Kinetics of Torque Teno Virus Viral Load Is Associated with Infection and De Novo Donor Specific Antibodies in the First Year after Kidney Transplantation: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Torque teno virus (TTV) was recently identified as a potential biomarker for the degree of immunosuppression, and potentially as a predictor of rejection and infection in solid organ transplant patients. We evaluated TTV viral load in kidney transplant (KT) patients during the first year post-transplant to examine overall kinetics and their relationships with deleterious events, including episodes of infection and the formation of de novo donor-specific antibodies (DSAs). In a single-center, prospective observational cohort study, 81 KT patients were monitored at baseline, week 1, and month 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12, post-KT, and whenever required by clinical events.

[Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus].

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a common disease, affecting up to 13.1% of the Portuguese population. In addition to the known micro and macrovascular complications, drug side effects constitute a major concern, leading to changes in the treatment guidelines, which favor safety over efficacy.

Renal function markers and metformin eligibility.

Background: Metformin is the cornerstone of the pharmacological therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). It belongs to the biguanide class of drugs and it improves hepatic insulin resistance and enhances GLP-1 and peptide YY secretion. Despite being considered safe regarding hypoglycemic risk, renal dysfunction remains the main obstacle to its use due to the underlying risk of lactic acidosis.

[Can blood homocysteine explain the family history of vascular diseases?].

Introduction And Aims: Family history of vascular disease is an important risk factor for vascular disease, independent of conventional risk factors. Homocysteinemia, a newly defined risk factor, is caused by genetics, such as cystathionine beta synthase deficiencies, and metabolic deficiencies. With the present work we intend to study the influence of family history of vascular disease in homocysteinemia.

[Prognosis significance of blood homocysteine after myocardial infarction].

Introduction And Aims: Homocysteinemia is an independent risk factor of coronary artery disease and of myocardial infarction. In the present study we intend to relate fasting homocystein levels to prognosis after a myocardial infarction.

Methods: From 1990 to 1992, we studied fasting homocysteinemia levels on a group of 112 patients aged under 56 years that had suffered a myocardial infarction between 3 and 12 months before.

[Influence of smoking on homocysteinemia at baseline and after methionine load].

Introduction And Aims: Homocysteinemia (HC) and smoking are both important risk factors for vascular disease. In the present study, we intend to evaluate the influence of smoking habits on HC values as well as on vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid, co-factors of HC metabolism.

Methods: We measured fasting homocysteinemia (basal) and homocysteinemia 6 hours after an overload with 0.

[The effect of sex and menopause on basal blood levels of homocysteine and after methionine loading].

Introduction And Objectives: We have already proved that basal and after load homocysteinemia are risk factors for vascular disease and it is also known that premenopausal women are relatively protected against this disease. The objective of this paper was the assess whether there are any differences in the plasma levels of homocystein which might contribute to explain the differences in the incidence of vascular diseases found in both sexes.

Patients And Methods: Two hundred and four patients (153 males) without previous vascular disease were enrolled in the study.

[Homocysteinemia as a risk factor for cerebrovascular disorders. The role of age and homocysteine levels].

Purpose: To evaluate importance of homocysteinemia as risk factor of thrombotic cerebrovascular disease, in terms of age and homocysteinemia levels.

Methods: A group of patients under 55 years old (n = 35, 21 males) that had suffered a stroke 3 months to 1 year before the study, defined by clinical criteria and the presence of cerebral infarction confirmed by tomography, without history or predisponents to embolic disease. The patients were matched with a group of controls without vascular pathology of a check-up program, in terms of age and sex.

Homocysteinaemia after methionine overload as a coronary artery disease risk factor: importance of age and homocysteine levels.

Background: Homocysteinaemia is now accepted as an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). Our goal was to study the influence of age plasma homocysteine level on the CAD risk attributable to homocysteinaemia.

Methods: We studied a group of 98 patients under 55 years of age who had suffered a myocardial infarction 3-12 months before the study.

[Homocysteinemia as a risk factor in early cerebrovascular disease].

Purpose: To determine whether hyperhomocysteinemia represents a risk factor of early thrombotic cerebrovascular disease.

Method: In a group of patients under 55 years of age (n = 33, 19 males) which had suffered a stroke from 3 months to 1 year before the study, defined by clinical criteria and presence of cerebral infarction confirmed by tomography, without history or predisposition to embolic disease. The patients were matched with a group of normal controls of checkup program, in terms of age, and sex.

[Homocysteinemia as a risk factor for early myocardial infarct--a case-control study].

Purpose: To investigate if hyper-homocysteinemia represents an independent risk factor of early coronary disease.

Methods: We studied a group of patients under 45 years old, that suffered a myocardial infarction from 3 months and 1 year before the study. The patients were matched with a group of normal controls of a check-up program, in terms of age, sex, smoking habits, presence of hypertension, obesity, (Quetelet Index), presence of diabetes, basal glycemia, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol.