Avaliação da eficácia de um programa de intervenção multidisciplinar em sobreviventes de cancro da mama

Mestrado em Psicologia da Saúde e Reabilitação NeuropsicológicaCom os avanços que se têm alcançado na deteção precoce e no tratamento do cancro da mama tem-se verificado um aumento no número de sobreviventes de cancro da mama. A intervenção multidisciplinar tem demonstrado a sua eficácia em sobreviventes de cancro da mama. O presente estudo pretende implementar e avaliar um programa de intervenção multidisciplinar, que integra a psicoeducação com a fisioterapia, em mulheres sobreviventes de cancro da mama. A amostra foi constituída por 19 sobreviventes de cancro da mama distribuídas por dois grupos: 9 com intervenção multidisciplinar e 10 sem qualquer intervenção. Ambos os grupos de sobreviventes foram sujeitos a dois momentos de avaliação: antes e após a intervenção. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Questionário de Qualidade de Vida da Organização Europeia de Investigação e Tratamento do Cancro com o módulo suplementar de cancro da mama (EORTC QLQ-C3O e BR-23), a Escala de Ansiedade e Depressão Hospitalar (EADH), o Cancer Coping Questionnaire (CCQ), o Inventário Clínico de Autoconceito (ICAC) e o Questionário de Medo de Progressão (QMP). No grupo experimental verificou-se um aumento significativo da subescala função física do domínio da qualidade de vida. No grupo de controlo verificou-se uma diminuição significativa na subescala interpessoal e um aumento significativo no autoconceito total. Conclui-se que o programa multidisciplinar implementado revelou ser eficaz no aumento da qualidade de vida de mulheres portuguesas sobreviventes de cancro da mama.Treatment evolution and early detection have led to higher survival rates. The multidisciplinary intervention has demonstrated its effectiveness in breast cancer survivors. This study aims to implement and evaluate a multidisciplinary intervention program, which includes psychoeducation with physiotherapy in women survivors of breast cancer. A sample of 19 breast cancer survivors divided into two groups: 9 were proposed intervention and 10 without intervention. Both groups were monitored within two different moments: before and after intervention. The assessments instruments used were Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European with the Supplementary Questionnaire Breast Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-C3O and BR-23), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Cancer Coping Questionnaire (CCQ), Self-Concept Clinical Inventory (ICAC) and Fear of Progression Questionnaire (FoP-Q). Experimental group showed significant increase of physical scale of quality of life domain. In control group showed significant decrease of interpersonal scale and significant increase of total self-concept. Multidisciplinary program implemented reveal effective on quality of life increase of Portuguese women’s breast cancer survivors

Involvement of the Iron-Regulated Loci hts and fhuC in Biofilm Formation and Survival of Staphylococcus epidermidis within the Host

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a major nosocomial pathogen with a remarkable ability to persist on indwelling medical devices through biofilm formation. Nevertheless, it remains intriguing how this process is efficiently achieved under the host’s harsh conditions, where the availability of nutrients, such as essential metals, is scarce. Following our previous identification of two iron-regulated loci putatively involved in iron transport, hts and fhuC, we assessed here their individual contribution to both bacterial physiology and interaction with host immune cells. Single deletions of the hts and fhuC loci led to marked changes in the cell iron content, which were partly detrimental for planktonic growth and strongly affected biofilm formation under iron-restricted conditions. Deletion of each of these two loci did not lead to major changes in S. epidermidis survival within human macrophages or in an ex vivo human blood model of bloodstream infection. However, the lack of either hts or fhuC loci significantly impaired bacterial survival in vivo in a murine model of bacteremia. Collectively, this study establishes, for the first time, the pivotal role of the iron-regulated loci hts and fhuC in S. epidermidis biofilm formation and survival within the host, providing relevant information for the development of new targeted therapeutics against this pathogenWe acknowledge the assistance of Nurse Filomena and thank all the blood donors. N.C. and M.V. acknowledge the support by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the funded project PTDC/BIAMOL/29553/2017, under the scope of COMPETE2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029553). N.C. acknowledges the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2019 unit by FCT. M.V. acknowledge the support of the i3S Scientific Platform HEMS, member of the Portuguese Platform of BioImaging (PPBI) (PPBIPOCI-01-0145-FEDER-022122), funded by FCT. H.R. acknowledges support from the German Research Council (DFG Ro 2413/4-1), the Damp Foundation (2013-19), and the Joachim Herz Foundation. F.O. was supported by an individual Ph.D. scholarship (SFRH/BD/101399/2014). F.O., M.V., H.R., and N.C. designed research; F.O., T.L., A.M.S., and C.S. performed research; S.M. contributed new reagents/analytic tools; F.O., T.L., A.C., C.S., S.M., and S.W. analyzed data; M.V., H.R., and N.C. supervised research; and F.O., M.V., H.R., and N.C. wrote the paper. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscriptinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estilos de vida e felicidade subjetiva de estudantes de cursos de especialização em enfermagem, em Angola

Os estilos de vida revelam-se como formas de pensar, de agir e de interação com o ambiente que rodeia cada pessoa individualmente, aparentandoum efeito positivo sobre a felicidade dos estudantes e sobre a forma como avaliam a sua vida. Conclui-se que os estudantes, participantes deste estudo, cuidam da sua segurança, despertam muito vespertinamente, preocupam-se em manter uma satisfatória imagem corporal e a saúde física e psicológica, são dedicados, assíduos e pontuais. Apesar de se preocuparem em beber água não fazem o número de refeições recomendadas e não fazem vigilância da saúde oral nem da pressão arterial

Protective effect of antigen delivery using monoolein-based liposomes in experimental hematogenously disseminated candidiasis

We evaluated the potential of a liposomal antigen delivery system (ADS) containing Candida albicans cell wall surface proteins (CWSP) in mediating protection against systemic candidiasis. Treatment of bonemarrow- derived dendritic cells with CWSP-loaded dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide:monoolein (DODAB:MO) liposomes enhanced and prolonged their activation comparatively to free antigen, indicating that liposome-entrapped CWSP were released more sustainable. Therefore, we immunized mice with CWSP either in a free form or loaded into two different DODAB:MO liposome formulations, respectively designated as ADS1 and ADS2, prior to intravenous C. albicans infection. Immunization with ADS1, but not with ADS2, conferred significant protection to infected mice, comparatively to immunization with CWSP or empty liposomes as control. ADS1-immunized mice presented significantly higher serum levels of C. albicans-specific antibodies that enhanced phagocytosis of this fungus. In these mice, a mixed cytokine production profile was observed encompassing IFN-c, IL-4, IL-17A and IL-10. Nevertheless, only production of IL-4, IL-17 and IL-10 was higher than in controls. In this study we demonstrated that DODAB:MO liposomes enhance the immunogenicity of C. albicans antigens and host protection in a murine model of systemic candidiasis. Therefore, this liposomal adjuvant could be a promising candidate to assess in vaccination against this pathogenic fungus.This work was supported by the strategic programme UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007569) funded by national funds through the FCT I.P. and by the ERDF through the COMPETE2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI). Catarina Carneiro holds scholarship SFRH/BD/69068/2010. We acknowledge NanoDelivery-I&D em Bionanotecnologia, Lda for access to their equipment

Siderophore-mediated iron acquisition plays a critical role in biofilm formation and survival of Staphylococcus epidermidis within the host

Iron acquisition through siderophores, a class of small, potent iron-chelating organic molecules, is a widely spread strategy among pathogens to survive in the iron-restricted environment found in the host. Although these molecules have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several species, there is currently no comprehensive study addressing siderophore production in Staphylococcus epidermidis. Staphylococcus epidermidis is an innocuous skin commensal bacterium. The species, though, has emerged as a leading cause of implant-associated infections, significantly supported by an inherent ability to form biofilms. The process of adaptation from skin niche environments to the hostile conditions during invasion is yet not fully understood. Herein, we addressed the possible role of siderophore production in S. epidermidis virulence. We first identified and deleted a siderophore homolog locus, sfaABCD, and provided evidence for its involvement in iron acquisition. Our findings further suggested the involvement of siderophores in the protection against oxidative stress-induced damage and demonstrated the in vivo relevance of a siderophore-mediated iron acquisition during S. epidermidis infections. Conclusively, this study addressed, for the first time in this species, the underlying mechanisms of siderophore production, highlighting the importance of a siderophore-mediated iron acquisition under host relevant conditions and, most importantly, its contribution to survival within the host.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the funded project PTDC/BIAMOL/29553/2017, under the scope of COMPETE2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029553), and the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2019 unit. This study was also supported through funds from the German Research Council (DFG) and the Damp Foundation. FO was supported by an individual Ph.D. scholarship (SFRH/BD/101399/2014).The authors acknowledge the support of the i3S Scientific Platform HEMS, member of the PPBI (PPBIPOCI-01-0145-FEDER-022122).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved