Caracterização funcional da BaltMTx, uma miotoxina isolada da peçonha de Bothrops alternatus

CHAPTER II: Snake venoms are a complex mixture of organic and inorganic compounds, proteins and peptides such as aminotransferases, acetylcholinesterase, hyaluronidases, L-amino acid oxidase, phospholipase A2, metalloproteases, serine proteases, lectins, disintegrins, and others. Phospholipase A2 directly or indirectly influence the pathophysiological effect on envenomation, as well as their participation in the digestion of the prey. They have several other activities such as hemolytic indirect action, cardiotoxicity, aggregating of platelets, anticoagulant, edema, myotoxic and inflammatory activities. In this work, we describe the functional characterization of BaltMTx, a PLA2 from Bothrops alternatus that inhibits platelet aggregation and present bactericidal effect. The purification of BaltMTx was carried out through three chromatographic steps (ion-exchange on a DEAE-Sephacel column, followed by hydrophobic chromatography on Phenyl–Sepharose and affinity chromatography on HiTrap™ Heparin HP). The protein was purified to homogeneity as judged by its migration profile in SDS–PAGE stained with coomassie blue, and showed a molecular mass of about 15 kDa under reducing conditions and approximately 25 kDa in non-reducing conditions. BaltMTx showed a rather specific inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation induced by epinephrine in human platelet-rich plasma in a dose-dependent manner, whereas it had little or no effect on platelet aggregation induced by collagen or adenosine diphosphate. BaltMTx also showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. High concentrations of BatlMTx stimulated the proliferation of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and Leishmania (Viania) braziliensis. BaltMTx induced production of inflammatory mediators such as IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α and NO. BaltMTx could be of medical interest as a new tool for the development of novel therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of thrombotic disorders as well as bactericidal agent.

Oxidative DNA Damage Modulates Trinucleotide Repeat Instability Via DNA Base Excision Repair

Trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansion is the cause of more than 40 types of human neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s disease. Recent studies have linked TNR expansion with oxidative DNA damage and base excision repair (BER). In this research, we provided the first evidence that oxidative DNA damage can induce CAG repeat deletion/contraction via BER. We found that BER of an oxidized DNA base lesion, 8-oxoguanine in a CAG repeat tract, resulted in the formation of a CTG hairpin at the template strand. DNA polymerase β (pol b) then skipped over the hairpin creating a 5’-flap that was cleaved by flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) leading to CAG repeat deletion. To further investigate whether BER may help to shorten an expanded TNR tract, we examined BER in a CAG repeat hairpin loop. We found that 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase removed the oxidized base located in the loop region of the hairpin leaving an abasic site. Apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease 1 then incised the 5’-end of the abasic site leaving a nick in the loop. This further converted the hairpin into an intermediate with a 3’-flap and a 5’-flap. As a 5’-3’ endonuclease, FEN1 cleaved the 5’-flap, whereas a 3’-5’ endonuclease, Mus81/Eme1, removed the 3’-flap. The coordination between FEN1 and Mus81/Eme1 ultimately resulted in removal of a CAG repeat hairpin attenuating or preventing TNR expansion. To further explore if pol β bypass of an oxidized base lesion, 5’,8-cyclodeoxyadenosine, may affect TNR instability, we examined pol β DNA synthesis in bypassing this base lesion and found that the lesion preferentially induced TNR deletion during BER and Okazaki fragment maturation. The repeat deletion was mediated by the formation of a loop in the template strand induced specifically by the damage. Pol β then skipped over the loop structure creating a 5’-flap that was efficiently removed by FEN1 leading to repeat deletion. Our study demonstrates that pol β-mediated BER plays an important role in mediating TNR deletion and removing a TNR hairpin to prevent TNR expansion. Our research provides a molecular basis for further developing BER as a target for prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases caused by TNR expansion.

A representação social do papel de gestores em organizações não governamentais

The discussions concerning the absence of a management model appropriate to the peculiarities of third sector organizations have not been impeditive to their emphasized expansion in the last decades. In the attempt of understanding this phenomenon from the perspective of those who manage social organizations, this work based on the theory of social representations to understand the notion that organization managers of the third sector - based in Fortaleza CE - have of the part that they play and how this notion influences the direction of their activities. Social representations of managers of four different categories of non-governmental organizations have been investigated, each category composed of two unities. The categories researched were: social integration through art and education, prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse, children s health assistance and community action. By using Doise s Societal Approach, the role of social managers translated in intraindividual, interindividual and situational processes of their actions, has been analysed within the social representations, focusing on beliefs, values, symbols and stories that give meaning to the existence of non-governmental organizations. Analysis and discussion of data displayed the existence of diversity in the understanding of managers within their practice, in other words, the management profile is also its own manager s. The branch where an organization acts is also preponderant in the shaping of a management style. It could be deduced, from to the organizations researched, that professional formation and the manager s social insertion mainly, are determinative factors in the outlining of a management model of its own. It was concluded that, due to heterogeneity of interests and action segments, there is no systematic process for social management among organizations. Management styles are supported by their director s own perception of achievement, who model organizations according to their contingencies

A representação social do papel de gestores em organizações não governamentais

The discussions concerning the absence of a management model appropriate to the peculiarities of third sector organizations have not been impeditive to their emphasized expansion in the last decades. In the attempt of understanding this phenomenon from the perspective of those who manage social organizations, this work based on the theory of social representations to understand the notion that organization managers of the third sector - based in Fortaleza CE - have of the part that they play and how this notion influences the direction of their activities. Social representations of managers of four different categories of non-governmental organizations have been investigated, each category composed of two unities. The categories researched were: social integration through art and education, prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse, children s health assistance and community action. By using Doise s Societal Approach, the role of social managers translated in intraindividual, interindividual and situational processes of their actions, has been analysed within the social representations, focusing on beliefs, values, symbols and stories that give meaning to the existence of non-governmental organizations. Analysis and discussion of data displayed the existence of diversity in the understanding of managers within their practice, in other words, the management profile is also its own manager s. The branch where an organization acts is also preponderant in the shaping of a management style. It could be deduced, from to the organizations researched, that professional formation and the manager s social insertion mainly, are determinative factors in the outlining of a management model of its own. It was concluded that, due to heterogeneity of interests and action segments, there is no systematic process for social management among organizations. Management styles are supported by their director s own perception of achievement, who model organizations according to their contingencies

Dietary supplements based on borututu: wich is the most suitable choice for bioactive purposes?

Borututu ( Cochlospermum angolensis Welw.) is a widespread tree in Angola used since antiquity by traditional healers for the prevention and treatment of hepatic diseases and for the prophylaxis of malaria [1]. This plant is mostly consumed as infusions but is also available as dietary supplements, such as piiis, capsules, and syrups, among others. In the present study, the aim was to evaluate the proximate composition and energetic contribution of borututu as weii as its composition in hydrophilic (sugars and organic acids) and lipophilic (fatty acids and tocopherols) compounds, given the fact that this plant is directly introduced in some dietary supplements. Furthermore, the bioactivity (antioxidant, hepatoprotective and antimicrobial activities) of three different formulations of borututu (infusion, pills, and syrup) was assessed and compared, and since plant beneficial properties are often ascribed to phenolic compounds [2], the phenolic profile of the formulations was also analysed. Carbohydrates (88 g/100 g) and fat (2.5 g/100 g) were the major and tl1e minor components of the studied borututu dry barks, respectively, with an energetic contribution of 384 kcal/100 g. Fructose was the most abundant sugar (1.3 g/100 g), foilowed by sucrose, trehalose and glucose (1.1, 0.98 and 0.79 g/100 g, respectively). Oxalic (0.70 g/100 g), malic (0.63 g/100 g) and citric (0.57 g/100 g) acids were present in higher amounts but shikimic and fumaric acids were also detected. Among the fatty acids found in borututu, a prevalence of saturated fatty acids (SF A; 48.2%) was observed, whereas polyunsaturated (PUFA) and monounsaturated (MUFA) fatty acids were detected in relative percentages of 30.9% and 20.8%, respectively. P-tocopherol was the most abundant of the four isoforms found in the sample, foiiowed by o-, a- and y-tocopherol, present in concentrations of 597,43, 3.7 and 2.0 g/100 g, respectively. Borututu infusion revealed the highest antioxidant activity, with EC50 values ranging from 20 to 600 J.lg/mL and was the only formulation inhibiting the growth of an HepG2 ceii line, with a Gl5o value of 146 J.lg/mL. This formulation.also revealed the best antimicrobial capacity and proved to be able to inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli, E. coli ESBL, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, with MIC values of 50, 6.2, 1.6 and 25 mg!mL, respectively. Pills revealed activity against some of the studied bacterial strains and the syrup did not reveal antimicrobial activity at the studied concentration. Eilagic acids, methyl ellagic acids, eucaglobulinlglobulusin B and (epi)gaiiocatechin-0-gallate were the compounds present in all the different formulations. The highest concentration of phenolic compounds was found in the infusion extract. Protocatechuic acid was the most abundant phenolic compound in the infusions, the only preparation where it was detected, whereas ( epi)gaiiocatechin- 0-gallate was the main phenolic in the pills and eucaglobulinlglobulusin in the syrup. In a general way, borututu proved to be a good source of phytochemicals such as phenolic compounds, with the infusions revealing the best bioactive properties.

