Ovarian Borderline Tumor and Fertility-Sparing Surgery

Ovarian borderline tumors (OBTs) are frequently diagnosed in women of reproductive age. There is no consensus about their management, and it sometimes represents a dilemma aboutwhat should be done: fertility sparing surgery or a hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy? Case: A 32-year-old nulligravida, diagnosed with a right ovarian borderline tumor is presented. She underwent pelvic washings, right salpingo-oophorectomy, appendectomy, and omental and peritoneal biopsies (laparotomic approach). Macroscopically, the left ovary was normal and subsequent exploration for staging was also normal, including the lymph nodes. Intraoperatively, frozen section examination was unclear, suggesting an OBT. Results: The final histopathologic diagnosis was ovarian borderline tumor, stage IIC (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] staging). The patient expressed a desire to preserve her fertility. Thirty-six months postsurgery, she became pregnant spontaneously and delivered a healthy newborn at term. Conclusions: Conservative surgery can be performed in young patients treated for an OBT, provided they are closely followed up and that this surgery is performed after careful consideration and informed consent. It is, however, controversial with respect to performing hysterectomy and salpingo-oopherectomy upon the patient’s completion of childbearing.

A Rare Abdomino-Pelvic Tumor: Paraganglioma

Paragangliomas are rare tumors, with a reported incidence of 2–8 per million. They are chromaffin cell tumors that develop from the neural crest cells and may be divided in tumors derived from the parasympathetic or sympathetic ganglia. We report a case a of a 32-year-old nulliparous woman, referred to our Infertility Clinic. Abdomino-pelvic ultrasound identified a large abdominopelvic tumor, without ovarian origin (both ovaries were identified and had normal morphology). Magnetic Resonance Imaging suggested a right adnexal multicystic, vascularized mass close to iliac vessels and questioning an ovarian origin. At exploratory laparotomy, a 10 cm encapsulated and vascularized mass was found beginning just below right renal artery and extending to the level of the broad ligament. This mass was totally excised and histopathology was consistent with Paraganglioma.

Apresentação Curiosa de um Tumor Cutâneo e o seu Sucesso Terapêutico

A doença de Bowen é um carcinoma espinocelular (CEC) in situ que pode evoluir para carcinoma espinocelular invasivo. Mulher, 61 anos, referia placa rosada, anular, bem delimitada, não descamativa, na região pré-auricular direita com 2 anos de evolução. Desde 2 meses antes da consulta, surgiu no seu centro um nódulo translúcido, com telangiectasias. A biopsia excisional do nódulo mostrou carcinoma espinocelular com doença de Bowen na periferia. A placa remanescente foi tratada com laser de CO2 seguida de terapêutica fotodinâmica com desaparecimento completo da lesão. Salienta-se este caso pela curiosidade da sua apresentação clínica e pelos bons resultados terapêutico e estético.

Identification of de Novo Germline Mutations in the HRPT2 Gene in Two Apparently Sporadic Cases with Challenging Parathyroid Tumor Diagnoses

The diagnosis of parathyroid carcinomas is often difficult. HRPT2 mutations have been identified in familial [hyperparathyroidism-jaw tumor (HPT-JT) syndrome] and sporadic parathyroid carcinomas, supporting that HRPT2 mutations may confer a malignant potential to parathyroid tumors. In this study, we report the clinical, histopathological, and genetic investigation of two unrelated cases, whom had apparently sporadic malignant parathyroid tumors, initially diagnosed as adenomas. In one case, the differential diagnosis was complicated by cervical seeding of parathyroid tumor cells. Genetic studies identified de novo HRPT2 germline mutations in cases 1 (c.518_521delTGTC [p.Ser174LysfsX27]) and 2 (c.226 C > T [p.Arg76X]), unveiling the hereditary HPT-JT syndrome in both patients. Furthermore, the identification of somatic mutations in the patients‟ parathyroid tumors provided evidence for complete inactivation of the HRPT2 gene, which was consistent with the tumor malignant features. The sensitivity of parafibromin immunostaining to detect HRPT2 mutations was limited. The present data suggests that patients with apparently sporadic parathyroid carcinomas, or parathyroid tumors with atypical histological features, should undergo molecular genetic testing, as it may detect germline HRPT2 mutations. Establishing the diagnosis of hereditary HPT-JT syndrome is relevant for clinical counseling and management of the carriers and their relatives.

Evolution of sarcoma 180 (ascitic tumor) in mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni

Mice infected with 60 cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni were more resistant to the sarcoma 180 ascites tumor. Tumor inoculation was performed 50 days after schistosoma infection and the animals were observed and weighed at 48 hours intervals for development and progression of malignancy. In infected mice the weight gain (ascites formation) started later and was shorter than in uninfected Controls. Also, the number of tumor cells into the peritoneal cavity 72h after tumor implantation was shorter in infected group than incontrols. This in creased resistance against a transplantable tumor probably is related to the effect of endotoxin on tumoricidal activity of macrophages activated by the infection. The immunodepression induced by Schistosoma mansoni infection enhances the proliferation of endogenous bacteria increasing the amount of endotoxin absorbed from the gut.

Medicago truncatula as a platform for Molecular Farming: a study of the subcellular localization of a human recombinant protein!

Dissertation presented at Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia of Universidade Nova de Lisboa to obtain the Degree of Master in Biotecnology

Serum levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gama in infants with and without dengue

This study compared the serum levels of IL-6, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, in children under 1 year of age with and without dengue. Sera were collected from a total of 41 children living in the Department of Antioquia, Colombia (27 patients with dengue and 14 controls). The results showed higher cytokine levels in children with dengue than without dengue, with statistically significant differences for IL-6 and IFN-gamma. No statistically significant differences were found between clinical forms, although IL-6 and IFN-gamma levels were higher in dengue fever cases than in dengue hemorrhagic fever cases. On the other hand, TNF-alpha levels were higher in dengue hemorrhagic fever than in dengue fever. The levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were higher in secondary infection than in primary infection, although IFN-gamma levels were higher in primary infection. These results suggest that IL-6, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma are involved in dengue infection independently of the clinical form.

Combining WLAN fingerprint-based localization with sensor data for indoor navigation using mobile devices

This project proposes an approach for supporting Indoor Navigation Systems using Pedestrian Dead Reckoning-based methods and by analyzing motion sensor data available in most modern smartphones. Processes suggested in this investigation are able to calculate the distance traveled by a user while he or she is walking. WLAN fingerprint- based navigation systems benefit from the processes followed in this research and results achieved to reduce its workload and improve its positioning estimations.

The role of Grainy head in epithelial tissue growth

Part of the results of this thesis was presented in the following meetings: Susana Ponte, Lara Carvalho, Inês Cristo and António Jacinto. The role of Grainy head in epithelial tissue growth. Drostuga 2013. Faro, Portugal, January 3rd 2014 [poster] Susana Ponte, Lara Carvalho, Inês Cristo and António Jacinto. The role of Grainy head in epithelial tissue growth. Drostuga 2014. Tomar, Portugal, September 5th-6th 2014 [poster]

Simultaneous occurrence of brain tumor and myeloradiculopathy in schistosomiasis mansoni: case report

Simultaneous occurrence of brain tumor and myeloradiculopathy in cases of Manson's schistosomiasis have only rarely been described. We report the case of a 38-year-old man who developed seizures during a trip to Puerto Rico and in whom a brain tumor was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging: brain biopsy revealed the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. He was transferred to a hospital in the United States and, during hospitalization, he developed sudden paraplegia. The diagnosis of myeloradiculopathy was confirmed at that time. He was administered praziquantel and steroids. The brain tumor disappeared, but the patient was left with paraplegia and fecal and urinary dysfunction. He has now been followed up in Brazil for one year, and his clinical state, imaging examinations and laboratory tests are presented here.

Probabilistic constraint reasoning with Monte Carlo integration to robot localization

This work studies the combination of safe and probabilistic reasoning through the hybridization of Monte Carlo integration techniques with continuous constraint programming. In continuous constraint programming there are variables ranging over continuous domains (represented as intervals) together with constraints over them (relations between variables) and the goal is to find values for those variables that satisfy all the constraints (consistent scenarios). Constraint programming “branch-and-prune” algorithms produce safe enclosures of all consistent scenarios. Special proposed algorithms for probabilistic constraint reasoning compute the probability of sets of consistent scenarios which imply the calculation of an integral over these sets (quadrature). In this work we propose to extend the “branch-and-prune” algorithms with Monte Carlo integration techniques to compute such probabilities. This approach can be useful in robotics for localization problems. Traditional approaches are based on probabilistic techniques that search the most likely scenario, which may not satisfy the model constraints. We show how to apply our approach in order to cope with this problem and provide functionality in real time.

Genital schistosomiasis mansoni: tubal tumor and parietal peritoneum involvement diagnosed during laparoscopy

Female genital schistosomiasis is not uncommon in endemic areas for schistosomiasis, but there are few reports in the Brazilian medical literature. Here, we describe the case of a 31-year-old woman with lower abdominal pain who was diagnosed as presenting a fallopian tube tumor caused by Manson's schistosomiasis. The diagnosis was delayed because her symptoms were considered nonspecific. Involvement of the parietal peritoneum of the ovarian fossa was observed during laparoscopy and confirmed by histological analysis. The left tube and the tumor were excised and schistosomiasis was treated with praziquantel. She presented a full recovery and options for future reproduction are under evaluation.

Crystallographic studies of proteins involved in the mRNA localization mechanisms in Drosophila melanogaster and amidation of the peptidoglycan residues in Staphylococcus aureus

Part of the work described in this chapter, was the subject of the following publication: D. Vieira, T. a. Figueiredo, A. Verma, R. G. Sobral, A. M. Ludovice, H. de Lencastre, and J. Trincao, “Purification, crystallization and preliminary X-ray diffraction analysis of GatD, a glutamine amidotransferase-like protein from Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan,” Acta Crystallogr. Sect. F Struct. Biol. Commun., vol. 70, no. 5, pp. 1–4, Apr. 2014.

Actinomicose pulmonar simulando tumor de Tobias-Pancoast

A actinomicose é uma infecção rara que pode envolver diversos órgãos. O envolvimento torácico é incomum (10-20%). No presente trabalho, é descrito o caso de um paciente de 33 anos, HIV negativo, com dor torácica posterior à esquerda em queimação com irradiação para membro superior esquerdo e diminuição da força com parestesias. A tomografia computadorizada evidenciou uma massa em contato com a parede torácica. Após realização de toracotomia foi visualizada lesão pulmonar sólida vascularizada aderida no lobo superior esquerdo, infiltrando a parede torácica posterior e ápice da cavidade. A biopsia incisional da lesão e o estudo microbiológico evidenciaram actinomicose.