Publications by authors named "Pinto B"

Article Synopsis
  • * This technique is particularly useful for studying the effects of antimitotic drugs, which disrupt cell division by targeting key components like microtubules and kinases, providing insights that traditional methods can't offer.
  • * The chapter outlines a detailed protocol for using time-lapse microscopy on A549 lung cancer cells treated with the drug BI2536, including the necessary software for capturing and analyzing the imaging data.
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  • Head and neck cancer (HNC), particularly oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is increasingly prevalent and often resistant to standard treatments like surgery and chemotherapy.
  • The research focuses on combining Cetuximab, an EGFR inhibitor, with other small molecules that target mitotic proteins (MPS-1, Aurora-B, KSP) to improve cancer treatment effectiveness.
  • Results indicate that this combination enhances cancer cell death and shows significant clinical relevance, suggesting a new strategy to tackle OSCC more effectively.
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The evolutionary classification of protein domains (ECOD) classifies protein domains using a combination of sequence and structural data (http://prodata.swmed.edu/ecod).

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The Pfam protein families database is a comprehensive collection of protein domains and families used for genome annotation and protein structure and function analysis (https://www.ebi.ac.

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Timor‑Leste is a lower‑middle‑income country in Southeast Asia. To control the significant local threat from infectious diseases, it is imperative to strengthen the knowledge and practice capabilities of the primary care workforce. We report and reflect on the development and delivery of a national training programme in infectious diseases called the Advancing Surveillance and Training to Enhance Recognition of Infectious Diseases (ASTEROID) programme, developed by the medical non‑governmental organisation (NGO) Maluk Timor and other Timorese stakeholders.

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Many voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels display a time-dependent phenomenon called C-type inactivation, whereby prolonged activation by voltage leads to the inhibition of ionic conduction, a process that involves a conformational change at the selectivity filter toward a non-conductive state. Recently, a high-resolution structure of a strongly inactivated triple-mutant channel kv1.2-kv2.

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Objective: To characterize all Portuguese public hospitalizations of patients aged < 65 years with a primary or secondary diagnosis of dementia, based on ICD-9-CM coding.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted using a nationwide database encompassing all hospitalizations occurred in Portuguese mainland public hospitals with discharge from 2008 to 2015. Hospitalizations of patients aged 35-64 years with primary or secondary diagnoses of dementia were selected based on ICD-9-CM codes 290.

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Limited data are available about the coastal ecology of the Calabria region, in the southern Italy. As well, data about the levels of biodiversity and the structure of food webs in these environments are totally missing. However, considering the wide range of physical and ecological conditions distinguishing these ecosystems, a remarkable spread of biodiversity is expected.

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Background: Recent clinical series on donation after uncontrolled cardiovascular death (uDCD) reported successful transplantation of lungs preserved by pulmonary inflation up to 3 hours postmortem. This study aims to investigate the additive effects of in situ lowering of intrathoracic temperature and sevoflurane preconditioning on lung grafts in a porcine uDCD model.

Methods: After uDCD induction, donor pigs were allocated to one of the following groups: control-static lung inflation only (SLI); TC - SLI + continuous intrapleural topical cooling (TC); or TC+Sevo - SLI + TC + sevoflurane.

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Objective: To establish the accuracy of frozen section examination in identifying tumor spread through air spaces (STAS), as well as to propose a reproducible technical methodology for frozen section analysis. We also aim to propose a method to be incorporated into the decision making about the need for conversion to lobectomy during sublobar resection.

Methods: This was a nonrandomized prospective study of 38 patients with lung cancer who underwent surgical resection.

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Background: The ACR in 2021 and the EULAR in 2022 published recommendations for management of ANCA-associated vasculitis. Given the differences in the demographic, clinical profiles, and the socio-economic realities between various countries, there is a need for development of guidelines for the management of AAV for less economically developed regions of the world.

Methods: These guidelines were made following the GRADE methodology.

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Head and neck cancer (HNC), the sixth most common cancer worldwide, is increasing in incidence, with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) as the predominant subtype. OSCC mainly affects middle-aged to elderly males, often occurring on the posterior lateral border of the tongue, leading to significant disfigurement and functional impairments, such as swallowing and speech difficulties. Despite advancements in understanding OSCC's genetic and epigenetic variations, survival rates for advanced stages remain low, highlighting the need for new treatment options.

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Background: Habitat transitions have considerable consequences in organism homeostasis, as they require the adjustment of several concurrent physiological compartments to maintain stability and adapt to a changing environment. Within the range of molecules with a crucial role in the regulation of different physiological processes, neuropeptides are key agents. Here, we examined the coding status of several neuropeptides and their receptors with pleiotropic activity in Cetacea.

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Ocular toxoplasmosis is the most prevalent clinical manifestation of infection, which causes irreversible retinal damage. Different experimental models have been developed to study this pathology. In the present study, a new, ex vivo model is proposed to contribute to the elucidation of disease mechanisms and to possible therapeutic solutions.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Lung cancer is a major global health issue, and low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening can reduce mortality rates by up to 25%, making it a cost-effective solution that European countries are encouraged to explore for implementation.
  • - A task force reviewed literature and engaged in discussions to develop recommendations for launching lung cancer screening programs in Portugal, focusing on the guidelines of the World Health Organization tailored to the local healthcare system.
  • - Key areas covered in the recommendations include identifying eligible populations, invitation methods, radiological requirements, result reporting, referral processes, and the integration of smoking cessation programs as essential for effective lung cancer screening.
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  • This study investigates how plasma brain-derived tau (BD-Tau) can predict outcomes for patients with acute ischemic stroke who undergo endovascular therapy (EVT), potentially improving prognosis after EVT trials initiated in 2015.
  • Two independent patient cohorts with large vessel occlusion were analyzed, measuring various plasma biomarkers pre- and post-EVT, with 90-day functional outcomes assessed using standardized scales.
  • Results show that while GFAP was strong for early imaging outcomes, BD-Tau was more effective for predicting long-term functional recovery, leading to the development of a predictive model that proved effective across both cohorts.
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. Grip force applied during repetitive hand tool use varies amongst individuals and some apply more force than necessary. Augmented feedback may help modify grip force to reduce the risk of developing cumulative trauma disorders but has been scarcely investigated during electric hand tool operation.

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Transposable elements (TEs) are repetitive DNA sequences which create mutations and generate genetic diversity across the tree of life. In amniote vertebrates, TEs have been mainly studied in mammals and birds, whose genomes generally display low TE diversity. Squamates (Order Squamata; including ∼11,000 extant species of lizards and snakes) show as much variation in TE abundance and activity as they do in species and phenotypes.

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Force plates are used as standalone measurement systems in research and practice to evaluate metrics such as jump height. Calculating jump height involves multiple procedural steps, but previous investigations aiming to improve calculation procedures have only considered the influence of a single procedural step in isolation. The purpose of this study was to investigate if considering the interacting influence of multiple procedural steps in conjunction would impact the accuracy of jump height calculated from force plate recordings.

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Background: Interventions promoting physical activity (PA) among survivors of cancer improve their functioning, reduce fatigue, and offer other benefits in cancer recovery and risk reduction for future cancer. There is a need for interventions that can be implemented on a wider scale than that is possible in research settings. We have previously demonstrated that a 3-month peer-delivered PA program (Moving Forward Together [MFT]) significantly increased the moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) of survivors of breast cancer.

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Many proteins regulating mitosis have emerged as targets for cancer therapy, including the kinesin spindle protein (KSP) and Aurora kinase B (AurB). KSP is crucial for proper spindle pole separation during mitosis, while AurB plays roles in chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. Agents targeting KSP and AurB selectively affect dividing cells and have shown significant activity in vitro.

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Study Design: Systematic review; meta-analysis.

Purpose: Lumbar degenerative disease is frequent and has a tremendous impact on patients' disability and quality-of-life. Open and minimally invasive procedures have been used to achieve adequate decompression and fusion.

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  • Apes have two sex chromosomes: the essential Y chromosome for male reproduction and the X chromosome necessary for both reproduction and cognition, with differences in mating patterns affecting their function.
  • Studying these chromosomes is challenging due to their repetitive structures, but researchers created gapless assemblies for five great apes and one lesser ape to explore their evolutionary complexities.
  • The Y chromosomes are highly variable and undergo significant changes compared to the more stable X chromosomes, and this research can provide insights into human evolution and aid in the conservation of endangered ape species.
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