Browsing by Author "Pereira, Cristiana"
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- Análise do conforto térmico em estruturas residenciais para idosos em clima atlânticoPublication . Torres, Pedro; Aguiar, Lívia; Pereira, Cristiana; Forcada, Nuria; Tejedor, Blanca; Neves, Maria Paula; Teixeira, João Paulo; Mendes, AnaA esperança média de vida da população mundial tem vindo a aumentar, incrementando a faixa etária acima dos 65 anos. Nesse sentido, determinados ser viços experimentam maior demanda em resposta às necessidades crescentes desta população, como é o caso dos ser viços de cuidados a longo prazo, nomeadamente, centros de dia (CD) e estruturas residenciais para idosos (ERPI). Neste âmbito de ser viços para a comunidade idosa, os parâmetros de qualidade e confor to são apresentados como fatores cruciais para o bem-estar dos utentes/residentes, sendo que o confor to térmico (CT) é um fator determinante na monitorização do bem-estar desta população. Para que os valores ótimos de CT sejam alcançados e mantidos nos edificados com esta tipologia de ser viços, elevados gastos energéticos são despendidos para retificar as condições estruturais dos edifícios. A fim de estruturar um modelo matemático viável que permita definir as características estruturais otimizadas na fase de construção e reabilitação dos edifícios para CD ou ERPI, torna-se necessário analisar o CT dos utentes e prever quais as condições térmicas aceitáveis ou preferenciais para esta população. Este estudo, ainda em curso e integrante do programa ConTerMa, analisa as variáveis de CT na zona climática continental atlântica, monitorizando 8 ERPI e CD situados em 5 concelhos da área metropolitana do Por to, e 5 ERPI e CD na área metropolitana de Barcelona, representativas do clima mediterrânico.
- Children's health and indoor air quality in primary schools and homes in Portugal-Study designPublication . Madureira, Joana; Paciência, Inês; Ramos, Elisabete; Barros, Henrique; Pereira, Cristiana; Teixeira, João Paulo; Fernandes, Eduardo de OliveiraThe main aim of the research project "On the Contribution of Schools to Children's Overall Indoor Air Exposure" is to study associations between adverse health effects, namely, allergy, asthma, and respiratory symptoms, and indoor air pollutants to which children are exposed to in primary schools and homes. Specifically, this investigation reports on the design of the study and methods used for data collection within the research project and discusses factors that need to be considered when designing such a study. Further, preliminary findings concerning descriptors of selected characteristics in schools and homes, the study population, and clinical examination are presented. The research project was designed in two phases. In the first phase, 20 public primary schools were selected and a detailed inspection and indoor air quality (IAQ) measurements including volatile organic compounds (VOC), aldehydes, particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), bacteria, fungi, temperature, and relative humidity were conducted. A questionnaire survey of 1600 children of ages 8-9 years was undertaken and a lung function test, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), and tear film stability testing were performed. The questionnaire focused on children's health and on the environment in their school and homes. One thousand and ninety-nine questionnaires were returned. In the second phase, a subsample of 68 children was enrolled for further studies, including a walk-through inspection and checklist and an extensive set of IAQ measurements in their homes. The acquired data are relevant to assess children's environmental exposures and health status.
- Contaminação microbiológica do ar em lares da 3ª idade na cidade do Porto: Projeto GERIAPublication . Aguiar, Lívia; Mendes, Ana; Pereira, Cristiana; Neves, Maria Paula; Teixeira, João Paulo
- Development of Self-disinfecting Paints and In Vitro Assessment of their Cytotoxicity on Human CellsPublication . Querido, Micaela; Paulo, Ivo; Galhano Santos, Rui; Bordado, João; Teixeira, João Paulo; Pereira, CristianaThis PhD project aims to develop, test and validate a self-disinfecting paint, to be applied in areas with a high propensity for infection spreading, such as healthcare facilities, schools or other public spaces, to help reduce infection risks.
- DNA Damage and Oxidative DNA Damage in Inflammatory Bowel DiseasePublication . Pereira, Cristiana; Coelho, Rosa; Grácio, Daniela; Dias, Cláudia; Silva, Marco; Peixoto, Armando; Lopes, Pedro; Costa, Carla; Teixeira, João Paulo; Macedo, Guilherme; Magro, FernandoBackground and aims: Inflammation has long been regarded as a major contributor to cellular oxidative damage and to be involved in the promotion of carcinogenesis. Methods: We aimed to investigate the oxidative damage in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] patients through a case–control and prospective study involving 344 IBD patients and 294 healthy controls. DNA damage and oxidative DNA damage were measured by comet assay techniques, and oxidative stress by plasmatic lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls, and total antioxidant capacity. Results: Higher DNA damage [p < 0.001] was found both in Crohn’s disease [CD] (9.7 arbitrary units [AU]; interquartile range [IQR]: 6.2–14.0) and ulcerative colitis [UC] [7.1 AU; IQR: 4.4–11.7], when compared with controls [5.4 AU; IQR: 3.8–6.8], and this was also the case with oxidative DNA damage [p < 0.001] [CD: 3.6 AU; IQR: 1.8–6.8; UC: 4.6 AU; IQR: 2.4–8.1], when compared with controls: 2.3 AU; IQR: 1.2–4.2]. Stratifying patients into groups according to therapy (5-aminosalicylic acid [5-ASA], azathioprine, anti-TNF, and combined therapy [azathioprine and anti-TNF]) revealed significant between-group differences in the level of DNA damage, both in CD and UC, with the combined therapy exhibiting the highest DNA damage levels [11.6 AU; IQR: 9.5–14.3, and 12.4 AU; IQR: 10.6–15.0, respectively]. Among CD patients, disease behaviour [B1 and B2], and age at diagnosis over 40 years [A3] stand as risk factors for DNA damage. For UC patients, the risk factors found for DNA damage were disease activity, treatment, age at diagnosis under 40 years [A1 + A2] and disease locations [E2 and E3]. Conclusions: In IBD there is an increase in DNA damage, and treatment, age at diagnosis and inflammatory burden seem to be risk factors.
