Publications by authors named "Andre Maia"

Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) infections are challenging to treat due to high intrinsic drug resistance, comparable to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. Treatments are extremely ineffective and based on a multi-drug regimen, resulting in low patient compliance. Consequently, the scientific community is urged to identify new and effective drugs to treat these infections.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigated the correlation between rheumatic fever (RF) history and benzathine penicillin (BP) treatment with extensive macular atrophy with pseudodrusen (EMAP) in Brazilian patients through a retrospective, observational case-control approach.
  • - Out of 77 patients (66.2% women, average age 58.6), a significant majority had a history of RF (90.9%) and BP treatment (94.8% starting at an average age of 7.3 years with an 11.8-year duration).
  • - Results showed that longer BP treatment duration was linked to a decrease in atrophic area, while older age at RF diagnosis influenced the likelihood of subretinal dr
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Silicone oil (SO) is commonly used as a vitreous tamponade, but it has known complications, including glaucoma and cataracts, along with increasing cases of unexplained visual loss after SO removal.
  • A literature review highlights the chemical properties of SO, its surgical complications, and issues like SO migration and proliferative vitreoretinopathy.
  • Doctors must weigh the severity of retinal diseases and their own experience when choosing SO, while the search for safer vitreous substitutes remains critical.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates cutaneous (CL) and mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) cases in mainland Portugal from 2010 to 2020, identifying 43 CL and 7 ML cases, predominantly in immunosuppressed individuals.
  • - Most cases were autochthonous, with common symptoms including papules/nodules, particularly on the head, and a varied treatment approach noted, mainly using liposomal amphotericin B for ML.
  • - The findings highlight a need for better surveillance, clinical awareness, and diagnostic capabilities for leishmaniasis, advocating a One Health approach to tackle the complexities of the disease in Portugal and globally.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Germline mutations of E-cadherin contribute to hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) and congenital malformations, such as oral facial clefts (OFC). However, the molecular mechanisms through which E-cadherin loss-of-function triggers distinct clinical outcomes remain unknown. We postulate that E-cadherin-mediated disorders result from abnormal interactions with the extracellular matrix and consequent aberrant intracellular signalling, affecting the coordination of cell migration.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Failure to recognize the different possible clinical presentations of ocular toxoplasmosis may delay diagnosis and treatment, compromising visual prognosis. The aim of this paper is to describe an atypical pattern of ocular toxoplasmosis, not yet described. Five Brazilian patients, from 4 different referral centers, presented similar atypical pattern of ocular toxoplasmosis characterized by mild vitritis, foveal cavitation involving predominantly all retinal layers associated with adjacent inner retinal necrosis (a necrotizing retinitis with a persisting inner retinal tissue bridge and loss of subjacent retinal layers).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are relevant therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. Still, the molecular circuits behind CSC characteristics are not fully understood. The low number of CSCs can sometimes be an obstacle to carrying out assays that explore their properties.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction Recurrent hospitalizations for worsening heart failure (WHF) represent a major global public health concern, resulting in significant individual morbimortality and socioeconomic costs. This real-life study aimed to determine the rate and predictors of readmission for WHF in a cohort of outpatients with chronic heart failure (CHF) followed in a heart failure clinic (HFC) at a university hospital. Methods We conducted a longitudinal, observational, and retrospective study of all consecutive CHF patients seen at the HFC of the São Francisco Xavier Hospital, Lisbon, by a multidisciplinary team in 2019.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • DNA damage response (DDR) helps keep DNA stable, but it's not clear how cells dividing (mitotic cells) react to DNA damage, especially from cancer treatments.
  • Research shows that during cell division, if DNA is damaged, cells can get confused and misalign their chromosomes, leading to problems like extra little nuclei (micronuclei).
  • This DNA damage can cause different harmful effects on cells depending on how serious the damage is, which means cancer treatments could be making the problem of unstable DNA worse in some cases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To investigate closure rates and functional outcomes of surgery for refractory and recurrent macular holes (MHs) in a real-world setting.

Methods: Retrospective review of secondary MH surgeries.

Results: A total of 72 eyes from 72 patients were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been addressed in the framework of molecular, cellular biology, and biochemical traits. A new approach to studying CRC is focused on the relationship between biochemical pathways and biophysical cues, which may contribute to disease understanding and therapy development. Herein, we investigated the mechanical properties of CRC cells, namely, HCT116, HCT15, and SW620, using static and dynamic methodologies by atomic force microscopy (AFM).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Central venous catheterization is a common procedure in the management of critically ill patients, in the context of medical emergencies, and before surgical interventions. Placing a central venous catheter (CVC) in the internal jugular vein (IJV) using anatomical references is associated with a high risk of complications, in particular pneumothorax and arterial puncture. Thus, the placement of CVCs with ultrasound support is recommended by several medical societies and health regulators at the international level.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To determine the long-term anatomic outcomes and surgical complications of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and 4-point Gore-Tex-sutured Akreos AO60 intraocular lens (IOL) scleral fixation.

Design: Retrospective, multicenter, multisurgeon case series.

Participants: Ninety-seven patients in tertiary eye care centers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To report the first Brazilian patient with deficiency-inherited retinal dystrophy (-IRD) treated with (VN).

Methods: An adult patient with Leber congenital amaurosis-2 with a homozygous mutation in the gene (p.Phe83Leu) was treated bilaterally with VN.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Reversing protein aggregation within cells may be an important tool to fight protein-misfolding disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cardiovascular diseases. Here we report the design and synthesis of a family of steroid-quinoline hybrid compounds based on the framework combination approach. This set of hybrid compounds effectively inhibited Aβ1-42 self-aggregation by delaying the exponential growth phase and/or reducing the quantity of fibrils in the steady state.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (aGPCRs) are important cell surface receptors involved in various health and disease processes, highlighting their potential for new drug development.
  • The review focuses on current knowledge regarding aGPCRs, including their structure, functions, physiological roles, and recent advances in research.
  • It identifies key future research areas and strategies to enhance the translation of aGPCR research into practical medical applications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Tumour progression relies on the ability of cancer cells to penetrate and invade neighbouring tissues. E-cadherin loss is associated with increased cell invasion in gastric carcinoma, and germline mutations of the E-cadherin gene are causative of hereditary diffuse gastric cancer. Although E-cadherin dysfunction impacts cell-cell adhesion, cell dissemination also requires an imbalance of adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The purpose of the current study is to report the anatomical and functional results of off-label human amniotic membrane graft as primary intervention to repair large to giant macular holes and in reoperations when wide internal limiting membrane peeling was unsuccessful.

Methods: Retrospective chart review was carried out in five different centers to identify all cases that had undergone off-label human amniotic membrane graft for the treatment of large or failed macular holes (MH). Data collected included age, gender, other concomitant diagnosis, symptoms duration, lens status, number of previous surgeries, macular hole measurements (minimum and base linear diameters), mean post-operative follow-up (months), and pre- and post-operative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The case study discusses a 63-year-old patient with a history of choroidal melanoma who experienced progressive vision loss due to acute exudative polymorphous paraneoplastic vitelliform maculopathy (AEPPVM).
  • The patient's examination revealed multiple serous retinal detachments, and further tests confirmed AEPPVM alongside identified metastases to the pancreas, liver, and central nervous system.
  • The findings suggest that AEPPVM should be considered in patients with retinal detachments, regardless of a melanoma history, but there is no established link between AEPPVM and pancreatic metastasis in existing literature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Chromovitrectomy, the intraocular application of dyes to assist visualization of preretinal tissues during vitreoretinal surgery, was introduced to avoid ocular complications related to internal limiting membrane peeling, inadequate removal of the vitreous, and incomplete removal of epiretinal membranes. Since 2000, chromovitrectomy has become a popular approach among vitreoretinal specialists. The first vital dye used in chromovitrectomy, indocyanine green, facilitated identification of the fine and transparent internal limiting membrane.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background/aims: We analysed the ability of B-scan ultrasound, ocular electrophysiology testing and videoendoscopic examination for predicting visual prognosis in Boston Type 1 keratoprosthesis (KPro-1) candidates. Indirect anatomical and electrophysiological findings and results from direct endoscopic evaluations were correlated with postoperative functional data.

Methods: In this prospective and interventional study, we included 13 individuals who had previously been indicated for Kpro-1 surgery.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fluorescence labeled ligands have been gaining importance as molecular tools, enabling receptor-ligand-binding studies by various fluorescence-based techniques. Aiming at red-emitting fluorescent ligands for the hHR, a series of squaramides labeled with pyridinium or cyanine fluorophores (-) was synthesized and characterized. The highest hHR affinities in radioligand competition binding assays were obtained in the case of pyridinium labeled antagonists - (p : 7.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Persistent Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is related to 90% of gastric cancers. With bacterial resistance rising and treatment inefficiency affecting 15% of the patients, alternative treatments urge.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Gastric cancer remains a serious health burden with few therapeutic options. Therefore, the recognition of cancer stem cells (CSCs) as seeds of the tumorigenic process makes them a prime therapeutic target. Knowing that the transcription factors SOX2 and OCT4 promote stemness, our approach was to isolate stem-like cells in human gastric cancer cell lines using a traceable reporter system based on SOX2/OCT4 activity (SORE6-GFP).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: fopen(/var/lib/php/sessions/ci_sessionq6uoj0a4g8cnma0l2fuddkpuh66klmjp): Failed to open stream: No space left on device

Filename: drivers/Session_files_driver.php

Line Number: 177

Backtrace:

File: /var/www/html/index.php
Line: 316
Function: require_once

A PHP Error was encountered

Severity: Warning

Message: session_start(): Failed to read session data: user (path: /var/lib/php/sessions)

Filename: Session/Session.php

Line Number: 137

Backtrace:

File: /var/www/html/index.php
Line: 316
Function: require_once