Arbustus unedo essence: morphological and genetic characterization of the strawberry tree of Castelo de Paiva

O medronheiro é um arbusto da região mediterrânica que pode ser encontrada por todo o país. Ao contrário do que verifica na região sul do país, no concelho de Castelo de Paiva é atribuída uma reduzida importância económica a esta espécie. Com o intuito de preservar e potenciar a produção desta espécie e contribuir para a dinamização da economia do concelho, procedeu-se à caracterização morfológica e genética de uma amostra da população de medronheiros de Castelo de Paiva. A caracterização morfológica e genética foi realizada para um total de 10 genótipos. Para tal recolheram-se 70 folhas aleatoriamente em cada árvore. Em 40 folhas mediu-se o comprimento, largura, comprimento do pedúnculo, peso fresco, peso seco e determinou-se a área foliar. Dos caracteres morfológicos analisados, aqueles que se revelaram mais úteis na distinção dos vários genótipos foram: comprimento do pedúnculo, peso fresco e peso seco. As restantes 30 folhas foram utilizadas para a caracterização genética. Esta caracterização foi realizada recorrendo a um marcador de DNA, ISSR. Os 5 primeiros exemplaresutilizados na técnica de ISSR demonstraram-se polimórficos. Os resultados da caracterização genética sugerem que a variabilidade genética na população é média a alta.The strawberry tree is a shrub native in the Mediterranean region and it can be found throughout Portugal. Unlike the case in the southern region of the country, in Castelo de Paiva a minor economic importance is given to this species. In order to preserve, to enhance the production of this species and to contribute to the boosting of the economy of the region, we proceeded to the characterization of a small sample population of this fruit tree of Castelo de Paiva in what concerns to its morphology and genetics. The morphological and genetic characterization was performed for a total of 10 genotypes. For this, 70 leaves were randomly collected from each tree. For 40 leaves, it was measured the length, the width, the peduncle length, the wet weight, the dry weight and determined the leaf area. Of the morphological characteristics analyzed, the ones that proved most useful in distinguishing the various genotypes were: the length peduncle, the wet weight and the dry weight. The remaining 30 leaves were used in the genetic characterization. This characterization was performed using a DNA marker, the ISSR. The 5 primers used in the ISSR technique proved to be polymorphic. The results from the genetic characterization suggest that variability in population genetics is medium to high

Desenvolvimento de hidrogéis injectáveis a partir de lisados de plaquetas humanas

Mestrado em BioquímicaA medicina regenerativa e a engenharia de tecidos surgiram como alternativas para as terapias atualmente usadas no tratamento e substituição de tecidos ou órgãos lesados. Estas novas terapias combinam o uso de materiais sintéticos ou biológicos ou uma combinação de ambos por forma a produzir um tecido com a mesma estrutura e funcionalidade do original, contribuindo para o tratamento de tecidos e órgãos lesados. No tecido nativo, as células estão rodeadas por uma matriz extracelular que fornece suporte mecânico e biológico às mesmas. Hidrogéis são redes poliméricas com elevado conteúdo de água que podem ser injetados de uma maneira pouco invasiva, reticulando in situ. As suas propriedades mecânicas, físico-químicas e biológicas podem ser ajustadas e controladas, fazendo com que estes se tornem fortes candidatos a simular a matriz extracelular encontrada in vivo e a fornecer suporte para o crescimento celular. O papel do plasma rico em plaquetas (PRP) e dos lisados de plaquetas humanas (PL) na fabricação de hidrogéis e também como fonte de fatores de crescimento já se encontra descrito. Contudo, os hidrogéis até agora descritos apresentam fracas propriedades mecânicas, são degradados rapidamente e têm um elevado grau de contração. Assim sendo, o principal objetivo deste projeto é a fabricação de um hidrogel a partir de PL, com propriedades mecânicas aumentadas e adaptáveis, estáveis in vitro e in vivo. PL metacrilatados (PLMA) resultaram da modificação dos PL com anidrido metacrílico. Quando expostos à radiação ultravioleta os PLMA são capazes de formar hidrogéis por polimerização radicalar. Foram obtidos dois diferentes graus de modificação: PLMA100 (baixo grau de modificação) e PLMA300 (elevado grau de modificação). A caracterização mecânica dos hidrogéis mostrou que estes têm propriedades mecânicas aumentadas, influenciadas pelo grau de modificação e pela concentração de PLMA. Imagens obtidas por microscopia eletrónica de varrimento (SEM) demonstraram que o grau de modificação e a concentração de PLMA influenciam a porosidade do hidrogel. Baixas concentrações de PLMA apresentam poros mais largos do que elevadas concentrações e ainda o PLMA300 apresenta uma porosidade bastante apertada. Também foram realizados ensaios de libertação de proteína os quais demonstraram uma libertação sustentada de proteína por parte do hidrogel. Ensaios de cultura celular in vitro foram realizados por forma a avaliar o desempenho biológico dos hidrogéis. Células L929 e células estaminais adiposas humanas (hASCs) foram encapsuladas no hidrogel e os resultados demonstram que a viabilidade celular é mantida durante pelo menos 7 dias. Os resultados obtidos para a quantificação de DNA também demonstram que estes hidrogéis suportam a proliferação celular. Com este trabalho foi possível obter hidrogéis com um elevado conteúdo proteico que podem ser usados como plataforma para cultura celular. Na era atual, tendo em conta a medicina personalizada e a terapia direcionada, estes materiais autólogos poderão ser aplicados na biomedicina, nomeadamente na engenharia de tecidos, reduzindo problemas como rejeição de tecidos, resposta imune e também problemas éticos.Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering (TE) are emerging as alternatives for the currently used therapies to heal or replace injured tissues and organs. TE therapies use synthetic or biological materials or a combination of both in order to produce a tissue with the same structure and functionality as the original one and this way contribute to tissue healing. In vivo, cells are surrounded by an extracellular matrix (ECM) that provides mechanical and biological support for cells. Hydrogels are soft and water-rich polymeric networks that can be injected in a minimal invasive manner and reticulate in situ. Their mechanical, physiochemical and biological properties can be easily tuned, which makes them ideal candidates to mimic the ECM and support cell growth. The role of platelet rich plasma (PRP) and human platelet lysates (PL) to fabricate hydrogels and as a source of growth factors (GFs) has been previously reported. However, the materials so far reported, suffer from weak mechanical properties, rapid biodegradation and high degree of contraction. Therefore, the main goal of this project was the fabrication of a 3D PL hydrogel, with increased and tunable mechanical properties and in vitro and in vivo stability. Methacryloyl platelet lysates (PLMA) were achieved by modification of PL with methacrylic anhydride (MA). PLMA when exposed to UV irradiation are capable of forming hydrogels by radicalar polymerization. Two different modifications were made: PLMA100 (low-modification degree) and PLMA300 (high-modification degree). Mechanical characterization demonstrate that PLMA hydrogels have increased mechanical properties, influenced by PLMA modification degree and also by the concentration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images demonstrated the influence of modification degree and PLMA concentration in porous network. Lower concentration of PLMA showed large porous than higher concentrations and PLMA300 showed really tight porous. PLMA protein release assays were also performed, demonstrating an overall sustained protein release from the hydrogel. In vitro cell culture assays were performed in order to evaluate biological performance of PLMA hydrogel. L929 cells and human adipose-derived stem cell (hASCs) were encapsulated within the hydrogels and for both cell types results showed that cell viability is maintained for at least 7 days. DNA quantification demonstrated that produced hydrogels support cell proliferation. In this work we were capable to obtain hydrogels from a human source with high protein content, which can be used as a platform for cell culture. In the current era, striving toward personalized medicine and targeted therapy, these type of autologous materials will certainly find applications in biomedical applications, namely tissue engineering strategies, reducing problems like tissue rejection, immune response and also reduces ethical and regulatory issues

Blood Plasma Derivatives for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Therapies

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowPlatelet-rich plasma (PRP) and its derivatives have been investigated and applied in regenerative medicine. The use of PRP as a supplement of cell culture media has consistently shown to potentiate stem cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. In addition, the clinical utility of PRP is supported by evidence that PRP contains high concentrations of growth factors (GFs) and proteins which contribute to the regenerative process. PRP based therapies are cost effective and also benefit from the accessibility and safety of using the patient's own GFs. In the last years, a great development has been witnessed on PRP based biomaterials, with both structural and functional purposes. In this study we overview the most relevant PRP applications encompassing PRP based materials for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This review also summarizes the challenges in the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine and provides a perspective on future directions

Characterization of Publications on Burns in Brazil and Changes Resulting from Trauma in Brazil: Systematic Review of the Literature

Objective: Characterize the profile of scientific publications on burns in Brazil and systemic changes resulting from the trauma. Methods and results: This is a bibliographical, retrospective and descriptive research with a quantitative approach. It was held between April and May, 2016 in the databases Latin American and Caribbean Center on Health Sciences (LILACS); Nursing Database (BDENF); Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and the Journal Portal of Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination (CAPES). After the analysis of the inclusion criteria (articles available in full, in Portuguese, published between 2011 and 2015), there were 49 productions, and 16 were selected. Analyzing the sample for the event characteristics, it was observed a higher incidence of accidents in males. The main causes of burns were heated by liquid, followed by direct flame. Regarding the classification, the most frequent injury was the 2nd degree, but also there were burns reports with mixed classification. Also, the upper limbs and trunk were the body parts most affected. In addition to these data, it was also highlighted the most frequent types of systemic changes caused by burns, which were respiratory complications, infection and/or sepsis and metabolic sequels.  Conclusion: The study showed the need to characterize of the publications in burns, since the crossing of this information provides a better understanding of the main causal factors, distribution and identification of risk groups. It also enables the planning of prevention strategies to help to reduce accidents, favoring the reduction of injuries and the number of hospitalizations. Moreover, it is extremely important that health professionals know about the epidemiological profile, to provide support in the evaluation and organization of care, and to prevention campaigns, aiming to decrease burn rates. Keywords: Profile; Burns; Burn Units

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

Containment measures

OBSOLETE (project finished) - Description of containment measures during COVID'19 lockdown, in the context of SIlent Cities project. Please request access to Silent Cities if neede

Archived - General Information (DO NOT USE)

DO NOT USE - The goal of this component was to document the data collection process of the Silent Cities Dataset. This component is just left for archive

Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention to reduce anastomotic leak following right colectomy (EAGLE): pragmatic, batched stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized trial in 64 countries

Background Anastomotic leak affects 8 per cent of patients after right colectomy with a 10-fold increased risk of postoperative death. The EAGLE study aimed to develop and test whether an international, standardized quality improvement intervention could reduce anastomotic leaks. Methods The internationally intended protocol, iteratively co-developed by a multistage Delphi process, comprised an online educational module introducing risk stratification, an intraoperative checklist, and harmonized surgical techniques. Clusters (hospital teams) were randomized to one of three arms with varied sequences of intervention/data collection by a derived stepped-wedge batch design (at least 18 hospital teams per batch). Patients were blinded to the study allocation. Low- and middle-income country enrolment was encouraged. The primary outcome (assessed by intention to treat) was anastomotic leak rate, and subgroup analyses by module completion (at least 80 per cent of surgeons, high engagement; less than 50 per cent, low engagement) were preplanned. Results A total 355 hospital teams registered, with 332 from 64 countries (39.2 per cent low and middle income) included in the final analysis. The online modules were completed by half of the surgeons (2143 of 4411). The primary analysis included 3039 of the 3268 patients recruited (206 patients had no anastomosis and 23 were lost to follow-up), with anastomotic leaks arising before and after the intervention in 10.1 and 9.6 per cent respectively (adjusted OR 0.87, 95 per cent c.i. 0.59 to 1.30; P = 0.498). The proportion of surgeons completing the educational modules was an influence: the leak rate decreased from 12.2 per cent (61 of 500) before intervention to 5.1 per cent (24 of 473) after intervention in high-engagement centres (adjusted OR 0.36, 0.20 to 0.64; P < 0.001), but this was not observed in low-engagement hospitals (8.3 per cent (59 of 714) and 13.8 per cent (61 of 443) respectively; adjusted OR 2.09, 1.31 to 3.31). Conclusion Completion of globally available digital training by engaged teams can alter anastomotic leak rates. Registration number: NCT04270721 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov)