Browsing by Author "Costa, Ricardo"
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- Côa Valley’s medicinal plants as potential cosmetic ingredients: cytotoxic and antioxidant screeningPublication . Marques, Mário Pedro; Landim, Euclides; Varela, Carla; Marques, Joana; Costa, Ricardo; Carvalho, Luís de; Carvalho, Aida; Oliveira, Paulo; Cabral, CéliaCôa Valley is a Northeast region of Portugal, classified as a UNESCO World Her- itage Site since 1998, and recognised as “the most important open-air Paleo- lithic rock art site”. So far, little is known about the natural endogenous resourc- es of this territory, namely medicinal plants. According to a preliminary ethnobotanical survey in this region, several medicinal plants were mentioned to have skin-beneficial effects. However, many of them still lacking scientific validation. Taking into account the results gathered during the survey carried in the CôaMedPlants project, the main goal of this investigation is to assess the cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity of selected species to incorporate them into scientific-validated plant- based cosmetic formulations and create an ex- clusive cosmetic brand for Côa Valley. Therefore, nine species were selected and their hydroalcoholic extracts (EtOH 80 %) were prepared. Their non-cyto- toxic concentrations were determined in vitro using the Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts (NHDF) cell line, by the evaluation of metabolic activity through the Alamar Blue assay, and cell mass estimation according to the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Most of the extracts revealed non-toxic concentrations ≤ 0.2 mg/mL using the NHDF cell model. Afterwards, non-cellular techniques were used to screen the antioxidant activity of these ethanolic extracts, through DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC and FRAP assays. From the 9 species studied, the most promising so far are: Arbutus unedo L., Cistus albidus L., Cistus salviifolius L., Lavandula pedunculata (Mill.) Cav. and Pistacia terebinthus L., which will be further investigated in- depth, to characterise their antioxidant potential using in vitro cell models.
- Hydrops fetalis associated with erythrocyte pyruvate kinase deficiencyPublication . Ferreira, Paula; Morais, Lurdes; Costa, Ricardo; Resende, C.; Dias, Clara Paz; Araújo, Filomena; Costa, Elísio; Barbot, José; Vilarinho, AntónioThe authors report a case of hydrops fetalis due to severe pyruvate kinase deficiency, the most unusual clinical manifestation of this disease. Conclusion Pyruvate kinase deficiency, as other erythrocyte enzymopathies, must be considered in the diferential diagnosis of non-immune hydrops fetalis. This has important implications for clinical investigations, therapy and genetic counselling.
- Hydrops fetalis não imune por anemia grave: a proposito de três casos clínicosPublication . Proença, Elisa; Morais, Lurdes; Costa, Ricardo; Marcelino, Fernanda; Costa, Elísio; Soares, Paula; Araújo, Filomena; Ferreira, Paula; Barbot, José
- Psychoactive substance consumption by Portuguese populationPublication . Pinto, Isabel C.; Pereira, Olívia R.; Fernandes, António; Nogueira, João; Costa, RicardoBACKGROUND: Increasing consumption of psychoactive substances is a major social concern worldwide. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of psychoactive substances consumption in the Portuguese population, lifetime and recently, the main reasons for the consumption and associated factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on the ASSIST applied to Portuguese population. It was used descriptive statistics, the qui-square, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Alcohol was the most consumed throughout life (86%), followed by xanthines (79%) and tobacco (60%). In the last 3 months, xanthines (49%) were the most consumed daily, followed by tobacco (22%) and alcohol (9%). Socializing was the main reason for consumption of alcohol (67%), tobacco (36%) and cannabis (34%). Anxiolytics have been used to sleep (50%) and xanthines to increase cognitive capacity (35%). Tobacco (p=0.016), alcohol (p=0.03) and illicit substances (p<0.001) were more consumed by men and anxiolytics by women (p=0.027). Alcohol (p=0.008), cannabis (p=0.027), and xanthines (p=0.009) were mostly consumed by young adults. CONCLUSIONS: The results reveal sporadic and recreational use of illicit substances, and regular use of alcohol, tobacco and xanthines, mostly by young adults and men, and anxiolytics by women. Socializing was the main reason for psychoactive substances consumption.
- Psychoactive substance consumption: a portuguese cross-sectional studyPublication . Pinto, Isabel C.; Pereira, Olívia R.; Fernandes, António; Nogueira, João; Costa, RicardoBACKGROUND: Increasing consumption of psychoactive substances is a major social concern worldwide. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of psychoactive substances consumption in the Portuguese, throughout their life as well as recently, and the main reasons for the consumption and associated factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) applied to a sample of 385 Portuguese obtained for convenience. It was used descriptive statistics, the Cui-square, Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Alcohol was the most consumed throughout life (86%), followed by xanthines (79%) and tobacco (60%). In the last 3 months, xanthines (49%) were the most consumed daily, followed by tobacco (22%) and alcohol (9%). Socializing was the main reason for consumption of alcohol (67%), tobacco (36%) and cannabis (34%) while anxiolytics have been used to sleep (50%) and xanthines to increase cognitive capacity (35%). Tobacco (p = 0.016), alcohol (p = 0.03) and illicit substances (p < 0.001) were more consumed by men and anxiolytics by women (p = 0.027). Alcohol (p = 0.008), cannabis (p = 0.027), and xanthines (p = 0.009) were mostly consumed by young adults. CONCLUSIONS: The results reveal sporadic and recreational use of illicit substances, and regular use of alcohol, tobacco and xanthines, mostly by young adults and men, and anxiolytics by women. Socializing was the main reason for psychoactive substances consumption.