Feasibility and functional fitness impact of a face-to-face versus homebased supervised physical exercise program in women with breast cancer after treatment: a pilot study

Introdução: A relevância da atividade física com terapia coadjuvante do cancro tem vindo a ser comprovada em vários estudos. Além da distância e dos custos, a pandemia do COVID-19 criou mais uma barreira ao exercício, tornando mais difícil o acesso a programas de exercício físico supervisionados em contexto presencial. As intervenções em contexto à distância, via internet, garantem a supervisão de programas individualizados e cientificamente validados, podendo ser uma maneira segura e eficaz de proporcionar o acesso a estes programas, a pacientes com cancro de mama, mantendo-os motivados. Este é um desafio das equipas multidisciplinares que acompanham estas pessoas. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a viabilidade, aceitação e eficácia de uma intervenção de exercício supervisionado de 8 semanas, em modo presencial (que é considerado o estado da arte) e modo supervisionado remotamente, em pacientes sobreviventes de cancro da mama, após tratamento primário, com intenção curativa. Os outcomes secundários incluíram medidas antropométricas (perímetro da anca, cintura, crural médio e bicipital) e aptidão funcional (força dos membros inferiores, força dos membros superiores, equilíbrio estático e flexibilidade) Método / Desenho: Este foi um estudo piloto randomizado controlado de 8 semanas com um total de 12 pacientes do sexo feminino, 33-65 anos, com diagnóstico de cancro de mama entre os estágios Ia-IIIa. Antes das avaliações iniciais, as participantes foram randomizadas para grupo presencial supervisionado e grupo homebased supervisionado remotamente com uma prescrição de exercício igual: 2 dias por semana de treino combinado (aeróbio, resistência e flexibilidade) e 1 dia de treino aeróbio, com pelo menos um dia de descanso entre cada sessão. Resultados: Não existiram abandonos durante a intervenção, logo a taxa de retenção foi de 100% nos programas supervisionados presencial e homebased. A adesão à duração do treino aeróbio teve um valor médio de 83%, em todos os participantes. Entre os grupos variou em entre 80% a 86%, homebased e presencial, respetivamente. A taxa de adesão ao volume prescrito (séries x repetições) de treino de força, teve um valor de 74% ± 28,2%, em toda a amostra. O grupo homebased apresentou valor um médio de 72,7% ± 39,2% e o grupo presencial um valor médio de 75,4% ± 14,6%. A taxa de adesão à frequência foi de 82,6% no grupo homebased e 80,6% no grupo presencial. Após a intervenção de 8 semanas, os grupos homebased e presencial melhoraram significativamente a força de preensão manual do lado não operado (grupo homebased 3,33 ± 2,06 p <0,05; grupo presencial 3,33 ± 1,50). Melhoria 9 significativa também foi observada favorecendo o grupo presencial no teste “sit to stand 30´´ com aumento do número de repetições (3 ± 2, p <0,05) e diminuição do perímetro da anca (- 3,08 ± 2,44, p < 0,05). Conclusão: Os resultados indicam que o protocolo On4Rehab foi viável e seguro para seus participantes. Também mostrou potencial para melhorar a aptidão funcional (força de membros superiores e inferiores) e medidas antropométricas (perímetro da anca). Os resultados são encorajadores para continuar a aplicar este tipo de programa de exercício combinado supervisionado de 8 semanas em amostras maiores, em estudos controlados randomizados e avaliar a sua viabilidade e efeito nos resultados de aptidão funcional.Background: The relevance of physical activity as a co-adjuvant cancer therapy has been proven in numerous studies. In addition to distance and costs, the COVID-19 pandemic created yet another barrier to exercise, making access to supervised center-based (CB) exercise programs more difficult. Web-based interventions, ensure supervision of scientifically validated tailored programs, and can be a safe and effective way to deliver exercise to breast cancer (BC) patients, keeping them motivated. This is the challenge for the multidisciplinary teams who accompany these people. Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of an 8- week supervised exercise intervention, in face-to-face mode (which is considered state of art) and remotely supervised mode, in BC survivor’s patients, after primary treatment with curative intent. Secondary outcomes included anthropometric measures (hip, waist, middle crural and bicipital circumferences) and functional fitness (lower limb strength, upper limb strength, static balance, and flexibility) Methods/Design: This was an 8-week pilot randomized controlled study with a total of 12 female patients, 33-65 years, diagnosed with breast cancer between stages Ia-IIIa. Before baseline assessments, participants were randomized to supervised CB and remotely supervised home-based (HB) groups with a similar exercise prescription: 2 days per week of combined training (aerobic, resistance, and flexibility) and 1 day of aerobic training, with ate least one day of rest between each session. Results: With no dropouts during the intervention, the retention rate was 100% in CB and HB supervised programs. The adherence to duration of aerobic training had an average value of 83%, in all participants. Between groups it varied in a range from 80% to 86%, HB and CB, respectively. The adherence rate to the prescribed volume (sets x repetitions) of strength training, had a value of 74% ± 28.2%, in all sample. The HB group had an average value of 72.7% ± 39.2% and the CB group an average value of 75.4% ± 14.6%. The adherence rate to frequency, was 82.6% in HB group and 80.6% in CB group. After the 8-week intervention, the HB and CB groups had significantly improved handgrip strength on the non-operated side (HB group 3.33 ± 2.06 p < 0.05; CB group 3.33 ± 1.50). Significant improvement was also observed favoring the CB group on the sit to stand 30´´test with increase of the number of repetitions (3 ± 2, p < 0.05) and decrease on the hip circumference (-3.08 ± 2.44, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Results indicate that the On4Rehab protocol was feasible and safe for its participants. It has also showed potential to improve functional fitness (upper and lower limb strength) and anthropometric measures (hip circumference). The results are encouraging to continue to apply this type of 8 week supervised, combined exercise program in larger samples, in randomized controlled trials (RCT), and assess their feasibility and effect on functional fitness outcomes

Avaliação da capacidade antioxidante e antimicrobiana em algas da costa de Peniche (Portugal): identificação de compostos bioactivos com elevado potencial biotecnológico

Dissertação de Mestrado em Biotecnologia dos Recursos Marinhos apresentada à ESTM - Escola Superior de Turismo e Tecnologia do Mar do Instituto Politécnico de LeiriaNeste trabalho foi avaliado o potencial biotecnológico de dez algas da costa de Peniche relativamente à sua capacidade antioxidante e antimicrobiana. As algas analisadas foram Asparagopsis armata, Plocamium cartilagineum, Ceramium ciliatum, Sphaerococcus coronopifolius, Codium adhaerens, Ulva compressa; Fucus spiralis, Saccorhiza polyschides, Stypocaulon scoparium e Halopteris filicina. A identificação de compostos bioactivos das algas que revelaram o maior potencial biotecnológico também foi alvo de estudo. Os compostos bioactivos foram extraídos das algas com recurso a solventes, nomeadamente metanol, n-hexano e diclorometano. Estes extractos foram utilizados em todos os ensaios experimentais. A capacidade antioxidante foi determinada através da Quantificação Total de Polifenóis (QTP) pelo método de Folin-Ciocalteu e através da avaliação da capacidade de redução do radical 1, 1-Difenil-2-picrilhidrazil (DPPH). A capacidade antimicrobiana foi avaliada através do método de difusão em disco em Bacillus subtilis e Escherichia coli. Por outro lado, a actividade antifúngica foi avaliada pelo acompanhamento da curva de crescimento de Saccharomyces cerevisiae na ausência e na presença dos extractos das algas. A identificação de compostos bioactivos foi realizada por espectrometria de massa com ionização por “electrospray” (ESI-MS). A alga Fucus spiralis, na fracção metanólica, foi a alga que apresentou maior actividade antioxidante, com 90,01 ± 0,003 mg de equivalentes de ácido gálico/g extracto. As algas Saccorhiza polyschides e Fucus spiralis exibiram o efeito mais potente na capacidade de redução do DPPH, com IC50 de 0,049 e 0,099 mg de extracto metanólico/ml, respectivamente. Relativamente à capacidade antimicrobiana, não existiram resultados positivos contra E. coli. No entanto existiram vários resultados positivos contra Bacillus subtilis, tendo sido a alga Asparagopsis armata (fracção metanólica) a que apresentou o maior potencial com um halo de inibição de 10 mm para a menor concentração a que se obteve actividade (100 μg/disco). Quanto à actividade antifúngica, alga Sphaerococcus coronopifolius produziu um efeito inibitório muito potente no crescimento de Saccharomyces cerevisiae, com IC50 de 56,44; 78,9 e 40,2 μg/ml nas fracções metanólica, diclorometano e n-hexano, respectivamente. Não foi possível identificar as principais moléculas responsáveis pela actividade antimicrobiana e antioxidante, no entanto foram identificados dois ácidos gordos de cadeia longa, na fracção do diclorometano da alga Sphaerococcus coronopifolius, o ácido heptadecanóico e o ácido oleico. Pela realização deste trabalho podemos concluir que as algas castanhas Fucus spiralis e Saccorhiza polyschides foram as que apresentaram mais poder antioxidante. Por outro lado, as algas vermelhas Sphaerococcus coronopifolius e Asparagopsis armata destacaram-se pelo elevado potencial antimicrobiano. Das quatro algas referidas, as algas Fucus spiralis e Sphaerococcus coronopifolius, pela potência dos resultados obtidos na capacidade antioxidante e na capacidade antifúngica, respectivamente, são as algas que abrem maiores janelas para a identificação e obtenção de novas moléculas com potencial biotecnológico relevante

Neuroprotective effects of seaweeds against 6-hydroxidopamine-induced cell death on an in vitro human neuroblastoma model

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system. Although the causes of PD pathogenesis remain incomplete, some evidences has suggested that oxidative stress is an important mediator in its pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of seaweeds with high antioxidant activity on 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity in the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y, as well as the associated intracellular signaling pathways. Methods: Cell viability studies were assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) bromide assay and the intracellular signaling pathways analyzed were: hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production, changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential and Caspase-3 activity. Results: Exposure of SH-SY5Y cells to 6-OHDA (10–1000 μM) reduced cell’s viability in a concentration and timedependent manner. The data suggest that the cell death induced by 6-OHDA was mediated by an increase of H2O2 production, the depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential and the increase of Caspase-3 activity. Extracts from S. polyshides, P. pavonica, S. muticum, C. tomentosum and U. compressa revealed to efficiently protect cell’s viability in the presence of 6-OHDA (100 μM; 24 h). These effects appear to be associated with the reduction of H2O2 cell’s production, the protection of mitochondrial membrane’s potential and the reduction of Caspase-3 activity. Conclusions: These results suggest that seaweeds can be a promising source of new compounds with neuroprotective potential.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Algae from Portuguese Coast Presented High Cytotoxicity and Antiproliferative Effects on an In vitro Model of Human Colorectal Cancer

Background: The marine environment has shown to be an interesting source of new antitumor agents, representing an important tool in cancer research. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor activities of 12 algae from Peniche coast (Portugal) on an in vitro model of human colorectal cancer (Caco‑2 cells). Materials and Methods: The antitumor potential was accessed by evaluating Caco‑2 cell’s viability and proliferation through the 3‑[4, 5‑dimethylthiazol‑2‑yl]‑2, 5‑diphenyl tetrazolium bromide and calcein‑AM methods. Results: The dichloromethane extracts of Asparagopsis armata and Sphaerococcus coronopifolius induced the highest decrease on cell’s viability (1 mg/mL; 24 h), 98.96% ± 0.39% and 98.08% ± 0.89%, respectively, followed by the methanolic extracts of S. coronopifolius (96.47% ± 1.26%) and A. armata (92.68% ± 1.17%). Regarding cell proliferation, the highest decrease of Caco‑2 cell’s proliferation (1 mg/mL; 24 h) was induced by the dichloromethane extract of A. armata (100% ± 0.48%), S. coronopifolius (99.04 ± 0.51%), and Plocamium cartilagineum (95.05% ± 1.19%). The highest potency was shown by the dichloromethane extract of S. coronopifolius in both, cytotoxicity and antiproliferative tests, with an IC50 of 21.3 and 36.5 µg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The extracts of A. armata and S. coronopifolius are promising sources of new bioactive molecules with application in cancer therapeutics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Turismo e Desenvolvimento Social: Uma combinação essencial para o progresso do destino turístico

A presente dissertação tem como objetivo principal e fundamental avaliar as perceções e as atitudes dos residentes das Aldeias Históricas face ao desenvolvimento do turismo. O desenvolvimento sustentável desta atividade implica o envolvimento da comunidade local e neste sentido foi necessário a realização de uma reflexão teórica, a partir de uma revisão bibliográfica sobre as perceções dos impactos do turismo e os modelos que têm sido utilizados para avaliar as atitudes dos residentes face ao desenvolvimento turístico e sobre os fatores que influenciam a perceção dos mesmos. Com base nessa revisão bibliográfica desenvolveu-se um modelo de investigação que pretende avaliar os fatores sociais que moderam o desenvolvimento turístico. Este modelo foi aplicado a x aldeias históricas de Portugal. Esta tarefa envolveu a realização de um inquérito por questionário aos residentes desta região, tendo sido utilizado, após o enquadramento geral dos métodos de amostragem, o método de amostragem não probabilístico. Através da administração direta foram obtidos 110 inquéritos na totalidade das regiões entre Outubro e Janeiro. O questionário incluía questões relacionadas com o perfil sócio-demográfico da população local, o nível de interação com os turistas, a perceção dos impactos e as atitudes face ao turismo. A análise dos resultados que resultam desta investigação permite observar que na generalidade os residentes das Aldeias consideram que o turismo tem mais impactos positivos para a região do que negativos, nomeadamente em termos económicos e culturais. No entanto, observa-se que alguns dos residentes percecionam já alguns impactos negativos do turismo, nomeadamente em termos sociais e ambientais, como por exemplo na poluição ou no aumento do tráfego. No que diz respeito às suas atitudes face ao turismo, a investigação identificou que os residentes concordam com o desenvolvimento do turismo, pois a grande maioria dos residentes afirmou que apoia o desenvolvimento do mesmo. Os resultados obtidos permitem, também, concluir que o principal fator que influencia a perceção dos residentes sobre os impactos do turismo é condicionada pelo afunilamento da definição de turismo, ou seja, ainda é observado num sentido muito restrito e somente virado para a oferta hoteleira da zona. A dissertação termina com algumas contribuições e recomendações para que a investigação presente ajude no desenvolvimento do turismo nesta região e para auxiliar a maximização do papel do turismo.The main objective of this dissertation is to evaluate the perceptions and behavior of the residents of the Historical Villages regarding the development of tourism. The sustainable development of this activity implies the involvement of the local community. It was necessary to carry out a theoretical reflection, based on a bibliographic review about the perceptions of tourism impacts and the models that have been used to assess the residents' behavior regarding Tourism development and the factors that influence their perception. Based on this bibliographic review, a research model was developed that intends to evaluate the previously referenced factors. Its evaluation and validation was achieved through its application to a tourist destination in Portugal - The Historical Villages of Portugal. This task involved a survey (questionnaire type) to the residents of this region using the non-probabilistic sampling method (after performing the general framework of sampling methods). Through direct administration, 110 surveys were obtained in all regions between October and January. The survey included questions related to the socio-demographic profile, the level of interaction with tourists and the perception of impacts and attitudes towards tourism of the local population. The analysis of the results of this research shows that, in general, the residents of the villages consider that tourism has more positive impacts on the region than negative ones, especially in economic and cultural terms. However, it is noted that some of the residents already perceive some negative impacts of tourism, particularly in social and environmental terms, such as pollution or increased traffic. Regarding their attitudes towards tourism, research has identified that residents agree with the development of tourism, as the vast majority of them said they support the development of tourism. The results also allow us to conclude that the main factor that influences the perception of the residents about the impacts of tourism is conditioned by the narrowing of the definition of tourism, that is, it is still observed in a very restricted sense and only focused on the hotel offer of the zone

Natural approaches for neurological disorders: The neuroprotective potential of Codium tomentosum

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, and is characterized by a progressive degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Although not completely understood, several abnormal cellular events are known to be related with PD progression, such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective e ects of Codium tomentosum enriched fractions in a neurotoxicity model mediated by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on SH-SY5Y human cells, and the disclosure of their mechanisms of action. Additionally, a preliminary chemical screening of the most promising bioactive fractions of C. tomentosum was carried out by GC-MS analysis. Among the tested fractions, four samples exhibited the capacity to revert the neurotoxicity induced by 6-OHDA to values higher or similar to the vitamin E (90.11 +- 3.74% of viable cells). The neuroprotective e ects were mediated by the mitigation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial dysfunctions and DNA damage, together with the reduction of Caspase-3 activity. Compounds belonging to different chemical classes, such as terpenes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, esters, ketones, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons were tentatively identified by GC-MS. The results show that C. tomentosum is a relevant source of neuroprotective agents, with particular interest for preventive therapeutics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sea cucumber Holothuria forskali, a new resource for aquaculture? Reproductive biology and nutraceutical approach

Sea cucumbers are highly marketable as a food product due to their nutritional value. Also, it has been suggested that sea cucumbers possess a wide range of bioactive compounds that can be used in the pharmaceutical industry. In this study, the reproductive biology of Holothuria forskali was performed by evaluating the gonadosomatic index (GI) and histological analyses of the gonadal tubules. The biotechnological potential was assessed through the evaluation of the antioxidant, antimicrobial and antitumor potential. Finally, the fatty acid profile was also evaluated. These three subjects were chosen to increase the interest and to focus the economic potential of this species rearing, predicting that it can be sold in Europe or export to Asia to be used for human consumption or for the pharmaceutical industry. The GI and the histological analysis of the gonadal tubules revealed that the range from February to March corresponds to the peak of gonads maturation. Furthermore, the methanolic fraction revealed the highest antimicrobial potential against Candida albicans with an IC50 of 233.2 mg mL -1. Also, this fraction presented the highest cytotoxic and anti-proliferative activities through the method for measuring cell proliferation method in both cell lines, with an IC50 of 238.2 and 396.0 mg mL -1 for MCF-7 cells respectively and 260.3 and 218.7 mg mL -1 for HepG-2 cells respectively. Regarding the fatty acid profile, the total fat content was 4.83% and the highest values were obtained for palmitic acid (9.96%), stearic acid (11.23%), eicosapentaenoic acid (10.49%) and arachidonic acid (20.36%).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Natural Approaches for Neurological Disorders—The Neuroprotective Potential of Codium tomentosum

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, and is characterized by a progressive degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons in the substantianigra. Although not completely understood, several abnormal cellular events are known to be related with PD progression, such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Codium tomentosum enriched fractions in a neurotoxicity model mediated by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) on SH-SY5Y human cells, and the disclosure of their mechanisms of action. Additionally, a preliminary chemical screening of the most promising bioactive fractions of C. tomentosum was carried out by GC-MS analysis. Among the tested fractions, four samples exhibited the capacity to revert the neurotoxicity induced by 6-OHDA to values higher or similar to the vitamin E (90.11 ± 3.74% of viable cells). The neuroprotective effects were mediated by the mitigation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondrial dysfunctions and DNA damage, together with the reduction of Caspase-3 activity. Compounds belonging to different chemical classes, such as terpenes, alcohols, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, esters, ketones, saturated and unsaturated hydrocarbons were tentatively identified by GC-MS. The results show that C. tomentosum is a relevant source of neuroprotective agents, with particular interest for preventive therapeuticsThis work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the strategic project UID/MAR/04292/2020 to MARE—Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre and UID/Multi/04046/2020 and UIDB/04046/2020 granted to BioISI—BioSystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, through POINT4PAC project (Oncologia de Precisão: Terapias e Tecnologias Inovadoras, SAICTPAC/0019/2015-LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-016405), through CROSS-ATLANTIC project (PTDC/BIA-OUT/29250/2017), co-financed by COMPETE (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029250) and through Molecules for Health project (PTDC/BIA-BQM/28355/2017). This work was also funded by the Integrated Programme of SR&TD Smart Valorization of Endogenous Marine Biological Resources Under a Changing Climate (Centro-01-0145-FEDER-000018), co-funded by Centro 2020 Programme, Portugal 2020, European Union, through the European Regional Development FundS

The biotechnological and seafood potential of Stichopus regalis

Sea cucumbers are highly used not only for the production of the bêche-de-mer, but also recent studies have been showing the high potential of these marine invertebrates on the pharmaceutical industry, as they are rich in bioactive compounds with important functions. Stichopus regalis extracts (1 mg∙mL−1) were used in antioxidant, antimicrobial and antitumor assays. The lipid profile was also evaluated. No significant antioxidant activity was detected in both methanolic and dichloromethane extracts. The methanolic fraction showed the highest antimicrobial potential against Candida albicans with an IC50 of 475.4 μg∙mL−1. In the antitumor assays, the dichloromethane fraction showed a high potential for both cell lines, as revealed by the MTT method. The total fat content was 3.63% ± 0.11% and the fatty acid profile revealed the highest amount in C16:0 (9.43% ± 0.77%), C18:0 (12.43% ± 0.83%), C18:1 ω7 (5.63% ± 0.33%), EPA (12.49% ± 0.15%), DHA (7.35% ± 0.02%), ARA (19.29% ± 0.14%) and a ω3/ω6 ratio of 1.078. These findings led us to suggest the potential use of S. regalis as a new source of bioactive compounds with pharmacological potential and its nutritional benefits for human health.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio