Reducing prostaglandin E2 production to raise cancer immunogenicity

Cyclooxygenases (COX), commonly upregulated in numerous cancers, generate prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which has been implicated in key aspects of malignant growth including proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis. Recently, we showed that production of PGE2 by cancer cells dominantly enables progressive tumor growth via immune escape and that cyclooxygenase inhibitors synergize with immunotherapy to enhance tumor eradication

Complications of endoscopic nasosinusal surgery – Review of 667 patients from the Centro Hospitalar do Porto

Objectivos: Determinar a taxa de complicações da cirurgia endoscópica nasossinusal (CENS) num centro hospitalar com 20 anos de experiência nesta área. Desenho do estudo: Estudo retrospectivo de 667 pacientes submetidos a CENS. Material e Métodos: Foram analisados os dados relativos aos pacientes submetidos a CENS desde Janeiro de 2006 a Dezembro de 2009, e avaliadas as complicações da técnica cirúrgica no per e pós--operatório, com um período mínimo de follow-up de 3 meses. Resultados: Num total de 677 cirurgias, verificou-se uma taxa de 7,39% de complicações (5,91% minor e 1,48% major). As complicações da CENS variaram de acordo com a extensão do procedimento cirúrgico, sendo mais frequentes nos casos de cirurgia de revisão, estando também relacionadas com a presença e grau de polipose nasossinusal. Conclusões: Duas décadas após a afirmação da CENS, esta ainda está associada a complicações. É fundamental um conhecimento anatómico profundo e um planeamento cirúrgico detalhado, baseado na análise imagiológica rigorosa, para que estas sejam reduzidas ao mínimo.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Element characterization of the vestigial shell of Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797

The present study represents the first elemental distribution and composition characterization of the vestigial shell in Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797. Ten specimens of O. vulgaris were collected monthly between January and July 2002, on the central coast of Portugal. Using nuclear microscopy, Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) and Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) techniques, it was found that along vestigial shell transversal sections, the elemental concentrations were differential. Most striking were those of P, Ca, S, and Cl. At the core of the vestigial shell, high concentration levels of Ca and P were determined, declining towards the periphery. Also, trace concentrations of elements such as Fe, Cu and Zn were found to be higher in the external rings than the inner regions. Future complementary studies of vestigial shell chemical composition, as well as histology studies, are necessary to gain better understanding of the vestigial shell microstructure.Se presenta la primera caracterización de la distribución elemental y de la composición de la concha vestigial del pulpo Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797. Diez muestras de O. vulgaris fueron recogidas mensualmente, entre enero y julio del 2002, en la costa central de Portugal. Utilizando microscopía electrónica, técnicas de espectrometría Rutherford de refracción (RBS) y emisión de rayos X inducida por partículas (PIXE), se pudieron encontrar, a lo largo de las secciones transversales de la concha vestigial, diferencias en las concentraciones elementales, en particular en las de P, Ca, S, y Cl. En el núcleo de la concha vestigial, se pudieron determinar altas concentraciones de Ca y P, que se iban reduciendo hacia la periferia. Asimismo, se encontraron microelementos, como el Fe, Cu y el Zn, a concentraciones que eran mayores en los anillos externos que en las regiones internas. Para una mejor comprensión de la microestructura de la concha vestigial, es necesario llevar a cabo estudios complementarios a éste, y también estudios histológicos.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Contributions to knowledge on the maturation and fertility of the common octopus Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797 on the Portuguese coast

The aim of the present study was to study the reproduction of the common octopus Octopus vulgaris Cuvier, 1797 at three locations on the mainland Portuguese coast. The results showed a higher occurrence of mature females in May-July and November at both Cascais and Santa Luzia, and in February and November at Viana do Castelo. Mature males were found year round. The fertility of females from Santa Luzia was higher (average of 230 000 oocytes), which could be due to this location's more favourable environmental conditions. At Cascais, the average was 140 000 oocytes, and at Viana do Castelo, 120 000. Our results could be useful in drawing up more suitable management measures for octopus Portuguese stocks.El objetivo es el estudio de la reproducción del pulpo común Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797 en tres localidades de la costa continental portuguesa. Los resultados demostraron un mayor registro de hembras maduras en mayo-julio y noviembre en Cascais y Santa Luzia, y en febrero y noviembre en Viana do Castelo. Hay machos maduros durante todo el año. La fecundidad de las hembras es mayor en Santa Luzia (con un promedio de 230 000 oocitos), lo que estaría asociado a las condiciones ambientales más favorables de esta localidad. En Cascais y Viana do Castelo el promedio fue de 140 000 y 120 000 oocitos, respectivamente. Estos datos podrán ser útiles para la propuesta de medidas más adecuadas para la gestión de las poblaciones de esta especie en las costas portuguesas.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

BAHA in children: Indications, results and complications

O BAHA (Bone Anchored Hearing Aid - prótese auditiva ancorada no osso) é utilizado em malformações do ouvido externo e médio, otorreia crónica, doença ossicular inoperável e como alternativa à prótese auditiva convencional por inadaptação/ impossibilidade. Este artigo descreve a experiência de colocação de BAHA no Hospital Maria Pia – Centro Hospitalar do Porto na última década, por estudo retrospectivo de 47 pacientes. O ganho audiométrico médio foi de 33,9 dB em relação aos valores base e de 14,4 dB em relação ao uso de próteses auditivas convencionais, com limiar auditivo médio com BAHA de 17,8 dB. Não houve qualquer complicação intra-operatória. No pós-operatório, quatro casos exigiram cirurgia para revisão da pele, em dois casos não houve integração óssea do implante e em três casos houve extrusão do implante por traumatismo directo. Este estudo conclui que os BAHA são um método eficaz e seguro de aparelhamento auditivo em crianças.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tonsillar metastasis of a lower limb pleomorphic sarcoma

Os tumores das amígdalas palatinas são raros (1.45 casos:100000 indivíduos/ ano) e maioritariamente primários, geralmente de origem epitelial ou linfoproliferativa. Contudo, estima-se que 0.8% sejam secundários. A maioria dos cerca de 100 casos descritos na literatura é referente a carcinomas pulmonares, da mama, de células renais e melanomas, não havendo referência a nenhum caso de metastização por sarcoma do membro inferior. Este artigo descreve o caso de uma paciente de 72 anos que apresentava hipertrofia, endurecimento e ulceração da amígdala palatina direita. A amigdalectomia direita levou ao diagnóstico de sarcoma pleomórfico. A neoplasia primária, na face interna da coxa esquerda, tinha sido diagnosticada dois anos antes. Uma pequena minoria dos tumores da amígdala palatina é metastática. A metastização da amígdala por um sarcoma do membro inferior não se encontrava descrita na literatura, mas como noutros tipos histológicos, surgiu numa fase tardia da doença e com prognóstico muito reservado.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sensing infection and tissue damage

Innate and adaptive immunity work concertedly in vertebrates to restore homoeostasis following pathogen invasion or other insults. Like all homoeostatic circuits, immunity relies on an integrated system of sensors, transducers and effectors that can be analysed in cellular or molecular terms. At the cellular level, T and B lymphocytes act as an effector arm of immunity that is mobilised in response to signals transduced by innate immune cells that detect a given insult. These innate cells are spread around the body and include dendritic cells (DCs), the chief immune sensors of pathogen invasion and tumour growth. At the molecular level, DCs possess receptors that directly sense pathogen presence and tissue damage and that signal via transduction pathways to control antigen presentation or regulate a plethora of genes encoding effector proteins that regulate immunity. Notably, molecular circuits for pathogen detection are not confined to DCs or even to immune cells. All cells express sensors and transducers that monitor invasion by viruses and bacteria and elicit suitable effector barriers to pathogen propagation. Here, I discuss work from my laboratory that has contributed to our understanding of these issues over the years

Economic Impact of Prosthetic Joint Infection - an Evaluation Within the Portuguese National Health System

Introduction: Prosthetic infection is a devastating complication of arthroplasty and carries significant economic burden. The objective of this study was to analyze the economic impact of prosthetic hip and knee infection in Portuguese National Health System. Material and Methods: Case-control study carried out from January 2014 to December 2015. The mean costs of primary arthroplasties and prosthetic revision surgeries for non-infectious reasons were compared with the costs of prosthetic infections treated with debridement and preservation of the prosthesis or with two-stage exchange arthroplasty.The reimbursement for these cases was also evaluated and compared with its real costs. Results: A total of 715 primary arthroplasties, 35 aseptic revisions, 16 surgical debridements and 15 revisions for infectious reasons were evaluated. The cost of primary arthroplasties was 3,230€ in the hips and 3,618€ in the knees. The cost of aseptic revision was 6,089€ in the hips and 7,985€ in the knees. In the cases treated with debridement and implant retention the cost was 5,528€ in the hips and 4,009€ in the knees. In cases of infections treated with a two-stage revision the cost was 11,415€ and 13,793€ for hips and knees, respectively. Conclusion: As far as we know this is the first study that analyzes the economic impact of prosthetic infection in the Portuguese context. Although direct compensation for treating infected cases is much lower than calculated costs, infected cases push the overall hospital case-mix-index upwards thus increasing financial compensation for the entire cohort of treated patients. This knowledge will allow for more informed decisions about health policies in the future.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pattern recognition of hematological profiles of tumors of the digestive tract: an exploratory study

AimsIn this study, we aimed to apply laboratory blood analysis to identify the hematological (based on hemoglobin concentration, erythrocytes, hematocrit, and RDW count) profiles associated with the most prevalent forms of digestive tract malignancies. Furthermore, we aimed to evaluate how these profiles contributed to distinguishing these tumors at diagnosis.MethodsWe collected data from the date of ICD-10 diagnostic coding for C15 esophagus, C16 stomach, C18 colon, and C19 rectum tumors of 184 individuals. The statistical analysis and data visualization approaches, notably the heat map and principal component analysis (PCA), allowed for creating a summary hematological profile and identifying the most associated parameters for each pathologic state. Univariate and multivariate data modeling and ROC analysis were performed in both SPSS and Python.ResultsOur data reveal unique patterns based on tumor development anatomical location, clustering the C18 colon and C19 rectum from the C15 esophagus and C16 stomach. We found a significant difference between C16 stomach carcinoma and the other tumors, which substantially correlated with raised RDW in conjunction with low hemoglobin concentration, erythrocytes, and hematocrit counts. In contrast, C18 colon carcinoma had the higher red blood cell count, allowing for the best classification metrics in the test set of the binary logistic regression (LR) model, accounting for an AUC of 0.77 with 94% sensitivity and 52% specificity.ConclusionThis study emphasizes the significance of adding hematological patterns in diagnosing these malignancies, which could path further investigations regarding profiling and monitoring at the point of care

Antimicrobial activity of Thymbra capitata and its major components agasint Gardnerella spp.

[Excerpt] Introduction: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common vaginal disorder that affects women in reproductive age. This condition is characterized by a shift in the vaginal microflora from the dominant beneficial Lactobacillus to an overgrowth of strictly and anaerobic bacteria. It is noteworthy that BV involves the presence of multispecies biofilm, mainly composed by Gardnerella spp.. A major issue related to BV is the recurrent failure of conventionally antibiotic therapies. Therefore, essential oils (EOs) have been considered as a possible treatment option. Thymbra capitata EO has already demonstrated a good potential to eradicate bacteria. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio