DSpace Collection:
http://hdl.handle.net/10174/657
2024-03-28T08:54:28ZShaping Clinical Reasoning.
http://hdl.handle.net/10174/33167
Title: Shaping Clinical Reasoning.
Authors: Payan-Carreira, R; Reis, J.
Editors: Nima, Rezaei
Abstract: Clinical reasoning is at the core of all health-related professions, and it is long recognized as a critical skill for clinical practice. Yet, it is difficult to characterize it, as clinical reasoning combines different high-thinking abilities. Also, it is not content that is historically taught or learned in a particular subject. But clinical reasoning became increasingly visible when this competency is explicitly stated in the curricula of educational programs in health-related professions. Teaching and learning an abstract concept such as clinical reasoning in complement to the core knowledge and the procedural competencies expected from healthcare professionals raises some concerns regarding its implementation, the best way to do it, and how to assess it. This book chapter intends to discuss the need to invest in the development of clinical reasoning skills in the health-related graduation programme. It addresses some of the pedagogical and theoretical frameworks for fostering high-level reasoning and problem-solving skills in the clinical areas and the effectiveness and success of different pedagogic activities to develop and shape clinical reasoning throughout the curriculum.2023-01-02T00:00:00ZCalf-Sex Influence in Bovine Milk Production
http://hdl.handle.net/10174/29379
Title: Calf-Sex Influence in Bovine Milk Production
Authors: Quaresma, Miguel; Payan-Carreira, Rita
Editors: Aral, Faruk; Payan-Carreira, Rita; Quaresma, Miguel
Abstract: The main source of incomes in a dairy farm is milk sales, and any factor altering the production affects the farmers’ income significantly. According to the Trivers-Willard hypothesis, if the cows’ systems are generally good and offer competitive conditions, they produce more milk for bull calves. They also suggest that cows in a worse condition or of a genetically diverging strain invest more milk in heifer calves. The existence of a sex-bias in cows’ milk production remains controversial even if it would open new insights on the economic impacts of using sex-sorted semen to enhance farm productivity. Sex-biased milk production in cows can vary, favoring one sex or the other and, sometimes, none. It seems to favor females in intensive production systems, while in other less intensive systems, this effect seems to disappear. This chapter intends to address available evidence on the sex-biased cows’ milk production and discuss why further research forecasting this issue is needed, including other cattle populations and correlating the investment strategy with an animal welfare index. Besides, other factors, such as different housing and feedings, can impact the calf-sex milk production bias through pathways still to be understood.2020-10-07T23:00:00ZThe blood-epididymis barrier: Its relevance for male fertility
http://hdl.handle.net/10174/28665
Title: The blood-epididymis barrier: Its relevance for male fertility
Authors: Payan-Carreira, Rita
Editors: Berhardt, Leon V.
Abstract: The existence of a blood-epididymis barrier is a core phenomenon in protecting the spermatozoa – that represent an immunologic challenge for the male organism - during their maturation and transit through the epididymides from an attack of the immune system. The blood epididymal barrier is less restrictive than the testicular one, and results from the colaboration of different cells and molecules that build up a protective shield and secure an immune privileged microenvironnement, vital for sperm maturation. In this chapter the three components that colaboratively engage in the blood epididymal barrier will be reviewed and their individual contribution to protection of the spermatozoa from the immune system discussed. Furthermore, it will also be critically discussed its relevance for sperm survival and male fertility.2020-11-04T00:00:00ZCadherin-Mediated Cell Adhesion within the Seminiferous Tubules
http://hdl.handle.net/10174/28326
Title: Cadherin-Mediated Cell Adhesion within the Seminiferous Tubules
Authors: Payan-Carreira, Rita; Santos, Dario
Editors: McWilliam, Jonathan
Abstract: Cadherins (Cadh) are key-molecules in Adherens junctions (AJs). They are multiprotein complexes mediating cell-cell adhesion, and particularly important to shape cell polarity, provide plasticity and maintain architectural integrity. Cadh, a large superfamily of cell surface glycoproteins, present a unique extracellular region domain folding like the immunoglobulin domains. They are found in a wide array of species and a multitude of tissues, including the testis. In the mammalian testis, the seminiferous tubules represent a unique type of epithelium-like tissue, composed of two different cellular populations: the Sertoli somatic cells and the spermatogenic cells. Different sorts of cell-to-cell attachments connect adjacent Sertoli cells and Sertoli to germ cells. The overall arrangement of junctions forms the blood-testis barrier. These connections offer an immune-privileged environment to the developing germ cells, and the nutritional and metabolic support to germ cells while offering particular plasticity to the tubular structure. They allow the migration of differentiated germ cells from the basal towards the adluminal compartment while providing a tight-fitting barrier for paracellular translocation of molecules and particles. Between adjacent Sertoli cells, various types of homotypic adherens junctions exists, while heterotypic junctions are present between Sertoli and spermatogonia (basolateral junctions) or spermatid heads (apical junctions). Intercellular N-cadherin connections, anchored in cytoplasmic plaques involving (but not limited to) actin filaments, form different morphological types of AJs. All sorts of AJs work together with tight and gap junctions to form the blood-testis barrier. The integrity of the different adherens junctions are critical for the spermatogenic process and the production of viable spermatozoa. In this chapter, we propose to review and discuss the structure of the cadherin-mediated junctions in the seminiferous tubules and their function in male fertility.2020-06-30T23:00:00Z