Publications by authors named "Barcelos A"

Objective: To compare the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of Ibero-American patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) to those of European patients, with a particular focus on the influence of HLA-B27.

Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional, and multicentre study of patients who fulfilled the European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group (ESSG) criteria for SpA from the REGISPONSER and RESPONDIA registries. Univariate and multivariate analyses between European and Ibero-American populations stratified by HLA-B27 status were conducted.

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Sea turtles are highly migratory and predominantly inhabit oceanic environments, which poses significant challenges to the study of their life cycles. Research has traditionally focused on nesting females, utilizing nest counts and mark-recapture methods, while male behavior remains understudied. To address this gap, previous studies have analyzed the genotypes of females and hatchlings to indirectly infer male genotypes and evaluate the extent of multiple paternity within populations.

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Background: The percentage of Portuguese psoriasis patients with psoriatic arthritis is unknown but musculoskeletal complaints related to PsA affect up to a third of patients. Dermatologists can identify early PsA as skin symptoms often precede joint symptoms in 80% of patients. Efficient and easy to perform screening tools are needed to help dermatologists effectively discriminate between Pso and PsA patients.

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A recent study proposed a new genetic lineage of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) based on genetic analysis, environmental history, and local ecological knowledge (LEK), suggesting the existence of two possible species or subspecies on the beaches of Oaxaca, diverging ~ 13.5 Mya. However, this hypothesis may be influenced by nuclear mitochondrial DNA segments (NUMTs), which could have been misamplified as true mtDNA.

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Article Synopsis
  • Fragility fractures in older women can lead to serious consequences like early death and reduced independence, highlighting the need for effective interventions.
  • A study evaluated the long-term effects of physical activity on physical function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in women over 50 who experienced a fragility fracture.
  • Results showed that women who engaged in frequent to very frequent physical activity saw improvements in their physical function and overall quality of life over an average follow-up period of nearly 4 years.
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The populations of the loggerhead turtles, present four main D-loop mitochondrial haplogroups that are distributed across the Indo-Pacific, Mediterranean, and Atlantic oceans. The Southwestern Atlantic (SWA) is one of the Regional Management Units (RMUs) of loggerheads, characterized by unique haplotypes, high nest density, and distinct life history traits. Detecting new D-loop haplogroups is important, particularly endemic ones, as they can enhance our understanding of their life history within the RMUs and contribute to the resolution of mixed stock analysis.

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Anti-HMGCR myopathy is an increasingly recognized immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy. However, there are currently no evidence-based treatments available, so case reports and clinical experience are used to guide current management. We report a case of a 49-year-old man, treated with atorvastatin, who presented to the emergency department with progressive proximal muscle weakness.

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Introduction: Audiovestibular dysfunction has been reported in many autoimmune connective tissue diseases, including systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Objective: To assess the prevalence and features of audiological and vestibular disturbances in SSc patients and evaluate their relationship with disease duration, clinical features, nailfold videocapillaroscopy pattern, and immunologic profiles.

Method: A matched case-control study was conducted in a rheumatology clinic of a second-level hospital over 24 months.

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Objectives: To compare the treatment effectiveness of secukinumab in radiographic (r) versus non-radiographic (nr) axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients treated in routine care across Europe.

Methods: Prospectively collected data on secukinumab-treated axSpA patients with known radiographic status were pooled from nine countries.Remission rates based on patient-reported outcomes (PROs; Numeric Rating Scale (0-10), for example, pain ≤2/Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) ≤2 and Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) inactive disease (ID) <1.

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Purpose: To evaluate two-year mortality predictors in all subtypes of fragility fractures.

Methods: Medical records review, single-center study with Portuguese patients with fragility fractures; A univariate analysis, with chi-square for categorical variables and parametric t-student and non-parametric Wilcoxon tests for continuous variables, was performed. Posteriorly, a survival analysis, with subsequent Cox regression was conducted to establish independent risk factors/ predictors of two-year mortality in fragility fractures.

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Background: Obesity has been extensively studied over the years, primarily focusing on the physiological aspects of the disease. However, the general burden of obesity mainly the financial implications and its influence on hospitalization and length of stay have only recently garnered attention in the literature, particularly in the case of Portugal.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the association between obesity and hospitalizations in the Portuguese adult population and compare the average costs of hospitalization among participants with and without obesity.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study looked at patients with PsA (psoriatic arthritis) who started a 2nd or 3rd TNFi (a type of medicine) and how many continued taking it after a year.
  • Out of the patients studied, about 68% stayed on their 2nd TNFi and 66% on their 3rd TNFi after a year.
  • The results showed that effectiveness of the new medicine depended on why they stopped taking the previous one, with better outcomes for those who stopped because the first medicine didn’t work as well after some time.
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Objectives: Anti-SSA autoantibodies can be differentiated according to their antigenic target proteins as anti-Ro60 (60 kDa) or anti-Ro52 (52 kDa). Anti-SSA(Ro60) antibodies are clearly associated with connective tissue diseases (CTD), but the clinical significance of anti-SSA(Ro52) antibodies remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to analyse the disease phenotype of patients with anti-Ro52 and/or anti-Ro60 antibodies.

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Unlabelled: Despite the establishment of Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) worldwide, no study has evaluated their impact on the Portuguese population. Our work has shown that the implementation of an FLS is associated with a significant increase in OP treatment and a lower risk of secondary fracture.

Purpose: Fracture Liaison Services (FLS) have been established worldwide, with positive effects on treatment, secondary fracture, mortality, and economic burden.

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The Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) was completed with five visual analog scales to assess systemic sclerosis (SSc) called Scleroderma HAQ (SHAQ). We performed a validation of the European Portuguese version of SHAQ for patients with SSc. Patients with different forms of SSc from five Hospital Centers were invited.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study aimed to evaluate how effective tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) are for patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), focusing on those in their second or third series of TNFi treatment and why they switched medications (due to lack of efficacy or adverse events).
  • Data from 12 European registries was analyzed, showing that 12-month retention rates for second and third TNFi were similar (71%), but six-month remission rates were higher for the second TNFi (23%) compared to the third (16%).
  • Patients who discontinued their first TNFi due to adverse events had better remission rates on the second TNFi compared to those who switched due to lack
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