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Biomedical subjects

J Branco

Publications and source records attributed to J Branco.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Influence of human leucocyte antigen-DRB1 on the susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis and on the production of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in a Portuguese population.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify the influence of the HLA-DRB1 locus on the susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis and the production of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) in a Portuguese population. METHODS: 141 patients with rheumatoid arthritis fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology 1987 revised criteria for rheumatoid arthritis were compared with 150 healthy controls. Human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 locus genotyping was assessed by polymerase chain reaction reverse probing assays and sequence-specific primers. Anti-CCP antibodies were quantified by ELISA in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Frequencies between groups were compared by the two-sided Fisher's exact test and considered significant if p<0.05. RESULTS: The HLA-DRB1*04 and HLA-DRB1*10 groups were highly associated with rheumatoid arthritis (p<0.001 and p = 0.031, respectively). High titres of anti-CCP antibodies were largely associated with the presence of HLA-DRB1*04/10. CONCLUSION: The well-recognised susceptibility alleles to rheumatoid arthritis, HLA-DRB1*04, were associated with rheumatoid arthritis in Portuguese patients. The relatively rare DRB1*10 was also associated with rheumatoid arthritis, as was described previously in other southern European countries. Both groups were associated with high anti-CCP titres, reinforcing its relevance to disease onset.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Total joint replacement of hip or knee as an outcome measure for structure modifying trials in osteoarthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The Group for the Respect of Ethics and Excellence in Science (GREES) organized a working group to assess the value of time to joint surgery as a potential therapeutic failure outcome criterion for osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip or knee in the assessment of potential structure modifying agents. METHODS: PubMed was searched for manuscripts from 1976 to 2004. Relevant studies were discussed at a 1-day meeting. RESULTS: There are no accepted guidelines for 'time to' and 'indications for' joint replacement surgery. A limited number of trials have examined joint replacement surgery within the study population. Several parameters, particularly joint space narrowing (interbone distance), correlate with surgical intervention. However, at the level of the knee, none of the parameters have positive predictive value for joint replacement surgery better than 30%. In contrast, lack of significant joint space narrowing has a strong negative predictive value for joint replacement surgery (>90%), that remains after controlling for OA pain severity. CONCLUSION: At this time, GREES cannot recommend time to joint surgery as a primary endpoint of failure for structure modifying trials of hip or knee OA-as the parameter has sensitivity but lacks specificity. In contrast, in existing trials, a lack of progression of joint space narrowing has predictive value of >90% for not having surgery. GREES suggests utilizing joint space narrowing (e.g., >0.3-0.7 mm) combined with a lack of clinically relevant improvement in symptoms (e.g., >/=20-25%) for 'failure' of a secondary outcome in structure modifying trials of the hip and knee.

Antirheumatic Agents↗
PubMed2005

Multiplexed immunoassay for detection of rheumatoid factors by FIDISTM technology.

Our objective was to (i) compare FIDIS Rheuma, a new multiplexed immunoassay designed for simultaneous detection of IgM class rheumatoid factors (RF) directed against Fc determinants of IgG from humans and animals, with agglutination and ELISA (conventional methods) and (ii) evaluate the clinical sensitivity and specificity of biological markers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To do this, FIDIS technology was employed using the Luminex system. It consists of distinct color-coded microsphere sets, a flow cytometer, and digital signal processing hardware and software. Agglutination and ELISA tests were performed with commercial kits. The study included 134 samples from RA patients and 105 from healthy blood donors. For human specificity, we compared FIDIS with latex agglutination and ELISA. Relative sensitivities were 98.9% and 88.5% and specificities were 90.2% and 94.6%, respectively. For animal specificity, we compared FIDIS with Waaler-Rose and ELISA. The results were 84.9% and 71.9% for the sensitivities and 97.5% and 98.4% for the specificities, respectively. Detection of IgG anti-CCP by ELISA and IgG antikeratin by immunofluorescence was also determined in order to compare their clinical sensitivity and specificity with IgM-RF, according to the method used. The results were: IgG anti-CCP 72.3%, 97.2%; IgG antikeratin 36.6%, 100%; latex agglutination 66.4%, 97.2%; Waaler-Rose 55.9%, 96.3%; FIDIS human 73.9%, 92.1%; FIDIS animal 49.2%, 97.2%; ELISA human 93.2%, 95.5%; and ELISA animal 74.6%, 91.3%. The results showed the efficiency of FIDIS with analytical performance equivalent to the conventional methods, but having the advantage of giving quantitative results (IU/mL).

Agglutination Tests↗
PubMed2001

Diaphragmatic function in patients with chronic left ventricular failure.

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the function of respiratory muscles in-patients with chronic moderate left ventricular failure (LVF), and its contribution to the pathophysiology of dyspnea and fatigue. We have studied 20 male patients with LVF, classes II and III of New York Heart Association (NYHA), mean age 66.9+/-10 years (GI) and 19 male aged-matched controls without cardiopulmonary disease mean age 64.6+/-8.4 years (GII). The evaluation included (a) methods derived from volitional manoeuvres, maximal inspiratory pressures at Functional Residual Capacity; maximal expiratory pressures at total lung capacity (TLC); nasal sniff; oesophageal sniff and transdiaphragmatic pressures; (b) methods derived from non-volitional manoeuvres, using bilateral cervical magnetic stimulation of the phrenic nerves, measuring the following twitch pressures (oesophageal, gastric and the transdiaphragmatic). With volitional manoeuvres we have not found statistically significant differences between the two groups: maximal expiratory pressures (cmH(2)O), GI 138+/-42; GII 152+/-40; P=NS and maximal inspiratory pressures (cmH(2)O), GI 74.1+/-22; GII 85+/-16; P=NS. However, these values were significantly lower than those obtained with sniff manoeuvres, nasal sniff (cmH(2)O), GI 95.6+/-22; GII 99.6+/-16; P=NS and oesophageal sniff (cmH(2)O), GI 96.2+/-20; GII 97.5+/-18; P=NS. There were no significant differences between nasal sniff and oesophageal sniff. Using cervical magnetic stimulation, we also didn't find a significant difference for transdiaphragmatic twitch between groups, but the contribution of the diaphragm to the transdiaphragmatic pressure was lower in patients with LVF since the oesophageal twitch was lower (cmH(2)O), GI 11.4+/-3.4; GII 16.3+/-6.8; P<0,004. In conclusion, the contribution of the diaphragm to total ventilation in-patients with moderate LVF is preserved. However, its capacity to generate negative intra-thoracic pressures is decreased since there is a significant decrease in oesophageal twitch. So, it seems that the diaphragm is the first inspiratory muscle to be affected in patients with moderate LVF.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

[The quality of life after tubal ligation].

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the attitude, physical and psychological repercussions of sterilisation on Portuguese women in order to determine their quality of life. PROJECT: Retrospective study of women submitted to sterilisation between 1988 and 1991, by means of a questionnaire mailed in June 1992. LOCATION: Family planning clinic, S. Francisco Xavier Hospital, Lisbon. POPULATION: Between 1988 and 1991, 540 women were sterilised at the Gynaecology/Obstetrics Department of S. Francisco Xavier, 308 of which were included in the study (women who were sterilised with a pathology which might interfere with the results and those who were sterilised during a caesarean section, post partum or post abortion were excluded). MAIN DETERMINATIONS: Descriptive and demographic data taken from the clinical files and the results of a mailed questionnaire with eleven groups of questions on their attitudes, opinions and behaviour as well as gynaecological and sexual complaints, all with regard to sterilisation. RESULTS: 106 women (34.5%) replied to the mailed questionnaire. An overwhelming majority felt satisfied (97.1%) and well informed (98%) regarding sterilisation. Sexual satisfaction and coital frequency improved or remained the same in 92.1% of the women and a slightly lower number (85.3%) stated that their sexual interest had improved or remained the same. All the women stated that the sexual interest of their partners had not diminished. The symptoms which were most frequently referred to as being worse or which had recurred were alterations in the menstrual cycle (43.1%), dysmenorrhea (16.7%) and mastodynia (16.7%). CONCLUSION: The majority of women (3/4) presented good or very good results in terms of quality of life.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Sleep cycles and alpha-delta sleep in fibromyalgia syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a musculoskeletal disorder characterized by generalized pain, localized tender points, chronic fatigue and nonrestorative sleep. Since sleep disturbances frequently occur in FMS and alpha intrusion in nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep probably associates with the nonrefreshing sleep, we prospectively studied the delta and alpha activity and alpha-delta ratio across sleep cycles, performing polysomnography in 10 patients with FMS and in 14 healthy control subjects. METHODS: Night long polysomnography recordings were performed in all subjects. Sleep scoring was done visually according to Rechtschaffen and Kales criteria. By means of spectral analysis the conventional electroencephalogram (EEG) frequency bands were automatically computed for the all night recordings. For alpha and delta power the integrated and normalized values were calculated for each sleep cycle, the evolution of these activities across successive sleep cycles was studied. RESULTS: Alpha-delta patterns occurred in almost all the patients who had also superficial and fragmented sleep with increased awakenings and reduced REM and slow wave sleep. Delta decay across sleep cycles was different in FMS and alpha activity was greater and declined, whereas the controls were persistently low throughout their sleep. Alpha-delta ratio increased progressively in successive sleep cycles; this was again different from controls. CONCLUSION: Patients with FMS presented a high frequency of subjective sleep disturbances, an increased incidence of alpha EEG NREM sleep and clear abnormalities in sleep cycle organization.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Ten years' experience with trophoblastic tumors in Portugal.

Between 1971 and 1980, 220 patients were observed and treated. The patients were classified according to various parameters: age, previous pregnancies, pathology reports of specimens obtained from the uterus, and site of metastasis. The study stressed the possibility of 100% cure in patients with hydatidiform mole, while in choriocarcinoma, late diagnosis was responsible for the failure in effective treatment.

Adolescent↗