Publications by authors named "Joana Carvalho"

Introduction: In experimental sex research, attention to sexual stimuli is considered a well-established indicator of sexual interest, with patterns that differ across sexual orientations. While earlier studies primarily focused on heterosexual populations, recent research has increasingly explored attention in sexual minority individuals (SMIs). Building on the incentive motivation and information processing models of sexual response, it can be hypothesized that differences in the appraisal of sexual stimuli contribute to variations in individuals´ sexual responses, raising the possibility that attention to sexual stimuli may be related to individuals' sexual identities.

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Objective: To evaluate the temporal trend of dietary practices of adolescents monitored in Primary Health Care from 2015 to 2019.

Methods: This is a time series study with microdata on adolescent food consumption markers (n=674,280 records, mean age: 14.9 [standard deviation: 3.

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This parallel two-arm pragmatic controlled trial aimed to examine the effectiveness of a 12-month exercise intervention on physical performance, handgrip strength, independence in basic activities of daily living (BADL), and falls in real-world settings. Ninety-five older residents of nursing homes (mean age 81.9 ± 8.

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Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most frequently reported male sexual dysfunction. Penile prosthesis implantation (PPI) is an effective solution for patients with medically refractory ED. Despite advancements in surgical techniques and device technology, detailed evidence on PPI complication rates is limited.

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Background: Mental imagery has long been used in psychological therapies, but only recently did research begin to provide a scientific background for it. Imagery interventions are inexpensive and a substantial body of research supports their effectiveness on anxiety reduction, behavior change, promotion of health outcomes, and adherence to medical interventions, in both adults and children. However, literature on the benefits of relaxation and guided imagery interventions for children in elementary school context is very scarce.

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Despite the development of mutant-selective KRAS inhibitors, colorectal cancer (CRC) responses remain limited, with stable disease and rapid recurrence being common outcomes. The molecular mechanisms enabling CRC cells to tolerate KRAS inhibition and ultimately develop resistance remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated early transcriptional and proteomic responses to KRAS silencing in 3D CRC cell line spheroid models, aiming to identify pathways associated with sensitivity or resistance to KRAS blockade.

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Background: The risk of tuberculosis infection (TBI) and its progression to tuberculosis disease (TBD) among persons with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID) results from a complex interplay of patient and disease characteristics, immunosuppression level, and the epidemiological context. Brazilian recommendations are unclear about TBI screening and its preventive treatment (TPT) in persons with IMID.

Objective: To provide a comprehensive and evidence-based guideline for managing TBI in persons with IMID in Brazil.

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Sexual assertiveness (SA) is an important concept in understanding sexual well-being and decision-making. However, psychometric evaluation of existing measures of SA in diverse populations is largely lacking, hindering cross-cultural and comparative studies. This study validated the short version of the Sexual Assertiveness Questionnaire (SAQ-9) and examined its measurement invariance across several languages, countries, genders, sexual orientations, and relationship statuses among 65,448 sexually-active adults ( = 32.

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Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Binge Eating Disorder Screener-7 (BEDS-7) across 42 countries and 26 languages, assessing its reliability and validity as a screening tool for binge-eating disorder (BED) in diverse cultural contexts. Specifically, it sought to enhance early recognition of BED symptoms in primary care settings globally, contributing to a standardized framework for assessing BED.

Method: The International Sex Survey, a cross-sectional online study, was conducted in 42 countries and 26 languages.

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Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis, primarily targets the skin and peripheral nerves, frequently leading to dermatological, neurological, and musculoskeletal complications. This review highlights the spectrum of musculoskeletal manifestations in leprosy, including acute arthritis during Type 2 reactions, chronic arthritis mimicking autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, and neuropathic arthropathy. These manifestations underscore the complex interplay of inflammatory and immune mechanisms.

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Introduction: Sexual health concerns are common and significantly impact quality of life, but many people do not seek treatment due to embarrassment and other barriers. A biopsychosocial model of assessment and treatment acknowledges the biological, psychological, and social contributors to sexual difficulties and suggests that all these domains should be evaluated.

Objectives: This paper provides an overview of the major psychological factors contributing to sexual difficulties and offer an evidence-based approach for primary care clinicians to assess and treat these issues.

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In the EU, conditional marketing authorization is a pragmatic tool for early approval of a medicine that fulfills an unmet medical need. In the pharmaceutical legislation, an unmet medical need means that a condition lacks a satisfactory method for diagnosis, prevention, or treatment. If such satisfactory methods exist, the new medicinal product must hold a major therapeutic advantage for those affected, meaning that it must demonstrate an improvement in efficacy or safety over existing methods or, in exceptional cases, a major improvement in patient care.

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Sexual boredom in women is associated with various levels and dimensions of sexual desire, as well as lower sexual and relationship satisfaction. However, the directionality of these relationships remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether sexual boredom mediates the relationship between partner and attractive-other sexual desire and sexual and relationship satisfaction in a sample of 1155 Portuguese women in long-term monogamous relationships.

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Sexual desire is a complex construct with important implications for sexual functioning and well-being. In this research, we translated the Sexual Desire Inventory (SDI-2), a widely used scale for assessing sexual (desire), into 25 languages from English and used data from the International Sex Survey (ISS) to (a) investigate its psychometric properties (i.e.

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Background: Diet and exercise interventions have been associated with improved body composition and physical fitness. However, evidence regarding their combined effects in older adults is scarce. This study aimed to investigate the impact of a combined 12-week Mediterranean diet-based sustainable healthy diet (SHD) and multicomponent training (MT) intervention on body composition, anthropometry, and physical fitness in older adults.

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Asexuality is a sexual orientation centered around low or absent sexual attraction. Despite the growth of empirical scholarship on asexuality, laboratory sex research with asexual individuals remains significantly underutilized. As such, we conducted a qualitative survey aimed at examining asexual individuals' perceptions of laboratory sex research as well as their perspectives/experiences on participation.

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Objective: To examine the feasibility and effects of a 12-week exercise intervention on physical performance, muscular strength, and circulating myokines in frail individuals living in nursing homes.

Design: A cluster randomized, 2-period, 2-intervention crossover trial.

Setting And Participants: Frail residents of 9 nursing homes were randomly assigned to either 12 weeks of concurrent exercise training (n = 5, 29 participants) or usual care (n = 4, 17 participants).

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This review explores the diverse landscape of integrating nutrition and physical activity education into medical school curricula, focusing on the imperative role of physicians in promoting health through lifestyle changes. By examining global medical education structures, we uncovered disparities in nutrition and physical activity training, and highlighted the need for a shared framework to address international and regional challenges. Despite acknowledging the importance of both nutrition and physical activity, studies have consistently uncovered deficiencies in medical school curricula, especially in skills related to providing lifestyle advice and behavioral counseling.

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Background: Dependency is defined as a person's inability to meet basic human needs. In the context of aging, biopsychosocial changes compromise functionality, predisposing older adults to rely on others to perform daily activities. Fear of dependency describes the fear people have of appearing and/or being weak and/or reliant on others.

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