Production of a Fusion Protein Containing the Antigenic Domain 1 of Human Cytomegalovirus Glycoprotein B

( Sousa ),( Fani ),( Susana Ferreira ),( Joao Queiroz ),( Fernanda Domingues ) 한국미생물생명공학회 2006 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.16 No.7

Exploring Consumer Cosmopolitanism and Ethnocentrism Effects in the Purchase Intentions towards the Products of a Foreign Country

Sousa,Ana F. Antunes,Nobre,Helena M.,Farhangmehr,Minoo 한국유통과학회 2019 KODISA ICBE (International Conference on Business Vol.2019 No.-

A successful integrated strategy across national borders helps companies to target potential consumers at the global market. The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of cosmopolitanism and ethnocentrism on consumers’ preferences for domestic versus foreign products and their visiting intentions. A questionnaire assessing the influence of consumer cosmopolitanism and consumer ethnocentrism on the intention to buy domestic versus foreign products and travelling to Portugal was passed on a sample of 386 international consumers. Findings reveal that cosmopolitan consumers show a higher predisposition to buy foreign products and visiting the country. On the other hand, ethnocentrism seems to act as a barrier to visiting foreign countries.

Nonlinear mixed models for characterization of growth trajectory of New Zealand rabbits raised in tropical climate

de Sousa, Vanusa Castro,Biagiotti, Daniel,Sarmento, Jose Lindenberg Rocha,Sena, Luciano Silva,Barroso, Priscila Alves,Barjud, Sued Felipe Lacerda,de Sousa Almeida, Marisa Karen,da Silva Santos, Natana Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2022 Animal Bioscience Vol.35 No.5

Objective: The identification of nonlinear mixed models that describe the growth trajectory of New Zealand rabbits was performed based on weight records and carcass measures obtained using ultrasonography. Methods: Phenotypic records of body weight (BW) and loin eye area (LEA) were collected from 66 animals raised in a didactic-productive module of cuniculture located in the southern Piaui state, Brazil. The following nonlinear models were tested considering fixed parameters: Brody, Gompertz, Logistic, Richards, Meloun 1, modified Michaelis-Menten, Santana, and von Bertalanffy. The coefficient of determination (R²), mean squared error, percentage of convergence of each model (%C), mean absolute deviation of residuals, Akaike information criterion (AIC), and Bayesian information criterion (BIC) were used to determine the best model. The model that best described the growth trajectory for each trait was also used under the context of mixed models, considering two parameters that admit biological interpretation (A and k) with random effects. Results: The von Bertalanffy model was the best fitting model for BW according to the highest value of R² (0.98) and lowest values of AIC (6,675.30) and BIC (6,691.90). For LEA, the Logistic model was the most appropriate due to the results of R² (0.52), AIC (783.90), and BIC (798.40) obtained using this model. The absolute growth rates estimated using the von Bertalanffy and Logistic models for BW and LEA were 21.51g/d and 3.16 cm², respectively. The relative growth rates at the inflection point were 0.028 for BW (von Bertalanffy) and 0.014 for LEA (Logistic). Conclusion: The von Bertalanffy and Logistic models with random effect at the asymptotic weight are recommended for analysis of ponderal and carcass growth trajectories in New Zealand rabbits. The inclusion of random effects in the asymptotic weight and maturity rate improves the quality of fit in comparison to fixed models.

A quality by design approach in oral extended release drug delivery systems: where we are and where we are going?

Sousa A. S.,Serra J.,Estevens C.,Costa R.,Ribeiro A. J. 한국약제학회 2023 Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation Vol.53 No.2

Background Oral extended release (ER) delivery systems have quickly gained increasing importance because of their ability to maintain drug levels in the blood more consistently, reducing side effects and improving patient compliance. The complexity of ER formulation leads to additional development challenges in the fulfilment of quality-related regulatory requirements. Despite their challenging properties, the potential of ER system formulation and process development can be better exploited by applying quality by design (QbD) approaches and advanced modeling techniques such as machine learning (ML). Area covered This review provides a comprehensive overview of QbD concepts applied to oral ER delivery systems, clarifying the impact of raw materials and process variables on critical quality attributes (CQAs). Moreover, data science coupled with ML algorithms is also elucidated in this article as a potential tool for predicting and optimizing ER formulation design and manufacturing processes. Expert opinion QbD, as a scientific and risk-based approach, provides a comprehensive understanding of oral ER drug delivery systems improving product quality and reducing postapproval changes. Enabling QbD with ML-driven pharmaceutical development can provide an opportunity to move toward risk mitigation for efficient ER tablet formulation and process development. However, there are some barriers to overcome in the way of adopting QbD concepts. The key issues are the lack of understanding and the gap between industries and regulatory authorities concerning the scientific principles and terms beyond QbD, which can create an obstacle during the approval process. Furthermore, it is generally believed that the resources and time invested in applying QbD tools are not cost-effective during constant and continuous improvement. Today, it is time to realize that a multidisciplinary understanding of the formulation and manufacturing process is as important as achieving the final result.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), an organosulfur compound, is effective against obesity-induced metabolic disorders in mice

