Caracterização e optimização de métodos de maquinação

Estágio realizado na Simoldes e orientado pelo Eng.º Carlos CastroTese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Metalúrgica e de Materiais. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200

Linking chemical exposure to lipid homeostasis: A municipal waste water treatment plant influent is obesogenic for zebrafish larvae

Obesity, a risk factor for the development of type-2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hepatic steatosis and some cancers, has been ranked in the top 10 health risk in the world by the World Health Organization. Despite the growing body of literature evidencing an association between the obesity epidemic and specific chemical exposure across a wide range of animal taxa, very few studies assessed the effects of chemical mixtures and environmental samples on lipid homeostasis. Additionally, the mode of action of several chemicals reported to alter lipid homeostasis is still poorly understood. Aiming to fill some of these gaps, we combined an in vivo assay with the model species zebrafish (Danio rerio) to screen lipid accumulation and evaluate expression changes of key genes involved in lipid homeostasis, alongside with an in vitro transactivation assay using human and zebrafish nuclear receptors, retinoid X receptor α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. Zebrafish larvae were exposed from 4 th day post-fertilization until the end of the experiment (day 18), to six different treatments: experimental control, solvent control, tributyltin at 100 ng/L Sn and 200 ng/L Sn (positive control), and wastewater treatment plant influent at 1.25% and 2.5%. Exposure to tributyltin and to 2.5% influent led to a significant accumulation of lipids, with white adipose tissue deposits concentrating in the perivisceral area. The highest in vitro tested influent concentration (10%) was able to significantly transactivate the human heterodimer PPARγ/RXRα, thus suggesting the presence in the influent of HsPPARγ/RXRα agonists. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, the ability of complex environmental samples from a municipal waste water treatment plant influent to induce lipid accumulation in zebrafish larvae.This work was supported by the Norte2020 and FEDER (Coral—Sustainable Ocean Exploitation—Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000036), by the Spanish Agencia Estatal de Investigación (CTM2017-84763-C3-2-R), the Galician Council of Culture, Education and Universities (ED431C2017/36) and FEDER/ERDF, and by the project NOR-WATER (0725), financed by “Programa de Cooperação Interreg Portugal/Espanha, (POCTEP) 2014-2020. Ricardo Capela was supported by grant SFRH/BD/112483/2015S

Análise e investigação de acidentes de trabalho

Tese de mestrado. Engenharia de Segurança e Higiene Ocupacionais. Universidade do Porto. Faculdade de Engenharia. 201

Caracterização e optimização de métodos de maquinação

Estágio realizado na Simoldes e orientado pelo Eng.º Carlos CastroTese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Metalúrgica e de Materiais. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 200

Clinical picture of the last two decades at a single oncology referral centre and novel therapeutic options

Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is a rare tumour but also one of the most lethal malignancies. Therapeutic modalities have usually been limited, but clinical trials with new drugs are now being implemented. The aims of this study were to analyse the clinical presentation, therapeutic modalities and independent prognostic factors for survival. We also reviewed the most recent literature on novel ATC therapies. We performed a retrospective analysis of 79 patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2018. Variables with impact on survival were identified using the Cox proportional-hazard regression model. At presentation, 6.3% had thyroid-confined disease, 30.4% evidenced extrathyroidal extension and 60.8% were already metastatic. Surgery was feasible in 41.8% and radiotherapy was applied to 35.4%, with those receiving >45 Gy having longer estimated survival (p = 0.020). Chemotherapy, either conventional or with tyrosine kinase inhibitors, was performed in 17.7% and 7.6%, respectively. Multimodality therapy with surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy/tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) had the greatest impact on disease specific survival (DSS), providing a risk reduction of death of 96.9% (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.031, 0.005–0.210, p < 0.001). We concluded that most of these patients join reference centres at advanced stages of disease and multimodality treatment may offer the best chances for prolonging survival.publishersversionpublishe

