Efeito do Mês de Nascimento no Risco de Desenvolver Psoríase

Introduction: Psoriasis is an immunemediated dermatosis characterized by chronic inflammation, abnormal proliferation and aberrant differentiation of keratinocytes, hyperplastic blood vessels and infiltration of inflammatory cells. Psoriasis is a multifactorial disease and is influenced by genetics and epigenetic modifications that can be triggered by environmental factors. Climate and sun exposure may affect psoriasis prevalence and the ultraviolet radiation is a useful treatment. Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between the month of birth and the risk of developing psoriasis.Methods: The monthly distribution of births of patients with psoriasis (n = 755) was compared to that of a control population, comprised by Portuguese individual born during the same period and from the same region (n = 6 560 032).Results: Birth rate of psoriasis patients decreased in October (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.55 – 0.99; p 0.041). After Bonferroni correction and after grouping the months by trimesters, no statistical significant differences were found.Conclusion: Our results may be related to the particular meteorological characteristics of Portugal that may lead to stabilization of the vitamin D synthesis during the whole year. The perception of the environmental influence on the development of a specific pathology is very important because it allows the establishment of preventive measures that will reduce disease incidence. Introdução: A psoríase é uma dermatose imunomediada caraterizada por inflamação crónica, proliferação e diferenciação anormal dos queratinócitos, hiperplasia vascular e infiltração de células inflamatórias. É uma doença multifatorial influenciada por alterações genéticas e epigenéticas despoletadas por estímulos ambientais. O clima e a exposição solar parecem afetar a prevalência da psoríase e a radiação ultravioleta é útil na abordagem terapêutica. O nosso objectivo foi avaliar a influência do mês de nascimento (como marcador da época de gestação) no risco de desenvolver psoríase.Métodos: Comparação da distribuição dos meses de nascimentos nos pacientes com psoríase (n = 755) seguidos no Centro Hospitalar e Universitário do Porto com uma população controlo constituída pelos cidadãos portugueses nascidos no mesmo período e área geográfica dos pacientes com psoríase (n = 6 560 032).Resultados: Observou-se uma diminuição do número de nascimentos de pacientes com psoríase no mês de outubro estatisticamente significativa (OR 0,74; 95% CI 0,55 – 0,99; p 0,041). Após correção de Bonferroni e após agrupar os meses por trimestres, não se observaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas.Conclusão: As diferenças estatísticas pouco significativas e não significativas apresentadas podem ser explicadas pelas características meteorológicas particulares de Portugal que podem tornar a síntese de vitamina D relativamente estável durante o ano. A perceção da influência ambiental no desenvolvimento de determinada patologia é importante porque permite o estabelecimento de medidas preventivas que conduzirão à diminuição da sua incidência

Biosimilar Agents for Psoriasis Treatment: The Perspective of Portuguese Patients

Introduction: Biosimilars are highly similar copies of previously approved original biologic medicines. Their introduction on the market may yield cost reduction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the perspectives of psoriasis patients on biosimilar medications. Materials and Methods: We conducted a 14 questions survey of psoriasis patients receiving biological therapy and followed-up in a dermatology department of a Portuguese tertiary care hospital. Results: From a total of 108 patients included, 70.4% of patients did not know the definition of biosimilar agent and 76.6% of patients showed partial or total interest in using a biosimilar drug. Nearly 80% of patients partially or totally agreed in using a biosimilar drug in order to reduce healthcare costs with psoriasis treatment. However, the lack of studies in the European population and in psoriatic patients led most of the patients (72.2% and 75.0%, respectively) to somewhat or completely oppose to the use of biosimilars. Demographic variables, household income and type of current biologic therapy did not affect patient preferences. Discussion: Despite of the unfamiliarity of the respondents with biosimilars, most patients seem receptive to their use. Nevertheless, there are two issues of concern: i) the use of biosimilars that are not tested in a European population, and ii) its approval for psoriasis without trials in this disease. Thus, an immediate need exists for patient education about biosimilars. Conclusion: Biosimilars may increase patient access to biologic therapies. Improved communication and the involvement of patients in decision-making regarding biosimilars may increase their acceptance in future

