Percorrer por autor "Bernardo, Alexandra"
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- 2-Phenoxyethanol derivatization in ink dating determinationPublication . Leal, Teresa Argente; Ferreira, Carla; Quintas, Alexandre; Bernardo, Alexandra
- An anti-inflammatory and low fermentable oligo, di, and monosaccharides and polyols diet improved patient reported outcomes in fibromyalgia : a randomized controlled trialPublication . Silva, Ana Rita; Bernardo, Alexandra; Mesquita, Maria Fernanda de; Vaz-Patto, José; Moreira, Pedro; Silva, Maria Leonor; Patrícia, PadrãoBackground: Fibromyalgia (FM) has been associated with dysbiosis and low-grade inflammation. Studies have reported that diet influences clinical features in FM. Objective: To evaluate the effect of an anti-inflammatory and low fermentable oligo, di, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAP) diet on clinical outcomes of patients with FM. Methods: This two arms Randomized Controlled Trial (NCT04007705) included 46 female patients with FM. The intervention group (n = 22) adopted an anti-inflammatory diet for 3 months, excluding gluten, dairy, added sugar, and ultra-processed foods, along with a low FODMAPs diet in the first month. The control group (n = 24) followed general healthy eating recommendations. Both diets were applied by a certified dietitian. Before and after the intervention, participants were assessed regarding pain, fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms, quality of sleep, and quality of life, through the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS), Visual Analog Scale from gastrointestinal symptoms (VAS GI), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Fatigue Severity Survey (FSS), and The Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). A blood sample was collected and high-sensitive C-Reactive Protein and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate were quantified. Paired Samples t-test/Wilcoxon and independent samples t-test/Mann−Whitney were used to compare variables between groups. Results: After intervention, there was an improvement in intervention group scores of FIQR (p = 0.001), VAS (p = 0.002), BPI (p = 0.011), FSS (p = 0.042), VAS_GI (p = 0.002), PSQI (p = 0.048), and SF36 (p = 0.045) compared to control group. Inflammatory biomarkers (hs-CRP, ESR) did not change in both groups. The intervention was beneficial in the intervention group, regardless of age, disease duration, body mass index variation, and body fat change between baseline and post-intervention. Conclusion: An anti-inflammatory and low-FODMAP diet improved clinical features in patients with FM and may be useful as a complement to pharmacological therapy.
- Assessment of air pollution and mortality in Portugal using AirQ+ and the effects of COVID-19 on their relationshipPublication . Simões, João; Bernardo, Alexandra; Gonçalves, Luísa Lima; Brito, JoséThis study uses the World Health Organization’s AirQ+ model to assess the relationship between air pollution and mortality in Portugal from 2010 to 2021, focusing on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. By integrating AirQ+ with Linear Mixed Models, we analyzed long-term air pollution data and its health effects. Results indicate a significant decrease in NO2 and PM2.5 concentrations in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions and reduced transportation emissions. Conversely, O3 exposure slightly increased. The model estimates over 5000 annual deaths from NO2 and PM2.5 exposure and over 139 annual deaths from O3-related respiratory diseases for 2010–2021. Despite limitations like the need for better assessment of pollutant mixtures and climatic variables, the study shows a decrease in NO2-related disease burden during the pandemic. These trends reflect anomalies in mortality and pollution data rather than policy improvements. The study underscores the utility of AirQ+ in guiding public health strategies and tracking progress toward the 2030 Agenda, offering insights into reducing mortality and morbidity through decreased air pollutant exposure and highlighting the need for sustained, multidimensional pollution reduction efforts.
- Desmistificando a gravidez.Publication . Bernardo, Alexandra; Cardoso, Miriam; Cardoso, Nélia; Henriques, Inês; Santos, Joana; Marques, Fernanda Maria Gomes da Costa Teixeira
- Effect of a tomato juice intake on resting heart rate, resting blood pressure, and perception level of recovery in elite swimmersPublication . Marques, Filipa Baptista; Godinho, Catarina; Bernardo, Alexandra; Brito, José
- GC-MS silylation derivative method to characterise black BIC® ballpoint 2-phenoxyethanol ratio evaporation Profile : a contribution to ink ageing estimationPublication . Leal, Teresa Argente; Ferreira, Carla; Ribeiro, Ana; Ahmad, Samir Marcos; Quintas, Alexandre; Bernardo, AlexandraOne of the major challenges in forensic document analysis is estimating the age of ink deposition on a manually written document. The present work aims to develop and optimise a methodology, based on the evaporation of 2-phenoxyethanol (PE) over time, that can contribute to ink age estimation. A black BIC® Crystal Ballpoint Pen was purchased in a commercial area, and ink deposition began in September 2016 over 1095 days. For each ink sample, 20 microdiscs were subjected to n-hexane extraction in the presence of an internal standard (ethyl benzoate) followed by derivatisation with a silylation reagent. A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method was optimised for PE-trimethylsilyl (PE-TMS) to characterise the ageing curve. The developed method presented good linearity between 0.5 and 50.0 μg mL−1, as well as limits of detection and quantification of 0.026 and 0.104 μg mL−1, respectively. It was possible to characterise PE-TMS concentration over time, which reveals a two-phase decay behaviour. First, there was a substantial decline between the 1st and the 33rd day of deposition, followed a by a stabilisation of the signal, which allowed to detect the presence of PE-TMS up to 3 years. Two unknown compounds were also present and allowed to identify three dating time frames for the same ink stroke: (i) between time 0 and 33 days, (ii) between time 34 and 109 days, and (iii) more than 109 days. The developed methodology allowed to characterise the behaviour of PE over time and to establish a relative dating of three-time frames.
- Mediadores inflamatórios na saliva: associação entre obesidade e doença periodontalPublication . Cachinho, Ricardo; Manso, Ana Cristina; Bernardo, Alexandra; Moncada, Margarida; Mendes, José João; Mesquita, Maria Fernanda de
- Papel da televisão no crescer da criança.Publication . Bernardo, Alexandra; Henriques, Inês; Santos, Joana; Santos, Mariana; Cardoso, Miriam
- Segurança rodoviária: momento de agir.Publication . Bernardo, Alexandra; Cardoso, Miriam; Cardoso, Nélia; Henriques, Inês; Santos, Joana; RAMOS, Ana Lúcia
- A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of an anti-inflammatory nutritional intervention in patients with fibromyalgiaPublication . Silva, Ana Rita; Bernardo, Alexandra; Mesquita, Maria Fernanda de; Patto, José Vaz; Moreira, Pedro; Silva, Maria Leonor; Padrão, PatríciaBackground: This study aims to analyze the effects of a potentially anti-inflammatory nutritional intervention in disease assessment parameters, inflammatory markers, and quality of life of fibromyalgia (FM) patients. Methods: A sample of 100 female patients diagnosed with FM, followed up at Portuguese Institute of Rheumatology (IPR) in Lisbon, is being randomly allocated in two groups. Patients in the intervention group are adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, characterized by the exemption of the intake of foods containing gluten, dairy, sugar, and ultra-processed foods, during 3 months. During the first month, a low fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) diet is implemented, along with the anti-inflammatory diet, followed by the reintroduction of all fruits and vegetables over a consecutive period of 2 months. Patients in the control group are adopting a diet based on general recommendations for healthy eating. The outcomes are pain, fatigue, quality of sleep, quality of life, gastrointestinal symptoms, and inflammation. Before and after the 3 months intervention, and also 1 month after beginning the intervention, the following questionnaires are applied: Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, visual analog pain scale, Brief Pain Inventory,visual analog scale from a list of common gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms in FM, Short Form 36, Fatigue Severity Survey, and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. Ultra-sensitive serum C-reactive protein, eritrocyte sedimentation rate, and interleukin-8 are determined. Age, physical activity, anthropometric parameters, and body composition are being collected. Student’s t test will assess the association between the disease evaluation parameters, the inflammatory markers, and the dietary interventions. Discussion: The results of this study are expected to determine whether a change in patient nutrition helps to alleviate symptoms, which would optimize medical intervention.