Publications by authors named "Portela P"

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a heterogeneous population that acts on both innate and adaptive immunity, fostering immune escape in tumors and contributing to cancer progression. Despite the lack of definitive markers for immunophenotyping MDSCs, particularly the polymorphonuclear (PMN-MDSC) subset, these cells seem to play a crucial role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients' prognosis. Additionally, the maturation stage of MDSCs remains a subject of debate and is largely unknown within the AML context.

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  • This study analyzed decisions regarding decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) and early withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy (WLST) in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) and large ischemic strokes from the SELECT2 trial.* -
  • Among 352 patients, DHC was utilized in 55 patients, and WLST was chosen for 81, showing no significant differences in usage between those receiving endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) and those treated medically.* -
  • About 21% of DHC patients were able to walk independently after one year, indicating that DHC did not negatively impact the benefits of thrombectomy, while WLST generally resulted in poor outcomes.*
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Geobacter's unique ability to perform extracellular electron transfer (EET) to electrodes in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) has sparked the implementation of sustainable production of electrical energy. However, the electrochemical performance of Geobacter's biofilms in MFCs remains challenging to implement industrially. Multiple approaches are being investigated to enhance MFC technologies.

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Xenarthran mammals of the suborder Folivora are arboreal species that feed mainly on leaves and Cecropia spp, an abundant plant in the Brazilian Amazon region, is favoured. The stomach of sloths represents 20-30% of their body weight and is adapted to gastric fermentation of plant material. These anatomical and physiological adaptations can be altered by many factors when confined to captivity, which favours fatal gastric conditions.

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  • Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) has proven safe and effective for patients suffering from large core strokes, but the effects of reperfusion quality and procedure details on outcomes are still unclear.
  • In the SELECT2 trial, findings indicated that 80% of patients experienced successful reperfusion, which correlates with better clinical outcomes, particularly in those who achieved near-complete reperfusion.
  • Longer procedure times negatively impacted patient outcomes, while the method of thrombectomy (aspiration vs stent-retriever) showed no significant differences in reperfusion success or functional recovery.
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Leishmaniasis are neglected diseases transmitted by vectors that affect domestic and wild animals, including humans. Due to its incidence and lethality, this zoonosis is a worrying public health problem, making it essential to identify all links in the transmission chain. Infection of wild mammals by Leishmania spp.

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Extracellular electron transfer (EET) via microbial nanowires drives globally-important environmental processes and biotechnological applications for bioenergy, bioremediation, and bioelectronics. Due to highly-redundant and complex EET pathways, it is unclear how microbes wire electrons rapidly (>10s) from the inner-membrane through outer-surface nanowires directly to an external environment despite a crowded periplasm and slow (<10s) electron diffusion among periplasmic cytochromes. Here, we show that Geobacter sulfurreducens periplasmic cytochromes PpcABCDE inject electrons directly into OmcS nanowires by binding transiently with differing efficiencies, with the least-abundant cytochrome (PpcC) showing the highest efficiency.

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The yeast is widely used in food and non-food industries. During industrial fermentation yeast strains are exposed to fluctuations in oxygen concentration, osmotic pressure, pH, ethanol concentration, nutrient availability and temperature. Fermentation performance depends on the ability of the yeast strains to adapt to these changes.

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  • Patients with large ischemic core strokes often have poor outcomes and are rarely transferred for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), leading to a need for better understanding of treatment effects in different patient groups.
  • The study analyzed data from the SELECT2 trial, focusing on adults with acute ischemic strokes due to specific artery occlusions, comparing those who were directly treated at EVT centers with those who were transferred.
  • Results indicated that EVT improved functional outcomes in both transfer and non-transfer patients, suggesting that EVT can benefit patients regardless of transfer delays, although the median ASPECTS score showed a decline during transfers.
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Importance: Whether endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) efficacy for patients with acute ischemic stroke and large cores varies depending on the extent of ischemic injury is uncertain.

Objective: To describe the relationship between imaging estimates of irreversibly injured brain (core) and at-risk regions (mismatch) and clinical outcomes and EVT treatment effect.

Design, Setting, And Participants: An exploratory analysis of the SELECT2 trial, which randomized 352 adults (18-85 years) with acute ischemic stroke due to occlusion of the internal carotid or middle cerebral artery (M1 segment) and large ischemic core to EVT vs medical management (MM), across 31 global centers between October 2019 and September 2022.

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The quiescent state is the prevalent mode of cellular life in most cells. is a useful model for studying the molecular basis of the cell cycle, quiescence, and aging. Previous studies indicate that heterogeneous ribosomes show a specialized translation function to adjust the cellular proteome upon a specific stimulus.

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The recent reclassification of the strict anaerobe bacterium as aerotolerant brought attention for oxidative stress protection pathways. Although the electron transfer pathways for oxygen detoxification are not well established, evidence was obtained for the formation of a redox complex between the periplasmic triheme cytochrome PpcA and the diheme cytochrome peroxidase MacA. In the latter, the reduction of the high-potential heme triggers a conformational change that displaces the axial histidine of the low-potential heme with peroxidase activity.

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Importance: ApTOLL is a TLR4 antagonist with proven preclinical neuroprotective effect and a safe profile in healthy volunteers.

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of ApTOLL in combination with endovascular treatment (EVT) for patients with ischemic stroke.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This phase 1b/2a, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted at 15 sites in Spain and France from 2020 to 2022.

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Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with depression in family members of people hospitalized in intensive care units.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 980 family members of patients admitted to the intensive care units of a large public hospital in the interior of Bahia. Depression was measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire-8.

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  • International guidelines advise against using intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in ischemic stroke patients who have recently taken direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC).
  • A multicenter study examined the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) in 832 patients who underwent IVT within 48 hours of DOAC use, compared to over 32,000 controls without recent DOAC intake.
  • Results highlighted varied outcomes based on prior DOAC therapy, with focus on sICH incidence measured through established stroke scales, and included an analysis of DOAC levels and reversal treatments prior to IVT.
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Introduction: Physical exercise can improve glucose metabolism; however, the best type, volume, intensity, and frequency aren't knowledge. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), an emergent exercise type implicated as a short time-efficient exercise to improve metabolic health, needs more investigation regarding the traditional Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training (MICT).

Objective: To identify the effects of MICT and HIIT on glycemic control of older people with glucose metabolism impairments.

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The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has exacerbated and increased the prevalence of depression in adolescents. There is significant evidence supporting best practices for treating adolescent depression; yet, many adolescents remain unidentified or untreated by their primary care provider. For this quality improvement initiative, the Guidelines for Adolescent Depression in Primary Care (GLAD-PC) were implemented in a primary care setting.

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Importance: The role of endovascular thrombectomy is uncertain for patients presenting beyond 24 hours of the time they were last known well.

Objective: To evaluate functional and safety outcomes for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) vs medical management in patients with large-vessel occlusion beyond 24 hours of last known well.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective observational cohort study enrolled patients between July 2012 and December 2021 at 17 centers across the United States, Spain, Australia, and New Zealand.

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  • Previous studies indicate that COVID-19-related strokes have different mechanisms and outcomes compared to non-COVID-19 strokes, prompting a need for more comparative research.
  • This study analyzed 697 patients with acute large vessel occlusion (LVO), comparing 302 COVID-19 patients to 395 non-COVID-19 patients, and found significant age and gender differences, with COVID-19 patients generally being younger and more male.
  • Results showed that COVID-19 was linked to lower chances of complete revascularization and worse functional outcomes, as well as higher rates of in-hospital complications and mortality.
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Background: The mechanisms and outcomes in coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-associated stroke are unique from those of non-COVID-19 stroke.

Objective: To describe the efficacy and outcomes of acute revascularization of large vessel occlusion (LVO) in the setting of COVID-19 in an international cohort.

Methods: We conducted an international multicenter retrospective study of consecutively admitted patients with COVID-19 with concomitant acute LVO across 50 comprehensive stroke centers.

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  • cAMP regulates various cellular processes in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) through a protein called PKA, which is crucial for responding to heat shock and adapting to thermal stress.
  • The study shows that the mRNA for the TPK1 gene, part of the PKA holoenzyme, increases in abundance and stability during heat shock, but its translation is inhibited.
  • Additionally, the presence of the Wsc3 sensor and some components of the CWI pathway are essential for the expression of TPK1 during heat stress, indicating that thermal stress influences the specificity of cAMP-PKA signaling and enhances yeast's ability to cope with heat.
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The redox potential values of cytochromes can be modulated by the protonation/deprotonation of neighbor groups (redox-Bohr effect), a mechanism that permits the proteins to couple electron/proton transfer. In the respiratory chains, this effect is particularly relevant if observed in the physiological pH range, as it may contribute to the electrochemical gradient for ATP synthesis. A constitutively produced family of five triheme cytochromes (PpcA-E) from the bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens plays a crucial role in extracellular electron transfer, a hallmark that permits this bacterium to be explored for several biotechnological applications.

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Geobacter bacteria are able to transfer electrons to the exterior of the cell and reduce extracellular electron acceptors including toxic/radioactive metals and electrode surfaces, with potential applications in bioremediation or electricity harvesting. The triheme c-type cytochrome PpcA from Geobacter metallireducens plays a crucial role in bridging the electron transfer from the inner to the outer membrane, ensuring an effective extracellular electron transfer. This cytochrome shares 80% identity with PpcA from Geobacter sulfurreducens, but their redox properties are markedly different, thus determining the distinctive working redox potential ranges in the two bacteria.

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Glycolysis is a fundamental metabolic pathway for glucose catabolism across biology, and glycolytic enzymes are among the most abundant proteins in cells. Their expression at such levels provides a particular challenge. Here we demonstrate that the glycolytic mRNAs are localized to granules in yeast and human cells.

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Background And Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a small but clinically significant risk of stroke, the cause of which is frequently cryptogenic. In a large multinational cohort of consecutive COVID-19 patients with stroke, we evaluated clinical predictors of cryptogenic stroke, short-term functional outcomes and in-hospital mortality among patients according to stroke etiology.

Methods: We explored clinical characteristics and short-term outcomes of consecutively evaluated patients 18 years of age or older with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from 31 hospitals in 4 countries (3/1/20-6/16/20).

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