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- Overweight and obesity in infants and pre-school children in the European Union: a review of existing dataPublication . Cattaneo, A.; Monasta, L.; Stamatakis, E.; Lioret, S.; Castetbon, K.; Frenken, F.; Manios, Y.; Moschonis, G.; Savva, S.; Zaborskis, A.; Rito, A.I.; Nanu, M.; Vignerová, J.; Caroli, M.; Ludvigsson, J.; Koch, F.S.; Serra-Majem, L.; Szponar, L.; van Lenthe, F.; Brug, J.The objective of this study was to synthesize available information on prevalence and time trends of overweight and obesity in pre-school children in the European Union. Retrieval and analysis or re-analysis of existing data were carried out. Data sources include WHO databases, Medline and Google, contact with authors of published and unpublished documents. Data were analysed using the International Obesity Task Force reference and cut-offs, and the WHO standard. Data were available from 18/27 countries. Comparisons were problematic because of different definitions and methods of data collection and analysis. The reported prevalence of overweight plus obesity at 4 years ranges from 11.8% in Romania (2004) to 32.3% in Spain (1998-2000). Countries in the Mediterranean region and the British islands report higher rates than those in middle, northern and eastern Europe. Rates are generally higher in girls than in boys. With the possible exception of England, there was no obvious trend towards increasing prevalence in the past 20-30 years in the five countries with data. The use of the WHO standard with cut-offs at 1, 2 and 3 standard deviations yields lower rates and removes gender differences. Data on overweight and obesity in pre-school children are scarce; their interpretation is difficult. Standard methods of surveillance, and research and policies on prevention and treatment, are urgently needed.
- Identification of Giardia species and Giardia duodenalis assemblages by sequence analysis of the 5.8S rDNA gene and internal transcribed spacersPublication . Cacciò, Simone M.; Beck, Relja; Almeida, André; Bajer, Anna; Pozio, EdoardoPCR assays have been developed mainly to assist investigations into the epidemiology of Giardia duodenalis, the only species in the Giardia genus having zoonotic potential. However, a reliable identification of all species is of practical importance, particularly when water samples and samples from wild animals are investigated. The aim of the present work was to genotype Giardia species and G. duodenalis assemblages using as a target the region spanning the 5.8S gene and the 2 flanking internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of the ribosomal gene. Primers were designed to match strongly conserved regions in the 3' end of the small subunit and in the 5' end of the large subunit ribosomal genes. The corresponding region (about 310 bp) was amplified from 49 isolates of both human and animal origin, representing all G. duodenalis assemblages as well as G. muris and G. microti. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis showed that G. ardeae, G. muris, G. microti as well as the 7 G. duodenalis assemblages can be easily distinguished. Since the major subgroups within the zoonotic assemblages A and B can be identified by sequence analysis, this assay is also informative for molecular epidemiological studies.
- New polymorphic microsatellite markers able to distinguish among Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto isolatesPublication . Sabino, Raquel; Sampaio, Paula; Rosado, Laura; Stevens, David A.; Clemons, Karl V.; Pais, CéliaAmong the Candida species causing bloodstream infections, Candida parapsilosis is one of the most frequently isolated. The objective of the present work was the identification of new microsatellite loci able to distinguish among C. parapsilosis isolates. DNA sequences with trinucleotide repeats were selected from the C. parapsilosis genome database. PCR primer sets flanking the microsatellite repeats were designed and tested with 20 independent isolates. On the basis of the amplification efficiency, specificity, and observed polymorphism, four of the sequences were selected for strain typing. Two hundred thirty-three independent C. parapsilosis sensu stricto isolates were genotyped by using these markers. The polymorphic loci exhibited from 20 to 42 alleles and 39 to 92 genotypes. In a multiplex analysis, 192 genotypes were obtained and the combined discriminatory power of the four microsatellites was 0.99. Reproducibility was demonstrated by submission of subcultures of 4 isolates each, in triplicate, interspersed with unique numbers among a group of 30 isolates for blind testing. Comparison of the genotypes obtained by microsatellite analysis and those obtained by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and internal transcribed sequence grouping was performed and showed that the microsatellite method could distinguish individual isolates; none of the other methods could do that. Related species, C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis, were not confused with C. parapsilosis sensu stricto. These new microsatellites are a valuable tool for use for the differentiation of C. parapsilosis sensu stricto strains, vital in epidemiology to answer questions of strain relatedness and determine pathways of transmission.
