Pulmonary Hypertension in Portugal: First Data from a Nationwide Registry

Introduction. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease that must be managed in specialized centers; therefore, the availability of epidemiological national data is critical. Methods. We conducted a prospective, observational, and multicenter registry with a joint collaboration from five centers from Portugal and included adult incident patients with PAH or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Results. Of the 79 patients enrolled in this study, 46 (58.2%) were classified as PAH and 33 patients (41.8%) as CTEPH. PAH patients had a mean age of 43.4 ± 16.4 years. Idiopathic PAH was the most common etiology (37%). At presentation, PAH patients had elevated right atrial pressure (RAP) (7.7 ± 5.9mmHg) and mean pulmonary vascular resistance (11.4 ± 6.5 Wood units), with a low cardiac index (2.7 ± 1.1 L⋅min−1 m−2); no patient was under selective pulmonary vasodilators; however, at follow-up, most patients were on single (50%), double (28%), or triple (9%) combination vasodilator therapy. One-year survival was 93.5%, similar to CTEPH patients (93.9%), that were older (60.0 ± 12.5 years) and had higher RAP (11.0 ± 5.2mmHg,

Marcadores inflamatórios de instabilidade da placa aterosclerótica coronária : caraterização e potencial utilização clínica

RESUMO:Introdução: Reviu-se o conhecimento epidemiológico, fisiopatológico e clínico atual sobre a doença coronária, da sua génese até ao evento agudo, o Enfarte Agudo do Miocárdio (EAM). Valorizou-se, em especial, a teoria inflamatória da aterosclerose, que foi objeto de grandes desenvolvimentos na última década. Marcadores de instabilidade da placa aterosclerótica coronária: Aprofundou-se o conhecimento da placa aterosclerótica coronária instável. Descreveram-se detalhadamente os biomarcadores clínicos e laboratoriais associados à instabilidade da placa, com particular ênfase nos mecanismos inflamatórios. Objetivos:Estão divididos em dois pontos fundamentais:(1) Estudar em doentes com EAM a relação existente entre as moléculas inflamatórias: Interleucina-6 (IL-6), Fator de Necrose Tumoral-α (TNF-α) e Metaloproteinase de Matriz-3 (MMP3), não usados em contexto clínico, com um marcador inflamatório já em uso clínico: a Proteína C-Reativa ultrassensível (hs-CRP). Avaliar a relação de todas as moléculas inflamatórias com um biomarcador de lesão miocárdica: a Troponina Cardíaca I (cTnI). (2) Avaliar, no mesmo contexto de EAM, a Resposta de Fase Aguda (RFA) . Pretende-se demonstrar o impacto deste fenómeno, com repercussão clínica generalizada, no perfil lipídico e nos biomarcadores inflamatórios dos doentes. Métodos:(1) Estudo observacional prospetivo de doentes admitidos consecutivamente por EAM (grupo EAM) numa única unidade coronária, após exclusão de trauma ou infeção. Doseamento no sangue periférico, na admissão, de IL-6, TNF-α, MMP3, hs-CRP e cTnI. Este último biomarcador foi valorizado também nos valores séricos obtidos 6-9 horas depois. Procedeu-se a correlação linear (coeficiente de Pearson, de Rho-Spearman e determinação do R2) entre os 3 marcadores estudados com os valores de hs-CRP e de cTnI (valores da admissão e 6 a 9 horas após). Efetuou-se o cálculo dos coeficientes de regressão linear múltipla entre cTnI da admissão e cTnI 6-9h após, com o conjunto dos fatores inflamatórios estudados. (2) Estudo caso-controlo entre o grupo EAM e uma população aleatória de doentes seguidos em consulta de cardiologia, após exclusão de eventos cardiovasculares de qualquer território (grupo controlo) e também sem infeção ou trauma. Foram doseados os mesmos marcadores inflamatórios no grupo controlo e no grupo EAM. Nos dois grupos dosearam-se, ainda, as lipoproteínas: Colesterol total (CT), Colesterol HDL (HDLc), com as suas subfrações 2 e 3 (HDL 2 e HDL3), Colesterol LDL oxidado (LDLox),Triglicéridos (TG), Lipoproteína (a) [Lp(a)], Apolipoproteína A1 (ApoA1), Apolipoproteína B (ApoB) e Apolipoproteína E (ApoE). Definiram-se, em cada grupo, os dados demográficos, fatores de risco clássicos, terapêutica cardiovascular e o uso de anti-inflamatórios. Procedeu-se a análise multivariada em relação aos dados demográficos, fatores de risco e à terapêutica basal. Compararam-se as distribuições destas mesmas caraterísticas entre os dois grupos, assim como os valores séricos respetivos para as lipoproteínas estudadas. Procedeu-se à correlação entre as moléculas inflamatórias e as lipoproteínas, para todos os doentes estudados. Encontraram-se os coeficientes de regressão linear múltipla entre cada marcador inflamatório e o conjunto das moléculas lipídicas, por grupo. Finalmente, efetuou-se a comparação estatística entre os marcadores inflamatórios do grupo controlo e os marcadores inflamatórios do grupo EAM. Resultados: (1) Correlações encontradas, respetivamente, Pearson, Rho-Spearman e regressão-R2: IL-6/hs-CRP 0,549, p<0,001; 0,429, p=0,001; 0,302, p<0,001; MMP 3/hsCRP 0,325, p=0,014; 0,171, p=0,202; 0,106, p=0,014; TNF-α/hs-CRP 0,261, p=0,050; 0,315, p=0,017; 0,068, p=0.050; IL-6/cTnI admissão 0,486, p<0,001; 0,483, p<0,001; 0,236, p<0,001; MMP3/cTnI admissão 0,218, p=0,103; 0,146, p=0,278; 0,048, p=0,103; TNF-α/cTnI admissão 0,444, p=0,001; 0,380, p=0,004; 0,197, p=0,001; IL-6/cTnI 6-9h 0,676, p<0,001; 0,623, p<0,001; 0,456, p<0,01; MMP3/cTnI 6-9h 0,524, p=0,001; 0,149, p=0,270; 0,275, p<0,001; TNF-α/cTnI 6-9h 0,428, p=0,001, 0,452, p<0,001, 0,183, p<0,001. A regressão linear múltipla cTnI admissão/marcadores inflamatórios produziu: (R=0,638, R2=0,407) p<0,001 e cTnI 6-9h/marcadores inflamatórios (R=0,780, R2=0,609) p<0,001. (2) Significância da análise multivariada para idade (p=0,029), IMC>30 (p=0.070), AAS (p=0,040) e grupo (p=0,002). Diferenças importantes entre as distribuições dos dados basais entre os dois grupos (grupo controlo vs EAM): idade (47,95±11,55 vs 68,53±2,70 anos) p<0.001; sexo feminino (18,18 vs 22,80%) p=0,076; diabetes mellitus (9,09% vs 36,84%) p=0,012; AAS (18,18 vs 66,66%) p<0,001; clopidogrel (4,54% vs 66,66%) p=0,033; estatinas (31,81% vs 66,14%) p=0,078; beta-bloqueadores (18,18% vs 56,14%) p=0,011; anti-inflamatórios (4,54% vs 33,33%) p=0,009. Resultados da comparação entre os dois grupos quanto ao padrão lipídico (média±dp ou mediana/intervalo interquartil, grupo controlo vs EAM): CT (208,45±35,03 vs 171,05±41,63 mg/dl) p<0,001; HDLc (51,50/18,25 vs 42,00/16,00 mg/dl) p=0,007; HDL2 (8,50/3,25 vs 10,00/6,00 mg/dl) p=0,292; HDL3 (41,75±9,82 vs 31,75±9,41 mg/dl) p<0,001; LDLox (70,00/22,0 vs 43,50/21,00 U/L) p<0,001; TG (120,00/112,50 vs 107,00/86,00 mg/dl) p=0,527; Lp(a) (0,51/0,73 vs 0,51/0,50 g/L) p=0,854; ApoA1 (1,38±0,63 vs 1,19±0,21 g/L) p=0,002; ApoB (0,96±0,19 vs 0,78±0,28 g/L) p=0,004; ApoE (38,50/10,00 vs 38,00/17,00 mg/L) p=0,574. Nas correlações lineares entre as variáveis inflamatórias e as variáveis lipídicas para todos os doentes, encontrámos uma relação negativa entre IL-6 e CT, HDLc, HDL3, LDLox, ApoA1 e ApoB. A regressão múltipla marcadores inflamatórios/perfil lipídico (grupo controlo) foi: hs-CRP (R=0,883, R2=0,780) p=0,022; IL-6 (R=0,911, R2=0,830) p=0,007; MMP3 (R=0,498, R2=0,248) p=0,943; TNF-α (R=0,680, R2=0,462) p=0,524. A regressão múltipla marcadores inflamatórios/perfil lipídico (grupo EAM) foi: hs-CRP (R=0,647, R2=0,418) p=0,004; IL-6 (R=0,544, R2=0,300), p=0,073; MMP3 (R=0,539, R2=0,290) p=0,089; TNF-α (R=0,595; R2=0,354) p=0,022. Da comparação entre os marcadores inflamatórios dos dois grupos resultou (mediana/intervalo interquartil, grupo controlo vs EAM): hs-CRP (0,19/0,27 vs 0,42/2,53 mg/dl) p=0,001, IL-6 (4,90/5,48 vs 13,07/26,41 pg/ml) p<0,001, MMP3 (19,70/13,70 vs 10,10/10,40 ng/ml) p<0,001;TNF-α (8,67/6,71 vs 8,26/7,80 pg/dl) p=0,805. Conclusões: (1) Nos doentes com EAM, existe correlação entre as moléculas inflamatórias IL-6, MMP3 e TNF-α, quer com o marcador inflamatório hs-CRP, quer com o marcador de lesão miocárdica cTnI. Esta correlação reforça-se para os valores de cTnI 6-9 horas após admissão, especialmente na correlação múltipla com o grupo dos quatro marcadores inflamatórios. (2) IL-6 está inversamente ligada às lipoproteínas de colesterol; hs-CRP e IL-6 têm excelentes correlações com o perfil lipídico valorizado no seu conjunto. No grupo EAM encontram-se níveis séricos mais reduzidos para as lipoproteínas de colesterol. Para TNF-α não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos, as quais foram observadas para a IL-6 e hs-CRP (mais elevadas no grupo EAM). Os valores de MMP3 no grupo controlo estão mais elevados. ABSTRACT: 0,524, p=0,001; 0,149, p=0,270; 0,275, p<0,001; TNF-α/cTnI 6-9h 0,428, p=0,001, 0,452, p<0,001, 0,183, p<0,001. A regressão linear múltipla cTnI admissão/marcadores inflamatórios produziu: (R=0,638, R2=0,407) p<0,001 e cTnI 6-9h/marcadores inflamatórios (R=0,780, R2=0,609) p<0,001. (2) Significância da análise multivariada para idade (p=0,029), IMC>30 (p=0.070), AAS (p=0,040) e grupo (p=0,002). Diferenças importantes entre as distribuições dos dados basais entre os dois grupos (grupo controlo vs EAM): idade (47,95±11,55 vs 68,53±2,70 anos) p<0.001; sexo feminino (18,18 vs 22,80%) p=0,076; diabetes mellitus (9,09% vs 36,84%) p=0,012; AAS (18,18 vs 66,66%) p<0,001; clopidogrel (4,54% vs 66,66%) p=0,033; estatinas (31,81% vs 66,14%) p=0,078; beta-bloqueadores (18,18% vs 56,14%) p=0,011; anti-inflamatórios (4,54% vs 33,33%) p=0,009. Resultados da comparação entre os dois grupos quanto ao padrão lipídico (média±dp ou mediana/intervalo interquartil, grupo controlo vs EAM): CT (208,45±35,03 vs 171,05±41,63 mg/dl) p<0,001; HDLc (51,50/18,25 vs 42,00/16,00 mg/dl) p=0,007; HDL2 (8,50/3,25 vs 10,00/6,00 mg/dl) p=0,292; HDL3 (41,75±9,82 vs 31,75±9,41 mg/dl) p<0,001; LDLox (70,00/22,0 vs 43,50/21,00 U/L) p<0,001; TG (120,00/112,50 vs 107,00/86,00 mg/dl) p=0,527; Lp(a) (0,51/0,73 vs 0,51/0,50 g/L) p=0,854; ApoA1 (1,38±0,63 vs 1,19±0,21 g/L) p=0,002; ApoB (0,96±0,19 vs 0,78±0,28 g/L) p=0,004; ApoE (38,50/10,00 vs 38,00/17,00 mg/L) p=0,574. Nas correlações lineares entre as variáveis inflamatórias e as variáveis lipídicas para todos os doentes, encontrámos uma relação negativa entre IL-6 e CT, HDLc, HDL3, LDLox, ApoA1 e ApoB. A regressão múltipla marcadores inflamatórios/perfil lipídico (grupo controlo) foi: hs-CRP (R=0,883, R2=0,780) p=0,022; IL-6 (R=0,911, R2=0,830) p=0,007; MMP3 (R=0,498, R2=0,248) p=0,943; TNF-α (R=0,680, R2=0,462) p=0,524. A regressão múltipla marcadores inflamatórios/perfil lipídico (grupo EAM) foi: hs-CRP (R=0,647, R2=0,418) p=0,004; IL-6 (R=0,544, R2=0,300), p=0,073; MMP3 (R=0,539, R2=0,290) p=0,089; TNF-α (R=0,595; R2=0,354) p=0,022. Da comparação entre os marcadores inflamatórios dos dois grupos resultou (mediana/intervalo interquartil, grupo controlo vs EAM): hs-CRP (0,19/0,27 vs 0,42/2,53 mg/dl) p=0,001, IL-6 (4,90/5,48 vs 13,07/26,41 pg/ml) p<0,001, MMP3 (19,70/13,70 vs 10,10/10,40 ng/ml) p<0,001;TNF-α (8,67/6,71 vs 8,26/7,80 pg/dl) p=0,805. Conclusões: (1) Nos doentes com EAM, existe correlação entre as moléculas inflamatórias IL-6, MMP3 e TNF-α, quer com o marcador inflamatório hs-CRP, quer com o marcador de lesão miocárdica cTnI. Esta correlação reforça-se para os valores de cTnI 6-9 horas após admissão, especialmente na correlação múltipla com o