I received my BSc in Biology from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto in 2009. During my BSc final year i performed a research work,"Toxicological evaluation by molecular analyses of Cianobacteria from Vez river, North of Portugal" at Ecotoxicology, Genomics and Evolution laboratory, CIIMAR-UP, under the supervision of Prof Vitor Vasconcelos. In 2009 i was accepted as a student in Oncology Master's program at Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences of the University of Porto(ICBAS-UP). During this time i worked at CEBIMED in Fernando Pessoa University and Portuguese Institute of Oncology.At first i was working with bladder cancer and later on oral cancer, under the supervision of Lucio Lara Santos, M.D..My final research thesis was entitled "Expression of RKIP and CD147 in oral cavity cancer".
Abstract: Lip squamous cell carcinoma is the second most frequent cancer among the oral cavity carcinomas. The risk factors that contribute for the development of this neoplasia are an abusive solar exposure and a smoking lifestyle. Although lip cancer is usually early diagnosed, there are tumors with a bad prognostic, namely those localized in labial comissure or those who present perineural permeation (1).
RKIP, Raf kinase inhibitory protein, is a member of the phosphatidilethanolamine-binding protein family (PEBPs) and itâs involved in regulations of several signaling pathways, like the ERK, GPCR and NF- κB pathways (2). Due to its actions on the ERK pathway, RKIP inhibits cellular processes such as, growth, proliferation, differentiation, motility, transformation and survival. By inhibiting GPCR pathway, neurotransmission and inflammation processes are disturbed. As a result of NF- κB pathway inhibition by RKIP, cellular processes like cytokine production, cellular adhesion and apoptose are compromised (3).
Malignant tumors with RKIP low expression have worst prognosis, high relapse probability and theyâre frequently radioresistents. Given this background, RKIP may be a potential biomarker for radiation sensibility (4). RKIP expression in lip squamous cell carcinoma has never been studied so far.
Abstract: Vez River, located in Arcos de Valdevez, is used for human purposes, from human consumption to recreational uses. Until now no other studies were made in this river.
The objectives of this paper are to determine the presence of cyanobacteria as well has their toxigenicity. After cyanobacterial isolation the environmental samples were analysed by PCR, to detect cyanobacteria capable of producing toxins. Until now PCR has been performed to detect cyanobacteria, by amplification of 27F and 809R primers, Microcystins sp.,Cilindrospermopsis raciborskii and the genes responsible for the toxigenicity . The results show presence of Microcystis sp. and signs of toxigenicity, in same of the samples.
