Browsing by Author "Costa, E"
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- Aging is Associated with Impaired Renal Function, INF-gamma Induced Inflammation and with Alterations in Iron Regulatory Proteins Gene ExpressionPublication . Costa, E; Fernandes, J; Ribeiro, S; Sereno, J; Garrido, P; Rocha-Pereira, P; Coimbra, S; Catarino, C; Belo, L; Bronze-da-Rocha, E; Vala, H; Alves, R; Reis, F; Santos-Silva, AOur aim was to contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of anemia in elderly, by studying how aging affects renal function, iron metabolism, erythropoiesis and the inflammatory response, using an experimental animal model. The study was performed in male Wistar, a group of young rats with 2 months age and an old one with 18 months age. Old rats presented a significant higher urea, creatinine, interferon (INF)-gamma, ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor serum levels, as well as increased counts of reticulocytes and RDW. In addition, these rats showed significant lower erythropoietin (EPO) and iron serum levels. Concerning gene expression of iron regulatory proteins, old rats presented significantly higher mRNA levels of hepcidin (Hamp), transferrin (TF), transferrin receptor 2 (TfR2) and hemojuvelin (HJV); divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) mRNA levels were significantly higher in duodenal tissue; EPO gene expression was significantly higher in liver and lower in kidney, and the expression of the EPOR was significantly higher in both liver and kidney. Our results showed that aging is associated with impaired renal function, which could be in turn related with the inflammatory process and with a decline in EPO renal production. Moreover, we also propose that aging may be associated with INF-gamma-induced inflammation and with alterations upon iron regulatory proteins gene expression.
- Circulating cell-free DNA levels in Portuguese patients with psoriasis vulgaris according to severity and therapy.Publication . Coimbra, S; Catarino, C; Costa, E; Oliveira, H; Figueiredo, A; Rocha-Pereira, P; Santos-Silva, Aassociated with inflammation. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to understand the relation of CFD levels with psoriasis severity, defined by the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), with inflammation and with psoriasis therapy. METHODS: Forty-six patients with psoriasis vulgaris were evaluated before (T0) and after 12 weeks (T12) of treatment with narrowband ultraviolet light B (NB-UVB; n = 17), psoralen plus UVA (PUVA; n = 20) or topical therapy (n = 9). We evaluated interleukin (IL)-6 and circulating CFD levels. RESULTS: Compared with controls, at T0, patients presented significantly higher levels of circulating CFD. CFD presented a significant positive correlation with IL-6 and a trend towards a positive correlation with PASI. Multiple linear regression analysis identified IL-6 as an independent variable associated with CFD circulating levels. As shown by the PASI score, a trend towards higher values of CFD was observed in the severe psoriasis forms; moderate and severe psoriasis presented also significantly higher CFD values, compared with control. Both NB-UVB and PUVA treatments significantly decreased the levels of CFD. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with psoriasis, at the active stage of the disease, presented an increased inflammation associated with raised circulating CFD levels, which seem to be linked to psoriasis severity. Both NB-UVB and PUVA, anti-inflammatory therapies, were effective in decreasing CFD values. We propose that the evaluation of circulating CFD may provide a new biomarker to monitor psoriasis, its severity and its treatment.
- Femtosecond laser and microkeratome-assisted Descemet stripping endothelial keratoplasty: first clinical resultsPublication . Rosa, AM; Silva, MF; Quadrado, MJ; Costa, E; Marques, I; Murta, JNPurpose: To evaluate the use of a femtosecond laser combined with a microkeratome in the preparation of posterior corneal disks for Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK). Methods: This experimental study involved ultrathin DSAEK tissue preparation of 22 donor corneas unsuitable for transplantation. The first cut was performed with an Intralase® FS60 laser and the second cut with a Moria CBm 300-µm microkeratome. The thickness of the first cut was modified for each cornea to obtain a final graft thickness of less than 110 µm. Precut and postcut central pachymetry were performed with an ultrasonic pachymeter. Central endothelial cell density (ECD) was calculated before and 24 hours after tissue preparation. Results: Final graft thickness was 105.0 ± 26.1 (SD) µm (range 65-117). The mean microkeratome head cut thickness was 324.5 ± 10.9 µm (range 310-345). Precut and postcut ECDs averaged 2250 ± 222 and 2093 ± 286 cells/mm2, respectively, representing 6.9% of cell loss. No corneas were perforated. Conclusion: Femtosecond FS60 lasers and Moria CBm 300-µm microkeratomes can be used sequentially to prepare consistently thin DSAEK grafts with no irregular cuts or cornea perforations.
- Hypertension induced by immunosuppressive drugs: a comparative analysis between sirolimus and cyclosporinePublication . Reis, F; Parada, B; Teixeira de Lemos, E; Garrido, P; Dias, A; Piloto, N; Baptista, S; Sereno, J; Eufrásio, P; Costa, E; Rocha-Pereira, P; Santos-Silva, A; Figueiredo, A; Mota, A; Teixeira, FThe purpose of this study was to compare the effects of sirolimus (SRL) vs cyclosporine (CsA) concerning the cardiovascular mechanisms hypothetically contributing to hypertension development. Three rat groups were studied: control (vehicle), CsA (5 mg/kg/d), and SRL (1 mg/kg/d). The following parameters were evaluated after 7 weeks of treatment: blood pressured (BP) and heart rate (HR; tail cuff), lipid profile, hematology, plasma and platelet 5-HT and catecholamines (HPLC-ECD), and oxidative equilibrium (serum malondialdehyde [MDA] and total antioxidant status [TAS]). Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) values were higher (P < .001) in both the CsA (146.2 +/- 4.5 and 124.9 +/- 4.5 mm Hg) and SRL (148.9 +/- 4.8 and 126.4 +/- 6.0 mm Hg) groups vs the controls (115.9 +/- 3.3 and 99.1 +/- 2.0 mm Hg). However, HR values were elevated in CsA but not SRL animals. The dyslipidemic pattern of CsA was even more enhanced in the SRL group, with significantly higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and triglyceride (TG) levels vs CsA (P < .05); red blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin concentration, mean platelet volume, and platelet distribution width were significantly (P < .05) higher in the SRL vs CsA group. The pro-oxidative profile (increased MDA/TAS) in the CsA group was not reproduced in the SRL cohort. While plasma and platelet 5-HT were elevated in SRL rats, catecholamine content was higher in CsA animals. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that CsA and SRL produce identical hypertensive effects. However, while CsA promotes oxidative stress and sympathetic activation, SRL mainly interferes with lipid profile and hematological parameters. Thus, the hypertensive effects of CsA, a calcineurin inhibitor, and of SRL, an mTOR inhibitor, are associated with impairment of distinct cardiovascular pathways
- Manifestações Oculares de Polineuropatia Amiloidótica Familiar Tipo I em Doentes Submetidos a Transplante HepáticoPublication . Rosa, AM; Quadrado, MJ; Ferrão, J; Marques, I; Pereira, H; Costa, E; Murta, JN
- Prevalência de Nevus da Coróide numa População Portuguesa: estudo de 80.000 doentesPublication . Costa, E; Cristovão, LM; Proença, R