ESS - CISA - Comunicações em eventos científicos
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- Innovative pedagogical tools for parasitology based on interactive learningPublication . Sequeira, Susie; Sousa, Mariana; Fernandes, Sara; Barreiros, Luísa; Cunha, Agostinho; Cruz, Agostinho; Fernandes, Sara; Barreiros, LuisaParasitic infections in children, in particular ectoparasitoses, remain a public health challenge within the school context in Portugal. As part of the curricular unit “Agentes e Vectores de Doença I” included in the first year of the Bachelor of Pharmacy, pedagogical tools have been developed to raise awareness on this issue among the various stakeholders involved in primary education. The developed activities, in addition to enable the consolidation of technical and scientific knowledge, promote the development of transversal competences, namely soft skills, essential for the training of future health professionals. The created instruments have been successfully applied in teacher training activities and in awareness-raising sessions for children. The adoption of interactive learning approaches has contributed to higher student engagement and better learning outcomes, while simultaneously promoting a culture of education and health promotion supported by innovative and collaborative pedagogical practices.
- Pontes entre Ensino Superior e Ensino Básico: Aprendizagem (Inter)Ativa sobre higiene das mãosPublication . Karpyuk, António; Garcia, Bruna; Santos, Diana; Silva, Hugo; Lamas, Maria Céu; Ferreira, Stephanie; Mota, Sandra; Amorim, Maria Manuela; Ribeiro Lamas, Maria do Céu; Lopes Ferreira, Stephanie; Amorim Sousa, Maria ManuelaNo âmbito da formação dos estudantes da licenciatura Ciências Biomédicas Laboratoriais (E2S, P. Porto), enquanto futuros profissionais de saúde, é fundamental promover experiências pedagógicas que coligem o conhecimento técnico-científico à capacidade de comunicação. A atividade sobre Higiene das Mãos foi concebida e dinamizada por 4 estudantes do ensino superior (ES) para 30 crianças do Ensino Básico (3º e 4º ano), constituiu uma estratégia de intervenção comunitária orientada para a promoção da literacia em saúde. Atividade lúdica e interativa, adaptada à faixa etária, sensibilizou crianças para a importância da higiene das mãos através de exposição teórica, jogos, demonstração de técnicas, simulações e sementeiras. A avaliação pré e pós-sessão demonstrou resultados positivos. Simultaneamente, constituiu uma oportunidade formativa para estudantes do ES, promovendo competências transversais como comunicação em saúde, pensamento crítico e adaptabilidade. Esta prática pedagógica evidenciou-se como estratégica na promoção da saúde individual e coletiva, sendo valorizada pelos estudantes em relatório como modelo eficaz na conceção de intervenções educativas em saúde.
- Improving honey authentication: Electrochemical genosensors for the detection of Erica arborea in commercial honeyPublication . Morais, Stephanie; Castanheira, Michelle; Santos, Marlene; Domingues, Valentina; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Barroso, M. Fátima; Santos, MarleneMonofloral honeys, like heather honey, are a highly sought-after ingredient. However, food safety concerns have emerged due to the number of adulterated honeys found in the global market [1,2]. Thus, this work aimed to develop an electrochemical genosensor capable of detecting the residual DNA of Erica arborea (heather flower) in commercial honey samples. Analyzing public databases, a 98-mer E. arborea DNA-target probe and its complementary sequence were selected and designed. The developed genosensor was constructed on screen-printed gold electrodes. The electrochemical signal resulted from the sandwich-format hybridization reaction between the DNA-target and its complementary probe, previously cut into a 28-mer DNA-capture probe and a 70-mer DNA-signaling probe labeled with a fluorescein. Honeys samples were acquired from the local markets and their DNA extracted and amplified using DNA kits. Employing chronoamperometry, a linear correlation was obtained in a 0.03 to 2.00 nM concentration range. The DNA from the purchased honey samples were successfully extracted and applied to the genosensor. The developed electrochemical genosensor was able to detect the presence of E. arborea in the analyzed honey samples. This device is a promising analytical tool to combat honey fraud, facilitate honey authenticity and promote food safety.
- Horizontes futuros: repensar o ensino e curricula para a sustentabilidade no ensino superior através da implementação de casos práticosPublication . Rigueiro, Constança; Farinha, Carla Sá; Dinis, Maria Alzira Pimenta; Silva, Manuela Vieira da; Caeiro, Sandra; Mapar, Mahsa; Moreiram Anabela; Vieira da Silva, ManuelaO Grupo de trabalho de Educação e Curricula para a Sustentabilidade definiu no seu plano de atividades para 2024 a realização de um ciclo de webinars denominado “Horizontes Futuros: repensar o ensino e curricula para a sustentabilidade no ensino superior”. Estes eventos são de periodicidade trimestral, na forma de mesa-redonda e abordam a implementação da sustentabilidade no ensino e curricula nas Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES), em particular as que subscreveram a Carta de Intenções com a Rede Campus Sustentável (RCS). Tendo por base a comunicação para a sustentabilidade, estes webinars têm como objetivo proporcionar momentos de partilha de experiências, práticas de sucesso e de desafios que as IES encontraram nesta implementação. Para tal são convidados membros da governança das IES, de norte a sul de Portugal, para reportar o que têm feito no âmbito da missão definida neste contexto. O objetivo deste trabalho é fazer um balanço destes webinars e realçar através da análise de conteúdo das suas apresentações e dos debates ocorridos, quais têm sido as práticas mais comuns, os atuais desafios e as dificuldades nas diversas IES.
- Enantiomeric biodistribution and toxicity of 3-chloromethcathinone (3-CMC) in Wistar rats after acute exposure – preliminary dataPublication . Langa, Ivan; Rocha-Pereira, Carolina; Milhazes, Nuno; Silva, Diana Dias da; Domingues, Susana; Silva, Paula; Barbosa, Joana; Faria, Juliana; Tiritan, Maria Elizabeth; Ribeiro, Cláudia; Dias da Silva, Diana CristinaThere has been a surge in global attention to New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) [1]. Synthetic cathinones stand out as a widely consumed NPS class. Notably, 3-chloromethcathinone (3-CMC) accounted for over 34% of NPS seizures in 2021 [2], which underscores concerns regarding its consumption and health effects. Of note, 3-CMC is chiral and mostly sold as a racemate. As human me-tabolism and pharmacological effects can be enantioselective [3], determination of the impact of enanti-oselectivity in toxicokinetics/toxicodynamics is essential for the assessment of 3-CMC effects. This work aimed to evaluate in vivothe enantioselective biodistribution and toxicity of racemic 3-CMC, after an acute exposure to 3-CMC. Ten-week-old male Wistar rats were administered intraperitoneally with saline or 3-CMC (10 or 20 mg/kg; n=6). Twenty-four hours after, animals were deeply anesthetized and nine organs (brain, liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, spleen, gut, muscle, adipose tis-sue), blood and urine were collected. For evaluation of the enantiomeric biodistribution, a previous in houseestablished indirect method by gas chromatography [3], was adapted and validated. Some biochem-ical analysis was performed using an analyser, whereas TBARS, ATP, glutathione and total protein were determined by spectrophotometry. Organs were also processed for histological analysis. After 24 h, 3-CMC was not found in most organs. Both enantiomers were detected in urine with one dominant enantiomer, suggesting enantioselectivity in metabolism. The histopathological results showed possible central chromatolysis in the brain (20 mg/kg), liver inflammation, renal lesions, lungs’ haemoptysis, and alveolar haemorrhage, in most 3-CMC-exposed animals. No differences were observed inthe heart. Our findings show rapid 3-CMC renal elimination, with enantio selectivity in metabolism. Alt-hough biochemical evaluations are ongoing, the results are expected to give further insights on the 3-CMC toxicity and histological abnormalities found in the brain, kidneys, liver and lungs.
- The effect of synthetic cannabinoid ADB-FUBI-NACA on primary neuronal cultures ß-galacto-sidase activity: preliminary findingsPublication . Roque-Bravo, Rita; Carmo, Helena; Silva, João Pedro; Carvalho, Félix; Silva, Diana Dias da; Dias da Silva, Diana CristinaADB-FUBINACA (ADB-FUB) is a synthetic cannabinoid (SC) that has gained popularity among users as a new psychoactive substance. This stems from SC's pharmacological similarity to the active principle of cannabis, D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, unlike THC, SCs demonstrate full agonism of cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 [1]. Recent scientific developments have shown that can-nabis use may aggravate ageing-related parameters [2,3]. Moreover, a study using human fibroblasts re-vealed that 1 μM THC (2h-longexposure, for 15 days) can increase ß-galactosidase activity [3], which serves as a first-line marker for cellular senescence. This study was designed to investigate whether these biologically-relevant concentrations could accelerate neuronal ageing. PHC were isolated from Wistar rat day 18-19 embryos and cultured for up to 21 days-in-vitro (DIV). Exposure to 1 pM, 1 nM and 1 μM ADB-FUB (concentrations previously shown to be non-cytotoxic to PHC) started either on DIV3 or DIV7 and was maintained up to 21 DIV. At that final timepoint, ß-galactosidase activity was evaluated. DMSO at 0.02% was employed as solvent control. Under these experi-mental conditions, PHC exposed to 1 nM and 1 μM ADB-FUB in the DIV3-21 protocol had lower ß-galactosidase activity when compared to control conditions (p<0.05, 1 nM; p<0.001, 1 μM). No statisti-cally significant results were registered for PHC under the DIV7-21 exposure protocol. These findings are, to the best of our knowledge, the first evidence of a potential “anti-ageing” effect of ADB-FUB. Evaluation of other senescence-related endpoints will follow. Moreover, experiments using another in vitroneuronal model (human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y) are underway to compare the effects of the same drug in different models and further substantiate conclusions on ADB-FUB’s effect.
- Chemical differences between alternative and traditional tobacco productsPublication . Monteiro, Vânia; Freitas, Inês; Silva, Diana Dias da; Pinho, Paula Guedes de; Pinto, Joana; Dias da Silva, Diana CristinaElectronic cigarettes (E-cigs) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) have gained popularity as alternatives to traditional tobacco products (TTPs), claiming to reduce harm. The carcinogenic proper-ties of chemicals in the smoke of TTPs are widely recognized. However, there is still an incomplete understanding of the different chemicals in E-cigs and HTPs and their toxicity to human cells [1]. Thus, this study aimed at characterizing and comparing the chemical composition of three different brands of E-cigs, HTPs and TTPs. We selected the three top-selling brands of E-cigs, HTPs, and TTPs in Portugal, and each brand (n=9) was analyzed in triplicate. Volatile compounds present in all brands were extracted by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and solvent extraction (di-chloromethane). The volatile compounds in the headspace and solvent extracts were analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Compound annotation was performed by comparing the mass spectrum of each chromatographic peak in the sample with a mass spectral library and standards, where available. A total of 53 compounds were detected in E-cigs, 44 in HTPs and 41 in TTPs by HS-SPME. Solvent extraction revealed 43 compounds in E-cigs, 35 in HTPs and 22 in TTPs. Only 7 compounds were common to E-cigs, HTPs, and TTPs. Overall, the chemical classes included alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, pyridines and others.The composition of HTPs and TTPs was similar (20 compounds in common), particularly in the classes of ketones, alcohols, terpenoids, and pyridines. In contrast, E-cigs contain a larger number of compounds than HTPs and TTPs, including several alcohols, esters, pyranones, and lactones. The volatile composition of HTPs and TPPs showed less variation be-tween different brands, whereas E-cig brands showed greater variability in their composition. HTPs have a volatile chemical composition similar tothat of TTPs in their original form, so their health effects will depend on the impact of the different types of combustion. E-cigs show a distinct chemical profile across all brands, with chemical classes that are potentially relevant for toxicological studies.
- Efficacy and safety of Tocilizumab in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: An umbrella reviewPublication . Silva, David; Moreira, Fernando; Santos, Marlene; Moreira, FernandoTocilizumab (TCZ) is a humanized immunoglobulin G1 monoclonal antibody that targets and inhibits the interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor. As a selective inhibitor of this cytokine, TCZ offers a targeted approach in managing inflammatory conditions. Given its specificity and potential therapeutic benefits, this article aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the efficacy and safety of TCZ in the treatment of RA.
- Exploring the role of oral antidiabetic medications as adjuncts in depression treatmentPublication . Santos, Marlene; Santos, Angela; Jesus, Ângelo; Jesus, ÂngeloDepression is a complex and multifaceted disorder with a poorly defined etiology and numerous risk factors. Despite the availability of several antidepressant classes, many treatments have limitations that compromise their effectiveness and impact patients’ quality of life.
- Pharmacological approaches in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A systematic review of clinical trials on efficacy, survival, and safety profilesPublication . Tomé, Pedro; Moreira, Fernando; Santos, Marlene; Moreira, Fernando; Santos, MarleneAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that results in the deterioration of neuromuscular connections, with no effective treatment currently available.