Browsing by Author "Rocha, João"
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- Afforestation, Subsequent Forest Fires and Provision of Hydrological Services: A Model-Based Analysis for a Mediterranean Mountainous CatchmentPublication . Nunes, João Pedro; Naranjo Quintanilla, Paula; Santos, Juliana Marisa; Serpa, Dalila; CARVALHO-SANTOS, CLAUDIA; Rocha, João; Keizer, Jacob; Keesstra, Saskia Deborah
- Boas práticas ao Serviço do Utente - Centro Hospitalar do Tâmega e Sousa, EPEPublication . Vaz de Almeida, Cristina; Ribeiro Nunes, José; Rocha, Amélia; Dias, Ana Isabel; Marinho, Bruno; Maia, Carla; Botelho, Carlos; Fagundes, Cláudia; Costa, Cristina; Gomes, Cristina; Pinto, Cristina; Leite, Diana; Pereira, Elisabete; Castro, Fabiana; Miranda, Filipa; Pereira da Silva, Francisco; Queirós, Helena; Fernandes, Idalina; Rocha, João; Simas, João; Moreira, Joaquim; Brandão, Jorge; Soares, Licínio; Guimarães, Luciana; Pinto, Mara; Pinto, Maria Filomena; Gonçalves, Maria Irene; Pires, Mário; Machado, Miguel; Sousa, Miguel; Aires, Paula; Reis, Paulo; Ferreira, Pedro Luís; Palma, Pedro; Araújo, Rita; Ferraz, Rita Veiga; Leão, Rosa; Magalhães, Sandra; Camões, Sara; Couto, Sílvia; Santos, Sónia; Lira, Susana; Araújo, Tiago; Marques, VâniaO CHTS pretende e ambiciona na literacia em saúde, na vertente do cidadão, que haja mais igualdades em saúde e que, este cidadão perante a necessidade de tomar decisões de forma autónoma (muitas vezes de elevada complexidade), sobre a promoção de saúde, prevenção das doenças ou seu tratamento, esteja informado e com conhecimentos para o fazer. Pretende que o cidadão seja capaz de obter melhor acesso aos cuidados de saúde, usar e usufruir da forma mais adequada e, de forma intencional e consciente, possa obter os maiores benefíciospara a manutenção do seu estado de saúde. A OMS, define Literacia em Saúde como “o grau em que os indivíduos têm a capacidade de obter, processar e entender as informações básicas de saúde para utilizarem os serviços e tomarem decisões adequadas de saúde”, ou seja, a literacia em saúde contempla um conjunto de conhecimentos, atitudes, habilidades e até competências que capacitam a pessoa no acesso, compreensão das informações para que possa avaliar de forma critica a sua relevância no uso responsável desse conhecimento. Foi, neste contexto, que surgiu no CHTS uma nova ótica de leitura e de intervenção das suas equipas multidisciplinares, na consecução de projetos e ações que visam reforçar os níveis de literacia, de forma multidimensional e colaborativa, aproximando-se cada vez mais da centralidade no cidadão, bem como de uma maior eficiência e eficácia dos serviços, qualidade assistencial e satisfação do cidadão e profissional. Deve-se muito à capacidade dos profissionais de saúde, mesmo com diferenças de uns para outros, em identificar as necessidades das pessoas, em estarem disponíveis para promover mudança, a avaliar diariamente o nível de compreensão, capacidades para realizar tarefas prescritas, motivação e nível de mudança comportamental do cidadão, tendo em conta a sua idade e o seu estado de saúde. José Ribeiro Nunes, Enf. Diretor, Prefácio
- Contribution to the Preclinical Safety Assessment of Lannea velutina and Sorindeia juglandifolia LeavesPublication . Malú, Quintino; Lima, Katelene; Malmir, Maryam; Pinto, Rui; da Silva, Isabel Moreira; Catarino, Luís; Duarte, Maria Paula; Serrano, Rita; Rocha, João; Lima, Beatriz Silva; Silva, Olgafirst_pagesettingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle Contribution to the Preclinical Safety Assessment of Lannea velutina and Sorindeia juglandifolia Leaves by Quintino Malú 1,Katelene Lima 1,Maryam Malmir 1,Rui Pinto 1,2,Isabel Moreira da Silva 1ORCID,Luís Catarino 3ORCID,Maria Paula Duarte 4,Rita Serrano 1ORCID,João Rocha 1ORCID,Beatriz Silva Lima 1 andOlga Silva 1,*ORCID 1 Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal 2 Dr Joaquim Chaves Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, 2790-224 Carnaxide, Portugal 3 Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, (cE3c) & CHANGE-Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculty of Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal 4 MEtRICs/Chemical Department, Nova School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Plants 2023, 