Mathematical models for educational simulation of uterine contractions during labor

Tese de mestrado. Engenharia Biomédica. Faculdade de Engenharia. Universidade do Porto. 201

Síntese e caracterização de complexos fosfínicos de Zn(ii) e Ag(i) coordenados a ligantes planos

The search for substances with potential anticancer and anti-parasitic diseases potential is becoming a major challenge for science. However, so far only a small number of synthesized compounds have managed to reach the clinical phase. Cisplatin and its derivatives represent a class of metal complexes with known antitumor activity, which has increased interest in the synthesis of these types of compounds, in addition to other substances used in the treatment of other illnesses such as trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis. The study of the interaction between metal-based compounds with DNA has become important, since the connection with this biomolecule is one of the factors responsible for the biological activity of metallodrugs. Metal complexes that contain planar ligands such as dpq and dppz interacts with DNA via intercalation. Therefore, in this work, the synthesis and characterization of Ag(I) and Zn(II) coordination compounds were proposed with dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′- h]quinoxoline (dpq) and dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]-phenazine (dppz) and auxiliary ligands such as phosphines 1,3,5- triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) and triphenylphosphine (PPh3) was carried out, the yields ranging from 42-88%. Their characterizations were made using infrared (IR), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopies, 1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), elemental analyses (carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen) and x-ray crystallography. Complex [Ag(PPh3)2(dppz)]NO3 was determined by X-ray. All metal complexes are proposed as tetracoordinated compounds, where the dpq and dppz are bound as bidentate ligands. Additionally, the evaluation of the possible interactions with the DNA were studied, finding that the interaction that took place between them was the intercalative mode. Compounds [Ag(PPh3)2(dppz)]NO3, [Ag(dppz)2]NO3 and [Ag(dpq)2]NO3 were tested against tumor cells. Preliminary results showed that they did not display significant activity against the tumor cell lines studied.A busca de substâncias que apresentam potencial anticâncer e anti doenças parasitárias vem se tornando um grande desafio para a ciência. No entanto, até o momento apenas um pequeno número de compostos sintetizados conseguiu chegar até a fase clínica. A cisplatina e os seus derivados representam uma classe de complexos metálicos com atividade antitumoral já comprovada, o que aumentou o interesse na síntese desses tipos de compostos, além de outras substâncias empregadas no tratamento de outras doenças, como tripanossomíase e leishmaniose. O estudo da interação dos mesmos com o DNA tornou-se importante, uma vez que a ligação com essa biomolécula pode ser um dos fatores responsáveis por sua atividade biológica. Os complexos metálicos que contêm os ligantes planos como dipirido[3,2-a:2′,3′- h]quinoxolina (dpq) e dipirido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]- fenazina (dppz) apresentam conhecida interação com o DNA via intercalação e, sabendo desse fato, nesse trabalho foi proposta a síntese e a caracterização de compostos de coordenação de Ag(I) e Zn(II) com essas moléculas e ligantes auxiliares como as fosfinas 1,3,5-triaza-7-fosfadamantano (PTA) e trifenilfosfina (PPh3), assim como a avaliação das interações dos mesmos com a biomolécula do DNA. Por meio da utilização de técnicas de caracterização, tais como espectroscopias na região do infravermelho (IV) e na região do ultravioleta-visível (UVVis), ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN) de 1H e 31P, espectrometria de massas (ESIMS), análise dos teores de carbono, nitrogênio e hidrogênio (CHN) e cristalografia de raios x (para o composto [Ag(PPh3)2(dppz)]NO3) sugere-se que os complexos metálicos apresentaram coordenação de forma tetracoordenada, com os ligantes planos ligados de forma bidentada, os quais foram obtidos com rendimentos que variaram de 42-88%. No que se diz respeito aos testes com o DNA, os métodos utilizados apontam para uma interação que se ocorreu por via intercalativa. Os compostos [Ag(PPh3)2(dppz)]NO3, [Ag(dppz)2]NO3 e [Ag(dpq)2]NO3 foram enviados para realização dos ensaios biológicos frente a células tumorais. Os resultados preliminares apontaram que há pouca diferença na viabilidade celular das mesmas se comparadas a linhagem de células que não foram submetidas ao tratamento (controle)

Self-management in patients with coronary heart disease: importance of nursing intervention

Introduction and objectives: Coronary heart disease is one of the main causes of death in Portugal, especially. It is a chronic illness with a complex therapeutic regimen, and since it is often asymptomatic non-adherence is quite frequent, especially in relation to the non-pharmacological component. The present study aims to: a) characterize patients with coronary disease in relation to cardiovascular risk factors, adherence to non-pharmacological treatment, perceived competence and perception of autonomous support by health professionals b) study if nursing intervention promotes self-management in patients with coronary heart disease. Methodology: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study and correlational study. The participants were 46 patients with coronary heart disease, from two hospitals in the northern region of Portugal, 45,7 % of which were followed by a nursing consultation. Instruments used were: the Perceived Competence Scale, the Health Care Climate Questionnaire, a questionnaire about non-pharmacological adherence. Results and discussion: Results showed that participants reported a moderate adherence to the non-pharmacological treatment, feel very competent to manage their treatment, and perceive the health climate as supportive of their autonomy. Patients supported by nurses reported higher adherence to non-pharmacological treatment strategies, higher perceived competence and perceived the health care climate as supportive of their autonomy when compared to those attended only by doctors. Conclusions: This study suggests that nursing interventions are important for the promotion of self-management in coronary heart patients, and that these interventions should be focused on perceived competence and the promotion of autonomous motivation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Algaeculture for agriculture: from past to future