Sousa-Lima, I.,Park, S.Y.,Chung, M.,Jung, H.J.,Kang, M.C.,Gaspar, J.M.,Seo, J.A.,Macedo, M.P.,Park, K.S.,Mantzoros, C.,Lee, S.H.,Kim, Y.B. W.B.Saunders [etc.] 2016 clinical and experimental Vol.65 No.10

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), an organosulfur compound, has been used as a dietary supplement that can improve various metabolic diseases. However, the effect of MSM on obesity-linked metabolic disorders remains unclear. The goal of the current study is to determine whether MSM has beneficial effects on glucose and lipid homeostasis in obesity-associated pathophysiologic states. High-fat diet-induced obese (DIO) and genetically obese diabetic db/db mice treated with MSM (1%-5% v/v, by drinking water) were studied. Metabolic parameters involved in glucose and lipid metabolism were determined. Treatment of DIO mice with MSM leads to a significant decrease in blood glucose levels. DIO mice treated with MSM are hypersensitive to insulin, as evidenced by decreased serum insulin and an increase in the area above the curve during an ITT. Concurrently, MSM reduces hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol contents in DIO mice. These effects are accompanied by reductions in gene expression of key molecules involved in lipogenesis and inflammation. FACS analysis reveals that MSM markedly increases the frequency of B cells and decreases the frequency of myeloid cells in peripheral blood and in bone marrow. Moreover, overnutrition-induced changes of femur microarchitecture are restored by MSM. In db/db mice, a marked impairment in glucose and lipid metabolic profiles is notably ameliorated when MSM is supplemented. These data suggest that MSM has beneficial effects on multiple metabolic dysfunctions, including hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and inflammation. Thus, MSM could be the therapeutic option for the treatment of obesity-related metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and fatty liver diseases.

Rho-Kinase as a Therapeutic Target for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases

Sousa-Lima Inês,Kim Hyun Jeong,John Jones,김영범 대한당뇨병학회 2021 Diabetes and Metabolism Journal Vol.45 No.5

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major public health problem and the most common form of chronic liver disease, affecting 25% of the global population. Although NAFLD is closely linked with obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, knowledge on its pathogenesis remains incomplete. Emerging data have underscored the importance of Rho-kinase (Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing kinase [ROCK]) action in the maintenance of normal hepatic lipid homeostasis. In particular, pharmacological blockade of ROCK in hepatocytes or hepatic stellate cells prevents the progression of liver diseases such as NAFLD and fibrosis. Moreover, mice lacking hepatic ROCK1 are protected against obesity-induced fatty liver diseases by suppressing hepatic de novo lipogenesis. Here we review the roles of ROCK as an indispensable regulator of obesity-induced fatty liver disease and highlight the key cellular pathway governing hepatic lipid accumulation, with focus on de novo lipogenesis and its impact on therapeutic potential. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of the metabolic milieu linking to liver dysfunction triggered by ROCK activation may help identify new targets for treating fatty liver diseases such as NAFLD.

miR-30-HNF4γ and miR-194-NR2F2 regulatory networks contribute to the upregulation of metaplasia markers in the stomach

Sousa, Josane F,Nam, Ki Taek,Petersen, Christine P,Lee, Hyuk-Joon,Yang, Han-Kwang,Kim, Woo Ho,Goldenring, James R BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2016 Gut Vol.65 No.6

<P>Objective Intestinal metaplasia and spasmolytic polypeptide-expressing metaplasia (SPEM) are considered neoplastic precursors of gastric adenocarcinoma and are both marked by gene expression alterations in comparison to normal stomach. Since miRNAs are important regulators of gene expression, we sought to investigate the role of miRNAs on the development of stomach metaplasias. Design We performed miRNA profiling using a quantitative reverse transcription-PCR approach on laser capture microdissected human intestinal metaplasia and SPEM. Data integration of the miRNA profile with a previous mRNA profile from the same samples was performed to detect potential miRNA-mRNA regulatory circuits. Transfection of gastric cancer cell lines with selected miRNA mimics and inhibitors was used to evaluate their effects on the expression of putative targets and additional metaplasia markers. Results We identified several genes as potential targets of miRNAs altered during metaplasia progression. We showed evidence that HNF4 gamma (upregulated in intestinal metaplasia) is targeted by miR-30 and that miR-194 targets a known co-regulator of HNF4 activity, NR2F2 (downregulated in intestinal metaplasia). Intestinal metaplasia markers such as VIL1, TFF2 and TFF3 were downregulated after overexpression of miR-30a in a HNF4 gamma-dependent manner. In addition, overexpression of HNF4 gamma was sufficient to induce the expression of VIL1 and this effect was potentiated by downregulation of NR2F2. Conclusions The interplay of the two transcription factors HNF4 gamma and NR2F2 and their coordinate regulation by miR-30 and miR-194, respectively, represent a miRNA to transcription factor network responsible for the expression of intestinal transcripts in stomach cell lineages during the development of intestinal metaplasia.</P>

Bridge deflection evaluation using strain and rotation measurements

Sousa, Helder,Cavadas, Filipe,Henriques, Abel,Bento, Joao,Figueiras, Joaquim Techno-Press 2013 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.11 No.4

Monitoring systems currently applied to concrete bridges include strain gauges, inclinometers, accelerometers and displacement transducers. In general, vertical displacements are one of the parameters that more often need to be assessed because their information reflects the overall response of the bridge span. However, the implementation of systems to continuously and directly observe vertical displacements is known to be difficult. On the other hand, strain gauges and inclinometers are easier to install, but their measurements provide no more than indirect information regarding the bridge deflection. In this context, taking advantage of the information collected through strain gauges and inclinometers, and the processing capabilities of current computers, a procedure to evaluate bridge girder deflections based on polynomial functions is presented. The procedure has been implemented in an existing software system - MENSUSMONITOR -, improving the flexibility in the data handling and enabling faster data processing by means of real time visualization capabilities. Benefiting from these features, a comprehensive analysis aiming at assessing the suitability of polynomial functions as an approximate solution for deflection curves, is presented. The effect of boundary conditions and the influence of the order of the polynomial functions on the accuracy of results are discussed. Some recommendations for further instrumentation plans are provided based on the results of the present analysis. This work is supported throughout by monitoring data collected from a laboratory beam model and two full-scale bridges.

Pharmacological Treatment of Acute Unilateral Vestibulopathy: A Review

Sousa Francisco Alves de,Alves Clara Serdoura,Pinto Ana Nóbrega,Meireles Luís,Rego Ângela Reis 대한청각학회 2024 Journal of Audiology & Otology Vol.28 No.1

There have been few investigations on the epidemiology, etiology, and medical management of acute unilateral vestibulopathy (AUV). Short-term pharmaceutical resolutions include vestibular symptomatic suppressants, anti-emetics, and some cause-based therapies. Anticholinergics, phenothiazines, antihistamines, antidopaminergics, benzodiazepines, and calcium channel antagonists are examples of vestibular suppressants. Some of these medications may show their effects through multiple mechanisms. In contrast, N-acetyl-L-leucine, Ginkgo biloba, and betahistine improve central vestibular compensation. Currently, AUV pathophysiology is poorly understood. Diverse hypotheses have previously been identified which have brought about some causal treatments presently used. According to some publications, acute administration of anti-inflammatory medications may have a deleterious impact on both post-lesional functional recovery and endogenous adaptive plasticity processes. Thus, some authors do not recommend the use of corticosteroids in AUV. Antivirals are even more contentious in the context of AUV treatment. Although vascular theories have been presented, no verified investigations employing anti-clotting or vasodilator medications have been conducted. There are no standardized treatment protocols for AUV to date, and the pharmacological treatment of AUV is still questionable. This review addresses the most current developments and controversies in AUV medical treatment.

Improving accessibility and distinction between negative results in biomedical relation extraction

Sousa, Diana,Lamurias, Andre,Couto, Francisco M. Korea Genome Organization 2020 Genomics & informatics Vol.18 No.2

Accessible negative results are relevant for researchers and clinicians not only to limit their search space but also to prevent the costly re-exploration of research hypotheses. However, most biomedical relation extraction datasets do not seek to distinguish between a false and a negative relation among two biomedical entities. Furthermore, datasets created using distant supervision techniques also have some false negative relations that constitute undocumented/ unknown relations (missing from a knowledge base). We propose to improve the distinction between these concepts, by revising a subset of the relations marked as false on the phenotype-gene relations corpus and give the first steps to automatically distinguish between the false (F), negative (N), and unknown (U) results. Our work resulted in a sample of 127 manually annotated FNU relations and a weighted-F1 of 0.5609 for their automatic distinction. This work was developed during the 6th Biomedical Linked Annotation Hackathon (BLAH6).