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- Quality of life and therapeutic regimen management in onychomycosis patients and in vitro study of antiseptic solutionsPublication . Silva-Neves, Vasco; Hugo, Vitor; Alves, Paulo; Amado, João Costa; Pais-Vieira, Carla; Sousa, Fátima; Cerqueira, Fátima; Pinto, Eugénia; Pais-Vieira, MiguelOnychomycosis or tinea unguium (EE12.1) and Onychomycosis due to non-dermatophyte moulds (1F2D.5) (OM) is a fungal infection of the nail plates with a high prevalence that often afects vulnerable people with co-existing health problems. Gold standard pharmacological treatments for onychomycosis have been associated with low success rates and increasing antifungal resistance, suggesting that treatment outcome is dependent on multiple variables. Here, the prevalence of OM and quality of life were characterized in two vulnerable populations—Hospital patients and Homeless people. Comparing both groups, the most prevalent fungal species were identifed in Hospital patients. Then, the in vitro fungicidal properties of the antiseptics povidone-iodine, polyhexamethylene biguanide-betaine, octenidine dihydrochloride, and a super-oxidized solution against two ATCC strains (Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger) and three clinical fungal isolates from Hospital patients (Candida parapsilosis, Trichophyton interdigitale, and Trichophyton rubrum) were tested. OM prevalence was high in both patient groups studied, who also reported a reduction in quality of life and concerns about the state of their feet. In addition, Hospital patients had a nonnegligent therapeutic regimen management style. Antiseptics tested in vitro revealed antifungal properties. As antiseptics are low-cost and easy to apply and have few iatrogenic efects, the demonstration of fungicidal properties of these solutions suggests that they may constitute potential supportive therapeutics for OM.
- Candida species distribution in clinical samplesPublication . Fernandes, Rui; Viegas, Ana; Cerqueira, Fátimaprocedeu-se à identificação de candida spp., recolhidas no laboratório de clínica laboratorial Dr. edgar botelho moniz, s.A., sediado em santo tirso, com o objectivo de avaliar a sua distribuição em candidoses. os 63 isolados foram obtidos a partir de diferentes amostras clínicas e identificados de acordo com a sua capacidade de crescimento a 42ºc, aspecto das colónias em cAn2 e resultados do Api iD 32c. c. albicans foi a espécie mais frequentemente isolada (90%), seguida de c. glabrata (5%), c. tropicalis (3%) e c. parapsilosis (2%). A maioria das amostras correspondia a exsudados vaginais. we have identified candida spp., collected in the laboratory clinica laboratorial Dr. edgar botelho moniz, s.A., located in santo tirso, in order to evaluate their distribution on diagnosed candidosis. the 63 isolates were recovered from different clinical samples and identified by their ability to growth at 42ºc, colony color on cAn2 and by Api iD 32c. c. albicans was the most frequently (90%) identified specie, followed by c. glabrata (5%), c. tropicalis (3%)and c. parapsilosis (2%). the majority of the strains were isolated from vaginal samples.
- Prostate cancer: antitumor effect of chalcones on androgen dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cell linesPublication . Horta, Bruno; Cerqueira, Fátima; Pinto, Madalena; Cidade, Honorina; Silva, Jani; Pereira, António; Medeiros, R.
- Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of a new class of azoimidazolesPublication . Dantas, D.; Ribeiro, A.I.; Rodrigues, R.; Carvalho, L.F.; Pinto, E.; Cerqueira, Fátima; Geraldo, D.; Zile, A.; Dias, A.
- Genomic profile in association with sport-type, sex, ethnicity, psychological traits and sport injuries of elite athletes: review and future perspectivesPublication . Silva, Hugo-Henrique; Silva, Maria Raquel; Cerqueira, Fátima; Tavares, Valéria; medeiros, rmIn the last few years, some inherited determinants have been associated with elite athletic performance, but its polygenic trait character has limited the correct definition of elite athlete's genomic profile. This qualitative descriptive study aims to summarise the current understanding about genetic and epigenetic factors in elite athletes, as well as their genomic profile in association with sport-type, sex, ethnicity, psychological traits and sport injuries. A narrative review of the literature across a broad cross-section of the elite athletes' genomic profile was undertaken. Elite performance relies on rare gene variants within a great interface between molecular, cellular and behavioural sport-related phenotypes and the environment, which is still poorly understood. ACTN3 rs1815739 and ACE I/D polymorphisms appear to be associated to specific sprint phenotypes and influence the athletic status, i.e., the rs1815739 variant is more influential to 200-m performance and the ACE ID polymorphism is more involved in the longer, 400-m sprint performance. Generally, athletes show endurance-based sports characteristics or power-based sports characteristics, but some studies have reported some genes associations to both sports-based characteristics. Furthermore, genetic studies with larger cohorts of single-sport athletes might be preferable than studies combining athletes of different sports, given the existence of distinct athlete profiles and sport demands. Athletic performance may be influenced by the serotonergic pathway and the potential injury risk (namely stress fracture) might be associated to a genetic predisposition associated to the mechanical loading from the intense physical exercise. The study of gene variants associated to sex and ethnicity-related to athletic performance needs further investigation. The combination of genome-wide association studies addressing the genetic architecture of athletes and the subsequent replication and validation studies might for additional genetic data is mandatory.
- Electrochemical characterization of imidazole-based carboxamidrazones in aqueous and organic solutions and structure-activity relationshipPublication . Rodrigues, Rui; Dantas, Daniela; Carvalho, Filipe; Ribeiro, Ana; Zille, Andrea; Silva, Renata; Remião, Fernando; Dias, Alice; Pinto, Eugénia; Cerqueira, Fátima; Geraldo, Dulce
- Novel halochromic and antimicrobial azopyrimidine dyes: synthesis, colorimetric studies and biological assaysPublication . Dantas, D.; Ribeiro, A.I.; Carvalho, L.F.; Pinto, E.; Cerqueira, Fátima; Zile, A.; Dias, A.
- Nanostructured lipid carriers enriched hydrogels for skin topical administration of quercetin and omega-3 fatty acidPublication . Lúcio, Marlene; Giannino, Nicole; Barreira, Sérgio; Catita, José; Gonçalves, Hugo; Ribeiro, Artur; Fernandes, Eduarda; Carvalho, Isabel; Pinho, Hugo; Cerqueira, Fátima; Biondi, Marco; Lopes, Carla MartinsChronic skin exposure to external hostile agents (e.g., UV radiation, microorganisms, and oxidizing chemicals) may increase oxidative stress, causing skin damage and aging. Because of their well-known skincare and protective benefits, quercetin (Q) and omega-3 fatty acids (ω3) have attracted the attention of the dermocosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors. However, both bioactives have inherent properties that limit their efficient skin delivery. Therefore, nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) and enriched PFC® hydrogels (HGs) have been developed as a dual-approach vehicle for Q and/or ω3 skin topical administration to improve bioactives’ stability and skin permeation. Two NLC formulations were prepared with the same lipid composition but differing in surfactant composition (NLC1—soy lecithin and poloxamer 407; NLC2—Tween® 80 and dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DOSS)), which have an impact on physicochemical properties and pharmaceutical and therapeutic performance. Despite both NLCs presenting high Q loading capacity, NLC2`s physicochemical properties make them more suitable for topical skin administration and ensure longer colloidal stability. Additionally, NLC2 demonstrated a more sustained Q release, indicating higher bioactive storage while improving permeability. The occlusive effect of NLCs-enriched HGs also has a positive impact on skin permeability. Q-loaded NLC2, with or without ω3, -enriched HGs demonstrated efficacy as antioxidant and photoprotective formulations as well as effective reduction in S. aureus growth, indicating that they constitute a promising approach for topical skin administration to prevent skin aging and other damaging cutaneous processes.
- Miconazole-loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLC) for local delivery to the oral mucosa: improving antifungal activityPublication . Mendes, A.I.; Silva, Ana Catarina; Catita, José; Cerqueira, Fátima; Gabriel, C.; Lopes, Carla MartinsMiconazole is a widely used antifungal agent with poor aqueous solubility, which requires the development of drug delivery systems able to improve its therapeutic activity. For this purpose, a miconazole-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) dispersion was prepared and characterized. Further, the dispersion was used to prepare a NLC-based hydrogel formulation proposed as an alternative system to improve the local delivery of miconazole to the oral mucosa. NLC dispersion showed particles in the nanometer range (≈200 nm) with low polidispersity index (<0.3), good physical stability and high encapsulation efficiency (>87%). A controlled miconazole release was observed from NLC and NLCbased hydrogel formulations, in contrast to a commercial oral gel formulation, which demonstrated a faster release. Additionally, it was observed that the encapsulation of miconazole in the NLC improved its antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Therefore, it was demonstrated that the encapsulation of miconazole in NLC allows for obtaining the same therapeutic effect of a commercial oral gel formulation, using a 17-fold lower dose of miconazole.
- Coffee industrial waste as a natural source of bioactive compounds with antibacterial and antifungal activitiesPublication . Silva, Carla Sousa e; Gabriel, Carla; Cerqueira, Fátima; Manso, M. Conceição; Vinha, A. F.Coffee is one of the most popular and consumed beverages in the world, which leads to a high contents of solid residue known as spent coffee grounds (SCG). As is known, coffee beans contain several classes of health related chemicals, including phenolic compounds, melanoidins, diterpenes, xanthines and carotenoids which are associated with therapeutic and pharmaceutical effects, due to antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-infectious and antitumour activities. Considering that this coffee industrial waste has no commercial value and are currently disposed as a solid waste or employed as fertilizers, we intend to highlight the use of SCG as a raw material with potential interest to the food and pharmaceutical industries. Moreover, this work seems to be valuable to promote the use of SCG as natural and an inexpensive food supplements or pharmaceutical additive. The phytochemical compounds content among the crude aqueous extracts of SCG followed this order: phenolics > flavonoids > carotenoids (mg/ g dry waste), respectively. Caffeine content found in SCG was ~ 0.82 g/100 g dry waste, 70 % lower than coffee roasting beans. Coffee ground extracts showed inhibition to S. aureus and E. coli growth for concentrations of 1.0 mg/ mL and a stronger inhibition was also observed against C. albicans, C. krusei and C. parapsilosis growth using lower concentration (0.5 mg/ mL).
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