Browsing by Author "Torres, Vukosava"
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- New “Omics” Approaches as Tools to Explore Mechanistic NanotoxicologyPublication . Ventura, Célia; Torres, Vukosava; Vieira, Luís; Gomes, Bruno; Rodrigues, António Sebastião; Rueff, José; Penque, Deborah; Silva, Maria JoãoIn the last years, “omics” approaches have been applied to study the toxicity of nanomaterials (NM) with the aim of obtaining insightful information on their biological effects. One of the most developed “omics” field, transcriptomics, expects to find unique profiles of differentially expressed genes after exposure to NM that, besides providing evidence of their mechanistic mode of action, may also be used as biomarkers for biomonitoring purposes. Moreover, several NM have been associated with epigenetic alterations, i.e., changes in the regulation of gene expression caused by differential DNA methylation, histone tail modification and microRNA expression. Epigenomics research focusing on DNA methylation is increasingly common and the role of microRNAs is being better understood, either promoting or suppressing biological pathways. Moreover, the proteome is a highly dynamic system that changes constantly in response to a stimulus. Therefore, proteomics can identify changes in protein abundance and/ or variability that lead to a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms of action of NM while discovering biomarkers. As to genomics, it is still not well developed in nanotoxicology. Nevertheless, the individual susceptibility to NM mediated by constitutive or acquired genomic variants represents an important component in understanding the variations in the biological response to NM exposure and, consequently, a key factor to evaluate possible adverse effects in exposed individuals. By elucidating the molecular changes that are involved NM toxicity, the new “omics” studies are expected to contribute to exclude or reduce the handling of hazardous NM in the workplace and support the implementation of regulation to protect human health.
- Occupational secondhand smoke effect on nasal epithelial proteomaPublication . Pacheco, Solange; Vaz, Fatima; Torres, Vukosava; Penque, Deborah; Simões, Tania; James, PeterThe tobacco is one of the biggest public health threats, smoking kills more than 7 million people/year worldwide and more than 890,000 are deaths resulting from exposure to Secondhand Smoke (SHS). In adults, SHS is associated to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer, through pathological and molecular mechanisms not yet understood. In this study, we aimed to investigate the SHS effects on nasal epithelial proteome in exposed workers.
- Second-hand tobacco smoke effects evaluated by proteomicsPublication . Pacheco, Solange; Vaz, Fatima; penque, deborah; Neves, Sofia; Torres, VukosavaSecond-hand smoke (SHS) is responsible for more then 600000 premature year deaths. In the European Union, 14% of Non-Smokers (NS) are exposed to other individuals’ tobacco smoke at home and 30% are exposed at the workplace. Towards their protection several European countries, except Portugal, move to a total tobacco ban in indoor public places. In 2008, a project aiming to analyze the impact of partial smoking ban in Portuguese public venues started. After our previously evidence of both SHS air contamination in non-smoking areas and inhalation of tobacco smoke by the venues workers, we aimed to study resultant biochemical and molecular changes at both systemic and respiratory level.
- Tobacco smoke occupational exposure: biomarkers of biological damagePublication . Simões, Tânia; Torres, Vukosava; Pacheco, Solange; Louro, Henriqueta; Silva, Maria Joao; Charro, Nuno; Alexandre, Bruno; Vaz, Fatima; Penque, DeborahHigh concentration of toxic substances emanated from tobacco smoke in entertainment places such as restaurants, bars and nightclubs may compromise indoor air quality (IAQ) generating environments of likelihood health risk. Their employees, particularly those exposed to second-hand smoke, are at increased risk for developing chronic respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and lung cancer. Objectives In this work, we aimed at evaluating relationships between occupational ETS exposure, biological damage (DNA or proteome alterations) and putative respiratory dysfunctions.