Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is used in the treatment of advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) with well-established benefits over motor complications. However, few studies addressing the impact of DBS on nonmotor dimensions such as sexual function have been conducted. This study aims to determine the effect of DBS-STN on the sexual activity of patients with PD and to establish predictive factors for sexual function decline after surgery. Materials and Methods: Twenty-one patients with PD submitted to DBS-STN were compared with 19 eligible surgery candidates. Clinical measures included disease progression (Hoehn and Yahr scale), sexual function evaluation (Female Sexual Function Index and International Index of Erectile Function), severity of depressive symptoms (Beck Depressive Inventory-II), motor symptoms (Movement Disorders Society-Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale Part III), and quality of life (39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire). The primary outcomes were the development of sexual dysfunction in women and erectile dysfunction in men. Regression analysis was performed to outline risk factors for developing sexual function deterioration. Results: Erectile dysfunction was present in 83.3% of men and sexual dysfunction in 77.8% of women treated with DBS-STN. Women with sexual dysfunction had higher emotional well-being 39-item Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire scores (P=0.017) and a higher prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (P=0.012) comparing with women without sexual dysfunction. Age was an independent predictive factor for developing erectile dysfunction in men (relative risk=1.26; P=0.033) and sexual dysfunction in women (relative risk =1.30; P=0.039), regardless of DBS-STN submission. Conclusions: Sexual function in both sexes of patients with PD does not seem to be influenced by DBS-STN itself, but by psychological and clinical features.

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Surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) alters the natural course of severe aortic stenosis (AS). In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of the disease on dynamic cerebral autoregulation and vasoreactivity (VR) and to assess their changes after SAVR. We recruited 23 patients diagnosed with severe AS eligible for SAVR and 15 healthy matched controls. AS patients had lower mean VR to CO 2 (P = 0.005) than controls, but dynamic cerebral autoregulation was preserved.Cerebral haemodynamics showed no significant change after SAVR. Patients with smaller baseline aortic valve areas presented with smaller low frequency phase changes after surgery (P = 0.016). Severe AS does not seem to impact dynamic cerebral autoregulation but does reduce VR to CO 2 . SAVR does not alter cerebral autoregulation nor vasoreactivity.

This paper focuses on the objective study of emotions, namely, fear induced by architectural spaces, by sensing and statistically analysing some physiological signals of users experiencing Virtual Environments (VE). For this, a virtual building was designed considering the presence of stairs and ramps as architectural elements that could affect users´physiological states and perception of fear of falling. Thirty-one older persons participated in this study and were assigned to two experimental conditions (i.e., safe and unsafe conditions). Five main locations (beginning of the stairs; neutral room; first descending ramp; ascending ramp; and the middle of ascending ramp) were considered along the participants' path, and heart rate (HR) was collected in the vicinity of those locations. Results shown significant differences in HR activation among neutral, beginning of stairs and middle of ascending ramp. Despite the fact that the effect of condition was not fully verified for HR, participants reported more fear while interacting with the unsafe condition, with significant differences between conditions.

O projeto SECClasS -Sustainability Enhanced Construction Classification Systemfinanciado pelo EEA Grants -pretende facilitar a Economia Circular na Construção introduzindo um Sistema de Classificação de Informações sobre Construção otimizado para a Sustentabilidade. Este sistema será orientado para a metodologia BIM e servirá não só a componente de sustentabilidade, mas também os restantes usos BIM, como a gestão do processo BIM, extração de quantidades, compatibilização de especialidades ou planeamento de obra, e todas as fases do ciclo de vida.