Study to determine the cardiovascular risk ofthe population of Guimarães/Vizela, includingthe prevalence of arterial stiffness and early vascular aging syndrome

Tese de Doutoramento em Medicina.

PDMS biofunctionalization study for the development of a microfluidic device: Application to salivary cortisol

The authors acknowledge to Sofia Neves from ICVS for her help in the antibodies selection.

Bioactive ceramics for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine derived from marine sponges

Publicado em "Journal of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine". Vol. 8, suppl. s1 (2014)

Síntese de péptidos contendo resíduos de aminoácidos não proteinogénicos

Dissertação de mestrado em Química Medicinal

All different or all the same? Exploring the diversity of professional practices in Portuguese school psychology

"Published online: 29 March 2016"

Mechanical versus biological aortic valve implants in the elderly. A comparison of early and mid-term results

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to compare, in a non randomized study, the surgical outcome in elderly patients with mechanical (Group 1; n=83) and bioprosthetic valve implants (Group 2; n=136). METHODS: During a three year period, 219 patients >75 years underwent Aortic Valve Replacement. The groups matched according to age, sex, comorbidity, valve pathology and concomitant Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. Follow-up was a total of 469 patient-years (mean follow-up 2.1 years, maximum 4,4 years). RESULTS: Operative mortality was zero and the overall early mortality was 2.3 % (within 30 days). Actuarial survival was 87.5 ± 4.0% and 66.1 ± 7.7% (NS) at 4 years in Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. Freedom from valve-related death was 88.9 ± 3.8% in Group 1 and 69.9±7.9% (NS) in Group 2 at 4 years. CONCLUSION: Aortic Valve Replacement in the elderly (>75 years) is a safe procedure even in cases where concomitant coronary artery revascularization is performed. Only a few anticoagulant-related complications were reported and this may indicate that selected groups of elderly patients with significant life expectancy may benefit from mechanical implants .

Correlation between turbidimetric and nephelometric methods of measuring C-reactive protein in patients with unstable angina or non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the performance of the turbidimetric method of C-reactive protein (CRP) as a measure of low-grade inflammation in patients admitted with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes (ACS). METHODS: Serum samples obtained at hospital arrival from 68 patients (66±11 years, 40 men), admitted with unstable angina or non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction were used to measure CRP by the methods of nephelometry and turbidimetry. RESULTS: The medians of C-reactive protein by the turbidimetric and nephelometric methods were 0.5 mg/dL and 0.47 mg/dL, respectively. A strong linear association existed between the 2 methods, according to the regression coefficient (b=0.75; 95% C.I.=0.70-0.80) and correlation coefficient (r=0.96; P<0.001). The mean difference between the nephelometric and turbidimetric CRP was 0.02 ± 0.91 mg/dL, and 100% agreement between the methods in the detection of high CRP was observed. CONCLUSION: In patients with non-ST elevation ACS, CRP values obtained by turbidimetry show a strong linear association with the method of nephelometry and perfect agreement in the detection of high CRP.

Descriptio et adumbratio microscopico-analytica muscorum frondosorum :nec non aliorum vegetantium...auctore Ioanne Hedwig, M. D.

v. 1-2

Descriptio et adumbratio microscopico-analytica muscorum frondosorum :nec non aliorum vegetantium...auctore Ioanne Hedwig, M. D.

v. 3-4

Mecanismos de Fotopercepción No-Visual y Control Circadiano en la Retina Interna de Vertebrados en Condiciones Fisiológicas y en un Modelo Animal de Ceguera. Mechanisms of Non-visual Perception and Circadian Control in the Vertebrate Inner Retina under Physiological Conditions and in Animal Model of Blindness.

La retina juega un rol esencial en el funcionamiento del sistema circadiano de los vertebrados al ser la encargada de sensar las condiciones de iluminación ambiental que ajustan el reloj interno con el fotoperíodo exterior a través de un circuito no-visual. Este circuito es independiente de la vía de formación de imágenes e involucra a las células ganglionares retinianas (CGRs) que proyectan a varias estructuras no-visuales del cerebro; esta vía es la encargada de regular el reflejo pupilar, la sincronización de los ritmos diarios de actividad, el sueño y la supresión de melatonina pineal. La retina contiene además un reloj autónomo que genera ritmos diarios autosostenidos en distintas funciones bioquímicas y fisiológicas, que le confiere la capacidad de predecir el tiempo y anticiparse en su fisiología a los cambios lumínicos a lo largo del ciclo día-noche. Este laboratorio ha demostrado por 1ra vez que las CGRs de pollo poseen osciladores endógenos que generan variaciones diarias en la biosíntesis de fosfolípidos (Guido et al, J Neurochem. 2001; Garbarino et al., J Neurosci Res. 2004a) y de la hormona melatonina con niveles máximos durante el día (Garbarino et al., J Biol Chem 2004b). Aún más, cultivos primarios de CGRs responden a la luz a través de una cascada bioquímica de fototransducción similar a la de invertebrados y que involucra la activación de la enzima fosfolipasa C (PLC) (Contin et al., FASEB J 2006). Estos cultivos fueron obtenidos a estadios embrionarios muy tempranos en dónde solo las CGRs son postmitóticas y mayoritariamente maduras. A estos estadios, los cultivos expresan marcadores de especificación de células ganglionares (pax6, brn3), la proteina Gq y los fotopigmentos melanopsina y criptocromos con gran homología con marcadores descriptos para fotorreceptores rabdoméricos de invertebrados (Contin et al, 2006). Recientemente comenzamos a investigar la percepción de luz en pollos GUCY1*, un modelo de ceguera, en animales que carecen de células fotorreceptoras-conos y bastones-funcionales. Resultados preliminares indicarían que la retina interna, y potencialmente las CGRs de estos animales conservarían la capacidad de responder a la luz regulando el reflejo pupilar y sincronizando los ritmos diarios de alimentación. La convergencia de osciladores y fotopigmentos en la población de CGRs podría contribuir al control temporal de la fisiología del organismo y regulación de funciones no-visuales. Son objetivos de este proyecto: a) Investigar el rol de las CGRs en el sistema circadiano estudiando: i- su habilidad para sintetizar melatonina y, su regulación por luz y dopamina; ii- su capacidad fotorreceptora intrínseca, investigando la presencia de fotopigmentos y componentes de la cascada de fototransducción fundamentalmente la vía de los fosfoinosítidos y la activación de PLC, mediante ensayos moleculares, bioquímicos y farmacológicos; b) Extender estos estudios a cultivos primarios de CGRs inmunopurificadas midiendo la respuesta a la luz sobre la síntesis de melatonina, y los niveles de los mensajeros 2rios Ca2+ y AMP cíclico, la inducción de genes tempranos y la regulación de la actividad NAT, enzima clave en la síntesis de melatonina; y c) Investigar la percepción de luz en pollos GUCY1*(ciegos), sobre distintas funciones no-visuales tales como el reflejo pupilar, la sincronización de los ritmos diarios de alimentación, la síntesis de melatonina y la expresión génica en animales expuestos a estimulación lumínica de distintas intensidades y longitudes de onda. Estos estudios permitirán construir el espectro de acción de la respuesta a la luz en los pollos ciegos a fin de identificar el/los fotopigmentos intervinientes en este fenómeno. Este proyecto profundizará el conocimiento sobre la capacidad fotorreceptora-no visual de la retina interna y particularmente de las CGRs, de la naturaleza de la cascada bioquímica que opera en las mismas y de los mecanismos de regeneración del cromóforo utilizado.

When is the Best Time for the Second Antiplatelet Agent in Non-St Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome?

Abstract Dual antiplatelet therapy is a well-established treatment in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS), with class I of recommendation (level of evidence A) in current national and international guidelines. Nonetheless, these guidelines are not precise or consensual regarding the best time to start the second antiplatelet agent. The evidences are conflicting, and after more than a decade using clopidogrel in this scenario, benefits from the routine pretreatment, i.e. without knowing the coronary anatomy, with dual antiplatelet therapy remain uncertain. The recommendation for the upfront treatment with clopidogrel in NSTE-ACS is based on the reduction of non-fatal events in studies that used the conservative strategy with eventual invasive stratification, after many days of the acute event. This approach is different from the current management of these patients, considering the established benefits from the early invasive strategy, especially in moderate to high-risk patients. The only randomized study to date that specifically tested the pretreatment in NSTE-ACS in the context of early invasive strategy, used prasugrel, and it did not show any benefit in reducing ischemic events with pretreatment. On the contrary, its administration increased the risk of bleeding events. This study has brought the pretreatment again into discussion, and led to changes in recent guidelines of the American and European cardiology societies. In this paper, the authors review the main evidence of the pretreatment with dual antiplatelet therapy in NSTE-ACS.

Cardiac Autonomic Adjustments During Baroreflex Test in Obese and Non-Obese Preadolescents

Abstract Background: Recent studies have shown changes in cardiac autonomic control of obese preadolescents. Objective: To assess the heart rate responses and cardiac autonomic modulation of obese preadolescents during constant expiratory effort. Methods: This study assessed 10 obese and 10 non-obese preadolescents aged 9 to 12 years. The body mass index of the obese group was between the 95th and 97th percentiles of the CDC National Center for Health Statistics growth charts, while that of the non-obese group, between the 5th and 85th percentiles. Initially, they underwent anthropometric and clinical assessment, and their maximum expiratory pressures were obtained. Then, the preadolescents underwent a constant expiratory effort of 70% of their maximum expiratory pressure for 20 seconds, with heart rate measurement 5 minutes before, during and 5 minutes after it. Heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate values were analyzed by use of a software. Results: The HRV did not differ when compared before and after the constant expiratory effort intra- and intergroup. The heart rate values differed (p < 0.05) during the effort, being the total variation in non-obese preadolescents of 18.5 ± 1.5 bpm, and in obese, of 12.2 ± 1.3 bpm. Conclusion: The cardiac autonomic modulation did not differ between the groups when comparing before and after the constant expiratory effort. However, the obese group showed lower cardiovascular response to baroreceptor stimuli during the effort, suggesting lower autonomic baroreflex sensitivity.

Comparação de Proteínas: alimentação das aves I

Beginning an experiment on protein comparisons, at the Poultry and Rabbitry Departament of the Esc. Sup. de Agricultura "Luiz de Queiroz", University of S. Paulo, four groups of growing chicks were submitted during 40 days to the following rations: basal part - 50 corn meal and 30 wheat bran, variable part - R1 - 10 tankage and 10 peanut meal, R2 - 10 tankage and 10 cottonseed meal, R3 - 7 peanut meal, 7 cocoanut meal and 7 cottonseed meal, R4 - 5 tankage, 5 peanut, 5 cocoanut and 5 cottenseed meal, R2 and R3 gave results which may be considered as equal and inferior than those obtained with the others, R4 being the best one. The statistical analises showed no significant differences.

Influência do desponte sôbre a composição do côlmo e do caldo da cana-de-açucar, I. Var. Co 421

I. This paper deals with an experiment carried out to evaluate the effect of the sugar cane upper end on the composition of the sugar cane harvest as a raw material for the sugar industry. The variety studied was Co 421. The authors intend to study other varieties in the future. The data were collected from plant cane, at intervals of two weeks, always from the same field, from a small central area of 3.000 square meters approximately. Sixty (60) stalks were cut in each occasion, randomly chosen from the whole area. They were afterwards separated into three groups of 20 stalks, one for each of the treatments, namely: a) Complete stalks, with no leaves or sheaths. b) Stalks harvested by the technique of REYNOSO, that is, as usually done in practice. c) Stalks with the tops completely cut out, that is, cut by technique of REYNOSO and then with 3 other top internodes eliminated. The treatments caused significant differences on the following technological characteristics: a) Weight b) Cane pol c) Available sucrose (pol) per cent cane d) Cane juice pol e) Saline coefficient of juice. II. Except for weight, all changes were favorable to treatment c, even if with differences relatively slight, in percentage. IIII. Treatment differences for cane fiber, brix, reducing sugars, juice ashes, coefficient of purity and glucose coefficient were not significant. IV. Time of harvest was an important factor affecting the composition of the cane and of the juice. V. On the average the available sucrose of cane for treatments, with an standard error of 0.13%, was: Treatment c 13.05% Treatment b 12.65% Treatment a 12.53% This shows that there is no sound basis for the heavy fines applied by some sugar mills to planters who do not cut low enough the tops of the cane stalks.

Espécies novas de Ischnoptera (Blattellidae, Blattellinae) do Estado do Mato Grosso, Brasil e considerações sobre I. similis

Três espécies novas de Ischnoptera Burmeister, 1838 do Estado do Mato Grosso, Brasil são descritas (I. miuda, I. irregulata, I. pantaneira). Ilustrações da genitália do macho e fêmea são apresentadas. Ischnoptera cristata nom. nov. para I. similis Rocha e Silva, 1984, non I. similis R. S.-Albuquerque & Lopes, 1977.