O oraloma da diabetes Melitus tipo 1 vs diabetes Melitus tipo 2 : um estudo comparativo

A Diabetes Melitos é uma doença de grande prevalência a nível mundial e os seus mecanismos fisiopatológicos não são ainda totalmente conhecidos. Actualmente, a terapêutica seguida em casos de Diabetes Melitos é eminentemente sintomática consistindo na administração de insulina nos casos de Diabetes Melitos tipo 1 ou quando se verifica a falência das células beta do pâncreas de pacientes com Diabetes Melitos tipo 2, ou no controlo da glicemia nos casos de Diabetes Melitos tipo 2. A hiperglicemia, fenótipo característico desta patologia, produz efeitos negativos no organismo a longo prazo, levando à modificação estrutural e funcional de vários proteínas, afectando, deste modo, diversos processos moleculares em que intervêm estas proteínas. Os dois tipos Diabetes Melitos influenciam, de forma diferenciada, a expressão de diversas proteínas, produzindo efeitos ao nível das vias de sinalização celular e nos processos biológicos celulares. Consequentemente, conhecer as características moleculares dos dois tipos de Diabetes Melitos permite o desenvolvimento de técnicas diagnósticas e terapêuticas mais precoces e eficazes específicas para cada uma delas. Tendo como base o proteoma da cavidade oral, denominado Oraloma, este estudo pretende actualizar os dados provenientes de estudos de proteómica da cavidade oral de pacientes com os dois tipos de Diabetes Melitos e estudá-los com recurso a ferramentas bioinformáticas que permitem a caracterização das proteínas indexadas. Dado a cavidade oral ser um ecossistema, é indissociável dos microrganismos que nele existem. Consequentemente, é objectivo deste estudo anotar as estirpes de microrganismos identificados pela literatura actual, por forma a caracterizar de forma mais completa este aspecto molecular da cavidade oralDiabetes Mellitus is a disease with high prevalence worldwide with pathophysiological mechanisms not yet fully understood. Nowadays, the therapeutical approach of Diabetes Mellitus is mainly a symptomatic one based on insulin administration to type 1 Diabetes Mellitus patients and type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients with no funtional pancreatic beta-cells or the serum glucose concentration control in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients. Hyperglykemia is a carachteristic phenotype of this pathology, it brings long-run negative effects on the organism due to its role on modifying proteins structure and function affecting the organism's integrity. Both Diabetes Mellitus types influence, on different ways, protein expression hence leading to changes on the molecular signaling pathways and biologic process of the cells. Thereafter, to know the molecular aspects of both Diabetes Mellitus types is key to develop better, more efficient and precocious diagnostic and therapeutic tecniques. Based on the oral proteome, namely the oralome, this study aims to update data from the pre-existing oral proteomic studies on both types of Diabetes Mellitus and to study them using bioinformatic tools which allow these proteins carachterization. Being an ecossystem, the oral cavity is inseparable of the microrganisms which inhabit in it. Therefore, another aim of the present study is to annotate the microrganisms species identified by the current scientific literature, in order to charactherize in a more complete way this molecular aspect of the oral cavity

Putting Portuguese and European data into perspective

Publisher Copyright: © 2016 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia.Introduction and Objectives Acute heart failure (AHF) is a heterogeneous clinical syndrome requiring urgent therapy. The prognosis is poor after the index hospitalization, with a high risk for rehospitalization and early death. The costs of managing AHF are thus increasing rapidly. A literature review was performed to gather and compare data on prevalence and treatment and to identify gaps in AHF management, based on European and Portuguese studies. Methods A literature search from 1995 to 2014 was conducted in selected databases (BIOSIS Previews, EMBASE and Ovid MEDLINE). Results and Discussion Seven Portuguese and nine European studies were analyzed. The mean age of AHF patients was ≥65 years and 30-50% were women. Coronary artery disease (42.3% vs. 61.9%) and hypertension (53.3% vs. 76.7%) were identified as primary etiologies in Europe and in Portugal. Similar proportions of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction were found in the Portuguese (19.9-44.7%) and European (32.8-39.1%) studies. Overall, all-cause mortality rates were comparable (six months: 9.3-25.5% vs. 13.5-27.4%; one year: 15.9-31% vs. 17.4-46.5%), as was in-hospital mortality (5.5-14% vs. 3.8-12%) in Portuguese and European studies, respectively. Length of stay was comparable. The studies were performed in very different hospital settings and data on treatment were scarce. Conclusions Gaps were identified in treatment and clinical pathways of patients with AHF. Based on the results of this review, collection and investigation of data on the disease and treatment solutions, training in disease management, and improved organization of healthcare should be the subject of further investment.publishersversionpublishe

