Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2018-04"
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- Determinação simultânea, por cromatografia líquida de alta resolução, das vitaminas A, D e E em amostras compostas por diferentes matrizes alimentaresPublication . Paz, Rute; Serra, Maria Celeste; Dias, Maria da GraçaAs vitaminas são essenciais ao metabolismo humano, sendo a alimentação a sua fonte principal. A ingestão de vitaminas em doses inferiores ou superiores ao recomendado resulta, geralmente, em problemas de saúde, pelo que é de grande importância a determinação analítica das vitaminas nos alimentos utilizando métodos validados que permitam a comparação e rastreabilidade dos resultados. Neste trabalho otimizaram-se os processos de saponificação e extração das vitaminas A e E de matrizes alimentares para diminuir o tempo de análise e o volume de solventes. Otimizaram-se, também, as condições cromatográficas com o objetivo de implementar um método para a determinação simultânea das vitaminas A, E e D. A otimização incidiu sobre dois métodos de HPLC baseados e acreditados pelas normas EN 12821, 12822 e 12823-1. Avaliaram-se a repetibilidade, precisão intermédia e exatidão, recorrendo a amostras de cremes vegetais para barrar, a amostras compostas do projeto TDS Exposure e a materiais de referência. Os resultados permitiram baixar o tempo de saponificação em 25% e o consumo de solventes de extração em 63%. As novas condições cromatográficas mostraram ser possível determinar simultaneamente as vitaminas A, E e D. Os coeficientes de variação de repetibilidade e precisão intermédia, para as vitaminas A / E, respetivamente, foram de 7,9% / 8,1% e 21% / 13% (creme vegetal para barrar com sabor a manteiga) e 3,7% / 11% e 14% / 16% (ovos, salgadinhos e doces à base de leite). Nos materiais de referência os valores de z-score foram inferiores a 2. Nas amostras, o teor em vitamina A variou entre 0,071 e 69 μg/100g e em vitamina E entre 0,038 e 18 mg/100g. A otimização introduzida permitirá ao laboratório determinar as vitaminas A, E e D simultaneamente ou, se for o caso, apenas as vitaminas A e E, com vantagens económicas e ambientais. As melhorias introduzidas permitiram manter a precisão e exatidão dos métodos anteriores.
- Specification of ACMG/AMP variant classification guidelines for Familial Hypercholesterolemia – a ClinGen FH Variant Curation Committee Pilot StudyPublication . Kurtz, C. Lisa; Carrie, Alain; Chora, Joana R.; Iacocca, Michael; Leigh, Sarah; Freiberger, Tomas; Tichy, Lukas; Defesche, Joep; Hegele, Robert; Sijbrands, Eric; Knowles, Josh; Bourbon, MafaldaFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common autosomal dominant disorder (~1:250 individuals affected) of lipid metabolism, associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Individuals with FH characteristically present with severely elevated blood cholesterol levels, which leads to atherosclerotic plaque formation and subsequently, myocardial infarction due to premature coronary artery disease. Three main causative genes have been associated with FH: LDLR, APOB and PCSK9. Diagnosis is critical for early intervention and treatment, and it is imperative that family members of affected individuals be identified as early as possible.
- Fungal burden exposure assessment in podiatry clinics from IrelandPublication . Viegas, Carla; Coggins, Ann Marie; Faria, Tiago; Caetano, Liliana Aranha; Quintal Gomes, Anita; Sabino, Raquel; Veríssimo, Cristina; Roberts, Nigel; Watterson, David; MacGilchrist, Claire; Fleming, Gerard T.AFungi are amongst the bioaerosols of most importance, as indicated by the growing interest in this field of research. The aim was to characterize the exposure to fungal burden in podiatry clinics using culture-based and molecular methods. Methods: Airborne fungi were collected using an impaction air sampler and surface samples were also performed. Fourteen air samples were collected for direct detection of fungal DNA from filamentous fungi and dermatophytes. Overall, 63.6 % of the evening samples and 46 % of the morning samples surpassed the threshold values (150 CFU/ m3). Molecular detection, by real time PCR, of the target fungal species/ strains (Aspergillus and Stachybotrys species) was negative for all samples collected. Trichophyton rubrum was detected by PCR analysis in one DNA sample collected on day six. Results suggest the use of both culture-based and molecular methodologies are desirable for a complete evaluation of fungal burden in this particular health care setting.
- Hepatic steatosis in an adult population: stronger correlation with the presence of obesity and insulin resistence than with the dietary pattern: results from a cross-sectional studyPublication . Leitao, J.A.M.C.P.; Cochicho, J.; Carvalhana, S.; Velasco, F.; Silva, A.P.; Medeiros, I.S.; Alves, A.C.; Bourbon, M.; Oliveiros, B.; Rodrigues, V.; Carvalho, A.; Cortez-Pinto, H.Background and Aims: Hepatic steatosis is very frequent in thegeneral population, mostly associated with obesity and insulinresistance. Typical dietary patterns have been difficult to identifywith controversial information. We aimed to estimate in a represen-tative sample of the Portuguese adult population, what was thecontribution of the dietary pattern in what concerns macronutrientsand food groups for the presence of steatosis as well as the othertraditional risk factors for steatosis.
- Imipenem Resistance in Clostridium difficile Ribotype 017, PortugalPublication . Isidro, Joana; Santos, Andrea; Nunes, Alexandra; Borges, Vítor; Silva, Catarina; Vieira, Luís; Mendes, Aristides L.; Serrano, Mónica; Henriques, Adriano O.; Gomes, João Paulo; Oleastro, MónicaWe describe imipenem-resistant and imipenem-susceptible clinical isolates of Clostridium difficile ribotype 017 in Portugal. All ribotype 017 isolates carried an extra penicillin-binding protein gene, pbp5, and the imipenem-resistant isolates had additional substitutions near the transpeptidase active sites of pbp1 and pbp3. These clones could disseminate and contribute to imipenem resistance.
- Relatório REVIVE 2018 - Culicídeos e Ixodídeos: Rede de Vigilância de VetoresPublication . Centro de Estudos de Vetores e Doenças Infeciosas Doutor Francisco CambournacO programa REVIVE resulta da colaboração entre instituições do Ministério da Saúde (Direção-Geral da Saúde, Administrações Regionais de Saúde, Instituto dos Assuntos Sociais e da Saúde da Madeira, Direção Regional de Saúde dos Açores e Instituto Nacional de Saúde) e tem como objetivos i) monitorizar a atividade de artrópodes hematófagos; ii) caracterizar as espécies e sua ocorrência sazonal; iii) identificar agentes patogénicos importantes em saúde pública, dependendo da densidade dos vetores, o nível de infeção ou a introdução de espécies exóticas para alertar para as medidas de controlo. No presente relatório REVIVE, que representa o 11.º ano de existência do programa (2008-2020), apresentam-se, de uma forma resumida, os resultados da vigilância de mosquitos e carraças realizada em 2018 em todas as regiões de Portugal continental, dando ênfase aos mapas de presença e ausência das espécies de mosquitos e carraças que têm, ou podem vir a ter, importância em saúde pública em Portugal. O projeto REVIVE tem contribuído para um conhecimento sistemático da fauna de culicídeos e de ixodídeos de Portugal, e do seu potencial papel de vetor, constituindo uma componente dos programas de vigilância epidemiológica indispensável à avaliação do risco de transmissão de doenças potencialmente graves.
- Prevalence of alcoholic steatosis in the general adult Portuguese populationPublication . Leitao, J.A.M.C.P.; Carvalhana, S.; Cochicho, J.; Silva, A.P.; Velasco, F.; Medeiros, I.S.; Alves, A.C.; Bourbon, M.; Oliveiros, B.; Rodrigues, V.; Carvalho, A.; Cortez-Pinto, H.Background and Aims: Fatty liver is very frequent in the general population. Although many studies evaluated the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease there is scarce information regarding alcoholic fatty liver. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of alcoholic hepatic steatosis, and to what extent it depended on obesity and its interaction.
- Alergénios e alergias alimentaresPublication . Batista, RitaPalestra sobre alergénios e alergias alimentares.
- FRiskA - Food Safety and Nutritional Risk Assessment: assessing existing and emerging risks in the food chain (and benefits): twinning projectPublication . Fernandes, PauloFRiskA (Food safety and nutritional Risk Assessment) Twinning project. Twinning aims at significantly strengthening a defined field of research in a university or research organisation from a Widening country by linking it with at least two internationally-leading research institutions in other Member States or Associated Countries. Consortium - The 2 chosen mentor institutions were: Danmarks Tekniske Universitet - Denmark; Istituto Superiore di Sanita – Italy. Objectives INSA: Upgrade INSA’s R&D capacity by expanding the staff potential and fostering a critical mass of researchers with inter-disciplinary expertise in the area of microbiological and chemical food risk assessment; Increase INSA’s networking activities on food safety with other official organizations, academia, associations and food business operators; Increase the publication of peer-reviewed scientific articles relevant to risk assessment; Increase the average impact factor of the publications relevant to risk assessment; Increase the success rate of international project applications related to food safety and nutrition.
- Detection of the Hmw adhesins in clinical Haemophilus influenzae isolates from bacteraemic patients and association with biofilm formationPublication . Bosh, Ana; González, Aida; Carrera-Salinas, Anna; Cubero, Meritxell; Marimón, José María; Bajanca-Lavado, Paula; Ardanuy, Carmen; Marti, SaraBackground: Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) forms part of the normal nasopharyngeal microbiota in humans, but it is also an opportunistic pathogen causing respiratory infections and bacteraemia. Recently, high molecular weight (HMW1) proteins have been identified as a key factor for cell invasion, a feature implicated in persistence during chronic infection(a). Our aims were to identify the different allelic variants of the HMW adhesin and, given the characteristics of these surface proteins on bacterial adhesion capacity, the second objective was to check if their presence could be related to biofilm formation. Materials/Methods: A collection of 89 strains isolated from patients with bacteraemia from Spain and Portugal in the 2013-2014 period were used in this study. Strains were genotyped by PFGE (SmaI) and analyzed with the FingerPrinting software (BioRad). The allelic variants of the hmw gene (Hi375 and Hi86-028NP) encoding the high molecular weight adhesins Hmw1/Hmw2 were identified by PCR amplification. Biofilm formation was performed in a static biofilm assay with crystal violet staining. Statistical analysis was performed using the GraphPad Prism 5 software. Results: Forty-eight NTHi isolates (54%) were positive for the hmw gene. Only the allelic variants of the Hi375 strain could be identified, among them, one strain (1/48, 2%) had hmw-1A, 33 (69%) had hmw-2A and 14 (29%) had both allelic variants, hmw-1A and hmw-2A. Biofilm formation showed great diversity among the studied strains with OD¬570 values ranging between 0.06 and 1.4. Forty-three strains (48.3%) were classified as high biofilm formers and the remaining 46 strains (51.7%) were low biofilm formers. An inverse relationship was found between the presence of hmw genes and in vitro biofilm formation. The invasive NTHi clinical isolates presented high genetic diversity by PFGE, with no strain clustering observed linked to the presence of hmw genes or to biofilm formation. Conclusion: The allelic variants of the H. influenzae strain 375, especially the hmw-2A gene, were more commonly found among invasive NTHi clinical isolates, which despite having an important role on intracellular invasion, were not linked to in vitro biofilm formation. (a)Mell, JC et al. (2016). PLoS Pathogens 12: e1005576.