- Environmental and ventilation assessment in Child Day Care Centers in Porto: the ENVIRH ProjectPublication . Mendes, Ana; Aelenei, Daniel; Papoila, Ana Luísa; Carreiro-Martins, Pedro; Aguiar, Lívia; Pereira, Cristiana; Neves, Paula; Azevedo, Susana; Cano, Manuela; Proença, Carmo; Viegas, João; Silva, Susana; Mendes, Diana; Neuparth, Nuno; Teixeira, João PauloChildren attending day care centers (CDCC) have been reported to be more prone to infectious diseases when compared with those cared for at home, and are exposed to conditions that may increase the risk of allergies and asthma. Several studies revealed that consequences of poor ventilation conditions include high levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) and many other indoor pollutants commonly detected in schools. Nine child day care centers were selected randomly to participate in this study. Fifty-two classrooms were assessed for chemical, biological, physical, and allergen parameters in spring and winter seasons in these nine CDCC located in Porto, Portugal. Outdoor measurements were also conducted for comparison. Our results indicated that (i) particulate matter (PM10) median levels were above the national reference levels, both by classroom type and by season; (ii) TVOC kindergarten peak values may raise some concern; (iii) CO2 was present at high median and maximum levels during spring and winter assessment in both nurseries and kindergartens classrooms; (iv) total bacteria concentrations were 57- and 52-fold higher in the nursery and kindergarten than outdoors, respectively, for the spring season; (v) winter and spring median predicted mean vote (PMV)indices were between “neutral” (0) and “slightly cool” (≤ –1) in the thermal sensation scale for comfort situations (−2 to 2) for both types of classrooms; (vi) there were significant differences for both PMV and predicted percentage of dissatisfied (PPD) indices by season; and vii) CO2, total bacteria, and gram-negative bacteria were associated with low airflow rates. These data will help to evaluate the effectiveness of current building operation practices in child day care centers regarding indoor air quality and respiratory health.
- 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.
- Exposure of children to ultrafine particles in primary schools in PortugalPublication . Rufo, João Cavaleiro; Madureira, Joana; Paciência, Inês; Slezakova, Klara; Pereira, Maria do Carmo; Pereira, Cristiana; Teixeira, João Paulo; Pinto, Mariana; Moreira, André; Fernandes, Eduardo de OliveiraChildren spend a large part of their time at schools, which might be reflected as chronic exposure. Ultrafine particles (UFP) are generally associated with a more severe toxicity compared to fine and coarse particles, due to their ability to penetrate cell membranes. In addition, children tend to be more susceptible to UFP-mediated toxicity compared to adults, due to various factors including undeveloped immune and respiratory systems and inhalation rates. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine indoor UFP number concentrations in Portuguese primary schools. Ultrafine particles were sampled between January and March 2014 in 10 public primary schools (35 classrooms) located in Porto, Portugal. Overall, the average indoor UFP number concentrations were not significantly different from outdoor concentrations (8.69 × 10(3) vs. 9.25 × 10(3) pt/cm(3), respectively; considering 6.5 h of indoor occupancy). Classrooms with distinct characteristics showed different trends of indoor UFP concentrations. The levels of carbon dioxide were negatively correlated with indoor UFP concentrations. Occupational density was significantly and positively correlated with UFP concentrations. Although the obtained results need to be interpreted with caution since there are no guidelines for UFP levels, special attention needs to be given to source control strategies in order to reduce major particle emissions and ensure good indoor air quality.
- O impacto do ambiente interior na saúde respiratória dos idosos: resultados preliminares do projeto GERIAPublication . Mendes, Ana; Papoila, Ana Luísa; Martins, Pedro; Caires, Iolanda; Palmeiro, Teresa; Aguiar, Lívia; Pereira, Cristiana; Neves, Paula; Botelho, Amália; Neuparth, Nuno; Teixeira, João Paulo
- In Vitro Cyto- and Genotoxicity Assessment of Antibacterial Paints with Triclosan and IsoborneolPublication . Querido, Micaela; Rosário, Fernanda; Bessa, Maria; Mendes, Francisca; Teixeira, José; Teixeira, João; Pereira, CristianaSurfaces with antimicrobial properties are gaining notoriety as an efficient method to avoid surface contamination. Self-disinfecting paints are a promising strategy towards cleaner indoor environments by preventing the colonization of walls with microorganisms. However, its widespread use needs an appropriate toxicological safety evaluation due to the potential for biological disturbance associated to its biocidal activity. In this work, the cyto- and genotoxic assessment of two self-disinfecting paints containing the antimicrobial substances triclosan (TCS) and isoborneol (ISB) is performed. HaCaT and A549 cell lines models were selected for the in vitro assessment. To evaluate the cytotoxicity, tests by direct contact and on extracts obtained from leaching were performed following ISO 10993, whereas the genotoxicity was assessed by comet assay and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay. The results showed low levels of cyto- and genotoxicity under the models and conditions tested, indicating that these substances have commercial potential.