- Hipotiroxinemia em recém-nascidos pré-termoPublication . Moreira, Amélia; Neves, Joana; Vilarinho, Laura; Osório, R. Vaz; Oliveira, Pedro; Costeira, Maria JoséIntrodução: A hipotiroxinemia é a disfunção tiroideia mais frequente em recém-nascidos prematuros e foi implicada em défices do neurodesenvolvimento e aumento da morbimortalidade perinatal. Pode ser definida por níveis sanguíneos de tiroxina total (T4T) dois desvios-padrão (DP) abaixo da média, ou abaixo de um limiar de 6 μg/dL, com tirotropina (TSH) normal ou baixa. Objectivos: Determinar a prevalência da hipotiroxinemia e correlacioná-la com a morbilidade neonatal durante as primeiras semanas de vida. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo que incluiu os neonatos consecutivos com peso de nascimento ≤ 1500 g e/ou idade gestacional ≤ 30 semanas, de Janeiro de 2006 a Setembro de 2007. Foram excluídos os nados em outras instituições ou falecidos antes dos três dias de vida. Foram analisados os processos clínicos. O rastreio metabólico (incluindo TSH e T4T) foi efectuado ao 3º e ao 15º dia de vida. Resultados: Foram incluídos 38 recém-nascidos (idade gestacional: 28 ± 2,3 semanas, peso ao nascimento: 1133 ± 254 gramas). Os valores de T4T (no 3º dia) foram de 5,53 ± 3,17 μg/dL e correlacionaram-se positivamente com a idade gestacional e peso. Não se encontrou correlação com a TSH. No 3º dia de vida, 60,5% dos recém-nascidos apresentaram T4T <6 μg/dL, com TSH normal ou baixa. Em relação ao resto da amostra, os prematuros com valores mais baixos de T4T evidenciaram diferenças significativas quanto a períodos de internamento mais longos, ventilação durante mais tempo e mais alterações na ecografia transfontanelar. Conclusões: Encontrou-se elevada prevalência de hipotiroxinemia em prematuros e associação com pior prognóstico neonatal. Assim, impõe-se a necessidade de estudos mais alargados e da avaliação sistemática da função tiroideia, por exemplo pela repetição do rastreio às duas semanas de vida.
- UGT1A1 gene variations in individuals with and without clinical diagnosis of Gilbert SyndromePublication . Rodrigues, Carina; Vieira, Emília; de Carvalho, João; Costa, Elísio; Santos, Rosário; Santos-Silva, Alice; Bronze-da-Rocha, Elsa
- Antiviral drug profile of seasonal influenza viruses circulating in Portugal from 2004/2005 to 2008/2009 winter seasonPublication . Correia, Vanessa; Rebelo-de-Andrade, Helena; Santos, Luís A.; Lackanby, Angie; Zambon, MariaA research project on antiviral drug resistance of influenza viruses circulating in Portugal has been carried out since 2007. Here, the first results obtained regarding the evaluation of susceptibility to amantadine and oseltamivir are presented. Information about antiviral prescription and exposure was available through the National Influenza Surveillance Programme. Amantadine susceptibility was evaluated by pyrosequencing for known resistance markers on 178 influenza A strains from 2004/2005 to 2006/2007. Susceptibility to oseltamivir was evaluated by 50% inhibitory concentration determination on 340 virus strains from 2004/2005 to 2008/2009, 134 of which were further analyzed by sequencing of the neuraminidase gene. This study revealed that influenza antiviral drugs were rarely prescribed at national level. Resistance to amantadine was observed on only A(H3N2) strain isolated during 2005/2006 and on 38 (74.5%) of the 51 A(H3N2) strains from 2006/2007, all carrying the mutation S31N in theirM2sequence. Oseltamivir resistance was observed in 6 (20.7%) of the 29 A(H1N1) strains from 2007/2008 and in all strains from 2008/2009, which exhibited extremely high IC50 values and carrying the mutation H275Y in their neuraminidase sequence. The national data generated and analyzed in this study may contribute to increase the knowledge on influenza antiviral drug resistance which is a problem of global concern.