grupo dos quatro marcadores inflamatórios. (2) IL-6 está inversamente ligada às lipoproteínas de colesterol; hs-CRP e IL-6 têm excelentes correlações com o perfil lipídico valorizado no seu conjunto. No grupo EAM encontram-se níveis séricos mais reduzidos para as lipoproteínas de colesterol. Para TNF-α não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre os grupos, as quais foram observadas para a IL-6 e hs-CRP (mais elevadas no grupo EAM). Os valores de MMP3 no grupo controlo estão mais elevados. ------------- ABSTRACT: Introduction: We reviewed the epidemiology, pathophysiology and current clinical knowledge about coronary heart disease, from its genesis to the acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The inflammatory theory for atherosclerosis, which has undergone considerable development in the last decade, was especially detailed. Markers of coronary atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque: The clinical and laboratory biomarkers associated with the unstable coronary atherosclerotic plaque vulnerable plaque are detailed. An emphasis was placed on the inflammatory mechanisms. Objectives: They are divided into two fundamental points: (1) To study in AMI patients, the relationship between the inflammatory molecules: Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3), unused in the clinical setting, with an inflammatory marker in clinical use: ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), as well as a biomarker of myocardial injury: cardiac troponin I (cTnI). (2) To study, in the context of AMI, the Acute Phase Response (APR). We intend to demonstrate the impact of that clinical relevant phenomenon in the lipid profile and inflammatory biomarkers of our patients. Methods: (1) Prospective observational study of patients consecutively admitted for AMI (AMI group) in a single coronary care unit, after exclusion of trauma or infection. A peripheral assay at admission for IL-6, TNF-α, MMP3, hs-CRP and cTnI was performed. The latter was also valued in assays obtained 6-9 hours after admission. Linear correlation (Pearson's correlation coefficient, Spearman Rho's correlation coefficient and R2 regression) was performed between the three markers studied and the values of hs-CRP and cTnI (on admission and 6-9 hours after admission). Multiple linear regression was also obtained between cTnI on admission and 6-9h after, with all the inflammatory markers studied. (2) Case-control study between the AMI group and a random population of patients from an outpatient cardiology setting (control group). Cardiovascular events of any kind and infection or trauma were excluded in this group. The same inflammatory molecules were assayed in control and AMI groups. The following lipoproteins were also assayed: total cholesterol (TC), HDL cholesterol (HDLc) and subfractions 2 and 3 (HDL2 and HDL 3), oxidized LDL cholesterol (oxLDL), Triglycerides (TG), Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], Apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1), Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and Apolipoprotein E (ApoE). Demographics, classical risk factors, cardiovascular therapy and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs were appreciated in each group. The authors conducted a multivariate analysis with respect to demographics, risk factors and baseline therapy. The distribution of the same baseline characteristics was compared between the two groups, as well as the lipoprotein serum values. A correlation was performed between each inflammatory molecule and each of the lipoproteins, for all the patients studied. Multiple linear regression was determined between each inflammatory marker and all the lipid molecules per group. Finally, the statistical comparison between the inflammatory markers in the two groups was performed. Results: (1) The correlation coefficients recorded, respectively, Pearson, Spearman's Rho and regression-R2, were: IL-6/hs-CRP 0.549, p <0.001; 0.429, p=0.001; 0.302, p <0.001; MMP 3/hsCRP 0.325, p=0.014; 0.171, p=0.202; 0.106, p=0.014; TNF-α/hs-CRP 0.261, p=0.050; 0.315, p=0.017; 0.068, p=0.050; IL-6/admission cTnI 0.486, p<0.001; 0.483, p<0.001; 0.236, p<0.001; MMP3/admission cTnI 0.218, p=0.103; 0.146, p=0.278; 0.048, p=0.103; TNF-α/admission cTnI 0.444, p=0.001; 0.380, p=0.004; 0.197, p=0.001; IL-6/6-9 h cTnI 0.676, p<0.001; 0.149, p<0.001; 0.456, p <0.01; MMP3/6-9h cTnI 0.428, p=0.001; 0.149, p<0.001; 0.183, p=0.001; TNF-α/6-9 h cTnI 0.676, p<0,001; 0.452, p<0.001; 0.183, p<0,001. The multiple linear regression admission cTnI/inflammatory markers produced: (R=0.638, R2=0.407) p<0.001 and 6-9 h cTnI/inflammatory markers (R=0.780, R2=0.609) p<0.001. (2) Significances of the multivariate analysis were found for age (p=0.029), IMC>30 (p=0.070), Aspirin (p=0.040) and group (p=0.002). Important differences between the baseline data of the two groups (control group vs AMI): age (47.95 ± 11.55 vs 68.53±12.70 years) p<0.001; gender (18.18 vs 22.80%) p=0.076; diabetes mellitus (9.09% vs 36. 84%) p=0.012; Aspirin (18.18 vs. 66.66%) p<0.001; Clopidogrel (4, 54% vs 66.66%) p=0.033; Statins, 31.81% vs 66.14%, p=0.078, beta-blockers 18.18% vs 56.14%, p=0.011; anti-inflammatory drugs (4.54% vs 33.33%) p=0.009. Significant differences in the lipid pattern of the two groups (mean±SD or median/interquartile range, control group vs AMI): TC (208.45±35.03 vs 171.05±41.63 mg/dl) p<0.001; HDLc (51.50/18.25 vs 42.00/16.00 mg/dl) p=0.007; HDL2 (8.50/3.25 vs 10.00/6.00 mg/dl) p=0.292; HDL3 (41.75±9.82 vs 31.75±9.82 mg/dl) p<0.01; oxLDL (70.00/22.0 vs 43.50/21.00 U/L) p <0.001; TG (120.00/112.50 vs 107.00/86.00 mg/dl) p=0.527; Lp(a) (0.51/0.73 vs 0,51/0.50 g/L) p=0.854; apoA1 (1.38±0.63 vs 1.19±0.21 g/L) p=0.002; ApoB (0.96± 0.39 vs 0.78±0.28 g/L) p=0.004; ApoE (38.50/10,00 vs 38.00 /17,00 mg/L) p=0.574. In the linear correlations between inflammatory variables and lipid variables for all patients, we found a negative relationship between IL-6 and TC, HDLc, HDL3, ApoA1 and ApoB. The multiple linear regression inflammatory markers/lipid profile (control group) was: hs-CRP (R= 0.883, R2=0.780) p=0.022; IL6 (R=0.911, R2=0.830) p=0.007; MMP3 (R=0.498, R2=0.248) p=0.943; TNF-α (R=0.680, R2=0.462) p=0.524. For the linear regression inflammatory markers/lipid profile (AMI group) we found: hs-CRP (R=0.647, R2=0.418) p=0.004; IL-6 (R=0.544, R2=0.300) p=0.073; MMP3 (R=0.539, R2 =0.290) p=0.089; TNF-α (R=0.595, R2=0.354) p=0.022. The comparison between inflammatory markers in both groups (median/interquartile range, control group vs AMI) resulted as: hs-CRP (0.19/0.27 vs 0.42/2.53 mg/dl) p=0.001; IL-6 (4.90/5.48 vs 13.07/26.41 pg/ml) p<0.001; MMP3 (19.70/13.70 vs 10.10/10.40 ng/ml) p<0.001; TNF-α (8.67/6.71 vs 8.26/7.80 pg/dl) p=0.805. Conclusions: (1) In AMI patients there is a correlation between the inflammatory molecules IL-6, TNF-α and MMP3 with both the inflammatory marker hs-CRP and the ischemic marker cTnI. This correlation is strengthened for the cTnI at 6-9h post admission, particularly in the multiple linear regression to the four inflammatory markers studied. (2) IL-6 correlates negatively with the cholesterol lipoproteins. Hs-CRP and IL-6 are strongly correlated to the whole lipoprotein profile. AMI patients display reduced serum lipid levels. For the marker TNF-α no significant differences were found between groups, which were observed for IL-6 and hs-CRP (higher in the AMI group). MMP3 values are higher in the control group.

IPTV data reduction strategy to measure real users’ behaviours

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática

Information flow analysis using data-dependent logical propositions

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática

LACK OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN HERPESVIRUS DETECTION IN SALIVA AND GINGIVITIS IN HIV‑INFECTED CHILDREN

The aims of this study were to compare the detection of human herpesviruses (HHVs) in the saliva of HIV-infected and healthy control children, and to evaluate associations between viral infection and gingivitis and immunodeficiency. Saliva samples were collected from 48 HIV-infected and 48 healthy control children. Clinical and laboratory data were collected during dental visits and from medical records. A trained dentist determined gingival indices and extension of gingivitis. Saliva samples were tested for herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) by nested polymerase chain reaction assays. Thirty-five HIV-infected and 16 control children had gingivitis. Seventeen (35.4%) HIV-infected children and 13 (27%) control children were positive for HHVs. CMV was the most commonly detected HHV in both groups (HIV-infected, 25%; control, 12.5%), followed by HSV-1 (6.2% in both groups) and HSV-2 (HIV-infected, 4.2%; control, 8.3%). The presence of HHVs in saliva was not associated with the presence of gingivitis in HIV-1-infected children (p = 0.104) or healthy control children (p = 0.251), or with immunosuppression in HIV-infected individuals (p = 0.447). Gingivitis was correlated with HIV infection (p = 0.0001). These results suggest that asymptomatic salivary detection of HHVs is common in HIV-infected and healthy children, and that it is not associated with gingivitis.

Implementation for spatial data of the shared nearest neighbour with metric data structures

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Mestre em Engenharia Informática

Sialyl Tn-Expressing Bladder Cancer Cells Induce a Tolerogenic Phenotype in Innate and Adaptive Immune Cells

Despite the wide acceptance that glycans are centrally implicated in immunity, exactly how they contribute to the tilt immune response remains poorly defined. In this study, we sought to evaluate the impact of the malignant phenotype-associated glycan, sialyl-Tn (STn) in the function of the key orchestrators of the immune response, the dendritic cells (DCs). In high grade bladder cancer tissue, the STn antigen is significantly overexpressed and correlated with the increased expression of ST6GALNAC1 sialyltransferase. Bladder cancer tissue presenting elevated expression of ST6GALNAC1 showed a correlation with increased expression of CD1a, a marker for bladder immature DCs and showed concomitant low levels of Th1-inducing cytokines IL-12 and TNF-α. In vitro, human DCs co-incubated with STn+ bladder cancer cells, had an immature phenotype (MHC-IIlow, CD80low and CD86low) and were unresponsive to further maturation stimuli. When contacting with STn+ cancer cells, DCs expressed significantly less IL-12 and TNF-α. Consistent with a tolerogenic DC profile, T cells that were primed by DCs pulsed with antigens derived from STn+ cancer cells were not activated and showed a FoxP3high IFN-γlow phenotype. Blockade of STn antigens and of STn+ glycoprotein, CD44 and MUC1, in STn+ cancer cells was able to lower the induction of tolerance and DCs become more mature. Overall, our data suggest that STn-expressing cancer cells impair DC maturation and endow DCs with a tolerogenic function, limiting their capacity to trigger protective anti-tumour T cell responses. STn antigens and, in particular, STn+ glycoproteins are potential targets for circumventing tumour-induced tolerogenic mechanisms.

Neolithic transitions: can genetic data help us understand a major demographic event in human prehistory?

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biology

Revealing fungal activity in the presence of ionic liquids

Dissertation presented to obtain the Ph.D degree in Biochemistry

Building clusters for CRM strategies by mining airlines customer data

Trabalho de Projeto apresentado como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Estatística e Gestão de Informação

Linked Data based Health Information Representation, Visualization and Retrieval System on the Semantic Web

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

Web-application for gathering, analyzing, and processing health information about allergy data

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

Participatory mapping in the design process of a spatial data infrastructure SDI: a case study in the Biosphere Reserve Rio Platano (Honduras)

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

Proposta de modelo conceptual de Data Warehouse para o Instituto Nacional de Estatística de Moçambique.

Dissertação apresentada como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Gestão de Informação

Additional data on the epidemiology of chagas disease in the municipality of Caxias, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil

An area believed to be an autochthonous focus for Chagas' disease was investigated in the municipality of Caxias, Rio de Janeiro State. The study included search for domestic triatomine bugs, serological test (IFT and CFT) in persons in whose house infested bugs were discovered, detailed clinicai examination and xenodiagnosis test of ali serologicall/ yy positive persons, and xenodiagnosis test on dogs from households in which infected triatomine bugs have been found. Only in one of the locatities (Piranema) domestic Triatoma infestans have been discovered. some of which were infected with T. cruzi. A small number of persons (mostly children) had a positive serologicál test for Chagas’ disease, but in all of them the infection was clinically asymptomatic. From two dogs, belonging to a household in which serologically positive children and infected T. infestans were discovered, T. cruzi was isolated by xenodiagnosis. The importunt epidemiological information obtained from this investigation was the discovery of domestic adaptation of T. infestans in an area with dense population .and with very low social and sanitary conditions, in a locality considered as non-endemic for the infection.