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12 pages, 1363 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Assessing the Genotoxicity of Cellulose Nanomaterials in a Co-Culture of Human Lung Epithelial Cells and Monocyte-Derived Macrophages

by Célia Ventura, Fátima Pinto, Ana Filipa Lourenço, Jorge F. S. Pedrosa, Susete N. Fernandes, Rafaela R. da Rosa, Maria Helena Godinho, Paulo J. T. Ferreira, Henriqueta Louro and Maria João Silva

Bioengineering 2023, 10(8), 986; https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10080986 - 21 Aug 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2732

Abstract

Cellulose micro/nanomaterials (CMNMs) are innovative materials with a wide spectrum of industrial and biomedical applications. Although cellulose has been recognized as a safe material, the unique properties of its nanosized forms have raised concerns about their safety for human health. Genotoxicity is an endpoint that must be assessed to ensure that no carcinogenic risks are associated with exposure to nanomaterials. In this study, we evaluated the genotoxicity of two types of cellulose micro/nanofibrils (CMF and CNF) and one sample of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), obtained from industrial bleached Eucalyptus globulus kraft pulp. For that, we exposed co-cultures of human alveolar epithelial A549 cells and THP-1 monocyte-derived macrophages to a concentration range of each CMNM and used the micronucleus (MN) and comet assays. Our results showed that only the lowest concentrations of the CMF sample were able to induce DNA strand breaks (FPG-comet assay). However, none of the three CMNMs produced significant chromosomal alterations (MN assay). These findings, together with results from previous in vitro studies using monocultures of A549 cells, indicate that the tested CNF and CNC are not genotoxic under the conditions tested, while the CMF display a low genotoxic potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biopolymers and Nano-Objects Applications in Bioengineering)

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14 pages, 537 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leigh Syndrome Spectrum: A Portuguese Population Cohort in an Evolutionary Genetic Era

by Manuela Schubert Baldo, Célia Nogueira, Cristina Pereira, Patrícia Janeiro, Sara Ferreira, Charles M. Lourenço, Anabela Bandeira, Esmeralda Martins, Marina Magalhães, Esmeralda Rodrigues, Helena Santos, Ana Cristina Ferreira and Laura Vilarinho

Genes 2023, 14(8), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14081536 - 27 Jul 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2783

Abstract

Mitochondrial diseases are the most common inherited inborn error of metabolism resulting in deficient ATP generation, due to failure in homeostasis and proper bioenergetics. The most frequent mitochondrial disease manifestation in children is Leigh syndrome (LS), encompassing clinical, neuroradiological, biochemical, and molecular features. It typically affects infants but occurs anytime in life. Considering recent updates, LS clinical presentation has been stretched, and is now named LS spectrum (LSS), including classical LS and Leigh-like presentations. Apart from clinical diagnosis challenges, the molecular characterization also progressed from Sanger techniques to NGS (next-generation sequencing), encompassing analysis of nuclear (nDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). This upgrade resumed steps and favored diagnosis. Hereby, our paper presents molecular and clinical data on a Portuguese cohort of 40 positive cases of LSS. A total of 28 patients presented mutation in mtDNA and 12 in nDNA, with novel mutations identified in a heterogeneous group of genes. The present results contribute to the better knowledge of the molecular basis of LS and expand the clinical spectrum associated with this syndrome. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Genetic Diagnosis)

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15 pages, 1757 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Development of a Functional Dark Chocolate with Baobab Pulp

by Sara Monteiro, João Dias, Vanda Lourenço, Ana Partidário, Manuela Lageiro, Célia Lampreia, Jaime Fernandes, Fernando Lidon, Fernando Reboredo and Nuno Alvarenga

Foods 2023, 12(8), 1711; https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12081711 - 20 Apr 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3635

Abstract

In recent years, cocoa and dark chocolate have attracted the interest of consumers not only for their sensory characteristics but also for their nutritional properties and positive impact on health. The baobab is a fruit of African origin with a sour and slightly sweet flavour, widely consumed by local communities due to its unique nutritional features. The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of the concentration of baobab flour in the development of functional dark chocolate, including physical, chemical, nutritional and sensory evaluations. The results presented a positive correlation between the incorporation of baobab flour and the antioxidant activity (up to 2297 mmol TE/100 g), vitamin C content (up to 49.7 mg/100 g), calcium (up to 1052 mg/kg), potassium (up to 10,175 mg/kg), phosphorus (up to 795.9 mg/kg), chlorine (up to 235.4 mg/kg) and sulphur (up to 1158 mg/kg). The sensory evaluation of dark chocolate with 3% baobab presented the highest evaluation on the parameters “texture” and “overall flavour”, while the parameter “overall flavour” presented the lowest evaluation on chocolate with 9% baobab. No influence was observed on fatty acid profile, protein, fat and hardness. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Food Quality and Safety)

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5 pages, 246 KiB

Open AccessProtocol

Nursing Care in Peripheral Intravenous Catheter (PIVC): Protocol of a Best Practice Implementation Project

by Fernando Catarino, Cristina Lourenço, Célia Correia, João Dória, Maria Dixe, Cátia Santos, Joana Sousa, Susana Mendonça, Daniela Cardoso and Cristina R. Costeira

Nurs. Rep. 2022, 12(3), 515-519; https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep12030049 - 13 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5002

Abstract

Background: The use of a peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVC) is a common invasive practice in healthcare settings. It is estimated that about 70% of people with PIVCs will develop associated complications, such as infections. It is the consensus that best practices could reduce the appearance of such complications and reduce the length of stay in hospital. Methods: A project will be applied to implement the best approach in peripheral venous catheterization, provided by clinical nurses from an inland hospital in Portugal. The Joanna Briggs Institute methodology will be used on evidence implementation projects, which will be developed in three phases. First, a baseline audit will be performed. The second phase implements corrective measures, and the third phase is a follow-up audit. Conclusions: This project will improve the practice of the nursing team on peripheral venous catheterization nursing cares, positively influencing the quality of nursing care and patient safety. The implementation and dissemination of this project could boost its replication in other centres. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Evidence-Based Practice and Personalized Care)

28 pages, 3317 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Analysis of the In Vitro Toxicity of Nanocelluloses in Human Lung Cells as Compared to Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

by Fátima Pinto, Ana Filipa Lourenço, Jorge F. S. Pedrosa, Lídia Gonçalves, Célia Ventura, Nádia Vital, Ana Bettencourt, Susete N. Fernandes, Rafaela R. da Rosa, Maria Helena Godinho, Henriqueta Louro, Paulo J. T. Ferreira and Maria João Silva

Nanomaterials 2022, 12(9), 1432; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12091432 - 22 Apr 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3970

Abstract

Cellulose micro/nanomaterials (CMNM), comprising cellulose microfibrils (CMF), nanofibrils (CNF), and nanocrystals (CNC), are being recognized as promising bio-nanomaterials due to their natural and renewable source, attractive properties, and potential for applications with industrial and economical value. Thus, it is crucial to investigate their potential toxicity before starting their production at a larger scale. The present study aimed at evaluating the cell internalization and in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of CMNM as compared to two multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), NM-401 and NM-402, in A549 cells. The exposure to all studied NM, with the exception of CNC, resulted in evident cellular uptake, as analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. However, none of the CMNM induced cytotoxic effects, in contrast to the cytotoxicity observed for the MWCNT. Furthermore, no genotoxicity was observed for CNF, CNC, and NM-402 (cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay), while CMF and NM-401 were able to significantly raise micronucleus frequency. Only NM-402 was able to induce ROS formation, although it did not induce micronuclei. Thus, it is unlikely that the observed CMF and NM-401 genotoxicity is mediated by oxidative DNA damage. More studies targeting other genotoxicity endpoints and cellular and molecular events are underway to allow for a more comprehensive safety assessment of these nanocelluloses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Cytotoxicity and Genotoxicity Assessment in Nanomaterials)

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34 pages, 339 KiB

Open AccessReview

Breath Analysis in Disease Diagnosis: Methodological Considerations and Applications

by Célia Lourenço and Claire Turner

Metabolites 2014, 4(2), 465-498; https://doi.org/10.3390/metabo4020465 - 20 Jun 2014

Cited by 223 | Viewed by 16734

Abstract

Breath analysis is a promising field with great potential for non-invasive diagnosis of a number of disease states. Analysis of the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in breath with an acceptable accuracy are assessed by means of using analytical techniques with high sensitivity, accuracy, precision, low response time, and low detection limit, which are desirable characteristics for the detection of VOCs in human breath. “Breath fingerprinting”, indicative of a specific clinical status, relies on the use of multivariate statistics methods with powerful in-built algorithms. The need for standardisation of sample collection and analysis is the main issue concerning breath analysis, blocking the introduction of breath tests into clinical practice. This review describes recent scientific developments in basic research and clinical applications, namely issues concerning sampling and biochemistry, highlighting the diagnostic potential of breath analysis for disease diagnosis. Several considerations that need to be taken into account in breath analysis are documented here, including the growing need for metabolomics to deal with breath profiles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breath Analysis in Metabolomics)

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