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Recycling of wood ash from power plants to forest plantations returns plant nutrients lost at harvest. However, wood ash contains a considerable amount of cadmium (Cd) that may accumulate in the forest food web, and eventually threaten environment and human health. We examined the short-term (6–24 months) uptake of Cd in a range of organisms from different trophic levels in the forest food web. We amended twelve field plots in a Norway spruce plantation with wood ash in different concentrations (0, 3, 4.5 and 6 t ha−1), and subsequently measured Cd concentration in three vascular plant species, three metazoan groups, a lichen, and fruiting bodies of four ectomycorrhizal fungal species. Cd content varied significantly between the major taxonomic groups; metazoans contained most and vascular plants least, but also within the groups, most pronouncedly for ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes. In vascular plants, metazoans as well as fungi, we found some examples that Cd content correlated significantly with wood ash amendment, however most organisms were unaffected, and no group of organisms contained more Cd than allowed for comparable food items. We therefore conclude that with the wood ash dosages used here, the environmental risk of Cd accumulation is slight, at least in the forest system that we examined.

(1) Background: Studies on women with disabilities (WwD) are rare and tend to reveal certain representation patterns. This study aims to understand how and to what extent WwD and chronic diseases are deemed newsworthy in the Portuguese public news TV station RTP1 primetime news program. Feminist disability, standpoint, agenda-setting, and framing theories are used alongside the concept of intersectionality. (2) Methods: A mixed-method approach is adopted, combining quantitative content analysis of all broadcasted news in January 2020 (n = 704), and qualitative discourse analysis of news items on PwD (n = 5). (3) Results: The results reveal that disability is a reduced issue in Telejornal’s agenda. PwD, in general, are often portrayed in secondary roles and without a voice. The protagonists of news stories about disability or persons with disabilities are predominantly women without disabilities, occupying traditional roles as caregivers (mothers, nurses), while men are more often portrayed as public agents. Discourse analysis deepens understanding by uncovering the prevalence of negative news values and a problem-centred framing, often associated with negativity, rather than presenting solutions. (4) Conclusions: Consequently, WwD were found to be deprived of news representation with a more positive or ‘normal’ focus and an intersectional approach reveals a lack of inclusion, with the few existing news tending to focus on exclusion issues, portraying only white Portuguese women. This study underscores the urgent need for a more equitable approach in media representation, recognising the diversity and positive contributions of WwD to promote an inclusive narrative.

Lung cancer (LC) is recognized as one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers worldwide, underscoring an urgent need for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as promising biomarkers for several diseases and their progression, such as LC. However, traditional methods for detecting and quantifying miRNAs, such as PCR, are time-consuming and expensive. Herein, we used a molecular beacon (MB) bead-based assay immobilized in a microfluidic device to detect miR-155-3p, which is frequently overexpressed in LC. The assay relies on the fluorescence enhancement of the MB upon binding to the target miRNA via Watson and Crick complementarity, resulting in a conformational change from a stem–loop to a linear structure, thereby bringing apart the fluorophores at each end. This assay was performed on a microfluidic platform enabling rapid and straightforward target detection. We successfully detected miR-155-3p in a saline solution, obtaining a limit of detection (LOD) of 42 nM. Furthermore, we evaluated the method’s performance in more complex biological samples, including A549 cells’ total RNA and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) spiked with the target miRNA. We achieved satisfactory recovery rates, especially in A549 cells’ total RNA.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. The treatment options are strongly related to increased infertility in women. Imiquimod (IQ) is an imidazoquinoline, which has proven antiviral effects against persistent HPV infection by activating immune cells via Toll-like receptors 7/8 when formulated in carriers, like nanogels, for topical use. An effective alternative to conventional therapies is the nanoparticle drug delivery system. We studied lipidic nanoparticles with IQ (Lipo IQ) and functionalized them with a DNA aptamer, AT11 (Lipo IQ AT11), to improve the selectivity for cervical cancer cells combined with the efficacy of essential oils. The formulations showed that the physicochemical properties are adequate for vaginal drug delivery and have antimicrobial activity at higher concentrations (with MIC50 starting from 0.625%). The final formulations exhibited cytotoxicity in cancer cells, enhanced by essential oils without affecting healthy cells, resulting in less than 10% cell viability in HeLa cells and over 60% in NHDF cells. Essential oils potentiate Lipo IQ’s effectiveness, while AT11 increases the selectivity for cervical cancer cells. As suggested by the results of the permeation assay, the formulations were internalized by the cancer cells. Overall, the obtained results suggested that the synergistic effect of the essential oils and the nanosystem potentiate the cytotoxic effect of Lipo IQ and that Lipo IQ AT11 promotes selectivity towards cancer cells.

Natural compounds have a high potential for the treatment of various conditions, including infections, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. However, they usually present poor pharmacokinetics, low specificity, and even toxicity, which limits their use. Therefore, targeted drug delivery systems, typically composed of a carrier and a targeting ligand, can enhance natural product selectivity and effectiveness. Notably, aptamers—short RNA or single-stranded DNA molecules—have gained attention as promising ligands in targeted drug delivery since they are simple to synthesize and modify, and they present high tissue permeability, stability, and a wide array of available targets. The combination of natural products, namely plant-based compounds, with a drug delivery system utilizing aptamers as targeting agents represents an emerging strategy that has the potential to broaden its applications. This review discusses the potential of aptamers as targeting agents in the delivery of natural compounds, as well as new trends and developments in their utilization in the field of medicine.

Background: Supply chains, characterized by complexity and sensitivity, require continuous mapping to address challenges, particularly disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic. In this context, Social Network Analysis (SNA) has proven valuable in analyzing how actors in a network connect and create interdependencies. However, some studies suggest that the SNA literature needs to embrace new fields of application and develop innovative metrics. Methods: The aim of this study is to clarify the role and contribution of SNA when characterizing and understanding the challenges of contemporary supply chains. A literature review was conducted to achieve this. Results: The results reveal that SNA has been applied in a wide variety of areas (e.g., manufacturing and construction sectors), with an emerging application in the tertiary sector. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that metrics related to the network and to nodes have been used repeatedly, highlighting the need for new supply-chain-related metrics, such as the novel concept of semi-directedness. Conclusions: Despite the versatility of SNA, some aspects may limit its application to supply chain management, including shortcomings in data acquisition and the fact that SNA only allows for the visualization of network configurations, thus preventing the capture of nuances that characterize the relationships between the actors involved.

IntroductionDiabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are leading causes of visual impairment and blindness in people aged 50 years or older in middle-income and industrialized countries. Anti-VEGF therapies have improved the management of neovascular AMD (nAMD) and proliferative DR (PDR), no treatment options exist for the highly prevalent dry form of AMD.MethodsTo unravel the biological processes underlying these pathologies and to find new potential biomarkers, a label-free quantitative (LFQ) method was applied to analyze the vitreous proteome in PDR (n=4), AMD (n=4) compared to idiopathic epiretinal membranes (ERM) (n=4). Results and discussionPost-hoc tests revealed 96 proteins capable of differentiating among the different groups, whereas 118 proteins were found differentially regulated in PDR compared to ERM and 95 proteins in PDR compared to dry AMD. Pathway analysis indicates that mediators of complement, coagulation cascades and acute phase responses are enriched in PDR vitreous, whilst proteins highly correlated to the extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, platelet degranulation, lysosomal degradation, cell adhesion, and central nervous system development were found underexpressed. According to these results, 35 proteins were selected and monitored by MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) in a larger cohort of patients with ERM (n=21), DR/PDR (n=20), AMD (n=11), and retinal detachment (n=13). Of these, 26 proteins could differentiate between these vitreoretinal diseases. Based on Partial least squares discriminant and multivariate exploratory receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, a panel of 15 discriminatory biomarkers was defined, which includes complement and coagulation components (complement C2 and prothrombin), acute-phase mediators (alpha-1-antichymotrypsin), adhesion molecules (e.g., myocilin, galectin-3-binding protein), ECM components (opticin), and neurodegeneration biomarkers (beta-amyloid, amyloid-like protein 2).

Introdução: A literacia em saúde mental é fundamental para o reconhecimento de problemas de saúde mental e intervenção precoce. A sua avaliação é importante para identificar deficits de conhecimento sobre a saúde/doença mental e ajudar na definição de programas de intervenção para a promover a literacia em saúde mental, bem como para a avaliação dessas intervenções. Objetivos: Identificar que variáveis sociodemográficas e contextuais à história de doença e comportamentos de saúde interferem na saúde mental positiva dos enfermeiros doscuidados de saúde primários;verificarseexisterelação entrealiteraciaem saúde mentaleasaúde mental positiva dos enfermeiros dos cuidados de saúde primários. Métodos: Estudo transversal, descritivo-correlacional e de natureza quantitativa numa amostra de 89 enfermeiros a exercerem funções num agrupamento de centros de saúde da região centro de portugal (ACES-Dão Lafões). O instrumento de colheita de dados incluiu um questionário com questões relativas á caracterização sociodemográfica, história de doença mental e comportamentos de saúde. A Escala de Literacia em Saúde Mental (O Conner et al., 2015) adaptada e validada para a população portuguesa por Loureiro e Carvalho (2018), Questionário de Saúde Mental Positiva traduzido e adaptado para a população portuguesa por Sequeira, Carvalho, Sampaio, Sá, Lluch-Canut e Roldán-Merino (2014) e a Escala O que é importante para uma boa saúde mental? (Chaves, Sequeira & Duarte, 2019). Resultados: Os resultados do estudo mostram um predomínio do género feminino (82,0%), com uma idade média de 45,60±8,43 anos. Pela ordenação dos valores da média os enfermeiros da amostra possuem níveis elevados de literacia em saúde mental (67,06±7.73). Os valores médios mais elevados foram encontrados nas dimensões: Reconhecimento e auto ajuda apropriada (M=71,34±10,58) e Conhecimento sobre apoio profissional disponível (M=68.41±16.74). A análise da relação entre a saúde mental positiva e a literacia em saúde mental revela que os enfermeiros com literacia crítica apresentam melhores níveis de saúde mental positiva. As variáveis Preditores da saúde mental positiva foram: O sexo masculino, idade, os anos de experiência profissional, as horas de sono e todas as dimensões da literacia em saúde mental que explicam 24,8% da variação. Conclusão: Os enfermeiros que participaram no estudo possuem níveis elevados de Literacia em Saúde Mental (Literacia Critica), com associações positivas e significativas com a saúde mental positiva. Esta investigação, mostra algumas das implicações que podem resultar de baixos níveis de literacia em saúde mental, podendo impedir o reconhecimento precoce dos sintomas e adiar a procura de ajuda. Os resultados encontrados trazem contributos importantes para a criação de programas de intervenção em literacia em saúde mental nos profissionais dos cuidados de saúde primários. Investir nesta área, junto dos enfermeiros que prestam cuidados de proximidade (CSP) aumenta a eficácia das suas intervenções de promoção da saúde mental.

AT11-L0 is an aptamer derivative of AS1411 composed of G-rich sequences that can adopt a G-quadruplex (G4) structure and target nucleolin (NCL), a protein that acts as a co-receptor for several growth factors. Hence, this study aimed to characterize the AT11-L0 G4 structure and its interaction with several ligands for NCL targeting and to evaluate their capacity to inhibit angiogenesis using an in vitro model. The AT11-L0 aptamer was then used to functionalize drug-associated liposomes to increase the bioavailability of the aptamer-based drug in the formulation. Biophysical studies, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, circular dichroism, and fluorescence titrations, were performed to characterize the liposomes functionalized with the AT11-L0 aptamer. Finally, these liposome formulations with the encapsulated drugs were tested on the human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model to assess their antiangiogenic capacity. The results showed that the AT11-L0 aptamer–ligand complexes are highly stable, presenting melting temperatures from 45 °C to 60 °C, allowing for efficient targeting of NCL with a KD in the order of nM. The aptamer-functionalized liposomes loaded with ligands C8 and dexamethasone did not show cytotoxic effects in HUVEC cells compared with the free ligands and AT11-L0, as assessed by cell viability assays. AT11-L0 aptamer-functionalized liposomes encapsulating C8 and dexamethasone did not present a significant reduction in the angiogenic process when compared with the free ligands. In addition, AT11-L0 did not show anti-angiogenic effects at the concentrations tested. However, C8 shows potential as an angiogenesis inhibitor, which should be further developed and optimized in future experiments.

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic has forced policy makers to decree urgent confinements to stop a rapid and massive contagion. However, after that stage, societies are being forced to find an equilibrium between the need to reduce contagion rates and the need to reopen their economies. The experience hitherto lived has provided data on the evolution of the pandemic, in particular the population dynamics as a result of the public health measures enacted. This allows the formulation of forecasting mathematical models to anticipate the consequences of political decisions. Here we propose a model to do so and apply it to the case of Portugal. With a mathematical deterministic model, described by a system of ordinary differential equations, we fit the real evolution of COVID-19 in this country. After identification of the population readiness to follow social restrictions, by analyzing the social media, we incorporate this effect in a version of the model that allow us to check different scenarios. This is realized by considering a Monte Carlo discrete version of the previous model coupled via a complex network. Then, we apply optimal control theory to maximize the number of people returning to “normal life” and minimizing the number of active infected individuals with minimal economical costs while warranting a low level of hospitalizations. This work allows testing various scenarios of pandemic management (closure of sectors of the economy, partial/total compliance with protection measures by citizens, number of beds in intensive care units, etc.), ensuring the responsiveness of the health system, thus being a public health decision support tool.

The semen quality is one of the determinant factors of ram semen cryopreservation. The present retrospective study aimed to characterize the seasonal ram pattern during the year for ten Portuguese local sheep breeds, hypothesizing that the breed and season had low effects on the main spermatozoa traits. A total of 1471 ejaculates were used and evaluated (fresh semen) from 85 rams between 2004 and 2020 and re-evaluated after thawing (thawed semen). The effect of breed, season, and sperm cryopreservation on nine semen traits were evaluated. The volume per ejaculate, spermatozoa (SPZ) concentration, and total number of SPZ per ejaculate, were affected by breed (p < 0.001) but not by season (p > 0.05). As expected, the semen processing was the most significant (p < 0.001) factor of variation on seminal parameters. Moreover, breed and interactions between breed × semen processing, modulated the response of alive SPZ, abnormal morphology, head, and intermediate piece defects. In fresh semen, season only affected the intermediate piece defects due to the highest percentage observed between February and April period in some breeds. Overall, and despite the mentioned particularities, there were similarities among the ten local breeds. We also concluded that the seasonal effect on ejaculate and SPZ traits is not significant in our region. These local ram breeds have low seasonality and can be employed in natural mating as well as semen donors for cryopreservation and assisted reproductive biotechnologies during the whole year at our latitude.

The belief that people with mental illnessare unpredictable,violentand dangerousstill persistsin today’ssociety, with indiscriminate beliefs about mental and psychiatric illnesses that harm the quality of life of people who suffer from them. Objectives: To identify the socio-demographic variables that interfere in the beliefs, about mental illness, of the professionals of education, health and safety; to find out how the socio-professional variables interfere in the beliefs, about mental illness, of the professionals of education, health and safety. Methods: Quantitative, transversal and descriptive-correlational study. Data were collected from 136 educational agents, 62.5% of whom were teachers, 32.4% nurses and 5.1% public security agents, mostly female (70.6%), with an average age of 48.34 years (±7.49 years). A socio-demographic and socio-professional characterisation questionnaire and the Mental Illness Belief Inventory (Loureiro, Dias e Ferreira, 2009) were used as data collection tools. Results: Educational agents (education, health and safety professionals) present higher levels of beliefs regarding the recognition of the disease (M=4.69±0.64) and regarding mental illness as a medical condition (M=4.48±0.73), with lower average index in the cause of stigma and discrimination (M=2.21±0.68). The sociodemographic variables that interfered with mental health beliefs are gender, age and education; the socioprofessional variables that influenced mental health beliefs in education, health and safety professionals were the professional group and length of service; the predictor variables of incurability, recognition of illness, dangerousness and belief in mental illness as a medical condition are age, male gender, urban residents and length of service ≤20 years. Conclusions: The results of this study lead to infer the need to develop training actions and/or health education programs in order to provide communities with more mental health literacy, where the nurse has a prominent role as a promoter of mental health literacy, which will certainly contribute to the demystification of beliefs about mental illness and a better care of the person with mental pathology.

Background: The increase in the prevalence of oncological diseases such as cervical cancer (CC) makes it a worldwide public health problem involving resources in the area of prevention. Objectives: To determine the influence of sociodemographic variables, gynecological and sexual context on health beliefs related to cervical cancer. Methodology: It is a quantitative, descriptive-correlational study. The data collection protocol was the questionnaire that allowed to characterize the sample in the gynecological, sexual and sociodemographic dimensions. We also use the Health Beliefs Scale, composed of four dimensions: vulnerability, severity, benefits and obstacles (Patrão Leal, 2002). The sample is non-probabilistic for convenience, consisting of 946 participants. Results: Regarding the vulnerability dimension, significant statistical differences were found in the variables, having gynecological problems, frequency in the frequency of gynecological consultations, using contraceptive methods, existence of family members with CC. For the severity dimension, significant statistical differences were found for the variables, frequency of gynecological consultations and use of contraceptive methods. In the benefits dimension, statistical significance was found for age (adults) and using contraceptive methods. For the obstacles dimension, we found statistical significance for the frequency of frequency of gynecological consultations and the beginning of sexual activity. Conclusions: Understanding individual aspects involved in the prevention of CC is essential for individualized care, since these aspects are subjective in nature and require different actions.

The violence that occurs in family relationships is a subtype of interpersonal violence and, in turn, is divided into violence between intimate partners, violence against children and adolescents and violence against the elderly (Zuma, 2005). This is a proposal for an intervention in a community context in the interior region of Portugal in order to prevent abuse against children and young people, prevention of violence in intimate relations and against elderly people. It aims to: Promote literacy in the field of violence prevention throughout the life cycle and active citizenship in thecommunity; Sensitizethetarget population to the prevention of the problem and inform theexisting responses in the context of violence prevention. The project team intends to increase the level of literacy such as preventing violence and developing a manual of good practices based on monitoring and interventions carried out, integrating the focus of promoting non-violence in children and young people from pre-school through to education and prevention of violence against the elderly, with a focus on conflict and stress management in the formal care providers of Private Social Solidarity Institutions (IPSS). The training of people to prevent violence is particularlyrelevant in improving self-esteem and autonomyand with benefitsin terms of individualand collective health.

Background: The use of communication and information technologies, with the constant use of computer applications, in daily work can induce a negative psychological state, also called tecnostress. Objectives: To characterize the level of technostress in the health professionals of primary health care; identify how the socio-demographic variables and the technostress are related in health professionals. Methodology: Quantitative, transversal, descriptive and correlational study. The data collection instrument used was a sociodemographic questionnaire and the Tecnostress Scale (Carlotto Câmara, 2010). Results: The sample consisted of 100 health professionals, mostly female (72.0%), with a mean age of 46.14 years (± 10.72 years), 49.1% were nurses and 28.1% doctors, and 35.0% with less years in the health unit, professional experience between 16-22 years (34.0%). It is male health professionals who show more technostress, with the exception of skepticism (MR = 52.53), where the women scored more. Men show more compulsive use of Information and Communication Technologies. Conclusion: We consider important the implementation and monitoring of measures that promote better use of information technology in the workplace in health professionals in primary health care.

Today it is necessary to work collaboratively in a network with the professionals of the different functional units of primary health care, hospital care and community, because only through an effective system of referral and partnership will it be possible to improve the accessibility, quality, continuity and efficiency of health care, as well as the satisfaction of professionals and users. It is recommended that health care should be personalized and close, which implies not only the displacement of technical and human resources differentiated from the provision of health care, but also their provision in a timely manner to users, family and caregivers. But if proximity allows a better identification of health needs the increase of chronic diseases require complex and continuous care at home, and then we need to characterize the caregivers we have and what are their role as caregivers at home. So, the proposed project intends to carry out a diagnosis of needs identified by informal caregivers in the region of Lafões, Portugal, when they provide care to a patient and what are the expectations of primary health care professionals and then be able to give them domiciliation, articulation and continuity of care. We intend to constitute a descriptive and exploratory study using semi-structured interviews as a technique for collecting information, based on circular questioning. Then we will be disseminate the results achieved to primary health care professionals in the Lafões region and propose measures and strategies to the Ministry of Health for a true articulation, continuity and proximity of care taking into account the expectations of the caregivers as well as the resources existing in the community. Subsequently, the family members and caregivers will be made aware of the advantages of the patient’s stay in the home environment and the resources available to the population.

Enquadramento: Os conhecimentos, crenças e estereótipos acerca do VIH são um desafio para os estudantes de enfermagem, constituindo-se estes como um importante grupo para uma intervenção formativa. Objectivo do estudo: Verificar se a intervenção formativa acerca do VIH/SIDA influencia o nível de conhecimentos e estereótipos. Metodologia: Investigação-ação, com uma amostra de 30 estudantes do primeiro ano, intervenção formativa sobre o VIH/SIDA com follow-up após 3 meses. Para colheita de dados foi utilizado um questionário de caracterização sociodemográfica e a escala de avaliação de estereótipos sobre VIH/SIDA (SAAQ - “The Stereotypes About AIDS Questionnaire”). Resultados: No global verifica-se que os estudantes detêm conhecimentos sobre o vírus. No estudo verifica-se que após a intervenção formativa houve melhorias do conhecimento em nove das 15 dimensões analisadas, sendo que apenas a dimensão “sexualidade” é estatisticamente significativa (p=0,015). Conclusões: Os estudantes de enfermagem apresentam níveis de conhecimento razoáveis, no entanto, face aos resultados, sugerimos mais formação ao longo da licenciatura.

Soil pH is probably the most important variable explaining bacterial richness and community composition locally as well as globally. In contrast, pH effects on fungi appear to be less pronounced, but also less studied. Here we analyze the community responses of bacteria and fungi in parallel over a local extreme pH gradient ranging from 4 to 8. We established the pH gradient by applying strongly alkaline wood ash in dosages of 0, 3, 9, 15, 30, and 90 t ha–1 to replicated plots in a Picea abies plantation and assessed bacterial and fungal community composition using high throughput amplicon sequencing 1 year after ash application. At the same time, the experiment investigated if returning wood ash to plantation forests pose any immediate threats for the microbial communities. Among the measured environmental parameters, pH was by far the major driver of the microbial communities, however, bacterial and fungal communities responded differently to the pH increment. Whereas both bacterial and fungal communities showed directional changes correlated with the wood ash-induced increase in pH, the bacterial community displayed large changes at wood ash dosages of 9 and 15 t ha–1 while only higher dosages (>30 t ha–1) significantly changed the fungal community. The results confirm that fungi are less sensitive to pH changes than bacteria but also that fertilizing plantation forests with wood ash, viewed through the lens of microbial community changes, is a safe management at standard dosages (typically 3 t ha–1).

