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Assessing pension expenditure determinants is crucial for the sustainability of public finances. This study aims to disentangle the impact of demographic and economic variables, such as ageing, productivity, and unemployment, on pension expenditure in Portugal. With the use of time-series data, from 1975 to 2014, statistical evidence was found of co-integration between unemployed people aged between 15 and 64 years old, apparent productivity of labour, the old age dependency ratio and pension expenditure as a share of gross domestic product. The use of a vector error correction model, with impulse-response functions and variance decomposition, showed that ageing has an almost insignificant impact in the longrun, when compared with unemployment and productivity.

Background: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a rare form of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) characterized by complement dysregulation. Cocaine use has been reported to be a potential trigger of TMA; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly elucidated. Proposed hypotheses include direct endothelial injury, activation of the complement cascade, and the unmasking of whether HUS is genetic or acquired. Case Report: We report the case of a 47-year-old man who presented with hypertensive emergency and acute kidney injury following intranasal cocaine use. The laboratory findings were consistent with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA), thrombocytopenia, and markedly elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. Renal biopsy (RB) revealed classic features of TMA, including glomerular capillary thrombosis, fibrinoid necrosis, and acute tubular injury. Complement studies demonstrated reduced levels of Factor I, indicative of complement dysregulation. The patient was treated with therapeutic plasma exchange and four weekly doses of eculizumab, resulting in hematologic remission and significant improvement in renal function, without the need for dialysis. Genetic testing for known atypical HUS-associated mutations was negative; therefore, maintenance therapy with eculizumab was discontinued without clinical relapses. Discussion: This case underscores cocaine as a rare but important precipitating factor for atypical HUS in predisposed individuals. Early diagnosis, RB, and complement evaluation were essential in determining the etiology and guiding targeted therapy. Complement inhibition with eculizumab was effective in halting disease progression and preventing long-term renal damage. Conclusions: This case highlights the relevance of considering cocaine use as a potential trigger of complement-mediated TMA. Early identification of aHUS features and prompt initiation of complement inhibition therapy may be critical to preventing irreversible kidney injury.

A falta de estudos acerca do impacto de variáveis demográficas e económicas como o envelhecimento, produtividade e desemprego na despesa da Segurança Social Portuguesa promove o aparecimento de preocupações acerca da sua sustentabilidade financeira. Partindo de uma perspectiva teórica, a baixa fecundidade aumenta o índice de dependência de idosos e reduz o crescimento económico, com a agravante do desemprego que contrai a base contributiva e a produtividade (aumentando o peso da despesa com pensões na economia). No entanto, é crucial desenvolver um trabalho aplicado em Portugal nesta temática de modo a avaliar estas conclusões. Usando séries temporais de dados Portugueses de 1975 a 2014, foi encontrada evidência estatística de cointegração entre a população desempregada entre os 15 e os 64 anos de idade, produtividade aparente do trabalho e índice de dependência de idosos (variáveis explicativas) e despesa com pensões em percentagem do PIB (variável dependente), mas o sinal do coeficiente de longo prazo para a componente demográfica sofre alterações quando as variáveis dummy são excluídas , levantando dúvidas acerca do impacto do envelhecimento na despesa com pensões. As restantes variáveis explicativas apresentam um sinal positivo, influenciando positivamente a despesa com pensões em percentagem do PIB. Por ultimo, foi desenvolvido um modelo VECM com funções impulso-resposta e decomposição da variância, e os resultados evidenciam que, em Portugal, o envelhecimento tem um impacto quase insignificante no longo prazo, comparando com o desemprego e a produtividade.

A pouca literatura existente sobre a prevalência de quadros depressivos e ansiosos na população estudantil aponta para uma incidência elevada de níveis clínicos de sintomatologia associada a estas perturbações. No entanto, existe pouca informação epidemiológica que nos permita ter uma visão exata da saúde mental dos estudantes universitários, tanto em Portugal como em países estrangeiros. Este ponto cego dificulta qualquer acção de prevenção ou intervenção eficaz, impossibilita a descoberta de qualquer continuidade entre Ensino Secundário, Ensino Superior e entrada no mercado de trabalho, e aumenta o risco de futuros profissionais desenvolverem quadros clínicos mais severos devido à falta de qualquer intervenção prévia num período crítico da sua vida. Isto afigurase como um risco não só para o próprio, como também para terceiros, especialmente para futuros profissionais médicos. O objectivo deste estudo será realizar uma análise transversal do corpo estudantil da Universidade do Porto, de forma a obter dados epidemiológicos fiáveis sobre quadros clínicos de depressão e ansiedade na actualidade nos diversos cursos universitários e anos de inscrição.

