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- Detection of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA/MSSA) in surfaces of dental medicine equipmentPublication . Gonçalves, Eva; Carvalhal, Rui; Mesquita, Rita; Azevedo, Joana; Coelho, Maria João; Magalhães, Ricardo; Ferraz, Maria Pia; Manso, M. Conceição; Gavinha, Sandra; Pina, Cristina Maria San Román Gomes de; Cardoso, Inês LopesMethicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) represents one of the major causes of nosocomial infections, leading to high mortality. Surfaces in clinics, as well as the attending uniform and the hands of the dental doctor can be MRSA reservoirs. Having this in mind, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and MRSA on dental medicine equipment surfaces. 354 Samples were collected from six equipment surfaces in six attendance areas before and after patient consultation and cultured in a selective medium. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to confirm the identity of bacterial strains as MRSA or MSSA. Data analysis was performed with chi-square tests with Bonferroni correction. It was observed 55.6% of uncontaminated samples. Contamination was: 17.5% MRSA (5.9% of samples collected before patient attendance and 11.6% after); 39.3% MSSA (14.1% collected before and 25.2% after). The prevalence of MRSA and MSSA was significantly higher after patient care. Integrated Clinic represented the most contaminated attendance area (MRSA 41.7%, MSSA 51.2%), the chair arm rest was the most contaminated surface for MRSA (29.7%) and the dental spittoon the most contaminated surface for MSSA (23.5%). Although a low level of contamination was observed, dental clinics, through patients possibly carrying bacteria, may be reservoirs for MRSA and MSSA transmission, and might contribute to potential nosocomial infections.
- Effectiveness of two intracanal dressings in adult portuguese patients: a qPCR and anaerobic culture assessmentPublication . Teles, Ana Moura; Manso, M. Conceição; Loureiro, S.; Silva, R.; Madeira, I. G. C.; Pina, C.; Cabeda, José ManuelAim: To quantify bacterial equivalents before and after chemomechanical preparation using 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and intracanal dressing with calcium hydroxide paste (Ca(OH)2 ) or 2% Chlorhexidine digluconate gel (CHX) in necrotic pulps associated or not with apical periodontitis and to further compare this quantification with counts of anaerobic microorganisms. Methodology: Prospective clinical trial in 69 single-rooted adult teeth (strict inclusion criteria); CHX group: 34; Ca(OH)2 group: 35. Bacteria samples were taken at baseline (S1), after chemomechanical preparation (S2) and after 14 days of intracanal dressing (S3). Bacterial equivalents were assessed by broad-range real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and live viable bacteria measured with conventional anaerobic culture (CFU/mL). Descriptive/inferential analysis was performed with spss vs. 20.0 (α = 0.05) using the Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney and chi-squared tests and Spearman's correlation coefficients. Results: Both groups showed a significant decrease between S1 and S2 (Mann-Whitney U-test; P < 0.001) both in qPCR and in culture. In the Ca(OH)2 -group, no variation was observed between S2 and S3 by qPCR and culture. In contrast, the CHX group showed a significant increase from S2 to S3 by both techniques. The two groups were only significantly different in S3 (Mann-Whitney U-test; P ≤ 0.001), with a worse performance in the CHX group. Again, these results were congruent by both approaches. Data from both approaches correlate reasonably (rS < 0.5). Conclusions: Infected root canals contained a high bacterial load, and the chemomechanical root canal preparation reduced bacterial equivalents by 99.1% and anaerobic counts by 98.5%. Intracanal dressings were not efficient at reducing bacterial load, but the 14-day intracanal dressing with Ca(OH)2 performed significantly better than CHX, particularly in cases with apical periodontitis.
- Microorganisms: the reason to perform endodonticsPublication . Teles, Ana Moura; Manso, M. Conceição; Loureiro, Sara; Pina, Cristina Maria San Román Gomes de; Cabeda, José ManuelThat we perform Endodontics because there are microorganisms is now beyond doubt. Nevertheless, not only the microorganisms, but also the host response have a profound effect on the progression of the disease. Many papers confirmed the polymicrobial nature of pulpal and periapical diseases of endodontic origin and the efficiency of the chemo-mechanical procedures based on physical and chemical elimination of their etiologic factors, whose principles were first presented as far as 1928 by Hall. Since not only bacterial load may be related to the clinical outcome, but also the bacterial composition of the microbiological canal ecosystem, we aimed at the enumeration of the microorganisms present in the different types of endodontic infections. Although the emerging picture is clearly a complex one, not allowing clear-cut association of bacteria and clinical situation, only the further pursuit of elucidation of the many factors involved (including geographical variability) will ultimately lead to rational treatment solutions.
- Improving air quality in Lisbon: modelling emission abatement scenariosPublication . Monjardino, J.; Barros, Nelson; Ferreira, F.; Tente, H.; Fontes, Tânia; Pereira, P.; Manso, M. ConceiçãoLisbon is one of the European cities where NO2 and PM10 legal limit values are still exceeded, leading to an Air Quality Plan applicable up to 2020. The developed work combined a detailed emission inventory, monitoring data, and modelling in order to assess if the proposed emission abatement scenarios, focused on the road transport sector, were able to tackle exceedances. A maximum decrease of 14% for PM10 concentrations was achieved, and of 21% for NO2, providing compliance. PM10 smallest reduction is related with higher weight of regional background sources, while for NO2 local traffic has more influence on concentrations.
- Natural resources with sweetener power: phytochemistry and antioxidant characterisation of Stevia Rebaudiana (Bert.), sensorial and centesimal analyses of lemon cake recipes with S. Rebaudiana incorporationPublication . Silva, Carla Sousa e; Oliveira, Adriana; Pinto, Sara Vanessa; Manso, M. Conceição; Ferreira da Vinha, AnaStevia rebaudiana leaf extracts are calorie-free sweeteners of natural origin, derived from the Stevia rebaudiana plant known as a natural sweetener, which contains steviol glycosides and others bioactive compounds recognized by their biological properties. The present study was designed to evaluate the total phenolics (26.0 mg gallic acid/g) and total flavonoids contents (9.7 mg catechin/g) of a hydroalcoholic extract of Stevia rebaudiana dried leaves. A similar hydroalcoholic extract of commercial powder steviol sweetener was also evaluated, showing lower contents of bioactive compounds (11.9 mg/g and 5.1 mg/g, for total phenolics and flavonoids, respectively). The hydroalcoholic extract of dried Stevia rebaudiana leaves also showed high in vitro antioxidant activity, besides a positive correlation between total phenolic compounds and the DPPH and FRAP assays. Moreover, Stevia rebaudiana leaves have sensory and functional properties superior to those of many other high-potency sweeteners and is likely to become a major source of natural sweetener for the growing food market. Thus, four different lemon cakes formulations were studied (a traditional cake control recipe with sugar, two cakes with incorporation of Stevia rebaudiana fresh leaf and a cake with commercial powder steviol), using a sensory analysis covering 100 untrained consumers. Centesimal composition analyses of the four lemon cakes showed significant differences in fat, ashes, proteins and carbohydrates contents (p<0.05). Also, the raised energy value observed for the cake control was superior to the cake with Stevia rebaudiana leaves incorporation (309.8 Kcal/100 g, 268.0 Kcal/100 g,142 respectively). Sensorial analysis results showed that Stevia rebaudiana leaves were accepted and, in the future, they can be a natural option to replace some or all the saccharose in cakes formulations.
- New Instrument for Oral Hygiene of Children with Cleft Lip and PalatePublication . Rita Rodrigues; Fernandes, Maria; Bessa Monteiro, António; Furfuro, Rowney; Carvalho Silva, Cátia; Soares, César; Vardasca, Ricardo; Mendes, Joaquim; Manso, M. ConceiçãoPatients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) have several oral alterations that make the removal of bacterial plaque in the cleft area difficult, which is the main cause of the high incidence of oral health problems. The aim of this study is to develop a toothbrush especially designed to perform the hygiene of the cleft area. This device, called Cleft Toothbrush, is an add-on to a conventional toothbrush to clean hard-to-reach areas that are not accessible by using conventional brush shapes. The design was made in SOLIDWORKS®(Waltham, MA, USA) 3D and a sample of this device was produced by CURAPROX (Kriens, Switzerland). The efficacy of the Cleft Toothbrush was tested in a preliminary study performed in a four years old child with CLP, compared to that of a conventional toothbrush. A significantly higher reduction of the bacterial plaque was achieved with the Cleft Toothbrush. The child’s parents also felt more confident with this device, as it deals better with sensitive areas, as it did not hurt the child. This innovative toothbrush adapter appears to greatly improve the cleaning areas of high bacterial plaque retention in patients with CLP, together with excellent acceptance.
- Bacterial contamination of gutta-percha points from different brands and the efficacy of a chairside disinfection protocolPublication . Bracciale, Francesca; Marino, Nicole; Noronha, Anariely; Manso, M. Conceição; Gavinha, Sandra; Cardoso, Inês Lopes; Pina, Cristina Maria San Román Gomes de; Teles, Ana MouraObjective: To evaluate the bacterial contamination of different brands of Gutta-Percha (GP) points routinely used in clinical practice and the efficacy of a chairside disinfection protocol with sodium hypochlorite. Methods: GP points (n=240), in sizes A, B, C, D, K15, K20, K25, K30, K35, K40, F1, F2, F3 (Dentsply®, Proclinic®, ProTaper® and R&S®), were randomly sampled from commercial packages already in use. These were added directly to Fluid Thioglycolate Medium (one GP point per tube) and incubated at 37ºC for 21 days. During this period, the presence/absence of turbidity was evaluated. To evaluate the efficacy of a chairside disinfection protocol, all detected contaminated GP points were immersed for 1 minute in 10 mL of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, followed by 5 minutes in 10 mL of detergent solution (3% Tween 80 and 5% sodium thiosulfate) and a final rinse with 10 mL of sterile distilled water and incubated. The data was analysed using the chi-square test and differences between characteristics of dichotomic variables were performed using the binomial test. The significance level was set at P<0.05. Results: Bacterial growth was observed in 22.9% of the total study samples. Dentsply® and R&S® showed the highest level of contamination, 47.3% each, although without significant differences to the other commercial brands. The most contaminated GP point size was K30 (16.4%). The chairside disinfection protocol was effective in disinfection of 76.4% of GP points (P<0.001). Conclusion: A real small number of GP points in clinical use harboured bacteria, including after the Chairside Disinfection Protocol that, anyway, proved to be effective. No significant difference was observed between tested commercial brands.
- Is MRSA/MSSA a contamination risk on surfaces of the dental equipment?Publication . Gonçalves, Eva; Carvalhal, Rui; Mesquita, Rita; Azevedo, Joana; Coelho, Maria João; Magalhães, Ricardo; Ferraz, Maria Pia; Manso, M. Conceição; Gavinha, Sandra; Cardoso, Inês Lopes; Pina, Cristina Maria San Román Gomes de
- Análise de uma estratégia universitária na adaptação aos requisitos de BolonhaPublication . Fonseca, Ana; Manso, M. Conceição; Vasconcelos, José Braga de; Tuna, SandraO Processo de Bolonha implicou, a nível Europeu, alterações em todas as instituições de ensino superior. Neste artigo analisa-se a estratégia de adaptação seguida pela Universidade Fernando Pessoa, tanto ao nível institucional como pedagógico. Inclui-se também a percepção que a comunidade académica teve ao fim de dois anos lectivos da efectiva implementação do referido Processo. A análise permite concluir que, pese embora a necessidade/possibilidade de melhorar/optimizar os métodos e estratégias aplicados, o balanço até ao momento é francamente positivo. The Bologna process has involved a lot of changes in all European institutions of higher education. The present article analyses the strategy adopted by Universidade Fernando Pessoa in this process, which implied both institutional and pedagogical reforms. It also includes the perception of the academic community regarding this new system, two years after its implementation. It is possible to conclude that, even though there is room and need for improvement in both the methods and strategies adopted, the result is clearly favourable.
- 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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