Consumo de suplementos vitamínicos em jovens do ensino superior público do Distrito de Bragança

O actual ritmo de vida acelerado e a má alimentação das pessoas, em especial dos estudantes, obriga, muitas vezes, ao uso irracional de suplementos vitamínicos. O presente artigo pretende descrever e analisar os hábitos de consumo de Suplementos Vitamínicos (SV) e os factores que influenciam este consumo, numa amostra de 460 alunos das várias escolas do IPB, extraída de uma população total de 7064 alunos, utilizando um estudo descritivo, transversal, de natureza quantitativa. Os dados foram obtidos através da aplicação de um questionário de auto-preenchimento, anónimo e voluntário, sendo sujeitos a tratamento estatístico através do programa SPSS 17.0 para Windows. A partir dos resultados foi possível concluir que 47,6% dos alunos questionados consome ou já consumiu SV, sendo os mais consumidos Centrum (40,2%), Cerebrum (27,4%) e Magnesium (20,6%), e os menos consumidos Amundsen, Bioelectra, CerealG, Cergumil, Panvitol, Tonosol e Vittol, não assinalados por nenhum dos inquiridos. Relativamente às variáveis em estudo (Género; Idade; Meio de onde provém; Escola; Grau Académico; Curso e Ano em que se encontra), nenhuma delas demostrou ter relação com o consumo de SV

Caracterização química e microbiológica de pêras secadas em estufa solar.

A secagem solar é umas das técnicas mais antigas de conservação de frutos, particularmente os de pequena dimensão. Durante este processo ocorrem também modificações das características químicas e sensoriais dos frutos, que os podem tornar mais apelativos para o consumidor. Neste contexto, a pêra secada da variedade de S. Bartolomeu – pêra passa de Viseu surge como um produto que perde a sua acentuada adstringência com a secagem, reunindo características ímpares como a forma, a cor, o paladar, o cheiro e a capacidade de conservação (Ferreira et al., 2002). No entanto, o decréscimo da sua produção tem conduzido ao aparecimento e secagem de outras variedades regionais, também de pequenas dimensões para a produção da pêra passa. O objectivo deste trabalho consistiu na avaliação das propriedades nutricionais em fresco e após a secagem, efectuada em estufa solar, de quatro variedades regionais de pêras: S. Bartolomeu, Carapinheira Branca, Amêndoa e Amorim provenientes de Coimbra. Nas pêras secadas foram também efectuadas análises microbiológicas com vista à determinação dos mesófilos, dos bolores, das leveduras e dos coliformes totais presentes. Dos resultados obtidos concluiu-se que a polpa em fresco de todas as variedades de pêras estudadas é pobre em proteína e rica em açúcares totais, tal como acontece para a generalidade dos frutos. No entanto, os valores de fibra dietética total para as quatro variedades estão compreendidos entre cerca de 12% a 15% em massa seca, sendo superiores aos obtidos para a generalidade dos frutos e alguns cereais que, no geral, são considerados a melhor fonte de fibra dietética. Os resultados indicam que a secagem em estufa solar não afectou as características nutricionais avaliadas das quatro variedades secadas com excepção dos açúcares totais. A gama de valores de actividade da água e dos níveis populacionais de microorganismos encontrados nas diferentes variedades de pêras permite inferir que este tipo de alimentos será potencialmente seguro do ponto de vista microbiológico. Este comportamento permite-nos sugerir que as variedades Carapinheira Branca, Amêndoa e Amorim são uma potencial alternativa à variedade de S. Bartolomeu para a produção de pêra passa

Non‐linear plant‐plant interactions modulate impact of extreme drought and recovery on a Mediterranean ecosystem

Interaction effects of different stressors, such as extreme drought and plant invasion, can have detrimental effects on ecosystem functioning and recovery after drought. With ongoing climate change and increasing plant invasion, there is an urgent need to predict the short- and long-term interaction impacts of these stressors on ecosystems. We established a combined precipitation exclusion and shrub invasion (Cistus ladanifer) experiment in a Mediterranean cork oak (Quercus suber) ecosystem with four treatments: (1) Q. suber control; (2) Q. suber with rain exclusion; (3) Q. suber invaded by shrubs; and (4) Q. suber with rain exclusion In an average precipitation year, the interaction effects of both stressors were neutral. However, the combination of imposed drought and shrub invasion led to amplifying interaction effects during an extreme drought by strongly reducing tree transpiration. Contrarily, the imposed drought reduced the competitiveness of the shrubs in the following recovery period, which buffered the negative effects of shrub invasion on Q. suber. Our results demonstrate the highly dynamic and nonlinear effects of interacting stressors on ecosystems and urges for further investigations on biotic interactions in a context of climate change pressures

Trophic ecology of common bottlenose dolphins in a pelagic insular environment inferred by stable isotopes

The common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) is a top marine predator widely dispersed in coastal and pelagic habitats and with a generalist feeding behavior. Yet, information on the trophic ecology of animals inhabiting pelagic environments is still scarce. Using carbon (& delta;C-13: C-13/C-12) and nitrogen (& delta;N-15: N-15/N-14) stable isotope ratios, we identified and quantified the main groups of prey assimilated by bottlenose dolphins inhabiting an oceanic habitat (Madeira Island, East Atlantic). Bottlenose dolphins assimilated pelagic, schooling fish (such as blue jack mackerel, Trachurus picturatus) and mesopelagic and demersal squids, which reinforces the pelagic dietary composition of insular/oceanic dolphins. Also, intra-seasonal differences were found in their stable isotope ratios, which suggest intraspecific variability in the feeding behavior among individuals living in the same area. Sex was not the main factor contributing to these differences, suggesting the lack of trophic niche segregation between adult males and females in this offshore environment. Nonetheless, further studies including different life stages and information on the ecophysiological requirements are necessary to disclose the factors responsible for the observed variability. This study showed that insular dolphins fed primarily on economically important pelagic prey, highlighting the need of developing management strategies that integrate conservation in fisheries plans.NORTE01-0145-FEDER-000031; M1420-01-0145-FEDER-000001-OOM; LA/P/0069/2020; M1420-09-5369-FSE-000002info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Synthesis of aminodiarylamines in the thieno[3,2-b]pyridine series and effects on tumor cell growth inhibition, cell cycle and apoptosis

Several series of compounds that include the thienopyridine scaffold have been reported as inhibitors of known cancer therapeutic targets or as inhibitors of cell proliferation in tumor cell lines [1,2]. Our research group has already synthesized several thieno[3,2-b]pyridine derivatives by Pd-catalyzed C-C (Suzuki and Sonogashira) and C-N (Buchwald-Hartwig) couplings and some of them have presented tumor cell growth inhibitory activity in cell lines [3- 5]

Electrochromic device composed of a Di-Urethanesil electrolyte incorporating lithium triflate and 1-Butyl-3-Methylimidazolium chloride

A di-urethane cross-linked poly(oxyethylene)/silica hybrid matrix [di-urethanesil, d-Ut(600)], synthesized by the sol-gel process, was doped with lithium triflate (LiCF3SO3) and the 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([Bmim]Cl) ionic liquid. The as-produced xerogel film is amorphous, transparent, flexible, homogeneous, hydrophilic, and has low nanoscale surface roughness. It exhibits an ionic conductivity of 3.64 x 10(-6) and 5.00 x 10(-4) S cm(-1) at 21 and 100 degrees C, respectively. This material was successfully tested as electrolyte in an electrochromic device (ECD) with the glass/ITO/a-WO3/d-Ut(600)(10)LiCF3SO3[Bmim]Cl/c-NiO/ITO/glass configuration, where a-WO3 and c-NiO stand for amorphous tungsten oxide and crystalline nickel oxide, respectively. The device demonstrated attractive electro-optical performance: fast response times (1-2 s for coloring and 50 s for bleaching), good optical memory [loss of transmittance (T) of only 41% after 3 months, at 555 nm], four mode modulation [bright mode (+3.0 V, T = 77% at 555 nm), semi-bright mode (-1.0 V, T = 60% at 555 nm), dark mode (-1.5 V, T = 38 % at 555 nm), and very dark mode (-2.0 V, T = 11% and -2.5 V, T = 7% at 555 nm)], excellent cycling stability denoting improvement with time, and high coloration efficiency [CEin = -6727 cm(2) C-1 (32th cycle) and CEout = +2794 cm(2) C-1 (480th cycle), at 555 nm].The authors are grateful to Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) and when applicable by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement for financial support under contracts PEst-OE/SAU/UI0709/2014, UID/Multi/00709/2013, UID/QUI/00686/2016, UID/QUI/00686/2018, UID/QUI/00686/2019, PEst-OE/QUI/UI0616/2016, FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER037271, UID/CTM/50011/2013, LUMECD project (POCI01-0145-FEDER-016884 and PTDC/CTM-NAN/0956/2014), UniRCell project (SAICTPAC/0032/2015 and POCI-01-0145FEDER-016422). RP and SN acknowledge FCT-MCTES for grants (SFRH/BPD/87759/2012 and LUMECD, respectively). RP thanks FCT-UM for the contracts in the scope of Decreto-Lei 57/2016 and 57/2017. MF acknowledges FCTUTAD for the contract in the scope of Decreto-Lei 57/2016 -Lei 57/2017. HG acknowledges projects POCI-010145-FEDER-030858 and PTDC/BTM-MAT/30858/2017 for financial support

