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- Secondary metabolites of cyanobacteria from Cape Verde Archipelago act as NO donors with potential application in dermatology and cosmeticsPublication . Morone, Janaína; Hentschke, Guilherme Scotta; Oliveira, Isabel Benta; Vasconcelos, Vítor; Martins, Rosário; Lopes, Graciliana; Martins, RosárioNitric oxide (NO) is a versatile mediator implicated in a variety of physiological processes, with the ultimate goal of maintaining organism homeostasis. In the present work, aqueous extracts from ten cyanobacteria strains isolated from the Cape Verde archipelago were explored as potential NO donors. None of the strains are toxin producers, as demonstrated by PCR and LC-MS analysis. The extracts were mainly composed by phycobiliproteins (9.1 to 43.8 %), followed by polysaccharides (7.7 to 35.1 %), phenols (1.49 to 3.3 %) and chlorophylls (0 to 0.45 %). All the extracts revealed antioxidant potential, with Salileptolyngbya sp. LEGE 181184 presenting the lowest IC 1 50 value for superoxide anion radical scavenging (46.50 μ g mL ), and ability to inhibit the proinflammatory enzyme lipoxygenase (LOX), Salileptolyngbya sp. LEGE 181150 presenting an IC positive control quercetin (28.49 and 31.77 μ g mL 1 25 similar to the , respectively), highlighting the potential of cyanobacteria extracts as natural ingredients for LOX inhibition. All the extracts were able to increase the NO produced by the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7 through iNOS modulation (from concentrations starting in 12.5 μ g mL 1 ), in a similar mechanism and superior extend to that of LPS. None of the extracts induced cytotoxicity to RAW 264.7 cells and to the endothelial hCMEC/d3, the fibroblast 3 T3/L1 and the keratinocytes HaCaT cell lines, and no environmental hazard is predicted, as demonstrated through the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo acute toxicity test (zFET). This pioneer study points-out cyanobacteria aqueous extracts as innovative and biobased natural antimicrobial ingredients which, through a NO-donating mechanism, may potentially act against important antibiotic-resistant strains, thus being worth of consideration as therapeutic agents in dermatology.
- Livro de Atas do 18.º Encontro de CTDI (Ciências e Tecnologias da Documentação e Informação): Suportes e Conteúdos da Gestão da InformaçãoPublication . Carvalho, Milena; Carvalho, Milena; Martins, Susana; Martins, Susana; PolitemaO documento "Suportes e Conteúdos da Gestão da Informação" apresenta uma análise abrangente dos desafios e oportunidades contemporâneos no campo da Gestão da Informação. Numa era marcada pela rápida evolução tecnológica e pela proliferação de dados e de informação, este trabalho explora temas cruciais que moldam a nossa interação com a informação em diversos contextos. A jornada começa com uma reflexão sobre a preservação de obras de arte de imagem em movimento, destacando a importância da catalogação como estratégia fundamental. Este tópico ressalta a necessidade de adaptar práticas museológicas tradicionais às exigências únicas das obras de arte contemporâneas, que frequentemente incorporam tecnologias em constante evolução. O documento prossegue abordando a preservação do património sonoro, exemplificado pelo arquivo da Fonoteca Municipal do Porto. Esta seção sublinha a importância de salvaguardar registos sonoros como parte integral de nossa herança cultural, enfatizando os desafios técnicos e metodológicos envolvidos nesse processo. A evolução dos suportes da informação é outro tema central, explorando como as mudanças tecnológicas impactam a forma como armazenamos, acedemos e preservamos dados e informação. Este tópico é particularmente relevante num cenário onde a obsolescência tecnológica representa uma ameaça constante à preservação da informação a longo prazo. O trabalho também se debruça sobre questões urgentes da era digital, como as fake news e a desinformação. Analisa-se as motivações por trás da disseminação de informações falsas, os seus impactos na sociedade e possíveis soluções para combater este fenómeno crescente com o profissional da informação a assumir um papel de destaque.
