Tumors of skin appendages – A 10-year review

Introdução: Os tumores dos anexos cutâneos representam um grupo heterogéneo de neoplasias benignas e malignas com diferentes diferenciações morfológicas. Material e Métodos: Foi efectuado o estudo retrospectivo dos tumores dos anexos cutâneos diagnosticados na consulta externa do Serviço de Dermatologia do Centro Hospitalar do Porto, EPE-HSA entre 2000 a 2009. Resultados: Foram diagnosticados 404 tumores dos anexos cutâneos. Apenas 3% dos tumores eram malignos. A maioria apresentou uma diferenciação (62,6 %) folicular. Discussão: A revisão da literatura mostrou uma escassez de dados relativos a estudos retrospectivos dos tumores dos anexos cutâneos. Mais estudos são necessários para uma melhor caracterização epidemiológica destas entidades

High yielding synthesis of oxazole-4-carboxylates from dehydroamino acid derivatives : application as fluorescent markers for peptides

This work was funded by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and FEDER through CQ-UM, National NMR Network (Bruker 400), research project PTDC/QUI/81238/2006 and PhD grant of G.P. SFRH/BD/38766/2007

Pellagra as the initial presentation of Crohn disease

Pellagra is a nutritional disease caused by the deficiency of niacin. We describe a case of pellagra as the initial presentation of Crohn disease, which has been rarely described in the literature

Desenvolvimento de sistema de genotipagem molecular, baseado em marcadores microssatélites, para determinar a identidade genética de cultivares de tabaco.

O desenvolvimento de sistemas de identificação molecular para determinar e rastrear a identidade genética de um cultivar vegetal representa um grande desafio frente aos sistemas de certificação e proteção de variedades utilizados no país, até então fundamentados em descritores fenotípicos. Além disso é uma questão estratégica para empresas detentoras de germoplasma, interessadas no desenvolvimento de ferramentas que permitam o monitoramento de pureza varietal e o rastreamento de materiais ao longo da cadeia produtiva e comercial. Entretanto, a utilização de análises de DNA para a proteção varietal ainda é limitada pela inexistência de sistemas padronizados e robustos de avaliação molecular para a maioria das espécies, a exemplo do que acontece para cultivares de tabaco (Nicotiana sp.). Esse trabalho teve como objetivo o desenvolvimento de sistema de genotipagem molecular, baseado em marcadores microssatélites, para a determinação de identidade genética de cultivares de tabaco de interesse comercial para a agroindústria. Foram selecionados 32 marcadores microssatélites na literatura, de acordo com seu índice de informatividade alélica e da cobertura do genoma da espécie, sendo selecionados tanto a partir do genoma nuclear quanto do cloroplasto. Para a seleção dos marcadores mais informativos, foram testados 49 genótipos de Nicotiana tabacum, dos grupos Burley e Virginia. Para assegurar boa representatividade da diversidade alélica de cada cultivar, foram analisadas 1350 amostras, com uma média de 27,5 indivíduos para cada genótipo, analisados em bulk. O DNA foi extraído pelo método do CTAB modificado, a partir de material foliar. Os produtos de PCR foram visualizados em géis de poliacrilamida corados com brometo de etídeo, e foram utilizados marcadores de tamanho molecular para monitoramento do número e tamanho dos alelos de cada genótipo. Para os marcadores polimórficos foram calculados o Conteúdo de Informação de Polimorfismo (PIC). Para compor um sistema de genotipagem molecular robusto e informativo, foram selecionados aqueles marcadores que apresentaram padrões consistentes de amplificação e interpretação e que evidenciaram polimorfismos alélicos bem definidos entre os genótipos. Assim, dez microssatélites foram selecionados para o grupo de cultivares analisados. Tais marcadores apresentaram de 2 a 3 alelos e um PIC que variou de 0,078 a 0,5487, com média de 0,3412. Do total de marcadores analisados foi possível selecionar um grupo que evidenciou alto padrão de polimorfismo entre os genótipos testados, além de garantir uma ampla cobertura do genoma de Nicotiana tabacum. A partir do grupo de marcadores selecionados, análises de agrupamento por similaridade genotípica, de genealogia e identidade genética inequívoca de cultivares poderão ser realizadas para genótipos de interesse, fornecendo uma ferramenta estratégica em processos de certificação de pureza genética, propriedade intelectual e rastreabilidade ao longo da cadeia produtiva

Natural organic matter fractionation along the treatment of water for human consumption

