Erythrocyte as a link between basic and clinical research

© 2011 – IOS Press and the authorsWe review the major hemorheological experimental studies that show the erythrocyte aggregation as a link between basic and clinical research. The results of the clinical cross-sectional and longitudinal studies presented here will highlight the possible association between erythrocyte aggregation and plasma fibrinogen. Basic studies conducted in vitro are also mentioned as for its relevance in answering questions raised in clinical settings, as well as and in understanding the underlying influent factors in the erythrocyte tendency to aggregate and disaggregate.This work was supported by “Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia

Evidence that the degree of band 3 phosphorylation modulates human erythrocytes nitric oxide efflux – in vitro model of hyperfibrinogenemia

© 2011 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reservedRecent evidence has shown that plasma fibrinogen, a major cardiovascular risk factor, interacts with the erythrocyte membrane and acts to influence blood flow via erythrocyte nitric oxide (NO) modulation. In the present pioneer in-vitro study, whole blood samples were harvested from healthy subjects and aliquots were incubated in the absence (control aliquots) and presence of fibrinogen at different degrees of band 3 phosphorylation, and the levels of NO, nitrite, nitrate and S-nitroglutathione (GSNO) were determined. Hyperfibrinogenemia interferes with erythrocyte NO mobilization without changing its efflux in a way that seems to be dependent of the degree of band 3 phosphorylation. In presence of higher fibrinogen concentrations the NO efflux is reinforced when band 3 is phosphorylated (p < 0.001). Higher levels of nitrite, nitrate and GSNO were documented (p < 0.05). However, the mechanisms by which fibrinogen signalling modulates erythrocyte function remain to be clarified and are currently under study. These conditions may be considered an approach to be followed in blood storage for transfusions.This study was supported by grants from the FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (project reference PTDC/SAU-OSM/73449/2006

Formação contínua e mudança da prática pedagógica

Este trabalho traz resultados de ações dos formadores, passíveis de transferência para a sala de aula, além de sugerir procedimentos para uma prática pedagógica desejável. Alguns autores nos trazem elementos teóricos para pensar a formação e a profissão do professor mas as ações concretas do formador é que vão operacionalizar o processo para mudanças significativas e duradouras na prática real. A estratégia do formador focaliza e discute a prática do professor, explicitada nos relatos das suas ações reais; para o formador é o momento de conhecer as concepções do professor sobre o que ele ensina e do que concebe sobre ensinar, bem como orientar a continuidade do trabalho nas aulas. Como resultado tem-se ações pedagógicas efetivamente operadas com os alunos e a reelaboração contínua dos planos de aula pessoais, com critérios referenciados na aprendizagem e no conteúdo

Bounds on the electromagnetic interactions of excited spin-3/2 leptons

We discuss possible deviations from QED produced by a virtual excited spin-3/2 lepton in the reaction $e^+e^- \longrightarrow 2\gamma$. Data recorded by the OPAL Collaboration at a c.m. energy $\sqrt{s} = 183 GeV$ are used to establish bounds on the nonstandard-lepton mass and coupling strengths.Comment: Latex, 5 pages, 7 ps figures. To be published in Phys. Rev.

Dithiothreitol revisited in red cells : a new head for an old hat

© 2010 – IOS Press and the authors. All rights reservedIn the present article the authors make an approach over the applications of dithiothreitol (DTT) in its different clinicallaboratory, potential and up-to-date sources. Dithiothreitol is a chemical reagent with a wide actuation spectrum not only from a laboratorial view but also from a therapeutic standpoint, more clinical and practical. DTT (i) is frequently used in a variety of experiences that involve proteins or peptides, protecting sulfhydryl groups from oxidation and reducing disulfide bonds between cysteines; (ii) is also used in the study of disulfide exchange reactions of protein disulfides; (iii) is able to keep glutathione in the reduced state; (iv) acts as an “antidote” enabling the activity of detoxification systems; (v) participates in cellular mechanisms such as vesiculation, cell morphology, signal transduction pathways (hormone-‘like’ role), etc.; (vi) can be used in the treatment approach of diseases like cystinosis or medical conditions resulting from ion or metal toxicity. In erythrocytes, there’s literature pointing that DTT may trigger changes on the normal discoid shape following metabolic depletion, and additionally modulate the exovesiculation kinetics as demonstrated by us. The present article dissects in detail recent findings in our Unit concerning the DTT influence on human erythrocytes

