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Nogueira PJ, Forjaz MJ, Rodriguez-Blazquez C, Diaz-Franco A, Unim B, Palmieri L, Carcaillon-Bentata L, Makovski T, Feteira-Santos R. Research methodologies to assess the impact of COVID-19. Eur J Public Health 2021. [PMCID: PMC8574588 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckab164.175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
PHIRI WP5 aims at identifying the research approaches, data uses, pathways, indicators, and new methodologies to assess the impact of COVID-19 on Population Health.
Methods
Based on a collaborative work of researchers from 20 European institutions, several literature reviews were planned using automatized strategies to map the research methods analysing the impact of COVID-19 and data pathways: i) a scoping literature search to identify indicators of direct and indirect impact; ii) systematic literature reviews on determinants of severity for short and longterm health outcomes; and iii) a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to determine the effectiveness and impact of tracking COVID-19 patients using digitals tools.
Results
In November 2020, more than 73,000 papers about COVID-19 were published. About 16,000 (22%) reported data aspects, and approximately half reported both data aspects and methodologies. The most used indicators of direct impact are incidence and prevalence, mortality, severity and sequelae. To explore the etiological and prognostic effects of frailty, multimorbidity and socioeconomic status, the main identified outcomes were: infection, hospitalization, ICU admission, mortality by COVID-19 (etiological); as well as ICU admission, hospitalization, survival, functional decline, quality of life, disability, mental health difficulties and work absence (prognostic). The search generated 10,139 records. The initial literature search about mobile applications and electronic devices for tracking of COVID-19 patients yielded 2500 records.
Conclusions
The use of machine learning tools to synthesize the research about methods and data pathways on COVID-19 impact is feasible, as the amount of published evidence is very large. The vast amount of available literature on COVID-19 requires specific methods of literature search and synthesis, and an integrated effort of an extensive network of researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- PJ Nogueira
- Área Disciplinar Autónoma da Bioestatística, Instituto de Medicina Preventiva e Saúde Pública, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - MJ Forjaz
- National Center of Epidemiology, Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - A Diaz-Franco
- National Center of Epidemiology, Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - B Unim
- Cardiovascular, Endocrine-metabolic Diseases and Aging, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - L Palmieri
- Cardiovascular, Endocrine-metabolic Diseases and Aging, National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - R Feteira-Santos
- Área Disciplinar Autónoma da Bioestatística, Instituto de Medicina Preventiva e Saúde Pública, Lisbon, Portugal
- Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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2
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Nogueira PJ, Silva AJ, Rosa MV. Mental Disorders' Hospital Admissions Associated with the Economic Crisis Period in Portugal: Fact or artifact? Int J Epidemiol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyv096.469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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3
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Shivaji T, Sousa Pinto C, San-Bento A, Oliveira Serra LA, Valente J, Machado J, Marques T, Carvalho L, Nogueira PJ, Nunes B, Vasconcelos P. A large community outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal, October to November 2014. Euro Surveill 2014; 19:20991. [DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.50.20991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches
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Affiliation(s)
- T Shivaji
- Directorate General of Health, Lisbon, Portugal
- European Intervention Epidemiology Training Programme (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - A San-Bento
- Directorate General of Health, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - J Valente
- Directorate General of Health, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - J Machado
- National Institute of Health Dr Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - T Marques
- Directorate General of Health, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - L Carvalho
- Centro de Estatística e Aplicações Universidade de Lisboa (Centre for Statistics and Applications of the University of Lisbon), Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - B Nunes
- National Institute of Health Dr Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
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4
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Shivaji T, Sousa Pinto C, San-Bento A, Oliveira Serra LA, Valente J, Machado J, Marques T, Carvalho L, Nogueira PJ, Nunes B, Vasconcelos P. A large community outbreak of Legionnaires disease in Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal, October to November 2014. Euro Surveill 2014. [PMID: 25597540 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.50.20991#html_fulltext] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
An outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease with 334 confirmed cases was identified on 7 November 2014 in Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal and declared controlled by 21 November. Epidemiological, environmental and microbiological analysis identified industrial wet cooling systems to be the probable source of infection. Preliminary results from sequence-based typing of clinical specimens and environmental isolates confirmed this link. A series of meteorological phenomena are likely to have contributed to the scale of this outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Shivaji
- Directorate General of Health, Lisbon, Portugal
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5
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Nogueira PJ, Machado A, Rodrigues E, Nunes B, Sousa L, Jacinto M, Ferreira A, Falcao JM, Ferrinho P. The new automated daily mortality surveillance system in Portugal. Euro Surveill 2010; 15:19529. [PMID: 20394709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The experience reported in an earlier Eurosurveillance issue on a fast method to evaluate the impact of the 2003 heatwave on mortality in Portugal, generated a daily mortality surveillance system (VDM) that has been operating ever since jointly with the Portuguese Heat Health Watch Warning System. This work describes the VDM system and how it evolved to become an automated system operating year-round, and shows briefly its potential using mortality data from January 2006 to June 2009 collected by the system itself. The new system has important advantages such as: rapid information acquisition, completeness (the entire population is included), lightness (very little information is exchanged, date of death, age, sex, place of death registration). It allows rapid detection of impacts (within five days) and allows a quick preliminary quantification of impacts that usually took several years to be done. These characteristics make this system a powerful tool for public health action. The VDM system also represents an example of inter-institutional cooperation, bringing together organisations from two different ministries, Health and Justice, aiming at improving knowledge about the mortality in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Nogueira
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal.
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6
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Nogueira PJ, Machado A, Rodrigues E, Nunes B, Sousa L, Jacinto M, Ferreira A, Falcão JM, Ferrinho P. The new automated daily mortality surveillance system in Portugal. Euro Surveill 2010. [DOI: 10.2807/ese.15.13.19529-en] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The experience reported in an earlier Eurosurveillance issue on a fast method to evaluate the impact of the 2003 heatwave on mortality in Portugal, generated a daily mortality surveillance system (VDM) that has been operating ever since jointly with the Portuguese Heat Health Watch Warning System. This work describes the VDM system and how it evolved to become an automated system operating year-round, and shows briefly its potential using mortality data from January 2006 to June 2009 collected by the system itself. The new system has important advantages such as: rapid information acquisition, completeness (the entire population is included), lightness (very little information is exchanged, date of death, age, sex, place of death registration). It allows rapid detection of impacts (within five days) and allows a quick preliminary quantification of impacts that usually took several years to be done. These characteristics make this system a powerful tool for public health action. The VDM system also represents an example of inter-institutional cooperation, bringing together organisations from two different ministries, Health and Justice, aiming at improving knowledge about the mortality in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Nogueira
- Unit of Epidemiology, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - A Machado
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - E Rodrigues
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - B Nunes
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - L Sousa
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - M Jacinto
- Institute of Information Technologies in Justice, Ministry of Justice, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - A Ferreira
- Institute of Information Technologies in Justice, Ministry of Justice, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - J M Falcão
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - P Ferrinho
- Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, New University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
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Nogueira PJ, Nunes B, Machado A, Rodrigues E, Gómez V, Sousa L, Falcão JM. Early estimates of the excess mortality associated with the 2008-9 influenza season in Portugal. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 14. [PMID: 19422778 DOI: 10.2807/ese.14.18.19194-en] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to estimate the excess mortality associated with the influenza activity registered in Portugal between week 49 of 2008 and week 5 of 2009. For this purpose available mortality data from the Portuguese Daily Mortality Monitoring (VDM) System was used. Several estimates of excess deaths associated with the recent recorded influenza activity were determined through statistical modelling (cyclic regression) for the total population and disaggregated by gender and age group. The results show that the impact of the 2008-9 influenza season was 1,961 excess deaths, with approximately 82% of these occurring in the age group of 75 years and older.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Nogueira
- Department of Epidemiology, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, INSA, Lisbon, Portugal.
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Nogueira PJ, Falcão JM, Contreiras MT, Paixão E, Brandão J, Batista I. Mortality in Portugal associated with the heat wave of August 2003: Early estimation of effect, using a rapid method. Euro Surveill 2005; 10:5-6. [DOI: 10.2807/esm.10.07.00553-en] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During the first two weeks of August 2003, Portugal was affected by a severe heat wave.
Following the identification in Portugal of the influence of heat waves on mortality in 1981 and 1991 (estimated excess of about 1900 and 1000 deaths respectively), the Observatório Nacional de Saúde (ONSA) - Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, together with the Vigilância Previsão e Informação - Instituto de Meteorologia, created a surveillance system called ÍCARO, which has been in operation since 1999. ÍCARO identifies heat waves with potential influence on mortality [1].
Before the end of the 2003 heat wave, ONSA had produced a preliminary estimate of its effect on mortality. The results based on daily number of deaths from 1 June to 12 August 2003 were presented within 4 working days. Data was gathered from 31 National Civil registrars, covering the district capitals of all 18 districts of mainland Portugal, and representing approximately 40% of the mainland’s mortality.
The number of deaths registered in the period 30 July to 12 August was compared with the ones registered during 3 comparison periods: (in July): 1-14 July, 1-28 July, and 15-28 July). 15-28 July, the period best resembling the heat wave in time and characteristics, produced an estimation of 37.7% higher mortality rate then the value expected under normal temperature conditions. From this value, an estimate of 1316 death excess was obtained for mainland Portugal.
The main purpose of this article is to present the method used to identify and assess the occurrence of an effect (excess mortality) during the heat wave of summer 2003.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Nogueira
- Observatório Nacional de Saúde – Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - J M Falcão
- Observatório Nacional de Saúde – Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M T Contreiras
- Observatório Nacional de Saúde – Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - E Paixão
- Observatório Nacional de Saúde – Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - J Brandão
- Observatório Nacional de Saúde – Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - I Batista
- Observatório Nacional de Saúde – Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
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Nogueira PJ, Falcão JM, Contreiras MT, Paixão E, Brandão J, Batista I. Mortality in Portugal associated with the heat wave of August 2003: early estimation of effect, using a rapid method. Euro Surveill 2005; 10:150-3. [PMID: 16088048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
During the first two weeks of August 2003, Portugal was affected by a severe heat wave. Following the identification in Portugal of the influence of heat waves on mortality in 1981 and 1991 (estimated excess of about 1900 and 1000 deaths respectively), the Observatorio Nacional de Saude (ONSA) - Instituto Nacional de Saude Dr. Ricardo Jorge, together with the Vigilancia Previsao e Informacao - Instituto de Meteorologia, created a surveillance system called iCARO, which has been in operation since 1999. iCARO identifies heat waves with potential influence on mortality [1]. Before the end of the 2003 heat wave, ONSA had produced a preliminary estimate of its effect on mortality. The results based on daily number of deaths from 1 June to 12 August 2003 were presented within 4 working days. Data was gathered from 31 National Civil registrars, covering the district capitals of all 18 districts of mainland Portugal, and representing approximately 40% of the mainland's mortality. The number of deaths registered in the period 30 July to 12 August was compared with the ones registered during 3 comparison periods: (in July): 1-14 July, 1-28 July, and 15-28 July). 15-28 July, the period best resembling the heat wave in time and characteristics, produced an estimation of 37.7% higher mortality rate then the value expected under normal temperature conditions. From this value, an estimate of 1316 death excess was obtained for mainland Portugal. The main purpose of this article is to present the method used to identify and assess the occurrence of an effect (excess mortality) during the heat wave of summer 2003.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Nogueira
- Observatório Nacional de Saúde, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
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10
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Santos AM, Nobre EL, Garcia e Costa J, Nogueira PJ, Macedo A, De Castro JJ, Teles AG. [Grave's disease and stress]. ACTA MEDICA PORT 2002; 15:423-7. [PMID: 12680288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In recent years, there have been many reports about a possible association between Stressful Life Events (SLE) and the onset of Graves' Disease (GD). Nevertheless, most papers have been criticised and no such association has yet been proven. AIM OF THE STUDY To assess the possible associations between SLE and the onset of GD. METHODS Retrospective study of 62 subjects, divided into 2 groups of 31 each, GD (Gp1) and controls (Gp2). The patients in Gp1 had thyroid disease diagnosed within the last 12 months, with clinical and biochemical confirmation. In Gp2, psychopathological and endocrine disturbances had been ruled out. Each 2 group consisted of 9 males (29%) and 22 females (71%). The mean age was 38.48 + 10.9 in Gp1 and 41.1 + 11.8 in Gp2. SLE evaluation (number and impact) was reported for the 12 months preceding the onset of symptoms of thyroid disease. To assess SLE, we used the Life Experiences Survey-LES from Saranson, Johnson and Siegel (1978; 1985). Statistical analysis was done using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS Patients with GD had a significantly greater number of SLEs compared to Controls (p < .001). The number and impact of negative SLEs was significantly higher in Gp1 compared to Gp2 (p < .001). There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of the number and impact of both positive and neutral SLEs. DISCUSSION The findings of this study support that SLEs may contribute to the precipitation of GD. We observed that patients with GD had significantly more negative events and experienced a greater negative impact from them prior to the onset of GD. The association of SLEs with GD is probably related to the association of stress with changes in the immune system, which can play an important role in the aetiology of thyrotoxicosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Matos Santos
- Serviço de Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Metabolismo, Hospital Militar Principal, Núcleo de Endocrinologia Diabetes e Metabolismo, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa
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Silva MJ, Dias A, Barreta A, Nogueira PJ, Castelo-Branco NAA, Boavida MG. Low frequency noise and whole-body vibration cause increased levels of sister chromatid exchange in splenocytes of exposed mice. Teratog Carcinog Mutagen 2002; 22:195-203. [PMID: 11948630 DOI: 10.1002/tcm.10012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to low frequency (LF) noise and whole-body vibration (WBV) induces both physiological and psychological alterations in man. Recently, we have shown that long-term occupational exposure to LF noise and WBV produces genotoxic effects in man expressed as an increase in sister chromatid exchange (SCE) levels in lymphocytes. The objectives of the present study were to investigate whether the observed effect could be reproduced in a murine model and, if so, which of the agents, LF noise alone or in combination with WBV, would be instrumental in the SCE induction. SCEs were analyzed in spleen lymphocytes of mice exposed to LF noise alone and in combination with WBV for 300 and 600 hr. An effect at the cell cycle kinetics level was also investigated. The results revealed significant increases in the mean SCE number per cell and in the proportion of cells with high frequency of SCEs (HFCs) in lymphocytes of mice submitted to combined noise and WBV over controls. No significant differences were found between single noise-exposed and control mice. A cell cycle delay was observed exclusively in the noise and WBV exposure groups. In conclusion, we demonstrated that, as in exposed workers, prolonged exposure to the combination of LF noise and WBV determines an increase in SCE level in mice while LF noise alone is not effective in SCE induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Silva
- Center of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health, Lisbon, Portugal.
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12
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Matos-Santos A, Nobre EL, Costa JG, Nogueira PJ, Macedo A, Galvão-Teles A, de Castro JJ. Relationship between the number and impact of stressful life events and the onset of Graves' disease and toxic nodular goitre. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2001; 55:15-9. [PMID: 11453947 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2265.2001.01332.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the last few decades, several studies have suggested a possible association between Stressful Life Events (SLEs) and the onset of Graves' Disease (GD). However, others have criticised this association and it has not yet been possible to prove it unequivocally. At present, we are not aware of studies correlating SLE and non autoimmune thyrotoxicosis. OBJECTIVE To assess possible associations between SLEs, the onset of GD and the onset of non autoimmune thyrotoxicosis (toxic nodular goitre, TNG). DESIGN A case-control retrospective study. PATIENTS This study included 93 subjects, divided into three groups of 31 each: GD, TNG and control (CG). The GD and TNG patients had thyroid disease diagnosed within the last 12 months, with clinical and biochemical confirmation. In the CG, psychopathological and endocrine disturbances had been ruled out. All three groups consisted of nine males (29%) and 22 females (71%). The mean age was 38.4 +/- 10.9 years in the GD group, 48.3 +/- 11.1 years in the TNG group and 41.1 +/- 11.8 years in the CG group. SLEs were evaluated (number and impact) for the 12 months preceding the onset of symptoms of thyroid disease. MEASUREMENTS SLE occurrences and their impact on each group of cases were measured. To assess SLEs, we used the Life Experiences Survey (LES). Our statistical analysis included descriptive techniques and parametric and/or nonparametric comparative tests. P < 0.01 was considered statistically significant. Odds ratios were also calculated. RESULTS Patients with GD had a significantly greater number of SLEs compared to the TNG group and the CG (P < 0.001). The number and impact of negative SLEs were significantly higher in GD compared to TNG and CG (P < 0.001). The difference between TNG and CG was not significant (P > 0.01). GD had a higher impact of positive SLEs than TNG (P = 0.004), and no significant differences were found between the GD group and CG. Neutral SLEs were similar in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that SLEs are a precipitating factor of the onset of GD. We also demonstrated that SLEs do not seem to have any conclusive relationship with the onset of TNG.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Matos-Santos
- Serviço De Endocrinologia, Diabetes e Metabolismo, Hospital Militar Principal, Lg Da Estrela, 1249-075 Lisboa, Portugal
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Faustino P, Pacheco P, Loureiro P, Nogueira PJ, Lavinha J. The geographic pattern of beta-thalassaemia mutations in the Portuguese population. Br J Haematol 1999; 107:903-4. [PMID: 10671033 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1999.01821.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Abstract
The effects of chronic mild prenatal stress on leukocyte infiltration into the airways was investigated in rat offspring. The chronic prenatal stress consisted of transitory and variable changes in the rat's living conditions. Offspring at adult age were actively sensitized (day 0) and intratracheally challenged (day 14) with ovalbumin. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed in the offspring at 48 h after intratracheal challenge with ovalbumin. A significant increase in total leukocyte infiltration was observed in the non-stressed offspring group and this was associated with a marked recruitment of eosinophils without a significant effect on the influx of neutrophils and mononuclear cells. In the prenatal stressed offspring, the counts of both total leukocyte and eosinophils, as well as mononuclear cells, was increased by 50% compared to the non-stressed offspring. We provide here the first experimental evidence that chronic mild unpredictable prenatal stress produces a marked increase in the allergen-induced airway inflammation in the rat offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Nogueira
- Departamento de Farmacologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brasil
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15
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Gonçalves I, Ducrocq R, Lavinha J, Nogueira PJ, Peres MJ, Picanço I, Correia E, Reis AB, Silva C, Krishnamoorthy R, Almeida LO. Combined effect of two different polymorphic sequences within the beta globin gene cluster on the level of HbF. Am J Hematol 1998; 57:269-76. [PMID: 9544969 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1096-8652(199804)57:4<269::aid-ajh1>3.0.co;2-s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Beta thalassemia and Hb Lepore heterozygotes included in this study exhibit fetal hemoglobin levels varying from trace quantities to 14% (1.74 g/dl) of total hemoglobin in the adult. In this work, we have examined the correlation of DNA sequence polymorphisms with the observed HbF level. The analysis of polymorphic markers within the beta globin cluster in 39 individuals heterozygous for beta thalassemia or Hb Lepore confirms the previous findings for homozygous beta thalassemia: the presence of both an (AT)9 T5 sequence configuration at position -540 of the beta globin gene and a (C --> T) variation at -158 of the Ggamma globin gene is associated with elevated expression of HbF. However, at least one defective beta globin gene is required to reveal this association. The best evidence is from the study of individuals heterozygous for Hb Lepore with various levels of HbF. In these individuals it was possible to explore the effect of a single (AT)x Ty motif (the other being absent from the rearranged Lepore chromosome) on HbF expression. The presence of the (AT)9 T5 configuration increases HbF level from a median of 0.515 g/dl observed in (AT)7 T7 subjects, to 1.39 g/dl. We confirm the existence of linkage disequilibrium between the (C --> T) variation at -158 of Ggamma gene and the (TG)13 configuration at the second intervening sequence (IVS-2) of Agamma gene and identify two new polymorphisms in this region: (TG)7 (CG)5 (TG)8 linked to haplotype V and (TG)8 (CG)5 (TG)10 linked to haplotype II. This study suggests that two distinct regions of the beta cluster, whether in cis or in trans to each other, can interact to enhance HbF expression when a beta thalassemic determinant is present in heterozigosity.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Genética Molecular, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Monte da Caparica, Portugal
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16
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Abstract
We investigated the long-lasting effect of peripheral injection of the neuropeptide substance P (SP) and of some N- or C-terminal SP fragments (SPN and SPC, respectively) on retention test performance of avoidance learning. Male Wistar rats (220 to 280 g) were trained in an inhibitory step-down avoidance task and tested 24 h or 21 days later. Immediately after the training trial rats received an intraperitoneal injection of SP (50 micrograms/kg), SPN 1-7 (167 micrograms/kg) or SPC 7-11 (134 micrograms/kg). Control groups were injected with vehicle or SP 5 h after the training trial. The immediate post-training administration of SP and SPN, but not SPC, facilitated avoidance behavior in rats tested 24 h or 21 days later, i.e., the retention test latencies of the SP and SPN groups were significantly longer (P < 0.05, Mann-Whitney U-test) during both training-test intervals. These observations suggest that the memory-enhancing effect of SP is long-lasting and that the amino acid sequence responsible for this effect is encoded by its N-terminal part.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Tomaz
- Laboratório de Psicobiologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeiräo Preto, Universidade de Säo Paulo, Brasil.
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Abstract
This report summarizes a recent series of experiments dealing with the effect of peripheral (i.p.) administration of SP on the learning of avoidance and habituation tasks. In summary, the results from these studies show that peripheral post-training SP administration in rats enhances memory in a dose- and time-dependent way. The effect of substance P on retention was observed across tasks with different response requirements and in the absence of explicit punishment. The memory-enhancing effects are long-lasting, until 21 days post-training, and are mediated, at least in part, via interactions with the endogenous opioid system. The mnemotropic effects of peripherally administered SP are sensitive to the functional integrity of the vagus, suggesting that the vagus nerve may be one pathway by which systemic SP influences memory storage processes in the brain. Furthermore, the data indicated that these effects seemed to be encoded by different SP sequences, the N-terminal SP1-7, but not the C-terminal hepta- and hexapeptide sequences being responsible for the memory-promoting effects. Taken together, these studies strongly suggest that SP may be considered to have memory-promoting effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Tomaz
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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18
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De Souza Silva MA, Mattern C, Häcker R, Nogueira PJ, Huston JP, Schwarting RK. Intranasal administration of the dopaminergic agonists L-DOPA, amphetamine, and cocaine increases dopamine activity in the neostriatum: a microdialysis study in the rat. J Neurochem 1997; 68:233-9. [PMID: 8978730 DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.1997.68010233.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The effectiveness of intranasal drug administration to stimulate central neuronal systems is well known from drug addiction and has also been considered as an alternative pharmacokinetic approach to treat brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease. In the present study, the possible neurochemical effects of intranasal administration of the psychostimulants cocaine and amphetamine and of the antiparkinsonian drug L-DOPA were analyzed. By using in vivo microdialysis in the urethane-anesthetized rat, it was found that unilateral intranasal administration of either of the psychostimulants led to huge and rapid increases of extracellular dopamine levels in the neostriatum followed by decreases of its metabolites dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid. Furthermore, intranasal administration of L-DOPA, but not of the saline vehicle, also led to increased extracellular levels of neostriatal dopamine and to increases of its metabolites. Because the effect of intranasal L-DOPA on neostriatal dopamine was observed only ipsilaterally but not contralaterally to the side of intranasal drug administration, it can be hypothesized that L-DOPA was not effective via passage through the circulation but may have acted through a neuronal or an extraneuronal route. These data provide neurochemical evidence that the intranasal route may not only be efficient in drug abuse, but may also be useful to target the brain therapeutically, as in the case of neurodegenerative brain disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A De Souza Silva
- Institute of Physiological Psychology I, Heinrich-Heine-University of Düsseldorf, Germany
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19
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Boix F, Sandor P, Nogueira PJ, Huston JP, Schwarting RK. Relationship between dopamine release in nucleus accumbens and place preference induced by substance P injected into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis region. Neuroscience 1995; 64:1045-55. [PMID: 7538637 DOI: 10.1016/0306-4522(94)00425-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The activity of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the nucleus accumbens is considered to be an important element in the central processing of reinforcement. Unilateral administration of the neurokinin substance P into the area of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis of rats was found to be reinforcing, as assessed by the conditioned place preference paradigm. Simultaneous in vivo microdialysis showed that administration of substance P into the area of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis could increase extracellular concentrations of dopamine in the contralateral nucleus accumbens. Only those animals in which the administration of substance P induced this increase in dopamine levels acquired place preference. Furthermore, the changes in extracellular dopamine levels after substance P administration had a bimodal time course with an acute increase (to about 160% of baseline) during the first hour after injection, with a low (to 120-130%) and enduring increase occurring thereafter. Interestingly, during this second increase there were indications for positive correlations with the degree of place preference induced by substance P. Further positive correlations with place preference were found in the levels of the serotonergic metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. In contrast to dopamine, these were observed ipsi- and contralateral to the side of substance P administration. By combining the methods of in vivo microdialysis and conditioned place preference it was shown that the reinforcing effect induced by unilateral substance P injection in the nucleus basalis magnocellularis is related to dopaminergic (and possibly serotonergic) mechanisms in the nucleus accumbens.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Boix
- Institute of Physiological Psychology I, University of Düsseldorf, Germany
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20
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Abstract
The present study determined whether the effects of peripherally administered substance P on memory are mediated via activation of the vagus nerve. Rats were submitted to subdiaphragmatic vagotomy, sham vagotomy or non-operated, and trained in a step-down inhibitory avoidance task and tested 24 h later. Posttraining administration of 50 micrograms/kg of SP facilitated retention performance in non-operated and sham-operated groups. The facilitating effects of 50 micrograms/kg of SP was blocked by vagotomy, although vagotomy did not attenuate the memory-enhancing effects of larger doses (250 and 500 micrograms/kg). These results suggest that the mnemotropic effects of peripherally administered SP are sensitive to the functional integrity of the vagus nerve. Alternatively, the vagus nerve may be one pathway but not the only pathway by which systemic SP influences the memory storage processes in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Nogueira
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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21
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Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of post-trial systemic injections of the neurokinin substance P (SP) on inhibitory avoidance learning in rats treated with naloxone before conditioning and/or test trials. Rats were trained in a step-down or uphill inhibitory avoidance task and tested 24 h later. The animals received, 30 min before training and/or testing an i.p. injection of saline or naloxone (Nx) at doses of 0.5; 1.0; 5.0 or 50 mg/kg. Immediately after training they were administered SP 50 micrograms/kg or vehicle. Animals that received Nx both before conditioning and test trials (5.0 and 50 mg/kg), in combination with SP, showed better test performance for the uphill and step-down avoidance then those treated only with SP. Nx administered only before training (5.0 and 50 mg/kg) or before test (0.5 to 50 mg/kg) reduced the effects of SP. These data are discussed in terms of the possibility that Nx produces a state-dependent learning when combined with SP.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Silva
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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22
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Tomaz C, Aguiar MS, Nogueira PJ. Facilitation of memory by peripheral administration of substance P and naloxone using avoidance and habituation learning tasks. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 1990; 14:447-53. [PMID: 1705018 DOI: 10.1016/s0149-7634(05)80067-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
This paper summarizes results of a series of experiments dealing with the effects of the neuropeptide substance P (SP) on avoidance learning and habituation. Several doses of SP (0.5, 5, 50, 100, 250, 500 micrograms/kg) were administered posttrial intraperitoneally (IP). Three inhibitory one-trial avoidance tasks were used; uphill, step-down and step-through (alcove). Habituation was measured in an open field by recording the number of rearings. The posttrial injection of SP facilitated avoidance responses as well as reduced rearing in a dose- and time-dependent way. Pretraining and pretest injections (IP) of naloxone facilitated avoidance behavior and potentiated the action of SP, also in a dose-dependent manner. These results demonstrate that: a) peripheral posttraining administration of SP enhances memory; b) SP facilitates not only aversive or positively motivated learning tasks, but also habituation, which is a form of learning that involves neither positive nor negative reinforces; c) SP does not exert its effect by a long-lasting proactive action on performance during the testing trial; d) naloxone potentiates the SP posttraining effect. These data, therefore, suggest that memory-enhancing effects of SP are, at least in part, mediated via interactions between this peptide and endogenous opioid systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Tomaz
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, University of São Paulo, FFCLRP-USP, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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