IPC-ESTeSC - Artigos em revistas
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
- Immunotherapy in penile cancer: a systematic reviewPublication . Fadigas, Filipe; Martins, Diana; Mendes, FernandoPenile cancer (PeCa) ranks as the 30th most prevalent cancer globally, predominantly affecting populations in developing countries. Phimosis and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection are recognized as the primary risk factors. Early-stage diagnosis typically warrants limited excision or non-invasive therapies. However, recent research into the carcinogenesis tumour microenvironment, and the role of the host immune system in its development suggests that immunotherapy could be a promising treatment for PeCa. The rarity of the disease, combined with the success of standard treatments and the fact that many patients in clinical trials lack alternative options, contributes to the challenges in patient recruitment for these studies. Additionally, the psychological burden stemming from the stigma associated with such an aggressive genital disease and the preference for quicker treatment options, such as surgery with reconstructive procedures, exacerbates these recruitment difficulties. This systematic review aimed to explore various immunotherapy approaches in treating PeCa to elucidate the potential role of immunotherapy in this context. The literature was sourced from freely accessible, full-text randomized controlled trials, non-randomized controlled trials, and original articles published in English between 2017 and 2023. Eligible clinical trials were required to be in phase 2 and have published results. Although only one study met the inclusion criteria—a significant limitation—the objective response rate recorded was 6% across nineteen patients with different tumour histologies, of which only six had PeCa. Currently, other studies are either recruiting or ongoing, necessitating further observation, as results from a single study cannot be generalized to the broader population.
- The effect of nutritional intervention in nutritional risk screening on hospitalised lung cancer patientsPublication . Oliveira, Raquel; Cabrita, Bruno; Cunha, Ângela; Silva, Sónia; PM Lima, João; Martins, Diana; Mendes, FernandoAbstract: Background: Lung cancer (LC) patients are prone to suffer from malnutrition. Malnutrition negatively affects patients’ response to therapy, increases the incidence of treatment-related side effects, and decreases survival. Early identification of LC patients who are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition can promote recovery and improve prognosis. Objective: This study aimed to assess the risk and nutritional status of lung cancer patients who are hospitalised, as well as to evaluate the impact of nutritional intervention on the risk of malnutrition. Methods: From January 2022 to December 2023, 53 LC patients hospitalised in a pulmonology department had their nutritional risk (initial and final) and nutritional status (initial) assessed. All were selected for nutritional intervention. Nutrition counselling was the first intervention option, along with dietary changes with/without oral nutritional supplements. Results: At the time of hospitalisation, 90.6% of the patients were at nutritional risk, 45.3% were classified as moderately malnourished, and 35.8% were classified as severely underweight. After the hospitalisation, 73.6% were at nutritional risk at the time of discharge, suggesting a statistically significant decrease in the number of patients with nutritional risk. Conclusions: Most LC patients hospitalised presented an altered nutritional status. Our study suggests that a nutritional intervention must be implemented to reduce malnutrition risk, which may impact prognosis. The comprehensive nutritional problems experienced by LC patients require nutritional assessment and improved individually tailored nutritional support.
- CD20+ T cells in monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis and chronic lymphocytic leukemia: frequency, phenotype and association with disease progressionPublication . Rodrigues, Cristiana; Laranjeira, Paula; Pinho, A. C. O.; Silva, Isabel; Silva, Sandra; Coucelo, Margarida; Oliveira, Ana Catarina; Simões, Ana Teresa; Damásio, Inês; Silva, Helena Matos; Urbano, Mafalda; Sarmento Ribeiro, Ana Bela; Geraldes, Catarina; Domingues, Maria Rosario; Almeida, Julia; Criado, Ignacio; Orfao, Alberto; Paiva, ArturIntroduction: In monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (MBL) and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the expansion of malignant B cells disrupts the normal homeostasis and interactions between B cells and T cells, leading to immune dysregulation. CD20+ T cells are a subpopulation of T cells that appear to be involved in autoimmune diseases and cancer. Methods: Here, we quantified and phenotypically characterized CD20+ T cells from MBL subjects and CLL patients using flow cytometry and correlated our findings with the B-cell receptor mutational status and other features of the disease. Results and discussion: CD20+ T cells were more represented within the CD8+T cell compartment and they showed a predominant memory Tc1 phenotype. CD20+ T cells were less represented in MBL and CLL patients vs healthy controls, particularly among those with unmutated IGVH gene. The expansion of malignant B cells was accompanied by phenotypic and functional changes in CD20+ T cells, including an increase in follicular helper CD4+ CD20+ T cells and CD20+ Tc1 cells, in addition to the expansion of the TCR Vb 5.1 in CD4+ CD20+T cells in CLL.
- Assessing sarcocornia as a salt substitute: effects on lipid profile and gelatinase activityPublication . Louçano, Beatriz; Maletti, Sara; Timóteo, Maria Helena; Figueiredo, João; Osório, Nádia; Barroca, Maria João; Silva, Aida Moreira; Pereira, Telmo; Caseiro, ArmandoSodium, although essential for life, is a key factor in changes in vascular function and cardiovascular disease when consumed in excess. Sarcocornia spp., a halophyte plant with many nutritional benefits, presents itself as a promising substitute for the consumption of purified salt. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 are widely studied due to their action in physiological processes and as biomarkers at the diagnostic level due to their increased expression in inflammatory processes. This study aimed to evaluate whether replacing salt with Sarcocornia perennis (S. perennis) powder in healthy young people leads to an improvement in biochemical profiles and the attenuation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. In the present study, 30 participants were randomized into a control group that consumed salt and an intervention group that replaced salt with powdered S. perennis. The evaluation of the biochemical parameters was carried out by the spectrophotometry method, and the evaluation of MMP activity was carried out by zymography. A significant decrease was observed in the intervention group in total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and creatinine (p-value ≤ 0.05), along with lower but not significantly different mean values of triglycerides. Regarding MMP activity after the intervention, a lower mean value was observed for MMP-9 activity, with there being higher mean values for MMP-2 activity, both with p-values ≥ 0.05.The results confirmed that the consumption of S. perennis is a beneficial choice for health regarding the lipid profile. The evaluation of MMP activity indicated the potential of S. perennis in the regulation of MMP-9 activity in healthy individuals, along with the need for the further study of these proteases in individuals with pathologies.
- Motor reaction time, sarcopenia and functional skills in elderly women: a cross-sectional studyPublication . Alves, I.I. Pereira da Silva; Bueno, G.A. Santos; Elmescany, R. Brito; Borges, L. Aparecida; Pinto, D. Kran; Martins, Anabela Correia; Menezes, R.L.IMPORTANCE: Aging generates changes over the years. Because of this, the musculoskeletal system is directly degraded and suffer deficits in its performance in elderly patients with Sarcopenia, as this condition is characterized by a decrease in muscle mass and function. OBJECTIVE: Correlate the motor reaction time and functional skills of non-sarcopenic, pre-sarcopenic and sarcopenic elderly women, and analyze influence on the risk of falls. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational analytical study, following the methodological strategies of STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology), carried out under the approval of the Research Ethics Committee of the Unievangélica University, no. 3.694.235/2019. SETTING: Participants were evaluated regarding: cognitive status, level of physical activity, fear of falling, body composition, motor reaction time, static and dynamic balance, gait kinetics, strength and endurance of the lower limbs and finally handgrip strength. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 59 volunteer elderly women were assessed following the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia proposed by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP). RESULTS: The results show that there was a greater difference in motor reaction time between the non-sarcopenic and sarcopenic elderly women due to the executing organ being damaged by the presence of sarcopenia, causing motor response to slowdown. Functional deficit, fear of falling and greater risk of falls were observed in the sarcopenic group, under the harmful influence of increased motor reaction time. CONCLUSION: Sarcopenic elderly women present increased motor reaction time, that is, slowed motor responses due to decreased muscle mass, strength and impaired musculature, which generate functional deficits that contribute to an increased risk of falls.
- Non-invasive neuromodulation in reducing the risk of falls and fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults: systematic reviewPublication . Bueno, Guilherme Augusto Santos; Bomfim, Arthur Dutra; Campos, Lorrane Freitas; Martins, Anabela Correia; Brito Elmescany, Raquel; Morato Stival, Marina; Funghetto, Silvana Schwerz; Losada De Menezes, RuthIntroduction: Neuromodulation is a non-invasive technique that allows for the modulation of cortical excitability and can produce changes in neuronal plasticity. Its application has recently been associated with the improvement of the motor pattern in older adults individuals with sequelae from neurological conditions. Objective: To highlight the effects of non-invasive neuromodulation on the risk of falls and fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Systematic review conducted in accordance with the items of the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Searches were carried out in electronic databases: CENTRAL, Clinical Trials, LILACS, PEDro, PubMed, Web of Science, between 13/06/2020 and 20/09/2023, including all indexed texts without language and publication date restrictions, randomized controlled clinical trials, which presented as their main outcome non-invasive neuromodulation for reducing the fear of falling and risk of falls in the older adults, regardless of gender Results: An extensive search identified 9 eligible studies for qualitative synthesis from 8,168 potential articles. Rigorous filtering through automated tools, title/ abstract screening, and full-text evaluation ensured a focused and relevant selection for further analysis. Most studies (80%) used transcranial direct current electrical stimulation as an intervention, over the motor cortex or cerebellum area, with anodal current and monopolar electrode placement. The intensity ranged from 1.2 mA to 2 mA, with a duration of 20 min (80%). The profile of the research participants was predominantly individuals over 65 years old (80%), with a high risk of falls (60%) and a minority reporting a fear of falling (40%). The outcomes were favorable for the use of neuromodulation for the risk of falls in the older adults, through improvements in static and dynamic balance. Conclusion: The results may have limited applicability to direct outcomes related to the risk of falls, in addition to evidence regarding the difference or lack thereof in applicability between genders, fallers and non-fallers, as well as older adults individuals with low and high fear of falling.Systematic review registration: The protocol for this review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) to obtain the identification of ongoing research (ID: 222429).
- Laboratory Assessment of the Effects of AGA@4life Multidisciplinary Intervention on the Inflammatory Profile, MMPs, and TIMPs in a Geriatric PopulationPublication . Lourenço, Ana Patrícia; Freitas, Catarina; Timóteo, Maria Helena; Soares, Maria; Figueiredo, João; Osório, Nádia; Valado, Ana; Trapali, Maria; Pereira, Telmo; Caseiro, ArmandoAbstract: In recent years, the world’s aging population has increased, contributing to the development of age-related pathologies, which have been aggravated by physical inactivity and excessive fat intake. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of implementing a nutritional program (control group—CG) combined with exercise (intervention group—IG) on the inflammatory profile, MMPs, and TIMPs in a group of 34 elderly participants (IG, n = 18; CG, n = 16). Participants underwent a full multidisciplinary diagnostic evaluation (T0), with the gathering of clinical information and biochemical and hematological determinations being re-evaluated eight weeks later (T1). A diet manual was made, which provided a selection of different types of diets resulting from the nutritional needs of the different users at the center. The aerobic exercise consisted of two sessions per week with a total duration of 1 h. The laboratory evaluation was performed by slot blot. Statistical analysis included a paired sample t-test and Spearman’s correlation coefficient. We observed that in the IG, there was a significant increase at T1 of TNF-α (p < 0.05) and MMP-2 (p < 0.05), without changes in IL-6 and MMP-9, showing that the intervention did not cause an exacerbated inflammatory response in exercised elderly people. The intervention program implemented showed potential to contribute to better active aging strategies, taking advantage of the known benefits of exercise without inducing a harmful inflammatory response in elderly participants.
- Atrial fibrillation and early vascular aging: clinical implications, methodology issues and open questions—a review from the VascAgeNet COST ActionPublication . PUCCI, Giacomo; Grillo, Andrea; DALAKLEIDI, KALLIOPI; Fraenkel, Emil; Gkaliagkousi, Eugenia; Golemati, Spyretta; Guala, Andrea; Hametner, Bernhard; LAZARIDIS, ANTONIOS; Mayer, Christopher; Mozos, Ioana; Pereira, Telmo; Veerasingam, Dave; Terentes-Printzios, Dimitrios; Agnoletti, DavideAtrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia, is associated with adverse CV outcomes. Vascular aging (VA), which is defined as the progressive deterioration of arterial function and structure over a lifetime, is an independent predictor of both AF development and CV events. A timing identification and treatment of early VA has therefore the potential to reduce the risk of AF incidence and related CV events. A network of scientists and clinicians from the COST Action VascAgeNet identified five clinically and methodologically relevant questions regarding the relationship between AF and VA and conducted a narrative review of the literature to find potential answers. These are: (1) Are VA biomarkers associated with AF? (2) Does early VA predict AF occurrence better than chronological aging? (3) Is early VA a risk enhancer for the occurrence of CV events in AF patients? (4) Are devices measuring VA suitable to perform subclinical AF detection? (5) Does atrial-fibrillation-related rhythm irregularity have a negative impact on the measurement of vascular age? Results showed that VA is a powerful and independent predictor of AF incidence, however, its role as risk modifier for the occurrence of CV events in patients with AF is debatable. Limited and inconclusive data exist regarding the reliability of VA measurement in the presence of rhythm irregularities associated with AF. To date, no device is equipped with tools capable of detecting AF during VA measurements. This represents a missed opportunity to effectively perform CV prevention in people at high risk. Further advances are needed to fill knowledge gaps in this field.
- Ultrasound as a method for early diagnosis of breast pathologyPublication . Santos, Rute; Ribeiro, Ana Raquel; Marques, DanielaIntroduction: Ultrasound is a non-invasive, low-cost technique that does not use ionising radiation and provides a “real-time” image, and for these reasons, this method is ideal in several situations. Purpose: To demonstrate breast ultrasound evaluation as a first-line diagnostic method and to evaluate the variation of breast characteristics with age. Material and Methods: A total of 105 women with a mean age of 30 years participated and were divided into three age groups: 18–39, 40–59, and 60–79 years, excluding participants subject to mastectomy. After completing the informed consent, all participants answered personal and sociodemographic questions, such as personal and family history, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, ultrasound, and mammography, among others. They were then submitted to a bilateral breast ultrasound examination. Subsequently, all the images and their data were analysed, and a technical report of the examination was given to all the participants. Results: A total of 105 women with a mean age of 30 years participated, 58 of whom underwent the examination for the first time. In 31, changes (of which only 7 were known) were diagnosed. It was verified that, according to age group, the density of the breast stroma varied; older women have less breast density. Conclusions: Ultrasound is a good method for breast evaluation and can be considered important for the early evaluation of breast pathology and follow-up of the pathology.
- Impact of a food education session on vegetables plate waste in a portuguese school canteenPublication . Marques, Cátia; PM Lima, João; Fialho, Sónia; Pinto, Ezequiel; Santos, AnaSeveral authors have shown that vegetables are the most commonly wasted component in school lunches and enhance the importance of food education on topics such as food waste and vegetable consumption. The present research evaluated the efficacy of a single session of food education on vegetables waste and consumption. The data collection was focused on primary school students from a school located in Guarda district (Portugal). A vegetable selective aggregate weighing from the lunch plate was required in two distinct phases: before and after a single 30 min nutritionist’s intervention. The variables collected were the quantities of vegetables produced, leftovers and plate waste. Through these weighings, it was possible to measure the variables: distributed vegetables, consumed vegetables, vegetables waste, leftovers index, plate waste index. The use of materials such as a scale, suitable containers, gown, disposable gloves, cap and office supplies were necessary. In total during the two phases, 870 meals were evaluated. Measures of central tendency and statistical analysis tests were used. At the end of the present research, it was possible to verify significant results in the reduction of the vegetables leftovers index and in the increase in vegetable consumption per capita, through the nutritionist’s intervention. There were significant differences in the reduction of the index of vegetable leftovers and in the increase in the consumption of vegetables per capita and no significant differences in total vegetable waste. Potential causes and strategies for future research were also discussed. This study demonstrates how a nutritionist’s intervention, in a school context, could translate into behavioral change in nutrition and sustainability terms.