Creating and implementing a system of geolocation for physiotherapy services

The aim of this work was to create a geolocation system for Physiotherapy services. This system will enable Physiotherapists, Physiotherapy clinics and users to locate different Physiotherapy services according to the geographical location. The specific objectives were to create a model of indexing information for Physiotherapists based on their geolocation, personal data, areas of intervention and service agreements; creation of a model of information search; and implementation of a web service that allows indexing and information search of Physiotherapy services for both users and clinicians, based on this various parameters.There are many needs among decision makers regarding the modelling and presentation of health information for better understanding of the phenomena and better management of all resources. The geolocation (Web-based mapping) stands out as an important tool that allows users through systems like Google Maps or Yahoo Maps to access, acknowledge and manage services or monitoring diseases or epidemics. In the context of health care these systems allow a better allocation of resources by health systems as well as a selection and more informed choice by the users.The system methodology involved several stages: 1º Step: the list of requirements was create with the assistance of a group of Physiotherapists, it was determined the set of information considered useful to the end user when viewing the system, including: General information - Physiotherapist personal data, including relevant contacts; Clinical Information - refers to the types of available valances within Physiotherapy services; Administrative Information - refers to agreements and contracts with external entities. The definition of data took into account the end user, the vocabulary was adapted for Physiotherapists and users. 2º Step: Design, system architecture and the creation of the system interface, in both frontend and backend, we opted for the PHP language for the management system and MySQL for the database. 3º Step: The system was set up in a subdomain with its own web access in the last phase of implementation. Users of the system were divided into two types: User looking for Physiotherapy services - this includes patients and other Physiotherapists who refer their clients to other services and users seeking to advertise their Physiotherapy services - this includes Physiotherapists and clinics wishing to register their information on the system aiming to facilitate contacts.Several benefits of using this system were described, including easy management and availability of geographical information for patients and other health professionals, that could promote a possible decrease in costs, time and resources saving, both human and economic in health services access.Today, ICT are increasingly present in the practice of the Physiotherapist, covering new areas and putting at their disposal a wide range of solutions and tools for clinical practice. This system will enable Physiotherapists, Physiotherapy clinics and users to locate different Physiotherapy services, fostering an environment of increasingly shared and equal access to care facilities.N/

Unfolding the dynamical structure of Lisbon’s public space: space syntax and micromobility data

Space Syntax and the theory of natural movement demonstrated that spatial mor- phology is a primary factor influencing movement. This paper investigates to what extent spatial morphology at different scales (node, community and global network) influences the use of public space by micromobility. An axial map and corresponding network for Lisbon’s walkable and open public space, and data from e-scooters parking locations, is used as case study. Relevant metrics and their correlations (intelligibility, accessibility, permeability and local dimension) for the quantitative characterization of spatial morphology properties are described and computed for Lisbon’s axial map. Communities are identified based on the network topological structure in order to investigate how these properties are affected at different scales in the case study. The resulting axial line clustering is compared via the variation of information metric with the clustering obtained from e-scooters’ proximity. The results obtained enable to con- clude that the space syntax properties are scale dependent in Lisbon’s pedestrian net- work. On the other hand both the correlation between these properties, the number of scooters and the variation of information between clusters indicate that the spatial morphology is not the only factor influencing micromobility. Through the compara- tive analysis between the main properties of the public space network of Lisbon and data collected from e-scooters locations in a timeframe, centrality becomes a dynamic concept, relying not only on the static topological properties of the urban network, but also on other quantitative and qualitative factors, since the flows’ operating on the network will operate several transformations on the spatial network properties through time, uncovering spatiotemporal dynamics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Knowledge and attitude towards the gradual reduction of salt in bread – an online survey

Aim: Assess knowledge and attitude towards the gradual reduction of salt in bread and the potential impact on eating habits of children (6-18 years) and their families, as part as a Health Impact Assessment pilot study.N/

Espermatogênese de tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) criado em cativeiro.

No Amazonas, o constante aumento da pressão da pesca extrativista sobre os estoques de populações naturais de peixe, associado ao aumento da demanda pelo pescado, vêm contribuindo para a propagação da piscicultura no Estado. Neste cenário destaca-se o tambaqui, representando o melhor candidato nativo para a piscicultura intensiva na Amazônia e em outras áreas do Brasil. Devido a crescente relevância desta espécie na aqüicultura da região Norte e nacional, o presente trabalho propõe-se a detalhar o processo espermatogênico de tambaquis criados em cativeiro, através de estudos histológicos e de estimativas dos níveis plasmáticos de esteróides sexuais