This study aimed to investigate the kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics of biosorption of the cationic dye rhodamine B by a low-cost biosorbent prepared from
Aspergillus oryzae
cells. Culture ...medium composition (mineral salts, nitrogen source, and carbon source) influenced removal efficiency, and dye removal increased with increasing biosorbent concentrations until a plateau was reached at 10 g L
−1
. Temperature and dye concentration were directly related to removal, and the highest removal efficiency was obtained at 40 °C and 200 mg L
−1
of dye. The adsorption kinetics was best fitted to a pseudo-second-order model, and equilibrium data were well described by the Freundlich equation. Thermodynamic analysis indicated that the biosorption of rhodamine B by
A. oryzae
cells is physical in nature, spontaneous, and more favorable at higher temperatures and dye concentrations. Overall, the results suggest that inactivated
A. oryzae
biomass is a promising biosorbent for the removal of cationic dyes from wastewater.
Migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays important roles in physiology, pathology, immunology and parasitology, including the control of infection by protozoa ...parasites such as
. As the MIF function in congenital toxoplasmosis is not fully elucidated yet, the present study brings new insights for
infection in the absence of MIF based on pregnant C57BL/6MIF
mouse models. Pregnant C57BL/6MIF
and C57BL/6WT mice were infected with 05 cysts of
(ME49 strain) on the first day of pregnancy (dop) and were euthanized at 8 dop. Non-pregnant and non-infected females were used as control. Our results demonstrated that MIF
mice have more accentuated change in body weight and succumbed to infection first than their WT counterparts. Otherwise, pregnancy outcome was less destructive in MIF
mice compared to WT ones, and the former had an increase in the mast cell recruitment and IDO expression and consequently presented less inflammatory cytokine production. Also, MIF receptor (CD74) was upregulated in MIF
mice, indicating that a compensatory mechanism may be required in this model of study. The global absence of MIF was associated with attenuation of pathology in congenital toxoplasmosis, but resulted in female death probably because of uncontrolled infection. Altogether, ours results demonstrated that part of the immune response that protects a pregnant female from
infection, favors fetal damage.
S1 Health literacy and health education in adolescence
Catarina Cardoso Tomás
S2 The effect of a walking program on the quality of life and well-being of people with schizophrenia
Emanuel Oliveira, ...D. Sousa, M. Uba-Chupel, G. Furtado, C. Rocha, A. Teixeira, P. Ferreira
S3 Diagnosis and innovative treatments - the way to a better medical practice
Celeste Alves
S4 Simulation-based learning and how it is a high contribution
Stefan Gisin
S5 Formative research about acceptability, utilization and promotion of a home fortification programme with micronutrient powders (MNP) in the Autonomous Region of Príncipe, São Tomé and Príncipe
Elisabete Catarino, Nelma Carvalho, Tiago Coucelo, Luís Bonfim, Carina Silva
S6 Safety culture of the patient: a reflexion about the therapeutic approach on the patient with vocal pathology
Débora Franco
S7 About wine, fortune cookies and patient experience
Jesús Alcoba González
O1 The psychological impact on the emergency crews after the disaster event on February 20, 2010
Helena G. Jardim, Rita Silva
O2 Musculoskeletal disorders in midwives
Cristina L. Baixinho, Mª Helena Presado, Mª Fátima Marques, Mário E. Cardoso
O3 Negative childhood experiences and fears of compassion: Implications for psychological difficulties in adolescence
Marina Cunha, Joana Mendes, Ana Xavier, Ana Galhardo, Margarida Couto
O4 Optimal age to give the first dose of measles vaccine in Portugal
João G. Frade, Carla Nunes, João R. Mesquita, Maria S. Nascimento, Guilherme Gonçalves
O5 Functional assessment of elderly in primary care
Conceição Castro, Alice Mártires, Mª João Monteiro, Conceição Rainho
O6 Smoking and coronary events in a population of Spanish health-care centre: An observational study
Francisco P. Caballero, Fatima M. Monago, Jose T. Guerrero, Rocio M. Monago, Africa P. Trigo, Milagros L. Gutierrez, Gemma M. Milanés, Mercedes G. Reina, Ana G. Villanueva, Ana S. Piñero, Isabel R. Aliseda, Francisco B. Ramirez
O7 Prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries in Portuguese musicians
Andrea Ribeiro, Ana Quelhas, Conceição Manso
O8 Hip fractures, psychotropic drug consumption and comorbidity in patients of a primary care practice in Spain
Francisco P. Caballero, Jose T. Guerrero, Fatima M. Monago, Rafael B. Santos, Nuria R. Jimenez, Cristina G. Nuñez, Inmaculada R. Gomez, Mª Jose L. Fernandez, Laura A. Marquez, Ana L. Moreno, Mª Jesus Tena Huertas, Francisco B. Ramirez
O9 The role of self-criticism and shame in social anxiety in a clinical SAD sample
Daniel Seabra, Mª Céu Salvador
O10 Obstruction and infiltration: a proposal of a quality indicator
Luciene Braga, Pedro Parreira, Anabela Salgueiro-Oliveira, Cristina Arreguy-Sena, Bibiana F. Oliveira, Mª Adriana Henriques
O11 Balance and anxiety and depression symptoms in old age people
Joana Santos, Sara Lebre, Alda Marques
O12 Prevalence of postural changes and risk factors in school children and adolescents in a northern region (Porto)
Clarinda Festas, Sandra Rodrigues, Andrea Ribeiro, José Lumini
O13 Ischemic stroke vs. haemorrhagic stroke survival rate
Ana G. Figueiredo
O14 Chronobiological factors as responsible for the appearance of locomotor pathology in adolescents
Francisco J. Hernandez-Martinez, Liliana Campi, Mª Pino Quintana-Montesdeoca, Juan F. Jimenez-Diaz, Bienvenida C. Rodriguez-De-Vera
O15 Risk of malnutrition in the elderly of Bragança
Alexandra Parente, Mª Augusta Mata, Ana Mª Pereira, Adília Fernandes, Manuel Brás
O16 A Lifestyle Educational Programme for primary care diabetic patients: the design of a complex nursing intervention
Mª Rosário Pinto, Pedro Parreira, Marta L. Basto, Ana C. Rei, Lisete M. Mónico
O17 Medication adherence in elderly people
Gilberta Sousa, Clementina Morna, Otília Freitas, Gregório Freitas, Ana Jardim, Rita Vasconcelos
O18 Hospitalization for cervical cancer of residents in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, 2012 to 2014
Lina G. Horta, Roger S. Rosa, Luís F. Kranz, Rita C. Nugem, Mariana S. Siqueira, Ronaldo Bordin
O19 Oncologic assistance of high complexity: evaluation of regulating accesses
Rosiane Kniess, Josimari T. Lacerda
O20 Perceived barriers for using health care services by the older population as seen by the social sector: findings from the Vila Nova de Gaia Gerontological Plan
Joana Guedes, Idalina Machado, Sidalina Almeida, Adriano Zilhão, Helder Alves, Óscar Ribeiro
O21 Sleep difficulties and depressive symptoms in college students
Ana P. Amaral, Ana Santos, Joana Monteiro, Mª Clara Rocha, Rui Cruz
O22 Psychopathological symptoms and medication use in higher education
Ana P. Amaral, Marina Lourenço, Mª Clara Rocha, Rui Cruz
O23 Sexually transmitted diseases in higher education institutions
Sandra Antunes, Verónica Mendonça, Isabel Andrade, Nádia Osório, Ana Valado, Armando Caseiro, António Gabriel, Anabela C. Martins, Fernando Mendes
O24 Alcohol consumption and suicide ideation in higher education students
Lídia Cabral, Manuela Ferreira, Amadeu Gonçalves
O25 Quality of life in university students
Tatiana D. Luz, Leonardo Luz, Raul Martins
O26 Male and female adolescent antisocial behaviour: characterizing vulnerabilities in a Portuguese sample
Alice Morgado, Maria L. Vale-Dias
O27 Risk factors for mental health in higher education students of health sciences
Rui Porta-Nova
O28 International classification of functioning disability and health as reflexive reasoning in primary attention in health
Tânia C. Fleig, Éboni M. Reuter, Miriam B. Froemming, Sabrina L. Guerreiro, Lisiane L. Carvalho
O29 Risk factors and cardiovascular disease in Portalegre
Daniel Guedelha, P. Coelho, A. Pereira
O30 Health status of the elderly population living in Portalegre historic city centre: A longitudinal study
António Calha, Raul Cordeiro
O31 Student’s sleep in higher education: sleep quality among students of the IPB
Ana Gonçalves, Ana Certo, Ana Galvão, Mª Augusta Mata
O32 Trend in mortality from cervical cancer in the metropolitan area of Florianópolis, state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, 2000 to 2013
