Experiência Profissionalizante na vertente de Farmácia Hospitalar, Farmácia Comunitária e Investigação

O presente trabalho encontra-se dividido em 3 capítulos nos quais são demonstradas não só as atividades desenvolvidas e conhecimentos adquiridos ao longo dos dois estágios curriculares, nas áreas de farmácia hospitalar e farmácia comunitária, mas também o trabalho laboratorial desenvolvido nas áreas da fitoquímica e microbiologia. O primeiro capítulo pretende retratar o período inicial de estágio, que decorreu entre os meses de janeiro e março de 2019 nos Serviços Farmacêuticos da Unidade Local de Saúde de Castelo Branco. Durante o período de estágio foram abordadas as várias áreas existentes, que de forma genérica se podem dividir em gestão, distribuição, farmacotecnia e ambulatório, sendo que dentro de cada uma destas foram focados não só os conhecimentos teóricos e técnicocientíficos, mas também as boas práticas e o carácter humano que deve pautar a atuação do farmacêutico enquanto profissional de saúde, independentemente do local de atuação. No segundo capítulo intenta-se, de forma semelhante, transpor o período de estágio decorrido entre março e maio de 2019, na Farmácia Ferrer, em Castelo Branco. Ao longo das 12 semanas foram abordadas diversas áreas, desde a receção das encomendas até ao atendimento ao público, passando também pelos serviços prestados aos utentes. A importância e o papel do farmacêutico enquanto profissional de saúde, a sua atuação e contacto com o utente constituíram pilares de extrema importância durante toda a aprendizagem. Por último, o terceiro capítulo pretende demonstrar todo o trabalho laboratorial desenvolvido no Centro de Biotecnologia de Plantas da Beira Interior, bem como na Escola Superior Agrária de Castelo Branco. Sendo a resistência aos antibióticos um dos principais problemas na saúde no século XXI, torna-se imperativo descobrir novos compostos que demonstrem capacidade de inibir o crescimento dos microrganismos. As atividades desenvolvidas tiveram como principal objetivo avaliar o potencial antibacteriano da maçã Bravo-de-Esmolfe (Malus domestica cv. Bravo-de-Esmolfe). Inicialmente procedeu-se à preparação da amostra, de forma a avaliar possíveis diferenças entre os compostos existentes na casca e na polpa da fruta. Após a obtenção de extratos com recurso a dois solventes distintos, bem como diversas técnicas extrativas, procedeu-se à avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana contra cinco microrganismos. Após a realização de ensaios em meio sólido, foram determinadas as concentrações mínimas inibitórias dos vários extratos brutos em meio líquido Müeller-Hinton, sendo que o resultado mais baixo obtido foi de 31,25 mg/mL para a estirpe de Bacillus cereus. Com a determinação das concentrações mínimas bactericidas foi possível concluir que os extratos obtidos apenas possuem ação inibitória, não sendo capazes de matar os microrganismos.The current work is divided in 3 chapters in which are demonstrated not only the developed activities and aquired knowledges throughout the two internships, in community and hospital pharmacy, but also the laboratorial work builded up in the phytochemistry and microbiology fields. The first chapter intends to describe the first intership period, which begun in january until march 2019, at the Pharmaceutical Services of the Unidade Local de Saúde de Castelo Branco. During the internship period, the various existing areas were approached, which can be divided into management, distribution, pharmacotechnics and ambulatory, and within each of these were focused not only theoretical and technical-scientific knowledges, but also good practices and the human character that should guide the pharmacist's performance as a healthcare professional, regardless of the place of performance. The second chapter seeks, similarly, to transpose the internship period between march to may 2019 at the Farmácia Ferrer, in Castelo Branco. Over the 12 weeks various areas were addressed, from receiving orders to serving the public, as well as services to users. The importance and role of the pharmacist as a health professional, his performance and contact with the user were extremely important pillars throughout the learning process. Finally, the third chapter aims to demonstrate all the laboratory work developed at the Beira Interior Plant Biotechnology Center, as well as at the Castelo Branco School of Agriculture. As antibiotic resistance is one of the main health problems in the 21st century, it is imperative to discover new molecules that demonstrate the ability to inhibit the microorganisms’ growth. The activities that were developed had as main goal the evaluation of the antibacterial potential of Bravo-de-Esmolfe apple (Malus domestica cv. Bravo-de-Esmolfe). Initially, the sample was prepared in order to evaluate possible differences between the peel and fruit pulp existing compounds. After obtaining extracts using two distinct solvents, as well as two different extractive techniques, the antimicrobial activity against five microorganisms was evaluated. After testing in solid medium, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the various crude extracts were determined in Müeller-Hinton broth, and the lowest result obtained was 31.25 mg / mL for the Bacillus cereus strain. With the determination of the minimum bactericidal concentrations it was possible to conclude that the obtained extracts only have inhibitory action, not being able to kill the microorganisms

Sediment-matrix igneous breccias at the top contacts of felsic units in the IPB : implications for VHMS exploration

The Volcanic Sedimentary Complex of the Iberian Pyrite Belt is dominated by mudstone units and comprises felsic lavas/domes and pyroclastic units that define lava-cryptodome-pumice cone volcanoes. Sediment-matrix igneous breccias may outline the contacts of volcanic units, occur within them, or lie laterally to the volcanic centres. These breccias can form by several processes, each with its genetic implications, having nevertheless very similar final aspect. We have distinguished and characterized several sediment-matrix breccia types. The most abundant types are sediment-infill volcanic breccia and peperite; however other types of sediment-matrix breccia were also identified. The correct identification of these breccias is crucial to reconstruct the volcanic centres and to define the stratigraphy, which in mineralized volcanic provinces is a major issue both for metallogenic and mineral exploration models

Geodynamics of Iberia, supercontinent cycles and metallogenic implications

The geodynamic evolution of Iberia since Neoproterozoic times illustrates the progression of the two last supercontinent cycles and the probable path to the next one. The Pangaea supercontinent cycle shows features of Hercynian- and Alpine-type orogens both in terms of tectonothermal regime and geometry/kinematics. The combination of inherited and neo-formed components, namely those able to sustain long-lasting and/or recurrent rejuvenation of heat and mass advection in the lithosphere, explain the complexity and singula

Mineralogy and Geochemistry in the Arctic crust near Loki's Castle, 74 degrees N (South Knipovich Ridge).

The Loki’s Castle hydrothermal vent field is composed of several active, over 10 m tall chimneys, producing up to 320ºC fluid. The main sulfides in chimneys are sphalerite, pyrite and pyrrhothite, with generally lesser chalcopyrite. Alteration products collected adjacent to chimneys contain much anhydrite, gypsum and talc. Quartz, anhydrite, gypsum and barite are also present, and locally abundant. Rhythmically zoned sphalerites suggest pulsating hydrothermal activity. Here we report the preliminary results of a detailed study (in progress) of sequential extraction and analyses of metals from sediments in the vicinity of Loki’s Castle, in order to detect correlations with microbial populations and/or subseafloor mineralized intervals. The results expose numerous anomalies. Some consist of isolated high values of metals such as Cu or Zn, whereas others contain clusters of high values of several metals in the same interval. The former correspond to bedded fallout, from nearby hydrothermal activity (in a not too distant past), but the latter may correspond to intersections of hydrothermal plumes ascending through (variably) porous sediment. This may an effect on the microbial population (deep biosphere)

Loki’s Castle Arctic Vents and Host Sediments: Mineralogy and Geochemistry.

Loki’s Castle hydrothermal field is located in the Arctic Ocean, in the bend between the South Knipovich Ridge and the Mohns Ridge, at ≈74ºN. The results presented here are from samples collected with the ROV Bathysaurus XL and consist of chimney fragments and seafloor sediments from the vicinities. The studies consist of a petrographic description, X- ray diffraction analysis, chemical analyses under the electron microprobe and bulk chemical analyses of major and trace elements. The sulphide assemblage most commonly present in the samples consists of sphalerite, pyrite and pyrrhotite, with minor amounts of chalcopyrite. Sulphide-poor selected samples collected at the base of chimneys are mostly composed of anhydrite, gypsum and talc. Association of quartz, anhydrite, gypsum and barite were also found in some of the sediment samples. The observed sulphide assemblege is consistent with the temperature of 320ºC measured in Loki’s Castle vents. The interior of chimneys are enriched in Zn, Cu and Fe while the exterior are enriched in Ba and Sr. REE patterns for the recovered seafloor sediments show a perfect match with NASC. The sulphide-poor samples collected at the base of the chimneys denotes sea water interaction with the hydrothermal fluid and consequent decrease in the temperature, precipitating sulphates

Geological mineral exploration tools in the Arctic near Loki's Castle, 74 degrees N (South Knipovich Ridge)

Discovery of the Loki’s Castle hydrothermal vent field (2008) was a great surprise, given its size and vigour of hydrothermal discharge. Several characteristics, including the fauna, separate it from either Atlantic or Pacific-type hydrothermal sites. Concerning size and grades, data are insufficient, but it appears so far that Loki’s Castle is a very large system, about 200 m in diameter. The metal contents (in discreet samples, this study) are quite interesting, with Zn up to 5.4wt% and Cu estimated at several percent in some samples. Ag attains 25 ppm and Au 1.3 ppm. The tonnage of Loki’s Castle may be, tentatively, in the range of 1-5 million tones. Loki’s Castle is certainly worthy of study from a mineral resource standpoint. Very active hydrothermal discharge sites such as Loki’s Castle raise the issue of the size gap between modern and ancient vms deposits (preserved in the geological record), with the latter often much larger than the former. For the land-based mining industry, a “large” vms deposit amounts to a least 25 Mt. The larger examples (supergiant deposits) exceed 150 Mt (Galley et al, 2007). We believe that this gap (by a factor of at least 20) is largely a consequence of incomplete knowledge of the present day systems. Too little attention has been given so far to deposits forming within the upper few metres of the oceanic crust, within sediments or other poorly consolidated rocks (e.g. volcaniclastics). We are studying sediments in detail to find clues of hydrothermal activity through them, and to test the possibility of some influence from within-crust microbial activity (deep biosphere)