Comparação dos métodos aplicados na detecção de bactérias coliformes, Escherichia coli e Enterococcus sp. em águas para fins recreativos

Dissertação mest., Qualidade em Análises, Universidade do Algarve, 2007

Estratégias de controlo da poluição das águas subterrâneas pelos nitratos de origem agrícola

Tese de dout., Ciências Agrárias, Faculdade de Engenharia de Recursos Naturais, Univ. do Algarve, 2003

Metal cycling in salt marshes and intertidal mudflats : influence of plants, invertebrates and fishes

Tese de doutoramento, Biologia (Ecologia), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2015

Akkermansia muciniphila and improved metabolic health during a dietary intervention in obesity: relationship with gut microbiome richness and ecology

Objective: Individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes differ from lean and healthy individuals in their abundance of certain gut microbial species and microbial gene richness. Abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila, a mucin-degrading bacterium, has been inversely associated with bodyfat mass and glucose intolerance in mice, but more evidence is needed in humans. The impact of diet and weight loss on this bacterial species is unknown. Our objective was to evaluate the association between fecal A. muciniphila abundance, fecal microbiome gene richness, diet, host characteristics, and their changes after calorie restriction (CR). Design: The intervention consisted of a 6-week CR period followed by a 6-week weight stabilization (WS) diet in overweight and obese adults (N=49, including 41 women). Fecal A. muciniphila abundance, fecal microbial gene richness, diet and bioclinical parameters were measured at baseline and after CR and WS. Results: At baseline A. muciniphila was inversely related to fasting glucose, waist-to-hip ratio, and subcutaneous adipocyte diameter. Subjects with higher gene richness and A. muciniphila abundance exhibited the healthiest metabolic status, particularly in fasting plasma glucose, plasma triglycerides and body fat distribution. Individuals with higher baseline A. muciniphila displayed greater improvement in insulin sensitivity markers and other clinical parameters after CR. A. muciniphila was associated with microbial species known to be related to health. Conclusion: A. muciniphila is associated with a healthier metabolic status and better clinicaloutcomes after CR in overweight/obese adults, however the interaction between gut microbiota ecology and A. muciniphila has to be taken into account.

Quantifying diet-induced metabolic changes of the human gut microbiome

The human gut microbiome is known to be associated with various human disorders, but a major challenge is to go beyond association studies and elucidate causalities. Mathematical modeling of the human gut microbiome at a genome scale is a useful tool to decipher microbe-microbe, diet-microbe and microbe-host interactions. Here, we describe the CASINO (Community And Systems-level INteractive Optimization) toolbox, a comprehensive computational platform for analysis of microbial communities through metabolic modeling. We first validated the toolbox by simulating and testing the performance of single bacteria and whole communities in vitro. Focusing on metabolic interactions between the diet, gut microbiota, and host metabolism, we demonstrated the predictive power of the toolbox in a diet-intervention study of 45 obese and overweight individuals and validated our predictions by fecal and blood metabolomics data. Thus, modeling could quantitatively describe altered fecal and serum amino acid levels in response to diet intervention.

Efeitos da ingestão de simbiótico e indol-3-carbinol sobre o processo de carcinogênese química de cólon em ratos Wistar alimentados com dieta contendo heme

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Caracterização molecular da resistência a antimicrobianos em Escherichia coli produtoras de β-lactamases de espectro alargado isoladas em cães e estudo da partilha de clones bacterianos entre animais de companhia e coabitantes humanos

