Assessment of fungal contamination in a group of Lisbon's gymnasiums with a swimming pool

The study’s main purpose was the assessment of the environmental fungal contamination, the exploration of possible associations between related environmental variables and the study of the relationship between fungal contamination of air and surfaces. A descriptive study was developed based upon air and surfaces monitoring for fungal contamination in ten indoor gymnasiums with a swimming pool located in Lisbon’s urban area. Fifty 200 litres air samples and 120 surface swabs were collected. Surfaces samples were collected before and after cleaning and disinfection and temperature and relative humidity values were registered during the collection period. Twenty five different species of fungi were identified in the air samples, being the three most commonly isolated genera the following: Cladosporium (36.6%), Penicillium (19.0%) and Aspergillus (10.2%). Thirty-seven different species of fungi were identified in the surface samples. Fusarium sp. was the most frequent genera before (19.1%) and after (17.2%) cleaning and disinfection. There was a significant association between the numbers of visitors and the fungal contamination determined in the surface samples (p<0.05). There was no significant association (p>0.05) between the contamination encountered in the air samples and the one registered in the surface samples and between the fungal contamination and the temperature or relative humidity measured on location. The data obtained enabled the assessment of the establishment’s fungal contamination and led the authors to conclude, consequently, that physical activity, which generally promotes health, can in fact be challenged by this factor.

Prevalence of fungi in indoor air with reference to gymnasiums with swimming pools

Fungal contamination of air in 10 gymnasiums with swimming pools was monitored. Fifty air samples of 200 L each were collected, using a Millipore air tester, from the area surrounding the pool, in training studios, in showers and changing rooms for both sexes, and also, outside premises, since these are the places regarded as reference. Simultaneously, environmental parameters – temperature and humidity – were also monitored. Some 25 different species of fungi were identified. The six most commonly isolated genera were the following: Cladosporium sp. (36.6%), Penicillium sp. (19.0%), Aspergillus sp. (10.2%), Mucor sp. (7%), Phoma sp. and Chrysonilia sp. (3.3%). For yeasts, three different genera were identified, namely, Rhodotorula sp. (70%), Trichosporon mucoides and Cryptococcus uniguttulattus (10%).

Air fungal contamination in two elementary schools in Lisbon, Portugal

A descriptive study was developed to monitor air fungal contamination in two elementary schools in Lisbon, Portugal. Eight air samples of 250 litres through impaction method were collected in canteen, library, classrooms and also, outside premises as reference place. Simultaneously, were also monitored environmental parameters, including temperature, and humidity through the equipment Babouc, LSI Sistems and according to the International Standard ISO 7726 - 1998. Considering both schools, sixteen different species of fungi in air were identified, being the 2 most commonly isolated Cladosporium sp. (51,1%) and Penicillium sp. (27,5%). Besides these genera Trichoderma, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Chrysonilia, Botritys, Ulocladium, Athrium, Aureobasidium, Phoma, Scedosporium e Geotrichum were also isolated. Regarding yeasts, Candida sp., Cryptococcus sp. and Rhodotorula sp. were isolated. The youngest school, as well canteens in each school, presented the worst results concerning the air fungal contamination, maybe due to the higher number of occupants. There was no significant relationship (p>0,05) between fungal contamination and temperature and humidity.

Avaliação da ingestão alimentar de indivíduos idosos com demência

A alimentação é uma das actividades básicas da vida diária que se torna um problema comum em idosos, especialmente naqueles com demência. Os principais factores que podem interferir com esta actividade básica são o ambiente onde ocorrem as refeições, a incapacidade cognitiva para iniciar e prosseguir estratégias de alimentação de uma forma eficaz, o declínio de habilidades neuromotoras e a presença de deficits perceptivos. Estes factores estão por sua vez associados a diferentes dificuldades no processo de alimentação. Os indivíduos com demência apresentam, assim, uma maior probabilidade de desenvolver um quadro de desnutrição, constituindo a ingestão alimentar inadequada um importante factor de risco a ele associada. A avaliação da ingestão alimentar (AIA) constitui um parâmetro que integra a avaliação do estado nutricional dos indivíduos. A observação directa consiste em observar e registar a ingestão alimentar (qualitativa e quantitativa) do indivíduo na altura em que este a efectua. O recall 24H é um método em que o entrevistador (o Dietista) questiona o entrevistado (o doente) acerca de todos os alimentos consumidos num período de 24h definido, quer em termos de qualidade, quer de quantidade. Objectivo do estudo - Avaliar a ingestão alimentar dos indivíduos do Hospital Residencial do Mar (HRMar), Espírito Santo Saúde, utilizando o método de observação directa nos indivíduos com diagnóstico de demência e o recall 24H nos indivíduos sem demência.

Trace elements in wild and orchard honeys

The present study aims the identification and quantification of trace elements in two types of honey samples: Orchard honey and Wild honey from mainland Portugal. Chemical elements content was assessed by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). Concentrations were determinated for Ag, As, Br, Ca, Cl, Cs, Cu, Fe, K, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, U, V and Zn. The nutritional values of both honey types were evaluated since this product contains some elements that are essential dietary nutrients for humans. Physical properties of the honey samples, such as electrical conductivy and pH, were assessed as well.

Conectividade estrutural do cérebro

Mestrado em Radiações Aplicadas às Tecnologias da Saúde. Área de especialização: Ressonância Magnética

Para uma reorganização do serviço público de media: responsabilidade social, independência institucional e autonomia editorial no quadro da relação problemática entre o Estado e o mercado

O debate em torno dos media de serviço público aborda com frequência, e por boas razões, o quão justificável é o envolvimento público no mercado dos meios de comunicação social e − para aqueles que o aceitem − a natureza do seu papel, do seu campo de operações e dos conteúdos e serviços disponibilizados. Estas questões definem o campo de batalha central, onde se joga o destino e o papel dos media de serviço público. Aos assuntos de governança é dispensada menor atenção. Se aceitarmos que os media públicos desempenham um papel importante nas esferas cultural e política das sociedades europeias, como deverá o fornecimento dos seus serviços ser organizado? Como se conseguirá encontrar o delicado equilíbrio entre controlo público, responsabilização e autonomia editorial? Estas questões, que constituirão o objecto deste capítulo, são muitas vezes consideradas um subtema burocrático por pessoas com interesses específicos e conhecimentos especializados, como é o caso de funcionários públicos nas autoridades de regulação, advogados em grupos privados de comunicação, académicos, ou gestores/administradores de media públicos. No entanto, a temática deve atrair agora maior atenção, uma vez que as questões de governação podem constituir o novo – e mais subtil – campo de batalha, no qual os grupos privados de comunicação procuram novas oportunidades, após verificarem que o seu ataque à própria existência dos seus congéneres públicos não se traduziu numa vitória clara.

Estudo da eficiência de deteção de um monitor portátil de contaminação de superfícies em função da distância e do débito de emissão da fonte

Introdução – No caso de uma eventual contaminação radioativa esta deve ser quantificada, pelo que é necessário garantir que as condições de funcionamento de um monitor de contaminação de superfícies se encontrem adequadamente caracterizadas, através da determinação da sua eficiência de deteção. Este estudo tem como objetivo determinar a eficiência de deteção de um monitor de contaminação e analisar a influência da distância e da atividade. Metodologia – O monitor de contaminação Thermo Mini 900E e as fontes radioativas planas de referência de Carbono – 14 (C-14), Césio – 137 (Cs-137), Estrôncio – 90 (Sr-90), Cloro – 36 (Cl-36) e Amerício – 241 (Am-241) com débito de emissão superficial rastreável ao Physikalish Technischen Bundesanstalt (PTB) foram utilizadas. Fontes de Sr-90 e C-14 com dois débitos de emissão distintos para cada e distâncias de 1 a 20mm foram usados para estudar a sua influência na eficiência de deteção. Resultados – Verificou-se que as fontes radioativas emissoras de partículas de maior energia apresentam uma maior eficiência de deteção e que esta diminui com o aumento da distância do detetor à fonte, sendo que os radioisótopos de maior energia apresentam um decréscimo na eficiência de 15% ao longo de 20mm, enquanto os radioisótopos de menor energia apresentam um decréscimo de 10%. Não se verificou uma influência expressiva do débito de emissão na eficiência de deteção deste monitor de contaminação. Conclusão – A eficiência de deteção de um monitor de contaminação portátil é dependente da distância deste à contaminação bem como do tipo de radiação emitida e energia dos radioisótopos presentes na contaminação. - ABSTRACT - Introduction – A radioactive contamination needs to be quantified in case it eventually occurs. Therefore it is necessary to ensure that the operating conditions of a surface contamination monitor are characterized by determining its detection efficiency. This experimental study aims to determine the detection efficiency of a contamination monitor and evaluate the distance and surface emission rate influence on the detection efficiency. Methodology – A contamination monitor Thermo Mini 900E was tested with reference radiation sources of Carbon – 14 (C-14), Cesium – 137 (Cs-137), Strontium – 90 (Sr-90), Chlorine – 36 (Cl-36) and Americium – 241 (Am-241) with its emission rate traced to the Physikalish Technischen Bundesanstalt (PTB). Sources of Sr-90 and C-14 with two different emission rates for each one and distances of 1 to 20mm were used to study its influence in the detection efficiency. Results – With the increasing of distance, the detection efficiency decreases. The most energetic radiation sources have higher detection efficiency, boasting a 15% decrease over 20mm whereas the sources bearing a smaller efficiency decrease 10%. No influence of the surface emission rate in the detection efficiency was verified. Conclusion – Thus, it is concluded that the detection efficiency of a contamination monitor is dependent of the distance between it and the contamination as well as the type and energy of the radioisotopes present in the contamination.

