Feeding ecology and interactions with mammal hosts in a symbiotic genus of birds(Buphagus spp.)in Namibia

As the sole obligate symbiotic birds in Africa,oxpeckers offer a unique model for studying symbiotic relationships.Due to the multitrophic level they occupy and the context dependent foraging behavior they exhibit,the type of symbiotic relationship can be variable.In addition to providing a cleaning service to the host by removing ticks,oxpeckers frequently feed on blood,mucus,and saliva,inflicting potential damage on the host.Here,we used DNA metabarcoding on faecal samples to analyze the taxonomic composition of the trophic interactions of the Yellow-billed Oxpecker(Buphagus africanus)and Red-billed Oxpecker(B.erythrorhynchus)in northeastern Namibia.In contrast to conventional methods,DNA metabarcoding allows for a detailed identification of dietary resources encompassing both mammal hosts and consumed arthropods within the same samples.With this information,we examined differences in the diet composition between oxpecker species and localities,as well as the co-occurrence between host and arthropod species.Our findings revealed that oxpeckers predominantly source their diet from mammals,ticks,and flies;however,ticks and flies rarely co-occur in the diet of an individual.We observed variability among individuals in their feeding ecology,which is strongly correlated with locality and,to a lesser extent,with the mammal host.We noted a high degree of mobility between hosts within relatively short periods,with 32%of the samples showing traces of at least two mammal hosts.This study illustrates the dynamic foraging behavior of these specialized symbiotic birds,shedding light on their potential role in pest control services and disease transmission.

Detection and clearance in Alzheimer’s disease: leading with illusive chemical, structural and morphological features of the targets

Highly specific interactions between biomolecules,such as antigen-antibody,protein-ligand,or nucleic acid base pair complementary are on the basis of the organization of complex organisms.The same principles may be tentatively used in molecular medicine for diagnosis and therapeutics.A molecule can be designed to selectively bind a protease and thereby inhibit the production of a peptide that forms toxic aggregates in the brain or an antibody may be produced to bind specifically to that peptide for detection or clearance purposes.Unfortunately,interference in biological systems is not that simple.For a start there is the inhibition of the physiological role of the protease;moreover,several cleavage fragments may be produced,which may continue to diverge due to putative post-translational modification and self-assembly processes,hiding the toxic target in a“soup”of peptide species varying in size,structure and chemical composition.A perspective of the current status and challenges in targeting peptide species for diagnosis and treatment in the context of Alzheimer’s disease is given.

Environmental determinants of social wasp diversity and assemblage structure in an Amazonian archipelagic landscape

Hydropower development has become an important driver of habitat loss and fragmentation across lowland tropical forests.Despite ample evidence on the detrimental effects of insular habitat fragmentation on biodiversity,invertebrate taxa,that may be critical to ecosystem functioning,have been overlooked.We assessed the assemblage-level responses of social wasps to forest insularization induced by the Balbina Hydroelectric Dam in Central Brazilian Amazonia.Employing Malaise trapping,we captured wasps on 27 forest islands and three continuous forests.We constructed Generalized Linear Models and employed a model selection approach to examine the impact of local variables(fire severity(FIRE)and basal area of pioneer tree species(PIONEER))and landscape-scale variables(amount of habitat(COVER))on patterns of species richness,composition,and body size of wasps.A total of 374 individuals(29 species)were collected across all sampling sites.COVER was the main predictor of species richness,while PIONEER was the only variable that explained variation in community composition,with a negative effect on body size.Our results add evidence to the pervasive impacts of large hydroelectric dams on tropical forest biodiversity,and suggest that social wasps,among other invertebrates,can be used as bioindicators in infrastructure development projects.

Layered double hydroxide(LDH)-based materials:A mini-review on strategies to improve the performance for photocatalytic water splitting

The high energy demand we currently face in society and the subsequent large consumption of fossil fuels cause its depletion and increase the pollution levels.The quest for the production of clean energy from renewable and sustainable sources remains open.The conversion of solar energy into hydrogen via the water-splitting process,assisted by pho tores pons ive semiconductor catalysts,is one of the most promising technologies.Significant progress has been made on water splitting in the past few years and a variety of photocatalysts active not only under ultra-violet(UV) light but especially with the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum have been developed.Layered double hydroxides(LDH)-based materials have emerged as a promising class of nanomaterials for solar energy applications owing to their unique layered structure,compositional flexibility,tunable bandgaps,ease of synthesis and low manufacturing costs.This review covers the most recent research dedicated to LDH materials for photocatalytic water-splitting applications and encompasses a range of synthetic strategies and post-modifications used to enhance their performance.Moreover,we provide a thorough discussion of the experimental conditions crucial to obtaining improved photoactivity and highlight the impact of some specific parameters,namely,catalysts loading,cocatalysts,sacrificial agents,and irradiation sources.This review provides the necessary tools to select the election technique for adequately enhancing the photoactivity of LDH and modified LDH-based materials and concludes with a critical summary that outlines further research directions.

Phenolic profile and biological potential of Endopleura uchi extracts

Objective:To improve the knowledge on the metabolite composition of Endopleura uchi bark,concerning phenolic compounds,and to evaluate some of its biological capacities for further possible exploitation in food and pharmaceutical industries associated to their healthpromoting qualities.Methods:Two different extracts(infusion and hydroethanolic) were studied concerning phenolic composition and biological potential.Results:Five compounds were determined by HPLC-DAD,being bergenin the major one.In general way,infusion presents a greater richness in these metabolites.The antioxidant,acetylcholinesterase.butyrylcholinesterase,α-glucosidase and antibacterial activity were checked by in vitro assays.A dose-dependent response was noticed against DPPH,superoxide and nitric oxide radicals,acetylcholinesterase,butyrylcholinesterase and against α-glucosidase inhibitory assay.Antibacterial capacity of both extracts was investigated against Gram-positive and Gramnegative bacteria,being more effective against the first one.The concentrations of infusion extract tested here revealed that is non-toxic for intestinal(Caco-2) cells line.Conclusions:The results suggest that the extracts of Endopleura uchi may be interesting for incorporating in pharmaceutical preparations for human health,since it can suppress hyperglycaemia and inhibit cholinesteases,and or as food additive due to its antiradical and antibacterial activities.

The left-right side-specific endocrine signaling:implications for neurological deficits in stroke and neurodevelopmental disorders

Brain injury-induced neurological deficits typically develop on the contralateral side of the body and include abnormal posture,motor weakness,and spasticity.It is believed that the interruption of descending neural pathways that convey supraspinal commands to the motoneurons in the spinal cord is the main cause of these deficits.

SSME在欧洲的教学:Porto和Masaryk大学的一个联合硕士培养计划(英文)

Service Science,Engineering and Management(SSME)is emerging as a new discipline and several universities have been evolving or creating courses/programs to educate for the needs of the service fields of the economy.The University of Porto started in 2007 a master program in Service Engineering and Management,and Masaryk University started in 2008 a program in Service Science,Management,and Engineering.Both programs concentrate on services that are supported by technology,in particular information and communication technologies.This paper presents a summary of both programs and a proposal for a joint 2 year master program involving the two universities that is expected to start in 2010.Students in this program will take courses in the two universities,and lecturers will be involved in joint research projects. Individual students will have a semester research or applied project in a European service organization,being supervised by a lecturer or a researcher from each universities.It is expected that graduates will understand technological,organizational and cultural aspects of the diverse businesses in a wide European context and will be ready for service requirements of this century.

Exosomal glypican-1 is elevated in pancreatic cancer precursors and can signal genetic predisposition in the absence of endoscopic ultrasound abnormalities

BACKGROUND Individuals within specific risk groups for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC)[mucinous cystic lesions(MCLs),hereditary risk(HR),and new-late onset diabetes mellitus(NLOD)]represent an opportunity for early cancer detection.Endoscopic ultrasound(EUS)is a premium image modality for PDAC screening and precursor lesion characterization.While no specific biomarker is currently clinically available for this purpose,glypican-1(GPC1)is overexpressed in the circulating exosomes(crExos)of patients with PDAC compared with healthy subjects or those harboring benign pancreatic diseases.AIM To evaluate the capacity of GPC1+crExos to identify individuals at higher risk within these specific groups,all characterized by EUS.METHODS This cross-sectional study with a prospective unicentric cohort included 88 subjects:40 patients with MCL,20 individuals with HR,and 20 patients with NLOD.A control group(CG)was submitted to EUS for other reasons than pancreatic pathology,with normal pancreas and absence of hereditary risk factors(n=8).The inclusion period was between October 2016 and January 2019,and the study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Centro Hospitalar Universitário de São João,Porto,Portugal.All patients provided written informed consent.EUS and blood tests for quantification of GPC1+crExos by flow cytometry and carbohydrate antigen 19-9(CA 19-9)levels by ELISA were performed in all subjects.EUS-guided tissue acquisition was done whenever necessary.For statistical analysis,SPSS®27.0(IBM Corp.,Armonk,NY,United States)version was used.All graphs were created using GraphPad Prism 7.00(GraphPad Software,San Diego,CA,United States).RESULTS Half of MCLs harbored worrisome features(WF)or high-risk stigmata(HRS).Pancreatic abnormalities were detected by EUS in 10.0%and 35.0%in HR and NLOD individuals,respectively,all considered non-malignant and“harmless.”Median levels of GPC1+crExos were statistically different:MCL[99.4%,interquartile range(IQR):94.9%-99.8%],HR(82.0%,IQR:28.9%-98.2%),NLOD(12.6%,IQR:5.2%-63.4%),and CG(16.2%,IQR:6.6%-20.1%)(P<0.0001).Median levels of CA 19-9 were within the normal range in all groups(standard clinical cut-off of 37 U/mL).Within HR,individuals with a positive history of cancer had higher median levels of GPC1+crExos(97.9%;IQR:61.7%-99.5%),compared to those without(59.7%;IQR:26.3%-96.4%),despite no statistical significance(P=0.21).Pancreatic cysts with WF/HRS were statistically associated with higher median levels of GPC1+crExos(99.6%;IQR:97.6%-99.8%)compared to those without(96.5%;IQR:81.3%-99.5%)(P=0.011),presenting an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve value of 0.723(sensitivity 75.0%and specificity 67.7%,using a cutoff of 98.5%;P=0.012).CONCLUSION GPC1+crExos may act as biomarker to support the diagnosis and stratification of PDAC precursor lesions,and in signaling individuals with genetic predisposition in the absence of EUS abnormalities.

Co-Inhibitors of Second Signal of Lymphocyte Response in Human Renal Transplants: PD-L2, GITR, and ILT-2/3/5 Positive Cells from Aspiration Biopsies Associate with Acute Rejection-Freedom

Following organ transplantation, the outcome of the encounter between an APC and a T lymphocyte is strongly dependent on the presence of costimulatory and co-inhibitory molecules, the former associated with allograft rejection and the latter with allograft acceptance. We evaluated the expression of PD-L2, GITR, ILT-2/3/5, and ILT-4 on graft-infiltrating cells procured by Fnab from human KTx under different immunosuppressive regimens. Methods: Fnab biopsies were performed on days 7 or 14 - 30 in stable KTx and on the day of acute rejection diagnosis. Cytopreparations were studied by the enzymatic avidin biotin complex staining. Results: Acute rejection group showed a significant down-regulated expression of PD-L2, GITR, and ILT-2/3/5 as compared to stable group, while for ILT-4 we did not find significant difference. Anti-IL2αR and rapamicyn treatment trend to down-regulate ILT-4 expression, although meaningless. A significantly positive correlation was observed between PD-L2 and GITR expression in Fnab. The PPV for acute rejection diagnosis for both PD-L2 and GITR was clearly above 0.8. Conclusions: Our findings point to an early entrance of cells expressing PD-L2, GITR and ILT-2/3/5 inside human KTx who are going to remain rejection-free. Both PD-L2 and GITR shared a high ability to rule-in and rule-out acute rejection.

Symptoms, Pathologies, Accidents and Expectations, Regarding the Occupational Doctor and Safety Technician, in a Representative Sample of Portuguese Tattoo Artists

Introduction/Objectives: As Tattoo is being more accepted, more professionals dedicate to it. A study was designed with the aim of analysing the perception of Tattoo Artists regarding their Occupational Health/Safety team (opinion about the support provided);as to find out what type accidents, symptoms and occupational diseases they have, in order to provide a better service. Methods: This is a mixed exploratory study, containing a quantitative observational (analytical, cross-sectional) and a qualitative component (Case Study). For the statistical analysis, predominantly non-parametric tests were used. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee and informed consent was obtained. Results: In terms of symptomatology/illnesses, musculoskeletal pathology is the most reported. In terms of accidents, cuts stand out. Several statistically significant relationships were found between the variables analysed. Discussion/Conclusions: The Occupational Health and Security services are considered insufficient by most of the Tattoo artists. It would be desirable that the Occupational Doctor has concrete knowledge regarding Tattooing, in particular semiology/pathology;makes recommendations in pharmacology and/or indicates which exams could be useful. In relation to the Safety Technician, it would be desirable also to have specific knowledge about the sector, making plausible suggestions for improvement.

Effect of a Single Shot Sciatic Nerve Block Combined with a Continuous Femoral Block on Pain Scores After Knee Arthroplasty.A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background and Purpose: Postoperative pain after knee arthroplasty (TKA) is reported as severe in up to 60% of patients. Continuous femoral nerve blocks (CFNB) are a choice for major knee repair, but controversies remain about the need of supplemental sciatic nerve blocks (SNB) for better analgesia. Our aim is to assess the effect of the association of a SNB to a CFNB to reduce postoperative pain after TKA. Methods: A prospective randomized, single blinded, controlled study, on 50 patients undergoing TKA. Control group received a CFNB before general anesthesia;in the intervention group a single shot SNB was added after the CFNB was done. After the end of surgery all patients started a continuous local anesthetic infusion through the femoral catheter in the PACU (post-anesthesia care unit). Pain scores were measured in the PACU and at 12 h and 24 h postoperative using a visual analog scale (VAS). Results: VAS pain scores (mm) were lower and statistically significant for the intervention group up to 12 h postoperative: PACU admission mean VAS = 59.4 vs 30.2, P = 0.001;at 12 h mean VASr = 26.1 vs 9.2, P = 0.006;at 24 h mean VASr = 30.1 vs 32.7, P = 0.723. Conclusions: The association of a single shot SNB with a CFNB significantly reduces postoperative pain scores after TKA up to 12 h. At 24 h there are no differences between groups.

Axonal growth inhibitors and their receptors in spinal cord injury:from biology to clinical translation

Axonal growth inhibitors are released during traumatic injuries to the adult mammalian central nervous system, including after spinal cord injury. These molecules accumulate at the injury site and form a highly inhibitory environment for axonal regeneration. Among these inhibitory molecules, myelinassociated inhibitors, including neurite outgrowth inhibitor A, oligodendrocyte myelin glycoprotein, myelin-associated glycoprotein, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and repulsive guidance molecule A are of particular importance. Due to their inhibitory nature, they represent exciting molecular targets to study axonal inhibition and regeneration after central injuries. These molecules are mainly produced by neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes within the scar and in its immediate vicinity. They exert their effects by binding to specific receptors, localized in the membranes of neurons. Receptors for these inhibitory cues include Nogo receptor 1, leucine-rich repeat, and Ig domain containing 1 and p75 neurotrophin receptor/tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 19(that form a receptor complex that binds all myelin-associated inhibitors), and also paired immunoglobulin-like receptor B. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans and repulsive guidance molecule A bind to Nogo receptor 1, Nogo receptor 3, receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase σ and leucocyte common antigen related phosphatase, and neogenin, respectively. Once activated, these receptors initiate downstream signaling pathways, the most common amongst them being the Rho A/ROCK signaling pathway. These signaling cascades result in actin depolymerization, neurite outgrowth inhibition, and failure to regenerate after spinal cord injury. Currently, there are no approved pharmacological treatments to overcome spinal cord injuries other than physical rehabilitation and management of the array of symptoms brought on by spinal cord injuries. However, several novel therapies aiming to modulate these inhibitory proteins and/or their receptors are under investigation in ongoing clinical trials. Investigation has also been demonstrating that combinatorial therapies of growth inhibitors with other therapies, such as growth factors or stem-cell therapies, produce stronger results and their potential application in the clinics opens new venues in spinal cord injury treatment.

Robotic in situ bioprinting for cartilage tissue engineering

Articular cartilage damage caused by trauma or degenerative pathologies such as osteoarthritis can result in significant pain,mobility issues,and disability.Current surgical treatments have a limited capacity for efficacious cartilage repair,and long-term patient outcomes are not satisfying.Three-dimensional bioprinting has been used to fabricate biochemical and biophysical environments that aim to recapitulate the native microenvironment and promote tissue regeneration.However,conventional in vitro bioprinting has limitations due to the challenges associated with the fabrication and implantation of bioprinted constructs and their integration with the native cartilage tissue.In situ bioprinting is a novel strategy to directly deliver bioinks to the desired anatomical site and has the potential to overcome major shortcomings associated with conventional bioprinting.In this review,we focus on the new frontier of robotic-assisted in situ bioprinting surgical systems for cartilage regeneration.We outline existing clinical approaches and the utilization of robotic-assisted surgical systems.Handheld and robotic-assisted in situ bioprinting techniques including minimally invasive and non-invasive approaches are defined and presented.Finally,we discuss the challenges and potential future perspectives of in situ bioprinting for cartilage applications.

Relation of COVID-19 with liver diseases and their impact on healthcare systems:The Portuguese case

BACKGROUND The impact caused by the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)on the Portuguese population has been addressed in areas such as clinical manifestations,frequent comorbidities,and alterations in consumption habits.However,comorbidities like liver conditions and changes concerning the Portuguese population's access to healthcare-related services have received less attention.AIM To(1)Review the impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare system;(2)examine the relationship between liver diseases and COVID-19 in infected individuals;and(3)investigate the situation in the Portuguese population concerning these topics.METHODS For our purposes,we conducted a literature review using specific keywords.RESULTS COVID-19 is frequently associated with liver damage.However,liver injury in COVID-19 individuals is a multifactor-mediated effect.Therefore,it remains unclear whether changes in liver laboratory tests are associated with a worse prognosis in Portuguese individuals with COVID-19.CONCLUSION COVID-19 has impacted healthcare systems in Portugal and other countries;the combination of COVID-19 with liver injury is common.Previous liver damage may represent a risk factor that worsens the prognosis in individuals with COVID-19.

Feeding ecology of a highly aerial bird during its long breeding season

Pallid Swifts(Apus pallidus),as other swifts,are birds extremely adapted to an aerial lifestyle,showing unique adaptations that allow them to fly almost continuously.The diet of these non-stopping high-altitudinal aerial birds has been mostly studied through techniques that fail to produce highly resolved prey identifications,and for that have been replaced by molecular techniques,such as DNA metabarcoding.Faecal samples of Pallid Swifts were monthly collected from a colony in the north of Portugal during the breeding season.DNA from the faecal samples was used to sex the birds and to identify the arthropods present in the diet through DNA metabarcoding.From the detected prey items,74 families were identified belonging to 16 orders,with Hymenoptera and Hemiptera being the most frequently consumed.There were seasonal variations in diet richness,composition and prey size.Regarding the diet of males and females,although no differences were found between the diet of males and females in terms of composition and richness,there were differences in the size of arthropods preyed by the different sexes,with males feeding on larger arthropods.The large seasonal variation in Pallid Swifts’diet during the breeding season is probably a result of spatiotemporal variation in aerial prey,of which swifts likely predate opportunistically.Although no significant differences were detected in diet richness and composition between sexes,the fact that males consumed larger prey may suggest the existence of sexual dietary segregation in this group of birds.At last,several pest species were found in these swifts’diet,which,if studied through DNA metabarcoding,can be used to monitor small arthropods,including airborne pests.

Oxidative stress in N88S seipinopathy:novel insights into the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and therapeutic avenues

Lipid droplets (LDs) are ubiquitous cellular orga nelles that perform functions mostly dedicated to energy homeostasis and lipid metabolism.As neutral lipid depots (triacylglycerol,sterol esters),they can be rapidly mobilized through lipase-mediated hydrolysis (lipolysis) or via lipophagy,a specific form of autophagy devoted to consumption of LDs inside the lysosome.

Factors determining the occupancy of nest-boxes by Great Tits(Parus major)in eucalypt plantations

Providing nest-boxes as surrogate tree cavities can be of great importance to increase the breeding populations of cavity-nesting birds in managed forests.However,the exact placement of nest-boxes should be taken into consideration to enhance their occupancy according to species-specific preferences.In this study,we investigated which factors can better predict nest-box occupancy by the Great Tit(Parus major)in eucalypt plantations.We used generalised linear mixed-effects models to analyse the influence of topography,nest-box positioning,vegetation cover and landscape variables on three-year occupancy records from 80 newly provided nest-boxes.Non-random patterns of nest-box occupancy were found with respect to all categories except topography.Results suggest that Great Tits prefer to occupy high-placed nest-boxes,close to areas that can provide them with supplementary resources either within or in the vicinity of the stand(i.e.,trees other than eucalypts,riparian vegetation,and large patches of adjacent habitats).Overall,this study provides important recommendations for nest-box placement and spatial distribution in managed forests and enhances the potential of nest-box interventions as a biodiversity offset and management tool.

Phylogeography and diversification of Oriental weaverbirds(Ploceus spp.):A gradual increase of eurytopy

Weaverbirds are a speciose group of colorful passerines inhabiting the Old World Tropics.Nevertheless,the Oriental weaverbirds(Ploceus spp.),widespread across southern Asia,are much less diverse and restricted to a few ecological niches compared to their African counterpart.To investigate their phylogeography,we retrieved 101 samples of Baya Weaver(P.philippinus),Streaked Weaver(P.manyar),Black-Throated Weaver(P.benghalensis)and Asian Golden Weaver(P.hypoxanthus)along with GenBank sequences of Finn's Weaver(P.megarhynchus).We reconstructed the first molecular phylogeny based on a dataset consisting of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes,dating the most recent common ancestor of Oriental Ploceus to~11 mya.Subsequent speciation appears to have been a combination of divergence within the Indian subcontinent and dispersal across a barrier situated between the Indian subcontinent and the Indochinese region,which provided habitats with a varying degree of isolations and ultimately promoted divergences in allopatry.Two descendants of the earliest nodes,P.megarhynchus and P.hypoxanthus,are both rare and local,often found near large river systems,which perhaps reflects niche conservatism and a lack of adaptive potential.The three smaller species are all widespread,common and less habitat specific.The most recent divergence,between western and eastern P.philippinus populations,is supported by both phylogenetic and morphological evidence,pointing toward limited gene flow between them.However,a zone of intergradation may exist in Myanmar and Brahmaputra flood plains,thus preventing a recommendation for species level recognition without further study.

Streptococcus pneumoniae and Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Central Nervous System Co-Infection

Co-infections of the central nervous system (CNS) caused by bacterial and viral pathogens are considered to be rare. Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) reactivation following Streptococcus pneumoniae infection is well described but most cases are related to oral or cutaneous lesions or in respiratory samples. HSV-1 CNS reactivation after Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis is a very rare event and may have significant morbidity and mortality. In this case report, we describe a 71-year-old female patient that presented with a history of abdominal pain and confusion/disorientation that had tonic-clonic seizures while in the Emergency Department. The diagnostic work-up confirmed CNS co-infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and HSV-1. Of note, beyond age, the patient had no known risk factors for both entities and recovered fully after antibiotic and antiviral therapy. This case underlines that clinicians must be aware of CNS co-infection despite being a rare diagnosis. This should be suspected particularly in patients who present an unusual clinical course of CNS infection.

Protection Measures and Change in the Perception of Work Risks with COVID-19, in a Representative Sample of Portuguese Tattoo Artists

Introduction: Tattoo Artists are exposed to Occupational Hazards, but the bibliography is scarce. Methodology: this is a Mixed Exploratory Study carried out with a quantitative component (online questionnaire) and a qualitative component (online interview). The questionnaire was available between April 2020 and March 2021 and was distributed by the companies/professionals that work on Tattoos, main national magazines in the sector, companies that supply products and equipment and organizing committees of the main national congresses. The research project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto (28.04.2020) and an informed consent was obtained. As an inclusion criterion, it was considered to carry out tattooing tasks on a paid basis. As exclusion criteria, working outside the country or not mastering the Portuguese language stood out. Results: 207 Tattoo Artists answered the questionnaire (25.87% of professionals registered in Portugal) and nine interviews took place. Numerous statistically significant associations were found between the variables analysed. Final considerations: the main weaknesses of the study are related to the difficulties inherent in data collection: as it was carried out using an online questionnaire, it was not controlled whether all respondents practiced the profession of Tattoo Artists. Furthermore, as it is a voluntary questionnaire, it is possible that the sample retained professionals who value Occupational Health issues. This investigation combined quantitative and qualitative techniques, so that it was possible to take advantage of and mitigate the disadvantages of both;in fact, the qualitative aspect sequentially completed and explored the data initially obtained in the survey, as well as it allowed to deepen issues initially not programmed, such as the possible interference of the Pandemic associated with SARS-COV2 in the general Risk Perception and compliance with the Standards of Good Practices. Regarding the interviews, the sample was reduced, although the answers were reasonably repeated. During those, even though the questions were posed based on what the Tattoo Artists’ thoughts on what most of the colleagues considered and not having to answer only for themselves, this may still have motivated them to respond in a more politically correct manner. In the overall project, very complete data were obtained on Occupational Health applied to this professional sector, part of which had not been published before, which will certainly constitute an asset to acting more effectively. Overall, Portuguese Tattoo Artists believe that most of their colleagues try to comply with the standards of Good Practice, and this attitude was boosted by the COVID-19 pandemic.