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- Impacto da utilização de ortóteses de neoprene, em contexto laboral, em indivíduos com disfunções no punho e/ou mãoPublication . Martins, Rafael; Fernandes, Ângela; Branco, Catarina Aguiar; Sousa, HelenaO nosso objetivo foi avaliar o impacto da utilização de ortóteses de neoprene em disfunções do punho e/ou mão, em contexto laboral. Amostra não probabilística por conveniência, constituída por 15 indivíduos adultos. Do total da amostra, 7 indivíduos pertencem ao grupo controlo e 8 indivíduos ao grupo de intervenção. As variáveis consideradas neste estudo foram a força muscular manual e de pinças, sensibilidade protetora das mãos, dor e funcionalidade do membro superior. Para a medição destas variáveis foram aplicados o Questionário Nórdico Musculosquelético, Quickdash, Teste de Monofilamento de Semmes- Weinstein, dinamómetro manual (Jamar) e pinçometro (Jamar). Para os participantes do grupo de intervenção, foram confecionadas duas ortóteses em neoprene, uma para cada mão, abrangendo as articulações do polegar e punho, com 5,5 mm de espessura; este grupo também teve educação terapêutica. Em relação à avaliação da sensibilidade no primeiro momento de avaliação, não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os grupos, com exceção da área S1 da mão esquerda. De forma global, o grupo de intervenção apresentou maiores ganhos do que o grupo controlo, com diferenças estatisticamente significativas na pinça digital das mãos direita e esquerda, zonas de sensibilidade S2 da mão direita e S5 da mão esquerda e na funcionalidade do membro superior. Com a realização deste estudo, constatou-se que o grupo de intervenção apresentou melhorias generalizadas em todas as variáveis, o que pode sugerir eficácia da utilização das ortóteses de neoprene em contexto laboral.
- In vitro antimicrobial activity of volatile compounds from the Lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea (L.) Zopf. against multidrug-resistant bacteria and fish pathogensPublication . Essadki, Yasser; Hilmi, Adel; Cascajosa-Lira, Antonio; Girão, Mariana; Darrag, El Mehdi; Rosário Martins, Maria; Romane, Abderrahmane; Zerrifi, Soukaina El Amrani; Mugani, Richard; Tazart, Zakaria; Redouane, El Mahdi; Jos, Angeles; Cameán, Ana M.; Vasconcelos, Vitor; Campos, Alexandre; Khalloufi, Fatima El; Oudra, Brahim; Barakate, Mustapha; Carvalho, Maria de FátimaLichens are symbiotic organisms with unique secondary metabolism. Various metabolites from lichens have shown antimicrobial activity. Nevertheless, very few studies have investigated the antimicrobial potential of the volatile compounds they produce. This study investigates the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of volatile compounds from Pseudevernia furfuracea collected in two regions of Morocco. Hydrodistillation was used to obtain volatile compounds from samples collected in the High Atlas and Middle Atlas. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified phenolic cyclic compounds as the primary constituents, with atraric acid and chloroatranol being the most abundant. Additionally, eight compounds were detected in lichens for the first time. The antimicrobial activity of these compounds was assessed using disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Both samples demonstrated significant antimicrobial effects against multidrug-resistant human bacteria, reference microorganisms, fish pathogens, and Candida albicans, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 1000 µg/mL to 31.25 µg/mL. This study provides the first report on the volatile compounds from Pseudevernia furfuracea and their antimicrobial effects, particularly against fish pathogens, suggesting their potential as novel antimicrobial agents for human and veterinary use. Further research is warranted to explore these findings in more detail.
- The neuroprotective role of cyanobacteria with focus on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential: Current status and perspectivesPublication . Rodrigues, Flávia; Reis, Mariana; Ferreira, Leonor; Grosso, Clara; Ferraz, Ricardo; Vieira, Mónica; Vasconcelos, Vítor; Martins, RosárioNeurodegenerative diseases are linked to the process of neurodegeneration. This can be caused by several mechanisms, including inflammation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Despite their high incidence, there is still no effective treatment or cure for these diseases. Cyanobacteria have been seen as a possible source for new compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential, such as polysaccharides (sacran), phycobiliproteins (phycocyanin) and lipopeptides (honaucins and malyngamides), which can be interesting to combat neurodegeneration. As a promising case of success, Arthrospira (formerly Spirulina) has revealed a high potential for preventing neurodegeneration. Additionally, advantageous culture conditions and sustainable production of cyanobacteria, which are allied to the development of genetic, metabolic, and biochemical engineering, are promising. The aim of this review is to compile and highlight research on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of cyanobacteria with focus on the application as neuroprotective agents. Also, a major goal is to address essential features that brand cyanobacteria as an ecoefficient and economically viable option, linking health to sustainability.
