Browsing by Author "Faustino-Rocha, Ana"
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- An Antibody-Based Survey of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum Infection in Client-Owned Cats from PortugalPublication . Pereira, Maria Aires; Nóbrega, Carmen; Mateus, Teresa Letra; Almeida, Daniela Gomes de; Oliveira, Andreia; Coelho, Catarina; Cruz, Rita; Oliveira, Paula; Faustino-Rocha, Ana; Pires, Maria J.; Mesquita, João R.; Vala, HelenaToxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are obligate intracellular protozoan parasites infecting a wide range of hosts worldwide. However, information on the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in cats from Portugal is limited. Thus, this study aims to evaluate anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum seroprevalence in client-owned cats from Portugal and to identify risk factors using a panel of well-characterized sera. A total of 183 domestic cats were sampled and screened for antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum using commercial ELISA assays, and their owners answered an online questionnaire designed to obtain background information. The overall anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum seroprevalences were 13.1% (CI: 8.97–18.77) and 3.8% (CI: 1.87–7.68), respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that living strictly indoors was a significant protection factor (cOR: 0.053; CI: 0.005–0.627), and the presence of a chronic disease a significant risk factor (cOR: 3.106; CI: 1.062–9.082) to T. gondii seroprevalence. When performing multivariate analysis, only chronic disease (aOR: 57.527; CI: 1.7–1976.7) and seropositivity to N. caninum (aOR: 7.929; CI:0.8–82.9) were found to be a significant risk factor to anti-T. gondii antibodies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of N. caninum seropositivity in cats from Portugal.
- Quercus spp. extract as a promising preventive or therapeutic strategy for cancer: A systematic reviewPublication . Oliveira, Paula; Medeiros-Fonseca, Beatriz; Vasconcelos-Nóbrega, Carmen; Alvarado, Antonieta; Pires, Maria; Vala, Helena; Barros, Ana; Faustino-Rocha, AnaAcorns have traditionally been used in the human diet and for the treatment of specific diseases. Therefore, the present study performed a systematic review of studies which investigated the effects of Quercus spp. extracts in cancer prevention and treatment. A systematic literature search was performed for original records which addressed the anticancer effects of Quercus spp. extract in in vitro and in vivo cancer models. Body composition, food consumption, tumor development and/or toxicity were evaluated in in vivo studies, while cytotoxicity was evaluated in in vitro studies. Few studies and low sample sizes presented a challenge in the drawing of solid conclusions. Overall, the results suggested a positive impact of Quercus spp. extract, by reducing cancer development. Therefore, more studies with different cancer cell lines and animal models to address the efficacy of the acorn extracts in several types of cancer are required. Furthermore, the effects of acorn flour, incorporated in the diet, in an animal model of mammary cancer should be evaluated.