The main objective of this study was to characterize the organic matter present in raw water and along the treatment process, as well as its seasonal variation. A natural organic matter fractionation approach has been applied to Lever water treatment plant located in Douro River, in Oporto (Portugal). The process used was based on the sorption of dissolved organic matter in different types of ion exchange resins, DAX-8, DAX-4 and IRA-958, allowing its separation into four fractions: very hydrophobic acids (VHA), slightly hydrophobic acids (SHA), charged hydrophilic (CHA) and hydrophilic neutral (NEU). The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) determination was used to quantify dissolved organic matter. Samples were collected monthly, during approximately one year, from raw water captured at the surface and under the bed of the river, and after each step of the treatment: pre-filtration in sand/anthracite filters, ozonation, coagulation/flocculation, counter current dissolved air flotation and filtration (CoCoDAFF) and chlorination. The NEU fraction showed a seasonal variation, with maximum values in autumn for the sampling points corresponding to raw water captured at the surface and under the bed of the river. It was usually the predominating fraction and did not show a significant decrease throughout the treatment. Nevertheless their low concentration, the same occurred for the CHA and VHA fractions. There was an overall decrease in the SHA fraction throughout the water treatment (especially after CoCoDAFF and ozonation) as well as in the DOC. The TSUVA254 values obtained for raw water generally varied between 2.0 and 4.0 L mgC-1 m-1 and between 0.75 and 1.78 L mgC-1 m-1 for treated water. It was observed a decrease of TSUVA values along the treatment, especially after ozonation. These results may contribute to a further optimization in the process of treating water for human consumption

Validation of the spiritual and religious attitudes in dealing with illness (SpREUK) in Portuguese Alzheimer‘s patients

Literature shows that spirituality is a helpful resource for patients to cope with illness, having a positive impact on their quality of life. This study aimed to analyze the psychometric qualities of the Spiritual and Religious Attitudes in Dealing with Illness (SpREUK) using a sample of 128 Portuguese Alzheimer‘s patients. Results showed that the instrument kept its original factorial structure, with a good adjustment and reliability in all subscales, and associations with quality of life and mindfulness. Therefore, the Portuguese version of the SpREUK has appropriate psychometric properties and is an important resource to assess spirituality in Alzheimer’s patients

Self-assembled RGD dehydropeptide hydrogels for drug delivery applications

Peptide-based self-assembled hydrogels have triggered remarkable research interest in recent years owing to their biocompatibility and biomimetic properties and responsiveness, which warrant many technological and biomedical applications. Dehydrodipeptides N-capped with naproxen emerged from our research as effective hydrogelators endowed with resistance to proteolysis. Dehydrodipeptide-based hydrogels are promising nanocarriers for drug delivery applications. In this work, we demonstrate that dehydrodipetide Npx-L-Ala-Z-ΔPhe-OH can be deployed as a minimalist hydrogelator module for synthesizing a gelating construct Npx-L-Ala-Z-ΔPhe-G-R-G-D-G-OH bearing a GRGDG adhesion motif. The self-assembly of the peptide construct and the drug delivery properties of the hydrogel were studied in this work. The peptide construct showed no toxicity towards a fibroblast cell line expressing the αvβ3 integrin. Docking studies suggest that the hydrogelator block does not interfere with the recognition of the RGD motif by the integrin receptor. The self-assembly seems to be directed by intermolecular naphthalene π–π stacking interactions, with the peptide backbone assuming a random coil conformation both in solution and in the gel phase. TEM and STEM imaging revealed that the hydrogel is made of entangled bundles of long thin fibres (width circa 23 nm). The hydrogel exhibits viscoelastic properties, thermo-reversibility and recovery after mechanical fluidization. FRET studies showed that curcumin incorporated into the hydrogel interacts non-covalently with the hydrogel fibrils. Delivery of curcumin from the hydrogel into Nile red loaded model membranes (SUVs) was demonstrated by FRET. Naproxen N-capped dehydrodipeptides are efficacious minimalist hydrogelator modules for obtaining hydrogels functionalized with peptide ligands for cell receptors. These hydrogels are potential nanocarriers for drug delivery

Biocompatible peptide-based hydrogels as nanocarriers for a new antitumoral drug

In this work, several new hydrogelators were developed, containing a Naproxen or a Naphthalene group. The ability of these hydrogels to act as nanocarriers for an antitumoral drug was investigated.Foundation for the Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal), FEDER and QREN for financial support to the Research Centers, CFUM [Strategic Project Pest-C/FIS/UI0607/2013 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037291)] and CQ/UM [Strategic Project PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2013 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037302)]. FCT is also acknowledged for the PhD grant of H. Vilaça (SFRH/BD/7265/2010)

New biocompatible peptide-based hydrogels as drug nanocarriers

In this work, several new hydrogelators were developed, containing a Naproxen or a Naphthalene group, and their critical aggregation concentrations were determined by fluorescence. The influence of pH on the aggregation of these molecules was also investigated.Foundation for the Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal), FEDER and QREN for financial support to the Research Centers, CFUM [PEst-C/FIS/UI0607/2013 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037291)] and CQ/UM [PEst-C/QUI/UI0686/2013 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-037302)]. FCT is also acknowledged for the PhD grant of H. Vilaça (SFRH/BD/7265/2010)