450 results match your criteria: "Universidade Lusofona Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies[Affiliation]"

Evaluation of Biotechnological Active Peptides Secreted by with Potential Skin Benefits.

Antibiotics (Basel)

September 2024

Unit of Bioenergy and Biorefinary, Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia (LNEG), Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal.

Biotechnological active peptides are gaining interest in the cosmetics industry due to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-collagenase (ACE) effects, as well as wound healing properties, making them suitable for cosmetic formulations. The antimicrobial activity of peptides (2-10 kDa) secreted by Ethanol-Red was evaluated against dermal pathogens using broth microdilution and challenge tests. ACE was assessed using a collagenase activity colorimetric assay, antioxidant activity via spectrophotometric monitoring of nitrotetrazolium blue chloride (NBT) reduction, and anti-inflammatory effects by quantifying TNF-α mRNA in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-exposed dermal fibroblasts.

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Cancer remains a major global health challenge, prompting the search for effective and less toxic treatments. Anethole, a bioactive compound found in essential oils of anise and fennel, commonly used as a food preservative, has recently garnered attention for its potential anti-cancer properties. This comprehensive review aims to systematically assess the anti-cancer effects of anethole, elucidating its mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and synergistic potential with conventional cancer therapies.

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Globally, the yearly disposal of 1.3 billion tonnes of food raises environmental and public health concerns. Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae present a sustainable solution, converting organic waste into nutrient-rich biomass.

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Background: Cardiovascular diseases remain a leading global cause of mortality worldwide especially in older adults. Although it is known that regular exercise reduces cardiovascular diseases incidence, its effects on specific cardiovascular aging parameters considering the influence of sex and different exercise designs are still not fully understood. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effects of different physical exercise protocols on age-related cardiovascular outcomes in older adults.

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A reluctance to eat and/or avoidance of novel foods is characterized as food neophobia (FN). FN restricts the diet to familiar foods when, in fact, it should be much more varied. FN can be a barrier to healthy foods, affecting the quality of diet, and impairing children's growth and development.

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Healthy nutrition is considered a key factor in special diets, enhanced quality of life, and sustainability [...

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Breast cancer is highly susceptible to metastasis formation. During the time of disease progression, tumor pathophysiology can be impacted by endogenous factors, like hormonal status, as well as by environmental exposures, such as those related to diet and lifestyle. New lines of evidence point toward a potential role for foodborne endocrine disruptive chemicals in this respect; however, mechanistic understanding remains limited.

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From ancient times to the present day, fermentation has been utilized not only for food preservation but also for enhancing the nutritional and functional properties of foods. This process is influenced by numerous factors, including the type of microorganisms used, substrate composition, pH, time, and temperature, all of which can significantly alter the characteristics of the final product. Depending on the parameters, fermentation enhances the bioactive content of the products and imparts the necessary properties, such as antioxidant characteristics, for the products to be considered functional.

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Despite their familiarity with technology, higher education students often lack the critical skills needed to assess the credibility of online health information, potentially impacting their health decisions and well-being. This study aims to validate and assess the e-Health Literacy Scale among those in Portuguese higher education. In addition, this study focused on measuring their e-health literacy levels and investigating how these skills relate to different sociodemographic variables.

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Unveiling the antitumor mechanism of 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone from Plectranthus hadiensis in glioblastoma.

J Ethnopharmacol

December 2024

University of Coimbra, Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Clinic Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Faculty of Medicine, Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal; University of Coimbra, Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address:

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Glioblastoma (GB) is the most aggressive and prevalent glioma within the central nervous system. Despite considerable efforts, GB continues to exhibit a dismal 5-year survival rate (∼6%). This is largely attributed to unfavorable prognosis and lack of viable treatment options.

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This systematic review aimed to find the tool that best predicts celiac individuals' adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD). The Transparent Reporting of Multivariable Prediction Models for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis (TRIPOD-SRMA) guideline was used for the construction and collection of data from eight scientific databases (PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science, LIVIVO, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, and Proquest) on 16 November 2023. The inclusion criteria were studies involving individuals with celiac disease (CD) who were over 18 years old and on a GFD for at least six months, using a questionnaire to predict adherence to a GFD, and comparing it with laboratory tests (serological tests, gluten immunogenic peptide-GIP, or biopsy).

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Background: Gym-goers usually seek methods to improve performance, muscle gain, and overall health. One of the main strategies is including food supplements (FS) into their routine as aids to enhance their athletic capabilities and satisfy their nutritional needs. Thus, this study aimed to investigate and characterize the main FS and Sports Foods (SF) currently consumed, as well as the main reasons for their use and the source of advice in a group of gym-goers in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Portugal).

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Vasorelaxant effect of phenylpropanoids: Methyl eugenol and eugenol in human umbilical cord vein.

Biomed Pharmacother

September 2024

Postgraduate Program in Physiological Sciences of the Universidade Estadual do Ceará - PPGCF/UECE, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Biological Chemistry of the Universidade Regional do Cariri - PPQB/URCA, Crato, Ceará, Brazil.

Methyl-eugenol (ME) and eugenol (EUG) are phenylpropanoids with vasodilatory effects. While EUG's vasorelaxant effect in human umbilical artery (HUA) is known, their action in veins is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate ME and EUG in human umbilical vein (HUV).

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Background: Breast cancer has several subtypes, including HER2-positive breast cancer, which is characterized by overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), aggressiveness, poor prognosis, and high risk of recurrence and metastasis. Brain metastases are a common complication of HER2-positive breast cancer, but brain imaging is not included in the initial staging of this disease. This prospective pilot study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of brain computed tomography (CT) in the initial staging of HER2-positive breast cancer.

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Colostrum is a nutritious milk synthesized by mammals during the postpartum period, and its rich bioactive components has led to a global increase in the consumption of bovine colostrum as a supplement. Bovine colostrum contains key components such as immunoglobulins, oligosaccharides, lactoferrin and lysozyme. It is a special supplement source due to its natural, high bioavailability and high concentrations of growth factors.

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Design and Development of a Nurse-Led Program for the Management of Bariatric Surgery Patients-The NURLIFE Program.

Prof Case Manag

July 2024

Cláudia Mendes, MSc , Hospital Espírito Santo de Évora - Unidade Local de Saúde do Alentejo Central, Évora, Portugal. She is affiliated with Centro Responsabilidade Integrada de Cirurgia da Obesidade eMetabólica, Évora, Portugal, CBIOS-Universidade Lusófona's Research Center for Biosciences & Health Technologies Lisbon, Portugal, d Escuela de Doctorado, Programa de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidade de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain and CHRC-Comprehensive Health Research Centre, Universidade de Évora, Évora, Portugal.

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Article Synopsis
  • The food and beverage industry is increasingly interested in plant-based alternatives like soy milk, known for its high nutritional value and versatility as a functional food.
  • This study explored new soy milk-derived drinks fermented with specific probiotic strains to evaluate their prebiotic properties and gastrointestinal tolerance.
  • Results indicated that the co-fermented soy milk demonstrated strong prebiotic activity, supporting probiotic growth and maintaining viability under acidic conditions, while also showing significant differences in sensory qualities compared to commercial options.
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Protein kinase C is a family of kinases that play important roles in carcinogenesis. Medicinal plants from Plectranthus spp. (Lamiaceae) are a well-known source of interesting abietanes, such as 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone (Roy).

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Background: Chronic diseases and polymedication increase the risk of food-drug interactions (FDIs) among the population, negatively impacting health. Nutritionists, as responsible for dietary planning, have a key role in preventing these events.

Aim: To assess the knowledge about FDIs among a sample of Nutrition Sciences Bachelor students.

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Impact of the redox-active MnTnHex-2-PyP and cisplatin on the metabolome of non-small cell lung cancer cells.

Biochem Pharmacol

September 2024

Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Lab. of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address:

Redox-based cancer therapeutic strategies aim to raise reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in cancer cells, thus modifying their redox status, and eventually inducing cell death. Promising compounds, known as superoxide dismutase mimics (SODm), e.g.

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The collective meals market generates significant revenue for the world economy. Food services are responsible for consuming large amounts of water and energy, as well as generating a substantial volume of waste, which is often improperly disposed of. Given the unchecked expansion of food services, the lack of proper management of environmental resources can undermine sustainability principles, posing a threat to future generations.

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Diet behavior and nutrition are critical for maintaining health and improving quality of life. Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Poor dietary choices, such as excessively frequenting restaurants, consuming ready-to-eat foods from grocery stores, and ingesting ultra-processed foods (like frozen meals and pizzas), can adversely impact health.

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The role of nutrition in preventing non-communicable diseases has been widely studied in recent years, with indications that non-animal-based diets might improve body composition and therefore bring multiple health benefits. For all of these reasons, the main purpose was to compare body composition and metabolic status between vegetarian and omnivorous individuals and relate these values with cardiovascular risk. The present analysis included 176 participants (61 vegetarians and 115 omnivores).

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Background: Skin physiology seems to be influenced by dietary choices and body composition, although links between these factors remain poorly characterised. In the present manuscript, we elaborate on the potential relationships among food groups, body composition and skin physiology in omnivores and vegetarians.

Material And Methods: This cross-sectional observational study involved 181 participants, 129 omnivores and 52 vegetarians.

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