O álcool como lazer : um estudo centrado em adolescentes do distrito de Viana do Castelo

Dissertação de Mestrado em Promoção e Educação para a Saúde apresentada na Escola Superior de Educação do Instituto Politécnico de Viana do CasteloO presente estudo, incide sobre o consumo de álcool associado ao lazer, nos adolescentes e tem como objetivo analisar, descrever e interpretar os padrões de consumo de bebidas alcoólicas numa amostra de adolescentes residentes no distrito de Viana do Castelo, relacionando tal consumo com as rotinas de vida, com o tempo livre de obrigações formais e tempo de lazer de que dispõem. Trata-se de uma abordagem quantitativa e conta com a aplicação de 300 questionários junto de uma amostra de adolescentes do Distrito de Viana do Castelo pertencentes a duas escolas do distrito de Viana do Castelo, uma localizada em meio rural, outra em meio urbano. Os dados obtidos através da aplicação dos questionários foram objeto de análise descritiva e inferencial. Através desta análise dos resultados, constatou-se que os inquiridos têm idades compreendidas entre os 15 e 16 anos, que tanto rapazes como raparigas consomem álcool cada vez mais cedo; em relação aos pais, os do meio rural consomem mais bebidas alcoólicas; a maioria dos inquiridos referiu conseguir resistir ao consumo de bebidas alcoólicas. No que respeita aos hábitos de vida, os indivíduos do sexo masculino praticam mais desporto. O estudo em questão limita os resultados, pois não os podemos generalizar, uma vez que, se trata de um estudo em apenas duas escolas, e pela especificidade do tema de pesquisa. Outra limitação que se aponta ao estudo é o tamanho da amostra, que, embora tenha permitido tirar conclusões, não permitiu dar resposta a questões que envolvessem subamostras reduzidas. Por outro lado, a amostra apenas representa os estudantes de duas escolas e foi por conveniência limitando também os próprios resultados. Estudos posteriores devem abranger amostras mais diversificadas, testando indivíduos de outras escolas comparativamente.This study focuses on the alcohol consumption of their leisure in adolescents and has as objective to analyze, describe and interpret the patterns of alcohol consumption in a sample of adolescents living in the district of Viana do Castelo and relate to the routines of life, with free time formal obligations and leisure time available to them. This is a quantitative approach and relies on the application of 300 questionnaires with a sample of adolescents from Distrito de Viana do Castelo from two schools in the district of Viana do Castelo, one located in rural areas in other urban areas. Data obtained from the questionnaires were subject to descriptive and inferential analysis. Through this analysis of the results, it was found that respondents are aged between 15 and 16 years, both boys and girls who consume alcohol at an earlier age, in relation to parents, rural consume more alcohol, and the majority of respondents say they can resist the consumption of alcoholic beverages. With regard to lifestyle, the males practice more sport. This study is limited because the results can not generalize the results since, as it is a study in only two schools, and the specificity of the research topic. Another limitation is that the study points to is the sample size, which allowed conclusions although not allowed to answer questions involving subsamples reduced. On the other hand, the sample is only school students and two were merely for convenience also results themselves. Further studies should include more diverse samples, testing individuals from other schools compared

Princípios pedagógico-didáticos para a conceção de recursos educativos digitais: análise do recurso cozinhar a aprender

Neste capítulo, discutem-se princípios pedagógico-didáticos para a conceção de recursos educativos digitais que promovam situações de aprendizagem inovadoras. Neste âmbito, destacam-se: (i) a criação de contextos significativos para a aprendizagem; (ii) a integração curricular; (iii) a implementação de um desenho instrucional de base construtivista; (iv) a promoção da autonomia do aluno; (v) a promoção do envolvimento e da motivação do aluno no processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Estes princípios são mobilizados, no presente capítulo, na análise de um recurso educativo digital concreto (Cozinhar a Aprender), que visa promover o desenvolvimento integrado de competências (Português, Matemática, Estudo do Meio) no 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico a partir da exploração do género textual receita culinária.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Patients' views on the embryo storage time limits

The establishment of the length of embryo storage has been based on socio-political criteria. There are different regulations, guidelines and health care policies worldwide. This mixed-methods study aimed to assess the opinion of patients about the embryo storage time limit, and the perception of the criteria underlying the establishment of the storage period offered to them. Between August 2011 and December 2012, 534 IVF patients from Portugal participated in a quantitative questionnaire and 34 couples were interviewed. Overall, 38% of participants preferred the duration of 4–5 years, 38% extended it beyond 5 years and 23% indicated 3 years. Having experienced at least one previous cycle was directly associated with agreeing with a duration of storage longer than 5 years, for both women and men. Having children was inversely associated with longer duration of storage, among women. One-third of the 34 interviewed couples stated that their knowledge concerning embryo storage was insufficient. Nevertheless, all the interviewees reported at least one possible reason for the legal establishment of the storage period offered to them, highlighting financial costs and decreased embryo quality. There are misconceptions and gaps in awareness of cryopreservation, which may shape patients' opinions. Accurate information regarding policy on storage of embryos is needed

