Publications by authors named "Beatriz Castro"

Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the link between metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), finding a higher prevalence of advanced liver disease in IMID patients compared to a matched control group.
  • Utilizing a case-control design, the research analyzed liver biopsy data and RNA sequencing from patients to identify significant differences in gene expression related to liver disease between IMID and control groups.
  • Results indicate that IMIDs not only increase the risk of advanced steatotic liver disease but also suggest a unique pathway for MASLD development in these patients, separate from traditional metabolic factors.
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  • The persistent sciatic artery is a rare congenital condition affecting the lower limb's blood circulation, with limited documented cases.
  • A case study of a 63-year-old woman revealed severe complications, including cold and pale extremities, requiring emergency intervention.
  • Despite surgical attempts to restore blood flow, the patient developed severe necrosis and ultimately needed a transfemoral amputation, highlighting the serious risks associated with this anomaly.
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Background: The role of beta calcitonin gene-related peptide (beta-CGRP) in gastrointestinal tract is obscure, but experimental models suggest an effect on the homeostasis of the intestinal mucosa. We measured beta-CGRP circulating levels in a large series of subjects with a recent diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in order to assess the potential role of this neuropeptide in IBD pathogenesis.

Methods: Morning serum beta-CGRP levels were measured by ELISA (CUSABIO, China) in 96 patients recently diagnosed of IBD and compared with those belonging from 50 matched healthy controls (HC) and 50 chronic migraine (CM) patients.

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European catfish is a large-bodied apex predator, a key species in native areas, but invasive in others where it negatively impacts local aquatic fauna necessitates catfish regulation. However, traditional ichthyological methods face challenges in capturing it. The study presents a detailed description of the efficient long-line method, refined through 48 sampling campaigns across twelve European water bodies.

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Objective: To analyze the specificity of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels, we measured alpha-CGRP circulating levels in a large series of patients with a recent diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) who were interviewed regarding comorbid headache.

Background: Several studies have found an association between migraine and IBD.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study performed in an IBD clinic, morning serum alpha-CGRP levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 96 patients who were recently diagnosed with IBD and compared to those from 50 similar patients with chronic migraine (CM) and 50 healthy controls (HC).

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Article Synopsis
  • Limited data exist on the outcomes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients who undergo solid organ transplantation (SOT), and this study examines both pre-existing IBD and newly developed IBD post-transplant.
  • The study included 177 patients, of which 106 had pre-existing IBD, and found that 32% of these patients experienced disease progression after a median of 2.2 years, while 55% of those with de novo IBD progressed within 1.9 years.
  • Key risk factors for progression in pre-existing IBD included having active disease at the time of SOT and extraintestinal manifestations, indicating a significant impact on patient outcomes post-transplant.*
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Background: Some studies have suggested an association between migraine and inflammatory bowel disease. We determined migraine prevalence in a cohort of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Methods: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease aged 18-65 years were interviewed using an headache questionnaire.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A study of 520 adult patients showed that small abscesses (<30 mm) can be treated effectively with antibiotics, while larger abscesses require drainage methods, with surgical drainage being more effective but riskier.
  • * Post-treatment, luminal resection lowers the risk of abscess recurrence within a year, but anti-TNF therapy shows similar effectiveness for preventing recurrences regardless of resection.
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(1) Background: Transition is a planned movement of paediatric patients to adult healthcare systems, and its implementation is not yet established in all inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) units. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of transition on IBD outcomes. (2) Methods: Multicentre, retrospective and observational study of IBD paediatric patients transferred to an adult IBD unit between 2017-2020.

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  • The study aimed to evaluate the effects of switching from the adalimumab (ADA) originator to its biosimilars on treatment persistence, clinical efficacy, and safety in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
  • A total of 524 patients were analyzed, with some maintaining the ADA originator and others switching to biosimilars, showing similar rates of treatment discontinuation and relapse between the two groups.
  • The findings concluded that switching to ADA biosimilars did not negatively impact patient outcomes compared to continuing with the ADA originator.
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Introduction: The prevalence of penetrating complications in Crohn's disease (CD) increases progressively over time, but evidence on the medical treatment in this setting is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of biologic agents in CD complicated with internal fistulizing disease.

Methods: Adult patients with CD-related fistulae who received at least 1 biologic agent for this condition from the prospectively maintained ENEIDA registry were included.

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We evaluated the efficacy and safety of trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) plus bevacizumab in treating refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in a retrospective, observational study. Patients refractory or intolerant to standard therapies received TAS-102 (30-35 mg/m twice daily on days 1-5 and days 8-12 every 28 days) plus bevacizumab 5 mg/kg on days 1 and 15. Clinical and pathological characteristics, overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) data were collected and analysed.

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Aims: i] To evaluate the evolution of pregnancies and offspring after inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] surgery during pregnancy; and ii] to describe the indications, the surgical techniques, and the frequency of caesarean section concomitant with surgery.

Methods: Patients operated on due to IBD during pregnancy after 1998 were included. Participating clinicians were asked to review their databases to identify cases.

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The synergetic effect of estrogens and androgens is known to play a crucial role in the physiopathology of the prostate gland. Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting compound that can interfere with endocrine hormone functioning and thereby influence prostate development. The objective of this study was to examine the impact on prostate expression of aromatase, 5α-R isozymes, and prostate cancer-related genes of exposure to low doses of BPA from perinatal period to adulthood.

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Background: Estimates of detectable antinuclear antibodies (ANA) prevalence vary widely, from 6% in healthy populations to 50-80% in patients with autoimmune disease. However, there is a lack of evidence about the overall prevalence in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ANA seroconversion after the beginning of biological therapy.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the overall prevalence of ANA in IBD patients, their relationship with different treatments, clinical outcomes and the seroconversion rate of ANA in patients treated with biological therapy.

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Background & Aims: There is conflicting evidence regarding the prevalence of and risk factors for metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We aimed to determine MAFLD prevalence and risk factors in IBD patients.

Methods: Cross-sectional, case-control study included all consecutive IBD patients treated at 2 different university hospitals.

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Background: The impact of biologics on the risk of postoperative complications (PC) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is still an ongoing debate. This lack of evidence is more relevant for ustekinumab and vedolizumab.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of biologics on the risk of PC.

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Spike (S) protein has been recognized as a promising molecular target for diagnostic, vaccines and antiviral drugs development for COVID-19. In this study, we analyzed the most predominant mutations in the S protein of Brazilian isolates and predicted the effect of these amino acid alterations to protein conformation. A total of 25,924 sequences were obtained from GISAID for five regions of Brazilian territory (Midwest, North, Northeast, South, and Southeast), according to exclusion criteria.

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Background And Aims: The development programm UNIFI has shown promising results of ustekinumab in ulcerative colitis [UC] treatment which should be confirmed in clinical practice. We aimed to evaluate the durability, effectiveness, and safety of ustekinumab in UC in real life.

Methods: Patients included in the prospectively maintained ENEIDA registry, who received at least one intravenous dose of ustekinumab due to active UC [Partial Mayo Score [PMS]>2], were included.

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Maintaining a salivary metabolic profile upon sample collection and preparation is determinant in metabolomics. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to identify metabolite changes during short-term storage, at room temperature (RT)/4 °C/-20 °C, and after sample preparation, at RT/4 °C (mimicking typical clinical/laboratory settings). Interestingly, significant metabolic inter-individual and inter-day variability were noted, probably determining sample stability to some extent.

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Objective: To evaluate the difference between early and delayed removal of indwelling urinary catheter after radical hysterectomy (RH) or radical trachelectomy (RT).

Methods: An ambispective study was conducted in early-stage cervical cancer patients who underwent RH or RT. Delayed indwelling urinary catheter removal occurred on a postoperative day (POD) 7 in the retrospective group (January 2012-November 2013), and early removal occurred on POD 1 in the prospective group (May 2014-June 2017).

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Background: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may present extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) that affect the joints, skin, eyes, and hepatobiliary area, among others.

Aims: Our aim was to analyse the prevalence and characteristics of EIMs in patients with IBD and to identify the possible risk factors associated with the development of EIMs in the largest series published to date.

Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study including patients from the Spanish ENEIDA registry promoted by GETECCU.

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The fungi and are the causative agents of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic mycosis endemic to Latin America. This fungus is considered a facultative intracellular pathogen that is able to survive and replicate inside macrophages. The survival of the fungus during infection depends on its adaptability to various conditions, such as nitrosative/oxidative stress produced by the host immune cells, particularly alveolar macrophages.

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