165 research outputs found
Health care costs of domestic violence against women – evidence from Portugal
Our main objective is to estimate the additional health care costs to the Portuguese National Health Service
(NHS) due to domestic violence against women. We collected information through a survey addressed to
health care centres’ female users. Both victims and non-victims of violence were inquired. We estimate
costs according to five different groups – consultation costs, health care treatment and therapeutic costs,
costs of complementary and diagnostic exams, drugs costs and transport costs. The estimations have been
split into two perspectives – the NHS perspective (public perspective) and private perspective of inquired
women (out of pocket payments).
The timeframe of our calculations is one year, referring to all costs generated by domestic violence
situations in the last twelve months. Essentially costs were estimated through the product of total number of
episodes by the average estimated price per episode. Additionally, for the private costs, we also considered
the costs originated by income losses, the opportunity cost of time spent on health care treatments and the
work inability caused by sickness.
The results suggest that the victims of domestic violence’s additional demand for health care is
valued €140 per annum, that is about 22% higher than health care costs of non-victims. These results match
those of similar studies for the United States, taking account of per capita differences in health care
spending. A large proportion (90%) of the additional costs associated with domestic violence is supported
by the NHS, where consultations and drugs are the most important contributors of such costs. Health
consequences of domestic violence result from losses in quality of life and worst health status of victims
and correspond to additional permanent economic costs of domestic violence episodes
Diet in the promotion or prevention of colorectal cancer
Tese de Doutoramento em Biologia Molecular e AmbientalColorectal cancer incidence is highly associated with one’s lifestyle, such as lack of
physical activity, which leads to obesity, smoking habits, and most importantly, diet. Diet is an
important risk factor for colon carcinogenesis and several studies have shown that high red
meat and saturated fat intake increases the incidence of this disease significantly. On the other
hand, a healthy balanced diet with intake of fruits and vegetables can decrease the risk of this
disease. Dietary strategies for colon cancer chemoprevention, and even during treatment, are
needed to help reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer. The aim of this work was to
investigate dietary compounds that can be used in these dietary strategies for colon cancer
prevention. Also, we initiated the development of new models to be used for compound
screening processes.
Initially, we focused on the effects of two bile acids, deoxycholic acid (DCA), with
colon cancer promoting capacity, and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a chemopreventive
compound, induced in Caco-2 cell line. We found that DCA in fact increase DNA damage and
apoptosis in Caco-2 cell line. Also, activation of MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT pathways was
also observed. UDCA did not induce DNA damage, but did induce the same act ivation in the
signaling pathways. So, it seems that DCA increase cell turnover by increasing apoptosis and
also cell proliferation in the remaining cells. UDCA only increase cell proliferation. When
UDCA was administered as a pretreatment before DCA treatment, apoptosis was increased and
this increase was accompanied by a constant activation of the JNK signaling pathway. Also,
pretreatment with UDCA significantly decreased expression of the repair proteins MGMT and
MLH1.
One of the aims of this work was to develop an in vitro model of the in vivo
azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer model. With the conditions tested we were able
to induce a slight increase in cell proliferation in Caco-2 cells. This increase of cell proliferation
could possibly be explained by the activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway, which was also
activated with AOM treatment. Although we observed this increase in cell proliferation, we
found no induction of O6-methylguanine lesions by our CoMeth assay or DNA damage
observed by the comet assay.
In the in vivo assays, the potential of an herbal tea, sage, and two isolated compounds
found in foods from our diet, ursolic acid (UA) and EGCG, were evaluated for their
chemopreventive effects against colorectal cancer. In the first study, sage tea was given to
Fischer 344 rats before or after AOM treatment. Sage tea was able to reduce the number of pre-neoplastic lesions when given before AOM treatment, demonstrating chemopreventive
potential. This reduction of pre-neoplastic lesions was accompanied by a reduction of the
number of proliferating cells in colon crypts, as seen by Ki67 marker. Also, it conferred
protection against DNA damage induced by AOM and by H2O2 ex vivo in colonocytes and
lymphocytes. In the second study, UA and EGCG were added to the diet of healthy Fischer
344 rats. The potential of these compounds to protect against DNA damage was assessed. We
found that both compounds protected against endogenous DNA damage in colonocytes and
lymphocytes. The effects of the two compounds on protection against alkylating DNA damage
induced ex vivo was also evaluated. UA and EGCG conferred protection against this type of
damage in colonocytes, but not in lymphocytes.
Finally, it has been shown that epigenetics has an important role in colon carcinogenesis,
so we tried to develop a new, simple method to evaluate demethylating agents. We used the
CoMeth assay developed in our group in a MMR-deficient cell line, in which one of the
intervenients, MLH1, is epigenetically silenced by hypermethylation. Using 5-azacytidine, we
were able to revert the hypermethylation and induce DNA damage in these cells. We further
characterized the model, showing increase in apoptosis, and effects on reexpression of MLH1
protein levels by western blot. We also tested a few natural compounds with the model and
found that EGCG, which is well-known that it has demethylating ability, induced similar levels
of DNA damage as 5-azacitidine, suggesting that the model is functional.
In conclusion, this work demonstrated the potential of sage tea as a chemopreventive
agent and UA and EGCG as compounds with interest for chemopreventive strategies. The
AOM in vitro model needs to be improved, but the adapted CoMeth assay for demethylating
compounds is functional. Altogether, but with some additional studies, these natural
compounds could be considered as chemopreventive agents and have possible interest in
dietary strategies for cancer prevention.A incidência do cancro colorectal está altamente relacionada com o estilo de vida das
pessoas. A falta de exercÃcio, hábitos de tabagismo, obesidade e a dieta são alguns fatores de
risco. A dieta assume um papel importante na carcinogénese do cólon. Vários estudos
demonstraram que dietas ricas em carnes vermelhas e gorduras saturadas aumentam
significativamente a incidência desta doença. No entanto, o seu risco de aparecimento pode ser
reduzido com uma dieta saudável, rica em frutas e vegetais. Estratégias de quimioprevenção
do cancro do cólon baseadas na dieta, assim como no decorrer do seu tratamento, são
necessárias para ajudar na redução da sua incidência. Com este trabalho, pretendeu-se avaliar
a capacidade preventiva de compostos presentes na dieta no aparecimento do cancro do cólon.
Foi, também, desenvolvido trabalho no sentido de desenvolver novos modelos que possam ser
usados no screening de outros compostos.
Inicialmente, o trabalho focou-se no estudo da resposta da linha celular Caco-2 Ã
presença de dois ácidos biliares, o ácido deoxicólico (DCA), um promotor do cancro do cólon,
e o ácido ursodesoxicólico (UDCA), um composto quimiopreventivo. Descobriu-se que o DCA
induz o aumento de danos no DNA, assim como promove a apoptose na linha celular.
Verificou-se, também, a ativação das vias de sinalização MAPK/ERK e PI3K/AKT. No caso
do UDCA, observou-se uma ativação das mesmas vias de sinalização, no entanto, não houve
um aumento nos danos do DNA. Desta forma, o DCA aparenta ser capaz de aumentar a
renovação celular, visto que promove a apoptose e também a proliferação celular. O UDCA é
apenas capaz de aumentar a proliferação celular. Quando o UDCA foi administrado como prétratamento
ao tratamento com DCA, verificou-se um aumento da apoptose, o qual foi
acompanhado de uma ativação constante da via de sinalização JNK. O pré-tratamento com
UDCA foi, também, responsável por uma redução significativa da expressão das enzimas de
reparação MGMT e MLH1.
Com este trabalho, também se pretendeu desenvolver um modelo in vitro do modelo in
vivo de indução do cancro do cólon com azoximetano (AOM). As condições usadas permitiram
induzir um ligeiro aumento da proliferação celular. Este aumento da proliferação pode ser
explicado pela ativação da via de sinalização MAPK/ERK, a qual também foi ativada pelo
tratamento com AOM. Apesar do aumento observado da proliferação celular, não se
identificaram danos do tipo O6-metilguanina, recorrendo ao método CoMeth, nem danos no
DNA, observados por comet assay. Nos estudos in vivo, avaliou-se o potencial quimiopreventivo do chá de Sálvia e de dois
compostos isolados presentes na dieta, o ácido ursólico (UA) e o (-)-epigalocatequina-3-galato
(EGCG), contra o cancro colorectal,. No primeiro estudo, ratos Fischer 344 consumiram chá
de Sálvia antes ou após o tratamento com AOM. O chá foi capaz de reduzir o número de lesões
pré-neoplásicas quando administrado antes do tratamento com AOM, demonstrando o seu
potencial quimiopreventivo. Essa redução de lesões pré-neoplásicas foi acompanhada duma
redução do número de células proliferativas nas criptas do cólon, observado com o marcador
Ki67. Foi, também, observada proteção do DNA contra danos induzidos por AOM e por
H2O2 em ensaios ex vivo com colonócitos e linfócitos. No segundo estudo, incluiu-se UA e
EGCG na dieta de ratos Fischer 344 saudáveis, avaliando-se o seu potencial protetor contra
danos de DNA. Os resultados mostraram que, em colonócitos e linfócitos, ambos os compostos
conferem proteção contra danos endógenos do DNA. O seu potencial contra danos alquilantes
induzidos no DNA foi, também, avaliado em ensaios ex vivo. Nos colonócitos, foi possÃvel
observar proteção conferida pelo UA e pelo EGCG contra este tipo de danos, ao contrário do
observado no caso dos linfócitos.
Por fim, uma vez que a epigenética assume um papel importante na carcinogénese do
cólon, criou-se um método novo, e simples, para avaliação de agentes desmetilantes. O método
CoMeth, desenvolvido do nosso grupo de investigação, foi usado numa linha celular deficiente
no sistema de Mismatch repair (MMR), na qual o gene MLH1 se encontra epigeneticamente
silenciado por hipermetilação. Usado a 5-azacitidina, foi possÃvel reverter a hipermetilação e
induzir danos no DNA nestas células. Foi, também, observado um aumento da apoptose e, pela
técnica de western blot, percebeu-se que existe reexpressão da proteÃna MLH1. Vários
compostos naturais foram usados para validar o método e, entre eles, o EGCG, que é conhecido
pela sua capacidade de desmetilação, induziu nÃveis de danos no DNA semelhantes à queles
observados com a 5-azacitidina, validando a funcionalidade do método.
Assim, este trabalho comprovou não só o potencial quimiopreventivo do chá de Sálvia
mas também o potencial do UA e do EGCG como parte integrante duma estratégia
quimiopreventiva. O método CoMeth provou ser funcional na avaliação de potenciais agentes
desmetilantes, contudo, o modelo in vitro do AOM precisa de ser melhorado. No seu conjunto,
apesar de ser necessário completar os estudos já realizados, os compostos naturais estudados
podem ser considerados agentes quimiopreventivos, conferindo-lhes o potencial para aplicação
em estratégicas de prevenção de cancro baseadas na dieta.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia bolsa SFRH/BD/64817/2009
Vegetação ruderal e de culturas
Nas memórias de viagem ficam as searas ponteadas de
vermelho, os pomares de macieiras e de pereiras em flor
com verdes tapetes, as vinhas alinhadas cheias de flores
brancas, os campos coloridos com amarelos e azuis.
Ficam as recordações de férias na aldeia, com as bordas
de caminho cheias de funcho com caracóis. Ficam as
calçadas da minha rua, pisadas vezes sem conta onde
a erva teima em crescer. Todas estas plantas têm uma
coisa em comum: a ação do Homem, com a consequente
nitrofilia que esta proporciona. Formam um tipo de
vegetação a que chamamos ruderal ou arvense. Sendo
um tipo de vegetação azonal, a sua composição varia
muito com o tipo de utilização que se dá aos campos,
mas também com a textura do solo, com o seu pH, com a
exposição, com o que designamos por condições edáficas
e climáticas. A mobilização do solo favorece a vegetação
anual, constituÃda por plantas que completam num
ano o seu ciclo de vida (terófitos); reúnem-se na classe
Stellarietea mediae (Figura 1). A ausência de mobilização
favorece o desenvolvimento de hemicriptófitos, plantas
que passam o inverno em forma de roseta de folhas, com
as gemas à superfÃcie da terra, e que se reúnem na classe
Artemisietea vulgaris. Nos caminhos desenvolve-se uma
vegetação rasteira, adaptada ao pisoteio, que se inclui na
classe Polygono-Poetea annua (EspÃrito-Santo et al., 2017).
Será principalmente sobre estas três classes de vegetação
que falará este capÃtulo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Evaluation of ammonium and phosphate release from intertidal and subtidal sediments of a shallow coastal lagoon (Ria Formosa – Portugal): a modelling approach
During an annual cycle, overlying water and sediment cores were collected simultaneously at three sites (Tavira, Culatra and Ramalhete) of Ria Formosa’s intertidal muddy and subtidal sandy sediments to determine ammonium, nitrates plus nitrites and phosphate. Organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus were also determined in superficial sediments. Ammonium and phosphate dissolved in porewater were positively correlated with temperature (P < 0.01) in muddy and sandy sediments, while the nitrogen-oxidized forms had a negative correlation (P < 0.02) in muddy sediments probably because mineralization and nitrification/denitrification processes vary seasonally.
Porewater ammonium profiles evidenced apeak in the top-most muddy sediment (380 lM) suggesting higher mineralization rate when oxygen
is more available, while maximum phosphate concentration (113 lM) occurred in the sub-oxic layer probably due to phosphorus desorption under reduced conditions. In organically poor subtidal sandy sediments, nutrient porewater concentrations were always lower than in intertidal
muddy sediments, ranging annually from 20 lMto 100 lM for ammonium and from 0.05 lM to 16 lM for phosphate. Nutrient diffusive fluxes predicted by a mathematical model were higher during summer, inbothmuddy (104 nmol cm–2d–1––NH4+; 8 nmol cm–2 d–1––HPO4–2) and sandy sediments (26 nmol cm–2 d–1––NH4+; 1 nmol cm–2 d–1––HPO4–2), while during lower temperature periods these fluxes were 3–4 times lower. Based on simulated nutrient effluxes, the estimated annual amount of ammonium and phosphate exported from intertidal areas was three times higher than that released from subtidal areas (22 ton year–1––NH4+; 2 ton year–1––HPO4–2), emphasizing the importance of tidal flats to maintain the high productivity of the lagoon. Global warming scenarios simulated with the model, revealed that an increase in lagoon water temperature only produces significant variations (P < 0.05) for NH4+ in porewater and consequent diffusive fluxes, what will probably affect the system productivity due to a N/P ratio unbalance
Evaluation of ammonium and phosphate release from intertidal and subtidal sediments of a shallow coastal lagoon (Ria Formosa – Portugal): a modelling approach
During an annual cycle, overlying water and sediment cores were collected simultaneously at three sites (Tavira, Culatra and Ramalhete) of Ria Formosa’s intertidal muddy and subtidal sandy sediments to determine ammonium, nitrates plus nitrites and phosphate. Organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus were also determined in superficial sediments. Ammonium and phosphate dissolved in porewater were positively correlated with temperature (P < 0.01) in muddy and sandy sediments, while the nitrogen-oxidized forms had a negative correlation (P < 0.02) in muddy sediments probably because mineralization and nitrification/denitrification processes vary seasonally.
Porewater ammonium profiles evidenced apeak in the top-most muddy sediment (380 lM) suggesting higher mineralization rate when oxygen
is more available, while maximum phosphate concentration (113 lM) occurred in the sub-oxic layer probably due to phosphorus desorption under reduced conditions. In organically poor subtidal sandy sediments, nutrient porewater concentrations were always lower than in intertidal
muddy sediments, ranging annually from 20 lMto 100 lM for ammonium and from 0.05 lM to 16 lM for phosphate. Nutrient diffusive fluxes predicted by a mathematical model were higher during summer, inbothmuddy (104 nmol cm–2d–1––NH4+; 8 nmol cm–2 d–1––HPO4–2) and sandy sediments (26 nmol cm–2 d–1––NH4+; 1 nmol cm–2 d–1––HPO4–2), while during lower temperature periods these fluxes were 3–4 times lower. Based on simulated nutrient effluxes, the estimated annual amount of ammonium and phosphate exported from intertidal areas was three times higher than that released from subtidal areas (22 ton year–1––NH4+; 2 ton year–1––HPO4–2), emphasizing the importance of tidal flats to maintain the high productivity of the lagoon. Global warming scenarios simulated with the model, revealed that an increase in lagoon water temperature only produces significant variations (P < 0.05) for NH4+ in porewater and consequent diffusive fluxes, what will probably affect the system productivity due to a N/P ratio unbalance
Ursolic acid, a dietary phytochemical, decreases KRAS signaling and modulates cell death pathways in resistant CRC cells
Publicado em "BMC Proceedings 2012, 6(Suppl 3)"KRAS mutations are frequent in colorectal cancer (CRC) and have the potential to activate proliferation and inhibit cell death through effects on MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. Because diet is one of the most important determinants of CRC incidence and progression, we studied the effects of the dietary triterpenoid ursolic acid (UA) on proliferation and cell death induction in human CRC derived KRAS mutated cell lines.
Our results show that UA decreases cell proliferation and induces cell death while decreasing signaling through KRAS as indicated by a decrease in ERK and Akt phosphorylation (western blot). UA also induced cell death.
TP53 mutated cells are known to be resistant to the chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU. Caspase independent apoptosis (Tunel assay), was increased 6 fold by co-incubation of UA with 5-FU. However, apoptosis was only a small percentage of the total cell death induced by UA. In order to explain these observations, we looked into effects on autophagy. Autophagy is emerging as a promising therapeutic target for drug resistant tumors. UA modulated autophagy by inducing the accumulation of LC3 II and p62 levels an effect dependent on JNK activation.
In conclusion, this study shows UA’s anticancer potential as a modulator of KRAS signaling and cell death mechanisms increasing sensitivity to the chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU
Biogeochemical Modelling of Ria Formosa (South Coast of Portugal) with EcoDynamo - Model description
DITTY (Development of an information technology tool for the
management of Southern European lagoons under the influence of
river-basin runoff) (EESD Project EVK3-CT-2002-00084
Biogeochemical Modelling of Ria Formosa (South Coast of Portugal) with EcoDynamo - Model description
DITTY (Development of an information technology tool for the
management of Southern European lagoons under the influence of
river-basin runoff) (EESD Project EVK3-CT-2002-00084
In the search for sustainable vertical green systems: an innovative low-cost indirect green façade structure using Portuguese native ivies and cork
Green façades in the urban environment represent points of biodiversity value, contributing
to species conservation, acting as urban wildlife corridors connecting elements, and also aiming
at sustainability, when the materials and structure are thoughtfully chosen. Ivies (Hedera spp.) are
perennial climbing evergreen plants that are easy to cultivate and demand little input, and their use
in vertical green systems is much appreciated but may lead to damage to the constructions in the
long term. Among the 14 species of Hedera currently recognized, a few have been bred into cultivars
and are available in the market for cultivation, often as exotic species. Four Hedera spp. are native to
Portugal, but most cultivated species in this territory are exotic and the suitability of native species
for their use in green façades has not been documented. Thus, in the present work, we describe
the installation of a low-cost indirect green façade structure supported on cork panels using plants
belonging to the native H. iberica and H. hibernica. The structure is installed at the Ajuda Botanical
Garden, under Mediterranean conditions, on a brick and cement wall, and will enable researchers and
landscape architects to follow the development of this structure as a long-term experiment, prompting
the use of native species toward increased biological and technical sustainability. The preliminary
results indicate that the cork structure is able to provide adequate support for the plants and that
these were able to climb and develop in this structure, avoiding direct contact with the wall and the
possible subsequent damage. Therefore, the structure provides a viable solution to implementing
sustainable green façades with native species, on brick-cement walls, able to be replicated in other
urban locations under similar environmental conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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