the SMARTPARKS Project

UID/SOC/04647/2013Small Islands face particular challenges in their sustainable development, and therefore require specific tailored approaches for planning and management. Unsurprisingly, protected areas have a special role in the conservation of biodiversity and natural resources crucial to the sustainability of such territories. How should the management and planning system of protected areas in small islands be, therefore, structured and operated so it can face the threats and challenges falling upon the already fragile and vulnerable insular ecosystems? This is the central question of SMARTPARKS Project. The core objective of the project consists of the conceptual development of a planning and management system for protected areas that can be integrated with the territorial management instruments in force, and that takes into consideration the specificities of insular ecosystems, correcting or perfecting the insufficiencies or flaws already pointed out to traditional planning systems of protected areas. This paper presents the SMARTPARKS Project, its rationale and main outcomes. Taking Pico Island Natural Park (Azores, Portugal) as its case study, the SMARTPARKS Project has adopted the ecosystem approach and the conciliation of conservation objectives with human needs and activities. Throughout its five tasks several studies were developed, and contributed to the functional analysis (developed during the last task) of each protected area constituting the Island Natural Park, in terms of their conservation and development values. This innovative application allows not only an integrated assessment of the protected areas but also a sustained monitoring. PT | RESUMOAs pequenas ilhas oceânicas enfrentam desafios particulares com vista ao seu desenvolvimento sustentável, necessitando consequentemente de abordagens técnicas de base científica específicas no desenvolvimento das suas estratégias de planeamento e gestão territoriais. É inquestionável a relevância do papel das áreas protegidas quer na conservação da biodiversidade e dos recursos naturais, quer na sustentabilidade dos territórios por elas abrangidos. De que modo deve ser então definido o modelo de planeamento e gestão de áreas protegidas em pequenas ilhas oceânicas para poder fazer face a todas as ameaças e desafios com que se deparam estes frágeis e vulneráveis ecossistemas costeiros? Esta é a questão principal pela qual se rege o projecto SMARTPARKS. O objectivo nuclear deste projecto consiste no desenvolvimento conceptual de um sistema integrado de planeamento e gestão de áreas protegidas que possa integrar, complementar e fortalecer os instrumentos de gestão territorial vigentes, e que tenha em consideração as particularidades e especificidades destes ecossistemas insulares, corrigindo ou minimizando as falhas e insuficiências já identificadas das ferramentas e técnicas tradicionais de planeamento territorial de áreas protegidas. Este artigo apresenta o projecto SMARTPARKS, o seu contexto, a sua abordagem conceptual e os seus principais resultados. O Parque Natural de Ilha do Pico (Arquipélago dos Açores, Portugal) constitui o caso de estudo deste projecto, estando o desenvolvimento conceptual do SMARTPARKS especialmente focado numa sinergia definida pela abordagem ecossistémica e pela sua tentativa de conciliação com os objectivos de conservação com todas as necessidades e actividades humanas de cariz sócio-económico e cultural desenvolvidas no território abrangido. Ao longo do seu desenvolvimento metodológico dividido em 5 grandes tarefas, vários estudos específicos foram realizados, contribuindo nomeadamente para a análise funcional (em termos de valores para a conservação e desenvolvimento) que foi feita para cada área protegida que compõe o Parque Natural de Ilha do Pico. Esta abordagem metodológica inovadora permite não só uma avaliação integrada das áreas protegidas como também a sua monitorização sustentável.publishersversionpublishe

Self assembling nanogels

Este resumo faz parte de: Book of abstracts of the Meeting of the Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 2, Braga, Portugal, 2010. A versão completa do livro de atas está disponível em: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/1096

Inflammation, T-Cell phenotype, and inflammatory cytokines in chronic kidney disease patients under hemodialysis and its relationship to resistance to recombinant human erythropoietin therapy

Background Resistance to recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) occurs in some chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, which may be due to enhanced systemic inflammatory response and to the erythropoiesis-suppressing effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines, some of which are produced by T cells. Aim of study The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between resistance to rhEPO therapy in hemodialysis CKD patients and inflammatory markers [Creactive protein (CRP), soluble interleukin (IL)-2 receptor(sIL2R), and serum albumin levels], blood cell counts, Tcell phenotype, cytokine production by T cells, and serum cytokine levels. Materials and Methods We studied 50 hemodialysis CKD patients, 25 responders and 25 nonresponders to rhEPO, and compared them to each other and with 25 healthy controls. When compared to controls, CKD patients showed increased serum levels of CRP, IL-6, and sIL2R and a T-cell lymphopenia, due to decreased numbers of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. T cells from CKD patients had an immunophenotype compatible with chronic T-cell stimulation as shown by the increased percentage of CD28−, CD57+, HLA-DR+, CD28−HLA-DR+, and CD57+ HLA-DR+ T cells and produce higher levels of IL-2, INF-γ, and TNF-α after short-term in vitro stimulation, although Th1 cytokines were not detectable in serum. Statistically significant differences were found between responders and nonresponders to rhEPO therapy for total lymphocyte and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts, albumin (lower in nonresponders) and CRP (higher in nonresponders) levels. Conclusion CKD patients under hemodialysis present with raised inflammatory markers and decrease of total lymphocyte and CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts when compared with controls. Some of those markers are even further enhanced in nonresponders to rhEPO therapy patients, but resistance to this therapy cannot be justified by a Th1 polarized T-cell response

Resistência à terapêutica com eritropoietina humana recombinante em doentes hemodializados

To better clarify the mechanism of resistance to recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) therapy in haemodialysis patients, we studied systemic changes associated with this resistence in haemodialysis patients under rhEPO therapies, with particular interest on inflammation, leukocyte activation, ironstatus, oxidative stress and erythrocyte damage. We studied 63 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients under haemodialysis and rhEPO therapies (32 responders and 31 non-responders to rhEPO therapy) and 26 healthy volunteers. In 20 of the CKD patients (10 responders and 10 non-responders to rhEPO therapy), blood samples were also collected immediately after dialysis to study the effect of the haemodialysis procedure. When compared to controls, haemodialysis patients presented lymphopenia, which results, at least in part, from a decrease in total circulating CD3+ T-lymphocytes and affect both the CD4+ and the CD8+ T-cell subsets. These lymphocytes presented markers of enhanced continuous activation state and enhanced ability to produce Th1 related cytokines. Furthermore, haemodialysis patients presented raised markers of an inflammatory process, and of an enhanced neutrophil activation, as showed by the high serum levels of elastase. Concerning to iron status, patients showed increased ferritin and prohepcidin serum levels, and a decrease in transferrin. Furthermore, some changes were observed in erythrocyte membrane protein composition and in band 3 profile, being the decrease in spectrin the most significant change. Higher plasma levels of total antioxidant status (TAS), lipidic peroxidation (TBA) and TBA/TAS ratio were also found. When comparing the two groups of patients, we found that non-responders presented a significant decrease in total lymphocyte and CD4+ T-cell counts, a more accentuated inflammatory process and indicators of enhanced neutrophil activation. No significant differences were found in serum iron status markers between the two groups of patients, except for the soluble transferrin receptor, which was higher among non-responders. Prohepcidin serum levels were significantly lower in non-responders, but were higher than those in the control group. An accentuated decrease in erythrocyte membrane spectrin, alterations in band 3 profile [decrease in band 3 proteolytic fragments (Pfrag) and in Pfrag/band 3 monomer ratio], and a trend to higher values of membrane bound haemoglobin were also found in non-responders patients. In conclusion, although the etiology of resistance to rhEPO therapy is still unknown, our work confirms that inflammation seems to have an important role in its pathophysiology. We also showed that resistance to rhEPO therapy is associated with “functional” iron deficiency, lymphopenia and CD4+ lymphopenia, higher elastase plasma levels, increased interleukin-7 serum levels, and alterations in erythrocyte membrane protein structure and in band 3 profile. Further studies are needed tounderstand the rise in inflammation with the associated need inhigher doses of rhEPO and the reduced iron availability.Com o objectivo de clarificar o mecanismo de resistência à terapêutica com eritropoietina humana recombinante (EPOhr) em doentes hemodializados, estudamos alterações a ela associada, com particular interesse na inflamação, activação leucocitária, ciclo do ferro, stress oxidativo e lesão eritrocitária. Foram estudados 63 doentes renais crónicos (DRC) em hemodiálise e terapêutica com EPOhr (32 respondedores e 31 não respondedores à terapêutica com EPOhr) e 26 indivíduos controlo. Em 20 dos DRC (10 respondedores e 10 não respondedores à terapêutica com EPOhr), foram também colhidas amostras de sangue imediatamente após a hemodiálise para estudar os efeitos deste procedimento. Quando comparados com os controlos, os DRC em hemodiálise apresentaram linfocitopenia, resultante de uma diminuição da contagem dos linfócitos CD3+ e em que ambos os subtipos de linfócitos T CD4+ e CD8+ se encontravam diminuídos. Estes linfócitos apresentavam marcadores celulares de estimulação continuada aumentados e capacidade aumentada de produzir citoquinas associadas com a resposta imune do tipo Th1. Adicionalmente, estes doentes apresentavam marcadores inflamatórios, e aumento na activação dos neutrófilos. No que se refere ao estudo do ciclo do ferro, os DRC apresentavam aumento dos níveis séricos de ferritina e prohepcidina, e uma diminuição na transferrina. Adicionalmente, foram também encontradas alterações na composição proteica da membrana dos eritrócitos e no perfil da banda 3, sendo a diminuição da espectrina a alteração mais significativa. Aumento na capacidade antioxidante total (TAS), na peroxidação lipídica (TBA) e da razão TBA/TAS foram também demonstrados. Quando comparamos os dois grupos de DRC, verificamos que os não respondedores à terapêutica com EPOhr apresentavam diminuição no número total de linfócitos e nos linfócitos T CD4+, e aumento nos marcadores inflamatórios e na activação dos neutrófilos. Não encontramos diferenças significativas nos parâmetros relacionados com o ciclo do ferro, com excepção do receptor solúvel da transferrina, que se encontrava aumentado nos não respondedores. Os níveis séricos de prohepcidina encontravam-se diminuídos nos não respondedores; no entanto, encontravam-se mais elevados que no grupo controlo. Diminuição acentuada no conteúdo em espectrina, alterações no perfil de banda 3 [diminuição fragmentos proteolíticos da banda 3 (Pfrag) e na razão Pfrag/monómero de banda 3], e uma tendência para valores aumentados de hemoglobina ligada à membrana foram também encontrados nos DRC não respondedores à terapêutica com EPOhr. Em conclusão, apesar da etiologia à resistência à terapêutica com EPOhr não estar ainda completamente esclarecidaos nossos resultados confirmam que a inflamação parece ter um papel muito importante. Encontramos também relação entre resistência è terapêutica com EPOhr com défice funcional em ferro, linfocitopenia e linfocitopenia T CD4+, níveis plasmáticos aumentados de elastase, níveis séricos aumentados de interleucina-7, e alterações na estrutura das proteínas de membrana do eritrócito e no perfil de banda 3. Mais estudos serão necessários para se entender a associação entre a inflamação, e resistência à terapêutica com EPOhr e diminuição na disponibilidade em ferro

