A acção pedagógica na prevenção de lesões físicas resultantes da prática violinística

Esta dissertação tem o intuito de contribuir para a discussão de problemas das lesões musculo-esqueléticas decorrentes da prática do violino e demonstrar que as boas práticas ao nível da correcção postural e aquecimento físico contribuem para a prevenção deste tipo de problemas. Após uma breve revisão bibliográfica, a metodologia segue a técnica de recolha de dados através do inquérito, com a aplicação do questionário fechado, sujeito a uma análise quantitativa. Será ainda incluída na metodologia através da técnica de inquérito, o instrumento entrevista, objecto de uma análise qualitativa. A amostra está consubstanciada nos alunos e professores da Escola Profissional de Música de Viana do Castelo e nos violinistas da Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto – Casa da Música (contexto onde o investigador também se insere), de forma a alargar e aprofundar o universo de pesquisa. A análise dos resultados demonstra a necessidade do investimento e aferição da ação dos docentes na sua atividade pedagógica, na prevenção de lesões músculo-esqueléticas nos violinistas em fase de formação, assim como a consciência dos próprios músicos de orquestra, da importância da prevenção deste tipo de lesões na sua atividade enquanto músicos profissionais e pedagogos. Como resultado e sugestão de trabalho futuro, é importante sublinhar e continuar a aprofundar o papel da ação pedagógica dos músicos na sua actividade docente, na prevenção de lesões resultantes da prática violinística.This thesis aims to discuss potential problems of musculoskeletal injuries arising from practicing the violin and to demonstrate that good practise habits, in terms of correct posture and warming up before playing, can help to prevent such problems. After a brief review of the bibliography, the methodology for collecting data includes: the survey technique, using a closed questionnaire, and the tool of recorded interview, both subject to qualitative analysis. The first sample group contains students and teachers from the Escola Professional de Música de Viana do Castelo and the second sample group violinists from the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, of which the investigator belongs to both groups. The analysis demonstrates the need for investing time and thought in how teachers can help prevent musculoskeletal injuries in violin students, and also shows the need for orchestral musicians to be aware of the importance and possibility of preventing these types of injuries while executing their professional activities. As a result of this research and as a suggestions for future work, it is important to underline and further investigate the pedagogical role of the musicians in their teaching activity in terms of injury prevention

HTLV-1 affects the adipogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Financial support: CTC, INCTC, FAPESP, FUNDHERP and CNPq

Viral metagenomics in blood donors with post-donation diseases and negative tests for dengue and Zika viruses RNA detection during a major outbreak of arboviruses in Sao Paulo State in 2016

Not Applicabl

Quantitative correlation between transcriptional levels of ER chaperone, peroximal protein and FVIII productivity in human Hek-293 cell line

Hek-293 cell line presents good production platform for recombinant therapeutic proteins, however little is known about the components that contribute to the cellular control of recombinant protein production. In this study, we generated a Hek-293 producing recombinant factor VIII (FVIII) and we evaluated the immunoglobulin-binding protein (BiP) and phytanoil-CoA α-hydroxylase (PAHX) expression levels which are known for diminishing FVIII production. Our analyses showed that the recombinant cell population expresses 3.1 ± 1.4 fold of BIP mRNA (P = 0.0054) and 97.8 ± 0.5 fold of PAHX mRNA (P = 0.0016) compared to nontransduced cells. The amount of these proteins was inversely correlated to the secreted FVIII. In conclusion, BIP and PAHX expression are augmented in human cells producing FVIII and they antagonize the amount of therapeutic factor VIII in the cell culture.This study was supported by the Center for Cell-based Therapy (CTC) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo – FAPESP. The authors acknowledge Dr. Garry P. Nolan for contributing with the pBMN-I-GFP vector and David Marco Antonio for statistical support. We thank Fernanda Udinal and Alessandra Almeida for English language support. We also thank Sandra Navarro Bresciani for preparing the figures.This study was supported by the Center for Cellbased Therapy (CTC) and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo – FAPESP. The authors acknowledge Dr. Garry P. Nolan for contributing with the pBMNIGFP vector and David Marco Antonio for statistical support. We thank Fernanda Udinal and Alessandra Almeida for English language support. We also thank Sandra Navarro Bresciani for preparing the figures

Development of a molecular platform for HTLV confirmatory diagnosis: importance of the internal amplification control

Finnancial Support: CTC/INCTC, FAPESP, FUNDHERP, FINEP

CD3e expression in HTLV-1-infected individuals is associated with proviral load and Tax expression

Financial support: FUNDHERP, CTC, INCTC, FAPESP, CNPq and CAPES

Distribution of QPY and RAH haplotypes of granzyme B gene in distinct Brazilian populations

Introduction: The cytolysis mediated by granules is one of the most important effector functions of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Recently, three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified at exons 2, 3, and 5 of the granzyme B gene, resulting in a haplotype in which three amino acids of mature protein Q48P88Y245 are changed to R48A88H245, which leads to loss of cytotoxic activity of the protein. In this study, we evaluated the frequency of these polymorphisms in Brazilian populations. Methods: We evaluated the frequency of these polymorphisms in Brazilian ethnic groups (white, Afro-Brazilian, and Asian) by sequencing these regions. Results: The allelic and genotypic frequencies of SNP 2364A/G at exon 2 in Afro-Brazilian individuals (42.3% and 17.3%) were significantly higher when compared with those in whites and Asians (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0007, respectively). The polymorphisms 2933C/G and 4243C/T also were more frequent in Afro-Brazilians but without any significant difference regarding the other groups. The Afro-Brazilian group presented greater diversity of haplotypes, and the RAH haplotype seemed to be more frequent in this group (25%), followed by the whites (20.7%) and by the Asians (11.9%), similar to the frequency presented in the literature. Conclusions: There is a higher frequency of polymorphisms in Afro-Brazilians, and the RAH haplotype was more frequent in these individuals. We believe that further studies should aim to investigate the correlation of this haplotype with diseases related to immunity mediated by cytotoxic lymphocytes, and if this correlation is confirmed, novel treatment strategies might be elaborated.Center for CellTherapy (CTC)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Fundacao Hemocentro de Ribeirao Preto (FUNDHERP

DC-SIGN (CD209) gene promoter polymorphisms in a Brazilian population and their association with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 infection

This study evaluated four polymorphisms located in the DC-SIGN (CD209) gene promoter region (positions −336, −332 −201 and −139) in DNA samples from four Brazilian ethnic groups (Caucasians, Afro-Brazilian, Asians and Amerindians) to establish the population distribution of these single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and correlated DC-SIGN polymorphisms and infection in samples from human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1)-infected individuals. To identify CD209 SNPs, 452 bp of the CD209 promoter region were sequenced and the genotype and allelic frequencies were evaluated. This is the first study to show genetic polymorphism in the CD209 gene in distinct Brazilian ethnic groups with the distribution of allelic and genotypic frequency. The results showed that −336A and −139A SNPs were quite common in Asians and that the −201T allele was not observed in Caucasians, Asians or Amerindians. No significant differences were observed between individuals with HTLV-1 disease and asymptomatic patients. However, the −336A variant was more frequent in HTLV-1-infected patients [HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), 80 %; healthy asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers, 90 %] than in the control group (70 %) [P=0.0197, odds ratio (OR)=2.511, 95 % confidence interval (CI)=1.218–5.179). In addition, the −139A allele was found to be associated with protection against HTLV-1 infection (P=0.0037, OR=0.3758, 95 % CI=0.1954–0.7229) when the HTLV-1-infected patients as a whole were compared with the healthy-control group. These observations suggest that the −139A allele may be associated with HTLV-1 infection, although no significant association was observed among asymptomatic and HAM/TSP patients. In conclusion, the variation observed in SNPs −336 and −139 indicates that this lectin may be of crucial importance in the susceptibility/transmission of HTLV-1 infections