Fernando Pessoa University

Shareable abstractThe Portuguese version of the PREM-C9 questionnaire is translated and culturally adapted for people with COPD, providing a tool to assess patient experiences, guide patient-centred care and support quality improvements in Portuguese healthcarehttps://bit.ly/48QhSFS

Background/Objectives: The presence of postmortem pink teeth is a phenomenon occasionally observed during forensic autopsies. This phenomenon has been typically associated with deaths involving drowning, asphyxiation, trauma, or electrocution. However, the recent literature suggests that it is nonspecific. Despite being recognized in forensic literature for decades, its pathophysiology, prevalence, and forensic relevance remain controversial. The existing evidence is scattered and primarily based on case reports, narrative reviews, or isolated observations. This scoping review aims to systematically map the available scientific evidence on the phenomenon of postmortem pink teeth and its potential role in determining the cause of death within the context of forensic medicine. Methods: This review was conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and reported according to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines. Results: A comprehensive search was carried out across multiple databases to identify studies addressing the occurrence, mechanisms, and forensic interpretation of pink teeth in postmortem examinations. After application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the search allowed for the selection of 12 publications (case reports and observational studies). Conclusions: Collected data from the selected studies allowed us to conclude that PTP is a nonspecific taphonomic artifact, lacking diagnostic value in determining the cause of death. Mapping the current evidence on pink teeth contributed to a better understanding of this phenomenon and its lack of forensic significance, promoting more informed decision-making in postmortem assessments.

Introduction: This study examines the transformation of education driven by digitalization, highlighting the impact of digital platforms on teaching and learning dynamics. Digitalization has fostered new forms of access to knowledge, with platforms playing a central role in implementing modalities such as e-learning, b-learning, and m-learning. These tools not only facilitate access to educational content but also encourage interaction and collaboration between students and teachers, adapting to individual learners’ needs and promoting more personalized and flexible learning experiences. Methodology: The research is based on a qualitative, hermeneutic-interpretive methodology, aimed at understanding the meanings and interpretations expressed in texts and documents. This approach enables the analysis of the complexity of the educational phenomenon and the interpretation of how different actors construct meanings regarding the use of digital technologies in pedagogical practices. Results and Discussion: The analysis reveals both potentialities and challenges of teaching modalities mediated by digital platforms, emphasizing their impact on pedagogical practices, interaction dynamics, and the changes in teaching and learning processes. Conclusions: It is concluded that digital platforms act as transformative agents in education, fostering new pedagogical paradigms within the broader context of digital transformation.

Molar-incisor hypomineralisation is a developmental enamel defect characterised by lower mineral content in the tooth's outer layer, discoloured and structurally fragile teeth that are more prone to sensitivity, breakdown and caries. This review aims to summarise current knowledge on molar-incisor hypomineralisation and highlight key clinical considerations relevant to paediatricians. A comprehensive narrative review of the literature was performed to describe the condition's epidemiology, aetiological hypotheses, clinical features, diagnostic challenges and implications for early recognition in paediatric practice. Findings show that this pathology affects up to one in five children worldwide, with causes likely multifactorial and involving prenatal, perinatal and environmental factors. Clinically, molar-incisor hypomineralisation may be presented as demarcated opacities, colour alterations or post-eruptive enamel loss. Paediatricians, who are often the first clinicians to observe affected children, play a crucial role in identifying early signs and ensuring timely referral to a paediatric dentist. Increasing paediatricians' awareness of molar-incisor hypomineralisation is essential to promote early diagnosis, prevent complications and encourage interdisciplinary collaboration that improves children's oral health and quality of life.

This study aimed to determine whether smoking acts as an independent predictor of apical periodontitis and endodontic treatment in a Portuguese adult population. This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in accordance with the PROBE (Preferred Reporting items for OBservational studies in Endodontics) guidelines. A total of 1841 first-time patient records were analyzed and met the inclusion criteria. Smoking status and systemic conditions were obtained from self-reported medical histories, and periapical status was assessed on panoramic radiographs using the Periapical Index (PAI). All assessments were conducted by calibrated observers who were blinded to clinical information. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics (Version 30.0; IBM Corp.) with descriptive, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models, reporting odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and significance at p < 0.05. Smoking was significantly associated with apical periodontitis (OR = 2.46; 95% CI: 1.96-3.11; p < 0.001), but not with endodontic treatment. Other factors independently associated with apical periodontitis included older age, greater caries experience, fewer remaining teeth, hypertension, and the presence of at least one root-filled tooth (OR = 3.19; 95% CI: 2.49-4.09; p < 0.001). Apical periodontitis showed the strongest association with the presence of at least one root-filled tooth (OR = 3.13; 95% CI: 2.47-3.96; p < 0.001). In conclusion, smoking may be considered a risk indicator for apical periodontitis. The increased inflammatory burden associated with periapical lesions highlights the importance of oral-health-related factors and behavioral habits in determining periapical status.

