Assessment of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic pharmaceuticals in seawaters of North of Portugal: Occurrence and environmental risk

The occurrence of seven pharmaceuticals and two metabolites belonging to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics therapeutic classes was studied in seawaters. A total of 101 samples covering fourteen beaches and five cities were evaluated in order to assess the spatial distribution of pharmaceuticals among north Portuguese coast. Seawaters were selected in order to embrace different bathing water quality (excellent, good and sufficient). Acetaminophen, ketoprofen and the metabolite hydroxyibuprofen were detected in all the seawater samples at maximum concentrations of 584, 89.7 and 287 ng L− 1, respectively. Carboxyibuprofen had the highest seawater concentration (1227 ng L− 1). The temporal distribution of the selected pharmaceuticals during the bathing season showed that, in general, higher concentrations were detected in August and September. The environmental risk posed by the pharmaceuticals detected in seawaters towards different trophic levels (fish, daphnids and algae) was also assessed. Only diclofenac showed hazard quotients above one for fish, representing a potential risk for aquatic organisms. These results were observed in seawaters classified as excellent bathing water. Additional data is needed in order to support the identification and prioritization of risks posed by pharmaceuticals in marine environment.

Inflammatory and Cardiometabolic Risk on Obesity: Role of Environmental Xenoestrogens

Context: Some chemicals used in consumer products or manufacturing (eg, plastics, pesticides) have estrogenic activities; these xenoestrogens (XEs) may affect immune responses and have recently emerged as a new risk factors for obesity and cardiovascular disease. However, the extent and impact on health of chronic exposure of the general population to XEs are still unknown. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the levels of XEs in plasma and adipose tissue (AT) depots in a sample of pre- and postmenopausal obese women undergoing bariatric surgery and their cardiometabolic impact in an obese state. Design and Participants: We evaluated XE levels in plasma and visceral and subcutaneous AT samples of Portuguese obese (body mass index ≥ 35 kg/m2) women undergoing bariatric surgery. Association with metabolic parameters and 10-year cardiovascular disease risk was assessed, according to menopausal status (73 pre- and 48 postmenopausal). Levels of XEs were determined by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. Anthropometric and biochemical data were collected prior to surgery. Adipocyte size was determined on tissue sections obtained during surgery. Results: Our data show that XEs are pervasive in this obese population. Distribution of individual and concentration of total XEs differed between plasma, visceral AT, and subcutaneous AT, and the pattern of accumulation was different between pre- and postmenopausal women. Significant associations between XE levels and metabolic and inflammatory parameters were found. In premenopausal women, XEs in plasma seem to be a predictor of 10-year cardiovascular disease risk. Conclusions: Our findings point toward a different distribution of XE between plasma and AT in pre- and postmenopausal women, and reveal the association between XEs on the development of metabolic abnormalities in obese premenopausal women

Environmental impact assessment of energy crops cultivation in the Mediterranean Europe

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa Para a obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Energia e Bioenergia

Intestinal parasitoses and environmental factors in a rural population of Argentina, 2002-2003

We evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in 504 people and the degree of association between environmental variables and parasites found in population, soil and water in a rural area of Argentina during 2002-2003. A structured survey was used to evaluate the environmental variables and fecal-human, soil and water samples were analyzed. The prevalence of parasites was 45.4%. Most prevalent protozoa were Blastocystis hominis (27.2%) and Giardia lamblia (6.9%), while the most prevalent helminth was Ascaris lumbricoides (3.8%). The analyzed environmental variables showing association (p < 0.05) with presence of parasites in population were: cardboard-tin or wooden house, dirt floor, home or communal water pump, faucet outside the house or public faucet and cesspool or latrine. Parasite forms were found in 82.3% of the soil samples and in 84.2% of the water samples. In both samples we found parasites that were also found in people. In this study we have found deficient sanitary conditions associated with presence of parasites in population and we have evidenced that contaminated soil and water were the source of these parasites.

Influence of Firms’ Environmental Management and Community Involvement Programs in their Employees and in the Community

To assure enduring success, firms need to generate economic value with respect for the environment and social value. They also need to be aware of the needs and expectations of relevant stakeholders and incorporate them in their business strategies and programs. These challenges imply that engineers should take into consideration societal, health and safety,environmental and commercial issues in their professional activity. This investigation accesses the influence of firms’ environmental management programs and community involvement programs on their own employees and in the community, with a focus on small and medium companies. Based on a quantitative research, the findings suggest that firms that invest both in environmental management programs and in community involvement programs have a higher involvement of their own employees with the community, while at the same time receiving more feedback (positive, but also negative) from the community, stressing the need to pay special attention to their communication policies.

Epidemiological characterization, antimicrobial resistance and virulence mechanisms of human and animal streptococci

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Biologia

Environmental contamination by Toxocara spp. Eggs in a rural settlement in Brazil

In order to study the environmental contamination by Toxocara spp. eggs in a rural community from the Pontal do Paranapanema region, São Paulo State, Brazil, soil samples from 31 out of 121 plots were collected in eight different places on each house. The samples were submitted to flotation technique in sodium nitrate (d = 1.20g/cm³). Eggs of Toxocara spp. were recovered in nine (29.03%) out of the 31 plots. At least one dog was registered in 27 of the 31 plots examined (87.1%) and at least one cat in 17 (54.84%). The number of pets per plot ranged from one to six (mean of 2.3) for dogs and one to 14 (mean of 1.29) for cats. In 16 plots (51.61%), the presence of both dogs and cats was observed. There was no relation between the presence of pets in the plots and soil contamination (p > 0.05). However, the environmental contamination by Toxocara spp. eggs associated to the poor conditions of the inhabitants may be an important risk factor for the human population to ocular or visceral larva migrans.

Molecular characterization of environmental Cryptococcus neoformans isolated in Vitoria, ES, Brazil

Cryptococcus neoformans is the major cause of fungal meningitis, a potentially lethal mycosis. Bird excreta can be considered a significant environmental reservoir of this species in urban areas, thirty-three samples of pigeon excreta were collected within the city of Vitoria, Brazil. Cryptococcus neoformans was isolated and identified using standard biochemical assays in ten samples. PCR amplification with primer M13 and orotidine monophosphate pyrophosphorylase (URA5) gene-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis discerned serotypes and genotypes within this species. All isolates were serotype A (C. neoformans var. grubii) and genotype VNI. The two alternative alleles a and α at the mating type locus were determined by PCR amplification and mating assays performed on V8 medium. All isolates were MAT α mating type but only 50% were able to mate in vitro with the opposite mating type MAT a tester strains (JEC20, KN99a and Bt63). This study adds information on the ecology and molecular characterization of C. neoformans in the Southeast region of Brazil.

(Un)suitability of the use of pH buffers in biological, biochemical and environmental studies and their interaction with metal ions – a review

The use of buffers to maintain the pH within a desired range is a very common practice in chemical, biochemical and biological studies. Among them, zwitterionic N-substituted aminosulfonic acids, usually known as Good’s buffers, although widely used, can complex metals and interact with biological systems. The present work reviews, discusses and updates the metal complexation characteristics of thirty one commercially available buffers. In addition, their impact on biological systems is also presented. The influences of these buffers on the results obtained in biological, biochemical and environmental studies, with special focus on their interaction with metal ions, are highlighted and critically reviewed. Using chemical speciation simulations, based on the current knowledge of the metal–buffer stability constants, a proposal of the most adequate buffer to employ for a given metal ion is presented.

Electrochemical sensor for simultaneous determination of herbicide MCPA and its metabolite 4-chloro-2-methylphenol. Application to photodegradation environmental monitoring

The development and application of a polyaniline/carbon nanotube (CNT) cyclodextrin matrix (PANI-β-CD/MWCNT)-based electrochemical sensor for the quantitative determination of the herbicide 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA) and its main transformation product 4-chloro-2-methylphenol in natural waters are described. A simple cyclic voltammetry-based electrochemical methodology, in phosphate buffer solution at pH 6.0, was used to develop a method to determine both MCPA and 4-chloro-2-methylphenol, without any previous extraction or derivatization steps. A linear concentration range (10 to 50 μmol L−1) and detection limits of 1.1 and 1.9 μmol L−1, respectively, were achieved using optimized cyclic voltammetric parameters. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of MCPA and 4-chloro-2-methylphenol in natural water samples with satisfactory recoveries (94 to 107 %) and in good agreement with the results obtained by an established high-performance liquid chromatography technique, no significant differences being found between the methods. Interferences from ionic species and other herbicides used for broad-leaf weed control were shown to be small. The newly developed methodology was also successfully applied to MCPA photodegradation environmental studies.

Tradução com adaptação cultural para portugês e determinação da reprodutibilidade do questionnaire on respiratory symptoms in preschool children

RESUMO: Introdução: A asma brônquica é uma entidade frequente em idade pediátrica, apresentando uma grande heterogeneidade clínica e significativa morbilidade quando não controlada. A identificação de crianças sintomáticas pode atrasar ou até mesmo diminuir a ocorrência de algumas alterações estruturais. Reconhece-se a necessidade de questionários sobre sintomas respiratórios em língua portuguesa, devidamente validados, que tenham como população-alvo os grupos etários inferiores a 3 anos. Deste modo, será possível não só um conhecimento mais rigoroso da asma e da sibilância infantil mas também a uniformização de metodologias para o desenvolvimento de estratégias a nível nacional. Objetivos: Tradução com adaptação cultural para português e determinação da reprodutibilidade do Questionnaire on respiratory symptoms in preschool children de Strippoli e colaboradores. Material e métodos: A escolha do questionário obedeceu a vários critérios, entre os quais o grupo etário, o tipo e número de perguntas. O Questionnaire on respiratory symptoms in preschool children de Strippoli e colaboradores é um questionário de autopreenchimento, dirigido a crianças entre os 12 e os 24 meses de idade e destinado a estudos epidemiológicos ao nível da comunidade. Aborda aspetos referentes a sintomas respiratórios (sibilância, tosse crónica, sintomas das vias aéreas superiores), cuidados médicos, terapêutica, características ambientais, história familiar e situação social. Procedemos à sua tradução, com especial atenção para a adaptação do ponto de vista cultural e linguístico, utilizando o método da tradução / retroversão, amplamente utilizado e descrito na literatura internacional. Seguidamente determinámos a reprodutibilidade da versão final em língua portuguesa – Questionário de sintomas respiratórios em idade pré-escolar – utilizando o teste-reteste. Para tal, incluíram-se crianças entre os 12 e os 36 meses de idade recrutadas num Centro de Saúde e em creches de Lisboa. A distribuição dos questionários decorreu em duas fases: na primeira fase foram entregues pessoalmente nos locais de recrutamento e na segunda fase foram enviados por correio para os domicílios das crianças, respeitando-se um intervalo mínimo de 2 semanas entre ambos. Resultados: Na primeira fase foram distribuídos 180 questionários, com uma taxa de reposta de 41% (n=74). Na segunda fase enviaram-se para os respetivos domicílios 70 questionários,obtendo-se uma taxa de resposta de 66% (n=46). Para a análise de reprodutibilidade foram incluídos apenas os questionários preenchidos em ambos os momentos pelo mesmo indivíduo (mãe, pai ou representante legal) (n=41). A idade média das crianças foi, na primeira fase, de 22,5 meses e, na segunda fase, de 23,7 meses, com um predomínio do sexo feminino (F:M =1:0,6). A mediana do tempo decorrido entre os dois momentos de preenchimento dos questionários foi de 26 dias. Obtivemos valores de concordância globalmente bons a muito bons, à semelhança do sucedido no trabalho original. Conclusões: Procedemos à tradução e avaliação da reprodutibilidade do Questionnaire on respiratory symptoms in preschool children. Pretende-se que venha a ser uma ferramenta útil para estudos epidemiológicos e programas de rastreio na comunidade, contribuindo deste modo para uma otimização da abordagem da asma / sibilância infantil a nível nacional. -------------ABSTRACT: Background: Asthma is a very common feature in childhood, with important clinical heterogeneity and morbidity if not properly controlled. Identifying symptomatic children may delay or even reduce several structural changes. The development of questionnaires on respiratory symptoms in Portuguese for children under 3 years old will allow not only a more accurate knowledge of infantile asthma and recurrent wheezing but also the standardization of methodologies to develop nationwide strategies. Objectives: The aim of this study was to translate and adapt to the Portuguese culture and to determine the repeatability of the Questionnaire on respiratory symptoms in preschool children by Strippoli et al. Material and methods: The choice of the questionnaire took in consideration several criteria, among which the target age, the type and the number of questions. The Questionnaire on respiratory symptoms in preschool children by Strippoli et al is a parent-completed questionnaire for assessment of respiratory symptoms in 1 to 2-year-old children, developed for cross-sectional and longitudinal studies. It contains sections on respiratory symptoms (wheezing, chronic cough and upper airways symptoms), healthcare utilization, treatment, environmental exposure, family history and social situation. For the process of translation we used the method of translation and back-translation, with particular concern to cultural and linguistic adaptation. To assess the repeatability of the final Portuguese version - Questionário de sintomas respiratórios em idade pré-escolar - we used the test–retest analyses. The questionnaires were distributed to parents of children between 12 and 36 months old attending nurseries and a Primary Care Center of Lisbon. The distribution took place in two phases: the first questionnaires were delivered in person (phase one) and an identical questionnaire was posted to the families that participated in the first phase, 2 weeks after the first one was returned (phase two). Results: The response rates were 41% (180/74) in the first phase and 66% (70/46) in the second phase. For test–retest analyses, we included the 41 children with the same respondent (mother, father or legal representative) in both occasions. The median age of the children was 22,5 months at the first phase and 23,7 months at the second phase, with a predominance of girls (F:M = 1:0,6). The median time between the fillings of both questionnaires was 26 days. Globally, agreement values were good to excellent, similarly to the original work. Conclusion: In the present study we translated the Questionnaire on respiratory symptoms in preschool children and assessed its repeatability. Overall, we expect it to be a valuable tool for epidemiological studies and community-based screening programs, thus contributing to improve the management of infantile asthma / recurrent wheezing nationwide.

Environmental analyses of the parasitic profile found in the sandy soil from the Santos municipality beaches, SP, Brazil

The environmental contamination by geohelminths represents a world public health problem and has been well documented by several authors. However, few papers describe the presence of such contamination in saline soils of coastal beaches. A study was performed on the beaches of the municipality of Santos in the period between May 2004 to April 2005 with the aim of determining the degree of contamination, and the correlation between contamination level and seasonal conditions and characteristics of the environment. Of the 2,520 samples analyzed, 18.2% (458) were contaminated, 32.3% (148) of which were localized in children's recreational areas (playgrounds). The parasite profile found in the analyzed samples indicated the presence of several zoonotic parasites: Ancylostoma larvae (82.5%), Toxocara sp. eggs (59.4%), Ancylostomidae-like eggs (37.1%), coccid oocysts (13.5%), Trichostrongylus sp. eggs and larvae, Ascaris lumbricoides eggs, (11.6%), Entamoeba sp. cysts (10.0%), Strongyloides sp. (4.8%), several free nematoids and some non-identified parasitic structures (3.3%). It was established that the highest frequency of parasitic structures occurred in the months between May and October 2004, and from February to March 2005. An increase in the diversity of parasitic forms was documented in the months between February to December 2004 and from January to April 2005, these periods having the highest rainfall.

Intestinal parasitism and socio-environmental factors among Mbyá-Guarani indians, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Disturbing data reveal the prevalence of intestinal parasites and their relationship with socio-environmental factors among Mbyá-Guarani Indians. The prevalence was determined by spontaneous sedimentation in water, centrifugation-floatation, and Kato-Katz. A socioeconomic questionnaire was submitted to each family. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 88.7%, and 45.5% were polyparasitized. There was 90.5% prevalence of enteric parasites in children (1-12- year-old), and 85% among 13-65-year-old individuals, indicating that both age groups are extensively parasitized. The parasite load was low to moderate for geohelminths and 75% of the families did not have latrine, thus the practice of defecation occurred outdoors. These findings suggest that the multiple intestinal parasitism in the Mbyá-Guarani community is high to the point of being the rule, and that it relates essentially to the traditional lifestyle and health habits. It is urgently necessary to implement the association of anti-parasitic treatment with sanitation improvement. This should be done simultaneously with health education activities for this population.

Molecular characterization of Aeromonas spp. and Vibrio cholerae O1 isolated during a diarrhea outbreak

This work aimed to assess pathogenic potential and clonal relatedness of Aeromonas sp. and Vibrio cholerae isolates recovered during a diarrhea outbreak in Brazil. Clinical and environmental isolates were investigated for the presence of known pathogenic genes and clonal relatedness was assessed by intergenic spacer region (ISR) 16S-23S amplification. Four Aeromonas genes (lip, exu, gcat, flaA/B) were found at high overall frequency in both clinical and environmental isolates although the lip gene was specifically absent from selected species. A fifth gene, aerA, was rarely found in A. caviae, the most abundant species. The ISR profile revealed high heterogeneity among the Aeromonas isolates and no correlation with species identification. In contrast, in all the V. cholerae isolates the four genes investigated (ctxA, tcpA, zot and ace) were amplified and revealed homogeneous ISR and RAPD profiles. Although Aeromonas isolates were the major enteric pathogen recovered, their ISR profiles are not compatible with a unique cause for the diarrhea events, while the clonal relationship clearly implicates V. cholerae in those cases from which it was isolated. These results reinforce the need for a better definition of the role of aeromonads in diarrhea and whether they benefit from co-infection with V. cholerae.