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- Antioxidant activity of Artemisia annua LPublication . Vieira, Rita; Pinho, Cláudia; Oliveira, Ana I.; Oliveira, Rita F.; Cruz, AgostinhoTea infusions of Artemisia annua are known for their prophylactic and therapeutic efficacy against malaria. However, recent studies have revealed that A. annua possess a variety of pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, cytotoxic and antioxidant.
- Design and assessment of e-learning modules for PharmacologyPublication . Jesus, Ângelo; Duarte, Nuno; Lopes, José C.; Nunes, Hélder; Cruz, AgostinhoTeaching and Learning through web-based learning platforms is a complementary method of conventional teaching and learning approaches which has the potential to produce meaningful learning experiences. The study of Pharmacology in the Pharmacy Degree of the School of Allied Health Technologies is normally taught face-toface. With this paper we aim to describe an online approach to the teaching of this subject. To develop and assess two elearning modules for the teaching of Pharmacology. Using the MIPO Model for instructional design, Moodle as an LMS, and commercial software, we developed several learning objects that make part of two different modules of Pharmacology. The modules were offered as mandatory training for the third-year students. Knowledge retention was assessed 10 weeks later in a written exam. Two modules and five lessons were developed. Quality assurance was assessed by the Web-Based Learning Environment Questionnaire. Students enrolled in both modules and engaged thoroughly in learning activities and learning contents. All students had a good performance in online quizzes. After 10 weeks, knowledge retention was analysed via a written test. Students were grouped according to their final achievement in the discipline. Students with high and medium achievement grades showed greater knowledge retention than other groups. There was no difference between genders. An online environment was successfully designed and implemented for complementing the teaching of Pharmacology. Knowledge retention does not seem to be associated with shifting the paradigm to online learning, but is probably related to student characteristics or motivations for learning.
- Consistência interna da versão portuguesa reduzida do Web Based Learning Environment InventoryPublication . Jesus, Ângelo; Gomes, Maria João; Cunha, Agostinho; Cruz, AgostinhoA utilização de instrumentos padronizados de avaliação, traz consigo uma dimensão de fidelidade e validade estatística que permitem um outro olhar sobre diversos aspetos relacionados com a avaliação de ambientes de aprendizagem, complementando e enriquecendo as abordagens de carácter mais qualitativo. Nesse sentido, têm sido desenvolvidos e validados em vários países, inquéritos por questionário, com o objetivo de recolher informações para avaliação dos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem. Em pesquisas anteriores foi já debatida a inexistência de um instrumento desta natureza, validado na língua portuguesa. O presente estudo pretende contribuir para colmatar esta lacuna, sendo apresentado em detalhe o processo de tradução, adaptação e análise de consistência interna da versão reduzida do Web Based Learning Environment Inventory.
- Livro de atas do IX Colóquio de FarmáciaPublication . Cruz, Agostinho; Cunha, Agostinho; Oliveira, Ana Isabel; Jesus, Ângelo; Pinho, Cláudia; Santos, Marlene; Correia, Patrícia Carla dos Santos; Ferraz Oliveira, RitaLivro de Atas do “IX Colóquio de Farmácia”: “Envelhecimento e Saúde” da “9 th Pharmacy Academic Conference Proceedings” em Abril de 2013.
- FAS -670A>G genetic polymorphism Is associated with treatment resistant depressionPublication . Santos, Marlene; Carvalho, Serafim; Lima, Luís; Mota-Pereira, Jorge; Pimentel, Paulo; Maia, Dulce; Correia, Diana; Gomes, Sofia; Cruz, Agostinho; Medeiros, RuiHippocampal neurogenesis has been suggested as a downstream event of antidepressants (AD) mechanism of action and might explain the lag time between AD administration and the therapeutic effect. Despite the widespread use of AD in the context of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) there are no reliable biomarkers of treatment response phenotypes, and a significant proportion of patients display Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD). Fas/FasL system is one of the best-known death-receptor mediated cell signaling systems and is recognized to regulate cell proliferation and tumor cell growth. Recently this pathway has been described to be involved in neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. Since FAS -670A>G and FASL -844T>C functional polymorphisms never been evaluated in the context of depression and antidepressant therapy, we genotyped FAS -670A>G and FASL -844T>C in a subset of 80 MDD patients to evaluate their role in antidepressant treatment response phenotypes. We found that the presence of FAS -670G allele was associated with antidepressant bad prognosis (relapse or TRD: OR=6.200; 95% CI: [1.875–20.499]; p=0.001), and we observed that patients carrying this allele have a higher risk to develop TRD (OR=10.895; 95% CI: [1.362–87.135]; p=0.008). Moreover, multivariate analysis adjusted to potentials confounders showed that patients carrying G allele have higher risk of early relapse (HR=3.827; 95% CI: [1.072–13.659]; p=0.039). FAS mRNA levels were down-regulated among G carriers, whose genotypes were more common in TRD patients. No association was found between FASL-844T>C genetic polymorphism and any treatment phenotypes. Small sample size. Patients used antidepressants with different mechanisms of action. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study to evaluate the role of FAS functional polymorphism in the outcome of antidepressant therapy. This preliminary report associates FAS -670A>G genetic polymorphism with Treatment Resistant Depression and with time to relapse. The current results may possibly be given to the recent recognized role of Fas in neurogenesis and/or neuroplasticity.
- Efficacy and safety of dry extract Hedera helix in the treatment of productive coughPublication . Costa, Ana R.; Jesus, Ângelo; Cardoso, Américo; Meireles, Alexandra; Colaço, Armanda; Cruz, AgostinhoOne of the most frequent symptoms in medical practice is cough. Consequently, there is a wide range of products available for its treatment, not only drugs but also some herbal products. This work focuses on the dry extract of Hedera helix, which increasingly gains popularity. Systematize the scientific evidence on the efficacy and safety of Hedera helix extract in the treatment of productive cough. Systematic review, using databases Pubmed, EBSCO and Science Direct. Articles were selected in English, Spanish and Portuguese and with no more than twenty years since publication. Ten studies were selected, consisting of 69310 individuals with varying ages. One study was placebo controlled. Four studies compared different formulations with extract. One study analysed differences between the treatment with the dry extract of Hedera helix compared with the conventional therapy. Three open non-comparative multi-centre trials were also included as well as a retrospective study. All studies show evidence of the efficacy and tolerability of Hedera helix extract in the treatment of productive cough. Due to the minimal incidence of adverse effects, the authors were able to admit a good tolerability of ivy extract. The studies included in this review indicate that Hedera helix dry extract preparations have positive effects in productive cough, showing improvement in terms of respiratory function in patients with diseases of the respiratory tract. However, more robust studies are required for a structured evaluation of the safety and tolerability of this extract in productive cough.
- Validade e fidelidade da versão portuguesa reduzida do web based learning environment inventoryPublication . Jesus, Ângelo; Gomes, Maria João; Cunha, Agostinho; Cruz, AgostinhoA utilização de instrumentos padronizados de avaliação, traz consigo uma dimensão de fidelidade e validade estatística que permitem um outro olhar sobre diversos aspectos relacionados com a avaliação de ambientes de aprendizagem, complementando e enriquecendo as abordagens de carácter mais qualitativo. Nesse sentido, têm sido desenvolvidos e validados em vários países, inquéritos por questionário, com o objectivo de recolher informações para avaliação dos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem. Em pesquisas anteriores foi já debatida a inexistência de um instrumento desta natureza, validado na língua portuguesa. Este estudo pretende colmatar esta lacuna, sendo apresentado em detalhe o processo de tradução, adaptação e validação da versão reduzida do Web Based Learning Environment Inventory.
- Allergic rhinitis characterization in community pharmacy customers: a cross-sectional studyPublication . Hélio, Guedes; Morgado, Manuel; Rodrigues, Márcio; Cruz, Agostinho; Fonseca, Cecília; Costa, Elísio; Araújo, André R. T. S.Allergic rhinitis represents a public health problem that is signifcantly prevalent in the global population and has been associated with asthma, a strong desire to sleep and a low quality of life. Objective This study aims to evaluate the prevalence, symptoms, control strategies and treatment, as well as the control of this condition and its impact on the quality of life of customers of community pharmacies with allergic rhinitis.
- O conceito da qualidade nos produtos à base de Ginkgo biloba comercializados em PortugalPublication . Pinho, Cláudia; Correia, Patrícia; Cunha, Agostinho; Jesus, Ângelo; Oliveira, Ana Isabel; Ferraz Oliveira, Rita; Santos, Marlene; Cruz, AgostinhoO extracto de Ginkgo biloba é o produto fitoterápico mais vendido na Europa. Em Portugal e muitos países, a maioria dos produtos à base de plantas são comercializados como suplementos alimentares, não estando garantidos, parâmetros de qualidade, segurança e eficácia. Realizouse um estudo, com recolha de informações, tendo por base uma amostra de 50 produtos à base de ginkgo. Da análise, verificou-se que 94% podiam ser encontrados à venda na internet, e desse total, 89% possuíam informação on-line quanto à composição. Apenas 40% referem a utilização do extracto padronizado de ginkgo e muitos recomendam doses superiores às referidas como terapêuticas.
- Potentially irritant preservatives in newborn baby cosmetics – analysis of labels of products sold in PortugalPublication . Pinto, Diana F. G.; Coelho, Mariana J. P.; Machado, Marisa F. C.; Cruz, Agostinho L. S.; Moreira, Fernando X. F.The use of cosmetics containing preservatives might pose a risk to the skin health of newborns, despite improving their adaptation to the external environment. The present work aimed at depicting the potentially hazardous preservatives in cosmetics sold in the district of Porto, Portugal. A total of 281 labels from newborn cosmetics were analyzed. From 729 different ingredients found in the analyzed labels, 15 were preservatives with previously recorded irritant activity, being sodium benzoate the most mentioned (n = 118). There was a significant difference between the means of number of preservatives with an irritant potential present in the products sold in pharmacies and in the products sold in supermarkets. Most analyzed products contained at least one preservative. Still, the choice of cosmetics for newborns should consider those with a minimum number of preservatives, being more probable to choose a less sensitizing product in pharmacies than in supermarkets.