- Carotenoids from cyanobacteria modulate iNOS and inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators: Promising agents for the treatment of inflammatory conditionsPublication . Morone, Janaína; Vasconcelos, Vitor; Hentschke, Guilherme; Rosário Martins, Maria; Pinto, Eugénia; Lopes, GracilianaCyanobacteria are green multiproduct refineries of increasing interest for different industrial prospects. In this work, eleven cyanobacteria strains isolated from the Cape Verde archipelago were explored for their biotechnological applications in the field of inflammation. A biorefinery approach was employed to produce carotenoidtargeted extracts, further profiled by HPLC-PDA and explored for their ability to i) scavenge important physiological free radicals of oxygen (superoxide anion radical, O 2 •) and nitrogen (nitric oxide, • NO) involved in the inflammatory process ii) slow-down post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and iii) modulate the activity of inf lammatory cytokine-producing enzymes, in enzymatic and cell systems comprising RAW 264.7 cells. The studied strains turned out to be important carotenoid producers (70.47–186.71 μ g mg 1 dry extract), mainly represented by β-carotene and zeaxanthin. The targeted-extracts stood-out for their potential to slow-down the inflammatory process through a multitarget approach: scavenging • NOandO 2 •, reducing inflammatory cytokines production through lipoxygenase inhibition, and modulating the inducible nitric oxide synthase in LPSstimulated RAW 264.7 cells, with strains of the order Nodosilineales revealing to be worth of further biotechnological exploitation.
- Nonthermal high-pressure microalgae extracts: A new source of natural ingredients for cosmeticsPublication . Garcia, Mónica P.; Regueiras, Ana; Lopes, Graciliana; Matos, Gabriela; Silva, Lucília P. da; Cerqueira, Mariana T.; Cardoso, Helena; Correia, Nádia; Saraiva, Jorge A.; Silva, Joana L.; Martins, Rosário; Marques, Alexandra P.Microalgae are one of the most prominent sources of ingredients for the cosmetic industry not only due to their diversity but, importantly, due to the low environmental impact in production and extraction. A sustainable extraction process requires the use of effective and environmentally friendly solvents that guarantee an extract with a relevant content and in high yields. In this work, Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloropsis oceanica, Tetraselmis chui, Chlorococcum amblystomatis and Phaeodactylum tricornutum microalgae species grown in tubular photobioreactors were used to validate a high-pressure extraction (HPE) method. Extraction yields up to 57 % were obtained depending on the used solvent (water, ethanol, or acetone). The extracts were then characterized regarding their phytochemical composition (total phenolic, protein, chlorophylls content, and chlorophyll a). Aqueous extracts showed high protein content (6–51 μg/mg biomass), while ethanolic and acetone extracts showed high amounts of phenolic compounds (0.0007–0.03 μg/mg biomass). The levels of photosynthetic pigments (0.1–11 μg/mg biomass) associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were higher when extracted using ethanol and high-pressures. Chlorella vulgaris aqueous extracts presented higher protein content while Nannochloropsis oceanica and Tetraselmis chui ethanolic extracts presented higher amounts of photosynthetic pigments. The effect of the extracts over the metabolic activity of primary human dermal fibroblasts, keratinocytes, melanocytes, and adipocytes was dependent on both microalgae species and cell type. In adipocytes and fibroblasts, extracts presented an IC50 > 500 μg/mL, except for the one of Phaeodactylum tricornutum in fibroblasts (IC50 < 150 μg/mL). In contrast, the IC50 was below 500 μg/mL for most of the extracts in keratinocytes and melanocytes. Overall, extracts of sustainably-grown microalgae obtained by a high-pressure method are a promising source of natural ingredients for cosmeceutical applications.
- Autistic traits and event-related potentials in the general population: A scoping review and meta-analysisPublication . Mazer, Prune; Garcez, Helena; Macedo, Inês; Pasion, Rita; Silveira, Celeste; Sempf, Frederieke; Ferreira-Santos, FernandoDifferences in short and long-latency Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) can help us infer abnormalities in brain processing, considering early and later stages of stimuli processing across tasks and conditions. In autism research, the adult population remains largely understudied compared to samples at early stages of development. In this context, this scoping review briefly summarises what has been described in community and subclinical adult samples of autism. The current scoping review and meta-analysis includes 50 records (N = 1652) and comprehensively explores short and long-latency ERP amplitudes and their relationship with autistic traits in adult community samples. This meta-analysis identified, with small to medium effect sizes, distinctive patterns in late ERP amplitudes, indicating enhanced responses to visual stimuli and the opposite patterns to auditory tasks in the included sample. Additionally, a pattern of higher amplitudes was also found for the component P3b in autistic traits. Differential effects in visual and auditory domains are explored in light of the predictive processing framework for Autism. It remains possible that different brain mechanisms operate to explain symptoms related with different sensory modalities. P3b is discussed as a possible component of interest in future studies as it revealed a more robust effect for differentiating severity in the expression of autistic traits in adulthood
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of the visual mismatch negativity in schizophreniaPublication . Mazer, Prune; Carneiro, Fabio; Domingo, Juan; Pasion, Rita; Silveira, Celeste; Ferreira-Santos, FernandoMismatch negativity (MMN) is an event-related potential component automatically elicited by events that violate predictions based on prior events. To elicit this component, researchers use stimulus repetition to induce predictions, and the MMN is obtained by subtracting the brain response to rare or unpredicted stimuli from that of frequent stimuli. Under the Predictive Processing framework, one increasingly popular interpretation of the mismatch response postulates that MMN represents a prediction error. In this context, the reduced MMN amplitude to auditory stimuli has been considered a potential biomarker of Schizophrenia, representing a reduced prediction error and the inability to update the mental model of the world based on the sensory signals. It is unclear, however, whether this amplitude reduction is specific for auditory events or if the visual MMN reveals a similar pattern in schizophrenia spectrum disorder. This review and meta-analysis aimed to summarise the available literature on the vMMN in schizophrenia. A systematic literature search resulted in 10 eligible studies that resulted in a combined effect size of g = −.63, CI [−.86, −.41], reflecting lower vMMN amplitudes in patients. These results are in line with the findings in the auditory domain. This component offers certain advantages, such as less susceptibility to overlap with components generated by attentional demands. Future studies should use vMMN to explore abnormalities in the Predictive Processing framework in different stages and groups of the SSD and increase the knowledge in the search for biomarkers in schizophrenia.
