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Recolha e criopreservação de embriões de cabras de raça serpentina
No full textIntrodução e Objetivos: No âmbito do programa de Conservação e Melhoramento Genético da raça
Serpentina, foi implementado um protocolo de estimulação ovárica e ovulação múltipla para recolha
e criopreservação de embriões produzidos in vivo. O objetivo desta atividade visava a conservação da
biodiversidade genética, em linha com as normas definidas para o Banco Português de Germoplasma
Animal (BPGA), que promove a sustentabilidade reprodutiva e a preservação de raças autóctones. Os procedimentos incluíram protocolos de sincronização de cios, superovulação com FSH/LH e inseminação artificial
(cervical e intrauterina por laparoscopia), seguidos de recolha, avaliação e criopreservação de embriões.
Metodologia e Resultados: Os procedimentos foram realizados em duas sessões distintas, com dois grupos
de cabras, provenientes de diferentes explorações (Grupo 1; n=12; e Grupo 2; n= 10). A sincronização
consistiu na aplicação de dispositivos intravaginais com progesterona (dia 0; CIDR ovis®) durante 11 dias,
e administração de cloprostenol no dia 9 (150 µg IM SID, Estrumate®). O tratamento superovulatório teve
início no dia 9, através da administração de FSH/LH (500 UI IM SID; Pluset®), durante três dias em doses
decrescentes (250UI, 150UI, 100UI, IM SID). No dia 12 foi induzida a ovulação (0.004mg, IM, SID, Receptal®).
A deteção de cios iniciou-se no dia 12, 24h após retirada do CIDR, tendo a totalidade dos animais manifestado
comportamento de cio entre as 9 e as 15 h desse dia sendo realizada uma primeira inseminação artificial (IA)
com sémen fresco, por via cervical com uma dose de 200 milhões de espermatozoides móveis. No dia 13 foi
efetuada pela manhã uma IA intrauterina por laparoscopia (dose seminal de 50 milhões espermatozoides móveis) e
durante a tarde uma segunda IA por via cervical idêntica à primeira. A recolha de embriões foi realizada por
laparotomia abdominal ventral, sob anestesia geral, 8 dias após a remoção do CIDR pela técnica de lavagem por
fluxo retrógrado com recurso a um cateter de Foley. Os embriões recolhidos foram identificados e classificados de
acordo com o manual da IETS (Sociedade Internacional de Transferência de Embriões), quanto ao estadio de
desenvolvimento (mórula, blastocisto) e qualidade (1-excelente a 4-degenerado). Posteriormente, foram
crio preservados por congelação lenta de acordo com o protocolo descrito por Bettencourt et al., 2009.
As cabras do grupo 1, apresentavam uma idade média de 3,5 anos e uma condição corporal 3,5. A
totalidade dos animais apresentou uma resposta à estimulação ovárica (≥ 4 Corpos Lúteos; CL) com
uma média de 14,4 CL por cabra. Foram recolhidos e crio preservados 91 embriões de 10 cabras, com uma
média de 9,1 embriões por cabra, resultado de uma taxa de recuperação média de 59%. Deste total, 50 foram
mórulas das quais, 41 de grau 1 e 9 mórulas de grau 2. Os restantes embriões recolhidos foram 41 blastocistos,
25 classificados como blastocistos grau 1, 4 blastocistos grau 2, 5 blastocistos expandidos grau 1 e 7 jovens
blastocistos grau 1. Nas cabras do grupo 2 observou-se uma grande disparidade etária com idades compreendidas entre 2 e 13 anos, com uma idade média de 4,8 anos e com condição corporal média de 3,5. Das 10 cabras intervencionadas, sete obtiveram uma resposta à estimulação ovárica, com uma média de 21 CL por cabra e três não responderam
ao tratamento. Das cabras com resposta superovulatória só foi possível recolher e crio preservar embriões de 5
cabras, num total de 52 embriões com uma média de 10,4 embriões por cabra, resultado de uma taxa de
recuperação de 50%. Foram recolhidas no total 28 mórulas, sendo 17 mórulas de grau 1, 6 mórulas de grau
2, 1 mórula de grau 3 e 4 mórulas compactas grau 1. Os restantes 24 embriões recolhidos eram blastocistos,
sendo que 8 blastocistos eram de grau 1, 1 blastocisto grau 2, 11 blastocistos expandidos grau 1 e 4 jovens
blastocistos grau 1. Principais Conclusões: Os resultados obtidos demonstraram a eficácia dos protocolos seguidos na indução de ovulações múltiplas, recolha e criopreservação de embriões na raça caprina Serpentina. Permitem ainda
realçar, através da variação dos rendimentos das duas sessões, a importância na escolha das fêmeas dadoras,
em termos etários, condição corporal e do seu historial reprodutivo, de forma que estes fatores não afetem os
resultados e a viabilidade económica deste procedimento. Estas ações representam um passo significativo para a
preservação genética da raça, alinhando-se aos objetivos do Banco de Germoplasma Português de promover a biodiversidade e a sustentabilidade reprodutiva das raças autóctones
THE WALKWAYS LANDSCAPE IN PORTUGAL: – AMIEIRA DO TEJO CASE-STUDY
Get PDFConsidering the concept of landscape as a vital experience, this paper seeks to ethically and aesthetically address walkways and their role in the landscape of inland Portugal. As such, the Amieira do Tejo walkway shall be employed as a case study, exploring the appropriation of these walkway by communities and tourists as well as the benefits they provide. The methodology used was based on bibliographic research and on the results of surveys and interviews carried out about the walkways. The data was quantitatively analysed in order to understand: the user’s perception of the quality of the landscape, the user’s perception of the impact of walkway on the landscape, and the benefits of the walkway to people’s quality of life. The results confirm the importance of the walkway to the landscape thanks to the extent to which they improve the quality of life of local inhabitants
White Tea Intake Mitigates SIRT1 Suppression in Type 2 Diabetes Skeletal Muscle: A Nutraceutical Approach to Redox Balance
Get PDFObjective: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) impairs skeletal muscle function, reducing metabolic flexibility and mitochondrial efficiency while increasing oxidative stress due to excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) and weak antioxidant defenses. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and Sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), NAD⁺-dependent deacetylases, support mitochondrial health and activate ROS-detoxifying enzymes. We hypothesized that prediabetes (PreDM) reduces SIRT1 and SIRT3 expression in muscle, contributing to redox imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction. White tea (WTEA), known for its anti-hyperglycaemic and antioxidant properties, may counteract these effects. This study investigates the impact of PreDM on SIRT1/SIRT3 expression in rat skeletal muscle and whether WTEA supplementation offers protective benefits. Methods: All rats were provided with ad libitum access to a standard chow meal. At one month of age, the streptozotocin (STZ)-treated rats were divided into two groups: the PreDM+WTEA group (N=6) consumed white tea (WTEA) for the subsequent two months, while the other STZ-treated group (PreDM group, N=6), and the control group (control group, N=6) consumed water. Relative mRNA expression levels of SIRT1 and SIRT3 in skeletal muscle were quantified via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Statistical significance was evaluated by one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey post-test using GraphPad Prism 10. Results: PreDM significantly reduced mRNA SIRT1 expression in skeletal muscle. Notably, WTEA supplementation restored SIRT1 transcript levels to those comparable with non-PreDM controls. No significant differences were detected in SIRT3 expression between PreDM, WTEA-treated, and control groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that PreDM selectively downregulates SIRT1 expression in skeletal muscle, potentially contributing to oxidative stress and metabolic impairment. WTEA supplementation appears to reverse this effect, highlighting a possible therapeutic role. In contrast, SIRT3 expression remained unchanged, indicating a possible differential regulatory response to PreDM in muscle tissue
The Prevalence, Nature, and Main Determinants of Violence Towards Healthcare Professionals in the South of Portugal: A Cross-Sectional Study
Get PDF(1) Background: Violence against healthcare professionals is becoming a growing concern for healthcare systems and a public health issue, and in Portugal it remains undocumented at a national level, leaving a critical knowledge gap. This scenario compromises the development of effective public policies and evidence-based institutional strategies, which are essential for guiding policymakers in the implementation of preventive measures and appropriate safety protocols to assess the nature, frequency, and key factors contributing to violence against healthcare professionals (doctors and nurses) in clinical settings. (2) Methods: This is a quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. The sample size was 440 professionals (n = 440). Between January and May 2024, healthcare professionals (physicians and nurses) working in four local health units located in the south of Portugal were invited to participate in this study via institutional e-mail. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire on the healthcare professional’s sociodemographic and work-related characteristics and aspects related to violence towards healthcare professionals in the workplace. Unconditional logistic regression models were fitted to compute crude odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for the association between sociodemographic and work-related characteristics and violence at work. (3) Results: Nearly 40% of the healthcare professionals sampled reported having been victims of violence in the workplace, and, among these, the majority reported experiencing psychological violence (94.2%), followed by physical violence (46.2%), another type of violence (39.1%), and sexual violence (4.1%). Incidents were mostly occasional (65.5%), occurring during the daytime (51.5%) and on weekdays (84.8%). Healthcare professionals aged between 34 and 55 years old were approximately twice as likely to experience violence compared to those who were 56 years old or older (OR = 2.28; 95%CI 1.33–3.90). Also, those who had been with the organization for more than 4 years (5–7 years: OR = 2.37; 95%CI 1.05–5.37. ≥8 years: OR = 1.87; 95%CI 1.00–3.50), as well as those who worked shifts (OR = 1.84; 95%CI 1.25–2.72), reported incidents of violence more frequently. (4) Conclusions: The low response rate (12.5%) and cross-sectional design limit the generalizability of the results, which should be interpreted considering these methodological limitations. Workplace violence in Portugal is a reality, and it requires solutions. Information related to violent incidents must be comprehensively gathered to understand the full extent of the problem and develop prevention strategies based on potentially changeable risk factors to minimize the negative effects of workplace violence
Effectiveness of Nursing Interventions on Preventing the Risk of Infection in Adult Inpatients: Protocol for a Systematic Review
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Effectiveness of Nursing Interventions on Preventing the Risk of Infection in Adult Inpatients: Protocol for a Systematic Review
by Luís Filipe Pereira Todo Bom 1,2,3,4,*,Ema Soraia Fazenda Mata 2,3ORCID,Helena Margarida Pereira Cunha 2,4ORCID,Maria do Céu Mendes Pinto Marquês 1,5ORCID andMaria dos Anjos Dixe 2,3ORCID
1
Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), University of Évora, 7000-801 Évora, Portugal
2
School of Health Sciences, Polytechnic University of Leiria, Campus 2, Morro do Lena, Alto do Vieiro, Apartado 4137, 2411-901 Leiria, Portugal
3
Centre for Innovative Care and Health Technology (ciTechCare), Polytechnic University of Leiria, Campus 5, Rua das Olhalvas, 2414-016 Leiria, Portugal
4
Local Health Unit of the Region of Leiria, Rua de Santo André, 2410-197 Leiria, Portugal
5
Department of Nursing, University of Évora, 7000-811 Évora, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Nurs. Rep. 2025, 15(6), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15060210
Submission received: 18 March 2025 / Revised: 28 May 2025 / Accepted: 9 June 2025 / Published: 11 June 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a major global public health concern, significantly impacting patient safety and healthcare quality. These infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. Nurses play a critical role in infection prevention, implementing evidence-based interventions to reduce infection risks. This systematic review aims to identify and synthesize the most effective nursing interventions to prevent HAIs in hospitalized adults, analyzing their variability across different clinical settings and populations. Methods: This systematic review follows the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic reviews of effectiveness and is reported according to PRISMA guidelines. The protocol is registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42024582820). This review includes randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and observational studies (cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional) assessing the effectiveness of nursing interventions in reducing HAIs. A comprehensive search is conducted in the PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment are performed by two independent reviewers, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Results: The primary outcomes include reductions in HAI incidence rate, increased adherence to preventive interventions, decreased hospital length of stay, reduced readmission rates due to infections, and overall patient safety improvements. A meta-analysis is conducted when feasible; otherwise, results are synthesized narratively. Conclusions: The findings of this review contribute to the standardization of evidence-based nursing practices for HAI prevention, promoting safer healthcare environments. By identifying the most effective interventions, this study aims to support healthcare professionals and policymakers in implementing targeted infection control strategies
A Cloud-Based Platform for Wildfire Risk Monitoring Using Wireless Sensor Networks
Get PDFForest fires pose a growing threat to ecosystems and human settlements, reinforcing the need for effective monitoring and early detection systems. The SenForFire project introduces a cloud-integrated platform designed to collect, process, store, and visualize real-time environmental data from a network of low-cost wireless sensors deployed in fire-prone areas. Currently, the system focuses on continuous data acquisition and real-time visualization, establishing a foundation for future predictive ca-pabilities in wildfire prevention. This paper presents the system's requirements, architecture, data flow, and visualization tools, aiming to contribute to research and development in wildfire risk assessment
Configurations of the portuguese language subject area: giving voice to secondary education students
Get PDFPartindo da especificidade da disciplina de português, no espaço do currículo, e consequente valorização dos alunos como atores e coautores do seu conhecimento, este estudo pretende compreender a representação que os alunos dos Cursos Científico Humanísticos do ensino secundário têm da disciplina de português quanto à sua natureza e funções, bem como relativamente às opções metodológicas nela envolvidas.
Para o efeito, foi desenvolvido um estudo de caso com alunos dos Cursos Científico Humanísticos, numa escola do concelho de Évora, recorrendo ao inquérito por questionário e por entrevista (focus group). Dos resultados obtidos destacamos que os alunos atribuem à disciplina valor utilitário pelo seu caráter formativo e transversal, no contexto do currículo, considerando que as competências nela e por ela desenvolvidas, focadas na comunicação oral e escrita na leitura, educação literária e gramática são fundamentais quer para o sucesso académico quer para a vida social e extraescolar, sobretudo no contexto profissional
A web based application for the collection and normative analysis of neuropsychological test data
Get PDFAccurate analysis and interpretation of neuropsychological
test scores are critical for clinical practice and research. However, the
complexity and variability of these tests often make it difficult to collect
consistent data and perform meaningful normative comparisons, partic-
ularly with culturally diverse populations. This work introduces a web-
based application, currently under development, for collecting, storing,
and analyzing neuropsychological test scores from diverse studies. The
application allows the user to upload data from a study, conduct searches,
and perform normative comparisons based on all submitted samples. For
normative comparisons, the application classifies a patient’s test scores
against existing values in the database, allowing users to evaluate subject
data against normative values and determine if they lie within typical
ranges. A central aspect to the development is the database system,
which requires a dynamic and scalable structure to accommodate a wide
range of tests and parameters. This article also outlines the key design
considerations for the database and addresses the challenges of structur-
ing neuropsychological data for both flexibility and analytical accuracy.
The web application aims to simplify the data management while offer
Web-based platform providing ongoing rehabilitation support for stroke victims
Get PDFThe aim of this work is the development of a digital platform
to support the physical rehabilitation of stroke patients who were cleared
to transition to home-based and outpatient rehabilitation.
This digital solution facilitates real-time communication with physiother-
apists, disseminates stroke educational content to boost patient health
literacy, and complements rehabilitation protocols through guided exer-
cise videos and session monitoring (including repetition counts, schedul-
ing, and time tracking).
The development consisted of a Progressive Web Application (PWA), a
hybrid solution functioning as both a web browser application and a na-
tive app. Its layered architecture isolates UI components from backend
operations. By combining modern and robust technologies, we created
an accessible and secure application capable of real-time communica-
tion between users and physiotherapists. This streamlines rehabilitation
activity tracking and enhances patient well-being. In-situ evaluation is
scheduled for the subsequent project phase, to be carried out through
partnerships with healthcare providers
HealthyW8: Evaluation of health parameters related to obesity prevention through saliva
No full textHealthyW8 (https://www.healthyw8.eu/) is a European initiative focused on promoting sustainable lifestyle changes, with the aim of supporting individuals in the adoption and long-term maintenance of healthy habits in vulnerable stages of life. This multidisciplinary project integrates behavioral science, digital health tools, and the monitoring of biological markers to better understand how lifestyle modifications influence health trajectories in real-world contexts. Within the scope of this project, the use of non-invasive methods for collecting biological samples proves particularly relevance for assessing physiological changes associated with shifts in daily behaviors. Among the available biofluids, saliva stands out as a valuable and still underexplored matrix, offering several advantages: it is easy to collect, non-invasive, and contains numerous analytes that reflect both local and systemic physiological processes. These include inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, enzymatic activity, and proteomic alterations related to metabolic status and general well-being. This preliminary study, in the context of HealthyW8 project, aims to assess the relationship between salivary protein profile and physical activity parameters, as well as to assess the changes in this profile induced by acute practice of exercise, in children. Saliva samples are collected at two distinct time points — before and after 45 minutes exercise. The application of targeted proteomic and enzymatic analyses, allow to identify the main salivary protein components related with physical activity, in children. This is a starting point for the tasks, considered in HealthyW8 projects, where the feasibility of integrating salivary analysis into broader digital strategies for public health promotion is explored. This research is funded by the European Union through the project “Horizon-Europe (HORIZON-HLTH-STAYHLTH-01-05-twostage)”