Effect of thermal treatments on optical properties of bis-acryl resins

Tese de mestrado, Medicina Dentária, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Medicina Dentária, 2018Aim: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of various thermal treatments on the chromatic stability of two bis-acrylic resins, after 24h and 7d. Materials and Methods: Ten experimental groups (n=10) were set according to the several possible combinations between the bis-acrylic resin (Protemp 4, P4; Structur 3, S3) and post-polymerization thermal treatment (without any post-polymerization treatment, nt; post-polymerization in a water bath at 60°C for 5 minutes, wb5; microwave at 750W for 1 minute, mw1; water bath at 60°C for 1 minute, wb1; conventional hairdryer for 1 minute, hd1). Thirty minutes after the polymerization, the baseline color values were measured, and all the specimens were immersed in the staining solution (coffee). After 24h and 7d new measurements were taken and ΔE calculated. A ΔE higher than 3.7 was considered clinically unacceptable. After confirming the normality and homogeneity of the data with Shapiro-Wilk and Levene’s testes (p>0.05), the ΔE data were submitted to a 2-way ANOVA, followed by 1-way ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests for each material (α=0.05). Results: The ΔE ranged between 5.9 and 13.0, at 24h, and between 9.1 and 24.7, after 7d. The ΔE was statistically (p0.05) ΔE than nt group. At 7d, no differences were found between S3 groups. In the P4 specimens, the wb5 showed a lower ΔE than nt, and only the wb1 and the hd1 obtained a ΔE higher than nt. Conclusion: Both, bis-acrylic resin and post-polymerization treatments, influence the ΔE, at 24h and 7d

Comtemp: financing expansion through private equity?

COMTEMP – Companhia de Temperos, Lda. is a Portuguese company that produces vinegars (e.g. CRISTAL vinegars), sauces and condiments. This case study aims to analyze its attractiveness to receive a venture capital investment. The main covered topics are arranged into the following sections: foundation, company, industry, competition, industrial kitchen opportunity, financial strategy and decision

Diabetic Nephropathy Amelioration by a Low-Dose Sitagliptin in an Animal Model of Type 2 Diabetes (Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rat)

This study was performed to assess the effect of chronic low-dose sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, on metabolic profile and on renal lesions aggravation in a rat model of type-2 diabetic nephropathy, the Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rat. Diabetic and obese ZDF (fa/fa) rats and their controls ZDF (+/+) were treated for 6 weeks with vehicle (control) or sitagliptin (10 mg/kg/bw). Blood/serum glucose, HbA1c, insulin, Total-c, TGs, urea, and creatinine were assessed, as well as kidney glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions (interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy), using a semiquantitative rating from 0 (absent/normal) to 3 (severe and extensive damage). Vascular lesions were scored from 0–2. Sitagliptin in the diabetic rats promoted an amelioration of glycemia, HbA1c, Total-c, and TGs, accompanied by a partial prevention of insulinopenia. Furthermore, together with urea increment prevention, renal lesions were ameliorated in the diabetic rats, including glomerular, tubulointerstitial, and vascular lesions, accompanied by reduced lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, chronic low-dose sitagliptin treatment was able to ameliorate diabetic nephropathy, which might represent a key step forward in the management of T2DM and this serious complication

Science-media online training challenges and opportunities

EuroScitizen COST Action is a research network which aims to identify targeted strategies to raise levels of scientific literacy in Europe using evolution as a model. One of the activities developed by the EuroScitizen Media Working Group (WG4) was a set of Training Schools in Science and Media directed to young scientists and journalists. By uniting scientists and journalists, we aimed to promote better communication between the two groups while giving advanced training in science communication. The training activities were originally planned as one in-person Training School but converted to online events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This required an adjustment of schedule and contents, and instead of having a training school for three full days, as in the planned in-person school, we developed several shorter sessions. Herein, we present the set of Science and Media training events we organised from June 2021 through February 2022, as well as the main challenges we encountered and what we found to be advantages of the online environment for training. We also share a checklist we developed for the organisation of training schools that may provide a useful tool for people planning other training events. Poster presented at EuroScitizen Sustainability meeting, 20-22 June 2022, Aveiro, Portuga

Effects of Sitagliptin Treatment on Dysmetabolism, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in an Animal Model of Type 2 Diabetes (ZDF Rat)

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the chronic effect of sitagliptin on metabolic profile, inflammation, and redox status in the Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rat, an animal model of obese type 2 diabetes. Diabetic and obese ZDF (fa/fa) rats and their controls (ZDF +/+) were treated during 6 weeks with vehicle (control) and sitagliptin (10mg/kg/bw). Glucose, HbA1c, insulin, Total-c, TGs, IL-1β, TNF-α, CRPhs, and adiponectin were assessed in serum and MDA and TAS in serum, pancreas, and heart. Pancreatic histology was also evaluated. Sitagliptin in diabetic rats promoted a decrease in glucose, HbA1c, Total-c, and TGs accompanied by a partial prevention of insulinopenia, together, with a decrease in CRPhs and IL-1β. Sitagliptin also showed a positive impact on lipid peroxidation and hypertension prevention. In conclusion, chronic sitagliptin treatment corrected the glycaemic dysmetabolism, hypertriglyceridaemia, inflammation, and hypertension, reduced the severity of the histopathological lesions of pancreatic endocrine and exocrine tissues, together with a favourable redox status, which might be a further advantage in the management of diabetes and its proatherogenic comorbidities