Relatório de estágio em controlo e gestão do peso corporal

Este relatório de estágio baseia-se na descrição de algumas atividades desenvolvidas no âmbito do controlo de peso, nomeadamente na prevenção e tratamento de indivíduos com a condição de excesso de peso e obesidade. Fez-se uma análise estatística de forma a comparar as diferenças de peso, de Índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) e de percentagem de Massa Gorda (% MG) ao longo do tempo nas pessoas que treinam num health club. Comparou-se a perda de peso e de % MG nos indivíduos que afirmaram possuir “história familiar de obesidade” e/ou “problemas de saúde”, assim como a diferença de peso e de % MG com o número de treinos semanais. Por fim, elaborou-se uma proposta de um programa de controlo de peso com o objetivo de diminuir a prevalência do número de sócios que têm excesso de peso ou obesidade adaptada a esse health club. Com este intuito foram efetuados dois estágios em duas empresas distintas: Clínica Metabólica, em Oeiras, onde foi observada a dinâmica de uma equipa multidisciplinar e como esta influencia o cliente no controlo do seu peso; e no health club – Club L (Villa-Park), em Lisboa – Amadora, onde foi abordada a mesma temática por uma equipa de fisiologistas do exercício. Nesta última empresa foi facilitado o acesso à base de dados para serem analisados estatisticamente alguns dados e utilizados para a elaboração da análise estatística. Analisaram-se dois grupos distintos para efeitos de análise de controlo de peso: o Grupo A, observado durante cerca de 3 meses em 2 momentos diferentes; e o Grupo B observado durante cerca de 6 meses em 3 momentos. Verificou-se que em ambos os grupos, e em ambos os géneros, a média do peso, do IMC e da % MG diminuiu ao longo do tempo, enquanto o número médio de treinos semanais aumentou. Concluiu-se que o grupo de indivíduos que afirmou não ter “história familiar de obesidade” demonstrou uma maior tendência para a perda de peso comparativamente aos que afirmaram ter. Enquanto os indivíduos que afirmaram ter “problemas de saúde” apresentaram uma maior tendência para a perda de peso comparativamente aos que negaram esses problemas. A proposta do programa de controlo de peso apresentada teve em conta uma equipa multidisciplinar visto ser atualmente aquela que ostenta resultados com mais sucesso, no que diz respeito à prevenção e tratamento do peso excessivo. No entanto, não houve oportunidade de colocar esta proposta em prática no health club em questão.

Qualidade dos cuidados a idosos dependentes de cuidadores informais com risco de úlcera de pressão

Para garantir a qualidade nos cuidados de saúde é necessário conhecer as principais componentes do conceito de qualidade, elaborar um programa de garantia da qualidade, avaliar de uma forma sistemática a execução do programa e definir o modelo conceptual a aplicar. A prevenção das úlceras de pressão é uma preocupação dos profissionais de saúde que prestam cuidados aos idosos dependentes de cuidadores informais, sendo a sua prevenção um desafio para a equipa de enfermagem, uma vez que a incidência de úlcera de pressão é frequente nestes. A aposta na prevenção e tratamento da UP terá um efeito positivo na qualidade de cuidados prestados. Tendo em conta esta problemática, foi feito o diagnóstico de situação com base na observação dos registos de enfermagem, bem como os procedimentos inerentes à prevenção e tratamento de úlceras de pressão, com a finalidade de contribuir para a implementação de um programa de melhoria contínua da qualidade dos cuidados a idosos dependentes de cuidadores informais com risco de úlceras de pressão. Após esta fase definiram-se algumas estratégias que consideramos pertinentes implementar. Com as atividades desenvolvidas neste trabalho, esperamos melhorar a informação produzida conseguindo obter dados que permitem melhorar os cuidados de enfermagem aos idosos/família com risco de UP, assim como, contribuir para a identificação de problemas e definições de estratégias de melhoria no futuro.

Beneficios da intervenção do enfermeiro de reabilitação na promoção da contingência urinária após AVC

Relatório de Estagio apresentado para obtenção do grau de Mestre na especialidade de Enfermagem de Reabilitação

Beneficios da intervenção do enfermeiro de reabilitação na promoção da contingência urinária após AVC

Relatório de Estagio apresentado para obtenção do grau de Mestre na especialidade de Enfermagem de Reabilitação

Acidentes com hipoclorito de sódio

O objectivo deste trabalho consistiu em definir, com base na evidência científica mais recente sobre Acidentes com hipoclorito de sódio, diferentes protocolos para a prevenção e tratamento dos acidentes causados no âmbito da endodontia. O Hipoclorito de Sódio é o irrigante frequentemente mais utilizado durante o Tratamento Endodôntico, devido às suas excelentes propriedades, capacidade de dissolver tecidos e capacidade bactericida. Há diversos factores que podem influenciar o modo de atuação do NaOCl, tais como: a concentração, a temperatura, o pH, o tempo/volume de irrigação, a agitação do irrigante, os métodos de introdução do irrigante, a conicidade apical e a profundidade de colocação da agulha. A pesquisa bibliográfica deste trabalho foi realizada nas bibliotecas da Universidade Fernando Pessoa e Faculdade de Medicina Dentária da Universidade do Porto e nos motores de internet Pubmed, Science Direct, Scielo e B-On, entre Junho de 2016 a Outubro de 2016. As palavras utilizadas para a pesquisa foram as seguintes: “desinfection endodontics”, “endodontics”, “endodontic treatment”, “sodium hypochlorite”, “irrigants endodontics”, “sodium hypochlorite accidents”, “irrigation methods”, “root canal irrigant”, “management NaOCL accidents”.

Epi Notes

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Bureau of Disease Control publishes Epi Notes, with articles on epidemiology of reportable conditions; surveillance and reporting of diseases/conditions, outbreaks, and events of public health significance; prevention and treatment of disease; and other topics of interest to DHEC’s disease reporting partners.

Epi Notes

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Bureau of Disease Control publishes Epi Notes, with articles on epidemiology of reportable conditions; surveillance and reporting of diseases/conditions, outbreaks, and events of public health significance; prevention and treatment of disease; and other topics of interest to DHEC’s disease reporting partners.

Epi Notes

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Bureau of Disease Control publishes Epi Notes, with articles on epidemiology of reportable conditions; surveillance and reporting of diseases/conditions, outbreaks, and events of public health significance; prevention and treatment of disease; and other topics of interest to DHEC’s disease reporting partners.

Epi Notes

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Bureau of Disease Control publishes Epi Notes, with articles on epidemiology of reportable conditions; surveillance and reporting of diseases/conditions, outbreaks, and events of public health significance; prevention and treatment of disease; and other topics of interest to DHEC’s disease reporting partners.

Epi Notes

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Bureau of Disease Control publishes Epi Notes, with articles on epidemiology of reportable conditions; surveillance and reporting of diseases/conditions, outbreaks, and events of public health significance; prevention and treatment of disease; and other topics of interest to DHEC’s disease reporting partners.