CYP3A5 genetic polymorphism in HIV-patients

Poster presented at the From Basic Sciences to Clinical Research - First International Congress of CiiEM. Egas Moniz, Caparica, Portugal, 27-28 November 2015"A number of relevant polymorphisms are known for affecting the most common prescribed ARVs (antiretroviral), inducing drug toxicity, risk of virologic failure and may explain the interpatient variability for drug absorption pathways. CYP3A5 is an isoform of Cytochromes P4503A family, estimated to participate in the metabolism of 40 to 60% of all clinically administered drugs, namely atazanavir (1). The aim of this study was to characterize the CYP3A5 polymorphisms of HIV infected patients, from Santa Maria Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal.

Pharmacogenetic: screening relevant polymorphisms on antiretroviral therapy in a HIV Portuguese population

Poster presented at the 15th European AIDS Conference. Barcelona, 21-24 October 2015"Several factors cause heterogeneity of response to antiretroviral therapy. Genetic polymorphisms, particularly in metabolizing enzyme, cytochrome P450 isoenzymes and transport proteins MDR, MRP and SLC, may cause pharmacokinetic variability in some ARVs, leading to viral failure, drug toxicity and may explain the interpatient variability for drug absorption pathways.

Searching relevant polymorphisms of CYP2B6 in HIV infected patients

Poster presented at the From Basic Sciences to Clinical Research - First International Congress of CiiEM. Egas Moniz, Caparica, Portugal, 27- 28 November 2015"The CYP2B6 belongs to the family of Cytochrome P450 enzymes that catalyze the metabolism of a wide variety of drugs, including the anti-retroviral EFV. The CYP2B6 gene, that has been mapped in the chromosome 19, is highly polymorphic and some SNP, namely 516G>T and 785A>G, are associated with decreased protein expression. These variants are related to phenotypes that are characterized as EFV poor metabolizers, and consequently to episodes of neurotoxicity.

Radiosynthesis and in vivo evaluation of a 18F-labelled styryl-benzoxazole derivative for β-amyloid targeting

The formation of β-amyloid deposits is considered a histopathological feature of Alzheimer′s disease (AD). In vivo molecular imaging by means of amyloid-avid radiotracers will allow for an early and conclusive diagnostic of AD. Herein, we describe the radiosynthesis of the radiofluorinated styryl benzoxazole derivative [18F]-[2-[N-methyl-N-(2′-fluoroethyl)-4′-aminostyryl]benzoxazole] ([18F]-1) and its pre-clinical evaluation, including metabolic and biodistribution studies in male Wistar rats. The in vivo biological evaluation of [18F]-1 showed that this new radiotracer has a moderate brain uptake with a slow brain washout and a poor in vivo stability

Queimadas podem alterar as assembléias de anuros? O caso das veredas na Estação ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins

Os efeitos do fogo em espécies animais têm sido estudados principalmente em aves e mamíferos. Estudos que testaram a influência do fogo em anfíbios são escassos, sendo esta lacuna ainda maior para as espécies do Cerrado. No presente estudo, testamos a hipótese de que as queimadas afetam o padrão de co-ocorrência e, consequentemente, a composição de espécies de anuros. O estudo foi realizado na Estação Ecológica Serra Geral do Tocantins, no qual ambientes de veredas que haviam sido queimados (n = 3) ou não (n = 3) foram selecionados. Amostramos as espécies de anuros entre os dias 12 a 21 de novembro de 2010, através de buscas em sítios de reprodução. Neste estudo, 11 espécies de anuros distribuidas em cinco famílias foram encontradas. A riqueza de espécies entre as veredas queimadas e não queimadas foram similares. Observamos que o padrão de co-ocorrência das espécies não diferiu do esperado ao acaso e que composição de espécies entre as veredas queimadas e não queimadas foram similares. Ao contrário de outros estudos, encontramos que a assembléia de anuros estudadanão sofreu influencia negativa do fogo, já que as características ecológicas das espécies favoreceram a persistência desses animais em ambientes queimados

Searching for the G516T Polymorphism on the CYP2B6 gene in HIV-1Patients

Poster presented at the International Young Researchers in Life Sciences Conference. Pasteur Institute, Paris, France, 26-28 May 2014

[Carotid atherosclerosis and white matter hypodensities: a controversial relationship]

INTRODUCTION: White matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin, are recognized as an important cause of morbidity with established clinical and cognitive consequences. Nonetheless, many doubts remain on its physiopathology. Our goal is to clarify the potential role of carotid atherosclerosis and other vascular risk factors in the development of white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included patients that underwent CT brain scan and neurosonologic evaluation within a one-month period. Full assessment of vascular risks factors was performed. We seek to find independent associations between white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin, carotid intima-media thickness and vascular risk factors. RESULTS: 472 patients were included, mean age was 67.32 (SD: 14.75), 274 (58.1%) were male. The independent predictors of white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin were age (OR: 1.067, 95% IC: 1.049 - 1.086, p < 0.001) and hypertension (OR: 1.726, 95% IC: 1.097 - 2.715, p = 0.018). No association was found between IMT (OR: 2.613, 95% IC: 0.886 - 7.708, p = 0.082) or carotid artery stenosis (OR: 1.021, 95% IC: 0.785 - 1.328, p = 0.877) and white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. DISCUSSION: Only age and hypertension proved to have an independent association with white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. Carotid atherosclerosis, evaluated by IMT and the degree of carotid artery stenosis, showed no association with white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. Since atherosclerosis is a systemic pathology, these results suggest that alternative mechanisms are responsible for the development of white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. CONCLUSION: Age and hypertension seem to be the main factors in the development of white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin. No association was found between carotid atherosclerosis and white matter hypodensities of presumed vascular origin