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Biomedical subjects

A Carvalho

Publications and source records attributed to A Carvalho.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Morphological, yield, cytological and molecular characterization of a bread wheat x tritordeum F1 hybrid.

The morphological, yield, cytological and molecular characteristics of bread wheat x tritordeum F(1) hybrids (2n = 6x = 42; AABBDH(ch)) and their parents were analysed. Morphologically, these hybrids resembled the wheat parent. They were slightly bigger than both parents, had more spikelets per spike, and tillered more profusely. The hybrids are self-fertile but a reduction of average values of yield parameters was observed. For the cytological approach we used a double-target fluorescence in situ hybridization performed with total genomic DNA from Hordeum chilense L. and the ribosomal sequence pTa71. This technique allowed us to confirm the hybrid nature and to analyse chromosome pairing in this material. Our results showed that the expected complete homologous pairing (14 bivalents plus 14 univalents) was only observed in 9.59% of the pollen mother cells (PMCs) analysed. Some PMCs presented autosyndetic pairing of H(ch) and A, B or D chromosomes. The average number of univalents was higher in the wheat genome (6.8) than in the H(ch) genome (5.4). The maximum number of univalents per PMC was 20. We only observed wheat multivalents (one per PMC) but the frequency of trivalents (0.08) was higher than that of quadrivalents (0.058). We amplified 50 RAPD bands polymorphic between the F(1) hybrid and one of its parents, and 31 ISSR polymorphic bands. Both sets of markers proved to be reliable for DNA fingerprinting. The complementary use of morphological and yield analysis, molecular cytogenetic techniques and molecular markers allowed a more accurate evaluation and characterization of the hybrids analysed here.

Breeding↗
PubMed2002

Small dose of recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) to perform percutaneous liver biopsies in cirrhotic patients.

Low levels of vitamin K-dependent coagulation factors, synthesized in the liver, play a key role in the hypocoagulable state of end-stage liver disease patients. Recombinant factor VII (rFVIIa) has been developed for, and currently is used in the treatment of patients with hemophilia A and B with inhibitors. Some experience was gained with rFVIIa in liver diseases since 1995. We used a low dose of rFVIIa to perform percutaneous liver biopsy in three patients, all of them with abnormal coagulation, impeditive of the percutaneous liver biopsy. The first one was a 29 years old man with alcoholic cirrhosis and a liver nodule; the second was a 32 years old man with post hepatitis C cirrhosis and excessive alcohol intake; the third was a 53 years old man with chronic hepatitis C and a congenital deficit of factor VII. A single dose of 5 micrograms/Kg of rFVII administered before liver biopsies raised levels of factor VII to acceptable values during more than 5 hours in the first two patients. We conclude that a small dose of rFVIIa can be enough to correct the abnormal coagulation of cirrhotic patients, permits percutaneous liver biopsy, and is cost-effective, compared to transjugular access.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

INCENP is required for proper targeting of Survivin to the centromeres and the anaphase spindle during mitosis.

Three lines of investigation have suggested that interactions between Survivin and the chromosomal passenger proteins INCENP and Aurora-B kinase may be important for mitotic progression. First, interference with the function of Survivin/BIR1, INCENP, or Aurora-B kinase leads to similar defects in mitosis and cytokinesis [1-7] (see [8] for review). Second, INCENP and Aurora-B exist in a complex in Xenopus eggs [9] and in mammalian cultured cells [7]. Third, interference with Survivin or INCENP function causes Aurora-B kinase to be mislocalized in mitosis in both C. elegans and vertebrates [5, 7, 9]. Here, we provide evidence that Survivin, Aurora-B, and INCENP interact physically and functionally. Direct visualization of Survivin-GFP in mitotic cells reveals that it localizes identically to INCENP and Aurora-B. Survivin binds directly to both Aurora-B and INCENP in yeast two-hybrid and in vitro pull-down assays. The in vitro interaction between Survivin and Aurora-B is extraordinarily stable in that it resists 3 M NaCl. Finally, Survivin and INCENP interact functionally in vivo; in cells in which INCENP localization is disrupted, Survivin adheres to the chromosomes and no longer concentrates at the centromeres or transfers to the anaphase spindle midzone. Our data provide the first biochemical evidence that Survivin can interact directly with members of the chromosomal passenger complex.

Anaphase↗
PubMed2001

Mushroom poisoning with Amanita phalloides - a report of four cases.

Amanita mushroom poisoning is a rare but serious occurrence. Physicians need to recognize the phalloides syndrome promptly and to institute effective treatment as soon as possible in order to avoid the often fatal complications. The authors report four cases of Amanita poisoning, two of which resulted in fulminant hepatic failure and required orthotopic liver transplantation. The clinical symptoms and signs, laboratory alterations, and therapeutic options available are discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2001

[Saphenous vein graft bypass from the external carotid artery to the supraclinoid internal carotid artery to treat a giant aneurysm of the cavernous internal carotid: case report].

Alternative surgical procedures to treat unclippable aneurysms of the intracavernous carotid artery include proximal vessel occlusion and trapping. Those techniques, even in patients with rich collateral vessels, are associated with risk of hemodynamic compromise and ischemic complications. Therefore, a safe treatment requires revascularization to maintain blood flow to the involved territories. We report the case of a 47-year-old female, with ischemic signs and symptoms and a right third nerve palsy caused by a giant aneurysm, partially trombosed, of the intracavernous carotid artery. The patient was submitted to trapping after a saphenous vein graft bypass from the external carotid artery to the supraclinoid internal carotid artery. The surgical result was good without complications.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗
PubMed2001

Neisseria meningitidis native valve endocarditis. A case report.

The so-called nonpathogenic neisseriae are common inhabitants of the upper respiratory tract in humans and are not usually regarded as pathogens. Neisseria meningitidis on the contrary may cause severe disease. These organisms are an uncommon cause of infective endocarditis. The authors report a case of a 64 year-old male, type II diabetic, previously asymptomatic, admitted to hospital because of fever, aphasia and right hemi-paresis. A systolic murmur was heard at the cardiac apex, and three blood cultures were positive for Neisseria meningitidis. The echocardiogram showed a vegetation on the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, allowing the diagnosis of meningococcal endocarditis. The patient's clinical condition improved on intravenous penicillin therapy, and regression of fever, disappearance of the neurological signs and of the mitral valve vegetation were observed.

Endocarditis, Bacterial↗
PubMed2000

Deuteron NMR study of molecular dynamics in a compound exhibiting a reentrant nematic phase

A deuteron NMR study of molecular dynamics in the partial bilayer smectic A(d) and reentrant nematic phases of a pure chain-deuterated compound is presented. The deuteron spin-lattice relaxation times T(1Z) and T(1Q) were measured as a function of temperature for two different frequencies (15 and 46 MHz). The experimental results were interpreted in terms of the internal conformational motions of a chain decoupled from the molecular small-step rotational diffusion and the order director fluctuations. The latter motion was found to be essential to the fit of experimental results in the reentrant nematic phase. The fitting parameters obtained by using a global target fitting method are acceptable when compared with those obtained from other deuteron and proton NMR studies of the same mesophases.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

[Latent AIDS in young children of mothers who were HIV-negative in the first trimester of pregnancy].

The authors describe two cases of infants admitted to our Unit with respiratory failure caused by a Pneumocystis Carinii pneumonia (PCP). Because their mothers were HIV negative in the first three months of pregnancy. HIV infection was not suspected and the diagnosis was only made after the PCP. Based on these examples we discuss the importance of detecting HIV infection during pregnancy.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1996

[Adult type respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by hydrocarbons].

The authors present a case of a child aged 32 months, victim of accidental ingestion of an unidentified hydrocarbon product. Sixteen hours following hospitalization, the patient began polypnea with progressive hypoxemia, with the radiograph showing ARDS pattern. Mechanical ventilation was initiated on the 2nd day of admission. During hospitalization the patient developed pneumomediastinum and bilateral pneumothorax which justified active drainage. Inspite of the initial poor prognosis, the patient improved, with no symptoms after discharge. The authors discuss certain theoretical considerations regarding hydrocarbon intoxication.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1996

Sarcoidosis-tuberculosis association: a case report.

The association of sarcoidosis and tuberculosis is rare and, its differentiation is sometimes very difficult. We report the case of a young man who presented with type III sarcoidosis complicated by pulmonary tuberculosis within 17 months of the diagnosis, leading to a fatal outcome. A change in antimycobacterial antigen complex A60 immunoglobulin G (IgG) titres, as seen in our case, may be helpful in differentiating between the two diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Early intervention with Portuguese mothers: a 2-year follow-up.

Results of a 2-year follow-up after an early intervention with low-middle-class primiparous Portuguese mothers are presented. On the 3rd day of their infants' lives, 40 mothers underwent a structured intervention using selected items of the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale. An additional 20 mothers randomized to the control group had a talk with a pediatrician about general problems of infant health care. On Day 28, the "sensory orientation" and "cuddliness" competencies of the infants in the experimental group were significantly enhanced when compared with the same competencies among the infants in the control group. In addition, dyads in the experimental group had established a more favorable pattern of interaction, particularly after short stressful situations (these situations included short separations from the mother in which a stranger was present, short separations in which no one was present, and a stillface situation). Short-term effects (the first month of life) were particularly noticeable, especially in terms of the babies' neurobehavioral development and mother-infant interaction. Long-term effects (3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 months), though less clear, were evident in the form of better interactive patterns among the dyads in the experimental group. This was particularly evident after the stressful situations to which they were submitted. These results are discussed in terms of both their scope and their clinical impact.

Facial Expression↗
PubMed1994

Epidemiology of hepatitis C in central Portugal. Prevalence of anti-HCV in the population of the Coimbra District.

Anti-hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV) screening was performed in a sample of the adult population of the Coimbra District. 657 persons were included (267 male and 390 female, mean age of 42.7 + 13.1 years), aleatorily chosen from four characteristic regions. Anti-HCV was detected using an ELISA-2 test and all positive sera were also tested with RIBA-2. General prevalence of anti-HCV was 0.46%. All positive patients live in urban areas and presented risk factors for HCV infection. Anti-HCV was found in 33.3% of intravenous drug abusers, in 1.8% of transfused individuals, in 1.33% of alcoholics (higher than 80 g/d alcohol ingestion), in 1% of cases with history of surgical operations, and in 0.65% of persons who lived in risk regions for hepatitis B. We conclude that anti-HCV prevalence is low in our region. We think it is important to perform other studies on larger samples of general population and to study risk groups.

Adult↗