Personality assessment in chronic pain patients

Abstract In Brazil, studies investigating the personality characteristics of chronic pain patients are scarce. The present study aimed to evaluate the personality characteristics of patients with chronic pain and to compare them with those of patients without this condition. To this end, the Personality Disorders Dimensional Inventory and the Hypochondriasis scale of the Brazilian version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory were administered. Two different statistical analyses were carried out: the t - test to determine the differences between the scores for the two groups and the logistic regression analysis to examine the predictive power of the scales for the diagnosis of chronic pain. The results revealed significant differences (p < 0.05) among the Histrionic, Hypochondriasis, and Sadistic scales as predictors for the groups studied, with larger effect sizes on the Histrionic and Hypochondriasis scales. The authors suggest that the use of these scales in a clinical context may provide important information for health professionals

Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a common disease, affecting up to 13.1% of the Portuguese population. In addition to the known micro and macrovascular complications, drug side effects constitute a major concern, leading to changes in the treatment guidelines, which favor safety over efficacy. Metformin is the first-line pharmacological treatment for most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, it has been associated with vitamin B12 deficiency in up to 30% of treated patients. The authors describe the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in a diabetic population and explore the possible underlying factors. Material and Methods: Retrospective, observational study. Clinical and laboratory data of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients whose vitamin B12 status was evaluated in the last decade (2005 - 2016) were analyzed. Patients with known malabsorptive syndromes or having undergone bariatric surgery were excluded from the study. Statistical analysis of the data was done and the results were considered statistically significant at p values < 0.05. Results: The study included a total of 1007 patients (58% women) with a mean age of 66.4 ± 12.2 years and 11 ± 10.4 years of type 2 diabetes mellitus duration. These patients had a high prevalence of complications: diabetic renal disease 47.7%, neuropathy 9.2%, retinopathy 14.9%, coronary artery disease 8.4%, cerebrovascular disease 10.9%, and peripheral arterial disease 5.5%. Vitamin B12 deficiency (< 174 ng / dL) was present in 21.4% of the population and this subgroup was older (68.4 vs 65.8 years, p = 0.006), had a longer type 2 diabetes mellitus duration (13.35 vs 10.36 years; p = 0.001), higher prevalence of retinopathy (20.9% vs 13.3%; p = 0.005) and thyroid dysfunction (34% vs 23.7%; p = 0.002). Vitamin B12 deficiency was also more frequent in patients treated with metformin (24.7% vs 15.8%; p = 0.017), antiplatelet agents (25.4% vs 16.2%, p < 0.001), and calcium channel blockers (26.8% vs 18.2%; p = 0.001). After adjustment for possible confounders, the variables associated with B12 deficiency were: metformin, hypothyroidism, age and type 2 diabetes mellitus duration. Discussion: Despite the retrospective design, the results report a high prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency in the type 2 diabetic population. This study also demonstrates that the B12 deficiency risk is higher in older people, with longer diabetes mellitus duration, hypothyroidism and treated with metformin. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to identify the risk factors for the B12 deficit. The recognition of these variables will contribute to optimize the screening and prevention of the B12 deficiency in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Are beliefs and attitudes about COVID-19 associated with self-perceived changes in food consumption? Results from a nationwide survey during lockdown

© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This study aimed to understand how beliefs and attitudes regarding COVID-19 are associated with self-perceived changes in food consumption during lockdown between March 19 and May 2, 2020. We conducted a cross-sectional study with a non-probabilistic weighted sample of the Portuguese population. Data were collected using an online survey and telephone interviews. The association between agreement with sentences about food and COVID-19 and perceived changes in food consumption were assessed by multinomial logistic regression models. Overall, 5858 citizens were included, with a mean age of 38.2 (17.3) years. Exclusive agreement with the belief “SARS-CoV-2 can be transmitted by food” (27.5%) was associated with decreased odds of perceived positive changes (e.g., increased consumption of fruit and vegetables). Agreement only with the attitudinal sentence “I started to consume foods that may protect against COVID-19” (11.9%) was associated with positive perceived consumption changes (e.g., increasing fruit and vegetables, and decreasing soft drinks and snacks). Cumulative agreement (with both sentences; 10.6%) was also associated with mostly positive food consumption changes. Specific beliefs and attitudes regarding COVID-19 and food are associated with self-perceived changes in food consumption. Longitudinal research is needed to understand how beliefs and/or attitudes about the role of food in infectious diseases act as determinants of eating behavior modification.This work was supported by the Portuguese Directorate-General of Health. The writing of this manuscript has also benefited from funding from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (UIDB/04295/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio