Browsing by Author "Simoes, Tania"
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- Disclosing effects of tobacco smoke on occupationally exposed workers at Lisbon restaurantsPublication . Pacheco, Solange; Simoes, Tania; Torres, Vukosawa; Lopes, Carlos; Almeida, Bugalho; Penque, DeborahThis study represents a global assessment of IAQ in Lisbon smoking entertainment places and health effects on exposed workers. Most importantly, it may contribute to the better understanding of pathogenesis mechanisms due to SHS exposure. In addition it may lead to the discovery of specific biomarkers for occupational SHS-exposure that might precede respiratory diseases on their employees and promote more effective therapies.
- Molecular profiling of the human nasal epithelium: a proteomics approachPublication . Simoes, Tania; Charro, Nuno; Blonder, Josip; Faria, Daniel; Couto, Francisco; Chan, King C.; Waybright, Timothy; Isaaq, Haleem J.; Veenstra, Timothy D.; Penque, DeborahA comprehensive proteomic profiling of nasal epithelium (NE) is described. This study relies on simple subcellular fractionation used to obtain soluble- and membrane-enriched fractions followed by 2-dimensional liquid chromatography (2D-LC) separation and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The cells were collected using a brushing technique applied on NE of clinically evaluated volunteers. Subsequently, the soluble- and the membrane-protein enriched fractions were prepared and analyzed in parallel using 2D-LC-MS/MS. In a set of 1482 identified proteins, 947 (63.9%) proteins were found to be associated to membrane fraction. Grand average hydropathy value index (GRAVY) analysis, the transmembrane protein mapping and annotations of primary location deposited in the Human Protein Reference Database (HPRD) confirmed an enrichment of hydrophobic proteins on this dataset. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) of soluble fraction revealed an enrichment of molecular and cellular functions associated with cell death, protein folding and drug metabolism while in membrane fraction showed an enrichment of functions associated with molecular transport, protein trafficking and cell-to-cell signaling and interaction. The IPA showed similar enrichment of functions associated with cellular growth and proliferation in both soluble and membrane subproteomes. This finding was in agreement with protein content analysis using exponentially modified protein abundance index (emPAI). A comparison of our data with previously published studies focusing on respiratory tract epithelium revealed similarities related to identification of proteins associated with physical barrier function and immunological defence. In summary, we extended the NE molecular profile by identifying and characterizing proteins associated to pivotal functions of a respiratory epithelium, including the control of fluid volume and ionic composition at the airways' surface, physical barrier maintenance, detoxification and immunological defence. The extent of similarities supports the applicability of a less invasive analysis of NE to assess prognosis and treatment response of lung diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- Occupational Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke: A Study in Lisbon RestaurantsPublication . Pacheco, Solange; Aguiar, Fátima; Proença, Maria do Carmo; Penque, Deborah; Ruivo, Patricia; Simoes, TaniaEnvironmental tobacco smoke (ETS), also referred to as secondhand smoke (SHS), is a major threat to public health and is increasingly recognized as an occupational hazard to workers in the hospitality industry. Therefore, several countries have implemented smoke-free regulations at hospitality industry sites. In Portugal, since 2008, legislation partially banned smoking in restaurants and bars but until now no data have been made available on levels of indoor ETS pollution/exposure at these locations. The aim of this study was to examine the occupational exposure to ETS/SHS in several restaurants in Lisbon, measured by indoor fine particles (PM2.5) and urinary cotinine concentration in workers, after the partial smoking ban in Portugal. Results showed that the PM2.5 median level in smoking designated areas was 253 μg/m3, eightfold higher than levels recorded in canteens or outdoor. The nonsmoking rooms of mixed restaurants exhibited PM2.5 median level of 88 μg/m3, which is higher than all smoke-free locations studied, approximately threefold greater than those found in canteens. Importantly, urinary cotinine concentrations were significantly higher in nonsmoker employees working in those smoking designated areas, confirming exposure to ETS. The proportion of smokers in those rooms was found to be significantly positively correlated with nonsmoker urinary cotinine and indoor PM2.5 levels, establishing that both markers were occupational-ETS derived. The use of reinforced ventilation systems seemed not to be sufficient to decrease the observed ETS pollution/exposure in those smoking locations. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the partial restrictions on smoking in Portuguese venues failed to provide adequate protection to their employees, irrespective of protective measures used. Therefore, a smoke-free legislation protecting individuals from exposure to ETS/SHS in all public places and workplaces is urgently needed in Portugal.
- Proteomics advances in the last decade: What is next?Publication . Penque, Deborah; Simoes, Tania; Amado, FranciscoDuring the first decade of this millennium, we have witnessed of the most remarkable advances in the field of proteomics since the word proteome was introduced by Marc Wilkins in 1995. High degree of technical innovations has been successfully achieved to meet the ongoing challenges mostly associated with the need to know and map all proteins, their variants and functional networks in a given cell/tissue/organism at a particular time/condition. The best example of this ambition is the Human Proteome Project (HPP), launched by the Human Proteome Organization (HUPO), designed to map the entire human proteome. Completion of this project will certainly enhance our understanding of human cell/molecular biology and provide new tools for better health and disease control