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- Are there any Pinus pinaster trees resistant to Bursaphelenchus xylophilus? Studies implemented in Portugal to address this questionPublication . Costa, R.; Ribeiro, P.; Evaristo, I.; Ribeiro, B.; Aguiar, A.; Carrasquinho, I.; Santos, C.; Vasconcelos, Marta W.
- The ISEKI_Food projects and network: strategies and activities to implement skills and abilities of the future generation of graduates in food studiesPublication . Pittia, Paola; Silva, Cristina L. M.; Costa, R.; Schleining, G.; Dalla, Rosa M.
- The ISEKI_Food projects and network: Strategies and activities to implement skills and abilities of the future generation of graduates in food studiesPublication . Pittia, P.; Silva, Cristina L. M.; Costa, R.; Schleining, G.; Dalla, Rosa M.Food studies networks started in 1998 with a long term objective of creating effective tools and guidelines that promote the EHEA (European Higher Education Area) for food studies, and has also been disseminating it at an international level, through constant renewing networks at European level with Erasmus programme support and at International level with Erasmus Mundus programme support. All the activities, tools and materials developed are sustained by a non-profit organization, the ISEKI Food Association (IFA) that has now a worldwide network, reaching all the Continents. A variety of tools have been created which the most significant are: a number of databases of curricula, teaching materials and food industry stakeholders; an International journal and regularly published books in an international publisher; a periodic international conference on bridging education, research and industry; a quality assurance label for Food Science and Technology curricula (EQAS); partnerships in other research and education projects.
- Asthma-COPD overlap: a Portuguese surveyPublication . Padrão, E.; Araújo, D.; Bom, A. Todo; Cordeiro, C. Robalo; Sousa, J. Correia de; Cardoso, J.; Morais-Almeida, M.; Costa, R.; Pavão, F.; Leite, R. B.; Marques, A.Introduction: The overlap between asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (ACO) has been discussed for many years but clinical recommendations for this entity have been diverse. This study is intended to reach a consensus on diagnosis, treatment and patient orientation for ACO, within the Portuguese medical community. Methods: This study was conducted by a multidisciplinary panel of experts from three distinct medical specialties (Pulmonology, Family Medicine and Immunoallergology). This panel selected a total of 190 clinicians, based on their expertise in obstructive airway diseases, to participate in a Delphi structured survey with three rounds of questionnaires. These results were ultimately discussed, in a meeting with the panel of experts and some of the study participants, and consensus was reached in terms of classification criteria, treatment and orientation of ACO patients. Results: The majority of clinicians (87.2%) considered relevant the definition of an overlap entity between asthma and COPD. A consensus was achieved on the diagnosis of ACO – presence of simultaneous clinical characteristics of asthma and COPD together with a fixed airflow obstruction (FEV1/FVC < 0.7) associated with 2 major criteria (previous history of asthma; presence of a previous history of smoking exposure and/or exposure to biomass combustion; positive bronchodilation test (increase in FEV1 of at least 200 mL and 12%) on more than 1 occasion) plus 1 minor criteria (history of atopy; age ≥40 years; peripheral eosinophilia (>300 eosinophils/μL or >5% of leukocytes); elevation of specific IgEs or positive skin tests for common allergens). A combination of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) with long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) or long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) was considered as first line pharmacological treatment. Triple therapy with ICS plus LABA and LAMA should be used in more severe or symptomatic cases. Non-pharmacological treatment, similar to what is recommended for asthma and COPD, was also considered highly important. A hospital referral of ACO patients should be made in symptomatic or severe cases or when there is a lack of diagnostic resources. Conclusions: This study highlights the relevance of defining ACO, within the Portuguese medical community, and establishes diagnostic criteria that are important for future interventional studies. Recommendations on treatment and patient's orientation were also achieved.
- Toscana vírus meningitis in Portugal: 2002-2005Publication . Santos, L.; Simões, J.; Costa, R.; Martins, S.; Lecour, HenriqueToscana virus infection is endemic in Italy, but has also been documented in other Mediterranean countries. Our aim was to investigate the occurrence of Toscana virus (TOSV) meningitis in children and young adults in a metropolitan area in the north of Portugal. Cerebrospinal fluid samples from 308 patients with the diagnosis of meningitis and with negative bacterial culture were tested for enteroviruses and herpesviruseses by reverse transcription PCR. Those samples that proved negative for enterovirus and herpesvirus were tested for Toscana virus with a commercial reverse transcription nested PCR assay. In total, we investigated 106 samples, collected between May and September during the four-year period between 2002 and 2005 from patients younger than 30 years old. Toscana virus was the cause of meningitis in six (5.6%) of the cases, three children and three young adults. All had a benign course and self-limited disease. Since a first case report of TOSV infection 1985 and another in 1996, both in foreign tourists, these six cases of Toscana virus meningitis are, to our knowledge, the first diagnosed in Portuguese inhabitants, and they underline the need for more studies on the prevalence of this virus in Portugal.