Dietary supplements with green tea marketed in Portugal: information on website, labels and antioxidant activity

The use of plants and their health benefits have been recognized over the years. Its use and consumption of herbal dietary supplements has increased in the last years in United States and Europe. Internet is one of the most required options to buy dietary supplements (DS). Several studies suggest that information on most sites is incomplete, poorly referenced, and may contain illegal claims. Thus, a conscious and informed decision is essential for consumers. Camellia s inensis , also known as green tea, is one of the most consumed plants worldwide and has been recognized by its antioxidant potential over the years. This activity can protect several diseases with an oxidative stress origin. For these reasons, a study was performed to evaluate the quality of information on websites selling dietary supplements with green tea. A modified DISCERN tool was used to evaluate websites from pharmacies/parapharmacies, websites from food health stores, and websites without physical space. Websites scored 1 or 2 at evaluation rating (Low – serious or extensive outcomes). These results reveal the importance of developing a checklist for the online marketing of herbal products, based on DISCERN instrument, or other. These instruments can guide health professionals, who have a very important role in directing patients to high-quality sources of information.Legal framework for dietary supplements varies among countries, and in Portugal, DS are regulated by the Direção Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária (DGAV). Although there are directives published by European Commission, in Portugal, decree-law are incomplete and DS safety is placed on the substance’s manufacturer or marketer. In addition, clinical trials are not required for DS in Portugal, which allows adulteration, falsification, contamination and incorrect labels. In Portugal, DS can be sold in pharmacies, parapharmacies, supermarkets, dietetic stores and online, and consumers should be able to make informed and appropriate health care choices. Also, consumers use DS labels (information provided on the packaging) and leaflets to further their understanding about some DS ingredients, relevant indication(s), directions for use, side effects, contraindications and drug-supplements interactions. For these reasons, another study was performed using an adapted form to evaluate legal and scientific information of twenty green tea DS sold in pharmacies, parapharmacies and health food stores in Portugal. From the legal and scientific points of view none of the websites fulfilled all the analyzed criteria. Seven DS (35.0%) had indications of use similar to those mentioned in the literature. Adverse reactions and drug interactions information were rarely provided by two and three DS, respectively. Green tea is a complex mixture of several constituents, which include phenolic compounds like catechins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. This chemical composition is associated with antioxidant activity. Antioxidant products demand has been increasing over the last years. They are referenced as having a protective role in many diseases, like cancer, neurodegenerative and cardiovascular disorders. Considering the lack of legislation, in Portugal, that controls DS prior to its introduction in the market, the last aim of this thesis was to evaluate antioxidant activity of six green tea supplements (three isolated and three mixture of substances/plant extracts). This evaluation was performed by common assays, namely, DPPH, superoxide and Fe2+ chelating assays. Results showed that antioxidant activity depends on composition and concentration of each substance present in green tea’s DS. In addition, green tea DS studied showed different antioxidant results at different assays performed. These thesis results may contribute to understand the importance of quality information provided by websites selling DS, and also the importance of regulation regarding its manufacturing and selling

O desenvolvimento socioemocional em crianças com doença crónica : o caso da fibrose quística