ABSTRACT: The continuous growth of the world population has imposed major challenges on agriculture. Consequently, farmers generalized the overuse of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides to meet the global food demand. Although these products have helped many developing countries increase their crop yield, they have simultaneously resulted in many issues, mainly the decline of soil fertility and degradation of local ecosystems due to soil, water, and air contamination, combined with their non-renewable nature and increased costs. For agriculture to become more sustainable, the use of alternative biological products, with recognized beneficial effects on plant yield and health, must be expanded. In this context, microalgae and cyanobacteria are rich sources of nutrients and bioactive metabolites, which have been gaining attention from researchers and companies for their ability to improve plant nutrition, growth, and tolerance to stress. This review gives an overview of the research work that has been done in the last two decades, regarding the use of microalgae and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) as biofertilizers, biostimulants, and biopesticides. This work identified trends and challenges and highlights the use of microalgae to recycle the nutrients from wastewater to improve plant productivity while reducing the fertilizer and water footprint for more sustainable agriculture practices.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bacterial and protozoal agents of feline vector-borne diseases in domestic and stray cats from southern Portugal

Background: Feline vector-borne diseases (FVBD) have emerged in recent years, showing a wider geographic distribution and increased global prevalence. In addition to their veterinary importance, domestic cats play a central role in the transmission cycles of some FVBD agents by acting as reservoirs and sentinels, a circumstance that requires a One Health approach. The aim of the present work was to molecularly detect feline vector-borne bacteria and protozoa with veterinary and zoonotic importance, and to assess associated risk factors in cats from southern Portugal. Methods: Six hundred and forty-nine cats (320 domestic and 329 stray), from veterinary medical centres and animal shelters in southern Portugal, were studied. Anaplasma spp./Ehrlichia spp., Babesia spp., Bartonella spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Hepatozoon spp. and Leishmania spp. infections were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in blood samples. Results: One hundred and ninety-four (29.9%) cats were PCR-positive to at least one of the tested genera or complex of FVBD agents. Sixty-four (9.9%) cats were positive to Leishmania spp., 56 (8.6%) to Hepatozoon spp., 43 (6.6%) to Babesia spp., 35 (5.4%) to Anaplasma spp./Ehrlichia spp., 19 (2.9%) to Bartonella spp. and 14 (2.2%) to B. burgdorferi s.l. Thirty-three (5.1%) cats were positive to two (n = 29) or three (n = 4) genera/complex. Babesia vogeli, Bartonella clarridgeiae, Bartonella henselae, Ehrlichia canis, Hepatozoon felis and Leishmania infantum were identified by DNA sequencing. Conclusions: The occurrence of FVBD agents in southern Portugal, some of them with zoonotic character, emphasizes the need to alert the veterinary community, owners and public health authorities for the risk of infection. Control measures should be implemented to prevent the infection of cats, other vertebrate hosts and people.Centro de Malaria e outras Doencas Tropicais, IHMT-UNL, Portugal; EU [FP7-261504 EDENext]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, Ministerio da Educacao e Ciencia, Portugal [SFRH/BPD/44082/2008, SFRH/BD/78325/2011]; Bayer HealthCare-Animal Health divisio

New insights into a bacterial metabolic and detoxifying association responsible for the mineralization of the thiocarbamate herbicide molinate

A novel pathway of molinate mineralization promoted by a defined mixed culture composed of five bacteria (named ON1 to ON5) was proposed previously. Evidence was obtained of a metabolic association between Gulosibacter molinativorax ON4T, capable of molinate breakdown, and the remaining bacteria. In the present study, the role of each isolate in that metabolic association was further explored and the possible synergistic effect of all the bacterial isolates for the stability of the mixed culture is discussed. The cleavage of the molinate thioester bond, whether occurring under aerobic or anaerobic conditions, releases ethanethiol (S-ethyl moiety) and an azepane moiety derivative, identified as azepane-1-carboxylic acid. This azepane moiety is degraded, in the presence of oxygen, by Pseudomonas strains ON1 and ON3 and G. molinativorax ON4T. Ethanethiol, which inhibits G. molinativorax ON4T, is consumed by Pseudomonas strain ON1 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ON2. Although a two-member mixed culture of G. molinativorax ON4T and Pseudomonas strain ON1 was able to promote the aerobic mineralization of molinate, after 20 successive transfers of the five-member mixed culture in mineral medium with molinate, none of these isolates were lost. The results obtained indicate that the whole mixed culture may have a higher fitness than the two-member culture, even when the basic degradative and cross-protection functions are assured