Ferramenta de comunicação para colaboração usando quadros interactivos no contexto da educação

Tese de mestrado integrado. Engenharia Informática e Computação. Universidade do Porto. Faculdade de Engenharia. 201

Ruthenium(II)–cyclopentadienyl-derived complexes as new emerging anti-colorectal cancer drugs

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide, urging the need for new and more efficient therapeutic approaches. Ruthenium complexes have emerged as attractive alternatives to traditional platinum-based compounds in the treatment of CRC. This work aims to evaluate anti-CRC properties, as well as to identify the mechanisms of action of ruthenium complexes with the general formula [Ru(η5-C5H4R)(PPh3)(4,4'-R'-2,2'-bipyridine)][CF3SO3], where R = CH3, CHO or CH2OH and R' = H, CH3, CH2OH, or dibiotin ester. The complexes (Ru 1-7) displayed high bioactivity, as shown by low IC50 concentrations against CRC cells, namely, RKO and SW480. Four of the most promising ruthenium complexes (Ru 2, 5-7) were phenotypically characterized and were shown to inhibit cell viability by decreasing cell proliferation, inducing cell cycle arrest, and increasing apoptosis. These findings were in accordance with the inhibition of MEK/ERK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. Ruthenium complexes also led to a decrease in cellular clonogenic ability and cell migration, which was associated with the disruption of F-actin cytoskeleton integrity. Here, we demonstrated that ruthenium complexes, especially Ru7, have a high anticancer effect against CRC cells and are promising drugs to be used as a new therapeutical strategy for CRC treatment.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), I.P./MCTES through national funds (PIDDAC)—UIDB/00100/2020, UIDB/04050/2020 and through PTDC/QUI-QIN/28662/2017. A.V. acknowledges the CEECIND 2017 Initiative (CEECCIND/01974/2017). A.R.B. and R.G.T. thank FCT for their Ph.D. Grants (SFRH/BD/139271/2018 and SFRH/BD/135830/2018, respectively

Monocarboxylate transport inhibition potentiates the cytotoxic effect of 5-fluorouracil in colorectal cancer cells

Cancer cells rely mostly on glycolysis to meet their energetic demands, producing large amounts of lactate that are extruded to the tumour microenvironment by monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs). The role of MCTs in the survival of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells is scarce and poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to better understand this issue and exploit these transporters as novel therapeutic targets alone or in combination with the CRC classical chemotherapeutic drug 5-Fluorouracil. For that purpose, we characterized the effects of MCT activity inhibition in normal and CRC derived cell lines and assessed the effect of MCT inhibition in combination with 5-FU. Here, we demonstrated that MCT inhibition using CHC (a-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid), DIDS (4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid) and quercetin decreased cell viability, disrupted the glycolytic phenotype, inhibited proliferation and enhanced cell death in CRC cells. These results were confirmed by specific inhibition of MCT1/4 by RNA interference. Notably, we showed that 5-FU cytotoxicity was potentiated by lactate transport inhibition in CRC cells, either by activity inhibition or expression silencing. These findings provide novel evidence for the pivotal role of MCTs in CRC maintenance and survival, as well as for the use of these transporters as potential new therapeutic targets in combination with CRC conventional therapy.Ricardo Amorim was recipient of the fellowships SFRH/BI/51118/ 2010 and SFRH/BD/98002/2013, from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal). This study was supported by the FCT grant ref. PTDC/SAU-FCF/104347/2008, under the scope of “Programa Operacional Temático Factores de Competitividade” (COMPETE) of “Quadro Comunitário de Apoio III” and co-financed by Fundo Comunitário Europeu FEDER. This work was also supported by FEDER through POFC – COMPETE and by FCT through project PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2014 and Helena Pereira’s fellowship (SFRH/BD/73139/2010)

The relevance of geological mapping for land use planning: the example of the Alto Douro Wine Region

RESUMO: Portugal foi um dos países pioneiros na elaboração de cartografia geológica do seu território, iniciando-se a sua produção em meados do séc. XIX, sendo atualmente disponibilizada em formato digital e papel pelo Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia (LNEG). A conceção do modelo territorial de uma região suporta-se na caraterização e diagnóstico dos sistemas biofísico, territorial urbano e conetividade, e no produtivo de base territorial, bem como nas suas vulnerabilidades críticas. É essencial elaborar cartografia geológica a várias escalas, dado constituir um instrumento indispensável para o desenvolvimento económico, ambiental e social dos espaços territoriais. Na revisão dos Planos Diretores Municipais (PDM) de 1ª geração das autarquias do Alto Douro Vinhateiro, a cartografia geológica foi fundamental para se identificarem e representarem espacialmente, desde logo, zonas com potencial importância ecológica ou de forte suscetibilidade a riscos naturais, bem como Unidades Geomorfológicas atendendo ao parâmetro declividade. Tem desempenhado ainda um papel relevante no processo de reconhecimento e delimitação de áreas de máxima infiltração, que integram o sistema de áreas estratégicas de proteção e recarga de aquíferos no regime da Reserva Ecológica Nacional (REN), bem como na referenciação espacial dos recursos geológicos. A evolução da cartografia geológica faz-se no sentido de se constituir bancos de dados georreferenciados, interoperáveis e normalizados, recorrendo-se à integração de ferramentas de modelização (Geodesign) para representação a 3D do espaço subterrâneo. Este avanço será responsável pela melhoria significativa dos futuros Planos Diretores Municipais, em particular, nos espaços urbanos.ABSTRACT: Portugal was one of the pioneer countries in the geological cartography elaboration of its territory, starting its production in the middle of the XIX century, and being currently made available in digital and paper format by LNEG. The territorial model design of a certain region is based on the characterization and diagnosis of the biophysical, territorial, urban and connectivity, and territorial-based productive systems, as well as their critical vulnerabilities. It is essential to prepare geological mapping at various scales, as it is an indispensable tool for the economic, environmental, and social development of territorial spaces. In the review of the 1st generation PDM of the Alto Douro Wine Region, the geological cartography published in the meantime was essential to identify and represent spatially, from the outset, areas with potential ecological importance or strong susceptibility to natural hazards, as well as geomorphological units considering the slope parameter. It has also played an important role in the process of recognizing and delimiting areas of maximum infiltration, which are part of the strategic areas system for the protection and recharge of aquifers in the REN regime, as well as in the spatial referencing of geological resources. The geological cartography evolution is towards the creation of georeferenced, interoperable, and standardized databases, using the integration of modelling tools (Geodesign) for the 3D representation of underground space. This advance will be responsible for the significant improvement of future PDM, particularly in the urban spaces.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genetic Alterations in Poorly Differentiated and Undifferentiated Thyroid Carcinomas

Thyroid gland presents a wide spectrum of tumours derived from follicular cells that range from well differentiated, papillary and follicular carcinoma (PTC and FTC, respectively), usually carrying a good prognosis, to the clinically aggressive, poorly differentiated (PDTC) and undifferentiated thyroid carcinoma (UTC)

Effects of a mucoadhesive formulation containing curcuma longa l. on oral wound healing

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a topical mucoadhesive formulation with Curcuma longa L. extract (MFC) on oral wound healing. Methods: Seventy-two Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups: Control, Vehicle, and MFC. Traumatic ulcers were made on the dorsum of the tongue with a 3-mm diameter punch. Vehicle and MFC groups received application of the products twice a day, while animals in the control group were cared for in identical conditions but received no product application. Six rats in each group were euthanized at days 3, 5, 10, and 14. Percentage of repair was calculated based on wound area. HE-stained histological sections were obtained for semi-quantitative analysis of re-epithelization and inflammation. Results: Clinical findings revealed that at days 3 and 5, animals from the MFC group exhibited a significantly higher percentage of wound repair. At day 5, animals from this group also demonstrated a significant increase in the degree of re-epithelization and inflammation. Conclusions: MFC is capable of accelerating oral wound repair in an in vivo model by modulating the inflammatory process and stimulating epithelial proliferation

Frequency of TERT promoter mutations in human cancers

Reactivation of telomerase has been implicated in human tumorigenesis, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we report the presence of recurrent somatic mutations in the TERT promoter in cancers of the central nervous system (43%), bladder (59%), thyroid (follicular cell-derived, 10%) and skin (melanoma, 29%). In thyroid cancers, the presence of TERT promoter mutations (when occurring together with BRAF mutations) is significantly associated with higher TERT mRNA expression, and in glioblastoma we find a trend for increased telomerase expression in cases harbouring TERT promoter mutations. Both in thyroid cancers and glioblastoma, TERT promoter mutations are significantly associated with older age of the patients. Our results show that TERT promoter mutations are relatively frequent in specific types of human cancers, where they lead to enhanced expression of telomerase.We thank to Mrs Mafalda Rocha for the excellent technical support in the sequencing work. This work was partially supported by the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT) through BPD (SFRH/BPD/85249/2012 to H. P.), PhD (SFRH/BD/81940/2011 to J.V. and SFRH/BD/79135/2011 to A. A.) and BI grants, and the grant through the Program Ciencia 2008 (J.L.) and the project (PIC/IC/83037/2007). Further funding was obtained from the project 'Microenvironment, metabolism and cancer' partially supported by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2-O Novo Norte), under the Quadro de Referencia Estrategico Nacional (QREN), and through the Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER). IPATIMUP is an associate laboratory of the Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education and is partially supported by the FCT

UTILIZAÇÃO DE ÁGUA SUBTERRÂNEA NA ZONA URBANA DE FREDERICO WESTPHALEN-RS

With an increase in the contamination of water resources, surface and underground, there is great concern about the health of the population that consumes water out of potability standards. Based on this, the present study aims to register the alternative sources of water supply in the city of Fredericksburg - RS, in order to be aware of the portion of the population that uses for drinking water from such sources. Data collection was performed with visits to homes where they were raised about the conditions of water consumption and social population. In urban, neighborhoods Barrel Panosso, Itapagé, Aparecida, Fatima, St. Anthony, St. Ignatius, Ipiranga and Garden Center SPRING, were registered to a total of 71 alternative sources of supply, being 6 source / spring, 5 wells and 60 dug wells. Based on these results, we found that despite having access to the public water supply, many users still opt for alternative sources, which in many cases have very poor condition potabilityCom um aumento da contaminação dos recursos hídricos, superficiais e subterrâneos, há uma grande preocupação com a saúde pública da população que consome água fora dos padrões de potabilidade. Com base nisso, o presente estudo tem por objetivo cadastrar as fontes alternativas de abastecimento de água na cidade de Frederico Westphalen – RS, a fim de ser ter conhecimento da parcela da população que utiliza para consumo água proveniente de tais fontes. A coleta de dados foi realizada com visitas as residências, onde foram levantadas informações sobre as condições de consumo de água e sociais da população. Na área urbana, nos bairros Barril, Panosso, Itapagé, Aparecida, Fátima, Santo Antônio, Santo Inácio, Ipiranga, Centro e Jardim Primaver,a foram cadastrados um total de 71 fontes alternativas de abastecimento, sendo 6 fonte/nascente, 5 poços tubulares e 60 poços escavados. Com base nos resultados obtidos, foi possível identificar que mesmo possuindo acesso a rede pública de abastecimento de água, muitos usuários ainda optam pelas fontes alternativas, onde em muitos casos, apresentam péssimas condições de potabilidade