Assessing the impact of universities’ entrepreneurial activity on regional competitiveness

The aim of this study is to test the multidimensional construct of the Entrepreneurial University (EU), and therefore to confirm whether EU factors make a positive contribution to regional competitiveness. Data were collected from ten Portuguese Public Universities (PPUs) through a self-administered questionnaire. First- and second-order confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed through factor and multiple linear regression analyses. The main findings show that EU related factors—perceived and combined with actual regional metrics—especially entrepreneurial supporting measures, positively contributed to regional competitiveness. This study shows policy makers that universities are not merely cost centres but provide knowledge spillovers that can have a positive influence on regional competitiveness.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

estimativas para o século XXI em Portugal

Copyright © 2017 Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Heart failure is a major public health problem that affects a large number of individuals and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. This study aims to estimate the probable scenario for HF prevalence and its consequences in the short-, medium- and long-term in Portugal. METHODS: This assessment is based on the EPICA (Epidemiology of Heart Failure and Learning) project, which was designed to estimate the prevalence of chronic heart failure in mainland Portugal in 1998. Estimates of heart failure prevalence were performed for individuals aged over 25 years, distributed by age group and gender, based on data from the 2011 Census by Statistics Portugal. RESULTS: The expected demographic changes, particularly the marked aging of the population, mean that a large number of Portuguese will likely be affected by this syndrome. Assuming that current clinical practices are maintained, the prevalence of heart failure in mainland Portugal will increase by 30% by 2035 and by 33% by 2060, compared to 2011, resulting in 479 921 and 494 191 affected individuals, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the large number of heart failure patients expected, it is estimated that the hospitalizations and mortality associated with this syndrome will significantly increase its economic impact. Therefore, it is extremely important to raise awareness of this syndrome, as this will favor diagnosis and early referral of patients, facilitating better management of heart failure and helping to decrease the burden it imposes on Portugal.publishersversionpublishe

Establishment and characterization of human pluripotent stem cells-derived brain organoids to model cerebellar diseases

Supplementary Information Te online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/ 10.1038/s41598-022-16369-y.The establishment of robust human brain organoids to model cerebellar diseases is essential to study new therapeutic strategies for cerebellum-associated disorders. Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is a cerebellar hereditary neurodegenerative disease, without therapeutic options able to prevent the disease progression. In the present work, control and MJD induced-pluripotent stem cells were used to establish human brain organoids. These organoids were characterized regarding brain development, cell type composition, and MJD-associated neuropathology markers, to evaluate their value for cerebellar diseases modeling. Our data indicate that the organoids recapitulated, to some extent, aspects of brain development, such as astroglia emerging after neurons and the presence of ventricular-like zones surrounded by glia and neurons that are found only in primate brains. Moreover, the brain organoids presented markers of neural progenitors proliferation, neuronal differentiation, inhibitory and excitatory synapses, and firing neurons. The established brain organoids also exhibited markers of cerebellar neurons progenitors and mature cerebellar neurons. Finally, MJD brain organoids showed higher ventricular-like zone numbers, an indication of lower maturation, and an increased number of ataxin-3-positive aggregates, compared with control organoids. Altogether, our data indicate that the established organoids recapitulate important characteristics of human brain development and exhibit cerebellar features, constituting a resourceful tool for testing therapeutic approaches for cerebellar diseases.This work was funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Centro 2020 Regional Operational Programme under BrainHealth2020 projects (CENTRO-01-0145-FEDER-000008), through the COMPETE 2020—Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization and Portuguese national funds via FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, under projects — UIDB/04539/2020 and UIDP/04539/2020, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030737 (NeuroStemForMJD, PTDC/BTM-ORG/30737/2017), CEEC-IND/04242/2017, PhD Scholarships 2020.04751.BD and 2020.07385.BD. It was also funded by the National Ataxia Foundation, the French Muscular Dystrophy Association (AFM-Téléthon) Trampoline Grant #20126, EU Joint Programme—Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND) Project JPCO FUND/0005/2015-ModelPolyQ), and the Richard Chin and Lily Lock Machado-Joseph Disease Research Fund.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Econometric analysis of sawn timber production in Brazil

