Luis Antunes

Dr. Luis Antunes

Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

26Years (2001-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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11 July 2023 in Molecules
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
TMTânia Martins
Tânia Martins
Ana Novo BarrosAna Novo Barros
Ana Novo Barros
EREduardo Rosa
Eduardo Rosa
LALuis Antunes
Luis Antunes
Chlorophylls play a crucial role in photosynthesis and are abundantly found in green fruits and vegetables that form an integral part of our diet. Although limited, existing studies suggest that these photosynthetic pigments and their derivatives possess therapeutic properties. These bioactive molecules exhibit a wide range of beneficial effects, including antioxidant, antimutagenic, antigenotoxic, anti-cancer, and anti-obesogenic activities. However, it is unfortunate that leafy materials and fruit peels often go to waste in the food supply chain, contributing to the prevailing issue of food waste in modern societies. Nevertheless, these overlooked materials contain valuable bioactive compounds, including chlorophylls, which offer significant health benefits. Consequently, exploring the potential of these discarded resources, such as utilizing them as functional food ingredients, aligns with the principles of a circular economy and presents exciting opportunities for exploitation.

4 December 2018 in Laboratory Animals
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
TMTânia Martins
Tânia Martins
AVAna M Valentim
Ana M Valentim
NPNuno Pereira
Nuno Pereira
LALuis Antunes
Luis Antunes
The number of fish used in research has increased in the last decades. Anaesthesia is required when fish must be held immobile and it is crucial to promote fish welfare, because these vertebrates can show signs of stress and/or pain during handling, transport, tagging, sampling and invasive procedures. The use of an inadequate anaesthetic protocol can compromise not only the welfare of the fish, but also the reliability of the research results. Thus, the development of suitable anaesthetic regimes for each fish species is important. This article reviews the main anaesthetic and analgesic agents used in adult fish in a research setting.

1 June 2018 in Chemosphere
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Journal Article
Closed access
Luís Manuel Lourenço FélixLuís Manuel Lourenço Félix
Luís Manuel Lourenço Félix
AVAna M. Vidal
Ana M. Vidal
CSCindy Serafim
Cindy Serafim
AVAna M Valentim
Ana M Valentim
LALuis Antunes
Luis Antunes
Ana Maria CoimbraAna Maria Coimbra
Ana Maria Coimbra

1 December 2016 in Laboratory Animals
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
TMTânia Martins
Tânia Martins
AVAna M Valentim
Ana M Valentim
NPNuno Pereira
Nuno Pereira
LALuis Antunes
Luis Antunes
Anaesthesia is used daily in fish experimental procedures; however, the use of an inadequate anaesthetic protocol can compromise not only the animal's welfare but also the reliability of results. The use of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in biomedical research has increased in the last decades, highlighting the importance of appropriate anaesthetic regimens for this species. This article reviews the main anaesthetic agents and protocols used in laboratory adult zebrafish, and some of the analgesic methods to be used in this species that still need more research. In addition, a systematized observation of signs is proposed to evaluate adult zebrafish welfare to reduce pain and distress.

1 January 2014 in Neurotoxicology and Teratology
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Journal Article
Closed access
Luís Manuel Lourenço FélixLuís Manuel Lourenço Félix
Luís Manuel Lourenço Félix
LALuis Antunes
Luis Antunes
Ana Maria CoimbraAna Maria Coimbra
Ana Maria Coimbra

1 February 2010 in Anesthesiology
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Journal Article
Closed access
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ASAura Luísa Maia Silva
Aura Luísa Maia Silva
Helder Cardoso-CruzHelder Cardoso-Cruz
Helder Cardoso-Cruz
FSFrancisco Silva
Francisco Silva
VGVasco Galhardo
Vasco Galhardo
LALuis Antunes
Luis Antunes
Background: Local field potentials may allow a more precise analysis of the brain electrical activity than the electroencephalogram. In this study, local field potentials were recorded in the thalamocortical axis of rats to (i) compare the performance of several indexes of anesthetic depth and (ii) investigate the existence of thalamocortical correlated or disrupted activity during isoflurane steady-state anesthesia. Methods: Five rats chronically implanted with microelectrodes were used to record local field potentials in the primary somatosensory cortex and ventroposterolateral thalamic nuclei at six periods: before induction of anesthesia; in the last 5 min of randomized 20-min steady-state end-tidal 0.8, 1.1, 1.4, and 1.7% isoflurane concentrations; and after recovery. The approximate entropy, the index of consciousness, the spectral edge frequency, and the permutation entropy were estimated using epochs of 8 s. A correction factor for burst suppression was applied to the spectral edge frequency and to the permutation entropy. The correlation between the derived indexes and the end-tidal isoflurane was calculated and compared for the two studied brain regions indexes. Coherence analysis was also performed. Results: The burst suppression-corrected permutation entropy showed the highest correlation with the end-tidal isoflurane concentration, and a high coherence was obtained between the two studied areas. Conclusions: The permutation entropy corrected with the classic burst suppression ratio is a promising alternative to other indexes of anesthetic depth. Furthermore, high coherence level of activity exists between the somatosensory cortical and thalamic regions, even at deep isoflurane stages.