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The role of milk and dairy products in supplying iodine to pregnant women is unknown in Portugal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between milk and dairy product consumption and the iodine status of pregnant women in the IoMum cohort of the Oporto region. Pregnant women were recruited between 10 and 13 weeks of gestation, when they provided a spot urine sample and information on lifestyle and intake of iodine-rich foods. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was determined by inductively coupled plasma MS. A total of 468 pregnant women (269 iodine supplement users and 199 non-supplement users) were considered eligible for analysis. Milk (but not yogurt or cheese) intake was positively associated with UIC, in the whole population (P = 0·02) and in the non-supplement users (P = 0·002), but not in the supplement users (P = 0·29). In non-supplement users, adjusted multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that milk consumption

Lack of knowledge about iodine has been suggested as a risk factor for iodine deficiency in pregnant women, but no studies have addressed this issue in Portugal. So, the aim of this study was to investigate iodine knowledge among Portuguese pregnant women and its association with iodine status. IoMum, a prospective observational study, included 485 pregnant women recruited at Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de S. João, Porto, between the 10th and 13th gestational weeks. Partial scores for knowledge on iodine importance, on iodine food sources or on iodised salt were obtained through the application of a structured questionnaire. Then, a total iodine knowledge score was calculated and grouped into low, medium and high knowledge categories. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was measured in spot urine samples by inductively coupled plasma MS. Of the pregnant women, 54 % correctly recognised iodine as important to neurocognitive development, 32 % were unable to identify any iodine-rich food and 71 % presented lack of knowledge regarding iodised salt. Of the women, 61 % had a medium total score of iodine knowledge. Knowledge on iodine importance during pregnancy was positively associated with iodine supplementation and also with UIC. Nevertheless, median UIC in women who correctly recognised the importance of iodine was below the cut-off for adequacy in pregnancy (150 µg/l). In conclusion, knowledge on iodine importance is positively associated with iodine status. Despite this, recognising iodine importance during pregnancy may not be sufficient to ensure iodine adequacy. Literacy-promoting actions are urgently needed to improve iodine status in pregnancy. This work was supported by National Funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/MCTES within CINTESIS, R&D Unit (reference UID/IC/4255/2019) and REQUIMTE (reference UIDB/info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB/50006/2020/PT) and through FCT postdoctoral fellowship (V. C. F., grant number SFRH/BPD/109153/2015).

The Bebedouro Formation (Fm.) is a Neoproterozoic glaciogenic succession at the base of the Una Group on the Sao Francisco Craton. The glaciogenic sequence is composed of diamictites, pelites and sandstones with a variety of lithofacies that are grouped into four associations: (i) ice-contact, (ii) pro-glacial, (iii) ice-rafted and (iv) aeolian (extraglacial). Thus, the Bebedouro Fm. is interpreted to have been deposited in a shelf marine environment where glacio-proximal sedimentation dominated. It variably overlies Palaeoproterozoic/Archaean basement and Mesoproterozoic metasedimentary rocks of the Chapada Diamantina Group. The overlying carbonate succession (Salitre Fm.) is informally subdivided into five mappable units. Unit C, at the base, is composed of red argillaceous dolostone with typical negative δ 13 C signatures averaging –5.1‰ (VPDB). Unit B consists of grey laminated limestones that grade upward into grey dolostone with tepee structures of Unit B1; both have δ 13 C values around 0‰. The overlying Unit A consists of interbeds of greyish marl, shales and siltstones grading upward into massive black organic-rich limestone with oolitic and pisolitic beds of Unit A1. Positive δ 13 C signatures averaging +8.5‰ VPDB characterize the black limestones of Unit A1. 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of well-preserved samples of these carbonate units show values of 0.70745 and 0.70765. These units can be correlated litho- and chemostratigraphically with formations of the Bambui Group (Sao Francisco Basin) to the west.

Aqueous extracts of a few medicinal plants traditionally used in Portugal have been assayed for their effects upon hepatic oxidative stress in mice. Previous in vitro studies had allowed characterization of agrimony, sage, savory, and raspberry in terms of overall antioxidant capacity and phenolic content. In the present study, the antioxidant effect and safety of these four plants were evaluated in vivo. For this purpose, mice ingested extracts in aqueous form (or water, used as the control) for 4 weeks; damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA was evaluated by oxidative cell biomarkers by the end of that period. Levels of hepatic glutathione and activities of enzymes involved in metabolism thereof were also determined. Finally, catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were quantified, as these enzymes play a crucial role in antioxidant defense. When compared with the control, both raspberry and savory produced significant lipid protection; however, protein damage was significantly lower only in raspberry-treated animals. On the other hand, DNA damage was prevented only by savory. All plants led to a decrease in catalase activity, whereas all but sage also produced a decrease in SOD activity. With regard to glutathione levels and activities of enzymes involved in its metabolism, the aforementioned extracts exhibited different effects. In general, raspberry appeared to be the most promising extract, followed by savory, sage, and agrimony, sorted by decreasing performance in protection; the latter was even slightly toxic. Hence, the plants tested possess compounds with interesting biological activities that may support eventual inclusion in food or feed as functional additives.

