Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-11-12"
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- Genetic Characterization of Brucella spp.: Whole Genome Sequencing-Based Approach for the Determination of Multiple Locus Variable Number Tandem Repeat ProfilesPublication . Pelerito, Ana; Nunes, Alexandra; Grilo, Teresa; Isidro, Joana; Silva, Catarina; Ferreira, Ana Cristina; Valdezate, Sylvia; Núncio, Maria Sofia; Georgi, Enrico; Gomes, João PauloBrucellosis is an important zoonosis that is emerging in some regions of the world, gaining increased relevance with the inclusion of the causing agent Brucella spp. in the class B bioterrorism group. Until now, multi-locus VNTR Analysis (MLVA) based on 16 loci has been considered as the gold standard for Brucella typing. However, this methodology is laborious, and, with the rampant release of Brucella genomes, the transition from the traditional MLVA to whole genome sequencing (WGS)-based typing is on course. Nevertheless, in order to avoid a disruptive transition with the loss of massive genetic data obtained throughout the last decade and considering that the transition timings will vary considerably among different countries, it is important to determine WGS-based MLVA alleles of the nowadays sequenced genomes. On this regard, we aimed to evaluate the performance of a Python script that had been previously developed for the rapid in silico extraction of the MLVA alleles, by comparing it to the PCR-based MLVA procedure over 83 strains from different Brucella species. The WGS-based MLVA approach detected 95.3% of all possible 1,328 hits (83 strains×16 loci) and showed an agreement rate with the PCR-based MLVA procedure of 96.4% for MLVA-16. According to our dataset, we suggest the use of a minimal depth of coverage of ~50x and a maximum number of ~200 contigs as guiding "boundaries" for the future application of the script. In conclusion, the evaluated script seems to be a very useful and robust tool for the in silico determination of MLVA profiles of Brucella strains, allowing retrospective and prospective molecular epidemiological studies, which are important for maintaining an active epidemiological surveillance of brucellosis.
- Falls in Elderly people at Home and Leisure time during the COVID-19 pandemic in PortugalPublication . Alves, Tatiana; Rodrigues, Emanuel; Neto, Mariana; Mexia, Ricardo; Matias-Dias, CarlosFalls are one of the most common mechanisms of injury namely at home and in leisure time reaching one of the most vulnerable groups of the population such as the older ones, with expression in morbidity and mortality. The pandemic context we are experiencing it has had effects on the physical, mental and social wellbeing of populations but also on the use of health care whose magnitude and reasons are subject of discussion. The aim of this study is to understand the evolution of falls episodes in victims aged 65 and over, which needed attendance in the emergency room of the Health National Service Hospitals in Portugal based on hospital records, through EVITA system, between 2017 and 2020. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed, with the determination of absolute and relative frequencies (percentages). Bivariate comparisons were performed using Pearson's chi-square test with a significance level of 5%. In this analysis, the statistical program SPSS V.24 was used. In the four years between 2017 and 2020 the older people aged 65 and over represented 27% of the total of attendances in the emergency rooms. Considering the total of ED attendances in this age group 10% occurred due to fall at home or during leisure time. In the last four years there were 462 953 falls in people victims aged 65+, constituting 46% of hospital ED attendances by fall. From march to december 2020, falls episodes have remained below the values of similar periods in the previous four years (p<0,01). The largest percentage decrease in falls in 2020 compared to the same period in 2019 occurred in april, with a decrease of 41%. Most of this falls in the study population occurred at home (61%), followed by falls in outdoor spaces (11%). Globally, this reality regarding to the decrease of the ED attendances during this pandemic context is not exclusive to Portugal.
- HBM4EU e o contributo para o estudo da exposição da população europeia a micotoxinasPublication . Vasco, Elsa; Alvito, PaulaSumário: I - HBM4EU Porquê? O que é? Quem está envolvido? Como se organiza?; II – Contributo do HBM4EU para o estudo da exposição da População Portuguesa a Micotoxinas (CGL); III – Exposição a micotoxinas, determinantes, variabilidade geográfica e tendências (WP 10.4); IV - Conclusões e perspetivas.
- The new map of injuries in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic: examples from north with south EuropePublication . Alves, Tatiana; Lund, Johan; Papadakaki, MariaThe recent lockdown and containment measures have brought about major changes in the daily routines of people and this resulted in profound changes in the cause of injury (e.g. traffic, falls, interpersonal violence) and nature of injury (e.g. hip fracture, traumatic brain injury). Despite the changes in the aetiologies, injuries remained frequent throughout the pandemic. Evidence from the COVID-19 period suggest a decrease in road traffic crashes, work and leisure injuries and anoteworthy increase in interpersonal violence and self-harm. These different causes and patterns of injury have brought about changes in the clinical characteristics and demand of health services. The aim of this paper is to describe the impact of the pandemic on injuries. Data from National Injury Surveillance System of Norway and Portugal during Covid-19 period were analyzed. In Norway hospital data on injury diagnoses were collected from a national emergency preparedness register established during the pandemic. The number of injured patients per day in the period 1 January-30 June 2020 were identified. The change in patient volumes over two three-week periods before and during the lockdown by sex, age, level of care, level of urgency, type of contact and type of injury were analysed. In Portugal we described the temporal trend in 2020 of the Home and Leisure Accidents(HLA) among vulnerable groups(0-19years, 65years+), who needed attendance in Emergency Department(ED) of the National Health Service Hospitals.