Browsing by Author "Morais, Juliana"
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- Association between maternal cardiometabolic risk factors and oral health of infantsPublication . Pestana, Rebeca Saad; Baptista, Manuel; Magalhães, Inês; Morais, Juliana; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Marques, Sofia Cameron; Jerónimo, Maria Luís; Pinto, Carla; Sousa, Marta; Falcão-Pires, Inês; Duister, Denise; Zaura, Egija; Azevedo, Maria João; Maia, Benedita SampaioMaternal health conditions during pregnancy influence infant health1-3. Cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs), such as obesity, hypertension, and gestational diabetes, increase maternal and neonatal complications due to chronic inflammation, which disrupts immune and endocrine adaptation4,5. While the effects of CRFs on infant development are well studied, their impact on oral health remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to assess the association between maternal CRFs and oral health of infants at three years of age. The prospective OralBioBorn cohort follows pregnant women (healthy and with CRFs) and their children up to 36 months postpartum. At age three, oral hygiene habits, caries experience using ICDAS, and Quigley-Hein plaque index (PI) of children were assessed. PI was evaluated on buccal and lingual surfaces. Preliminary data from 36 children (26 from healthy mothers, 10 from mothers with CRFs) showed no cavitated, missing, or filled teeth due to caries, nor PUFA Index lesions, in either group. The PI did not differ significantly between children of healthy mothers and those of mothers with CRFs (0.17±0.32 vs. 0.49±0.72, p>0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). The lack of associations between maternal CRFs and child oral health may reflect multiple factors, including the small sample size, the young age of the children, and the possibility that maternal CRFs do not exert a strong early influence on oral health. Future work will focus on evaluating a larger cohort and considering additional determinants, such as oral hygiene and dietary habits, which may play a more prominent role in shaping early oral health outcomes. This will provide a deeper understanding of potential mediating factors influencing early oral health trajectories
- Breastfeeding and malocclusions: Characterization of a pediatric dentistry population enrolled in a birth cohort studyPublication . Marques, Sofia Cameron; Baptista, Manuel; Magalhães, Inês; Morais, Juliana; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Pestana, Rebeca; Jerónimo, Maria Luís; Pinto, Carla; Sousa, Marta; Pires, Inês Falcão; Deuster, Denise; Zaura, Egija; Areias, Cristina; Maia, Benedita SampaioBreastfeeding plays an important role in the development of the craniofacial complex (1,2). However, the role of breastfeeding duration, non-nutritive sucking habits, and the timing of solid food introduction on the development of malocclusions is still in debate (25). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate these associations in a birth cohort. In the ongoing OralBioBorn birth cohort, occlusion of three-year-old children was assessed in maxiumum intercuspidation, examining the left and right sides, followed by a frontal assessment. In addition, the information on breastfeeding type and duration, solid food introduction, and non-nutritive sucking habits was collected through a parental questionnaire. Preliminary data from 39 children revealed a high prevalence of open bite (33.3%), crossbite (20.5%), and overbite (10.3%). Scissor bite, high/narrow palate, and crowding were observed in only one child each. The relationship between these occlusal characteristics and breastfeeding duration, non-nutritive sucking habits, and solid food introduction will be further explored. The preliminary findings suggest that malocclusions are frequent at an early age, reinforcing the need to investigate their potential early-life determinants. Future work will involve a more in-depth analysis of the associations between occlusal development and early feeding practices, considering additional factors such as genetic predisposition and environmental influences. Longitudinal follow-up of this cohort will provide valuable insights into the long-term impact of breastfeeding and oral habits on craniofacial growth, ultimately contributing to early preventive strategies.
- Essential trace elements status in portuguese pregnant women and their association with maternal and neonatal outcomes: A prospective study from the IoMum CohortPublication . Bracchi, Isabella; Guimarães, Juliana; Rodrigues, Catarina; Azevedo, Rui; Coelho, Cláudia Matta; Pinheiro, Cátia; Morais, Juliana; Barreiros-Mota, Inês; Fernandes, Virgínia Cruz; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Pinto, Edgar; Moreira-Rosário, André; Azevedo, Luís Filipe Ribeiro de; Dias, Cláudia Camila; Lima, Jorge; Sapinho, Inês; Ramalho, Carla; Calhau, Conceição; Leite, João Costa; Almeida, Agostinho; Pestana, Diogo; Keating, ElisaCobalt (Co), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), and zinc (Zn) are essential trace elements (ETEs) important in cellular chemical reactions and antioxidant defense. Ingestion of ETEs during pregnancy is crucial but their role in specific pregnancy outcomes is largely unknown. This study aimed to quantify urinary levels of these ETEs in pregnancy and to evaluate their role in pregnancy health. First trimester pregnant women of Porto and Lisbon regions provided a urine sample, and sociodemographic and lifestyle data. Clinical data were obtained from clinical records. Urinary ETEs were quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Our results show that having urinary Zn levels above the 50th percentile (P50) increases the risk of pre-eclampsia (PE). On the other hand, urinary Zn levels above the P50 decreased the risk of being born with head circumference small for gestational age but it increased the risk having length small for gestational age at birth. This study may provide valuable information for public health policies related to prenatal nutrition, while informing future efforts to de-fine urinary reference intervals for ETEs in pregnant women
- SGLT2 Inhibitors: Novel approach to modulate appetite hormones and cardiomyocyte functionPublication . Correia, Beatriz; Rodrigues, Alexandre; Alves, Inês; Moraña-Fernández, Sandra; Mendes, Claúdia; Morais, Juliana; Gonçalves, Alexandre; Falcão-Pires, InêsEmerging as a class of oral antidiabetic drugs, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), used in patients with type 2 diabetes, offer promising results in weight loss, decreasing cardiometabolic biomarkers, thus improving overall cardiac function. The aim of this study is to assess whether SGLT2i can impact food and water consumption, hormone regulating appetite mechanisms, and morphologic parameters. Thirty-nine male ZSF1 rats were divided into two lean (Ln) and two obese (Ob) groups, fed with normal diet (ND) or treated with SGLT2i in food (30 mg/Kg/day). Body weight (BW), food, water, adiponectin and leptin were measured during nine weeks of treatment. Histochemistry analysis was performed with hematoxylin and eosin to determine the cross-section area in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), and cardiomyocytes. SGLT2i treatment promoted an increased food and water intake in lean rats (Ln_ SGLT2i). However, the BW in this group was markedly reduced compared with non-treated lean (Ln_ND). Furthermore, the treatment promoted higher water intake despite no differences in BW in obese rats (Ob_ SGLT2i) compared to control (Ob_ND). Exploring the hormone-regulating appetite mechanisms, SGLT2i treatment showed significant increased in adiponectin levels in both Ln and Ob, however leptin levels only validated the hyperleptinemia in Ob. The ratio adiponectin/leptin was markedly significant increase in Ln_ SGLT2i rats. At the endpoint, the treatment decreased perigonadal fat weight (PFW) in both groups. Aligned with these, cross-section areas of VAT, SAT and cardiomyocytes were markedly increased in Ob, and the treatment decreased these areas in Ob_ SGLT2i. SGLT2i treatment increased food and water intake as also the adiponectin/leptin ratio in Ln. Additionally, the treatment promoted PFW loss and increased the adiponectin levels in both groups and decreased the cross-section area of VAT, SAT, cardiomyocytes in Ob.
- The cardiometabolic impact of rebaudioside a exposure during the reproductive stagePublication . Bracchi, Isabella; Morais, Juliana; Coelho, João Almeida; Ferreira, Ana Filipa; Alves, Inês; Mendes, Cláudia; Correia, Beatriz; Gonçalves, Alexandre; Guimarães, João Tiago; Falcão-Pires, Inês; Keating, Elisa; Negrão, RitaSince foods rich in refined sugars promote obesity, the use of non-caloric sweeteners has gained popularity, and their consumption by pregnant women has increased. Stevia (a non-caloric sweetener) consumption was considered safe for humans by the European Food Safety Authority in a dose of up to 4 mg/kg body weight/day. However, the World Health Organization recommended in 2023 the restraint of these sweeteners at any life stage, highlighting the need for research on pregnant women and early stages of development. So, we aimed to study the effects of chronic consumption of the main sweetener compound of stevia (Rebaudioside A) during the reproductive stage. Female rats were treated with Rebaudioside A (4 mg steviol equivalents/kg body weight/day) in the drinking water from 4 weeks before mating until weaning. Food and water consumption, blood glucose and lipids, as well as heart structure, function and mitochondrial function, were assessed. Rebaudioside A decreased heart size, cardiomyocyte area and fibrosis without repercussions on cardiac or mitochondrial function. Both fasting blood glucose and cholesterol decreased. This work suggests that stevia consumption at this dose may be safe for females during the reproductive stage. However, more studies are mandatory to explore the effects of stevia consumption on offspring’s health.