Bacterial inter-species communication mediated by the autoinducer-2 signal

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology by Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência.

Análise experimental de um murete de alvenaria de pedra tradicional de grandes dimensões. Efeito do confinamento transversal contínuo por fitas metálicas

Dissertação apresentada na Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Civil – Perfil de Construção

Fondamenti teorici della ierocrazia nel pensiero político del tardo

pp. 9-30

ABO System: molecular mimicry of Ascaris lumbricoides

A. lumbricoides has been associated to the ABO System by various authors. The objective was to detect ABO System epitopes in A. lumbricoides of groups O, A, B and AB patients. 28 adult parasites were obtained from children to be used as assay material. The patients ABO blood groups were determined. Extracts of A. lumbricoides [AE] were prepared by surgical remotion of the cuticle and refrigerated mechanical rupture. Agglutination Inhibition (AI) and Hemoagglutination Kinetics (HK) tests were used with the [AE]. Of the 28 [AE], eight belonged to O group patients, 15 to A group, three to B group and the remaining two to AB children. The AI Test showed A epitopes in two [AE] of group A patients and B epitopes in two [AE] of group B patients. The HK Test showed B antigenic determiners in two [AE] of group B patients and in two [AE] of group AB patients as well as A antigenic determiners in one [AE] of A group patient. Of the 28 [AE] studied in both tests B epitopes were detected in all [AE] from B and AB patients and A epitopes in three of the 15 [AE] of group A patients. The experiments carried out suggest that A. lumbricoides might absorb A and B antigens from the host, and/or modify the cuticular carbohydrates expression as a kind of antigenic mimicry.

Dalla cosmologia alla politíca(Osservazioni sulla "Monarchia" di dante III, XV)

pp. 285-302

Perfusão Arterial Invertida em Gémeos

A perfusão arterial invertida em gémeos foi descrita pela primeira vez em 1533 por Benedetti. Esta patologia também é conhecida como TRAP (Twin Reversed Arterial Perfusion) ou monstro acárdico. É uma patologia que ocorre na gravidez múltipla monocoriónica caracterizada pela presença de um gémeo dador e outro receptor, anómalo, muitas vezes sem estrutura morfológica definida. É uma situação rara (1/35000 partos) mas grave, podendo ocorrer a morte do gémeo normal em cerca de 50 (¹,²,³)- 75% (¹,²) dos casos, consoante as séries consultadas. Foi efectuado um estudo retrospectivo dos casos de gémeos acardicos vigiados na Consulta de Gravidez Múltipla e no Centro de Diagnóstico Pré-Natal da Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa, entre os anos de 1994 e 2002. Num total de 597 gravidezes múltiplas, 120 caracterizadas como monocoriónicas, foram diagnosticados três casos.

Hiperplasia Congénita da Supra-Renal por Deficiência de 21 Hidroxilase. A Propósito de um Caso Clínico

A hiperplasia congénita da supra-renal (HCS) resulta, em mais de 90% dos casos, do défice de 21-hidroxilase. Este defeito condiciona um excesso de androgénios com virilização pré-natal dos fetos femininos. A terapêutica pré-natal com corticosteróides, quando iniciada precocemente (+- 6 semanas de gestação), parece prevenir ou reduzir a ambiguidade genital destes fetos. Os autores apresentam um caso clínico, com história familiar de HCS, em que a vigilância e a terapêutica foram iniciadas tardiamente (17 semanas de gestação) não tendo sido possível evitar a ambiguidade sexual. É realçada a importância do aconselhamento pré-concepcional e da terapêutica precoce das situações previamente identificadas.

Esterilização Feminina: Estudo Comparativo entre Esterilização Histeroscópica e Laparoscópica

Overview and Aims: Female sterilization is increasingly requested as a contraceptive method. Hysteroscopic sterilization by transcervical placing of Essure® micro-inserts in the initial portion of the tubes is a recent alternative to laparoscopic sterilization. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of hysteroscopic versus laparoscopic sterilization. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Population: A total of 98 women undergoing sterilization in an outpatient clinic between July 2005 and July 2009. Methods: Patients’ age, associated diseases, anesthesic risk, procedure time, discomfort, adverse events and success rate were evaluated. Results: Mean age at surgery was 37.8 years (19-49), and there were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding this parameter. Women in the hysteroscopic group had a significant number of associated diseases (98% versus 47%), obesity (31% versus 6%), and anesthesic risk (ASA III- 31% versus 0%). The mean duration of the procedure was the same for both techniques (laparoscopy 28 minutes and hysteroscopy 26 minutes). All laparoscopic sterilizations were successfully completed. In the hysteroscopic group 4% failed to complete the technique. There were no cases of severe pain. Women in the hysteroscopy group reported pain less frequently (40% versus 57%, χ2 p<0.05). Long term success rate was similar in both groups (96% for hysteroscopy and 98% for laparoscopy). Conclusions: In spite of a higher incidence of associated diseases, obesity and anesthetic risks in the hysteroscopy group, there were no significant differences in the duration of the procedure, adverse events and success rate. The hysteroscopic approach can therefore be considered an alternative to laparoscopy, eliminating the need for incisional surgery and for general anaesthesia. If women with high surgical risk and several associated diseases can safely undergo this procedure, it could well become the preferred method for women who want a permanent and irreversible contraceptive method.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Gynecological Devices

Background: Performing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on women with gynecological devices is a completely accepted practice. The goal of our review is to assess how safe it is to perform MRI on women using contraceptive implants or devices. Study Design: Literature review, searching in PubMed-Medline/Ovid for the following keywords: magnetic resonance imaging, intrauterine devices, Implanon® and Essure®. Results: Though plastic devices do not represent a contraindication to the use of the technique, those including metallic components have been submitted to several tests, after which they were classified as MR Conditional (devices presenting no risks in MR-specific environments) by the Food and Drug Administration. Thus, the use of MRI can be safely advised to women with this type of device as long as the magnetic resonance equipment is ≤3.0 T. Conclusions: Presently, there is no scientific evidence that contraindicates performing MRI on women with any kind of gynecological device. Therefore, this procedure is safe as long as it is performed under previously tested conditions.

Hérnia Diafragmática Congénita: Revisão de 12 Casos

É apresentada uma revisão teórica sobre Hérnia Diafragmática Congénita (HDC). Os autores realizam um estudo retrospectivo de 12 casos de HDC referenciados ou diagnosticados na Unidade de Ecografia da Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa (MAC) entre os anos de 1996 a 1999. Após avaliação o aconselhamento foi efectuado, caso a caso, sendo proposta Interrupção Médica da Gravidez ou cirurgia pós-natal.

Burkitt’s Lymphoma Related to Epstein–Barr Virus Infection During Pregnancy

Setting: Burkitt’s lymphoma is a rare form of cancer and is an extremely rare diagnosis during pregnancy. This form of lymphoma is a very fast growing B cell neoplasm and chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for the disease in all its stages. Case report: The authors describe the case of a Caucasian 40-year-old nulliparous woman, with previous known Epstein–Barr virus infection, that presents at 28 weeks gestation with supraclavicular adenopathy and multiple bilateral breast nodules, in which biopsy showed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Burkitt’s type. Discussion: There are few described cases of Burkitt’s lymphoma during pregnancy and in general the outcomes have been poor. In most of the cases, the patients were not treated by current standards or instead had a late diagnosis. This neoplasia is the most rapidly progressive human tumor, and any delay in initiating therapy can adversely aVect patient’s prognosis. The authors discuss treatment options in pregnancy and its perinatal implications.

Feasibility of Focal Transcranial DC Polarization with Simultaneous EEG Recording: Preliminary Assessment in Healthy Subjects and Human Epilepsy

We aimed to investigate the feasibility of an experimental system for simultaneous transcranial DC stimulation(tDCS) and EEG recording in human epilepsy. We report tolerability of this system in a cross-over controlled trial with 15 healthy subjects and preliminary effects of its use, testing repeated tDCS sessions, in two patients with drug-refractory Continuous Spike-Wave Discharges During Slow Sleep (CSWS). Our system combining continuous recording of the EEG with tDCS allows detailed evaluation of the interictal activity during the entire process. Stimulation with 1 mA was well‐tolerated in both healthy volunteers and patients with refractory epilepsy. The large reduction in interictal epileptiform EEG discharges in the two subjects with epilepsy supports further investigation of tDCS using this combined method of stimulation and monitoring in epilepsy. Continuous monitoring of epileptic activity throughout tDCS improves safety and allows detailed evaluation of epileptic activity changes induced by tDCS in patients.

Lesões das Extremidades

Banca Prática inserida no Workshop Trauma em Situações Especiais realizado no dia 8 de Dezembro de 2012 no CHLisboa Central que aborda a avaliação primária e secundária das lesões das extremidades bem como casos particulares nomeadamente a amputação traumática e o uso de garrote e as queimaduras dos membros. Na mesma prática demonstrou-se a aplicação do garrote CAT (R) e do "Cling Film".

A 63-Year-Old Woman Presenting with a Synovial Sarcoma of the Hand: a Case Report

INTRODUCTION: Synovial sarcoma is a high-grade, soft-tissue sarcoma that most frequently is located in the vicinity of joints, tendons or bursae, although it can also be found in extra-articular locations. Most patients with synovial sarcoma of the hand are young and have a poor prognosis, as these tumors are locally aggressive and are associated with a relatively high metastasis rate. According to the literature, local recurrence and/or metastatic disease is found in nearly 80% of patients. Current therapy comprises surgery, systemic and limb perfusion chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, the 5-year survival rate is estimated to be only around 27% to 55%. Moreover, most authors agree that synovial sarcoma is one of the most commonly misdiagnosed malignancies of soft tissues because of their slow growing pattern, benign radiographic appearance, ability to change size, and the fact that they may elicit pain similar to that caused by common trauma. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe an unusual case of a large synovial sarcoma of the hand in a 63-year-old Caucasian woman followed for 12 years by a multidisciplinary team. In addition, a literature review of the most pertinent aspects of the epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of these patients is presented. CONCLUSION: Awareness of this rare tumor by anyone dealing with hand pathology can hasten diagnosis, and this, in turn, can potentially increase survival. Therefore, a high index of suspicion for this disease should be kept in mind, particularly when evaluating young people, as they are the most commonly affected group.