Browsing by Author "Rodrigues, Daniela"
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- Biomarkers in bladder cancer: a metabolomic approach using in vitro and ex vivo model systemsPublication . Rodrigues, Daniela; Jerónimo, Carmen; Henrique, Rui; Belo, Luís; Bastos, Maria de Lourdes; Guedes de Pinho, Paula; Carvalho, MárciaMetabolomics has recently proved to be useful in the area of biomarker discovery for cancers in which early diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers are urgently needed, as is the case of bladder cancer (BC). This article presents a comprehensive review of the literature on the metabolomic studies on BC, highlighting metabolic pathways perturbed in this disease and the altered metabolites as potential biomarkers for BC detection. Current disease model systems used in the study of BC metabolome include in vitro-cultured cancer cells, ex vivo neoplastic bladder tissues and biological fluids, mainly urine but also blood serum/plasma, from BC patients. The major advantages and drawbacks of each model system are discussed. Based on available data, it seems that BC metabolic signature is mainly characterized by alterations in metabolites related to energy metabolic pathways, particularly glycolysis, amino acid and fatty acid metabolism, known to be crucial for cell proliferation, as well as glutathione metabolism, known to be determinant in maintaining cellular redox balance. In addition, purine and pyrimidine metabolism as well as carnitine species were found to be altered in BC. Finally, it is emphasized that, despite the progress made in respect to novel biomarkers for BC diagnosis, there are still some challenges and limitations that should be addressed in future metabolomic studies to ensure their translatability to clinical practice.
- GC-MS metabolomics reveals distinct profiles of low- and high-grade bladder cancer cultured cellsPublication . Rodrigues, Daniela; Pinto, Joana; Araújo, Ana; Jerónimo, Carmen; Henrique, Rui; Bastos, Maria; Guedes de Pinho, Paula; Carvalho, MárciaPrevious studies have shown that metabolomics can be a useful tool to better understand the mechanisms of carcinogenesis; however, alterations in biochemical pathways that lead to bladder cancer (BC) development have hitherto not been fully investigated. In this study, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based metabolomics was applied to unveil the metabolic alterations between low-grade and high-grade BC cultured cell lines. Multivariable analysis revealed a panel of metabolites responsible for the separation between the two tumorigenic cell lines. Significantly lower levels of fatty acids, including myristic, palmitic, and palmitoleic acids, were found in high-grade versus low-grade BC cells. Furthermore, significantly altered levels of some amino acids were observed between low- and high-grade BC, namely glycine, leucine, methionine, valine, and aspartic acid. This study successfully demonstrated the potential of metabolomic analysis to discriminate BC cells according to tumor aggressiveness. Moreover, these findings suggest that bladder tumorigenic cell lines of different grades disclose distinct metabolic profiles, mainly affecting fatty acid biosynthesis and amino acid metabolism to compensate for higher energetic needs.
- Home vs. bedroom media devices: socioeconomic disparities and association with childhood screen - and sleep-timePublication . Rodrigues, Daniela; Gama, Augusta; Machado-Rodrigues, Aristides M.; Nogueira, Helena; Rosado-Marques, Vítor; Silva, Maria Raquel; Padez, CristinaBackground: The literature has shown a widespread use of portable electronic devices among children over the last years. This study aimed to identify the availability of different media devices at home versus in children’s bedroom according to the socioeconomic status (SES), and analyze the association between that availability and children’s screen- and sleep-time on week and weekend days. Methods: Data from 3 to 10 year-old children (n=8430) from a cross-sectional study conducted in Portugal (2016/17) was used. Screen- and sleep-time, availability of media devices, father and mother education (as a proxy measured of SES) were assessed via questionnaire. Results: Available devices at home was significantly more common among high-SES families; while media devices in the bedroom were more frequent in low-SES families (p<0.001). In preschool and elementary school-aged children, media devices in the bedroom was associated with increase screen-time and shorter sleep per day. Also, mobile devices in the bedroom were shown to exert similar, or even more, influence on children’s screen- and sleep-time as television. Conclusions: Further research is needed to explore the pathways by which different electronic media negatively impacts on children’s sleep and screen-time and to develop effective strategies to minimize device access at bedtime.
- Influence of parental perceived environment on physical activity, TV viewing, active play and body mass Index among portuguese children: a mediation analysisPublication . Carmo, Ariene S.; Rodrigues, Daniela; Nogueira, Helena; Mendes, Larissa L.; Santos, Luana C.; Gama, Augusta; Machado‐Rodrigues, Aristides M.; Silva, Maria Raquel; Rosado‐Marques, Vítor; Padez, CristinaObjectives: The environment is believed to be key in obesity prevention, yet it is unclear how factors in the neighborhood influence weight-related behaviors. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of parental perceived environment on physical activity (PA), television (TV) time, active play and Body Mass Index (BMI) z score, and the mediating role of these weight-related behaviors on the relationship between neighborhood characteristics and children's BMI. Methods: Data of 8472 Portuguese preschool (aged 3-6, n = 3819) and schoolaged children (aged 7-11 years, n = 4653) were collected during 2016/2017. Structural equation modeling was used to estimate the associations between parents perceived neighborhood characteristics (latent variables: unsafety and built/physical environment) and child's BMI z score, PA and TV time. Results: Among preschoolers, the latent variables of the perceived environment were not associated with the BMI, TV time, extracurricular PA, and active play. Among schoolchildren, the unsafety environment was positively associated with both the BMI (SC = 0.050, P = .008) and the time spent watching TV (SC = 0.052, P = .031) and negatively associated with extracurricular PA (SC = −0.125, P < .001). The latent variable Favorable Built Environment for PA (ie, environmental facilitating elements) was positively associated with active play (SC = 0.041, P = .031). Moreover, the TV time was a marginally significant mediator of the relationship between the perceived unsafe environment and the BMI of school-aged children (B = 0.002, P = .096). Conclusions: In conclusion, changes in the environment to targeting parental perception of neighborhood safety could have positive effects on the promotion of healthy weight and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle in school-aged children.
- Renal cell carcinoma: a critical analysis of metabolomic biomarkers emerging from current model systemsPublication . Rodrigues, Daniela; Monteiro, Márcia; Jerónimo, Carmen; Henrique, Rui; Belo, Luís; Bastos, Maria de Lourdes; Guedes de Pinho, Paula; Carvalho, MárciaMetabolomics, an emerging field of "omics" sciences, has caught wide scientific attention in the area of biomarker research for cancers in which early diagnostic biomarkers have the potential to greatly improve patient outcome, such as renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Metabolomic approaches have been successfully applied to various human RCC model systems, mostly ex vivo neoplastic renal tissues and biofluids (urine and serum) from patients with RCC. Importantly, in contrast to other cancers, only a few studies have addressed the RCC metabolome using cancer cell culture-based in vitro models. Herein, we first carried out a comprehensive review of current metabolomic data in RCC, with emphasis on metabolite disturbances and dysregulated metabolic pathways identified in each of these experimental models. We then critically analyzed the consistency of evidence in this field and whether metabolites found altered in tumor cell and tissue microenvironment are reflected in biofluids, which constitute the rationale underlying the translation of discovered metabolic biomarkers into noninvasive diagnostic tools. Finally, dominant metabolic pathways and promising metabolites as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of RCC are outlined.
- Social inequalities in traditional and emerging screen devices among portuguese children: a cross-sectional studyPublication . Rodrigues, Daniela; Gama, Augusta; Machado-Rodrigues, Aristides M.; Nogueira, Helena; Silva, Maria Raquel; Rosado-Marques, Vítor; Padez, CristinaBackground: Children are often exposed to too much screen time but few studies have explored the use of old and new digital media among young children. This study assesses screen time, including traditional and mobile devices, in pre-school and elementary school-aged children, according to their gender, age, and socioeconomic position (SEP). Methods: A total of 8430 children (3 to 10 years; 50.8% boys) from the north, center and south-central Portugal were included in the present study. Data was collected by a parental questionnaire during 2016/2017. Children’s screen time (by media device, weekdays and at the weekend; calculated by mean minutes per day) were reported by parents. Analysis were carried to compare screen time by children’s age, gender and family SEP (classified using father’s educational degree). Results: Daily screen time was high both in children aged 3 to 5 and 6 to 10 years – 154 min/day (95% CI: 149.51–158.91) and 200.79 min/day (95% CI: 197.08–204.50), respectively – and the majority of children, independently of their gender, exceed the recommended 2 h/day of screen viewing. Children are still primarily engaging in screen time through television but the use of mobile devices, particularly tablets, were already high among 3 year-old children and increased with age. SEP was a negative predictor of screen time in the linear regression analysis, including after adjustment. Conclusions: Considering the negative health impacts of excessive screen time, recognizing subgroups at risk of excessive screen time and identifying how each device is used according to age is fundamental to enable appropriate future interventions. The screen time in children aged 3–10 years is longer than the recommended, particularly among boys and in those children from lower SEP. Parents and policymakers should have in mind that children spend most of their screen time watching television but mobile devices are becoming extremely popular starting at a young age.
- Socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among portuguese preschool‐aged children: changes from 2009 to 2016Publication . Rodrigues, Daniela; Costa, Diogo; Gama, Augusta; Machado‐Rodrigues, Aristides M.; Nogueira, Helena; Silva, Maria Raquel; Rosado‐Marques, Vítor; Padez, CristinaObjectives: We evaluated, for the first time in Portugal, the prevalence of overweight and obesity according to parental education in a population of preschool-aged Portuguese children in 2009/2010 and 2016/2017. Methods: Anthropometric data were collected in public and private preschools (n = 1996 in 2009/2010; n = 2077 in 2016/2017). Body mass index was calculated and weight status categories were based on the International Obesity Task Force cutoff points. Parental education level was self-reported. Results: Prevalence of overweight (17.1%–14.1%; p < 0.001) and obesity (6.6%–3.9%, p < 0.001) was lower in 2016/2017 than in 2009/2010, with higher rates being found in the north of the country. Parental education was significantly associated with childhood overweight and obesity and inequalities between low- and high-education increased between the two periods. Conclusions: While a decrease in childhood overweight and obesity were positive findings, the prevalence is still high and shows pronounced socioeconomic differences. Policies for obesity prevention need to be inclusive and tackle inequalities, with interventions tailored to suit local contexts.
- Volatile metabolomic signature of bladder cancer cell lines based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometryPublication . Rodrigues, Daniela; Pinto, Joana; Araújo, Ana Margarida; Monteiro-Reis, Sara; Jerónimo, Carmen; Henrique, Rui; Bastos, Maria de Lourdes; de Pinho, Paula Guedes; Carvalho, MárciaRecent studies provide a convincing support that the presence of cancer cells in the body leads to the alteration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emanating from biological samples, particularly of those closely related with tumoral tissues. Thus, a great interest emerged for the study of cancer volatilome and subsequent attempts to confirm VOCs as potential diagnostic biomarkers.