Characterization Of A Schistosoma Mansoni C(3) Receptor As A Potential Vaccine Candidate

Schistosomiasis, a chronic and debilitating parasitic disease, infects an estimated 200 million people and causes 750,000 deaths a year. Therefore, the development of an effective vaccine is of high priority for the control of this disease.;The surface of the syncytial epithelium of Schistosoma mansoni consists of an apical plasma membrane and an overlying envelope. The rapid turnover of these membranes in response to the host\u27s attack is considered to be one of the mechanisms by which this parasite escapes the effects of the host\u27s immune system. Our approach has been to identify surface components which play a pivotal role in this evasion mechanism and target functional important antigens as possible vaccine candidates against schistosomiasis.;The third component of Complement (C{dollar}\sb3{dollar}) has previously been shown to stimulate the synthesis of the EN via a Ca{dollar}\sp{lcub}2+{rcub}{dollar}-dependent signal transduction mechanism. The present study was designed to identify and characterize a C{dollar}\sb3{dollar} receptor on the schistosome surface.;Using rosette assays a C{dollar}\sb3{dollar} binding site was found present in the older stages of schistosome development, and with immunolabelling microscopy the C{dollar}\sb3{dollar} binding site was localized on the dorsal surface of male parasites. ELISAs performed on isolated surface membranes shown that the C{dollar}\sb3{dollar} binding site is restricted to the envelope fraction. Crosslinking experiments demonstrated that a 130 kD envelope polypeptide is the C{dollar}\sb3{dollar} receptor, and metabolic labelling studies proved that the receptor is synthesized by the schistosomes and not adsorbed from the host. Antibodies raised against this receptor were able to block envelope synthesis in vivo, confirming the function of this receptor in envelope synthesis. Immunological cross-reaction studies have demonstrated the presence of the C{dollar}\sb3{dollar} receptor on S. haematobium and S. mansoni.;In conclusion, the C{dollar}\sb3{dollar} receptor by virtue of its accessibility on the surface, its immunogenicity, and its function in membrane turnover, should be an excellent experimental vaccine candidate against schistosomiasis. Furthermore, it is the first time that an envelope component was identified and can be used as a marker for the envelope

The presence of the viola caipira in Kilza Setti’s Missa Caiçara: objective and subjective aspects

This article analyzes the Brazilian composer Kilza Setti’s Missa Caiçara (Caiçara Mass), focusing on the fact that the viola caipira (peasant viola) was widely used in this piece, along with other instruments that are frequently employed in this musical genre. Some objective and subjective aspects of the compositional process of this piece are discussed here, as an attempt to clarify the technical and stylistic procedures used by the musician in her oeuvre. Among the objective aspects is the employment of specific musical elements typically found in the fishing communities’ music. Two of them are strumming chords and rhythmic motives that derive from the Portuguese fandango. On a more subjective tone Kilza pays tribute to São Gonçalo by quoting tunes that were traditionally sang in folk festivities. São Gonçalo is a saint who is worshipped by the fishing communities for protecting infertile married women and prostitutes. Due to the limited amount of publications on Kilza Setti’s Missa Caiçara, the main sources used were: an interview with the composer, which occurred in 2016; Kilza’s Doctoral research about the coastline communities’ music; José Luiz Chamorro Ribalta’s Masters Dissertation about Missa caiçara, and the score and recording of the piece itself.  Este artigo analisa a Missa Caiçara da compositora brasileira Kilza Setti, enfocando sua escolha de incluir a viola caipira entre os instrumentos frequentemente utilizados neste gênero musical. São discutidos alguns aspectos objetivos e subjetivos do processo composicional da obra, com objetivo de esclarecer os procedimentos técnicos e estilísticos usados por sua autora. Entre os aspectos objetivos encontra-se o emprego de elementos musicais específicos encontrados na música das comunidades de pescadores, como acordes rasqueados da viola caipira e motivos rítmicos derivados do fandango português. Em caráter mais subjetivo Kilza presta homenagem a São Gonçalo, santo louvado pela comunidade pesqueira pela proteção a mulheres inférteis e prostitutas, citando uma melodia tradicionalmente cantada em suas festas. Devido à pequena quantidade de trabalhos existentes sobre a Missa Caiçara de Kilza Setti, as principais fontes utilizadas foram uma entrevista realizada com a compositora em 2016, sua pesquisa de Doutorado acerca da música das comunidades caiçaras e a Dissertação de Mestrado de José Luiz Chamorro Ribalta sobre a peça, além da partitura e gravação da música em questão

Relações íntimas, regulação emocional e ferimentos autoinfligidos em estudantes universitários

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Psicologia (área de especialização de Psicologia Clínica)O presente estudo sustenta como principal objetivo avaliar a influência da qualidade das relações íntimas e regulação emocional no envolvimento em ferimentos autoinfligidos. Apresenta ainda como objetivos específicos: 1) caracterizar os ferimentos autoinfligidos numa amostra da comunidade constituída por jovens adultos estudantes universitários; 2) aferir a existência de relações entre os ferimentos autoinfligidos e o sexo dos participantes; 3) aferir a relação entre ferimentos autoinfligidos e o envolvimento em comportamentos de risco; 4) avaliar diferenças entre indivíduos com e sem ferimentos autoinfligidos ao nível das dificuldades de regulação emocional; 5) aferir a relação entre o estilo de vinculação nas relações íntimas e o envolvimento em ferimentos autoinfligidos e comparar indivíduos com e sem ferimentos ao nível de dimensões relevantes para a vinculação; 6) aferir relações entre ferimentos autoinfligidos e estratégias de resolução de conflitos (abuso e negociação) e 7) determinar os fatores preditores do envolvimento em ferimentos autoinfligidos. Para a concretização destes objetivos foram utilizados instrumentos de autorrelato para a caraterização dos ferimentos autoinfligidos, avaliação das dificuldades de regulação emocional, avaliação da vinculação e presença de violência e negociação nas relações íntimas. A amostra foi constituída por 616 jovens adultos estudantes universitários com idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 35 anos, sendo 442 (71.8%) dos participantes do sexo feminino e 174 (28.2%) do sexo masculino. Relativamente aos resultados, verificou-se que 15.3% (n = 94) dos participantes haviam realizado, nalgum momento das suas vidas, algum tipo de ferimento autoinfligido e que 50.0% daqueles que os realizaram recorreram a mais de um método. No que respeita à frequência, a maioria dos ferimentos foi realizada “de um a cinco dias por mês” e “menos de uma vez por dia”. Não foi encontrada uma associação entre a presença de ferimentos e o sexo dos participantes. Relativamente às dificuldades de regulação emocional, foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre indivíduos sem e com ferimentos, com estes últimos a apresentarem mais dificuldades de regulação emocional. Verificou-se uma associação significativa entre a presença de ferimentos e os estilos de vinculação, assim como diferenças entre indivíduos com e sem ferimentos ao nível de dimensões relevantes para a vinculação. Foi ainda verificada uma associação entre a experiência e perpetração de diferentes tipos de abuso e os ferimentos autoinfligidos. A dificuldade no controlo de impulsos emergiu como um preditor marginalmente significativo do envolvimento em ferimentos autoinfligidos. Estes resultados são discutidos com recurso a uma interseção da literatura respeitante aos ferimentos autoinfligidos, à qualidade das relações íntimas em termos de vinculação e violência e as dificuldades de regulação emocional.The present study has the main objective to examine the impact of romantic relationships and emotional regulation on non-suicidal self-injury. The study encompasses as specific purposes: 1) to describe non-suicidal self injury in a community sample of young adults college students; 2) to assess the existence of relationships between non-suicidal self-injury and the sex of participants; 3) to assess the existence of relationships between non-suicidal self-injury and risk taking behaviors: 4) to explore differences between self-injurers and non self-injurers in terms of difficulties in emotion regulation; 5) to assess the relationship between the presence of non-suicidal self-injury and romantic attachment and compare self-injurers and non self-injurers on attachment relevant measures; 6) to assess the existence of relationships between non-suicidal self-injury and strategies to solve conflicts (abuse and negotiation) and 7) to determine what predicts the engagement in non-suicidal self-injury. In order to fulfill these purposes, participants filled in self-report measures of non-suicidal self injury, difficulties in emotion regulation, romantic attachment and the presence of intimate partner violence and negotiation in romantic relationships. The sample was composed by 616 young adults college students, ages ranging from 18 to 35 years old, 442 (71.8%) female and 174 (28.2%) male participants. Results revealed that 15.3% (n = 94) of participants reported having injured themselves in some moment of their lives and 50.0% out of these 94 participants used more than one method. In what concerns behavior frequency, the majority of the reported injuries were inflicted “from one to five days per month” and “less than once a day”. No association was found between non-suicidal self injury and the sex of participants. Significant differences were found between non-suicidal selfinjurers and self-injurers on emotion regulation difficulties, these having scored higher on all emotional dysregulation subscales. An association between non-suicidal self-injury and attachment styles and significant differences between self-injurers and non self-injurers on relevant attachment measures were demonstrated. It was also verified an association between the experience and perpetration of different kinds of abusive behavior and non-suicidal self-injury. Impulse control difficulties emerged as a marginally significant predictor of non-suicidal self-injury. These results are discussed by means of an intercrossing of non suicidal self-injury, intimate relationship quality in what concerns of romantic attachment and violence and difficulties in emotion regulation

