Browsing by Author "Lage, Bruna"
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- Assessment of indoor air exposure at residential homes: Inhalation dose and lung deposition of PM10, PM2.5 and ultrafine particles among newborn children and their mothersPublication . Madureira, Joana; Slezakova, Klara; Silva, Ana Inês; Lage, Bruna; Mendes, Ana; Aguiar, Lívia; Pereira, Maria Carmo; Teixeira, João Paulo; Costa, CarlaAccurate assessment of particulate matter (PM) dose and respiratory deposition is essential to better understand the risks of exposure to PM and, consequently, to develop the respective risk-control strategies. In homes, this is especially relevant in regards to ultrafine particles (UFP; <0.1 μm) which origin in these environments is mostly due to indoor sources. Thus, this study aimed to estimate inhalation doses for different PM mass/number size fractions (i.e., PM10, PM2.5 and UFP) in indoor air of residential homes and to quantify the deposition (total, regional and lobar) in human respiratory tract for both newborn children and mothers. Indoor real-time measurements of PM10, PM2.5 and UFP were conducted in 65 residential homes situated in Oporto metropolitan area (Portugal). Inhalation doses were estimated based on the physical characteristics of individual subjects and their activity patterns. The multi-path particle dosimetry model was used to quantify age-specific depositions in human respiratory tract. The results showed that 3-month old infants exhibited 4-fold higher inhalation doses than their mothers. PM10 were primarily deposited in the head region (87%), while PM2.5 and UFP depositions mainly occurred in the pulmonary area (39% and 43%, respectively). Subject age affected the pulmonary region and the total lung deposition; higher deposition being observed among the newborns. Similarly, lower lobes (left lobe: 37% and right lobe: 30%) received higher PM deposition than upper and middle lobes; right lobes lung are prone to be more susceptible to respiratory problems, since asymmetric deposition was observed. Considering that PM-related diseases occur at specific sites of respiratory system, quantification of site-specific particle deposition should be predicted in order to better evidence the respective health outcomes resulting from inhaled PM.
- Determining the association between genomic instability and prevalence of frailty syndrome in Portuguese older adultsPublication . Costa, Solange; Gomes, Armanda Teixeira; Lage, Bruna; Esteves, Filipa; Loureiro, A.; Valdiglesias, Vanessa; Laffon, Blanca; Teixeira, JoãoThe aim of the present study was to investigate the association between genomic instability, via DNA damage and oxidative DNA damage, and the prevalence frailty syndrome in a group of older adults community-dwellers (≥ 65 years old).
- Exposure assessment in one central hospital: A multi-approach protocol to achieve an accurate risk characterizationPublication . Viegas, Carla; Almeida, Beatriz; Monteiro, Ana; Paciência, Inês; Rufo, João; Aguiar, Lívia; Lage, Bruna; Diogo Gonçalves, Lídia Maria; Caetano, Liliana Aranha; Carolino, Elisabete; Gomes, Anita Quintal; Twarużek, Magdalena; Kosicki, Robert; Grajewski, Jan; Teixeira, João Paulo; Viegas, Susana; Pereira, CristianaThe bioburden in a Hospital building originates not only from patients, visitors and staff, but is also disseminated by several indoor hospital characteristics and outdoor environmental sources. This study intends to assess the exposure to bioburden in one central Hospital with a multi-approach protocol using active and passive sampling methods. The microbial contamination was also characterized through molecular tools for toxigenic species, antifungal resistance and mycotoxins and endotoxins profile. Two cytotoxicity assays (MTT and resazurin) were conducted with two cell lines (Calu-3 and THP-1), and in vitro pro-inflammatory potential was assessed in THP-1 cell line. Out of the 15 sampling locations 33.3% did not comply with Portuguese legislation regarding bacterial contamination, whereas concerning fungal contamination 60% presented I/O > 1. Toxigenic fungal species were observed in 27% of the sampled rooms (4 out of 15) and qPCR analysis successfully amplified DNA from the Aspergillus sections Flavi and Fumigati, although mycotoxins were not detected. Growth of distinct fungal species was observed on Sabouraud dextrose agar with triazole drugs, such as Aspergillus section Versicolores on 1 mg/L VORI. The highest concentrations of endotoxins were found in settled dust samples and ranged from 5.72 to 23.0 EU.mg-1. While a considerable cytotoxic effect (cell viability < 30%) was observed in one HVAC filter sample with Calu-3 cell line, it was not observed with THP-1 cell line. In air samples a medium cytotoxic effect (61-68% cell viability) was observed in 3 out of 15 samples. The cytokine responses produced a more potent average cell response (46.8 ± 12.3 ρg/mL IL-1β; 90.8 ± 58.5 ρg/mL TNF-α) on passive samples than air samples (25.5 ± 5.2 ρg/mL IL-1β and of 19.4 ± 5.2 ρg/mL TNF-α). A multi-approach regarding parameters to assess, sampling and analysis methods should be followed to characterize the biorburden in the Hospital indoor environment. This study supports the importance of considering exposure to complex mixtures in indoor environments.
- Frailty syndrome, biomarkers and environmental factors – A pilot studyPublication . Teixeira-Gomes, Armanda; Lage, Bruna; Esteves, Filipa; Sousa, Ana Catarina; Pastorinho, M. Ramiro; Valdiglesias, Vanessa; Costa, Solange; Laffon, Blanca; Teixeira, João PauloFrailty is an age-related syndrome expected to increase over the next decades. This syndrome has been identified to be the most common condition leading to disability, institutionalisation and death in the elderly. The aim of this pilot study is to investigate a possible link between frailty status, biomarkers and environmental exposures. A group of 71 older adults (≥65 years old) was engaged in this study. The study population was classified as 45.1% robust, 45.1% pre-frail and 9.8% frail. A significant higher prevalence of second-hand smokers was found in the pre-frail group when compared to robust. Furthermore, a higher prevalence of robust individuals was found among those consuming home-produced vegetables and water from well/springs. Significant differences were found between data collected in a lifetime exposure questionnaire (LTEQ) and the levels of genotoxicity endpoints and the mercury levels analysed regarding some exposure-related parameters, namely, smoking habits, intake of home-produced vegetables and the use of pesticides in agriculture. Understanding if the way we live(d) or worked can impact the way we age are important questions to be explored. Data obtained in this pilot study encourage further studies on this matter, exploring the role of exposures history and its impact on health.
- Life-course exposure and its influence on frailty syndromePublication . Lage, Bruna; Costa, Solange; Teixeira, João PauloOne area of health concern is reducing the burden of environmentally induced disease in populations that may be more susceptible to the effects of exposures to contaminants. The potential to reduce the prevalence of some major diseases is driving research to understand the totality of exposures over the course of our lifetimes. Older adults are well-recognized susceptible subpopulation. Health status in older adults is complex and multidimensional. One metric is frailty, a state of increased vulnerability to stressors, characterized by decreased physical and mental functioning and an increased risk for poor health outcomes. The European Commission has appointed Ageing one of the main priorities in the next Horizon 2020 Framework Program, the prevention of frailty in old age is one of the key actions identified. The aim of the present study is to build and apply a life-course exposure questionnaire and study the association with DNA basal damage and oxidative damage endpoints with frailty syndrome, contributing to the knowledge of the mechanistic pathways and syndrome aetiology. A total of 61 voluntary individuals aged 65 and over were involved in the study from senior recreational community associations and day care centres, located in metropolitan region of Oporto. Frailty assessment was performed using Fried’s frailty model and the individuals were classified as robust, pre-frail or frail. Life-time exposure was evaluated by a selfreported life-course exposure questionnaire and a job exposure matrix application. DNA basal damage and DNA oxidative damage endpoints were measured through comet assay in whole blood. Study population was classified as 47.5% robust, 49.2% pre-frail and 3.3% frail. A relation between the prevalence frailty with age and with gender was observed, with women and older elderly displaying higher rates of frailty. A relation between frailty status and secondhand smokers was found, since higher prevalence of exposure to tobacco smoke was found in pre-frail group (23.3%) when compared with the robust individuals (10.4%). Associations between frailty status and consumption of home-produced vegetables were found, with robust individuals consuming more home-produced vegetables (71.4%) from this source compared to pre-frail individuals (28.6%) that eat those aliments. Furthermore, associations between the consume of these vegetables and DNA damage in robust groups were found, since the robust individuals that include these aliments in their diet showing lower DNA damage than robust individuals that not consumption those aliments from particular produced sources. Regarding the effects of the variables studied, a significant influence was found on the genotoxic endpoints for gender and age within the robust group (p<0.05). Thus, significant differences were observed between the basal damage between robust females and males and between the oxidative damage between earlier age group and 75- 84 age group. Lastly, also a relation was verified between the role of current exposures and the DNA damage, regarding household-proximity to farming operation within the robust group. Thus, robust individuals that reported to live near of this activity have higher basal and oxidative damage than those robust individuals that do not live near farming operations (p<0.05). Data obtained provides preliminary information on relations between exposure, frailty syndrome and DNA damage. Further studies need to be performed in order to deepen the knowledge about frailty aetiology and the possible role of life-course exposures, helping to understand how the past may affect the future.