Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2012-09"
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- 12 Dicas para combater o inimigo Nº 1 da atividade física: o ecrãPublication . Câmara, Gisele; Goes, Ana Rita; Bourbon, Mafalda; Nunes, Luís; Bragança, Graciete; Cargaleiro, Helena; Heitor, Maria João; Rito, Ana Isabel; Maia, Maria Teresa; Do Ó, Dulce; Gomes, José Carlos; Sardinha, Luís; Loureiro, Isabel
- Risk assessment in an estuarine environment: a case-study in the Sado estuaryPublication . Machado, Ausenda; Paixão, Eleonora; Caeiro, Sandra; Dias, Carlos MatiasIntroduction Previous environmental studies in the Sado estuary identified industrial and other anthropogenic contamination sources. Surrounding human populations have intense economic fishery and agriculture activities. Food usage previously characterized suggests exposure to estuarine products, farming products, and water in daily activities, as potential routes of contamination. In this geographical area no study relating the health effects due to exposure to heavy metals was ever conducted. Objective: To characterize exposure pathways to estuarine products and its potential health effects. Materials and Method A cross-sectional comparative study of residents in Carrasqueira (in Sado estuary) and residents in Vila Nova de Mil Fontes (VNMF), selected as the non-exposed population. VNMF sits near another river estuary with similar activities but no known contamination exposures. Simple random samples of individuals were selected in each study population from the National Health Service Lists. Face to face questionnaire data were collected at home and intended to characterize: 1) Health effects: diagnosed illnesses, reproductive history; 2) potential routes of exposure; 3) Potential routes of human contamination from the estuary. Statistical analysis included descriptive analysis and associations tests (Chi-squared test, alpha=0.05). The odds ratio of having an adverse outcome within Exposed and Non-Exposed groups was adjusted for possible confounders using the non conditional logistic regression. Potential confounders were investigated and included if they changed crude OR estimate in at least 10% after adjustment by the Mantel-Haenszel method. Results 202 participants of all ages were included. Participation rates were 62.5% in Carrasqueira and 48.3% in VNMF. Carrasqueira participants reported a significant higher proportion of professional tasks promoting direct (48.8%) and/or indirect (30.0%) exposure to contaminants (p<0.001 and p=0.006 respectively). Carrasqueira had higher period of time spent in fisher and agriculture activities than VNMF (90% of individuals had more than 8 years of exposure, p<0.001). A higher odd of having chronic heavy-metal related morbidity (OR= 1.91; CI95%: 1.01-3.64), and congenital anomalies (OR= 1.53; CI95%: 0.47- 4.92) were observed in Carrasqueira. Only age and years living in the local was retained as confounder in logistic regression, resulting in a 2,1 higher risk of having at least one of the diseases in Carrasqueira compared to VNMF (CI95%: 1.02-4.69). Conclusions Overall results indicate fragile but possible health effects of exposure to Sado estuary. Nevertheless, these results should be analyzed carefully since the outcomes in study are not specific and are based in small samples. Further studies should use bioindicators of exposure and outcome.
- Species-specific real-time PCR cell number quantification of the bloom forming cyanobacterium Planktothrix agardhiiPublication . Churro, Catarina; Pereira, Paulo; Vasconcelos, Vitor; Valério, ElisabeteA species-specific method to detect and quantify Planktothrix agardhii was developed by combining the SYBR Green I real-time polymerase chain reaction technique with a simplified DNA extraction procedure for standard curve preparation. Newly designed PCR primers were used to amplify a specific fragment within the rpoC1 gene. Since this gene exists in single copy in the genome, it allows the direct achievement of cell concentrations. The cell concentration determined by real-time PCR showed a linear correlation with the cell concentration determined from direct microscopic counts. The detection limit for cell quantification of the method was 8 cells μL−1, corresponding to 32 cells per reaction. Furthermore, the real-time qPCR method described in this study allowed a successful quantification of P. agardhii from environmental water samples, showing that this protocol is an accurate and economic tool for a rapid absolute quantification of the potentially toxic cyanobacterium P. agardhii.
- Brincadeiras ativas dos 0 aos 4 mesesPublication . Câmara, Gisele; Goes, Ana Rita; Ana Rita, Mafalda; Nunes, Luís; Bragança, Graciete; Cargaleiro, Helena; Heitor, Maria João; Rito, Ana Isabel; Maia, Maria Teresa; Do Ó, Dulce; Gomes, José Carlos; Sardinha, Luís; Loureiro, Isabel
- O meu dia-a-dia com a Roda dos Alimentos na gravidezPublication . Câmara, Gisele; Goes, Ana Rita; Bourbon, Mafalda; Nunes, Luís; Bragança, Graciete; Cargaleiro, Helena; Heitor, Maria João; Rito, Ana Isabel; Maia, Maria Teresa; Do Ó, Dulce; Gomes, José Carlos; Sardinha, Luís; Loureiro, Isabel
- Genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance of Arcobacter butzleri isolated from poultry and slaughterhouse environment in PortugalPublication . Ferreira, Susana; Fraqueza, Maria João; Queiroz, João; Domingues, Fernanda; Oleastro, MónicaArcobacter is considered an emerging enteric pathogen, commonly associated with diarrhea, abdominal pain and in some cases with bacteriemia. This genus is widely distributed, with fteen species identi ed to date, of which the most common is Arcobacter butzleri. Arcobacter spp. has been isolated from environmental, animal, food and human samples, but poultry is considered its main reservoir. The extended use of antibiotics for disease control in modern food animal production, leads to a spread of resistant pathogenic bacteria, and Arcobacter spp. is no exception to this rule. In this study, 43 A. butzleri isolates were obtained from poultry and environment samples at a Portuguese slaughterhouse, also three reference strains were included. All isolates were con rmed at species level by multiplex PCR; genomic DNA ngerprints of all isolates were determined using Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) after enzymatic digestion with SmaI. Resistance pro les to nine antibiotics were assessed by broth microdilution method. Fifteen unique and 11 common PFGE ngerprints were identi ed among the 43 Arcobacter isolates studied, generating a total of 26 di erent PFGE ngerprints. This data demonstrates the high genetic diversity observed among Arcobacter isolates. Concerning the antibiotic susceptibility, all isolates tested were susceptible to gentamycin and one strain presented resistance to chloramphenicol. In contrast, 24 of the 43 isolates (55.8%) were resistant to cipro oxacin. All the studied isolates presented resistance to multiple antibiotics simultaneously, especially to ampicillin, vancomycin, trimethoprim, piperacillin, cefoperazone and amoxicillin. The results showed that A. butzleri isolated in Portugal presents a high genetic diversity, but also show high levels of resistance to several antimicrobial agents, this fact could represent a potential health hazard for humans through food chain contamination.
- Papa Bem dos 3 aos 5 anosPublication . Câmara, Gisele; Goes, Ana Rita; Bourbon, Mafalda; Nunes, Luís; Bragança, Graciete; Cargaleiro, Helena; Heitor, Maria João; Rito, Ana Isabel; Maia, Maria Teresa; Do Ó, Dulce; Gomes, José Carlos; Sardinha, Luís; Loureiro, Isabel
- An update on potato crisps contents of moisture, fat, salt and fatty acids (including trans-fatty acids) with special emphasis on new oils/fats used for fryingPublication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Sanches-Silva, A.; Santos, L.; Costa, H.S.Eighteen brands of potato crisps, frequently consumed, were analyzed to establish their nutritional value in relation to salt, fat and fatty acid (FA) composition. The purpose of the present study was to determine moisture, total fat, salt contents and FA profiles (including trans-FAs), and to identify the oil/fat used for frying of the 18 brands of potato crisps. Our results show that salt content ranged from 0.127 to 2.77 g/100 g and total fat content of potato crisps varied between 20.0 and 42.8 g/100 g. With respect to FAs analysis, palmitic acid (C16:0), oleic acid (C18:1) and linoleic acid (C18:2) were the major FAs found in the analyzed potato crisps. It is clear from our work that nowadays most potato crisps are currently produced using oils with high contents in unsaturated FAs, which can be considered as healthier from a nutritional point of view. Nevertheless, some brands of potato crisps still use palm oil or a blend of palm oil and other fats/oils, which are very rich in saturated FAs.
- Um soninho descansado para um crescimento saudávelPublication . Câmara, Gisele; Goes, Ana Rita; Bourbon, Mafalda; Nunes, Luís; Bragança, Graciete; Cargaleiro, Helena; Heitor, Maria João; Rito, Ana Isabel; Maia, Maria Teresa; Do Ó, Dulce; Gomes, José Carlos; Sardinha, Luís; Loureiro, Isabel
- Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by biosorbentsPublication . José, Sílvia S.; Cardoso, A.S.; Silva, S.P.; Mestre, A.S; Carvalho, A.P.Introduction: - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of environmental carcinogens. They are formed during the incomplete combustion of organic matter. Humans are exposed to PAHs by various sources, including occupational environments, cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust, and dietary sources as grilled and flame-broiled food. - In vivo studies in animals proved that PAHs are associated to cancer, and epidemiologic studies with exposed workers, especially in coke ovens and aluminium smelters, have shown clear excess of lung cancer and highly suggestive excesses of bladder cancer. - These compounds can enter in drinking water sources by precipitation and runoff on the earth’s surface. - Portuguese legislation for water for human consumption (DL 306/2007) proposes the determination of five PAHs; limits of the maximum concentration are 0.10 µg/L for total BghiP, BbF, BkF, IcdP, and 0.010 µg/L for BaP.