The immune system shapes body metabolism, while interactions between peripheral neurons and immune cells control tissue homeostasis and immunity. However, whether peripheral neuroimmune interactions orchestrate endocrine system functions remains unexplored. After fasting, mice lacking type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) displayed disrupted glucose homeostasis, impaired pancreatic glucagon secretion, and inefficient hepatic gluconeogenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study was to examine the influence of three warm-up protocols, with and without post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE), on sprint and vertical jump performance in female athletes. Twenty-five university futsal athletes were randomly assigned to three protocols: i) Traditional Warm-Up (TWU), involving cardiovascular, coordination exercises, and dynamic stretching; ii) Drop Jump Warm-Up (DJWU), consisting of drop jumps from heights of 30 and 40 cm; and iii) Maximum Isometric Warm-Up (MIWU), with high-intensity isometric contractions held for 10 seconds in a squat position at approximately 130-135 degrees of knee flexion. Tests included the countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ) and a 20-meter sprint (S20).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Portuguese Institute for Quality is responsible for the realization and dissemination of the frequency standard in Portugal. There are several techniques for frequency transfer, but we use a frequency mixer to detect phase variations between two light signals with different wavelengths, traveling along an optical fibre. In this paper, we present the development of a digital twin (DT) that replicates the use of a frequency mixer to improve the frequency transfer problem.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Rituximab (RTX) has been reported as an effective treatment alternative in primary forms of minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) associated with steroid dependence and frequent relapses. However, the optimal RTX regimen and the outcomes of further doses of RTX remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the use of induction and maintenance RTX therapy for adults with primary podocytopathies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis document on myopia control is derived from a compilation of medical literature and the collective clinical expertise of an expert committee comprising members from the Brazilian Society of Pediatric Ophthalmology and the Brazilian Society of Contact Lenses and Cornea. To manage myopia in children, the committee recommends corneal topography and biannual visits with cycloplegic refraction, along with annual optical biometry. For fast-progressing myopia, biannual biometry should be considered.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Microflow measurement devices are used in several science and health applications, mainly drug delivery. In the last decade, several new methods based on optical technology were developed, namely the front tracking and interferometric method, in which the knowledge of the inner diameter of the syringe or the capillary used is critical. Only a few National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) can perform inner diameter measurements below 1 mm, which requires expensive technology.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In glomerular disease, the degree of proteinuria is closely related to the progression of chronic kidney disease, and its reduction is associated with a slower decline in the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and consequent improvement in the renal prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of proteinuria reduction on the decline of the eGFR in patients with glomerular disease, during the first year after the diagnosis. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients with primary glomerular disease, followed at the Nephrology Department of Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, during 2019.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFColorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world and represents the third most deadly tumor worldwide. About 15-25% of patients present metastasis in the moment of diagnosis, the liver being the most common site of metastization. Therefore, the development of new therapeutic agents is needed, to improve the patients' prognosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients on hemodialysis (HD) are at higher risk for COVID-19, overall are poor responders to vaccines, and were prioritized in the Portuguese vaccination campaign. This work aimed at evaluating in HD patients the immunogenicity of BTN162b2 after the two doses induction phase, the persistence of specific antibodies along time, and factors predicting these outcomes. We performed a prospective, 6-month long longitudinal cohort analysis of 156 HD patients scheduled to receive BTN162b2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The use of Rituximab (RTX) in glomerular diseases (GD) has increased in the past years, although it is still only used in a small fraction of patients.
Methods: A single center retrospective study of adult patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), lupus nephritis (LN), and vasculitis treated with RTX as first or second-line therapy was conducted at our center from 2010 to 2020.
Results: We identified 19 patients; 36.
The human chr15q11-q13 imprinted cluster is linked to several disorders, including Prader-Willi (PWS) and Angelman (AS) syndromes. Recently, disease modeling approaches based on induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been used to study these syndromes. A concern regarding the use of these cells for imprinted disease modeling is the numerous imprinting defects found in many iPSCs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransplant Proc
April 2018
Background: With the rising prevalence of living-donor kidney transplantation, evaluation of factors correlated with renal function in the donor-recipient pair constitutes a main goal for kidney transplantation clinicians. Our objective was to analyze the more relevant donor characteristics that contribute to donor and recipient estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR) after 1 year.
Methods: We evaluated 48 consecutive donor-recipient pairs from our unit.
Although the prognostic effect of obesity has been studied in critically ill patients its impact on outcomes of septic patients and its role as a risk factor for acute kidney injury (AKI) is not consensual. We aimed to analyze the impact of obesity on the occurrence of AKI and on in-hospital mortality in a cohort of critically ill septic patients. This study is retrospective including 456 adult patients with sepsis admitted to the Division of Intensive Medicine of the Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Norte (Lisbon, Portugal) between January 2008 and December 2014.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a rare, aggressive disorder characterized by dysregulation of lymphocyte and macrophage activity, which culminates in tissue infiltration with hemophagocytosis and ultimately organ failure. Renal involvement frequently ensues and usually results in acute tubular necrosis with associated interstitial inflammation. Less frequently, glomerulopathy can also be found.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Neonatal systemic infections and their consequent impairments give rise to long-lasting health, economic and social effects on the neonate, the family and the nation. Considering the dearth of consolidated economic evidence in this important area, this systematic review aims to critically appraise and consolidate the evidence on economic evaluations of management of neonatal systemic infections in South Asia.
Methods: Full and partial economic evaluations, published in English, associated with the management of neonatal systemic infections in South Asia will be included.
Peritoneopleural shunt is an uncommon complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) usually presenting early as a right pleural transudate. Peritoneopericardial shunt is an even rarer entity in PD, almost never occurring spontaneously. We present the case of a 37-year-old woman on PD for 24 months exhibiting a left pleural and pericardial effusion following pneumonia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic kidney disease (CKD) commonly evolves with disturbances in mineral and bone metabolism, currently defined as CKD-MBD. Management strategies have progressed over the years, but our knowledge regarding evaluation and treatment is still sparse. Herein, we describe a rare case of a hemodialysis patient with apparently fairly controlled hyperparathyroidism (HPTH), who developed multiple symptomatic brown tumors involving the scull, mandible, vertebrae, pelvis, and metacarpus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDeafness, kidney disease and diabetes are not a usual association, neither is a family history of these diseases. We present the case of a 47-year-old woman with non-nephrotic proteinuria, no haematuria, normal renal function, sensorineural hearing loss, recently diagnosed diabetes and maculopathy. There was a maternal family history of deafness, diabetes and renal disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Using the Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss of kidney function, End-stage kidney disease (RIFLE), Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) and Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) systems, the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and their ability to predict in-hospital mortality in severe sepsis or septic shock was compared.
Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 457 critically ill patients with severe sepsis or septic shock hospitalized between January 2008 and December 2014. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to evaluate the association between the RIFLE, AKIN and KDIGO systems with in-hospital mortality.