Embora o tratamento médico para as doenças crónicas tenha evoluído e as taxas de sobrevivência tenham aumentado de forma significativa, a criança geralmente precisa passar por procedimentos médicos demorados e hospitalizações. O mesmo se passa com a doença crónica Fibrose Quística (FQ), uma doença genética autossómica recessiva que afeta vários órgãos do corpo humano. Para além do seu estado de saúde, é importante considerar o desenvolvimento socioemocional das crianças que apresentam esta doença crónica, visto que os estudos têm concluído que existem repercussões devido à própria enfermidade e aos tratamentos contínuos, e à necessidade destas crianças faltarem imenso às aulas. Atualmente, considera-se fulcral, o acompanhamento de uma equipa de profissionais para que estas crianças progridam com maior eficácia nas tarefas de desenvolvimento das idades escolares. Assim, os objetivos deste estudo são os de compreender a doença FQ, nomeadamente o seu impacto no desenvolvimento socioemocional em idade escolar; conhecer o dia-a-dia e as implicações do tratamento na criança, e ainda compreender a sua vida escolar, de como se adapta a esse meio e quais são as estratégias educativas e de ensino aprendizagem utilizadas. Realizou-se um estudo do caso de um adolescente com FQ, recorrendo à entrevista semi-estruturada (do próprio criança e duas das pessoas que mais acompanham a sua vida, a Mãe e o Diretor de turma), e à análise documental do seu processo escolar como instrumentos principais de recolha de dados, tendo-se depois procedido à análise do seu conteúdo. Os dados são analisados, combinados e discutidos. Em síntese, verificou-se que a criança / adolescente com FQ experiencia algum desconforto social na escola, e até mesmo alguns problemas de integração na turma. Contudo, a forma como encara a sua doença e os problemas são sem dúvida um exemplo de coragem.Although medical treatment for chronic diseases has evolved and survival rates have increased significantly, a chronic disease child usually needs to undergo extensive medical procedures and hospitalizations. The same goes for chronic disease Cystic Fibrosis (CF), an autosomal recessive genetic disease that affects various organs of the human body. In addition to their state of health, it is important to consider the socioemotional development of children with this chronic disease since studies have concluded that there are repercussions due to the illness, the continuing treatments, and the constant need to miss classes. Currently, it is considered crucial, monitoring a team of professionals for these children to progress more effectively in the developmental tasks of school age. The goals of this study is to understand the CF disease, its impact on socio-emotional development of school age; understanding the everyday life and treatment implications in these children, and finally, understanding their school life, how they fit in and what are the educational learning and teaching strategies. We conducted a case study of an adolescent with CF, using the semistructured interview (not only to the child but also to two of the people who have the most important roles in his life, the Mother and the priority teacher responsible for his class), and a document analysis of his school file as the main instruments, which all of the data were of course analyzed, combined and discussed. To conclude, it was found that the child / adolescent with CF disease had experienced some social discomfort in school, and even some integration problems in the classroom. However, how he faces his illness and problems are without a doubt an example of courage

Células estaminais derivadas de dentes decíduos: evidência científica e aplicações clínicas

Objetivo: rever a literatura científica disponível relativamente à evidência científica da aplicação terapêutica das células estaminais derivadas de dentes decíduos em diferentes patologias, assim como, as suas possíveis aplicações futuras. Metodologia: pesquisa bibliográfica de artigos publicados em revistas internacionais, disponibilizados nas bases de dados: PubMed, B-On e Web of Science, entre novembro de 2019 e fevereiro de 2020. Foram definidos os termos de pesquisa, os quais foram articulados através de marcadores booleanos e estipulados critérios de inclusão para a seleção dos artigos. Foram analisados 46 artigos. Tópico abordado: A utilização terapêutica de células estaminais derivadas de dentes decíduos tem demonstrado resultados promissores em diversas condições e patologias. É importante que o Médico Dentista apresente um conhecimento adequado sobre este assunto, uma vez que se prevê que constitua um método em franca expansão e que tem vindo a despoletar um interesse crescente junto dos pais e encarregados de educação.Objective: review an available scientific literature regarding the scientific evidence of the therapeutic application of stem cells derived from primary teeth in different pathologies, as well as, as their possible future applications. Methods: bibliographic search of articles published in international journals, made available in the databases: PubMed, B-On and Web of Science, between November 2019 and February 2020. The search terms were defined, which were defined, which were articulated though boolean inclusion creteria were stipulated for the selection of articles. Forty six articles were analyzed. Subject: the therapeutic use of stem cells derived from primary teeth has shown promising results in several conditions and pathologies. It is important that the Dentist presents an adequate knowledge on this subject, since it is expected to constitute a method in full expansion and that has been triggering an interest among parents and guardians

Planejamento urbano e a intervenção na paisagem um estudo dos planos diretores de Anápolis-Goiás

O desejado desenvolvimento social e econômico de uma cidade em uma perspectiva sustentável se alcança pela agregação dos resultados de ações que envolvem agentes públicos e privados de forma solidária. Este é um estudo dos Planos Diretores de Anápolis desde 1969 com ênfase ao meio ambiente. Para tal utilizou-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, documental com estudo investigativo comparativo, e método dedutivo. O estudo revela que até 1992 o meio ambiente não era prioridade dos Planos Diretores a preocupação com o meio ambiente, apesar de citar alguns artigos para referencia-los. A partir de 2006 com o Plano Diretor Participativo, o meio ambiente urbano e rural do município tornou-se condição sine qua non para melhorar a qualidade de vidas dos que aqui residem

Criminalidade um estudo socioeconômico sobre a cidade de Anápolis/Go no período de 2004 a 2008

Do ponto de vista social e econômico, a atividade criminosa geralmente está associada a fatores como a pobreza, as desigualdades, a exclusão social, e o baixo nível de escolaridade e de qualificação profissional, que caracterizam a maioria dos criminosos, geralmente residentes em regiões de maiores taxas de desemprego e baixos rendimentos formais. O presente estudo caracteriza-se pela identificação dos fatores que determinam ou que contribuem para a ocorrência criminal na cidade de Anápolis/GO. A pesquisa utilizou o método dedutivo, a partir de dados levantados nas fichas individuais dos infratores, junto às 10 (dez) unidades das Delegacias de Polícia Civil situadas na cidade, num total de 1.664 fichas individuais no período de janeiro de 2004 a dezembro de 2008. Observa-se pelos dados que houve um crescimento de 33% da criminalidade, a região norte, possuem rendas de até um salário mínimo ou nenhuma renda formal, são solteiros, mas possuem geralmente de 1 a 2 filhos, de cor parda, de religião evangélica,  consomem com freqüência bebidas alcoólicas, entorpecentes e cigarros, praticam os crimes na companhia de outros indivíduos e vêm de família nas quais outros integrantes também praticaram crimes

The validity of the Violence Risk Scale (VRS) in a Portuguese sample of remand prisoners

This study aims to test the psychometric properties of the Violent Risk Scale (VRS) in a sample of Portuguese remand prisoners. A total of 133 subjects participated in the present study. We carried out a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to test the originally proposed two factor structure. Results showed evidence to support the VRS's psychometric qualities.The CFA tested the two-factor structure and showed evidence of the goodness of fit of the original two-factor model. Also, our findings indicated acceptable internal consistency for both sub scales. The correlational analyses supported both convergent and discriminant validity of the VRS. Finally, this study also tested known-groups validity. The VRS score showed a satisfactory postdictive accuracy, which means that it is able to demonstrate distinctive scores for groups known to vary on the variables being measured. We consider this work represents an essential support for decision-makers to evaluate the appropriateness of different judicial measures.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The impact of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and their secretome as a treatment for gliomas

In recent years, we have witnessed a significant increase in the amount of studies using Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) for cancer therapy, mostly as vectors for drug or gene delivery strategies. This is because of their intrinsic capacity of homing into tumor niches. However, the interactions between MSCs themselves and tumor cells is not fully understood, with contradictory results frequently being observed regarding their effects on cancer cell invasion and proliferation. This poses an important question of safety in respect to the application of these cells. The source of the MSC population used, as well as the type of cancer cells under study might strongly influence this interaction. Moreover, differences in isolation protocols, culture media compositions, time of culture and conditioned media collection, or even timing and mode of MSCs administration to in vivo models of cancer may also affect the interaction MSC-tumor cells. In this review, we drive our focus into malignant brain tumors, particularly gliomas, one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Moreover, we look with some detail into different studies using MSCs as a treatment for brain tumors and compare them, highlighting the main deviations and similarities among them.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology: pre- doctoral fellowship to E.D. Gomes (SFRH/BD/103075/2014) and J. Vieira de Castro (SFRH/BD/88121/2012); FCT Investigator Starting Grant to B.M. Costa (IF/00601/2012); FCT Investigator Development Grant to A.J. Salgado (IF/00111/2013). This article has been devel- oped under the scope of the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER- 000023, supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). This work has also been funded by FEDER funds, through the Competitiveness Factors Operational Programme (COMPETE), and by National funds, through the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), under the scope of the project POCI-01-0145- FEDER-007038info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