Conventional anticancer therapies present low specificity, leading to several secondary effects. To improve these drawbacks, aptamers able to fold into G-quadruplex (G4) are being used to promote drug accumulation in cancer cells. AS1411 is a G4 aptamer able to recognize nucleolin, a protein overexpressed on cancer cells’ surfaces. This aptamer was tested in clinical trials, but it showed low response rates and suboptimal pharmacokinetics. Nevertheless, AS1411 is being used as a targeting agent. Moreover, AS1411 derivatives were developed, with improved toxicity and high affinity to nucleolin. Thus, we propose to use AT11, an AS1411 derivative, to functionalize liposomes and improve the selectivity of C8 (a potential anticancer drug) into oral cancer. Therefore, we produced liposomes (blank or C8-associated) by the ethanol injection method to, then, we functionalized them with AT11-TEG-Cholesteryl. The resulting liposomes were characterized by DLS. C8 association was determined by UV/vis spectroscopy, and the AT11 functionalization was determined by SDS-PAGE. The effect of blank and C8-associated liposomes on oral cancer and healthy cells’ viability was determined by MTT, and its internalization of was visualized by confocal microscopy. Liposomes with hydrodynamic diameters of 148–168 nm were obtained, and C8 was efficiently associated (~100%). When the cells were treated with blank liposomes, cell viability was almost unaffected. After treating with C8-associated liposomes, both cell lines showed a dose–response effect. Additionally, we observed that AT11-liposomes can internalize and reach the cytoplasm of cells. Overall, these findings suggest that the tested liposomes are promising drug carriers for oral cancer therapy.

Herein, we describe the synthesis of an aptadendrimer by covalent bioconjugation of a gallic acid–triethylene glycol (GATG) dendrimer with the G-quadruplex (G4) AT11 aptamer (a modified version of AS1411) at the surface. We evaluated the loading and interaction of an acridine orange ligand, termed C8, that acts as an anticancer drug and binder/stabilizer of the G4 structure of AT11. Dynamic light scattering experiments demonstrated that the aptadendrimer was approximately 3.1 nm in diameter. Both steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy evidenced the interaction between the aptadendrimer and C8. Additionally, we demonstrated that the iodine atom of the C8 ligand acts as an effective intramolecular quencher in solution, while upon complexation with the aptadendrimer, it adopts a more extended conformation. Docking studies support this conclusion. Release experiments show a delivery of C8 after 4 h. The aptadendrimers tend to localize in the cytoplasm of various cell lines studied as demonstrated by confocal microscopy. The internalization of the aptadendrimers is not nucleolin-mediated or by passive diffusion, but via endocytosis. MTT studies with prostate cancer cells and non-malignant cells evidenced high cytotoxicity mainly due to the C8 ligand. The rapid internalization of the aptadendrimers and the fluorescence properties make them attractive for the development of potential nanocarriers.

In this work we explore the structure of a G-rich DNA aptamer termed AT11-L2 (TGGTGGTGGTTGTTGTTGGTGGTGGTGGT; derivative of AT11) by evaluating the formation and stability of G-quadruplex (G4) conformation under different experimental conditions such as KCl concentration, temperature, and upon binding with a variety of G4 ligands (360A, BRACO-19, PDS, PhenDC3, TMPyP4). We also determined whether nucleolin (NCL) can be a target of AT11-L2 G4. Firstly, we assessed by circular dichroism, UV and NMR spectroscopies the formation of G4 by AT11-L2. We observed that, for KCl concentrations of 65 mM or less, AT11-L2 adopts hybrid or multiple topologies. In contrast, a parallel topology predominates for buffer containing 100 mM of KCl. The Tm of AT11-L2 in 100 mM of KCl is 38.9 °C, proving the weak stability of this sequence. We also found that upon titration with two molar equivalents of 360A, BRACO-19 and PhenDC3, the G4 is strongly stabilized and its topology is maintained, while the addition of 3.5 molar equivalents of TMPyP4 promotes the disruption of G4. The KD values between AT11-L2 G4, ligands and NCL were obtained by fluorescence titrations and are in the range of µM for ligand complexes and nM when adding NCL. In silico studies suggest that four ligands bind to the AT11-L2 G4 structure by stacking interactions, while the RBD1,2 domains of NCL interact preferentially with the thymines of AT11-L2 G4. Finally, AT11-L2 G4 co-localized with NCL in NCL-positive tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line.

Background: Anorexia nervosa is a mental disorder characterized by a restriction of energy intake, intense fear of gaining weight or of becoming fat and disturbance in the body self-evaluation. Objectives: To determine the relationship between Anorexia Nervosa and the physical, behavioral, socio-cultural variables, psychological/emotional, in teenager between the ages of 8 and 26 years of age resident in mainland Portugal. Methodology: This is a quantitative, crosssectional, descriptive and correlational study with a sample of 301 teenager, of which 162 (53.8%) are the males and 139 (46.2%) female, aged between 8 and 26 years. The data collection instrument, available online, was a questionnaire with questions about demographic characterization and Diagnostic Criteria of Anorexia Nervosa (DSM-5). The ethical procedures were guaranteed. The data was processed with the SPSS program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 24 for Windows. Results: The prevalence of anorexia nervosa (individuals met the three criteria for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa according to DSM-5) is 3.3% (60% female and 40% male). In the sample, 35.9% had body distortion, 34.2% admit being afraid of gaining weight and 10.3% have a BMI 18.5. There is a statistically significant relationship between anorexia and the happiness in losing weight, anxiety/obsession, anxiety/anxiety in meals, not like you, vomiting, self-control, perfection, self-evaluation and the lack of body weight. Conclusion: We consider pertinent the dissemination of the results counted, contributing to increased awareness and multidisciplinary intervention of careers for prevention and care to the person with this pathology so severe that affects more and more people.

Introduction: Emotional intelligence is understood by the academics as a skill that promotes the individual’s decision-making capacity in the face of everyday life situations. It allows better planning of your actions according to the objectives outlined and consequently the realization of future projects. Aims: To evaluate the level of emotional intelligence of the elderly and to confirm that their area of living, their education level, their physical activity and the existence of depression before 65 years old can influence their own emotional intelligence and its dimensions. Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational, quantitative study. In this study there was the voluntary participation of 1040 elderly, aged between 65 and 96 years old from the Central Region of Portugal. For the measurement of the variables it was used an Emotional Intelligence Scale (MIE), and a form for the demographic and situational characterization. Results: Of the elderly respondents 39.7% high emotional intelligence, 22.9% moderate emotional intelligence and 37.4% low emotional intelligence. For the five dimensions of emotional intelligence residential area and schooling interferes with the Empathy, Self-motivation and Self-awareness. The practice of physical activity interferes with the Empathy and the emotional intelligence globally. The existence of depression before age 65 doesn

Background: The Portuguese Synthetic Fertility Index (ISF) is among the lowest in Europe. However, the desire of each young individual to have a child without any restriction is higher than the reference value for the replacement of generations. Objective: Understand the relationship between sociodemographic variables and self – esteem variables with the desire to have a child. Methods: Quantitative, descriptive-correlational study. A non-probabilistic for convenience sampling, composed of 398 participants with an average age of 20.79 years (sd = 2.785). The research protocol was questionnaire that characterizes the sociodemographic sample. Also included, the Questionnaire about desire to have a child (Cameira, Cabral, Leal, Pais-Ribeiro, 2000), with three dimensions (parenting, needs of the couple and ego needs) and Rosenberg Self – esteem scale (Rosenberg, 1965, adap.). Results: It is amog women and in the age group ≤ 19 years that the desire to have a child is higher. Having a boyfriend, belonging to an extended family or not having siblings are related to higher desire to have a child, however without significant statistical differences. Self-esteem impacts the desire to have a child. Conclusions: Multiprofessional teams that relate directly to young adults should promote birth, taking into account not only the preparation and training for parenting, but also the promotion of sexual and reproductive health.

Enquadramento: O confronto com a necessidade de ter que se submeter a histerectomia nem sempre é fácil por parte da mulher/casal. Diferentes problemas vivenciados, poderão empurrar para essa decisão, mesmo pairando no andar dúvidas e preocupações quanto ao que poderá vir a sentir pós-histerectomia. Objetivos: conhecer os desconfortos vivenciados pelas mulheres que se submetem a histerectomia. Metodologia: Estudo exploratório e descritivo de natureza qualitativa. Foram participantes dez mulheres submetidas a histerectomia pertencentes a uma Unidade de Cuidados de Saúde Primários da Região Norte de Portugal. Recorreu-se à entrevista semiestruturada, no último trimestre de 2018, tendo-se procedido à transcrição do verbatim das entrevistas e análise qualitativa dos dados, como proposto por Bardin, com ajuda do QSR NVivo na sua versão 12, software de investigação qualitativa. Foi obtida a autorização para a realização do estudo por parte de Comissão de Ética e cumprido todos os procedimentos éticos exigidos a um estudo desta natureza. Os dados apresentados enquadram-se num estudo mais alargado no âmbito das vivências das mulheres submetidas a histerectomia. Resultados: Apresentam-se três categorias emergentes: “Problemas apresentados pelas mulheres antes da histerectomia” constituída por nove subcategorias sendo as hemorragias, os tumores, e o risco de cancro os mais referidos; “Desconfortos manifestados pelas mulheres após a histerectomia” constituída por seis subcategorias das quais a secura vaginal, dor na relação sexual e alteração da imagem corporal sobressaem; e a categoria “Atitudes dos enfermeiros valorizadas pelas mulheres”, com quatro subcategorias, incluindo ajudarem a ultrapassar e tratarem bem Conclusões: se por um lado a histerectomia resolve problemas ginecológicos apresentados pela mulher, aumentado o seu bem-estar e qualidade de vida, por outro também a confronta com o aparecimento de novos desconfortos, para os quais nem sempre se sentia preparada.

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Although the diagnosis and treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for approximately 80% of LC cases, have greatly improved in the past decade, there is still an urgent need to find more sensitive and specific screening methods. Recently, new molecular biomarkers are emerging as potential non-invasive diagnostic agents to screen NSCLC, including multiple microRNAs (miRNAs) that show an unusual expression profile. Moreover, peripheral blood mononuclear cells’ (PBMCs) miRNA profile could be linked with NSCLC and used for diagnosis. We developed a molecular beacon (MB)-based miRNA detection strategy for NSCLC. Following PBMCs isolation and screening of the expression profile of a panel of miRNA by RT-qPCR, we designed a MB targeting of up-regulated miR-21-5p. This MB 21-5p was characterized by FRET-melting, CD, NMR and native PAGE, allowing the optimization of an in-situ approach involving miR-21-5p detection in PBMCs via MB. Data show the developed MB approach potential for miR-21-5p detection in PBMCs from clinical samples towards NSCLC.

Sperm cells are particularly vulnerable to reactive oxygen species (ROS), impairing their fertilizing ability. Our objective was to study the effect of a novel mitochondrial-directed antioxidant, AntiOxBEN2, on bovine sperm function. This antioxidant was added to the semen capacitation medium (CAP), during the swim-up process, and to the fertilization medium (FERT) during the co-incubation of matured oocytes and capacitated spermatozoa, in concentrations of 0 (control), 1, and 10 µM. After the swim-up, sperm motility (CASA and visual analysis), vitality (eosin-nigrosin), mitochondrial membrane potential (JC1), intracellular ROS, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, and basal metabolism (Seahorse Xfe96) were evaluated. Embryo development and quality were also assessed. Higher cleavage rates were obtained when 1 µM AntiOxBEN2 were added to CAP and FERT media (compared to control, p < 0.04). A positive effect of AntiOxBEN2 on intracellular ROS reduction (p = 0.01), on the increment of mitochondrial membrane potential (p ≤ 0.003) and, consequently, on the sperm quality was identified. However, the highest dose impaired progressive motility, ATP production, and the number of produced embryos. The results demonstrate a beneficial effect of AntiOxBEN2 (1 µM) on sperm capacitation and fertilization processes, thus improving embryonic development. This may constitute a putative novel therapeutic strategy to improve the outcomes of assisted reproductive techniques (ART).

In the last decade, progress has been made in G-quadruplex (G4) ligands development, but for most compounds, the ligand binding mode is speculative or based on low resolution methods, with its discovery based on structure-based approaches. Herein, we report the synthesis of small (MW < 400 Da) heterocycle compounds, containing different aromatic scaffolds, such as phenyl, quinoline, naphthalene, phenanthroline and acridine moieties, in order to explore their stabilization effect towards different DNA G4s, such as those found in c-MYC, KRAS21 and VEGF promoters, 21G human telomeric motif and pre-MIR150. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) melting assay indicates that the acridine moiety is the most active scaffold, followed by phenanthroline. The different scaffolds are promising in terms of drug-like properties and, in general, the IC50 values of the respective heterocycle compounds are lower in a cancer cell line, when compared with a normal cell line. The acridine derivative C5NH2 has the most favorable cytotoxic profile in terms of cell selectivity.

Nanotechnology is a fascinating technology that is revolutionizing science and bringing countless benefits to the population. The economic side linked to nanotechnology has grown in recent years, as have the lines of research. However, nanoparticles can be toxic when released into the environment. In this work, a scientometric study was carried out in order to identify and describe scientific research on environmental protection involving nanotechnology with respect to regulatory studies. The research period was from 2003 to 2020, the database selected was Scopus and the software used for the study was Microsoft Excel and VOSviewer. According to specified keywords, the result presented by Scopus was a total of 106 publications. The clustering figures shown by VOSviewer showed that nanotoxicity studies were mostly aimed at protecting human health, to the detriment of environmental protection. Another interesting fact is that toxicity of nanomaterials has been studied from the perspective of risk assessment, including by the regulatory sector.

Este estudo procura caracterizar a utilização dos ecrãs no espaço doméstico em função dos contextos citadino e rural das crianças até aos cinco anos e conhecer como a família intervém na sua introdução e utilização. Para o efeito foram realizados quatro grupos de foco com crianças de quatro e cinco anos residentes na cidade de Lisboa e em Vila Pouca de Aguiar, no distrito de Vila Real e oito entrevistas semiestruturadas com pais e mães de ambos os contextos, chegando a várias conclusões: 1) as crianças do contexto rural são mais utilizadoras dos ecrãs em casa que as crianças da cidade; 2) os pais/mães de ambos os contextos são os responsáveis pelo acesso dos filhos aos ecrãs, sobretudo smartphones e tablets; 3) a principal explicação é a preocupação dos pais/mães com a exclusão social das crianças caso não os utilizem; 4) os progenitores/as do meio urbano denotam uma maior perceção dos riscos associados à exposição dos filhos aos dispositivos tecnológicos.

Despite some progress, the overall survival of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) remains extremely poor. In this context, there is a pressing need to develop innovative therapy strategies for GBM, namely those based on nanomedicine approaches. Towards this goal, we have focused on nanoparticles (AuNP-SP and AuNP-SPTyr8) with a small gold core (ca. 4 nm), carrying DOTA chelators and substance P (SP) peptides. These new SP-containing AuNPs were characterized by a variety of analytical techniques, including TEM and DLS measurements and UV-vis and CD spectroscopy, which proved their high in vitro stability and poor tendency to interact with plasma proteins. Their labeling with diagnostic and therapeutic radionuclides was efficiently performed by DOTA complexation with the trivalent radiometals 67Ga and 177Lu or by electrophilic radioiodination with 125I of the tyrosyl residue in AuNP-SPTyr8. Cellular studies of the resulting radiolabeled AuNPs in NKR1-positive GBM cells (U87, T98G and U373) have shown that the presence of the SP peptides has a crucial and positive impact on their internalization by the tumor cells. Consistently, 177Lu-AuNP-SPTyr8 showed more pronounced radiobiological effects in U373 cells when compared with the non-targeted congener 177Lu-AuNP-TDOTA, as assessed by cell viability and clonogenic assays and corroborated by Monte Carlo microdosimetry simulations.

A non-smoking pregnancy translates into more health for the mother and the child. Pregnancy surveillance ensures the timely identification of risk factors and the possibility of early prenatal care that prevents complications. The nurse assumes himself as a professional in promoting health and preventing complications in the follow-up of the woman / couple throughout pregnancy and in the awareness of the importance of adopting healthy lifestyles. Objective: Identify the determinants of tobacco use and pregnancy surveillance. Methodology: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational study with a sample of 3232 mothers. The study was carried out in 32 maternity / maternity hospitals, from north to south of Portugal, in the obstetrics / inpatient postpartum service between 2010 and 2012. The data collection instrument was the questionnaire that allowed the sociodemographic characterization of the sample with a mean age of women of 28.75 years (SD = 5.463 years), 78.2% Portuguese and 21.8% foreign. Ethical procedures were ensured and the study was authorized by the National Data Protection Commission in addition to the favorable opinions of the ethics committees of the institutions involved. The data was processed with the SPSS program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 24 for Windows. Results: A woman who lives with a partner who has not planned pregnancy is more likely to have adequate pregnancy surveillance and not consume tobacco during pregnancy. On the other hand, a woman living in a rural area, with a higher vocational training or technical training, who is not employed, has had health problems during pregnancy and has not been prepared for childbirth, is less likely to surveillance her pregnancy and more likely to be a tobacco user. Conclusion: Adequate pregnancy surveillance ensures the timely identification of risk factors such as tobacco use and the possibility of timely sensitization of the woman / couple to a non-smoking pregnancy and for the prevention of complications.

Background: Changes the level of the professional career and working conditions, implies impairment of physical and mental health, with prejudice on satisfaction, fulfillment and exhaustion of nurses in Portugal. Objectives: Verify if the socio-demographic and professional variables interfere with exhaustion, satisfaction, personal and professional fulfillment. Consider whether job satisfaction interfere with the exhaustion felt by nurses in Portugal. Methodology: It is a quantitative, descriptive, correlational and analytical, retrospective and cross study, whose non-probabilistic sample consists of 534 Portuguese Nurses (23.8% men and 76.2% women), aged between 21 and 57 years (m = 34.83). It was used as data collection the sociodemographic and professional questionnaire, Satisfaction and achievement Scale the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The data was processed with the SPSS program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 24 for Windows. Results: The variables: sex, marital status; age; specialized training; time of service; weekly working hours and mode; rewards; public/private institution type, interfere with exhaustion, satisfaction, personal and professional fulfillment. Nurses who show emotional exhaustion and depersonalization are least satisfied (MW = 347.60); (OM = 299.79) respectively. In terms of personal achievement prevail manifested the ones who are very satisfied (MW = 301.40). The entire assessment of burnout level, there is a predominance of little satisfied Nurses (MW = 327.05). Conclusion: In the light of the results obtained and the specificity of the work is urgent implement measures in the management and direction of the health institutions in the sense to lessen the workload by hiring nurses and other measures as the development of intervention programs on time management, conflict, interpersonal relationship and communication; Encourage the recognition of work, valuation and delegation of powers and system of rewards of nurses.

The General Health Questionnaire is used to detect the existence of a probable psychiatric disorder in the general population, among a community or in non-psychiatric settings, such as in public health or primary care (Pais Ribeiro, et al., 2015). It is sensitive to recent psychiatric disorders but not to stable states with prolonged existence (Goldberg Williams, 1988). In this study, we evaluated the internal consistency of the Goldberg Questionnaire in 150 farmers aged between 19 and 88 years, with a mean of 55.3 years. The sample,had a higher percentage of male participants living in the central region of Portugal and with a partner; most of them with a schooling up to the 9th grade and professionally active. A Pearson correlation matrix was performed between the subscales and the global index. The results showed that the correlations were positive and significantly correlated, ranging from (r = 0.267) somatic symptoms to social dysfunction and (r = 0.623) somatic symptoms vs anxiety and insomnia. As regards for the correlations between the different subscales with the overall value, it is observed that these are reasonable and positive, ranging from (r = 0.553) with social dysfunction and (r = 0.871) with anxiety and insomnia (table 6) accounting for 30.5% and 75.8% respectively. The results show that the great majority of the items are significant, consubstantiating higher correlational values in the subscales to which they belong, and that this value is higher than the others, being in most cases higher than 0.30.

Background:The onset of sexual activity is a time that has an impact on young people’s lives. It is important to know the motivations for the decision to have sex. Objectives: To determine if sexual satisfaction (relationship and trust) influence the motivation to have sex. Methodology: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational study with a sample of 323 higher education students, with a mean age of 20.68 years (sd = ± 2.54 years). The data collection instrument was a questionnaire that enabled the construction of the sexual characterization. The satisfaction with the sexual relationship scale (Ribeiro Raimundo, 2005) and Motivation to have or not to have sex (Leal Maroco, 2010) was also included. The ethical procedures were guaranteed. The data was processed with the SPSS program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 24 for Windows. Results: In the sample 62.5% of the participants have date. Of these 53.2% have been dating for more than two years. The boyfriend/girlfriend (30.7%) and the mother (21.4%) are the preferred interlocutors on sexuality. In the sample, 83.6% already started the sex life. The female (63.2%) values intimacies close to intercourse. 54.2% of females prefer not to have sexual intercourse with more than one person. In the current relationship 69.2% have sex and 81.7% have contraception. Participants reveal positive sexual satisfaction in both relationship and trust. Dating and sexual experience influence sexual satisfaction. Male present hedonism, health, and relational interdependence as reasons for having sex. Participants without sexual experience refer fear and conservatism not to have sex. Sexual satisfaction is predictive of having sex in the dimensions of hedonism and health, and relational interdependence. Conclusion: We propose the creation of offices in the universities to clarify doubts and to train sexuality-related skills that provide sexual decisions and promote sexual and reproductive health.

Background: Family planning promotes activities that ensure sexual and reproductive health, ensuring information that promotes a safe and healthy sexuality experience Objectives: To determine if sociodemographic, affective and sexual variables influence the knowledge about family planning in higher education students Methodology: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational study with a sample of 199 higher education students, with a mean age of 20.89 years (sd = ± 2.01 years), mostly female (76.4%). The data collection instrument was a questionnaire that enabled the construction of the sociodemographic, affective and sexual characterization. The Family Planning Knowledge Scale (Nelas, Silva, Ferreira, Duarte Chaves, 2010) was also included. The ethical procedures were guaranteed. The data was processed with the SPSS program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 24 for Windows. Results: More than half (86.9%) have initiated their sexual life. The majority of these (78.6%) reported the onset at 16-20 years. Most of them (61.8%) have no dating relationship at present, and 60.3%. have no sex in the current relationship. 90.5% use contraception. The majority (95.0%) would use condoms in occasional relationships. 55.8% of the participants do not monitor sexual and reproductive health and the nurse clarifies doubts about sexual and reproductive health with 75.4% of the sample. 63.1% of the participants never did a cervical cytology. 56.8% are not aware of family planning. Girls report more knowledge about family planning (p = 0.034). The monthly income of the household is statistically significant, with the highest income students showing more knowledge (p = 0.047). Health students have more knowledge (p = 0.001). Of the affective and sexual variables, only the sexual life had statistical significance, with those that had not initiated it, having more knowledge (p = 0.014). Conclusion: There is a need for interventions to promote sexual and reproductive health, aiming at a healthy sexuality experience.

Background:The Hostile behavior in children and adolescents is a problem of today. Several epidemiological studies reveal a primordial importance of parental relationship to the psychosocial development of the individual. Objectives: Determine the prevalence of hostile behavior in children and adolescents; identify the sociodemographic and family background variables that influence the hostile behavior in children and adolescents; examine how the perception against the parental conflict relates to the hostile behavior. Methodology: Quantitative study, non-experimental, transverse, descriptive and correlational and explanatory, involving a sample of 2728 children and adolescents (mean age = 14.73 and Dp = +/- 2.3). The data was gathered through a questionnaire that evolves dimensions such as Sociodemographyc Data, Family Context Data, Children’s Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale, Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory. The data was processed with the SPSS program (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) version 24 for Windows. Results:The greater perception against the Conflict Interparental, the greater the Hostile behavior in children and adolescents. The Conflict Interparental influences Hostile behaviour in young people. If the Hostile behaviour in children and adolescents is recurrent and intense, exist a potential risk to will be an adult with antisocial behaviours. Conclusion:With the preparation of this study we intend to disseminate the results obtained are an added value to the quality of life of teenagers, trying to reduce the potential risks to the problem of Hostile Behavior.

Introduction: The consumption of alcoholic beverages during pregnancy is highly detrimental to the mothers’ health as well as to the health of the fetus. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy leads us to question the quality of health care. The objectives of this study are to quantify the prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy by Portuguese and immigrant women in Portugal and to analyze the information conveyed during pregnancy surveillance visits. Methods: A cross-sectional study, partially analyzed as a control case, involved 753 immigrant mothers between the ages of 16 and 45 (29,30 ± 5,76) and 1654 Portuguese women aged 15-44 (29,99 ± 5, 42). Data collection resorted to self-administered questionnaires in 32 Portuguese maternity wards/ hospitals, from January 2010 to December 2011. Alcohol consumption was defined as the intake of any amount of alcohol during pregnancy. Prevalence was expressed in proportions and the association scale between odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals was determined. Results: Nine out of ten pregnant women did not ingest any alcohol. Among those who ingested it, the highest percentage occurred among immigrants (12.0% vs 6.6%) with statistical significance (OR 0.52, CI 95% 0.37-0.7, x2 = 19.617, p 0.001). As to the frequency of consumption, 57.8% of the Portuguese women and 71.1% of the immigrants (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.26-0.52) consumed a few times. Regarding the quality of information on alcohol consumption, 39.2% of the Portuguese considered it good and 34.9% of the immigrants, reasonable. Conclusion: Migrant women consume more alcoholic beverages during pregnancy than Portuguese ones. The prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy by immigrants and Portuguese suggests inadequate antenatal care.

Background: The bonding process is essential to favors and/or determines the future relationship between parent and baby and influences the cognitive and social development of the child. The bonding is conditioned by a set of interrelated factors with parental and situational conditions that may assist or prevent the establishment of bonding (Pereira, 2009). Objective: Establish the relationship between the sociodemographic context (age, marital status, educational qualifications and length of relationship) and bonding parent/baby. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study, correlational descriptive, quantitative, attended by 349 parents, aged between 19 and 55, with an average age of 31,84 (sd=6,067). To providing a reliable sample characterization the social-demographic we applied questionnaires and Bonding Scale (Figueiredo et al., 2005). Results: This study reveals that positive bonding is influenced by age (p=0,010), being higher in parents aged 30 years or less. With regard to qualifications, it was found that the smaller the educational level of the parents, the greater the bonding positive (p=0,045). On the other hand the marital status and the length of the relationship did not influence the bonding. Conclusion: Given the importance of the bonding process between parent and baby, whose involvement should exist from the beginning of pregnancy, it’s imperative that the Nurse Specialist in maternal health take responsibility to educate and stimulate the paternal bonding supporting and integrating the father in the process of adaptation to parenthood.

Background: Breastfeeding is determined not just organically but also involves emotional and socio-cultural factors. Objectives: Identify the most frequent difficulties associated with breastfeeding in the first month of life of the baby; Evaluate the relationship between difficulties in breastfeeding and satisfaction with life; Analyze the relationship between difficulties in breastfeeding and sociodemographic variables. Methods: A quantitative study, descriptive, correlational. The data were collected through a questionnaire, applied in two moments, at 7 and 30 days of the baby’s life, which allowed the sociodemographic and breastfeeding characterization. It also includes Satisfaction with Life Scale (Simões, 1992). The sample is not probabilistic for convenience, made up of 255 mothers who breastfeed, entered in the Family Health Units and Custom Health Care Units in the central region of Portugal. Results: Participants have an average age of 20.7 years, mostly married, with education less than the 3rd cycle, and residents employed full time in the city. As for the most common problems associated with breastfeeding in the two stages of evaluation that women had the 7th day and continued to be the 30th day, the fissures predominate (77.5%), breast engorgement (66.7%), mastitis (63.6%) the difficulties in the handle (82.4%), the position and posture for nursing (50.0%). The difficulties in breastfeeding are not related to satisfaction with life. Conclusions: In view of these results, and knowing that women have difficulties with breastfeeding in the two time points, it is important the support from nurses so that they can overcome them and do not constitute a repudiation of reason breastfeeding.

Enquadramento: O suporte social é um fator relevante no estabelecimento de laços afetivos entre pai e bebé, pois envolve a qualidade das relações sociais centradas na família. Este tem sido apontado como uma variável psicossocial envolvida na adaptação à parentalidade. Objetivo: Estabelecer a relação entre o suporte social e a vinculação (bonding) entre o pai e o bebé. Método: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo-correlacional, de natureza quantitativa, com uma amostra de 349 pais média de idade 31,84 anos, dp= 6,067). O instrumento de colheita de dados foi o questionário que permitiu caracterizar a amostra nas variáveis sociodemográficas, de gravidez e parto e foi ainda incluída a Escala de Satisfação com o Suporte Social (Ribeiro, 1999) e Escala de Bonding (Figueiredo et al., 2005). Resultados: Os resultados demonstram que o bonding positivo é influenciado pela idade (p=0,010), habilitações literárias (p=0,045), ser primeiro filho (p=0,027), comunicação com o feto (p=0,005), presença no trabalho de parto (p=0,045). Quanto ao suporte social foi encontrada relação entre o bonding positivo e “satisfação com os amigos” (p=0,011); bonding negativo e “intimidades” (p=0,011) e bonding total e “satisfação com a família” (p=0,001). Conclusão: O papel do enfermeiro especialista em saúde materna assume-se como primordial, devendo envolver o pai desde o início da gravidez. Dada a importância que o suporte social asume no estabelecimento do bonding, é imprescindível que os profissionais de saúde apoiem e integrem o pai no processo de adaptação à parentalidade.

Background: The social support is an important factor in the establishment of bonding between parent and baby, because it involve the quality of social relations in the family. This factor has been pointed out a psychosocial variable involved in adaptation to parenthood. Objective: Investigate the influence between social support and bonding of father and baby. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study, correlational descriptive, quantitative, attended by 349 parents, aged between 19 and 55, with an average age of 31,84 (sd=6,067). To providing a reliable sample characterization the social-demographic, obstetric and pregnancy variables, we applied questionnaires and also the Satisfaction Scale with the Social Support (Ribeiro, 1999) and Bonding Scale (Figueiredo et al., 2005). Results: This study reveals that positive bonding is influenced by age (p=0,010), qualifications (p=0,045), first child (p=0,027), communication with fetus (p=0,005) and be present during labor (p=0,045). Regarding to social support: - Positive bonding and “satisfaction with friends” (p=0,011); - Negative bonding and “intimacies” (p=0,011); - Total bonding and “family satisfaction” (p=0,001). Conclusion: The data undoubtedly show the importance of nurse specialists in maternal health who must involve the father since the beginning of pregnancy. Since social support is key to bonding, it is essential that health professionals support and integrate the father in the adjustement process to parenthood.

Enquadramento: O processo de vinculação é indispensável pois favorece e/ou determina a futura relação entre a díade: pai/bebé e influencia o desenvolvimento cognitivo e social da criança. Este processo de vinculação (bonding) é condicionado por um conjunto de fatores interligados com as condições parentais e situacionais que poderão coadjuvar ou impedir o estabelecimento do proceso de vinculação (Pereira, 2009). Objetivo: Estabelecer a relação entre o contexto sociodemográfico (idade, estado civil, habilitações literárias e duração do relacionamento) e a vinculação (bonding) entre o pai e o bebé. Método: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo-correlacional, de natureza quantitativa, com uma amostra de 349 pais com média de idade de 31,84 anos (dp= 6,067). O instrumento de colheita de dados foi o questionário que permitiu caracterizar a amostra nas variáveis sociodemográficas e a Escala de Bonding (Figueiredo et al., 2005). Resultados: Os resultados demonstram que o bonding positivo é influenciado pela idade (p=0,010), sendo mais elevado nos pais com idade igual ou inferior a 30 anos. No que concerne às habilitações literárias, verificou-se que quanto menor é a escolaridade dos pais, maior é o bonding positivo (p=0,045).Por outro lado o estado civil e a duração do relacionamento não influenciam o bonding. Conclusão: Face à importância do processo de vinculação pai/bebe, cujo envolvimento debe existir desde o início da gravidez, é imprescindível que o Enfermeiro especialista em saúde materna assuma a responsabilidade de educar e estimular o bonding paterno apoiando e integrando o pai no processo de adaptação à parentalidade.

The non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) are RNA transcripts with different sizes, structures and biological functions that do not encode functional proteins. RNA G-quadruplexes (rG4s) have been found in small and long ncRNAs. The existence of an equilibrium between rG4 and stem−loop structures in ncRNAs and its effect on biological processes remains unexplored. For example, deviation from the stem−loop leads to deregulated mature miRNA levels, demonstrating that miRNA biogenesis can be modulated by ions or small molecules. In light of this, we report several examples of rG4s in certain types of ncRNAs, and the implications of G4 stabilization using small molecules, also known as G4 ligands, in the regulation of gene expression, miRNA biogenesis, and miRNA−mRNA interactions. Until now, different G4 ligands scaffolds were synthesized for these targets. The regulatory role of the above-mentioned rG4s in ncRNAs can be used as novel therapeutic approaches for adjusting miRNA levels.

The fast spread of SARS-CoV-2 has led to a global pandemic, calling for fast and accurate assays to allow infection diagnosis and prevention of transmission. We aimed to develop a molecular beacon (MB)-based detection assay for SARS-CoV-2, designed to detect the ORF1ab and S genes, proposing a two-stage COVID-19 testing strategy. The novelty of this work lies in the design and optimization of two MBs for detection of SARS-CoV-2, namely, concentration, fluorescence plateaus of hybridization, reaction temperature and real-time results. We also identify putative G-quadruplex (G4) regions in the genome of SARS-CoV-2. A total of 458 nasopharyngeal and throat swab samples (426 positive and 32 negative) were tested with the MB assay and the fluorescence levels compared with the cycle threshold (Ct) values obtained from a commercial RT-PCR test in terms of test duration, sensitivity, and specificity. Our results show that the samples with higher fluorescence levels correspond to those with low Ct values, suggesting a correlation between viral load and increased MB fluorescence. The proposed assay represents a fast (total duration of 2 h 20 min including amplification and fluorescence reading stages) and simple way of detecting SARS-CoV-2 in clinical samples from the upper respiratory tract.

Progress in the design of G-quadruplex (G4) binding ligands relies on the availability of approaches that assess the binding mode and nature of the interactions between G4 forming sequences and their putative ligands. The experimental approaches used to characterize G4/ligand interactions can be categorized into structure-based methods (circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography), affinity and apparent affinity-based methods (surface plasmon resonance (SPR), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and mass spectrometry (MS)), and high-throughput methods (fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-melting, G4-fluorescent intercalator displacement assay (G4-FID), affinity chromatography and microarrays. Each method has unique advantages and drawbacks, which makes it essential to select the ideal strategies for the biological question being addressed. The structural- and affinity and apparent affinity-based methods are in several cases complex and/or time-consuming and can be combined with fast and cheap high-throughput approaches to improve the design and development of new potential G4 ligands. In recent years, the joint use of these techniques permitted the discovery of a huge number of G4 ligands investigated for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Overall, this review article highlights in detail the most commonly used approaches to characterize the G4/ligand interactions, as well as the applications and types of information that can be obtained from the use of each technique.

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction have been associated with the age-related decline of oocyte quality and strategies for their prevention are currently quested. Urolithin A (UA) is a natural metabolite with pro-apoptotic and antioxidant effects, capable of preventing the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria in different aged cells. UA has never been tested in bovine oocytes. Our aim was to study the effect of UA on the developmental potential of cumulus-oocyte-complexes (COCs) and granulosa cells’ (GCs) expression of important genes related to reproductive competence. Nuclear maturation progression, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and developmental competence of physiologically mature (22 h) and in vitro aged oocytes (30 h of IVM) obtained from prepubertal and adult females, either supplemented with UA or not were assessed. Additionally, the amount of mRNA of several genes (NFE2L2, NQO1, and mt-DN5) and the number of mt-ND5 DNA copies were quantified in cultured GCs from prepubertal and adult females, either supplemented with UA or not. Our study confirmed the harmful effect of oocyte aging on the nuclear maturation progression, MMP, developmental competence and gene expression levels. UA treatment during in vitro maturation enhanced (p < 0.05) the maturation rate and subsequent developmental capacity of aged oocytes. A positive effect (p < 0.05) of UA on physiological maturation, MMP and embryonic development was also identified. UA also interfered on the expression profile of NFE2L2 and NQO1 genes in GCs cultures. Our findings demonstrate that UA supplementation is an effective way to prevent oocyte aging and improves the subsequent bovine embryonic development.

G-quadruplexes (G4s) are a class of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) with single-stranded G-rich sequences. Owing to the selectivity of some G4s, they are emerging as targeting agents to overtake side effects of several potential anticancer drugs, and delivery systems of small molecules to malignant cells, through their high affinity or complementarity to specific targets. Moreover, different systems are being used to improve their potential, such as gold nano-particles or liposomes. Thus, the present review provides relevant data about the different studies with G4s as drug delivery systems and the challenges that must be overcome in the future research.

G-quadruplex (G4)-interactive small molecules have a wide range of potential applications, not only as drugs, but also as sensors of quadruplex structures. The purpose of this work is the synthesis of analogues of the bis-methylquinolinium-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide G4 ligand 360A, to identify relevant structure–activity relationships to apply to the design of other G4-interactive small molecules bearing bis-quinoline or bis-isoquinoline moieties. Thermal denaturation experiments revealed that non-methylated derivatives with a relative 1,4 position between the amide linker and the nitrogen of the quinoline ring are moderate G4 stabilizers, with a preference for the hybrid h-Telo G4, a 21-nt sequence present in human telomeres. Insertion of a positive charge upon methylation of quinoline/isoquinoline nitrogen increases compounds’ ability to selectively stabilize G4s compared to duplex DNA, with a preference for parallel structures. Among these, compounds having a relative 1,3-position between the charged methylquinolinium/isoquinolinium nitrogen and the amide linker are the best G4 stabilizers. More interestingly, these ligands showed different capacities to selectively block DNA polymerization in a PCR-stop assay and to induce G4 conformation switches of hybrid h-Telo G4. Molecular dynamic simulations with the parallel G4 formed by a 21-nt sequence present in k-RAS gene promoter, showed that the relative spatial orientation of the two methylated quinoline/isoquinoline rings determines the ligands mode and strength of binding to G4s.

The ability of fluorescent small molecules, such as metal complexes, to selectively recognize G-quadruplex (G4) structures has opened a route to develop new probes for the visualization of these DNA structures in cells. The main goal of this review is to update the most recent research efforts towards the development of novel cancer theranostic agents using this type of metal-based probes that specifically recognize G4 structures. This encompassed a comprehensive overview of the most significant progress in the field, namely based on complexes with Cu, Pt, and Ru that are among the most studied metals to obtain this class of molecules. It is also discussed the potential interest of obtaining G4-binders with medical radiometals (e.g., 99mTc, 111In, 64Cu, 195mPt) suitable for diagnostic and/or therapeutic applications within nuclear medicine modalities, in order to enable their theranostic potential.