Publications by authors named "Ana Paula Oliveira"

Purpose: This meta-analysis evaluates the evolution, applications, and recent advancements in the materials and treatments used in ophthalmic lenses, focusing on their effectiveness, comfort, and safety, while also considering sustainability as a key factor.

Methods: The study was registered with PROSPERO and conducted following the PRISMA and AMSTAR-2 guidelines. A systematic review was performed across databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, without time or language restrictions.

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: The primary objective of this study was to assess the visual comfort and health impacts of stage lighting on attendees at summer festivals. Specifically, the study aimed to evaluate the effects of different types of lighting, including natural, artificial, and stage lighting, on symptoms such as glare, eye strain, tearing, and temporary vision loss. : A survey was conducted among attendees of various summer festivals in Portugal.

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  • Passiflora cincinnata, a plant native to Brazil's unique Caatinga biome, contains various flavonoids known for their pharmacological benefits, particularly in skin protection.* -
  • Research focused on a specific hydro-alcoholic extract (Pc-1) which demonstrated strong antioxidant and photoprotective properties, identifying nine key flavonoids through advanced analysis methods.* -
  • When included in gel formulations, Pc-1 showed high SPF values and improved the effectiveness of commercial sunscreen ingredients, suggesting its potential as a valuable addition in sun protection products.*
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  • The study aimed to translate and validate the IBD-KNOW questionnaire into Portuguese, designed to measure knowledge related to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) among patients.
  • The research involved IBD patients filling out multiple assessments, demonstrating that higher knowledge scores are linked to better self-perception of knowledge and various health-related outcomes.
  • Results indicated significant differences in knowledge scores between healthcare professionals and non-providers, showing the questionnaire's reliability and underscoring the importance of knowledge in managing IBD.
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Walker-256 tumor is an experimental model known to promote cachexia syndrome, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation. This study evaluated the duodenal mucosa of rats with Walker-256 tumor administered with 1% L-glutathione, intending to evaluate the damage caused by cancer-associated cachexia in the gastrointestinal tract and the effects of antioxidant administration on mucosal protection. Twenty-four 55-day-old male Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: control (C); control administered with 1% L-glutathione (C-GSH); Walker-256 tumor (W) and Walker-256 tumor administered with 1% L-glutathione (W-GSH).

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Cancer-induced cachexia is associated with systemic inflammation and gastrointestinal dysfunction. How changes to cells of the enteric nervous system contribute to gut dysfunction in tumor development and cancer cachexia is unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that changes to enteric glia, a type of peripheral glia that surround enteric neurons and regulate gut homeostasis, are associated with tumor development and that supplementing with the antioxidant L-glutathione is protective against the changes induced.

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  • Severe acute liver injury (ALI) can be caused by viral infections, hepatotoxic drugs, or systemic diseases, with Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) being a rare inflammatory disorder sometimes linked to malignancies or infections.
  • A 65-year-old man with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and rheumatoid arthritis developed severe liver dysfunction and other symptoms after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, leading to extensive testing and the diagnosis of HLH.
  • The patient was successfully treated with etoposide and corticosteroids, highlighting the need for clinicians to consider HLH in cases of unexplained systemic inflammation and liver injury, especially after vaccination.
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Cholestatic liver diseases may be associated with increased plasmatic cholesterol due to an abnormal lipoprotein - lipoprotein X (LpX). Correcting the underlying cause of cholestasis is the critical treatment of LpX-associated hypercholesterolemia without any proven benefit from conventional lipid-lowering agents. In some situations, plasma exchange may apply to prevent associated complications, such as hyperviscosity syndrome.

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Aims: Our main goals were to investigate the effects of L-glutathione (1%) treatment in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats by analyzing immunoreactive neurons (IR), responsive to the nNOS enzyme and 3-Nitrotyrosine, in their jejunum myenteric plexus. Moreover, the oxidative state and inflammatory process in these animals were investigated.

Methods: Four experimental groups were utilized: control (C), control treated with L-glutathione (CGT), Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats (TW), and Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats treated with L-glutathione (TWGT).

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  • - Methylphenidate (MPH) is a stimulant commonly prescribed for ADHD, but there are concerns about misdiagnosing ADHD in children, resulting in many neurotypical kids being exposed to MPH during crucial developmental stages.
  • - A study was conducted using zebrafish, exposing them to therapeutic levels of MPH during their juvenile period, and later assessing their behavior as adults.
  • - The findings revealed that childhood exposure to MPH led to lasting changes in behavior, such as increased anxiety and hyperactivity, indicating that inappropriate use of MPH in youth could have long-term effects on neurobehavioral development.
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Phytoestrogens, such as isoflavones, are bioactive compounds found in plants with defense and protection functions. In the human body, they simulate the behavior of the hormone estradiol and can modulate the function of the male hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This study aims to describe the effects of genistein on sperm quality of Wistar rats (male/adult) after a short oral administration protocol (50 mg/day, for 5 days), focusing on mitochondrial function.

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Over the last years, there have been several studies that have shown insufficient levels of adolescents' mental health literacy (MHL). Knowledge about intervention programs that promote positive mental health literacy (PMeHL) among adolescents is still very scarce. In this sense, we defined as objectives to identify and describe the necessary components to design a program proposal that promotes adolescents' PMeHL.

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From a design of experiments (DOE) performed under four independent variables, with the filmogenicity conditions and shortest disintegration time as the answers, a new oral disintegrating film (ODF) based on hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) and guar gum (GG) with the essential oil of Plectranthus amboinicus L. (EOPA) was developed. Sixteen formulations were tested for filmogenicity, homogeneity, and viability.

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The mental health of higher education students is a constant concern, and the pandemic situation caused by COVID-19 has intensified this concern. The social measures imposed to control and minimize the disease have led, among other things, to the reconfiguration of higher education students' academic life habits, which has naturally altered their emotional balance, mental health, and substance abuse. This cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study assesses the influence of higher education students' personal characteristics on their (self-reported) use of addictive substances (alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and pharmaceutical drugs) before and during their first compulsory confinement in Portugal, as well as its relationship with mental health.

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The use of social media was one of the most common way to keep in touch with friends and family during confinement. For higher education students, the fact that their universities were closed was a major change in their lives. The aim of this study is to relate the prevalence and type of social media with Internet addiction and mental health of university students in a district of Portugal during COVID-19 confinement.

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Introduction: Evidence supporting transmural remission (TR) as a long-term treatment target in Crohn's disease (CD) is still unavailable. Less stringent but more reachable targets such as isolated endoscopic (IER) or radiologic remission (IRR) may also be acceptable options in the long-term.

Methods: Multicenter retrospective study including 404 CD patients evaluated by magnetic resonance enterography and colonoscopy.

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  • A 27-year-old Nepalese male experienced recurrent abdominal pain and changes in stool consistency for two years, with previous tests showing no significant results, leading to a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome.
  • After worsening symptoms, further testing revealed elevated inflammation markers, while imaging and biopsies displayed characteristics aligning with isolated jejunal Crohn's disease.
  • Treatment with adalimumab resulted in complete remission, highlighting the diagnostic challenges and distinct findings associated with this rare condition.
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We describe the case of a 69-year-old male with Crohn's disease (CD), treated with infliximab and undergoing intestinal resection. The surgery and postoperative period were unremarkable, with no CD-related symptoms. Two months after surgery and two weeks after the introduction of infliximab, he was admitted due to acute onset diffuse abdominal pain, hematochezia and arthralgia.

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Background: Psychological vulnerability (PV) indicates the individual’s inability to adapt to stressful situations. Adolescents experience negative impacts on their future mental health if they do not acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to have good mental health during their developmental stage. Aim: To compare the PV index among the three stages of adolescence and to explore the factors involved in good mental health, including the relationship between adolescents’ PV indices and sociodemographic variables, and the relationship between adolescents’ PV index and their knowledge of the factors that characterize good mental health.

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We present the case of a 75-year-old male admitted due to severe epigastric pain. His medical history was remarkable for chronic alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus type 2, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia. At admission he was hemodynamically stable.

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The pandemic of COVID-19 caused significant changes in economies and societies with a major impact on the entire education process. However, these changes did not invalidate a constant effort of adaptation. This cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study used an online questionnaire administered to students from various study cycles at higher education institutions in Portugal, with the aim of exploring the influence of literacy and mental health on the use of mental health promotion strategies during COVID-19 confinement.

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We present the case of a 35-year-old woman with previous hereditary retinoblastoma treated with radiotherapy, admitted due to severe iron deficiency anemia. Upper endoscopy and endoscopic ultrasound revealed a 5-cm polypoid lesion in the fundus arising from muscularis mucosa. Histological findings favored a sarcoma with muscular differentiation.

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This study aimed to assess adolescents' Mental Health Literacy (MHL) level, Positive Mental Health (PMH) level, the association between sociodemographic variables and the MHL and PMH levels, and the relationship between adolescent's MHL and PMH levels. A quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted with a convenience sample of 260 adolescents studying in the 5th to 12th years of school. The Mental Health Knowledge Questionnaire, the Mental Health-Promoting Knowledge, and the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire were used for data collection.

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We present the case of a 40-year-old immunocompetent man with complaints of perianal abscess, diarrhea, and weight loss for 3 months. He denied respiratory symptoms. Colonoscopy revealed ulcers and histopathology showed non-necrotizing granulomas and excluded acid-fast bacilli.

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