A pressão seletiva originada pelo uso excessivo de antimicrobianos na medicina humana e veterinária tem contribuído para a emergência de estirpes bacterianas multirresistentes, sendo os estudos mais escassos relativamente à sua presença nos animais de companhia. Porque os animais e os seus proprietários partilham o mesmo espaço habitacional, apresentando comportamentos de contacto próximo, existe uma hipótese elevada de transferência microbiana inter-espécie. Ante esta possibilidade é importante escrutinar o papel dos animais de companhia enquanto reservatórios de estirpes e de genes de resistência, bem como a sua envolvência na disseminação de estirpes bacterianas multirresistentes. Importa também, investigar o papel das superfícies e objetos domésticos partilhados por ambos, como potenciadores deste fenómeno. O objetivo deste trabalho foi, identificar o filogrupo e fazer a caracterização molecular dos genes que conferem resistência aos β-lactâmicos e às quinolonas, em quarenta isolados de Escherichia coli produtoras de β-lactamases de espectro alargado (ESBL), obtidas em zaragatoas fecais de cães consultados no Hospital Veterinário do ICBAS-UP. Complementarmente pretendeu-se inferir sobre a partilha de clones de Escherichia coli e Enterococcus spp. com elevadas resistências, em cinco agregados familiares (humanos e seus animais de companhia) assim como avaliar a potencial disseminação de estirpes multirresistentes no ambiente doméstico. Previamente foram recolhidas zaragatoas de fezes, pelo e mucosa oral dos animais e em alguns casos, dos seus proprietários, e ainda do ambiente doméstico. As zaragatoas foram processadas e as estirpes isoladas com base em meios seletivos. Foram realizados testes de suscetibilidade antimicrobiana de modo a estabelecer o fenótipo de resistência de cada isolado. O DNA foi extraído por varias metodologias e técnicas de PCR foram utilizadas para caracterização de filogrupos (Escherichia coli) e identificação da espécie (Enterococcus spp.). A avaliação da proximidade filogenética entre isolados foi efetuada por ERIC PCR e PFGE. No conjunto de quarenta isolados produtores de ESBL e/ou resistentes a quinolonas verificou-se que 47,5% pertenciam ao filogrupo A, havendo uma menor prevalência do filogrupo D (25,0%), B1 (17,5%), e B2 (10,0%).A frequência de resistência nestes isolados é factualmente elevada, sendo reveladora de uma elevada pressão seletiva. Com exceção de dois isolados, os fenótipos foram justificados pela presença de β-lactamases. A frequência da presença de genes foi: 47% blaTEM, 34% blaSHV, 24% blaOXA , 18% blaCTX-M-15, 8% blaCTX-M-2, 3% blaCTX-M-9. Nos isolados resistentes às quinolonas verificou-se maioritariamente a presença de mutações nos genes cromossomais gyrA e parC, e em alguns casos a presença de um determinante de resistência mediado por plasmídeo – qnrS. Nos cinco “agregados familiares” (humanos e animais) estudados foi observada uma partilha frequente de clones de E. coli e Enterococcus faecalis com múltiplas resistências, isolados em fezes e mucosa oral de cães e gatos e fezes e mãos dos respetivos proprietários, evidenciando-se assim uma possível transferência direta entre coabitantes (agregados A, C, D, E). Ficou também comprovado com percentagens de similaridade genotípica superiores a 94% que essa disseminação também ocorre para o ambiente doméstico, envolvendo objetos dos animais e de uso comum (agregados A, E). Os resultados obtidos reforçam a necessidade de um uso prudente dos antimicrobianos, pois elevados padrões de resistências terão um impacto não só na qualidade de vida dos animais mas também na saúde humana. Adicionalmente importa sensibilizar os proprietários para a necessidade de uma maior vigilância relativamente às formas de interação com os animais, bem como para a adoção de medidas higiénicas cautelares após essa mesma interação.

Protocolo de Treino dos Músculos do Pavimento Pélvico em Mulheres com Incontinência Urinária de Esforço: Revisão Sistemática

Introdução: Os exercícios de fortalecimento dos músculos do pavimento pélvico (EFMPP) são considerados a primeira intervenção no tratamento da incontinência urinária de esforço (IUE), porém os EFMPP são distintos, não existindo evidência sobre os parâmetros de treino. Objetivo: Identificar o protocolo e/ ou os parâmetros de treino dos músculos do pavimento pélvico (MPP) mais eficaz no tratamento da IUE feminina. Método: A pesquisa bibliográfica foi realizada entre janeiro de 1992 a março de 2014 nas bases de dados PubMed, Cochrane Library, PEDro, web of Science e LILACS. Os artigos incluídos eram de língua inglesa, estudos experimentais, no qual comparavam EFMPP com o tratamento placebo, usual ou sem tratamento, com idade compreendida entre os 18 e os 65 anos e diagnóstico de IUE. Os critérios de exclusão abrangeram o diagnóstico de IUE desencadeada por fatores externos ao trato urinário inferior, grávidas, puérperas, prolapso ≥ 2 e outros tipos de IU. A avaliação da qualidade metodológica for realizada através da escala PEDro. Resultados: Sete artigos de elevada qualidade metodológica foram incluídos na presente revisão. A amostra foi constituída por 331 mulheres, com idade média de 44,4 anos, duração média das perdas urinárias de 64 meses e a gravidade da IUE variou entre ligeira a severa. Os programas de EFMPP eram distintos em relação aos parâmetros de treino dos MPP, sendo que alguns estudos incluíram o treino abdominal, supervisão e técnicas adjuvantes. A taxa de curada da quantidade de perda urinária variou entre 28,6 a 80%, enquanto a força dos MPP variou de 15,6% a 161,7%. Conclusão: Na presente revisão sistemática, os EFMPP combinados com palpação digital, biofeedback e cones vaginais parecem ser mais eficazes na redução da quantidade de perda urinária, comparado com os EFMPP isolados ou sem tratamento. Esta revisão permitiu igualmente identificar as 12 semanas de duração da intervenção, 10 repetições por série e diferentes posições, sendo os parâmetros de treino mais consistentes na redução dos sintomas.

Gastrointestinal symbionts of chimpanzees in Cantanhez National Park, Guinea-Bissau with respect to habitat fragmentation

One of the major factors threatening chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Guinea-Bissau is habitat fragmentation. Such fragmentation may cause changes in symbiont dynamics resulting in increased susceptibility to infection, changes in host specificity and virulence. We monitored gastrointestinal symbiotic fauna of three chimpanzee subpopulations living within Cantanhez National Park (CNP) in Guinea Bissau in the areas with different levels of anthropogenic fragmentation. Using standard coproscopical methods (merthiolate-iodine formalin concentration and Sheather's flotation) we examined 102 fecal samples and identified at least 13 different symbiotic genera (Troglodytella abrassarti, Troglocorys cava, Blastocystis spp., Entamoeba spp., Iodamoeba butschlii, Giardia intestinalis, Chilomastix mesnili, Bertiella sp., Probstmayria gombensis, unidentified strongylids, Strongyloides stercoralis, Strongyloides fuelleborni, and Trichuris sp.). The symbiotic fauna of the CNP chimpanzees is comparable to that reported for other wild chimpanzee populations, although CNP chimpanzees have a higher prevalence of Trichuris sp. Symbiont richness was higher in chimpanzee subpopulations living in fragmented forests compared to the community inhabiting continuous forest area. We reported significantly higher prevalence of G. intestinalis in chimpanzees from fragmented areas, which could be attributed to increased contact with humans and livestock.

High occurrence of hepatitis E virus in samples from wastewater treatment plants in Switzerland and comparison with other enteric viruses.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for many enterically transmitted viral hepatitides around the world. It is currently one of the waterborne diseases of global concern. In industrialized countries, HEV appears to be more common than previously thought, even if it is rarely virulent. In Switzerland, seroprevalence studies revealed that HEV is endemic, but no information was available on its environmental spread. The aim of this study was to investigate -using qPCR- the occurrence and concentration of HEV and three other viruses (norovirus genogroup II, human adenovirus-40 and porcine adenovirus) in influents and effluents of 31 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Switzerland. Low concentrations of HEV were detected in 40 out of 124 WWTP influent samples, showing that HEV is commonly present in this region. The frequency of HEV occurrence was higher in summer than in winter. No HEV was detected in WWTP effluent samples, which indicates a low risk of environmental contamination. HEV occurrence and concentrations were lower than those of norovirus and adenovirus. The autochthonous HEV genotype 3 was found in all positive samples, but a strain of the non-endemic and highly pathogenic HEV genotype I was isolated in one sample, highlighting the possibility of environmental circulation of this genotype. A porcine fecal marker (porcine adenovirus) was not detected in HEV positive samples, indicating that swine are not the direct source of HEV present in wastewater. Further investigations will be necessary to determine the reservoirs and the routes of dissemination of HEV.

Estado de la contaminación marina en litoral peruano en 1994 y 1995

da a conocer el estado de la contaminación marina en el periodo comprendido entre 1994 a 1995 en diferentes áreas del litoral peruano. En el trabajo se consideraron las principales fuentes terrestres de contaminación provenientes de los desechos domésticos e industriales, plaguicidas organoclorados, hidrocarburos de petróleo y metales pesados. Así mismo se evaluaron los efectos de ellos sobre el macrobentos en las áreas estudiadas, contrastando con ensayos de corta duración de toxicidad letal y utilizando zoeas de Emerita analoga con hidrocarburos y metales pesados. Las bahías de Callao y Chimbote mostraron mayor contaminación por desechos domésticos e industriales, con deterioro de la calidad microbiológica determinándose altos niveles de contaminación fecal. En ninguna de las áreas marinas hubo presencia de Vibrio cholerae toxigénico. En lo que se refiere a los plaguicidas se detectaron 3 tipos de DDT 's en la zona del Callao. En la evaluación de los efectos de la contaminación sobre las comunidades marinas del macrozoobentos tanto de sustrato blando como rocoso de las áreas de Chimbote, Huacho, Pisco e Ilo se ha determinado que la comunidad béntica de sustrato rocoso situada al norte de bahía Ferrol, Chimbote muestra una moderada perturbación al igual que las comunidades de sustratos blandos de las bahías de Paracas e Ite.

Artificial muscle: the human chimera is the future.

Severe heart failure and cerebral stroke are broadly associated with the impairment of muscular function that conventional treatments struggle to restore. New technologies enable the construction of "smart" materials that could be of great help in treating diseases where the main problem is muscle weakness. These materials "behave" similarly to biological systems, because the material directly converts energy, for example electrical energy into movement. The extension and contraction occur silently like in natural muscles. The real challenge is to transfer this amazing technology into devices that restore or replace the mechanical function of failing muscle. Cardiac assist devices based on artificial muscle technology could envelope a weak heart and temporarily improve its systolic function, or, if placed on top of the atrium, restore the atrial kick in chronic atrial fibrillation. Artificial sphincters could be used to treat urinary incontinence after prostatectomy or faecal incontinence associated with stomas. Artificial muscles can restore the ability of patients with facial paralysis due to stroke or nerve injury to blink. Smart materials could be used to construct an artificial oesophagus including peristaltic movement and lower oesophageal sphincter function to replace the diseased oesophagus thereby avoiding the need for laparotomy to mobilise stomach or intestine. In conclusion, in the near future, smart devices will integrate with the human body to fill functional gaps due to organ failure, and so create a human chimera.

Participation rates for organized colorectal cancer screening programmes: an international comparison.

OBJECTIVE: Participation, an indicator of screening programme acceptance and effectiveness, varies widely in clinical trials and population-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programmes. We aimed to assess whether CRC screening participation rates can be compared across organized guaiac fecal occult blood test (G-FOBT)/fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based programmes, and what factors influence these rates. METHODS: Programme representatives from countries participating in the International Cancer Screening Network were surveyed to describe their G-FOBT/FIT-based CRC screening programmes, how screening participation is defined and measured, and to provide participation data for their most recent completed screening round. RESULTS: Information was obtained from 15 programmes in 12 countries. Programmes varied in size, reach, maturity, target age groups, exclusions, type of test kit, method of providing test kits and use, and frequency of reminders. Coverage by invitation ranged from 30-100%, coverage by the screening programme from 7-67.7%, overall uptake/participation rate from 7-67.7%, and first invitation participation from 7-64.3%. Participation rates generally increased with age and were higher among women than men and for subsequent compared with first invitation participation. CONCLUSION: Comparisons among CRC screening programmes should be made cautiously, given differences in organization, target populations, and interpretation of indicators. More meaningful comparisons are possible if rates are calculated across a uniform age range, by gender, and separately for people invited for the first time vs. previously.

Microfacies analysis of the lower paleocene beda formation in Western Concession 59 and Block 59F, Sirte Basin, Libya /

The rock sequence of the Tertiary Beda Formation of S. W. concession 59 and 59F block in Sirte Basin of Libya has been subdivided into twelve platformal carbonate microfacies. These microfacies are dominated by muddy carbonates, such as skeletal mudstones, wackestones, and packstones with dolomites and anhydrite. Rock textures, faunal assemblages and sedimentary structures suggest shallow, clear, warm waters and low to moderate energy conditions within the depositional shelf environment. The Beda Formation represents a shallowing-upward sequence typical of lagoonal and tidal flat environments marked at the top by sabkha and brackish-water sediments. Microfossils include benthonic foraminifera, such as miliolids, Nummulites, - oerculina and other smaller benthonics, in addition to dasycladacean algae, ostracods, molluscs, echinoderms, bryozoans and charophytes. Fecal pellets and pelloids, along with the biotic allochems, contributed greatly to the composition of the various microfacies. Dolomite, where present, is finely crystalline and an early replacement product. Anhydrite occurs as nodular, chickenwire and massive textures indicating supratidal sabkha deposition. Compaction, micr it i zat ion , dolomit izat ion , recrystallization, cementation, and dissolution resulted in alteration and obliteration of primary sedimentary structures of the Beda Formation microfacies. The study area is located in the Gerad Trough which developed as a NE-SW trending extensional graben. The Gerad trough was characterized by deep-shallow water conditions throughout the deposition of the Beda Formation sediments. The study area is marked by several horsts and grabens; as a result of extent ional tectonism. The area was tectonically active throughout the Tertiary period. Primary porosity is intergranular and intragranular, and secondary processes are characterized by dissolution, intercrystalline, fracture and fenestral features. Diagenesis, through solution leaching and dolomitization, contributed greatly to porosity development. Reservoir traps of the Beda Formation are characterized by normal fault blocks and the general reservoir characteristics/properties appear to be facies controlled.

The Role of Orexin-A in Anxiety and the Emission of Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Rats

Central administration of orexin-A has been shown to activate autonomic arousal in rats, reliably inducing anxiety-like behaviours in the open field. To date, there has yet to be a study investigating the role of orexin-A in the communication of such negative affective state. In the current study, forty-six adult male rats were chronically cannulated and administered orexin-A into the medial preoptic area/anterior hypothalamic area to determine the effect of this neuropeptide on anxiety-like behaviour and the production of 22 kHz aversive ultrasonic vocalizations. It was found that intracerebral administration of orexin-A increased autonomic arousal as measured by a significant increase in fecal boli output, however orexin-A did not significantly affect locomotor activity or induce 22 kHz calling. These data suggest that orexin-A is involved in the regulation of the autonomic aspect of anxiety-like behaviour but not in the vocal communication of such negative affect