Mouse model of Schistosomiasis: infection with Schistosoma mansoni in CD-1 mice

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that affects almost 240 million worldwide. CD1 mice were infected with cercariae of S. mansoni, after which infection developed for 8 weeks. Tissues were processed to immuno-histological techniques. It was performed H&E staining for overall analyses, Sirius Red for fibrosis and immunohistochemistry for inflammation biomarkers. The most infected organ was the liver, fibrosis decreased with egg development and Galectin-3 (Gal3) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) were expressed inside granulomasThis work was also supported by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (REF UID/BIM/04293/2013) and by the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000012 and by a scholarship to Carla Luís with the reference SAICT2016/FEDER/BIO4DIA/BTI under the supervision of Dr. Rúben Fernandes.N/

Galectin-3: a biomarker of metabolic progression of type 2 diabetes?

According to the International Diabetes Federation, Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) has affected more than 425 million people in 2017 worldwide]. Not only is it a disease responsible for more than 4 million deaths, but also a trigger for other non communicable diseases and a huge burden on national health systems. The most important clinical manifestation of T2DM is hyperglycemia and monitoring of blood glucose levels remains the only method of screening. However, when glucose levels are high, the disease is already in place. The large investment in DM2 research allowed the identification of biomarkers that could be used to describe the progression of diabetes and some were described as having a predictive potential value to differentiate between progressors / non-progressors. One of the biomarkers described is Galectin-3 (Gal3). Previous studies of our group have already demonstrated a correlation of Gal3 between diabetic and non-diabetic animals.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pathways of estrogen metabolism underlying the association between Schistosoma haematobium and bladder cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant, poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasm. SCC is the common form of bladder cancer in rural Africa where S. haematobium is prevalent. In contrast, the majority of bladder cancer in developing countries and regions not endemic for urogenital schistosomiasis is transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) that arises from the transitional epithelium lining of the bladder. The parasite eggs trapped in the bladder wall release antigens and other metabolites (presumably evolved to expedite egress to the urine, and hence to the external environment). However, the phenomenon leads to haematuria and to chronic inflammation, in turn increasing risk of SCC of the bladder. In addition to the hormone- -like effects of the parasite estradiol-related molecules on the endocrine and immune system of the host, in relation to cancer initiation metabolites of estrogens can be also considered as carcinogenic chemicals.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Role of sex hormones in the innate immunity against prostate cancer cells

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant, poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasm. SCC is the common form of bladder cancer in rural Africa where S. haematobium is prevalent. In contrast, the majority of bladder cancer in developing countries and regions not endemic for urogenital schistosomiasis is transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) that arises from the transitional epithelium lining of the bladder. The parasite eggs trapped in the bladder wall release antigens and other metabolites (presumably evolved to expedite egress to the urine, and hence to the external environment). However, the phenomenon leads to haematuria and to chronic inflammation, in turn increasing risk of SCC of the bladder. In addition to the hormone- -like effects of the parasite estradiol-related molecules on the endocrine and immune system of the host, in relation to cancer initiation metabolites of estrogens can be also considered as carcinogenic chemicals.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

COMUNIDADES, IDENTIDADES E SUA SUSTENTABILIDADE ECONÔMICA: VALORIZAÇÃO DO PATRIMÔNIO ATRAVÉS DE UMA PRÁXIS EDUCATIVA

Este trabalho visa contribuir com uma discussão, ao mesmo tempo em voga e premente, do patrimônio e seu lugar na Gestão Integrada do Território como elemento desencadeador de desenvolvimento social, articulado à exploração econômica como forma de geração de emprego, trabalho e renda, bem como sua relação com o ambiente, a partir de um estudo de caso no Rio Grande do Sul. Ainda, propõe-se a discutir como uma ação de valorização dos bens culturais devem passar por uma ação integrada de ação-reflexão-reação, que aqui se denomina práxis educativa para o patrimônio.Palavras-chave: educação patrimonial, patrimônio, práxis educativa

Considerations on a Guarani burial: alterations and ethnohistoric hypothesis

Durante o tratamento curatorial de ossada humana Guarani, foram detectadas diversas alterações nos ossos, como marcas de cortes, sulcos, faixas raspadas, depressões e queima. Devido à ausência de estudos ou notícias de material semelhante, na arqueologia brasileira, baseamos os procedimentos analíticos na bibliografia internacional. Como resultado, obtivemos que parte das alterações foram provocadas antropicamente e, com exceção das marcas de descamamento, foram feitas em ossos já desidratados ou secos. Para entender a ocorrência de tais alterações, foram levantadas, a partir de fontes históricas e etnográficas, algumas possibilidades de interpretação, que não podem ser tomadas como definitivas em nível de analogia direta e sim como base para especulações futuras. As principais dificuldades encontradas foram a ausência, no Brasil, de coleções experimentais de referência e a escassez e fragmentação dos dados na bibliografia etno- histórica relativa a rituais e destino de ossadas humanas.During the curatorial treatment of the Guarani human bones, we observed several modifications as cutmarks, grooves, scratches, depressions and bum. Due to the lack of studies or reports about similar material in Brazilian archaeology, we based the analysis on international bibliography. We concluded that part of the modifications is anthropic and, excluding the defleshing marks, these alterations were done on bones already dehidrated or dry. In order to understand the occurence of these modifications, some possible interpretations were raised from etinographic and historic sources. These interpretations should not be considered as final conclusions, but only sources for future studies. The main difficulties found were the lack of experimental reference collections in Brazil and the shortage of ethnohistoric references related to rituals and destination of human bones

Health literacy and food consumption habits of an adult population on the African island of Cabo Verde

Background Food choices and health literacy are fundamental factors in health promotion; they help to establish epidemiological associations between food consumption choices and aspects of health. To deliver effective health policies to a sub-population in Africa, it is important to understand food consumption patterns and levels of health literacy within the population. The aim of this study was to assess levels of health literacy amongst food consumers living in Cidade da Praia, the capital city of Cabo Verde, and the relationship between health literacy and food consumption choices. The objectives were: to identify the health literacy level of food consumers in Cidade da Praia, to describe those consumers’ behaviours and to assess the relationship between consumer habits and health. Methods A questionnaire was applied to a sample of 210 individuals to characterize their health literacy level; their awareness of food labelling relating to ethical production, sustainable consumption and nutritional value; and their conscious decisions to choose healthier food products. Health literacy was evaluated using a Portuguese version of NVS, a tool by which health related information – in this case nutritional information written on a food label – is used to demonstrate one’s ability to use it to answer to questions. Results The sample consisted of 210 individuals, 83 male (39.5%) and 127 female (60.5%), aged between 15 and 65 years. Evaluation of health literacy levels determined that 64.5% of the individuals have a high probability of having low health literacy. Of these, 46.9% read food labels frequently, primarily to check food expiration dates. No gender differences were observed in how labels were read (p=0.857). Awareness of sustainable and ethical practices was evident, as natural products and those claiming a fair working environment for producers influenced consumer choices. Participants recognized the relationship between food and health: 71% reported that they prefer buying food which displays health claims including low-fat, low-salt and low-sugar content. Conclusion There is a fundamental need to improve health literacy levels in this African sub-population. The population is already displaying awareness of sustainability and healthier content in consumption choices. The study respondents refer to and are influenced by food labels but may not have the basic or health literacy levels to make the most of the information provided. By increasing health literacy, people will be empowered to make healthier food choices and consequently health can be promoted through consumer behaviour

Registro da gastronomia japonesa como patrimônio imaterial dos nikkeis residentes no Brasil.

Considerando a Cultura Japonesa no Brasil, faz-se um recorte nas diversas manifestações étnico-culturais presentes entre os membros da comunidade nikkei, com foco na gastronomia, definindo como tema da pesquisa o preparo do Missô, uma pasta fermentada de soja com sal, indispensável na culinária japonesa. Com relação ao intercâmbio cultural entre a culinária brasileira e a japonesa, verifica-se que, ao mesmo tempo em que permite uma convivência harmônica com a gastronomia local, não perde a identidade étnica, de forma que o missô pode ser considerado parte do patrimônio cultural imaterial da comunidade nikkei, uma vez que este é um dos pratos que representa a própria identidade étnica dos imigrantes e seus descendentes. Palavras-chave: Patrimônio Imaterial; identidade-étnica; gastronomia; imigração japonesa.Registry of the Japanese gastronomy as an immaterial heritage of the nikkei residing  in BrazilAbstractThe Memorial of Immigration and Japanese Culture presents this research on the intangible cultural heritage of this community, with special focus on the cuisine. Making a cut in the various ethnic and cultural manifestations present among members of the Nikkei community, it was defined as a subject of research the Missô, a fermented soybean paste with salt, essential in Japanese cuisine. Knowing the cultural exchange between Japanese and Brazilian cuisine, it appears that at the same time that it has a harmonious coexistence with the local cuisine, it never loses its ethnic identity in a way that the Missô can be considered part of immaterial cultural heritage of the Nikkei community, since this is one of the dishes that represent their own ethnic identity of immigrants and their descendants.Keywords: Intangible heritage; identity-ethnic cuisine; Japanese immigration