Aminodi(hetero)arylamines in the thieno[3,2-b]pyridine series: synthesis, effects in human tumor cells growth, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis and evaluation of toxicity using non-tumor cells

Three aminodi(hetero)arylamines were prepared via a palladium-catalyzed C-N Buchwald-Hartwig coupling of methyl 3-aminothieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate with different bromonitrobenzenes, followed by reduction of the nitro groups of the coupling products to the corresponding amino compounds. The aminodi(hetero)arylamines thus obtained were evaluated for their growth inhibitory effect on four human tumor cell lines MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), A375-C5 (melanoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer) and HepG2 (hepatocellular carcinoma). The toxicity to non-tumor cells was also evaluated using a porcine liver primary cell culture (PLP1), established by us. The aminodi(hetero)arylamine with the NH2 group in the ortho position and an OMe group in the para position to the NH of the di(hetero)arylamine, is the most promising compound giving the lowest GI50 values (1.30–1.63 μM) in all the tested human tumor cell lines, presenting no toxicity to PLP1 at those concentrations. The effect of this compound on the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis was analyzed in the NCI-H460 cell line. It was observed that it altered the cell cycle profile causing a decrease in the percentage of cells in the G0/G1 phase and an increase of the apoptosis levels.Foundation for the Science and Technology (FCT–Portugal) for financial support through the NMR Portuguese network (Bruker 400 Avance III-Univ Minho). FCT and FEDER (European Fund for Regional Development) for financial support through the research centers PEst-C/QUI/UI686/2011and PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011, the research project PTDC/QUI-QUI/111060/2009 and the post-Doctoralgrants attributed to R.C.C. and R.T.L. (SFRH/BPD/68344/2010 and SFRH/BPD/68787/2010, respectively). IPATIMUP is an Associate Laboratory of the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education and is partially supported by FCT

Predictors of cardiac involvement in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

Copyright © 2023 Bandeira, Dourado, Melo, Martins, Fraga, Ferraro, Saraiva, Sousa, Parente, Soares, Correia, Almeida, Dinis, Pinto, Oliveira Pinheiro, Rato, Beirão, Samões, Santos, Mazeda, Chícharo, Faria, Neto, Lourenço, Brites, Rodrigues, Silva-Dinis, Dias, Araújo, Martins, Couto, Valido, Santos, Barreira, Fonseca and Campanilho-Marques. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.Objectives: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a group of rare disorders that can affect the heart. This work aimed to find predictors of cardiac involvement in IIM. Methods: Multicenter, open cohort study, including patients registered in the IIM module of the Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt/Myositis) until January 2022. Patients without cardiac involvement information were excluded. Myo(peri)carditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, conduction abnormalities, and/or premature coronary artery disease were considered. Results: 230 patients were included, 163 (70.9%) of whom were females. Thirteen patients (5.7%) had cardiac involvement. Compared with IIM patients without cardiac involvement, these patients had a lower bilateral manual muscle testing score (MMT) at the peak of muscle weakness [108.0 ± 55.0 vs 147.5 ± 22.0, p=0.008] and more frequently had oesophageal [6/12 (50.0%) vs 33/207 (15.9%), p=0.009] and lung [10/13 (76.9%) vs 68/216 (31.5%), p=0.001] involvements. Anti-SRP antibodies were more commonly identified in patients with cardiac involvement [3/11 (27.3%) vs 9/174 (5.2%), p=0.026]. In the multivariate analysis, positivity for anti-SRP antibodies (OR 104.3, 95% CI: 2.5-4277.8, p=0.014) was a predictor of cardiac involvement, regardless of sex, ethnicity, age at diagnosis, and lung involvement. Sensitivity analysis confirmed these results. Conclusion: Anti-SRP antibodies were predictors of cardiac involvement in our cohort of IIM patients, irrespective of demographical characteristics and lung involvement. We suggest considering frequent screening for heart involvement in anti-SRP-positive IIM patients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio