Ana Valado - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Ana Valado

The number of people with gluten-related illnesses has been increasing and the available treatmen... more The number of people with gluten-related illnesses has been increasing and the available treatments include the introduction of a gluten-free diet. In the bakery industry, there are problems with gluten-free products, namely the important characteristics that this component gives to doughs and the low nutritional value they present. A disease that has also increased in recent years is diabetes mellitus, which is characterized by a lack of insulin and the effectiveness of its action (type 1 diabetes) or tissue insensitivity to the hormone (type 2 diabetes). In terms of treatments, there are several approaches: inhibition of digestive enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) or techniques based on mechanisms of action (stimulation of insulin production and release, insulin transport and decreased glucose absorption). Hyperglycemia is also associated with the production of reactive oxygen species, which leads to cell apoptosis. On the other hand, there was also an association with high le...

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Diseases such as obesity; cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, myocardial infarct... more Diseases such as obesity; cardiovascular diseases such as high blood pressure, myocardial infarction and stroke; digestive diseases such as celiac disease; certain types of cancer and osteoporosis are related to food. On the other hand, as the world’s population increases, the ability of the current food production system to produce food consistently is at risk. As a result, intensive agriculture has contributed to climate change and a major environmental impact. Research is, therefore, needed to find new sustainable food sources. One of the most promising sources of sustainable food raw materials is macroalgae. Algae are crucial to solving this nutritional deficiency because they are abundant in bioactive substances that have been shown to combat diseases such as hyperglycemia, diabetes, obesity, metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Examples of these substances include polysaccharides such as alginate, fucoidan, agar and carrageenan; proteins...

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Diabetes poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating innovative therapeutic strate... more Diabetes poses a significant global health challenge, necessitating innovative therapeutic strategies. Natural products and their derivatives have emerged as promising candidates for diabetes management due to their diverse compositions and pharmacological effects. Algae, in particular, have garnered attention for their potential as a source of bioactive compounds with anti-diabetic properties. This review offers a comprehensive overview of algae-derived natural products for diabetes management, highlighting recent developments and future prospects. It underscores the pivotal role of natural products in diabetes care and delves into the diversity of algae, their bioactive constituents, and underlying mechanisms of efficacy. Noteworthy algal derivatives with substantial potential are briefly elucidated, along with their specific contributions to addressing distinct aspects of diabetes. The challenges and limitations inherent in utilizing algae for therapeutic interventions are examin...

Introdução: Apesar dos grandes avanços no tratamento de águas, as doenças que têm origem a partir... more Introdução: Apesar dos grandes avanços no tratamento de águas, as doenças que têm origem a partir de contaminações ainda representam uma grande ameaça à escala mundial para a saúde pública. Inúmeros estudos têm-se centrado em associar a qualidade das águas balneares e avaliar os riscos para a saúde. Outros têm avaliado o n'ivel de contaminação da água, medindo indicadores de qualidade da água como enumeração de Enterococcus sp e a Escherichia coli. Enterococcus sp podem ser potenciais patogénicos em humanos devido à sua virulência e capacidade de sobrevivência por fenómenos de resistência a vários antimicrobianos. Objectivo: Determinar o perfil de resistência de Enterococcus sp isolados em amostras de água da Praia Fluvial de Coimbra, em três alturas do ano diferentes. Material e Métodos: A população de estudo foi constitu'ida por três amostras de água colhidas na praia fluvial de Palheiros do Zorro em 3 alturas do ano diferentes. As amostras foram sujeitas a análises f'...

Introdução: A Diabetes Mellitus tipo 1 é uma doença metabólica caracterizada pelo aumento dos n&#... more Introdução: A Diabetes Mellitus tipo 1 é uma doença metabólica caracterizada pelo aumento dos n'iveis de glicose no sangue, devido à destruição dos ilhéus de Langerhans. O estado de hiperglicemia que se verifica leva a que ocorra a formação de produtos finais de glicação avançada (AGEs), considerados potenciais mediadores das complicações diabéticas. A ligação dos AGEs ao seu recetor (RAGE), leva à transcrição do fator nuclear kappa B que promove o aumento da expressão dos genes envolvidos, nomeadamente o fator de crescimento endotelial vascular (VEGF). A angiogénese é assim desencadeada pela ativação de VEGF, sendo posteriormente estimulada a s'intese de metaloproteinase-1 da matriz (MMP-1), atuando na degradação da matriz, contribuindo para a progressão da doença. Objetivo: Determinação dos n'iveis séricos de VEGF e MMP-1, em sangue periférico, de pacientes diabéticos tipo 1 com retinopatia e/ou nefropatia e indiv'iduos sem a patologia. Material e Métodos: O estudo...

Aim: To assess the accuracy of RHD and RHCE genotyping by real-time PCR, through the analysis of ... more Aim: To assess the accuracy of RHD and RHCE genotyping by real-time PCR, through the analysis of fetal DNA in plasma samples of Rh negative pregnant women. Methods: The study consisted in the collection of two tubes of blood (each with 3 ml) from 19 RhD negative pregnant women that attended the obstetric consultation at the Hospital Distrital of Figueira da Foz, E.P.E. One of the samples was used to perform blood typing and the other was used for fetal DNA extraction. The Rh genotype was determined by real-time PCR with specific primers and Taqman® probes for RHD, RHC, RHE, SRY and GLO genes. Results: In 88.2% of cases (15/17) the RHD genotype was concordant with the phenotyping data, with 1 false-positive result (5.9%) and a precision of 94% (pvalue=0.001; K=76.7%). For the RHC gene, there was concordance in 60% of cases (6/10), with 4 false-negative results (40%) and a precision of 60% (pvalue=0,175; K=31%). Relatively to the RHE gene, the concordance achieved was 100% (10/10), wi...

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a pathogenic non-enveloped virus belonging to the family Papill... more The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a pathogenic non-enveloped virus belonging to the family Papillomaviridae, and contains double-stranded DNA. It infects epithelial tissues, is transmitted by sexual contact, 1 and is associated with malignancies such as cervical cancer 2 and anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. 3 It is estimated that HPV infection is responsible for around 500,000 cases of cervical cancer and 275,000 deaths worldwide each year. 4 The virus has a number of genotypes, and these are subdivided into low-risk and high-risk types, the latter resulting in a predisposition to cancerous transformation. 5 The HPV16 and HPV18 subtypes are high-risk types because they express the oncoproteins E6 and E7 in target cells, 6 and these contribute to cellular proliferation, differentiation and genomic instability, inducing malignant transformation. 7 Infection occurs when the capsid proteins L1 and L2 join the receptors of the target cell, followed by amplification of the viral geno...

Introdução: A esclerose múltipla (EM) é uma doença neurodegenerativa, inflamatória crónica, carac... more Introdução: A esclerose múltipla (EM) é uma doença neurodegenerativa, inflamatória crónica, caracterizada pela desmielinização dos axónios no sistema nervoso central. Patologia multifatorial de etiologia desconhecida apresentando várias formas cl'inicas. Alguns estudos mostram que as metaloproteinases da matriz (MMPs) desempenham um papel significativo na fragmentação da mielina e desmielinização, referindo um envolvimento das MMP-2 e MMP-9 na patogénese da EM. Objetivo: Avaliar os n'iveis séricos de MMP-2 e MMP-9 em doentes com EM e investigar o seu comportamento nas formas surto remissão e secundária progressiva da doença. Material e Métodos: O estudo envolveu uma população de 20 indiv'iduos, dos quais 10 doentes com EM, e 10 controlos sem diagnóstico cl'inico de EM. A semi-quantificação das metaloproteinases foi realizada por Slot-Blot, sendo a densidade óptica das bandas registada no sistema de aquisição de imagem Gel Doc XR+ (BioRad, Hercules, EUA) e a quantific...

Introduction Helicobacter pylori is a human pathogen that causes chronic gastritis and peptic ulc... more Introduction Helicobacter pylori is a human pathogen that causes chronic gastritis and peptic ulcers. Epidemiological studies demonstrated that individuals with the blood group 0 and presence of the Lewis b antigen are more likely to develop gastric disease, since they mediate the attachment of H.pylori to human gastric mucosa. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the interrelation between Lewis phenotype, ABH blood group, H.pylori infection and gastric disease occurrence. Material and Methods The population of this study consisted in 114 patients (72 men, 42 women) that attended the Gastroenterology Service of HDDF, E.P.E. and CHC, E.P.E.. AB0 blood groups and Lewis(a,b) phenotype were determined by gel-test methodology. Antibodies (IgG) against H.pylori were determined by a chemiluminescence method. Results In a total of 114 patients included in this study (age mean 64,46 ±18,80; 72 males and 42 females), 66,7% of them had anti-H.pylori IgG antibodies. The differences between...

Introduction: The infections caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) contin... more Introduction: The infections caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) continue to be a worldwide health problem despite the advances in prevention and treatment. These viruses appear as highly responsible for chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, its transmission is closely related to the use of injectable drugs and sexual risk behaviors. The existence of multiple partners and unprotected sexual intercourse during adolescence are important factors in the exposure to these sexually transmitted diseases. Aim: Determine the seroprevalence of HBV, HCV and sexual behavior in a population of students in the area of Health Sciences. Methods: 184 students of College of Health Technology of Coimbra answered a questionnaire and a blood sample, which was tested for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HBV antibodies (anti-HBc and anti-HBs) and HCV antigen and antibodies, using ELISA methodology. The doubtful and/or positive samples were repeated in duplicate. HCV-rea...

O enfarte agudo do miocárdio (EAM) ocorre quando o fluxo sangu'ineo que irriga parte do múscu... more O enfarte agudo do miocárdio (EAM) ocorre quando o fluxo sangu'ineo que irriga parte do músculo card'iaco é interrompido, resultando usualmente da oclusão de uma artéria coronária na sequência da ruptura da placa arteriosclerótica. Vários estudos sugerem um papel crucial dos linfócitos T na fisiopatologia da aterosclerose e do EAM. Os linfócitos T reguladores (Tregs) constituem uma população linfocitária com propriedades imunossupressoras, sendo o factor de transcrição Forkhead box protein P3 (FoxP3) fundamental na manutenção das suas funções. Estas células podem mediar a imunossupressão através da produção de Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-$beta$). Pretendeu-se com este estudo determinar a frequência de células Tregs CD4+/CD25++/CD127 – no sangue periférico e a expressão génica de Foxp3 e TGF-$beta$1 nestas células, em indiv'iduos com diagnóstico de EAM, em 2 momentos (t=0 e t=1). O estudo incidiu em 12 pacientes com EAM e 10 indiv'iduos sem antecedentes de do...

Introduction: Infections by Herpes simplex virus (HSV) are common worldwide and are caused by HSV... more Introduction: Infections by Herpes simplex virus (HSV) are common worldwide and are caused by HSV type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2). HSV-1 infection, which causes orolabial lesions, usually occurs during childhood or adolescence, by direct oral contact with infected secretions. HSV-2 infection is associated with the beginning of sexual activity and causes anogenital lesions. It is estimated that about 60-90% of the adult population is chronically infected with HSV-1 and 16.2% with HSV-2. Objective: To determine the seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus infection in a population of students, risk behaviors for the transmission of these virus and contributing factors to the its reactivation. Methods: 178 volunteer students of College of Health Technology of Coimbra completed an inquiry and gave a blood sample, which was tested for HSV-1 and HSV-2 antibodies by type-specific ELISA. Statistical analysis was performed in SPSS software version 17.0 for Windows. Results: The overall seropr...

Introduction: Acute Myocardial infarction (AMI) is a disease, that result from the decreased of b... more Introduction: Acute Myocardial infarction (AMI) is a disease, that result from the decreased of blood supply to the heart, that will reduce the transport of oxygen and nutrients to cells. This is due to atherosclerosis in the coronary artery leading to ischemia and subsequent necrosis of cardiac tissue. In consequence of this process, there is infiltration of cells into the injured area producing pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6). With this study we quantified the production of interleukin by monocytes and dendritic cells as well, as the amount of IL-6 produced per cell in patients with myocardial infarction. Methods: For this study we used flow cytometry, 12 samples from patients with AMI were assessed at the infarct moment and later in the outpatient follow-up, comparing them with samples from 10 healthy controls. In addition, all samples were subjected to activation by Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) to verify its behavior. Statistical tes...

Introduction Herpesvirus Simplex (HSV) is a very common infectious agent, which leads to an immun... more Introduction Herpesvirus Simplex (HSV) is a very common infectious agent, which leads to an immune response produced, initially, by Natural Killer (NK) cells. The regulation of these cells is mediated by interaction between molecules of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) and Killer Immunoglobulin Like Receptors (KIR). The genes for these receptors may express two groups of haplotypes. Group A has only one activating KIR, group B presents more than one of these receptors, with possible consequences in response to diseases. Aim Relate the KIR and HLA genotypes on the duration and severity of HSV-1 infection. Material and Methods The study focused on a population consisting in a cohort of 24 students, seropositive for HSV-1, from College of Health Technology of Coimbra. The HLA typing was performed by PCR - Polymerase Chain Reaction-Sequence Specific Oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO) and KIR typing method was Polymerase Chain Reaction-Sequence Specific Oligonucleotide reverse (PCR-rSSO). Results In...

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