O palácio real do Alfeite: da fundação à contemporaneidade, século XVIII-XX: percursos e funcionalidades

Tese de mestrado, Arte, Património e Teoria do Restauro, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Letras, 2010Este edifício histórico que pertence à Marinha Portuguesa desde 1918 tem sido, desde o início, uma peça vital e infra-estrutura base da actividade desta instituição militar. O estudo deste Palácio que alberga o comando da Base Naval de Lisboa, instituição que orgulhosamente comemorou no ano de 2008 o seu quinquagésimo aniversário, insere-se nas comemorações patrocinadas pela Marinha Portuguesa, e tem o intuito de interligar a vertente militar à cultura e à educação. Embora apresente a vertente histórica do Palácio Real do Alfeite, incluindo a Quinta Real do Alfeite e as demais quintas que cresceram ao seu redor, esta dissertação visa, primordialmente, estudar o edifício sob outras perspectivas pouco abordadas até agora. Pretendemos compreender e divulgar as características artísticas e arquitectónicas do edifício através do estudo das campanhas de obras que modificaram o seu exterior e interior, adaptando-o às exigências que os seus proprietários lhe impuseram. Ambicionando igualmente integrar esta dissertação no âmbito mais amplo de criação de um projecto de divulgação e preservação do património histórico edificado pertencente à Marinha Portuguesa, queremos dar a conhecer um edifício olvidado que é, em si próprio, uma obra de arte. Para tal, procurámos estudar e divulgar os aspectos específicos do Palácio Real do Alfeite. Realçámos os marcos históricos mais relevantes do percurso do Palácio Real do Alfeite, abordando a sua integração, em 1690, na Casa do Infantado, a posterior transferência para a administração da Casa Real, em 1834 a passagem pelo difícil período da República até, finalmente, à sua transferência para a Marinha, em 1918. “O Palácio Real do Alfeite. Da fundação à contemporaneidade (século XVIII-XX).” Susana Maria Lopes Quaresma e Pereira Assim, são pontos importantes desta dissertação, as duas principais campanhas de obras, a primeira no século XVIII e a segunda no século XIX, que transformaram por completo, a casa senhorial existente antes da integração na Casa do Infantado e proporcionaram um espaço de lazer e recreio para usufruto do Infante e da Família Real. Quanto às obras referentes ao século XX restringidas ao interior do edifício apresentamos, apenas, um estudo preliminar pois o volume considerável de informação que conseguimos coligir merece, sem dúvida, um estudo exaustivo e autónomo deste. Salientamos ainda uma particularidade desta dissertação: – dedicámos um capítulo à extinta capela do Palácio Real do Alfeite por considerarmos singular a oportunidade de recorrer à Teoria da Cripto-História do Professor Doutor Vítor Serrão, para a conseguir fazer renascer.Abstract: This thesis subject is the Royal Palace of Alfeite, one of the many Portuguese buildings whose history is basically unknown in civil society. This historic building owned by the Portuguese Navy since 1918, has been from the beginning a vital piece in the infrastructure network of this military institution. The study of this Palace that houses the Lisbon Naval Base Command, whose fiftieth anniversary was proudly celebrated in 2008, is part of the celebrations sponsored by the Portuguese Navy and seeks to interweave the military aspect with culture and education. Although this dissertation covers the history of the Royal Palace of Alfeite, including the Royal Farm of Alfeite and the other Farms that sprung in the vicinity, it is mainly concerned with the study of several aspects seldom discussed until now. We seek to understand and make known the building artistic and architectural characteristics through the study of the work campaigns that changed both its exterior and interior, adapting it to the requirements of the owners. Since our intention is to position this dissertation within the broader scope of a future heritage safeguard and dissemination project of the built heritage owned by the Portuguese Navy, we want to bring to light a forgotten building that is also in its own way a work of art. In order to achieve that, we sought to study and disclose specific aspects of the Royal Palace of Alfeite. We have highlighted the most relevant historic moments of the Royal Palace of Alfeite including its integration in 1690 into the Casa do Infantado, its latter transference into the Royal House in 1834, its passage through the difficult period of the Republic until its ultimate transfer into the Navy in 1918. Therefore important points in this dissertation are the two main building works campaigns the first in the XVII century and the second in the XIX century that completely transformed the existing manor house before its integration in the Casa do Infantado and that created a setting of leisure for the use of the Prince Royal and the Royal Family. present only a preliminary study since the considerable amount of information that we were able to collect certainly deserves its own independent and thorough study. We want to emphasize one last feature of this dissertation: we have allocated a chapter to the extinct Chapel of the Royal Palace of Alfeite as we feel we have the unique opportunity to achieve its “rebirth” by making use of Professor’s Vítor Serrão theory of Crypto-History

In vitro antimicrobial activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by-products against single and mixed biofilms: the role of Gram- bacteria in the biofilm consortium

Since bacteria are permanently acquiring resistance to chemicals, the development of novel strategies for biofilm control is needed. Certain microorganisms represent an important source of novel bioactive compounds with marked antibacterial activity, as the secondary metabolites. This work aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effect of P.aeruginosa by-products on planktonic and sessile growth of several pathogenic bacteria. Supernatants from P.aeruginosa planktonic cultures (isolated: PaI and from collection: Pa) were recovered, filtered and tested on their own and on S.aureus, S.epidermidis, E.coli lawns. Their antimicrobial action was also assessed in single Staphylococcus biofilm formation and in polymicrobial biofilms formed by Staphylococcus species together with Gram- bacteria. Supernatants were applied as biofilm growth media complement or as biofilm disruption agents. Both supernatants inhibited only Gram+ species lawns, being the more remarkable inhibition halos obtained with PaI supernatant. Concerning biofilms, PaI and Pa metabolites can be considered anti-staphylococcal biofilms agents since their single and mixed biofilm growth was significantly disturbed by both supernatants, regardless their mode of application. However, when Staphylococcal species are entrapped in polymicrobial biofilms with E.coli and P.aeruginosa, supernatants did not exhibit noticeable anti-biofilm activity, mainly when applied against established biofims. In general, all mixed biofilms accumulated more mass and had more metabolic activity when submitted to the supernatants aggression. It is concluded that P.aeruginosa supernatants as potential as anti-biofilm agents but only against staphylococcal biofilms since they failed in disturb other biofilm consortia that encompassed Gram- bacteria. This trait makes them quite ineffective chemical countermeasures against real biofilms.IBB-CEB and FCT (PTDC/SAU-ESA/64609/2006; SFRH/BD/31065/2006; SFRH/ BD/47613/2008)

Impact of variable oxygen environments on resistance to acute antibiotherapy by cystic fibrosis related bacteria

The existence of steep oxygen gradients within the cystic fibrosis (CF) airways mucus is well known, with zones ranging from aerobic to completely anaerobic. Those environments, of heterogeneous availabilities of oxygen, contribute for the proliferation of a phylogenetically diverse ecosystem. This study aimed to inspect whether CF-related bacteria - Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other emerging species Acinetobacter baumannii, Dolosigranulum pigrum, Inquilinus limosus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia are able to develop in vitro biofilms and be tolerant towards ciprofloxacin, an in-use antibiotic in acute CF infections. Single biofilms were formed in vitro, under aerobic and anaerobic environments, and further evaluated in terms of biomass and CFU counting. The antibiotic resistance profiles were analysed by constructing time-kill-curves.All species were able to growth under environments with distinct oxygen availability, demonstrating a great biofilm-forming ability highlighted by higher amount of biofilm mass, particularly under aerobic atmospheres.Biofilm time-kill curves showed augmented antibiotic tolerance of the bacteria, which was independent of the oxygen availability, except for D. pigrum where total eradication of biofilm-cells was noticed. Data highlighted that CF-related bacteria could persist under atmospheres with restricted oxygen availability, and form biofilms resilient to ciprofloxacin. Therefore, a more detailed knowledge about the effect of CF environments on the ability of the bacteria to proliferate and resist to antibiotics might be crucial for the success of CF infection treatment

Cuidados paliativos em contexto de formação de licenciatura em enfermagem

Cuidado paliativo é uma “filosofia”, um “modo de cuidar” que visa aumentar a qualidade de vida de pacientes e suas famílias, que enfrentam problemas associados a doenças que ameaçam a vida (Pimenta, 2010). O início precoce dos cuidados paliativos pode proporcionar melhor adaptação do paciente e seus familiares com a situação, com fortalecimento de estratégias de enfrentamento, estabelecendo-se um cuidado individualizado e humanizado (Menegócio, 2010). Identificar os conhecimentos sobre cuidados paliativos dos estudantes de licenciatura em enfermagem; Descrever a relação das variáveis sociodemográficas, académicas e da formação em cuidados paliativos com os conhecimentos sobre cuidados paliativos. Estudo transversal, descritivo numa amostra não probabilística por conveniência, constituída por 203 estudantes do curso de licenciatura em enfermagem. Questionário de Conhecimentos sobre Cuidados Paliativos - QCCP (Lopes & Ribeiro, 2012). 40.4% apresentam conhecimentos de nível insuficiente, 29.1% suficiente e 30.5% de nível bom. A frequência de formação extracurricular em cuidados paliativos influencia significativamente os conhecimentos dos estudantes. Os estudantes do sexo masculino, os de idade ≤ 21 anos, os do 4º ano e os detentores de formação curricular na área também revelaram melhores conhecimentos, face aos restantes. Os estudantes revelaram défice de conhecimentos sobre aspetos específicos da intervenção em cuidados paliativos, especialmente sobre o controlo de sintomas (controlo da dor e utilização da via subcutânea). As evidências encontradas realçam a necessidade de se investir na formação sobre os aspetos específicos da intervenção paliativa em que revelaram défice de conhecimentos, capacitando-os para a adoção de boas práticas

Role of planktonic and sessile extracellular metabolic byproducts on Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli intra and interspecies relationships

Bacterial species are found primarily as residents of complex surface-associated communities, known as biofilms. Although these structures prevail in nature, bacteria still exist in planktonic lifestyle and differ from those in morphology, physiology, and metabolism. This study aimed to investigate the influence of physiological states of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli in cell-to-cell interactions. Filtered supernatants obtained under planktonic and biofilm cultures of each single species were supplemented with tryptic soy broth (TSB) and used as the growth media (conditioned media) to planktonic and sessile growth of both single- and two-species cultures. Planktonic bacterial growth was examined through OD640 measurement. One-day-old biofilms were evaluated in terms of biofilm biomass (CV), respiratory activity (XTT), and CFU number. Conditioned media obtained either in biofilm or in planktonic mode of life triggered a synergistic effect on planktonic growth, mainly for E. coli single cultures growing in P. aeruginosa supernatants. Biofilms grown in the presence of P. aeruginosa biofilms-derived metabolites presented less mass and activity. These events highlight that, when developed in biofilm, P. aeruginosa release signals or metabolites able to prejudice single and binary biofilm growth of others species and of their own species. However, products released by their planktonic counterparts did not impair biofilm growth or activity. E. coli, living as planktonic or sessile cultures, released signals and metabolites or removed un-beneficial compounds which promoted the growth and activity of all the species. Our findings revealed that inter and intraspecies behaviors depend on the involved bacteria and their adopted mode of life

Cystic fibrosis bacteria under variable oxygen tensions: biofilm formation ability and resilience to acute antibiotherapy

Distinct availabilities of oxygen, nutrients and antibiotics in the cystic fibrosis (CF) airways have contributed to the colonization of a large polymicrobial community, which may have further repercussion in the development of chronic biofilms and in antibiotherapy. This study aimed to inspect whether CF-related bacteria - Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) and two less common species Acinetobacter baumanni (Ab) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp), are able to develop in vitro biofilms and resist to ciprofloxacin under aerobic/hypoxic conditions. Thus, biofilm-cells were estimated by CFU counting and time-kill-curves determined by absorbance (planktonic) and CFU (biofilm). All species showed alike results for biofilm growth, with higher bacteria (~109 CFU/cm2) adhering under aerobiosis than for hypoxic atmospheres (~108 CFU/cm2) in 24 h. Regarding the susceptibility profiles, Sa was the most sensitive species (MIC/MBC: 0.5 mg/L), with Kp keeping the most resistant profile against ciprofloxacin (MIC: 16 mg/L; MBC: >512 mg/L). Planktonic and biofilm time-kill curves were equivalent for both atmospheres. Interestingly, ciprofloxacin affected notably Sa biofilms under both conditions (adhesion rates declining 4log from 1/4MIC to 4MIC), but Ab and Kp biofilms were not disturbed even by the presence of abnormal ciprofloxacin concentrations, preserving initial adhesion rates from 106 - 107 cells/cm2/h, respectively. Data highlighted that CF unusual species could persist under hypoxia and form biofilms resilient to ciprofloxacin currently applied in acute infections, eventually progressing for severe biofilms hard to eradicate with powerful antibiotherapy

The antimicrobial action of Pseudomonas aeruginosa byproducts in the control of single and mixed biofilms

Since bacteria are continuously acquiring resistance to conventional chemical agents, it is urgently needed the development of new strategies for biofilm control. It is well recognised that certain microorganisms represent an important source of novel biologically active compounds, with pronounced antibacterial activity, as secondary metabolites. Such substances are accepted to be essential for their producers, inhibiting other bacteria that compete for common resources. The main goal of this work was to investigate the antimicrobial effect of secondary metabolites secreted by P. aeruginosa on planktonic and sessile growth of several pathogens, in order to later use those molecules as bio-regulation agents. P. aeruginosa supernatants had potential as anti-biofilm agents but only against staphylococcal biofilms since they failed in disturb other biofilm consortia that encompassed Grambacteria. This trait makes them quite ineffective chemical countermeasures against real biofilms

Pseudomonas aeruginosa modulates Inquilinus limosus tolerance to acute antibiotherapy under cystic fibrosis variable oxygen conditions

Cystic Fibrosis (CF) airways disease involves a complex polymicrobial infection whereby different bacterial species can interact and influence each other. To gain insights into the role that Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Inquilinus limosus interactionsmay play during CF infection, the reciprocal effect during biofilm formation, as well as ciprofloxacin activity against mixed biofilms under in vitro atmospheres with different oxygen availabilities were evaluated. The kinetics of biofilm formation showed that P. aeruginosa negatively affected I. limosus growth, under both aerobic and anaerobic environments. On the other hand, under aerobic conditions, I. limosus led to a decrease in biofilm production by P. aeruginosa, although biofilm-cells viability of remains unaltered.Given the differences measured by the crystal violet [biofilm biomass, consisting of both extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) and cells] and the viable count (biofilm viability) assays, these results may indicate that in mixed biofilms the presence of I. limosus, under aerobic conditions, leads to a reduction in P. aeruginosa EPS.Interestingly, P. aeruginosa might be responsible for the protection of I. limosus against ciprofloxacin activity. The analysis of the viable count dynamics revealed that I. limosus is less susceptible to ciprofloxacin when co-cultured in mixed biofilms with P. aeruginosa. Taken together, the results suggest a reciprocal interference between different bacterial species in CF lung. Alterations of bacterial behaviour due to interspecies interactions may be important for disease progression in CF infection