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Psychological Distress and Health-Related Quality of Life in Ménière’s Disease: A Comparative Study in the Portuguese Population
Publication . Ribeiro, Diogo; Martins, Tânia; Oliveira, André; Dias, Sara Simões; Caroça, Cristina
Background/Objectives: Ménière’s disease (MD) is a chronic inner-ear disorder characterized by vertigo, tinnitus, and fluctuating sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) that impairs health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and is frequently accompanied by psychological distress. This study aims to quantify psychological distress and generic HRQoL in patients with definite MD compared with age- and sex-matched general-population controls and to examine the associations between hearing loss (HL) severity, symptom-related handicap, and these outcomes within the MD cohort. Methods: In this observational cross-sectional study, 45 adults with definite MD were recruited from an otolaryngology clinic in Portugal and individually matched (1:3) by sex and 10-year age strata to 135 participants from the EpiDoC population cohort. HRQoL was assessed using the SF-36v2 and EQ-5D-3L, psychological distress using the HADS, and tinnitus- and dizziness-related handicap using the THI and DHI. HL severity was staged using the AAO-HNS (1995) criteria. Results: Patients with MD had higher anxiety and depression scores and nearly twice the prevalence of abnormal anxiety compared with controls. SF-36v2 scores were significantly worse in several role and psychosocial domains, with less bodily pain but similar physical functioning and general health. EQ-5D-3L revealed a lower utility index and higher pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Within the MD cohort, HL stage was only weakly related to distress and HRQoL. In contrast, higher THI and DHI scores were consistently associated with more severe anxiety and depression and lower SF-36v2 scores. In multivariable analysis, abnormal anxiety was strongly associated with moderate-to-severe tinnitus handicap (OR = 17.5), whereas higher depressive symptoms independently predicted moderate-to-severe dizziness handicap, with abnormal anxiety showing a strong but borderline association with the latter. Conclusions: MD confers clinically meaningful HRQoL decrements and a higher psychological distress burden than in the general population. Tinnitus- and dizziness-related handicap and psychological distress, particularly anxiety, rather than HL severity, are key multidisciplinary management targets. Systematic screening for anxiety and depression, regardless of audiometric stage, should be integrated into MD care pathways.
Determinants of food choices among portuguese adolescents with contrasting eating habits: a qualitative approach
Publication . Cardoso, Susana; Santos, Osvaldo; Nunes, Carla; Loureiro, Isabel; Cunha, Madalena
Introduction: Investigatingthe factors that influence dietary choices, particularly during adolescence, is important, as these choices have a significant impact on health and tend to persist into adulthood.Objective: Toidentifyand characterizethe factors perceived by the adolescents as determinants of food choices.Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in two schools, based on a sample of 358 adolescents. From a quantitative approach, we moved to a qualitative approach. Thequantitative study wasused: EHA (eating habits scale), IPAQ (international physical activity questionnaire), TAA-25 (eating attitudes test),and the GSQ (general self-efficacy questionnaire). For the qualitative study, we selected subgroups with healthier and less healthy eating habits for a grounded theory approach, using semi-structured interviews and coding according to Charmaz’s method.Results:The determiningfactors that were more often mentioned (in decreasing order) were family influence, taste preferences, family habits, healthyeating rules,and availability. The ones that were mentioned by a bigger number of adolescents were family influence and family habits, risk perception, knowledge of healthy eating,and preferences. Other factors are mentioned, such as self-control, feeling well or bad, peer influence, feeling hungry or full, developing a task or not, impulsiveness, time available, humor/stress,and cost. Some factors take different perspectives in each group.Conclusion:Familymust be considered as an integralpart of the interventions that are related to health education. Administrative measures, taken by schools and government agents, can make healthy choices easier, modulating the effect that determiningfactors such as available time and availability may have.
Current Strategies to Produce 3D Electrospun-Based Wound Dressings for Skin Regeneration
Publication . Ferreira, Carolina A. M.; Lemos, Marco F. L.; Maurício, Ana Colette; Dias, Juliana R.
Tissue engineering-based wound dressings are a promising treatment approach that mimics the native skin microenvironment to promote effective healing and tissue regeneration. In fact, those advanced wound dressings can be made by electrospinning which has revolutionized the field of wound healing by developing biostructures that closely mimic the skin’s extracellular matrix (ECM). To date, most electrospinning research has focused on composition and materials rather than exploring advanced deposition strategies. Conventional electrospinning using random, aligned fibers, co-electrospinning, core-shell approaches, or redesigned collectors has achieved significant results in wound healing, which are discussed in this article. However, these approaches lack the development of realistic 3D structures. To achieve that, advancing approaches through the combination of electrospinning with different techniques such as gas foaming, short nanofiber assembly, or 3D printing significantly enhance skin regeneration of deep wounds (full-thickness and chronic wounds) compared to 2D structures. This review highlights the latest developments, design principles, and recent breakthroughs in electrospinning structures for skin regeneration and provides a fresh perspective for upcoming research in the field of 3D electrospun-based structures.
Exploring Cultural Heritage Using Augmented Reality Through Google’s Project Tango and ARCore
Publication . Voinea, Gheorghe-Daniel; Girbacia, Florin; Postelnicu, Cristian Cezar; Marto, Anabela
This research is focused on the importance of using modern technologies in preserving and exploring Cultural Heritage (CH). Specifically, Augmented Reality (AR) has the potential to enhance the user experience related to cultural heritage. We briefly present the main technological approaches in CH and a state of the art in mobile augmented reality. The latest Software Development Kit (SDK) for building AR applications are reviewed and compared. The 3D object that participants could place in the real environment was obtained using photogrammetry, a popular and relatively easy to use digitization technique. The virtual object represents a fortified church and is part of a group of UNESCO monuments from the historical and ethnographical region called “Țara Bârsei”, located in Brasov, Romania. We also provided some guidelines to ensure an accurate 3D reconstruction of any object. We assess users’ perception regarding two mobile AR applications, one based on Project Tango while the other was developed using ARCore. Results confirm that AR improves user experience and increases the enjoyment of learning about cultural heritage.
Magnesium oxide coatings on thermoplastic polyurethane as a key approach to prevent catheter-associated infections
Publication . Padrão, Tatiana; Monteiro, Fernando J.; Sousa, Susana R.; Dias, Juliana R.
Central venous catheters (CVCs) are essential healthcare tools, but their use is often complicated by bacterial colonization on the catheter surface, leading to serious infections and life-threatening bloodstream complications. Current strategies, often reliant on antibiotics or antiseptics, are increasingly ineffective due to the rise of antimicrobial resistance. This study aimed to develop a novel antibacterial coating for CVCs by incorporating magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles onto a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) film surface containing barium sulfate (BaSO4). The antibacterial efficacy of these coatings was evaluated against Staphylococcus epidermidis, a major pathogen in catheter-associated infections. The results showed that MgO coatings significantly inhibited bacterial growth in a concentration-dependent manner, with 0.50 % and 1.0 % MgO concentrations achieving complete eradication of both planktonic and adherent bacteria. Importantly, the coatings exhibited excellent cytocompatibility with fibroblasts and showed no significant impact on hemolysis or blood clotting. The 0.50 % MgO coating was identified as the optimal formulation, offering the best balance of potent antibacterial activity, cytocompatibility and hemocompatibility. This approach preserves the valuable physical and chemical properties of the TPU material while providing effective antibacterial protection. The straightforward and cost-effective coating process holds significant promise for industrial scale production, paving the way for a new generation of safer and more effective CVCs.