Publications by authors named "M B Coutinho"
Body Condition and Blood Biochemistry of Free-Range Caiman latirostris in Northeast Brazilian Atlantic Forest.
J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol
January 2025
The Atlantic Forest broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris) inhabits regions within one of the world's most ecologically diverse ecosystems, yet few studies have explored the relationship between body condition, blood biochemistry, and environmental factors in the wild. Our study investigated the effects of sex, ontogeny, habitat, and environmental variables on the body condition and blood biochemistry of free-ranging caimans from the state of Alagoas, Northeast Brazil. From 2020 to 2022, we captured 75 caimans across three sites in different seasons.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGranulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare systemic vasculitis that can involve the respiratory tract and lead to severe airway complications. We present a 61-year-old female with an undiagnosed GPA who experienced severe airway obstruction and rapid deterioration during a flexible bronchoscopy. Severe glottic edema and reduced vocal cord mobility resulted in a challenging airway and rapid desaturation, and ultimately led to cardiac arrest.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common genetic disorder of phenotypic variability with age-dependent penetrance. This study describes the diagnosis, clinical characterization, management, and outcomes of a large patient cohort with plexiform neurofibroma (PN) treated with selumetinib in a real-world clinical setting.
Methods: This single-center observational study consecutively enrolled patients with NF1-PN treated with selumetinib from April 2018 to 2023.
Article Synopsis
- * The p.Ala1035Val variant is the most common in Portugal and is linked to a potential SNP (p.Ile858Val) that may affect disease progression.
- * Research using in vitro models reveals that the p.Ala1035Val variant, especially when combined with p.Ile858Val, shows decreased lysosomal trafficking similar to p.Ile1061Thr, suggesting the need for new therapeutic approaches.
Article Synopsis
- Red pitaya fruit is gaining popularity as a natural colorant due to its high betalain content, which gives it a vibrant red-purple color sought after in food and cosmetic industries.
- The fruit is also nutritionally valuable, containing bioactive compounds that might help prevent chronic diseases like diabetes and can be used in pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements.
- The study focused on using microfiltration to create a concentrated red-purple pitaya extract, which showed promising results in terms of efficient processing and demonstrated non-toxic and blood sugar-lowering effects in zebrafish, indicating its potential value as both a colorant and a health supplement.