Browsing by Author "Cunha, Joana"
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- Assessment of microbiological contamination in different catering units related to food handling in the district of BragançaPublication . Salgado, Ana; Cunha, Joana; Abreu, Jacinta; Barros, Pedro; Pires, Bruno; Nogueira, António José M.; Afonso, Andrea Luísa FernandesThe catering industry has developed over time, increasing the concern about the health and nutritional quality of the food. Therefore producers and food establishments are under pressure to improve the quality of their products and services in order to assure that food is safe and suitable for consumption. The microbial contamination of food is a major public health problem since it affects millions of people worldwide. Poor hygiene practices within the food processing environment can cause the contamination of food with pathogenic particles, which is a risk for the consumers health and safety. In establishments where food is manufactured and served, several measures regarding the control of the microbiologic contamination are needed. The majors microorganisms associated to food contamination are the bacterias due to the fact that they have a high pathogenicity and diversity. For an assessment of the hygienic conditions related to food handling is essential to know the sanitary conditions of the establishments since they can reduce the risks of food contamination. These food contaminations can cause adverse human health problems.
- Assessment of microbiological contamination in different catering units related to food handling in the district of BragançaPublication . Salgado, Ana; Cunha, Joana; Abreu, Jacinta; Barros, Pedro; Pires, Bruno; Nogueira, António José M.; Afonso, Andrea Luísa FernandesThe catering industry has developed over time, increasing the concern about the health and nutritional quality of the food. Therefore producers and food establishments are under pressure to improve the quality of their products and services in order to assure that food is safe and suitable for consumption. The microbial contamination of food is a major public health problem since it affects millions of people worldwide. Poor hygiene practices within the food processing environment can cause the contamination of food with pathogenic particles, which is a risk for the consumers health and safety. In establishments where food is manufactured and served, several measures regarding the control of the microbiologic contamination are needed. The majors microorganisms associated to food contamination are the bacterias due to the fact that they have a high pathogenicity and diversity. For an assessment of the hygienic conditions related to food handling is essential to know the sanitary conditions of the establishments since they can reduce the risks of food contamination. These food contaminations can cause adverse human health problems. Assessment of microbial contamination of the materials and hands of food handlers in different restoration units in the district of Bragança. In this project we analyzed 694 samples, 356hands and 338 utensils (crockery). It was conducted a microbiological assessment of the following microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, total and fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli in the hands of food handlers and analysis of total germs, total and fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli in handling utensils in different restoration units (day care centers, restaurants/snack bars, supermarkets/grocers; health center’s/hospitals, schools/kindergartens; butchers, fishmongers; delicatessens; dairies; hotels; governmental establishments). All the samples belong to the areas of Alfândega da Fé, Bragança, Carrazeda de Ansiães, Freixo de Espada à Cinta, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Mirandela, Mogadouro, Torre de Moncorvo, Vila Nova de Foz Côa,Vila Flôr, Vimioso and Vinhais,and were analyzed in the Public Health Laboratory of Bragança, in the period between January and December 2013. Excel - For the statistical analysis plan the program of Microsoft Office was used. Regarding the hands of manipulators, 53.67% of the cases showed contamination. The hands samples data analysis showed 28.74% of total coliform, 14.96% of fecal coliforms, 3.23% of Staphylococcus aureus and 6.74% of Escherichia coli. The contamination of crockery, cutlery and other kitchen utensils, was confirmed in 28.80% of the samples with “unsatisfactory” results and 10.87% with "bad” results. These contaminations stand out 91.67% of the samples with the presence of total germs, 53.47% with total coliforms, 27.78% with fecal coliforms and 15:28% with Escherichia coli . It was also found that 60.33% of the samples had “satisfactory" results. The classification of the cleanliness of glassware and/or cutlery is classified as satisfactory if the number of colonies is less than or equal to 100 CFU (Colony Forming Units) per piece and the detection of coliforms is negative, it is classified as “unsatisfactory” if the number of colonies is greater than 100 CFU per piece and/or if the presence of coliforms is positive, it may still be classified as “bad” when the search of fecal coliforms and/or the research of E. coli is positive. We concluded that food handler contamination is the main cause of poor hygiene in the food manipulation process. The level of hygiene registered in most samples of the crockery, cutlery and other kitchen utensils used in food manipulation process is satisfactory. And when compared with the samples from the food handlers these samples have better results, even though we still recorded some levels of contamination. In general, it is necessary to implement appropriate food hygiene measures in order to reduce these contaminants in the catering units.
- Diversity of fungal endophytic community in Quercus suber L. and detection of opportunistic phytopathogenic fungiPublication . Costa, Daniela; Cunha, Joana; Tavares, Rui Manuel; Baptista, Paula; Lino-Neto, TeresaCork oak (Quercus suber L.) is a species of high ecological importance in Mediterranean Basin and has high relevance for Portuguese economy due to cork production and processing. The sustainability of cork oak is currently being threatened by reduction of water availability that would increase the occurrence of diseases. Charcoal disease, caused by the fungus Biscogniauxia mediterrânea, leads to death of the tree. Diplodia corticola is involved in various diseases considered responsible for the decline of cork oak in Mediterranean Basin. To identify endophytic fungi in cork oak, including these opportunistic pathogens, four sites of continental Portugal (Bragança, Geres, Alcobaça and Grândola) with differences in water availability were selected to carry out the collection of biological material. The community of fungal endophytes of leaves, st^ms and roots was evaluated. The roots displayed a more diverse fungal community than the aboveground organs. Although no disease symptoms were detected in studied cork oaks, the referred pathogenic fungi were essentially affecting stems and leaves. In general, Grândola presented the highest colonization frequency and diversity of endophytes, while Alcobaça had the lowest. From ali studied sites, cork oaks from Geres showed the most distinct community and did not presentthose pathogens. D. corticola only infected southern regions, while S. mediterrânea also infected trees in Bragança. The exclusive presence of both pathogens in aboveground organs and the absence of visible disease symptoms in ali studied cork oaks encourage the searching of adequate biocontrol agents from the endophytic community for restricting these diseases in cork oak.
- Epidemiologia do cancro da traqueia, brônquios e pulmão em PortugalPublication . Fialho, Cristiana; Oliveira, Ana; Cunha, Joana; Nogueira, António José M.; Teixeira, CristinaO cancro da traqueia, brônquios e pulmão (CTBP) constitui a quarta causa de morte por neoplasia. A análise comparativa de regiões geográficas permite avaliar necessidades específicas de prevenção. Objetivos: Comparar a mortalidade por CTBP entre regiões geográficas de Portugal de acordo com a sua tipologia. Métodos: Estudo descritivo com dados secundários do Instituto Nacional de Estatística. Obtiveram-se óbitos por CTBP em quatro regiões (NUTII) de Portugal, estratificando por género, idade (50-64; 65-74 e >=75) e tipologia geográfica: urbana (TGU), mediamente urbana (TGMU) e rural (TGR), e respetiva população (2014-2019). Considerando a taxa de mortalidade global, calcularam-se valores esperados de óbitos por CTBP em cada grupo considerado. Obtiveram-se valores da razão padronizada de mortalidade (RPM) e respetivo intervalo de confiança a 95% (IC95%). Resultados: A mortalidade por CTBP (2014-2019) foi de 147,1/100.000 homens e 37,3/100.000 mulheres, aumentando valores à medida que aumenta a densidade populacional, quer em homens: 114,1 na TGR, 133,0 na TGMU e 188,0 na TGU, quer em mulheres: 27,3 na TGR, 35,3 na TGMU e 46,8 na TGU. Encontramos valores mais elevados de óbitos do que o expectável nas TGU, em homens de 50-64 anos (RPM=186,7%; IC95%:124-270; p=0,003) e >=75 anos (RPM=215%; IC95%:143-311; p<0,001) residentes no Centro e em homens de 64-75 anos (RPM=111.8%; IC95%:106,5-117.4; p=75 anos do Centro (RPM=108.8%; IC95%:101-117; p=0,038). Por outro lado, há menor número de óbitos que o esperado em TGR, em homens dos 50-64 anos do Centro (RPM=78.5%; IC95%:62-99; p=0,037) e mulheres da mesma idade, residentes no Algarve (RPM=81.3%; IC95%:66-98; p=0,038). Conclusão: A mortalidade por CTBP e a sua prevenção, deve ser gerida de forma diferenciada não só a nível regional, como também de acordo com a tipologia geográfica.
- Práticas de amamentação e alimentação até o 6º mês de idades em bebés na cidade de CoimbraPublication . Cunha, Joana; Ferreira, Patrícia; Monteiro, Carina; Santos, Lelita; Almeida-de-Souza, Juliana
- Time trends and geographic patterns of mortality due to tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer in PortugalPublication . Teixeira, Cristina; Fialho, Cristiana; Cunha, Joana; Oliveira, Ana; Afonso, Andrea Luísa Fernandes; Nogueira, António José M.Tracheal, bronchus, and lung cancer (TBLC) remains a major public health concern. Knowledge about geographic patterns and time trends in TBLC could give insights to better address this problem. This study aimed to evaluate the geographic patterns and time trends in mortality due to TBLC observed in Portugal. TBLC-related deaths and population estimates (2011–2021) were derived from the Instituto Nacional de Estatística. Age-standardized mortality rates for people aged 50 or more (ASMR_50+) per 100,000 were obtained. Analyses were stratified by gender, geographic region, and level of urbanization. The time trends in ASMR_50+ were evaluated using joinpoint regression models, and the values for the annual percentage change (APC) and the respective 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were obtained. Differences in mortality due to TBLC between regions and levels of urbanization (2017–2021) were assessed through a standardized mortality ratio (SMR) and the respective 95% CI. In 2021, the ASMR_50+ per 100,000 inhabitants observed in mainland Portugal was 158.0 and 40.4 among men and women, respectively. According to the time-trend analysis, ASMR_50+ due to TBLC remained stable or described a downward trend among men, but there was an upward trend among women in suburban and urban regions. Observed deaths were significantly higher than the expected for men in urban areas (SMR = 125%; 95% CI: 121–128 and SMR = 118%; 95% CI: 115–122 in Norte and Lisboa, respectively), and women in Urban Norte (SMR = 125%; 95%CI: 119–131). Lower mortality than expected was observed among men living in Rural Norte and Rural Centro, as well as, among women living in all the rural areas. In suburban areas, the observed deaths were lower, higher, or as expected depending on the geographic region and gender. A notable upward trend in mortality due to TBLC among women was observed. The geographic patterns observed suggest the effects of deleterious environmental factors and smoking habits, deserving attention from policymakers.