Percorrer por autor "Viegas, Carla"
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- Beach sand and the potential for infectious disease transmission: observations and recommendationsPublication . Solo-Gabriele, Helena M.; Harwood, Valerie J.; Kay, David; Fujioka, Roger S.; Sadowsky, Michael J.; Whitman, Richard L.; Wither, Andrew; Caniça, Manuela; Fonseca, Rita Carvalho da; Duarte, Aida; Edge, Thomas A.; Gargaté, Maria J.; Gunde-Cimerman, Nina; Hagen, Ferry; McLellan, Sandra L.; Silva, Alexandra Nogueira da; Babič, Monika Novak; Prada, Susana; Rodrigues, Raquel; Romão, Daniela; Sabino, Raquel; Samson, Robert A.; Segal, Esther; Staley, Christopher; Taylor, Huw D.; Veríssimo, Cristina; Viegas, Carla; Barroso, Helena; Brandão, João C."Recent studies suggest that sand can serve as a vehicle for exposure of humans to pathogens at beach sites, resulting in increased health risks. Sampling for microorganisms in sand should therefore be considered for inclusion in regulatory programmes aimed at protecting recreational beach users from infectious disease. Here, we review the literature on pathogen levels in beach sand, and their potential for affecting human health. In an effort to provide specific recommendations for sand sampling programmes, we outline published guidelines for beach monitoring programmes, which are currently focused exclusively on measuring microbial levels in water. We also provide background on spatial distribution and temporal characteristics of microbes in sand, as these factors influence sampling programmes. First steps toward establishing a sand sampling programme include identifying appropriate beach sites and use of initial sanitary assessments to refine site selection. A tiered approach is recommended for monitoring. This approach would include the analysis of samples from many sites for faecal indicator organisms and other conventional analytes, while testing for specific pathogens and unconventional indicators is reserved for high-risk sites. Given the diversity of microbes found in sand, studies are urgently needed to identify the most significant aetiological agent of disease and to relate microbial measurements in sand to human health risk."
- Bibliotecas na saúde… e a saúde nas bibliotecas?Publication . Pinheiro, Ana; Viegas, Carla; Veríssimo, Cristina; Brandão, João; Macedo, Maria FilomenaEm arquivos e bibliotecas a presença de fungos é considerada nefasta pelas suas implicações na conservação e leitura de documentos históricos e pela sua associação a problemas de saúde sentidos pelos funcionários e utentes que frequentam estes locais. De acordo com alguns autores, os problemas de saúde mais reportados por funcionários em Bibliotecas e Arquivos são dermatite, rinite, alergias e asma. Embora revestida de inegável importância, existem poucos estudos internacionais sobre a temática e, em Portugal, a contaminação fúngica em ambiente arquivístico e em bibliotecas é ainda muito pouco conhecida. O estudo realizado em quatro Arquivos Portugueses teve como objectivo conhecer a contaminação fúngica, contribuindo para a análise da qualidade do ar interior desses espaços e sua comparação com estudos internacionais. Para isso foram recolhidas amostras de ar e de superfícies e estas foram analisadas por métodos clássicos de cultura e, quando necessário, por métodos de biologia molecular. A avaliação foi feita quantitativa e qualitativamente, considerando os requisitos legais em vigor. No que respeita à análise do ar, o número de unidades formadoras de colónias (UFC)/m3 nunca excedeu as 500 (limite legislado), tendo sido verificada contaminação interior em todos os locais estudados. Comparativamente aos estudos realizados anteriormente em contextos semelhantes foram encontrados níveis elevados de contaminação por leveduras nas amostras de ar analisadas em Arquivos Portugueses. Não foi identificado nenhum fungo patogénico neste estudo, mas em quase todas as amostras estavam presentes fungos potencialmente toxinogénicos. Dentro do grupo dos Aspergillus, o A.versicolor mostrou predominância, tendo este fungo reconhecidas capacidades de emissão de micotoxinas em ambiente de interior. A inclusão de amostras de superfície revelou-se vital para conhecer todo o espectro fúngico existente em cada um dos locais estudados, incluindo a detecção de Stachybotrys chartarum e a do fungo potencialmente queratinofílico, Chrysosporium carmichaelli. Tanto para a saúde como para a conservação, o recente estudo realizado em quatro arquivos permitiu retirar importantes conclusões e reforçar a necessidade de vigilância, sendo também útil para a definição de padrões de qualidade no campo do património cultural.
- Children and sand play: screening of potential harmful microorganisms in sandboxes, parks, and beachesPublication . Romão, Daniela; Sabino, Raquel; Veríssimo, Cristina; Viegas, Carla; Barroso, Helena; Duarte, Aida; Solo-Gabriele, Helena; Gunde-Cimerman, Nina; Babič, Monika Novak; Marom, Tal; Brandão, JoãoSand serves as a reservoir for potentially pathogenic microorganisms. Children, a high-risk group, can acquire infections from sand in sandboxes, recreational areas, and beaches. This paper reviews the microbes in sands, with an emphasis on fungi. Recreational areas and beach sands have been found to harbor many types of fungi and microbes. A newly emerging group of fungi of concern include the black yeast-like fungi. After establishing that sand is a reservoir for fungi, clinical manifestations of fungal infections are described with an emphasis on ocular and ear infections. Overall, we recommend environmental studies to develop monitoring strategies for sand and studies to evaluate the link between fungi exposure in sand and human health impacts.
- Gla rich protein (GRP) mediates vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) osteogenic differentiation, extracellular vesicle (EV) calcification propensity, and immunomodulatory propertiesPublication . Viegas, Carla; Carreira, Joana; Maia, Teresa M.; Macedo, Anjos L.; Matos, António P.; Neves, José; Simes, DinaVascular calcification (VC) is a complex process involving vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) osteogenic differentiation, inflammation, and extracellular vesicle (EV) calcification and communication networks. Gla rich protein (GRP) is a calcification inhibitor involved in most of these processes. However, the molecular mechanism of GRP in VC and the specific characteristics, cargo, and functionality of calcifying EVs require further elucidation. Here, we use a combination of human ex vivo aortic fragments and primary vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) models to obtain new information on GRP function in VC and EVs released by VSMCs. We demonstrate that GRP inhibits VSMC osteogenic differentiation through downregulation of bone-related proteins and upregulation of mineralization inhibitors, with decreased mineral crystallinity in EVs deposited into the tissue extracellular matrix (ECM). EVs isolated by ultracentrifugation at 30K and 100K from the cell media (CM) and deposited in the ECM from control (CTR) and mineralizing (MM) VSMCs were biochemically, physically, and proteomically characterized. Four different EV populations were identified with shared markers commonly present in all EVs but with unique protein cargo and specific molecular profiles. Comparative proteomics identified several regulated proteins specifically loaded into MM EV populations associated with multiple processes involved in VC. Functional analysis demonstrated that 30K and 100K ECM-MM EVs with higher calcium and lower GRP levels induced macrophage inflammation. Our findings reinforce the functional relevance of GRP in multiple VC processes and suggest that ECM EVs released under calcification stress function as a new signaling axis on the calcification–inflammation cycle.
- Nanoencapsulation as a novel delivery approach for therapeutic applications of gla-rich protein (GRP)Publication . Araújo, Nuna; Viegas, Carla; Pontes, Jorge F.; Marreiros, Catarina; Raimundo, Pedro; Macedo, Anjos L.; Matos, António Alves de; Grenha, Ana; Vermeer, Cees; Simes, Dina Costa
- Training on the impact of climate change on public health : reflections and lessons learntPublication . Viegas, Susana; Santos, João Almeida; Kazmierczak, Aleksandra; Assunção, Ricardo; Viegas, Carla; Martins, Carla