ResumoEstudos que objetivam analisar o mercado madeira serrada no Brasil merecem destaque por fornecerem orientações sobre sua tendência. Após o avanço no uso de painéis de madeira, o mercado sofreu influências por esse substituto, se fazendo necessárias análises econométricas para dimensionar e planejar a produção, diminuindo riscos e incertezas de comercialização. Esse mercado é dividido em madeiras de não coníferas e coníferas, que contribuem atualmente com 62% e 38% do mercado, respectivamente. Com base em uma série temporal anual da produção brasileira de madeira serrada de não coníferas e coníferas no período de 1961 a 2009, publicada pela Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2011), o presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a metodologia Box & Jenkins (Box; Jenkins, 1976) para realizar previsões da produção desse mercado. Os modelos foram avaliados com base nos critérios de Akaike e Schwarz, na significância dos coeficientes, no princípio de parcimônia e no comportamento dos resíduos. Pelos resultados, conclui-se que o modelo autorregressivo de média móvel (ARIMA) (2,1,1) foi adequado para prever a produção de madeira serrada de não coníferas, e o modelo ARIMA (1,1,1) para prever a produção de madeira serrada de coníferas. A metodologia pode ser utilizada para previsão desse mercado. AbstractEconometric analysis of sawn timber production in Brazil. Studies that aim to analyze the lumber market in Brazil are noteworthy for providing guidance on its trend. After advance in wood panels using the market has been influenced by this replacement, and it was necessary an econometric analysis to scale and plan production, reducing risks and uncertainties. Such market is divided into non-coniferous woods and conifers, which currently contribute to 62% and 38% of the market, respectively. Based on an annual time series of non-coniferous and coniferous sawn timber Brazilian production in the 1960 to 2009 period, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2011),the present research aimed to evaluate the methodology Box & Jenkins (BOX; JENKINS, 1976) to forecast the production of this market. The models were evaluated based on the Akaike and Schwarz criteria, at the coefficients significance, at the parsimony principle and at the waste behavior. According to results, the moving average auto-regressive model (ARIMA) (2,1,1) was adequate to predict the non-coniferous sawn timber production and the ARIMA (1,1,1) model to predict the conifers sawn wood production. The methodology can be used for such market prediction.Keywords: Lumber production; time series; Box & Jenkins methodology.AbstractStudies that aim to analyze the lumber market in Brazil are noteworthy for providing guidance on its trend. After advance in wood panels using the market has been influenced by this replacement, and it was necessary an econometric analysis to scale and plan production, reducing risks and uncertainties. Such market is divided into non-coniferous woods and conifers, which currently contribute to 62% and 38% of the market, respectively. Based on an annual time series of non-coniferous and coniferous sawn timber Brazilian production in the 1960 to 2009 period, published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, 2011),the present research aimed to evaluate the methodology Box & Jenkins (BOX; JENKINS, 1976) to forecast the production of this market. The models were evaluated based on the Akaike and Schwarz criteria, at the coefficients significance, at the parsimony principle and at the waste behavior. According to results, the moving average auto-regressive model (ARIMA) (2,1,1) was adequate to predict the non-coniferous sawn timber production and the ARIMA (1,1,1) model to predict the conifers sawn wood production. The methodology can be used for such market prediction.Keywords: Lumber production; time series; Box & Jenkins methodology

Arquitectura modular (re)configurável : case study Bemposta-Mogadouro

Exame público realizado em 10 de Outubro de 2016.Dissertação de mestrado em Arquitectura.O presente trabalho de investigação tem como objectivo a divulgação e valorização da Arquitectura Modular (Re)Configurável como resposta a diferentes problemáticas actuais, aplicando-a a um caso de estudo em Bemposta. Permitindo que um determinado espaço, constituído por módulos, seja susceptível a alterações, no todo ou em partes, de uma forma consideravelmente mais fácil, o seu carácter flexível tem como vantagem a adaptação dos mesmos espaços a diferentes funções de acordo com as necessidades humanas. Este tipo de arquitectura contrasta, assim, com a arquitectura dita convencional que depois de materializada é estática e optimizada apenas para uma funcionalidade prevista em projecto, não deixando grande espaço à sua adaptação a novas funcionalidades. Esta situação é flagrante nas construções do meio rural português que contemplam um carácter estático e pouco adaptável às necessidades actuais, uma vez que uma das características mais vincadas da sociedade actual é, precisamente, a efemeridade das suas necessidades. Verificamos assim que esta característica das aldeias portuguesas não contribui para a inversão da tendência de êxodo rural e nem, por conseguinte, para a preservação do seu património edificado. Utilizando como caso de estudo a aldeia transmontana de Bemposta, nesta dissertação procuraremos compreender, e dar a conhecer à comunidade científica, até que ponto a arquitectura modular (re)configurável, baseada numa dinâmica participativa, pode responder às necessidades efémeras de ocupação dos conjuntos edificados das aldeias. Acreditamos ser possível contribuir para a revitalização de Bemposta através da arquitectura modular (re)configurável, uma vez que por ser facilmente adaptável às diferentes actividades sazonais rurais consoante a necessidade da população. Assim, é possível obter, por um lado, uma maior relação simbiótica entre o Homem e o meio rural e, por outro, o aumento da sua autossuficiência através da optimização dos espaços, racionando o construído e diminuindo a pegada ecológica. Abstract: The present research paper aims to disseminate and valorise the (re) configurable modular architecture as a response to the different current problems, applying it to a case study in Bemposta. Allowing a certain space, composed module, to be susceptible to changes in whole or in part in a considerably easy way, its flexible character has the advantage to adapt the same space to different functions according to the human needs. Therefore, this kind of architecture contrasts with conventional architecture, which is static after it is materialised and only optimised to a foreseen functionality in the project, not leaving much room to its adaptation to new functionalities. This situation is flagrant in rural areas constructions, which present a static and little adaptable character to the current needs since one of the most pronounced characteristics of modern society is precisely the ephemerality of its needs. We have thus verified that this characteristic of the Portuguese villages does not contribute to the inversion of the rural exodus trend, nor consequently to the preservation of the built heritage. Using as a case study the village of Bemposta, in this dissertation, we will seek to understand, and to share with the scientific community, to what extent the (re)configurable modular architecture, based on a participative dynamic, can meet the ephemeral occupational needs of the built constructions of the villages. We believe that it is possible to contribute to the revitalization of Bemposta through (re)configurable modular architecture since it is easily adaptable to the different seasonal rural activities according to the population’s needs. Therefore, it is possible to obtain, on one hand, a greater symbiotic relationship between Man and the rural environment; and on the other hand, an increase of its self-sufficiency through the optimization of spaces, rationalising the built and decreasing the ecological footprint.The present research paper aims to disseminate and valorise the (re) configurable modular architecture as a response to the different current problems, applying it to a case study in Bemposta. Allowing a certain space, composed module, to be susceptible to changes in whole or in part in a considerably easy way, its flexible character has the advantage to adapt the same space to different functions according to the human needs. Therefore, this kind of architecture contrasts with conventional architecture, which is static after it is materialised and only optimised to a foreseen functionality in the project, not leaving much room to its adaptation to new functionalities. This situation is flagrant in rural areas constructions, which present a static and little adaptable character to the current needs since one of the most pronounced characteristics of modern society is precisely the ephemerality of its needs. We have thus verified that this characteristic of the Portuguese villages does not contribute to the inversion of the rural exodus trend, nor consequently to the preservation of the built heritage. Using as a case study the village of Bemposta, in this dissertation, we will seek to understand, and to share with the scientific community, to what extent the (re)configurable modular architecture, based on a participative dynamic, can meet the ephemeral occupational needs of the built constructions of the villages. We believe that it is possible to contribute to the revitalization of Bemposta through (re)configurable modular architecture since it is easily adaptable to the different seasonal rural activities according to the population’s needs. Therefore, it is possible to obtain, on one hand, a greater symbiotic relationship between Man and the rural environment; and on the other hand, an increase of its self-sufficiency through the optimization of spaces, rationalising the built and decreasing the ecological footprint