Browsing by Author "Rocha, Sónia"
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- Bisphenol A migration from plastic materials: direct insight of ecotoxicity in Daphnia magnaPublication . Mansilha, Catarina; Silva, Poliana; Rocha, Sónia; Gameiro, Paula; Domingues, Valentina; Pinho, Carina; Ferreira, IsabelBisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) whose migration from food packaging is recognized worldwide. However, the real overall food contamination and related consequences are yet largely unknown. Among humans, children exposition to BPA contamination has been emphasized because the immaturity of their biological systems. The main aim of this study was to assess the reproductive burden of BPA leached from commercially available plastic containers used or related to child nutrition, performing ecotoxicological tests using the biomonitoring specie Daphnia magna. Acute and chronic tests, as well as single and multigenerational tests were done. Migration of BPA from several baby bottles and other plastic containers evaluated by GC-MS indicated that a broader range of foodstuff may be contaminated when packed in plastics. Ecotoxicological tests results performed using defined concentrations of BPA were in agreement with literature, although a precocious maturity of daphnids was detected at 3.0 mg/L. Curiously, an increased reproductive output (embryos per female) was observed when daphnids were bred in the polycarbonate (PC) containers (145.1±4.3% to 264.7±3.8%), both in single as in multigenerational tests, in comparison with the negative control group (100.3±1.6%). A strong correlated dose-dependent ecotoxicological effect was observed, providing evidence that BPA leached from plastic food packaging materials act as functional estrogen in vivo at very low concentrations. In contrast, embryo production by daphnids cultured in polypropylene and non-PC bottles, was slightly but not significantly enhanced (92.5±2.0% to 118.8±1.8%). Multigenerational tests also revealed magnification of the adverse effects, not only on fecundity but also on mortality, which represents a worrying trend for organisms that are chronically exposed to xenoestrogens for many generations. Two plausible explanations for the observed results could be given: a non-monotonic dose-response relationship or a mixture toxicity effect.
- Mucopolysaccharidosis type III in PortugalPublication . Caseiro, Carla; Rocha, Sónia; Ferreira, Célia; Ribeiro, Helena; Pinto, Eugénia; Pinto, Fernanda; Sousa, Domingos; Pinto, Eugénia; Ribeiro, Isaura; Laranjeira, Francisco; Coutinho, Maria Francisca; Alves, Sandra; Lacerda, LúciaIntroduction: Mucopolysaccharidosis type III (MPS III, Sanfilippo syndrome) is a rare autosomal recessively inherited disorder composed at least by four different subtypes: type A (OMIM # 252900), type B (OMIM # 252920), type C (OMIM # 252930) and type D (OMIM # 252940). Each subtype is caused by a deficiency in a different enzyme involved in the catabolic pathway for heparan sulfate. From the clinical point of view, type III patients can be classified within the MPS neurodegenerative phenotype, given visceromegaly, coarse facies, joint disease and bone dysplasia are relatively mild and progresses steadily. Behavioural disturbances and hyperactivity are often reported in the early stages of the disease. Objectives: The aim of this study is to draw the attention to the several subtypes which may be diagnosed within type III MPS, pointing out for mucopolysacharidosis-like patients with unclear etiology. Methods: MPS type III patients are diagnosed by the quantification of GAG heparan sulfate in urine, identification of the enzymatic deficiency in peripheral blood and gene sequencing for causal mutations. Results: From 34 MPS type III families, 4 patients were found to be IIIA, 24 IIIB and 6 IIIC. Type IIIB is the most common, accounting for 70% of all Portuguese cases with MPS III. Conclusions: Biochemical and molecular characterization allows carrier identification and informed family planning decisions. A negative diagnosis for subtype A to D does not rule out the disease and those patients with a high clinical suspicion are currently further tested for a recently proposed subtype, MPS IIIE.
- Occurrence of Bisphenol A, Estrone, 17β-Estradiol and 17α-Ethinylestradiol in Portuguese RiversPublication . Rocha, Sónia; Domingues, Valentina F.; Pinho, Carina; Fernandes, Virgínia C.; Delerue-Matos, Cristina; Gameiro, Paula; Mansilha, CatarinaThis study focused on the occurrence of several EDCs including bisphenol A, estrone (E1), the 17b-estradiol (E2) and 17a-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in fourteen rivers of Portugal. Samples analysis revealed a widespread contamination of BPA especially in Ave, Ca´vado, Douro, Ferro, Sousa and Vizela Rivers. Achieving 98.4 ng/L for the highest concentration. The estrogens achieved above the method quantification limit (MQL) were E1 in A ´ gueda River and E2 in Ave, Lima and Taˆmega Rivers. The maximum concentration detected for E1 was 26.9 ng/L. EE2 was detected only below MQL.