- Physical activity level in women with primary dysmenorrhea: A cross-sectional observational studyPublication . Naia, Zeltia; Santos, Paula Clara; Bello, Olalla; Santos, Paula ClaraPrimary dysmenorrhea (PD), menstrual pain in the absence of pathology, is the main cause of gynecological consultation in young women. There are many studies that suggest a possible relationship between a low level of physical activity (PA) and a greater intensity of menstrual pain, and others that find no relationship between these variables. To identify the level of PA and menstrual pain intensity among women with PD, as well as the relationship between these variables. An observational, cross-sectional study was carried out on a cohort of adult population. Data collection instrument was an online self-administered questionnaire. Main variables were pain intensity (Numeric Rating Scale; McGill Pain Questionnaire, short version) and PA level (International Physical Activity Questionnaire). A total number of 216 responses from the total responses obtained were considered PD cases. A 38% of women did not perform any intense PA during the last 7 days, and a 32.4% did not perform any moderate PA. No significant differences were found in menstrual pain intensity during the three last menstruations among women who performed PA, moderate, or intense. Nor were significant differences found between women who performed PA less than 3 days a week, compared with those ones who did it at least three times a week, or more. Menstrual pain intensity does not differ between the types of PA. A large number of participants did not perform any PA in the last 7 days.
- Algae and Fish Farming: An EPS@ISEP 2022 ProjectPublication . Blomme, Rose-Farah; Domissy, Zoé; Dylik, Zuzanna; Hidding, Thomas; Röhe, Alina; Duarte, Abel J.; BENEDITA CAMPOS NEVES MALHEIRO, MARIA; JUSTO, Jorge; Ferreira, Paulo; Guedes, Pedro; Castro Ribeiro, Maria Cristina de; Silva, Manuel; Auer, Michael E.; Rüütmann, TiiaThe European Project Semester (EPS) at Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP) is a capstone engineering design program where students, organised in multidisciplinary and multicultural teams, create a solution for a proposed problem, bearing in mind ethical, sustainability and market concerns. The project proposals are usually aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). New sustainable food production methods are essential to cope with the continuous population growth and aligned with SDG2 and SDG12. In this context, this paper describes the research and work done by a team of Erasmus students enrolled in EPS@ISEP during the spring of 2022. Since sustainable algae farming can be a suitable source of food, the team's goal was the design and develop a proof-of-concept prototype, named GREEN·flow, of a symbiotic aquaponic system to farm algae and fish. The smart GREEN·flow concept comprises a modular structure and an app for control and supervision. The proposed design was driven by state-of-the-art research, targeted to a specific market niche based on a market analysis, and considering sustainability and ethics concerns, all of which are described in this manuscript. A proof-of-concept prototype was built and tested to verify that it worked as intended.
- Smart Pill Dispenser for Children - An EPS@ISEP 2024 ProjectPublication . Ehrenhofer, Lena; Borowski, Łukasz; Oliveira, Noé; Steyaert, Stijn; Kronshagen, Tamara; Clauwaert, Tibo; Duarte, Abel J.; BENEDITA CAMPOS NEVES MALHEIRO, MARIA; Castro Ribeiro, Maria Cristina de; JUSTO, Jorge; Silva, Manuel; Ferreira, Paulo; Guedes, Pedro; Auer, Michael E.; Rüütmann, TiiaPeople around the globe struggle with health issues requiring regular medication. Children, in particular, suffer more and more from chronic illnesses. In 2024, a team of six EPS@ISEP students chose to design a solution for this problem, followed by the assembly and testing of the corresponding proof-of-concept prototype. The aim was to design a solution for children to take the right medication, at the right time and in the right dose, in a pleasant and engaging way, based on technical, ethical, sustainability and market analyses. Focusing on children between the ages of 8 and 12, the team decided to incorporate a motivational system based on rewards to ensure that they take their medication correctly. The outcome is billy, a pill dispenser controlled via an app which allows carers to plan doses and release rewards, and children to autonomously take their medication. The system dispenses up to 21 doses of medication to the child through fingerprint authentication, and photographs the child taking the medication to reassure carers.
