Combinação de agentes neuroprotetores: efeito do riluzole e magnésio num modelo animal de lesão medular torácica

Dissertação de mestrado Ciências da SaúdeDamage to the spinal cord can result in irreversible impairments and complete loss of motor, sensory and autonomic functions. Riluzole and magnesium have been widely investigated as neuroprotective agents in animal models of spinal cord injury. As these drugs protect the injured spinal cord through different mechanisms we aimed to investigate if their neuroprotective efficacy could be cumulative. An in vivo experiment was set using female Wistar Han rats that underwent a thoracic spinal cord contusion (T8) using a weight drop method. An hour after injury, animals were randomly distributed to receive: 1) saline, 2) riluzole (2.50 mg/kg), 3) magnesium chloride (24.18 mg/kg) in a polyethylene glycol formulation, or 4) a combined treatment (riluzole and magnesium). Subsequent treatments were given in four intraperitoneal injections (spaced 12 h apart). The Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan locomotor rating scale, an activity box test, and a swimming test were used to evaluate behavioral recovery for periods up to four weeks. Histological analysis of the spinal cords was performed to measure the extent and volume of the lesion, axonal preservation, serotonergic and glutamatergic fiber sparing, motor neuron survival, and inflammation. The results demonstrated that only the riluzole treatment significantly improved behavioral recovery, promoted tissue sparing, reduced lesion volume, while increasing serotonergic fiber sparing and axonal preservation in the caudal portion of the spinal cord. The combined treatment, although simultaneously targeting ionic and excitotoxic-related mechanisms, did not further improve behavioral and histological outcome, when compared with riluzole given alone.Danos infligidos na medula espinal podem resultar em deficiências irreversíveis e perda total de funções motoras, sensoriais e autonómicas. Os fármacos riluzole e magnésio têm sido amplamente investigados como agentes neuroprotetores em modelos animais de lesão vertebro-medular. Dado que estes fármacos protegem a medula lesionada através de mecanismos diferentes, um estudo foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de determinar se a sua eficácia neuroprotetora poderia ser cumulativa. Um ensaio in vivo foi definido utilizando ratos fêmeas Wistar Han submetidos a uma contusão torácica da medula espinal (T8). Uma hora após a lesão, os animais foram distribuídos aleatoriamente para receber: 1) solução salina, 2) riluzole (2,50 mg / kg), 3) cloreto de magnésio (24,18 mg / kg) numa formulação de polietilenoglicol, ou 4) um tratamento combinado (riluzole e magnésio). Os tratamentos subsequentes foram dados em quatro injeções intraperitoneais (com espaçamento de 12 horas). Foram utilizados a escala de classificação locomotora Basso, Beattie e Bresnahan, um teste de campo aberto (open-field) e um teste de natação, para avaliar a recuperação comportamental/motora dos animais durante um período de quatro semanas. Foi também realizada uma análise histológica das medulas espinais de forma a medir a extensão do volume da lesão, preservação das fibras axonais, serotonérgicas e glutamatérgicas, sobrevivência de neurónios motores e inflamação. Os resultados mostraram que apenas o tratamento com riluzole melhorou significativamente a recuperação funcional, preservou tecidos e concomitantemente obteve volumes de lesão reduzidos, assim como aumentou a preservação das fibras serotonérgicas e axonais na parte caudal da medula espinal. O tratamento combinado, embora visando simultaneamente dois mecanismos relacionados com desequilíbrios iónicos e excitotoxicidade, não resultou em melhorias funcionais e histológicas, quando comparado com a administração isolada de riluzole

ANÁLISE DO SISTEMA DE AVALIAÇÃO DA EDUCAÇÃO SUPERIOR BRASILEIRA

sistema de avaliação da educação superior brasileira apresenta uma evolução bastante significativa e também inovadora. A criação do Sistema Nacional de Avaliação da Educação Superior (SINAES), através da Lei n° 10.861, de 14 de abril de 2004, foi um avanço na história da avaliação da educação superior brasileira. Diante deste contexto o presente artigo tem o objetivo de explorar os conceitos quanto à gestão universitária, visando compreender como funciona o sistema de avaliação das instituições de ensino superior brasileiras. Do ponto de vista do problema, a pesquisa se caracteriza como predominantemente qualitativa e do ponto de vista dos seus objetivos como exploratória e descritiva. As técnicas utilizadas foram a pesquisa bibliográfica e a documental. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de fontes secundárias, estando à pesquisa centrada no estudo de documentos que explicam como a sistemática de avaliação institucional brasileira é estabelecida pelo SINAES através de três processos: Avaliação da Instituição (Auto-Avaliação e Avaliação Externa); Avaliação do Desempenho dos Estudantes (ENADE); Avaliação dos Cursos de Graduação. Os resultados obtidos da pesquisa evidenciam que apesar nos avanços do sistema atual de avaliação brasileira, aspectos relacionados aos egressos e sua atuação no mercado de trabalho não são considerados

