Illness representations, marital adjustment and adherence and metabolic control in type 2 diabetics

Em Portugal, 11,7% da população tem diabetes (APDP, 2009) e destes, 90% são diabéticos tipo 2. Este estudo visa avaliar a relação entre as representações da doença, ajustamento conjigal, adesão aos auto-cuidados e controlo metabólico em diabéticos tipo 2. A amostra é constituída por 145 participantes com diabetes tipo 2, recrutados em centros de saúde. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: Revised Summary Diabetes Self-Care Activities RSDSCA) de Toobert, Hampson e Glasgow (2000); Illness Perception Questionnaire – Brief (IPQ-B), de Broadbent, Petrie, Main, & Weinman, 2006); Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS), de Busby, Christensen, Crane, & Larson, 1995). Todos os questionários utilizados foram adaptado a esta amostra portuguesa. O controlo metabólico foi avaliado através da Hemoglobina Glicosilada. Os resultados revelaram que participantes com menor perceção de identidade da doença e maior ajustamento conjugal apresentaram melhor controlo metabólico. No que respeita à adesão aos cuidados com os pés, as variáveis preditoras foram a idade e a perceção da identidade da doença. Os resultados obtidos enfatizam a importância de intervenções focadas nas representações que o doente desenvolve acerca da diabetes uma vez que estas parecem ser as principais responsáveis pelos comportamentos de adesão aos cuidados com os pés e, consequentemente, por uma gestão ótima da doença.In Portugal, 11,7% of the population has diabetes (APDP, 2009) 90% of which as type 2 diabetes. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between illness representations, marital adjustment, adherence to self-care and metabolic control in type 2 diabetics, recruited in health care centers. The following instruments were administered: Revised Summary Diabetes Self-Care Activities RSDSCA), (Toobert, Hampson and Glasgow (2000); Illness Perception Questionnaire – brief (IPQ-B), (Broadbent, Petrie, Main, & Weinman, 2006); Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS) of Busby, Christensen, Crane, & Larson, 1995). All instruments were adapted to Portuguese samples. Metabolic control was assessed through glycosylated hemoglobin. Results revealed that participants with lower identity perception and higher marital adjustment had better metabolic control. Regarding adherence to foot care, the predictors were age and illness’ identity perception. Results emphasize the importance of interventions that focus on the representations patients developed about their illness since these seem to be key variables responsible for adherence behaviors and, consequently, optimal illness’ management.(undefined

Evaluating biomaterial-and microfluidic-based 3D tumor models

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with a disease burden estimated to increase in the coming decades. Disease heterogeneity and limited information on cancer biology and disease mechanisms are aspects that 2D cell cultures fail to address. We review the current "state-of-the-art" in 3D Tissue Engineering (TE) models developed for and used in cancer research. Scaffold-based TE models and microfluidics, are assessed for their potential to fill the gap between 2D models and clinical application. Recent advances in combining the principles of 3D TE models and microfluidics are discussed, with a special focus on biomaterials and the most promising chip-based 3D models.The authors would like to thank the European Union's Seventh Framework Program (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no REGPOT-CT2012-316331-POLARIS, and QREN (ON.2 - NORTE-01-0124-FEDER-000016) co-financed by North Portugal Regional Operational Program (ON.2 - O Novo Norte), under the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for providing financial support to this project. The FCT distinction attributed to J.M.O. under the Investigator FCT program (IF/00423/2012) Is also greatly acknowledged

Controlled block copolymers applied to molecular imprinting: a new generation of biosensors

Daniela Oliveira acknowledges funding through the PhD Grant SFRH/BD/137832/2018.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Lipase-catalyzed ethanolysis of Jatropha curcas L. oil assisted by ultrasonication

ABSTRACT Transesterification of non-edible oils using immobilized lipase is a promising process for biodiesel production. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the enzymatic transesterification of the non-edible Jatropha curcas oil for FAEE production under ultrasound irradiation in a solvent-free system. The effects of enzyme concentration, water concentration, molar ratio of ethanol to oil and ultrasound power on the FAEE conversion have been evaluated. The results show that enzyme concentration and irradiation power have a positive significant effect on FAEE conversion, where an increase in these variables leads to higher conversions. Conversion above 54% of FAEE was achieved with 1.5 hours of reaction time using ultrasound irradiation, reducing reaction time by at least 3 times, when compared with the same experimental conditions without ultrasound irradiation. Results showed that ultrasound can improve reaction conversion mainly by enhancing the mass transfer between the constituents of the reactions

Multitemporal LMDI index decomposition analysis to explain the changes of ACI by the power sector in Latin America and the Caribbean between 1990-2017

This paper analyzes the drivers behind the changes of the Aggregate Carbon Intensity (ACI) of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) power sector in five periods between 1990 and 2017. Since 1990 the carbon intensity of the world has been reduced almost 8.8% whereas the carbon intensity of LAC countries only decreased 0.8%. Even though by 2017 the regional carbon intensity is very similar to the one observed by 1990, this index has showed high variability, mainly in the last three years when the ACI of LAC fell from 285 gCO2/kWh in 2015 to 257.7 gCO2/kWh. To understand what happened with the evolution of the carbon intensity in the region, in this paper a Logarithmic Mean Divisia for Index Decomposition Analysis (IDA-LMDI) is carried out to identify the accelerating and attenuating drivers of the ACI behavior along five periods. The proposal outperforms existing studies previously applied to LAC based upon a single period of analysis. Key contributions are introduced by considering the type of fuel used in power plants as well as specific time-series of energy flows and CO2 emissions by country. Results reveal structural reasons for the increase of the ACI in 1995-2003 and 2008-2015, and intensity reasons for the decrease of the ACI in 1990-1995, 2003-2008 and 2015-2017

Microtubule Depolymerization Potentiates Alpha-Synuclein Oligomerization

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with perturbed mitochondria function and alpha-synuclein fibrillization. We evaluated potential mechanistic links between mitochondrial dysfunction and alpha-synuclein aggregation. We studied a PD cytoplasmic hybrid (cybrid) cell line in which platelet mitochondria from a PD subject were transferred to NT2 neuronal cells previously depleted of endogenous mitochondrial DNA. Compared to a control cybrid cell line, the PD line showed reduced ATP levels, an increased free/polymerized tubulin ratio, and alpha-synuclein oligomer accumulation. Taxol (which stabilizes microtubules) normalized the PD tubulin ratio and reduced alpha-synuclein oligomerization. A nexus exists between mitochondrial function, cytoskeleton homeostasis, and alpha-synuclein oligomerization. In our model, mitochondrial dysfunction triggers an increased free tubulin, which destabilizes the microtubular network and promotes alpha-synuclein oligomerization

Composição química e valor nutricional de cogumelos silvestres comestíveis do nordeste de Portugal

Neste trabalho, determinou-se a composição química e o valor nutricional de cinco espécies de cogumelos silvestres comestíveis (Agaricus arvensis, Lactarius deliciosus, Leucopaxillus giganteus, Sarcodon imbricatus, Tricholoma portentosum) vulgarmente consumidos na região de Trás-os-Montes, Nordeste de Portugal. A avaliação da composição química incluíu determinação de humidade, gordura total, proteína total, cinzas, hidratos de carbono e do valor nutricional. O perfil de macronutrientes revelou genericamente que os cogumelos silvestres são fontes ricas em proteínas e hidratos de carbono, e que contêm quantidades reduzidas de gordura. A análise da composição em ácidos gordos, realizada por cromatografia gás-líquido acoplada a um detector de ionização de chama (GC/FID), permitiu a quantificação de quinze ácidos gordos. Os ácidos gordos insaturados e, em particular, os ácidos oleico e linoleico, são os mais abundantes. Determinou-se também a composição em açucares individuais por cromatografia líquida de alta resolução acoplada a um detector de índice de refracção (HPLC/RI), sendo o manitol e a trealose os açucares mais abundantes

Decomposition Analysis of the Aggregate Carbon Intensity (ACI) of the Power Sector in Colombia—A Multi-Temporal Analysis

This paper presents the application of the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index Decomposition Analysis (LMDI) to the aggregate carbon intensity (ACI) of the power sector in Colombia in the period 1990–2020, with the aim of identifying the main drivers influencing the ACI change. The analysis performed identifies the main drivers among: carbon intensity, generation efficiency, and contribution of fossil generation at the specific and total level of electricity production. The analysis is performed at the aggregate and disaggregated level of fossil fuels. Due to the highly variable behavior of the ACI, a multi-temporal decomposition is performed in the eight presidential administrations in the period of analysis. For each period, the main drivers are identified and the energy policy implications and their effects on the operation and management of the power sector are analyzed. The results show that the main driver is the fossil share of total energy production. Important effects on thermal generation efficiency and fossil energy mix were also identified in some analysis periods. The need for effective long-term policies and regulation in relation to the factors influencing the ACI was identified. It is recommended to accelerate the diversification of the energy mix of the power sector and the permanent monitoring of the behavior of the drivers

Magnetoliposomes based on NixCu1-xFe2O4 or NiFe2-yAlyO4 nanocrystals for applications in magnetic separation and classification

Ferrites are a broad class of compounds with general formula MFe2O4, where M stands for a divalent metallic cation. Among these, copper ferrite (CuFe2O4) presents a moderate saturation magnetization, while nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) holds a large one. Mixed ferrites with composition NixCu1-xFe2O4 were then prepared by coprecipitation method, in order to control the saturation magnetization with the fraction of Ni. Another possibility is the partial substitution of iron atoms with aluminium, as NiAl2O4 nanocrystals show very low saturation magnetization. Thus, ferrites of NiFe2-yAlyO4 composition were also obtained. XRD spectra of the obtained nanoparticles show the spinel-type crystalline phase. Solid magnetoliposomes of the prepared mixed ferrites were obtained, and their bilayer structure was proven by the use lipophilic fluorescence probes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

DNA copy number changes define spatial patterns of heterogeneity in colorectal cancer

Genetic heterogeneity between and within tumours is a major factor determining cancer progression and therapy response. Here we examined DNA sequence and DNA copy-number heterogeneity in colorectal cancer (CRC) by targeted high-depth sequencing of 100 most frequently altered genes. In 97 samples, with primary tumours and matched metastases from 27 patients, we observe inter-tumour concordance for coding mutations; in contrast, gene copy numbers are highly discordant between primary tumours and metastases as validated by fluorescent in situ hybridization. To further investigate intra-tumour heterogeneity, we dissected a single tumour into 68 spatially defined samples and sequenced them separately. We identify evenly distributed coding mutations in APC and TP53 in all tumour areas, yet highly variable gene copy numbers in numerous genes. 3D morpho-molecular reconstruction reveals two clusters with divergent copy number aberrations along the proximal–distal axis indicating that DNA copy number variations are a major source of tumour heterogeneity in CRC