Licenciamento de estabelecimentos da indústria de alimentos de origem animal

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina VeterináriaO Decreto-Lei 209/2008 de 29 de outubro, que aprova o regime de exercício da atividade industrial, apresenta uma classificação para os estabelecimentos industriais que assenta no princípio do grau de risco potencial para a pessoa humana e para o ambiente e, desta forma, determina a tramitação dos processos de licenciamento. Os projetos de estabelecimentos da indústria de géneros alimentícios de origem animal submetidos para aprovação, independentemente da tipologia do estabelecimento, são avaliados pelos Serviços Regionais da Direção-Geral de Veterinária com base nas disposições legais e regulamentares vigentes no âmbito da segurança e higiene dos géneros alimentícios de origem animal. Este trabalho apresenta a análise estatística de algumas das atividades desenvolvidas durante o estágio. Assim, no que respeita à avaliação dos projetos submetidos para aprovação através da plataforma de interoperabilidade da Administração Pública a análise torna evidente o valioso contributo do Núcleo Técnico de Licenciamento do Centro no apoio prestado aos requerentes a fim de tornar o processo mais célere e menos dispendioso. Relativamente aos controlos oficiais realizados a estabelecimentos de produtos da pesca revelou uma evolução positiva dos parâmetros avaliados e apontou como parâmetros mais problemáticos o “HACCP” nas 1.ª e 3.ª vistorias e “Higiene e Limpeza” nas 2.ª e 4.ª vistorias. Em relação à inspeção sanitária de produtos da pesca frescos revelou que as maiores quantidades de produtos da pesca frescos rejeitados na Docapesca de Sesimbra e na Docapesca da Figueira da Foz foram capturados usando redes de emalhar e que mais de metade dos produtos da pesca frescos rejeitados na Docapesca da Figueira da Foz eram provenientes de apenas cinco embarcações. Quanto ao controlo oficial de navios o parâmetro “Estruturas” foi o mais problemático e o parâmetro “Rastreabilidade” o menos problemático. E por último, no que concerne aos controlos oficiais das pisciculturas mostrou uma evolução positiva e assinalou o parâmetro “Higiene” como o mais problemático de todos os avaliados. Além da análise estatística, é apresentada a descrição sumária dos procedimentos implicados no controlo de resíduos, na vigilância sanitária da Necrose Hemorrágica Infecciosa e da Septicémia Hemorrágica Viral e, também, na certificação sanitária para exportação de géneros alimentícios de origem animal para países terceiros.ABSTRACT - The Portuguese Decree-law 209/2008 of 29th of October which approves the regulations for the exercise of industrial activity presents a classification for the industrial establishments that is based on the degree of potential risk for humans and for the environment and determines the procedures of the licensing processes. Regardless of the type of establishment, the projects for new industries of food of animal origin are evaluated by the regional veterinary services in the context of the safety and hygiene. This work presents a statistical analysis of some of the activities developed during the internship. Regarding the evaluation of the processes submitted for approval through the Public Administration platform of interoperability, the analysis clearly shows the valuable contribution of center region licensing technical core support provided to applicants in order to make the process faster and less expensive. In relation to the official controls performed to establishments of fishery products, they showed a positive evolution of the evaluated parameters and pointed "HACCP" as the most problematic parameter in the 1st and 3rd surveys and "Hygiene and cleaning" in the 2nd and 4th surveys. Regarding the sanitary inspection of fresh fishing product, it revealed that the largest amounts of fresh fishing product rejected in the Docapesca of Sesimbra and the Docapesca of Figueira da Foz were captured using gill nets and that more than half of the fresh fishing product rejected in the Docapesca of Figueira da Foz were from five vessels only. In the official control of vessels the parameter “Structures" was the most problematic and the parameter "Traceability" the least problematic. Finally, concerning the official control of fish farms, the analysis showed a positive trend over and noted the parameter "Hygiene" as the most problematic of all evaluated. Others aspects are also presented, such as the summary description of the procedures involved in waste control, in the surveillance of Infectious Hemorrhagic Necrosis and Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia and also in the health certification for exports of animal foodstuff to countries not belonging to the European Union

pH-responsive hybrid nanoassemblies for cancer treatment: formulation development, optimization, and in vitro therapeutic performance

