Publications by authors named "Sofia Cristovao Ferreira"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how genomic assays can help reduce chemotherapy for early breast cancer patients by analyzing a specific protocol using the 21-gene Recurrence Score (RS) assay.
- Among 154 women tested, 60% had an RS score indicating low risk, resulting in a significant 65% reduction in chemotherapy prescriptions, especially for postmenopausal women and those with less aggressive cancer types.
- The findings suggest that using the RS assay is feasible and effective, allowing for safer treatment plans without delaying necessary adjuvant therapy.
Article Synopsis
- The study reviewed outcomes of 441 metastatic breast cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy at the Jules Bordet Institute from 2008 to 2018, focusing on those with visceral crisis (VC).
- Among the patients, 59.2% experienced VC, and those with VC had a significantly lower median overall survival (OS) of 3.7 months compared to 8.6 months for those without VC.
- Key factors associated with worse OS included hyperbilirubinemia, high ECOG scores indicating poor health status, and more than three prior treatment lines; however, resolution of VC improved OS for affected patients.
Article Synopsis
- HER2-positive breast cancer was identified in the 1980s and is known for its aggressive nature, but targeted therapies have significantly improved patient outcomes.
- Current treatment guidelines established in 2012 recommend a dual blockade of trastuzumab and pertuzumab as first-line therapy, with TDM-1 for second-line treatment, but options become limited in later lines.
- Recent trials have introduced new drugs like tucatinib, neratinib, and trastuzumab-deruxtecan, prompting reevaluation of treatment sequencing, particularly in patients who have already received TDM-1, while emerging biomarkers could further influence treatment choices and effectiveness in the future.
Article Synopsis
- The external globus pallidus (GP) plays a crucial role in motor control by acting as a GABAergic hub in the basal ganglia circuitry, which is affected in Parkinson's disease (PD).
- In rodent models of PD, GP neuron activity is disrupted and there's a significant increase in extracellular GABA levels, indicating changes in how GABA is processed in the brain.
- The study reveals that in dopamine-depleted rodents, there is persistent GABAergic tonic inhibition in GP neurons due to downregulated glial GAT-3 transporters, suggesting that this disruption contributes to motor coordination issues related to PD.
An Uncommon Cause of Diarrhoea and the Importance of an Internist Approach.
Eur J Case Rep Intern Med
March 2017
Article Synopsis
- Human intestinal spirochetosis is marked by spirochete attachment to the colonic lining and can lead to illness in humans.
- A 58-year-old patient initially misdiagnosed with a heart issue underwent unnecessary procedures before being correctly diagnosed with intestinal spirochetosis.
- The case emphasizes the need for thorough internist assessments to avoid risky invasive procedures and ensure appropriate treatment for uncommon conditions.
Article Synopsis
- Astrocytes regulate synaptic transmission by modulating extracellular GABA levels through specific GABA transporters (GAT-1 and GAT-3).
- The study reveals that the adenosine receptors A1R and A2AR can modify GABA uptake by acting through a complex known as heteromers, which impact the signaling pathways via different G proteins.
- This new understanding highlights how adenosine influences neurotransmission at the tripartite synapse involving neurons and astrocytes.
Article Synopsis
- Astrocytes regulate synaptic transmission by controlling extracellular GABA levels through GAT-1 and GAT-3 transporters.
- A complex interaction between adenosine A(1) and A(2A) receptors influences GABA uptake, with A(2A) enhancing and A(1) inhibiting it.
- This study reveals a new mechanism where adenosine acts through receptor heteromers in astrocytes to impact neurotransmission at neuron-glia-neuron synapses.
Article Synopsis
- GABA transporters (GATs), particularly GAT-1, are crucial for ending GABAergic transmission in the brain, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) enhances GAT-1 function in astrocytes by increasing its transport capacity.
- BDNF's effect on GAT-1 involves the truncated TrkB receptor and specific signaling pathways, and it requires active adenosine A(2A) receptors, while GAT-3 remains unaffected.
- The enhancement of GAT-1 at the astrocytic membrane occurs due to decreased internalization of GAT-1 rather than recycling, suggesting BDNF may help clear GABA from synaptic areas and impact neuronal excitability.
Article Synopsis
- A2A receptors enhanced GABA transport in hippocampal synaptosomes by activating a pathway involving adenylate cyclase and protein kinase A (PKA).
- The removal of endogenous adenosine reduced GABA uptake, and this decrease was replicated by blocking A2A receptors.
- Additionally, activating protein kinase C (PKC) inhibited GABA transport, but this inhibition could be counteracted by blocking PKC, indicating a complex regulatory interaction between these signaling pathways.
Article Synopsis
- BDNF decreases the uptake of GABA in the brain by inhibiting the GAT-1 transporter in nerve terminals, with maximum inhibition observed at 100 ng/ml.
- This effect occurs rapidly within 1 minute and is blocked by inhibitors of specific signaling pathways (K252a and U73122).
- The inhibition by BDNF does not rely on adenosine A(2A) receptor activation but can be enhanced when A(2A) receptors are triggered after depleting extracellular adenosine.