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- Advances and practical lessons in fungal contamination exposure assessment: integrating field sampling and laboratory analysesPublication . Viegas, CarlaThe presence of microorganisms, and more specifically fungal contamination, may result from: 1) natural colonization of organic material present at the site; 2) intentional addition (e.g., in the food industry. Each collected sample is unique: its composition varies over time and space (in terms of species abundance and diversity). Assessing exposure to microbiological agents (including fungi) is a challenging task. Exposure can be estimated using a variety of sampling methods; however, each is unique and requires a specific methodology. Sampling is done to verify and quantify the presence of microorganisms in the air or contamination of materials, to identify sources of contamination, to monitor the effectiveness of implemented control measures, and to assess human exposure. Exposure assessment of microorganisms can be carried out using qualitative or quantitative methods, or a combination of both. Qualitative assessment includes visual and olfactory observations resulting from damage in indoor environments, such as damage caused by water infiltration.
- Environmental sleep disruptors: the role of thermal comfort and CO2 levelsPublication . Belo, Joana; Gonçalves, Sara; Mendez, S.; Bartolomeu, S.; Bárbara, P.; Meira-Cruz, M.; Geraldes, V.; Almeida-Silva, Marina; Carolino, Elisabete; Lage, JoanaIntroduction: Sleep is a vital physiological process essential for physical recovery, cognitive function, and emotional balance. Its quality is influenced not only by individual and behavioral factors but also by environmental conditions in the sleep setting. Among these, thermal comfort and indoor air quality, particularly ambient temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, are increasingly recognized as important modulators of sleep architecture and continuity. Suboptimal thermal conditions and elevated CO2 levels may impair sleep efficiency, reduce total sleep time, and increase the frequency of nocturnal awakenings. This study presents preliminary data from the HypnosAir Project (www.hypnosair.com), which investigates the impact of indoor environmental conditions on sleep quality.
- Impact of nocturnal air pollution on sleep quality and emergency health service utilization for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions in Portugal: an ecological analysis using open dataPublication . Meira e Cruz, M.; Geraldes, V.; Rocha, I.; Belo, Joana; Lage, Joana; Winck, J.Introduction: Poor air quality is a recognized risk factor for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Nocturnal exposure to air pollutants may further impair sleep quality, compounding health risks and increasing emergency healthcare utilization. The interplay between nighttime environmental stressors and sleep disruption remains underexplored in the Portuguese context. With this work, the authors aimed to examine the association between nocturnal air pollution, sleep quality indicators, and emergency department visits for respiratory and cardiovascular complaints across multiple regions in Portugal.
- Pregnancy and SCD: addressing the gaps in medical surveillance in low-and middle-income countriesPublication . Ginete, Catarina; Brito, Miguel; Mendes, Manuela; Simão, Fernanda; Vasconcelos, JocelyneIntroduction: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a severe hereditary genetic condition, and pregnancy in these patients may lead to the exacerbation of symptoms and severe complications, such as eclampsia, pre-eclampsia, stroke, perinatal and maternal death. This study aimed to identify pregnancy complications and their association with genetic variability in women with SCD at Maternidade Lucrecia Paim, Luanda, Angola. Methods: Pregnant SCD women followed at Maternidade Lucrecia Paim, Luanda, Angola, between June 2021 and March 2024, were invited to participate in the study. Sociodemographic data, information about previous manifestations of the disease, and pregnancies were collected. Pregnancy monitoring included hematological, biochemical, and genetic analysis (SCD genotype, HBB haplotype, and 3.7 kb deletion of the α-globin gene). Results: A total of 162 SCD patients were enrolled in this study, with ages ranging from 16 to 46. SS genotype was confirmed in 161 patients, and one patient presented with sickle beta-thalassemia. Moderate jaundice was identified in 15% and light jaundice in 59% of patients. Clinical history analysis shows that 91% of these patients have been hospitalized at least once, 81% of the time resulting from painful crisis episodes, and 79% received at least one transfusion. Overall, 18% of pregnancies resulted in stillbirth and 16% in spontaneous abortions. Regarding HBB haplotypes, 87% of women had the CAR/CAR haplotype, which is considered the most severe. These CAR/CAR patients presented lower RBC (p = 0.05), hemoglobin (p = 0.008), and HCT (p = 0.041), and higher LDH (p = 0.010). The perinatal survival rate was also inferior in these patients (64% vs. 82%). Also, the presence of the T allele in the polymorphism rs968857, in the region of the δ-globin gene (HBD), seems to be associated with a lower rate of miscarriages (p = 0.044) and the number of livebirths (p = 0.045). The presence of 3.7 alpha thalassemia deletion has been associated with better prognosis in SCD patients. In this cohort, 12% of women were homozygous for the deletion, and 36% were heterozygous. Homozygous patients presented lower WBC (p = 0.004), MCV (p = 0.013), MCH (p < 0.001), MCHC (p = 0.003), total and direct bilirubin (p < 0.001 and p = 0.012), and higher RBC (p < 0.001) and HCT (p = 0.004). Although not statistically significant (p = 0.072), homozygous individuals presented a higher rate of livebirths (85% vs. 63%) than other genotypes. Conclusion: The high rates of miscarriages and fetal death associated with SCD demonstrate the urgent need to invest in medical surveillance for these women, especially in countries where the prevalence of the disease is high and the resources are limited. The early identification of the most severe phenotypes will allow the implementation of preventive strategies to help reduce the risk of severe outcomes.
- Microwave heating as an alternative to conventional drying ovens for histological section adhesion: evaluation across different tissue typesPublication . Anselmo, Beatriz; Laranjeiro, Marisa; Novo, Maria Manuela; Ferro, Amadeu José BorgesAdequate adhesion of histological sections to glass slides is essential for reliable microscopic evaluation and accurate clinical diagnosis. Conventionally, section adhesion is achieved using drying ovens, a method known for its effectiveness but requiring high energy consumption and substantial laboratory space. Microwave oven heating has emerged as a potential alternative, offering faster processing and lower operational costs; however, its effectiveness for slide adhesion has not been systematically validated across different tissue types. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of microwave heating at 8000W as an alternative to conventional oven drying for histological section adhesion.
- Contraste em microscopia eletrónica de transmissão: as alternativas emergentes ao acetato de uranilo (revisão sistemática)Publication . Correia, Sara; Pipio, Eva; Santos, Raquel; Pinto, Andreia; Ferro, AmadeuTransmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a key technique for nanometric ultrastructural analysis in biomedical research. Uranyl acetate (UA) has long been the contrast agent of choice due to its high electron density and affinity for cellular components. However, UA is a radioactive, nephrotoxic, potentially carcinogenic, and subject to strict regulation by the European Chemicals Agency, prompting the need for safer alternatives. This systematic review aimed to evaluate whether non-radioactive substitutes for UA preserve ultrastructural image quality while improving laboratory safety.
- Política sobre Acesso Aberto a publicações científicas resultantes de investigação financiada pela FCTPublication . Antunes, Maria Luz; Lopes, CarlosA Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) lançou a sua nova Política sobre Acesso Aberto a Publicações Científicas resultantes de investigação financiada pela FCT, que se traduz numa revisão e atualização significativas dos mecanismos em vigor desde 2014. A revisão da anterior Política resulta da experiência da sua aplicação ao longo dos últimos 10 anos, dos desenvolvimentos muito significativos verificados no tratamento do acesso aberto por instituições das quais Portugal faz parte, tais como a UNESCO ou a União Europeia (UE), e também da crescente consciência dos benefícios da publicação em acesso aberto, como forma de disseminar o acesso ao conhecimento. Os contornos desta revisão são também orientados pela adesão da FCT ao Plano S, promovido pela cOAlition S e apoiado pela Science Europe. [sic FCT]
- Não te deixes enganar! Projeto de literacia no combate à desinformação no ensino superiorPublication . Lopes, Carlos; Antunes, Maria Luz; Sanches, TatianaNo presente projeto pretende-se explorar os desafios e implicações práticas do Referencial no domínio da desinformação, incluindo a adaptabilidade e adequação face a potenciais enganos, considerações de confidencialidade, direitos de autor e manipulação de informação, entre outros fenómenos que influenciam as crenças na informação. É de salientar o papel evolutivo no ensino superior de profissionais da informação e professores como colaboradores cruciais no combate à desinformação, através de instrumentos pedagógicos e iniciativas práticas. O objetivo principal é desenvolver uma reflexão fundamentada e apresentar considerações e recomendações para que profissionais da informação, professores do ensino superior e investigadores possam capacitar e contribuir significativamente para a aprendizagem dos estudantes acerca desta matéria. Ao delinear estratégias bem-sucedidas e oferecer perspetivas, a investigação fornecerá recursos valiosos para os estudantes que procuram enfrentar ativamente os desafios colocados pela desinformação e promover a literacia da informação nas suas comunidades de aprendizagem.
- The impact of cold ischaemia time on the immunolabelling of oestrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2: a systematic reviewPublication . Noje, Madalina; Silva, Ana; Maia-Matos, Mário; Borges-Ferro, AMain goal: Evaluate the impact of cold ischemia time on the IHC labeling of ER, PGR, and HER2.
- Mudança educacional e liderança: criação do curso de Ciências Biomédicas Laboratoriais em PortugalPublication . Borges-Ferro, AObjetivos: 1) Caracterizar os motivos que levaram à criação dos ciclos de estudo; 2) Caracterizar as heurísticas desenvolvidas pelos líderes ao longo da criação dos ciclos de estudo; 3) Descrever as facilidades e dificuldades encontradas ao longo da criação dos ciclos de estudo; 4) Descrever as vantagens e desvantagens que a criação dos ciclos de estudo ofereceu; e 5) Nomear e caracterizar as Forças, Fraquezas, Oportunidades e Ameaças (análise SWOT) que se apresentaram no percurso de criação dos ciclos de estudo.