Environmental Particulate Matter Levels during 2017 Large Forest Fires and Megafires in the Center Region of Portugal: A Public Health Concern?

This work characterizes the dimension and the exceptionality of 2017 large- and mega-fires that occurred in the center region of Portugal through the assessment of their impact on the ambient levels of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), retrieved from local monitoring stations, and the associated public health risks. PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations were increased during the occurrence of large fires and megafires, with daily concentrations exceeding the European/national guidelines in 7–14 and 1–12 days of 2017 (up to 704 µg/m3 for PM10 and 46 µg/m3 for PM2.5), respectively. PM10 concentrations were correlated with total burned area (0.500 0.05) and with monthly total burned area/distance2 (0.500 0.05). The forest fires of 2017 took the life of 112 citizens. A total of 474 cases of hospital admissions due to cardiovascular diseases and 3524 cases of asthma incidence symptoms per 100,000 individuals at risk were assessed due to exposure to 2017 forest fires. Real-time and in situ PM methodologies should be combined with protection action plans to reduce public health risks. Portuguese rural stations should monitor other health-relevant pollutants (e.g., carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds) released from wildfires to allow performing more robust and comprehensive measurements that will allow a better assessment of the potential health risks for the exposed populations.This work was financially supported by European Union (FEDER funds through COMPETE) and National Funds (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) [projects UIDB/50006/2020, UID/EQU/00511/2013-LEPABE], by the FCT/MEC with national funds and cofounded by FEDER in the scope of the P2020 Partnership Agreement. This study was also supported by the project “PCIF/SSO/0017/2018- A panel of (bio)markers for the surveillance of firefighter’s health and safety”, funded by Portuguese National Funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia. M. Oliveira thanks to FCT/MCTES for the CEEC-Individual 2017 Program Contract [CEECIND/03666/2017].info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Children environmental exposure to particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and biomonitoring in school environments: A review on indoor and outdoor exposure levels, major sources and health impacts

Children, an important vulnerable group, spend most of their time at schools (up to 10 h per day, mostly indoors) and the respective air quality may significantly impact on children health. Thus, this work reviews the published studies on children biomonitoring and environmental exposure to particulate matter (PM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at school microenvironments (indoors and outdoors), major sources and potential health risks. A total of 28, 35, and 31% of the studies reported levels that exceeded the international outdoor ambient air guidelines for PM10, PM2.5, and benzo(a)pyrene, respectively. Indoor and outdoor concentrations of PM10 at European schools, the most characterized continent, ranged between 7.5 and 229 μg/m3 and 21-166 μg/m3, respectively; levels of PM2.5 varied between 4 and 100 μg/m3 indoors and 6.1-115 μg/m3 outdoors. Despite scarce information in some geographical regions (America, Oceania and Africa), the collected data clearly show that Asian children are exposed to the highest concentrations of PM and PAHs at school environments, which were associated with increased carcinogenic risks and with the highest values of urinary total monohydroxyl PAH metabolites (PAH biomarkers of exposure). Additionally, children attending schools in polluted urban and industrial areas are exposed to higher levels of PM and PAHs with increased concentrations of urinary PAH metabolites in comparison with children from rural areas. Strong evidences demonstrated associations between environmental exposure to PM and PAHs with several health outcomes, including increased risk of asthma, pulmonary infections, skin diseases, and allergies. Nevertheless, there is a scientific gap on studies that include the characterization of PM fine fraction and the levels of PAHs in the total air (particulate and gas phases) of indoor and outdoor air of school environments and the associated risks for the health of children. There is a clear need to improve indoor air quality in schools and to establish international guidelines for exposure limits in these environments.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Diabetic and Elder Patients Experience Superior Cardiovascular Benefits After Gastric Bypass Induced Weight Loss

