Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2021-08"
Now showing 1 - 10 of 22
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Functional characterization of variants in the 5’UTR and promoter of PCSK9 genePublication . Alves, Ana Catarina; Fernandes, Rafael; Menezes, Juliane; Romão, Luísa; Bourbon, MafaldaFamilial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common genetic disorder conferring an increased cardiovascular risk due to cholesterol accumulation since birth. The majority of patients with FH phenotype have mutations in LDLR, APOB or PCSK9 genes. In about 50% of patients a variant causing disease has not been possible to find. The 5' and 3’ untranslated regions (UTRs) and promoter of these genes is poorly studied. Consequently, few variants were detected in these locations and functional validation is lacking for the ones described. The aim of this project is to perform an in vitro characterization of variants in 5’ UTR and promoter of PCSK9 gene.
- Sodium and potassium contents in food samples from the first Portuguese total diet pilot studyPublication . Nascimento, Ana; Santiago, Susana; Coelho, Inês; Ventura, Marta; Gueifão, Sandra; Santos, Mariana; Castanheira, IsabelEating a varied diet will help ensure an adequate supply of most minerals for healthy people, however excessive sodium (Na) intake leads to an increase in blood pressure, and potassium (K) intake to a balance between the two ions, contributing to the regulation of blood pressure. This work aimed to assess Na and K food sources and evaluate Na:K ratio for the studied food groups. The samples analyzed (n = 169), were selected based on Portuguese food consumption data, and were grouped according to the FoodEx2 level 1 food classification system. Na and K levels were determined using an Induc tively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer. Na contents ranged from 1.20 mg/100 g in bottled water to 2108 mg/100 g in raw cured (or seasoned) meat. The highest content of K (1583 mg/100 g) was found in cod Atlantic. The Na/K ratio was, in general, higher for processed foods. The Portuguese Total Diet Pilot Study (PT TDS), after additional samples are analyzed, could potentially be useful, for evaluating diet-disease risks asso ciated with high Na and low K intake from different foods or food groups.
- Mineral analysis in food - Sample Digestion, Spectrometry AnalysisPublication . Nascimento, Ana; Santiago, SusanaMineral analysis in food: i) Sample Digestion; ii) Spectrometry Analysis.
- Suitability of the In Vitro Cytokinesis-Block Micronucleus Test for Genotoxicity Assessment of TiO2 Nanoparticles on SH-SY5Y CellsPublication . Fernández-Bertólez, Natalia; Brandão, Fátima; Costa, Carla; Pásaro, Eduardo; Teixeira, João Paulo; Laffon, Blanca; Valdiglesias, VanessaStandard toxicity tests might not be fully adequate for evaluating nanomaterials since their unique features are also responsible for unexpected interactions. The in vitro cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) test is recommended for genotoxicity testing, but cytochalasin-B (Cyt-B) may interfere with nanoparticles (NP), leading to inaccurate results. Our objective was to determine whether Cyt-B could interfere with MN induction by TiO2 NP in human SH-SY5Y cells, as assessed by CBMN test. Cells were treated for 6 or 24 h, according to three treatment options: co-treatment with Cyt-B, post-treatment, and delayed co-treatment. Influence of Cyt-B on TiO2 NP cellular uptake and MN induction as evaluated by flow cytometry (FCMN) were also assessed. TiO2 NP were significantly internalized by cells, both in the absence and presence of Cyt-B, indicating that this chemical does not interfere with NP uptake. Dose-dependent increases in MN rates were observed in CBMN test after co-treatment. However, FCMN assay only showed a positive response when Cyt-B was added simultaneously with TiO2 NP, suggesting that Cyt-B might alter CBMN assay results. No differences were observed in the comparisons between the treatment options assessed, suggesting they are not adequate alternatives to avoid Cyt-B interference in the specific conditions tested.
- Childhood overweight and obesity in Europe: Changes from 2007 to 2017Publication . Buoncristiano, Marta; Spinelli, Angela; Williams, Julianne; Nardone, Paola; Rito, Ana Isabel; García‐Solano, Marta; Grøholt, Else Karin; Gutiérrez‐González, Enrique; Klepp, Knut Inge; Starc, Gregor; Petrauskienė, Aušra; Kunešová, Marie; Hassapidou, Maria; Pérez‐Farinós, Napoleón; Pudule, Iveta; Kelleher, Cecily C.; Duleva, Vesselka; Rakovac, Ivo; Chatterjee, Saion; Breda, JoãoThe Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) routinely measures height andweight of primary school children aged 6–9 years and calculates overweight andobesity prevalence within the World Health Organization (WHO) European Regionusing a standard methodology. This study examines the trends in the prevalence ofoverweight and obesity from the first round of COSI carried out in 2007/2008 to thelatest of 2015/2017 in 11 European countries in which data were collected for atleast three rounds. In total 303,155 children were measured. In general, the preva-lence of overweight and obesity among boys and girls decreased in countries withhigh prevalence (Southern Europe) and remained stable or slightly increased in North-ern European and Eastern European countries included in the analysis. Among boys, the highest decrease in overweight (including obesity) was observed in Portugal (from40.5% in 2007/2008 to 28.4 in 2015/2017) and in Greece for obesity (from 30.5% in2009/2010 to 21.7% in 2015/2017). Lithuania recorded the strongest increase in theproportion of boys with overweight (from 24.8% to 28.5%) and obesity (from 9.4% to12.2%). The trends were similar for boys and girls in most countries. Several countriesin Europe have successfully implemented policies and interventions to counteract theincrease of overweight and obesity, but there is still much to be done.
- Mobilizing governments and society to combat obesity: Reflections on how data from the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative are helping to drive policy progressPublication . Breda, João; Farrugia Sant'Angelo, Victoria; Duleva, Vesselka; Galeone, Daniela; Heinen, Mirjam M.; Kelleher, Cecily C.; Menzano, Maria Teresa; Musić Milanović, Sanja; Mitchell, Lachlan; Pudule, Iveta; Rito, Ana Isabel; Shengelia, Lela; Spinelli, Angela; Spiroski, Igor; Yardim, Nazan; Buoncristiano, Marta; Williams, Julianne; Rakovac, Ivo; McColl, KarenTo meet the need for regular and reliable data on the prevalence of overweight andobesity among children in Europe, the World Health Organization (WHO) EuropeanChildhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) was established in 2007. Theresulting robust surveillance system has improved understanding of the public healthchallenge of childhood overweight and obesity in the WHO European Region. For the past decade, data from COSI have helped to inform and drive policy action onnutrition and physical activity in the region. This paper describes illustrative examplesof how COSI data have fed into national and international policy, but the real scopeof COSI's impact is likely to be much broader. In some countries, there are signs thatpolicy responses to COSI data have helped halt the rise in childhood obesity. As thecountries of the WHO European Region commit to pursuing United Action for BetterHealth in Europe in WHO's new European Programme of Work, COSI provides anexcellent example of such united action in practice. Further collaborative action willbe key to tackling this major public health challenge which affects children through-out the region
- Aplicabilidade da fórmula Martin‐Hopkins e comparação com a fórmula Friedewald na estimativa do colesterol LDL na população do estudo e_CORPublication . Ferrinho, Cátia; Alves, Ana Catarina; Bourbon, Mafalda; Duarte, SequeiraIntrodução: O colesterol LDL (cLDL) é essencial na abordagem do risco de doenças cardiovasculares. Desde 1972 é utilizada a fórmula de Friedewald para estimativa da concentração do cLDL, com algumas limitações. Foi sugerida, em 2013, por Martin et al., uma fórmula semelhante que permite melhor exatidão no cálculo do cLDL. Objetivo: Mostrar aplicabilidade da nova fórmula, que nomeámos fórmula Martin‐Hopkins, na população portuguesa e comparar com a fórmula Friedewald utilizando o cLDL direto. Material e métodos: Estudo transversal, incluindo 1689 participantes do estudo e_COR. Aplicámos as fórmulas Martin‐Hopkins e Friedewald para a estimativa de cLDL (cLDL‐M e cLDL‐F). A fórmula Friedewald não foi aplicada em 12 casos por triglicéridos ≥ 400 mg/dL. Foi realizada a determinação direta do cLDL (cLDL‐D). Resultados apresentados em mediana e amplitude interquartil. Nível de significância aceite p < 0,05. Resultados: Dos participantes, 50,2% eram sexo masculino e mediana de 51 (34) anos. O cLDL‐D foi 117,0 (44,0) mg/dL, cLDL‐M foi 114,6 (43,7) mg/dL e cLDL‐F foi 113,8 (43,2) mg/dL. O coeficiente de Spearman (ρ) entre cLDL‐M/cLDL‐D foi 0,987 e entre cLDL‐F/cLDL‐D foi 0,983, p = 0,001. Esta forte correlação manteve‐se no grupo com diabetes mellitus (cLDL‐M/LDL‐D ρ = 0,987; cLDL‐F/cLDL‐D ρ = 0,978, p = 0,001) e hipertrigliceridemia (cLDL‐M/LDL‐D ρ = 0,983; cLDL‐F/cLDL‐D ρ = 0,982, p = 0,001). Na análise de concordância, o maior valor de κ = 0,90 foi obtido para cLDL‐M quando cLDL‐D < 100 mg/dL. Conclusão: A fórmula Martin‐Hopkins teve um bom desempenho e aplicabilidade, mostrando superioridade em relação à fórmula Friedewald, sobretudo para valores de cLDL‐D < 100 mg/dL, diabetes mellitus e hipertrigliceridemia.
- Monitorização da mortalidade: Julho 2021Publication . Torres, Ana Rita; Silva, Susana Pereira; Nunes, Baltazar; Dias, Carlos Matias; Rodrigues, Ana PaulaEste relatório tem como objetivo descrever e interpretar o padrão de mortalidade observado durante o mês de julho, em Portugal, entre as semanas 26/2021 e 30/2021 (28 de junho a 01 de agosto).
- A current guide to candidate gene association studiesPublication . David, SusanaImportant factors contribute to a gained momentum in candidate gene association studies (CGAS) including the generalized use of NGS, growing opportunity for hospital-based research and availability of open-source databases and bioinformatics tools. This report summarizes the general principles and analytical methods as a guide to CGAS in today’s favorable context.
- The Interaction between Tribolium castaneum and Mycotoxigenic Aspergillus flavus in Maize FlourPublication . Duarte, Sónia; Magro, Ana; Tomás, Joanna; Hilário, Carolina; Alvito, Paula; Ferreira, Ricardo; Carvalho, M.OtiliaSimple Summary: It is important to hold cereals in storage conditions that exclude insect pests such as the red flour beetle and fungi, especially mycotoxin-producing ones (as a few strains of Aspergillus flavus). This work aims to investigate the interaction between these two organisms when thriving in maize flour. It was observed that when both organisms were together, the mycotoxins detected in maize flour were far higher than when the fungi were on their own, suggesting that the presence of insects may contribute positively to fungi development and mycotoxin production. The insects in contact with the fungi were almost all dead at the end of the trials, suggesting a negative effect of the fungi growth on the insects. Both organisms interacted when in contact. This is the first study on this issue, although further investigation would benefit from clarification on the mechanisms leading to the nature of the detected interactions.
- «
- 1 (current)
- 2
- 3
- »