bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Self-medication practice in different contexts: higher education students vs. users of an interior pharmacy
Authors: Vintém M , Rocha C , Balteiro J 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Introduction Self-medication is a common practice these days and is influenced by many factors, such as education, family, society, availability of medications and exposure to advertisements. This practice should be done responsibly for relief and treatment of brief and non-serious health conditions. Its irresponsible use can create risks to the individual’s health.
Objectives This work aims to evaluate the knowledge about self-medication on higher education students, and on a village population located at the interior of the Portugal central region, in order to verify if health education and school level influence the behaviours how self-medication is done.
Methodology An observational study was carried out at the Coimbra Health School (ESTeSC), and at a Pharmacy in a rural village, with a questionnaire done between March and May 2019. In this study 430 individuals contributed, of which 223 were enrolled in ESTeSC and 207 were Pharmacy’s customers.
Results At the sample, female students (88.8%) predominated, with an average age of 20 years old. From the results collected at the Pharmacy’s customers, female individuals predominated (65.7%). From the overall, 75.8% indicated that they self-medicated in the last 6 months (170 individuals from ESTeSC and 156 from pharmacy) mainly for Flu/Cold symptoms (38.8%). Analgesics and antipyretics predominates self-medication with 36.3% and 41.06% (ESTeSC and Pharmacy, respectively). They further stated that self-medication is acceptable in some circumstances.
Conclusion We can conclude that regarding to self-medication practice, individuals increasingly look out to treat their symptoms without seeking medical advice, as it is faster and cheaper. Therefore, pharmacy professionals must educate population about benefits and risks of self-medication. These professionals have an important role at the self-medication risks prevention, sharing information, therapeutic guidance and population education.
The NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery App in healthy aging and cognitive decline due to Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Marques-Costa C , Pinho M S , Simões M R , Prieto G 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Introduction There has been a significant increase in average life expectancy. This increase brought more focus on aging with more health, autonomy and independence. Among current public health concerns, the detection of cognitive decline in older individuals stands out, namely in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Accurate, brief, practical and automated measures are needed to assess cognitive function throughout the life-span. Since 2015, there is the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) app that meets these requirements and assesses the neurocognitive subdomains of attention, episodic memory, executive function, language, processing speed, and working memory. The European Portuguese app, developed by our team, will be validated for the Portuguese older adults.
Objectives The aim is presenting a literature review of the use of NIHTB-CB in healthy aging and cognitive decline in MCI and AD.
Methodology Advanced search in the databases of Web of Science and Google Scholar for studies published between 2016-2019, including articles and meeting abstracts with the words: NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery, AD, MCI, Elder or Senior or Older.
Results According to the studies reviewed, NIHTB-CB may be useful in memory clinics (e.g.Hackett et al, 2018; Mayeda et al. 2018); clinical trials (e.g.Buckley et al., 2017; Parsey, Bagger & Hanson, 2019); and healthy aging (e.g.Scott, Sorell, & Benitez, 2019). Preliminary results of the ARMADA study (Weintraub et al, 2019) with people with more than 85 years old became available showing that generally, NIHTB-CB is well accepted, also in MCI patients. No difficulties were found in the use of the iPad with older adults.
Conclusion NIHTB-CB measures provide a valid assessment of neurocognitive domains that are important in healthy aging, MCI and AD. As the studies are still scarce, more research is needed.
Current Point-of-Care testing in cancer and future perspectives: a systematic review
Authors: Rodrigues M , Andrade I , Cruz R 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Introduction Cancer is the most prevalent disease worldwide, causing a major impact on society. Early detection and monitorization of the tumour can provide a more effective treatment. Point-of-care (POC) testing allows the patient to have a handheld test that gives the results rapidly. No expertise or special knowledge is required which is vital namely when carried out in low-resource areas. Recent studies analysed established and emerging biomarkers and how to incorporate them into POC devices, but a systematic review reporting the existing POC platforms for cancer is still not available.
Objectives This systematic review aims to report current and recent advances for point-of-care testing in cancer.
Methodology A literature review was conducted through research in the databases “PubMed” and “B-On” for relevant reviews published in the last ten years, using the keywords “Point-of-care testing” AND “Cancer” AND “Rapid Test” AND “Cancer detection”.
Results In 2015 there were eight commercially available POC tests for prostate, bladder, colorectal, cervical, HPV-causing head and neck cancer, liver, breast and lung cancer. After 2018 a small number of POC devices were tested in screening programs and multicentric studies, and more recently, promising novel POC prototypes for early detection of cancer, namely a 3D prototype micro device for multiple singleplex RNA expression analysis in liver cancer and a POC microscopy prototype for digital diagnostics of breast cancer lymph node metastases, with potential to be used in resource-limited settings.
Conclusion The use of POC testing can deliver accurate, fast results, and in the case of cancer it is no exception, contributing to the progression of treatment and reduction in cancer-related deaths. In low-resource settings a POC test is fundamental and it should be simple and low-cost. But there are limitations in the tests which is a challenge for improvement and investigation in the future.
Implementation of a Sleep Hygiene Program in 4 - 6 Year Old Portuguese Children: the “It is Time to Sleep” Project First Results
Authors: Fonseca G , Marques AC , Vidal DG , Pontes M , Martins MA 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Introduction Sleep, as one of the most determining and present factors in our life, is fundamental for humans, and especially during childhood: it is indispensable for good cognitive, physical and emotional development.
Objectives Designed in the scope of the Portuguese National School Health Program, the objectives of this project were to promote adequate sleep routines, raise awareness of children’s sleep deprivation and to the consequences of an abusive contact with technologies. At the end of this activity, children should be able to recognize the importance of these dimensions.
Methodology The formative activity, performed by 2 school nurses, was applied to 104 children (from 3 different schools from a northern city of Portugal), with 4 (41.3 %), 5 (44.2 %) and 6 years old (14.4 %), and lasted 45 minutes. The project comprises 4 stages: the first one relates to nurses and project theme presentation; the second one is the implementation of a theatre where major issues of the project are presented, namely the importance of sleep and nap, sleep hygiene rules, consequences of sleep deprivation and the influence of technologies on sleep; the third one is the discussion of the main ideas using the song "Sleep Hour"; at the end, a questionnaire was applied to assess children knowledge about sleep hygiene habits divided into six questions with two images each, in which one corresponds to a healthy practice and the other does not.
Results The percentage of correct answers ranged between 96.6 to 98.3 %, suggesting that the formative activity had a positive impact on children’s knowledge about healthy sleep hygiene habits. The 2 questions on which the rate of incorrect answers was higher relate to the fact that sleeping with parents is better than sleeping alone (6.3 %) and that watching TV before going to sleep is a better option than reading a story (4.4 %).
Conclusion This intervention has given children important knowledge about healthy sleep hygiene habits, resulting in its understanding through an approach tailored to their age.
Left ventricular false tendons and early repolarization: Preliminary study
Authors: Pereira A , Castanheira J 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Introduction The early repolarization (ER) is an electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern that includes J wave slurring or notching, ST segment elevation and symmetrical high-voltage T waves in more than one lead. Frequently it appears in the left lateral leads and less commonly in inferior leads. It was first described as benign and it affects 10% of the global population. False tendons (FT) are fibromuscular structures variable in length, thickness and insertion. Normally, they have conductive tissue as a His bundle extension. It’s more frequent in males and young athletes, and some diseases have been associated to them like ventricular arrhythmias and repolarization changes. Generally, there are two groups, longitudinal and transverse. The ECG in the first one shows more frequently ER with notching in the inferior leads and in the second one, slurring in infero-lateral leads.
Objectives This study aims to investigate the association between the type of FT and ER.
Methodology A total of 24 patients with FT and with no significant cardiac disease were included in an observational and descriptive cross-sectional study. All participants performed an ECG and cardiac ultrasonography in a single centre. Patients with abnormal ECGs were excluded
Results Mean participant’s age was 55 years old (range: 18-73), and 67% were males. ER was identified in 53%, and 56% of the participants with transverse tendons presented slurring in the inferior (33%) and in the lateral leads (33%). Longitudinal tendons were associated with ECG notching in 25% or slurring in 26.5%, mainly in the inferior leads (33%).
Conclusion In this study, ER pattern in the inferior leads was a common finding in participants with longitudinal FT. No association between ER and type of FT was observed. An association between the transverse FT and the type of wall and slurring was observed.
Body composition and eating habits of workers with normal day and shift work
Authors: Martins A , Lima J 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Introduction Recently, shift work and it consequences have been studied due to the strong relationship between shift work, sleep disorders and unhealthy eating habits, which could influence body composition and related health problems.
Objectives To analyse the influence of shift work on body composition and eating habits of workers.
Methodology Data collection was carried out through an interview with employees from a company in which data were collected such as sex, age, average number of hours of sleep and work schedule. An anthropometric evaluation was performed and weight, body fat mass percentage and waist circumference were measured. The height was self-reported. Individuals were also asked to answer to a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Data analysis was performed with descriptive and statistical analysis using U-Mann-Whitney test, in the IBM SPSS Statistics 25 program.
Results The final sample consisted of 20 shift workers and 20 normal day workers. The mean BMI of normal day workers was 23.54 ± 3.19 kg/m2, and the average of the shift workers was 27.97 ± 5.48 kg/m2 (p = 0,001). Regarding the percentage of fat mass, the mean of the normal day sample was 28.53 ± 6.30% and the shift work sample showed an average of 29.85 ± 8.54% (p = 0,841). The shift sample reported a higher average daily intake of processed foods, high energy density food products with high fat and sugar content.
Conclusion The higher BMI and fat percentage observed in shift workers comparing to normal day works are a topic of concern and could contribute to the assumption that the dynamics required by shift work can lead to changes in circadian rhythm, leading to metabolic alterations that could influence body composition and dietary choices.
Respiratory infections caused by Haemophilus influenzae β-lactamase positive carrying blaTEM gene
Authors: Valério J , Ferreira H , Chaves C , Rodrigues F , Osório N 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Introduction One of the main etiological agents of respiratory infections is H. Influenzae. The group of antibiotics most used to the treatment of H. influenzae infections is β-lactams. The most common β-lactam resistance is to ampicillin, characterized by the production of TEM (95%) and ROB (5%) β-lactamases, designated enzymatic resistance.
Objectives Characterize the susceptibility profile of H. influenzae to β-lactam antibiotics, to evaluate the enzymatic resistance by the β-lactamase production and to correlate the phenotypic profile with the presence of the blaTEM.
Methodology Total of 152 isolates of H. influenzae from respiratory infections were evaluated: 88 from expectorations, 56 from bronchial aspirates and 8 from bronchoalveolar lavage, collected in Clinical Pathology Service of Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra. The results of the antimicrobial susceptibility profile and the β-lactamase screening were also provided. In order to investigate the blaTEM, DNA was extracted from the isolates and the detection was performed using the PCR technique.
Results The prevalence of the blaTEM in the isolates was 31.6%, of these 33.3% showed resistance to ampicillin and 57.9% were positive in β-lactamase activity screening and blaTEM carriers. There was a statistically significance between the presence of the gene with ampicillin resistance and β-lactamase activity screening.
Conclusion β-lactamase TEM production was the main mechanism of enzymatic resistance which demonstrates the high spread of the blaTEM among isolates of H. influenzae. The results found suggest that the negative strains for this β-lactamase but that presented β-lactamases with activity and resistance to β-lactams should have other β-lactamases as ROB or others. However strains with β-lactamase negative should have other mechanisms promoting the resistance as PBP3. This study provides important data on the antibiotic therapy, to minimize the expression of resistance mechanisms and problems associated with treatment.
Patient Safety in Primary Care
Authors: Pedrosa V 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Introduction Patient safety and the development of quality safety processes have been gaining prominence in business management in the public and political sector, particularly in Europe, after the Quality and Safety in European Hospitals project was driven by the support of the Lisbon strategy agenda. Scientific research has also followed this trend. However, the study of patient safety management and methods is still scarce.
Objectives Resorting to Cartaxo Health Centre, the research contributes to the analysis of the proposition that there is not only a lack of knowledge of the professionals who directly contact the patient about the patients safety in primary health care, but also that the methods used in practice are very intuitive and individualised by the absence of formal and institutional coordinated orientation.
Methodology Using a qualitative methodology and the case study method, a semi-structured interview was conducted with 40 health professionals—among doctors, nurses, and technicians—who contacted patients, in order to identify what they know and consequently incorporate about patient safety. The interviews were conducted between February and June 2015
Results We confirmed several discrepancies between functional units. It was clarified that in the domicile the knowledge is scarcer.
Conclusion We have delimited factors that do not ensure a reliable environment and culture, to improve with a training plan and institutional coordination that supports notification. The complexity of the context impacts on the nature and dimension of adverse events due to stress, workload and organization. A Taxonomy of Adverse Events was constructed and its path from the source to the solution was mapped. It's our intention to share this Taxonomy with the professionals, with a strong expectation that will improve Quality and Safety in Portuguese Primary Care.
Effects of sleep deprivation on arterial vasculature in university students
Authors: Freitas Raquel , Santos Helder , Rocha Clara , Pereira Telmo , Conde Jorge 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Introduction Sleep plays an essential role in the mental, emotional, physical and psychological well-being of an individual and a poor quality of this leads to psychological changes, also affecting the cardiovascular system. The current society demands more and more hours of work, which leads to a decrease in the quantity and quality of sleep, and this has already been associated in several studies with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, among others, but was never considered a risk factor by its own.
Objectives Understand if partial sleep deprivation for 4 nights causes vascular changes in healthy university students.
Methodology The sample consisted of 20 healthy university students, who underwent 3 nights in which they slept the ideal for their age group, being evaluated at the end of those nights. At the next night they were subjected to partial sleep deprivation and were evaluated the next day. The third evaluation occurred after 4 nights of partial sleep deprivation. Evaluations consisted in carotid evaluation, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), blood pressure (BP) and temperature monitoring. From the first night, the participants used an actigraphy during the daily routine for 7 nights. An initial questionnaire was completed and also the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESE) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
Results Partial sleep deprivation causes a decrease in the diameter of the right brachial artery and the common carotid artery (CCA). There was also an increase in the SBP of CCA, in pulsatility and endurance indexes and on β-stiffness. With sleep deprivation, sleep efficiency also decreased.
Conclusion Sleep deprivation leads to an increase in inflammatory markers that act on the endothelium and end up promoting the existence of cardiovascular events.
Ultrasound analyses of hamstrings muscle morphology changes whit sport
Authors: Santos R , Tavares A 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Introduction Physical activities and sports can change muscle morphology. Changes caused by regular physical exercise can be assessed by ultrasound parameters such as the pennation angle, cross-sectional area, echo-intensity and muscle thickness.
Objectives This study aims to characterise and evaluate the morphological changes of the hamstring muscles through ultrasound parameters such as the pennation angle, fascicle length, cross-sectional area, echo-intensity and muscle thickness, and verify the existence of morphological changes between the dominant and non-dominant limb.
Methodology Twenty-two young female divided in two groups (control group=11; athletes group=11) were submitted to an ultrasound examination at 50% of the posterior region of the thigh, for the semimembranosus and long portion of the femoral biceps muscles in the longitudinal and in a panoramic view.
Results 22 athletes with a mean age of 22.25 years were evaluated. There were significant differences between the two groups in muscle morphology. The athletes group showed a higher value for muscle thickness, cross-sectional area, pennation angle and fascicle length and a lower value for muscle echo-intensity. This group also showed higher values for these parameters when dominant limb is compared with non-dominant.
Conclusion Physical exercise causes changes in muscle morphology and ultrasound is a good method for the musculoskeletal assessment of athlete’s performance, since it is an imaging modality that allows to carry out comparative bilateral studies for athletes performance follow up and for preventive strategies against the sedentarism.
Correlation between sarcopenia and atherosclerosis/cardiovascular risk factors in the elderly
Authors: Sousa-Coelho A , Botelho M , Guerreiro C , Pais S 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Introduction Sarcopenia is the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength and function. Uncontrolled diabetes, obesity, chronic inflammation and lipid abnormalities, cause decreases in muscle strength, which contributes to disease-related morbidity.
Objectives The main goal of this study was to correlate the prevalence of sarcopenia with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk factors, mainly estimated by cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein (CRP) and HbA1c levels, in the elderly.
Methodology A quantitative observational cross-sectional study was performed in a convenience sample of individuals aged over 60 years old recruited non-randomly. Main study variables were body composition (seca® mBCA515), muscle strength (peak torque, Humac NORM isokinetic dynamometer), risk of falls (TUG test), muscle function (LEFS) and lipids, inflammation and glycaemic profile (cobas b101-Roche®).
Results Total cholesterol levels fully correlated with LDL and non-HDL cholesterol, and partially with triglycerides, but not with HDL-cholesterol levels, HbA1c, or BMI. LDL-cholesterol levels did not correlate with muscle mass (free-fat mass (%)), strength, function, or risk of falls. Similarly, HDL-cholesterol levels did not correlate with muscle function or falls risk. Cholesterol ratio, obtained by dividing total cholesterol by HDL-cholesterol levels, was significantly higher in individuals with CRP levels above 3 mg/L. Interestingly, when compared to normal values, individuals with triglycerides above 150 mg/dL showed a statistically significant decrease in muscle strength.
Conclusion From the biochemical measured parameters, our data showed that only high triglycerides levels positively correlated with sarcopenia risk, demonstrated by reduced muscle strength. While cholesterol ratio positively correlated with increased inflammation, blood cholesterol levels seem to be independent factors regarding sarcopenia prevalence.
Carriage of antibiotic resistant bacteria flora and its role in the guidance of clinical decision making
Authors: Wong Darren W 
Published: June 2020

ABSTRACT
There is considerable literature on the threat of antibiotic resistance and its impact on morbidity. However, an under-studied consideration is how carriage of these antibiotic resistant bacteria persist in an individual. The duration that a person harbors a resistant organism is critical in guiding future antimicrobial therapy. Key unexplored questions are the rate of clearance of these organisms and what drives their persistence. This paper attempts to examine these questions and offers some initial answers as well as avenues for further study.