Publications by authors named "Maria-Joao Baptista"

Article Synopsis
  • This study examines how cardiovascular responses (like heart rate and blood pressure) can help predict the outcomes for children with acute acquired brain injury (ABI) who are admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).
  • The research included 72 children, where significant associations were found between conditions like tachycardia and abnormal blood pressure levels and their likelihood of mortality.
  • The findings suggest that the Poincaré SD1/SD2 ratio may be a useful tool for predicting mortality in these patients, indicating the need for larger studies to confirm these results.
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  • The t(14;19)(q32;q13) chromosomal rearrangement leads to the overexpression of the BCL3 gene through its juxtaposition with the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IGH) gene, affecting various lymphoid neoplasms.
  • An analysis of 13 lymphoid neoplasms with BCL3 rearrangement identified two distinct breakpoint clusters that result in different clinical outcomes: 5' breakpoints near an IGH enhancer causing overexpression of BCL3, and 3' breakpoints leading to no overexpression.
  • The study revealed that upstream BCL3-R tumors are related to atypical chronic lymphocytic leukemia while downstream BCL3-R tumors are linked to marginal zone lymphomas,
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Background: Brain injury is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. Neurogenic stunned cardiomyopathy is a complication associated with several neurological conditions that can lead to worse outcomes. It presents as alterations in blood pressure, cardiac rhythm disturbances and the increase in cardiac injury biomarkers.

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The genetic mechanisms associated with splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) transformation are not well defined. We studied 41 patients with SMZL that eventually underwent large B-cell lymphoma transformation. Tumor material was obtained either only at diagnosis (9 patients), at diagnosis and transformation (18 patients), and only at transformation (14 patients).

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  • The study focuses on aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) in HIV patients, specifically exploring its characteristics according to the 2017 WHO classification.
  • Researchers analyzed 75 cases using various techniques to evaluate genetic features like MYC, BCL2, and BCL6 status, as well as to assess their influence on prognosis.
  • Findings indicate that while certain genetic rearrangements are similar in HIV-positive patients and the general population, a lower frequency of BCL2 rearrangements and specific coexpressions (MYC and BCL2 in DLBCL, MUM1 in Burkitt-like lymphoma) are linked to worse outcomes for those with HIV.
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Assessing public and patients' expectations and concerns about genomic data sharing is essential to promote adequate data governance and engagement in rare diseases genomics research. This cross-sectional study compared the views of 159 rare disease patients, 478 informal carers and 63 healthcare professionals in Northern Portugal about the benefits and risks of sharing genomic data for research, and its associated factors. The three participant groups expressed significantly different views.

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In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), B-cell receptor signaling, tumor-microenvironment interactions, and somatic mutations drive disease progression. To better understand the intersection between the microenvironment and molecular events in CLL pathogenesis, we integrated bulk transcriptome profiling of paired peripheral blood (PB) and lymph node (LN) samples from 34 patients. Oncogenic processes were upregulated in LN compared with PB and in immunoglobulin heavy-chain variable (IGHV) region unmutated compared with mutated cases.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (SMZL) is a complex condition with varying clinical outcomes, influenced by multiple gene mutations and diverse regulatory pathways, making it critical to identify different subgroups based on their genetic and environmental features.
  • - Researchers analyzed 303 spleen samples from an international study to understand these subgroups, ultimately identifying two main genetic clusters: NNK (58% of cases) and DMT (32% of cases), each with unique genetic profiles and survival outcomes.
  • - The study revealed two types of immune microenvironments within SMZL: immune-suppressive and immune-silent, highlighting their distinct clinical implications and the potential for improving classification and targeted therapies in this disease.
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We describe 36 patients with splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) with transformation (SMZL-T), including 15 from a series of 84 patients with SMZL diagnosed at the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (HCB) and 21 diagnosed with SMZL-T in other centres. In the HCB cohort, the cumulative incidence of transformation at 5 years was 15%. Predictors for transformation were cytopenias, hypoalbuminaemia, complex karyotype (CK) and both the Intergruppo Italiano Linfomi (ILL) and simplified Haemoglobin, Platelet count, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and extrahilar Lymphadenopathy (HPLL)/ABC scores (P < 0·05).

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Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) represents a rare and aggressive lymphoma subtype frequently associated with immunosuppression. Clinically, patients with PBL are characterized by poor outcome. The current understanding of the molecular pathogenesis is limited.

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Introduction: Patent ductus arteriosus, a persistent communication between the descending thoracic aorta and the pulmonary artery, is one of the most common congenital heart defects. Transcatheter occlusion is an effective alternative to surgery and is currently standard of care for most patients. The authors present the results from a single center after twelve years of experience using this technique.

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Introduction: Pediatric pulmonary embolism (PE) is rare but associated with adverse outcomes. We aimed to characterize PE cases admitted in a tertiary hospital and to evaluate sensitivity of selected PE diagnostic prediction tools.

Methods: Retrospective, descriptive study of PE cases admitted from 2008 to 2020 using data collected from hospital records.

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Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKis) are a preferred treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Indefinite therapy with BTKis, although effective, presents clinical challenges. Combination therapy can deepen responses, shorten treatment duration, and possibly prevent or overcome drug resistance.

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Purpose: In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire is skewed and tumor-derived antigens are hypothesized as drivers of oligoclonal expansion. Ibrutinib, a standard treatment for CLL, inhibits not only Bruton tyrosine kinase of the B-cell receptor signaling pathway, but also IL2-inducible kinase of the TCR signaling pathway. T-cell polarization and activation are affected by ibrutinib, but it is unknown whether T cells contribute to clinical response.

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Introduction: International policy imperatives for the public and patient involvement in the governance of health data coexist with conflicting cross-border policies on data sharing. This can challenge the planning and implementation of participatory data governance in healthcare services locally. Engaging with local stakeholders and understanding how their needs, values and preferences for governing health data can be articulated with policies made at the supranational level is crucial.

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Aims: Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare aggressive B-cell lymphoma that frequently arises at extranodal sites in the setting of immunosuppression. The diagnosis of PBL is complex, owing to a frequent solid or cohesive growth pattern, and an often unusual immunophenotype. Several case reports have described cytokeratin (CK) expression in PBL, introducing a diagnostic pitfall.

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The meeting, which brought together leading scientists and clinicians in the field of leukemia and lymphoma, was held at the new headquarters of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC) in Badalona, Catalonia, Spain, September 19-20, 2019. Its purpose was to highlight the latest advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving blood cancers, and to discuss how this knowledge can be translated into an improved management of the disease. Special emphasis was placed on the role of genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity, and the exploitation of epigenetic regulation for developing biomarkers and novel treatment approaches.

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Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been implicated in lymphomagenesis and can be found infecting tumor cells and in plasma at lymphoma diagnosis, especially in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of plasma EBV load as biomarker and prognostic factor in HIV-positive patients with lymphomas.

Methods: EBV loads were measured by polymerase chain reaction in plasma samples of 81 HIV-positive patients' lymphomas at different moments: within 1 year before lymphoma diagnosis, at diagnosis, and at complete response (CR).

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Congenital coronary artery anomalies are modifications of their origin, course or structure and its incidence varies between 0,2 and 5,6% of the general population. Although the majority is asymptomatic, they are the second leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. The aim of this study is to highlight the main anomalies with hemodynamic significance, including the anomalous origin of a coronary artery from the opposite sinus and anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from pulmonary artery.

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Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a life-threatening developmental anomaly, intrinsically combining severe pulmonary hypoplasia and hypertension. During development, signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) are utilized to elicit cell growth, differentiation, and survival.

Methods: We used the nitrofen-induced CDH rat model.

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