Abbreviations: AMI ¼ acute myocardial infarction; APC ¼ allophycocyanin; Asp ¼ aspartate; cTNT ¼ cardiac troponin; CAD ¼ coronary artery disease; CRP ¼ C-reactive protein; CK ¼ creatine kinase; eNOS ¼ endothelial nitric oxide synthase; ELISA ¼ enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; FITC ¼ fluorescein isothiocyanate; FAU ¼ fluorescence arbitrary units; Glu ¼ glutamic acid; LME ¼ linear mixed effects model; MPs ¼ microparticles; NO ¼ nitric oxide; NT-proBNP ¼ N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide; PCI ¼ percutaneous coronary intervention; PBS ¼ phosphate-buffered saline; PE ¼ Phycoerythrin; CD62P ¼ P-selectin; sCD40L ¼ soluble CD40 ligand; SA ¼ stable angina pectoris; VEGF ¼ vascular endothelial growth factor INTRODUCTION CD40L is a signaling molecule, 1-3 implicated in thrombosis and inflammatory response to vascular injury. [4][5][6] The relationship of CD40L with coronary artery disease (CAD) has been established, 2,7-9 as also its implication in endothelial dysfunction. [10][11][12][13][14] However, whether the soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) could also influence endothelial dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) injury remains unclear.In vitro studies have shown that sCD40L inhibits angiogenesis and also growth factor-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell migration, which is achieved by generation of free radicals and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production. 10 The authors hypothesized that the sCD40L could inhibit reendothelialization of an injured vessel, thereby affecting the restenosis. 10Research efforts have been directed toward the finding of biomarkers to assess endothelial function and its correlation with AMI. Genetic indicators, such as the polymorphisms of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) gene, 15,16 may provide insight into endothelial cells function.Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a wellknown promoter of angiogenesis and an endogenous regulator of endothelial integrity. [17][18][19] The prognostic information provided by VEGF independently of other markers likely points toward an important role for angiogenesis in regulating myocardial repair and reperfusion after AMI. 17,20 Current opinion suggests a differential role of CD40L (both soluble and membrane-bound forms, which includes microparticles in circulation) 21 at different stages of CAD, contrasting with the traditional view of an unvarying function of the CD40L-CD40-sCD40L system interactions in the disease. 6 In that perspective, no clear indication of the interplay of CD40L with endothelial and vascular function markers and their importance in the pathophysiology of the AMI has been obtained so far in human clinical studies. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of sCD40L with markers of platelet activation, endothelial and vascular function during an early recovery period after AMI. To achieve this goal, the time changes over 1 month of sCD40L levels were assessed in AMI patients and correlated with the CD40L expressed on platelets and microparticles, CD62P expression on platele...

We examined the longitudinal changes of VEGF levels after percutaneous coronary intervention for predicting major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. VEGF was measured in 94 CAD patients' serum before revascularization, 1-month and 1-year after. Independently of clinical presentation, patients had lower VEGF concentration than a cohort of healthy subjects (median, IQ: 15.9, 9.0–264 pg/mL versus 419, 212–758 pg/mL; P < 0.001) at baseline. VEGF increased to 1-month (median, IQ: 276, 167–498 pg/mL; P < 0.001) and remained steady to 1-year (median, IQ: 320, 173–497 pg/mL; P < 0.001) approaching control levels. Drug eluting stent apposition and previous medication intake produced a less steep VEGF evolution after intervention (P < 0.05). Baseline VEGF concentration <40.8 pg/mL conveyed increased risk for MACE in a 5-year follow-up. Results reflect a positive role of VEGF in recovery and support its importance in CAD prognosis.

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O O presente estudo resultou da investigação e da prática pedagógica no quadro de um Mestrado em Ensino do 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico e de Português e História e Geografia de Portugal no 2.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico[i], desenvolvido na Universidade do Minho e em escolas cooperantes.Visa descrever e refletir sobre atividades e estratégias promotoras do conhecimento acerca da composicionalidade dos textos, em rigor sobre o que define e distingue diferentes tipos textuais; no quadro destes, é dedicada especial atenção ao género de divulgação científica mediática, especialmente por contraste com outros géneros.É importante que os alunos desenvolvam estratégias para a compreensão de textos e aumentem o domínio das regras de construção de diferentes tipos de texto, uma vez que estes mostram ter dificuldades, quer na receção/compreensão, quer na produção/estruturação de textos. Para o efeito, este estudo reconhece e fundamenta-se no relevo do conhecimento linguístico, ao nível macrotextual, para a promoção das competências de leitura e escrita. E não ignora que, na formação dos futuros docentes, o conhecimento da composicionalidade textual não pode ser negligenciado.[i] Em Portugal, o ensino básico encontra-se dividido em três ciclos: o primeiro corresponde aos primeiros quatro anos de escolaridade; o segundo aos dois anos seguintes; e o terceiro aos três anos finais. Completam-se, assim, nove anos de escolaridade, que os alunos iniciam aos seis anos de idade.