Browsing by Author "Monteiro, Pedro"
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- Abnormal immunoreactivity to serotonin in cerebellar purkinje cells after neonatal cocaine exposurePublication . Summavielle, Teresa; Alves, Cecília J.; Monteiro, Pedro; Tavares, Maria AméliaNeonatal cocaine is known to affect the developing serotonergic system in many brain structures, including the cerebellum. Changes in the cerebellar Purkinje cells after drug exposure are well documented and result in impairment of movement and other cerebellar disorders such as ataxia. These cells have a major postnatal developmental pattern; therefore, neonatal exposure to cocaine is likely to affect them. In this work, male and female Wistar rats were injected with 15 mg of cocaine hydrochloride/kg body weight/day, subcutaneously, in two daily doses, from postnatal day 1 (PND1) to PND29. Controls were given 0.9% of saline. On PND14, PND21, and PND30, rats were transcardially perfused, and brains removed and cryoprotected. Coronal sections from the cerebellum were processed for immunocytochemistry of cells containing serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, or 5-HT). At the same postnatal age, rats from at least three different litters were sacrificed by decapitation, and brains were dissected for determination of 5-HT in the cerebellum by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Upon the expected distribution of immunoreactivity to 5-HT, an abnormal immunoreactivity to 5-HT was observed in the Purkinje cells of six cocaineexposed animals, but not in control animals. Also, levels of cerebellar 5-HT in cocaine-exposed rats were significantly increased on PND21. These results, together with previously reported observations of altered patterns of motor behavior, indicate that neonatal cocaine exposure affects the serotonergic cerebellar system, altering the standard development of Purkinje cells and possibly compromising the motor function.
- Acute effects of physical exercise with microcurrent in the adipose tissue of the abdominal region: A randomized controlled trialPublication . Noites, Andreia; Moreira, Anabela; Melo, Cristina; Faria, Miriam; Vilarinho, Rui; Freitas, Carla; Monteiro, Pedro; Carvalho, Paulo; Adubeiro, Nuno; Sousa, Maria; Santos, Rubim; Nogueira, LuisaIncreased abdominal fat and sedentary lifestyles contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. Low-intensity electrical current (microcurrent) on the abdominal region, associated with physical exercise, appears to be an innovative method to increase the lipolytic rate of abdominal adipocytes, in order to reduce abdominal fat. This study aimed to analyze the acute effects of microcurrent associated with an aerobic exercise program in healthy subjects in lipolysis. A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial was developed and conducted in a higher education school. Eighty-three healthy subjects, aged between 18 and 30 years old and with a 18.5 to 29.9 kg/m2 body mass index were randomly assigned either to an experimental or to a placebo group. Subjects received a trans-abdominal microcurrent stimulation for 40 min with (experimental group) or without (placebo group) electrical current, followed by a single aerobic exercise session (60 min at 45–55% VO2max intensity). Lipolytic activity (serum glycerol), abdominal fat (waist circumference, abdominal skinfold, ultrasonography), and serum lipid profile (serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were evaluated in all subjects. Physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) and dietary intake (food-frequency questionnaire) questionnaires were applied. After the intervention, lipolytic rate was significantly higher (p = 0.003) in the experimental group (mean = 0.15) than in the placebo group (mean = 0.09). Glycerol results showed a statistically significant increase between baseline and after the intervention for both experimental group (p = 0.001) and the placebo group (p = 0.001). Combined use of microcurrent and physical aerobic exercise had an acute effect enhancing lipolytic rate comparing to exercise alone, in young healthy subjects.
- Análise da percepção ergonómica de postos de trabalho dotados de microscópioPublication . Silva, Cátia; Rodrigues, Matilde; Mendes, Marta; Silva, Manuela V.; Moreira, Camilo C.; Monteiro, PedroA adequabilidade do dimensionamento dos postos e equipamentos de trabalho aos trabalhadores e às tarefas desenvolvidas é fundamental para a promoção de condições de conforto e prevenção do desenvolvimento de LMERT. A percepção dos trabalhadores é importante para a análise e intervenção ergonómica. Este estudo teve como objectivo analisar a percepção dos trabalhadores sobre a adequabilidade dos postos de trabalho que envolvam tarefas ao microscópio. Foi analisada a adequabilidade das dimensões dos elementos do mobiliário e do microscópio, e desenvolvido e aplicado o Questionário de Análise Ergonómica de Tarefas ao Microscópio (QAETM). O questionário contemplou questões associadas a características pessoais, actividades desenvolvidas, percepções de risco e sensações de dor e/ou desconforto. A análise das dimensões dos postos de trabalho mostrou que estas se apresentam em geral inadequadas às tarefas realizadas. Verificou-se ainda que alguns postos de trabalho tinham sofrido intervenções por parte dos profissionais. A maioria dos inquiridos considera as dimensões das cadeiras adequadas, contrariamente à das bancadas. No que respeita ao microscópio, foram sugeridas alterações ao nível dos parafusos de focagem, movimentação de platina e altura e inclinação das oculares. Este estudo permitiu verificar que alguns dos profissionais apresentam uma baixa percepção ergonómica, não sendo na sua maioria capazes de identificar a falta de adequabilidade das dimensões dos seus postos de trabalho. Apesar do referido, alguns revelaram preocupações ergonómicas, sugerindo e identificando, nomeadamente ao nível do microscópio, situações a alterar, tendo mesmo a iniciativa de intervir no seu posto de trabalho de modo a promover uma melhor postura.
- Antipsychotic therapy and biochemical laboratory profile characterization of a sample of patients diagnosed with schizophreniaPublication . Amorim, Manuela; Moreira, A.; Condeço, Jorge; Monteiro, Pedro; Marques, António; Summavielle, TeresaSchizophrenia (SCZ) patients are reported to present significant abnormalities in lipid and glucose metabolism, that increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, possibly induced by antipsychotic therapy (APT) and lifestyle.
- Assessing the efficacy of the ‘Bicho De 7 Cabeças’ B-learning school-based program in enhancing mental health literacy and reducing stigmaPublication . Meilsmeidth, Gislene; Trigueiro, Maria João; Simões-Silva, Vítor; Simões de Almeida, Raquel; Portugal, Paula; Gomes, Paulo Veloso; Sousa, Sara; Campos, Filipa; Monteiro, Pedro; Soutelo, Ana Paula; Marques, AntónioThe prevalence of mental disorders in adolescents has a considerable impact on daily life, restricting tasks and diminishing overall quality of life while potentially leading to stigmatization. This study aims to measure the impact of a mental health literacy intervention program, called “Bicho de 7 Cabeças” project, in b-learning format, on the increase of knowledge and the decrease of stigma in young people from Póvoa de Varzim, in Portugal. A quasi-experimental study was conducted, from November 2022 to May 2023, involving an experimental group (“Bicho de 7 Cabeças” protocol) and an active control group (informational brochures), utilizing a pre-test/post-test design. Mental Health Literacy Measure-MHLM, Mental Health Promoting Knowledge Scale-MHPK-10, Mental Illness Knowledge Schedule-MAKS, Reported and Intended Behaviour Scale-RIBS, and Community Attitudes toward People with Mental Illness-CAMI were used. A total of 504 young students from the 9th grade enroll in this study, with a mean age around 14 years old. There is a significant difference between stigma (p <.001) and knowledge (p <.001) scores at baseline and follow-up. The results of this study shows that interventions aimed at young people for the promotion of mental health literacy and stigma reduction are needed and more initiatives should be implemented in schools to address these problems.
- Biosensors, biofeedback, and neurofeedbackPublication . Monteiro, Pedro; Tavares, Diana; Mourão, Luís; Nouws, Henri P. A.; Maia, GiselaIn this chapter, the authors write about the processes of biofeedback, giving an insight about the sensors that might be used, the overall concept of biofeedback, as well as the evidence regarding the effectiveness of neurofeedback for the treatment of mental disorders.The main goal is to provide those introducing to the biofeedback as a self-regulation technique, used now for more than 50 years, with concise information about the sensors that might be used to detect the most common measured responses, the main types of physiological biofeedback, and the state-of-the-art evidence about neurofeedback as a form of brain training for individuals with the most prevalent mental disorders. Biofeedback and neurofeedback are guided therapies that include a vast and rowing variety of methodologies aimed to return information to the individual, regarding the physiological functions of the organism itself, in order to enable the modification of those otherwise considered unconscious physiological responses, designed to improve the individual’s health and wellness
- Body mass index and visceral fat: correlation with serum lipid profile in healthy young adultsPublication . Moreira, Anabela; Noites, Andreia; Couto, Miriam; Vilarinho, Rui; Melo, Cristina; Sousa, Manuela; Monteiro, Pedro; Carvalho, Paulo; Adubeiro, Nuno; Nogueira, Luisa; Santos, RubimMetabolic and cardiovascular complications and obesity association is well described. Body mass index (BMI) is commonly used to assess obesity, but does not reflect body fat distribution. Abdominal obesity, namely visceral adipose tissue (VAT), is associated with greater risk for those metabolic impairments, including dyslipidemia, than adiposity in other regions of the body. Objective: To determine the correlation between serum lipid profile and anthropometric measures (BMI and VAT) in young healthy adults.
- Can lycopene be considered an effective protection against cardiovascular disease?Publication . Costa-Rodrigues, João; Pinho, O.; Monteiro, PedroLycopene is a bioactive component mainly found in tomato. It is characterized by a high antioxidant potential, the highest among carotenoids. Mainly due to this property, lycopene has been suggested to display many beneficial effects, including its potential cardioprotective role. Despite some contradictory observations, which appear to be mainly caused by discrepancies in the different experimental protocols applied in the different studies, growing evidence points to clear benefits of lycopene in the maintenance of cardiovascular function and health. The knowledge about lycopene's preventive effects in atherosclerosis, and other cardiovascular diseases, must be translated into changes in food patterns, aiming to increase the consumption of tomato, tomato-containing products, or other foods with high lycopene content, which can have an important impact on cardiovascular disease, particularly in countries where this represents a major public health concern.
- Characterization of cellular and molecular effects of lycopene on human bone cellsPublication . Costa-Rodrigues, João; Fernandes, Maria Helena; Pinho, Olívia; Monteiro, PedroBone is a dynamic tissue that undergoes continuous remodeling. This process is modulated by numerous factors, among which is oxidative stress. Mainly due to its high antioxidant potential, lycopene has been linked to a decreased risk of some chronic diseases, including osteoporosis, but the characterization of lycopene effects on bone tissue remains to be elucidated.
- Comitês de ética na educação superior: da teoria à açãoPublication . Tavares, Diana; Cruz, Agostinho; Cabral, Ana Paula; Machado, Alberto; Sousa, Helena; Curado, Henrique; Faria, Isabel; Amorim, Manuela; Gonçalves, Maria João; Lopes, Paula; Monteiro, PedroAs Comissões de Ética são órgãos relativamente novos no dia-a-dia dos profissionais e investigadores da área da saúde. O Decreto-Lei n.º 80/2018 (15 / outubro) veio comprovar e validar a pertinência deste órgão nas Instituições de Ensino Superior. A Comissão de Ética da Escola Superior de Saúde tem alargado a sua atividade para além da avaliação de projetos de investigação. Os seus membros, enquanto profissionais e educadores, têm acompanhado a crescente e premente necessidade de humanização da saúde. Esta foi acentuada pela pandemia, devido ao agravamento da despersonalização do profissional e do paciente, mas igualmente enfatizada pelo desenvolvimento tecnológico, exigências burocrático-administrativas, implementação da inteligência artificial, entre outros. A nossa perceção é que a formação curricular em saúde não atende plenamente todas as necessidades, surgindo aqui a possibilidade de cada Comissão assumir um papel mais ativo na comunidade académica e profissional, promovendo uma formação contínua, passando da teoria à prática.