Browsing by Author "Martins, Rute"
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- Appropriateness of radiology test requests by an emergency department: a retrospective studyPublication . Martins, Rute; Raimundo, Pedro; Alves, Pedro; Monteiro, Rodrigo; Silva, Luís Duarte; Gomes, André; Afonso, GraçaImaging tests are essential for diagnosis in the emergency context and convey clinical information that is essential to assess the appropriateness of the tests and improve their interpretation. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the imaging tests requested by the Emergency Department in a district hospital.
- Depression and sleep quality in older adults: a meta-analysis.Publication . Brandolim Becker, Nathália; Jesus, Saúl; João, Karine; Viseu, J.; Martins, RuteThe literature emphasizes depression and poor sleep quality as problems that affect many elderly individuals. However, these problems have been related in few studies and there is no meta-analysis performed so far on this relationship. The present research reviewed the studies performed on the subjective sleep quality in order to understand how it relates to depression in older adults. The review was conducted in January 2016 and comprised publications between 2005 and 2015. Based on the electronic databases Web of Science and EBSCO, we used the keywords 'sleep quality', 'depression', and 'older' to identify the empirical studies performed. After assessing the collected studies, we selected those that presented the elderly as participants, resulting in nine papers (N=3069). A random-effects method was used to evaluate the relationship between depression and sleep. We found that an older person's lack of good sleep quality is significantly related with depression. The main limitation of this study was the difficulty in collecting a greater number of studies. Future research should consider the importance of additional variables (e.g. moderators) in order to understand and investigate viable interventions for prevention and health promotion in the elderly.
- Duplication of Dio3 genes in teleost fish and their divergent expression in skin during flatfish metamorphosisPublication . Alves, Ricardo; Cardoso, João CR; Harboe, T.; Martins, Rute; Manchado, M.; Norberg, B.; Power, LouiseDeiodinase 3 (Dio3) plays an essential role during early development in vertebrates by controlling tissue thyroid hormone (TH) availability. The Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) possesses duplicate dio3 genes (dio3a and dio3b). Expression analysis indicates that dio3b levels change in abocular skin during metamorphosis and this suggests that this enzyme is associated with the divergent development of larval skin to the juvenile phenotype. In larvae exposed to MMI, a chemical that inhibits TH production, expression of dio3b in ocular skin is significantly up-regulated suggesting that THs normally modulate this genes expression during this developmental event. The molecular basis for divergent dio3a and dio3b expression and responsiveness to MMI treatment is explained by the multiple conserved TREs in the proximal promoter region of teleost dio3b and their absence from the promoter of dio3a. We propose that the divergent expression of dio3 in ocular and abocular skin during halibut metamorphosis contributes to the asymmetric pigment development in response to THs. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
- Exploring strategic multi-leveraging of sport tourism events: An action-research studyPublication . Martins, Rute; Mascarenhas, Margarida; Pereira, ElsaStrategic planning of sport events should promote the maximisation of local communities' benefits. Among other dimensions of interest to the host destination's stakeholders, given the aim of sustainable development, sport events leveraging must integrate economic, social and environmental perspectives, justifying its multidimensional extensiveness. The general objective of this study was to stimulate and understand the process of planning and implementing strategic multi-leverage of international open water swimming events hosted in Portugal, in 2022, addressing the economic, social, environmental, partners and sport dimensions. This study employed a case study approach within an action-research methodology. The research design covered three action-research stages: planning, implementation and analysis. The data collection combined nominal group sessions, field observation, document analysis and interviews. The qualitative analysis used the triangulation of the data collected, and the content analysis was performed using the NVivo software. Actions were strategically planned targeting economic, social, environmental, partners, and sport dimensions, albeit with a prominent focus on economic and sport leverage. Excluding sport, the implementation of strategic actions ensured all dimensions' operationalisation. Six constraints (e.g. little adherence from local partners) and three drivers (e.g. commitment and authority of the leverage coordinating team) conditioned the strategic leverage implementation. The strategic planning of future sport events should outline actions that intensify the destination’s image, focusing the attention of stakeholders on valuing the natural attributes. This study strengthened knowledge about the multi-leverage approach applied to two sport events, reinforcing the need to implement cross-leveraging among the aforementioned dimensions to enhance the success of strategic leverage.
- Exploring the relationship between sport demand's key players and environmental sustainability: pointers from a systematic reviewPublication . Martins, Rute; Pereira, Elsa; Rosado, António; Mascarenhas, MargaridaA systematic literature review was conducted to explore the relation between key players of the demand for sport and the environmental sustainability, within the 2013-2019 timeframe. Data were collected from four scientific databases and scrutinized by the PRISMA protocol. Quantitative systematic literature review and content analysis, supported by Nvivo 11 and EndNote X7 software, were the methodologies used for data analysis. The results provided by the 142 selected studies highlighted tourism and recreation as the most scrutinized areas by recent research on this relationship. Compared to spectators and local residents, the nature-based sport practitioners were the furthest analysed type of sport consumers. The most pursued research objective relates to the behavioural driving factors. Among the environmental action's encouraging causes, psychological factors were emphasized. Promoting the sport consumer's environmental education, along with the improvement of the environmental communication developed by the organizations integrating the sport offer, were the greatest management recommendations to induce ecological behavioural change. Future studies should focus on deepening the knowledge on the spectators' and local residents' relation with environmental sustainability, namely through the comparison of practitioners and non-practitioners, so that sport can assert itself more effectively in the implementation of environmental sustainability.
- Galanin and prolactin expression in relation to parental care in two sympatric cichlid species from Lake TanganyikaPublication . Cunha-Saraiva, Filipa; Martins, Rute; Power, Deborah; Balshine, Sigal; Schaedelin, Franziska C.Our understanding of the hormonal mechanisms underlying parental care mainly stems from research on species with uniparental care. Far less is known about the physiological changes underlying motherhood and fatherhood in biparental caring species. Here, using two biparental caring cichlid species (Neolamprologus caudopunctatus and Neolamprologus pulcher), we explored the relative gene-expression levels of two genes implicated in the control of parental care, galanin (gal) and prolactin (prl). We investigated whole brain gene expression levels in both, male and female caring parents, as well as in non-caring individuals of both species. Caring males had higher prl and gal mRNA levels compared to caring females in both fish species. Expression of gal was highest when young were mobile and the need for parental defense was greatest and gal was lowest during the more stationary egg tending phase in N. caudopunctatus. The onset of parenthood was associated with lower expression of prl and higher expression of gal in N. pulcher, but this pattern was not observed in N. caudopunctatus. Our study demonstrates that gal gene expression is correlated with changes in parental care in two biparental cichlid species and extends both knowledge and taxonomic coverage of the possible neurogenetic mechanisms underlying parental care.
- Galanin isoforms by alternative splicing: structure, expression, and immunohistochemical location in the gonads of European sea bassPublication . Martins, Rute; Sousa, Carmen; Andrade, André; Molés, Gregorio; Zanuy, Silvia; Gómez, Ana; Canario, Adelino; Pinto, PatríciaGalanin (Gal) is a neuropeptide with multiple functions that is widely expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems of vertebrates. Anatomical and functional evidence suggests a possible role in regulating reproduction in fishes. To test this possibility, we have isolated and characterized two gal alternative transcripts in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) that encode two prepropeptides, respectively of 29 (gal_MT853221) and 53 (gal_MT853222) amino acids. The two gal transcripts are highly expressed in brain, pituitary and gonads, and appear to be differentially regulated in males and females. In males, gal_MT853222 in the hypothalamus and gal_MT853221 in the pituitary were downregulated with the progression of spermatogenesis (stages I-III). Both transcripts are downregulated in testicles of 1-year (precocious) and 2-year spermiating males compared to immature fish of the same age. Gal peptides and receptors are expressed throughout ovarian development in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis of females. In the testis, immunoreactive Gal-29 and Gal-53 peptides were detected in blood vessels and Leydig cells during the spermatogenesis stages I-III but Gal immunostaining was barely undetected in more advanced stages. In the ovary, both peptides localized in interstitial cells and blood vessels and in theca cells surrounding the maturing oocytes. The immunolocalization of galanin in Leydig and theca cells suggests a possible role in steroid production regulation. The different pattern of gal expression and Gal localization in the testis and ovary may suggest the possibility that androgens and estrogens may also regulate Gal gene transcription and translation. Altogether, this study showed evidence for the possible involvement of locally produced Gal in gametogenesis and that its production is differentially regulated in male and female gonads.
- Long live FOXO: unraveling the role of FOXO proteins in aging and longevityPublication . Martins, Rute; Lithgow, Gordon J.; Link, WolfgangAging constitutes the key risk factor for age-related diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders. Human longevity and healthy aging are complex phenotypes influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. The fact that genetic contribution to lifespan strongly increases with greater age provides basis for research on which protective genes are carried by long-lived individuals. Studies have consistently revealed FOXO (Forkhead box O) transcription factors as important determinants in aging and longevity. FOXO proteins represent a subfamily of transcription factors conserved from Caenorhabditis elegans to mammals that act as key regulators of longevity downstream of insulin and insulin-like growth factor signaling. Invertebrate genomes have one FOXO gene, while mammals have four FOXO genes: FOXO1, FOXO3, FOXO4, and FOXO6. In mammals, this subfamily is involved in a wide range of crucial cellular processes regulating stress resistance, metabolism, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Their role in longevity determination is complex and remains to be fully elucidated. Throughout this review, the mechanisms by which FOXO factors contribute to longevity will be discussed in diverse animal models, from Hydra to mammals. Moreover, compelling evidence of FOXOs as contributors for extreme longevity and health span in humans will be addressed.
- PACAP system evolution and its role in melanophore function in teleost fish skinPublication . CR Cardoso, Joao; C. Félix, Rute; Martins, Rute; M., Trindade; G Fonseca, Vera; Fuentes, Xoan; Power, DeborahPituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) administered to tilapia melanophores ex-vivo causes significant pigment aggregation and this is a newly identified function for this peptide in fish. The G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), adcyap1r1a (encoding Pac1a) and vipr2a (encoding Vpac2a), are the only receptors in melanophores with appreciable levels of expression and are significantly (p < 0.05) down-regulated in the absence of light. Vpac2a is activated exclusively by peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), which suggests that Pac1a mediates the melanin aggregating effect of PACAP on melanophores. Paradoxically activation of Pac1a with PACAP caused a rise in cAMP, which in fish melanophores is associated with melanin dispersion. We hypothesise that the duplicate adcyap1ra and vipr2a genes in teleosts have acquired a specific role in skin and that the melanin aggregating effect of PACAP results from the interaction of Pac1a with Ramp that attenuates cAMP-dependent PKA activity and favours the Ca(2+)/Calmodulin dependent pathway.
- Paragangliomas/pheochromocytomas: clinically oriented genetic testingPublication . Martins, Rute; Bugalho, Maria JoaoParagangliomas are rare neuroendocrine tumors that arise in the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic paragangliomas are mainly found in the adrenal medulla (designated pheochromocytomas) but may also have a thoracic, abdominal, or pelvic localization. Parasympathetic paragangliomas are generally located at the head or neck. Knowledge concerning the familial forms of paragangliomas has greatly improved in recent years. Additionally to the genes involved in the classical syndromic forms: VHL gene (von Hippel-Lindau), RET gene (Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia type 2), and NF1 gene (Neurofibromatosis type 1), 10 novel genes have so far been implicated in the occurrence of paragangliomas/pheochromocytomas: SDHA, SDHB, SDHC, SDHD, SDHAF2, TMEM127, MAX, EGLN1, HIF2A, and KIF1B. It is currently accepted that about 35% of the paragangliomas cases are due to germline mutations in one of these genes. Furthermore, somaticmutations of RET, VHL, NF1, MAX, HIF2A, and H-RAS can also be detected. The identification of the mutation responsible for the paraganglioma/pheochromocytoma phenotype in a patient may be crucial in determining the treatment and allowing specific follow-up guidelines, ultimately leading to a better prognosis. Herein, we summarize the most relevant aspects regarding the genetics and clinical aspects of the syndromic and nonsyndromic forms of pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma aiming to provide an algorithm for genetic testing.