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J Almeida

Publications and source records attributed to J Almeida.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

[Clonogenic cells of acute leukemia secondary to myeloproliferative and myelodysplastic syndromes].

PURPOSE: To assess if the in vitro behaviour of leukaemic colony-forming units (CFU-L) from secondary leukaemias is similar to that of the de novo acute myeloblastic leukaemia. An attempt was also made to verify if such behaviour correlated with the characteristics of the disease or with the cell-surface markers of the leukaemic population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was carried out on 21 patients with secondary acute leukaemia (12 had previous myelodysplastic syndrome, MDS-AL, and 9 had previous chronic myeloproliferative syndromes, MPS-AL). Peripheral blood mononucleated cells were cultured on methyl-cellulose with MCL-PHA stimulation. The dishes were examined after 7 days of incubation in humid 37 degrees C environment with 5% CO2. Direct or indirect immunofluorescence was used for the immunophenotypic analysis and the patients were divided in two groups: 1) immature phenotype, which include those cases expressing only precursor (CD34) or pan-myeloid (CD33/13) antigens, and (2) mature phenotype, comprising the caes with granulomonocytic (CD15, CD14), erythroid (glycophorin) or megakaryocytic (CD61) differentiation. The statistical analysis was done with the BMDP programme. RESULTS: Up to 95% of the secondary acute leukaemias proliferate in vitro, as opposed to 82% of the de novo ones, the difference not being significant (p = 0.14). Successful cell showing was clearly superior in the former (p = 0.02), mostly due to higher proliferation of the MPS-AL cells. Neither the clinico-biologic characteristics of the patients nor the phenotype of the blast cells correlated with the in vitro behaviour of CFU-L. Only CD19 antigen expression and nuclear TdT provided a lesser in vitro growth (p = 0.05 and p-0.06, respectively). CONCLUSION: In general terms, secondary leukaemias, especially MPS-AL, show higher in vitro growth than de novo acute myeloblastic leukaemias.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Histiocytic cytophagic panniculitis: a rare late complication of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Histiocytic cytophagic panniculitis (HCP) is the name given to the hemophagocytic syndrome when subcutaneous fat is involved. Histologically, it is characterized by phagocytosis of blood elements by histiocytes that appear to be benign. We report this rare skin disease in a 46-year-old patient that occurred 32 months after an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. This skin disease could be a manifestation of graft-versus-host disease, although the connection remains speculative.

Bone Marrow Transplantation↗
PubMed1994

[Diagnostic value of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of infectious endocarditis. A comparative analysis comparing it with transthoracic echocardiography].

The aim of this study is to compare the performance of Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) and the Transthoracic approach (TTE) in the diagnosis of Infectious Endocarditis (IE). Between October/90, the data we started transesophageal ultrasound, till April/92, we performed 33 TTE in inpatients with clinical suspicion of IE. Twenty pts (61%) had one or two prosthesis. All the pts had a previous TTE. The diagnosis of IE determined by non-echocardiographic data was established on 18 pts. The other 15 pts, without clinical criteria of IE, were used as the control group. The Echocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis of IE were for both diagnostic tools the presence of masses suggesting vegetation of abscess. The diagnosis was correctly made by TTE in 8 of the 18 pts (S-44%) and by TEE in 16 of the 18 pts (S-89%) with clinical criteria for IE. Of the 15 patients without clinical criteria for IE 14 were correctly identified by TTE (Sp-93%) and 13 by TEE (Sp-89%). With a similar VPP (89%) for both tools has TEE a significative higher value for NPV than TTE (87% vs 58%). This study suggests that TEE, at a same level of specificity as TTE, is highly more sensitive in the diagnosis of IE (S-89 14 for TEE and S-44 23 for TTE) a figure that recommends that all patients with clinical suspicion of IE and a negative TTE should perform a TEE.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Prevalence of asthma in the city of Porto].

It is possible that asthma epidemiology will contribute to the definition of asthma precipitant factors. This work is enrolled in an international study co-ordinated by COMAC-EPI. In Oporto, among 137.000 residents in the same town region, a standardised sample of 4.047 male and female individuals aged from 20 to 44 years was defined. A screening questionnaire was sent with a stamped envelope. Four months later the same questionnaire was sent to the individuals who did not answer it and finally those who do not answer the second letter were visited in their own residence. We got 2075 answers. Among the responders about half were women: 1075, 25.39% belonging (273) to the 20-29 years age group; 42.69% (459) 30-39 years; 31.90% (343) 40-44 years. In men the percentage of distribution by age groups was similar. Question nQ 5 was answered affirmatively by 60 individuals, corresponding to the prevalence of 2.89%. Seventy-one (3.42%) said they had been under asthma treatment during the last year. Among the symptoms that usually define the attack of asthma, those inquired in the group of question 1 show a prevalence close to that of the asthma diagnosis: 6.45%. The prevalence of being awakened by tightness in the chest, shortness of breath and coughing, with values of 16.17%, 10.69% and 25.68% is quite superior than in question nQ 5. The prevalence obtained with the Hay Fever question was 18.84%. Data obtained is similar to the data of other centers.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Diagnostic value of transesophageal echocardiography in the study of mitral prosthesis dysfunctions].

The aim of this study are to establish the value of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the diagnosis of mitral prostheses dysfunctions and to compare the performance of TEE and the transthoracic approach (TTE) in this context. From October 1990, the data when we started transesophageal ultrasound, till January 1992, we performed 218 TEE's. In 61 patients (pts) there was clinical suspicion of mitral prostheses dysfunction and TEE detected abnormal prostheses function in 22 pts (36%), 12 of which have been reoperated. In this group of 12 pts who underwent surgery, the basis for this study, the results of ETT and TEE were compared with surgeon's information. TEE confirmed the surgical findings in 11 patients (97%) with only one falsely positive (3%). On the other hand, TTE confirmed the surgical findings in only 6 pts (50%), confirmed partially in 3 (25%) and was falsely negative in 3 pts (25%). From these results the authors conclude: in the group of patients with mitral prostheses device dysfunction, that have been submitted to surgical treatment, there is great concordance between surgeon's findings and TEE information. TEE seems to be more accurate than TTE in the diagnosis of mitral prostheses dysfunction. Finally, TEE in conjunction with TTE is highly reliable in the diagnosis of mitral prostheses dysfunctions and spares patients from catheterism.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Transesophageal echocardiography. Analysis of 15 months of activities].

At the Centre of Thoracic Surgery we have so far performed 235 exams of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The aim of our study was critical analysis of the exams and if possible the comparison of the information given by TEE, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and surgery. We used biplane 5 MHz probe. The indications of the exams were: prosthetic mitral valve (58), peripheral embolization (40), clinical suspicion of infective endocarditis (32), aortic dissection (20), atrial septal defects (17), quantification of mitral insufficiency in native valve (15) and others. TEE showed prosthetic disfunction in 20 patients, spontaneous echo contrast in 17 of 40 patients and vegetations in 14. TTE identified 4 false atrial defects. TEE maintained mitral regurgitation quantification in 4 patients and changed in 9. So, TEE is important to detect most cardiac diseases.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Cardiac changes in a case of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy].

In the present article the authors describe a case of a twenty-one year-old patient with a mitochondrial encephalomyopathy presenting cardiac changes. Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy a multisystemic disease is described in various publications having cardiac involvement although there are sparse references about cardiomyopathy in this same disease. In the present case, the patient had a syndrome of both Mitochondrial Encephalopathy, Lactic Acidosis and Stroke like episodes (MELAS) and Myoclonic Epilepsy and Ragged Red Fibers (MERRF). There were no significant changes in the cardiac conductivity studied by ECG but an echocardiographic pattern of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was found.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Echocardiographic study of 53 patients with rheumatoid mitral stenosis].

In 53 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis we performed echocardiographic study in order to define anatomic and functional alterations. We used 3.5 MHZ probe and obtained images from apical and parasternal windows. Determinations were performed by standards of the American Society of Echocardiography. Thirteen patients were men and forty women. Men's mean age was 43.5 years and women's mean age 40 years. In the men anatomic mitral valve area was 1.1 cm2 and in the women 1.3 cm2. Correlation anatomic to functional valve area was strong (r = 0.9). Mitral diastolic gradient had correlation with cardiac output, mitral valve area and ejection fraction. Pulmonary artery pressure had strong correlation with valve area and cardiac output. In conclusion, our study showed the usefulness of functional valve area in the graduation of mitral stenosis, the dependence of the mitral diastolic gradient of several cardiac events, the independence of the left atrium dimensions and also the strong dependence of pulmonary artery pressure of cardiac output and valve area.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Double-blind comparison of levocabastine eye drops with sodium cromoglycate and placebo in the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

The efficacy and tolerance of topical administration (one drop in each eye q.i.d.) of levocabastine (0.5 mg/ml) was compared with that of sodium cromoglycate (20 mg/ml) and placebo in a 4-week double-blind trial in patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. The investigator rated the treatment as globally good or excellent in significantly more patients treated with levocabastine (89%) than with cromoglycate (67%, P = 0.03) or placebo (48%, P = 0.007). The patients felt that the treatment was more efficacious in 95% (levocabastine), 35% (cromoglycate) and 36% (placebo) of the cases in which they had taken previous antiallergic medication. Total symptom severity according to the patients' diary data was consistently lower with levocabastine than with cromoglycate or placebo for all ocular symptoms. The difference was mainly apparent at the beginning of treatment. The percentage of symptom-free days was higher in the levocabastine group (53%) than in the cromoglycate (31%, P = 0.02) and the placebo group (34%, P = 0.08). Particularly at high-pollen days, levocabastine was superior to cromoglycate in eliminating moderate or severe symptoms. Adverse effects did not occur more frequently with levocabastine or cromoglycate than with placebo. It is concluded that levocabastine is an efficacious, fast-acting and well-tolerated drug in the management of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

[Transesophageal echocardiography. Evaluation of the technique and clinical indications. Experience at the Center of Thoracic Surgery of the S. João-Porto Hospital].

The purpose of this paper is to report the early experience with Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) after its availability at Thoracic Surgery, Hospital S. João, Oporto, Clinical advantages of the esophageal acoustic window over other approaches and technical development background of the procedure are reviewed. Updated clinical indications of the procedure and illustrative clinical cases from daily practice are presented. From October 1990 to February 1991, 75 examinations have been performed, 59 in awake patients and 16 in unconscious patients, either in the operating theatre or in intensive care unit. The examination protocol was similar to the one followed at Mayo Clinic. All patients accepted to undergo the study when indicated. No technical difficulties were found and no complications were reported during the study period. Finally, based on this introductory experience, a comment is made on main indications for using TEE complemented by few notes on future perspectives with this using ultrasound technique.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

[Pseudoaneurysm of the outflow chamber of the left ventricle as a complication of bacterial endocarditis of the aortic valve -- a clinical case].

After reporting a clinical case of a patient with a Staphylococcus Aureus Acute Endocarditis involving the aortic valve being complicated with cardiac failure irresponsive to medical treatment, which required a surgical procedure, the authors describe the preoperative echocardiography features. These features have the particularity of identifying a pseudoaneurysm rising in the outflow tract of the left ventricle, that involves the annulus and the anterior mitral leaflet, opening into the left atrium. They also take the opportunity to review the main local complications of Infective Endocarditis, affecting native or prosthetic valves, and make some comments on the diagnostic echocardiographic possibilities.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Genetic interactions underlying flower color patterns in Antirrhinum majus.

Diverse spatial patterns of flower color in Antirrhinum can be produced by a series of alleles of pallida, a gene encoding an enzyme required for pigment biosynthesis. The alleles arose by imprecise excision of a transposable element, Tam3, and we show that they carry a series of deletions involving progressive removal of sequences adjacent to the excision site. This has enabled us to define three cis-acting upstream regions, A, B, and C, which differentially affect the level of pallida expression in distinct areas of the flower. We show further that an unlinked locus, delila, regulates the spatial distribution of pallida transcript. Deletion of regions ABC at the pallida locus uncouples pallida from regulation by delila, whereas deletion of A or AB brings pallida under regulation by delila in a new area of the flower. These results suggest that diverse patterns of pallida expression reflect the different ways in which alleles interact with a prepattern of both common and spatially specific genetic signals in the flower.

Alleles↗
PubMed1989

[Study of leukemic colony-forming units (CFU-L) in non-lymphoblastic malignant hemopathies].

CFU-L is considered as the clonogenic cell of acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemias (ANLL). Twenty-five malignant myelogenous hemopathies (5 blast crisis and 20 "de novo" ANLL) were studied in order to assess the proliferative capability of these cells and its relationship to FAB types and the achievement or not of complete remission (CR). The proliferative capability was assessed by culture on methylcellulose using conditioned leucocyte medium stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin as stimulating agent. Cell proliferation was observed in 21 cases, reaching 100% of the blast crisis and 80% (i.e., 16 cases) of the "de novo" ANLL. As regards the FAB types, it was found that the leukaemias with monocytic cells showed higher cell-growth than those of granulocytic lineage (90%, vs 60%). Of the patients not achieving CR (12 cases) colonies were formed in 66.6% (8 cases), while of the 8 patients who attained CR only in 3 (37.5%) were colonies observed. It was concluded that the FAB types of ANLL show different proliferative capability, which might influence the prognosis of the disease.

Blast Crisis↗
PubMed1988

Frontal-plane QRS axis revisited: accuracy of current approximations and reappraisal of their merit in the diagnosis of right ventricular hypertrophy.

The frontal-plane mean QRS vector orientation (AQRSxy)--the so-called electrical axis--is an ECG feature commonly used for the diagnosis of right ventricular hypertrophy and is correctly measured by calculating the areas subtended by QRS deflections in two different leads. To overcome the drawbacks of doing this by hand, two alleged approximations of AQRSxy have become popular and are in current use: one is based on the measurement of QRS component wave peak amplitudes and the other on the estimation of the half-area vector of the frontal plane loop. The values obtained with the correct and the two more practical methods are compared and their diagnostic efficiency is assessed by means of a procedure for ECG criteria optimization based on the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analyzed in terms of information theory. The authors conclude that the two more popular methods for AQRSxy determination provide similar values that, although correlated with the true measure of the parameter are statistically different from it. On the other hand, the diagnostic efficiency of AQRSxy alone, regardless of the method by which it is computed, is only as good as, if not bettered by, other much more easily measurable frontal-plane parameters (ie, left to rightward forces amplitude ratio in adults and rightward forces amplitude in pediatric patients).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

[Epidemiologic survey in the Vila Nova slum in the municipality of Duque de Caxias-RJ (July/1988)].

Due to the high endemicity of Hansens Disease in the "Duque de Caxias Municipality", Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, an Epidemiological Survey of "Vila Nova" slum was planed. The goal was to verify the prevalence of skin diseases of sanitary concern and, also, to analise the socio-economical conditions of the population, especially those related with environment sanitation. 45% dwellings were visited and 86% of the population (1903 persons) screened by dermoneurological examination performed by auxiliary personnel. Tables show frequency of skin disease that received treatment on domiciliary basis. 19 cases were suspicious of Hansen's Disease. The social profile was assessed through the study of several parameters of the population: --economical, sanitation, personal and home hygiene.

Brazil↗
PubMed1986

Genomic organization of the related Bacillus subtilis bacteriophages SPP1, 41c, rho 15, and SF6.

The genomes of the related virulent Bacillus subtilis bacteriophages SPP1, 41c, rho 15, and SF6 are partially circularly permuted and terminally redundant. Heteroduplex molecules were produced with various combinations of these DNAs. Their electron-microscopic analyses showed a consistent pattern of homologous and heterologous regions of DNA. Restriction maps of the phage DNAs were established. A comparison of these maps showed a pattern of conserved and variable DNAs compatible with the electron-microscopic analyses. In all phage genomes, regions specifying early and late functions were conserved. In each phage genome, such regions were separated by short segments of heterologous DNA characteristic for each phage.

Bacillus subtilis↗