The IPL 60+ Program : a singular case of senior education in an intergenerational context

Aiming for the promotion of active aging, the IPL60+ Senior Education Program is designed for adults over 50 years old and is part of the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria Strategic Plan since 2008, allowing its enrolled members to attend Curricular Units from any of the IPL’s graduation courses. Therefore, the Program is conceived as an intergenerational senior education initiative. Its mission is to help change the aging paradigm through the stimulation and promotion of formative, educational and socio-cultural activities that involve the individuals in their own learning path and lifelong development, always in an intergenerational sociability context able to strengthen mutual learning processes. By enrolling in regular classes, senior students share school premises with the younger students, being able to benefit from all the IPL Campus’ services and spaces including classrooms, as well as canteens, cafeterias and libraries. In parallel, the IPL60+ Program has been striving to complement the academic component, diversifying the offer of intellectual and physically stimulating activities that are appropriate to this specific audience. Simultaneously, there is a constant appeal to personal intervention and initiative, valuing the students’ cooperation in the organization of a series of their own initiatives, some with a clearly educational tone, others more recreational. Demand has been increasing substantially, expanding from 17 students enrolled in 2008 to 111 in the 2nd semester of 2010/11

Seniors Road Safety Enhancement through Perceptual-Motor Competences Training Program Impact upon the Performance on the Useful Field of Vision (UFOV)

The purpose of this study was to verify the efficacy of a PerceptualMotor Competences Training Program upon the performance on UFOV of an experimental active group of elderly drivers. Program tasks were conceived to force subjects to divide their attention for central and peripheral stimuli, using a visual strategy of gazing at an anchor-point and, from there, detect important clues on peripheral visual field. For this purpose, almost all tasks were performed on groups of two, being one responsible for testing the other and switching functions from time to time (for instance, dropping one of two juggling handkerchiefs hold apart, one in each tester hand, with the partner having to detect which was dropped and react as quick as possible, catching it before it felt to the floor). We found a significant improvement in the capacity of dividing attention for central and peripheral stimuli under a visual environment full of distractors (selective attention UFOV test) following the Program, as well as a significant reduction on the category of risk (component based upon the three UFOV subtests results), which evidence very clearly the benefits of this training program on the elderly experimental group and its potential to reduce their risk of being involved in car accidents, on their fault, due to perceptual reasons

The RNA-binding protein hnRNP K mediates the effect of BDNF on dendritic mRNA metabolism and regulates synaptic NMDA receptors in hippocampal neurons

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important mediator of long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. The local effects of BDNF depend on the activation of translation activity, which requires the delivery of transcripts to the synapse. In this work, we found that neuronal activity regulates the dendritic localization of the RNA-binding protein heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K (hnRNP K) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons by stimulating BDNF-Trk signaling. Microarray experiments identified a large number of transcripts that are coimmunoprecipitated with hnRNP K, and about 60% of these transcripts are dissociated from the protein upon stimulation of rat hippocampal neurons with BDNF. In vivo studies also showed a role for TrkB signaling in the dissociation of transcripts from hnRNP K upon high-frequency stimulation (HFS) of medial perforant path-granule cell synapses of male rat dentate gyrus (DG). Furthermore, treatment of rat hippocampal synaptoneurosomes with BDNF decreased the coimmunoprecipitation of hnRNP K with mRNAs coding for glutamate receptor subunits, Ca2+- and calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIβ (CaMKIIβ) and BDNF. Downregulation of hnRNP K impaired the BDNF-induced enhancement of NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-mediated mEPSC, and similar results were obtained upon inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide. The results demonstrate that BDNF regulates specific populations of hnRNP-associated mRNAs in neuronal dendrites and suggests an important role of hnRNP K in BDNF-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity.publishe

Internship's Report at Figueiredo's Pharmacy and the Monograph titled "Safety Review of Approved Biological Drugs for the Treatment of Crohn's Disease in Portugal"

