ciTechCare - Center for Innovative Care and Health Technology

• RESEARCHER JOÃO MORAIS IS CO-AUTHOR OF AN ARTICLE IN THE EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE ADVANCES IN CARDIOVASCULAR PHARMACOTHERAPY IN 2024 • Joao Morais, integrated researcher at ciTechCare is the only Portuguese academic and one of the 18 international co-authors of the article 'New pharmacological agents and novel cardiovascular pharmacotherapy strategies in 2024', published in the European Heart Journal, last March. The review article summarizes the most relevant studies in cardiovascular pharmacotherapy in 2024, including the approval of first-in-class drugs for the treatment of resistant hypertension and pulmonary arterial hypertension.   Regarding pharmacological safety, the research team highlights the newest data on adverse reactions and drug–drug interactions that may complicate treatment and/or reduce drug adherence, with the consequent decrease in drug effectiveness. Finally, the article presents the most important ongoing phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials assessing the efficacy and safety of cardiovascular drugs for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. ciTechCare is represented in this study alongside several reference departments of European institutions in the cardiovascular and pharmacology fields, thus contributing to the scientific advancement in this area and, at the same time, to the international recognition of the research center of Polytechnic of Leiria. https://lnkd.in/dNnprRCT #europeanheartjournal #cardiovascular #pharmacology #ciTechCare

• WORLD DAY FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY • April 6 was the #WorldDayforPhysicalActivity. Get to know the ciTechCare research team that seeks daily for a better understanding of the importance of physical activity for individual and collective quality of life: Alexandre Antunes, Bruno Cabrita, Filipa Januário, Joana Cruz, Nádia Hipólito, Nuno Morais, Pedro Machado, Rui Fonseca-Pinto, Sara Pimenta, Sofia Flora. Researchers and research fellows from ciTechCare have developed several studies that allow us to understand the impact of physical activity on #COPD, #anxiety or #lungcancer, for example. Regular physical activity has a significant impact on mental and physical health, and there are even recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) for all age groups and needs. In the case of adults, they must perform at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity, or at least 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous physical activity throughout the week.

• RESEARCHERS FROM CITECHCARE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF SÃO PAULO DEVELOP A MATHEMATICAL MODEL TO STUDY ALZHEIMER DISEASE • Rafael Fernandes Pinheiro and Rui Fonseca-Pinto Fonseca Pinto, ciTechCare researchers in collaboration with Diego Colón, researcher at the Automation and Control Laboratory of the USP - Universidade de São Paulo, published an innovative study in the prestigious Neurocomputing journal. The article entitled "A memory failure computational model in Alzheimer-like disease via continuous delayed Hopfield network with Lurie control system based healing" presents neural computational models that simulate memory failures similar to human memory failures caused by Alzheimer’s disease (AD), allowing to develop future therapeutic interventions. In this work, the researchers proposed the improved model of Alzheimer-type disease (IALD) for memory failures, using continuous delayed Hopfield network. The great novelty of the study is the integration of a robust control technique based on Lurie systems, which allows reversing memory loss in both biological and artificial neural networks. The simulations performed demonstrated the effectiveness of the approach, suggesting a new paradigm for memory failure treatments in AD, based on innovation in areas such as neuroscience, medicine and engineering. 👉 Available here: https://lnkd.in/dbiP-ig4 #alzheimerdisease #alzheimer #luriesystems #computationalmodel #memoryfailures #neuralnetworks

• "EDUCATE TO CARE" IS THE THEME OF THE IV INTERGENERATIONAL MEETING OF CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION • On April 8, the 60+ Program, in collaboration with the various units of the Polytechcnic of Leiria, will guide the IV edition of the Intergenerational Meeting of Citizenship Education, which will take place at the auditorium of ESSLei and will start at 9:00 am. To focus on the relevance of care provision in contemporary societies and analyze the importance of education, at different stages of the life cycle, are some of the goals of these days. The organization committee counts on the presence of several generations of students and professionals in order to understand and build bridges for the perception that different generations have about caregiving, and present projects that promote education and training of caregivers. Registration is open until the 7th of April (free or 5€ with certificate). We count on your participation! +info: https://lnkd.in/dYui-M9E | 60mais@ipleiria.pt

• NEW ARTICLE ON PULMONARY REHABILITATION IS PUBLISHED IN PROCEDIA COMPUTER SCIENCE JOURNAL • Nádia Hipólito is co-author of the article 'Pulmonary Rehabilitation Guideline Referral in COPD - a FHIR mapping proposal' recently published in Procedia Computer Science Journal, after having been published as a conference paper at the International Conference on Health and Social Care Information Systems and Technologies 2024 (HCist), which took place from 13 to 15 November 2024 and presented in oral online communication at the event.   The study, also developed by researchers from CINTESIS - Center for Health Technology and Services Research, based at the University of Porto, proposes a digital protocol based on FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), a data standard for the exchange of health information, in order to make referrals for pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) more efficient and accessible.   The implementation of this model can improve the articulation between institutions and services, optimizing decision-making in primary health care, since access to PR for patients with COPD is still limited either by unclear or widespread selection criteria or by the lack of interoperability between health systems.   Available here: https://lnkd.in/dCMw9-F9   #COPD #FHIR #pulmonaryrehabilitationreferral #healthinformatics

• CITECHCARE PARTICIPATES IN THE 21st PORTUGUESE CONGRESS OF DIABETES • The 21st Portuguese Congress of Diabetes, which took place from 6 to 8 March, at the Algarve Congress Center was attended by Marlene Lages and Neuza Barros. The DPOC&Diabetes project was highlighted in the oral communication entitled "Impact of the Coexistence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DMT2) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) on Body Composition and Nutritional Intake: A Cross-Sectional Study", presented by co-author Neuza Barros. Also developed by Marlene Lages, Sara Pimenta, Nádia Hipólito, Sofia Flora, Joana Cruz and Maria P. Guarino, the presented research work underlined the results achieved in 25 men (14 with DMT2 and 11 with DMT2 + COPD), which suggest that there are differences in body composition and dietary intake among individuals with DMT2 when associated with COPD, and that these differences may have implications for the management of symptomatology and progression of these diseases. However, more studies with larger samples are needed to deepen knowledge in this area. Marlene Lages, PhD student at ciTechCare also participated as moderator of the poster presentation session for Fundamental Research, in the congress that is annually organized by the Portuguese Society of Diabetology. #diabetes #copd #ciTechCare #bodycomposition

• COMMITTEE OF PATIENTS OF USF SANTIAGO ORGANIZES A SESSION ON HEALTHY EATING • The March session organized by the Committee of Patients of the Family Health Unit Santiago - Leiria is dedicated to all who are looking for a proper and healthy lifestyle: on March 27, the auditorium of NERLEI CCI - Associação Empresarial da Região de Leiria/Câmara de Comércio e Indústria hosts the session "Saber Comer é Saber Viver", at 6pm. This initiative aims to raise awareness of the practice of healthy eating habits and clarify any issues regarding this topic. Raquel Oliveira, clinical nutritionist from ULSRL and researcher member at ciTechCare and Rita Grácio, internal medicine physician at ULSRL will guide this session, enabling the audience to make more informed choices about feeding. Research in this area proves the importance of implementing an appropriate diet, with effects on the health status of each individual. In addition, as feeding is a modifiable factor of lifestyle, this is a session that matters to all who seek a healthy life. The entrance is free! #nerlei #healthydiet #eating #healthylifestyle

• ATOPLAB HOSTS A SESSION ON THE IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS • On March 19, António Pedro Costa, a principal researcher at the Research Centre on Didactics and Technology in the Education of Trainers (CIDTFF) of the Universidade de Aveiro will lead the session entitled 'Generative artificial intelligence as a co-investigator'. The event will take place in the auditorium of the School of Health Sciences of Polytechnic of Leiria, 11am to 1pm. Throughout the session, the use of generative artificial intelligence as a support for the research process will be addressed and practical examples and tools for research optimization will be presented. The entrance is free, but requires registration: https://lnkd.in/dwP6gu_Z #ciTechCare #atoplab #artificialintelligence

• CITECHCARE RESEARCH FELLOWS ATTENDED TWO RUN-EU INITIATIVES IN IRELAND AND BELGIUM • Rita Nunes Novo and Nádia Hipólito recently participated in different RUN – European University initiatives, in Ireland and Belgium, where they embraced the experience of being a RUN-EU student research. Rita Novo attended the RUN-EU Student Research Colloquium, at the Technological University of the Shannon, in Limerick, Ireland, on February 18 and 19, where she presented the results obtained from the #Veggies4myHeart project between 2021 and 2024 - The Veggies4myHeart Project: A Longitudinal Study To Promote Preschoolers' Vegetable Knowledge And Consumption. Other students from the Polytechnic of Leiria joined the event, which allowed a positive interaction with students from other areas and different cultures within RUN-EU. From 10 to 14 February, Nádia Hipólito integrated a SAP (Short Advanced Programme) at the HOWEST University of Applied Sciences, entitled 'Innovative Methods in Mental Wellbeing', where several students and researchers from the universities of the RUN-EU participated in workshops, presentations, problem-solving activities, among other learning and sharing initiatives. This SAP began in November 2024, via online, culminating with this on-site week. Listen to their experiences! Polytechnic of Leiria #RUNEU #ciTechCare #SAP

• FRUIGU PROJECT IS AGAIN HIGHLIGHTED ON MEDIA • CisterFM, a local radio station from Alcobaça, announced the innovative project developed at ciTechCare that aims to stand out for the production of gums based on waste of Alcobaça apple and Rocha pear, products from the western region, with the possibility of working as a preventive element of diseases, such as diabetes. The project, coordinated by researcher Marisa Gaspar, is being developed and the goal is to introduce the gums on the market in the upcoming years. The interview, conducted by journalist Adriana Zeferino, can be read and heard through the link: https://cister.fm/99200-2/ #fruigu #rochacenter #diabetes #uglyfood #ciTechCare #LIDA #cisterfm