The choroid plexus is modulated by various peripheral stimuli: implications to diseases of the central nervous system

The blood brain barrier (BBB) and the blood cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) form the barriers of the brain. These barriers are essential not only for the protection of the brain, but also in regulating the exchange of cells and molecules in and out of the brain. The choroid plexus (CP) epithelial cells and the arachnoid membrane form the BCSFB. The CP is structurally divided into two independent compartments: one formed by a unique and continuous line of epithelial cells that rest upon a basal lamina; and, a second consisting of a central core formed by connective and highly vascularized tissue populated by diverse cell types (fibroblasts, macrophages and dendritic cells). Here, we review how the CP transcriptome and secretome vary depending on the nature and duration of the stimuli to which the CP is exposed. Specifically, when the peripheral stimulation is acute the CP response is rapid, strong and transient, whereas if the stimulation is sustained in time the CP response persists but it is weaker. Furthermore, not all of the epithelium responds at the same time to peripheral stimulation, suggesting the existence of a synchrony system between individual CP epithelial cells.This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) and COMPETE through the project EXPL/NEU-OSD/2196/2013 and the Bial Foundation (Grant 217/12

Differential sepectral signature of human saliva using ATR-FTIR epsctroscopy in exclusive breastfeeding and supporting breasfeeding infants

Saliva can inform the physiological and pathological state of the body. The systemic benefits of exclusive breastfeeding in newborns are well documented, however the effect of supporting brestfeeding comparing to exclusive brestfeeding on salivary components remain unclear. Altogether, the aim of the present study was compare the salivary composition in supporting breastfed and exclusive breastfed infants using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR). 28 mothers consented to participation of their 0-4-month old infants. 18 infants were exclusive breastfed and 10 were partially breastfed (breastfed plus formula-fed). Saliva were collected through the negative pressure apparatus e two microlitres were analyzed by ATR-FTIR. Bands 1650 cm-1 and 1153 cm-1 which identified the υNH (Amide I) and C-O-C stretching (Carbohydrate groups) of supporting brestfeeding were lower (p0.05) in both groups, this analysis indicates reduction of amide I and glycoproteins (carbohydrate groups covalently attached to many different proteins) are reduced in SB infants which can be affect salivary functions.CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorDissertação (Mestrado)A saliva pode informar estados fisiológicos e patológicos do corpo e isto permite sua aplicação para ações clínicas de uma odontologia personalizada. Os benefícios do aleitamento materno para redução da morbidade, redução de doenças infecciosas e prevenção de baixo peso em recém-nascidos estão bem caracterizados. A espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier acoplada a um sistema de reflectância total atenuada (ATR-FTIR) é um excelente método para análises biológicas, no entanto, aplicações em determinação do estado fisiológico estão apenas começando a emergir. Ainda não foram descritas alterações na composição salivar de crianças sob amamentação exclusiva em comparação com aleitamento parcial. Desta forma, no presente trabalho foi utilizada a espectroscopia ATR-FTIR para avaliar a saliva de bebês com até quatro meses de idade sob aleitamento materno exclusivo ou sob aleitamento misto (com associação de amamentação e fórmula) buscando identificar possíveis mudanças nos componentes salivares relacionados à alimentação. Os modos vibracionais 1650 cm-1 e 1153 cm-1, que identificam o alongamento com υNH (Amida I) e C-O-C (região de carbohidratos livres e conjugados), foram menores (p 0,05) em ambos os grupos, este trabalho demonstrou que a inserção de aleitamento misto promoveu redução da amida I e de glicoproteínas (grupos de carboidratos ligados covalentemente a diferentes proteínas) em comparação com aleitamento materno exclusivo. Este achado pode ser um importante indicativo para novas análises de proteômica e metabolômica que poderão se relacionar com alterações nas funções salivares de bebês sob diferentes formas de aleitamento

Anti-inflammatory diet and rheumatoid arthritis: overview on the current evidence

Trabalho Complementar apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de licenciada em Ciências da NutriçãoRheumatoid arthritis (RA) being a chronic autoimmune disease, with symptoms that are characterized by inflammation of the joints, requires pharmacological treatment, however this is not enough to improve the symptoms related to RA, so nutritional intervention is necessary, as a complementary treatment, in order to achieve a significant improvement in symptoms. In order to understand which diet would bring more benefits to patients with RA, several approaches have been studied, one of them being the anti-inflammatory diet, being it is mainly made up of foods rich in antioxidants, may contribute in a significantly positive in controlling RA symptoms. Thus, the present study aimed to review the literature existent on the anti-inflammatory diet, in order to understand its applicability, benefits, as well as its limitations. The literature review was elaborated through a bibliographic search, in the PubMed database, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria defined according to what was intended for the realization of this review. Current scientific evidence has shown positive effects of the anti-inflammatory diet in RA patients, especially the reduction of joint pain, disease activity, tender and swollen joints and improved physical functioning. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory diet presents beneficial effects on symptoms and disease activity in RA patients. Notwithstanding this, further studies are needed to determine whether the benefits are clinically relevant.A artrite reumatoide (AR) sendo uma doença autoimune cronica, com sintomas que se caracterizam pela inflamação das articulações, necessita de tratamento farmacológico. No entanto o tratamento farmacológico não é suficiente para a melhoria dos sintomas referentes à AR. Deste modo, é necessária a intervenção nutricional, como um tratamento complementar, para assim alcançar uma melhora significativa dos sintomas. De modo a perceber qual a dieta mais indicada para os doentes com AR, diversas abordagens têm sido estudadas, entre uma das quais a dieta anti-inflamatória, que sendo constituída por alimentos ricos em antioxidantes, poderá contribuir de forma positiva no controlo dos sintomas da AR. Assim, o presente estudo teve como objetivo realizar uma revisão da literatura acerca da dieta anti-inflamatória, tendo em conta a aplicabilidade, benefícios, além das suas limitações. A revisão da literatura realizou-se através de uma pesquisa bibliográfica, na base de dados PubMed, tendo por base os critérios de inclusão e exclusão definidos de acordo com o pretendido para a realização desta revisão. A evidencia científica atual, tem demonstrado efeitos positivos da dieta anti-inflamatória em pacientes com AR, sobretudo a diminuição da dor nas articulações, da atividade da doença, das articulações sensíveis e inchadas e melhor funcionamento físico. Em conclusão, a dieta anti-inflamatória apresenta efeitos positivos nos sintomas e na atividade da doença, em pacientes com AR. Apesar disso, são necessários mais estudos para determinar se os benefícios são clinicamente relevantes.N/

Blood-brain-barriers in aging and in Alzheimer's disease

The aging process correlates with a progressive failure in the normal cellular and organ functioning; these alterations are aggravated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In both aging and AD there is a general decrease in the capacity of the body to eliminate toxic compounds and, simultaneously, to supply the brain with relevant growth and nutritional factors. The barriers of the brain are targets of this age related dysfunction; both the endothelial cells of the blood--brain barrier and the choroid plexus epithelial cells of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier decrease their secretory capacity towards the brain and their ability to remove toxic compounds from the brain. Additionally, during normal aging and in AD, the permeability of the brain barriers increase. As such, a greater contact of the brain parenchyma with the blood content alters the highly controlled neural environment, which impacts on neural function. Of interest, the brain barriers are more than mere obstacles to the passage of molecules and cells, and therefore active players in brain homeostasis, which is still to be further recognized and investigated in the context of health and disease. Herein, we provide a review on how the brain barriers change during aging and in AD and how these processes impact on brain function

Invisibilidade das singularidades amazônicas na organização e oferta de serviços de Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS): Estudo de caso na área rural ribeirinha de Manaus (AM)

The Amazon region encompasses a heterogenous territory with singular geographic features, that harbous different vulnerable populations, which require the development of abilities and innovations by health services. However, answers to this challenge become even more distant in the face of a marketing logic that tends to make differences invisible and privilege certain territories. In this scenario, our study analyzed the creation of a Basic River Health Unit (UBSF), seeking to understand how the needs and singularities of riverside rural areas are included in the planning and execution of health services. To that end, interviews with health services managers and professionals and observations of health care professionals during daily activities were carried out. The results showed the forecast of services, with specific formats and resources for the Amazonian fluvial areas, was an opportunity for the specificities of the region to be evidenced and for more resources, including financial ones, being considered for these localities. However, they also showed that the services offered are still planned in a hierarchical way and organized and executed for urban areas, which points to the need for adaptations.A região amazônica abrange um território heterogêneo com características geográficas específicas, abrigando diversas populações vulnerabilizadas, o que exige dos serviços de saúde o desenvolvimento de habilidades e inovações. Entretanto, as respostas a esses desafios se tornam ainda mais distantes diante de uma lógica mercadológica, que tende a invisibilizar diferenças e privilegiar determinados territórios. Nesse cenário, este estudo analisou a implementação de uma Unidade Básica de Saúde Fluvial, buscando compreender como estão incluídas as necessidades e singularidades do meio rural ribeirinho no planejamento e execução dos serviços de saúde. Para isso, foram realizadas entrevistas com gestores e profissionais, além da observação do cotidiano dos serviços de saúde. Os resultados demonstram que a previsão de serviços, com formatos e recursos específicos para as áreas fluviais amazônicas, foi uma oportunidade para que as particularidades da região fossem evidenciadas e que mais recursos, inclusive financeiros, fossem previstos para essas localidades. No entanto, evidenciou-se também que os serviços ofertados continuam sendo planejados de forma hierárquica, além de serem organizados e executados visando realidades urbanas, o que aponta a necessidade de adaptações

Drivers of support for corporate social responsibility: what matters most to Brazilian business leaders

Purpose: This study aims to examine the drivers prompting business leaders to support corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach: The research design selected is a qualitative exploratory multiple-case approach. Data were collected through 16 in-depth interviews with leaders of Brazilian companies. Findings: Evidence is found that the main drivers prompting leaders to support CSR in Brazilian companies are linked to firm performance (economic opportunities and risk management) rather than ethical or external drivers (national policies and stakeholder pressure). In addition to this, the study identifies that for Brazilian business leaders, CSR practices have little to do with individual responsibility and personal fulfilment, but rather with a search for better overall effectiveness of the firm. Originality/value: This study adds to a relevant and increasing body of literature on organisational behaviour from a societal perspective, offering an understanding of what catalyses organisations to engage in CSR practices

Use of digital educational technologies among nursing students and teachers: an exploratory study

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly citedThe emergence of digital educational technologies (DET) raises questions regarding the personalization of both teaching and care. DET use implies profound changes with consequences in nursing care and in nursing teaching-learning process. With the purpose of contributing to the improvement of the teaching-learning process through the use of DET, an exploratory-descriptive, cross-sectional, and observational study, with a quantitative approach (descriptive and inferential statistics), was developed. Online questionnaires were applied (n = 140 students and n = 23 teachers) after ethics committee approval. Results point to low cost and access without time/space limits as the main benefits, and decreased interaction, less physical contact, and technical difficulties as constraints. Globally, there was no difference between students and teachers in the use of DET. Still, men report more constraints than women. In this sample, the use of DET is still at an early stage. Both students and teachers are still unfamiliar with the scope and possibilities of these tools, not taking full advantage of the potential they have to offer. The impact of DET used in personalized nursing care is still yet to be understood.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A procura da melhor partição em Classificação Hierárquica: A abordagem SEP/COP

O trabalho aqui apresentado foca o problema da escolha da melhor partição em classificação hierárquica. Nas abordagens tradicionais a procura da melhor partição faz-se no conjunto das partições encaixadas, definidas pela hierarquia. Em Gurrutxaga (2010) é proposto um novo método para a obtenção da melhor partição, tendo por base um conjunto alargado de partições. No presente trabalho discutem-se estes dois tipos de abordagens e faz-se um estudo comparativo recorrendo a dados simulados e a dados reais

Instrumentos de Avaliação Psicológica em Idosos

O envelhecimento constitui-se como um fenómeno recente e universal nos países desenvolvidos. Assistimos simultaneamente ao aumento da prevalência de doenças crónicas, pelo que, é premente realizarem-se avaliações geriátricas eficazes, apostando-se em diagnósticos precoces e completos. Deste modo, na presente tese iremos debruçar-nos sobre a avaliação psicológica de adultos, com particular incidência na população idosa, apresentando alguns dos instrumentos mais utilizados para proceder a uma plena avaliação funcional, com enfoque nas pessoas com mais de 65 anos. / Aging constitutes a recent and universal phenomenon in the developed countries Simultaneously, we bear witness of the increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases being thus urgent to carry out effective geriatric assessments, focussing on early and comprehensive diagnoses. Thus, in this dissertation we shall address the adults' psychological evaluation with particular emphasis on the elderly population, presenting some of the most used instruments/tools to make a full functional assessment, with special focus on people over 65 years

Genetic diversity and structure of the portuguese pear (Pyrus communis L.) germplasm

A rich heritage of traditional pear varieties is kept in national Portuguese collections. Out of these varieties, “Rocha” dominates national pear production. Although a noticeable phenotypic variation among clones of this variety has been reported, little is known about its genetic variability, as to date molecular studies have been performed on a single “Rocha” clone. Eleven Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) markers were used to assess the genetic diversity of 130 local cultivars, 80 of them being “Rocha” clones. The results allowed the di erentiation of 75 genotypes of which 29 are “Rocha”. Three synonyms groups and four homonymous groups of other local varieties were confirmed. A Bayesian model-based clustering approach identified two distinct clusters. Using flow cytometry, six cultivars were found to be triploids. These results show high genetic variability among “Rocha” clones. In conclusion, there is a need for di erent “Rocha” clones to be preserved to enable the correct selection of the multiplication materialinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio