Pedro Barata - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Pedro Barata

Biology

Despite the primary function of pioglitazone in antidiabetic treatment, this drug is a potent ind... more Despite the primary function of pioglitazone in antidiabetic treatment, this drug is a potent inducer of PPAR-γ, a crucial receptor that is involved in adipocyte differentiation. In this work, we propose an optimized methodology to enhance the differentiation of 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into adipocytes. This process is crucial for adipocyte secretome release, which is fundamental for understanding the molecular mechanisms that are involved in obesity for in vitro studies. To achieve this, a pioglitazone dose-response assay was determined over a range varying from 0 to 10 µM. Lipid accumulation was evaluated using Oil-Red-O. The results showed that 10 µM pioglitazone enhanced differentiation and increased secretome production. This secretome was then added into two cell lines: PC3 and RAW264.7. In the PC3 cells, an increase of aggressiveness was observed in terms of viability and proliferation, with the increase of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Conversely, in RAW264.7 cells, a reduction of ...

Introduction: Child abuse is a complex problem that must be identified and solved as quickly as p... more Introduction: Child abuse is a complex problem that must be identified and solved as quickly as possible with a multidisciplinary approach. Bone fractures, usually not life-threatening injuries, are often the strongest indicator of abuse. Medical imaging has thus a crucial role, since fractures are often hidden, with signs and symptoms difficult to interpret, and children may be unable to provide history. Bone scintigraphy has appeared in publications addressing child abuse since the 80’s.Aim: To assess the role of Bone scintigraphy in child abuse.Results/Discussion: Some guidelines on approaching child abuse already include bone scintigraphy. In our country, its role and its usefulness remain poorly known.Studies comparing Radiography and Bone scintigraphy showed that scintigraphy was the only method to identify bone lesions in 4 to 20% of patients. Additionally it helped to clarify misleading lesions.Conclusion: When evaluating the suspicion of child abuse, the method of choice is...

Biomedicines

The gut microbiota refers to bacteria lodges in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that interact th... more The gut microbiota refers to bacteria lodges in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) that interact through various complex mechanisms. The disturbance of this ecosystem has been correlated with several diseases, such as neurologic, respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases and cancer. Therefore, the modulation of the gut microbiota has emerged as a potential therapeutic tool; of the various forms of gut microbiota modulation, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the most approached. This recent technique involves introducing fecal material from a healthy donor into the patient’s gastrointestinal tract, aiming to restore the gut microbiota and lead to the resolution of symptoms. This procedure implies a careful donor choice, fine collection and handling of fecal material, and a balanced preparation of the recipient and consequent administration of the prepared content. Although FMT is considered a biological therapy with promising effects, side effects such as diarrhea and...

Biology, 2022

The production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) is the main defense mechanism found in G... more The production of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) is the main defense mechanism found in Gram negative bacteria. Among all the ESBLs, the CTX-M enzymes appear as the most efficient in terms of dissemination in different epidemiological contexts. CTX-M enzymes exhibit a striking plasticity, with a large number of allelic variants distributed in several sublineages, which can be associated with functional heterogeneity of clinical relevance. This observational analytical study provides an update of this family, currently with more than 200 variants described, from a phylogenetic, molecular, and structural point of view through homology in amino acid sequences. Our data, combined with described literature, provide phylogenetic and structural evidence of a new group. Thus, herein, we propose six groups among CTX-M enzymes: the already stablished CTX-M-1, CTX-M-2, CTX-M-8, CTX-M-9, and CTX-M-25 clusters, as well as CTX-M-151 as the new cluster.

colon targeting has been attracting interest for those interested in treating local pathologies a... more colon targeting has been attracting interest for those interested in treating local pathologies and administrating proteins and peptides. in order to develop these systems a perfect understanding of the colonic region is compulsory. two main strategies are used: delayed release and specific release. the first one, less specific, consists in postponing release from the system until it reaches de colon. the second one uses colon properties as pH, enzymatic activity and intraluminal pressure to trigger colonic drug release. Key-words colon, drug targeting, enzimatic activation, delayed release systems, colon activated systems

the main subject of this work was to carry out a general revision about the mucoadhesion mechanis... more the main subject of this work was to carry out a general revision about the mucoadhesion mechanism, having in consideration aspects such as, explicative theories of this mechanism, as well as, the steps involved in the mechanism of action. Followed, we do an approach about bioadhesive polymers, having been exposed some practical results in order to evaluate the bioadhesive force, the bioadhesive work and the swelling index of some selected polymers in order to obtain a mucoadhesive matrix with optimized characteristics. Key-words mucoadhesion, bioadhesive polymers, pemulen tr2, policarbophil AA1, sodium carboximethylcellulose, swelling

RESUMO sempre que é efectuado um exercício ou uma actividade intensiva inabitual, de forma excênt... more RESUMO sempre que é efectuado um exercício ou uma actividade intensiva inabitual, de forma excêntrica, o organismo reage nas seguintes 24 horas com sintomas desde aumento da sensibilidade até a uma dor severa e limitativa e, conforme a sua severidade, desaparece por completo após 10 dias. esta sintomatologia caracteriza-se como sensação retardada de Dor muscular (srDm). embora o seu mecanismo não seja conhecido, existem várias hipóteses, sendo o objectivo deste estudo rever os factores envolvidos neste processo de lesão, abordando, também, brevemente as alterações na função muscular e o seu tratamento. PALAVRAS-ChAVE sensação retardada de Dor muscular, lesão muscular, exercício excêntrico ABSTRACT whenever an eccentric exercise or an unusual physical activity is performed, the body reacts on the following 24 hours with symptoms that vary from an increase of sensibility to severe pain that usually disappears after a maximum period of 10 days. this is called Delayed onset muscle soreness (Doms). Although its mechanism is not yet fully known, several hypotheses are considered. the purpose of this paper is to review the factors involved in the injury process together with the changes in the muscular system and its treatment.

Nowadays there is an increase in the request for compounded medicines or extemporaneous formulati... more Nowadays there is an increase in the request for compounded medicines or extemporaneous formulations, mainly for situations that are not covered by the Pharmaceutical Industry. Compounded medicines must follow quality parameters that are required by law and are included in different pharmacopoeias. This review aims to present the main factors that condition compounded formulations stability and hence determine expiry dates.

O conhecimento da existencia de variacoes fisiologicas ao longo de um periodo de 24 horas (variac... more O conhecimento da existencia de variacoes fisiologicas ao longo de um periodo de 24 horas (variacao circadiana) em varios sistemas do organismo humano tem sido explorado por parte da Industria Farmaceutica no sentido de adaptar a administracao de medicamentos de acordo com as necessidades biologicas. Deste modo, estao descritos diversos estudos que demonstram resultados eficazes da aplicacao da cronoterapia no controlo de varias doencas (e.g. gastrointestinais, cardiovasculares, respiratorias, no cancro).

International journal of pharmaceutics, Jan 9, 2016

In recent decades, many efforts have been made in order to improve drug bioavailability after ora... more In recent decades, many efforts have been made in order to improve drug bioavailability after oral administration. Gastroretentive drug delivery systems are a good example; they emerged to enhance the bioavailability and effectiveness of drugs with a narrow absorption window in the upper gastrointestinal tract and/or to promote local activity in the stomach and duodenum. Several strategies are used to increase the gastric residence time, namely bioadhesive or mucoadhesive systems, expandable systems, high-density systems, floating systems, superporous hydrogels and magnetic systems. The present review highlights some of the drugs that can benefit from gastroretentive strategies, such as the factors that influence gastric retention time and the mechanism of action of gastroretentive systems, as well as their classification into single and multiple unit systems.

Oxygen is a drug with several therapeutic applications. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) consists ... more Oxygen is a drug with several therapeutic applications. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBO) consists in the administration of oxygen, at pressures superior than 1 atmosphere inside a sealed chamber. The growing interest on HBO generated many studies that demonstrated its clinical interest in several pathologies and its safety. In the field of muscle injuries treatment, HBO is promising but more studies are necessary.

Molecules

The Euterpe oleracea fruit (açaí) is a promising source of polyphenols with health-promoting prop... more The Euterpe oleracea fruit (açaí) is a promising source of polyphenols with health-promoting properties. To our knowledge, few studies have focused on the influence of açaí phytochemicals on angiogenesis, with a significant impact on cancer. This study aimed at investigating the phytochemical profile of a purple açaí hydroethanolic extract (AHE) obtained from a commercial dietary powder supplement by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, and evaluate its in vitro effects on distinct angiogenic steps during vessel growth and on oxidative markers in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1). The phenolic profile of AHE revealed the presence of significant levels of anthocyanins, mainly cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside, and other flavonoids with promising health effects. The in vitro studies demonstrated that AHE exerts antiangiogenic activity with no cytotoxic effect. The AHE was able to decrease HMEC-1 migra...

Nutrients

Background: The human gut microbiota is defined as the microorganisms that collectively inhabit t... more Background: The human gut microbiota is defined as the microorganisms that collectively inhabit the intestinal tract. Its composition is relatively stable; however, an imbalance can be precipitated by various factors and is known to be associated with various diseases. Humans are daily exposed to ionizing radiation from ambient and medical procedures, and gastrointestinal side effects are not rare. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted. Primary outcomes were changes in composition, richness, and diversity of the gut microbiota after ionizing radiation exposure. Standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane were used. Results: A total of 2929 nonduplicated records were identified, and based on the inclusion criteria, 11 studies were considered. Studies were heterogeneous, with differences in population and outcomes. Overall, we found evidence for an association between ionizing radiation exposure and dysbiosis: reductio...

Allergy & Rhinology

Recently, multiple studies regarding the human microbiota and its role on the development of dise... more Recently, multiple studies regarding the human microbiota and its role on the development of disease have emerged. Current research suggests that the nasal cavity is a major reservoir for opportunistic pathogens, which can then spread to other sections of the respiratory tract and be involved in the development of conditions such as allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, pneumonia, and otitis media. However, our knowledge of how nasal microbiota changes originate nasopharyngeal and respiratory conditions is still incipient. Herein, we describe how the nasal microbiome in healthy individuals varies with age and explore the effect of nasal microbiota changes in a range of infectious and immunological conditions. We also describe the potential health benefits of human microbiota modulation through probiotic use, both in disease prevention and as adjuvant therapy. Current research suggests that patients with different chronic rhinosinusitis phenotypes possess distinct nasal microbiota profiles, which influence immune response and may be used in the future as biomarkers of disease progression. Probiotic intervention may also have a promising role in the prevention and adjunctive treatment of acute respiratory tract infections and allergic rhinitis, respectively. However, further studies are needed to define the role of probiotics in the chronic rhinosinusitis.

Pharmacy

Limited fitness for practice may result from a mismatch between education and practice. Aiming to... more Limited fitness for practice may result from a mismatch between education and practice. Aiming to meet the common interests of academics and practitioners, the Portuguese Pharmaceutical Society (PPS) developed the Education and Practice Platform (EPP). The EPP includes one representative from each pharmacy faculty, and all Councils of Speciality Boards of Practice. Brainstorming with involved parties enabled sharing of interests, concerns and identifying a common path. Aims, mission, vision and values were set. The EPP’s mission is to: act as an enabler to foster the quality and adequacy of education through sharing best practices, ultimately leading to facilitate professional integration, and to foster quality development in teaching practices with recognition for autonomy in freedom to teach and to learn. Its vision is an alignment of education and practice with the PPS’ statutes to ensure validation of the competences defined for each practice area, and compliance with internatio...

Resumo A veiculação de fármacos para o cólon tem atraído a atenção de muitos investigadores inter... more Resumo A veiculação de fármacos para o cólon tem atraído a atenção de muitos investigadores interessados no tratamento de patologias locais e no seu potencial para a veiculação de proteínas e peptídeos. para desenvolver estes sistemas é fundamental compreender o cólon enquanto local de veiculação de fármacos, em particular a sua capacidade de absorção e o tempo necessário para o atingir. Dois tipos de abordagens podem ser utilizados, libertação retardada ou libertação específica no cólon. o primeiro caso é menos específico e consiste em formulações preparadas de forma a retardar a libertação de fármaco até o sistema farmacêutico atingir o cólon. o segundo caso explora as propriedades de pH, actividade enzimática e pressão intraluminal do cólon para promover a libertação colónica de fármacos. Palavras-chave cólon, veiculação de fármacos, degradação enzimática, sistemas de libertação retardada, sistemas de activação colónica Abstract colon targeting has been attracting interest for those interested in treating local pathologies and administrating proteins and peptides. in order to develop these systems a perfect understanding of the colonic region is compulsory. two main strategies are used: delayed release and specific release. the first one, less specific, consists in postponing release from the system until it reaches de colon. the second one uses colon properties as pH, enzymatic activity and intraluminal pressure to trigger colonic drug release.