Regards croisés francophones et portugais : les images des Portugais dans la littérature romanesque contemporaine (1950-2000)

Tese de doutoramento em Línguas e Literaturas Românicas, Literatura Românica Comparada

Transgenerational Inheritance of Paternal Neurobehavioral Phenotypes: Stress, Addiction, Ageing and Metabolism

Epigenetic modulation is found to get involved in multiple neurobehavioral processes. It is believed that different types of environmental stimuli could alter the epigenome of the whole brain or related neural circuits, subsequently contributing to the long-lasting neural plasticity of certain behavioral phenotypes. While the maternal influence on the health of offsprings has been long recognized, recent findings highlight an alternative way for neurobehavioral phenotypes to be passed on to the next generation, i.e., through the male germ line. In this review, we focus specifically on the transgenerational modulation induced by environmental stress, drugs of abuse, and other physical or mental changes (e.g., ageing, metabolism, fear) in fathers, and recapitulate the underlying mechanisms potentially mediating the alterations in epigenome or gene expression of offsprings. Together, these findings suggest that the inheritance of phenotypic traits through male germ-line epigenome may represent the unique manner of adaptation during evolution. Hence, more attention should be paid to the paternal health, given its equivalently important role in affecting neurobehaviors of descendants.

Use of a fluorescence-based approach to assess short-term responses of the alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata to metal stress

This work explores the use of fluorescent probes to evaluate the responses of the green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata to the action of three nominal concentrations of Cd(II), Cr(VI), Cu(II) and Zn(II) for a short time (6 h). The toxic effect of the metals on algal cells was monitored using the fluorochromes SYTOX Green (SG, membrane integrity), fluorescein diacetate (FDA, esterase activity) and rhodamine 123 (Rh123, mitochondrial membrane potential). The impact of metals on chlorophyll a (Chl a) autofluorescence was also evaluated. Esterase activity was the most sensitive parameter. At the concentrations studied, all metals induced the loss of esterase activity. SG could be used to effectively detect the loss of membrane integrity in algal cells exposed to 0.32 or 1.3 μmol L−1 Cu(II). Rh123 revealed a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential of algal cells exposed to 0.32 and 1.3 μmol L−1 Cu(II), indicating that mitochondrial activity was compromised. Chl a autofluorescence was also affected by the presence of Cr(VI) and Cu(II), suggesting perturbation of photosynthesis. In conclusion, the fluorescence-based approach was useful for detecting the disturbance of specific cellular characteristics. Fluorescent probes are a useful diagnostic tool for the assessment of the impact of toxicants on specific targets of P. subcapitata algal cells.

Responses of the alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata to long-term exposure to metal stress

The green alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata has been widely used in ecological risk assessment, usually based on the impact of the toxicants in the alga growth. However, the physiological causes that lead algal growth inhibition are not completely understood. This work aimed to evaluate the biochemical and structural modifications in P. subcapitata after exposure, for 72 h, to three nominal concentrations of Cd(II), Cr(VI), Cu(II) and Zn(II), corresponding approximately to 72 h-EC10 and 72 h-EC50 values and a high concentration (above 72 h-EC90 values). The incubation of algal cells with the highest concentration of Cd(II), Cr(VI) or Cu(II) resulted in a loss of membrane integrity of ~16, 38 and 55%, respectively. For all metals tested, an inhibition of esterase activity, in a dose-dependent manner, was observed. Reduction of chlorophyll a content, decrease of maximum quantum yield of photosystem II and modification of mitochondrial membrane potential was also verified. In conclusion, the exposure of P. subcapitata to metals resulted in a perturbation of the cell physiological status. Principal component analysis revealed that the impairment of esterase activity combined with the reduction of chlorophyll a content were related with the inhibition of growth caused by a prolonged exposure to the heavy metals.

Ethno-pragmatique et prosodie. Présentation d'une hypothèse de recherche pluridisciplinaire dans le domaine des sciences du langage et de la culture

L'hypothèse de recherche que nous souhaitons vous présenter ici a pour objet l&s fonctions pragmatiques de Ia prosodie. L'ensemble de notre Projet de Recherche s'organise en effet autour d'une seule (mais fondamentale) hypothèse de travail: c'est dans et par Ia prosodie que pour Vessentiel le langage contribue activement à Ia construction du lien social. La formulation de cette hypothèse resulte des travaux que nous avons menés dans le champ de FAnthropologie des rites, étudiés dans une perspective sémiologique (au sens large), visant à mieux saisir dans quelle mesure et selon quelles modalités, dans et par le rite, Vordre du signe est signe de 1'ordreK Le rite constitue un système complexe de comrpunication symbolique qui contribue en effet activement à definir sur le plan sémantique et à structurer sur le plan dramaturgique les situations d'interaction sociale.

A festa nazi em Le Roi des Aulnes. De Michel Tournier: eu-foria e dis-foria

Sugerido para estes encontros interdisciplinares, o tema da Festa reenvia-nos para sentimentos de alegria e plenitude, para algo que traz ao quofidiano a abolição do tempo, uma centelha de renovação e etemidade, que podemos denominar de euforia. De acordo com a etimologia, a palavra foria deriva do grego (popeív e significa trazer, levar, carregar, ao passo que o prefixo eu, (et)) da mesma origem, quer dizer bem. Se juntarmos à mesma palavra, foria, o prefixo Ôya, também de origem grega, obteremos, o confrário de euforia, isto é, disforia que significa carregar mal-estar, dificuldade, desgraça. O romance de Michel Tournier, Le Roi des aulnes,^ que, segundo o autor, esteve para ser intitulado La phorie,^ organiza-se em tomo de núcleos temáticos relacionados com o sentido da palavra ^r/úf. No romance, a euforia é definida pela personagem principal como uma festa, «porter avec bonheur», mas a leitura mostra que euforia (eu-foria) e disforia (dis-foria) são dois estados reversíveis, podendo existir em simultâneo, e que a face de um pode ocultar a do outro.

HYPOXIC STRESS, HEPATOCYTES AND CACO-2 VIABILITY AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO Shigella flexneri INVASION

SUMMARY Inflammation due to Shigella flexneri can cause damage to the colonic mucosa and cell death by necrosis and apoptosis. This bacteria can reach the bloodstream in this way, and the liver through portal veins. Hypoxia is a condition present in many human diseases, and it may induce bacterial translocation from intestinal lumen. We studied the ability of S. flexneri to invade rat hepatocytes and Caco-2 cells both in normoxic and hypoxic microenvironments, as well as morphological and physiological alterations in these cells after infection under hypoxia. We used the primary culture of rat hepatocytes as a model of study. We analyzed the following parameters in normoxic and hypoxic conditions: morphology, cell viability, bacterial recovery and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released. The results showed that there were fewer bacteria within the Caco-2 cells than in hepatocytes in normoxic and hypoxic conditions. We observed that the higher the multiplicity of infection (MOI) the greater the bacterial recovery in hepatocytes. The hypoxic condition decreased the bacterial recovery in hepatocytes. The cytotoxicity evaluated by LDH released by cells was significantly higher in cells submitted to hypoxia than normoxia. Caco-2 cells in normoxia released 63% more LDH than hepatocytes. LDH increased 164% when hepatocytes were submitted to hypoxia and just 21% when Caco-2 cells were in the same condition. The apoptosis evaluated by Tunel was significantly higher in cells submitted to hypoxia than normoxia. When comparing hypoxic cells, we obtained more apoptotic hepatocytes than apoptotic Caco-2 cells. Concluding our results contribute to a better knowledge of interactions between studied cells and Shigella flexneri. These data may be useful in the future to define strategies to combat this virulent pathogen.

Stress-Related Mucosal Disease: Incidence of Bleeding and the Role of Omeprazole in its Prophylaxis

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal bleeding is the severe complication of stress-related mucosal disease in hospitalized patients. In intensive care units (ICU), risk factors are well defined and only mechanical ventilation and coagulopathy proved to be relevant for significant bleeding. On the contrary, in non-ICU settings there is no consensus about this issue. Nevertheless, omeprazole is still widely used in prophylaxis of bleeding. The objective of our study was to evaluate the relevance of stress-related mucosal disease bleeding in patients admitted to an internal medicine ward, and the role of omeprazole in its prophylaxis. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in which we analysed consecutive patients who were admitted to our ward over a year. We recorded demographic characteristics of the patients, potential risk factors for stress-related mucosal disease (clinical data, laboratory, and medication), administration of prophylactic omeprazole, and total cost of this prophylaxis. Patients with active gastrointestinal bleeding on the admission were excluded. We recorded every upper gastrointestinal bleeding event with clinical relevance. RESULTS: Five hundred and thirty-five patients, mean age 70 years, mean length of stay 9.6+/-7.7 days; 140 (26.2%) patients were treated with 40 mg of omeprazole intravenously, 193 (36.1%) with 20mg of omeprazole orally, and 202 (37.8%) patients had no prophylaxis. There was only one episode (0.2%) of clinically relevant bleeding. CONCLUSION: In patients admitted to an internal medicine ward, incidence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding as a complication of stress-related mucosal disease is low. We found that there is no advantage in prophylaxis with omeprazole.

Epidemiology of Asthma and Allergic Diseases in Portuguese Speaking Regions

The application of the same epidemiological methods in different countries allows important comparisons between different races and cultures. During the last decade, two large multi-centres epidemiological studies, the Portuguese Study of Allergic Diseases in Childhood (PAC study) and the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC study), were implemented in Portuguese speaking regions. The main objectives were to assess and compare allergic diseases prevalence. The authors stress out the significant differences observed in schoolchildren from the three continents, with different genetic and environmental background. It was found an increase trend in the prevalence of all allergic diseases, mainly rhinitis, in last decade. Rhinitis has been identified as an independent risk factor for asthma in Caucasian population.

Regulation of autoimmune neuroinflammation by stress-responsive genes

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology

A problemática da (In)disciplina em sala de aula: o papel do professor na sua (des)construção

Relatório de Estágio apresentado para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ensino da História e da Geografia no 3º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e Ensino Secundário

Stress relacionado com o trabalho e burnout em técnicos de radiologia

RESUMO - O fenómeno stress relacionado com o trabalho é um tema atual, bastante debatido e alvo de diversas investigações. No entanto, os estudos portugueses sobre o stress relacionado com o trabalho em profissionais de saúde não são muito frequentes, apesar de desempenharem uma atividade considerada de alto risco em termos de stress. O síndrome de burnout é a consequência de prolongados níveis de stress relacionado com o trabalho e compreende três dimensões: exaustão emocional (EE), despersonalização (DSP) e realização pessoal (RP). O presente estudo demonstra-se como não experimental, descritivo e transversal que pretende contribuir para uma melhor compreensão do stress relacionado com o trabalho e burnout em técnicos de radiologia. Estudaram-se 73 técnicos de radiologia do Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central. 76,4% da população em estudo é do sexo feminino, 58,9% tem idades compreendidas entre os 41 e 60 anos, 53,4% dos profissionais são casados e 56,1% tem entre 1 e 20 anos de serviço como técnico de radiologia nos locais em estudo. Foram utilizados três questionários, um sócio-demográfico, o questionário Perceived Stress Scale (versão portuguesa do Instituto de Prevenção do Stress e Saúde Ocupacional) e o questionário Maslach Burnout Inventory (versão portuguesa traduzida pela Drª Alexandra Pinto. Verifica-se que 50,7% dos profissionais em estudo percecionam o seu nível de stress relacionado com o trabalho como elevado. Na análise da perceção do stress relacionado com o trabalho, foram os homens que surgiram com um nível mais elevado, assim como os profissionais dos 20 aos 40 anos, os solteiros e aqueles com um tempo de serviço entre 1 e 20 anos. Em relação ao burnout verificamos que 66,2% da população em estudo apresenta nível médio a elevado de EE, 57,9% de DSP e 66,2% de RP. Podemos verificar que são as mulheres que surgem com valores mais elevados de EE e RP, enquanto os homens apresentam valores mais elevados na dimensão DSP. Os mais novos (20 a 40 anos) e os solteiros apresentam nível médio a elevado de EE e DSP, enquanto os mais velhos (41 aos 60 anos) e os casados demonstram níveis mais elevados de RP. Estes dados demonstram um nível médio a elevado de burnout vivenciado pelos técnicos de radiologia dos hospitais em estudo.

Iron Overload in a Murine Model of Hereditary Hemochromatosis Is Associated with Accelerated Progression of Osteoarthritis Under Mechanical Stress

OBJECTIVE: Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is a disease caused by mutations in the Hfe gene characterised by systemic iron overload and associated with an increased prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) but the role of iron overload in the development of OA is still undefined. To further understand the molecular mechanisms involved we have used a murine model of HH and studied the progression of experimental OA under mechanical stress. DESIGN: OA was surgically induced in the knee joints of 10-week-old C57BL6 (wild-type) mice and Hfe-KO mice. OA progression was assessed using histology, micro CT, gene expression and immunohistochemistry at 8 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: Hfe-KO mice showed a systemic iron overload and an increased iron accumulation in the knee synovial membrane following surgery. The histological OA score was significantly higher in the Hfe-KO mice at 8 weeks after surgery. Micro CT study of the proximal tibia revealed increased subchondral bone volume and increased trabecular thickness. Gene expression and immunohistochemical analysis showed a significant increase in the expression of matrix metallopeptidase 3 (MMP-3) in the joints of Hfe-KO mice compared with control mice at 8 weeks after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: HH was associated with an accelerated development of OA in mice. Our findings suggest that synovial iron overload has a definite role in the progression of HH-related OA