Diseases affecting the craniofacial skeleton are normally associated with disturbances in the regulation of cellular differentiation, the development of bone structures, and changes in bone density and ossification. Thus, the objective of this integrative review is to evaluate the published scientific literature from the last 8 years concerning the impact of genetics on some craniofacial dysplasias. Our aim covers the identification of oral cavity alterations to those dysplasias, through the most common orofacial manifestations. Three dysplasias were selected to be part of this integrative review: cleidocranial dysplasia, ectodermal dysplasia and Apert syndrome. For this purpose, a bibliographic search was performed in the PubMed, ScienceDirect, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases with several keywords combined with each other. The research question of this review was as follows: "What is the impact of genetic factors on the development of craniofacial dysplasias and associated oral malformations?". After selecting the articles through the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were selected for this review. Genetics plays a crucial role in craniofacial dysplasias and subsequent oral malformations. The main conclusion was that mutations in different genes can lead to identical phenotypes, while mutations in the same gene can present slight phenotypic differences depending on where they occur. In the future, it would be important to conduct studies with larger samples and control groups that include genetic testing to allow for a more comprehensive study on the impact of genetics on craniofacial dysplasias.

Abstract Flow theory provides a comprehensive framework for understanding intrinsically rewarding experiences, yet individuals differ markedly in their propensity to experience flow across situations. To explain these differences, the construct of autotelic personality has been proposed, referring to a dispositional configuration of motivational and attentional characteristics that facilitate deep engagement in activities. The present study aimed to adapt and validate the Autotelic Personality Questionnaire (APQ) for the Portuguese population. A total of 915 Portuguese adults completed the Portuguese version of the APQ along with measures of dispositional flow, personality traits, positive mental health, and psychological distress. Confirmatory factor analyses did not support the original second-order structure; instead, a first-order model with seven correlated factors demonstrated adequate fit. Bifactor analyses indicated that the use of a global score was not justified, supporting a multidimensional interpretation of autotelic personality. The Portuguese APQ showed adequate to excellent reliability across all subscales and evidence of configural, metric, and scalar invariance across educational groups. Known-groups validity analyses revealed small but meaningful differences according to educational attainment. Convergent and divergent validity were supported through theoretically consistent associations with flow proneness, personality traits, well-being, and distress. Overall, the findings support the psychometric adequacy of the Portuguese APQ and reinforce the conceptualization of autotelic personality as a multidimensional motivational–attentional system, with implications for applied research in positive psychology.

Background: Cannabidiol (CBD), the major non-psychotropic cannabinoid derived from Cannabis sativa L., has demonstrated broad anticancer activity across multiple tumor types; however, its effects in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain largely undefined. Given the ongoing need for novel therapeutic strategies in RCC, this study provides preliminary mechanistic insights into the cytotoxic, antiproliferative, and redox-modulating properties of CBD in RCC cells and evaluates the influence of serum conditions on its activity. Methods: Human RCC cell lines (Caki-1 and 769-P) and non-tumoral proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were treated with CBD (1–100 µM) for up to 48 h under serum-free and serum-supplemented (5%) conditions. Cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects were assessed using the MTT assay, and intracellular reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) levels were quantified using the H2DCFDA fluorescence assay. Results: CBD significantly decreased RCC cell viability and proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner and induced time-dependent ROS/RNS accumulation. Comparable sensitivity was observed in non-tumoral HK-2 renal epithelial cells, indicating limited tumor selectivity under the tested in vitro conditions. Notably, these effects were markedly attenuated in the presence of serum, consistent with CBD’s high serum–protein binding and reduced free bioavailability. Conclusions: CBD induces cytotoxic, antiproliferative, and redox-modulating effects in RCC cells in vitro; however, these responses are strongly attenuated by serum, lack tumor selectivity, and require concentrations exceeding clinically achievable plasma levels. Together, these findings delineate major translational limitations for the therapeutic use of CBD in RCC.