15 research outputs found

    The importance of target audiences in the design of training actions

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    This paper describes the process of definition, conceptualization and implementation of a business course addressed for logistic and industrial managers. This course was designed using a blended methodology, with training in classroom, visits to enterprises and self- study, supported by an eLearning platform. The aim of this work is to create an opportunity to reflect about the decisions and strategies implemented and point future developments

    Metabolic switches during the first steps of adipogenic stem cells differentiation

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    AbstractThe understanding of metabolism during cell proliferation and commitment provides a greater insight into the basic biology of cells, allowing future applications. Here we evaluated the energy and oxidative changes during the early adipogenic differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (hASCs). hASCs were maintained under differentiation conditions during 3 and 7days. Oxygen consumption, mitochondrial mass and membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities, non-protein thiols (NPT) concentration and lipid peroxidation were analyzed. We observed that 7days of adipogenic induction are required to stimulate cells to consume more oxygen and increase mitochondrial activity, indicating organelle maturation and a transition from glycolytic to oxidative energy metabolism. ROS production was only increased after 3days and may be involved in the differentiation commitment. ROS source was not only the mitochondria and we suggest that NOX proteins are related to ROS generation and therefore adipogenic commitment. ROS production did not change after 7days, but an increased activity of catalase and NPT concentration as well as a decreased lipid peroxidation were observed. Thus, a short period of differentiation induction is able to change the energetic and oxidative metabolic profile of hASCs and stimulate cytoprotection processes

    Tumor Testing for Somatic and Germline BRCA1/BRCA2 Variants in Ovarian Cancer Patients in the Context of Strong Founder Effects

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    Deleterious variants in the BRCA1/BRCA2 genes and homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) status are considered strong predictors of response to poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors (PARPi). The introduction of PARPi in clinical practice for the treatment of patients with advanced ovarian cancer imposed changes in the molecular diagnosis of BRCA1/BRCA2 variants. BRCA1/BRCA2 tumor testing by next-generation sequencing (NGS) can detect simultaneously both somatic and germline variants, allowing the identification of more patients with higher likelihood of benefiting from PARPi. Our main goal was to determine the frequency of somatic and germline BRCA1/BRCA2 variants in a series of non-mucinous OC, and to define the best strategy to be implemented in a routine diagnostic setting for the screening of germline/somatic variants in these genes, including the BRCA2 c.156_157insAlu Portuguese founder variant. We observed a frequency of 19.3% of deleterious variants, 13.3% germline, and 5.9% somatic. A higher prevalence of pathogenic variants was observed in patients diagnosed with high-grade serous ovarian cancer (23.2%). Considering the frequencies of the c.3331_3334del and the c.2037delinsCC BRCA1 variants observed in this study (73% of all BRCA1 pathogenic germline variants identified) and the limitations of NGS to detect the BRCA2 c.156_157insAlu variant, it might be cost-effective to test for these founder variants with a specific test prior to tumor screening of the entire coding regions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 by NGS in patients of Portuguese ancestry.PP, JG, MP, and RC were research fellows of the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT; UID/DTP/0076/POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006868, SFRH/BD/138670/2018, SFRH/BPD/ 113014/2015, and PB/BD/128001/2016, respectively). AB was a research fellow supported by the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000027, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). CE and RS were research fellows of the Núcleo Regional do Norte da Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro
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