Skeletal quality in Senegalese sole: characterization of fish resulting from environmental and nutritional trials

The Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) is characteristic from southern Europe and Mediterranean. It has recently been adapted for aquaculture production since it is well accepted by consumers and reaches high commercial values. After the initial description of the ontogenic events of skeletogenesis, systematic evaluation of the incidence of skeletal malformations by several groups revealed high levels of skeletal deformities reaching up to 90% of the population

Human multipotent adult progenitor cells enhance islet function and revascularisation when co-transplanted as a composite pellet in a mouse model of diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Hypoxia in the initial days after islet transplantation leads to considerable loss of islet mass and contributes to disappointing outcomes in the clinical setting. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether co-transplantation of human non-endothelial bone marrow-derived multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs), which are non-immunogenic and can secrete angiogenic growth factors during the initial days after implantation, could improve islet engraftment and survival.METHODS: Islets (150) were co-transplanted, with or without human MAPCs (2.5 × 105) as separate or composite pellets, under the kidney capsule of syngeneic alloxan-induced diabetic C57BL/6 mice. Blood glucose levels were frequently monitored and IPGTTs were carried out. Grafts and serum were harvested at 2 and 5 weeks after transplantation to assess outcome.RESULTS: Human MAPCs produced high amounts of angiogenic growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor, in vitro and in vivo, as demonstrated by the induction of neo-angiogenesis in the chorioallantoic membrane assay. Islet-human MAPC co-transplantation as a composite pellet significantly improved the outcome of islet transplantation as measured by the initial glycaemic control, diabetes reversal rate, glucose tolerance and serum C-peptide concentration compared with the outcome following transplantation of islets alone. Histologically, a higher blood vessel area and density in addition to a higher vessel/islet ratio were detected in recipients of islet-human MAPC composites.CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The present data suggest that co-transplantation of mouse pancreatic islets with human MAPCs, which secrete high amounts of angiogenic growth factors, enhance islet graft revascularisation and subsequently improve islet graft function

(R)-(1-Ammonio­eth­yl)phospho­nate

The title compound, C2H8NO3P, crystallizes in its zwitterionic form H3N+CH(CH3)PO(O−)(OH). In the crystal, the molecules are linked by N—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Isolation, absolute configuration and cytotoxic activities of alkaloids from Hippeastrum goianum (Ravenna) Meerow (Amaryllidaceae)

The phytochemical study of Hippeastrum goianum led to the identification of 13 compounds by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Compounds 7-demethoxy-9-O-methylhostasine (1) and 7-deoxi-trans-dihydronarciclasine (2) had their absolute configurations determined by vibrational circular dichroism (VCD). This is the first time that compound 1 is described in the Amaryllidaceae family. The cytotoxicity of all isolated compounds was tested against colorectal carcinoma (HCT 116), breast carcinoma (MCF-7), and non-tumor human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell lines. The half-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) of compound 2 against each cell line was equivalent to the positive control (doxorubicin), indicating a considerable cytotoxic activity. Keywords: narciclasine; galasine; cytotoxic activity; absolute configuration; vibrational circular dichrois

Alterações morfométricas na retina, coroide e nervo ótico após infeção por SARS-CoV-2

O novo coronavírus responsável pela síndrome respiratória aguda grave (SARS-CoV- 2) surgiu associado à pandemia por COVID-19. A enzima conversora da angiotensina 2 (ACE-2), com aparente importância na COVID-19, pela interação com as proteínas na superfície do vírus, tem expressão em vários tecidos oculares e várias alterações como conjuntivite, uveíte, vasculite e neurite foram descritas inicialmente em modelos animais. Em estudos mais recentes, embora na maioria em doentes COVID-19 moderados/grave, tem sido descrito o comprometimento da superfície ocular anterior e do polo posterior reforçando a ideia de neurotropismo (pela facilidade de envolvimento do sistema nervoso central) que classicamente é descrito em outros coronavirus. Algumas alterações do polo posterior incluem o compromisso vascular/ isquémico tornando relevante também a observação da coroide. A SARS-CoV-2 tem sido associada à diminuição das camadas internas da retina e à presença de lesões hiperrefletivas, micro-hemorragias e manchas algodonosas. No entanto, o envolvimento da retina e a coróide em doentes previamente infetados com COVID-19 ainda não é totalmente compreendido. De forma a clarificar o envolvimento dos fatores de neuro-degeneração e vasculares, descritos em indivíduos recuperados de COVID-19 moderada/grave, é fundamental perceber que alterações existem ao nível da retina interna e da coroide, em indivíduos recuperados de COVID-19 ligeira. Questão de investigação: Existem alterações morfométricas da retina, coroide e nervo ótivo em indivíduos recuperados de COVID-19 ligeira?info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Building a Portuguese Coalition for Biodiversity Genomics

The diverse physiography of the Portuguese land and marine territory, spanning from continental Europe to the Atlantic archipelagos, has made it an important repository of biodiversity throughout the Pleistocene glacial cycles, leading to a remarkable diversity of species and ecosystems. This rich biodiversity is under threat from anthropogenic drivers, such as climate change, invasive species, land use changes, overexploitation or pathogen (re)emergence. The inventory, characterization and study of biodiversity at inter- and intra-specific levels using genomics is crucial to promote its preservation and recovery by informing biodiversity conservation policies, management measures and research. The participation of researchers from Portuguese institutions in the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative, and its pilot effort to generate reference genomes for European biodiversity, has reinforced the establishment of Biogenome Portugal. This nascent institutional network will connect the national community of researchers in genomics. Here, we describe the Portuguese contribution to ERGA’s pilot effort, which will generate high-quality reference genomes of six species from Portugal that are endemic, iconic and/or endangered, and include plants, insects and vertebrates (fish, birds and mammals) from mainland Portugal or the Azores islands. In addition, we outline the objectives of Biogenome Portugal, which aims to (i) promote scientific collaboration, (ii) contribute to advanced training, (iii) stimulate the participation of institutions and researchers based in Portugal in international biodiversity genomics initiatives, and (iv) contribute to the transfer of knowledge to stakeholders and engaging the public to preserve biodiversity. This initiative will strengthen biodiversity genomics research in Portugal and fuel the genomic inventory of Portuguese eukaryotic species. Such efforts will be critical to the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity and will contribute to ERGA’s goal of generating reference genomes for European species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Mestrado em Biofísica e Bionanossistemas: comemoração da 10ª edição

[Excerto] Preâmbulo O Mestrado em Biofísica e Bionanossistemas (MBB) comemora, em 2020, 10 anos de existência. Este curso tem por objetivo formar profissionais com competências avançadas nas áreas interdisciplinares da Física e da Biologia, destacando-se no domínio da nanotecnologia

Mood is a key determinant of cognitive performance in community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional analysis

First Online: 06 October 2012Identification of predictors of cognitive trajectories through the establishment of composite or single-parameter dimensional categories of cognition and mood may facilitate development of strategies to improve quality of life in the elderly. Participants (n = 487, aged 50+ years) were representative of the Portuguese population in terms of age, gender, and educational status. Cognitive and mood profiles were established using a battery of neurocognitive and psychological tests. Data were subjected to principal component analysis to identify core dimensions of cognition and mood, encompassing multiple test variables. Dimensions were correlated with age and with respect to gender, education, and occupational status. Cluster analysis was applied to isolate distinct patterns of cognitive performance and binary logistic regression models to explore interrelationships between aging, cognition, mood, and socio-demographic characteristics. Four main dimensions were identified: memory, executive function, global cognitive status, and mood. Based on these, strong and weak cognitive performers were distinguishable. Cluster analysis revealed further distinction within these two main categories into very good, good, poor, and very poor performers. Mood was the principal factor contributing to the separation between very good and good, as well as poor and very poor, performers. Clustering was also influenced by gender and education, albeit to a lesser extent; notably, however, female gender × lower educational background predicted significantly poorer cognitive performance with increasing age. Mood has a significant impact on the rate of cognitive decline in the elderly. Gender and educational level are early determinants of cognitive performance in later life.This work was funded by the European Commission (FP7) “SwitchBox” (Contract HEALTH-F2-2010-259772). NCS is supported by a SwitchBox post-doctoral fellowship. We are thankful to all study participants. The authors would like to acknowledge all colleagues who assisted with participant recruitment and evaluation