12(1), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12010130 Received: 5 December 2022 / Revised: 20 December 2022 / Accepted: 21 December 2022 / Published: 27 December 2022 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plant Extracts) Download Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract Dried leaves of Lannea velutina A. Rich. and Sorindeia juglandifolia (A. Rich.) Planch. ex Oliv. (family Anacardiaceae) are used in African traditional medicine. Although these medicinal plants have widespread use in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, there is no scientific data concerning their preclinical or clinical safety. This work aimed to investigate the phytochemical properties of the leaves of both species using HPLC-UV/DAD, as well as the in vivo oral repeated-dose toxicity of 70% hydroethanolic leaf extract of S. juglandifolia and the in vitro genotoxicity of 70% hydroethanolic leaf extracts of L. velutina and S. juglandifolia. Clinical signs of toxicity, body weight variations, and changes in food consumption, mortality, and blood biochemical parameters were monitored. Genotoxicity was assessed using the bacterial reverse mutation assay (Ames test) with and without metabolic activation, according to OECD guidelines. The obtained results showed the presence of gallic acid and anacardic acid as the main marker constituents in both species. No significant changes in general body weight or food intake were observed; small significant changes with no critical relevance were observed in the blood biochemistry of animals treated with S. juglandifolia hydroethanolic extract (50, 400, and 1000 mg/kg body weight) compared to those in the control group. No genotoxicity was observed in the bacterial reverse mutation assay with S. juglandifolia and L. velutina extracts (up to 5 mg/plate). The safety data obtained in vivo and lack of genotoxic potential in vitro points to the safe medicinal use of S. juglandifolia and L. velutina extracts.
- Impacts of climate change on reservoir water availability, quality and irrigation needs in a water scarce Mediterranean region (southern Portugal)Publication . Rocha, João; Carvalho-Santos, Cláudia; Diogo, Paulo; Beça, Pedro; Keizer, Jan Jacob; Nunes, João PedroFuture climate for the Mediterranean climatic region is expected to bring an increase in temperatures, decrease in the precipitation quantity and shifts in the seasonal precipitation pattern. Although the impacts of climate change on water resources have been relatively well explored for the Mediterranean climatic region, the specific consequences for reservoirs and, in particular, water availability and irrigation issues have been less studied. The objective of this work is two-fold: (i) to assess the impacts of future climate changes on water resources availability, quality (focusing on phosphorus loads as this is the limiting nutrient for eutrophication) and irrigation needs for two multipurpose reservoirs in southern Portugal; (ii) to suggest climate change adaptation strategies, especially for the agricultural sector. To this end, the SWAT model was first calibrated against existing data on reservoir inflows as well as phosphorus loads. Then, SWAT was run with climate derived EURO-CORDEX models (RCA4/RACMO22E) for four periods (1970–2000, 2010–2040, 2040–2070 and 2070–2100). Water availability was analysed using the Water Exploitation Index (WEI) that was calculated for both reservoirs combining changes of inflows and irrigation requirements. The results indicated that climate change will negatively impact water availability in both reservoirs, especially under RCP8.5. In the case of the Monte Novo reservoir, future domestic water supply could be constrained by water quality problems related with phosphorus loads. For Vigia reservoir, the high water exploitation will lead to water scarcity problems, mainly as this reservoir on present-day conditions is restrictive on irrigation requirements. Adaptation strategies such as the implementation of high end technology (e.g. soil moisture and plant water stress probes, satellite imagery and drones to evaluate water stress – NDVI) as well as the renewal of the irrigation network and adequate crop selection can help attenuating the effects of climate change on the water resources in this region.
- Lupinus albus protein componentes inhibit MMP-2 and MMP-9 gelatinolytic activity in vitro and in vivoPublication . Mota, Joana; Direito, Rosa; Rocha, João; Fernandes, João; Sepodes, Bruno; Figueira, Maria Eduardo; Raymundo, Anabela; Lima, Ana; Ferreira, Ricardo BoavidaMatrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) are regarded as important clinical targets due to their nodal-point role in inflammatory and oncological diseases. Here, we aimed at isolating and characterizing am MMP-2 and-9 inhibitor (MMPI) from Lupinus albus and at assessing its efficacy in vitro and in vivo. The protein was isolated using chromatographic and 2-D electrophoretic procedures and sequenced by using MALDI-TOF TOF and MS/MS analysis. In vitro MMP-2 and 9 inhibitions were determined on colon adenocarcinoma (HT29) cells, as well as by measuring the expression levels of genes related to these enzymes. Inhibitory activities were also confirmed in vivo using a model of experimental TNBS-induced colitis in mice, with oral administrations of 15 mg kg1. After chromatographic and electrophoretic isolation, the L. albus MMP-9 inhibitor was found to comprise a large fragment from -conglutin and, to a lower extent, small fragments of -conglutin. In vitro studies showed that the MMPI successfully inhibited MMP-9 activity in a dose-dependent manner in colon cancer cells, with an IC50 of 10 g mL1 without impairing gene expression nor cell growth. In vivo studies showed that the MMPI maintained its bioactivities when administered orally and significantly reduced colitis symptoms, along with a very significant inhibition of MMP-2 and -9 activities. Overall, results reveal a novel type of MMPI in lupine that is edible, proteinaceous in nature and soluble in water, and effective in vivo, suggesting a high potential application as a nutraceutical or a functional food in pathologies related to abnormally high MMP-9 activity in the digestive system
- Metanarrativa : feci quod potui (medalha, moeda & objetos)Publication . Teixeira, Jose; Pereira, Andreia; Rocha, João; Duarte, João; Brito, José João; Santos, Vitor; Ferreira, Maria João; Martins, A. Santinho; Simão, José; Canau, António; Östberg, Kerstin; Nakashima, Mashiko; Pelsdonk, Marie-Astrid; Dias, Fernando; Queirós, António dos SantosA ideia para esta publicação ocorreu durante o verão de 2019 na sequência dos trabalhos preparatórios para a montagem da exposição individual, Feci quod potui — Medalha, Moeda & Objetos, que decorreu entre 12 e 27 de Setembro na Galeria da Faculdade de Belas-Artes da Universidade de Lisboa (FBAUL). A exposição que contou com a curadoria de Andreia Pereira e com o apoio logístico e museográfico do Designer João Rocha, do Projetlab/FBAUL, pretendeu assinalar os 25 anos da minha produção medalhística, iniciada, precisamente, em 1994/95, no Convento de S. Francisco, no âmbito da Unidade Curricular lecionada pelo Professor Hélder Batista (regente) e pelo seu Assistente Prof. João Duarte. O projeto para essa exposição antológica foi motivado por três aspetos: quis aproveitar a oportunidade para divulgar a minha obra, que alcançara visibilidade e prestigio internacional, mas que é relativamente pouco conhecida a nível nacional; homenagear de modo singelo a memória do professor Hélder, que me havia convidado para ser o curador da mostra de medalha construída agendada para o mesmo espaço mas que a fatalidade da sua partida impediu de se efetivar1; o derradeiro motivo foi o de cativar as novas gerações para a prática da medalhística, arte cujo ensino e dinamismo trouxe o maior prestigio a Portugal como o demonstram, por exemplo, a atribuição em 1998 do prémio J. Sanford Saltus Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Art of the Medal, ao Professor Hélder Batista e em 2011 ao João Duarte.Ciente do legado que me foi transmitido, enquanto regente da U. C. de Medalhística desde (2016-17) senti-me na obrigação de dar continuidade a esse trabalho tanto no âmbito do ensino quanto no da divulgação dessa forma de expressão artística, preconceituosamente, encarada como arte menor.A escolha do nome — metanarrativa — deriva de um olhar pessoal sobre a minha obra onde, paralelamente ao contexto específico de cada objeto, subsiste um fundo subliminar ou, discurso paralelo, hipertextual, simbioticamente relacionado com o território da medalha enquanto expressão artística contemporânea. Diria que a dimensão metanarrativa tem sido um farol cuja luz tem sondado as possibilidades poéticas dos materiais (pedra, madeira, bronze, cobre, latão, alumínio, aço carbono, aço inox, zinco, estanho, chumbo, couro, acrílico, cera, policarbonato, poliuretano, vinil, termolaminado, poliéster, plástico...) visando expandir o campo de intervenção da medalhística ao mesmo tempo que encontra na vanguarda dos procedimentos tecnológicos os métodos para a sua reprodutibilidade; é na multiplicidade serial que a medalhística se singulariza em contraste com a escultura. À semelhança da obra prolixa e multifacetada, a organização desta publicação reflete também, a heterogeneidade das abordagens. Sem querer categorizar, diria que o miolo é constituído por testemunhos e ensaios que assinalam a multiplicidade da relação artística e pessoal no âmbito da medalhística. A complementar o generoso contributo dos diversos autores propus-me escrever o texto final onde continuei a investigação sobre a “metanarrativa”2 na escultura.Aqui chegado diria que reconheço, neste livro, um objeto híbrido, heterogéneo e polimorfo, sinónimo quiçá, de quem se arrisca a procurar caminhos por descobrir.
- Natural-based consumer health nanoproducts: medicines, cosmetics, and food supplementsPublication . Mota, Ana Henriques; Sousa, Alexandra; Figueira, Mariana; Amaral, Mariana; Sousa, Bruno; Rocha, João; Fattal, Elias; Almeida, António José; Pinto Reis, CatarinaIn recent years, the scientific community has seen increasing use of natural compounds instead of chemical compounds in medicines, food supplements, cosmetics, and dermatological products. Nanotechnology, mainly used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries, has also been increasingly used. In this context the purpose of nanotechnology is to increase the stability of active compounds, to modulate their release, as well as to improve the solubility of poorly water-soluble compounds. In this chapter, we will discuss key examples of natural products and their biological activities, as well as the advantages of using nanotechnology, combining them in food supplements, cosmetics, and dermatological products, with a brief overview of current products on the market.
- Phytochemical Characterization and Biological Activity of Two Anacardiaceae Species from Guinea-BissauPublication . Malú, Quintino; Malmir, Maryam; Infante Caldeira, Gonçalo; Encarnação, Sofia; Lima, Katelene; Catarino, Luís; Silva Lima, Beatriz; Rocha, João; Silva, OlgaThe dried leaves of Lannea velutina A.Rich. and Sorindeia juglandifolia Planch. ex Oliv. are commonly used in traditional medicine throughout West Africa to treat inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the standardized hydroethanolic (70%) extracts of these plants and to investigate the underlying mechanisms, with a focus on their antioxidant properties. The anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated using a rat model of induced paw edema, while the antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH• radical scavenging and iron-reducing antioxidant power assays. Chemical fingerprint was achieved by LC-UV/DAD-ESI/MS and the main classes of secondary metabolites were quantified by colorimetric analysis. The results showed that Sorindeia juglandifolia extract significantly inhibited the increase in paw edema volume, with the maximum effect observed at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg (20.51 ± 1.07% and 35.50 ± 6.90%, respectively). For L. velutina, the strongest inhibition was observed at 200 and 400 mg/kg (47.48 ± 11.37% and 35.40 ± 1.70%, respectively). Both extracts also showed remarkable antioxidant activity. Phenol derivatives were identified as the main classes of secondary metabolites, with L. velutina containing 350.1 ± 20.6 mg GAE/g DE and S. juglandifolia containing 463.4 ± 29.4 mg GAE/g DE. Ten phenolic markers were identified in L. velutina and six in S. juglandifolia extracts. The main components of L. velutina include myricetin-3-O-glucuronide, quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, catechin, and gallic acid, while S. juglandifolia contains gallic acid, isoquercitrin, and ethyl gallate. These results confirm the anti-inflammatory potential of L. velutina and S. juglandifolia and highlight their prospects as candidates for the development of standardized anti-inflammatory herbal medicines based on their chemical and biological properties.
- A proposed lectin-mediated mechanism to explain the in vivo antihyperglycemic activity of γ-conglutin from Lupinus albus seedsPublication . Grácio, Madalena; Rocha, João; Pinto, Rui; Ferreira, Ricardo Boavida; Solas, João; Eduardo-Figueira, Maria; Sepodes, Bruno; Ribeiro, Ana CristinaExperiments conducted in vitro and in vivo, as well as clinical trials for hypoglycemic therapeutics, support the hypoglycemic properties of the lectin γ-conglutin, a Lupinus seed storage protein, by a mechanism not yet been clarified. Structural studies established that binding of γ-conglutin, in native and denatured form, to insulin occurs by a strong binding that resists rupture when 0.4 M NaCl and 0.4 M galactose are present, suggesting that strong electrostatic interactions are involved. Studies on binding of γ-conglutin in native and denatured form to HepG2 membrane glycosylated receptors were conducted, which reveal that only the native form of γ-conglutin with lectin activity is capable of binding to these receptors. Glycosylated insulin receptors were detected on purified HepG2 cell membranes and characterized by 1D and 2D analyses. Preclinical assays with male mice (CD-1) indicated that native and denatured γ-conglutins display antihyperglycemic effect, decreasing glucose in blood comparable after 120 min to that exhibited by the animal group treated with metformin, used to treat T2D and used as a positive control. Measurement of organ injury/functional biomarkers (hepatic, pancreatic, renal, and lipid profile) was comparable to that of metformin treatment or even better in terms of safety endpoints (pancreatic and hepatic biomarkers)
- Reduction of inflammation and colon injury by a Pennyroyal phenolic extract in experimental inflammatory bowel disease in micePublication . Rocha, João; Direito, Rosa; Lima, Ana; Mota, Joana; Gonçalves, Margarida; Duarte, Maria Paula; Solas, João; Peniche, Bruno Felício; Fernandes, Adelaide; Pinto, Rui; Ferreira, Ricardo Boavida; Sepodes, Bruno; Figueira, Maria-EduardoPurpose: Little is known about the pharmacological effects of the phenolic compounds of Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). This Mediterranean aromatic plant, used as a gastronomic spice and as food preservative by the food industry has been studied mainly due to its essential oil antibacterial properties, composed primarily by monoterpenes. With this work, we aimed to evaluate the effects of a phenolic extract of pennyroyal in the impairment of inflammatory processes in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) and in the potential inhibition of progression to colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: To that purpose, we evaluated the effect of pennyroyal extract administration in a model of TNBSinduced colitis in mice and further determined its effect on human colon carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion. Results: The phenolic extract of pennyroyal exhibited antioxidant properties in in vitro assays and administration of the extract in a rat model of carrageenan-induced paw oedema led to significant anti-inflammatory effects. Further results evidenced a beneficial effect of the phenolic extract in the attenuation of experimental colitis and a potential antiproliferative effect on cultured colon cancer cells, effects not previously described, to our knowledge. A reduction in several markers of colon inflammation was observed following administration of the extract to colitis-induced mice, including functional and histological indicators. A successful inhibition of cancer cell invasion and proliferation was also observed in in vitro studies with HT-29 cells. Furthermore, the extract also led to a reduced expression of iNOS/COX-2 in the colon of colitis-induced mice, both being crucial mediators of intestinal inflammation. Conclusions: Taking into consideration the central role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of CRC and the recognised connection between inflammatory events and cancer, these results enlighten the relevance of the phenolic constituents of pennyroyal as important pharmacological sources in the investigation of new treatment options for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases