A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Direct Comparisons

publishersversionpublishe

Efeitos antidiabéticos de plantas medicinais do género Salvia

Apresentação efectuada no 6º Congresso Português de Diabetes, no Porto, em 2004.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BD/12527/2003, SFRH/BD/6942/2001

Toward Light-Controlled Supramolecular Peptide Dimerization

The selective photodeprotection of the NVoc-modified FGG tripeptide yields the transformation of its 1:1 receptor−ligand complex with cucurbit[8]uril into a homoternary FGG2@CB8 assembly. The resulting lightinduced dimerization of the model peptide provides a tool for the implementation of stimuli-responsive supramolecular chemistry in biologically relevant contexts.The work was supported by the Associate Laboratory for Green ChemistryLAQV (UIDB/50006/2020) and by the Applied Molecular Biosciences UnitUCIBIO (UIDB/ 04378/2020), both financed by FCT. FCT/MCTES is also acknowledged for supporting the National Portuguese NMR Network (ROTEIRO/0031/2013-PINFRA/22161/2016, cofinanced by FEDER through COMPETE 2020, POCI, PORL, and FCT through PIDDAC) and for the grants PTDC/QUICOL/32351/2017, PTDC/QUI-QFI/30951/2017, and CEECIND/00466/2017 (N.B.). U.P. thanks the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities (CTQ2017-89832-P). We are grateful to Dr. J.P. Da Silva for the mass spectrometry data (equipment financed by CRESC Algarve 2020 and COMPETE 2020; project EMBRC.PT ALG-01-0145-FEDER022121). Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBU

Physiological heterogeneities in microbial populations and implications for physical stress tolerance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Traditionally average values of the whole population are considered when analysing microbial cell cultivations. However, a typical microbial population in a bioreactor is heterogeneous in most phenotypes measurable at a single-cell level. There are indications that such heterogeneity may be unfavourable on the one hand (reduces yields and productivities), but also beneficial on the other hand (facilitates quick adaptation to new conditions - i.e. increases the robustness of the fermentation process). Understanding and control of microbial population heterogeneity is thus of major importance for improving microbial cell factory processes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this work, a dual reporter system was developed and applied to map growth and cell fitness heterogeneities within budding yeast populations during aerobic cultivation in well-mixed bioreactors. The reporter strain, which was based on the expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the ribosomal protein RPL22a promoter, made it possible to distinguish cell growth phases by the level of fluorescence intensity. Furthermore, by exploiting the strong correlation of intracellular GFP level and cell membrane integrity it was possible to distinguish subpopulations with high and low cell membrane robustness and hence ability to withstand freeze-thaw stress. A strong inverse correlation between growth and cell membrane robustness was observed, which further supports the hypothesis that cellular resources are limited and need to be distributed as a trade-off between two functions: growth and robustness. In addition, the trade-off was shown to vary within the population, and the occurrence of two distinct subpopulations shifting between these two antagonistic modes of cell operation could be distinguished.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The reporter strain enabled mapping of population heterogeneities in growth and cell membrane robustness towards freeze-thaw stress at different phases of cell cultivation. The described reporter system is a valuable tool for understanding the effect of environmental conditions on population heterogeneity of microbial cells and thereby to understand cell responses during industrial process-like conditions. It may be applied to identify more robust subpopulations, and for developing novel strategies for strain improvement and process design for more effective bioprocessing.</p

Plasmonic/magnetic liposomes based on nanoparticles with multicore-shell architecture for chemo/thermotherapy

In this work, multicore magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) of manganese ferrite were prepared using carboxymethyl-dextran and melamine as agglutinating agents.Magnetoliposome-like structures containing the multicore NPs exhibit sizes in the range 250 – 400 nm, being suitable for biomedical applications.FCT under Strategic funding of CF-UM-UP (UIDB/04650/2020

Synergistic activity of cold pressed seed oils from Indian neem (Azadirachta indica), karanja (Pongamia glabra) and aloe vera gel (Aloe barbadensis) in a cosmeceutical moisturizer

The increased interest and knowledge on the beneficial activity of plants and their compounds in human health have contributed to the development of several drugs, widely used in clinical practice worldwideinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Application of the OPtimising HEalth LIteracy and Access (Ophelia) process

APP1155125. The present publication was funded by Funda??o Ci?ncia e Tecnologia, lP national support through CHRC (UIDP/04923/2020), and NOVA National School of Public Health ? NOVA University of Lisbon. Publisher Copyright: © Copyright © 2021 Dias, Gama, Maia, Marques, Campos Fernandes, Goes, Loureiro and Osborne.The drivers of high prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCD) among migrants are well-documented. Health literacy is regarded as a potential tool to reduce health inequalities and improve migrant's access to and quality of health care. Yet, little is known about the health literacy needs among these groups and how to address them. This paper outlines the protocol for a migrant community-based co-design project that seeks to optimize health literacy, health promotion, and social cohesion in support of prevention of NCDs among migrants in Lisbon using the OPtismizing HEalth LIteracy and Access (Ophelia) process. This participatory implementation research project starts with a mixed-methods needs assessment covering health literacy strengths, weaknesses and needs of migrants, and local data about determinants of health behaviors, service engagement, and organizational responsiveness. Diverse migrant groups will be engaged and surveyed using the Health Literacy Questionnaire and questions on sociodemographic and economic characteristics, health status, use of health services, and perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Semi-structured interviews with migrants will also be conducted. Based on data collected, vignettes will be developed representing typical persons with diverse health literacy profiles. Migrants and stakeholders will participate in ideas generation workshops for depth co-creation discussions in simulated real-world situations based on the vignettes, to design health literacy-based multisectoral interventions. Selected interventions will be piloted through quality improvement cycles to ensure ongoing local refinements and ownership development. Through a genuine engagement, the project will evaluate the uptake, effectiveness and sustainability of the interventions. This protocol takes a grounded approach to produce evidence on real health literacy needs from the perspective of key stakeholders, especially migrants, and embodies strong potential for effective knowledge translation into innovative, locally relevant, culturally and context congruent solutions for prevention of NCDs among migrants. Given the diverse communities engaged, this protocol will likely be adaptable to other migrant groups in a wide range of contexts, particularly in European countries. The scale-up of interventions to similar contexts and populations will provide much needed evidence on how health literacy interventions can be developed and applied to reduce health inequality and improve health in diverse communities.publishersversionpublishe

Poor disability outcomes in the management of Low Back Pain patients in Portugal

Trabalho apresentado em 10th Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back & Pelvic Girdle Pain, 28-31 de outubro 2019, Antuérpia, BélgicaN/

Mechanomodulatory biomaterials prospects in scar prevention and treatment

Scarring is a major clinical issue that affects a considerable number of patients. The associated problems go beyond the loss of skin functionality, as scars bring aesthetic, psychological, and social difficulties. Therefore, new strategies are required to improve the process of healing and minimize scar formation. Research has highlighted the important role of mechanical forces in the process of skin tissue repair and scar formation, in addition to the chemical signalling. A more complete understanding of how engi- neered biomaterials can modulate these mechanical stimuli and modify the mechanotransduction signals in the wound microenvironment is expected to enable scar tissue reduction. The present review aims to provide an overview of our current understanding of skin biomechanics and mechanobiology underlying wound healing and scar formation, with an emphasis on the development of novel mechanomodulatory wound dressings with the capacity to offload mechanical tension in the wound environment. Further- more, a broad overview of current challenges and future perspectives of promising mechanomodulatory biomaterials for this application are provided.The authors would like to acknowledge Portuguese Foun dation for Science and Technology (FCT) for funding the research project Dressing4Scars M-ERA-NET2/0013/2016, and LP da Silva (2020.01541.CEECIND/CP1600/CT0024), and to Norte-01-0145-FEDER-02219015 (MT Cerqueira)