Current needs for increased drug delivery carrier efficacy and specificity in cancer necessitate the adoption of intelligent materials that respond to environmental stimuli. Therefore, we developed and optimized pH-triggered drug delivery nanoassemblies that exhibit an increased release of doxorubicin (DOX) in acidic conditions typical of cancer tissues and endosomal vesicles (pH 5.5) while exhibiting significantly lower release under normal physiological conditions (pH 7.5), indicating the potential to reduce cytotoxicity in healthy cells. The hybrid (polymeric/lipid) composition of the lyotropic non-lamellar liquid crystalline (LNLCs) nanoassemblies demonstrated high encapsulation efficiency of the drug (>90%) and high drug loading content (>7%) with colloidal stability lasting at least 4 weeks. Confocal microscopy revealed cancer cellular uptake and DOX-loaded LNLCs accumulation near the nucleus of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, with a large number of cells appearing to be in apoptosis. DOX-loaded LNLCs have also shown higher citotoxicity in cancer cell lines (MDA-MB 231 and HepG2 cell lines after 24 h and in NCI-H1299 cell line after 48 h) when compared to free drug. After 24 h, free DOX was found to have higher cytotoxicity than DOX-loaded LNLCs and empty LNLCs in the normal cell line. Overall, the results demonstrate that DOX-loaded LNLCs have the potential to be explored in cancer therapy.This research was funded by FCT/MCTES—Foundation for Science and Technology I.P. from the Minister of Science, Technology, and Higher Education (PIDDAC) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) by the COMPETE—Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade (POFC) through the project CONCERT [POCI-01-0145-FEDER-032651 and PTDC/NAN-MAT/326512017]. This work was also supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding UIDB/04650/2020 and UIDB/04050/2020 (CF-UM-UP and CBMA). The authors are grateful for the support of the BioISI center grant (UIDB/04046/2020 and UIDP/04046/2020), financed by FCT. R.M. acknowledges FCT I.P. for funding within the Scientific Employment Stimulus instrument (CEECIND/00526/2018)

Blood antioxidant markers and elemental levels in Azorean patients with coronary artery disease: a preliminary study

Abstract de comunicação em Painel (3.P01) apresentada em VIIIth Conference of the International Society for Trace Element Research in Humans (ISTERH), IXth Conference of the Nordic Trace Element Society (NTES) and VIth Conference of the Helenic Trace Element Society (HTES),2007,21-26 Out, Hersonissos (Creta), GréciaAtherosclerosis (ATH) and related vascular diseases are the first cause of morbidity and mortality in Portugal, including the Azores’ Archipelago. The oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL) is considered to be an important event in the development of the disease. Accordingly, by preventing LDL oxidation, antioxidants can possibly reduce the risk or the progression of ATH. Essential trace elements as Cu, Se, Zn, and Fe are involved in endogenous antioxidant systems, mainly as cofactors of antioxidant enzymes. Other elements, like K and Ca, might play a role in atherogenesis while implicated in physiological and metabolic processes which are known to be disturbed in ATH. The aimof the present study was to evaluate some blood antioxidant markers and blood elemental levels in 20 Azorean subjects (ten men and ten women, aged 40 to 65 years) with coronary artery disease previously submitted to percutaneous revascularization (PCI). The whole blood gluthatione peroxidase (Se-GPx) and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activities were measured, as well as serum vitamin E levels (by HPLC). The concentrations of K, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Se in plasma and blood cells were determined by PIXE. Results were analyzed by taking into account several cardiovascular risk factors, namely, gender, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) concentration. Se-GPx activity and vitamin E levels were significantly lower (24 and 15%, respectively) in the PCI group than in controls. In blood cells, significantly differences in Ca (19±5 vs 24±6 μg/mL) and Zn (14±1 vs 12±2 μg/mL) levels were observed in PCI women (but not in men) compared to the respective counterparts. Also in PCI women, both serum triglyceride and plasma tHcy concentrations were above reference values and higher than in men. Results suggest a decreased antioxidant status in PCI patients. In particular, women appear to be less protected than men, as reflected in some cardiovascular risk factors

Flora da Bahia: Juncaceae

The flora of Juncaceae from Bahia State, Brazil, is presented here. Four species of Juncus are recognised: J. densiflorus, J. marginatus, J. micranthus and J. microcephalus. This is the first report of J. marginatus in the Northeast Brazil; the species was previously known only from the South. An identification key, descriptions, illustrations, general notes and distribution maps of species in Bahia are provided.É apresentada aqui a flora de Juncaceae do estado da Bahia, Brasil. São reconhecidas quatro espécies de Juncus: J. densiflorus, J. marginatus, J. micranthus e J. microcephalus. Este é o primeiro registro de J. marginatus no Nordeste; a espécie era conhecida apenas da Região Sul. São apresentados chave de identificação, descrições, ilustrações, comentários gerais e mapas de distribuição das espécies na Bahia

Do Espírito do Lugar - Música, Estética, Silêncio, Espaço, Luz - I e II Residências Cistercienses de São Bento de Cástris (2013, 2014)

A igreja do Mosteiro de S. Bento de Cástris em Évora (séc. XIII-XIX) apresenta uma tipologia de configuração de espaços pouco comum e que parece privilegiar diferentes posicionamentos para o funcionamento de grupos corais de apoio às atividades litúrgicas e de expressão musical. Tratando-se de possíveis opções de carácter empírico, pois são relativamente recentes os conhecimentos científicos no domínio da física das construções e em especial da acústica de edifícios, importa explorar, com medições no local, as condições reais de comportamento acústico e em especial conhecer os tempos de reverberação e comparar os resultados obtidos com as recomendações atuais para este tipo de espaços. Nesta comunicação caracteriza-se a igreja do ponto de vista da conceção e seus principais aspetos construtivos, explica-se o significado e interesse da medição dos tempos de reverberação e apresenta-se a metodologia estabelecida para explorar as condições acústicas da igreja objeto de estudoThe church of the Monastery of S. Bento de Cástris, in Évora (14th-19th centuries) has an uncommon spatial typology that seems to privilege the possibility of offering different positions to the choirs that supported both the liturgical and the musical activities. Considering that these were possibly empirical options, because the scientificknowledge on buildings physics and, particularly, on building acoustics are relatively recent, it is important to explore, with on-site measurements, the real acoustic behavior conditions, specifically the reverberation times, and compare the results obtained with the current recommendations for this type of spaces. In this paper we characterize the church in terms of design and of its main construction features, explaining the meaning and interest of measuring its reverberation times and presenting the methodology defined for exploring the acoustic conditions of the church under study.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Perfil epidemiológico de um centro especializado em oftalmologia em Fortaleza-CE: Epidemiological profile of a specialized ophthalmology center in Fortaleza-CE

Objetivo: Contribuir para o arsenal literário oftalmológico, no que tange ao perfil ocular da população brasileira. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo e retrospectivo, através da análise de prontuários eletrônicos de pacientes atendidos em um hospital especializado em doenças oftalmológicas (Fundação Leiria de Andrade), abrangendo a população da região metropolitana de Fortaleza – Ceará – Brasil. A amostragem foi realizada de forma aleatória simples e estratificada por idade. Resultado: Dos 382 prontuários selecionados, foi obtido uma idade média de 36 anos e um desvio padrão de 19. Ademais, dentre as doenças mais prevalentes, estavam conjuntivite (51,2%), trauma (12,3%), calázio/hordéolo (7,9%), olho vermelho (6,8%) e blefarite (5,2%). Entre os casos de conjuntivite, a prevalência foi maior entre os meses de fevereiro e abril, que correspondem aos meses chuvosos no estado do Ceará. Conclusão: Os dados epidemiológicos obtidos mostraram uma busca elevada de atendimento oftalmológico pela população economicamente ativa e, principalmente, para doenças como a conjuntivite

Intensive neurorehabilitation and allogeneic stem cells transplantation in canine degenerative myelopathy

IntroductionDegenerative myelopathy (DM) is a neurodegenerative spinal cord disease with upper motor neurons, with progressive and chronic clinical signs, similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). DM has a complex etiology mainly associated with SOD1 gene mutation and its toxic role, with no specific treatment. Daily intensive rehabilitation showed survival time near 8 months but most animals are euthanized 6–12 months after clinical signs onset.MethodsThis prospective controlled blinded cohort clinical study aims to evaluate the neural regeneration response ability of DM dogs subjected to an intensive neurorehabilitation protocol with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation. In total, 13 non-ambulatory (OFS 6 or 8) dogs with homozygous genotype DM/DM and diagnosed by exclusion were included. All were allocated to the intensive neurorehabilitation with MSCs protocol (INSCP) group (n = 8) or to the ambulatory rehabilitation protocol (ARP) group (n = 5), which differ in regard to training intensity, modalities frequency, and MSCs transplantation. The INSCP group was hospitalized for 1 month (T0 to T1), followed by MSCs transplantation (T1) and a second month (T2), whereas the ARP group was under ambulatory treatment for the same 2 months.ResultsSurvival mean time of total population was 375 days, with 438 days for the INSCP group and 274 for the ARP group, with a marked difference on the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. When comparing the literature's results, there was also a clear difference in the one-sample t-test (p = 0.013) with an increase in time of approximately 70%. OFS classifications between groups at each time point were significantly different (p = 0.008) by the one-way ANOVA and the independent sample t-test.DiscussionThis INSCP showed to be safe, feasible, and a possibility for a long progression of DM dogs with quality of life and functional improvement. This study should be continued

Modulation of the oscillatory mechanics of lung tissue and the oxidative stress response induced by arginase inhibition in a chronic allergic inflammation model

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Background\ud The importance of the lung parenchyma in the pathophysiology of asthma has previously been demonstrated. Considering that nitric oxide synthases (NOS) and arginases compete for the same substrate, it is worthwhile to elucidate the effects of complex NOS-arginase dysfunction in the pathophysiology of asthma, particularly, related to distal lung tissue. We evaluated the effects of arginase and iNOS inhibition on distal lung mechanics and oxidative stress pathway activation in a model of chronic pulmonary allergic inflammation in guinea pigs.\ud \ud \ud \ud Methods\ud Guinea pigs were exposed to repeated ovalbumin inhalations (twice a week for 4 weeks). The animals received 1400 W (an iNOS-specific inhibitor) for 4 days beginning at the last inhalation. Afterwards, the animals were anesthetized and exsanguinated; then, a slice of the distal lung was evaluated by oscillatory mechanics, and an arginase inhibitor (nor-NOHA) or vehicle was infused in a Krebs solution bath. Tissue resistance (Rt) and elastance (Et) were assessed before and after ovalbumin challenge (0.1%), and lung strips were submitted to histopathological studies.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud Ovalbumin-exposed animals presented an increase in the maximal Rt and Et responses after antigen challenge (p<0.001), in the number of iNOS positive cells (p<0.001) and in the expression of arginase 2, 8-isoprostane and NF-kB (p<0.001) in distal lung tissue. The 1400 W administration reduced all these responses (p<0.001) in alveolar septa. Ovalbumin-exposed animals that received nor-NOHA had a reduction of Rt, Et after antigen challenge, iNOS positive cells and 8-isoprostane and NF-kB (p<0.001) in lung tissue. The activity of arginase 2 was reduced only in the groups treated with nor-NOHA (p <0.05). There was a reduction of 8-isoprostane expression in OVA-NOR-W compared to OVA-NOR (p<0.001).\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud In this experimental model, increased arginase content and iNOS-positive cells were associated with the constriction of distal lung parenchyma. This functional alteration may be due to a high expression of 8-isoprostane, which had a procontractile effect. The mechanism involved in this response is likely related to the modulation of NF-kB expression, which contributed to the activation of the arginase and iNOS pathways. The association of both inhibitors potentiated the reduction of 8-isoprostane expression in this animal model.FAPESP and LIM20HCFMUSP.FAPESP and LIM-20-HC-FMUSP

Y-27632 is associated with corticosteroid-potentiated control of pulmonary remodeling and inflammation in guinea pigs with chronic allergic inflammation

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Previously, we showed that treatment with the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 was able to control airway responsiveness, inflammation, remodeling, and oxidative stress in an animal model of asthma, suggesting that this drug is beneficial in asthma. However, studies evaluating the effects of these inhibitors in conjunction with corticosteroids on chronic pulmonary inflammation have not been conducted. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of treatment with the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632, with or without concurrent dexamethasone treatment, on airway and lung tissue mechanical responses, inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and oxidative stress in guinea pigs with chronic allergic inflammation.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud The guinea pigs were subjected to seven ovalbumin or saline inhalation exposures. Treatment with Y-27632 (1 mM) and dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) started at the fifth inhalation. Seventy-two hours after the seventh inhalation, the pulmonary mechanics were evaluated and exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) levels were determined. The lungs were removed and histological analysis was performed using morphometry.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud The treatment of guinea pigs with the Rho-kinase inhibitor and dexamethasone (ORC group) decreased ENO, the maximal mechanical responses after antigen challenge, inflammation, extracellular matrix remodeling and oxidative stress in the lungs.\ud This therapeutic strategy reduced the levels of collagen and IFN-γ in the airway walls, as well as IL-2, IFN-γ, 8-iso-PGF2α and NF-κB in the distal parenchyma, when compared to isolated treatment with corticosteroid or Rho-kinase inhibitor (P < 0.05) and reduced the number of TIMP-1-positive cells and eosinophils in the alveolar septa compared to corticosteroid-treated animals (P < 0.05). The combined treatment with the Rho-kinase inhibitor and the corticosteroid provided maximal control over the remodeling response and inflammation in the airways and parenchyma.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud Rho-kinase inhibition, alone or in combination with corticosteroids, can be considered a future pharmacological tool for the control of asthma.We thank Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) for their financial support

SARS-CoV-2 introductions and early dynamics of the epidemic in Portugal

Genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal was rapidly implemented by the National Institute of Health in the early stages of the COVID-19 epidemic, in collaboration with more than 50 laboratories distributed nationwide. Methods By applying recent phylodynamic models that allow integration of individual-based travel history, we reconstructed and characterized the spatio-temporal dynamics of SARSCoV-2 introductions and early dissemination in Portugal. Results We detected at least 277 independent SARS-CoV-2 introductions, mostly from European countries (namely the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy, and Switzerland), which were consistent with the countries with the highest connectivity with Portugal. Although most introductions were estimated to have occurred during early March 2020, it is likely that SARS-CoV-2 was silently circulating in Portugal throughout February, before the first cases were confirmed. Conclusions Here we conclude that the earlier implementation of measures could have minimized the number of introductions and subsequent virus expansion in Portugal. This study lays the foundation for genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Portugal, and highlights the need for systematic and geographically-representative genomic surveillance.We gratefully acknowledge to Sara Hill and Nuno Faria (University of Oxford) and Joshua Quick and Nick Loman (University of Birmingham) for kindly providing us with the initial sets of Artic Network primers for NGS; Rafael Mamede (MRamirez team, IMM, Lisbon) for developing and sharing a bioinformatics script for sequence curation (https://github.com/rfm-targa/BioinfUtils); Philippe Lemey (KU Leuven) for providing guidance on the implementation of the phylodynamic models; Joshua L. Cherry (National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health) for providing guidance with the subsampling strategies; and all authors, originating and submitting laboratories who have contributed genome data on GISAID (https://www.gisaid.org/) on which part of this research is based. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not reflect the view of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, or the United States government. This study is co-funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Agência de Investigação Clínica e Inovação Biomédica (234_596874175) on behalf of the Research 4 COVID-19 call. Some infrastructural resources used in this study come from the GenomePT project (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-022184), supported by COMPETE 2020 - Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Lisboa Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa2020), Algarve Portugal Regional Operational Programme (CRESC Algarve2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio