A Responsabilidade Social e o Desenvolvimento Sustentável nas Empresas Privadas: Estudo de Caso CAVIBEL, SARL

O papel das empresas face aos problemas sociais e ambientais está a despertar cada vez mais interesse por parte da sociedade e de todos os stakeholders envolventes, fazendo com que as empresas adoptem novas estratégias para garantir a sua sustentabilidade a longo prazo. Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal conhecer as acções sociais praticadas pela empresa do ponto de vista dos colaboradores internos e analisar as contribuições destas para a sustentabilidade da mesma. A metodologia consistiu num estudo de caso, na qual foi aplicada um inquérito aos colaboradores internos e uma entrevista ao Director dos Recursos Humanos da Empresa. Os resultados obtidos levam-nos a concluir que a empresa é socialmente responsável e sustentável. Contudo, os colaboradores internos são poucos informados dessas práticas

Caracterização genética de raças bovinas autóctones portuguesas : Estudo de polimorfismos proteicos e microssatélites

Dissertação de Mestrado em Ecologia Aplicada apresentada à Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade do Port

Application of gold nanoparticles as radiosensitizer for metastatic prostate cancer cell lines

More than 50% of all prostate cancer (PCa) patients are treated by radiotherapy (RT). Radioresistance and cancer recurrence are two consequences of the therapy and are related to dose heterogeneity and non-selectivity between normal and tumoral cells. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) could be used as potential radiosensitizers to overcome these therapeutic limitations of RT. This study assessed the biological interaction of different morphologies of AuNPs with ionizing radiation (IR) in PCa cells. To achieve that aim, three different amine-pegylated AuNPs were synthesized with distinct sizes and shapes (spherical, AuNPsp-PEG, star, AuNPst-PEG, and rods, AuNPr-PEG) and viability, injury and colony assays were used to analyze their biological effect on PCa cells (PC3, DU145, and LNCaP) when submitted to the accumulative fraction of RT. The combinatory effect of AuNPs with IR decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis compared to cells treated only with IR or untreated cells. Additionally, our results showed an increase in the sensitization enhancement ratio by cells treated with AuNPs and IR, and this effect is cell line dependent. Our findings support that the design of AuNPs modulated their cellular behavior and suggested that AuNPs could improve the RT efficacy in PCa cells.The author is grateful for the financial support of Foundation for Science and Technology (grant reference: SFRH/BD/138271/2018).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of hormonal replacement therapy in lipid peroxidation levels of postmenopausal women with different cardiovascular capacity

It has been suggested that exercise has a positive impact on the prevention and progression of cardiovascular disease (CVD). One of the main mechanisms is through the modification of lipoprotein levels and the risk of its oxidation, especially LDL lipoproteins. After menopause, women experience an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. In contrast, women receiving hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) seem to be protected. The aim of this study was to infer how HRT affect lipid peroxidation levels in postmenopausal women with different levels of aerobic fitness. Design & Method: Sixty four women participate in this study, 32 of them receive HRT (group with HRT – GWHRT) (average age¼55.9 years, average weight¼ 66.9 kg and average high¼156.0 cm) and the remained 32 women didn’t receive HRT (group without HRT – GWOHRT) (average age¼61.0 years, average weight¼ 67.6 kg and average high¼154.3 cm). Total cholesterol (mg dL71), HDL-cholesterol (mg dL71), LDL-cholesterol (mg dL71) and triglycerides levels (mg dL71) have been analyzed in serum obtained from a blood sample collected after 8 hours of fasting, and measured in Dr. Lange LP20 according to the specific manufacturer instructions. Serum MDA concentration (ng L71) was determined by spectrophotometric method. Aerobic capacity (VO2max ml kg71 min71) was assessed according to an adaptation of Bruce protocol. Differences between groups were tested through Student t-test. A Spearman correlation was performed in order to test variables associations. Significance level was established at 5%.Results: Our results have found differences between groups in age (t¼3.018; p50.01), in VO2max (t¼73.774; p50.01) and in serum MDA concentration (t¼6.750; p50.01). The GWHRT were younger, had a higher VO2max (31.38 for GWHRT and 26.19 for GWOHRT), and had lower levels of serum MDA concentration (0.29 for GWHRT and 0.73 for GWOHRT) comparatively with those women from the GWOHRT. However, our results failed to find any differences between groups regarding serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol or BMI. In this study, serum MDA concentration didn’t correlate with higher levels of lipid profile, as we might have expected, but correlate inversely with HRT (r¼7.726, p¼.00) and with VO2max (r¼7.287, p¼.02). Conclusion: Our results suggest that HRT should exert an antioxidant protective effect against lipid peroxidation, as well as exercise perhaps through the stimulation of antioxidant capacity

Elaboração de Informes Técnicos sobre o uso de medicamentos na COVID-19: um trabalho colaborativo de Centros de Informações sobre Medicamentos do Brasil

