ANTIFUNGAL POTENTIAL OF PLANT SPECIES FROM BRAZILIAN CAATINGA AGAINST DERMATOPHYTES

Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes complex, or Trichophyton spp. are the main etiologic agents of dermatophytosis, whose treatment is limited by the high cost of antifungal treatments, their various side effects, and the emergence of resistance amongst these species. This study evaluated the in vitro antidermatophytic activity of 23 crude extracts from nine plant species of semiarid vegetation (caatinga) found in Brazil. The extracts were tested at concentrations ranging from 1.95 to 1,000.0 mg/mL by broth microdilution assay against the reference strains T. rubrum ATCC 28189 and T. mentagrophytesATCC 11481, and 33 clinical isolates of dermatophytes. All plants showed a fungicidal effect against both fungal species, with MIC/MFC values of the active extracts ranging from 15.6 to 250.0 ��g/mL. Selected extracts of Eugenia uniflora (AcE), Libidibia ferrea (AE), and Persea americana (AcE) also exhibited a fungicidal effect against all clinical isolates of T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes complex. This is the first report of the antifungal activity of Schinus terebinthifolius, Piptadenia colubrina, Parapiptadenia rigida, Mimosa ophthalmocentra, and Persea americana against both dermatophyte species.

NADH oxidase activity of rat and human liver xanthine oxidoreductase: potential role in superoxide production

J Biol Inorg Chem (2007) 12:777���787 DOI 10.1007/s00775-007-0229-7

Portugal Telecom���s strategic partnership with Oi: The value creation potential

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA ��� School of Business and Economics

Genetic Screening of LCA in Belgium: Predominance of CEP290 and Identification of Potential Modifier Alleles in AHI1 of CEP290-Related Phenotypes

Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA), the most severe inherited retinal dystrophy, is genetically heterogeneous, with 14 genes accounting for 70% of patients. Here, 91 LCA probands underwent LCA chip analysis and subsequent sequencing of 6 genes (CEP290, CRB1, RPE65, GUCY2D, AIPL1and CRX), revealing mutations in 69% of the cohort, with major involvement of CEP290 (30%). In addition, 11 patients with early-onset retinal dystrophy (EORD) and 13 patients with Senior-Loken syndrome (SLS), LCA-Joubert syndrome (LCA-JS) or cerebello-oculo-renal syndrome (CORS) were included. Exhaustive re-inspection of the overall phenotypes in our LCA cohort revealed novel insights mainly regarding the CEP290-related phenotype. The AHI1 gene was screened as a candidate modifier gene in three patients with the same CEP290 genotype but different neurological involvement. Interestingly, a heterozygous novel AHI1 mutation, p.Asn811Lys, was found in the most severely affected patient. Moreover, AHI1 screening in five other patients with CEP290-related disease and neurological involvement revealed a second novel missense variant, p.His758Pro, in one LCA patient with mild mental retardation and autism. These two AHI1 mutations might thus represent neurological modifiers of CEP290-related disease.

Evaluating the potential benefits and challenges of lean construction adoption in the portuguese construction industry: a survey study

Proceedings IGLC-18, July 2010, Technion, Haifa, Israel

Vodafone Portugal entry in the Pay-TV market: What is the potential for profitability?

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA ��� School of Business and Economics

Deeper insights into SRB-driven biocorrosion mechanisms

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Doutor em Qu��mica Sustent��vel

Evaluation of neuroprotective potential of plyphenols derived from Portuguese native plants: Juniperus sp. and Rubus sp.

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biochemistry

Influence of abiotic stress factors on VOCs emission from Portuguese rice paddy fields: relation with increased climate change

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia do Ambiente Perfil de Gest��o de Sistemas Ambientais

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss : evaluation of co-morbidities and potential clinical associations

RESUMO: A surdez s��bita (SS) caracteriza-se por uma perda abrupta de audi����o, mais frequentemente unilateral e associada a sensa����o de preenchimento aural, acufenos e vertigem. Afecta 5-20/100.000pessoas/ano (sobretudo adultos em fase activa na d��cada de 40), com grande impacto na qualidade de vida. Poss��veis causas incluem doen��as infecciosas, circulat��rias, traum��ticas, imunol��gicas, neopl��sicas, neurol��gicas, t��xicas e cocleares. No entanto, a causa da SS permanece desconhecida na maioria dos casos (80%), o que origina tratamentos controversos e frequentemente ineficientes. Os tratamentos dispon��veis variam desde corticoster��ides a antivirais, vasodilatadores, anti-agregantes, anticoagulantes, vitaminas e oxig��nio hiperb��rico (OHB). Atendendo a falta de informa����o relativa �� etiologia e fisiopatologia da SS, pretendemos avaliar a evolu����o cl��nica dos doentes com SS tratados com OHB no Centro de Medicina Subaqu��tica e Hiperb��rica (CMSH) de Lisboa entre 2000 e 2005, durante um per��odo m��nimo de 5 anos, na tentativa de identificar eventuais factores de risco ou noxas cl��nicas com a SS. O estudo retrospectivo proposto baseia-se na revis��o de processos cl��nicos do CMSH e na aplica����o telef��nica de question��rios m��dicos de ���follow-up��� confidenciais ��� tanto a doentes (grupo de estudo), como aos respectivos esposos/companheiros/membros pr��ximos da fam��lia (grupo de controlo) ���, com particular ��nfase nos antecedentes m��dicos e hist��ria cl��nica actual. Um estudo preliminar de 20 pessoas (10 doentes e 10 controlos) foi efectuado para antecipar dificuldades e estimar as necessidades log��sticas. As dificuldades identificadas foram: 1) selec����o dos doentes com n��meros de telefone v��lidos e processos cl��nicos completos (com audiograma inicial e final); 2) contacto telef��nico com os participantes de ambos os grupos (de estudo e controlo); 3) recursos humanos requeridos. Dado que a SS n��o �� uma doen��a em si, mas um sintoma de uma doen��a subjacente, acreditamos que este estudo epidemiol��gico seja importante e ��til, capaz de gerar novas luzes sobre a fisiopatologia e mecanismos desta entidade cl��nica.-------------ABSTRACT:Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) is characterized by abrupt, mostly unilateral loss of hearing, frequently associated to aural fullness, tinnitus and vertigo. It affects 5-20/100.000 people/year (particularly working adults in the 40ths), with huge impact on quality of life. Possible causes include infectious, circulatory, traumatic, immunologic, metabolic, neoplastic, neurologic, toxic and unidentified cochlear diseases. Nevertheless, SSHL���s etiology remains unknown in most cases (80%), giving rise to controversial (and frequently ineffective) treatments. Available therapies range from corticosteroids to antivirals, vasodilators, antiaggregants, anticoagulants, vitamins and hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). Given the lack of data concerning SSHL���s etiology and physiopathology, we intend to evaluate clinical evolution of such patients treated with HBO in the Underwater and Hyperbaric Medical Center (UHMC) at Lisbon from 2000 to 2005 during a minimum period of 5 years, in an attempt to identify eventual risk factors or clinical associations to SSHL. The intended retrospective study is based on the review of patients��� medical charts from UHMC and confidential follow-up questionnaires applied telephonically both to patients (study group) and patients��� spouse/partner/close family member (control group), focusing past and present medical history. A preliminary study of 20 subjects (10 of each group) was performed to anticipate difficulties and to estimate the required logistics. The identified difficulties were: 1) selection of subjects with valid phone numbers and complete medical charts (with initial and final audiograms); 2) telephonic contact with subjects from the study and control group; 3) human logistics required. As it is believed that SSHL is not a disease by itself but rather a symptom of an underlying disease, we believe that this epidemiologic study is important and will hopefully generate sound scientific knowledge concerning physiopathology and mechanism of disease of SSHL.

Evaluation of chemotherapeutic potential of natural extracts using 3D models of colon cancer

Dissertation to obtain master degree in Biotechnology

Evaluation of pathogenic potential of Aeromonas spp. strains using in vitro methodologies

Dissertation to obtain a Master Degree in Molecular Genetics and Biomedicine

Potential of CPV receivers integrating screen-printed solar cells

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Mestre em Energias Renov��veis ��� Convers��o El��ctrica e Utiliza����o Sustent��vel