O objetivo geral deste estudo consiste na compreensão do processo de tomada de decisão pormedidas restaurativas no âmbito tutelar educativo. Recorrendo a uma amostra de seismagistrados, com experiencia (presente ou passada) no sistema tutelar educativo, acedemos àssuas perspetivas sobre medidas restaurativas. Os resultados revelam que, na perspetiva dosmagistrados, toda a Lei Tutelar Educativa é restaurativa, nomeadamente as medidas tutelaresde cariz não institucional. No entanto, contrariando o argumento de que “todas as partes”implicadas num conflito devem ser incluídas nas práticas restaurativas (Marshall, 1996), osmagistrados centram-se no jovem ofensor em detrimento da vítima quando abordam osprocessos tutelares educativos e a sua dimensão restaurativa. É ao jovem ofensor queatribuem mais vantagens na aplicação de medidas restaurativas e os critérios de tomada dedecisão neste âmbito focam-se igualmente no ofensor, sendo o tipo de crime, a idade e adinâmica familiar do jovem ofensor os critérios mais consensualmente apontados pelosmagistrados.

Pension expenditure is a concern for the sustainability of public finances in the European Union. Therefore, assessing pension expenditure determinants is crucial. This study aims to disentangle the impact of demographic and economic variables, such as ageing, productivity, and unemployment, on pension expenditure. Using Portuguese time-series data, from 1975 to 2014, statistical evidence was found of co-integration between unemployed people aged between 15 and 64 years old, apparent productivity of labour, the old-age dependence index and pension expenditure as a share of gross domestic product. The use of a vector error correction model, with impulse-response functions and variance decomposition, showed that ageing has an almost insignificant impact in the long-run, when compared with unemployment and productivity.

The present research objective was to analyze the offensive phase from Complex I in high-level male volleyball teams in a macro- and micro-level view, through the inter e intra-team variability analysis of eight best teams of the 2018 Men’s Volleyball World Championship over the social network analysis and eigenvector centrality. The sample consisted of 22 matches and 2,743 offensive actions, resulting in 8 sub-networks with 368 nodes and 6221 edges. The results showed from macro view the variables that presented highest centrality values were Attack Zone 4 (range 0.56–0.90), Attack Tempo 2 (0.65–0.87), Power Attack (0.62–0.94), No Touch Block (0.61–1), Attack Effect Continuity (0.59–0.94), and Middle Blocker Centralized (0.60–0.95). In a micro view, Reception Effect, Play Position, Reception Zone, and Block Composition showed high variability in each sub-network. The intra- and inter-team variability presented the importance of to respect each team idiosyncrasies and to consider the different approaches to the game and success.

Aim We investigated the impact of abrupt interruption, imposed by COVID-19, and subsequent resumption of regular practice of a combined exercise training program on protein, renal profile, and physical functional capacity in physically active older adults before the pandemic. Methods Thirty-five volunteers (mean age 64.36 ± 19.43 years) participated, with data collected before the COVID-19 pandemic (PRE), 12 months after social isolation (PAN, detraining period), and 10 months after returning to regular exercise (POST). Results In the POST period, both older women ( n  = 26) and men ( n  = 9) exhibited higher serum levels of albumin and total protein ( p  < 0.0001 for albumin and total proteins in older women group; p  = 0.0033 for albumin and p  = 0.0002 for total proteins in older men group) compared to PRE and PAN. Older women showed, both at PAN and POST, elevated serum creatinine levels ( p  = 0.0309; p  = 0.0003, respectively) and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) values ( p  = 0.0096; p  = 0.0013, respectively), along with decreased estimated creatinine clearance in PAN ( p  = 0.0132; p  = 0.0005, respectively) compared to PRE. Additionally, older women demonstrated lower gait speed ( p  = 0.0210) and muscle strength ( p  = 0.0002) in POST compared to PAN and PRE. Older men exhibited higher serum creatinine levels and estimated creatinine clearance in POST compared to PRE. Significant correlations between biochemical parameters, estimated creatinine clearance, and physical functional tests were observed, particularly in older women. Conclusions Overall, the study suggests that resuming combined exercise training partially mitigated the detraining-induced impairment in metabolic and physical capacities among older adults.

Cadmium (Cd) is probably the most damaging metal to plant species; with a long biological half-life, it can be taken up by plants, disrupting the cell homeostasis and triggering several metabolic pathways. Selenium (Se) improves plant defence systems against stressful conditions, but the biochemical antioxidant responses to Cd stress in tomato plants is poorly understood. To further address the relationship of Cd-stress responses with Se mineral uptake, Cd and Se concentration, proline content, MDA and H2O2 production, and the activity of SOD, APX, CAT and GR enzymes were analyzed in Micro-Tom (MT) plants submitted to 0.5 mM Cd. The results revealed different responses according to Se combination and Cd application. For instance, roots and leaves of MT plants treated with Se exhibited an increase in dry mass and nutritional status, exhibited lower proline content and higher APX and GR activities when compared with plants with no Se application. Plants submitted to 0.5 mM Cd, irrespective of Se exposure, exhibited lower proline, MDA and H2O2 content and higher SOD, CAT and GR activities. Selenium may improve tolerance against Cd, which allowed MT plants exhibited less oxidative damage to the cell, even under elevated Cd accumulation in their tissues. The results suggest that Se application is an efficient management technique to alleviate the deleterious effects of Cd-stress, enhancing the nutritional value and activity of ROS-scavenging enzymes in tomato plants.