Health literacy, a more complex concept than knowledge, is a required capacity to obtain, understand, integrate and act on health information [1], in order to enhance individual and community health, which is defined by different levels, according to the autonomy and personal capacitation in decision making [2]. Medium levels of Health literacy in an adolescent population were found in a study conducted in 2013/2014, being higher in sexual and reproductive health and lower in substance use. It was also noticed that the higher levels of health literacy were in the area adolescents refer to have receipt more health information. The health literacy competence with higher scores was communication skills, and the lower scores were in the capacity to analyze factors that influence health. Higher levels were also found in younger teenagers, but in a higher school level, confirming the importance of health education in these age and development stage. Adolescents seek more information in health professionals and parents, being friends more valued as a source information in older adolescents, which enhance the importance of peer education mainly in older adolescents [3]. As a set of competences based on knowledge, health literacy should be developed through education interventions, encompassing the cultural and social context of individuals, since the society, culture and education system where the individual is inserted can define the way the development and enforcement of the health literacy competences [4]. The valued sources of information should be taken into account, as well as needs of information in some topics referred by adolescents in an efficient health education. Schizophrenia is a serious and chronic mental illness which has a profound effect on the health and well-being related with the well-known nature of psychotic symptoms. The exercise has the potential to improve the life of people with schizophrenia improving physical health and alleviating psychiatric symptoms. However, most people with schizophrenia remains sedentary and lack of access to exercise programs are barriers to achieve health benefits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of exercise on I) the type of intervention in mental health, II) in salivary levels of alpha-amylase and cortisol and serum levels of S100B and BDNF, and on III) the quality of life and selfperception of the physical domain of people with schizophrenia. The sample consisted of 31 females in long-term institutions in the Casa de Saúde Rainha Santa Isabel, with age between 25 and 63, and with diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR). Physical fitness was assessed by the six-minute walk distance test (6MWD). Biological variables were determined by ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Psychological variables were assessed using SF-36, PSPP-SCV, RSES and SWLS tests. Walking exercise has a positive impact on physical fitness (6MWD -p = 0.001) and physical components of the psychological test...

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced policy makers to decree urgent confinements to stop a rapid and massive contagion. However, after that stage, societies are being forced to find an equilibrium between the need to reduce contagion rates and the need to reopen their economies. The experience hitherto lived has provided data on the evolution of the pandemic, in particular the population dynamics as a result of the public health measures enacted. This allows the formulation of forecasting mathematical models to anticipate the consequences of political decisions. Here we propose a model to do so and apply it to the case of Portugal. With a mathematical deterministic model, described by a system of ordinary differential equations, we fit the real evolution of COVID-19 in this country. After identification of the population readiness to follow social restrictions, by analyzing the social media, we incorporate this effect in a version of the model that allow us to check different scenarios. This is realized by considering a Monte Carlo discrete version of the previous model coupled via a complex network. Then, we apply optimal control theory to maximize the number of people returning to “normal life” and minimizing the number of active infected individuals with minimal economical costs while warranting a low level of hospitalizations. This work allows testing various scenarios of pandemic management (closure of sectors of the economy, partial/total compliance with protection measures by citizens, number of beds in intensive care units, etc.), ensuring the responsiveness of the health system, thus being a public health decision support tool.

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Introduction:The urinary tract infections, after respiratory infections, are the most common in the community. The knowledge about the prevalence of microbial strains and their antibiotic susceptibility is crucial to establish an effective empirical therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of bacterial strains isolated from positive urine cultures performed in patients from the central region of Portugal. Material and Methods:We carried out a documental analysis of 6008 urine bacteriological exams, to be made available to physicians, most of which run through the automated system VITEK 2, bioMérieux. The majority (80%) of the urine bacteriological exams were from female. Escherichia coli was the most prevalent bacterial pathogen (65.9%), followed by Klebsiella spp (12%). Results: Nitrofurantoin showed high levels of activity (96%) for Escherichia coli, as well as Fosfomycin (96.6%). Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid presents an activity level of only 81.1% for the same germ. Quinolones exhibit efficacy to only 78% of the strains of Escherichia coli, below the Fosfomycin and Nitrofurantoin. Nitrofurantoin showed high levels of activity (96%) for E. coli as well as Fosfomycin (96.6%). Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid presents a level of activity of only 81.1% for the same germ. The quinolones have a efficacy for only 78% of strains of E. coli, lower than Fosfomycin. Discussion: Escherichia Coli was the most prevalent uropathogen (65.9%). High efficacy against this pathogenic agent was found for Fosfomycin (96.6%) and Nitrofurantoin (96%). Conclusion:Further antimicrobial surveillance studies should be developed, in order to formulate local empirical therapy recommendations for optimized therapeutical choices.