Comportamentos e crenças de saúde oral de grávidas residentes em Portugal

Introdução. A gravidez consiste num período singular, marcado por alterações físicas e fisiológicas temporárias que podem ter consequências na saúde oral. Objetivos. Estudar os comportamentos de saúde oral, antes e durante a gravidez, e as crenças das grávidas sobre a sua saúde oral. Materiais e Métodos. Estudo transversal realizado na população de grávidas residentes em Portugal. A recolha dos dados foi efetuada através de um questionário on-line, cuja hiperligação foi disponibilizada através das redes sociais. O questionário recolheu informação sociodemográfica, dos comportamentos de saúde oral, antes e durante a gravidez, e das crenças da grávida. Foi realizada a análise estatística descritiva e a análise inferencial utilizou os testes de Wilcoxon, de McNemar e do χ2 (α=0,05). Resultados. A amostra incluiu 392 grávidas, com idades entre os 20 e 45 anos. A maioria (68,9%) considerou “muito importante” a saúde oral durante a gravidez. A escovagem dos dentes bidiária era realizada por 82,7% das grávidas, havendo uma tendência para o aumento desta frequência durante a gravidez (p=0,003). A maioria das grávidas referiu visitar regularmente o dentista durante a gravidez (75,3%), mas observou-se uma diminuição dessa frequência durante este período (p=0,003). Cerca de metade das grávidas (50,8%) não recebeu informação sobre cuidados de saúde oral a ter durante a gravidez. Também perto de metade (54,6%) referiu uma alteração dos hábitos alimentares, com a maioria a referir ingerir mais frequentemente alimentos entre as refeições. As grávidas consideraram os problemas gengivais (63,3%), a hemorragia gengival (70,4%), os problemas dentários (38,3%) e o enfraquecimento dos dentes (43,1%) normais durante a gravidez. Conclusões. As grávidas apresentaram, de um modo geral, bons comportamentos. No entanto, é importante desmistificar algumas crenças relativamente à saúde oral durante a gravidez. As consultas realizadas durante este período constituem uma boa oportunidade para a realização de ações de promoção da saúde oral nesta população.Introduction: Pregnancy is a unique period, marked by temporary physical and physiological changes that can have consequences on oral health. Objectives: To study oral health behaviors, before and during pregnancy, and pregnant women's beliefs about their oral health. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study carried out in the population of pregnant women residing in Portugal. Data collection was carried out through an on-line questionnaire, whose link was made available through social networks. The questionnaire collected sociodemographic information, oral health behaviors before and during pregnancy, and the pregnant woman's beliefs. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed, and inferential analysis used the Wilcoxon, McNemar and Chi-square tests (α=0.05). Results: The sample included 392 pregnant women aged between 20 and 45 years. The majority (68.9%) considered oral health during pregnancy to be “very important”. Brushing teeth twice a day was performed by 82.7% of the pregnant women, with a trend towards an increase in this frequency during pregnancy (p=0.003). Most pregnant women reported regularly visiting the dentist during pregnancy (75.3%), but there was a decrease in this frequency during this period (p=0.003). About half of the pregnant women (50.8%) did not receive information about oral health care during pregnancy. Also, a little over half (54.6%) reported a change in eating habits, with the majority reporting eating more frequently between meals. Pregnant women considered gingival problems (63.3%), gingival bleeding (70.4%), dental problems (38.3%), and weakening of the teeth (43.1%) normal during pregnancy. Conclusions: The pregnant women presented, in general, good behaviors. However, it is important to demystify some beliefs regarding oral health during pregnancy. Consultations held during this period are a good opportunity to carry out actions to promote oral health in this population

O desenvolvimento da consciência fonológica em crianças de 3 e 4 anos: a utilização de um instrumento didático

Dissertação de mestrado, Educação Pré-Escolar, Escola Superior de Educação e Comunicação, Universidade do Algarve, 2015O Relatório de investigação de Prática de Ensino Supervisionada (PES) intitula-se «O desenvolvimento da consciência fonológica em crianças de 3 e 4 anos: a utilização de um instrumento didático» e foi realizado no âmbito da unidade curricular de PES, no ano letivo de 2014/2015. A investigação foi realizada num jardim de infância privado, em Faro, em que nos foi percetível a necessidade que as crianças tinham de ser estimuladas ao nível da consciência fonológica. A consciência fonológica é a capacidade de conseguirmos identificar, gerar e manipular as unidades do oral. As crianças têm a capacidade de isolar a palavra e têm a capacidade de identificar as suas unidades fonológicas, ou seja, é a «expressão da sua consciência fonológica» (Freitas, Alves e Costa, 2007, p. 9). Face à realidade por nós analisada, colocaram-se-nos as seguintes questões de pesquisa: «Qual o nível de consciência fonológica das crianças em estudo, testado através da aplicação de subtestes (adaptados de Sim-Sim, 2006)?» e «Será que através da utilização de um instrumento didático específico poderemos contribuir para o desenvolvimento da consciência fonológica das crianças de 3 e 4 anos?». A partir das questões de pesquisa definimos como objetivos do estudo: avaliar o desenvolvimento da consciência fonológica em crianças de 3 e 4 anos com base em subtestes adaptados à população portuguesa (Sim-Sim, 2006) e, após a sua avaliação, estimular o desenvolvimento da consciência fonológica através de um instrumento didático construído para o efeito. Este estudo assume um carácter descritivo e experimental, em que se privilegia uma metodologia quantitativa pela pontuação atribuída às respostas verbais das crianças. Os principais resultados obtidos evidenciam que todas as crianças evoluíram nos resultados desde a 1ª à 3.ª aplicação do subteste de definição verbal. Através da utilização do instrumento didático, podemos concluir que as crianças melhoraram a sua pontuação relativa ao desenvolvimento da consciência fonológica

S. aureus and MRSA nasal carriage in dental students: a comprehensive approach

Communication abstract: Proceedings of the 5th International Congress of CiiEM - Reducing inequalities in Health and Society, held at Egas Moniz’ University Campus in Monte de Caparica, Almada, from June 16th to 18th, 2021.This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA are important clinical pathogens representing a serious public health problem. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) nasal carriage among dental students, identify the factors that influence this carriage, and characterize MRSA. A prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA carriage of 25.2% and 0.86% was estimated, respectively, and SCCmec Type VI, was identified in all isolated MRSA. The low MRSA colonization rate can reflect good infection control practices followed by students.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Virtual humans playing the role of patients in self‐medication consultations : perspectives of undergraduate pharmacy students

Poster presented at the GRAPP 2016 - 11th International Conference on Computer Graphics Theory and Application. 27-29 February 2016, RomeN/

Ambiente virtual para treino de competências de comunicação na área da saúde : o caso do atendimento em farmácia para automedicação

Este artigo descreve um protótipo de Realidade Virtual destinado ao treino de competências técnicas e de comunicação dos estudantes de Ciências Farmacêuticas. Numa situação simulada, um humano virtual desempenha o papel de um paciente/doente que requer o apoio de um profissional numa farmácia, comunicando com este através de mensagens de texto. O estudante comunica com este personagem virtual escolhendo opções na interface da aplicação. Esta interface contém para cada situação: i) um conjunto de questões a colocar ao paciente, destinadas a esclarecer a sua situação de saúde, ou em alternativa, ii) um conjunto de respostas ou recomendações para os problemas dos pacientes, em última análise o medicamento e a posologia recomendados. Estes conjuntos contêm opções corretas e incorretas, tendo o estudante o propósito de alcançar o melhor desempenho possível, escolhendo sempre as corretas. A simulação decorre num cenário pré-gravado de uma farmácia real, no qual o paciente virtual está inserido. Este personagem virtual é capaz de exibir expressões faciais e tem movimentos naturais do corpo obtidos recorrendo à técnica de captura de movimentos.This paper describes a Virtual Reality prototype for technical and communication skills training of Pharmaceutical Sciences students. In a simulated situation, a virtual human plays the role of a patient requiring the assistance of a professional in a pharmacy, communicating via textual messages. The student communicates with this virtual character by choosing options in the interface of the application. This interface contains for each Revista de Ciências da Computação, 2014, nº9 46 situation: i) a set of questions to pose to the patient to clarify his health condition, or alternatively, ii) a set of answers or recommendations to the patients' problem. These sets contain right and wrong options and the goal of the student is to attain the best performance by choosing always the right options. The simulation takes place in a pre-recorded scenario of a real pharmacy where the virtual patient was inserted. This virtual character is capable of exhibiting facial expressions and has natural body movements obtained by motion capture

Task-Involving Motivational Climate and Enjoyment in Youth Male Football Athletes: The Mediation Role of Self-Determined Motivation

Background: This study aimed at examining the mediation role of self-determined motivation (identified and integrated regulation and intrinsic motivation) in the association between task-involving climate and enjoyment in youth male football athletes. Methods: A total of 109 youth males (M = 14.38; SD = 1.55) were recruited to participate in this study. The survey included sociodemographic data and validated instruments such as the Motivational Climate Sport Youth Scale, the Behavioral Regulation Sport Questionnaire, and the Sports Enjoyment Scale. Results: The results showed that the task-involving climate was a positive and significant predictor of integrated regulation and intrinsic motivation. In addition, integrated regulation and intrinsic motivation were positive and significant predictors of enjoyment. The results of the mediation analysis revealed a partial mediation role of self-determined motivation in the relationship between task-involving climate and enjoyment. Significant indirect effects only occurred through intrinsic motivation. Conclusions: Providing higher levels of enjoyment in the sport context could be an excellent option for leisure activities for children and youth, as long as self-determined motivation and task-involving climates provided by the coaches are present.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cyto- and genotoxicity of a vanadyl(IV) complex with oxodiacetate in human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells: potential use in cancer therapy

The complex of vanadyl(IV) cation with oxodiacetate, VO(oda) caused an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2 in the range of 25–100 μM (P < 0.001). This inhibition was partially reversed by scavengers of free radicals. The difference in cell proliferation in the presence and the absence of scavengers was statistically significant in the range of 50–100 μM (P < 0.05). VO(oda) altered lysosomal and mitochondria metabolisms (neutral red and MTT bioassays) in a dose–response manner from 10 μM (P < 0.001). Morphological studies showed important transformations that correlated with the disassembly of actin filaments and a decrease in the number of cells in a dose response manner. Moreover, VO(oda) caused statistically significant genotoxic effects on Caco-2 cells in the low range of concentration (5–25 μM) (Comet assay). Increment in the oxidative stress and a decrease in the GSH level are the main cytotoxic mechanisms of VO(oda). These effects were partially reversed by scavengers of free radicals in the range of 50–100 μM (P < 0.05). Besides, VO(oda) interacted with plasmidic DNA causing single and double strand cleavage, probably through the action of free radical species. Altogether, these results suggest that VO(oda) is a good candidate to be evaluated for alternative therapeutics in cancer treatment.Facultad de Ciencias ExactasCentro de Química InorgánicaInstituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celula

Drying microalgae using an industrial solar dryer: a biomass quality assessment

Microalgae are considered a promising resource of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and other functional biomolecules for food and feed markets. Competitive drying solutions are required to meet future demands for high-quality algal biomass while ensuring proper preservation at reduced costs. Since often used drying methods, such as freeze or spray drying, are energy and time consuming, more sustainable processes remain to be developed. This study tested an indirect and hybrid solar dryer as an alternative to conventional freeze drying of industrially produced Tetraselmis chui and Nannochloropsis oceanica wet paste. The effects of the drying method on biomass quality parameters, including biochemical profiles, functional properties, and microbial safety, were assessed. No significant differences were found between the applied drying technologies for total proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and fatty acid profiles. On the other hand, some pigments showed significant differences, displaying up to 44.5% higher contents in freeze-dried samples. Minor differences were also registered in the mineral profiles (<10%). Analyses of microbial safety and functional properties of the solar-dried biomass appear adequate for food and feed products. In conclusion, industrial solar drying is a sustainable technology with a high potential to preserve high-quality microalgal biomass for various markets at expected lower costs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Evaluation and validation of laboratory procedures for the surveillance of ESBL-, AmpC-, and carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli from fresh meat and caecal samples

IntroductionExtended-spectrum β-lactamase- (ESBL) and AmpC- β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales are widely distributed and emerging in both human and animal reservoirs worldwide. A growing concern has emerged in Europe following the appearance of carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) in the primary production of food animals. In 2013, the European Commission (EC) issued the Implementing Decision on the monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and commensal bacteria. The European Union Reference Laboratory for Antimicrobial Resistance (EURL-AR) was tasked with providing two laboratory protocols for samples derived from meat and caecal content, respectively, for the isolation of ESBL- and AmpC-producing E. coli (part 1) and carbapenemase-producing (CP) E. coli (part 2). In this study, we describe the current protocols, including the preparatory work for the development.MethodsUp to nine laboratory procedures were tested using minced meat as the matrix from beef, pork, and chicken as well as six procedures for the caecal content of cattle, pigs, and chicken. Variables included sample volume, pre-enrichment volume, pre-enrichment broth with and without antimicrobial supplementation, and incubation time/temperature. The procedures were evaluated against up to nine E. coli strains harboring different AMR genes and belonging to the three β-lactamase groups.Results and discussionThe laboratory procedures tested revealed that the most sensitive and specific methodologies were based on a Buffered Peptone Water pre-enrichment of 225 ml to 25 g or 9 ml to 1 g for minced meat and caecal content, respectively, incubated at 37°C overnight, followed by inoculation onto MacConkey agar supplemented with 1 mg/L cefotaxime for detecting ESBL- and AmpC-producing E. coli and Chrom ID SMART (Chrom ID CARBA and OXA) for CP E. coli, incubated overnight at 37 and 44°C, respectively. We provided two isolation protocols for the EU-specific monitoring of ESBL- and AmpC- producing E. coli (part 1) and CP E. coli (part 2) from fresh meat (protocol 1) and caecal (protocol 2) samples, which have been successfully implemented by all EU Member States for the monitoring period 2014–2027 (EU 2020/1729)