The present investigation was undertaken to study the influence of maturation and ageing on the disposition of noradrenaline by the aorta, heart (ventricle), liver and kidney of the rat. Slices of these tissues taken from rats aged less than 18 h, 2.5-3 months or 18-24 months were incubated with 0.1 mumol.l-1 3H-amine during 30 min. At the end of this period, the accumulation of the intact amine in the tissue, as well as the 3H-metabolites formed (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethylglycol, 3,4-dihydroxymandelic acid, normetanephrine and O-methylated deaminated metabolites) were determined by scintillation counting. The results obtained show that in the rat: 1) at any age, noradrenaline is preferentially deaminated; 2) while the capacity of the sympathetic nerve terminals in accumulating noradrenaline is rather well developed at birth, the metabolic system for its degradation is still immature; 3) aldehyde dehydrogenase activity or that of its co-factor (or both) of the heart is apparently missing at birth; 4) removal of noradrenaline by the liver and the kidney did not change with ageing, while that by the aorta decreased and that by the heart increased.

Presynaptic alpha2- and postsynaptic alpha1-adrenoceptors were compared at the distal and proximal parts of the dog saphenous vein. The results obtained show that: (1) yohimbine is more effective against postsynaptic responses to phenylephrine distally than proximally. On the contrary, WB-4101 is more effective proximally; (2) phenylephrine increases inositol monophosphate production at both levels, but the increase is more pronounced distally; (3) UK-14, 304 and adrenaline reduce and yohimbine and phentolamine increase the release of 3H-noradrenaline caused by electrical stimulation at both levels. However, while adrenaline as well as the antagonists are equipotent at the two levels, UK-14,304 is more potent distally than proximally. In conclusion, we suggest that: more alpha 1A-adrenoceptors exist distally than proximally; imidazoline sites can exist at the distal level which contribute to the higher potency of UK-14,304 distally.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is important in calcification and its expression seems to be associated with the inflammatory process. We investigated the in vitro acute effects of compounds used for the prevention or treatment of cardiovascular diseases on total ALP activity from male Wistar rat heart homogenate. ALP activity was determined by quantifying, at 410 nm, the p-nitrophenol released from p-nitrophenylphosphate (substrate in Tris buffer, pH 10.4). Using specific inhibitors of ALP activity and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we showed that the rat heart had high ALP activity (31.73 +/- 3.43 nmol p-nitrophenol . mg protein(-1) . min(-1)): mainly tissue-nonspecific ALP but also tissue-specific intestinal ALP type II. Both ALP isoenzymes presented myocardial localization (striated pattern) by immunofluorescence. ALP was inhibited a) strongly by 0.5 mM levamisole, 2 mM theophylline and 2 mM aspirin (91, 77 and 84%, respectively) and b) less strongly by 2 mM L-phenylalanine, 100 mu L polyphenol-rich beverages and 0.5 mM progesterone (24, 21 to 29 and 11%, respectively). beta-estradiol and caffeine (0.5 and 2 mM) had no effect; 0.5 mM simvastatin and 2 mM atenolol activated ALP (32 and 36%, respectively). Propranolol (2 mM) tended to activate ALP activity and corticosterone activated (18%) and inhibited (13%) (0.5 and 2 mM, respectively). We report, for the first time, that the rat heart expresses intestinal ALP type II and has high total ALP activity. ALP activity was inhibited by compounds used in the prevention of cardiovascular pathology. ALP manipulation in vivo may constitute an additional target for intervention in cardiovascular diseases.

The high consumption of water and uncontrolled wastewater generation commonly seen in fish processing plants are a matter of concern. Sustainable actions must be taken to addres this issue. The present study aimed to quantify the water used in the processing of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) and Dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus) in a fish warehouse in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, through water balance and mass balance at each development stage. According to the data obtained, the warehouse showed higher total water use, both in general (7,173.28±265.77m3/month), with most water use intended for processing support activities, approximately 45.00% (3,186.82±407.57m3/month); specifically, in the processing of the selected raw materials, with greater consumption of water for obtaining one kg of Dolphinfish fillets and slices, around 4.80 x 103m3/kg in both. This suggests the use of sustainable methodologies that result in decreased water consumption and in reuse of solid waste, since the three processing stages studied generated a high amount of solid waste, with emphasis to filleting in both species, with 55.00% of residual production each. The present study will also serve as the basis to other studies on the same issue in the fishing area. RESUMO Comumente relacionado à indústria de pescado, o alto consumo de água e geração de efluentes de forma não controlada é preocupante. Ações sustentáveis são necessárias diante do problema. Objetivou-se, com o presente estudo, quantificar a água utilizada no processamento de salmão-do-atlântico (Salmo salar) e dourado-do-mar (Coryphaena hippurus), em um entreposto de pescado localizado no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, por meio dos balanços hídrico e de massa de cada etapa de processamento. Com base nos dados obtidos, observou-se que o entreposto apresentou um elevado uso de água total, tanto de forma geral, 7.173,28±265,77m3/mês, com o maior gasto destinado às atividades de apoio ao processamento, aproximadamente 45,00%, quanto de forma específica, no processamento das matéria-prima selecionada, com o maior consumo de água para obtenção de um kg de filé e um kg de posta de dourado, cerca de 4,80 x 103m3/kg em ambos os processos. Sugere-se a aplicação de metodologias sustentáveis de redução no uso hídrico, além do reaproveitamento de resíduos sólidos, uma vez que os três beneficiamentos estudados geram elevada quantidade de resíduos sólidos, com destaque para a filetagem em ambas as espécies, com produção residual de 55,00% cada. O presente estudo também serve como base para outros de mesma temática na área de pescado.