DISSEMINAÇÃO DOS CONCEITOS DE TEORIA DAS RESTRIÇÕES NO AMBIENTE ACADÊMICO BRASILEIRO: O CASO DA ENGENHARIA DE PRODUÇÃO

O presente estudo analisa qual o nível de disseminação dos conceitos da teoria das restrições, relacionados a projetos, no meio acadêmico brasileiro, baseado na coleta de dados em anais de eventos, os principais no âmbito nacional, destinados a estudantes e docentes da Engenharia de Produção. O estudo busca identificar se o ambiente acadêmico brasileiro está inserido os conceitos de gestão de projetos, mais especificamente a teoria das restrições nas aplicações acadêmicas. A pesquisa considerou os dois maiores eventos acadêmicos da engenharia de produção no âmbito nacional, e os principais resultados nos mostraram que estes conceitos de gestão de projetos, ainda tem muito espaço para ser efetivamente explorado no tocante a pesquisas acadêmicas, mostrando oportunidades para pesquisadores, professores e estudantes

Uses of mobile apps during the covid-19 pandemic: the Portuguese case

The social isolation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic was a challenge to the ongoing digitisation of societies. The massive use of the Internet and mobile applications has (re)configured social practices, relationships, and labour routines in unprecedented ways. Facing the challenges brought by social isolation, the uses of mobile apps have also changed during this period. Therefore, it is essential to understand how they dialogue with personal, social and civic intervention contexts. Research on mobile applications has mostly taken the theory of uses and gratifications or the approach to risks and opportunities. Specifically, regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the research performed during this period has focused on contact tracing apps and privacy concerns. Considering the lack of in-depth research on the individual, social and civic implications of the uses of mobile applications in Portugal during the period of social isolation, we present an exploratory study to contribute to understanding a). the role of these digital platforms in citizens’ daily lives, and b). the perceptions of people regarding their use of mobile apps. The empirical research, conducted during the first state of emergency the government declared, was operationalised through a quantitative-extensive methodological strategy using an online questionnaire survey. Sampling was non-probabilistic collected through the snowball process (N = 220). Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential (bivariate) statistical analysis. The study indicates that the use of mobile apps became more frequent during social isolation. The results show how contacting family and/or friends through mobile applications and consulting the news media to learn more about the situation have become frequent activities. Regarding the perceptions of usage, results suggest that some patterns are considered a waste of time. The study results contribute to a deeper understanding of the importance of mobile apps in everyday life during social lockdowns. The results also discuss how mobile apps are used in the reconfiguration of social practices, particularly regarding communication with family and friends, as sources for news and to perform leisure activities.Financial support from Portuguese national funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) in the framework of the project “Mediated young adults’ practices: advancing gender justice in and across mobile apps” (PTDC/COM-CSS/5947/2020)

Covalently Linked Porphyrins as One-Dimensional Conductors

We apply first-principles calculations to address the problem of the formation and characterization of covalently linked porphyrin-like structures. We show that upon pressure a rehybridization process takes place which leads to one-dimensional compounds resembling nanothreads, in which carbon atoms are all 4-fold coordinated. We also show that the resulting nanostructures have metallic character and possess remarkable mechanical properties. Moreover, in the case of porphyrin–metal complexes, we find that the covalently linked structures may be a platform for the stabilization of straight metallic wires

