Angiotensina 1-7/Receptor MAS en neuronas dopaminérgicas

Traballo fin de mestrado (UDC.CIE). Neurociencia. Curso 2016/201

O INSTITUTO DO REFÚGIO E A EVOLUÇÃO HISTÓRICA DA SUA PROTEÇÃO JURÍDICA INTERNA E INTERNACIONAL

O presente artigo está voltado, em específico, à proteção jurídica internacional e interna do refugiado. Tem como finalidade apresentar o instituto do Refúgio, facilitar a distinção em relação a outros institutos como a migração e o asilo, abordando a temática no cenário internacional e nacional. Para essa análise, serão utilizados documentos internacionais (Convenções, Tratados, Pareceres de Organizações Internacionais e doutrina internacional), além da legislação e doutrina internas

The effect of powdered juice on human dental enamel dissolution

Aim: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the dissolution potential of an artificial powdered juice in human dental enamel. Methods: Three commercially available beverages were tested by first evaluating the pH and the titratable acidity. After this, 40 enamel specimens were individually immersed in the respective solutions for 120 min (n = 8) as follows: C+: distilled water (positive control); TAN: artificial powdered orange juice; DEL: natural orange juice, CC: Coca-Cola and C-: citric acid solution 1% (negative control). At the end, each solution was analyzed for the amount of calcium (Ca) released and the data obtained were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Tukey test (p <0.05). Results: All solutions had low pH values. The C- group had the highest titratable acidity, followed by DEL, TAN and CC. TAN (0,92)a resulted in a lower release of Ca, being statistically similar to C+ group (0,46)a, while CC (6,32)c resulted in the higher release of calcium, followed by C- (4,17)bc and DEL (3,13)b groups. Relevance: The artificial powdered juice tested, although acid and high titratable acidity caused no enamel dissolution

Prevalência da infecção por Ehrlichia em cães e carrapatos no Nordeste do Brasil

This study investigated the epidemiology of canine ehrlichiosis in Northeastern Brazil, focusing the identification of the Ehrlichia species and vectors involved. Samples were collected from 472 domestic dogs residing in the health districts of Cajazeiras and Itapuã of Salvador city. The average prevalence of antibodies reactive to E. canis by immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) (titer > 1:80) was 35.6% (168/472). Blood samples from the E. canis-seropositive animals were tested by nested PCR in order to identify the Ehrlichia species responsible for the infection. Among the seropositives, 58 (34.5%) were found to be PCR-positive for E. canis. Ticks were found in 32 dogs. Nested-PCR analysis showed that 21.9% (7/32) of the Rhipicephalus sanguineus were infected by E. canis. In both dogs and Rhipicephalus sanguineus, nested-PCR for E. ewingii and E. chaffeensis was negative, with no amplification of DNA fragment.Este estudo objetivou pesquisar a epidemiologia da erliquiose canina no Nordeste do Brasil, com especial atenção na identificação da espécie de Ehrlichia envolvida nas infecções caninas e vetoriais detectadas. Para isso foram coletadas amostras de 472 cães domiciliados nos distritos sanitários de Cajazeiras e Itapuã. A prevalência de anticorpos anti-E. canis, pela imunofluorescência indireta (título > 1:80), em cães foi de 35,6% (168/472). Os animais soropositivos foram analisados por uma nested-PCR para identificação da espécie de Ehrlichia responsável pela infecção. Dentre os positivos, 58 (34,5%) cães foram PCR-positivos para E. canis. Foram coletados e classificados os carrapatos em 32 cães. A nested-PCR de Rhipicephalus sanguineus resultou em 21,9% (7/32) de infecção por E. canis. A nested-PCR de amostras de sangue de cães e Rhipicephalus sanguineus para E. chaffeensis e E. ewingii foi negativa, não havendo amplificação de fragmento de DNA.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB

a randomized comparative effectiveness trial

Funding Information: The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was sponsored by CUF and Pingo Doce, as part of the Menos Sal Portugal project, and with support from the Centro de Medicina Laboratorial Germano de Sousa. The sponsors did not play a role in the study design or the interpretation of the results. The study was also promoted by the CINTESIS@RISE (UIDB/4255/2020 and UIDP/4255/2020), NOVA Medical School of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa and supported by national funds through FCT Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., within the scope of the project “RISE-LA/P/0053/2020”. Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2023 Moreira-Rosário, Ismael, Barreiros-Mota, Morais, Rodrigues, Castela, Mendes, Soares, da Costa, Oliveira, Henriques, Pinto, Pita, de Oliveira, Maciel, Serafim, Araújo, Rocha, Pestana, Silvestre, Marques, Faria, Polonia and Calhau.Introduction: Empowerment lifestyle programs are needed to reduce the risk of hypertension. Our study compared the effectiveness of two empowerment-based approaches toward blood pressure (BP) reduction: salt reduction-specific program vs. healthy lifestyle general program. Methods: Three hundred and eleven adults (median age of 44 years, IQR 34–54 years) were randomly assigned to a salt reduction (n = 147) or a healthy lifestyle program (n = 164). The outcome measures were urinary sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) excretion, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, weight, and waist circumference. Results: There were no significant differences in primary and secondary outcomes between the two program groups. When comparing each program to baseline, the program focused on salt reduction was effective in lowering BP following a 12-week intervention with a mean change of −2.5 mm Hg in SBP (95% CI, −4.1 to −0.8) and − 2.7 mm Hg in DBP (95% CI, −3.8 to −1.5) in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. In the complete-case (CC) analysis, the mean change was −2.1 mm Hg in SBP (95% CI, −3.7 to −0.5) and − 2.3 mm Hg in DBP (95% CI, −3.4 to −1.1). This effect increases in subjects with high-normal BP or hypertension [SBP − 7.9 mm Hg (95% CI, −12.5 to −3.3); DBP − 7.3 mm Hg (95% CI, −10.2 to −4.4)]. The healthy lifestyle group also exhibited BP improvements after 12 weeks; however, the changes were less pronounced compared to the salt reduction group and were observed only for DBP [mean change of −1.5 mm Hg (95% CI, −2.6 to −0.4) in ITT analysis and − 1.4 mm Hg (95% CI, −2.4 to −0.3) in CC analysis, relative to baseline]. Overall, improvements in Na+/K+ ratio, weight, and Mediterranean diet adherence resulted in clinically significant SBP decreases. Importantly, BP reduction is attributed to improved dietary quality, rather than being solely linked to changes in the Na+/K+ ratio. Conclusion: Salt-focused programs are effective public health tools mainly in managing individuals at high risk of hypertension. Nevertheless, in general, empowerment-based approaches are important strategies for lowering BP, by promoting health literacy that culminates in adherence to the Mediterranean diet and weight reduction.publishersversionpublishe

Empowerment-based nutrition interventions on blood pressure: a randomized comparative effectiveness trial

IntroductionEmpowerment lifestyle programs are needed to reduce the risk of hypertension. Our study compared the effectiveness of two empowerment-based approaches toward blood pressure (BP) reduction: salt reduction-specific program vs. healthy lifestyle general program.MethodsThree hundred and eleven adults (median age of 44 years, IQR 34–54 years) were randomly assigned to a salt reduction (n = 147) or a healthy lifestyle program (n = 164). The outcome measures were urinary sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) excretion, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure, weight, and waist circumference.ResultsThere were no significant differences in primary and secondary outcomes between the two program groups. When comparing each program to baseline, the program focused on salt reduction was effective in lowering BP following a 12-week intervention with a mean change of −2.5 mm Hg in SBP (95% CI, −4.1 to −0.8) and − 2.7 mm Hg in DBP (95% CI, −3.8 to −1.5) in the intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis. In the complete-case (CC) analysis, the mean change was −2.1 mm Hg in SBP (95% CI, −3.7 to −0.5) and − 2.3 mm Hg in DBP (95% CI, −3.4 to −1.1). This effect increases in subjects with high-normal BP or hypertension [SBP − 7.9 mm Hg (95% CI, −12.5 to −3.3); DBP − 7.3 mm Hg (95% CI, −10.2 to −4.4)]. The healthy lifestyle group also exhibited BP improvements after 12 weeks; however, the changes were less pronounced compared to the salt reduction group and were observed only for DBP [mean change of −1.5 mm Hg (95% CI, −2.6 to −0.4) in ITT analysis and − 1.4 mm Hg (95% CI, −2.4 to −0.3) in CC analysis, relative to baseline]. Overall, improvements in Na+/K+ ratio, weight, and Mediterranean diet adherence resulted in clinically significant SBP decreases. Importantly, BP reduction is attributed to improved dietary quality, rather than being solely linked to changes in the Na+/K+ ratio.ConclusionSalt-focused programs are effective public health tools mainly in managing individuals at high risk of hypertension. Nevertheless, in general, empowerment-based approaches are important strategies for lowering BP, by promoting health literacy that culminates in adherence to the Mediterranean diet and weight reduction

Portuguese questionnaires for assesing dietary supplements usage by athletes

RESUMO: A prevalência do uso de suplementos alimentares pelos atletas é alta e muitas vezes os atletas não escolhem o suplemento alimentar adequado às suas necessidades e objetivos. Para que haja um aconselhamento por parte dos profissionais de saúde, é necessário que sejam feitos novos estudos neste tema, de forma a conhecer cada vez mais as escolhas dos atletas. Ainda assim é essencial que haja uma padronização dos métodos de recolha de dados sobre os suplementos alimentares como questionários. O objetivo desta dissertação foi desenvolver dois questionários para determinar a utilização de suplementos alimentares utilizados pelos atletas portugueses. Uma adaptação transcultural de uma versão em português do questionário “Uso de suplementos deportivos en deportistas de élite” e uma validação de um questionário, que já era utilizado para determinar o uso de suplementos alimentares usados por atletas de elite portugueses. Para a adaptação transcultural foi desenvolvida uma versão traduzida do questionário em espanhol, utilizando a metodologia de Beaton. Este método utiliza a tradução do questionário inicial, retradução e pré-teste. A atualização e validação do questionário português foi desenvolvida através de várias etapas como a modificação e construção do questionário, avaliação e verificação do questionário, teste da versão pré-final e teste da versão final do questionário. Utilizamos o teste-reteste para verificar a confiabilidade de perguntas isoladas. Com esta dissertação obtemos duas novas ferramentas para realizar novos estudos em torno do uso de suplementos alimentares no contexto da nutrição desportiva, que cada uma dessas ferramentas deve ser utilizada em função do objetivo do estudo.ABSTRACT: The prevalence of DS in athletic populations is high, and athletes often do not choose the appropriate dietary supplements. To provide better advice to athletes it is essential and necessary new research on this topic. Also, the standardization of the methods for collecting this information is necessary. The aim of this dissertation was to develop two different questionnaires to determine the usage of DS used by Portuguese athletes: (i) a cross-cultural adaptation and translation to Portuguese of the questionnaire “Uso de suplementos deportivos en deportistas de élite”, and (ii) a validation of a Portuguese questionnaire to determine the usage of DS used by elite athletes. For the cross-cultural adaptation, a translated version of the Spanish questionnaire was developed, using the methodology according to Beaton. This method uses the translation of the initial questionnaire considering the necessary cultural adaptations, back-translation, and pre-test. The update and validation of the Portuguese questionnaire was developed through the following steps: (1) modification of a pre-existent questionnaire to develop an updated version; (2) assessment of content validity by an experts panel; (3) assessment of face validity and test the pre-final version, and (4) test and re-test of the final version. We used the test-retest to check the reliability of single questions. This dissertation allowed us to obtain new tools in Portuguese language to carry out new and valuable research about DS usage in the context of sports and these new tools can be used and select depending on the aim of the study

Suspension TRAPping Filter (sTRAP) Sample Preparation for Quantitative Proteomics in the Low µg Input Range Using a Plasmid DNA Micro-Spin Column: Analysis of the Hippocampus from the 5xFAD Alzheimer’s Disease Mouse Model

Suspension TRAPping filter (sTRAP) is an attractive sample preparation method for proteomics studies. The sTRAP protocol uses 5% SDS that maximizes protein solubilization. Proteins are trapped on a borosilicate glass membrane filter, where SDS is subsequently removed from the filter. After trypsin digestion, peptides are analyzed directly by LC-MS. Here, we demonstrated the use of a low-cost plasmid DNA micro-spin column for the sTRAP sample preparation of a dilution series of a synapse-enriched sample with a range of 10–0.3 µg. With 120 ng tryptic peptides loaded onto the Evosep LC system coupled to timsTOF Pro 2 mass spectrometer, we identified 5700 protein groups with 4% coefficient of variation (CoV). Comparing other sample preparation protocols, such as the in-gel digestion and the commercial Protifi S-TRAP with the plasmid DNA micro-spin column, the last is superior in both protein and peptide identification numbers and CoV. We applied sTRAP for the analysis of the hippocampal proteome from the 5xFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease and their wildtype littermates, and revealed 121 up- and 54 down-regulated proteins. Protein changes in the mutant mice point to the alteration of processes related to the immune system and Amyloid aggregation, which correlates well with the known major Alzheimer’s-disease-related pathology. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD041045