Berry fruits modulate kidney dysfunction and urine metabolome in Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

Berries are rich sources of (poly)phenols which have been associated with the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in animal models and in human clinical trials. Recently, a berry enriched diet was reported to decrease blood pressure and attenuate kidney disease progression on Dahl salt-sensitive rats. However, the relationship between kidney function, metabolism and (poly)phenols was not evaluated. We hypothesize that berries promote metabolic alterations concomitantly with an attenuation of the progression of renal disease. For that, kidney and urinary metabolomic changes induced by the berry enriched diet in hypertensive rats (Dahl salt-sensitive) were analyzed using liquid chromatography (UPLC-MS/MS) and 1H NMR techniques. Moreover, physiological and metabolic parameters, and kidney histopathological data were also collected. The severity of the kidney lesions promoted in Dahl rats by a high salt diet was significantly reduced by berries, namely a decrease in sclerotic glomeruli. In addition, was observed a high urinary excretion of metabolites that are indicators of alterations in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, citrate cycle, and pyruvate metabolism in the salt induced-hypertensive rats, a metabolic profile counteracted by berries consumption. We also provide novel insights that relates (poly)phenols consumption with alterations in cysteine redox pools. Cysteine contribute to the redox signaling that is normally disrupted during kidney disease onset and progression. Our findings provide a vision about the metabolic responses of hypertensive rats to a (poly)phenol enriched diet, which may contribute to the understanding of the beneficial effects of (poly)phenols in salt-induced hypertension.

Baseline assessment of underwater noise in the Ria Formosa.

The Ria Formosa is a sheltered large coastal lagoon located on the Atlantic South Coast of Portugal, that has been classified as a natural park since 1987. The lagoon hosts a diverse and abundant fish community and other species of commercial importance. Several economical activities are supported by shipping, and as such, vessel traffic within the Ria Formosa lagoon is very intense at some locations during particular seasons of the year, creating high levels of underwater noise. Recently, strong efforts are being made to turn the main inlet of the lagoon, the Faro-Olhão Inlet, a testing site for small scale tidal stream turbines, which will bring an additional source of underwater noise. Underwater noise can be one of a number of factors causing habitat degradation, as it can perturb fish behavior and cause physiological damage. Therefore, in order to comply with underwater noise pollution regulations, tidal energy technology developers are very interested in minimising the introduction of acoustic energy in the environment during the operation of their devices. Under the scope of project SCORE, which involved the deployment and operation of a floating tidal energy converter, this paper presents and discusses the first baseline noise monitoring performed at Ria Formosa. The acoustic data were collected in two occasions over several days, one in the winter and the other in the summer, in 2017. The obtained analysis results highlight the potential impact of the intense boat traffic in Ria Formosa, and the wide range of sound levels introduced in that ecosystem, and the high diurnal and seasonal variability.

Content analysis of nursing diagnoses in mental health records in Portugal.

AIMS: To identify the diagnoses documented by nurses in Portugal to describe the nursing needs within the scope of mental health nursing and the main problems in documenting these needs. BACKGROUND/INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis process is an essential step in nursing care planning. This process should be carried out by nurses in a rigorous and standardized manner, in order to ensure quality practices and to obtain indicators that can increase the visibility of nursing care. A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY COMBINING: 1. quantitative content analysis of nursing diagnosis records written by nurses working in 39 psychiatry departments of the Portuguese National Health Service, and 2. An focus group meeting with 14 nurses exploring the results of first study phase. Qualitative and quantitative data were analysed by content analysis. FINDINGS: The 2014 initial diagnosis records were systematized into 78 final diagnostic categories, which may represent the most relevant diagnoses in the field of mental health nursing in Portugal. The main problems found in the diagnostic identification by nurses included lack of a standardized language; confusion between nursing diagnoses and focus areas and identification of incongruent clinical judgements. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: The changes observed in the fields of behaviour, emotions and psychological process correspond to the largest concentration of nursing diagnoses and challenges in Portugal. This study revealed the lack of standardized language used by nurses in defining diagnoses. The problems identified in the diagnoses documentation suggest that more training in this area is needed. NURSING IMPLICATIONS: This study provides information on the most relevant diagnoses in the area of mental health nursing in Portugal and may offer an important contribution towards improving nursing informatics systems and care to patients by means of standardization of language used in diagnosis definitions. IMPLICATION FOR NURSING POLICIES: The standardization of language used by mental health nurses may contribute towards producing health indicators that provides evidence to policymakers about the contribution made by nursing care towards improved population health.

On the stability in alkaline conditions and electrochemical performance of A2BO4-type cathodes for liquid fuel cells.

Typical direct liquid fuel cells (DLFCs) use a liquid fuel and O2 as the oxidant. However, for applications where O2 is not available (e.g., space and underwater), the gas has been replaced by H2O2 as a liquid oxidant. This work presents a study of various ceramic disc electrodes with K2NiO4 structure and nominal compositions La2NiO4, La2CuO4, La1.9Pr0.1CuO4, La1.9Sr0.1CuO4, La1.8Ce0.2NiO4, La1.9Pr0.1NiO4, La1.8Pr0.2NiO4 and La1.9Sr0.1NiO4 to assess their stability and activity for the hydrogen peroxide reduction reaction (HPRR) in alkaline media. Stability tests conducted in 2 M NaOH show that Ni and Cu are readily dissolved, as occurs for substituting elements such as Sr, in agreement with calculated Pourbaix diagrams. Such degradation affects the surface of the materials, which is depleted of transition metals. This has consequences for the ORR and HPRR activity due to formation of a La-rich passivation layer on the surface. Only La2CuO4 and La1.8Ce0.2NiO4 display HPRR activity at around -0.25 V vs. RHE. An attempt is made to correlate the composition, chemical stability and electrochemical behaviour of these materials based on known molecular-orbital models proposed for the oxygen reduction reaction.

Reliability and validity of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire in a sample of Spanish university students.

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: In general, the current studies of positive mental health use questionnaires or parts thereof. However, while these questionnaires evaluate aspects of positive mental health, they fail to measure the construct itself. WHAT DOES THIS PAPER ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The widespread use and the lack of specific questionnaires for evaluating the positive mental health construct justify the need to measure the robustness of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire. Also six factors are proposed to measure positive mental health. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: The availability of a good questionnaire to measure positive mental health in university students is useful not only to promote mental health but also to strengthen the curricula of future professionals. ABSTRACT: Introduction Nursing has a relevant role in managing mental health. It is important to identify and thereafter to enhance positive aspects of mental health among university nursing students. Aim The aim of the present study was to analyse the psychometric properties of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (PMHQ) in terms of reliability and validity using confirmatory factor analysis in a sample of university students. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 1091 students at 4 nursing schools in Catalonia, Spain. The reliability of the PMHQ was measured by means of Cronbach's alpha coefficient, and the test-retest stability was measured with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to determine the validity of the factorial structure. Results Cronbach's alpha coefficient was satisfactory (>0.70) for four of the six subscales or dimensions and ranged from 0.54 to 0.79. ICC analysis was satisfactory for the six subscales or dimensions. The hypothesis was confirmed in the analysis of the correlations between subclasses and the overall scale, with the strongest correlations being found between the majority of the subscales and the overall scale. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the model proposed for the factors fit the data satisfactorily. Discussion This scale is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating positive mental health in university students. Implications for Practice A good questionnaire to measure positive mental health in university students is useful not only to promote mental health but also to strengthen the curricula of future professionals.

Sirolimus: efficacy in liver transplant patients with nephrotoxicity and renal insufficiency.

Nephrotoxicity is a complication of patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. Herein we present several factors that play an important role in this complication.

Current results of pelvic perfusion for non-resectable relapsing of pelvic cancer.

Twenty-eight patients affected by non-resectable pelvic recurrence of a primary pelvic malignant neoplasm were treated by isolated pelvic perfusion, at mean hyperthermia, with different drugs, chosen taking into account tumor chemosensitivity. All patients had been previously treated. Four complete and six partial responses were observed; nine patients had stable disease and four other patients were non-responders and died due to progression in a few months. Two patients were lost to follow-up, one patients died for other reasons and two recent patients are not yet assessable.

"Nutritional" markers as prognostic indicators of postoperative sepsis in cancer patients.

A study was undertaken to identify the nutritional parameters associated with a high risk of postoperative sepsis. The nutritional status of 162 cancer patients subjected to clean or clean-contaminated elective surgery was preoperatively evaluated according to the following parameters: percentage weight loss, arm circumference, triceps skinfold, arm muscle circumference, creatinine-height index, total serum protein, serum albumin, total iron-binding capacity, cholinesterase, peripheral lymphocytes, complement C3-C4 components, and skin tests. Patients were followed postoperatively according to a precise protocol to classify them as infected or noninfected. Postoperative sepsis was present in 40 patients who had significantly different mean values for four nutritional parameters from those of 114 patients with no complications, ie, total serum protein, 6.60 vs 6.99 g/dl, p = 0.008; serum albumin, 3.39 vs 3.66 g/dl, p = 0.001; total iron-binding capacity 301.32 vs 337.17 mmg/dl, p = 0.006; and cholinesterase, 2389.77 vs 2770.10 mU/ml, p = 0.005. Moreover, the relative risk and the attributable risk for these variables were evaluated and the significance was tested by the chi 2 test. By using multiple logistic analysis it appeared that only total serum protein and total iron-binding capacity gave an independent contribution to the risk of postoperative sepsis, while serum albumin disappeared and cholinesterase became non significant when the contribution of the first two variables was accounted for. It was also possible to identify, in a small number of patients, combinations of two variables that were associated with a very high risk of postoperative sepsis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hypocupremia in patients receiving total parenteral nutrition.

Although hypocupremia is a well-known consequence of long-term total parenteral nutrition (TPN), its incidence as well as the duration of TPN necessary to induce it are still unsettled. The purpose of this study is to review the changes in serum copper level in 25 patients receiving TPN for a period longer than 2 wk (mean duration 6 wk) at the Istituto Nazionale Tumori of Milan and to evaluate the possible relationship of cupremia with the basic disease. Main indications for TPN included enterocutaneous fistulas (11 patients), cancer cachexia (10 patients), radiation enteropathy (two patients), and severe postoperative stricture following esophagogastric resection (two patients). Mean value of serum copper at the beginning of the study was 143 micrograms/100 ml (normal value 65-165 micrograms/100 ml), and the regression analysis showed a mean fall of 5.64 micrograms/100 ml/wk. Hypocupremia occurred in four patients (three with intestinal fistulas and one with radiation obstructive enteritis) at 5th, 6th, 9th, and 6th wk of TPN, respectively. No patient with cancer cachexia developed hypocupremia. No patient with hypocupremia had clinical evidence of a copper deficiency syndrome. We conclude that 1) hypocupremia does not occur within the first month of TPN; 2) its incidence is about 16% in patients intravenously fed for period longer than 2 wk; 3) it is more frequent in patients with enterocutaneous fistulas, whereas it never occurs in patients with cancer cachexia, and 4) it is not necessarily associated to a clinicometabolic syndrome of copper deficiency. Finally, the "nutritional" meaning of serum copper should be questioned in cancer patients since it could represent a "tumor marker."

Impact of cancer, type, site, stage and treatment on the nutritional status of patients.

This study analyzed the nutritional status of cancer patients in relation to type and site of origin of the tumor, stage of disease, and previous chemical or radiation therapy. The analysis was performed on 321 patients (280 with cancer and 41 controls). The nutritional parameters included per cent of weight loss, anthropometric indices (arm circumference, triceps skinfold, arm muscle circumference), creatinine-height index, serum protein, albumin, total iron binding capacity and cholinesterase, C3 and C4 components of complement, total peripheral lymphocytes, and skin tests. The statistical comparison between patients with different tumors and controls, between patients with different stages of the same tumor, and between patients treated with or without previous chemical or radiation therapy led to the following conclusions: 1) malnutrition is mainly related to the type and site of origin of the tumor and, in the early stages of disease, is more pronounced in patients with cancer of the esophagus and stomach; 2) except in patients with breast and cervix cancer, malnutrition gets more severe as the disease becomes advanced; 3) chemical or radiation therapy has a variable impact on the nutritional status, but in selected patients it causes a drop in body weight, arm circumference, arm muscle circumference, and peripheral lymphocytes; 4) body weight, cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity and serum albumin are the most commonly altered parameters.