Browsing by Author "Moreira, Pedro"
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- Cancer Survivor Study (CASUS) on colorectal patients: longitudinal study on physical activity, fitness, nutrition, and its influences on quality of life, disease recurrence, and survivalPublication . Soares-Miranda, Luísa; Abreu, Sandra; Silva, Marco; Peixoto, Armando; Ramalho, Rosa; Correia da Silva, Pedro; Costa, Carla; Teixeira, João Paulo; Gonçalves, Carla; Moreira, Pedro; Mota, Jorge; Macedo, GuilhermePurpose: Evidence suggests that being physically active in combination with a healthy diet contributes to diminish colorectalcancerrisk.However,ifthisistruefor colorectalcancer primary prevention, the same is not clear for its recurrence after colorectal cancer treatments. Data on cancer survival are scarce, and there is a need for greater attention on these survivors’ lifestyle behavior. This manuscript describes rationale and design of the Cancer Survival Study (CASUS) on colorectalpatients,alongitudinalobservationalstudywiththe aim of investigating how physical activity, physical fitness, and dietary intakeare related with their quality of life, disease recurrence, and survival. Methods: The CASUS on colorectal patients is a longitudinal cohort study on colorectal survivors, aged 18 years or older, recruited 6,12,and 24 months after surgery.Upon recruitment, patients fill in a battery of questionnaires about physical activity, dietary intake, and quality of life, donate blood samples,do physical fitness tests, and use an accelerometer during 7 days. Repeated analyses will be performed to assess changes over time in physical activity, physical fitness, dietary intake, and other factors in relation t recurrence and survival. Conclusions: Results will contribute to highlight the role of physical activity, physical fitness, and nutrition in the quality of life of colorectal cancer survivors, recurrence, and survival. This study will provide important information for policy makers on the potential benefits of future physical activity and nutritional interventions, which are inexpensive, as a way to improve general health of colorectal cancer survivors.
- A Cross-Sectional Study of the Street Foods Purchased by Customers in Urban Areas of Central AsiaPublication . Sousa, S.; Lança de Morais, Inês; Albuquerque, Gabriela; Gelormini, Marcello; Casal, Susana; Pinho, Olivia; Motta, Carla; Damasceno, Albertino; Moreira, Pedro; Breda, João; Lunet, Nuno; Padrão, PatriciaThis study aimed to describe street food purchases in cities from Central Asia, considering customers’ characteristics and the nutritional composition of the foods and beverages. Cross-sectional studies were conducted in 2016/2017 in Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) and Almaty (Kazakhstan). Direct observation was used to collect data on the purchases made by street food customers, selected by random and systematic sampling. Nutritional composition was estimated using data from chemical analyses, food composition tables or food labels. A total of 714 customers (56.6% females, 55.5% aged ≥35 years, 23.3% overweight/obese) were observed, who bought 852 foods and beverages, the most frequent being savoury pastries/snacks (23.2%), main dishes (19.0%), sweet pastries/confectionery (17.9%), tea/coffee (11.3%) and soft drinks/juices (9.8%). Fruit was the least purchased food (1.1%). Nearly one-third of customers purchased industrial food items (31.9%). The median energy content of a street food purchase was 529 kcal/serving. Saturated and trans-fat median contents were 4.7 g/serving and 0.36 g/serving (21.4% and 16.5% of maximum daily intake recommendations, respectively). Median sodium and potassium contents were 745 mg/serving (37.3% of maximum recommendation) and 304 mg/serving (8.7% of minimum recommendation), respectively. In general, the purchases observed presented high contents of energy, saturated-fat, trans-fat and sodium, and low levels of potassium. Policies towards the improvement of these urban food environments should be encouraged.
- Indoor fungal diversity in primary schools may differently influence allergic sensitization and asthma in childrenPublication . Cavaleiro Rufo, João; Madureira, Joana; Paciência, Inês; Aguiar, Lívia; Pereira, Cristiana; Silva, Diana; Padrão, Patrícia; Moreira, Pedro; Delgado, Luís; Annesi-Maesano, Isabella; Oliveira Fernandes, Eduardo; Teixeira, João Paulo; Moreira, AndréChildhood exposure to microbiologic agents may influence the development of allergic and respiratory diseases. Apart from home, children spend most of their time at school, which represents an environment of significant exposure to indoor air microbes. Therefore, we aimed to assess how the prevalence of allergic sensitization and asthma in schoolchildren is affected by microbiologic exposure within classrooms.
- Meal-exercise challenge and physical activity reduction impact on immunity and inflammation (MERIIT trial)Publication . Silva, Diana; Moreira, Rita; Sokhatska, Oksana; Beltrão, Marília; Montanha, Tiago; Garcia-Larsen, Vanessa; Villegas, Rodrigo; Severo, Milton; Pizarro, Andreia; Pinto, Mariana; Martins, Carla; Duarte, Ana; Delgado, Luís; Rufo, João; Paciência, Inês; Teixeira, João Paulo; Costa, Carla; Moreira, Pedro; Carvalho, Joana; Moreira, AndréThe effect of a pre-exercise meal as countermeasure to exercise induced immunodepression is poorly known. Also, sedentary behavior is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk but studies on immune changes are lacking. Therefore, we aimed to assess: 1) the impact of a pre-exercise Mediterranean meal (MdM) compared with a fast-food type meal (FFM) on exercise-induced immunological changes and 2) the impact of an induced acute period of sedentary behavior on neuro-immune-endocrine status.
- Nutritional Characterization of Street Food in Urban Turkmenistan, Central AsiaPublication . Albuquerque, Gabriela; Sousa, Sofia; Lança de Morais, Inês; Gelormini, Marcello; Motta, Carla; Gonzales, Gerard Bryan; Ovezov, Azat; Damasceno, Albertino; Moreira, Pedro; Breda, João; Lunet, Nuno; Padrão, PatríciaObjective: Describing the availability and nutritional composition of the most commonly available street foods in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Methods: One hundred sixty-one street food vending sites (six public markets) were assessed, through a collection of data on vending sites’ characteristics and food availability, and samples of commonly available foods (21 homemade; 11 industrial), for chemical analysis. Results: Fruit, beverages, and food other than fruit were available in 6.8, 29.2, and 91.9% of all vending sites, respectively. Regarding the latter, 52.7% of the vending sites sold only homemade products (main dishes, snacks, cakes, biscuits and pastries, bread, ice-cream chocolate and confectionery, savory pastries and sandwiches), 37.2% only industrial (ice-cream, chocolate and confectionery, cakes, biscuits and pastries, snacks, bread and savory pastries) and 10.1% both. Homemade foods presented significantly higher total fat [homemade 11.6 g (range 6.6–19.4 g); industrial 6.2 g (range 4.0–8.6 g), p = 0.001], monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and trans-fat, and sodium and potassium content per serving. Industrial wafers presented the highest mean saturated (11.8 g/serving) and trans-fat (2.32 g/serving) content. Homemade hamburgers presented the highest mean sodium content (1889 mg/serving). Conclusions: Strategies to encourage the production and sales of healthier street foods, especially homemade, are needed to promote healthier urban food environments in urban Turkmenistan.
- Patterns of Street Food Purchase in Cities From Central AsiaPublication . Sousa, Sofia; Lança de Morais, Inês; Albuquerque, Gabriela; Gelormini, Marcello; Casal, Susana; Pinho, Olívia; Motta, Carla; Damasceno, Albertino; Moreira, Pedro; Breda, João; Lunet, Nuno; Padrão, PatríciaStreet food makes a significant contribution to the diet of many dwellers in low- and middle-income countries and its trade is a well-developed activity in the central Asian region. However, data on its purchase and nutritional value is still scarce. This study aimed to describe street food purchasing patterns in central Asia, according to time and place of purchase. A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016/2017 in the main urban areas of four central Asian countries: Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Ashgabat (Turkmenistan) and Almaty (Kazakhstan). Street food markets (n = 34) and vending sites (n = 390) were selected by random and systematic sampling procedures. Data on the purchased foods and beverages were collected by direct observation. Time and geographic location of the purchases was registered, and their nutritional composition was estimated. A total of 714 customers, who bought 852 foods, were observed. Customers’ influx, buying rate and purchase of industrial food were higher in city centers compared to the outskirts (median: 4.0 vs. 2.0 customers/10min, p < 0.001; 5.0 vs. 2.0 food items/10min, p < 0.001; 36.2 vs. 28.7%, p = 0.004). Tea, coffee, bread and savory pastries were most frequently purchased in the early morning, bread, main dishes and savory pastries during lunchtime, and industrial products in the mid-morning and mid-afternoon periods. Energy and macronutrient density was highest at 11:00–12:00 and lowest at 09:00–10:00. Purchases were smaller but more energy-dense in city centers, and higher in saturated and trans-fat in the peripheries. This work provides an overview of the street food buying habits in these cities, which in turn reflect local food culture. These findings from the main urban areas of four low- and middle-income countries which are currently under nutrition transition can be useful when designing public health interventions customized to the specificities of these food environments and their customers.
- School environment associates with lung function and autonomic nervous system activity in children: a cross-sectional studyPublication . Paciência, Inês; Rufo, João Cavaleiro; Silva, Diana; Martins, Carla; Mendes, Francisca; Rama, Tiago; Rodolfo, Ana; Madureira, Joana; Delgado, Luís; de Oliveira Fernandes, Eduardo; Padrão, Patrícia; Moreira, Pedro; Severo, Milton; Pina, Maria Fátima; Teixeira, João Paulo; Barros, Henrique; Ruokolainen, Lasse; Haahtela, Tari; Moreira, AndréChildren are in contact with local environments, which may affect respiratory symptoms and allergic sensitization. We aimed to assess the effect of the environment and the walkability surrounding schools on lung function, airway inflammation and autonomic nervous system activity. Data on 701 children from 20 primary schools were analysed. Lung function, airway inflammation and pH from exhaled breath condensate were measured. Pupillometry was performed to evaluate autonomic activity. Land use composition and walkability index were quantified within a 500 m buffer zone around schools. The proportion of effects explained by the school environment was measured by mixed-effect models. We found that green school areas tended to be associated with higher lung volumes (FVC, FEV1 and FEF25-75%) compared with built areas. FVC was significantly lower in-built than in green areas. After adjustment, the school environment explained 23%, 34% and 99.9% of the school effect on FVC, FEV1, and FEF25-75%, respectively. The walkability of school neighbourhoods was negatively associated with both pupil constriction amplitude and redilatation time, explaining -16% to 18% of parasympathetic and 8% to 29% of sympathetic activity. Our findings suggest that the environment surrounding schools has an effect on the lung function of its students. This effect may be partially mediated by the autonomic nervous system.
- The Impact of Indoor Exposure to Fungi and Bacteria on the Risk of Sensitization and Asthma in ChildrenPublication . Cavaleiro Rufo, João; Madureira, Joana; Paciência, Inês; Aguiar, Lívia; Padrão, Patrícia; Pinto, Mariana; Delgado, Luísa; Moreira, Pedro; Teixeira, João Paulo; Oliveira Fernandes, Eduardo; Moreira, AndréAim: To characterize indoor air microbiological exposure in schools as a predictor of allergic sensitization and asthma in children.