NP Navigator: A New Online Tool for the Exploration of the Natural Products Chemical Space

Over the last few billion years, countless organisms populating our planet have produced an extensive reserve of very diverse chemicals called natural products (NPs). Over time, these compounds have evolved to exhibit a wide range of bioactivity and high selectivity in different organisms. That makes them an extremely important source of potential drugs. However, considering the number of reported NPs and their high diversity, it becomes hard to explore the respective chemical space in drug design. In order to simplify this task, we have developed NP Navigator, a free, user friendly online tool allowing the navigation and analysis of the chemical space of NPs and NP-like compounds [1,2]. The basis of this tool is a hierarchical ensemble of 241 Generative Topographic Maps (GTM) [3,4], visualizing chemical space of NPs from the COlleCtion of Open Natural ProductTs (COCONUT) [5], molecules with some biological activity from ChEMBL [6], and purchasable compounds from ZINC [7]. NP Navigator can be used for an efficient analysis of various aspects of NPs, including calculated properties, chemotype distribution, biological activity, and commercial availability of NPs. Users can browse through hundreds of thousands of molecules from COCONUT, ZINC, and ChEMBL, selecting a zone of interest based on the color code of the maps, which in turn corresponds to specific values of visualized properties. In addition, it is possible to project several external molecules—“chemical trackers”—to trace regions of the NP chemical space containing compounds with desired structural features. In such a manner, the NP Navigator allows searching for NP and NP-like analogues of user-provided compounds. This study was previously published in Molecular Informatics (10.1002/minf.202100068) [1].

Long-Term Intestinal Failure and Home Parenteral Nutrition: A Single Center Experience

Intestinal failure is the reduction in gut function below the minimum necessary for the absorption of macronutrients and/or water electrolytes. The based treatment for type II and III intestinal failure patients is home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and hydration (HPH). This is a case-series study of HPN/HPH patients of the Hospital Garcia de Orta, Portugal, where thirteen patients present different underlying disorders and various IVS needs of nutrition and/or hydration. Most presented type III failure and most of them survived a long period under HPN and/or HNH.

In Vitro Comparative Study of Microhardness and Flexural Strength of Acrylic Resins Used in Removable Dentures

Polymethylmethacrylate is the material of choice for prosthetic bases. Depending on the type of polymerization, acrylic resins may present some mechanical weaknesses that may lead to the failure of a prosthesis. The microhardness and flexural strength of a dental material determine its applicability. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the in vitro Knoop microhardness and flexural strength of a thermopolymerizable (Probase Hot) and an autopolymerizable (Probase Cold) resin, according to ISO 20759-1: 2013.

Coffee in the Workplace: A Social Break or a Performance Enhancer?

Coffee is a socially rooted drink with pharmacological properties. It is embedded in different everyday rituals, including ‘coffee breaks’ during working hours. This paper analyzes the role of coffee at workplace. Focusing on three professional areas associated with high pressure and responsive demands, we explore the social expression of coffee use at work, and how it is mobilized as a tool for managing sleepiness, fatigue, stress, and concentration problems, amongst other work-related issues.

Temporomandibular Disorders and Bruxism Prevalence in a Portuguese Sample

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) encompasses a set of disorders involving the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joint and associated structures. It is a complex biopsychosocial disorder with several triggering, predisposing and perpetuating factors. In the etiology of TMD, oral parafunctions, namely bruxism, play a relevant role. The study of bruxism is complicated by some taxonomic and diagnostic aspects that have prevented achieving an acceptable standardization of diagnosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of temporomandibular disorders and bruxism in a Portuguese sample.

Autologous Graft in the Anterior Maxilla—A Case Report

A 44-year-old male patient was referred to the Egas Moniz Dental Clinic, with a previous history of failed bone regeneration, resulting in a reduced buccal-palatal bone thickness and aesthetic compromise of the gingival margin of the anterior maxilla. Since the use of autologous bone is considered the “gold-standard” in guided bone regeneration, the treatment plan consisted of an autologous mental graft into the maxilla, with a simultaneous guided bone regeneration with a xenograft and absorbable membrane. This allowed a predictable volumetric bone regeneration with low patient morbidity and posterior fixed rehabilitation.

Massive Testing Is Important to Control a SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak

At the end of September 2020, an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 occurred at a university student’s residence. A rapid response, with massive testing, using both RT-PCR and antigen rapid testing, helped to control the spread of the virus, showing the importance of tracking the infection. Testing for antibodies one month after the outbreak showed that the permanence of students with no infection in the same building was not a preponderant factor to develop an immune response.

External Approach to Bilaterally Septated Maxillary Sinuses: A Case Report

The careful planning of a sinus lift procedure is the key to avoiding surgical complications. In this clinical case, a female patient, 59 years old and totally edentulous in the maxilla, was referred to Egas Moniz’s Dental Clinic Implantology consultation with indication for bilateral external sinus lift of the maxillary sinuses prior to implant placement. Both orthopantomography and cone-beam computed tomography were used to show the anatomy of the maxillary sinuses, which presented multiple sinus septa. A multiple anterolateral window approach was applied in order to avoid perforation of the Schneiderian membrane while accessing it.

Oral Health among Athletes at the Egas Moniz Sports Dentistry Practice

The sports dentistry consultation at the Clínica Universitária Egas Moniz is guaranteed by a multidisciplinary team of health professionals that provide a customized service to high performance athletes. Over the last year, 99 athletes were evaluated in terms of their oral health through extraoral, intraoral and radiographic exams. In this population a high prevalence of dry mouth, erosive wear, gingivitis, periodontitis and DMF index was observed, which may have a profound and negative impact on sports performance. Of the athletes, 40.4% attended follow up consultations, where restoration and scaling were the majority of the clinical procedures performed. This data highlights the importance of a dedicated sports dentistry consultations.

Patient Compliance with Oral Anticoagulant Therapy

Oral anticoagulants (OAC) are intended to enhance the unwanted activation of blood clotting, and they are used for the prophylaxis and treatment of thromboembolic events. This study aimed to describe and verify whether there was a relationship between patient compliance with OAC therapy and patient gender and age, using a sample of 111 individuals. The data were collected through individual forms, from patients in a Hospital Unit in Great Lisbon. Results showed a statistically significant relationship between patient compliance with OAC therapy and the variables gender and age.