Relatório de Estágio do Mestrado Integrado em Ciências Farmacêuticas apresentado à Faculdade de FarmáciaEste trabalho inclui o Relatório de Estágio na Farmácia Figueiredo e a Monografia intitulada “Revisão de Segurança dos Medicamentos Biológicos aprovados para o tratamento da Doença de Crohn em Portugal”. Em Portugal, o Curso de Boticários remete-nos para o século XVI, na Universidade de Coimbra. Os primeiros Farmacêuticos Comunitários dedicavam-se à preparação oficinal de medicamentos. Atualmente, as funções do Farmacêutico Comunitário passam, também, pelo apoio às comunidades locais. Atendendo a que em diversas zonas do nosso país, a farmácia comunitária é a única estrutura de saúde disponível, o estágio em farmácia comunitária reveste-se de extrema importância. No que à Monografia diz respeito, o principal objetivo é a revisão dos medicamentos biológicos aprovados em Portugal para a Doença de Crohn. Segundo a European Medicines Agency, é considerado medicamento biológico aquele «cuja substância ativa foi produzida através ou é derivada de um organismo vivo». A primeira publicação com referência à Doença de Crohn data de 1932, sendo da autoria do Doutor Burrill Bernard Crohn. Trata-se de uma doença que se inclui no grupo das doenças inflamatórias do intestino, que pode atingir qualquer área do trato digestivo, desde a boca até ao ânus e região perianal, e até mesmo apresentar manifestações extra-intestinais. No mundo, a Doença de Crohn tem uma incidência de cerca de 6 casos por 100.000 habitantes/ano. Em Portugal, supõe-se que a doença tenha uma prevalência de 60 casos por cada 100.000 habitantes. Os medicamentos biológicos aprovados em Portugal para a Doença de Crohn são: Adalimumab, Infliximab, Vedolizumab e Ustecinumab. Todos eles foram aprovados por um procedimento centralizado e têm uma monitorização adicional. Em face dos resultados, constata-se ser o Adalimumab a substância ativa que pode desencadear reações adversas em mais classes de órgãos. É, pois, da máxima importância ter em conta, para cada medicamento, o risco-benefício para cada utente que vai receber o tratamento.This work includes the Internship's Report at Figueiredo's Pharmacy and the Monograph titled "Safety Review of Approved Biological Drugs for the Treatment of Crohn's Disease in Portugal".In Portugal, Apothecary's Course refers us to the sixteenth century, at University of Coimbra.The first Pharmacists were dedicated to the officinal preparation of drugs. Currently, the functions of the Pharmacists also go through support to local communities. Given that in several areas of our country, the community pharmacy is the only health structure available, the internship in community pharmacy is extremely important. In the Monograph, the main objective is to review the biological medicines approved in Portugal for Crohn's Disease. According to the European Medicines Agency, a biological drug is the one «whose active substance has been produced by or derived from a living organism». The first publication that referes to the Crohn's Disease dates from 1932, by Doctor Burrill Bernard Crohn. This is a disease that is included in the group of inflammatory bowel diseases, which can affect any area of ​​the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus and perianal region, and even to have extra-intestinal manifestations. In the world, Crohn's Disease has an incidence of about 6 cases per 100,000 habitants per year. In Portugal, it is a disease that has a prevalence of 60 cases per 100,000 habitants. The biological medicines approved in Portugal for Crohn's disease are: Adalimumab, Infliximab, Vedolizumab and Ustekinumab. All of them have been approved by a centralized procedure and have an additional monitoring. In view of the results, Adalimumab is the active substance that can have adverse reactions in more classes of organs. It is therefore really important to take into account, for each drug, the risk-benefit for each user who will receive the treatment

Programa SETE. Perspectiva pedagógica para el desarrollo de la aptitud física y calidad de vida de los mayores

El envejecimiento demográfico constituye uno de los mayores desafíos de Europa, observando las medidas, que adoptadas en el presente, diseñarán las expectativas del futuro. La Organización Mundial de Salud vino a desarrollar un papel importantísimo, al definirlas líneas de acción, al incrementar el imparte de conocimientos y recursos y al apoyar la puesta en práctica de medidas, que ayuden a construir una sociedad inclusiva, en que todos participen y en que todos cuenten, permitiendo envejecer con dignidad. Los programas de actividad física para los mayores asumieron un papel de destaque, en el ámbito de las iniciativas para la promoción de la cualidad de vida de esta población. El objetivo general de este estudio es Construir, aplicar y evaluar la eficacia del Programa SETE para el desarrollo de la aptitud física y cualidad de vida de los mayores. Teniendo como objetivos específicos: Mejorar o mantener las capacidades motoras de los participantes del Programa SETE; Mejorar la calidad de vida de los mayores después dela frecuencia de este programa; Verificar si los mayores se quedaron satisfechos con su frecuencia. La investigación presenta un diseño de dos grupos, el Experimental donde se aplicó el Programa SETE y el de Control, donde se aplicaron programas de actividad física que nombramos de Tradicionales. Los instrumentos aplicados fueron la Batería de Aptitud Física Funcional de Rikli y Jones, validada para la población por Batista y Sardinha (2005), a MOS SF-36 (Ferreira, 2000), el cuestionario de Satisfacción con el Programa de Actividad física y Grupo de Debate. La metodología se basó en la aplicación del Programa SETE a mayores entre 65 y 74 años de edad, durante 28 semanas, en la evaluación prueba reprueba (pre prueba y pos prueba) y en el análisis dentro y entre grupos. Concluimos que todos los mayores que participan en el Programa SETE mantuvieron o mejoraron, todas las capacidades motoras evaluadas: fuerza, flexibilidad, agilidad, equilibrio dinámico y resistencia aeróbica. Relativamente a la calidad de vida, comparando la media de los resultados obtenidos al inicio y al final de la época, se notó un avance en todas las dimensiones evaluadas, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las dimensiones Función Física, Desempeño Físico, Dolor Físico, Salud General, Función Social y Salud Mental. Se nota que 98% de los participantes se quedaron satisfechos con la frecuencia del Programa SETE. En lo que respeta al objetivo general, se considera logrado, porque se consigue construir un programa de actividad física, utilizando metodologías específicas para el trabajo con esta población volviéndose, al final, eficaz para el desarrollo de la aptitud física y cualidad de vida de los mayores estudiados.Ageing is currently one of the most challenging issues across Europe, carving, today, the measures to be taken and that will shape the expectations in the coming future. The WHO has been playing a key role by presenting guidelines and plans of action, implementing and sharing knowledge and resources and supporting the necessary steps that will help building an inclusive society in which everyone matters and is allowed to participating, in order to age with dignity. Physical activity programs targeted at the elderly have reached a high degree of importance in promoting life quality among this population. The main goal of the present investigation is to Devise, apply and assess the SETE Program, aimed at developing physical fitness e life quality in the elderly population. There is also a subset of specific goals such as: Improve or maintain the SETE Program participants’ current motor skills; Improve life quality of the elderly upon completion of the SETE Program; Assess the participants’ degree of satisfaction towards the SETE Program. The investigation was conducted on an experimental group that was subjected to the SETE Program and a control group, which performed typical/traditional physical activities. The Rikli & Jones, Senior Fitness Test, validated by Batista e Sardinha (2005), MOS SF-36 (Ferreira, 2000), the Physical Activity Program Satisfaction Questionnaire and Group Debating were used as instruments. SETE Program was administered to elderly people between 65 to 74 years old, for 28 weeks, and subjects were assessed pre and post-test and intra and inter-groups. We concluded that all participants in the SETE Program maintained or improved all motor skills: strength, flexibility, agility, dynamic balance and aerobic fitness. There was also an improvement in all life quality assessed dimensions at the end of the program, with significant differences in the Physical Function, Physical Performance, Physical Pain, General Health, Social Function and Mental Health. The degree of satisfaction reached 98% of all SETE Program participants. We can say that our primary goal was achieved, since we were able to build up a physical activity program, using specific methodologies targeted at this population that, in the end, proved its efficacy in developing physical fitness and quality of life in the subjects enrolled in the program.O envelhecimento demografico constitui um dos maiores desafios da Europa, balizando as medidas, que adoptadas no presente, irao moldar as expectativas do futuro. A Organizacao Mundial de Saude tem vindo a desempenhar um papel crucial, ao definir as linhas de accao, ao incrementar a partilha de conhecimentos e recursos e ao apoiar a operacionalizacao de medidas, que ajudem a construir uma sociedade inclusiva, em que todos participem e em que todos contem, possibilitando envelhecer com dignidade. Os programas de actividade fisica para idosos assumiram um papel de destaque, no ambito das iniciativas para a promocao da qualidade de vida desta populacao. O objectivo geral deste estudo e Construir, aplicar e avaliar a eficácia do Programa SETE com vista ao desenvolvimento da aptidão física e qualidade de vida dos idosos. Tendo como objectivos especificos: Melhorar ou manter as capacidades motoras dos participantes do Programa SETE; Melhorar a qualidade de vida dos idosos após a frequência no Programa SETE; Verificar se os idosos ficaram satisfeitos com a frequência no Programa SETE. A investigacao apresenta um desenho de dois grupos, o Experimental onde se aplicou o Programa SETE e o de Controlo, no qual foram usados programas de actividade fisica que denominamos como Tradicionais. Os instrumentos aplicados foram a Bateria de Aptidao Fisica Funcional de Rikli e Jones, validada para a populacao por Batista e Sardinha (2005), a MOS SF-36 (Ferreira, 2000), o Questionario de Satisfacao com o Programa de Actividade fisica e Grupo de Debate. A metodologia baseou-se na aplicacao do Programa SETE a idosos entre os 65 e 74 anos de idade, durante 28 semanas, na avaliacao teste-reteste (pre teste e pos teste) e na analise intra e entre grupos. Concluimos que todos os idosos participantes do Programa SETE mantiveram ou melhoraram, todas as capacidades motoras avaliadas: forca, flexibilidade, agilidade, equilibrio dinamico e resistencia aerobia. Relativamente a qualidade de vida, comparando a media dos resultados obtidos no inicio e no fim da epoca, verificou-se uma melhoria em todas as dimensoes avaliadas, com diferencas estatisticamente significativas nas dimensoes Funcao Fisica, Desempenho Fisico, Dor Fisica, Saude Geral, Funcao Social e Saude Mental. Verificamos que 98% dos participantes ficaram satisfeitos com a frequencia no Programa SETE. No que respeita ao objectivo geral consideramos que foi alcancado, na medida em que conseguimos construir um programa de actividade fisica, utilizando metodologias especificas para o trabalho com esta populacao mostrando-se, no final, eficaz para o desenvolvimento da aptidao fisica e qualidade de vida dos idosos estudados

Programa SETE : perspectiva pedagógica para el desarrollo de la aptitud física y calidad de vida de los mayores

El envejecimiento demográfico constituye uno de los mayores desafíos de Europa, observando las medidas, que adoptadas en el presente, diseñarán las expectativas del futuro. La Organización Mundial de Salud vino a desarrollar un papel importantísimo, al definir las líneas de acción, al incrementar el imparte de conocimientos y recursos y al apoyar la puesta en práctica de medidas, que ayuden a construir una sociedad inclusiva, en que todos participen y en que todos cuenten, permitiendo envejecer con dignidad. Los programas de actividad física para los mayores asumieron un papel de destaque, en el ámbito de las iniciativas para la promoción de la calidad de vida de esta población. El objetivo general de este estudio es construir, aplicar y evaluar la eficacia del Programa SETE para el desarrollo de la aptitud física y calidad de vida de los mayores. Teniendo como objetivos específicos: mejorar o mantener las capacidades motoras de los participantes del Programa SETE; mejorar la calidad de vida de los mayores después de la frecuencia de este programa; verificar si los mayores se quedaron satisfechos con su frecuencia. La investigación presenta un diseño de dos grupos, el Experimental donde se aplicó el Programa SETE y el de Control, donde se aplicaron programas de actividad física que nombramos de Tradicionales. Los instrumentos aplicados fueron la Batería de Aptitud Física Funcional de Rikli y Jones, validada para la población por Batista y Sardinha (2005), a MOS SF-36 (Ferreira, 2000), el cuestionario de Satisfacción con el Programa de Actividad física y Grupo de Debate. La metodología se basó en la aplicación del Programa SETE a mayores entre 65 y 74 años de edad, durante 28 semanas, en la evaluación prueba reprueba (pre prueba y pos prueba) y en el análisis dentro y entre grupos. Concluimos que todos los mayores que participan en el Programa SETE mantuvieron o mejoraron, todas las capacidades motoras evaluadas: fuerza, flexibilidad, agilidad, equilibrio dinámico y resistencia aeróbica. Relativamente a la calidad de vida, comparando la media de los resultados obtenidos al inicio y al final de la época, se notó un avance en todas las dimensiones evaluadas, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las dimensiones Función Física, Desempeño Físico, Dolor Físico, Salud General, Función Social y Salud Mental. Se nota que 98% de los participantes se quedaron satisfechos con la frecuencia del Programa SETE. En lo que respeta al objetivo general, se considera logrado, porque se consigue construir un programa de actividad física, utilizando metodologías específicas para el trabajo con esta población volviéndose, al final, eficaz para el desarrollo de la aptitud física y calidad de vida de los mayores estudiadosExtremaduraES

Differential role of the proteasome in the early and late phases of BDNF-induced facilitation of LTP

Copyright © 2015 the authorsThe neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mediates activity-dependent long-term changes of synaptic strength in the CNS. The effects of BDNF are partly mediated by stimulation of local translation, with consequent alterations in the synaptic proteome. The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) also plays an important role in protein homeostasis at the synapse by regulating synaptic activity. However, whether BDNF acts on the UPS to mediate the effects on long-term synaptic potentiation (LTP) has not been investigated. In the present study, we show similar and nonadditive effects of BDNF and proteasome inhibition on the early phase of synaptic potentiation (E-LTP) induced by theta-burst stimulation of rat hippocampal CA1 synapses. The effects of BDNF were blocked by the proteasome activator IU1, suggesting that the neurotrophin acts by decreasing proteasome activity. Accordingly, BDNF downregulated the proteasome activity in cultured hippocampal neurons and in hippocampal synaptoneurosomes. Furthermore, BDNF increased the activity of the deubiquitinating enzyme UchL1 in synaptoneurosomes and upregulated free ubiquitin. In contrast to the effects on posttetanic potentiation, proteasome activity was required for BDNF-mediated LTP. These results show a novel role for BDNF in UPS regulation at the synapse, which is likely to act together with the increased translation activity in the regulation of the synaptic proteome during E-LTP.This work was supported by FEDER (QREN) through Programa Mais Centro (Projects CENTRO-07-ST24-FEDER-002002, CENTRO-07-ST24-FEDER-002006, and CENTRO-07-ST24-FEDER-002008), through Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade- COMPETE and National funds via Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Projects Pest-C/SAU/LA0001/2013–2014, PTDC/SAU-NMC/120144/2010, and PTDC/SAU-NMC/0198/2012).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio