Warfarin Pharmacogenomics: Designing Electrochemical DNA-Based Sensors to Detect *2 Gene Variation.

Background/objectives: The CYP2C9 enzyme is involved in the metabolism of warfarin. The gene harbors several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including (rs1799853), which is known to affect warfarin's therapeutic response. So, it is important to develop analytical tools capable of genotyping these SNPs to adjust warfarin's therapeutic outcomes.

Eco-Friendly Biocomposites from Chestnut Waste: Production, Optimization, Characterization, and Application.

This study explores the valorization of non-commercial chestnut waste from the Portuguese chestnut industry to develop biocomposites. The composites were obtained by hot compression molding, and a Box-Behnken Design model was employed to optimize the mechanical, thermal, and water resistance properties of the chestnut-based composite, using fruit and shell fibers, respectively, as the polymeric matrix and reinforcement agent. The optimal formulation, comprising 70% chestnut, no glycerol, a molding temperature of 120 °C, and applying a pressure of 2.

Optimized Extraction Protocols for Bioactive Antioxidants from Commercial Seaweeds in Portugal: A Comparative Study of Techniques.

This study aimed to optimize the extraction conditions for a valuable source of antioxidants: seaweed. Therefore, ten seaweed samples were subjected to a solid-liquid extraction (SLE), where the extraction conditions (biomass (g): solvent (mL) ratio, temperature, and time) were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The seaweeds were also subjected to subcritical water extraction (SWE) (140 and 190 °C) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) (10 and 20 min).

Valorization of Strawberry Tree Berries and Beeswax from Montesinho Natural Park for Cosmetic Industry-A Case Study Formulation.

Consumers are increasingly concerned about cosmetic ingredients' origin, looking more than ever to sustainable and greener formulations. The Natural Park of Montesinho, located in Portugal, is characterized by an enormous fauna and flora diversity. Among them, beeswax and strawberry trees () have attracted the cosmetic researchers' interest due to their bioactive compounds' richness, particularly fatty acids and phenolic compounds.

Exploring the Potential of Invasive Species : Microwave-Assisted Extraction Optimization and Bioactivity Profiling.

(SM) poses a serious environmental issue since it is a fast-expanding invasive species occupying key areas of the European shoreline, disrupting the autochthonous algae species, and disturbing the ecosystem. This problem has concerned the general population and the scientific community. Nevertheless, as macroalgae are recognized as a source of bioactive molecules, the abundance of SM presents an opportunity as a raw material.

Potential Therapeutic Properties of Leaves from Selected Cultivars Based on Their Mineral and Organic Profiles.

Olive leaves are consumed as an extract or as a whole herbal powder with several potential therapeutic benefits attributed to polyphenols, tocopherol's isomers, and flavonoids, among others. This study assessed the potential variance in the functional features presented by olive leaves from three different Portuguese cultivars-Cobrançosa, Madural, and Verdeal-randomly mix-cultivated in the geographical area of Vale de Salgueiros. Inorganic analysis determined their mineral profiles while an organic analysis measured their total phenolic and flavonoid content, and scanned their phenolic and tocopherol and fatty acid composition.

Evaluating the impact of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bioaccumulation in adipose tissue of obese women.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread across the environment and humans are unavoidably and constantly exposed to them. As lipophilic contaminants, these substances tend to accumulate in fatty tissues as adipose tissue and exposure to these endocrine disruptors has been associated with severe health hazards including prevalence and incidence of obesity. Previous studies have shown significantly higher concentrations of PAHs in adipose tissue compared to other human samples, such as urine and plasma, which are typically used for PAHs assessment.

Trace Elements in Portuguese Children: Urinary Levels and Exposure Predictors.

Exposure to environmental chemicals during developmental stages can result in several adverse outcomes. In this study, the exposure of Portuguese children to Cu, Co, I, Mo, Mn, Ni, As, Sb, Cd, Pb, Sn and Tl was evaluated through the analysis of first morning urine through ICP-MS. Furthermore, we attempted to determine possible exposure predictors.

Development of an electrochemical DNA-based biosensor for the detection of the cardiovascular pharmacogenetic-altering SNP CYP2C9*3.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the major causes of mortality and morbidity. Warfarin is often prescribed for these disorders, an anticoagulant with inter and intra-dosage variability dose required to achieve the target international normalized ratio. Warfarin presents a narrow therapeutic index, and due to its variability, it can often be associated with the risk of hemorrhage, or in other patients, thromboembolism.

Optimization of a simple, effective, and greener methodology for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon extraction from human adipose tissue.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmentally persistent organic pollutants formed during incomplete combustion and pyrolysis processes. Humans are continuously exposed to PAHs which are linked to severe health effects such as diabetes, cancer, infertility, and poor foetal development, amongst others. PAHs are lipophilic compounds prone to accumulating in adipose tissue.

Association of 3-Phenoxybenzoic Acid Exposure during Pregnancy with Maternal Outcomes and Newborn Anthropometric Measures: Results from the IoMum Cohort Study.

The aims of this study were to characterize the exposure of pregnant women living in Portugal to 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA) and to evaluate the association of this exposure with maternal outcomes and newborn anthropometric measures. We also aimed to compare exposure in summer with exposure in winter. Pregnant women attending ultrasound scans from April 2018 to April 2019 at a central hospital in Porto, Portugal, were invited to participate.

Bioactive Compounds of Shrimp Shell Waste from and from Portuguese Coast.

The production and consumption of shrimp species create massive amounts of shrimp bio-waste. In this study, shrimp shell waste from and from the Portuguese coast was characterized. Regarding the antioxidant capacity, the obtained values were between 4.

Graphene-Type Materials for the Dispersive Solid-Phase Extraction Step in the QuEChERS Method for the Extraction of Brominated Flame Retardants from Cultivars.

A new application of graphene-type materials as an alternative cleanup sorbent in a quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) procedure combined with GC-ECD/GC-MS/GC-MS/MS detection was successfully used for the simultaneous analysis of 12 brominated flame retardants in cultivar samples. The chemical, structural, and morphological properties of the graphene-type materials were evaluated. The materials exhibited good adsorption capability of matrix interferents without compromising the extraction efficiency of target analytes when compared with other cleanups using commercial sorbents.

Seasonal and Spatial Comparison of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Among Decapod Shrimp from Coastal Portugal.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous global pollutants that are lipophilic, bioaccumulative and can be both endocrine disruptors and carcinogens. In this study, we measured 18 PAHs among decapod shrimp samples (Palaemon spp.) collected during the spring and autumn from multiple locations along the Portuguese coastal, including local markets and aquaculture farms.

Biofortified Diets Containing Algae and Selenised Yeast: Effects on Growth Performance, Nutrient Utilization, and Tissue Composition of Gilthead Seabream ().

Efforts have been made to find natural, highly nutritious alternatives to replace fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO), which can simultaneously promote fish health and improve the nutritional quality of filets for human consumption. This study evaluated the impact of biofortified diets containing microalgae (as replacement for FM and FO), macroalgae (as natural source of iodine) and selenised yeast (organic source of selenium) on gilthead seabream growth, nutrient utilization, tissue composition and gene expression. A control diet (CTRL) with 15% FM and 5.

Impact of brominated flame retardants on lipid metabolism: An in vitro approach.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are chemicals employed to lower the flammability of several objects. These endocrine disruptor chemicals are lipophilic and persistent in the environment. Due to these characteristics some have been restricted or banned by the European Union, and replaced by several new chemicals, the novel BFRs (NBFRs).

Evaluating the Lipid Quality of Yellowfin Tuna () Harvested from Different Oceans by Their Fatty Acid Signatures.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the fishing location on yellowfin tuna's (YFT; ) white muscle total lipid (TL) content and fatty acid profile. The comparison included 45 YFT loins, equally divided between the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. The ocean had no significant influence on YFT TL content, total PUFA and total n-3 PUFA ( > 0.

The role of adipose tissue analysis on Environmental Pollutants Biomonitoring in women: The European scenario.

Humans are exposed every day to assorted environmental pollutants namely, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), organochlorine pesticides (OCP), brominated flame-retardants (BFR), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), synthetic musks, heavy metals (e.g. cadmium) and plastic additives (e.

Validation and Evaluation of Selected Organic Pollutants in Shrimp and Seawater Samples from the NW Portuguese Coast.

The development of coastal regions has contributed to the intensification of environmental contamination, which can accumulate in aquatic biota, such as shrimps. These crustaceans, besides being delicious and being a good source of nutrients, can also accumulate environmental pollutants. Amongst others, these include organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and synthetic musks (SMs).

Screening of Bioactive Properties in Brown Algae from the Northwest Iberian Peninsula.

Algae are an underexploited source of natural bioactive compounds in Western countries, so an increasing interest in the valorization of these marine organisms has emerged in recent years. In this work, the effect of extracting solvent on the extraction yield, phenolic content, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity of nine brown macroalgae species (, , , , , , , , and ) was assessed. Total phenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant properties of extracts by different assays: radical scavenging activity (DPPH-RSA) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were performed.

Semi-industrial development of nutritious and healthy seafood dishes from sustainable species.

This study aimed to devise innovative, tailor-made, appealing, tasty and semi-industrialized dishes, using sustainable and under-utilized seafood species (bib, common dab, common carp, blue mussel and blue whiting), that can meet the specific nutritional and functional needs of children (8-10-years), pregnant women (20-40-years) and seniors (≥60-years). Hence, contests were organised among cooking schools from 6 European countries and the best recipes/dishes were reformulated, semi-industrially produced and chemically and microbiologically evaluated. The dishes intended for: (i) children and pregnant women had EPA + DHA and I levels that reached the target quantities, supporting the claim as "high in I"; and (ii) seniors were "high in protein" (24.

Multi-residue analysis of fifty pesticides in river waters and in wastewaters.

Three sampling campaigns were performed in the Lis River (Leiria, Portugal) in February of 2018, November of 2018, and May of 2019. River water and wastewater (influent and effluent) samples of two wastewater treatment plants were target of the study. A total of 25 samples were collected and 50 pesticides were monitored, including organochlorines, triazines, pyrethroids, and organophosphorus, among others.

Bioactive Lipids of Seaweeds from the Portuguese North Coast: Health Benefits versus Potential Contamination.

The total lipid content and lipidic profile of seaweeds harvested in the North Coast and purchased in Portugal were determined in this paper. The amount of total lipids in the different species of seaweeds varied between 0.7 ± 0.

The antibacterial and angiogenic effect of magnesium oxide in a hydroxyapatite bone substitute.

Bone graft infections are serious complications in orthopaedics and the growing resistance to antibiotics is increasing the need for antibacterial strategies. The use of magnesium oxide (MgO) is an interesting alternative since it possesses broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Additionally, magnesium ions also play a role in bone regeneration, which makes MgO more appealing than other metal oxides.