Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2018-06"
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- Motivação e Gestão de Equipas - Adaptação aos LaboratóriosPublication . Rosa, Arminda; Faria, Ana PaulaObjetivos Gerais: No final da ação de formação, os participantes terão adquirido conhecimentos que lhes permitirão saber como melhor motivar e gerir as equipas num laboratório, atuar num sentido de melhoria do desempenho e de maior motivação. Objetivos Específicos: No final da formação os formandos deverão ser capazes de desenvolver competências motivacionais pessoais e de grupo que permitam gerir eficazmente equipas laboratoriais e outras; Identificar os motivos e os aspetos motivacionais para gerir e otimizar as suas equipas e resolver alguns conflitos; Promover a autoestima, eficácia, pertença, distintividade, significado e continuidade para motivar as equipas de trabalho e fomentar a coesão e a identidade das suas equipas. Utilizar recursos aprendidos na resolução casos práticos.
- Melon seeds oil, fruit seeds oil and vegetable oils: a comparison studyPublication . Silva, M.A.; Albuquerque, T.G.; Alves, R.C.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.; Costa, H.S.Introduction: The production of food by-products is a major problem nowadays, and their valorization as food ingredients for the development and formulation of new food products has increased. Every year’s tons of melon (Cucumis melo L.) seeds are discarded. This by-product is a good source of oil and has an interesting fatty acids profile (1-3). Due to their low content of saturated fatty acids (SFA) and a high percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids this oil is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases (4). Materials and Methods: This review focuses on the comparison among the composition of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids of melon seeds oil and the vegetable oils more consumed (palm, rapeseed, soybean, sunflower and olive), as well as with oils extracted from other fruit seeds (mango, apricot kernel, paprika, blackcurrant, watermelon, pumpkin, cranberry and grape). Results: The fatty acid profile of melon seeds oil is very similar to soybean and sunflower oils, two of the most commonly used vegetable oils. It is also very analogous to grape seeds oil and paprika seeds oil, although grape seeds oil has a lower content of SFA. Melon seeds oil has a high percentage of unsaturated fatty acids, being linoleic acid the main fatty acid, whose level may reach 52 - 69 %. The oleic (12 – 32 %), palmitic (9 – 24 %), and stearic (5 – 9%) acids are also present in significant amounts. The content of linoleic acid in melon seeds oil is very similar to blackcurrant and watermelon seeds oils. Discussion and Conclusions: The similarity of melon seeds oil with some of the most widely used vegetable oils, such as soybean and sunflower oils, has improved the interest in it valorization. Although this oil is not common in the food industry, its quality is enough to attain the market. Furthermore, since melon seeds are discarded, their use for oil production can answer to circular economy, without residues and environmental impact.
- Molecular diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in a child with clinical suspicion of mucormycosisPublication . Sabino, Raquel; Ramos, A.; Simões, H.; Palaré, M.J.; Moreno, R.; Ferrão, A.; Lourenço, F.; Marques, J.G.; Martins, C.; Morais, A.; Verissimo, C.Purpose: Invasive aspergillosis is difficult to manage in immunocompromised patients. We present a clinical case of a 13-year-old boy from Cabo Verde who was transferred to the Hematology Unit of a Central Hospital in Lisbon, Portugal, and diagnosed with aplastic anemia. Weeks after hospital admission, in June 2016, he presented febrile neutropenia with negative blood cultures. In August, the patient showed a necrotic lesion of the left wing of the nose. A CT scan of the sinuses showed densification and thickening of the soft tissues of the nasal pyramid, protruding into the nose. A rapid and accurate diagnosis was required since the patient was going to be subjected to bone marrow transplantation. Methods: A biopsy of the nose tissue was performed in the hospital (August 2016) and sent to the Mycology Reference Laboratory of the Portuguese NIH. Tissue fragments were sliced in small fragments and inoculated in Sabouraud dextrose agar and brain heart infusion. Samples were incubated at 30º and 35ºC. In parallel to culture, DNA was extracted from the tissue using the High Pure PCR Template Preparation Kit (Roche Diagnostics Corp., Indianapolis, IN, USA), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A panfungal PCR reaction was performed in order to detect any fungal DNA present in the tissue sample. For that purpose, the universal fungal primers ITS1 and ITS2 were used. Positive PCR products are then sequenced by Sanger method. A specific PCR directed to Aspergillus was performed using the AsperGenius® multiplex real-time PCR assay (PathoNostics, Maastricht, The Netherlands), following the manufacturer's instructions. The detection of mutations in the Cyp51A gene for A. fumigatus conferring azole resistance was also performed. Results: A positive panfungal PCR was obtained and PCR products were sent to sequencing. Due to the urgency of the case, a real time PCR directed to Aspergillus was also performed directly from the DNA extracted from the biopsy. A positive signal was obtained for Aspergillus fumigatus and no mutations in Cyp51A gene were detected. Sequencing results revealed 100% homology with A. fumigatus sensu stricto. Results were immediately reported to the physician and posaconazole was administered with regression of the lesion. After 30 days, the cultures of the tissue remained negative. In September 2016, nodular lesions appeared in the patients’ lower limbs and voriconazole therapy was then initiated. A complete regression was observed. Multiresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter asburiae were further isolated from a perianal ulcer and in October 2016 the patient revealed positive bloodcultures of multiresistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Facing difficulties in the infection control, a multidisciplinary team decided to perform allogeneic bone marrow transplantation, with complete hematological and infections recovery. Conclusion: An early diagnosis and prompt initiation of appropriate antifungal therapy are imperative and essential for a favorable clinical outcome. In this case, the necrotic lesions of the nose and patient’s risk factors conducted to the clinical suspicion of mucormycosis. The molecular approach performed led to the rapid identification of Aspergillus fumigatus and therefore to the adequate antifungal therapy of the patient.
- Improving Familial Hypercholesterolaemia Diagnosis – Functional in Vitro Analysis of LDLR Missense Variants Found in the Portuguese FH CohortPublication . Alves, Ana C.; Graça, Rafael; Bourbon, MafaldaObjective: Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is an autosomal disorder of lipid metabolism presenting with increased cardiovascular risk due to lifelong exposure to high LDL values. LDLR mutations are the cause of disease in 90% of the cases but proof of pathogenicity has only been obtained for about 10%. The lack of functional characterization of variants found in patients with a clinical diagnosis of FH makes it difficult to reach a definite FH diagnosis.
- FRIESA (FRIo Extremo na SAúde) 2017/2018: relatório de épocaPublication . Silva, Susana Pereira; Dias, Carlos Matias; Antunes, Sílvia; Marques, Jorge; Nunes, BaltazarEntre novembro de 2017 e março de 2018, ocorreram diversos períodos com temperaturas mínimas baixas, pelo que o inverno de 2017/18 foi classificado pelo IPMA como frio. Neste período, o sistema FRIESA identificou 9 períodos no distrito de lisboa com possível impacte na mortalidade (tendo em conta as temperaturas mínimas e a taxa de incidência da gripe) e 4 períodos no distrito do Porto. Em ambos os distritos alguns dos períodos identificados correspondiam a dias isolados com possíveis impactes. O distrito de Lisboa vivenciou no entanto um maior número de dias com frio extremo com possíveis impactes na mortalidade (23) comparativamente ao distrito do Porto (6).
- Conditioned medium from MCF-7 breast cancer cells induces phenotypic carcinogenesis in HCV29 normal bladder cellsPublication . Luís, Carla; Fernandes, Rúben; Soares, Raquel; Botelho, Monica C.Main goal: since MCF-7 cells release CEQ, the aim is to investigate the role of breast cancer conditioned medium as tumor initiator of normal bladder urothelial cells.
- Gene-environment interactions in Autism Spectrum DisorderPublication . Santos, João PedroStrategy: Identify environmental factors relevant for ASD and genes involved in response to exogenous factors.
- Plan for development of case studies - Deliverable Report AD 15.1 WP 15 - Mixtures, HBM and human health riskPublication . Kortemkamp, Andreas; Mengelers, Marcel; Vinggaard, Anne Marie; Silva, Maria João; Slamay, Remy; Vermeulen, Roel; Vlaanderen, Jelle; Ottenbros, Ilse; Viegas, Susana; Gomes, Bruno Costa; Louro, Henriqueta; Lebret, ErikThis deliverable describes the activities in task 15.3 leading up to the development of cases studies for mixture health effects and outlines the proposed case studies. The proposed case studies are: · Developmental neurotoxicity beyond polybrominated diphenylethers · Heavy metals and nephrotoxicity · Anti-androgenic chemicals and male reproductive health · Chromium (VI), nickel and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and lung cancer · Addressing exposure misclassification in mixture studies The Addendum provides further details about multi-year perspective and timing, as well as detailed budgetary aspects per case study.
- Differences in Antioxidant activity of two varieties of Pine nut seeds grown in PortugalPublication . Ribeiro, Mariana M.; Rego, Andreia; Castanheira, IsabelAntioxidants are a field of food science and nutrition which is under close attention: Maintaining homeostasis; Protecting cellular components; •Reducing oxidative stress. Food can be a source of several compounds with antioxidant activity. It is known that pine nut seeds are important sources of various antioxidant compounds.
- Salt: Portuguese consumer’s perception and its occurrence in processed foodsPublication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Oliveira, M.B.P.P.; Costa, H.S.Introduction: Salt consumption in Portugal (10.7 g/day) is almost the double than the recommended daily intake (5 g/day) (1). It is well documented that a high intake of salt is linked to several harmful effects on health, namely cardiovascular diseases. The main objectives of this study were: (i) to evaluate the perception of Portuguese consumers on the contribution of processed foods for salt intake and potential health impact; and (ii) to assess the salt content in 218 processed foods widely available in the market.