced in environments with low visibility is extremely important for athletes’ safety. Lack of signaling by users and visibility for drivers is one of accidents causes, namely run overs, which can leave serious consequences. The products available on the market lack efficiency and their design is not appealing which makes the development of these new materials a compelling need. Therefore, fluorescent and phosphorescent functional finishings with ability to provide illuminant signalization without compromising the design and/or color of clothing as well as comfort and ergonomics, were developed and applied in the textile structure by knife over roll coating technology. The greatest challenge is to integrate the high visibility materials without compromising the design of the garment and accomplish the European Standard of Protective clothing: Enhanced visibility equipment for medium risk situations and test methods and requirements—EN 17353 (that supersedes EN1150:1999 and allows more freedom in the design of the apparel) published in 2020. Phosphorescent materials were evaluated by luminance decay according to DIN 67510, before and after fastness to wash tests. Results obtained regarding high visibility functional finishings and the integration of the materials developed in the final sports collection will be presented.

Opuntia ficus-indica is a cactus species that has a large potential in several applications. Despite its enormous potential, the production process is still a concern. The harvest process is still mostly manual and implies a dangerous exposure of the human being not only to harsh environmental conditions such as high temperatures but also to the big and resistant spines of the Opuntia ficus-indica. To fulfill the lack of suitable protection equipment for this specific activity, emerged a project with the aim of producing an innovative clothing system composed by textile structures that can act as a barrier to spines and glochids without compromising breathability and presenting a suitable fitting, ergonomics and freedom of movements. This paper will focus on the development of a multilayer clothing system in which the outer layer provide protection against perforation and the inner layer acts like a second skin providing thermal comfort and freedom of movement, so the producers can withstand high temperatures. Concerning the inner layer, several textile structures were developed to analyze the impact on breathability, moisture management and thermal regulation. For the outer layer more than 20 fabrics were developed and submitted to laboratory tests to study their perforation and tearing resistance (according to EN 388).Afterward two structures were selected to proceed and new finishing’s were developed to prevent the adhesion of the glochids to the textile substrate and simultaneously to give water repellency. Results achieved for the clothing solution from laboratory and field tests with end-users, will be presented.

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The intranasal route has been suggested as a promising alternative to improve the direct transport of molecules to the brain, avoiding the need to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). In this area, the use of lipid nanoparticles, namely solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), has been highlighted as a promising strategy to improve the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, formulations containing SLN and NLC that were loaded with astaxanthin that was obtained from different sources (astaxanthin extract (AE) from the algae Haematococcus pluvialis and pure astaxanthin (PA) from the fungi Blakeslea trispora) were prepared for nose-to-brain administration, and comparative in vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the biocompatibility of the formulations with nasal (RPMI 2650) and neuronal (SH-SY5Y) cells. Afterwards, the antioxidant activity of the formulations was evaluated for its potential neuroprotective effects, using different chemical aggressors. Finally, the cellular uptake of the astaxanthin was evaluated for the formulations that showed the greatest neuroprotection of the neuronal cells against chemical-induced damage. On the production day, all the formulations showed a particle size, a high encapsulation efficiency (EE), the presence of nanoparticles with a typical spherical shape, and a polydispersity index (PDI) and zeta potential (ZP) that are suitable for nose-to-brain administration. After three months of storage at room temperature, no significant changes were observed in the characterization parameters, predicting a good long-term stability. Furthermore, these formulations were shown to be safe with concentrations of up to 100 µg/mL in differentiated SH-SY5Y and RPMI 2650 cells. Regarding neuroprotection studies, the PA-loaded SLN and NLC formulations showed an ability to counteract some mechanisms of neurodegeneration, including oxidative stress. Moreover, when compared with the PA-loaded SLN, the PA-loaded NLC showed greater neuroprotective effects against the cytotoxicity induced by aggressors. In contrast, the AE-loaded SLN and NLC formulations showed no significant neuroprotective effects. Although further studies are needed to confirm these neuroprotective effects, the results of this study suggest that the intranasal administration of PA-loaded NLC may be a promising alternative to improve the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Diazepam (DZP) is a long-acting benzodiazepine to treat anxiety or acute alcohol withdrawal. Although this class of drugs should be taken for a short period of time, many patients take them for longer than recommended, which has been linked to an increased risk of dementia and dependence. The present work aimed at using the dual-nozzle system of fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers to prepare tablets with gradual doses of DZP with constant mass and size. Placebo and DZP-loaded filaments were prepared by hot-melt extrusion and used to print the bi-compartmental tablets. Thermal processing allowed the conversion of crystalline DZP to its amorphous counterpart. Tablets with different DZP contents were effectively printed with a mass, thickness and diameter average of 111.6 mg, 3.1 mm, and 6.4 mm, respectively. Microscopic data showed good adhesion between the different layers in the printed tablets. The desired drug contents were successfully achieved and were within the acceptance criteria (European Pharmacopeia). The combination of a placebo and drug-loaded extrudates proved to be beneficial in the production of tablets by FDM for patients in need of drug withdrawal.

Mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix is a rare neoplasm with a low propensity for lymph node metastasis. The present case refers to an appendicular mucinous adenocarcinoma with inguinal lymph node metastasis. A 71-year-old woman underwent an appendectomy due to a clinical presentation of acute appendicitis. However, the histological examination of the surgical specimen revealed a mucinous adenocarcinoma of the appendix. After staging, the patient underwent a right hemicolectomy and was proposed for adjuvant chemotherapy. At the 3rd year of follow-up, inguinal lymphadenopathy was diagnosed, which biopsy confirmed inguinal node metastases from primary colorectal cancer, with areas of extracellular mucin. Restaging revealed liver and peritoneal metastasis, and the patient was proposed for palliative chemotherapy. Appendicular neoplasms, due to their rarity, represent a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. This clinical case depicts an unusual metastasis pathway for an unusual neoplasm.

The intranasal route has been suggested as a promising alternative to improve drug delivery to the central nervous system, as it can transport drugs from the nose directly to the brain, avoiding the need to cross the blood-brain barrier and, therefore, can represent an effective strategy in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Natural compounds, existent in marine microorganisms, can be used in the management of neurodegenerative diseases due to their remarkable antioxidant activity that reduces the oxidative stress associated with the development of these diseases. The objective of this work was to prepare solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) for nose-to-brain delivery loaded with 1000 µg/mL of two natural antioxidants, in particular antioxidant extract and pure antioxidant. On the day of the production, all formulations had a particle size, polydispersity index and zeta potential suitable for nose-to-brain administration. In addition, all formulations showed high encapsulation efficiency of the tested natural antioxidants. Six months after storage at 20.0 ± 0.5 °C, in the case of SLN and NLC with antioxidant extract, and one month after storage, in the case of SLN and NLC with pure antioxidant, the characterization parameters underwent only slight changes. Biocompatibility studies in human neuronal cells SH-SY5Y, showed that the developed formulations are safe at least at concentrations up to 100 µg/mL. The results of this study highlighted the potential of using lipid nanoparticles loaded with natural antioxidants in the management of neurodegenerative diseases, although more experiments are needed to confirm this evidence.

Acute esophageal necrosis (AEN), also known as “black esophagus,” is an entity characterized by the circumferential black appearance of esophageal mucosa, usually associated with hypoperfusion and gastric outlet obstruction. This entity has a reported prevalence of up to 0.2%, affecting predominantly elderly men with multiple comorbidities. Most cases resolve with conservative treatment with no need of surgical intervention. However, the overall prognosis is poor, with mortality reaching one-third of cases due to the patient’s underlying illness. In this article we present three cases of patients with AEN.

Many conditions can benefit from RNA-based therapies, namely, those targeting internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) and their regulatory proteins, the IRES trans-acting factors (ITAFs). IRES-mediated translation is an alternative mechanism of translation initiation, known for maintaining protein synthesis when canonical translation is impaired. During a stress response, it contributes to cell reprogramming and adaptation to the new environment. The relationship between IRESs and ITAFs with tumorigenesis and resistance to therapy has been studied in recent years, proposing new therapeutic targets and treatments. In addition, IRES-dependent translation initiation dysregulation is also related to neurological and cardiovascular diseases, muscular atrophies, or other syndromes. The participation of these structures in the development of such pathologies has been studied, yet to a far lesser extent than in cancer. Strategies involving the disruption of IRES–ITAF interactions or the modification of ITAF expression levels may be used with great impact in the development of new therapeutics. In this review, we aim to comprehend the current data on groups of human pathologies associated with IRES and/or ITAF dysregulation and their application in the designing of new therapeutic approaches using them as targets or tools. Thus, we wish to summarise the evidence in the field hoping to open new promising lines of investigation toward personalised treatments.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To identify the strategies developed by people in the aging process to keep living in their own home, despite the weaknesses and difficulties they face. METHODS: The research was carried out based on a survey of population aged 65 years or older in the Portuguese municipality of Portimão. Data were collected by questionnaire, in 2017, and submitted to statistical and content analysis. RESULTS: Most respondents own their household, where they feel safe and satisfied, and they show awareness and concern about the changes they have to make in their home to stay there. In addition to housing and livability conditions, health, economic resources, social network, and available services play a major role in the community. CONCLUSIONS: We identified several strategies used by older adults to stay in their households as they age and the ways they mobilize their available resources, as well as constraints of aging in place.

Introdução: Os utilizadores frequentes contribuem para um volume excessivo de admissões no serviço de urgência, prejudicando a qualidade dos serviços prestados. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar e caracterizar os utilizadores frequentes da urgência pediátrica, traçar um plano de intervenção e avaliar a sua eficácia. Material e Métodos: Estudo de intervenção, incluindo crianças e adolescentes menores de 16 anos, com mais de 10 admissões num ano na urgência pediátrica de um hospital de nível II. Foi criado um modelo de intervenção com uma equipa multidisciplinar e um gestor de caso, responsável pela execução do plano de intervenção individualizado. Após um ano de intervenção foi avaliada a evolução do número de admissões. Resultados: Identificámos 90 utentes com o perfil de utilizador frequente, com 1182 admissões. Apenas 17,3% das admissões eram referenciadas. A maioria das admissões foi considerada não urgente/pouco urgente (59%). Foram incluídas na intervenção 82 crianças/adolescentes. Após um ano de intervenção verificou-se uma diminuição significativa do número de admissões, com uma redução média de 62% em 78 participantes. Discussão: A maioria das admissões dos utilizadores frequentes foi considerada não urgente/pouco urgente, evidenciando a ausência de indicação clínica para observação hospitalar. Os resultados da intervenção parecem ser favoráveis, com uma redução do número de admissões. Conclusão: Esta população de utilizadores frequentes da urgência pediátrica constitui um grupo heterogéneo, com problemas de complexidade variável. Um modelo de intervenção multidisciplinar e individualizado, com um gestor de caso pode contribuir para reduzir o recurso excessivo à urgência e melhorar a prestação de cuidados de saúde a estas crianças.

Background: Impedance cardiography (ICG) is a noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring tool which can define hypertensive patients’ hemodynamic profiles and help to tailor antihypertensive therapy. This study assesses the concordance between ICG-derived indexes used to evaluate left ventricular performance and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in hypertensive patients. Methods: In this IMPEDDANS post-hoc analysis, the ICG-derived indexes are compared with TTE by Bland–Altman method. Statistical significance of the relationship between the values obtained was assessed by generalized linear mixed-effects models. Results: In supine position, Bland–Altman analysis showed good concordance for cardiac output (CO) (mean difference of 0.006 mL/min [−0.120; 0.133]), cardiac index (CI) (mean difference of 0.016 mL/min/m2 [−0.471; 0.504]), pre-ejection period (PEP) (mean difference of −0.216 ms [−4.510; 4.077]), left ventricular ejection time (LVET) (mean difference of −0.140 ms [−6.573; 6.293]), and systolic time ratio (STR) (mean difference of −0.00004 [−0.008; 0.008]). In orthostatic position, good concordance was found for CO (mean difference 0.028 mL/min [−2.036; 1.980]), CI (mean difference −0.012 mL/min/m2 [−1.063; 1.039]), and STR (mean difference −0.101 [0.296; 0.094]). No significant difference between methods was identified by the linear mixed-effects models. Conclusion: The ICG-derived indexes CO, CI, PEP, LVET, and STR in supine position have good agreement with TTE. Therefore, ICG can be used to accurately evaluate left ventricular performance.

The long lifespan of the world’s population has been raising interest in the research for new solutions to delay the aging process. With the aim of skin aging prevention, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) were developed in this work for the encapsulation of three lipophilic natural compounds extracted from vine cane—epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), resveratrol and myricetin. The developed loaded-SLNs proved to be stable, maintaining their adequate physicochemical characteristics for 30 days. In addition, the loaded-SLNs formulations exhibited high encapsulation efficiencies and loading capacities and high intracellular antioxidant activity. The mixture of EGCG-loaded SLNs with resveratrol-loaded SLNs proved to have the highest protection against induced oxidative stress. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the loaded SLNs was also evaluated, showing that the developed formulations are biocompatible for concentrations up to 50 µg/mL and could be safe for use in cosmetics. The encapsulation of EGCG, resveratrol and myricetin in SLNs seems to be a suitable strategy for the delivery of these antioxidants to the skin, improving their bioavailability.

Oxidative stress, triggered by UV radiation, is one of the major causes of free radical-associated disorders, such as skin cancer. The application of natural compounds (NCs) with antioxidant effects can attenuate free radicals’ accumulation and, therefore, provide a strategy for skin care and cancer prevention. In this work, three natural compounds, naringenin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), and kaempferol, were encapsulated into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) aiming for the development of a formulation for cutaneous application with antioxidant properties. For the experiments, different formulation parameters were evaluated to optimize the NLCs that showed a diameter around 200 nm, which is an adequate particle size for incorporation in cosmetics. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis confirmed the NLCs’ typical spherical morphology. Encapsulation efficiency (EE) and loading capacity (LC) values revealed an effective production process, with EEs over 90% and LCs near the maximum value. The developed NLCs revealed a prolonged in vitro release of the natural compounds. The NLCs were stable under storage conditions, maintaining their psychochemical characteristics for 30 days. Additionally, they did not show any physical instability in accelerated stability studies, which also suggests long-term stability. Finally, the NCs antioxidant activity was evaluated. Interestingly, the NDGA and kaempferol mixture provided an antioxidant synergic effect. The NLC formulations’ cytotoxicity was tested in vitro in immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT). In addition, putative antioxidant effects of the developed NLC formulations against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative stress were studied, and the NDGA-loaded NLC was revealed to be the one with the most protective effect. Therefore, we concluded that the naringenin, NDGA, and kaempferol incorporation into NLCs constitutes a promising strategy to increase their bioavailability and delivery to the skin.

Introdução: Os cuidados podológicos referem-se aos cuidados com as extremidades dos membros inferiores e pés, nomeadamente na avaliação dos pés da pessoa, higiene e intervenções que abordam problemas com a manutenção ou recuperação de problemas minor das unhas e pés. Envolvem um conjunto de intervenções não invasivas que protegem a saúde dos pés e que devem constituir um foco de atenção/intervenção dos enfermeiros. Objetivo: Identificar na literatura científica as alterações que ocorrem nos pés dos idosos e conhecer os cuidados de Enfermagem podológicos promotores de conforto ao idoso. Materiais e Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura realizada em fevereiro de 2020 nas bases de dados científicas: CINAHL; MEDLINE Cochrane e Mediclatina, no período amostral de janeiro 2009 a dezembro 2019. Resultados: Nos 27 artigos encontrados foram selecionados 5, que evidenciaram as alterações que ocorrem nos pés dos idosos e respetivos cuidados de enfermagem podológicos. Estes cuidados devem, para além de confortadores, avaliar e identificar os problemas, evitar as incapacidades e as complicações, reabilitar as incapacidades detetadas e promover a independência funcional, o autocuidado e a autoestima, levando a uma melhor qualidade de vida do idoso. Conclusão: A prevalência de problemas nos pés dos idosos é uma realidade. Foram apresentadas as alterações que ocorrem nos pés dos idosos, bem como as intervenções de enfermagem que respondem às necessidades podológicas e de conforto.

The development of malodour on clothing is a well-known problem with social, economic and ecological consequences. Many people still think malodour is the result of a lack of hygiene, which causes social stigma and embarrassment. Clothing is washed more frequently due to odour formation or even discarded when permastink develops. The malodour formation process is impacted by many variables and processes throughout the textile lifecycle. The contact with the skin with consequent transfer of microorganisms, volatiles and odour precursors leads to the formation of a distinctive textile microbiome and volatilome. The washing and drying processes further shape the textile microbiome and impact malodour formation. These processes are impacted by interindividual differences and fabric type as well. This review describes the current knowledge on the volatilome and microbiome of the skin, textile and washing machine, the multiple factors that determine malodour formation on textiles and points out what information is still missing.

Pelas suas características inéditas, consequências além do expectável e dimensão mundial, é abordada a catástrofe que ocorreu a 11/03/2011 em Fukushima, Japão. Através da revisão de conceitos básicos, analisa-se a evolução dos acontecimentos, protocolos de atuação médica em socorro a multivítimas com deslocação obrigatória de populações inteiras e as consequências a curto, médio e longo prazo dos efeitos radiológicos, saúde pública, problemas sociais e psicológicos, não só para as populações atingidas mas também para os interventores, numa perspetiva de minimizar as taxas de morbi e mortalidade nas gerações futuras.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease. We report the case of 13 years old boy with mediastinal adenopathies. Etiological investigation revealed pulmonary sarcoidosis with periferic adenopathies involvement. Although rare, as the differential diagnosis is with multiple pathologies (infectious,tumor, rheumatoid), is a disease to be consider.

Neurobrucellosis manifesting as optic neuritis is a rare disease in childhood. We report a case of neurobrucellosis in a 11 year old girl leading to visual impairment and headache. Physical examination revealed mild oedema of right tibiotarsic joint and optic neuritis. Investigations showed CSF pleocytosis and a Brucella serum agglutination titer of 1/640. Complete reversal of the symptoms was observed after appropriate antibiotic treatment. To our knowledge only four cases of neurobrucellosis manifesting with visual impairment in childhood are previously reported in literature.