Avaliação da estabilidade oclusal antes e após restaurações dentárias

Vieillard-Troiekouroff May. Trois sarcophages mérovingiens découverts à Saint-Étienne de Nevers en janvier 1974. In: Bulletin de la Société Nationale des Antiquaires de France, 1978-1979, 1982. pp. 229-232

Role of the activating NK cell receptor NKG2D in models of liver inflammation and tumorigenesis

Inflammation is a fundamental protective immune response that is now accepted as one of the hallmarks of cancer as it can provide pro-tumorigenic signals and subvert immunosurveillance. The activating receptor NKG2D, expressed on both innate and adaptive immune cells, binds to several ligands expressed by target cells and it is known to be critical in the surveillance of ligand-expressing spontaneous tumours. NKG2D has recently emerged as an important player in inflammatory disorders but its precise relevance in inflammation-driven cancer remains elusive. In this study, the role played by NKG2D in a chemically induced model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is addressed by using NKG2D-deficient mice to provide evidence of a novel and unexpected role for NKG2D as a tumour promoter. The study shows that the presence of NKG2D in this model accelerates tumour growth, favours the recruitment of CD8+T cells to the inflamed liver tissue and exacerbates the pro-inflammatory milieu. NKG2D contributes to liver damage that drives chronic cycles of hepatocyte death and proliferation favouring tumour progression. The NKG2D/NKG2D ligand pathway provides an additional mechanism linking chronic inflammation to tumour development in the context of HCC exposing the need to selectively target the types of cancer that will benefit from NKG2D-based immunotherapy. In contrast with the HCC model, a NKG2D effect is not observed at early stages of liver inflammation in a short-term model of acute inflammation and liver damage. Mechanisms that regulate the recruitment and location of immune cells at sites of inflammation are poorly understood and no data are available regarding the importance of activating receptors in this mobilization process. For this reason a protocol for real time imaging of natural killer (NK) cells in the liver tissue using intravital confocal or two-photon laser-scanning microscopy (TPSLM) was established to address NK cell dynamics in vivo in the liver.Open Acces

Host-Pathogen Interactions at the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier

This thesis reports investigations of the interactions between the intestinal epithelial barrier and the intracellular apicomplexan Eimeria spp., both in vivo and in vitro. Initially, conventional in vivo studies using genetically modified animals were used to investigate the contribution of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) to immune protection of the intestinal barrier. Additionally, to understand complex epithelial host-pathogen interactions a novel in vitro model of small intestine organoids was developed. Data suggest that immunoprotection against Eimeria vermiformis infections is mediated by T cells. Furthermore, there is an indication that ILCs have a detrimental effect in Eimeria vermiformis-infected immunocompromised animals. However, the role for ILCs in the regulation of the immune response remains unclear. The life cycles of Eimeria vermiformis and Eimeria falciformis are highly complex, comprising multiple schizogonies followed by a gametogony. In vitro life cycle completion has not been achieved to date due to the limitations of monolayer cell line models. It is likely that for a successful parasite development the interaction of the different epithelial cell types present in intestinal organoids is required. The development of intestinal organoids by Sato and colleagues gave rise to a breakthrough in cellular studies, providing the tools to study complex interactions between host tissues and invading pathogens in vitro. I showed that small intestine-derived organoids grow exponentially after passage and that each organoid contains distinct specialised epithelial cell types, such as Paneth, Goblet or enteroendocrine cells, suggesting that the organoid model closely resembles the native intestinal epithelium and that Eimeria spp. benefit from the three-dimensional structure and physiological characteristics of the organoid model. Intestinal organoids were infected with E. vermiformis or E. falciformis sporozoites. These completed several rounds of asexual replication but did not proceed to the final gametogony. Despite the need for the development of sensitive techniques applicable to three-dimensional cell culture models, these results indicate that intestine-derived organoids are a promising model to study host-parasite interactions at the intestinal epithelial barrier at the cellular and molecular levels.BEC (Babraham Executive Committee

Novo laboratório de investigação em Saúde Ocupacional: caracterização de câmara climática Walk-In

Poster apresentado no 8th International Symposium on Occupational Safety and Hygiene (SHO) 2012

Roles of Microglial and Monocyte Chemokines and Their Receptors in Regulating Alzheimer's Disease-Associated Amyloid-β and Tau Pathologies

Chemokines and their receptors have been shown to affect amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau pathologies in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by regulating microglia and monocyte-associated neuroinflammation, microglial movement and monocyte recruitment into the brain. These cells in turn can promote and mediate Aβ phagocytosis and degradation and tau phosphorylation. In this review we discuss published work in this field in mouse models of AD and review what is known about the contributions of microglial and monocyte chemokines and their receptors to amyloid and tau pathologies. We focus on the roles of the chemokine/chemokine receptor pairs CCL2/CCR2, CX3CL1/CX3CR1, CCL5/CCR5, CXCL10/CXCR3 and CXCL1/CXCR2, highlighting important knowledge gaps in this field. A full understanding of the functions of chemokines and their receptors in AD may guide the development of novel immunotherapies for this devastating disease

Bovine milk lactoferrin selectively kills highly metastatic prostate cancer PC-3 and osteosarcoma MG-63 cells in vitro

Prostate cancer and osteosarcoma are the second most common type of cancer affecting men and the fifth most common malignancy among adolescents, respectively. The use of non-toxic natural or natural-derived products has been one of the current strategies for cancer therapy, owing to the reduced risks of induced-chemoresistance development and absence of secondary effects. In this perspective, lactoferrin (Lf), a natural protein derived from milk, emerges as a promising anticancer agent due to its well-recognized cytotoxicity and anti-metastatic activity. Here, we aimed to ascertain the potential activity of bovine Lf (bLf) against highly metastatic cancer cells. The bLf effect on prostate PC-3 and osteosarcoma MG-63 cell lines, both displaying plasmalemmal V-ATPase, was studied and compared with the breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and the non-tumorigenic BJ-5ta cell lines. Cell proliferation, cell death, intracellular pH, lysosomal acidification and extracellular acidification rate were evaluated. Results show that bLf inhibits proliferation, induces apoptosis, intracellular acidification and perturbs lysosomal acidification only in highly metastatic cancer cell lines. In contrast, BJ-5ta cells are insensitive to bLf. Overall, our results establish a common mechanism of action of bLf against highly metastatic cancer cells exhibiting plasmalemmal V-ATPase. This study opens promising perspectives for further research on the anticancer role of Lf, which ultimately will contribute to its safer and more rational application in the human therapy of these life-threatening cancers.This study was supported by national funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) under the scope of the projects: UID/BIA/04050/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007569), UID/ BIO/04469/2013 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684), FCT-ANR/ BEX-BCM/0175/2012, PEstOE/BIA/UI4050/2014, RECI/BBBEBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462), and PTDC/ SAU-BMA/121028/2010.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estudo das evidências da validade da versão portuguesa do Teacher Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (TARQ)

Este estudo tem como propósito investigar a estrutura fatorial e as propriedades psicométricas da versão portuguesa do Teacher Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire (TARQ; Rohner, 2005a), de modo a determinar as evidências da validade deste instrumento com base na sua estrutura interna e nas relações com outras variáveis. Tendo por fundamentação teórica a Teoria da Aceitação-Rejeição Interpessoal.N/

INFECÇÃO POR CHLAMYDIA TRACHOMATIS E NEISSERIA GONORRHOEAE EM UTENTES DE UMA CONSULTA DE DOENÇAS DE TRANSMISSÃO SEXUAL - ANÁLISE DE DEZ ANOS

Background: Reports indicating incidence of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) infections have been increasing. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of CT and NG infected individuals attending a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) clinic in a University Hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on attendees of the STD clinic throughout a 10 year period. Diagnoses of CT and NG infections were enabled upon nucleic acid amplification analysis (PCR). Results: In our study population there was a male predomi- nance (83.3%). Overall prevalence of CT and NG infection was 1.6% and 0.8%, respectively. A prevalence of 3% of chlamydia infection was recorded when routine screening was implemented. More so, 53% of individuals displayed asymptomatic infection, 78% of which had chlamydia infection and 22% had gonococcal infection (p<0.05). Routine screening of STD attendees has resulted in the diagnosis and treatment of an average of 13.7 asymptomatic individuals. Conclusion: Unlike gonococcal infection we found an increase of chlamydia infection prevalence when routine screening was implemented. Screening of STD attendees for CT provided the opportunity to identify and treat asymptomatic Chlamydia infections. Systematic screening of STD attendees of both genders for CT should be offered.KEYWORDS – Chlamydia Infections; Chlamydia trachomatis; Gonorrhea; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Ambulatory Care Facilities.Introdução: Estudos recentes têm apontado para um aumento da incidência de infecções por Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) e Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG). Objetivos: Determinar a prevalência de infecção por CT e NG em utentes de uma consulta de Doenças de Transmissão Sexual (DST) num Hospital Universitário. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo transversal nos utentes de uma clínica de DTS ao longo de um período de 10 anos. Os diagnósticos foram efectuados recorrendo a análise de amplificação de ácidos nucleicos (PCR). Resultados: Na população estudada houve um predomínio do sexo masculino (83,3%). A prevalência global da infecção por CT e NG foi de 1,6% e 0,8%, respectivamente, e após implementação do rastreio a todos os utentes observados, a prevalência de infecção por CT subiu para 3%. Adicionalmente, 53% dos utentes assintomáticos foram diagnosticados como portares da infecção, 78% com infecção por CT e 22% com infecção por NG (p <0,05). O rastreio sistemático resultou no diagnóstico e no tratamento de uma média de 13,7 indivíduos assintomáticos. Conclusão: Contrariamente ao observado na infecção por NG, os autores encontraram um aumento da prevalência da infecção por CT, após implementação do rastreio sistemático de todos os utentes da consulta. A triagem para a infecção por CT possibilitou a identificação e tratamento das infecções assintomáticas por este microorganismo. Os autores sugerem o rastreio sistemático de todos os utentes das consultas de STD para a infecção por CT.PALAVRAS-CHAVE – Chlamydia Trachomatis; Neisseria gonorrhoeae; Infecções por Clamídia; Gonorreia