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1.
J Clin Lab Anal ; 38(8): e25007, 2024 Apr.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38594837

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The Beckman Coulter DxH 900 is a haematological analyser capable of counting and sizing blood cells, and obtaining a complete blood cell count (CBC). This analyses different parameters of red blood cells (RBC), platelets and white blood cells/leukocytes. Some automated CBC counters present limitations due to specimen characteristics, abnormal cells or both factors. In the presence of abnormalities, the DxH 900 has a flagging system, warning the laboratory technician that something needs to be verified. In the present work, we evaluated samples from oncologic patients, presenting a population erroneously perceived as being lymphocytes. The most common explanations for this situation are RBC resistant to lysis or serum hyperbilirubinaemia. METHODS: In an attempt to solve and understand what the cause of this problem might be, we diluted our samples (1:3) and analysed the serum total bilirubin. To identify cells' abnormalities, the samples were also analysed by manual DLC counts. During the study, we also checked the different flags presented by the equipment. RESULTS: The results evidenced that the major interference was due to RBC lysis resistance, corresponding to 94.7% of the cases, while hyperbilirubinaemia was only present in 73.4%. Besides, we determined that some samples with normal bilirubin levels also presented interference, suggesting that hyperbilirubinaemia was not the main cause of the error. The most recurrent flag observed was "High event rate". CONCLUSION: The dilution solved all of the observed interferences. The results between diluted and manual counts showed a strong correlation, leading us to introduce dilution in our laboratory routine.


Asunto(s)
Leucocitos , Humanos , Recuento de Leucocitos/métodos , Leucocitos/citología , Bilirrubina/sangre
2.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(11)2024 Jun 02.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38892324

RESUMEN

SARS-CoV-2 infection ranges from mild to severe presentations, according to the intensity of the aberrant inflammatory response. Purinergic receptors dually control the inflammatory response: while adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs) are anti-inflammatory, ATP P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) exert pro-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to assess if there were differences in allelic and genotypic frequencies of a loss-of-function SNP of ADORA2A (rs2298383) and a gain-of-function single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of P2RX7 (rs208294) in the severity of SARS-CoV-2-associated infection. Fifty-five individuals were enrolled and categorized according to the severity of the infection. Endpoint genotyping was performed in blood cells to screen for both SNPs. The TT genotype (vs. CT + CC) and the T allele (vs. C allele) of P2RX7 SNP were found to be associated with more severe forms of COVID-19, whereas the association between ADORA2A SNP and the severity of infection was not significantly different. The T allele of P2RX7 SNP was more frequent in people with more than one comorbidity and with cardiovascular conditions and was associated with colorectal cancer. Our findings suggest a more prominent role of P2X7R rather than of A2AR polymorphisms in SARS-CoV-2 infection, although larger population-based studies should be performed to validate our conclusions.


Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , Receptores Purinérgicos P2X7 , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Receptores Purinérgicos P2X7/genética , Receptores Purinérgicos P2X7/metabolismo , Receptor de Adenosina A2A/genética , Gravedad del Paciente , COVID-19/complicaciones , COVID-19/genética , COVID-19/patología , Genotipo , Frecuencia de los Genes , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/complicaciones , Enfermedades Cardiovasculares/genética , Neoplasias del Colon/complicaciones , Neoplasias del Colon/genética
3.
Br J Neurosurg ; : 1-4, 2023 Sep 21.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37735919

RESUMEN

Informed consent is an ethical and legal requirement integral to modern surgical practice. Clinicians have a duty to consider, disclose and discuss risks and concerns relevant to an individual patient. With medical advances there are now a significant number of animal-derived products and adjuncts available for use in modern neurosurgical practice, which may be relevant when consenting patients for specific procedures if such products are used. This paper highlights commonly used products in neurosurgery that contain animal-derived constituents with the aim of facilitating an informed discussion between the neurosurgeon and patient. We have reviewed the commonly used products in the centres of the authors and their commercial equivalents. The product information is taken from the manufacturer's instructions or the Federal Drug Administration documents regarding the product. Animal products commonly available to neurosurgeons can be broadly categorised into haemostatic agents, dural substitutes, dural sealants and bone cements. Many products contain a variety of animal (or human) derived products. In order to ensure informed consent and shared decision making, it is important to establish any relevant patient beliefs or views regarding the use of animal-derived products. Given the wide availability and use of neurosurgical adjuncts containing human or animal derived products, coupled with the heterogeneity within ethnic, religious, and social groups, each patient must be approached individually to ensure patient-specific concerns are identified and alternatives offered when appropriate.

4.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(1)2023 Dec 28.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38203579

RESUMEN

Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are frequently linked to diabetic-related morbidity and death because of the ineffectiveness of conventional antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria. Pexiganan and nisin A are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), and their application may complement conventional antibiotics in DFI treatment. A collagen 3D model, previously established to mimic a soft-tissue collagen matrix, was used to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of a guar gum gel containing pexiganan and nisin alone and combined with three antimicrobials toward the biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from infected foot ulcers. Antimicrobials and bacterial diffusion were confirmed by spot-on-lawn and bacterial growth by bacterial count (cfu/mL). Our main conclusion was that the dual-AMP biogel combined with gentamicin, clindamycin, or vancomycin was not able to significantly reduce bacterial growth or eradicate S. aureus and P. aeruginosa DFI isolates. We further reported an antagonism between dual-AMP and dual-AMP combined with antibiotics against S. aureus.


Asunto(s)
Enfermedades Transmisibles , Diabetes Mellitus , Pie Diabético , Polineuropatías , Enfermedades de la Piel , Humanos , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Antibacterianos/uso terapéutico , Pie Diabético/tratamiento farmacológico , Staphylococcus aureus , Colágeno
5.
J Dtsch Dermatol Ges ; 21(1): 19-25, 2023 01.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36688435

RESUMEN

Pediatric androgenetic alopecia is an underrecognized disorder. A clinical evaluation with trichoscopy should be made in children and adolescents with hair loss and/or reduced hair density. Diagnosis is usually clinical, by observation of the hair loss pattern and performance of trichoscopy. In some cases, hyperandrogenism should be excluded. Although there is no approved therapy for androgenetic alopecia in pediatric age, topical minoxidil, oral minoxidil and topical finasteride may be very useful. Hair transplant may be an option for girls in selected cases. This article is a review of the current state of evidence concerning pediatric androgenetic alopecia.


Asunto(s)
Alopecia , Minoxidil , Femenino , Adolescente , Humanos , Niño , Minoxidil/uso terapéutico , Resultado del Tratamiento , Alopecia/diagnóstico , Alopecia/tratamiento farmacológico , Finasterida/uso terapéutico , Cabello
6.
Medicina (Kaunas) ; 59(9)2023 Sep 20.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37763804

RESUMEN

Background and Objectives: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a cornerstone of risk stratification in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, there is a paucity of evidence on its predictive power in older patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic power of current heart transplantation (HTx) listing criteria in HFrEF stratified according to age groups. Materials and Methods: Consecutive patients with HFrEF undergoing CPET between 2009 and 2018 were followed-up for cardiac death and urgent HTx. Results: CPET was performed in 458 patients with HFrEF. The composite endpoint occurred in 16.8% of patients ≤50 years vs. 14.1% of patients ≥50 years in a 36-month follow-up. Peak VO2 (pVO2), VE/VCO2 slope and percentage of predicted pVO2 were strong independent predictors of outcomes. The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation thresholds of pVO2 ≤ 12 mL/kg/min (≤14 if intolerant to ß-blockers), VE/VCO2 slope > 35 and percentage of predicted pVO2 ≤ 50% presented a higher overall diagnostic effectiveness in younger patients (≤50 years). Specific thresholds for each age subgroup outperformed the traditional cut-offs. Conclusions: Personalized age-specific thresholds may contribute to an accurate risk stratification in HFrEF. Further studies are needed to address the gap in evidence between younger and older patients.


Asunto(s)
Insuficiencia Cardíaca , Trasplante de Corazón , Humanos , Anciano , Prueba de Esfuerzo , Volumen Sistólico , Corazón
7.
Arthroscopy ; 38(5): 1480-1485, 2022 05.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34601009

RESUMEN

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether radiographic parameters, intraoperative findings, patient-reported outcome measures, or intraoperative interventions that were performed differentiate those patients with >2 mm of joint space who convert under two years to total hip arthroplasty (THA) after undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) when compared to those converting after 2 years. METHODS: Included in this study were patients who underwent conversion to THA within 2 years of primary hip arthroscopy from a prospectively collected patient registry from 2007 to 2017. Patients who underwent early conversions to arthroplasty were matched 1:1 with patients who converted after 2 years, based upon age and gender. Preoperative outcome scores were collected, including Short Form-12, modified Harris Hip Score, and Hip Outcome Score. Additionally, variables from the preoperative radiographic evaluation, surgical findings, and procedures performed were also compared. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were included in the early conversion group and were matched with 49 patients in the later conversion group. Patients with lateral center edge angles of less than 25° were more likely to be in the early failure group [OR: 3.9; 95% CI: 1.01 to 15]. Patients with unipolar chondral defects on either the femoral (P = .128) or acetabular side (P = .656) were not at increased odds for early conversion compared to later conversion; however, those with bipolar chondral lesions at the time of surgery had increased odds of early conversions [OR: 3.3; 95% CI: 1.4 to 8] (P = .01). Neither surgical treatment nor preoperative patient-reported outcome measures were associated with early conversion. CONCLUSIONS: In patient with >2 mm of joint space, lateral center edge angles of less than 25° and those with bipolar articular cartilage lesions seen at the time of hip arthroscopy are at increased risk for conversion to total hip arthroplasty within two years. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparison study.


Asunto(s)
Artroplastia de Reemplazo de Cadera , Cartílago Articular , Pinzamiento Femoroacetabular , Acetábulo/cirugía , Artroplastia de Reemplazo de Cadera/efectos adversos , Artroscopía/métodos , Cartílago Articular/cirugía , Estudios de Cohortes , Pinzamiento Femoroacetabular/complicaciones , Pinzamiento Femoroacetabular/diagnóstico por imagen , Pinzamiento Femoroacetabular/cirugía , Articulación de la Cadera/diagnóstico por imagen , Articulación de la Cadera/cirugía , Humanos , Reoperación , Estudios Retrospectivos , Resultado del Tratamiento
8.
Arthroscopy ; 38(7): 2219-2226, 2022 07.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34990758

RESUMEN

PURPOSE: To describe patient outcomes 3 to 5 years after arthroscopic hip capsule reconstruction. METHODS: Between January 2007 and December 2016, patients aged 18 to 50 years who underwent arthroscopic hip capsular reconstruction using an Iliotibial band allograft by the senior author and had minimum of 3-year follow-up were identified. Patients were excluded if they had previous open hip surgery, advanced osteoarthritis (Tönnis grade >2), significant acetabular dysplasia (lateral center edge angle <20°), avascular necrosis, or Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. Outcome scores including the Hip Outcome Score (HOS)-Activities of Daily Living scale, modified Harris Hip Score, HOS-Sports scale, SF-12, and Western Ontario & McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index were compared in addition to failure rate, revision rate, and patient satisfaction rate with the outcome (range, 1-10). All patients were assessed by the senior author pre- and postoperatively. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the cohort was 32 ± 10 years, with 6 male and 33 female patients. The average number of previous hip arthroscopy surgeries was 2 ± 1. Six patients (15%) converted to total hip arthroplasty at an average of 2.1 years (range 7 months to 6 years) following capsular reconstruction. Four patients required revision hip arthroscopy after the arthroscopic capsular reconstruction. All arthroscopic revisions occurred in female patients with the primary intraoperative finding of capsulolabral adhesions at the time of revision. At mean follow-up of 4.3 years (range 3-6.8 years), the 29 patients who did not require subsequent surgery had significant improvements from preoperatively to postoperatively in HOS-Activities of Daily Living and HOS-Sport with 90% reaching minimal clinically important difference. All other scores showed significant improvement. Survival for patients not requiring total hip arthroplasty was 86% at 3 years, with a mean survival of 5.7 years (95% confidence interval 4.97-6.4). CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic hip capsular reconstruction with iliotibial band allograft is a successful treatment option for patients with symptomatic capsular defects, demonstrating improved patient-reported outcomes maintained at mean follow-up time of 4 years. This technique offers restoration of the anatomic structure and function of the capsular ligaments to improve pain and instability. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV, case series.


Asunto(s)
Pinzamiento Femoroacetabular , Osteoartritis , Actividades Cotidianas , Adulto , Aloinjertos , Artroscopía/métodos , Femenino , Pinzamiento Femoroacetabular/cirugía , Estudios de Seguimiento , Articulación de la Cadera/cirugía , Humanos , Masculino , Osteoartritis/cirugía , Medición de Resultados Informados por el Paciente , Reoperación , Estudios Retrospectivos , Supervivencia , Resultado del Tratamiento , Adulto Joven
9.
EMBO J ; 36(3): 346-360, 2017 02 01.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27993935

RESUMEN

Cell activation is a vital step for T-cell memory/effector differentiation as well as for productive HIV infection. To identify novel regulators of this process, we used next-generation sequencing to profile changes in microRNA expression occurring in purified human naive CD4 T cells in response to TCR stimulation and/or HIV infection. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, the transcriptional up-regulation of miR-34c-5p in response to TCR stimulation in naive CD4 T cells. The induction of this miR was further consistently found to be reduced by both HIV-1 and HIV-2 infections. Overexpression of miR-34c-5p led to changes in the expression of several genes involved in TCR signaling and cell activation, confirming its role as a novel regulator of naive CD4 T-cell activation. We additionally show that miR-34c-5p promotes HIV-1 replication, suggesting that its down-regulation during HIV infection may be part of an anti-viral host response.


Asunto(s)
Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/inmunología , VIH/fisiología , Interacciones Huésped-Patógeno , Activación de Linfocitos , MicroARNs/análisis , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfocitos T/metabolismo , Replicación Viral , Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos/virología , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , VIH/inmunología , Humanos , Evasión Inmune
10.
Arthroscopy ; 37(9): 2809-2816, 2021 09.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33887406

RESUMEN

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcomes of arthroscopic hip remplissage with folded iliotibial band allograft to treat cam over-resection. METHODS: Patients who underwent arthroscopic iliotibial band hip remplissage from May 2013 to April 2018 were prospectively evaluated. Pre- and postoperative patient-reported outcome scores were compared and included the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF12) Physical Health Composite Score (PCS), SF12 Mental Health Composite Score (MCS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS), and Hip Outcome Score (HOS) (Activities of Daily Living [ADL] and Sport). Postoperative Tegner Activity Scale and patient satisfaction (1-10) were also evaluated. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (2 men, 11 women) with an average age of 39.8 ± 9 years underwent arthroscopic hip remplissage with minimum 2-year and mean 3.1-year follow-up (range, 2.1-4.1 years). One hundred percent follow-up was achieved. The average number of previous surgeries was 1.38 (range, 1-3). One patient underwent total hip arthroplasty 2 years after remplissage. All 12 patients who did not undergo total hip arthroplasty had improved patient-reported outcomes after remplissage (mean scores: SF12 PCS 36 vs 42, P = .02; SF12 MCS 45 vs 51, P = .14; mHHS 45 vs 66, P < .001; minimal clinically important difference [MCID] 83%; WOMAC 42 vs 28, P < .001; HOS ADL 52 vs 69, P = .003; MCID, 67%; HOS Sport 27 vs 46, P = .015; MCID, 67%). All improvements met statistical significance, besides the SF12 MCS. Median postoperative Tegner score was 2.9. Median postoperative patient satisfaction was 7 out of 10 (range, 5-10). CONCLUSIONS: Arthroscopic hip remplissage is a successful salvage treatment option for hip instability caused by previous cam over-resection. Care must be taken during primary surgery not to over-resect the cam as patient-reported outcomes after remplissage are inferior to those undergoing primary hip arthroscopy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, case series.


Asunto(s)
Artroscopía , Pinzamiento Femoroacetabular , Actividades Cotidianas , Adulto , Femenino , Pinzamiento Femoroacetabular/cirugía , Estudios de Seguimiento , Articulación de la Cadera/cirugía , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Medición de Resultados Informados por el Paciente , Reoperación , Terapia Recuperativa , Resultado del Tratamiento
12.
Cardiol Young ; 29(12): 1445-1451, 2019 Dec.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31623696

RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: Both transposition of the great arteries (TGA) previously submitted to a Senning/Mustard procedure and congenitally corrected TGA (cc-TGA) have the systemic circulation supported by the morphological right ventricle, thereby rendering these patients to heart failure events risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters for stratifying the risk of heart failure events in TGA patients. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of adult TGA patients with systemic circulation supported by the morphological right ventricle submitted to cardiopulmonary exercise test in a tertiary centre. Patients were followed up for at least 1 year for the primary endpoint of cardiac death or heart failure hospitalisation. Several cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters were analysed as potential predictors of the combined endpoint and their predictive power were compared (area under the curve). RESULTS: Cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed in 44 TGA patients (8 cc-TGA), with a mean age of 35.1 ± 8.4 years. The primary endpoint was reached by 10 (22.7%) patients, with a mean follow-up of 36.7 ± 26.8 months. Heart rate at anaerobic threshold had the highest area under the curve value (0.864), followed by peak oxygen consumption (pVO2) (0.838). Heart rate at anaerobic threshold ≤95 bpm and pVO2 ≤20 ml/kg/min had a sensitivity of 87.5 and 80.0% and a specificity of 82.4 and 76.5%, respectively, for the primary outcome. CONCLUSION: Heart rate at anaerobic threshold ≤95 bpm had the highest predictive power of all cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters analysed for heart failure events in TGA patients with systemic circulation supported by the morphological right ventricle.


Asunto(s)
Umbral Anaerobio/fisiología , Transposición de los Grandes Vasos/fisiopatología , Disfunción Ventricular Derecha/fisiopatología , Adulto , Prueba de Esfuerzo/métodos , Femenino , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/mortalidad , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/fisiopatología , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Portugal/epidemiología , Pronóstico , Estudios Retrospectivos , Medición de Riesgo/métodos , Centros de Atención Terciaria , Adulto Joven
14.
Med Mycol ; 55(4): 358-367, 2017 Jun 01.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27664993

RESUMEN

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is considered a risk factor associated with oral yeast infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the yeast oral carriage (in saliva and mucosal surface) of children with T1D and potential relation with host factors, particularly the subset of CD4+ T cells. Yeasts were quantified and identified in stimulated saliva and in cheek mucosal swabs of 133 diabetic T1D and 72 healthy control subjects. Salivary lymphocytes were quantified using flow cytometry. The presence of yeasts in the oral cavity (60% of total patients) was not affected by diabetes, metabolic control, duration of the disease, salivary flow rate or saliva buffer capacity, by age, sex, place of residence, number of daily meals, consumption of sweets or frequency of tooth brushing. Candida albicans was the most prevalent yeast species, but a higher number of yeast species was isolated in nondiabetics. T1D children with HbA1c ≤ 7.5 (metabolically controlled) presented higher number of CD4+ T salivary subsets when compared with the other groups of children (non-diabetic and nonmetabolically controlled) and also presented the highest number of individuals without oral yeast colonization. In conclusion, T1D does not predisposes for increased oral yeast colonization and a higher number of salivary CD4+T cells seems to result in the absence of oral colonization by yeasts.


Asunto(s)
Causalidad , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 1/complicaciones , Micosis/epidemiología , Levaduras/aislamiento & purificación , Adolescente , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Mucosa Bucal/microbiología , Micosis/microbiología , Prevalencia , Medición de Riesgo , Saliva/microbiología , Levaduras/clasificación
15.
Rev Med Virol ; 26(5): 314-29, 2016 09.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27264019

RESUMEN

Over the last 30 years, research into HIV has advanced the knowledge of virus genetics and the development of efficient therapeutic strategies. HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr) is a specialized and multifunctional protein that plays important roles at multiple stages of the HIV-1 viral life cycle. This protein interacts with a number of cellular and viral proteins and with multiple activities including nuclear transport of the pre-integration complex (PIC) to the nucleus, transcriptional activation, cell cycle arrest at G2/M transition phase and induction of cell death via apoptosis. Specifically, Vpr has been shown to control many host cell functions through a variety of biological processes and by interaction with several cellular pathways. The different functions of Vpr may enhance viral replication and impair the immune system in HIV-1 infected patients. Importantly, functional defects induced by mutations in the Vpr protein correlate with slow disease progression of HIV-infected patients. Vpr is also associated with other concomitant pathologies developed by these patients, which may lead it to be considered as a potential novel therapeutic target. This review will focus on HIV-1 Vpr, mainly on the importance of its structural mutations on the progression of HIV infection, associated phenotypes and relevance for clinical pathologies. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.


Asunto(s)
VIH-1/fisiología , Mutación , Integración Viral , Replicación Viral , Productos del Gen vpr del Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana/genética , Productos del Gen vpr del Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana/metabolismo , Apoptosis , Puntos de Control del Ciclo Celular , Interacciones Huésped-Patógeno , Humanos , Proteínas Mutantes/genética , Proteínas Mutantes/metabolismo
16.
Cardiol Young ; 27(3): 498-506, 2017 Apr.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27226193

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: The role of right ventricular longitudinal strain for assessing patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot is not fully understood. In this study, we aimed to evaluate its relation with other structural and functional parameters in these patients. METHODS: Patients followed-up in a grown-up CHD unit, assessed by transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and treadmill exercise testing, were retrospectively evaluated. Right ventricular size and function and pulmonary regurgitation severity were assessed by echocardiography and MRI. Right ventricular longitudinal strain was evaluated in the four-chamber view using the standard semiautomatic method. RESULTS: In total, 42 patients were included (61% male, 32±8 years). The mean right ventricular longitudinal strain was -16.2±3.7%, and the right ventricular ejection fraction, measured by MRI, was 42.9±7.2%. Longitudinal strain showed linear correlation with tricuspid annular systolic excursion (r=-0.40) and right ventricular ejection fraction (r=-0.45) (all p<0.05), which in turn showed linear correlation with right ventricular fractional area change (r=0.50), pulmonary regurgitation colour length (r=0.35), right ventricular end-systolic volume (r=-0.60), and left ventricular ejection fraction (r=0.36) (all p<0.05). Longitudinal strain (ß=-0.72, 95% confidence interval -1.41, -0.15) and left ventricular ejection fraction (ß=0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.11, 0.67) were independently associated with right ventricular ejection fraction. The best threshold of longitudinal strain for predicting a right ventricular ejection fraction of <40% was -17.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Right ventricular longitudinal strain is a powerful method for evaluating patients with tetralogy of Fallot. It correlated with echocardiographic right ventricular function parameters and was independently associated with right ventricular ejection fraction derived by MRI.


Asunto(s)
Procedimientos Quirúrgicos Cardíacos , Ventrículos Cardíacos/fisiopatología , Volumen Sistólico/fisiología , Tetralogía de Fallot/fisiopatología , Función Ventricular Derecha/fisiología , Adulto , Ecocardiografía , Electrocardiografía , Prueba de Esfuerzo , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Ventrículos Cardíacos/diagnóstico por imagen , Humanos , Imagen por Resonancia Cinemagnética , Masculino , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Estudios Retrospectivos , Sístole , Tetralogía de Fallot/diagnóstico , Tetralogía de Fallot/cirugía
17.
J Virol ; 89(4): 2201-8, 2015 Feb.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25473058

RESUMEN

UNLABELLED: A unique HIV-host equilibrium exists in untreated HIV-2-infected individuals. This equilibrium is characterized by low to undetectable levels of viremia throughout the disease course, despite the establishment of disseminated HIV-2 reservoirs at levels comparable to those observed in untreated HIV-1 infection. Although the clinical spectrum is similar in the two infections, HIV-2 infection is associated with a much lower rate of CD4 T-cell decline and has a limited impact on the mortality of infected adults. Here we investigated HIV-2 infection of the human thymus, the primary organ for T-cell production. Human thymic tissue and suspensions of total or purified CD4 single-positive thymocytes were infected with HIV-2 or HIV-1 primary isolates using either CCR5 or CXCR4 coreceptors. We found that HIV-2 infected both thymic organ cultures and thymocyte suspensions, as attested to by the total HIV DNA and cell-associated viral mRNA levels. Nevertheless, thymocytes featured reduced levels of intracellular Gag viral protein, irrespective of HIV-2 coreceptor tropism and cell differentiation stage, in agreement with the low viral load in culture supernatants. Our data show that HIV-2 is able to infect the human thymus, but the HIV-2 replication cycle in thymocytes is impaired, providing a new model to identify therapeutic targets for viral replication control. IMPORTANCE: HIV-1 infects the thymus, leading to a decrease in CD4 T-cell production that contributes to the characteristic CD4 T-cell loss. HIV-2 infection is associated with a very low rate of progression to AIDS and is therefore considered a unique naturally occurring model of attenuated HIV disease. HIV-2-infected individuals feature low to undetectable plasma viral loads, in spite of the numbers of circulating infected T cells being similar to those found in patients infected with HIV-1. We assessed, for the first time, the direct impact of HIV-2 infection on the human thymus. We show that HIV-2 is able to infect the thymus but that the HIV-2 replication cycle in thymocytes is impaired. We propose that this system will be important to devise immunotherapies that target viral production, aiding the design of future therapeutic strategies for HIV control.


Asunto(s)
VIH-2/fisiología , Interacciones Huésped-Patógeno , Timocitos/virología , Timo/virología , Replicación Viral , Adulto , Células Cultivadas , Preescolar , VIH-1/fisiología , Humanos , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Técnicas de Cultivo de Órganos , Timo/patología
18.
J Infect Dis ; 207(11): 1730-42, 2013 Jun 01.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23460749

RESUMEN

Monocytes and myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) are important orchestrators of innate and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specific immune responses and of the generalized inflammation that characterizes AIDS progression. To our knowledge, we are the first to investigate monocyte and mDC imbalances in HIV type 2 (HIV-2)-positive patients, who typically feature reduced viremia and slow disease progression despite the recognized ability of HIV-2 to establish viral reservoirs and overcome host restriction factors in myeloid cells. We found a heightened state of monocyte and mDC activation throughout HIV-2 infection (characterized by CD14(bright)CD16(+) expansion, as well as increased levels of soluble CD14, HLA-DR, and CD86), together with progressive mDC depletion. Importantly, HIV-2-positive patients also featured overexpression of the inhibitory molecule PD-L1 on monocytes and mDCs, which may act by limiting the production of proinflammatory molecules. These data, from patients with a naturally occurring form of attenuated HIV disease, challenge current paradigms regarding the role of monocytes in HIV/AIDS and open new perspectives regarding potential strategies to modulate inflammatory states.


Asunto(s)
Células Dendríticas/inmunología , Infecciones por VIH/inmunología , Infecciones por VIH/virología , VIH-2/inmunología , VIH-2/patogenicidad , Monocitos/inmunología , Adulto , Anciano , Antígenos CD/análisis , Antígeno B7-H1/análisis , Células Dendríticas/química , Femenino , Antígenos HLA-DR/análisis , Humanos , Inmunofenotipificación , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Monocitos/química , Adulto Joven
19.
Int J Dermatol ; 2024 Feb 07.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38323503

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The number of skin cancer cases and related deaths continues to increase worldwide, including in Portugal. The lack of efficient health care leaves the southern Portuguese population at risk of presenting skin lesions at later stages. An initiative for skin cancer screening and medical care follow-up was created by the nonprofit organization Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro - Núcleo Regional do Sul (LPCC-NRS). METHODS: Information was gathered from 4,398 participants in several Southern Portugal regions, from January 2021 to July 2022. Descriptive and lesion risk statistical analyses were applied. RESULTS: Participants' characteristics were described, and risk assessment was performed differentially between premalignant (n = 577) and malignant lesions (n = 176). The main risk factor for both was male gender. From the described suspicious malignant lesions, 31.8% were confirmed (n = 56), among which there were 43 basal cell carcinomas (BCC), 9 cutaneous melanomas (CM), and 4 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). CONCLUSIONS: Data analysis pointed to a need for improved participant recruitment, especially of male participants, and health literacy assessment in future screenings.

20.
Microorganisms ; 12(4)2024 Apr 18.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38674763

RESUMEN

Leishmania infantum, a zoonotic vector-born parasite, is endemic in the Mediterranean region, presenting mostly as visceral (VL), but also as cutaneous (CL) and mucosal leishmaniasis (ML). This study aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the CL and ML cases diagnosed in mainland Portugal between 2010 and 2020. Collaboration was requested from every hospital of the Portuguese National Health System. Cases were screened through a search of diagnostic discharge codes or positive laboratory results for Leishmania infection. Simultaneously, a comprehensive literature search was performed. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were performed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics. A total of 43 CL and 7 ML cases were identified, with a predominance of autochthonous cases (86%). In CL, immunosuppressed individuals constituted a significant proportion of patients (48%), and in this group, disseminated CL (22%) and simultaneous VL (54%) were common. In autochthonous cases, lesions, mostly papules/nodules (62%), were frequently observed on the head (48%). The approach to treatment was very heterogeneous. ML cases were all autochthonous, were diagnosed primarily in older immunosuppressed individuals, and were generally treated with liposomal amphotericin B. The findings suggest a need for enhanced surveillance and reporting, clinical awareness, and diagnostic capacity of these forms of leishmaniasis to mitigate underdiagnosis and improve patient outcomes. A holistic One Health approach is advocated to address the multifaceted challenges posed by leishmaniases in Portugal and beyond.

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