- Cone beam CT (CBCT) in radiotherapy: Assessment of doses using a pragmatic setup in an international settingPublication . Djukelic, Mario; Sá, Ana CravoThe imaging modality kV CBCT on linear accelerators (linacs) is utilised to verify positioning and anatomy in cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment. There is a need for optimisation of radiological protection in kV CBCT imaging protocols to avoid unnecessarily high exposures to normal tissues surrounding the target. A network of ICRP mentees from 23 countries were surveyed for available dosimetry equipment. Standardised measurements on CBCT linac imaging systems were conducted using a cone beam dose index (CBDI) devised as a straightforward measurement for wide beam doses. Measurements were made with (a) 100 mm ionisation chambers or (b) 0.6 cc Farmer ionisation chambers and cylindrical CT PMMA phantoms, and (c) an alternative setup of Farmer chambers and cubical phantoms comprised of slabs of water equivalent material readily available in radiotherapy centres. The measurements were compared with Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. The survey showed limited availability for the reference setup using 100 mm chambers and CT phantoms. Correction factors were derived to convert normalised CBDI from alternative setups to the reference setup and are on average within 2% of MC simulations. The slab phantom in combination with a Farmer chamber provides an alternative to quantify CBCT radiation dose indices from linac-based image-guided radiotherapy using materials accessible in most centres worldwide. A method is presented to use correction factors for Varian Truebeam linacs if traditional 100 mm chambers and cylindrical CT phantoms are not available. This will enable most radiotherapy centres across the world to engage in meaningful imaging dose measurement and optimisation.
- Práticas de promoção da segurança e saúde ocupacional no desenvolvimento sustentável institucionalPublication . Silva, Manuela V. da; Mendes, Tatiana R.; Santos, Patrícia O.; Vieira da Silva, ManuelaO Instituto Politécnico do Porto (P.PORTO) enquanto Instituição de Ensino Superior (IES) de referência está fortemente alinhado com o desenvolvimento sustentável assumindo um compromisso com a inovação e a sustentabilidade organizacional. De acordo com os Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) da Agenda 2030 das Nações Unidas, o P.PORTO tem adotado uma abordagem abrangente para a promoção da sustentabilidade nas suas diversas dimensões e atividades, assim como na área da Segurança e Saúde no Trabalho (SST), promovendo ambientes de trabalho saudáveis e seguros. Centrado no ODS 8 ‘Trabalho Decente e Crescimento Económico’, visando a promoção do crescimento económico sustentado, inclusivo e sustentável e o emprego pleno e produtivo, o P.PORTO através da sua Política de Gestão, tem desenvolvido várias iniciativas, destacando-se, o plano de valorização e progressão do pessoal, o projeto ‘missão equidade, diversidade e inclusão’ e o programa de vigilância da saúde do trabalhador e do estudante. Neste contexto, e no ano 2024, foram desenvolvidas várias atividades de avaliação de risco e atividades de promoção da saúde do trabalhador e do ambiente, tendo constituído o objetivo do presente estudo. A figura 1 de forma global identifica o contributo das diferentes atividades para os ODS.
- Comprehensive multi-omics database for highly infectious viruses: a focus on HIV, Ebola and SARS-CoV-2Publication . Lima, A. S.; Carneiro, J.; Sousa, S.; Sá, Vítor Júlio; Pratas, D.Highly infectious viruses, such as HIV, Ebola, and SARS-CoV-2, continue to pose significant threats to global health, underlining the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. Recent advancements in genomic and proteomic databases, along with 3D homology modelling, have enabled detailed simulations of virus-host interactions, providing insights into infection mechanisms and helping identify potential therapeutic targets. This study aimed to create a unified database of highly infectious viruses and to conduct structural analyses of key viral proteins to explore potential therapeutic strategies. Structural information for proteins involved in the infection process was sourced from the Protein Data Bank and UniProt, while 3D homology models for significant viral variants were generated using AlphaFold. The quality of these models was assessed using AlphaFold-specific metrics, including pLDDT (per-residue confidence scores) and PAE (predicted aligned error), ensuring the structural reliability for further analyses. Identification of the most relevant structural changes was done through alanine scanning in Schrödinger’s Biologic Suite, with posterior studies on how those changes affected the infection process. Simulations of virus-host interactions were conducted using docking algorithms, namely HADDOCK, with visualizations performed using PyMOL. This integrative approach highlights high-confidence therapeutic targets and provides a foundation for developing novel effective treatments for highly infectious diseases.
- Methylphenidate and P300 in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysisPublication . Barroso, Beatriz C. R.; Mendonça, Fabiana; Mazer, Prune; Prata, Catarina; Pinto, Joana O.; Mazer, Prune; Pinto, Joana OMethylphenidate (MPH) is a stimulant medicine often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as it may positively affect behaviour and brain activity. This work aims to systematise the current literature about the effects of MPH on the amplitude of P300 in individuals with ADHD. A systematic review and meta-analysis of empirical studies measuring P300 amplitude and comparing MPH administration to either a pre-MPH condition or healthy controls was conducted, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Our results revealed no overall (n = 13) significant differences between individuals diagnosed with ADHD and medicated with MPH and controls. Although, a moderation analysis by region found differences between both groups on frontal sites. When comparing the pre- and post-effects of MPH on the same individuals (n = 17), it appears that P300 amplitude tends to increase post-administration in central and posterior regions. In this second meta-analysis, a moderation by task revealed a larger effect size for go/no-go. In general, MPH was found to increase P300 amplitude in ADHD, somewhat normalising this aspect of their brain activity. The main limitations of the included studies are the insufficiently explained dosages and the skewness for male participants. Future research directions are discussed.
- The prevalence of post-therapy epilepsy in patients treated for high-grade glial tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysisPublication . Ferreira, Marta Pereira; Carvalho, Ruben Lopes; Soares, Joana Isabel; Casalta‑Lopes, João; Borges, Daniel Filipe; Borges, Daniel Filipe; Soares, Joana I.Gliomas are the most prevalent type of primary brain tumor of the adult central nervous system. High-grade gliomas (HGG) are the most common type of glioma. Epilepsy is often the first clinical manifestation of HGG. Since epilepsy leads to increased morbidity and mortality rates, seizure control is one of the main therapeutic goals for patients with glioma-related epilepsy. Post-therapy epilepsy is observed in a significant percentage of patients, hence, this work aimed to quantify the prevalence of post-therapy epilepsy after HGG treatment. Our search was conducted across PubMed®, EMBASE®, Web of Science™, Cochrane Library, Sicelo and Scopus, adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. This review included articles published in Portuguese or English that evaluate adult patients with newly diagnosed HGG, who were treated with at least surgery or radiation. Thirty-six studies reporting on 4036 HGG patients were included in our meta-analysis. The mean age ranged from 44 to 73 years. Glioblastoma was the most commonly observed HGG, representing 77,8% of all glioma patients. The pre-treatment seizure frequency was observed in 21,2%. All patients underwent surgery as the main therapy, and 1842 patients received standard adjuvant therapy. We also observed a pooled prevalence of post-therapy seizures of 25.5% (95% confidence interval of [19.9%; 31.1%]). Substantial heterogeneity in all assessed variables was observed. Conducting larger prospective studies with suitable epilepsy diagnostic methods would help provide a more precise estimate of the number of HGG patients who develop post-therapy epilepsy.