A5016964146- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Adenosine and Purinergic Signaling
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Early Childhood Education and Development
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Metabolism and Genetic Disorders
- Diabetes and associated disorders
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Mitochondrial Function and Pathology
- Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
- Neural dynamics and brain function
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
- Retinal Imaging and Analysis
- Diet and metabolism studies
- Family and Disability Support Research
- Viral-associated cancers and disorders
- Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
University of Minho
2019-2025
University of Coimbra
2013-2023
Clinical Academic Center of Braga
2023
Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image
2018
University of Beira Interior
2017
National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge
2013
University of St Andrews
2009
Deficits in decoding rewarding (and aversive) signals are present several neuropsychiatric conditions such as depression and addiction, emphasising the importance of studying underlying neural circuits detail. One key regions reward circuit is nucleus accumbens (NAc). The classical view on field postulates that NAc dopamine receptor D1-expressing medium spiny neurons (D1-MSNs) convey signals, while D2-expressing MSNs (D2-MSNs) encode aversion. Here, we show both MSN subpopulations can drive...
The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a key brain region for motivated behaviors, yet how distinct neuronal populations encode appetitive or aversive stimuli remains undetermined. Using microendoscopic calcium imaging in mice, we tracked NAc shell D1- D2-medium spiny neurons' (MSNs) activity during exposure to of opposing valence and associative learning. Despite drift individual coding, both D2-population was sufficient discriminate unconditioned stimuli, but not predictive cues. Notably, D2-MSNs...
The presence of tattoo skin disease (TSD) was examined in 1392 free-ranging and dead odontocetes comprising 17 species from the Americas, Europe, South Africa, New Zealand Greenland. We investigated whether TSD prevalence varied with sex, age health status. encountered cetaceans Pacific Atlantic Oceans as well those North, Mediterranean Tasman Seas. No clear patterns related to geography host phylogeny were detected, except that juveniles and, 2 (dusky dolphin Lagenorhynchus obscurus...
Purpose of the study: This study aims to examine impact parental separation on academic experiences Bachelor Physical Education students, focusing how it influences their learning, engagement, and overall performance. By exploring both challenges they face coping strategies employ, seeks provide a deeper understanding educational implications contribute development targeted support systems for affected students. Methodology: A qualitative approach was used gain an in-depth participants'...
Prenatal exposure to stress or glucocorticoids (GC) is associated with the appearance of psychiatric diseases later in life. Microglia, immune cells brain, are altered stress-related disorders. Synthetic GC such as dexamethasone (DEX) commonly prescribed case preterm risk labour order promote fetal lung maturation. Recently, we reported long-lasting differences microglia morphology a model utero DEX (iuDEX), that presents an anxious phenotype. However, it still unclear if differentially...
Abstract John Cunningham virus (JCV) infects chronically human populations worldwide and probably might confer a higher risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). The prevalence of JCV DNA has been determined in normal colon mucosa compared it with different degrees lesions, as well viral presence the urine individuals study. was detected by nested‐PCR approach targeting small‐t antigen 100 healthy controls, patients undergoing biopsy diagnosis disorders. 40% from controls patients. also similar...
Abstract Epidemiologic studies have provided compelling evidence that prenatal stress, through excessive maternal glucocorticoids exposure, is associated with psychiatric disorders later in life. We recently reported anxiety exposure to dexamethasone (DEX, a synthetic glucocorticoid) correlates gender‐specific remodeling of microglia the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), core brain region anxiety‐related disorders. Gender differences morphology, higher prevalence women and negative impact...
Stress exposure has been shown to induce a variety of molecular and functional alterations associated with anxiety depression. Some studies suggest that microglia, the immune cells brain, play significant role in determining neuronal behavioral responses chronic stress also contribute development stress-related psychopathologies. However, little is known about impact duration upon microglia neurons morphology, particularly considering sex differences. This issue deserves particular...
<h3>Background:</h3> The nucleus accumbens (NAcc) is a crucial brain region for emotionally relevant behaviours. NAcc mainly composed of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) expressing either dopamine receptor D1 (D1-MSNs) or D2 (D2-MSNs). D1-MSNs project to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and pallidum (VP), whereas D2-MSNs only VP. D1- have been associated with depression-like behaviours, but their contribution anxiety remains be determined. <h3>Methods:</h3> We used optogenetic tools selectively...
Abstract The nucleus accumbens (NAc) is a key brain region for motivated behaviors, yet how distinct neuronal populations encode appetitive or aversive stimuli remains undetermined. Using microendoscopic calcium imaging, we tracked NAc shell D1- D2-medium spiny neurons’ (MSNs) activity during exposure to of opposing valence and associative learning. Despite drift in individual coding, both D2-population was sufficient discriminate unconditioned stimuli, but not predictive cues. Notably,...
Microglia cells exert a critical role in brain development, mainly supported by their immune functions, which predicts an impact on the genesis of psychiatric disorders. In fact, microglia stress during gestation is, for instance, associated with chronic anxiety and cognitive deficits accompanied long-lasting, region- sex-specific changes morphology. We recently reported that pattern morphologic plasticity, is sex-determined, impacts anxious-like behaviour cognition. also pharmacologic...
A correction to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of paper.
The involvement of immunity in psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety, is typified by the morphologic adaptation microglia, immune cells brain, to anxiogenic stimuli. We previously reported sexually differentiated microglia morphology adult rodents, brain locations implicated including pre-frontal cortex. These physiologic differences likely drive sex-dependent patterns remodeling response varied stress conditions different periods life, that correlate with behavioral time-window appearance...
Abstract Affinity chromatography based on amino acids as interacting ligands was already indicated an alternative compared to ion exchange or hydrophobic interaction for plasmid DNA purification. Understanding the recognition mechanisms occurring between histidine‐based and nucleic enables more efficient purification of a vaccine, binding elution conditions can be adjusted in order enhance performance. Decreasing pH slightly acidic increases positive charge histidine ligand, what influences...
Prenatal stress is associated with increased susceptibility to psychiatric and metabolic disorders later in life. exposure mediators may have sex-dependent effects on offspring brain function, promoting a sex-specific vulnerability psychopathology alterations at adulthood. In this work, the impact of prenatal glucose homeostasis peripheral metabolism male female was investigated chronic anxiety animal model.Pregnant Wistar rats were injected saline or glucocorticoid (dexamethasone: 1 mg/kg,...
The exposure to supra-physiological levels of glucocorticoids in prenatal life can lead a long-term impact brain cytoarchitecture, increasing the susceptibility neuropsychiatric disorders. Dexamethasone, an exogenous glucocorticoid widely used pregnant women risk preterm delivery, is associated with higher rates conditions throughout descendants. In animal models, dexamethasone leads anxious-like behaviour and increased depressive-like adulthood, concomitant alterations neuronal morphology...
<b><i>Background:</i></b> Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is the second most common early-onset dementia. Over last few decades, a growing number of evidence suggests mitochondrial involvement in neurodegeneration, namely modifications DNA (mtDNA) contributing to energy impairment. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To sequence 7 mitochondrially encoded complex I <i>(MT-ND)</i> genes 70 FTLD patients and investigate respiratory chain...
food intake, the Diet Quality Index is calculated in order to provide an immediate feedback user complemented by a chart.The experience was evaluated several domains, including usability, perceived utility and ease of use. Conclusions:The positive evaluation this approach will reinforce importance integrating technologies adolescent health promotion programs.The present substitutes calories counting with diet quality index, enabling adolescents pursuit target behaviours supporting its change...