Background/Objetives: Obesity and obesity related co-morbidities are well-recognized risks for cardiovascular (CV) disease and mortality. Weight loss improves CV risk factors and the efficacy of bariatric surgery in decreasing CV mortality is now well-established. Our aim was to assess CV risk progression and occurrence of CV events in a cohort of patients that underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) for obesity treatment in a single academic public center.Subjects and Methods: Ten year CV risk was estimated using the Framingham Equation at baseline and 2 years after RYGB surgery in our patients cohort (n = 260). In the subgroup with a follow-up time longer than 4 years after surgery (n = 185; mean 5.4 ± 0.1 years), CV risk adjusted for the time length after RYGB was similarly estimated and the occurrence of CV events for outcome adjudication was monitored during the same time period by reviewing the hospital patients' record, the electronic national health system patient register and our center outpatient clinic records.Results: Ten year CV risk was significantly reduced 2 years after surgery when compared to baseline, with reductions of 1.65 ± 0.25% in the risk of CV disease. Patients with prior type 2 diabetes and aged 50 years or older experienced a significantly superior CV risk reduction, with diabetic patients experiencing a reduction of their 10–year CV disease risk of 3.58 ± 1.11% vs. a reduction of 1.31 ± 0.20% in non-diabetic patients and with the 10–year risk of CV disease dropping 3.41 ± 0.75% in patients older than 50 vs. a reduction of 0.99 ± 0.18 in patients up to 50 years. For the subgroup of patients with a longer follow-up time, baseline CV risk estimation predicted the occurrence of 6.08 ± 0.56 cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, 3.87 ± 0.39 coronary heart disease (CHD) events, 1.49 ± 0.22 myocardial infarctions (MI), 0.71 ± 0.09 strokes, 0. 28 ± 0.05 deaths from CHD and 0.35 ± 0.05 deaths from CVD. No CV events were adjudicated in this subgroup during follow-up.Conclusions: RYGB significantly improves CV risk and prevents the occurrence of CV events. For similar weight loss, diabetic and elder patients experience a superior CV risk improvement and may have additional CV benefits after bariatric surgery

The Use of 3D Optical Coherence Tomography to Analyze the Architecture of Cyanobacterial Biofilms Formed on a Carbon Nanotube Composite

The development of environmentally friendly antifouling strategies for marine applications is of paramount importance, and the fabrication of innovative nanocomposite coatings is a promising approach. Moreover, since Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a powerful imaging technique in biofilm science, the improvement of its analytical power is required to better evaluate the biofilm structure under different scenarios. In this study, the effect of carbon nanotube (CNT)-modified surfaces in cyanobacterial biofilm development was assessed over a long-term assay under controlled hydrodynamic conditions. Their impact on the cyanobacterial biofilm architecture was evaluated by novel parameters obtained from three-dimensional (3D) OCT analysis, such as the contour coefficient, total biofilm volume, biovolume, volume of non-connected pores, and the average size of non-connected pores. The results showed that CNTs incorporated into a commercially used epoxy resin (CNT composite) had a higher antifouling effect at the biofilm maturation stage compared to pristine epoxy resin. Along with a delay in biofilm development, a decrease in biofilm wet weight, thickness, and biovolume was also achieved with the CNT composite compared to epoxy resin and glass (control surfaces). Additionally, biofilms developed on the CNT composite were smoother and presented a lower porosity and a strictly packed structure when compared with those formed on the control surfaces. The novel biofilm parameters obtained from 3D OCT imaging are extremely important when evaluating the biofilm architecture and behavior under different scenarios beyond marine applications

A Tele-educação e a avaliação de competências profissionais da auxiliar de enfermagem no Brasil

This paper presents Brazilian's experience with the organization of methods and strategies for the assessment of competencies for technical level of nursing workers. The evaluative process proposed includes the creation of a learning-oriented and distance-based virtual assessment environment. The proposed methodology for professional competencies assessment adopted a critical-emancipatory perspective. A tele-education environment was deployed, involving software development - a virtual man - and an assessment cybertutor. Learning modules for the cybertutor were developed and videos of clinical simulations, structured around assessment in cognitive, behavioral, and simulation areas. The evaluation modules considered aspects of competencies in know-know, know-how and know-act professional ethics. Also the variability of practices of nursing - hospitals and primary health care units - was considered. This instrument showed as an important strategy for the optimization of assessment procedures that are widely used across Brazil and it is a powerful tool for incorporation into the continuing professional education.Presenta-se la experiencia brasileña en la organización de metodología y estrategias de evaluación de las competencias profesionales de los afiliares de enfermería. El proceso evaluativo propuesto por el Ministerio de la Salud incluí la creación del ambiente virtual que tiene como premisa la evaluación formativa y à la distancia. Dentro de la propuesta metodológica de evaluación de las competencias profesionales en la perspectiva critico-emancipatória, fue desarrollado un ambiente de tele-educación, con la creación de software, del hombre virtual y del cybertutor de la evaluación. Los módulos de evaluación consideraran las competencias en las dimensiones del saber-saber, sa-ber-hacer y saber-ser, con bases en perfil de los profesionales de los hospitales y de unidades de salud. El instrumento mostró ser una importante estrategia de optimización de los procedimientos de eva-luación para uso en larga escala en Brasil, además de se mostrar un potente medio de educación permanente.Este trabalho apresenta a experiência brasileira na organização de metodologias e estratégias de avaliação de competências profissionais do auxiliar de enfermagem. O processo avaliativo proposto pelo Ministério da Saúde inclui, além de outras etapas, a criação do ambiente virtual de avaliação, que tem como premissa a avaliação formativa e à distância. Dentro da proposta metodológica de avaliação de competências profissionais na perspectiva crítico-emancipatória, foi desenvolvido um ambiente de tele-educação, com a criação de softwares, do homem virtual e do cybertutor de avaliação. Os módulos de avaliação consideraram as competências nas dimensões do saber-saber, saber-fazer e saber-ser, baseado em perfil profissional das praticas hospitalares e de unidades básicas de saúde. O instrumento mostrou ser uma importante estratégia de otimização dos procedimentos de avaliação para uso em larga escala no Brasil, além de um instrumento importante para educação permanente

Assessment of Portuguese fitness centers: bridging the knowledge gap on harmful microbial contamination with focus on fungi

This research was funded by the Polish Minister of Science and Higher Education, under the program "Regional Initiative of Excellence" in 2019 - 2022 (Grant No. 008/RID/2018/19), by Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal for funding the Projects IPL/2023/FoodAIIEU_ESTeSL; IPL/2023/ASPRisk_ESTeSL; IPL/2023/ARAFSawmills_ESTeSL. H&TRC and by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (Portugal) for funding the EEA Grants Project “Microbiological contamination in cultural heritage settings: shared experiences for better approaches - FBR_OC2_66”. The authors gratefully acknowledge the FCT/MCTES national support through the UIDB/05608/2020, UIDP/05608/2020, and the Ph.D. Grant UI/BD/151431/2021. This work was also supported by national funds through FCT/MCTES/FSE/UE, UI/BD/153746/2022, and CE3C unit UIDB/00329/2020 within the scope of a PhD Grant. We thank the fitness centers and workers for participating in the study. The work was supported by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) as the following: LEPABE (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/00511/2020; DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/00511/2020); ALiCE (DOI: 10.54499/LA/P/0045/2020); REQUIMTE (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/50006/2020; DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/50006/2020; DOI: 10.54499/ LA/P/0008/2020) from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)/Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (MCTES). Additional funding was provided by PCIF/SSO/0017/2018 FCT through national funds. Cátia Peixoto would like to acknowledge FCT for her fellowship SFRH/BD/147185/2019.The lack of knowledge regarding the extent of microbial contamination in Portuguese fitness centers (FC) puts attendees and athletes at risk for bioaerosol exposure. This study intends to characterize microbial contamination in Portuguese FC by passive sampling methods: electrostatic dust collectors (EDC) (N=39), settled dust (N=8), vacuum filters (N=8), and used cleaning mops (N=12). The obtained extracts were plated in selective culture media for fungi and bacteria. Filters, EDC, and mop sample extracts were also screened for antifungal resistance and used for the molecular detection of the selected Aspergillus sections. The detection of mycotoxins was conducted using a high-performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC) system and to determine the cytotoxicity of microbial contaminants recovered by passive sampling, HepG2 (human liver carcinoma) and A549 (human alveolar epithelial) cells were employed. The results reinforce the use of passive sampling methods to identify the most critical areas and identify environmental factors that influence microbial contamination, namely having a swimming pool. The cardio fitness area presented the highest median value of total bacteria (TSA: 9.69x102 CFU.m-2.day-1) and Gram-negative bacteria (VRBA: 1.23 CFU.m-2.day-1), while for fungi it was the open space area, with 1.86x101 CFU.m-2.day-1. Aspergillus sp. was present in EDC and in filters used to collect settled dust. Reduced azole susceptibility was observed in filters, EDC (on ICZ and VCZ), and mops (on ICZ). Fumonisin B2 was the only mycotoxin detected and was present in all sampling matrixes except settled dust. High and moderate cytotoxicity was obtained, suggesting that A549 cells were more sensitive to samples’ contaminants. The observed widespread of critical toxigenic fungal species with clinical relevance, such as Aspergillus section Fumigati, as well as Fumonisin B2 emphasizes the importance of frequent and effective cleaning procedures while using shared mops appeared as a vehicle of cross-contamination.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in primary school environments: Levels and potential risks

Although polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are priority air pollutants that strongly affect human health, information concerning the indoor exposures is still limited. This study characterized PAH levels in primary schools and evaluated risk for the respective students (aged 8–10 years) in comparison with school personnel. During January–April 2014, eighteen particulate–bound (PM2.5) PAHs (16 USEPA priority compounds, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, benzo[j]fluoranthene) were collected (indoors and outdoors) at ten primary urban schools in Portugal. Total mean concentrations (ΣPAHs) ranged 2.8–54 ng m− 3 in indoor air, whereas corresponding outdoor levels were 7.1–48 ng m− 3. Indoor/outdoor ratios of lighter congeners (2–3 aromatic rings) demonstrated a contribution from indoor origin while heavier PAHs (4–6 aromatic rings) originated mostly from infiltration of ambient air indoors; traffic (both from diesel and gasoline fuelled vehicles) was the predominant source of indoor PAHs. Total cancer risk of 8–10 years old children exceeded (up to 22 times) USEPA recommended guideline of 10− 6, and 7–87 times WHO health–based threshold of 10− 5. Risk due to indoor exposure in schools was 2–10 times higher than outdoors, mainly because of the higher amount of time that students spent indoors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in Portuguese educational settings: a comparison between preschools and elementary schools

The aim of this study was to determine levels and risks due to inhalation exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in different educational settings, namely for 3- to 5- year-old and 6- to 10-year-old children. Eighteen PAH (16 priority designated by US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and benzo[j]fluoranthene) were simultaneously collected in indoor and outdoor air at two Portuguese preschools (PS1-PS2) and five elementary schools (ES1-ES5) from March to May 2014. Indoor concentrations at PS and ES were significantly different, with total levels (∑PAHs) 0.721-15.9 ng/m3 at PS1-PS2 and 5.03-23.6 ng/m3 at ES1-ES5. The corresponding outdoor concentrations were, respectively, 1.22-32.7 ng/m3 and 2.6-31.5 ng/m3. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with 2-3 aromatic rings were predominantly emitted by indoor sources, while compounds with 4-6 aromatic rings were mainly generated by infiltration of ambient PAH pollution to indoors. Excess lifetime risks of lung cancer exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) designated guideline of 10-5 in both types of schools (15-42-fold at PS; 15-52-fold at ES). However, total (sum of indoor and outdoor exposure) incremental lifetime cancer risks (ILCR) were below the USEPA level of 10-6 at all studied institutions and thus considered negligible. Finally, ILCR due to indoor exposure represented 60-75% and 70-85% of the total ILCR at PS and ES, respectively, thus indicating the need for development and implementation of indoor air quality guidelines in educations settings.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Is gut microbiota the key?

Funding: This study was supported by ERDF through the operation POCI-01-0145-ERDF-007746 funded by Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização—COMPETE2020 and by National Funds through FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia within CINTESIS, R&D Unit (reference UID/IC/4255/2013) and CHRC (UIDB/04923/2020 and UIDP/04923/2020). This study was also supported by Emilio Peres grant from the Portuguese Society of Diabetology.The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been recommended for type 2 diabetes (T2D) treatment. The impact of diet in shaping the gut microbiota is well known, particularly for MD. However, the link between MD and diabetes outcome improvement is not completely clear. This study aims to evaluate the role of microbiota modulation by a nonpharmacological intervention in patients with T2D. In this 12-week single-arm pilot study, nine participants received individual nutritional counseling sessions promoting MD. Gut microbiota, biochemical parameters, body composition, and blood pressure were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, and 12 weeks after the intervention. Adherence to MD [assessed by Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) score] increased after the intervention. Bacterial richness increased after 4 weeks of intervention and was negatively correlated with fasting glucose levels and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Prevotella to Bacteroides ratio also increased after 4 weeks. In contrast, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and HOMA-IR were only decreased at the end of study. Alkaline phosphatase activity was assessed in fecal samples and was negatively correlated with HbA1c and positively correlated with bacterial diversity. The results of this study reinforce that MD adherence results in a better glycemic control in subjects with T2D. Changes in gut bacterial richness caused by MD adherence may be relevant in mediating the metabolic impact of this dietary intervention.publishersversionpublishe