Browsing by resource type "review article"
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- 360 Health Analysis (H360) - a proposal for an integrated vision of breast cancer in PortugalPublication . Coelho, Sara; Rego, Inês Brandão; Dionísio, Maria Rita; Cavaco-Silva, Joana; Semedo, Patrícia Miguel; Pavão, Francisco; Leite, Ricardo Baptista; Costa, LuísH360 aims to provide a comprehensive picture of breast cancer management in Portugal by retrieving real-world data from 10 Portuguese hospitals and deriving a snapshot from the medical interpretation of evidence-based data to patient perspective on the quality and effectiveness of medical care provided. This article reviews evidence on breast cancer clinical practice and quality of care and disease management in Portugal. A review of evidence on breast cancer clinical practice and quality of care over the last 10 years was performed in PubMed using the query “Organization and Administration"[Mesh] AND "breast cancer"[All Fields] NOT “Review” [ptyp]. National cancer initiatives relevant for quality of care and national and international guidelines and consensus were analyzed. Retrieved results showed that breast cancer incidence is still increasing, including in Portugal. Studies investigating disease outcomes seek to derive improvements to clinical practice and better financial resource allocation. Setting performance measures (KPIs) in institutions treating cancer is not a reality in Portugal yet, but has potential to leverage the quality of clinical performance. A multidisciplinary approach within one health structure is also desirable. More investment in clinical (including academic) research is key to optimize the quality of care. Implementation of clinical practice guidelines (largely based on ESMO guidelines in Portugal) is crucial to improve patient outcomes. Not less importantly, quality of life is a treatment goal on its own in breast cancer care. Breast cancer remains a health challenge and a multidimensional, 360-degree appraisal, beyond the exclusively clinical perspective, may provide new insights towards an optimal patient-centered approach.
- Advancing diabetes treatment: from human beta cell technology to bioartificial pancreas developmentPublication . Sá, Joana; Sá, Simone; Leménager, Hélène; Costa, Raquel; Onteniente, Brigitte; Soares, Raquel; Ribeiro, Viviana P.; Oliveira, Ana L.In 2021, approximately 537 million people worldwide, primarily in low- and middle-income countries, were affected by diabetes, leading to approximately 6.7 million deaths annually or severe secondary complications including life-threatening hyperglycemia. For nearly 50 years, current therapeutic approaches include full pancreas transplantation and isolated pancreatic islets, more recently, cell therapy such as in vitro generated islets and stem cell derived. The transplantation of pancreatic islet cells can be less invasive than full organ transplantation, however, does not achieve the same rate of functional success due to the low survival of the engrafted cells. Tissue-engineered bioartificial pancreas has been designed to address such issues, improving cell engraftment, survival, and immune rejection problems, with the added advantage that the tissue produced in vitro has an unlimited source of material.
- Advancing solar cooking: challenges, innovations, and future directionsPublication . Araújo, Ana C.; Gomes, Ana; Rodrigues, Pedro M.; Silva, Cristina L. M.
- The antimicrobial effect of the incorporation of inorganic substances into heat-cured denture base resins - a systematic reviewPublication . Lima, Mariana; Salgado, Helena; Correia, André; Fonseca, PatríciaIntroduction: Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) is the most widely used denture base material due to its favourable properties. Several studies have tested the incorporation of anti-infective agents into PMMA as a strategy to prevent biofilm growth on the denture surface. This systematic review aims to evaluate the efficacy of incorporating inorganic antimicrobial particles into denture base resins in preventing antimicrobial growth, thereby identifying the most effective agents for enhancing PMMA’s antimicrobial properties. Materials and methods: This systematic review followed the PRISMA guidelines, and the research protocol was registered in PROSPERO. The search was performed by using Medical Subject Headings and free text combined with Boolean operators in PubMed/Medline® and in Cochrane® and a free text combination in Web of Science® Core Collection. Data regarding the inorganic particles studied, their antimicrobial effect, and the type of samples produced were collected and analysed. Results: After screening, a total of fifteen studies were included in this review. Most samples were disk-shaped and of varying sizes, and the most tested microbial strain was Candida albicans. Silver was the most used antimicrobial particle, followed by gold, titanium, and copper. Conclusions: Overall, incorporating inorganic particles into PMMA has produced promising antimicrobial results, depending on the concentration. Due to the high heterogeneity observed in the samples, more studies are recommended, particularly clinical trials.
- Applications of large language models in cardiovascular disease: a systematic reviewPublication . Santos, José Ferreira; Ladeiras-Lopes, Ricardo; Leite, Francisca; Dores, HélderCardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Large language models (LLMs) offer potential solutions for enhancing patient education and supporting clinical decision-making. This study aimed to evaluate LLMs’ applications in CVD and explore their current implementation, from prevention to treatment. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, this systematic review assessed LLM applications in CVD. A comprehensive PubMed search identified relevant studies. The review prioritized pragmatic and practical applications of LLMs. Key applications, benefits, and limitations of LLMs in CVD prevention were summarized. Thirty-five observational studies met the eligibility criteria. Of these, 54% addressed primary prevention and risk factor management, while 46% focused on established CVD. Commercial LLMs were evaluated in all but one study, with 91% (32 studies) assessing ChatGPT. The LLM applications were categorized as follows: 72% addressed patient education, 17% clinical decision support, and 11% both. In 68% of studies, the primary objective was to evaluate LLMs’ performance in answering frequently asked patient questions, with results indicating accurate, comprehensive, and generally safe responses. However, occasional misinformation and hallucinated references were noted. Additional applications included patient guidance on CVD, first aid, and lifestyle recommendations. Large language models were assessed for medical questions, diagnostic support, and treatment recommendations in clinical decision support. Large language models hold significant potential in CVD prevention and treatment. Evidence supports their potential as an alternative source of information for addressing patients’ questions about common CVD. However, further validation is needed for their application in individualized care, from diagnosis to treatment.
- Arabinogalactan proteins: decoding the multifaceted roles in plant reproductionPublication . Silva, Jessy; Moreira, Diana; Ferreira, Maria João; Pereira, Ana Marta; Pereira, Luís Gustavo; Coimbra, SílviaArabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are highly glycosylated cell wall proteins essential for plant growth and reproduction. AGPs are extensively decorated with arabinogalactan polysaccharides, composed primarily of arabinose and galactose, along with minor sugars such as glucuronic acid, fucose, and rhamnose. Their glycosylation patterns and glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor enable interactions with receptors, modulating signal transduction pathways critical for reproduction. AGPs also associate with cell wall components like pectin and hemicellulose, impacting cellulose deposition and cell wall integrity. Recent research highlights AGPs’ role as calcium (Ca2+) capacitors, regulating Ca2+ storage and release during crucial reproductive stages. Despite significant progress, their precise molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this review, we explore the multifaceted roles of AGPs in plant reproduction, shedding light on the recent progress in their involvement in signalling pathways, cell wall interactions, and Ca2+ homeostasis, while highlighting the ongoing research needed to fully understand their mechanisms in reproductive success.
- Arresting images: inhabiting the Nazi archive in Yael Hersonski’s a Film unfinishedPublication . Agostinho, DanielaThe filmic appropriation of archival imagery has become pivotal within the new archival economy of memory. What is particularly striking about this transnational trend is that more than a reproduction of images of the past for illustrative purposes, at stake in many recent appropriation films is a post-memorial fascination with archival images and simultaneously a critical interrogation of their epistemological gaps, their conditions of production, and their role in shaping the memory of historical violence. Yael Hersonski’s A Film Unfinished (2010), which refigures a Nazi propaganda film of the Warsaw ghetto, is a symptomatic case where the enigmatic appeal of archival images coexists with a suspicious examination of their constitutive flaws. Through close reading of the film, and a discussion of Derrida’s notion of “archive fever” in relation to the Nazi archival culture, this article will inquire into the dynamics of archive imagery at play within contemporary cinematic practices, arguing that the disappearance of the witness has raised a renewed crisis of representation of the Holocaust, in which the archive becomes a critical but fraught centrepiece.
- The Artificial Intelligence act: critical overviewPublication . Silva, Nuno Sousa eThis article provides a critical overview of the recently approved Artificial Intelligence Act. It starts by presenting the main structure, objectives, and approach of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689. Followed by a definition of key concepts, finally the material and territorial scope, as well asan examination of the timing of application, are analyzed. Although the Regulation does not explicitly set out principles, the main ideas of fairness, accountability, transparency, and equity in AI underly a set of rules of the regulation. This is discussed before looking at the ill-defined set of forbidden AI practices (manipulation and exploitation of vulnerabilities, social scoring, biometric identification and classification, and predictive policing). It is highlighted that those rules deal with behaviors rather than AI systems. The qualification and regulation of high-risk AI systems are tackled, alongside the obligation of transparency for certain AI systems, the regulation of general-purpose models, and the rules on certification, supervision, and sanctions. The text concludes that even if the overall framework can be deemed adequate and balanced, the approach is so complex that it risks defeating its own purpose of promoting responsible innovation within the European Union and beyond its borders.
- Artificial intelligence-powered microscopy: transforming the landscape of parasitologyPublication . Niz, Mariana De; Pereira, Sara Silva; Kirchenbuechler, David; Lemgruber, Leandro; Arvanitis, ConstadinaMicroscopy and image analysis play a vital role in parasitology research; they are critical for identifying parasitic organisms and elucidating their complex life cycles. Despite major advancements in imaging and analysis, several challenges remain. These include the integration of interdisciplinary data; information derived from various model organisms; and data acquired from clinical research. In our view, artificial intelligence—with the latest advances in machine and deep learning—holds enormous potential to address many of these challenges. This review addresses how artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning have been used in the field of parasitology—mainly focused on Apicomplexan, Diplomonad, and Kinetoplastid groups. We explore how gaps in our understanding could be filled by AI in future parasitology research and diagnosis in the field. Moreover, it addresses challenges and limitations currently faced in implementing and expanding the use of artificial intelligence across biomedical fields. The necessary increased collaboration between biologists and computational scientists will facilitate understanding, development, and implementation of the latest advances for both scientific discovery and clinical impact. Current and future AI tools hold the potential to revolutionise parasitology and expand One Health principles.
- Beliefs and violent behavior in interpersonal relationships of young adults: a systematic reviewPublication . Araújo, Eduardo; Santos, Anita; Oliveira, Claúdia; Cruz, Olga Souza; Moreira, DianaBeliefs are information-processing structures formed along an individual’s developmental pathway. Beliefs can legitimize involvement in inappropriate or violent behaviors, particularly when they crystallize into cognitive schemas. While beliefs aid individuals in interpreting the surrounding world, overly rigid and inflexible beliefs can constrain the individual’s ability to process available information. This Systematic Review, carried out according to the PRISMA norms and guidelines, aims to understand the most prevalent beliefs regarding relationships among young adults and to examine their associations with violent or deviant behaviors. Articles included in this review were retrieved from the EBSCO, PubMed, and Web of Science databases in July 2022, resulting in a total of 594 studies, which were subsequently screened by two independent reviewers. A total of 51 studies were then selected for full reading, but 36 were excluded based on pre-defined eligibility criteria, leaving a final sample of 18 studies published between 2014 and 2022. The main objectives, country of origin, instruments used, sample composition and age, main results and conclusions were extracted from each study. Findings point toward the presence of related and legitimate beliefs about violence in intimate relationships, domestic violence, sexual violence, acceptance of the rape myth, or consent to engage in sexual activities.