Introduction: There is an urgency to have drugs capable of treating COVID-19. However, there are still shortages of studies and difficulties in accessing secure information. Drug Information Centers (DIC) operate in the production and dissemination of quality, objective, and timely information, based on the best scientific evidence. Objective: To describe the collaborative experience of preparing Technical Notes (TN) and Drugs Alerts (DA) on the use of medicines at COVID-19, carried out by members of DICs in Brazil. Method: This is an experience report of a descriptive and analytical type, with a qualitative approach. The profile of the participating DICs and their professionals were initially analyzed, and then the method adopted for conducting the work from March to June 2020 was presented. Results: Four DICs from the Northeast of Brazil participated in this experience, that of the Federal University of Vale São Francisco, the Federal University of Sergipe Lagarto campus, the Federal University of Ceará and the DIC of the Regional Pharmacy Council of Bahia. The stages of the TN development process were: 1) Definition of the TN objectives; 2) Selection of themes; 3) Search for information; 4) Construction process and description of the TNs; 5) Review and 6) Publication of TNs. Four TNs were produced, on antihypertensive and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine; ivermectin and, vitamin D, in addition, a DA about ivermectin and your potential to cause neurotoxicity. Conclusions: The experience of this collaborative work demonstrates that DICs are playing an important role in combating the pandemic by the new coronavirus and infodemic, promoting quality information, based on the best evidence.Introdução: Há uma urgência em se ter medicamentos capazes de tratar a COVID-19, mas existe ainda carência de estudos e dificuldades no acesso a informações seguras. Os Centros de Informações sobre Medicamentos (CIM) atuam na produção e difusão de informações de qualidade, baseadas nas melhores evidências científicas. Objetivo: Descrever a experiência colaborativa da elaboração de notas técnicas (NT) e de alerta de medicamento (AM) sobre a utilização de medicamentos na COVID-19, realizada por membros de CIM do Brasil. Método: Trata-se de um relato de experiência do tipo descritivo e analítico, com abordagem qualitativa. Foi analisado inicialmente o perfil dos CIM participantes e de seus profissionais envolvidos, e então apresentado o método adotado para a condução do trabalho, que foi realizado entre março a junho de 2020. Resultados: Participaram quatro CIM do Nordeste brasileiro: o da Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, o da Universidade Federal de Sergipe, campus Lagarto, o da Universidade Federal do Ceará e o CIM do Conselho Regional de Farmácia da Bahia. As etapas do processo de desenvolvimento dos documentos técnicos foram: 1) Definição dos objetivos; 2) Seleção dos temas; 3) Busca de informação; 4) Processo de construção e descrição; 5) Revisão e 6) Publicização. Foram produzidas quatro NT e um AM. Conclusões: A experiência deste trabalho colaborativo demonstra que os CIM estão exercendo relevante papel no combate a pandemia pelo novo coronavírus e a infodemia, promovendo informação de qualidade, baseada nas melhores evidências

A Lei da Mediação de Conflitos: estudos sobre a sua aplicação

Financiamento de MEDLaw - FCT UIDB/04112/2020.Os dez anos de vigência da Lei da Mediação em Portugal constituíram o mote para a compilação nesta obra de diversos estudos empírico-dogmáticos sobre a sua aplicação, analisando-se questões prementes como a voluntariedade ou obrigatoriedade da mediação, a executoriedade do acordo de mediação e a Convenção de Singapura, as exigências processuais e a suspensão dos prazos de prescrição e caducidade com o recurso à mediação, a organização associativa dos mediadores e a importância da sua formação, o funcionamento dos sistemas públicos de mediação, bem como novas áreas de aplicação da mediação, em especial no domínio administrativo e na recuperação extrajudicial de empresas, e ainda a relevância do desenvolvimento científico sobre este meio de resolução de conflitos. Ao regulamentar num único diploma, pela primeira vez no nosso ordenamento jurídico, a mediação pública e privada, a Lei n.º 29/2013, de 19 de abril, constituiu um marco legislativo. Dez anos volvidos, importava refletir sobre a sua aplicação prático-jurídica, norteados pelo objetivo de promover o estudo e a efetiva implementação da mediação de conflitos em Portugal. Esta obra constitui o output desenvolvido no âmbito do projeto de investigação MEDLAW, com o apoio da Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, no âmbito do financiamento base atribuído ao polo de Leiria do Instituto Jurídico Portucalense, com a ref. UIDB/04112/2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

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

Erratum to: The study of cardiovascular risk in adolescents – ERICA: rationale, design and sample characteristics of a national survey examining cardiovascular risk factor profile in Brazilian adolescents

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Potential of FX06 to prevent disease progression in hospitalized non-intubated COVID-19 patients — the randomized, EU-wide, placebo-controlled, phase II study design of IXION

Background: More than 2.7 million hospitalizations of COVID-19-infected patients have occurred in Europe alone since the outbreak of the coronavirus in 2020. Interventions against SARS-CoV-2 are still in high need to prevent admissions to ICUs worldwide. FX06, a naturally occurring peptide in humans and other mammals, has the potential to reduce capillary leak by improving endothelial dysfunction and thus preventing the deterioration of patients. With IXION, we want to investigate the potential of FX06 to prevent disease progression in hospitalized, non-intubated COVID-19 patients. Methods: IXION is an EU-wide, multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, parallel, randomized (2:1) phase II clinical study. Patient recruitment will start in September 2022 (to Q2/2023) in Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, Romania, Portugal, and France. A total of 306 hospitalized patients (>= 18 years and < 75 years) with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test and a COVID-19 severity of 4-6 according to the WHO scale will be enrolled. After randomization to FX06 or placebo, patients will be assessed until day 28 (and followed up until day 60). FX06 (2 x 200 mg per day) or placebo will be administered intravenously for 5 consecutive days. The primary endpoint is to demonstrate a difference in the proportion of patients with progressed/worsened disease state in patients receiving FX06 compared to patients receiving placebo. Secondary endpoints are lung function, oxygen saturation and breathing rate, systemic inflammation, survival, capillary refill time, duration of hospital stay, and drug accountability. Discussion: With IXION, the multidisciplinary consortium aims to deliver a new therapy in addition to standard care against SARS-CoV-2 for the clinical management of COVID-19 during mild and moderate stages. Potential limitations might refer to a lack of recruiting and drop-out due to various possible protocol violations. While we controlled for drop-outs in the same size estimation, recruitment problems may be subject to external problems difficult to control for