RCAAP Repository

Os fungos estão presentes em qualquer parte do planeta, amplamente distribuídos pela natureza e, portanto, são encontrados em diferentes ambientes, sobre os animais e vegetais vivos, na matéria orgânica em decomposição, nos produtos alimentares e industriais. Os fungos desempenham papéis vitais no ambiente. Eles são essenciais para a reciclagem de nutrientes em todos os habitats terrestres porque são os decompositores dominantes dos componentes complexos dos restos vegetais, como a celulose e a lignina. Foram capazes de desenvolver hifas para penetrar em substratos sólidos e esporos para dispersão de longo alcance. Muitos deles são patogéneos, causam muitas doenças no Homem, nas plantas e animais, mas também estabelecem simbioses mutualistas com uma ampla gama de organismos. Os fungos possuem bastantes aplicações para benefício da vida humana. São importantes fontes de recursos, tendo grande importância em várias áreas, nomeadamente na medicina, farmácia, nutrição e biotecnologia. Na área da biotecnologia destaca-se a produção de nanopartículas, com importância na farmacologia; produção de biocombustíveis e degradação de contaminantes e a produção de enzimas que são utilizadas em diversas indústrias e possuem enorme importância a nível económico. Na agricultura apresentam um papel bastante importante na fitopatologia, e na veterinária têm relevância nas micoses produzidas, assim como na medicina. Ao longo dos anos houve também um grande desenvolvimento de fármacos, através da produção de metabolitos secundários. Desde há muitos milhares de anos que os fungos são utilizados a nível alimentar, com a utilização de cogumelos, que podem ser recolhidos da natureza e ingeridos diretamente e no fabrico de cerveja e pão por leveduras. Atualmente são também utilizados como probióticos e prebióticos que ajudam a manter uma vida saudável. Na natureza existem diferentes tipos de fungos. Encontram-se por todo o lado e afetam-nos todos os dias, de forma positiva ou negativa. É, por isso, importante conhecer as suas características para poder controlá-los ou explorá-los para nosso próprio benefício.

Phytocannabinoids are psychotropic substances ofcannabis with the ability to bind endocannabinoid (eCB) receptors that regulate synaptic activity in the central nervous system (CNS). Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) are synthetic analogs of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the psychotropic compound of cannabis, acting as agonists of eCB receptor CB1. SC is an easily available and popular alternative to cannabis, and their molecular structure is always changing, increasing the hazard for the general population. The popularity of cannabis and its derivatives may lead, and often does, to a child's exposure to cannabis both in utero and through breastfeeding by a drug-consuming mother. Prenatal exposure to cannabis has been associated with an altered rate of mental development and significant changes in nervous system functioning. However, the understanding of mechanisms of its action on developing the human CNS is still lacking. We investigated the effect of continuous exposure to cannabinoids on developing human neurons, mimicking the prenatal exposure by drug-consuming mother. Two human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) lines were induced to differentiate into neuronal cells and exposed for 37 days to cannabidiol (CBD), Δ9-THC, and two SCs, THJ-018 and EG-018. Both Δ9-THC and SC, at 10 μM, promote precocious neuronal and glial differentiation, while CBD at the same concentration is neurotoxic. Neurons exposed to Δ9-THC and SC show abnormal functioning of voltage-gated calcium channels when stimulated by extracellular potassium. In sum, all studied substances have a profound impact on the developing neurons, highlighting the importance of thorough research on the impact of prenatal exposure to natural and SC.

Encontram-se atualmente descritas na literatura várias técnicas de conservação de alimentos, tendo todas elas o objetivo de aumentar o tempo de vida útil dos mesmos, evitando perdas nutricionais consideráveis. Uma das abordagens da Indústria alimentar tem consistido na utilização da energia ionizante para efeitos da conservação dos produtos alimentícios. A irradiação é um método físico que se baseia na exposição do alimento a uma determinada quantidade de radiação ionizante e por um determinado intervalo de tempo, tendo em conta as características do alimento a ser processado e a finalidade pretendida com a aplicação da técnica. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi realizar um levantamento bibliográfico com o intuito de fazer uma avaliação do panorama geral dos efeitos do uso da radiação ionizante nos microrganismos e componentes nutricionais dos alimentos, suas vantagens, princípios e limitações. A irradiação é utilizada de forma a minimizar a flora microbiana e a diminuir a velocidade das reações químicas intrínsecas dos alimentos. No âmbito da conservação dos alimentos, os tipos de radiação envolvidos são os raios gama (os mais utilizados), os raios X e os eletrões de elevada energia. A preocupação dos consumidores em relação aos alimentos processados por esta técnica é considerada uma limitação na difusão da mesma. Não obstante, os vários estudos reportados na literatura têm vindo a comprovar que o método de irradiação dos alimentos continua a ter um potencial promissor para o futuro, tornando-se fundamental a correta divulgação das suas vantagens e segurança dos métodos de irradiação.

Anemia is a common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), both in pediatric and in adult patients. Iron deficiency is the main cause of anemia in patients with IBD. Anemia is a clinically relevant comorbidity, with impact on patients' quality of life and it should be timely diagnosed and adequately treated. Currently, an active treatment approach is the recommended strategy, with evidence showing efficacy and safety of intravenous iron formulations. However, evidence in pediatric age remains scarce and no clinical recommendations exist for the diagnosis and treatment of this particular age group. The present document represents the first national consensus on the management of anemia in pediatric IBD and is therefore particularly relevant. The authors anticipate that the proposed recommendations will be useful in daily clinical practice for diagnosing and managing iron deficiency and iron-deficiency anemia in the pediatric population with IBD.

The SPI (Figure 1) was founded in 1973 by group of 13 immunologists who felt the need to create a platform dedicated to education, interaction and state of the art discussion in fundamental and clinical immunology in Portugal. Since then, the Portuguese scientific landscape has tremendously expanded in size, quality and international competitiveness, with the SPI and its members following the same trend. Currently, we have over 400 registered members, who work in research institutes across Portugal, including Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM), Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, Instituto de Investigação em Ciências da Vida e Saúde (ICVS), Centro de Neurociˆencias e Biologia Celular (CNC) and Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED) and abroad, universities and in clinical care encompassing the fields of immune development and tolerance, cancer immunology, allergy, autoimmunity, vaccination, transplantation and infectious diseases.

This paper presents the adaptation of the “Time Management Questionnaire” (TMQ) – drawn up by Britton and Tesser (1991), the final version of which has become known as the “Academic Time Management Questionnaire” (ATMQ). The sample comprised 705 Primary School and Secondary School pupils of both sexes. The factorial analysis of the results followed by varimax rotation led to three factors that explain 40.06% of the variance; the reliability coefficients were also ascertained. For the external validity study, the relationship between the ATMQ results and other school variables were considered, in which significant relations were observed, as expected. The data presented highlights the qualities of the ATMQ, as well as its usefulness in research. New data confirmed these qualities.

Objective: To investigate disease spread in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and determine the influence of lower (LMN) and upper motor neuron (UMN) involvement. Methods: We assessed disease spread in ALS in 1376 consecutively studied patients, from five European centers, applying an agreed proforma to assess LMN and UMN signs. We defined the pattern of disease onset and progression from predominant UMN or lower motor neuron (LMN) dysfunction in bulbar, upper limbs, lower limbs, and thoracic regions Non-linear regression analysis was applied to fit the data to a model that described the relation between two random variables, graphically represented by an inverse exponential curve. We analyzed the probability, rate of spread, and both combined (area under the curve). Results: We found that progression was more likely and quicker to or from the region of onset to close spinal regions. When the disease had a limb onset, bulbar motor neurons were more resistant. Furthermore, in the same time frame more patients progressed from bulbar to lower limbs than vice-versa, whether predominantly UMN or LMN involvement. Patients with initial thoracic involvement had a higher probability for rapid change. The presence of predominant UMN signs was associated with a faster caudal progression. Interpretation: Contiguous progression was leading pattern, and predominant UMN involvement is important in shortening the time for cranial-caudal spread. Our results can best be fitted to a model of independent LMN and UMN degeneration, with regional progression of LMN degeneration mostly by contiguity. UMN lesion causes an acceleration of rostral-caudal LMN loss.

Em vários países, as escolas estão hoje confrontadas com níveis de indisciplina e violência que, por vezes, tornam difícil um clima propício ao ensino e à aprendizagem. A avaliação de tais ocorrências tem sido feita de formas variadas e com diferentes graus e tipos de estruturação, ora por iniciativas ocorridas na escola, ora mais ligadas a estruturas do poder central (observatórios de violência escolar existentes em vários países), ora derivadas de centros de investigação específica. Neste contexto, o presente estudo inclui, num primeiro ponto, informação acerca da avaliação da disrupção escolar em geral, com a Escala de Disrupção Escolar Inferida pelos professores (EDEI e EDEI-2006)) e com a Escala de Disrupção Escolar Professada pelos alunos (EDEP). Num segundo momento, procedese à apresentação de novos elementos da adaptação da Peer Victimization Scale, em alunos adolescentes portugueses.

Este projeto tem como objetivo o desenvolvimento e otimização de formulações de champôs para uso veterinário contendo tensioativos “verdes”, utilizando para tal um decil glucosido e ingredientes condicionadores que permitam um bom pentear. Cada vez mais, os consumidores procuram uma formulação amiga do ambiente, preocupando-se com a sua pegada ecológica e pretendem uma fórmula mais suave que tenha bons resultados. Foram preparadas 4 formulações detergente e formadoras de espuma, duas com um tensioativo não iónico, decil glucosido (Oramix® NS 10), sendo que numa destas foi adicionado um condicionador “anti-frizz” amodimethicone (and) trideceth-12 (and) cetrimonium chloride (Emulsil® CC 30) e na outra não, e ainda duas com um tensioativo aniónico, lauril éter sulfato de sódio (Texapon® N70), com e sem o mesmo ingrediente condicionador “anti-frizz”. De seguida, foram escolhidas a duas melhores formulações, uma de cada categoria e adicionados óleos essenciais. Todas as formulações iniciais foram caracterizadas através de ensaios fisíco-químicos (pH, viscosidade, formação de espuma e ângulo de contacto) e in vitro (força de pentear em hastes de crina de cavalo). Os resultados obtidos permitem concluir que os champôs com tensioactivos não iónicos contendo o ingrediente condicionador “anti-frizz”, óleos essências, proteínas, o complexo multivitamínico e cristais de mentol, apresentam melhores características e eficácia que os champôs com sulfatos. Foi realizado um teste in vivo em 5 golden retrievers para avaliar a capacidade de lavagem do champô e ainda um teste sensorial nos seus tutores. Foi concluído que os champôs “verdes” obtiveram melhores resultados, proporcionando um pelo sedoso, brilhante e com o volume adequado e alcançaram melhor aceitação por parte dos tutores, provando que para além dos resultados satisfatórios, a fórmula irá ser bem aceite pelo consumidor e, portanto, têm um futuro promissor na cosmética de uso veterinário Foi ainda criado um protocolo de aconselhamento de champôs adequado a cada tipo de pelo e à situação do animal, de maneira a auxiliar o farmacêutico a praticar um bom aconselhamento e, assim, obter a satisfação do cliente, levando à sua fidelização à farmácia.

Although the primary stability of joint implants is fundamental for successful osseointegration, little is know about this issue in the context of stemless shoulder implants. Considering 3D finite element models, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the primary stability of five stemless designs, based on the Sidus, SMR, Simpliciti, Eclipse, and Global Icon stemless systems. Three alternative bone quality conditions were considered for cancellous bone. For the Sidus, SMR, and Simpliciti designs, which do not possess a collar that sits on the cortical rim of the humeral resected surface, contact and no contact conditions were considered between the bone surface and the humeral head components. Micromotions at bone-implant interfaces promoting osseointegration were computed as a measure of primary stability for eight load cases consisting of peak in vivo joint loads measured during selected upper limb activities. Under good bone quality conditions, all stemless designs presented micromotions below 150 μm. The Eclipse-based and Global-Icon based designs were the least sensitive to bone quality. Stemless designs presenting a solid collar or contact between the humeral head component and bone provided more stability. Overall, the Eclipse-based and Global Icon-based designs presented the best performance from the primary stability point of view. However, if bone adaptation data available in the literature are considered along with the primary stability data computed here, the Global Icon-based design, as well as other designs, might be considered superior long-term options due to their better compromise between primary stability and impact on bone adaptation.

Objective: To test motor fiber excitability in early affected patients with transthyretin (TTR)-type familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) before and during tafamidis treatment. Methods: We examined the left median nerve of 21 healthy-matched controls and 10 early affected TTR-FAP patients using the automated threshold-tracking program, QTRAC. TTR-FAP patients were tested one day before the initiation of tafamidis treatment, 3 and 6 months later. Results: The drug was well-tolerated in all patients; there was no drop-out. No statistical difference was found between healthy controls and TTR-FAP patients at study entry. On treatment, both stimulus intensity for 50% of the maximal motor response and rheobase increased significantly from entry to the last evaluation at 6 months (P<0.05). Strength duration time constant decreased significantly from the 3rd to the 6th month of evaluation (P<0.05). There was also a "fanning-out" effect on the late depolarization phase (TEd 90-100ms) as well as a shortened relative refractory period from study entry to the 6th month of evaluation. Conclusions: Threshold-tracking of median nerve motor fibers is not a helpful technique for the early diagnosis of TTR-FAP patients. Tafamidis was well-tolerated. We observed possible membrane hyperpolarization during treatment. Threshold tracking can contribute to documenting the action of new drugs to treat neuropathies. Tafamidis may change nerve electrical properties by reducing the burden of amyloid fibrils.

Rationale: The nuclear receptor retinoid X receptor (RXR) belongs to a nuclear receptor superfamily that modulates diverse functions via homodimerization with itself or several other nuclear receptors, including PPARα. While the activation of PPARα by natural or synthetic agonists regulates the sleep-wake cycle, the role of RXR in the sleep modulation is unknown. Objectives: We investigated the effects of bexarotene (Bexa, a RXR agonist) or UVI 3003 (UVI, a RXR antagonist) on sleep, sleep homeostasis, levels of neurochemical related to sleep modulation, and c-Fos and NeuN expression. Methods: The sleep-wake cycle and sleep homeostasis were analyzed after application of Bexa or UVI. Moreover, we also evaluated whether Bexa or UVI could induce effects on dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine epinephrine, adenosine, and acetylcholine contents, collected from either the nucleus accumbens or basal forebrain. In addition, c-Fos and NeuN expression in the hypothalamus was determined after Bexa or UVI treatments. Results: Systemic application of Bexa (1 mM, i.p.) attenuated slow-wave sleep and rapid eye movement sleep. In addition, Bexa increased the levels of dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine epinephrine, adenosine, and acetylcholine sampled from either the nucleus accumbens or basal forebrain. Moreover, Bexa blocked the sleep rebound period after total sleep deprivation, increased in the hypothalamus the expression of c-Fos, and decreased NeuN activity. Remarkably, UVI 3003 (1 mM, i.p.) induced opposite effects in sleep, sleep homeostasis, neurochemicals levels, and c-Fos and NeuN activity. Conclusions: The administration of RXR agonist or antagonist significantly impaired the sleep-wake cycle and exerted effects on the levels of neurochemicals related to sleep modulation. Moreover, Bexa or UVI administration significantly affected c-Fos and NeuN expression in the hypothalamus. Our findings highlight the neurobiological role of RXR on sleep modulation.

Importance: The APOE ε2 and APOE ε4 alleles are the strongest protective and risk-increasing, respectively, genetic variants for late-onset Alzheimer disease (AD). However, the mechanisms linking APOE to AD-particularly the apoE protein's role in AD pathogenesis and how this is affected by APOE variants-remain poorly understood. Identifying missense variants in addition to APOE ε2 and APOE ε4 could provide critical new insights, but given the low frequency of additional missense variants, AD genetic cohorts have previously been too small to interrogate this question robustly. Objective: To determine whether rare missense variants on APOE are associated with AD risk. Design, setting, and participants: Association with case-control status was tested in a sequenced discovery sample (stage 1) and followed up in several microarray imputed cohorts as well as the UK Biobank whole-exome sequencing resource using a proxy-AD phenotype (stages 2 and 3). This study combined case-control, family-based, population-based, and longitudinal AD-related cohorts that recruited referred and volunteer participants. Stage 1 included 37 409 nonunique participants of European or admixed European ancestry, with 11 868 individuals with AD and 11 934 controls passing analysis inclusion criteria. In stages 2 and 3, 475 473 participants were considered across 8 cohorts, of which 84 513 individuals with AD and proxy-AD and 328 372 controls passed inclusion criteria. Selection criteria were cohort specific, and this study was performed a posteriori on individuals who were genotyped. Among the available genotypes, 76 195 were excluded. All data were retrieved between September 2015 and November 2021 and analyzed between April and November 2021. Main outcomes and measures: In primary analyses, the AD risk associated with each missense variant was estimated, as appropriate, with either linear mixed-model regression or logistic regression. In secondary analyses, associations were estimated with age at onset using linear mixed-model regression and risk of conversion to AD using competing-risk regression. Results: A total of 544 384 participants were analyzed in the primary case-control analysis; 312 476 (57.4%) were female, and the mean (SD; range) age was 64.9 (15.2; 40-110) years. Two missense variants were associated with a 2-fold to 3-fold decreased AD risk: APOE ε4 (R251G) (odds ratio, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.33-0.59; P = 4.7 × 10-8) and APOE ε3 (V236E) (odds ratio, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.25-0.56; P = 1.9 × 10-6). Additionally, the cumulative incidence of AD in carriers of these variants was found to grow more slowly with age compared with noncarriers. Conclusions and relevance: In this genetic association study, a novel variant associated with AD was identified: R251G always coinherited with ε4 on the APOE gene, which mitigates the ε4-associated AD risk. The protective effect of the V236E variant, which is always coinherited with ε3 on the APOE gene, was also confirmed. The location of these variants confirms that the carboxyl-terminal portion of apoE plays an important role in AD pathogenesis. The large risk reductions reported here suggest that protein chemistry and functional assays of these variants should be pursued, as they have the potential to guide drug development targeting APOE.

Background: Adolescent childbirth is a major public health problem in Sao Tome and Principe (STP). Adolescent pregnancy and childbirth can carry a risk of morbidity associated with the physiological and sociological characteristics of teenage girls. This study aims to identify the main adverse obstetric and perinatal outcomes for adolescent pregnancies in the Hospital Dr. Ayres de Menezes (HAM), the only hospital in STP. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study. Pregnant women ≤ 19 years of age (n = 104) were compared to non-adolescent women (n = 414). The obstetric and perinatal outcomes were compared between groups using the t test. Odds ratio (OR) were calculated through Cochran's and Mantel-Haenszel statistics test for odds ratio equal to 1, 95% confidence intervals (CI) and p values (p < 0.05) were considered significant. Results: The adverse perinatal outcomes imputable to adolescent births were foetal distress with low first minute Apgar score < 7 (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.18-3.18, p = 0.009) and performance of neonatal resuscitation manoeuvres (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.07-5.38, p = 0.032). Compared to older mothers, teenage girls were likely to have a non-statistically significant threefold higher risk of having an obstructed labour (OR 3.40, 95% CI 0.89-12.94, p = 0.07). Other perinatal outcomes as neonatal asphyxia, risk for cerebral palsy, premature birth, early neonatal infection, and neonatal death were identical between groups as well as maternal anaemia, mode of delivery or other obstetrical outcomes. Conclusion: Adolescent pregnancies were associated with worse perinatal outcomes as foetal distress and higher need for neonatal resuscitation manoeuvres. This study may support STP health authorities in their efforts to make Sustainable Development Goals 3 (good health and wellbeing), 4 (quality education) and 5 (gender equality) a reality by 2030, since it identifies specific problems that need to be addressed to improve maternal adolescent health.

Intracellular pathogens manipulate host cells to survive and thrive. Cellular sensing and signaling pathways are among the key host machineries deregulated to favor infection. In this study, we show that liver-stage Plasmodium parasites compete with the host to sequester a host endosomal-adaptor protein (APPL1) known to regulate signaling in response to endocytosis. The enrichment of APPL1 at the parasitophorous vacuole membrane (PVM) involves an atypical Plasmodium Rab5 isoform (Rab5b). Depletion of host APPL1 alters neither the infection nor parasite development; however, upon overexpression of a GTPase-deficient host Rab5 mutant (hRab5_Q79L), the parasites are smaller and their PVM is stripped of APPL1. Infection with the GTPase-deficient Plasmodium berghei Rab5b mutant (PbRab5b_Q91L) in this case rescues the PVM APPL1 signal and parasite size. In summary, we observe a robust correlation between the level of APPL1 retention at the PVM and parasite size during exoerythrocytic development.

Context.—: There is a need to avoid the overdiagnosis of prostate cancer (PCa) and to find more specific biomarkers. Objective.—: To evaluate the clinical utility of [-2]pro-prostate-specific antigen ([-2]proPSA) derivatives in detecting clinically significant PCa (csPCa) and to compare it with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and with the percentage of free PSA (%fPSA). Design.—: Two hundred thirty-seven men (PSA: 2-10 ng/mL) scheduled for a prostate biopsy were enrolled. Parametric and nonparametric tests, receiver operating characteristic curves, and logistic regression analysis were applied. Outcomes were csPCa and overall PCa. Results.—: Both [-2]proPSA derivatives were significantly higher in csPCa and overall PCa (P < .001). The areas under the curves for the prediction of csPCa were higher for the percentage of [-2]proPSA (%[-2]proPSA) (0.781) and the prostate health index (PHI) (0.814) than for PSA (0.651) and %fPSA (0.724). There was a gain of 11% in diagnostic accuracy when %[-2]proPSA or PHI were added to a base model with PSA and %fPSA. Twenty-five percent to 29% of biopsies could have been spared with %[-2]proPSA (cutoff: ≥1.25%) and PHI (cutoff: ≥27), missing 10% of csPCas. The same results could have been achieved by using [-2]proPSA as a reflex test, when %fPSA was 25% or less (cutoffs: ≥1.12% and ≥24 for %[-2]proPSA and PHI, respectively). Conclusions.—: The [-2]proPSA derivatives improve the diagnostic accuracy of csPCa when the PSA value is between 2 and 10 ng/mL, sparing unnecessary biopsies and selecting patients for active surveillance. [-2]proPSA can be used as a reflex test when %fPSA is 25% or less, without reducing the diagnostic accuracy for csPCa and the number of spared biopsies.

Background: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is a collective term that refers to complaints of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, fatigue and/or pain of the craniocervical muscles, limitation of movement of the mandible, and TMJ noises. Sleep bruxism (SB) is a disorder involving rhythmic (phasic) or non-rhythmic (tonic) masticatory muscle activity during sleep and is not a movement disorder or a sleep disorder in otherwise healthy individuals. The present study aimed to support or reject the null hypothesis that there is no association between SB and TMD. Methods: The study population was recruited from patients who visited the Artmedica Clinic, Mossoro city, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Patients who underwent polysomnography received information about the research and were invited to participate following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study sample consisted of 40 individuals with age ranging from 19 to 76 years. The subjects were administered the questionnaire of the European Academy of Craniomandibular Disorders (AEDC). Those who answered affirmatively to at least one question of the questionnaire were recommended to visit the primary researcher's dental clinic for examination; those who met the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (DC/TMD) were evaluated, and their condition was classified into one or more subtypes of TMD. The subjects were divided into 4 groups according to the polysomnographic findings and the responses to the AEDC questionnaire. Of the 40 individuals who answered the AEDC questionnaire and underwent polysomnography, 28 presented with TMD symptoms. The data were expressed as simple frequency and percentage values using statistical software. Values of p < 0.05 were considered to be significant. Results: The results showed that the frequency of TMD in individuals diagnosed to have SB was 46.4%. According to the DC/TMD of the 28 individuals, the most prevalent TMD subtype was local myalgia (85.7%). Of the total subjects, 32.5% had TMD and SB, 36.4% were males, and in the age range of 31 to 40 years (40%). Conclusion: In this study sample, there was no association between SB as currently defined and TMD, thus confirming previous findings on this topic.

