Saúde em cadeia: (Co)construção de percursos de literacia em saúde e qualidade de vida / Chain health: (Co)construction of literacy courses in health and quality of life / Salud en cadena: (Co)construcción de recorridos de alfabetización en salud y calidad de vida

CONTEXTO: Considerando que a cidadania em saúde consagra o direito e dever dos cidadãos participarem ativamente no processo de cuidados de saúde, procurou-se promover nos reclusos a literacia em saúde e qualidade de vida numa lógica de investigação-ação. OBJETIVOS: desenvolver competências cognitivas, sociais promotoras da tomada de decisão em saúde; incentivar à procura/mobilização da informação em saúde; reforçar as determinantes individuais e coletivas na gestão da doença crónica. MÉTODOS: Estudo quasi-experimental com recurso a metodologias participativas e quantitativas. Efetuaram-se entrevistas à Direção de um Estabelecimento Prisional do Norte de Portugal e a focus group com os reclusos. Aplicaram-se questionários de Literacia em Saúde, Avaliação de Qualidade de Vida e um Instrumento de caraterização sociodemográfica. RESULTADOS: No Grupo de Intervenção a idade média é de 39,2 + 10,8 anos, variando entre os 19 e os 55 anos. Na Qualidade de Vida, as dimensões “Saúde Geral” e “Função Física” apresentaram respetivamente valores mais baixo (47,4%) e mais elevado (71,3%). O nível de literacia “inadequado/problemático” foi o mais frequente, nas várias dimensões. A (co)construção do programa de “educação terapêutica” configurou-se em 4 eixos: saúde global, higiene, bem-estar; alimentação e saúde; gestão doença; e gestão/compreensão da informação em saúde CONCLUSÕES: O projeto centrou-se na cooperação intersectorial, multiprofissional, em lógicas de whole-of-government e whole-of-society. Os resultados são norteadores da intervenção prioritária, mantendo-se o enfoque na lógica de botton-up, orientada para os domínios da saúde geral e emocional, com recurso ao team building. Encontra-se em fase de reavaliação, com recurso às estratégias utilizadas no diagnóstico inicial.

BACKGROUND: Considering that citizenship in health enshrines the right and duty of citizens to actively participate in the health care process, it was sought to promote literacy in health and quality of life in the inmates, in a logic of action research. AIM: to develop cognitive, social skills that promote health decision making; encourage the search/mobilization of health information; individual and collective determinants of chronic disease management. METHODS: Quasi-experimental study using participatory and quantitative methodologies. We resorted to the interview with the Directorate of a prison establishment in the North of Portugal and the focus group with the inmates. We applied questionnaires of "Health Literacy in Portugal", Quality of Life Assessment and an instrument of sociodemographic characterization. RESULTS: The average age of prisoners is 39.2 + 10.8 years, ranging from 19 to 55 years.The level of "inadequate/problematic" literacy was the most frequent in the various dimensions. In QOL, the "General Health" and "Physical Function" dimensions presented the lowest values ??(47.4%) and the highest (71.3%). The (co) construction of the "therapeutic education" program was set up in four areas: global health, hygiene, well-being; food and health; disease management; and Management/understanding of health information CONCLUSIONS: the project focused on cross-sectoral, multiprofessional cooperation in whole-of-government and whole-of-society logics. The results are guiding the priority intervention, keeping the focus on a bottom-up logic, oriented to the domains of general and emotional health, using team building. It is in the reassessment phase, resorting to strategies used in the initial diagnosis.

CONTEXTO: Considerando que la ciudadanía sana consagra el derecho y el deber de participar activamente en el cuidado de la salud, se intentó promover en los internos la alfabetización en salud y en calidad de vida dentro de la investigación- acción. OBJETIVOS:Desarrollar competencias cognitivas, sociales promotoras de toma de decisión en salud; fomentar la búsqueda y la movilización de la información sanitaria; reforzar determinantes individuales y colectivos en gestión de la enfermedad crónica. MÉTODOS: Estudio cuasi experimental con recurso a metodologías participativas y cuantitativas. Se recurrió a la entrevista a la Dirección del Prisión del Norte de Portugal, un focus group con los reclusos. Se aplicaron cuestionarios de "Alfabetización en Portugal," Calidad de Vida y evaluación de herramientas de caracterización sociodemográfica. RESULTADOS: En el Grupo de Invervención la edad media es 39,2 + 10,8 años, variando entre los 19 y los 55 años. El nivel de alfabetización inadecuado/ problemático, más frecuente, en diferentes dimensiones. En la QV, las dimensiones “Salud General” y “Función Física” presentaron respectivamente los valores más bajos y elevados (47,4%), (71,3%). La (co)construcción del programa de "educación terapéutica" se configuró en 4 ejes: salud global, higiene, bienestar; alimentación y salud; gestión de enfermedad y Gestión/comprensión de información de la salud. CONCLUSIONES: el proyecto se centró en la cooperación intersectorial, multiprofesional, en lógicas de whole-of-government y whole-of-society. Los resultados son orientadores de la intervención prioritaria, manteniéndose el enfoque en la lógica de botton-up, orientada a dominios de salud general y emocional, recurriendo al team building.

Immunolocalization of AGPs and Pectins in Quercus suber Gametophytic Structures.

The arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are highly glycosylated proteins, ubiquitous in plants that have been linked to numerous aspects of sexual reproduction in several plant species, including the monoecious tree species Quercus suber. AGPs are found in cell membranes and cell walls of all types of tissues, including reproductive cells and organs. Pectins are cell wall components that also have been shown to change in composition and quantity during the maturations of the male and female gametophyte in cork oak. These findings were only possible to reveal, due to the histological study of AGP and pectins epitopes by immunolabeling. The immunofluorescence microscopy technique uses antibodies linked to fluorophores and relies on the specificity of the antibody binding to its antigen, labeling the epitope with a fluorescent dye.In the method presented here, we explore the immunolocalization technique performed in male and female flowers of Quercus suber, using London Resin (LR-White) as the embedding medium, after vacuum fixation with formaldehyde/glutaraldehyde. An extensive description of all the aspects of this technique is provided, from the plant material developmental stages selection to the critical analysis of results performed, continuously supported by troubleshooting recommendations.

Arabinogalactan proteins and pectin distribution during female gametogenesis in Quercus suber L.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Quercus suber L. (cork oak) is one of the most important monoecious tree species in semi-arid regions of Southern Europe, with a high ecological value and economic potential. However, as a result of its long reproductive cycle, complex reproductive biology and recalcitrant seeds, conventional breeding is demanding. In its complex reproductive biology, little is known about the most important changes that occur during female gametogenesis. Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and pectins are the main components of plant cell walls and have been reported to perform common functions in cell differentiation and organogenesis of reproductive plant structures. AGPs have been shown to serve as important molecules in several steps of the reproductive process in plants, working as signalling molecules, associated with the sporophyte-gametophyte transition, and pectins have been implicated in pollen-pistil interactions before double fertilization. In this study, the distribution of AGP and pectin epitopes was assessed during female gametogenesis. METHODS: Immunofluorescence labelling of female flower cells was performed with a set of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed to the carbohydrate moiety of AGPs (JIM8 and JIM13) and pectic homogalacturonans (HGs) (mAbs JIM5 and JIM7). KEY RESULTS: The selective labelling obtained with AGP and pectin mAbs JIM8, JIM13, JIM5 and JIM7 during Q. suber female gametogenesis shows that AGPs and pectic HG can work as markers for mapping gametophytic cell differentiation in this species. Pectic HG showed different distribution patterns, depending on their levels of methyl esterification. Methyl-esterified HGs showed a uniform distribution in the overall female flower cells before fertilization and a more specific pattern after fertilization. A low methyl-ester pectin distribution pattern during the different developmental stages appears to be related to the pathway that pollen tubes follow to reach the embryo sac. AGPs showed a more sparse distribution in early stages of development, but specific labelling is shown in the synergids and their filiform apparatus. CONCLUSIONS: The labelling obtained with anti-AGP and anti-pectin mAbs in Q. suber female flower cells showed a dynamic distribution of AGPs and pectic HGs, which may render these molecules useful molecular markers during female gametogenesis. Changes occurring during development will be determined in order to help describe cork oak ovule structural properties before and after fertilization, providing new insight to better understand Q. suber female gametogenesis.

Evaluation of the presence of arabinogalactan proteins and pectins during Quercus suber male gametogenesis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Quercus suber (cork oak) is a dominant tree of the Fagaceae in forests of the south-west Iberian Peninsula. It is monoecious with a long progamic phase that provides a comprehensive system for comparative studies in development and sexual reproduction. In this study the distribution of arabinogalactan protein (AGPs) and pectin epitopes in anthers of Q. suber was assessed to map these hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins and the galacturonate-rich acidic polysaccharides during pollen development. Methods Immunolocalization in male flowers was performed with a set of monoclonal antibodies directed against the carbohydrate moiety that recognizes AGPs and pectins. To identify AGP genes involved in cork oak male flower development, a search was conducted for annotated AGP genes in the available transcriptome data of the Cork Oak EST Consortium database (www.corkoakdb.org). KEY RESULTS: Ubiquitous labelling in all cell types was obtained with anti-homogalacturan antibodies for methyl-esterified pectins. In contrast, the antibody that labelled non-methyl-esterified homogalacturans had a preferential presence in microsporocyte cells walls at the beginning of pollen development. Intense labelling was obtained with anti-AGP antibodies both in the tapetum and in the intine wall near the pollen apertures and later in the generative cell wall and vegetative cell. Evaluation of the putative AGPs highly expressed in the male gametophyte was achieved by quantitative RT-PCR analysis in male and female cork oak flowers. CONCLUSIONS: Four putative AGP genes were identified that are preferentially expressed in the male flower compared with the female flower. The putative Arabidopsis thaliana orthologues of these genes are associated with preferential expression in pollen, suggesting that the AGPs probably play a significant role in cork oak reproduction.

A comprehensive assessment of the transcriptome of cork oak (Quercus suber) through EST sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Cork oak (Quercus suber) is one of the rare trees with the ability to produce cork, a material widely used to make wine bottle stoppers, flooring and insulation materials, among many other uses. The molecular mechanisms of cork formation are still poorly understood, in great part due to the difficulty in studying a species with a long life-cycle and for which there is scarce molecular/genomic information. Cork oak forests are of great ecological importance and represent a major economic and social resource in Southern Europe and Northern Africa. However, global warming is threatening the cork oak forests by imposing thermal, hydric and many types of novel biotic stresses. Despite the economic and social value of the Q. suber species, few genomic resources have been developed, useful for biotechnological applications and improved forest management. RESULTS: We generated in excess of 7 million sequence reads, by pyrosequencing 21 normalized cDNA libraries derived from multiple Q. suber tissues and organs, developmental stages and physiological conditions. We deployed a stringent sequence processing and assembly pipeline that resulted in the identification of ~159,000 unigenes. These were annotated according to their similarity to known plant genes, to known Interpro domains, GO classes and E.C. numbers. The phylogenetic extent of this ESTs set was investigated, and we found that cork oak revealed a significant new gene space that is not covered by other model species or EST sequencing projects. The raw data, as well as the full annotated assembly, are now available to the community in a dedicated web portal at http://www.corkoakdb.org. CONCLUSIONS: This genomic resource represents the first trancriptome study in a cork producing species. It can be explored to develop new tools and approaches to understand stress responses and developmental processes in forest trees, as well as the molecular cascades underlying cork differentiation and disease response.

Expression-based and co-localization detection of arabinogalactan protein 6 and arabinogalactan protein 11 interactors in Arabidopsis pollen and pollen tubes.

BACKGROUND: Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are cell wall proteoglycans that have been shown to be important for pollen development. An Arabidopsis double null mutant for two pollen-specific AGPs (agp6 agp11) showed reduced pollen tube growth and compromised response to germination cues in vivo. A microarray experiment was performed on agp6 agp11 pollen tubes to search for genetic interactions in the context of pollen tube growth. A yeast two-hybrid experiment for AGP6 and AGP11 was also designed. RESULTS: The lack of two specific AGPs induced a meaningful shift in the gene expression profile. In fact, a high number of genes showed altered expression levels, strengthening the case that AGP6 and AGP11 are involved in complex phenomena. The expression levels of calcium- and signaling-related genes were found to be altered, supporting the known roles of the respective proteins in pollen tube growth. Although the precise nature of the proposed interactions needs further investigation, the putative involvement of AGPs in signaling cascades through calmodulin and protein degradation via ubiquitin was indicated. The expression of stress-, as well as signaling- related, genes was also changed; a correlation that may result from the recognized similarities between signaling pathways in both defense and pollen tube growth.The results of yeast two-hybrid experiments lent further support to these signaling pathways and revealed putative AGP6 and AGP11 interactors implicated in recycling of cell membrane components via endocytosis, through clathrin-mediated endosomes and multivesicular bodies. CONCLUSIONS: The data presented suggest the involvement of AGP6 and AGP11 in multiple signaling pathways, in particular those involved in developmental processes such as endocytosis-mediated plasma membrane remodeling during Arabidopsis pollen development. This highlights the importance of endosomal trafficking pathways which are rapidly emerging as fundamental regulators of the wall physiology.