Effects of active pharmaceutical ingredients in mussel mytilus galloprovincialis

More than 3000 types of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are applied in Human and veterinary medicine practice. These compounds are considered an emergent class of environmental contaminants with the ability to cause damage and unexpected effects to aquatic organisms, namely in species of high commercial value. APIs are ubiquitous in the environment being frequently detected in influents and effluents of waste water treatment plants (WWTPs), surface waters and more distressingly in the public tap water in concentrations ranging from ng to μg.L-1. Considering these premises, the present thesis focused on APIs detection in the Arade river water, the impact of summer period in APIs’ concentration alterations applying the passive sampler device, POCIS (polar organic compound integrative sampler), as well as, the assessment of the effects caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) ibuprofen (IBU) and diclofenac (DCF) and antidepressant selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluoxetine as single and mixture exposures along with a classical contaminant copper (Cu) on a non-target species, mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. For this purpose, a multibiomarker approach was applied namely including biomarkers of oxidative stress (antioxidant enzymes activities of superoxide dismutase – SOD, catalase – CAT, glutathione reductase – GR and Phase II glutathione-S-transferase), damage - lipid peroxidation (LPO), neurotoxic effects (through the activity of acetylcholinesterase enzyme - AChE) and endocrine disruption (through vitellogenin-like proteins measurement applying the indirect method of alkali-labile phosphate - ALP) after exposure of mussel species’ to selected APIs at environmental relevant concentrations. The main results highlighted the occurrence of 19 APIs in the river Arade from several distinct therapeutic classes. Stimulant caffeine, antiasthmatic theophylline, NSAID ibuprofen and analgesic paracetamol presented the highest concentrations. Summer impact was inconclusive due to each API transient concentration in each month. The multibiomarker results revealed distinct responses towards each selected API (as single exposure or as mixtures) that were tissue and time dependent. Several multistressor interactions were proposed for each biomarker. The results also revealed APIs potential to induce oxidative stress, LPO, neurotoxicity and endocrine disruption even at extremely low concentrations on a species extremely vulnerable to APIs presence highlighting the urgency on the development of methodologies able to prevent its entrance in the aquatic environment.

Avaliação da atividade biológica e teor em fenóis de diferentes extratos de palmeira anã (Chamaerops Humilis L.)

Tese de mestrado, Engenharia Biológica, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Estudo de plantas silvestres comestíveis da região mediterrânica como fontes de compostos bioativos

Dissertação de mestrado, Engenharia Biológica, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Effect of temperature on embryonic development, larval viability and biomarkers in the first stages of life of Octopus Vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797)

Dissertação de Mestrado, Aquacultura e Pescas, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015

Study of predictive biomarkers of manganese toxicity : control and prevention of neurotoxicity associated with parenteral nutrition

Tese de doutoramento, Farmácia (Toxicologia), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Farmácia, 2014

Self-reported health needs and use of primary health care services by adolescents enrolled in post-mandatory schools or vocational training programmes in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: The second Swiss Multicenter Adolescent Survey on Health (SMASH02) was conducted among a representative sample (n = 7428) of students and apprentices aged 16 to 20 from the three language areas of Switzerland during the year 2002. This paper reports on health needs expressed by adolescents and their use of health care services over the 12 months preceding the survey. METHODS: Nineteen cantons representing 80% of the resident population agreed to participate. A complex iterative random cluster sample of 600 classes was drawn with classes as primary sampling unit. The participation rate was 97.7% for the classes and 99.8% for the youths in attendance. The self-administered questionnaire included 565 items. The median rate of item non-response was 1.8%. Ethical and legal requirements applying to surveys of adolescent populations were respected. RESULTS: Overall more than 90% of adolescents felt in good to excellent health. Suffering often or very often from different physical complaints or pain was also reported such as headache (boys: 15.9%, girls: 37.4%), stomach-ache (boys: 9.7%, girls: 30.0%), joint pain (boys: 24.7%, girls: 29.5%) or back pain (boys: 24.3%, girls: 34.7%). Many adolescents reported a need for help on psychosocial and lifestyle issues, such as stress (boys: 28.5%, girls: 47.7%) or depression (boys: 18.9%, girls: 34.4%). Although about 75% of adolescents reported having consulted a general practitioner and about one-third having seen another specialist, reported reasons for visits do not correspond to the expressed needs. Less than 10% of adolescents had visited a psychiatrist, a family planning centre or a social worker. CONCLUSIONS: The reported rates of health services utilisation by adolescents does not match the substantial reported needs for help in various areas. This may indicate that the corresponding problems are not adequately detected and/or addressed by professionals from the health and social sectors.

Novice teachers' perceptions of the extent to which the Brock University teacher education program focused on methods of promoting responsibility in students

The purpose of this study was to determine novice t~ache~s' perceptions of th~ extent to which the Brock University teacher education program focused on strategies for promoting responsibility in students. Individual interviews were conducted with ten randomly selected teachers who were graduates of this teacher education program between the years of 1989 and 1992, and a follow-up group discussion activity, with the same teachers, was also held. Findings revealed that the topic of personal responsibility was discussed within various components of the program, including counselling group sessions, but that these discussions were often brief, indirect and inconsistent. Some of the strategies which the teachers used in their own classrooms to promote responsibility in students were ones which they had acquired from those counselling group °sessions or from associate teachers. Various strategies included: setting ~lear expectations of students with positive and negative consequences for behaviour (e.g., material rewards and detentions, respectively), cemmunic?ting'with other teachers an~ parents, and -. suspending students from school. A teacher's choice of any particular strategy seemed to be affected by his or her personality, teaching sUbject and region of employment, as well as certain aspects of the teacher education program. It was concluded that many of the teachers appeared to be controlling rude and vio~ent- behaviour, as opposed to promoting responsible behaviour. Recommendations were made for the pre-service program, as well as induction and inservice programs, to increase teacher preparedness for promoting responsible student behaviour. One of these recommendations addressed the need to help teachers learn how to effectively communicate with their students.

Tyrosine-based rivastigmine-loaded organogels in the treatmant of Alzheimer's disease

Faculté de Pharmacie

Muscarinic M1, M3, Nicotinic,GABAA and GABAB Receptor Subtypes Gene Expression in Insulin Induced Hypoglycemic Rat Brain Regions: Functional Regulation through Phospholipase C and CREB Protein

In the present study, a detailed investigation on the alterations of muscarinic M1, M3, α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 nAchR), GABA receptors and its subtypes; GABAAα1 and GABAB in the brain regions of streptozotocin induced diabetic and insulin induced hypoglycemic rats were carried out. Gene expression of acetylcholine esterase (AChE), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), GAD, GLUT3, Insulin receptor, superoxide dismutase (SOD), Bax protein, Phospholipase C and CREB in hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic rat brain were studied. Muscarinic M1, M3 receptors, AChE, ChAT, GABAAα1, GABAB, GAD, Insulin receptor, SOD, Bax protein and Phospholipase C expression in pancreas was also carried out. The molecular studies on the CNS and PNS damage will elucidate the therapeutic role in the corrective measures of the damage to the brain during hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia.

The influence of organophosphorus pesticide-methylparathion on protein, lipid metabolism and detoxifying enzymes in rohu (Labeo rohita)

Methylparathion (MP) is an organophosphorus insecticide used world wide in agriculture due to its high activity against a broad spectrum of insect pests. The aim of the study is to understand the effect of methylparathion on the lipid peroxidation, detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes namely catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione Stransferase (GST), total reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation (LPO), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and disease diagnostic marker enzymes in liver, sarcoplasmic (SP) and myofirbirllar (MF) proteins in muscles, lipids and histopathlogical changes in various organs of Labeo rohita of size 75 i 6g at lethal and sublethal level of exposure. The probit analysis showed that the lethal concentration (LC 50%) for 24, 48, 72 and 96h were 15.5mg/L, 12.3mg/L, 11.4mg/L and 10.2mg/L respectively which is much higher compared to the LC50 for juvenile fish. The LPO level and GST activity increased five folds and two folds respectively on exposure to methylparathion at 10.2 mg/L and the level of the enzymes increased, on sub lethal exposure beyond 0.25mg/L. AChE activity was inhibited by 74% at a concentration of 1.8mg/L and 90% at 5.4mg/L. The disease diagnostic marker enzymes AST, ALT, ALP and LDH increased by about 2, 3 ,3 and 2 folds respectively at pesticide concentration of 10.2mg/L when compared to control. On sub lethal exposure, however the enzymes did not show any significant changes up to 0.5mg/L. At a concentration of 10.2 mg/L, there was a three fold increase in myofibrillar proteins while the increase in sarcoplasmic protein was above 1.5 fold. On sub lethal exposure, significant alteration was noticed up to 30 days up to 1mg/L of methylparathion concentration. Further exposure up to 45 days increased sarcoplasmic proteins (upto 0.5mg/L). ln the case of myofibrillar proteins, noticeable changes were observed at 1mg/L concentration right from 15th day. The cholesterol content in brain tissues increased by about 27% at methylparathion concentration of 5.4 mglL. However at 0.25mg/L sub lethal concentration, no significant alteration was observed in enzyme activity, muscle proteins, lipids and histopathology of the tissues. The results suggest that methylparathion has the potential to induce oxidative stress in fish, and that liver, muscle and brains are more sensitive organs of Labeo rohita, with poor antioxidant potentials at higher concentrations of the pesticide. The various parameters studied in this investigation can also be used as biomarkers of methylparathion exposure.

Cholinergic receptor subtypes functional regulation in spinal cord injured monoplegic rats

The present study deals with the Cholinergic Receptor subtypes functional regulation in spinal cord injured monoplegic rats: Effect of 5-HT GABA and bone marrow cells.Spinal cord injury causes permanent and irrevocable motor deficits and neurodegeneration. Disruption of the spinal cord leads to diminished transmission of descending control from the brain to motor neurons and ascending sensory information. Behavioural studies showed deficits in motor control and coordination in SCI rats. Cholinergic system plays an important role in SCI, the evaluation of which provides valuable insight on the underlying mechanisms of motor deficit that occur during SCI. The cholinergic transmission was studied by assessing the muscarinic and nicotinic receptors; cholinergic enzymes- ChAT and AChE; second messenger enzyme PLC; transcription factor CREB and second messengers - IP3, cAMP and cGMP. We observed a decrease in the cholinergic transmission in the brain and spinal cord of SCI rats. The disrupted cholinergic system is the indicative of motor deficit and neuronal degeneration in the spinal cord and brain regions. SCI mediated oxidative stress and apoptosis leads to neuronal degeneration in SCI rats. The decreased expression of anti oxidant enzymes – SOD, GPx and neuronal cell survival factors - BDNF, GDNF, IGF-1, Akt and cyclin D2 along with increased expression of apoptotic factors – Bax, caspase-8, TNFa and NF-kB augmented the neuronal degeneration in SCI condition. BMC administration in combination with 5-HT and GABA in SCI rats showed a reversal in the impaired cholinergic neurotransmission and reduced the oxidative stress and apoptosis. It also enhanced the expression of cell survival factors in the spinal cord region. In SCI rats treated with 5-HT and GABA, the transplanted BMC expressed NeuN confirming that 5-HT and GABA induced the differentiation and proliferation of BMC to neurons in the spinal cord. Neurotrophic factors and anti-apoptotic elements in SCI rats treated with 5-HT and GABA along with BMC rendered neuroprotective effects accompanied by improvement in behavioural deficits. This resulted in a significant reversal of altered cholinergic neurotransmission in SCI. The restorative and neuro protective effects of BMC in combination with 5-HT and GABA are of immense therapeutic significance in the clinical management of SCI.

Competitividad internacional urbana. Casos: Madrid, Dublín y Copenhague

La asignatura de Competitividad Internacional Urbana (ciu) del programa de Gestión y Desarrollo Urbanos (gdu) de la Universidad del Rosario ha sido desde 2009, cuando asumí su dirección y orientación, un reto permanente de aprendizajes tan estimulantes y variados cuantas ciudades y atributos hay por descubrir en el inmenso mundo de lo urbano-rural-regional. Si bien la competitividad es un asunto urbano-regional antes que nacional, la mayor parte de los enfoques y de las consiguientes referencias bibliográficas abordan la competitividad a nivel nacional siendo relativamente escasas las publicaciones sobre la competitividad urbana. Así, los documentos abordan una descripción general de las ciudades, las causas de las crisis y las consecuencias para la ciudad y su estructura económica, analizadas a partir de los impactos sobre el mercado laboral, los precios de la vivienda, el desarrollo del turismo, entre otros, y las diversas estrategias que adoptaron para afrontar la crisis y convertirla en una oportunidad de desarrollo.

Gestão do pedagógico e os processos de formação de professores : uma reflexão sobre o lugar dos estágios e práticas educativas em cursos de licenciatura. 'Gestión de los procesos de enseñanza y la formación de docentes : una reflexión sobre el lugar de formación y cursos educativos para la graduación'.

Resumen basado en la publicación

Estudi interlingüístic de les construccions que expressen estats patològics en català i en mandinga

La tesi de Crous (2009) descriu les característiques de les estructures gramaticals del català i del mandinga que expressen malalties, signes i símptomes, trets físics i psíquics, etc. (com ser diabètic, estar refredat, tenir febre, tenir un bony (a la cama), tenir mal de panxa o tenir mal a la panxa, venir un atac de tos, agafar febre o fer mal el cap). La tesi demostra que la conceptualització i la categorització dels estats patològics, la manera com els parlants perceben alguns aspectes dels estats (com la temporalitat, l'abast corporal, la causalitat o el grau d'afectació) i les relacions entre aquests estats i els altres dos participants de la situació d'afectació (una persona i les seves parts del cos), no només es posa de manifest en els mots d'una llengua sinó que també intervé en la construcció i en la distribució dels diferents participants dins d'una oració.

Actividade de acetilcolinesterase em esponjas marinhas da costa portuguesa

As esponjas marinhas são organismos ubíquos possuindo muitas características que lhes conferem um elevado potencial como organismos bioindicadores. Dado que se reveste de enorme importância e premência o estabelecimento de um grande número de organismos que possam actuar como bioindicadores de exposição a poluentes, neste trabalho investigamos a presença do biomarcador acetilcolenesterase nas esponjas marinhas Spongia officianalis e Spongia agaricina. Os exemplos foram recolhidos em locais pré-seleccionados ao longo da costa oeste portuguesa em locais considerados não sujeitos a poluição. Escolheram-se também alguns pontos de amostragem onde pode ocorrer alguma actividade antropogénica. Para o estudo foi usado um método padrão de detecção da actividade de acetilcolinesterase - a produção do ião 5-tio-2-nitrobenzoato. Estabeleceu-se a presença de acetilcolinesterase nestas espécies e validou-se o método em termos de repetibilidade e reprodutibilidade para estes organismos. Foi também possível determinar o intervalo normal de valores de actividade específica de AChE para as espécies em estudo [0,000; 1,270] mU of AChE/mg of proteina para S. officinallis e [0,000; 1,439] mU of AChE/mg de proteina para S. agaricina.