the case of African Portuguese speaking countries

INTRODUCTION: Ebola epidemics have shown to have significant impacts on many aspects of healthcare systems. African countries have been facing many difficulties while addressing Ebola epidemics, moreover due to both lack of resources and fragmented involvement of national and international entities. The participation of multiple organizations has created serious problems of coordination of aid and the operation of that aid on the ground. This paper aims at addressing the impact of Ebola epidemics on African health systems, with a special focus on the definition of impact mitigation guidelines and the role of resilience. The example of Portuguese speaking countries is presented. METHODS: A combination of literature review and case study methods are used. A literature review on Ebola outbreak impact on health systems will provide information to define a set of guidelines for healthcare services response to Ebola. The role of cooperation in providing additional resilience is described. Finally a case study focusing on the Portuguese collaboration and intervention in African Portuguese Speaking Countries (PALOP) is presented, as an example how the international community can provide additional resilience. RESULTS: The existing knowledge is very helpful to guide both the preparation and the coordination of Ebola preparedness interventions. Additional resilience can be provided by international cooperation. CONCLUSION: In addition to international concrete support in times of crisis, to have a regional strategy of creating (multi-national) teams to rapidly implement an intervention while establishing better regional capacity to have sufficient resources to support the "resilience" required of the health system.publishersversionpublishe

Combinatorial analysis of marine based biomaterials: high-throughput analysis of the effect of nanostructured multilayers on cell behaviour

Publicado em "Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine", vol. 7, supp. 1 (2013)In a marine environment, specific proteins are secreted by mussels and used as a bioglue to stick to a surface allowing generate irreversible bonding. Adhesive secreted proteins of mussels present an unusual amino acid 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA). Inspired by the struc- ture and properties of mussel adhesive proteins, layer-by-layer (LbL) coatings based on polymers that contain catechol groups were devel- oped. We used dopamine-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-DN) prepared by carbodiimide chemistry to form thin and surface-adherent dopamine films. The multilayer films were developed by electrostatic interactions using chitosan (CHT) as polycation and HA-DN as polyanion. Multilay- ers films of CHT and HA were used as control. The formation of these films was investigated in-situ by quartz crystal microbalance with dissi- pation monitoring (QCM-D). Afterwards, many combinations of the marine inspired biomaterials were analysed in a high-throughput (HTS) way. Such multilayers were constructed and individually dis- posed on isolated transparent spots, patterned onto biomimetic super- hydrophobic substrates. The adhesion properties of the coatings in the chips were also analyzed. In vitro tests using two distinct cell sources were carried out to evaluate the biological performance of the different combinations of multilayers that could be useful in different biomedical applications, including tissue engineering

Effects of the COVID-19 mitigation measures on alcohol consumption and binge drinking in college students: a longitudinal survey

The data presented in this study are openly available in FigShare at: 10.6084/m9.figshare.14755278 (accessed on 22 August 2021).To “flatten the curve” of COVID-19 contagion, several countries ordered lockdowns amid the pandemic along with indications on social distancing. These social isolation measures could potentially bring alterations to healthy behavior, including to alcohol consumption. However, there is hardly any scientific evidence of the impact of such measures on alcohol consumption and binge drinking (BD) among young adults, and how they relate to alcohol craving, stress, anxiety, and depression levels. We addressed these questions by conducting a longitudinal study with 146 Portuguese college students—regular binge drinkers (regular BDs), infrequent binge drinkers (infrequent BDs) and non-binge drinkers (non-BDs)—in three moments: before the pandemic (Pre-Lockdown), during lockdown (Lockdown) and 6 months after (Post-Lockdown). Results revealed that regular BDs decreased alcohol use during Lockdown, a change in behavior that was even greater during Post-Lockdown, when regular BDs displayed similar levels of consumption to infrequent/non-BDs. Additionally, alcohol craving and living with friends were predictive of alcohol use during Lockdown, whereas stress, anxiety, and depression symptoms did not contribute to explain changes in drinking behavior. Collectively, the results suggest that BD in young Portuguese college students can be stopped when the contexts in which alcohol intake usually takes place are suppressed, which may have important implications for future prevention and intervention strategies.This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (PSI/01662), School of Psychology, University of Minho, and funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Portuguese State Budget [Ref.: UIDB/PSI/01662/2020]. This study was also supported by the project PTDC/PSI-ESP/28672/2017, funded by FCT and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). Eduardo López-Caneda and Alberto Crego were supported by the FCT and the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, within the scope of the Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus (CEECIND/02979/2018), and the Transitory Disposition of the Decree No. 57/2016, of 29 August, amended by Law No. 57/2017 of 19 July, respectively. Natália Antunes was supported by a fellowship from the FCT (SFRH/BD/146194/2019) and Rui Rodrigues by a fellowship from the Psychology Research Centre, School of Psychology, University of Minho (UMINHO/BID/2021/19)