Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco
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Childhood and adolescent obesity in a school in interior Portugal: A teen without risk study
Publication . Coelho, Patricia; Duarte, Maria; Cabral, Ema Torres; Mateus, Sónia; Rodrigues, Francisco
Introduction: Over the past 40 years, there has been a significant increase in the global prevalence of childhood obesity, which is associated with an increased risk of heart problems and the earlier onset of heart diseases.
Objective: The aim of this research is to assess the prevalence of obesity
and its risk factors in children and adolescents among students from the second and third cycle and
secondary education of a school grouping in the interior of Portugal. Materials and Methods: The sample was collected from a school grouping in Alcains, among attending students from the fifth to the twelfth grade. The sample consisted of a total of 156 students aged between 10 and 18 years. A questionnaire was proposed, and blood pressure measurement and lipid profile evaluation were performed for each individual. The collection and statistical treatment of data for this study required a submission and authorization request to the Ethics Committee of the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, followed by authorization from the school group’s administration.
Results: The percentage of elevated BMI was 30.8%, and was higher in males. A higher prevalence of hypertension (37.8%), elevated triglyceride levels in students who did not exercise outside of school, and in individuals who consumed larger amounts of meat, who also showed a higher prevalence of lower-than-expected high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels, were observed.
Discussion: A high percentage of elevated BMI, high blood pressure levels, and changes in lipid profile were observed among high school students in this school in the interior of Portugal, as has been observed in other studies.
Conclusions: It is essential to conduct more studies, screenings, and investigations that can identify these cases early, in order to mitigate risk factors.
Genetic polymorphisms of P2RX7 but not of ADORA2A are associated with the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Publication . Lindo, Jorge; Nogueira, Célia; Soares, Rui; Cunha, Nuno; Almeida, Maria Rosário; Rodrigues, Lisa; Coelho, Patricia; Rodrigues, Francisco; Cunha, Rodrigo A.; Gonçalves, Teresa
SARS-CoV-2 infection ranges from mild to severe presentations, according to the intensity of the aberrant inflammatory response. Purinergic receptors dually control the inflammatory response: while adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) are anti-inflammatory, ATP P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) exert pro-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to assess if there were differences in allelic andgenotypic frequencies of a loss-of-function SNP of ADORA2A (rs2298383) and a gain-of-function single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of P2RX7 (rs208294) in the severity of SARS-CoV-2-associated infection. Fifty-five individuals were enrolled and categorized according to the severity of the infection. Endpoint genotyping was performed in blood cells to screen for both SNPs. The TT genotype (vs. CT + CC) and the T allele (vs. C allele) of P2RX7 SNP were found to be associated with more severe forms of COVID-19, whereas the association between ADORA2A SNP and the severity of infection was not significantly different. The T allele of P2RX7 SNP was more frequent in people with more than one comorbidity and with cardiovascular conditions and was associated with colorectal cancer. Our findings suggest a more prominent role of P2X7R rather than of A2AR polymorphisms in SARS-CoV-2 infection, although larger population-based studies should be performed to validate our conclusions.
A emoção na performance musical
Publication . Cabeças, Raquel Alexandra Landeiro Afonso; Carvalhinho, Miguel Nuno Marques
O presente Relatório de Estágio, realizado no âmbito da Prática de Ensino Supervisionada do Mestrado em Ensino de Música, especialização em Instrumento e Música de Conjunto, encontra-se dividido em duas partes. A primeira parte é referente à Prática de Ensino Supervisionada, realizada no Conservatório Regional de Castelo Branco, no ano letivo 2023/2024. Esta prática foca-se no acompanhamento de três alunos de guitarra (dois alunos do 4º grau e um aluno do 5º grau) e no acompanhamento de uma classe de conjunto (orquestra de guitarras). A segunda parte do trabalho consiste no Projeto de Investigação, intitulado “A Emoção na Performance Musical”. Este estudo, de natureza maioritariamente qualitativa, utiliza a metodologia de investigação-ação e foi realizado com quatro alunos de guitarra clássica (dois do 4º grau e dois do 5º grau). Esta investigação tem como objetivos compreender de que forma o intérprete transmite emoções numa performance musical e com que precisão essas emoções são percebidas pelo público. Para tal, são analisadas as perspetivas do músico e do público, obtidas por meio de entrevistas e de um inquérito por questionário. As conclusões apontam para a importância da implementação de estratégias pedagógicas que aprimorem a comunicação emocional na performance, mostrando que o público consegue captar emoções expressas durante uma performance musical. Este trabalho destaca a relevância de integrar o desenvolvimento emocional no ensino, contribuindo para uma ligação mais profunda entre o aluno, o repertório e o público, e para performances musicais mais expressivas e envolventes.
Metodologias de ensino do violino em alunos com défice de auto-regulação
Publication . Pires, Ana Isabel Matias; Ladeira, Pedro Miguel Reixa; Quelhas, Maria do Rosário Henriques Branco Pires
Este estudo aborda o ensino musical em contextos inclusivos, com foco na prática pedagógica supervisionada e na investigação sobre estratégias adaptativas no ensino do violino para alunos com défice de auto-regulação.
O estudo foi estruturado por meio de uma metodologia de investigação-ação, combinando a revisão teórica e análise prática de um caso específico. A investigação compreendeu uma fase inicial exploratória que permitiu formular a pergunta e objetivos a atingir, de seguida realizou-se a revisão da literatura que permitiu elaborar o enquadramento teórico do trabalho.
Os resultados demonstram que estratégias pedagógicas adaptadas podem não só promover a aprendizagem musical, mas também o bem-estar e o desenvolvimento integral dos alunos. Este trabalho reforça a importância da formação do professor como a colaboração entre professor e família no apoio ao aluno e da construção de práticas educativas mais inclusivas no ensino artístico.
Multicomponent exercise training does not alter depressive symptoms in older people: a systematic review with meta-analysis of current evidence
Publication . Conceição, Ariani França; Furtado, Guilherme Eustáquio; Lourenço, Camilo Luis Monteiro; Dias, Ana Luiza Rego; Rodrigues, Francisco; Costa, Sónia Brito; Cezar, Natália Oiring de Castro; Oliveira, Marcos Paulo Braz de; Rocha, Saulo Vasconcelos; Rodrigues, Francisco
Background:
Depression is a prevalent mental health condition among older adults, negatively impacting their quality of life and overall well-being. Physical exercise has been identifed as a potential intervention for improving mental health in this population. Multicomponent training (MCT), which combines exercises targeting multiple physical capacities, is widely prescribed to older adults; however, its efcacy in reducing depressive symptoms (DS) remains unclear.
Objectives:
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efects of MCT on DS in older adults, assess the overall efectiveness of such interventions, and identify methodological and contextual factors that might infuence outcomes.
Methods:
We conducted a systematic search across six databases—PubMed, LILACS, SciELO, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science—for clinical trials evaluating MCT interventions in older adults with DS. Included studies used the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to assess outcomes. MCT was defined as a training program incorporating at least three distinct physical capacities (e.g., strength, endurance, balance, fexibility). Meta-analyses were performed using a random-efects model (Hedges’ g), and study quality was assessed using the TESTEX scale.
Results:
Ten studies (n=781) were included in the systematic review, with fve studies (n=305) included in the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis revealed no signifcant overall efect of MCT on DS (g=−0.090; 95% CI=−0.448 to 0.269, p=0.624). Methodological inconsistencies, lack of load control, and high variability in MCT composition across studies were noted.
The median methodological quality was moderate (median TESTEX score=7, IQR 7–8). Recent literature has emphasized the importance of protocol specifcity and suggested that current MCT designs may not efectively address mental health
outcomes.
Conclusion:
MCT interventions did not show a signifcant efect on reducing DS in older adults. Given its frequent prescription in geriatric care, these fndings challenge current assumptions about MCT’s mental health benefts. This message is crucial for clinicians and researchers, as small variations in protocol design may hinder consistency in outcomes. Further high-quality trials are needed to clarify MCT's potential role in mental health management among older adults.