- Analytical strategies to evaluate antioxidants in food: a reviewPublication . André, C.; Castanheira, I.; Cruz, J.M.; Paseiro, P.; Sanches-Silva, A.Antioxidants are an important group of food additives that have the ability to protect against detrimental change of oxidizable nutrients and consequently they extend shelf-life of foods. The present paper is an updated review on the analysis of ten antioxidants (both synthetic and natural). Three types of gallates, propyl (PG), octyl (OG) and dodecyl (DG), tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT), tert- Butylhydroxyanisole (BHA), a-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, erythorbic acid and sodium D-isoascorbate were the antioxidants selected. The physico-chemical properties, sample preparation procedures and analytical methods for their determination are compared and discussed.
- Granulomatous-like immune reaction and hepatic fibrosis induced by Schistosoma haematobium immature wormsPublication . Botelho, Mónica C.; Oliveira, Paula A.; Vieira, Paulo; Delgado, Maria de Lurdes; Lourenço, Ligia; Lopes, Carlos; Machado, José C .; Costa, José M Correia daGolden hamsters were inoculated with Schistosoma haematobium cercariae to examine histological lesions at different time points over an 18 month period of infection. Hamsters were sacrificed 26 weeks and 82 weeks after inoculation. The parasite was found in the blood and in the liver of infected animals as was expected, but we found exclusively male worms, no female worms nor eggs. Interestingly we observed unexpected hepatic lesions induced by S. haematobium immature male worms alone in the golden hamster, characteristic of schistosome eggs. Samples from liver, kidneys, lungs, bladder and gastrointestinal tract were collected during necropsy to evaluate injuries induced by S. haematobium. Notably we observed hepatitis in the liver of infected hamsters, no lesions were found in other organs. We also found liver fibrosis in infected hamsters. This study provides further experimental evidence for the role that schistosome worms, and their derived antigens, may play in the pathology of the infection and modulation of liver chronic inflammation in the murine model of schistosomiasis.
- Antiviral drug profile of seasonal influenza viruses circulating in Portugal from 2004/2005 to 2008/2009 winter seasonsPublication . Correia, Vanessa; Andrade, Helena Rebelo de; Santos, Luís A.; Lackenby, Angie; Zambon, MariaA research project on antiviral drug resistance of influenza viruses circulating in Portugal has been carried out since 2007. Here, the first results obtained regarding the evaluation of susceptibility to amantadine and oseltamivir are presented. Information about antiviral prescription and exposure was available through the National Influenza Surveillance Programme. Amantadine susceptibility was evaluated by pyrosequencing for known resistance markers on 178 influenza A strains from 2004/2005 to 2006/2007. Susceptibility to oseltamivir was evaluated by 50% inhibitory concentration determination on 340 virus strains from 2004/2005 to 2008/2009, 134 of which were further analyzed by sequencing of the neuraminidase gene. This study revealed that influenza antiviral drugs were rarely prescribed at national level. Resistance to amantadine was observed on only A(H3N2) strain isolated during 2005/2006 and on 38 (74.5%) of the 51 A(H3N2) strains from 2006/2007, all carrying the mutation S31N in their M2 sequence. Oseltamivir resistance was observed in 6 (20.7%) of the 29 A(H1N1) strains from 2007/2008 and in all strains from 2008/2009, which exhibited extremely high IC(50) values and carrying the mutation H275Y in their neuraminidase sequence. The national data generated and analyzed in this study may contribute to increase the knowledge on influenza antiviral drug resistance which is a problem of global concern.
- De Barsy syndrome and ATP6V0A2-CDGPublication . Leao-Teles, Elisa; Quelhas, Dulce; Vilarinho, Laura