Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2015-01"
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- Polimorfismo C677T da metilenotetrahidrofolato redutase e sua relação com a hiperhomocisteinémia e hipercisteinémia em diabéticos tipo 2 com e sem angiopatiaPublication . Valente, A.; Bicho, M.; Duarte, R.; Raposo, J.F.; Costa, H.S.INTRODUÇÃO: A metilenotetrahidrofolato redutase (MTHFR) cataliza a redução irreversível do folato que cede grupos metil para a síntese de metionina a partir da homocisteína. São escassos os dados epidemiológicos de distribuição do polimorfismo C677T da MTHFR em diabéticos tipo 2 portugueses com e sem angiopatia. Conhecer a variação polimórfica desta enzima e sua relação com outros factores de risco cardiovascular pode ajudar a definir medidas de prevenção e contribuir para a diminuição de gastos em saúde pública. OBJECTIVO: Avaliar a distribuição do polimorfismo C677T da MTHFR em diabéticos tipo 2 com e sem angiopatia e relacionar com a prevalência de hiperhomocisteinémia e hipercisteinémia. MÉTODOS: Estudo caso-controlo em 134 adultos de ambos os géneros com idades entre 40-75 anos. Foram constituídos dois grupos: I - 69 diabéticos tipo 2 com angiopatia; II - 65 diabéticos tipo 2 sem angiopatia. As concentrações plasmáticas de homocisteína e cisteína foram obtidas por um método de HPLC validado. O polimorfismo C677T da MTHFR foi identificado por técnicas de PCR e RFLP. A análise estatística foi realizada em SPSS®, versão 20.0 (SPSS INc, Chicago). RESULTADOS: A frequência do genótipo CC foi superior nos diabéticos sem angiopatia (52,3%) comparativamente com os que tinham angiopatia (46,4%). Os genótipos CT e TT foram mais frequentes no grupo I (46,4%; 7,2%) do que no grupo II (41,5%; 6,2%). Diabéticos tipo 2 com angiopatia e portadores dos genótipos CT ou TT têm maior probabilidade de ter hiperhomocisteinémia (OR = 5,37; p = 0,040) do que os diabéticos tipo 2 sem angiopatia. Não foi estabelecida nenhuma associação entre o polimorfismo C677T da MTHFR e a hipercisteinémia na população estudada. CONCLUSÃO: O polimorfismo C677T da MTHFR está associado com a predisposição para hiperhomocisteinémia e poderá ser considerado um factor de risco genético no desenvolvimento de complicações angiopáticas em diabéticos tipo 2 Portugueses.
- Role of nanogenotoxicology studies in safety evaluation of nanomaterialsPublication . Louro, Henriqueta; Bettencourt, Ana; Gonçalves, Lídia M.; Almeida, António J.; Silva, Maria JoãoNanomaterials (NMs) are defined as materials containing particles where one or more external dimensions are in the size range of 1 100 nm. Many different NMs, alone or in combination,in the form of fibers, tubes, or particles have been already proposed for innovative diagnostic, drug delivery platforms and nanostructured matrices for tissue engineering applications. Presently, the diversity of NMs that are being used, or explored as candidates, for tissue engineering can be classified into different groups (polymers, ceramics,carbon nanotubes [CNTs], metals and composites), depending on their chemical composition. This chapter describes the importance of genotoxicity evaluation to warrant the safety of these innovative NMs, with particular emphasis on the most prominent testing strategies that must consider and incorporate the specific physicochemical characteristics of the nanosized materials into toxicological research.
- Silencing of the tumor suppressor gene WNK2 is associated with upregulation of MMP2 and JNK in gliomasPublication . Costa, Ângela; Pinto, Filipe; Martinho, Olga; Oliveira, Maria José; Jordan, Peter; Reis, Rui ManuelMatrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes that degrade extracellular matrix (ECM), thus assisting invasion. Upregulation of MMPs, frequently reported in gliomas, is associated with aggressive behavior. WNK2 is a tumor suppressor gene expressed in normal brain, and silenced by promoter methylation in gliomas. Patients without WNK2 exhibited poor prognosis, and its downregulation was associated with increased glioma cell invasion. Here we showed that MMP2 expression and activity are increased in glioma cell lines that do not express WNK2. Also, WNK2 inhibited JNK, a process associated with decreasing levels of MMP2. Thus, WNK2 promoter methylation and silencing in gliomas is associated with increased JNK activation and MMP2 expression and activity, thus explaining in part tumor cell invasion potential.
- Dignity therapy and its effect on the survival of terminally ill Portuguese patientsPublication . Julião, Miguel; Nunes, Baltazar; Barbosa, AntónioThe empirical literature regarding the effect of psychotherapy on the survival of cancer patients is highly contested. Dignity therapy (DT) is a brief, individualized intervention, which gives terminally ill patients the opportunity to convey memories and important disclosures and to prepare a legacy document . The aim of this study was to determine whether those patients randomized to DT along with SPC had a survival advantage over those randomized to SPC alone.
- Carbapenem resistance and the laboratory: When, how and why?Publication . Manageiro, Vera; Ferreira, Eugénia; Caniça, ManuelaCarbapenem resistance are intrinsic in a few clinical bacteria, such as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Aeromonas sp., and Acinetobacter baumannii due to the production of carbapenemases. In addition, most non-fermenters are naturally resistant only to ertapenem and Serratia sp. and Proteeae have intrinsically low-level resistance to imipenem. Indeed, not all carbapenem-resistant isolates produce a carbapenemase (resistance can be mediated by other mechanisms, such as the combination of ESBL plus AmpC, plus impermeability) and not all carbapenemase producers are resistant to carbapenems (enzyme expression at low-level). Concerns about carbapenemase-mediated carbapenem resistance, imply that clinically-significant Gram-negative bacteria should be screened routinely for carbapenem susceptibility. However, detection of carbapenemase production can became difficult, because some carbapenemase-producing isolates demonstrate susceptible carbapenem MICs, even closely to intermediate breakpoint [1]. The ECOFF values, defined by EUCAST, can be a good strategy to detect those isolates [2]. Meropenem offers the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity in terms of detecting carbapenemase-producers, while ertapenem has high sensitivity but low specificity, and therefore not recommended for routine use [3]. Hence, following detection of reduced susceptibility to carbapenems in routine susceptibility tests, specific phenotypic methods for carbapenemases should be applied. The combination disk test, using boronic acid, dipicolinic acid and cloxacillin as β-lactamase inhibitors, is a well-validated choice. In addition, other methods may also be considered for detecting carbapenemase producers, such as Modified Hodge Test (MHT), MALDI-ToF or the new biochemical tests Carba NP and Blue-Carba. Further characterization of the carbapenemase-encoding genes, should include molecular biology methods.
- In vitro culture may be the major contributing factor for transgenic versus nontransgenic proteomic plant differencesPublication . Fonseca, C.; Planchon, S.; Serra, T.; Chander, S.; Saibo, N.J.M.; Renaut, J.; Oliveira, M.M.; Batista, RitaIdentification of differences between genetically modified plants and their original counterparts plays a central role in risk assessment strategy. Our main goal was to better understand the relevance of transgene presence, genetic, and epigenetic changes induced by transgene insertion, and in vitro culture in putative unintended differences between a transgenic and its comparator. Thus, we have used multiplex fluorescence 2DE coupled with MS to characterize the proteome of three different rice lines (Oryza sativa L. ssp. japonica cv. Nipponbare): a control conventional line (C), an Agrobacterium-transformed transgenic line (Ta) and a negative segregant (NSb). We observed that Ta and NSb appeared identical (with only one spot differentially abundant--fold difference ≥ 1.5), contrasting with the control (49 spots with fold difference ≥ 1.5, in both Ta and NSb vs. control). Given that in vitro culture was the only event in common between Ta and NSb, we hypothesize that in vitro culture stress was the most relevant condition contributing for the observed proteomic differences. MS protein identification support our hypothesis, indicating that Ta and NSb lines adjusted their metabolic pathways and altered the abundance of several stress related proteins in order to cope with in vitro culture.
- «Papa Bem»: investir na literacia em saúde para a prevenção da obesidade infantilPublication . Goes, Ana Rita; Câmara, Gisele; Loureiro, Isabel; Bragança, Graciete; Saboga Nunes, Luís; Bourbon, Mafalda[PT] Introdução: O projeto «Papa Bem» tem como finalidade promover a literacia em saúde, através da criação e disseminação de materiais escritos e audiovisuais acerca da obesidade infantil e formas de prevenção, desde a conceção até aos 5 anos de idade. Materiais e métodos: A elaborac¸ão do plano editorial e a produc¸ão dos materiais tiveram por base um estudo exploratório, que contou com uma revisão da literatura e com um diagnóstico ecológico e educacional numa área-piloto. Ao longo de todo o processo de produc¸ão dos materiais foram consultados peritos nas diversas áreas temáticas. A legibilidade dos materiais produzidos foi testada. Resultados: Através do estudo exploratório identificámos os fatores predisponentes, facilitadores e de reforc¸o inerentes a comportamentos relacionados com a obesidade infantil, que nortearam a produc¸ão dos materiais. Os materiais produzidos, baseados na mais recente evidência científica, demonstraram ser acessíveis para pessoas com baixos níveis de escolaridade. Conclusão: A metodologia participativa utilizada no projeto permitiu-nos compilar informação relevante quanto aos principais pontos críticos para a compreensão e prevenção da obesidade infantil. A elaborac¸ão das mensagens, com linguagem simples e organizac¸ão lógica, adequadas à populac¸ão, poderá ser facilitadora da mudanc¸a comportamental, particularmente se tiver o apoio de mediadores que as adaptem a cada contexto, reforc¸ando a abordagem socioecoló- gica na prevenc¸ão da obesidade infantil
- Folhetos de divulgação do Inquérito Nacional de Saúde com Exame Físico (INSEF)Publication . Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, IPFolhetos de divulgação do Inquérito Nacional de Saúde com Exame Físico para profissionais de saúde e participantes.
- Curcumin inhibits gastric inflammation induced by Helicobacter pylori infection in a mouse modelPublication . Santos, A.M.; Lopes, T.; Oleastro, Mónica; Gato, Inês Vale; Floch, P.; Benejat, L.; Chaves, P.; Seixas, E.; Machado, J.; Guerreiro, A.S.Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection triggers a sequence of gastric alterations starting with an inflammation of the gastric mucosa that, in some cases, evolves to gastric cancer. Efficient vaccination has not been achieved, thus it is essential to find alternative therapies, particularly in the nutritional field. The current study evaluated whether curcumin could attenuate inflammation of the gastric mucosa due to H. pylori infection. Twenty-eight C57BL/6 mice, were inoculated with the H. pylori SS1 strain; ten non-infected mice were used as controls. H. pylori infection in live mice was followed-up using a modified 13C-Urea Breath Test (13C-UBT) and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Histologically confirmed, gastritis was observed in 42% of infected non-treated mice at both 6 and 18 weeks post-infection. These mice showed an up-regulation of the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and MyD88, at both time points. Treatment with curcumin decreased the expression of all these mediators. No inflammation was observed by histology in this group. Curcumin treatment exerted a significant anti-inflammatory effect in H. pylori-infected mucosa, pointing to the promising role of a nutritional approach in the prevention of H. pylori induced deleterious inflammation while the eradication or prevention of colonization by effective vaccine is not available.
- Vigilância microbiológica Valores Guia, INSAPublication . Belo Correia, CristinaApresentação do Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, I.P., actividades de vigilância microbiológica em Unidades de alimentação colectiva, critérios microbiológicos e Valores Guia, INSA
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