Enquadramento: No estudo do desenvolvimento psicossocial na adolescência atual, destacam-se duas perspectivas: (1) o bem-estar psicológico; e (2) os recursos de desenvolvimento. Objetivo: Neste contexto, procedeu-se à caracterização do bem-estar psicológico e dos recursos de desenvolvimento em adolescentes de uma escola portuguesa. Metodologia: A amostra incluiu 201 alunos do 6º, 9º e 11º anos. Foi utilizado um instrumento de avaliação do bem-estar psicológico e um de avaliação dos recursos de desenvolvimento. Resultados: Apresenta-se a distribuição dos alunos por níveis de bem-estar psicológico e por recursos de desenvolvimento, consideram-se as diferenças significativas entre alunos do 6º, do 9º e do 11º ano nas dimensões do bem-estar psicológico e dos recursos de desenvolvimento, bem como as correlações entre estas dimensões. Conclusões: Apesar da consistência com outros estudos, os resultados permitem levantar questões que tem a ver com a especificidade da amostra. Sugerem-se estudos posteriores.

O panorama da imigração em Portugal alterou-se no final da década de 90 do século XX com a entrada no país de um número expressivo de imigrantes oriundos do Leste da Europa e do Brasil. Nessa data, o colectivo de imigrantes cabo-verdianos, até então o mais numeroso, perdeu a sua posição relativa face aos grupos de imigrantes ucranianos e brasileiros. Esta alteração, no volume e composição da mão-de-obra disponível em Portugal, terá também modificado as opções de contratação dos empregadores, com potenciais impactos na situação laboral dos imigrantes de origem africana. A questão do impacto da entrada de novos fluxos de imigrantes no mercado de trabalhotem merecido uma grande atenção por parte da academia, sobretudo na vertente dosefeitos para trabalhadores nacionais, incluindo minorias étnicas em posição dedesvantagem (caso dos afro-americanos nos Estados Unidos), designadamente pelapossibilidade de conflito que encerra. No entanto, é para outros trabalhadores imigrantes que estes impactos são potencialmente maiores, e, no caso português, a população africana residente foi colectivamente percebida como a mais vulnerável face às novas vagas. O trabalho de investigação desenvolvido recorreu a dados do lado da procura e da ofertade trabalho para reflectir sobre os efeitos subjectivos e objectivos no acesso aoemprego, nos níveis salariais, nas condições de trabalho e na mobilidade geográfica sentidos pelos imigrantes de origem africana neste contexto. Apurou-se que estes efeitos foram distintos por sector de actividade, e para homens e mulheres, e que não se verificaram imediatamente após a entrada, mas foram-se desenrolando ao longo do tempo, tendo sido também influenciados pela conjuntura económica.

A Polineuropatia Amiloidótica Familiar (PAF) é uma doença neurodegenerativa, com manifestações clínicas entre a terceira e a quarta década de vida, associada à deposição de agregados amilóides de transtirretina (TTR) em diversos tecidos. A TTR é produzida maioritariamente pelo fígado. A PAF está associada a mutações pontuais na TTR, desestabilizadoras da sua estrutura tetramérica, levando à formação de monómeros sem a sua estrutura nativa. O diagnóstico da PAF é importante para a aplicação de tratamentos adequados e atempados, e a pesquisa de biomarcadores pré-sintomáticos é vital. A saliva total é um fluído de diagnóstico de confiança e é utilizado para algumas doenças, por ser de recolha e análise fáceis em relação ao sangue, e pelo facto da saliva ter proteínas filtradas a partir do soro. As glândulas salivares em indivíduos com PAF encontram-se infiltradas com depósitos de TTR, pelo que podem ocorrer alterações a nível do proteoma e de modificações pós-traducionais, como a glicação, que podem servir como biomarcadores. Neste trabalho, verificou-se que os perfis electroforéticos da saliva dos indivíduos com PAF se encontram alterados. Foi possível identificar proteínas que não tinham sido identificadas antes na saliva, como a α-sinucleína, sendo que esta mostra um perfil electroforético, por si só, alterado. Estas eram maioritariamente filtradas a partir do soro. Por outro lado, foi observada uma expressão proteica diferencial na saliva dos indivíduos com PAF, sendo que algumas das proteínas identificadas como diferenciadamente expressas, também se encontravam glicadas. A par destes resultados foi verificada a presença de monómeros de TTR em maior quantidade do que o seu tetrâmero, na saliva dos indivíduos PAF. Finalmente, foi possível a identificação de proteínas expressas diferenciadamente na saliva de indivíduos PAF, que podem ser utilizadas como biomarcadores para a PAF, podendo ser consideradas como eventuais biomarcadores pré-sintomáticos.