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  • Characterization of antibiotic resistance in enterobacteriaceae from agricultural manure and soil in Portugal
    Publication . Amador, Paula; Duarte, Isabel M.; Costa, R.P. Roberto da; Fernandes, Rúben; Prudêncio, Cristina
    Intensive livestock production uses antibiotics to treat and prevent infectious diseases. Antibiotics are expelled unaltered in animal manure, which is often used as a fertilizer. This practice spreads antibiotic residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their genes into the soil. These resistance determinants affect soil microbial communities, raising concerns about the potential environmental and public health risks. This study aims to characterize soil contaminated with antibiotic resistant bacteria and the putative role played by manure as a vector for these resistance determinants. Six poultry and dairy cattle farms in the central region of Portugal were sampled. Ampicillin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates from manure and manured-soil samples were tested for their resistance profile to 13 antibiotics and the presence of tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance genes. High multidrug resistance rates (>70%) were observed in both manure and soil samples. This resistance was higher in the poultry samples; manured-soil isolates were more resistant to cefoxitin (91.7%), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (79.2%), chloramphenicol (79.2%), and to a lesser extent tetracycline (12.5%). Manure isolates have high resistance frequency to tetracycline (73.9%), amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (66.0%), chloramphenicol (65.3%), and sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim (36.5%). Manure isolates revealed high frequency of tet(A), sul1, and sul3 genes. The multiple antibiotic resistance index reveals a putative risk of soil contamination due to antibiotic exposure. The results obtained are important for soil management regarding resistance determinants spread through agricultural practices. To our knowledge, this is the first study of tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance in Portuguese manure and soil.
    2018-03-08Journal article Restricted access Show more
  • Physical exercise for Parkinson’s disease: clinical and experimental evidence
    Publication . Carvalho, Alessandro Oliveira de; Filho, Alberto Souza Sá; Murillo-Rodriguez, Eric; Rocha, Nuno; Carta, Mauro Giovanni; Machado, Sérgio
    National projections about the increase in the elderly population over 60 years bring with it an increase in the number of people affected by Parkinson's Disease (PD), making it an important public health problem. Therefore, the establishment of effective strategies for intervention in people with PD needs to be more clearly investigated. The study aimed to report the effectiveness of exercise on functional capacity and neurobiological mechanisms in people with PD. This study is a critical review of the literature. The progressive death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra is described as one of the main physiological mechanisms manifested before PD, directly interfering with motor behavior. However, PD is not only related to motor symptoms, but also to cognitive, autonomic, and mood impairments. Such effects may be attenuated by pharmacological influence, but also evidence suggests that the implementation of regular physical exercise programs may exhibit potential benefits over PD. The synthesis and expression of monoaminergic neurotransmitters can act positively on motor disorders, as well as directly or indirectly influence the neuronal plasticity of the brain, restoring neuronal pathways previously affected. Physical exercise contributes effectively to the treatment of PD, and can play a preventive and maintenance role of physical fitness and mental health.
    2018-03-08Journal article Open access Show more