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Publications

Publications by Bruno Mendes Oliveira

2021

Immune Response Model Fitting to CD4 + T Cell Data in Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus LCMV infection

Authors
Afsar, A; Martins, F; Oliveira, BMPM; Pinto, AA;

Publication
Springer Proceedings in Mathematics and Statistics

Abstract
We make two fits of an ODE system with 5 equations that model immune response by CD4 + T cells with the presence of regulatory T cells (Tregs). We fit the simulations to data regarding gp61 and NP309 epitopes from mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus LCMV. We optimized parameters relating to: the T cell maximum growth rate; the T cell capacity; the T cell homeostatic level; and the ending time of the immune activation phase after infection. We quantitatively and qualitatively compare the obtained results with previous fits in the literature using different ODE models and we show that we are able to calibrate the model and obtain good fits describing the data. © 2021, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

2021

Dietary Patterns in Portuguese Children and Adolescent Population: The UPPER Project

Authors
de Moraes, MM; Oliveira, B; Afonso, C; Santos, C; Torres, D; Lopes, C; de Miranda, RC; Rauber, F; Antoniazzi, L; Levy, RB; Rodrigues, S;

Publication
NUTRIENTS

Abstract
Considering the nature, extent, and purpose of food processing, this study aims to identify dietary patterns (DPs) and their associations with sociodemographic factors and diet quality in Portuguese children and adolescents. Cross-sectional data were obtained from the National Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (2015-2016) of the Portuguese population. Dietary intake was obtained from two non-consecutive days and food items were classified according to the NOVA system. The proportion (in grams) of foods in the total daily diet was considered to identify DPs by latent class analysis, with age and sex as concomitant variables. Associations of DPs with sociodemographic characteristics were assessed using multinomial logistic regression. Linear regressions adjusted by sociodemographic characteristics tested associations of DPs with diet quality. DPs identified were: "Unhealthy " (higher sugar-sweetened beverages, industrial breads, and sausages intake), "Traditional " (higher vegetables, fish, olive oil, breads, ultra-processed yogurts, and sausages intake), and "Dairy " (higher intake of milk, yogurt, and milk-based beverages). "Unhealthy " was associated with older ages and lower intake of dietary fibre and vitamins and the highest free sugars and ultra-processed foods (UPF), although all DPs presented significant consumption of UPF. These findings should be considered for the design of food-based interventions and school-feeding policies in Portugal.

2021

An extended version of the MNA-SF increases sensitivity in identifying malnutrition among community living older adults. Results from the PRONUTRISENIOR project

Authors
Poinhos, R; Oliveira, BMPM; Sorokina, A; Franchini, B; Afonso, C; de Almeida, MDV;

Publication
CLINICAL NUTRITION ESPEN

Abstract
Background & aims: The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) is the most used tool to assess malnutrition and/or its risk among older adults. Its Screening section was proposed as a short form (MNA-SF) but studies comparing the two forms present controversial results. Our main aims were to study the agreement between MNA-SF and its full form (MNA-FF) among Portuguese older adults living in the community and to develop a more sensible version of the MNA-SF. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study used a convenience sample of 456 older adults (54.2% females) aged 65-92 years (mean = 73; SD = 6). Data analyzed included: nutritional status (MNA), social support (Fillenbaum's Social Network Index), level of independency in daily activities (Lawton e Brody's scale) and eating-related quality of life. Both MNA-FF and MNA-SF classify participants as malnourished, at risk of malnutrition or with normal nutrition status. Anthropometric assessments (weight, height, arm and calf perimeters) were carried out and BMI was computed. Results: The agreement between the two classifications is 82.7%, but Cohen's k shows a weak agreement (weighted Cohen's k = 0.497; p < 0,001), and the sensitivity of the MNA-SF to detect malnutrition or its risk (as assessed by the MNA-FF) was 42.6% (despite a specificity of 98.8%). Participants classified as normal using the MNA-SF despite at risk using the MNA-FF present lower scores in two items from the Assessment section (number of full meals eaten daily and amount of fluid consumed per day). These were included in MNA-SF to obtain an extended short-version (MNA-5F8). The difference between the ROC curves for MNA-SF and MNA-5F8 justifies the preferential use of the MNA-5F8 with an estimated cut-off of 14 points, which showed high sensitivity (91.8%) and specificity (79.9%). Conclusions: The addition of two items to the MNA-SF provides a more sensible tool to detect the risk of malnutrition among older adults. General eating-related questions seem relevant to assess malnutrition in this age group.

2021

Clock hours of food and nutrition education in curricula of undergraduate nutrition programs: a two-country comparison

Authors
OTTONI, IC; OLIVEIRA, BMPMd; BANDONI, DH; GRAÇA, APSR;

Publication
Revista de Nutrição

Abstract
ABSTRACT Objective To make a critical and comparative analysis of curricula of Brazilian and Portuguese higher education institutions in terms of clock hours and semester distribution of food and nutrition education in undergraduate nutrition programs, also assessing the main differences among courses classified into thematic axes and professional practice areas. Methods The curricula of fifteen Brazilian and eleven Portuguese nutrition programs were collected and classified into thematic axes and professional practice areas with the method of Document Analysis. Next, we performed statistical analysis regarding the total and proportional clock hours of instruction and their semester distribution to assess the differences between the two countries. The variables of interest were the hours of Food and Nutrition Education and their semester distribution. Results The Food and Nutrition Education axis was the second smallest one, with statistically significant differences among the axes (2.2% of curricula; p<0.001). Brazilian higher education institutions showed greater total clock hours of Food and Nutrition Education (p=0.018), Human and Social Sciences (p=0.003), Public Health (p<0.001), as well as a wider dispersion and lower relative weighted mean for the semester offering of courses (p=0.004) of Food and Nutrition Education courses. Portuguese higher education institutions showed greater total and proportional clock hours of instruction for Exact Sciences (p<0.005; p=0.001, respectively) and more proportional hours of Biologic and Health Sciences (p<0.001). Conclusion Our study found a reduced presence of the area of Food and Nutrition Education in the undergraduate training of nutritionists in both countries.

2022

The power of voting and corruption cycles

Authors
Accinelli, E; Martins, F; Pinto, AA; Afsar, A; Oliveira, BMPM;

Publication
JOURNAL OF MATHEMATICAL SOCIOLOGY

Abstract
We introduce an evolutionary dynamical model for corruption in a democratic state describing the interactions between citizens, government and officials, where the voting power of the citizens is the main mechanism to control corruption. Three main scenarios for the evolution of corruption emerge depending on the efficiency of the institutions and the social, political, and economic characteristics of the State. Efficient institutions can create a corruption intolerant self-reinforcing mechanism. The lack of political choices, weaknesses of institutions and vote buying can create a self-reinforcing mechanism of corruption. The ambition of the rulers can induce high levels of corruption that can be fought by the voting power of the citizens creating corruption cycles.

2023

Nutritional Status among Portuguese and Turkish Older Adults Living in the Community: Relationships with Sociodemographic, Health and Anthropometric Characteristics

Authors
Ozturk, ME; Poinhos, R; Afonso, C; Ayhan, NY; de Almeida, MDV; Oliveira, BMPM;

Publication
NUTRIENTS

Abstract
Malnutrition is widespread among older adults, and its determinants may differ between countries. We compared Portuguese and Turkish non-institutionalized older adults regarding nutritional status, sociodemographic, health and anthropometric characteristics and studied the relationships between nutritional status and those characteristics. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 430 Portuguese and 162 Turkish non-institutionalized older adults regarding sociodemographics, health conditions, the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA-FF) and anthropometry. Turkish older adults were more likely to be malnourished or at risk of malnutrition and had lower average BMI but a higher calf circumference. A higher proportion of the Portuguese sample had tooth loss, diabetes, hypertension, oncologic diseases, kidney diseases, osteoarticular problems or eye problems, while less had anemia. A better nutritional status (higher MNA-FF score) was found among the Portuguese, males, people using dentures, those without tooth loss, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, anemia or oncological diseases and was related to younger age, higher BMI and a higher calf circumference. Malnutrition and its risk were higher among older adults from Turkey, despite Portuguese older adults presenting a higher prevalence of chronic diseases. Being female, older age, tooth loss, hypertension, anemia, CVD or oncological disorders and having a lower BMI or CC were associated with higher rates of malnutrition among older adults from Portugal and Turkey.

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