Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2017-04"
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- Development and validation of risk matrices for Crohn's Disease outcomes in patients who underwent early therapeutic interventionsPublication . Dias, Cláudia Camila; Rodrigues, Pedro Pereira; Coelho, Rosa; Santos, Paula Moura; Fernandes, Samuel; Lago, Paula; Caetano, Cidalina; Rodrigues, Angela; Portela, Francisco; Oliveira, Ana; Ministro, Paula; Cancela, Eugenia; Vieira, Ana Isabel; Barosa, Rita; Cotter, Jose; Carvalho, Pedro; Cremers, Isabelle; Trabulo, Daniel; Caldeira, Paulo; Antunes, Artur; Rosa, Isadora; Moleiro, Joana; Peixe, Paula; Herculano, Rita; Gonçalves, Raquel; Gonçalves, Bruno; Sousa, Helena Tavares; Contente, Luis; Morna, Henrique; Lopes, Susana; Magro, FernandoIntroduction: The establishment of prognostic models for Crohn's disease [CD] is highly desirable, as they have the potential to guide physicians in the decision-making process concerning therapeutic choices, thus improving patients' health and quality of life. Our aim was to derive models for disabling CD and reoperation based solely on clinical/demographic data. Methods: A multicentric and retrospectively enrolled cohort of CD patients, subject to early surgery or immunosuppression, was analysed in order to build Bayesian network models and risk matrices. The final results were validated internally and with a multicentric and prospectively enrolled cohort. Results: The derivation cohort included a total of 489 CD patients [64% with disabling disease and 18% who needed reoperation], while the validation cohort included 129 CD patients with similar outcome proportions. The Bayesian models achieved an area under the curve of 78% for disabling disease and 86% for reoperation. Age at diagnosis, perianal disease, disease aggressiveness and early therapeutic decisions were found to be significant factors, and were used to construct user-friendly matrices depicting the probability of each outcome in patients with various combinations of these factors. The matrices exhibit good performance for the most important criteria: disabling disease positive post-test odds = 8.00 [2.72-23.44] and reoperation negative post-test odds = 0.02 [0.00-0.11]. Conclusions: Clinical and demographical risk factors for disabling CD and reoperation were determined and their impact was quantified by means of risk matrices, which are applicable as bedside clinical tools that can help physicians during therapeutic decisions in early disease management.
- Comparative gene expression and histological analysis of skin response to injury in two congeneric flatfish with striking skin morphological differences, the brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) and the turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)Publication . Estêvão, J.; Millan, A.; Pardo, B. G.; Fernandez, C.; Rubiolo, J.; Herrera, M.; Gomez-Tato, A.; Ronza, P.; Cabaleiro, S.; Quiroga, M., I.; Power, Deborah; Martinez, P.Analysis of the morphological and genetic differences in the skin response to injury between Turbot and Brill.
- Unraveling the role of ataxin-2 in metabolismPublication . Carmo-Silva, Sara; Nóbrega, Clévio; de Almeida, Luís Pereira; Cavadas, CláudiaAtaxin-2 is a polyglutamine protein implicated in several biological processes such as RNA metabolism and cytoskeleton reorganization. Ataxin-2 is highly expressed in various tissues including the hypothalamus, a brain region that controls food intake and energy balance. Ataxin-2 expression is influenced by nutritional status. Emerging studies discussed here now show that ataxin-2 deficiency correlates with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia, an action mediated via the mTOR pathway, suggesting that ataxin-2 might play key roles in metabolic homeostasis including body weight regulation, insulin sensitivity, and cellular stress responses. In this review we also discuss the relevance of ataxin-2 in the hypothalamic regulation of energy balance, and its potential as a therapeutic target in metabolic disorders such as obesity.
- Genetic and molecular analysis of phosphorus homeostasis regulatory genes. A key nutrient for aquaculture sustainabilityPublication . Suarez-Bregua, P.; Torres-Nunez, E.; Prober, D.; Cerda-Reverter, J. M.; Guerreiro, Pedro M; Du, S. J.; Canestro, C.; Rotllant, J.
- Guided tour to the antiquity's factory: sociology, tourism and authenticityPublication . Guerreiro, Jorge Andre; Marques, Joao FilipeAuthenticity has been one of the most used words as well as one of the most discussed subjects in the Sociology of Tourism over the last four decades. Having experienced several changes in its meaning, the term has followed the overall progression of tourism studies - from the functionalist to the constructivist approaches, culminating in the postmodern and phenomenological turn. Yet, as a scientific concept, authenticity hasn't always been heuristic enough to support the empirical requirements of research, a trait that can be traced back to the philosophical influences of the word, resulting in its lack of a clear definition. This article critically reviews the abundant literature regarding the subject of authenticity in tourism, from its origins to the present, ending with recommendations to future uses.