- Generation of an obese diabetic mouse model upon conditional Atrx disruptionPublication . Gaspar, Tiago Bordeira; Jesus, Tito Teles; Azevedo, Maria Teresa; Macedo, Sofia; Soares, Mariana Alves; Martins, Rui Sousa; Leite, Rúben; Rodrigues, Lia; Rodrigues, Daniela Ferreira; Cardoso, Luís; Borges, Inês; Canberk, Sule; Gärtner, Fátima; Miranda-Alves, Leandro; Lopes, José Manuel; Soares, Paula; Vinagre, JoãoATRX mutations occur in up to 17% of human pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PanNETs), and recent evidence points towards its inability to drive PanNET formation in mouse pancreas while predisposing individuals to inflammageing. Aiming to explore the additional non-tumourigenic consequences of Atrx deletion, we characterised an aged series of Atrx conditional disruption in β cells using the Pdx1 promoter. Homozygous mice (P.AtrxHOM) exhibited obesity, diabetes, glucose intolerance, and pancreatic adiposity at a higher extent than age- and sex-matched controls (P.AtrxWT).
- Unraveling the significance of DGCR8 and miRNAs in thyroid carcinomaPublication . Rodrigues, Lia; Paula, Arnaud Da Cruz; Soares, Paula; Vinagre, JoãoMicroRNAs (miRNAs) act as negative regulators for protein-coding gene expression impacting cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. These miRNAs are frequently dysregulated in cancer and constitute classes of blood-based biomarkers useful for cancer detection and prognosis definition. In thyroid cancer (TC), the miRNA biogenesis pathway plays a pivotal role in thyroid gland formation, ensuring proper follicle development and hormone production. Several alterations in the miRNA biogenesis genes are reported as a causality for miRNA dysregulation. Mutations in microprocessor component genes are linked to an increased risk of developing TC; in particular, a recurrent mutation affecting DGCR8, the E518K. In this review, we explore these novel findings and resume the current state-of-the-art in miRNAs in thyroid carcinomas.
- Exploring the bioactive potential of Pisolithus (Basidiomycota): comprehensive insights into antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant properties for innovative applicationsPublication . S. Oliveira, Rui; Preto, Marco; Santos, Germana; Silva, Ana Margarida; Vasconcelos, Vitor; Martins, RosárioAddressing pressing health concerns, modern medical research seeks to identify new antimicrobials to combat drug resistance, novel molecules for cancer treatment, and antioxidants for inflammation-related diseases. Pisolithus (Basidiomycota) is a ubiquitous and widely distributed fungal genus in forest ecosystems, known for establishing ectomycorrhizal associations with a range of host plants, enhancing their growth, and conferring protection against biotic and abiotic stresses. Beyond ecological applications, Pisolithus yields bioactive compounds with medicinal potential. This comprehensive review explores the transversal biological activity of Pisolithus fungi, aiming to provide a thorough overview of their antimicrobial, anticancer, and antioxidant potential. The focus is on elucidating bioactive compounds within Pisolithus to trigger further research for innovative applications. Compounds from Pisolithus displayed antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of microorganisms, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The efficacy of Pisolithus-derived compounds matched established medications, emphasizing their therapeutic potential. In anticancer research, the triterpene pisosterol stood out with documented cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines, showcasing promise for novel anticancer therapies. Pisolithus was also recognized as a potential source of antioxidants, with basidiocarps exhibiting high antioxidant activity. In vivo validation and comprehensive studies on a broader range of compounds, together with mechanistic insights into the mode of action of Pisolithus-derived compounds, are compelling areas for future research.