History, chance and selection during phenotypic and genomic experimental evolution : replaying the tape of life at different levels

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Effects of Sitagliptin Treatment on Dysmetabolism, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in an Animal Model of Type 2 Diabetes (ZDF Rat)

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the chronic effect of sitagliptin on metabolic profile, inflammation, and redox status in the Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rat, an animal model of obese type 2 diabetes. Diabetic and obese ZDF (fa/fa) rats and their controls (ZDF +/+) were treated during 6 weeks with vehicle (control) and sitagliptin (10 mg/kg/bw). Glucose, HbA1c, insulin, Total-c, TGs, IL-1β, TNF-α, CRPhs, and adiponectin were assessed in serum and MDA and TAS in serum, pancreas, and heart. Pancreatic histology was also evaluated. Sitagliptin in diabetic rats promoted a decrease in glucose, HbA1c, Total-c, and TGs accompanied by a partial prevention of insulinopenia, together, with a decrease in CRPhs and IL-1β. Sitagliptin also showed a positive impact on lipid peroxidation and hypertension prevention. In conclusion, chronic sitagliptin treatment corrected the glycaemic dysmetabolism, hypertriglyceridaemia, inflammation, and hypertension, reduced the severity of the histopathological lesions of pancreatic endocrine and exocrine tissues, together with a favourable redox status, which might be a further advantage in the management of diabetes and its proatherogenic comorbidities

Beliefs and practices of healthcare providers regarding obesity: a systematic review

Despite the implementation of various intervention measures, the number of obese individuals remain high; thus, it is important to consider what is contributing to this scenario. Authors have been striving to understand the role healthcare providers, especially in primary healthcare, seem to play in this context. The present review aims to synthesize the main investigation results regarding beliefs, attitudes, and practices of healthcare providers, as they seem to negatively influence the practitioner’s actions. The words “obesity”, “beliefs”, “healthcare professionals”, “general practitioners”, “attitudes”, “practices”, “health physicians”, and “family practitioners” were entered into databases, such as EBSCOHost, ScienceDirect, PsychInfo, PubMed, and SciELO. Thirteen studies from 1991 to 2011 were reviewed. The data indicate a lack of appropriate understanding and adequate competence regarding obesity, which likely contributes to ambivalent belief development and negative attitudes toward obese individuals, who are described as unmotivated, lazy, and lacking self-control. These professionals consider it hard to deal with obesity, manifesting low expectations of success regarding weight loss, thus considering themselves unsuccessful. Their practices are inconsistent, mirroring a certain skepticism towards the efficacy of available interventions. Either during graduation or as active practitioners, it is imperative to make healthcare providers aware of the impact their beliefs regarding obesity can exert on their practices, as these may impair appropriate and effective treatment delivery to obese individuals

Connecting media and scientists - Euroscitizen WG4

EuroScitizen COST Action is a research network which aims to identify targeted strategies that will raise levels of scientific literacy in Europe using evolution as a model. Euroscitizen Media Working Group (WG4) aims to describe good practices to better link scientific communities with journalists and the media, and consequently present powerful, stimulating and effective messages that can help strengthen the public understanding of scientific literacy and evolution in particular. In this poster, we present the aims and activities developed by WG4 as well as a description of its Action deliverables. Poster presented at EuroScitizen Sustainability meeting, 20-22 June 2022, Aveiro, Portuga

Comunicar ciência numa exposição: uma avaliação exploratória de A Evolução de Darwin através de PMM

Esta comunicação visa apresentar alguns resultados de um trabalho, que está ainda em curso, que consistiu na análise sumativa de uma exposição de ciência. No âmbito da exposição “A Evolução de Darwin” (Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Fevereiro a Maio de 2009) foi desenvolvida uma avaliação sumativa por meio de um conjunto de diferentes técnicas, entre as quais a de Personal Meaning Mapping – PMM. Aplicado a uma amostra de visitantes adultos e de jovens em visitas escolares, tendo por base as palavras “Darwin” e “Evolução”, pretendeu-se aferir a forma como a experiência da visita à exposição exerceu um efeito transformador sobre os conhecimentos e as representações destes temas. Através da análise dos conceitos e dos temas expressos pelos visitantes antes e depois da visita, é possível apreender não só os conhecimentos adquiridos, consolidados ou alterados pelos visitantes, mas também os elementos de maior impacto da exposição. Assim, entre outros objectivos, esta actividade, de carácter eminentemente exploratório, tem por fi nalidade tirar ilações sobre a efi cácia comunicacional desta exposição