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Biomedical subjects

A Santos

Publications and source records attributed to A Santos.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Bancroftian filariasis in a paediatric population: an ultrasonographic study.

Little is known about lymphatic filariasis or the anatomical location of adult Wuchereria bancrofti in children. Seventy-eight children from Greater Recife, 23 microfilaria-positive and 55 microfilaria-negative in approximately 60 microL blood, underwent ultrasound examinations of the major superficial lymphatic vessels of the limbs, scrotal area (boys), and breast area (girls). The characteristic movements of adult worms, known as the filaria dance sign (FDS), were detected in 11 (14.1%) children. In 9 boys, the FDS was detected in lymphatic vessels of the scrotal area (8, ages 14-16) and the inguinal cord (1, age 11). In girls, the FDS was detected in a crural lymphatic vessel and an axillary lymph node. FDS detection was more common in boys (P = 0.06), older children (P = 0.001), and children with microfilaraemia (P = 0.05). Diffuse lymphangiectasia was visualized in 4 boys (ages 14-16) and 2 children had clinical signs of filariasis. These ultrasonographic findings associate W. bancrofti with both infection and disease in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The Rapunzel syndrome - a case report: trichobezoar as a cause of intestinal perforation]

OBJECTIVE: To report a rare case of a patient with gastric trichobezoar extended through the small bowel, proper to the Rapunzel syndrome. CASE REPORT: Girl at age 7 with history and exams suggestive of peritonitis whose laparotomy demonstrated trichobezoar and jejunal perforation. She also presented alopecia and psychological disorder which were not totally eliminated despite the support given. CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary view of the patient would have increased the suspicion rate for the pathology and would provide early diagnosis and treatment before complication was evident.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevalence of markers of hepatitis B infection in the adult population of the district of Coimbra].

AIM: To assess the prevalence of hepatitis B markers in the adult population of the Coimbra district, in the central region of Portugal. METHODS: The study included 657 subjects chosen aleatorily from 4 characteristic councils of the Coimbra district. They were questioned regarding risk factors and blood samples were taken for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc testing. Anti-HCV was previously determined and it was positive in 0.45% of the cases. RESULTS: HBsAg was found in 0.91%. Anti-HBs and anti-HBc were both positive in 6.08%, anti-HBc without anti-HBs was found in 1.82% and anti-HBs without anti-HBc was found in 1.67% (11 cases, 8 vaccinated). The general prevalence of hepatitis B markers was 9.3%. Higher prevalences were found in the subjects over 50 years of age, 13.5% (p < 0.05), and in the urban area, 13.2% (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 1. The HBsAg prevalence in our region is 0.9%; 2. The general prevalence of hepatitis B markers is 9.3%; 3. HBsAg prevalence is higher than anti-HCV prevalence calculated in the same sample; 4. The prevalence of hepatitis B markers in our region is lower than in other Southern European countries.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

IFNalpha 2b induces apoptosis and proteasome-mediated degradation of p27Kip1 in a human lung cancer cell line.

IFNs are a family of cytokines involved in antiviral defense, cell growth regulation and immune activation. IFNs either inhibit cell proliferation or control apoptosis depending on factors such as cell type and state of cell differentiation. It is important to determine how IFN-induced gene products interact with other cellular proteins to produce these responses. We have investigated the effect of IFNalpha 2b on a human small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cell line H82. We have found that IFNalpha efficiently induces apoptosis in H82 cells. The induction of apoptosis by IFNalpha 2b is accompanied by decreased levels of c-myc and Cdk2. We have also observed that in H82 cells IFNalpha induces downregulation of p27 and this is in contrast to the upregulation of p27 observed in other cell types where IFNs induce cell cycle arrest. IFNalpha-induced downregulation of p27 is due to protein destabilization and can be prevented by the proteasome inhibitor LLnL. The data suggest that in H82 cells, IFNalpha 2b induces degradation of p27Kip1 independently of CDK2 kinase activity and through a ubiquitin or ubiquitin-related pathway and that the degradation of p27Kip1 could be a molecular event of importance for IFN-induced apoptosis in cancer cells.

Apoptosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Management of posteriorly dislocated introcular lens: a new technique.

Many surgical techniques have been described in the management of posteriorly dislocated intraocular lens (IOLs). Lifting the IOL off the retina is a critical step during the surgical procedure. We describe a new simple and effective technique using an extrusion cannula that offers many advantages to lift the IOL in a safer and more controlled way.

Fluorocarbons↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Unknown primary neoplasm: a retrospective 3-year study at a service of internal medicine].

The authors review all the cases of Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Site admitted to a medical service during a 3-year period (1987-1989). These cases represented 9% of all the neoplastic diseases admitted during the aforementioned period. Most of the patients presented extensive metastatic disease. The main histologic type was adenocarcinoma. The most useful of all the ancillary exams requested for primary localization and staging purposes was the computerized axial tomography (CT). The primary localization was achieved in two cases (one while the patient was still alive, and one on autopsy). The low performance status of the patients, together with the existence of advanced metastatic disease, precluded more than palliative therapy in most of the cases. The mortality of this series was 40% (4/10), with 3 autopsies performed. The authors compare their experience with the literature available, focusing the need for a work-up based on strict diagnostic criteria based on the histology and supported by specific laboratory tests. They also underline the value of the CT scan as the most useful exam in these circumstances.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Radial bone mineral content in healthy Mexican women.

Fifty healthy Mexican women from 21 to 70 years of age volunteered to undergo radial bone densitometry. The bone density in ten women per decade was assessed at two sites in the radius of the nondominant forearm; one site was the distal radius at 5 mm of separation from the ulna and the other at one-third of the distal radius. Calcium, inorganic phosphates and alkaline phosphatase were measured in serum samples and the calcium/creatinine ratio in fasting urine samples. Bone density at the distal radius was 360.6 +/- 36.2 mg/cm2, 369.8 +/- 47.9 mg/cm2 and 364.7 +/- 53.7 mg/cm2 in the 21-50 age group. There was no significant difference between these groups; the pooled value of all these samples was 365 +/- 46 mg/cm2. There was significant difference in the 51-60 age group, 290 +/- 48. mg/cm2 (p less than 0.01) and in the 61-70 age group. 277.9 +/- 49.9 mg/cm2 (p less than 0.01). Bone density at the one-third distal radius in the 21-20 age group was 696.3 +/- 60.9 mg/cm2; 31-40, 683.6 +/- 68.4 mg/cm2 and 41-50, 697.9 +/- 53.9 mg/cm2. There was no significant difference among these group; the pool of all these samples showed 692.6 +/- 59.6 mg/cm2. In the 51-60 age group it was 628.0 +/- 63.3 mg/cm2, a non significant difference. On the other hand, the density in the 61-70 group was 573.7 +/- 83.5 mg/cm2, significant (p less than 0.01) when compared to the 21-50 age group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[New strategies in the clinical evaluation of patients with colon cancer based on molecular studies].

During the last five years molecular studies allowed important advances in the knowledge of cancer colon with important clinical implications. The main finding was the identification and sequence analysis of the APC gen. Structural alterations of this gene have been detected in patients with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis and Gardner syndrome, which suggest a common disease. Furthermore, alterations of the APC gen appears to be also altered in cases of cancer of colon sporadic. Indicating that structural alteration of the APC gen can be inherited and/or acquired. Restriction fragment-length polymorphisms in the chromosome 5q21-22 can now be used clinically for premorbid diagnosis and counseling in familial adenomatous polyposis. The molecular studies allow the clinician to have a new approach in the management and screening of families with familial adenomatous polyposis. The sequence analysis and specific identification of the structural alteration of the APC gene is a more expensive and sophisticated study, although represent a more direct approach. In the Department of Gastroenterology of the INNSZ we are performing such molecular studies. The main purpose of our group is to proportionate integral clinical-molecular studies for families with hereditary colon cancer, create a national register of these diseases and investigate the molecular bases in order to generate new molecular diagnosis tools.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