Responses of CYP450 dependent system to aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons body burden in transplanted mussels from South coast of Portugal

Mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis were cross-transplanted at South Portugal from a reference site (site 1) to a site more contaminated with hydrocarbon compounds (site 2), and vice versa, in an active biomonitoring (ABM) concept, to assess the biotransformation capacity catalyzed by the mixed function oxygenase (MFO) system. Total alkanes (TAlk), the unresolved complex mixture (UCM), and total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (TPAHs) concentration increased respectively 6, 4.4 and 4.2 fold relatively to control, in mussels transplanted from site 1 to 2. In the cross-transplant, a 48, 57 and 62% depuration of TAlk, UCM and TPAHs concentrations occurred by the end of the 3-4th week. Petrogenic and biogenic (marine and terrigenous) sources of AHs, and petrogenic and pyrolitic (biomass and oil/fuel incomplete combustion) sources of PAHs were detected at both sites. CYP450, CYT b (5) and NADPH-RED in mussels transplanted from site 1 to 2 were induced from day 0 to 28, with a total increase of 35, 32 and 35%, respectively, while biochemical equilibrium to lesser environmental contamination occurs in mussels transplanted from site 2 to 1. A significant relationship between CYP450 and NADPH-RED was found with TPAH, with distinctive behavior at the two sites. MFO system components increase with exposure time at one site and decreases in the other, reflecting an adaptation to distinct environmental hydrocarbon loads. The ABM strategy proved to be useful to understand the environment real impact on the biochemical responses in mussels' local populations. In this study, CYP450 and NADPH-RED are a useful biomarker for hydrocarbon exposure.FCT: PRAXIS XXI/BD/3740/94info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cardiac Troponin T and Illness Severity in the Very-Low-Birth-Weight Infant

Introduction. Respiratory distress are very common in Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants and Myocardial injury may play a role in the disease outcome. Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is the most useful marker of injury in adult population, but has not been extensively studied in this population. Aim. To study the role of cTnT in VLBW infants and its association with clinical outcomes. Methods. All VLBW infants admitted to our NICU were included in the study. Echocardiography and blood samples for cTnT determination were collected at 24 and 48 hours of life, and values >0.1 ng/mL were considered CTnT-positive values. Results. A total of 116 neonates had their blood samples collected. The median cTnT concentration within 24 hours was 0.191 (0.1–0.79) ng/mL and within 48 hours was 0.293 (0.1–1.0) ng/mL. A logistic regression analysis showed that PDA, low GA, and use of dopamine were independently associated with positive cTnT and abnormal Dopplerfluxometry and diuretics use had protective effects and was independently associated with troponin values. Conclusion. We observed a high prevalence of positivecTnT values in VLBW infants associated with illness severity. Our findings suggest that cTnT may be a useful and early marker of myocardial injury in VLBW infants

“I'll show you how!” Children's learning about drawing and collaboration using MyPaint

Two groups of children in early childhood education explored MyPaint with a graphics tablet. Data on the appropriation of the software by the children and on important dimensions of their learning of/with the software were collected. Two aspects of the analysis are presented: the learning about drawing, with transfers from the software to traditional drawing, and the collaboration for learning, focusing on how this experience changed the group dynamics when using the computer

Current extraction techniques towards bioactive compounds from brewers spent grain A review

Background: Brewers spent grain is one of the most abundant by-products of the brewing industry and is rich in various bioactive compounds (phenolic acids, insoluble dietary fiber and proteins). While at the present brewers spent grain is mainly used as animal feed its rich nutritional content makes it an interesting alternative for food applications. Scope and approach: As the range of applications of the bioactive compounds extracted from by-products has been growing in recent years, there is the need to obtain and characterize these bioactive compounds. Extraction methods (supercritical carbon dioxide, autohydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis, solvent extraction, ultrasound assisted extraction, dilute acid hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, microwave assisted extraction) have been developed and are always being subjected to new approaches to allow better extraction yields of the bioactive compounds. Key findings and conclusions: This review aims to provide a better understanding of the current advantages and limitations of brewers spent grain extraction processes and to provide a background of brewers spent grain composition and applications.The authors would like to thank to the projects Co-promoção,NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004 and OCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684.Furthermore, the authors would also acknowledge the FCT projects UID/Multi/50016/2019, UID/BIO/04469/2013. The author T. Bonifácio-Lopes would also like to acknowledge the grant UMINHO/BD/11/2016.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Brewers spent grain as a potential source of antioxidants: characterization of extracts

NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004 and OCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684. Furthermore, the authors would also acknowled ge the FCT project UID/BIO/04469/2013 and would also like to thank the scientific collaboration of CBQF under the FCT project UID/Multi/50016/2013. The author T. Bonifácio - Lopes would like to acknowledge the grant UMINHO/BD/11/201info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Social media: friend or foe in the COVID-19 pandemic?

Submitted by Raphael Belchior ([email protected]) on 2020-05-20T16:12:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 1807-5932-clin-75-e1953.pdf: 128147 bytes, checksum: 10a855d459c314e6c24aed9a73bba53c (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Raphael Belchior ([email protected]) on 2020-05-20T22:59:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 1807-5932-clin-75-e1953.pdf: 128147 bytes, checksum: 10a855d459c314e6c24aed9a73bba53c (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2020-05-20T23:00:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 1807-5932-clin-75-e1953.pdf: 128147 bytes, checksum: 10a855d459c314e6c24aed9a73bba53c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2020Montefiore Medical Center. Department of Surgery. The Bronx, NY, USA.Real Hospital Português. Cardiologia. Recife, PE, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Aggeu Magalhaes. Departamento de Saúde Coletiva. Recife, PE, Brasil

M.S.W. bottom ash : mechanical characterization for road pavement purposes

Neste trabalho são estudadas as propriedades mecânicas, tais como a rigidez e a resistência, de escórias provenientes da incineração de resíduos sólidos urbanos na incineradora da Valorsul, S.A.. Pretende-se avaliar, sob o ponto de vista geotécnico, a viabilidade de utilização deste material alternativo nas camadas estruturais de pavimentos rodoviários. Neste sentido, são apresentados resultados provenientes dos seguintes ensaios laboratoriais: análise granulométrica; ensaios C.B.R. e ensaio triaxial estático consolidado não drenado com medição das pressões intersticiais. Este estudo pretende contribuir para a valorização das escórias, cuja produção em Portugal, para 2006, se estima em cerca de 293 000 toneladas por ano. Para além de permitir reduzir a quantidade de resíduos a encaminhar para deposição final, o estudo também implica a diminuição da exploração de agregados naturais.In this work the mechanical properties are studied, such as the stiffness and the strength, of bottom ashes from the incineration of municipal solid wastes in the Valorsul, S.A. incinerator. It is intended to evaluate, under the geotechnical point of view, the viability of using this alternative material in the structural layers of road pavements. In this direction, they are presented results proceeding from the following laboratory tests: grain sized analysis; C.B.R. test and undrained consolidated static triaxial test with measurement of the pore water pressures. This study intends to promote MSW bottom ashes, whose production for 2006, in Portugal, is estimated around 293 000 tons per year. Besides allowing reducing the amount of residues to final deposition, the study also implies the reduction of natural aggregate exploration

Cerium and gentamicin antibacterial activity on loaded calcium-phosphates microspheres

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effectiveness of an internet-based self-guided program to treat depression in a sample of Brazilian users: a study protocol.

Although psychological treatments for depressive disorders are available, they are often expensive or inaccessible for many. Web-based interventions that require minimal or no contact with therapists have been shown effective. To the best of our knowledge, no study using this treatment format has been conducted in Brazil. The Deprexis program was designed using empirically established principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy to reduce depressive symptoms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Deprexis in Brazil. This randomized controlled trial will include 128 Brazilians with clinically significant depression symptoms or who have been diagnosed with depressive disorder (major depressive disorder or dysthymia), recruited over the internet (Brazilian forums, social networks, or e-mail lists). Individuals with other psychiatric diagnoses that require significant attention (e.g., bipolar disorder, psychosis) will not be included in the trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to 1) treatment as usual plus immediate access to Deprexis or 2) treatment as usual plus delayed access to Deprexis (after 8 weeks). Participants will be able to obtain other treatment types in addition to the online intervention. If found effective, this web-based intervention would increase the evidence-based care options for depression treatment in Brazil

Recent developments in microfluidic technologies for central nervous system targeted studies

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) bear a lot of weight in public health. By studying the properties of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and its fundamental interactions with the central nervous system (CNS), it is possible to improve the understanding of the pathological mechanisms behind these disorders and create new and better strategies to improve bioavailability and therapeutic efficiency, such as nanocarriers. Microfluidics is an intersectional field with many applications. Microfluidic systems can be an invaluable tool to accurately simulate the BBB microenvironment, as well as develop, in a reproducible manner, drug delivery systems with well-defined physicochemical characteristics. This review provides an overview of the most recent advances on microfluidic devices for CNS-targeted studies. Firstly, the importance of the BBB will be addressed, and different experimental BBB models will be briefly discussed. Subsequently, microfluidic-integrated BBB models (BBB/brain-on-a-chip) are introduced and the state of the art reviewed, with special emphasis on their use to study NDs. Additionally, the microfluidic preparation of nanocarriers and other compounds for CNS delivery has been covered. The last section focuses on current challenges and future perspectives of microfluidic experimentation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio