Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2023-05"
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- Assessment of antimicrobial resistance spread in surface aquatic systems: a study of four rivers in north PortugalPublication . Matos, Cátia; Duarte, Bárbara; Rebelo, Andreia; Lopes, Diana; Freitas, Ana R.; Valente, Margarida; Tavares, Carolina; Rodrigues, Juliana; Peixe, Luísa; Antunes, Patrícia; Novais, CarlaAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) spread in surface water systems, providing water for drinking or for recreational activities, can have serious implications to human, animal and environmental health. The standard criteria to assess water quality are based in the absence of specific bacteria, and do not include AMR study. Here we evaluate the spread of AMR bacteria in rivers of North Portugal under diverse anthropogenic activities.
- The effect of dental instruments on grip strengthPublication . Silva, Vanessa; Costa, Inês; Fonseca, Patrícia; Monteiro, Pedro; Santos, JoanaDentist work requires comfort and visibility, which sometimes causes an incorrect, maladjusted, and static posture, affecting mostly the upper limbs. It is due to prolonged work that oral health professionals are more susceptible to developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) of the hand and wrist. The propose of this study was to evaluate and analyze the variation of grip strength in dental students. We also pretend to evaluate the incidence of signs and symptoms of MSDs. A clinical dental procedure was simulated using instruments of different design on phantoms to evaluate the palmar grip. Grip strength was measured with a dynamometer. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was conducted to assess the incidence of symptoms of MSDs. The most prevalent symptoms in this population were neck, lower back, and shoulder pain. During the procedure, 43 participants found the ergonomic curette more comfortable. After scraping with the metallic curette, a lower palmar grip strength was observed. Women have a higher incidence of MSDs and lower grip strength. Participants should transform and improve clinical habits to promote better working conditions and decrease MSDs. It was concluded that the grip force exerted during root scraping depends on the design of the curette. Instruments with a larger diameter and lower weight are more ergonomic and require less grip force.
- Comprehensive assessment of environmental fungus-reactive T cells response in hypersensitivity pneumonitis patientsPublication . Santos, Rita F.; Coelho, Andreia L.; Rufo, João C.; Coelho, David; Gonçalves, Melany; Gonçalves, Samuel L.; Cunha, Cristina; Carvalho, Agostinho; Delgado, Luís; Morais, António; Saraiva, Margarida; Novais-Bastos, HélderHypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an interstitial lung disease that results in parenchymal and small airways inflammation and culminates in breathlessness, negatively impacting patient’s quality of life and survival. HP is initiated by an exaggerated immune response triggered by the inhalation of a variety of environmental antigens. The identification of the triggering antigen is a cornerstone of the diagnostic algorithm, and importantly, exposure avoidance ameliorates the clinical outcomes. However, the inciting antigen is not identified in a large proportion of patients. A difficult to identify, but common inciting antigen, is exposure to household fungi.
- Insect Farming – An EPS@ISEP 2022 ProjectPublication . Copinet, Benjamin; Flügge, Finn; Margetich, Leonie Christine; Vandepitte, Marie; Petrache, Paul-Luchian; Duarte, Abel J.; Malheiro, Benedita; Ribeiro, Maria Cristina de Castro; Justo, Jorge; Silva, Manuel F.; Ferreira, Paulo; Guedes, PedroIntensive cattle farming as a means of protein production contributes with the direct emission of greenhouse gases and the indirect contamination of soil and water. The public awareness towards this issue is growing in western cultures, leading to the stagnation of meat consumption and to the willingness to adopt alternative sustainable sources of protein. A solution is to farm insects as they present a reduced environmental impact and constitute a well-known source of protein. However, for westerners, eating insects implies a cultural change as they are still seen as dirty and disgusting. In 2022, a team of five EPS@ISEP students chose to design a solution for this problem followed by the assembly and test of the corresponding proof-of-concept prototype. They decided to design a home farming kit to grow mealworms driven by ethical, sustainable and the market needs. Exploring the insect life-cycle, the kit provides protein for humans and animals, chitin for soil bacteria and frass for plants. It can also be used as an educational tool for children to learn about sustainability, social responsibility and insect life-cycles, helping to overtake the cultural barrier against insect eating from a young age.
- Evaluation of RRAS2 and TTP1 promoter mutations in thyroid tumoursPublication . Leite, Rúben; Dias, Carolina; Soares, Paula; Vinagre, JoãoThyroid cancer is the most frequent endocrine neoplasm, being the tenth most prevalent in both genders and it presenting an overall good prognosis [1]. Ras related 2 (R-Ras2), also known as TC21, is a GTP-binding protein that together with R-Ras1 and R-Ras3, is part of the R-Ras GTPase subfamily. Mutations in RRAS2 gene in the long-tailed hotspot Q72L/H block the hydrolysis of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) in Ras superfamily proteins, generating constitutively active proteins that will preferentially bound to GTP [2]. This gene is composed by five exons encoding a member of the Ras superfamily that participates in the RAS-MAPK pathway [3]. The tripeptidyl peptidase 1 promoter (TPP1p) encodes the telomere-binding protein TPP1 that recruits telomerase to the telomeres. This process plays a key role in the telomere stability and length regulation. Mutations in this promoter were reported to create novel transcription factor binding sites as previously presented for telomerase promoter (TERTp) [4]. Co-expression of these two promoters lead to telomere elongation, indicating that mutations in the TPP1 and TERT promoter cooperate for the immortalisation of cancer cells [5]. Our project aimed to evaluate mutations in the Q72L hotspot of the RRAS2 gene and in the TPP1p in thyroid tumours. Upon genotyping of RRas2 and TPP1p, we conclude that the presence of mutations in the Q72L hotspot may not represent an oncogenic event, as we did not detect them. For TPP1p, still under study, although already presented in the literature, at the moment we have not detected them in our series, pointing that they may be a rare event in thyroid tumours.
- Influence of educational sessions on musculoskeletal disorders on sleep quality and sleep literacy in health school group employers: Pilot studyPublication . Antoni, Aurore; Lopes, Sofia; Coelho, Ana; Rocha, Paula; Brochado, Gabriela; Vieira, ÁgataOccupational diseases, especially musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a major factor in our health. Behaviour during the working day can influence the quality of our night. The lack of prevention and information about MSDs and their relationship with the quality of sleep weakens the quality of life and the health of people. As specific objectives, we want to verify if there is an association and correlation between the socio-demographic variables, gender, age, academic qualifications, physical activity, daily sitting time and BMI with the sleep quality index. A quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted on 21 health school employers. They were allocated in two groups, the Experimental The educational sessions did not improve the participants’ sleep quality and sleep literacy. Associations between sociodemographic factors and sleep quality were not found. (N = 11), which was subjected to educational sessions, and the Control (N = 10), constituted of the employers who were not interested in attending the educational sessions. A pilot study was carried out, where the sample characterization and selection questionnaire were tested and validated. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the quiz on sleep literacy were used as instruments for all participants. The analysis and treatment of the collected results was carried out using version 28 of the IBM® SPSS® software, with a confidence interval of 95%. There was no statistically significant improvement in the global quality of sleep intergroup (p = 0.314). No significant differences were found between the experimental group and the control group regarding intra-group score differences between the two moments (p = 0.863 and p = 0.756, respectively). Comparing the two groups there was no statistically significant increase in the quiz scores before and after the intervention (p = 0.809). Also in the intragroup analysis, there was no increase in knowledge between the two moments. The results showed no statistically significant differences regarding the associations and correlations of the sociodemographic variables with sleep quality. The educational sessions did not improve the participants’ sleep quality and sleep literacy. Associations between sociodemographic factors and sleep quality were not found.
- Pyrazoles as potential modulators of inflammation through the inhibition of COX2 activity and human leukocytes' oxidative burstPublication . Silva, Jorge; Rocha, Sónia; Silva, Vera L. M.; Silva, Artur M. S.; Moreira, Fernando; Fernandes, Eduarda; Freitas, MarisaThe inflammatory process is a complex and tightly regulated cascade of events that involves the production of prostaglandins (PG) by the inducible isoform cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and the production of reactive pro-oxidant species. When the production of these mediators becomes excessive, it can lead to chronic inflammation and associated diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. Unfortunately, many existing anti-inflammatory agents are associated with unwanted side effects. Therefore, there is a critical need to discover new and effective compounds that can modulate the inflammatory cascade. In this study, an extensive panel of structurally related pyrazoles holding diverse structures and substitutions were tested in vitro against human COX-2, and ex vivo in human whole blood, through the measurement of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. Their potential inhibitory effect against human leukocytes’ oxidative burst was also studied. The results showed that some of the tested compounds had a significant inhibitory effect on COX2 activity, and pyrazoles 4 and 11 (Figure 1) excelled as the most potent inhibitors, with IC50 < 25 µM. Nonetheless, among the tested compounds only 1 was able to inhibit both the COX-2 activity and the PGE2 production. The tested pyrazoles, namely pyrazole 4, also demonstrated a potential inhibitory effect (IC50 < 5 µM) against human leukocytes’ oxidative burst. These results represent a significant contribution for the design and development of new anti-inflammatory molecules.
- Prevalência de lesões músculo-esqueléticas em jogadores de ténis de mesa portugueses e franceses: associação com fatores de riscoPublication . Coelho, Ana; Campion, Camille; George, Marie; Brélivet, Valentin; Brochado, Gabriela; Vieira, Ágata; Lopes, SofiaO ténis de mesa é praticado por mais de 260 milhões de pessoas, sendo considerado um desporto com um risco elevado de lesões, devido à sua unilateralidade, à velocidade e repetição dos movimentos. Apesar da crescente popularidade são escassos os estudos nesta área.
- Exposure to naturally occurring metals during early-pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes: results from the IoMum cohortPublication . Marques, Beatriz; Dias, Ana; Brachi, Isabella; Guimarães, Juliana; Coelho, Cláudia M.; Pinheiro, Cátia; Prucha, Carmo; Martins, Cristina; Pinto, Edgar; Azevedo, Rui; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Fernandes, Vírginia C.; Almeida, Agostinho; Ramalho, Carla; Keating, ElisaThis work aimed to characterize exposure to Aluminium (Al), Lithium (Li), Barium (Ba), and Strontium (Sr) and their association with sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, anthropometric parameters of the newborn and pregnancy complications. Spot urine samples (n=349) of eligible pregnant women attending the routine 1st-trimester ultrasound scan from April 2018 to April 2019 at Centro Hospitalar Universitário de S. João were analysed through ICP-MS to quantify the metals’ urinary concentrations (MUC). Inclusion criteria were: gestational age between 10 weeks and 13 weeks plus 6 days with confirmed foetal vitality and signature of the informed consent. MUCs are presented through median (IQR) in µg/L or µg/g creatinine.
- Publicidade a medicamentos não sujeitos a receita médica em PortugalPublication . Mota, Nádia; Oliveira, Ana Isabel; Ferraz Oliveira, Rita; Pinho, CláudiaA publicidade televisiva de Medicamentos Não Sujeitos a Receita Médica (MNSRM) é uma forma de comunicação em saúde comum. Porém, são escassos os estudos que explorem a quantidade, frequência e tipo de informação publicitada.