Vitamin D and autoimmunity in the Portuguese population

A vitamina D é única entre as vitaminas pois trata-se de uma verdadeira hormona, à qual tem sido atribuída grande importância na homeostasia do sistema imune, para lá do seu reconhecido papel no metabolismo fosfocálcico. A ampla expressão do seu recetor (VDR), e os numerosos locais de ligação deste em todo o genoma, dão suporte a essa hipótese. Alguns polimorfismos do gene do VDR têm sido associados com doenças autoimunes. Na população portuguesa, demonstramos que o polimorfismo Fok I do VDR está associado à esclerose múltipla (EM), e à gravidade da doença no lúpus eritematoso sistémico (LES). Os baixos níveis séricos de vitamina D também estão associados com um risco aumentado de desenvolver doenças autoimunes como o LES, a EM e a artrite reumatoide. A insuficiência de vitamina D é muito comum em Portugal, podendo afetar entre os 60% e os 95% da população em função da estação do ano e do índice de massa corporal. O desenvolvimento de estratégias para o rastreio da deficiência de vitamina D é crucial, particularmente em grupos de risco. Não existem ainda, no entanto, evidências suficientes que possibilitem emitir recomendações claras e bem fundamentadas para a suplementação de vitamina D como medida preventiva de doenças crónicas, tendo em conta os riscos e benefícios inerentes.Vitamin D is unique among vitamins, as it represents a real hormone to which great impor tance in the homeostasis of the immune system has been ascribed, beyond its known role in phosphocalcic metabolism. The wide expression of its receptor (VDR), and the numerous binding sites for this receptor along the genome suppor t this hypothesis. Some well known VDR polymorphisms have been associated with autoimmune disease susceptibility. In the Por tuguese population, we have shown that the VDR Fok I polymorphism is associated with multiple sclerosis (MS), and with disease severity in systemic lupus er y thematosus (SLE). Low vitamin D serum levels are also associated with an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as SLE, MS and rheumatoid ar thritis. Vitamin D insuf ficiency is ex tremely common in Por tugal, and can af fect 60% to 85% of the population, depending on the season of the year and body-mass index. The development of screening strategies for vitamin D deficiency is needed, par ticularly for high-risk individuals. However, sufficient evidences are not yet available to make it possible to provide clear and well founded recommendations for the use of vitamin D supplementation in the prevention of chronic disease, taking into account the inherent risks and benefits.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ustekinumab in Real-Life Practice: Experience in 116 Patients with Moderate-To-Severe Psoriasis

Introduction: Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against the p40 subunit common to both IL-12 and IL-23 cytokines. Although the evidence of ustekinumab efficacy and safety in clinical trials is extensively recognized, data on its use in clinical practice is limited. Our objective is to report on the real-life experience of two Portuguese dermatology departments with ustekinumab in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis, and to identify the clinical characteristics associated with a weaker clinical response. Material and Methods: Clinical, demographic, and therapeutic response data was retrospectively collected in 116 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis treated with ustekinumab between November 2009 and December 2015. Results: A PASI75 therapeutic response was observed in 67.2%, 85.3%, 89.6% and 88.7% of patients at weeks 4, 12, 24 and 52, respectively. Ustekinumab was discontinued in seven patients (three due to primary failure, three due to secondary treatment failure, and one due to adverse events). Neither cardiovascular events nor cases of reactivation of previous infections (tuberculosis, hepatitis B) were observed during follow-up. In nine patients methotrexate was used as adjuvant therapy, and fourteen patients required ustekinumab dosage optimization. No side effects were observed in the two latter groups. The therapeutic response was higher in patients naïve to biologic therapies as compared to non-naïve patients. Discussion and Conclusion: A trend towards lower clinical response was observed in patients weighing between 90-100 kg, and dosage optimization in this group of patients may be of value prior to considering biologic switch

A estação arqueológica das Boucinhas, Regueira, Vitorino de Piães, Ponte de Lima (Norte de Portugal)

Publicam-se os resultados das sondagens arqueológicas realizadas no povoado da Idade do Bronze da Boucinha, em Vitorino de Piães, Ponte de Lima.Projeto FCT: The Entre-Douro-e-Minho landscape since middle of 3rd to the end of 2nd millenia BC.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The impact of genetic groups (Alentejano and F1 Landrace x Large White pigs) and body weight (90, 120 and 160kg) on blood metabolites

Áreas de pesquisa: AgricultureThis research work was carried out with the goal of studying the impact of genetic groups-GG (Alentejano-AL, n = 30, and F1 Landrace*Large White-F1 pigs, n = 30) and body weight-BW (90, 120 and 160 kg) on plasma metabolites. Blood parameters were correlated with animal production traits, carcass measurements and meat quality. Individual records for feed conversion index (CI) and daily feed intake were recorded on a weekly basis, for a period of 15 weeks. Compared to the F1, AL pigs displayed (P <0.05) higher average levels of glucose, total cholesterol-TC, triglycerides-TG, HDL-cholesterol (HDL), LDL-cholesterol (LDL) and total protein (TP), by about 14.0, 21.0, 42.2, 18.2, 21.2 and 5.0%, respectively. AL pigs (120–160 kg) showed higher TG levels, when compared to the values at 90 kg (2.6 and 1.6 times higher). High TG levels occurred when animals exhibited high daily feed intake (0.450 and 1.810 kg, for AL and F1 pigs). In the AL high TG levels were correlated with high fat deposition, at 120 kg (r = 0.51). At 90 kg, however, high fat deposition was related to HDL (r = 0.59), a lipoprotein associated to cholesterol transport. A progressive increase in ALB was found in the F1, as expected, but AL pigs showed higher and similar ALB means at 90, 120 and 160 kg. As for meat color, AL pigs with high cholesterol were negatively associated to L*, while high TG levels were associated to low b*. Animals with high ALB produced more tender meats (low shear force). Pigs with higher levels of lipid metabolism showed Longissimus thoracis muscles with decreased luminosity and yellowness (meats of a less attractive appearance). However, these meats were tenderer.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Profiling microglia in a mouse model of Machado-Joseph disease

Microglia have been increasingly implicated in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), and specific disease associated microglia (DAM) profiles have been defined for several of these NDs. Yet, the microglial profile in Machado–Joseph disease (MJD) remains unexplored. Here, we characterized the profile of microglia in the CMVMJD135 mouse model of MJD. This characterization was performed using primary microglial cultures and microglial cells obtained from disease-relevant brain regions of neonatal and adult CMVMJD135 mice, respectively. Machine learning models were implemented to identify potential clusters of microglia based on their morphological features, and an RNA-sequencing analysis was performed to identify molecular perturbations and potential therapeutic targets. Our findings reveal morphological alterations that point to an increased activation state of microglia in CMVMJD135 mice and a disease-specific transcriptional profile of MJD microglia, encompassing a total of 101 differentially expressed genes, with enrichment in molecular pathways related to oxidative stress, immune response, cell proliferation, cell death, and lipid metabolism. Overall, these results allowed us to define the cellular and molecular profile of MJD-associated microglia and to identify genes and pathways that might represent potential therapeutic targets for this disorder.This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) (PTDC/NEUNMC/3648/2014) and COMPETE-FEDER (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016818). It was also supported by Portuguese funds through FCT in the framework of the Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031987 (PTDC/MED-OUT/31987/2017). A.B.C. was supported by a doctoral fellowship from FCT (PD/BD/ 127828/2016). S.P.N. was also supported by FCT (PD/BD/114120/2015). Work in the JBR laboratory was financed by FEDER—Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020—Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalization (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT in the framework of the Project POCI-01-0145- FEDER030647 (PTDC/MED-NEU/31318/2017). This work was funded by ICVS Scientific Microscopy Platform, member of the national infrastructure PPBI (Portuguese Platform of Bioimaging) (PPBIPOCI-01-0145-FEDER-022122), and by National funds, through FCT—project UIDB/50026/2020 and UIDP/50026/2020

Caracterização química e avaliação da actividade biológica da framboesa (Rubus Idaeus L.) : Contribuição para o desenvolvimento de uma alegação de saúde

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

High-resolution multibeam bathymetry of the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 45–46° N: the Moytirra hydrothermal field

This work presents a new high-resolution multibeam bathymetric map of a segment of active deep sea-floor spreading in the Atlantic Ocean, the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) at 45–46º N. New high-resolution bathymetry data were acquired using an Atlas multibeam echosounder onboard the research vessel Sarmiento de Gamboa during the EXPLOSEA-2 survey in 2019. The final map of the MAR (50 m cell grid size) at the original scale of 1:200,000 shows a segment of 140 × 35 km of the MAR, at water depths from 715 to 3700 m. This new high-resolution bathymetric map allows to better defining the submarine morphology of the Moytirra hydrothermal active field, the only high-temperature field identified between the Azores Archipelago (Portugal) and Iceland. ROV submarine observations reaching the deepest part of the system for the first time show giant anhydrite-sulfide chimneys up to 20 m high, active strong black smokers and polymetallic massive sulfides