- The impact of dietary supplementation with astaxanthin on egg quality and growth of long snout seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) juvenilesPublication . Palma, Jorge; Andrade, José Pedro; Bureau, D. P.This study investigated the effect of dietary astaxanthin supplementation on egg quality and juvenile growth of long snout seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus). Captive breed seahorse broodstock were fed four diets composed of frozen shrimp [Atlantic ditch shrimp, Palaemonetes varians) used as a vector to deliver artificial diets with increasing levels of astaxanthin (0, 75, 100 and 125 mg kg(-1) dry weight)]. The results indicated that the astaxanthin uptake into eggs from the enriched shrimp diets was highly efficient. Females fed unsupplemented astaxanthin diet produced similar-sized eggs with lower concentration of astaxanthin than females fed diets with astaxanthin. The lower concentration of astaxanthin in the eggs was correlated with the production of smaller juveniles in comparison with the juveniles hatched from parents fed supplemented astaxanthin diets. Juvenile growth and survival was limited by their size on release from the male's pouch as at the end of 28-day postparturition juveniles produced with the diet with no astaxanthin were still significantly smaller (P < 0.05) than those produced from parents fed astaxanthin-supplemented diets. These results demonstrate a significant benefit of dietary astaxanthin supplementation in long snout seahorse diets in terms of improved egg quality and juvenile growth and survival.
- How phenotype guides management of the most common malignant salivary neoplasms of the Larynx?Publication . Lopez, Fernando; Williams, Michelle D.; Skalova, Alena; Hellquist, Henrik; Suarez, Carlos; Nixon, Iain J.; Rodrigo, Juan P.; Cardesa, Antonio; Strojan, Primoz; Quer, Miquel; Hunt, Jennifer L.; Rinaldo, Alessandra; Ferlito, AlfioSalivary gland carcinomas of the larynx are uncommon. Adenoid cystic carcinoma is the most prevalent type of salivary gland carcinoma in this region, although other histologies such as mucoepidermoid carcinoma and adenocarcinomas have been reported. These tumors may present with advanced-stage due to nonspecific symptoms and their relatively slow-growing nature. The index of suspicion for a non-squamous cell carcinoma entity should be high when a submucosal mass is present. An accurate diagnosis is mandatory due to the impact each biologic entity has on treatment and outcome. Data concerning treatment and outcome are scarce, but primary surgery with utmost focus on free surgical margins is the treatment of choice. The role of adjuvant radiotherapy has not been well defined, although there is an agreement that it should be considered in advanced-stage or high-grade disease. This review considers only the most common malignant salivary neoplasms of the larynx with a focus on clinical management of these tumors.
- Population genetics and transcriptomics of Manila Clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) and carpet-shell clam (R. decussatus): implications for aquaculturePublication . Saavedra, C.; Milan, M.; Cordero, D.; Leite, R.; Pena, J. B.; Delgado, M.; Liu, B.; Ruesink, J.; Cancela, M. Leonor; Bargelloni, L.; Patarnello, T.Knowledge of the genetics of populations is essential to understand performance differences among races and local stocks of shellfish species. We have studied the population genetics of the native Asian -but now globally cultured- Manila clam, and the native European carpet-shell clam, which are exploited in Europe by a combination of wild bed harvesting and supplementation with hatchery spat. Using mtDNA and nuclear markers we found that both species show clear phylogeographic breaks at the Mediterranean Sea (carpet-shell clam) and at the East China Sea (Manila clam).
- Application of unsteady-state heat transfer equations to thermal process of morcela de arroz from Monchique region, a portuguese traditional blood sausagePublication . Pereira, Jorge; Ferreira-Dias, S.; Dionísio, Lídia; Patarata, L.; Matos, T. J. S.Morcela de Arroz (MA) is a popular cooked blood and rice sausage produced following empirical procedures in the Monchique region, south of Portugal. Presenting high pH (about 6.5) and water activity (around 0.97), it is commercialized without preservatives, unpacked and with restricted commercialization period (1 week at 0C-5C). The aim of this study was (i) to assess the adequacy of unsteady-state heat transfer equations (USHTE) using Heisler charts to predict temperature in the centre of the product and the time needed to attain the temperature needed for cooking and (ii) to determine if the thermal treatment traditionally applied complies with the recommendations for refrigerated processed foods of extended durability (REPFEDs). A very good fit of USHTE to the experimental time/temperature data was observed. MA thermal process complies with the REPFEDs recommendations. Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens were not detected in any of the tested samples.
- Interspecific differences in habitat selection of syngnathids in the Ria Formosa lagoon, PortugalPublication . Mueller, Carolin; Erzini, KInterspecific patterns of local population abundances and differences in habitat preference of two sea grass resident pipefish species of the genus Syngnathus were investigated in a semi-protected lagoon system in Southern Portugal. The results of the combination of field surveys across different seagrass meadows and laboratory habitat choice experiments between May and September 2014 demonstrate that the pipefish population structure in a single-species meadow composed of Zostera noltei differed significantly from the ones in a single-species meadow of Cymodocea nodosa and a mixed meadow of both seagrasses. In addition, the two most abundant pipefish species, Syngnathus typhle and Syngnathus abaster, showed interspecific and intersexual differences in habitat selection both on a macro- and a microhabitat scale in laboratory experiments. The study suggests that in addition to the investigated structural characteristics of sea grasses (i.e. shoot length and density), other factors such as flow velocity may influence habitat selection of syngnathids. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.