American mature animation

In this paper, we are going to talk about the American Mature Animation and how it is changing. First, Animation was only a way of showing something different and new, and with time, started to become more directed towards children, forgetting completely the more Mature audience. Shows like The Flintstones (1960 – 1966) and The Simpsons (1989 – present) helped to open the doors of this recent market, that since the 80’s hasn’t stopped but only more recently it started to explore different genres, such as horror, action and musical. In the last year alone, it was possible to see a big flow of content for this audience thanks to the online streaming services that want to attract more people. As the titles says, this paper is only going to talk about animation in the American context because there are other markets, such as the Asian one, that is more advance, creating content for all the audiences.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Application of active packaging for increasing mould-free shelf life of bread

A contaminação microbiana e as consequentes quebras, na indústria da panificação, causam grandes prejuízos a nível económico. As embalagens ativas têm vindo a ser desenvolvidas para proteger os alimentos, inibir ou retardar o crescimento microbiano, aumentando o tempo de vida útil dos alimentos. Paralelamente, o interesse em produtos naturais e substâncias não sintéticas, como potencial alternativa para aumentar o tempo de vida útil, tem aumentado devido à demanda dos consumidores. Neste contexto o objetivo desta dissertação é estudar uma embalagem ativa baseada em etanol, para uma receita tradicional de pão fatiado sem crosta, por forma a melhorar o seu tempo de vida útil. Foi realizada uma revisão do estado-da-arte, definindo os principais fatores que afetam o tempo de vida útil do pão, explorando o uso de etanol como conservante e as potenciais atividades antioxidantes e antimicrobianas do extrato de folha de oliveira. Foi produzido pão sem conservantes e embalado em sistemas de embalagem ativa baseados em etanol. Num caso o etanol foi aplicado diretamente por pulverização, noutro caso foram utilizados emissores ativos de etanol com duas concentrações diferentes. O pão foi embalado nestes sistemas ativos e armazenado a 23 ºC. O desempenho de cada sistema foi comparado através da monitorização de vários parâmetros físicos, químicos, sensoriais e microbiológicos, durante o armazenamento. O etanol foi testado com sucesso, revelando um potencial alternativo aos conservantes convencionais na indústria de panificação. Os emissores de etanol demonstraram ser mais eficazes, sobretudo contra os bolores, comparativamente à aplicação direta de etanol por spray. Concluiu-se que os emissores mantêm uma concentração de etanol no head-space constante e com tendência para aumentar, enquanto que no caso do sistema da aplicação direta, a concentração é elevada inicialmente, mas decresce ao longo do tempo. Comparativamente às amostras de controlo, os emissores Antimold Mild® grau 20 aumentaram ca. de 70 % o tempo de vida útil do pão, enquanto que os Antimold Mild® grau 10 e o sistema de aplicação direta apenas aumentaram cerca de 57 % (10 e 13 dias, respetivamente).Microbial spoilage of bread and the consequent waste problem causes large economic losses for the bakery industry. Active systems of food packaging have been developed not only to protect food products, but also to inhibit or retard microbiological growth, extending food shelf life. At the same time, the interest in natural and non-synthesized substances, as a potential alternative to extend shelf life has increased regarding consumer’s demand. In this context, the objective of this dissertation is to study an active packaging, based on ethanol, for a traditional recipe of sliced bread without crust, in order to improve its shelf-life. An analysis of the state-of-the-art was performed defining principal factors that affects shelf life of bread, exploring the use of ethanol as food preservative and the potential antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of olive leaf extract. Bread, without chemical preservatives, was produced in the kitchen lab and packaged in active packaging systems based in ethanol. In one case the ethanol was applied directly by spray, and in the other case sachets with ethanol emitter at two concentrations were used. The bread was packaged in these active systems and stored at 23 ºC. The performance of each system was compared by monitoring several physical, chemical, sensorial and microbiological parameters during the storage time. The ethanol was successfully tested, showing a potential alternative to conventional preservatives in bread industry. The ethanol emitters were more efficient, particularly against moulds, than the direct application system. It was concluded that the active emitters allowed for an ethanol concentration in the head-space constant and tending to increase, while the direct system showed a higher concentration in the beginning but decreasing ethanol concertation. In comparison with control samples, the Antimold Mild® grade 20 emitters increased bread’s shelf life by 70 %, whereas Antimold Mild® grade 10 and ethanol directly applied at a concentration of 0.5 % increased it by 57 % (10 and 13 days, respectively)

Contribute to the sustainability of the Portuguese healthcare system in the health technologies area

Trabalho Final de Mestrado Integrado, Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, 2017During the last years the pharmaceutical market went through profound modifications, and although some reasons are related with spontaneous and natural phenomena (i.e. demographic and disease pattern changes), most of them have a deep connection with a perspective change, which is almost the harbinger of a paradigm shift. This work analyses the transformation and transition that healthcare systems around Europe are suffering and passing through regarding access to medicines, and particularizes the case of Portugal. Firstly, measures related with pricing and reimbursement are discussed regarding their characteristics, advantages and associated problems, and then, policies related to budget containment are also analysed. However, it is important to refer that increasingly there is a thin line between what is considered a pricing policy and a measure to control pharmaceutical expenditure. These subjects are exposed from a European Union perspective (incentives and proposals from centralised entities), Member States viewpoint (embracing measures and strategies, with relevant examples), and lastly, from the Portuguese approach. These sections that focus attention in Portugal are particularly important because, although it is not a top target country for European pharmaceutical market access, it is interestingly considered a guide for the Europe’s future in control of costs with healthcare. From this point, a brief description of a European joint negotiation and purchasing model follows, which was thought to be aligned with the European tendencies. This model is presented as being sustained by several entities as the National Competent Authorities and some EMA’s branches, and by processes as the one found in the Joint Procurement of medical countermeasures. The centralised procurement is also analysed, and a small reflection is done about the benefits and eventual constraints of the proposal.Durante os últimos anos, o mercado farmacêutico tem sofrido alterações profundas, e, embora alguns dos motivos estejam relacionados com fenómenos naturais e espontâneos (i.e. modificações na demografia e no padrão de doenças), a maior parte tem uma forte conexão com uma alteração de perspetiva, que quase funciona como um prenúncio de uma mudança de paradigma. Este trabalho analisa as transformações e transições pelas quais os sistemas de saúde europeus estão a passar em termos de acesso ao medicamento, e particulariza o caso de Portugal. Primeiramente, discutem-se medidas mais direcionadas para o preço e comparticipação, e de seguida analisam-se políticas de redução de despesa com medicamentos, ainda que haja uma forte correlação e complementaridade entre os dois tipos. Estes assuntos são em ambos os casos expostos de uma perspetiva da União Europeia (incentivos e propostas das entidades centrais), de um ponto de vista dos Estados Membros (medidas e estratégias, com recurso a exemplos relevantes), e finalmente, segundo a abordagem portuguesa. As seções que se focam em Portugal acabam por ter uma extrema importância porque, não obstante o facto de Portugal não ser uma prioridade no que diz respeito a acesso ao mercado europeu, é considerado um “guia” para o futuro da Europa em questões de controlo de gastos com cuidados de saúde. A partir desse ponto, parte-se para a descrição de um modelo de negociação e compra de produtos farmacêuticos de forma conjunta, por parte dos Estados Membros da União Europeia, que se julgou estar de acordo com as tendências europeias. Este modelo sustenta-se em entidades como as Autoridades Nacionais Competentes, estruturas da EMA, e em processos como o descrito para a Joint Procurement of medical countermeasures. A estratégia de gestão centralizada proposta é também analisada e é feita uma pequena reflexão sobre os benefícios e eventuais contras da proposta, que podem ser vistos como oportunidades de melhoria de determinados aspetos

Simulation: A Training Resource for Quality Care and Improving Patient Safety

Patient safety is an ever-present topic in the discussion of educators. It has been 20 years since the publication of To Err Is Human, and there are lessons learned, although there is still much to be done. Healthcare systems are becoming increasingly complex, putting the safety of patients at risk. In this context, there is a greater exposure of healthcare professionals to medical-legal liability issues and to becoming victims of situations that are often preventable. Nurses and medical doctors are especially exposed to these situations, since they are visible during procedures, or do so during the points of greater risk during the patient care process. This chapter will review the contribution provided by the curricular integration of simulation-based education as a tool to train technical and nontechnical issues and how this work can be done for the safety of patients through a standardized training plan, under controlled and evaluated processes. We will discuss how resources and elements allow to perform healthcare interventions in a more safely manner. Finally, we will review the existing literature, some experiences, and the available evidence on this topic

O comportamento alimentar, o autoconceito e a obesidade infantojuvenil

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Psicologia (área de especialização em Psicologia Clínica)A obesidade infantil e juvenil constitui-se atualmente como um problema de Saúde Pública, com elevada prevalência e tendência para aumentar, situação alarmante dadas as repercussões no organismo, nomeadamente no que concerne a estas fases de crescimento, destacando aspetos relativos ao comportamento alimentar e autoconceito. O presente estudo teve como principais objetivos avaliar as diferenças no comportamento e autoconceito entre crianças e adolescentes obesos e não obesos. Os participantes foram 101 mães e 101 crianças e adolescentes. As mães responderam ao Questionário do Comportamento Alimentar da Criança CEBQ (Warld e col., 2001); e as crianças e os adolescentes ao Piers-Harris Children`s Self-Concept Scale (Veiga, H., 2006). Os resultados obtidos demonstram que existem diferenças significativas entre as crianças e adolescentes obesos e não obesos ao nível das seguintes dimensões do comportamento alimentar: Resposta à Comida, Desejo de Beber e Prazer em Comer. As crianças e adolescentes obesos apresentam uma maior resposta à comida, um maior desejo de beber e um maior prazer em comer, do que as crianças e adolescentes não obesos. Relativamente ao autoconceito não existem diferenças significativas entre obesos e não obesos.Child and Adolescent obesity represent nowadays a public health problem with high prevalence and tendency to increase, given the alarming impact on the organization, namely concerning the stages of growth emphasizing aspects on the eating behaviour and the self-concept. The main objective of the present study was to assess differences on eating behavior and self-concept between obese and non-obese children and adolescents. Participants were 101 mothers and their 101 children and adolescents. Mothers completed the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire CEBQ (Warld et al., 2001); and their children and adolescents the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale (Veiga, H., 2006). The results showed that there are significant differences among obese and non-obese children and adolescents in terms of the following dimensions of eating behaviour: Food Responsiveness, Desire to Drink and Enjoyment of Food. Obese children and adolescents showed greater food responsiveness, greater desire to drink and greater Enjoyment of Food, than non-obese children and adolescents. No significant differences were found on self-concept between obese and non-obese children

Prevalence of hypertension in institutionalized elderly

The high prevalence of high blood pressure and its hard control lead the scientific community to consider this as a public health problem. Objectives: To identify the prevalence of hypertension in elderly institutionalized in a home of senior citizens of the District of Bragança. A descriptive cross-sectional study performed in a senior citizens home in the district of Bragança. The sample consisted of 67 elderly institutionalized during the month of March 2013. The information was obtained through the records of the individual process of the elderly during the period from 20 to 28 April. Blood Pressure (BP) was assessed to all seniors, by one of the researchers, with electronic vital signs monitor device, following the criteria of the General Directorate of Health. Results: There was a predominance of the female gender 74%, from countryside 92.5%, and with education level read and write 47.8%. The hypertension prevalence was 58.2%, the average systolic BP was 132.6 mmHg, ranging between 90 and 175 mmHg and diastolic BP averaged was 71.6 mmHg ranging between 42 and 94 mmHg. The average heart rate was 74 beats/minute varying between 50 and 101 beats/minute. The Group of hypertensive patients registered higher prevalence in females 74.4%, with an average age of 84.4 years, 94.9% from countryside and 48.7% could read and write. Concomitantly had diabetes and dementia 35.9%, congestive heart failure 17.9% and stroke 12.8%. We observed a high prevalence of hypertension which justifies the need for adopting preventive measures. The adoption of healthy lifestyles in this group is an essential component of therapy as well as prevention of hypertension