Browsing by Author "Rodrigues, J"
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects of Cutaneous and Mucosal Leishmaniases in Portugal: Retrospective Analysis of Cases Diagnosed in Public Hospitals and Reported in the Literature between 2010 and 2020Publication . Rocha, R; Conceição, C; Gonçalves, L; Carvalho, AC; Maia, A; Martins, A; Carujo, A; Maio, A; Forra, C; Melita, C; Couto, D; Fernandes, D; Pereira, D; Leal, E; Sarmento, H; Sousa, I; Gonçalves, JP; Marinho, J; Vasconcelos, J; Cunha, J; Rodrigues, J; Silva, JM; Caley, L; Malheiro, L; Santos, L; Garcia, M; Cunha, M; Lima, M; Andrade, MM; Marques, M; Alpalhão, M; Silva, M; Ferraz, R; Soares, R; Fernandes, S; Llobet, S; Cruz, S; Guimarães, T; Branco, T; Robalo-Nunes, T; Almeida, V; Maia, CLeishmania infantum, a zoonotic vector-born parasite, is endemic in the Mediterranean region, presenting mostly as visceral (VL), but also as cutaneous (CL) and mucosal leishmaniasis (ML). This study aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the CL and ML cases diagnosed in mainland Portugal between 2010 and 2020. Collaboration was requested from every hospital of the Portuguese National Health System. Cases were screened through a search of diagnostic discharge codes or positive laboratory results for Leishmania infection. Simultaneously, a comprehensive literature search was performed. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were performed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics. A total of 43 CL and 7 ML cases were identified, with a predominance of autochthonous cases (86%). In CL, immunosuppressed individuals constituted a significant proportion of patients (48%), and in this group, disseminated CL (22%) and simultaneous VL (54%) were common. In autochthonous cases, lesions, mostly papules/nodules (62%), were frequently observed on the head (48%). The approach to treatment was very heterogeneous. ML cases were all autochthonous, were diagnosed primarily in older immunosuppressed individuals, and were generally treated with liposomal amphotericin B. The findings suggest a need for enhanced surveillance and reporting, clinical awareness, and diagnostic capacity of these forms of leishmaniasis to mitigate underdiagnosis and improve patient outcomes. A holistic One Health approach is advocated to address the multifaceted challenges posed by leishmaniases in Portugal and beyond.
- Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects of Cutaneous and Mucosal Leishmaniases in Portugal: Retrospective Analysis of Cases Diagnosed in Public Hospitals and Reported in the Literature between 2010 and 2020Publication . Rocha, R; Conceição, C; Gonçalves, L; Carvalho, AC; Maia, A; Martins, A; Carujo, A; Maio, A; Forra, C; Melita, C; Couto, D; Fernandes, D; Pereira, D; Leal, E; Sarmento, H; Sousa, I; Gonçalves, JP; Marinho, J; Vasconcelos, J; Cunha, J; Rodrigues, J; Silva, JM; Caley, L; Malheiro, L; Santos, L; Garcia, M; Cunha, M; Lima, M; Andrade, MM; Marques, M; Alpalhão, M; Silva, M; Ferraz, R; Soares, R; Fernandes, S; Llobet, S; Cruz, S; Guimarães, T; Branco, T; Robalo-Nunes, T; Almeida, V; Maia, CLeishmania infantum, a zoonotic vector-born parasite, is endemic in the Mediterranean region, presenting mostly as visceral (VL), but also as cutaneous (CL) and mucosal leishmaniasis (ML). This study aimed to describe the epidemiological and clinical aspects of the CL and ML cases diagnosed in mainland Portugal between 2010 and 2020. Collaboration was requested from every hospital of the Portuguese National Health System. Cases were screened through a search of diagnostic discharge codes or positive laboratory results for Leishmania infection. Simultaneously, a comprehensive literature search was performed. Descriptive statistics and hypothesis testing were performed using IBM® SPSS® Statistics. A total of 43 CL and 7 ML cases were identified, with a predominance of autochthonous cases (86%). In CL, immunosuppressed individuals constituted a significant proportion of patients (48%), and in this group, disseminated CL (22%) and simultaneous VL (54%) were common. In autochthonous cases, lesions, mostly papules/nodules (62%), were frequently observed on the head (48%). The approach to treatment was very heterogeneous. ML cases were all autochthonous, were diagnosed primarily in older immunosuppressed individuals, and were generally treated with liposomal amphotericin B. The findings suggest a need for enhanced surveillance and reporting, clinical awareness, and diagnostic capacity of these forms of leishmaniasis to mitigate underdiagnosis and improve patient outcomes. A holistic One Health approach is advocated to address the multifaceted challenges posed by leishmaniases in Portugal and beyond.
- Hemangioma intracranianoPublication . Rocha, J; Marques, C; Adams, A; Rodrigues, JA case of intracranial hemangioma in a neonate is described by the authors. The rarity of the condition raised differential diagnosis problems.
- Practical Guidance on the Detection of NTRK Fusions in Sarcomas: Current Status and Diagnostic ChallengesPublication . Fernandes, I; Macedo, D; Gouveia, E; Ferreira, A; Lima, J; Lopez, D; Melo-Alvim, C; Carvalho, A; Tavares, P; Rodrigues-Santos, P; Cardoso, P; Magalhães, M; Vieira, P; Brito, J; Mendes, C; Rodrigues, J; Netto, E; Oliveira, V; Sousa, C; Henriques Abreu, M; Pina, F; Vasques, HSarcomas are a rare and heterogeneous group of mesenchymal malignant tumors and account for approximately 1% of all adult cancers and around 20% of all pediatric solid tumors in Europe. Technology advances have enabled a more accurate and efficient characterization of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of sarcoma subtypes and revealed novel and unexpected therapeutic targets with prognostic/predictive biomarkers, namely the neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusion. The NTRK fusion assessment has recently become a standard part of management for patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cancers and has been identified in various tumor types. In the more prevalent adult and pediatric sarcomas, NTRK fusions are present in 1% and 20%, respectively, and in more than 90% of very rare subsets of tumors. The inhibition of TRK activity with first-generation TRK inhibitors has been found to be effective and well tolerated in adult and pediatric patients, independently of the tumor type. Overall, the therapeutic benefit to those patients compensates for the difficulties of identifying NTRK gene fusions. However, the rarity and diagnostic complexity of NTRK gene fusions raise several questions and challenges for clinicians. To address these issues, an expert panel of medical and pediatric oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, orthopedists, and pathologists reviewed the recent literature and discussed the current status and challenges, proposing a diagnostic algorithm for identifying NTRK fusion sarcomas. The aim of this article is to review the updated information on this issue and to provide the experts' recommendations and practical guidance on the optimal management of patients with soft tissue sarcomas, infantile fibrosarcoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and osteosarcoma.