Factors associated with the donation and non-donation of embryos for research: a systematic review

Background: Systematic knowledge on the factors that influence the decisions of IVF users regarding embryo donation for research is a core need for patient-centred policies and ethics in clinical practice. However, no systematic review has been provided on the motivations of patients who must decide embryo disposition. This paper fills this gap, presenting a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies, which synthesizes the current body of knowledge on the factors and reasons associated with IVF patients’ decisions to donate or not to donate embryos for research. Methods: A systematic search of studies indexed in PubMed, ISIWoK and PsycINFO, published before November 2013, was conducted. Only empirical, peer-reviewed, full-length, original studies reporting data on factors and reasons associated with the decision concerning donation or non-donation of embryos for research were included. Eligibility and data extraction were performed by two independent researchers and disagreements were resolved by discussion or a third reviewer, if required. The main quantitative findings were extracted and synthesized and qualitative data were assessed by thematic content analysis. Results: A total of 39 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. More than half of the studies (n ¼ 21) used a quantitative methodology, and the remaining were qualitative (n ¼ 15) or mixed-methods (n ¼ 3) studies. The studies were derived mainly from European countries (n ¼ 18) and the USA(n ¼ 11). The proportion of IVF users who donated embryos for research varied from 7% in a study in France to 73% in a Swiss study. Those who donate embryos for research reported feelings of reciprocity towards science and medicine, positive views of research and high levels of trust in the medical system. They described their decision as better than the destruction of embryos and as an opportunity to help others or to improve health and IVF treatments. The perception of risks, the lack of information concerning research projects and the medical system and the conceptualization of embryos in terms of personhood were the most relevant motives for not donating embryos for research. Results relating to the influence of sociodemographic characteristics and reproductive and gynaecological history were mostly inconclusive. Conclusions: Three iterative and dynamic dimensions of the IVF patients’ decision to donate or not to donate embryos for research emerged from this review: the hierarquization of the possible options regarding embryo disposition, according to the moral, social and instrumental status attributed to embryos; patients’ understanding of expectations and risks of the research on human embryos; and patients’ experiences of information exchange and levels of trust in the medical-scientific institutions.This study was partly co-financed through FEDER funding from the Operational Programme Factors of Competitiveness, COMPETE, and through national funding from the FCT, Foundation for Science and Technology (Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science) within the project ‘Health, governance and accountability in embryo research: couples’ decisions about the fates of embryos’ (FCOMP-01-0124- FEDER-014453) and the PhD fellowship SFRH/BD/75807/2011 (to C.S.)