Recensão crítica do livro 'Exposição a fungos dos trabalhadores dos ginásios com piscina', de Carla S. C. Viegas

A amplitude e diversidade dos agentes micóticos, fatores de risco profissional de um grupo particular de trabalhadores, é claramente esplanada na revisão bibliográfica que, de uma forma pedagógica e descritiva, refere as características essenciais das espécies fúngicas patogénicas para o Homem, nomeadamente fungos dermatófilos, leveduras e fungos filamentosos não dermatófilos. A prevalência de Tínea pedis e onicomicose, os fatores predisponentes e o contexto profissional dos ginásios com piscina são alvo de análise exaustiva com valorização dos fatores intrínsecos, extrínsecos profissionais e não profissionais e conclui com todo um capítulo dedicado à exposição profissional por via de exposição aérea e por contacto.

Relatório de estágio em reabilitação neurológica

Mestrado em Fisioterapia.

Cellular uptake of BCG-loaded chitosan microparticles and in vivo evaluation of immune response following intranasal immunisation

Attenuated Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the only currently available vaccine against tuberculosis. It is highly effective in pre-exposure immunisation against TB in children when administered by subcutaneous route to newborns. However, it does not provide permanent protection in adults. In this work, polymeric chitosan-alginate microparticles have been evaluated as potential nasal delivery systems and mucosal adjuvants for live attenuated BCG. Chitosan (CS) has been employed as adjuvant and mucosal permeation-enhancer, and, together with alginate (ALG), as additive to enhance BCG-loaded microparticles (MPs) cellular uptake in a human monocyte cell line, by particle surface modification. The most suitable particles were used for vaccine formulation and evaluation of immune response following intranasal immunisation of BALB/c mice.

Risk factors for metabolic bone disease in Crohn's disease patients

Background: The aim was to evaluate the presence of metabolic bone disease (MBD) in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) and to identify potential etiologic factors. Methods: The case–control study included 99 patients with CD and 56 controls with a similar age and gender distribution. Both groups had dual-energy x-ray absorptionmetry and a nutritional evaluation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms at the IL1, TNF-a, LTa, and IL-6 genes were analyzed in patients only. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: The prevalence of MBD was significantly higher in patients (P ¼ 0.006). CD patients with osteoporosis were older (P < 0.005), small bowel involvement and surgical resections were more frequent (P < 0.005), they more often exhibited a penetrating or stricturing phenotype (P < 0.05), duration of disease over 15 years (P < 0.005), and body mass index (BMI) under 18.5 kg/m2 (P < 0.01) were more often found. No association was found with steroid use. Patients with a Z-score < 2.0 more frequently had chronic active disease (P < 0.05). With regard to diet, low vitamin K intake was more frequent (P ¼ 0.03) and intake of total, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fat was higher in patients with Z-score < 2.0 (P < 0.05). With respect to genetics, carriage of the polymorphic allele for LTa252 A/G was associated with a higher risk of osteoporosis (P ¼ 0.02). Regression analysis showed that age over 40 years, chronic active disease, and previous colonic resections were independently associated with the risk of developing MBD. Conclusions: The prevalence of MBD was significantly higher in CD patients. Besides the usual risk factors, we observed that factors related to chronic active and long-lasting disease increased the risk of MBD.

Fat intake interacts with polymorphisms of Caspase9, FasLigand and PPARgamma apoptotic genes in modulating Crohn's disease activity

Background & aims: Crohn’s disease (CD) is a multifactorial disease where resistance to apoptosis is one major defect. Also, dietary fat intake has been shown to modulate disease activity. We aimed to explore the interaction between four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in apoptotic genes and dietary fat intake in modulating disease activity in CD patients. Methods: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) techniques were used to analyze Caspase9þ93C/T, FasLigand-843C/T, Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gammaþ161C/T and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma Pro12Ala SNPs in 99 patients with CD and 116 healthy controls. Interactions between SNPs and fat intake in modulating disease activity were analyzed using regression analysis. Results: None of the polymorphisms analyzed influenced disease susceptibility and/or activity, but a high intake of total, saturated and monounsaturated fats and a higher ratio of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), was associated with a more active phenotype (p < 0.05). We observed that the detrimental effect of a high intake of total and trans fat was more marked in wild type carriers of the Caspase9þ93C/T polymorphism [O.R (95%CI) 4.64 (1.27e16.89) and O.R (95%CI) 4.84 (1.34e17.50)]. In the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma Pro12Ala SNP, we also observed that a high intake of saturated and monounsaturated fat was associated to a more active disease in wild type carriers [OR (95%CI) 4.21 (1.33e13.26) and 4.37 (1.52e12.51)]. Finally, a high intake of n-6 PUFA was associated with a more active disease in wild type carriers for the FasLigand-843C/T polymorphism [O.R (95%CI) 5.15 (1.07e24.74)]. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to disclose a synergism between fat intake and SNPs in apoptotic genes in modulating disease activity in CD patients.

Fatty acids, IL6, and TNFα polymorphisms: an example of nutrigenetics in Crohn's disease

Objectives - The aim of this work was to study the interaction between genetic polymorphisms (single-nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs) of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and fat intake on the risk of developing Crohn's disease (CD) or modifying disease activity. Methods - Seven SNPs in interleukin 1 (IL1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), lymphotoxin alpha (LTalpha), and IL6 genes were analyzed in 116 controls and 99 patients with CD. The type of fat intake was evaluated, and the interaction between SNPs and dietary fat in modulating disease activity was analyzed. Results - Individuals who were homozygous for the IL6-174G/C polymorphism had a six-fold higher risk for CD (odds ratio (OR)=6.1; 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=1.9-19.4), whereas the TT genotype on the TNFalpha-857C/T polymorphism was associated with more active disease (OR=10.4; 95% CI=1.1-94.1). A high intake of total, saturated, and monounsaturated fats, as well as a higher ratio of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), was associated with a more active phenotype (P<0.05). Furthermore, there was an interaction between dietary fat intake and SNPs, with a high intake of saturated and monounsaturated fats being associated with active disease, mainly in patients carrying the variant alleles of the 857 TNFalpha polymorphism (OR=6.0, 95% CI=1.4-26.2; OR=5.17; 95% CI=1.4-19.2, respectively) and the 174 IL6 polymorphism (OR=2.95; 95% CI=1.0-9.1; OR=3.21; 95% CI=1.0-10.4, respectively). Finally, low intake of n-3 PUFA and high n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in patients with the TNFalpha 857 polymorphism were associated with higher disease activity (OR=3.6; 95% CI=1.0-13.0; OR=5.92; 95% CI=1.3-26.5, respectively). Conclusions - These results show that different types of fat may interact with cytokine genotype, modulating disease activity.

Risk of colorectal cancer associated with the C677T polymorphism in 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase in Portuguese patients depends on the intake of methyl-donor nutrients

Background: Polymorphisms located in genes involved in the metabolism of folate and some methyl-related nutrients are implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC). Objective: We evaluated the association of 3 genetic polymorphisms [C677T MTHFR (methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase), A2756G MTR (methionine synthase), and C1420T SHMT (serine hydroxymethyltransferase)] with the intake of methyl-donor nutrients in CRC risk. Design: Patients withCRC(n 196) and healthy controls (n 200) matched for age and sex were evaluated for intake of methyl-donor nutrients and the 3 polymorphisms. Results: Except for folate intake, which was significantly lower in patients (P 0.02), no differences were observed in the dietary intake of other methyl-donor nutrients between groups. High intake of folate ( 406.7 g/d) was associated with a significantly lower risk of CRC (odds ratio: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.45, 0.99). The A2756G MTR polymorphism was not associated with the risk of developing CRC. In contrast, homozygosity for the C677TMTHFRvariant (TT) presented a 3.0-fold increased risk of CRC (95% CI: 1.3, 6.7). Similarly, homozygosity for the C1420T SHMT polymorphism also had a 2.6-fold increased risk (95% CI: 1.1, 5.9) of developing CRC. When interactions between variables were studied, low intake of all methyl-donor nutrients was associated with an increased risk ofCRC in homozygous participants for the C677T MTHFR polymorphism, but a statistically significant interaction was only observed for folate (odds ratio: 14.0; 95% CI: 1.8, 108.5). No significant associations were seen for MTR or SHMT polymorphisms. Conclusion: These results show an association between the C677T MTHFR variant and different folate intakes on risk of CRC.