Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2023-05"
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- Unravelling the potential of insects for medicinal purposes: a comprehensive reviewPublication . Siddiqui, Shahida Anusha; Li, Chujun; Aidoo, Owusu Fordjour; Fernando, Ito; Haddad, Moawiya A.; Pereira, Jorge A.M.; Blinov, Andrey; Golik, Andrey; Câmara, José S.; Augusto Machado Pereira, Jorge; Câmara, JoséEntomotherapy, the use of insects for medicinal purposes, has been practised for centuries in many countries around the world. More than 2100 edible insect species are eaten by humans, but little is known about the possibility of using these insects as a promising alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals for treating diseases. This review offers a fundamental understanding of the therapeutic applications of insects and how they might be used in medicine. In this review, 235 insect species from 15 orders are reported to be used as medicine. Hymenoptera contains the largest medicinal insect species, followed by Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera, and Blattodea. Scientists have examined and validated the potential uses of insects along with their products and by-products in treating various diseases, and records show that they are primarily used to treat digestive and skin disorders. Insects are known to be rich sources of bioactive compounds, explaining their therapeutic features such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, and so on. Challenges associated with the consumption of insects (entomophagy) and their therapeutic uses include regulation barriers and consumer acceptance. Moreover, the overexploitation of medicinal insects in their natural habitat has led to a population crisis, thus necessitating the investigation and development of their mass-rearing procedure. Lastly, this review suggests po tential directions for developing insects used in medicine and offers advice for scientists inter ested in entomotherapy. In future, entomotherapy may become a sustainable and cost-effective solution for treating various ailments and has the potential to revolutionize modern medicine.
- YES, WE COPE: dyadic coping as a mediator between perceived relationship quality and emotional representation of COVID-19Publication . Relvas, Ana Paula; Lacomba-Trejo, Laura; Portugal, Alda; Chiarolanza, Claudia; Major, Sofia; Rosa, Catarina; Sotero, Luciana; Randall, Ashley K.; Portugal, AldaBackground The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about social changes that have impacted the functioning and dynamics of couples in a romantic relationship, arising from the overwhelming amount of added stress they have endured. Specifically, the divorce rate in Portugal has increased after lockdown, which underscores the adverse consequences of COVID-19 on couples. A lower quality of the couple’s relationship may worsen the emotional representation of COVID-19; however, the literature suggests that perceived partner dyadic coping responses have a great influence on adverse events. The aim of the present study was to assess the mediating role of partner coping in the association between relationship quality and emotional representation of COVID-19. We also sought to observe whether the length of the relationship moderates this association. Methods Participants (N=528) were adults living in Portugal (84.7% female) currently in a romantic relationship with their current partner for at least 1 year. Online data collection. Results We found that relationship quality predicted COVID-19 emotional representation, but this association was fully mediated by total dyadic coping. This association was especially significant in couples with a shorter length of time in the relationship. Conclusions We point out the importance of dyadic coping as a protective factor against emotional distress to cope with the ongoing stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. These data suggest the need for relationship education programs that promote positive coping between partners.
- Urinary proteomic/peptidomic biosignature of breast cancer Patients using 1D SDS-PAGE combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometryPublication . Sousa, Patrícia; Camacho, Irene; Câmara, José S.; Perestrelo, Rosa; Camacho, Irene; Câmara, José; Perestrelo, RosaThe potential development of a rapid and highly sensitive breast cancer (BC) diagnostic method has been increasingly investigated by many researchers in order to significantly improve the diagnosis of this disease that affects millions of women worldwide. Thus, this investigation aimed to establish a potential BC urinary peptidomic pattern using one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D SDS-PAGE) coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as a useful approach for BC diagnosis. The results of Lowry’s assay demonstrated that the total protein concentration increased after precipitation and that the healthy control group (HCs, 160 to 318 µg/mL, 142 ± DD µg/mL, on average) presented higher total protein content than the BC patients (140 to 311 µg/mL, 115 ± DD µg/mL, on average). Related to MALDI-TOF MS analysis, the results revealed that four peptide ion biosignatures (m/z 1046.5, 1062.5, 1237.7 and 1727.9) allowed the discrimination between BC patients and HCs. The distinction efficiency and accuracy of BC urine peptides were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis that enabled the recognition of some features with great sensitivity (88%) and specificity (98%). Therefore, the obtained data revealed MALDI-TOF MS as a powerful tool to explore peptidomic biosignatures due to its speed, sensitivity, and mass accuracy, which allow the establishment of novel disease biomarkers.
- Delving into agri-food waste composition for antibacterial phytochemicalsPublication . Pereira, Jorge A. M.; Berenguer, Cristina V.; Câmara, José S.The overuse of antibiotics in the healthcare, veterinary, and agricultural industries has led to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), resulting in significant economic losses worldwide and a growing healthcare problem that urgently needs to be solved. Plants produce a variety of secondary metabolites, making them an area of interest in the search for new phytochemicals to cope with AMR. A great part of agri-food waste is of plant origin, constituting a promising source of valuable compounds with different bioactivities, including those against antimicrobial resistance. Many types of phytochemicals, such as carotenoids, tocopherols, glucosinolates, and phenolic compounds, are widely present in plant by-products, such as citrus peels, tomato waste, and wine pomace. Unveiling these and other bioactive compounds is therefore very relevant and could be an important and sustainable form of agri-food waste valorisation, adding profit for local economies and mitigating the negative impact of these wastes’ decomposition on the environment. This review will focus on the potential of agri-food waste from a plant origin as a source of phytochemicals with antibacterial activity for global health benefits against AMR.
- Differences in the volatilomic urinary biosignature of prostate cancer patients as a feasibility study for the detection of potential biomarkersPublication . Riccio, Giulia; Berenguer, Cristina V.; Perestrelo, Rosa; Pereira, Ferdinando; Berenguer, Pedro; Ornelas, Cristina P.; Sousa, Ana Célia; Vital, João Aragão; Pinto, Maria do Carmo; Pereira, Jorge A. M.; Greco, Viviana; Câmara, José S.; Berenguer, Cristina; Perestrelo, Rosa; Augusto Machado Pereira, Jorge; Câmara, JoséProstate cancer (PCa) continues to be the second most common malignant tumour and the main cause of oncological death in men. Investigating endogenous volatile organic metabolites (VOMs) produced by various metabolic pathways is emerging as a novel, effective, and non-invasive source of information to establish the volatilomic biosignature of PCa. In this study, headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS) was used to establish the urine volatilomic profile of PCa and identify VOMs that can discriminate between the two investigated groups. This non-invasive approach was applied to oncological patients (PCa group, n = 26) and cancer-free individuals (control group, n = 30), retrieving a total of 147 VOMs from various chemical families. This included terpenes, norisoprenoid, sesquiterpenes, phenolic, sulphur and furanic compounds, ketones, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, carboxylic acid, benzene and naphthalene derivatives, hydrocarbons, and heterocyclic hydrocarbons. The data matrix was subjected to multivariate analysis, namely partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Accordingly, this analysis showed that the group under study presented different volatomic profiles and suggested potential PCa biomarkers. Nevertheless, a larger cohort of samples is required to boost the predictability and accuracy of the statistical models developed.
- Tracing the volatilomic fingerprint of the most popular italian fortified winesPublication . Jasmins, Gonçalo; Perestrelo, Rosa; Coïsson, Jean Daniel; Sousa, Patrícia; Teixeira, José A.; Bordiga, Matteo; Câmara, José S.; Jasmins, Gonçalo; Perestrelo, Rosa; Câmara, JoséThe aim of the current study was to provide a useful platform to identify characteristic molecular markers related to the authenticity of Italian fortified wines. For this purpose, the volatilomic fingerprint of the most popular Italian fortified wines was established using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS). Several volatile organic compounds (VOCs), belonging with distinct chemical groups, were identified, ten of which are common to all the analyzed fortified Italian wines. Terpenoids were the most abundant chemical group in Campari bitter wines due to limonene’s high contribution to the total volatilomic fingerprint, whereas for Marsala wines, alcohols and esters were the most predominant chemical groups. The fortified Italian wines VOCs network demonstrated that the furanic compounds 2-furfural, ethyl furoate, and 5-methyl-2-furfural, constitute potential molecular markers of Marsala wines, while the terpenoids nerol, α-terpeniol, limonene, and menthone isomers, are characteristic of Vermouth wines. In addition, butanediol was detected only in Barolo wines, and β-phellandrene and β-myrcene only in Campari wines. The obtained data reveal an adequate tool to establish the authenticity and genuineness of Italian fortified wines, and at the same time constitute a valuable contribution to identify potential cases of fraud or adulteration to which they are subject, due to the high commercial value associated with these wines. In addition, they contribute to the deepening of scientific knowledge that supports its valorization and guarantee of quality and safety for consumers.
- Evaluation of tropane alkaloids in teas and herbal infusions: effect of brewing time and temperature on atropine and scopolamine contentPublication . González-Gómez, Lorena; Morante-Zarcero, Sonia; Pereira, Jorge A. M.; Câmara, José S.; Sierra, Isabel; Augusto Machado Pereira, Jorge; Câmara, JoséAtropine and scopolamine belong to the tropane alkaloid (TA) family of natural toxins. They can contaminate teas and herbal teas and appear in infusions. Therefore, this study focused on analyzing atropine and scopolamine in 33 samples of tea and herbal tea infusions purchased in Spain and Portugal to determine the presence of these compounds in infusions brewed at 97 °C for 5 min. A rapid microextraction technique (µSPEed®) followed by high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) was used to analyze the selected TAs. The results showed that 64% of the analyzed samples were contaminated by one or both toxins. White and green teas were generally more contaminated than black and other herbal teas. Of the 21 contaminated samples, 15 had concentrations above the maximum limit for liquid herbal infusions (0.2 ng/mL) set by Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1408. In addition, the effects of heating conditions (time and temperature) on atropine and scopolamine standards and naturally contaminated samples of white, green, and black teas were evaluated. The results showed that at the concentrations studied (0.2 and 4 ng/mL), there was no degradation in the standard solutions. Brewing with boiling water (decoction) for 5 and 10 min allowed for higher extraction of TAs from dry tea to infusion water.
- Relatório de estágio para obtenção do grau de mestre em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino BásicoPublication . Silva, Rita Isabel Alves da; Gouveia, Maria Fernanda Baptista PestanaReconhecendo a importância da reflexão para uma práxis de qualidade, o presente relatório representa todo o processo de aquisição de um conjunto de competências e conhecimentos, visando a obtenção de grau de mestre em Educação Pré-Escolar e Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico. Para tal, encontra-se segmentado em duas partes (Enquadramento Teórico e Metodológico e Intervenção Pedagógica), baseados nas práticas pedagógicas vivenciadas em contexto de Educação Pré-Escolar (na Sala dos Ursinhos do Infantário Auxílio Maternal do Funchal) e no 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (em contexto de ensino remoto de emergência através da programação do #EstudoEmCasa para os 3.º e 4.º anos e em contexto presencial com a turma do 4.º A na Escola Básica do 1.º Ciclo com Pré-Escolar das Figueirinhas). Assim, atendendo à atual organização/gestão do sistema educativo português e ao perfil de competências que se ambiciona para o século XXI, privilegiou-se um conjunto de estratégias de intervenção inerentes à minha prática pedagógica. Além de nunca se ter descurado a intencionalidade pedagógica, manteve-se uma postura crítica, reflexiva e investigativa através do recurso à metodologia de Investigação-Ação, que possibilitou responder às problemáticas/desafios identificados na práxis. Efetivamente, mais do que uma descrição ou exposição, este relatório constitui-se numa partilha de experiências, num testemunho de um percurso de formação preliminar para a docência, em que apesar das particularidades e da imprevisibilidade que pautaram os diferentes contextos de prática pedagógica, a adaptabilidade e a criatividade estiveram habitualmente presentes, para que nunca se esquecesse o verdadeiro sentido da profissão docente: tornar as crianças apaixonadas pela aprendizagem e pelo conhecimento.