A comprehensive review on xanthone derivatives as α-glucosidase inhibitors

α-Glucosidase plays an important role in carbohydrate metabolism and is therefore an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetes, obesity and other related complications. In the last two decades, considerable interest has been given to natural and synthetic xanthone derivatives in this field of research. Herein, a comprehensive review of the literature on xanthones as inhibitors of α-glucosidase activity, their mechanism of action, experimental procedures and structure-activity relationships have been reviewed for more than 280 analogs. With this overview we intend to motivate and challenge researchers (e.g. chemistry, biology, pharmaceutical and medicinal areas) for the design of novel xanthones as multipotent drugs and exploit the properties of this class of compounds in the management of diabetic complications.This work received financial support from the European Union (FEDER funds POCI/01/0145/FEDER/007265) and National Funds (FCT/MEC, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Ministério da Educação e Ciência) under the Partnership Agreement PT2020 UID/QUI/50006/2013; FCT UID/QUI/00062/2013, and “Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização” (COMPETE) (POCI- 01-0145-FEDER-029241), and under the framework of QREN (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000024). Thanks are also due to Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto and Instituto Politécnico de Bragança.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Riscos de Pobreza na População de Idade Avançada na Vila de Cucujães

Riscos de Pobreza na População de Idade Avançada na Vila de Cucujãe

New version of the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI-CAT): translation, cultural adaptation to Brazil and analyses of psychometric properties

BACKGROUND: The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT), developed with innovative measurement methodologies, evaluates functioning of children and youth, from 0 to 21 years, with different health conditions. It is a revision of an earlier instrument (PEDI) that has been used in national and international clinical practice and research. It was felt to be necessary to make this new version (PEDI-CAT) available in Brazil. OBJECTIVES: Translate and culturally adapt the PEDI-CAT to the Brazilian-Portuguese language and test its psychometric properties. METHOD: This methodological study was developed through the following stages: (1) translation, (2) synthesis, (3) back-translation, (4) revision by an expert committee, (5) testing of the pre-final version, and (6) evaluation of the psychometric properties. The 276 translated PEDI-CAT items were divided into three age groups (0-7, 8-14, and 15-21 years). RESULTS: The PEDI-CAT translation followed all six stages. The adaptations incorporated cultural and socioeconomic class specificities. The PEDI-CAT/Brazil showed good indices of inter-examiner (intraclass correlation coefficient-ICC=0.83-0.89) and test-retest (ICC=0.96-0.97) reliability, good internal consistency (0.99) and small standard error of measurement in all three age groups (0.12-0.17). Factor analyses grouped the items from the three functional skills domains into one factor, and items from the responsibility scale into three factors, supporting the adequacy of these factor solutions to the conceptual structure of the instrument and the developmental model. CONCLUSION: The PEDI-CAT/Brazil is a theoretically consistent, culturally appropriate, and reliable instrument. Its availability in Brazil will contribute to the evaluation and measurement of functional outcomes from clinical interventions, longitudinal follow-up, and rehabilitation research

Contributions of TOXICROP project for the assessment of the impacts of toxic cyanobacteria in agriculture †

Water contaminated with microcystins (MCs) or other cyanotoxins is recurrently used in agriculture and for crop irrigation. Several deleterious effects of MCs in plants that may impair crop productivity, including a decrease in growth and tissue necrosis, as well as an inhibition of photosynthesis and metabolic changes, have been reported. Studies also revealed a significant accumulation of MCs in edible tissues and plant organs, which raise concerns related to food safety. The European project TOXICROP precisely tackles this environmental problem. The main aims of the project are to map agricultural risk areas of cyanotoxin occurrence, to assess the fate of cyanotoxins in crops, and evaluate the impacts of using low-quality water for crop irrigation. The project also develops research on water remediation, exploring nature-based technologies. Here, we review part of the research carried out in the project, concerning the toxicity of cyanotoxins in crops. The research from TOXICROP Consortium has revealed for instance that adult strawberry or faba bean plants are susceptible to moderate concentrations of MCs (10 to 20 µg MCs/L). Furthermore, experiments with faba bean and common wheat grown in sterile (microorganism-free) and non-sterile (microorganism-rich) soil, watered with 100 μg MCs/L, revealed that native rhizospheric microbiota play an important role in the mitigation of the phytotoxic impact of MCs on plant growth, reducing toxin accumulation in both soils and plant tissues. Our studies also revealed that leaf vegetables, such as lettuce and spinach, growing in hydroponics are more susceptible to MCs than to the toxin, cylindrospermopsin (CYN). The lowest toxin concentrations affecting spinach and lettuce growth were 5 + 5 and 25 + 25 µg/L CYN/MC mixtures, respectively. The results also reveal that the accumulation of MCs and CYN in plants depends on the conditions in which plants grow and concentrations of toxins in the irrigation water. In some cases, MCs are accumulated in plant tissues and exceed the tolerable daily intake proposed by the World Health Organization. We highlight the importance and contributions of this research to the definition and implementation of regulatory limits for cyanotoxins in irrigation waters.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A qualidade no terceiro setor: o caso do Centro de Reabilitação Profissional de Gaia (CRPG)

O presente estudo tem por finalidade analisar o Centro de Reabilitação Profissional de Gaia (CRPG), enquanto associação que exerce a sua missão tendo por base a responsabilidade social. O CRPG foi a primeira associação em Portugal a apresentar a preocupação de demonstrar a qualidade das práticas que exerce, através da Certificação da Excelência dos Serviços Sociais. Esta certificação é efetuada segundo o sistema European Quality in Social Services (EQUASS), o qual permite o reconhecimento, garantia e certificação da qualidade às organizações que atuam no âmbito dos serviços sociais, tais como a reabilitação, a formação profissional, a assistência e cuidados às pessoas em situação de fragilidade social. Salienta-se a este propósito o cariz voluntário para a aquisição deste tipo de certificação, o que comprova, além de outras preocupações, como a garantia da qualidade dos serviços prestado, a conduta socialmente responsável do CRPG.This study aims to analyse the Vocational Rehabilitation Centre of Gaia (CRPG), as association that pursues its mission based on the social responsibility. The CRPG was the first association in Portugal to present the concern to demonstrate the quality of its practices, through the Certification of Excellence in Social Services. This certification is performed according to the European Quality system in Social Services (EQUASS), which allows the recognition, quality assurance and certification to organizations that operate within social services, particularly in rehabilitation, vocational training, assistance and care to people in situations of social fragility. It should be noted the voluntary nature of this type of certification, which proves, among other concerns, such as ensuring the quality of services provided, the socially responsible behaviour of CRPG

Evaluation of the noise exposure of symphonic orchestra musicians

For musicians, the impact of noise exposure is not yet fully characterized. Some inconsistencies can be found in the methodology used to evaluate noise exposure. This study aims to analyze the noise exposure of musicians in a symphonic orchestra to understand their risk for hearing loss, applying the methodology proposed by ISO 9612:2009. Noise levels were monitored among musicians during the rehearsal of eight different repertoires. Test subjects were selected according to their instrument and position in the orchestra. Participants wore noise dosimeters throughout the rehearsals. A sound meter was used to analyze the exposure of the conductor. The results showed that musicians are exposed to high noise levels that can damage hearing. Brass, woodwind and percussion and timpani musicians were exposed to noise levels in excess of the upper exposure action level of 85 dB (A), while the other instrumental groups had a lower exposure action level of 80 dB (A). Percussion musicians were exposed to high peak noise levels of 135 dB (C). Sound levels varied by instrument, repertoire and position. Octave frequency analyses showed differences among musicians. This study suggests that musicians are at risk for hearing loss. There is a need for more effective guidelines applicable to all countries, which should define standardized procedures for determining musician noise exposure and should allow exposure level normalization to the year, including different repertoires

Quercirhiza tomentellocumulata” + Quercus suber L.

Mycorrhizae blackish, rough, with soil particles sticking to the mantle. Emanating hyphae dark brown, distributed unevenly. Mantle in outer and middle layers pseudoparenchymatous, with roundish cells. Inner layers with undifferentiated hyphae distributed with no discernible pattern alternating with ring-like arranged regions. Outer mantle layers with roundish cells overlaying groups of 2-6 cells. Emanating hyphae densely warty.Peer reviewe

"Quercirhiza flavocystidiata" + Quercus suber L.

This ectomycorrhiza shows, a cover of bright yellow cystidia (appering fluorescent in surface light), causing a short-spiny surface, on a dark brown mantle. Mantle plectenchy-matous in all layers, outer and middle layers star-like, inner layers plectenchymatous with sinous hyphae. Cystidia similar to normal hyphae, but fusiform and clamped at the base. Rhizomorphs frequent, slightly differentiated, occurring on mycorrhizal systems and in the soil, brown to dark brown, ramified at restricted points, conical-young side branches present cystidia on rhizomorphs lacking. Slerotia lacking.This study was financially supported by Fundaçao Para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (SFRH7 BPD/5560/2001) and HP BIODIBERIA program at the Real Jardín Botánico (Madrid).Peer reviewe