Aline Welter, Elayne Pereira, Sandra Ribeiro, Marcia Kretzer
O33 Adherence to treatment in the elderly in an urban environment in Spain
Juan-Fernando Jiménez-Díaz, Carla Jiménez-Rodríguez, Francisco-José Hernández-Martínez, Bienvenida-Del-Carmen Rodríguez-De-Vera, Alexandre Marques-Rodrigues
O34 Beira Baixa Blood Pressure Study (Study PABB)
Patrícia Coelho, Tiago Bernardes, Alexandre Pereira
O35 Trends in cervical cancer mortality statistics in Santa Catarina State, Brazil, by age group and macro-region, from 2000 to 2013
Patrícia Sousa, João G. Filho, Nazare Nazario, Marcia Kretzer
O36 Sleep problems among Portuguese adolescents: a public health issue
Odete Amaral, António Garrido, Nélio Veiga, Carla Nunes, Ana R. Pedro, Carlos Pereira
O37 Association between body fat and health-related quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes
António Almeia, Helder M. Fernandes, Carlos Vasconcelos, Nelson Sousa, Victor M. Reis, M. João Monteiro, Romeu Mendes
O38 Therapy adherence and polypharmacy in non-institutionalized elderly from Amares county, Portugal
Isabel C. Pinto, Tânia Pires, João Gama
O39 Prevalence of surgical site infection in adults at a hospital unit in the North of Portugal
Vera Preto, Norberto Silva, Carlos Magalhães, Matilde Martins
O40 Frailty phenotype in old age: implications to intervention
Mafalda Duarte, Constança Paúl, Ignácio Martín
O41 Portuguese women: sexual symptoms in perimenopause
Arminda A. Pinheiro
O42 Predictive ability of the Perinatal Depression Screening and Prevention Tool – preliminary results of the categorical approach
Sandra Xavier, Julieta Azevedo, Elisabete Bento, Cristiana Marques, Mariana Marques, António Macedo, Ana T. Pereira
O43 Aging and muscle strength in patients with type 2 diabetes: cross sectional analysis
José P. Almeida, António Almeida, Josiane Alves, Nelson Sousa, Francisco Saavedra, Romeu Mendes
O44 Accessibility of the elderly in the prevention of hypertension in a family health unit
Ana S. Maia, Michelle T. Oliveira, Anderson R. Sousa, Paulo P. Ferreira, Luci S. Lopes, Eujcely C. Santiago
O45 Community Health screenings and self-reported chronic diseases
Sílvia Monteiro, Ângelo Jesus, Armanda Colaço, António Carvalho, Rita P. Silva, Agostinho Cruz
O46 Evaluation of indoor air quality in Kindergartens
Ana Ferreira, Catarina Marques, João P. Figueiredo, Susana Paixão
O47 Atmospheric exposure to chemical agents under the occupational activity of pathology technicians
Ana Ferreira, Carla Lopes, Fernando Moreira, João P. Figueiredo
O48 Occupational exposure to air pollutants in night entertainment venues workers
Ana Ferreira, Diana Ribeiro, Fernando Moreira, João P. Figueiredo, Susana Paixão
O49 Beliefs and attitudes of young people towards breastfeeding
Telma Fernandes, Diogo Amado, Jéssica Leal, Marcelo Azevedo, Sónia Ramalho
O50 Profiling informal caregivers: surveying needs in the care of the elderly
Catarina Mangas, Jaime Ribeiro, Rita Gonçalves
O51 Visual health in teenagers
Amélia F Nunes, Ana R. Tuna, Carlos R. Martins, Henriqueta D. Forte
O52 Amenable mortality and the geographic accessibility to healthcare in Portugal
Cláudia Costa, José A. Tenedório, Paula Santana
O53 Bacterial contamination of door handles in a São Paulo See Metropolitan Cathedral public restrooms in Brazil
J. A. Andrade, J. L. Pinto, C. Campofiorito, S. Nunes, A. Carmo, A. Kaliniczenco, B. Alves, F. Mendes, C. Jesus, F. Fonseca, F. Gehrke
O54 Adherence of patients to rehabilitation programmes
Carlos Albuquerque, Rita Batista, Madalena Cunha, António Madureira, Olivério Ribeiro, Rosa Martins
O55 Prevalence of malnutrition among Portuguese elderly living in nursing homes: preliminary results of the PEN-3S project
Teresa Madeira, Catarina Peixoto-Plácido, Nuno Santos, Osvaldo Santos, Astrid Bergland, Asta Bye, Carla Lopes, Violeta Alarcão, Beatriz Goulão, Nuno Mendonça, Paulo Nicola, João G. Clara
O56 Relation between emotional intelligence and mental illness in health student
Context: Heterozygous, de novo mutations in the transcription factor SOX2 are associated with bilateral anophthalmia or severe microphthalmia and hypopituitarism. Variable additional abnormalities ...include defects of the corpus callosum and hippocampus.
Objective: We have ascertained a further three patients with severe eye defects and pituitary abnormalities who were screened for mutations in SOX2. To provide further evidence of a direct role for SOX2 in hypothalamo-pituitary development, we have studied the expression of the gene in human embryonic tissues.
Results: All three patients harbored heterozygous SOX2 mutations: a deletion encompassing the entire gene, an intragenic deletion (c.70_89del), and a novel nonsense mutation (p.Q61X) within the DNA binding domain that results in impaired transactivation. We also show that human SOX2 can inhibit β-catenin-driven reporter gene expression in vitro, whereas mutant SOX2 proteins are unable to repress efficiently this activity. Furthermore, we show that SOX2 is expressed throughout the human brain, including the developing hypothalamus, as well as Rathke’s pouch, the developing anterior pituitary, and the eye.
Conclusions: Patients with SOX2 mutations often manifest the unusual phenotype of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, with sparing of other pituitary hormones despite anterior pituitary hypoplasia. SOX2 expression patterns in human embryonic development support a direct involvement of the protein during development of tissues affected in these individuals. Given the critical role of Wnt-signaling in the development of most of these tissues, our data suggest that a failure to repress the Wnt-β-catenin pathway could be one of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms associated with loss-of-function mutations in SOX2.
The transport of passively dispersed organisms across tropical margins remains poorly understood. Hypotheses of oceanographic transportation potential lack testing with large scale empirical data. To ...address this gap, we used the seagrass species, Halodule wrightii, which is unique in spanning the entire tropical Atlantic. We tested the hypothesis that genetic differentiation estimated across its large-scale biogeographic range can be predicted by simulated oceanographic transport. The alternative hypothesis posits that dispersal is independent of ocean currents, such as transport by grazers. We compared empirical genetic estimates and modelled predictions of dispersal along the distribution of H. wrightii. We genotyped eight microsatellite loci on 19 populations distributed across Atlantic Africa, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, Brazil and developed a biophysical model with high-resolution ocean currents. Genetic data revealed low gene flow and highest differentiation between (1) the Gulf of Mexico and two other regions: (2) Caribbean-Brazil and (3) Atlantic Africa. These two were more genetically similar despite separation by an ocean. The biophysical model indicated low or no probability of passive dispersal among populations and did not match the empirical genetic data. The results support the alternative hypothesis of a role for active dispersal vectors like grazers.
Surface curvature both emerges from, and influences the behavior of, living objects at length scales ranging from cell membranes to single cells to tissues and organs. The relevance of surface ...curvature in biology is supported by numerous experimental and theoretical investigations in recent years. In this review, first, a brief introduction to the key ideas of surface curvature in the context of biological systems is given and the challenges that arise when measuring surface curvature are discussed. Giving an overview of the emergence of curvature in biological systems, its significance at different length scales becomes apparent. On the other hand, summarizing current findings also shows that both single cells and entire cell sheets, tissues or organisms respond to curvature by modulating their shape and their migration behavior. Finally, the interplay between the distribution of morphogens or micro‐organisms and the emergence of curvature across length scales is addressed with examples demonstrating these key mechanistic principles of morphogenesis. Overall, this review highlights that curved interfaces are not merely a passive by‐product of the chemical, biological, and mechanical processes but that curvature acts also as a signal that co‐determines these processes.
Curvature as a local descriptor for shape has been revealed to play a fundamental role in the development of biological systems. Advanced 3D characterization methods allow its quantification across time and length scales indicating that cells and tissue growth can cause emergence of curved surfaces but in turn curvature also acts as a trigger for specific biological processes.
Silver nanoparticles are versatile platforms with a variety of applications in the biomedical field. In this framework, their presence in biological media inevitably leads to the interaction with ...proteins thus conducting to the formation of biomolecular coronas. This feature alters the identity of the nanomaterial and may affect many biological events. These considerations motivated the investigation of protein adsorption onto the surface of polymer-stabilized AgNPs. The metallic colloids were coated by polyethyleneimine (PEI), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), and poly(2-vinyl pyridine)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO-b-P2VP), and nanoparticle-protein interaction was probed by using a library of analytical techniques. The experimental data revealed a higher extent of protein adsorption at the surface of AgNPs@PVP whereas PEO-b-P2VP coating conducted to the least amount. The main component of the protein coronas was evidenced to be bovine serum albumin (BSA), which is indeed the protein at the highest abundancy in the model biological media. We have further demonstrated reduced cytotoxicity of the silver colloids coated by biomolecular coronas as compared to the pristine counterparts. Nevertheless, the protein coatings did not notably reduce the antimicrobial performance of the polymer-stabilized AgNPs. Accordingly, although the protein-repelling property is frequently targeted towards longer in vivo circulation of nanoparticles, we herein underline that protein coatings, which are commonly treated as artifacts to be avoided, may indeed enhance the biological performance of nanomaterials. These findings are expected to be highly relevant in the design of polymer-stabilized metallic colloids intended to be used in healthcare.
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•Protein adsorption was detected at the surface of polymer-stabilized silver colloids.•Amount of adsorbed proteins depends on the chemical nature of the polymeric shells.•The protein layers attenuate the cytotoxicity of the silver nanoparticles.•Protein coronas does not notably influence the biocidal performance of the colloids.
The study deals with the direct use of whole cells of a species of Penicillium as biocatalyst (mycelium-bound lipase) for the hydrolysis of vegetable oils under low-power ultrasonic irradiation. ...Whole cells of Penicillium purpurogenum with lauric acid-specificity lipase were able to hydrolyze vegetable oils with high content of this fatty acid. Up to 90% hydrolysis values were reached at 7 h of reaction, providing high fatty acid contents in shorter times concerning the literature. The results suggest that the ultrasound wave improves the interfacial area and that the lipase of Penicillium purpurogenum is bound to the cell, in a place with easy access to the substrate. On the other hand, the presence in the substrate of fatty acids with 18 carbons (stearic, oleic, and linoleic) in a concentration greater than 20%, negatively interferes with the degree of hydrolysis, indicating a possible limitation of lipase specificity. The present study highlights the biotechnological potential of mycelium-bound lipase (naturally immobilized enzymes) for use in the hydrolysis of babassu, coconut and kernel oils, which are not directly integrated into the food production chain.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease in most western countries. Current NAFLD diagnosis methods (e.g., liver biopsy analysis or imaging ...techniques) are poorly suited as tests for such a prevalent condition, from both a clinical and financial point of view. The present work aims to demonstrate the potential utility of serum metabolic profiling in defining phenotypic biomarkers that could be useful in NAFLD management. A parallel animal model/human NAFLD exploratory metabolomics approach was employed, using ultra performance liquid chromatography−mass spectrometry (UPLC−MS) to analyze 42 serum samples collected from nondiabetic, morbidly obese, biopsy-proven NAFLD patients, and 17 animals belonging to the glycine N-methyltransferase knockout (GNMT-KO) NAFLD mouse model. Multivariate statistical analysis of the data revealed a series of common biomarkers that were significantly altered in the NAFLD (GNMT-KO) subjects in comparison to their normal liver counterparts (WT). Many of the compounds observed could be associated with biochemical perturbations associated with liver dysfunction (e.g., reduced Creatine) and inflammation (e.g., eicosanoid signaling). This differential metabolic phenotyping approach may have a future role as a supplement for clinical decision making in NAFLD and in the adaption to more individualized treatment protocols.
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