Decision Support System in Dynamic Pricing of Horticultural Products Based on the Quality Decline Due to Bacterial Growth

A decision support system (DSS) was developed to help reduce food waste at traditional food retailers while selling fresh horticultural products, but also to promote food safety and quality. This computational tool includes two major functions: (1) the prediction of the remaining shelf life of fresh horticultural product, namely lettuce, onion, carrot, and cabbage based on its microbial growth status, governed by extrinsic and intrinsic parameters (temperature, water activity and pH, respectively). The remaining shelf life of the studied horticultural products is determined by using the online predictive food microbiology tool— the Combined Database for Predictive Microbiology (Combase). The time to reach the infectious doses of bacteria considered in the study for each of the four horticultural products are predicted; (2) the calculation of the dynamic price of the produce that should be set each day, depending on the predicted end of the marketing period to increase the demand and potential for sale to the final consumer. The proposed dynamic pricing model assumes a linear relation with the remaining shelf life of the analyzed vegetable to set the selling price. The shelf life determined by the DSS for optimal storage conditions is, in general, conservative, ensuring food safety. The automatic dynamic pricing gives new opportunities to small retailers to manage their business, fostering profit and simultaneously contributing to reduce food waste. Thus, this decision support system can contribute to the sustainable value of reducing food waste by providing information to small grocers and retailers on the safety of their perishable status depending on storage conditions and allowing them to suggest a fair price depending on that quality.This study is within the activities of project “PrunusPós—Optimization of processes for the storage, cold conservation, active and/or intelligent packaging and food quality traceability in post-harvested fruit products”, project n. º PDR2020-101-031695, Partnership n.º 87, initiaciative n.º 175, promoted by PDR 2020 and co-funded by EAFRD within Portugal 2020. P.D.G. acknowledges Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT—MCTES) for its financial support via the project UIDB/00151/2020 (C-MASTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The role of GSTA2 polymorphisms and haplotypes in breast cancer susceptibility: A case-control study in the Portuguese population

We wish to thank Luisa Manso Oliveira, Lylliane Luz, Silvia Morgado Amaro and Maria Catarina Soveral for technical support. Center for Research in Human Molecular Genetics (CIGMH), Projects POCTI/QUI/57110/2004 from Fundacao da Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) and Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian (Grant 69405) support our current research. The PhD grant SFRH/BD/17828/2004 from FCT is also acknowledged.Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are a superfamily of phase II metabolizing enzymes that catalyse the detoxification of a large range of endogenous and exogenous toxic compounds, playing an important role in protecting cells against damage, through glutathione conjugation with electrophilic substances. Polymorphic variation in these enzymes that affect its activity seems to be related to individual susceptibility to various human diseases, including cancer. Of the GST super-family, the alpha class GSTs have commonly been described as one of the most versatile class, since it is responsible for detoxification of compounds such as bilirubin, bile acids and penicillin, thyroid and steroid hormones, allowing its solubilization and storage in the liver. Among the alpha class, GSTA1 and GSTA2 isoforms are the most widely expressed in human tissues. Additionally, these enzymes can catalyse conjugation of the nitrogen mustard group of alkylating anticancer drugs, some heterocyclic amines and alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes. Since some risk factors for increased breast cancer risk could be related to high production of reactive oxygen species during the metabolism of estrogens by catechol estrogens, or to the exposure to genotoxic compounds, and some of these toxic compounds are usually metabolized by GSTA2, we carried out a hospital based case-control study in a Caucasian Portuguese population (291 breast cancer patients without familiar history of breast cancer and 547 controls matched for age, sex and ethnicity) in order to evaluate the potential modifying role of three non-synonymous polymorphisms in the GSTA2 gene (P110S Ex 5+56C>T;, rs2234951; S112T Ex5+63G>C, rs2180314 and E210A Ex7+83A>C, rs6577) on the individual susceptibility to breast cancer. Our data show that the Studied polymorphisms are in strong linkage disequilibrium, but no association was observed between individual GSTA2 polymorphisms and haplotypes and individual susceptibility to breast cancer.publishersversionpublishe

Prospective Study Evaluating Management of Hypertension Induced by anti-VEGF Therapy in Patients with Active Cancer: VEGFHTN Trial

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp23/1027/thumbnail.jp

Intrinsic Morphology of Ultra-diffuse Galaxies

With the published data of apparent axis ratios for 1109 ultra-diffuse galaxies (UDGs) located in 17 low-redshift (z~ 0.020 - 0.063) galaxy clusters and 84 UDGs in 2 intermediate-redshift (z~ 0.308 - 0.348) clusters, we take advantage of a Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach and assume a ubiquitous triaxial model to investigate the intrinsic morphologies of UDGs. In contrast to the conclusion of Burkert (2017), i.e., the underlying shapes of UDGs are purely prolate ($C=B<A$), we find that the data favor the oblate-triaxial models ($C<B\lesssim A$) over the nearly prolate ones. We also find that the intrinsic morphologies of UDGs are relevant to their stellar masses/luminosities, environments, and redshifts. First, for the low-redshift UDGs in the same environment, the more-luminous ones are always thicker than the less-luminous counterparts, possibly due to the more voilent internal supernovae feedback or external tidal interactions for the progenitors of the more-luminous UDGs. The UDG thickness dependence on luminosity is distinct from that of the typical quiescent dwarf ellipticals (dEs) and dwarf spheroidals (dSphs) in the local clusters and groups, but resembles that of massive galaxies; in this sense, UDGs may not be simply treated as an extension of the dE/dSph class with similar evolutionary histories. Second, for the low-redshift UDGs within the same luminosity range, the ones with smaller cluster-centric distances are more puffed-up, probably attributed to tidal interactions. Finally, the intermediate-redshift cluster UDGs are more flattened, which plausibly suggests a `disky' origin for high-redshift, initial UDGs.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ; new versio

Spectrum of molecular alterations detected in the CYP21A2 gene associated with 21-hydroxylase deficiency

A maioria dos doentes com hiperplasia suprarrenal congénita (HSC) apresenta alterações moleculares no gene CYP21A2, o qual codifica a enzima 21-hidroxilase (21-OH). Os doentes com a forma clássica de deficiência em 21-OH (21-OHD) apresentam a síntese de cortisol diminuída no córtex adrenal e, os casos mais graves, também apresentam deficiência de aldosterona. As mulheres com 21-OHD grave apresentam excesso de andrógenos desde a sua vida fetal conduzindo à virilização dos órgãos genitais externos. Tanto homens como mulheres com 21-OHD completa não sintetizam a aldosterona e, consequentemente, logo após o nascimento, podem desenvolver crises de perda de sal se não forem corretamente diagnosticados e tratados. A 21- OHD não clássica é devida à deficiência parcial em 21-OH, os fenótipos clínicos são menos graves, as mulheres não apresentam virilização dos genitais externos ao nascimento, e geralmente os sinais relativos a excesso de androgénios podem surgir durante a infância ou até mais tarde (durante ou após a puberdade). Neste trabalho descrevem-se as alterações e os genótipos mais frequentes encontrados em doentes portugueses não adultos com 21-OHD. As alterações mais frequentes encontradas na forma clássica da HSC são c.293-13C> G, diferentes deleções/quimeras/conversões génicas do gene CYP21A2 e c.518T> A, enquanto na 21-OHD não-clássica a variante c.844G> T é a mais frequente. Estes resultados contribuem para um diagnóstico correto e uma melhor gestão clínica dos doentes, para o seu aconselhamento genético e para oferecer o diagnóstico pré-natal a casais com risco de ter filhos afetados com a forma clássica de 21-OHD.Most of the patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) have molecular alterations in the CYP21A2 gene, which encodes the enzyme 21-hydroxylase (21-OH). Patients with the classic form of 21-OH deficiency (21-OHD) have the synthesis of cor tisol impaired in the adrenal cor tex and, the most severe cases also have aldosterone deficiency. Females with severe 21-OHD, star ting their fetal life have excess of androgens leading to external genitalia virilization at bir th. Both males and females with complete 21-OHD are not able to synthesize aldosterone, consequently soon af ter bir th may develop salt wasting crises if not correctly diagnosed and treated. Non-classic 21-OHD is due to par tial deficiency of 21-OH, the clinical phenotypes are less severe, females don’t present ambiguity of the external genitalia at bir th, usually signs of androgen excess may be present during childhood or even later in life (during or af ter puber ty). We present here the most frequent alterations and genotypes found in non adult Por tuguese patients with 21-OHD. The most frequent alterations found in the classic form of CAH are c.293-13C>G, dif ferent CYP21A2 deletions/quimeras/gene conversions and c.518T>A, while in non-classic 21-OHD the variant c.844G>T is the most frequent. These results contribute to a correct patient diagnosis, to a better clinical care, genetic counseling and to of fer pre-natal diagnosis to couples at risk of having af fected babies with the classic form of 21-OHD.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Promoting self-regulation in health among vulnerable brazilian children: protocol study

The Health and Education Ministries of Brazil launched the Health in School Program (Programa Saúde na Escola - PSE) in 2007. The purpose of the PSE is two-fold: articulate the actions of the education and health systems to identify risk factors and prevent them; and promote health education in the public elementary school system. In the health field, the self-regulation (SR) construct can contribute to the understanding of life habits which can affect the improvement of individuals' health. This research aims to present a program that promotes SR in health (SRH). This program (PSRH) includes topics on healthy eating and oral health from the PSE; it is grounded on the social cognitive framework and uses story tools to train 5th grade Brazilian students in SRH. The study consists of two phases. In Phase 1, teachers and health professionals participated in a training program on SRH, and in Phase 2, they will be expected to conduct an intervention in class to promote SRH. The participants were randomly assigned into three groups: the Condition I group followed the PSE program, the Condition II group followed the PSRH (i.e., PSE plus the SRH program), and the control group (CG) did not enroll in either of the health promotion programs. For the baseline of the study, the following measures and instruments were applied: Body Mass Index (BMI), Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), Previous Day Food Questionnaire (PFDQ), and Declarative Knowledge for Health Instrument. Data indicated that the majority are eutrophic children, but preliminary outcomes showed high percentages of children that are overweight, obese and severely obese. Moreover, participants in all groups reported high consumption of ultraprocessed foods (e.g., soft drinks, artificial juices, and candies). Oral health data from the CI and CII groups showed a prevalence of regular oral hygiene, while the CG presented good oral hygiene. The implementation of both PSE and PSRH are expected to help reduce health problems in school, as well as the public expenditures with children's health (e.g., Obesity and oral diseases).The intervention program described in this study was funded by Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de nivel superior-CAPES), Brazilian Federal agency for the Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education in Public Notice 09/2014, Science without Borders Program/Special Visiting Researcher Program-PVE

Association of common variants in mismatch repair genes and breast cancer susceptibility: a multigene study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>MMR is responsible for the repair of base-base mismatches and insertion/deletion loops. Besides this, MMR is also associated with an anti-recombination function, suppressing homologous recombination. Losses of heterozygosity and/or microsatellite instability have been detected in a large number of skin samples from breast cancer patients, suggesting a potential role of MMR in breast cancer susceptibility.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We carried out a hospital-based case-control study in a Caucasian Portuguese population (287 cases and 547 controls) to estimate the susceptibility to non-familial breast cancer associated with some polymorphisms in mismatch repair genes (<it>MSH3</it>, <it>MSH4</it>, <it>MSH6</it>, <it>MLH1</it>, <it>MLH3</it>, <it>PMS1 </it>and <it>MUTYH</it>).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using unconditional logistic regression we found that <it>MLH3 </it>(L844P, G>A) polymorphism GA (Leu/Pro) and AA (Pro/Pro) genotypes were associated with a decreased risk: OR = 0.65 (0.45-0.95) (p = 0.03) and OR = 0.62 (0.41-0.94) (p = 0.03), respectively.</p> <p>Analysis of two-way SNP interaction effects on breast cancer revealed two potential associations to breast cancer susceptibility: <it>MSH3 </it>Ala1045Thr/<it>MSH6 </it>Gly39Glu - AA/TC [OR = 0.43 (0.21-0.83), p = 0.01] associated with a decreased risk; and <it>MSH4 </it>Ala97Thr/<it>MLH3 </it>Leu844Pro - AG/AA [OR = 2.35 (1.23-4.49), p = 0.01], GG/AA [OR = 2.11 (1.12-3,98), p = 0.02], and GG/AG [adjusted OR = 1.88 (1.12-3.15), p = 0.02] all associated with an increased risk for breast cancer.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is possible that some of these common variants in MMR genes contribute significantly to breast cancer susceptibility. However, further studies with a large sample size will be needed to support our results.</p

Chronic Urticaria in the Real-Life Clinical Practice Setting in Portugal: Baseline Results from the Non-Interventional Multicentre AWARE Study

Introduction: There is a paucity of information regarding chronic urticaria patients’ care in a real-world setting. The objective of this study was to report and evaluate the baseline characteristics of Portuguese chronic urticaria patients refractory to H1-antihistamines included in the AWARE study. Material and Methods: This is a non-interventional cohort study. Adult patients with a diagnosis of chronic urticaria with symptoms for at least two months, refractory to H1-antihistamines, consulting one of the 10 participating urticaria centers throughout Portugal have been included in the study. Baseline sociodemographic data, medical history, clinical parameters, medication, weekly urticaria activity score, and dermatology quality of life index have been collected. Results: Seventy six patients were included, of which 76.3% were women. The majority of patients had a diagnosis of chronic spontaneous urticaria (88.2%) and 39.5% had angioedema. Around 91.0% of patients were medicated with non-sedative H1-antihistamines and 35.4% with a third line therapy. Median dermatology quality of life index was 5.0 and median weekly urticaria activity score was 13.0. Discussion: The baseline results suggest that patients with chronic urticaria refractory to H1-antihistamines are being under-treated in the real-world setting. Conclusion: The AWARE study demonstrates the real impact of chronic urticaria on Portuguese patients refractory to H1-antihistamines treatment, and 30% report a very large or extremely large deleterious effect on their quality of life. The follow-up of these patients will allow evaluating strategies aimed at optimizing disease control

ATP-Dependent Chromatin Remodeling Factors and Their Roles in Affecting Nucleosome Fiber Composition

ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factors of the SNF2 family are key components of the cellular machineries that shape and regulate chromatin structure and function. Members of this group of proteins have broad and heterogeneous functions ranging from controlling gene activity, facilitating DNA damage repair, promoting homologous recombination to maintaining genomic stability. Several chromatin remodeling factors are critical components of nucleosome assembly processes, and recent reports have identified specific functions of distinct chromatin remodeling factors in the assembly of variant histones into chromatin. In this review we will discuss the specific roles of ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling factors in determining nucleosome composition and, thus, chromatin fiber properties