Browsing by Author "Dias, C"
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- Analysis of human spermatozoa by fluorescence in situ hybridization with preservation of the head morphology is possible by avoiding a decondensation treatmentPublication . Almeida-Santos, T; Dias, C; Brito, R; Henriques, P; Almeida-Santos, APURPOSE: Development of a hybridization technique for spermatozoa allowing the preservation of the head morphology. METHODS: FISH analysis of fixed semen samples from oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) patients with a normal somatic karyotype attending the Cytogenetics and the IVF Laboratories of a University hospital for semen analysis. In situ hybridization with centromeric probes for chromosomes X, Y, and 18 and locus specific probe for chromosome 21. RESULTS: More than 95% of the sperm heads showed clear hybridization signals and a conserved morphology including the visualization of the tail. Few cells with splitted signals were not considered. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first description of a simple and fast hybridization protocol for spermatozoa without a decondensation step, allowing preservation of the morphology of the sperm head that is particularly useful to correlate abnormal spermatozoa with specific chromosome aneuploidies. With this technique we were able to avoid troubles in interpretation of FISH spots that does not depend on the quality of nuclear decondensation, as it is the case in the previously described methods. Our goal was to demonstrate the efficiency of the method without loosing sperm head morphology. Further studies are needed to correlate the aneuploidy rates for specific chromosomes with sperm morphology.
- Cytogenetic analysis of spontaneously activated noninseminated oocytes and parthenogenetically activated failed fertilized human oocytes--implications for the use of primate parthenotes for stem cell productionPublication . Almeida-Santos, T; Dias, C; Henriques, P; Brito, R; Barbosa, A; Regateiro, FJ; Almeida-Santos, APURPOSE:Spontaneous parthenogenetically activated noninseminated oocytes and failed fertilized oocytes after ART activated by puromycin were studied to assess cleavage ability and the cytogenetic constitution of the resulting embryos. METHODS: Failed fertilized oocytes were exposed to puromycin, and whenever activation occurred, they were further cultured until arrest of development. FISH was used to assess the ploidy of spontaneous (group A) and induced parthenotes (group B). RESULTS: The mean number of oocytes exposed to puromycin and the percentage and type of activation were identical in IVF and ICSI patients. The more frequent types of activation were one or two pronuclei and one polar body suggesting that retention of the second polar body is a common event after parthenogenetic activation. CONCLUSIONS: Retention of the second polar body and chromosome malsegregation were observed after parthenogenetic activation, either spontaneous or induced by puromycin. This means that using parthenogenetic embryos for stem cell research will require great care and attention.
- Ethical limits for noninvasive ventilation prescription.Publication . Mendes, MS; Ferreira, C; Dias, C; Moita, J
- Intervenção transtorácica pulmonar guiada por TC aspirativa por agulha fina e biópsiaPublication . Oliveira, C; Candelária, I; Dias, C; Couto, T; Estevão, A
- Ulcerative colitis in northern Portugal and Galicia in SpainPublication . Barreiro-da-Costa, M; Magro, F; Carpio, D; Lago, P; Echarri, A; Cotter, J; Pereira, S; Gonçalves, R; Lorenzo, A; Carvalho, L; Castro, J; Barros, L; Dias, JA; Rodrigues, S; Portela, F; Dias, C; Costa-Pereira, ABACKGROUND: Clinical and therapeutic patterns of ulcerative colitis (UC) are variable in different world regions. The purpose of this study was to examine two close independent southern European UC populations from 2 bordering countries and observe how demographic and clinical characteristics of patients can influence the severity of UC. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during a 15-month period (September 2005 to December 2006) based on data of 2 Web registries of UC patients. Patients were stratified according to the Montreal Classification and disease severity was defined by the type of treatment taken. RESULTS: A total of 1549 UC patients were included, 1008 (65%) from northern Portugal and 541 (35%) from Galicia (northwest Spain). A female predominance (57%) was observed in Portuguese patients (P < 0.001). The median age at diagnosis was 35 years and median years of disease was 7. The majority of patients (53%) were treated only with mesalamine, while 15% had taken immunosuppressant drugs, and 3% biologic treatment. Most patients in both groups were not at risk for aggressive therapy. Extensive colitis was a predictive risk factor for immunosuppression in northern Portugal and Galicia (odds ratio [OR] 2.737, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.846-4.058; OR 5.799, 95% CI: 3.433-9.795, respectively) and biologic treatment in Galicia (OR 6.329, 95% CI: 2.641-15.166). Younger patients presented a severe course at onset with more frequent use of immunosuppressors in both countries. CONCLUSIONS: In a large population of UC patients from two independent southern European countries, most patients did not require aggressive therapy, but extensive colitis was a clear risk factor for more severe disease