High carbon load in food processing industrial wastewater is a driver for metabolic competition in aerobic granular sludge

The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.735607/ full#supplementary-materialAerobic granular sludge (AGS) processes are among the most robust wastewater treatments. One of their greatest advantages is related to the granules multi-layered structure, which creates a protective barrier against organic shock loads and variable wastewater composition, particularly attractive for the treatment of industrial wastewater. However, when treating a wastewater with variable and complex composition, the difficulty in identifying factors that most affect a specific biological process increases. In this study, the effect of organic loading rate (OLR), namely carbon content, on nitrification in an AGS process treating fish canning wastewater was investigated. Besides process performance, also biomass structural changes, and microbial community composition were analysed. Reactor operation lasted for 107 days and was divided in three phases during which different OLR and C/N ratios were applied. A higher OLR was applied during the first two phases (ca. 1.1 and 1.5 kg COD m3 day1, respectively) compared to the third phase (between 0.12 and 0.78 kg COD m3 day1) and the C/N ratios also varied (ca. 4.4, 7.8, and 2.9, respectively). Throughout the operation, COD concentration in the outlet was lower than 100 mg O2 L1. Nitrification was inhibited during the second phase and recovered afterwards. Principal component analysis (PCA) of quantitative image analysis (QIA) and performance data allowed to distinguish process changes over the three operational phases. During the first two phases, the decrease in the biomass robustness occurred, but recovered during the last phase, indicating that the high content of organic matter had possibly an effect on the aerobic granules structural characteristics. The composition of the AGS microbiome did not change substantially after the end of the higher OLR periods. The main microbial diversity shifts were mostly associated to adaptation to higher or lower carbon availability. Bacteria and inferred enzymes associated to nitrogen and phosphorous removal were identified. Chryseobacterium, a bacterium with high metabolic versatility, was able to adapt to the organic shock load, becoming dominant over operation. Despite the variable composition of the fish canning wastewater, carbon was identified as the main driver for nitrification inhibition, while promoting changes in the physical characteristics and on the microbial community of granules.This work was supported by National Funds from FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, through the project GReAT-PTDC/BTA-BTA/29970/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029970).We would like to thank the scientific collaboration of CBQF under the FCT project UIDB/50016/2020 and of CEB under the FCT project UIDB/04469/2020. We would like also to thank “A Poveira S.A.” (Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal) for providing the fish canning wastewater.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ecotoxicity variation through parabens degradation by single and catalytic ozonation using volcanic rock

Parabens are widely used as antimicrobial and preservative ingredients in pharmaceutical and personal care products. Nevertheless, these compounds have been increasingly seen as emerging contaminants that can be toxic to a wide range of species. In this study, the toxic effect of a mixture of parabens (10 mg/L of each paraben: methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, benzyl- and butylparaben) and its degradation products through single and catalytic ozonation (using volcanic rock as low-cost catalyst) was investigated over several non-target species: cladocerans, microalgae, clams, macrophytes and cress. The analysis of the toxicity of parabens mixture is relevant since usually these compounds are used as blends rather than individually. While parabens were totally removed both by single and catalytic ozonation the toxicity of the samples resulting from both treatments was generally high. This toxicity was still compared to the one obtained for several dilutions of the initial parabens mixture and it was concluded that the by-products formed are more toxic than the most diluted parabens mixture sample (0.625 mg/L). While catalytic ozonation allows reducing the amount of ozone (about 3-fold) required for total removal of parabens, the resulting treated solution was more toxic than the sample taken at the endpoint of the single ozonation treatment. This suggests that the highest amount of ozone used for single ozonation allowed the elimination of toxic by-products such as hydroquinone and 1,4-benzoquinone. Still, the effect of by-products and parabens interaction depends on the species analyzed due to their different tolerances to potentially toxic products.publishe