DSpace Community:

The impact of GGH -401C>T polymorphism on cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy response and survival in cervical cancer

2013-05-11T21:41:54Z

Title: The impact of GGH -401C>T polymorphism on cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy response and survival in cervical cancer Authors: Silva, IH; Nogueira-Silva, C; Figueiredo, T; Lombo, L; Faustino, I; Catarino, R; Nogueira, A; Nogueira, D; Medeiros, R Abstract: AIMS: Cervical cancer is the third most frequent cancer in women worldwide, mostly treated with cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy. Since it is known that folate metabolism might interfere with cisplatin effectiveness, we intended to study the influence of the Gamma Glutamyl Hydrolase -401C>T polymorphism in treatment response in cervical cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 167 patients with bulky cervical cancer submitted to cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy. The genotypes of GGH -401C>T SNP were determined by real-time PCR and statistical analysis was performed by χ(2) test and survival analysis. RESULTS: The genotypes of GGH-401C>T were significantly associated with the response to platinum-based chemoradiotherapy. Treatmentresponse was higher in patients carrying the CC genotype, who presented a significant increased chance of treatment response (survival time in months/genotype: 91 for CC Vs 72 for CT/TT; p=0.035, log rank test). A Cox regression analysis accordingly showed that the presence of the T allele was significantly linked to a worse treatment response (HR=3.036; CI 95% 1.032-8.934, p=0.044). CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggested the potential interest of GGH -401C>T as a predictive factor of the outcome of cervical carcinoma treated with cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy.

A infecção peri-natal por Streptococcus agalactiae pode ser evitada: prevalência da colonização em parturientes no Hospital de S. Marcos, factores de risco e sua relação com a infecção peri-natal

2012-12-18T02:14:30Z

Title: A infecção peri-natal por Streptococcus agalactiae pode ser evitada: prevalência da colonização em parturientes no Hospital de S. Marcos, factores de risco e sua relação com a infecção peri-natal Authors: Areal, A; Nunes, S; Moreira, M; Faustino, MA; Cardoso, L; Sá, C Abstract: ntrodução: O Streptococcus agalactiae (SGB) é o agente mais frequente de infecção neonatal precoce, sendo possível a sua prevenção. Em Portugal é desconhecida a prevalência de mulheres colonizadas por SGB. O estudo da Unidade de Vigilância Pediátrica refere uma prevalência nacional de infecção neonatal por SGB de 0,5:1000 nados-vivos. Objectivo: Determinar a prevalência da colonização materna e da infecção perinatal por SGB no Hospital de S. Marcos, Braga (HSM), de modo a avaliar a importância da implementação do rastreio universal e o uso de medidas profiláticas. Método: De 1 de fevereiro a 31 de julho de 2005 foi realizado um estudo transversal com análise de coortes anichada, avaliando todas as grávidas assistidas para trabalho de parto no HSM e respectivos recém-nascidos. Os dados foram submetidos a análise estatística bi-variada pelo teste do qui-quadrado, com um nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05). Resultados: A prevalência da colonização nas grávidas rastreadas na região de Braga foi de 34,9 % [intervalo de confiança a 95% (IC95%), 31,5-38,3%]. No HSM o diagnóstico de infecção neonatal precoce por SGB ocorreu em 9:1000 recém-nascidos. O risco relativo de ocorrência de infecção perinatal entre os recém-nascidos dos grupos de mães rastreadas e não rastreadas foi de 0,3 [IC95% 0,2,7-0,32]. Conclusão: O rastreio bacteriológico positivo para colonização materna por SGB associado à adequada profilaxia intra-parto reduziu significativamente a infecção neonatal precoce, em relação ao grupo de gestantes não rastreadas (p=0,014). Consideramos que é recomendável a instituição do rastreio universal das grávidas e a profilaxia adequada quando indicada.

Local fetal lung renin-angiotensin system as a target to treat congenital diaphragmatic hernia

2012-11-30T15:11:17Z

Title: Local fetal lung renin-angiotensin system as a target to treat congenital diaphragmatic hernia Authors: Nogueira-Silva, C; Carvalho-Dias, C; Piairo, P; Nunes, S; Baptista, MJ; Moura, RS; Correia-Pinto, J Abstract: Antenatal stimulation of lung growth is a reasonable approach to treat congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a disease characterized by pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension. Several evidences from the literature demonstrated a possible involvement of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) during fetal lung development. Thus, the expression pattern of renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme, angiotensinogen, type 1 (AT₁) and type 2 (AT₂) receptors of angiotensin II (ANGII) was assessed by immunohisto-chemistry throughout gestation, whereas the function of RAS in the fetal lung was evaluated using fetal rat lung explants. These were morphometrically analyzed and intracellular pathway alterations assessed by Western blot. In nitrofen-induced CDH model, pregnant rats were treated with saline or PD-123319. In pups, lung growth, protein/DNA ratio, radial saccular count, epithelial differentiation and lung maturation, vascular morphometry, right ventricular hypertrophy and overload molecular markers, gasometry and survival time were evaluated. Results demonstrated that all RAS components were constitutively expressed in the lung during gestation and that ANGII had a stimulatory effect on lung branching, mediated by AT₁ receptor, through p44/42 and Akt phosphorylation. This stimulatory effect on lung growth was mimicked by AT₂-antagonist (PD-123319) treatment. In vivo antenatal PD-123319 treatment increased lung growth, ameliorated indirect parameters of pulmonary hypertension, improved lung function and survival time in nonventilated CDH pups, without maternal or fetal deleterious effects. Therefore, this study demonstrated a local and physiologically active RAS during lung morphogenesis. Moreover, selective inhibition of AT₂ receptor is presented as a putative antenatal therapy for CDH.

Operação de Wertheim-Meigs em carcinoma do colo do útero e tratamento complementar: análise crítica de cinco anos

2012-10-30T13:01:47Z

Title: Operação de Wertheim-Meigs em carcinoma do colo do útero e tratamento complementar: análise crítica de cinco anos Authors: Freitas, D; Rodrigues, F; Fernandes, D; Petiz, A Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Review and critical analysis of the Wertheim-Meigs Operations performed at our institution in the context of cervical cancer and to assess the proportion who underwent treatment with adjuvant radiotherapy (with or without chemotherapy) and the main indications. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of Wertheim-Meigs operations, conducted in the context of carcinoma of the cervix, between 01.01.2005 and 31.12.2010, through consultation with clinical processes. It was later performed a descriptive statistical analysis of the cases. RESULTS: During this period 119 Wertheim-Meigs Operations were performed. Four were excluded: two, for primary indication for adjuvant therapy due to histological subtype; two for the inability to exclude invasive disease preoperatively and the invasion was not confirmed after surgery. A total of 115 cases were reviewed and analyzed, and of these 50 (43.5%) underwent complementary therapy, the main indication being the presence of lymphovascular invasion in 21 cases (42% of cases submitted to complementary therapy ). CONCLUSIONS: The mean age of patients undergoing radical surgery is 49 years, with stage IB1 most often determining its performance. Complementary therapy was performed in 43.5% of cases, the main indication being lymphovascular invasion (42%) followed by lymph node invasion (16%). Internal audit to the Service is satisfactory, with 16.5% surgical complication rate and high technical performance.