RCIPL
Institutional Repository of the Lisbon Polytechnic
Recent Submissions
The International Collaboration of Pharmacy Journal Editors (ICPJE) formally constituted to foster quality around clinical and social pharmacy practice research publications
Publication . Alves da Costa, Filipa; Fernandez-Llimos, Fernando; Desselle, Shane; Arnet, Isabelle; Babar, Zaheer; Bond, Christine; Cordina, Maria; Garcia Cardenas, Victoria; El Hajj, Maguy S.; Jacobsen, Ramune; Law, Anandi V.; Nørgaard, Lotte S.; Polidori, Carlo; Shcherbakova, Natalia; Stewart, Derek; Tonin, Fernanda; Weidmann, Anita E.
The Granada statements were a result of the need to strengthen clinical, social, and administrative pharmacy practice as an area of knowledge that translates into practice, research and policy. As a response, a group of clinical and social pharmacy practice journal editors launched an initiative in Granada in 2022 to discuss ways to improve the quality of publications in this area, which culminated in the Granada statements. Eighteen statements were developed, clustered into six main domains: (1) the appropriate use of terminology; (2) developing impactful abstracts; (3) having the required peer reviews; (4) preventing journal scattering; (5) more effective and wiser use of journal and article performance metrics; and (6) authors' selection of the most appropriate pharmacy practice journal to submit their work. The full Granada statements have been published in 14 journals. These pioneering statements are rooted in similar endeavors undertaken by scholars in other health professions groups, fostering the concept of interdisciplinary consensus and advancing the scientific paradigm.
Functional asymmetries after 6 months of ACL reconstruction: a cross‐sectional study
Publication . Nuno, Sérgio Loureiro; Romero‐Morales, Carlos; López‐López, Daniel; Losa‐Iglesias, Marta Elena; Becerro‐de‐Bengoa‐Vallejo, Ricardo; Gómez‐Salgado, Juan; Guerra, João; Saavedra‐García, Miguel Ángel
Functional tests commonly assess athletes' readiness to return to sports after knee surgery. Despite this, there are still more studies on clinical and patient-reported outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine differences and combinations of various functional performances within and between athletes 6 months after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) for the first time (ACLR-I group), versus second ACL injury on the same knee (ACLR-II group), versus ACLR procedures on both legs (ACLR-III group). A total of 88 patients with ACLR performed single-leg hop (maximum forward distance hop, SLH; side hop > 40 cm in 30 s, SH), Functional Movement Screen (FMS), and dynamic postural balance (Y Balance Test - YBT). Data were recorded during return-to-sport testing (6 months post-surgery). For each variable, a mixed-model analysis of variance, with a between-subjects factor of group (primary ACL injury, recurrent ACL injury, and bilateral ACL injury) and a within-subjects factor of limb (involved, uninvolved), was conducted. Differences between the groups were found in different degrees of inter-limb asymmetry in the single-leg hop (p < 0.001) and side hop test (p < 0.02). There was a main effect of limb for the anterior and posteromedial YBT distances, and the single-leg hop and side hop test distances (p ≤ 0.04). For each variable, performance was worse for the involved limb compared to the uninvolved limb. Individuals after recurrent ACLR showed greater functional asymmetries at 6 months of treatment. Jumping tests detected greater performance deficits compared to YBT and FMS.
Tubulin acetylation: a critical regulator of microtubule function
Publication . Delgado, Inês L.; Carmona, Bruno; Nolasco, Sofia; Marques, Rita; Gonçalves, João; Soares, Helena; Halasa, M.; Wawruszak, A.
The cytoskeleton is conserved throughout the eukaryotic lineage and consists of a complex dynamic network mainly composed of three distinct polymers: microtubules (MTs), actin filaments, and intermediate filaments. MTs are polymers of α/β-tubulin heterodimers, playing a myriad of distinct cellular functions, and are the main components of complex structures like the mitotic spindle, cilia, and centrioles. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) regulate the function and increase the complexity of the α/β-tubulin heterodimer pools. One of the PTMs that has been extensively studied is the acetylation of lysine 40 (K40) on α-tubulin, which specifically occurs inside the MT lumen. Acetylation plays a crucial role in controlling the stability and function of MTs in response to signals from within and outside the cell. It impacts the cytoplasm's 3D arrangement and important cellular activities like intracellular transport, cell division, polarity, and migration. Recent research has also emphasized the significance of this PTM in regulating the mechanical properties of MTs and cellular sensing. The levels and activity of MT acetyltransferases and deacetylases are tightly regulated through various transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational mechanisms, including miRNAs, phosphorylation, protein-protein interactions, and regulated localization between the nucleus and cytoplasm. These regulatory processes involve components of diverse signaling pathways, and their deregulation has been implicated in numerous diseases, including neurological disorders, cancer, and cardiac conditions.
Blockchain: a assimetria de informação e a eficiência das práticas de governança corporativa nas organizações
Publication . Gomes Van-Dúnem, Joana Daniela; Gomes, Orlando
Esta tese explora a influência da tecnologia blockchain na redução da assimetria de informação e na eficiência das práticas de governança corporativa. A assimetria de informação ocorre quando uma parte tem mais ou melhores informações do que outra, levando a desequilíbrios e ineficiências na gestão corporativa. A tecnologia blockchain, caracterizada pela sua descentralização, transparência e imutabilidade, promete mitigar esses problemas, oferecendo soluções para melhorar a transparência e a responsabilidade nas organizações. O estudo analisa como a blockchain pode transformar as práticas de governança, focando a sua aplicação no rastreamento de transações, auditorias em tempo real e gestão de registos. A pesquisa inclui dois estudos de caso detalhados da plataforma Lympid, uma fintech que usa a blockchain para oferecer investimentos descentralizados e transparentes e a da Iberdrola, empresa líder mundial no ramo da energia, que lançou uma plataforma de 'compliance' com a tecnologia blockchain, em conjunto com a Associação de Registradores, a Deloitte e o Instituto dos Oficiais de Compliance.
A análise revela que, apesar dos desafios na implementação e adaptação da blockchain, a tecnologia tem o potencial de melhorar significativamente as práticas de governança corporativa, promovendo um ambiente mais transparente e equitativo. O estudo conclui que a blockchain pode desempenhar um papel crucial na evolução das práticas de governança fornecendo ferramentas para uma gestão mais eficaz e confiável das informações corporativas. A integração da blockchain representa um avanço importante para enfrentar os desafios associados à assimetria de informação.
Tubulin acetylation and the cellular mechanosensing and stress response
Publication . Carmona, Bruno; Delgado, Inês L. S.; Nolasco, Sofia; Marques, Rita; Gonçalves, João; Soares, Helena; Halasa, M.; Wawruszak, A.
Microtubule (MT) acetylation has emerged as a critical regulator of cellular stress responses, integrating mechanical and oxidative stimuli to support cellular adaptability and survival. This post-translational modification (PTM) enhances MT flexibility and resilience, enabling cells to withstand mechanical challenges such as changes in extracellular matrix stiffness and applied forces. Through its impact on MT physical properties, acetylation minimizes cytoskeletal breakage, reducing the need for constant remodeling and supporting cellular integrity under mechanical stress. Furthermore, tubulin acetylation regulates intracellular trafficking by modulating interactions with molecular motors, allowing for efficient cargo transport and precise spatial organization without disrupting the MT network. In the context of oxidative stress, tubulin acetylation responds to redox imbalances by stabilizing MTs and influencing cellular pathways that regulate reactive oxygen species (ROS). This modification is linked to enhanced antioxidant responses, autophagy regulation, and mitochondrial dynamics, highlighting its role in maintaining cellular homeostasis under oxidative conditions. The dual function of tubulin acetylation, responding to and integrating signals from mechanical and oxidative stress, acts as a bridging mechanism between physical and chemical signaling pathways. Consequently, it has the potential to be a therapeutic target in diseases characterized by dysregulated stress responses, including neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular conditions. Despite significant progress having been made, unanswered questions persist, particularly regarding the molecular mechanisms by which acetylated MTs encode spatial and functional information and their interplay with other tubulin PTMs.