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- Adaptability and cohesion of families in times of the COVID-19 pandemicPublication . Fernandes, Carla Sílvia; Magalhães, Bruno; Silva, Sílvia; Edra, BeatrizBackground & Aim: This Covid-19 pandemic represents a threat and a crisis for families’ well-being. According to the Olson Circumplex Model, this study aimed to assess the family functioning through the components of cohesion and adaptability of Portuguese families during this pandemic. Methods & Materials: This is a descriptive, exploratory, and correlational study. A non-probabilistic and convenience sample consisted of 376 people. Sociodemographic data, the family’s characterization, the type of housing, the Vital Duvall cycle phase was collected from the participants, and FACES II was used to assess family cohesion and adaptability. The reliability of this instrument is high. The instruments for data collection were organized and sent through Google® forms, including the Informed Consent Form. The data were analyzed by SPSS-26 software using non-parametric tests were used for inferential analysis. Results: The results showed that 14,6% have a disengaged family cohesion; 7,4% have a very rigid dimension in family adaptability, and about the type of family, 6,1% have an unbalanced dimension. Conclusion: Although on average, the participants have a connected family cohesion and family flexible adaptability, many participants have extreme values, under which it will be necessary to intervene. It is a priority for family nursing to understand the experience of families living in this current social, economic, and health context.
- Is the Sagittal Postural Alignment Different in Normal and Dysphonic Adult Speakers?Publication . Franco, Débora; Martins, Fernando; Andrea, Mário; Fragoso, Isabel; Carrão, Luís; Teles, JúliaObjective Clinical research in the field of voice disorders, in particular functional dysphonia, has suggested abnormal laryngeal posture due to muscle adaptive changes, although specific evidence regarding body posture has been lacking. The aim of our study was to verify if there were significant differences in sagittal spine alignment between normal (41 subjects) and dysphonic speakers (33 subjects). Study Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Seventy-four adults, 35 males and 39 females, were submitted to sagittal plane photographs so that spine alignment could be analyzed through the Digimizer - MedCalc Software Ltd program. Perceptual and acoustic evaluation and nasoendoscopy were used for dysphonic judgments: normal and dysphonic speakers. Results For thoracic length curvature (TL) and for the kyphosis index (KI), a significant effect of dysphonia was observed with mean TL and KI significantly higher for the dysphonic speakers than for the normal speakers. Concerning the TL variable, a significant effect of sex was found, in which the mean of the TL was higher for males than females. The interaction between dysphonia and sex did not have a significant effect on TL and KI variables. For the lumbar length curvature variable, a significant main effect of sex was demonstrated; there was no significant main effect of dysphonia or significant sex × dysphonia interaction. Conclusions Findings indicated significant differences in some sagittal spine posture measures between normal and dysphonic speakers. Postural measures can add useful information to voice assessment protocols and should be taken into account when considering particular treatment strategies.
- Symptom perception management education improves self-care in patients with heart failurePublication . Sousa, Joana Pereira; Oliveira, Cláudia; Pais-Vieira, MiguelBACKGROUND: Patients with heart failure often have difficulty recognizing signs and symptoms of the disease, which delays seeking help, and therefore interferes with patient engagement and self-care management. Early detection of these symptoms could lead to care-seeking and avoid hospitalizations. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to design a complex intervention through a systematic literature review and qualitative study. METHODS: Our design followed the Medical Research Council's recommendations. To design a complex intervention, we combined a systematic literature review on education, symptom recognition, and self-care management in patients with heart failure, and semi-structured interviews with cardiology healthcare providers and patients with heart failure admitted to a cardiology ward. RESULTS: The systematic literature review identified 582 studies published between 2005 and 2014, of which four were included in the final review. These suggested that patient education focused on symptom recognition, combined with reinforcements, led to better self-care behaviors. Additionally, content analysis of semi-structured interviews revealed three themes: health management, behavior management, and support received. CONCLUSIONS: Combining the findings of the literature review and the themes that emerged from the semi-structured interviews, we proposed the development and implementation of a complex intervention on symptom perception and fluid management.
- Investigação Qualitativa: Diferentes abordagens em EducaçãoPublication . Costa, António Pedro; Freitas, Fábio; Sanmamed, Mercedes GonzálezApresentação do Dossier sobre investigação qualitativa e as diferentes abordagens em Educação.
- Promoting Nerve Regeneration in a Neurotmesis Rat Model Using Poly(DL-lactide-ε-caprolactone) Membranes and Mesenchymal Stem Cells from the Wharton’s Jelly: In Vitro and In Vivo AnalysisPublication . Pereira, T.; Gärtner, A.; Amorim, I.; Almeida, A.; Caseiro, A.R.; Armada-da-Silva, Paulo A. S.; Amado, Sandra; Fregnan, Federica; Varejão, A. S. P.; Santos, J. D.; Bártolo, P. J.; Geuna, S.; Luís, A. L.; Maurício, A. C.In peripheral nerves MSCs can modulate Wallerian degeneration and the overall regenerative response by acting through paracrine mechanisms directly on regenerating axons or upon the nerve-supporting Schwann cells. In the present study, the effect of human MSCs from Wharton’s jelly (HMSCs), differentiated into neuroglial-like cells associated to poly (DL-lactide-ε-caprolactone) membrane, on nerve regeneration, was evaluated in the neurotmesis injury rat sciatic nerve model. Resultsin vitroshowed successful differentiation of HMSCs into neuroglial-like cells, characterized by expression of specific neuroglial markers confirmed by immunocytochemistry and by RT-PCR and qPCR targeting specific genes expressed.In vivotesting evaluated during the healing period of 20 weeks, showed no evident positive effect of HMSCs or neuroglial-like cell enrichment at the sciatic nerve repair site on most of the functional and nerve morphometric predictors of nerve regeneration although the nociception function was almost normal. EPT on the other hand, recovered significantly better after HMSCs enriched membrane employment, to values of residual functional impairment compared to other treated groups. When the neurotmesis injury can be surgically reconstructed with an end-to-end suture or by grafting, the addition of a PLC membrane associated with HMSCs seems to bring significant advantage, especially concerning the motor function recovery.
- The Burden of Imported Malaria in Portugal 2003 to 2012Publication . Fonseca, Ana Glória; Dias, Sara S.; Baptista, Joao Luis; Torgal, JorgeIncreasing international travel and expatriation to sub-Saharan countries where malaria is endemic has raised public health concerns about the burden of imported malaria cases in Portugal. From 2009 to 2012, there was a 60% increase in malaria hospitalizations, contradicting the declining trend observed since 2003. Older age was associated with longer length of stay in hospital and higher lethality.
- Carotid body, insulin, and metabolic diseases: unraveling the linksPublication . Conde, Sílvia V.; Sacramento, Joana F.; Guarino, Maria P.; Gonzalez, Constancio; Obeso, Ana; Diogo, Lucília N.; Monteiro, Emília C.; Ribeiro, Maria J.The carotid bodies (CB) are peripheral chemoreceptors that sense changes in arterial blood O2, CO2 and pH levels. Hypoxia, hypercapnia and acidosis activate the CB, which respond by increasing the action potential frequency in their sensory nerve, the carotid sinus nerve (CSN). CSN activity is integrated in the brain stem to induce a panoply of cardiorespiratory reflexes aimed, primarily, to normalize the altered blood gases, via hyperventilation, and to regulate blood pressure and cardiac performance, via sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation. Besides its role in the cardiorespiratory control the CB has been proposed as a metabolic sensor implicated in the control of energy homeostasis and, more recently, in the regulation of whole body insulin sensitivity. Hypercaloric diets cause CB overactivation in rats, which seems to be at the origin of the development of insulin resistance and hypertension, core features of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Consistent with this notion, CB sensory denervation prevents metabolic and hemodynamic alterations in hypercaloric feed animal. Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is another chronic disorder characterized by increased CB activity and intimately related with several metabolic and cardiovascular abnormalities. In this manuscript we review in a concise manner the putative pathways linking CB chemoreceptors deregulation with the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and arterial hypertension. Also, the link between chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) and insulin resistance is discussed. Then, a final section is devoted to debate strategies to reduce CB activity and its use for prevention and therapeutics of metabolic diseases with an emphasis on new exciting research in the modulation of bioelectronic signals, likely to be central in the future.
- Review of solutions for the application of example of machine learning methods for Motor Imagery in correlation with Brain-Computer InterfacesPublication . Paszkiel, Szczepan; Rojek, Ryszard; Lei, Ningrong; Castro, Maria AntonioPresently, numerous public databases presenting the collected EEG signals, including the ones in the scope of Motor Imagery (MI), are available. Simultaneously, machine-learning methods, which enable effective and fast discovering of information, also in the sets of biomedical data, are constantly being developed. In this paper, a set of 30 of some of the latest scientific publications from the years 2016-2021 has been analyzed. The analysis covered, among others: public data repositories in the form of EEG signals as input data; numbers and types of the analyzed tasks in the scope of MI in the above-mentioned databases; and Deep Learning (DL) architectures.
- Validity of the de Jong Gierveld loneliness scale in Portugal population: psychometrics studiesPublication . Areosa, Timóteo; Lima, Margarida Pedroso; Custódio, Susana; Caetano, Tânia; Gierveld, J. De Jong; Dixe, Maria dos AnjosAgeing is a life-span complex process. In current cohorts, the final years of life are often marked by increased cognitive, functional, and relational decline due to a range of socioeconomic, biological, and personal factors. As a result, individuals are more susceptible to social isolation and loneliness. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has further intensified the need to assess feelings of loneliness and to develop appropriate interventions. Given the strong association between loneliness and both physical and psychological health and well-being, this area has become a research priority. The aim of this study is to adapt the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale for the Portuguese population and to gather evidence of its validity and reliability. A study was conducted with 191 participants aged between 54 and 99 years old. Results from the exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor structure (social and emotional), with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.719 to 0.734. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated good model fit (CFI = 0.996, GFI = 0.931, RMSEA = 0.093) and satisfactory reliability (0.73–0.76). In conclusion, the instrument demonstrates sound psychometric properties and represents a suitable tool for researchers and practitioners. However, further studies with more representative samples of the Portuguese population are recommended.
- Psychometric validation of the food and nutrition literacy scale (Escala de Literacia da Alimentação e Nutrição – E-LAN) among Portuguese youthPublication . Batalha, Maria; Rosinha, Camila; Amaro, Catarina; Couto, Mariana; Fidalgo, Mariana; Dias, Sara; Borrel, Luisa N.Objectives: Psychometric Validation of the Escala de Literacia da Alimentaç˜ ao e Nutriç˜ ao (E-LAN), addressing the current lack of validated instruments for assessing food and nutrition literacy among portuguese youth. Study design: Cross-sectional. Methods: The study was conducted in a school setting in the western region of central Portugal between April 10 and 12, 2024, using a convenience sample of children aged 10–12 years. The E-LAN comprises 49 items (42 Likert-scale and 7 multiple-choice) across seven subscales assessing cognitive and skills domains. Reliability was examined using Cronbach's α , and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to evaluate the internal structure, using χ 2 /df, AGFI, CFI, TLI, and RMSEA as fit indices. Results: The initial scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α α =0.875). Four items were removed due to low item-total correlations and factor loadings. The revised 38-item version demonstrated improved reliability (Cronbach's =0.889), acceptable inter-item correlations, and good model fit ( χ 2 /df = 1.45; AGFI = 0.91; CFI = 0.93; TLI = 0.91; RMSEA = 0.06). Conclusions: The E-LAN is a concise, reliable, and valid tool for assessing food and nutrition literacy among portuguese youth, supporting its use in public health research and interventions.