Biomedical subjects

M S Abrão

Publications and source records attributed to M S Abrão.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Time elapsed from onset of symptoms to diagnosis of endometriosis in a cohort study of Brazilian women.

BACKGROUND: The study aim was to assess the time elapsed between onset of symptoms and diagnosis of endometriosis, and to identify the factors associated with diagnostic delay in a group of Brazilian women. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 200 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis were interviewed at an endometriosis outpatient clinic. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) time elapsed from onset of symptoms until diagnosis of endometriosis was 7.0 (range 3.5-12.1) years. The younger the women at onset of symptoms, the longer the period for diagnosis to be made: the median delay was 12.1 (range 8.0-17.2) years in women aged < or =19 years, and 3.3 (range 2.0-5.5) years in women aged > or =30 years. The median time period between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 4.0 (2.0-6.0) years for women whose main complaint was infertility, but 7.4 (3.6-13.0) years for those with pelvic pain. CONCLUSIONS: The delay in diagnosis of endometriosis was considered to be long, and especially so for young women with pelvic pain. More information relating to endometriosis should be offered to general physicians and gynaecologists in order to reduce the time taken to diagnose this condition.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Endometriosis in the presacral nerve.

OBJECTIVE: The authors report a case of extremely aggressive endometriosis involving a 32-year-old woman. METHODS: Different types of medication were used and various surgical procedures applied in order to reduce the clinical signs and symptoms. Among the surgical procedures employed was presacral neurectomy when endometriosis was identified in the presacral nerve. RESULTS: Receptor determination in the surgical piece was negative. CONCLUSIONS: The etiopathogenic and therapeutic aspects of this process are discussed.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Tumor markers in endometriosis.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to determine the concentrations of CA 125, CA 15-3, CA 19-9, carcioembryogenic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-2 microglobulin (B2MG) in patients with pelvic endometriosis. METHOD: Fifty women were divided into two groups: group A (control) had no endometriosis or other diseases, and group B consisted of 35 women with pelvic endometriosis. All women were submitted to serum determination of CA 125, CA 15-3, CA 19-9, CEA, AFP and B2MG. Samples were collected during the menstrual cycle and 1 week later. RESULTS: Mean CA 125 concentrations were altered in patients with endometriosis, but all 50 patients studied presented normal CEA, AFP and B2MG concentrations. Small variations detected in CA 19-9 and CA 15-3 had no statistical significance. CONCLUSION: CA 125 is the only important marker in the diagnosis of stages III/IV of endometriosis, especially when blood samples for its determination are obtained during the first 3 days of the menstrual cycle.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

PubMed1997

The use of biochemical markers in the diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate CA 125 II, C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) and anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) concentrations for the diagnosis of pelvic endometriosis. The study population consisted of 15 women without endometriosis, as confirmed by laparoscopy (group A), and 35 patients with pelvic endometriosis diagnosed by laparoscopy or laparotomy (group B). Group B patients were divided into those at stages I and II of the disease (BI/II) and those at stages III and IV (BIII/IV). Blood samples were obtained twice during the menstrual cycle: on day 1, 2 or 3 of the cycle and on day 8, 9 or 10 of the cycle. CA 125 II and CRP concentrations were higher in group III/IV patients compared with healthy controls, mainly during the first 3 days of the menstrual cycle; SAA concentrations were also higher in this group of patients compared with healthy controls, but only during the first 3 days of the menstrual cycle. Immunoglobulin (Ig) M aCL concentrations were higher in all patients with endometriosis compared with healthy controls, mainly during the first 3 days of the menstrual cycle. It is concluded that these determinations may contribute to the diagnosis and the indication of treatment for pelvic endometriosis. Determination of CA 125 II concentrations at the beginning of the menstrual cycle may aid the diagnosis of stage III and IV endometriosis. IgM aCL appears to be associated with the presence of all stages of the disease, while SAA values are elevated in severe situations. Measurement of these molecules may therefore provide a valuable tool in the diagnosis and management of endometriosis.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Protein-kinase C mediates MCH signal transduction in teleost, synbranchus marmoratus, melanocytes.

MCH (melanin concentrating hormone) is a heptadecapeptide, Asp-Thr-Met-Arg-Cys-Met-Val-Gly-Arg-Val-Tyr-Arg-Pro-Cys-Trp-Glu-Val, which stimulates melanosome (melanin granule) aggregation to a perinuclear position within teleost fish integumental melanocytes, resulting in lightening of the skin. The mechanisms of action of MCH are unknown. Drugs that affect the diacylglycerol/inositol triphosphate pathway were used to investigate the possible roles of this pathway in the mechanisms of action of MCH on Synbranchus marmoratus (teleost) melanocytes. The shift of the dose-response curve to MCH in the presence of various concentrations of 4-bromophenacyl bromide and neomycin sulphate, phospholipase C inhibitors, suggests that phospholipase C is stimulated after MCH receptor activation. Low concentrations (10(-9) to 10(-8) M) of the phorbol ester TPA exhibited MCH-like activity, eliciting a dose-dependent melanosome aggregation. Higher doses, however, displaced to the right the dose-response curve to MCH, as did the protein kinase C inhibitors, dibucaine and 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7). These results support the assumption that protein kinase C mediates the pigment aggregating activity of MCH. Both MCH and norepinephrine lightening actions were abolished by beta-glycerophosphate, a phosphatase inhibitor, suggesting that a protein dephosphorylation occurs during melanosome aggregation, and is, therefore, a common event triggered by MCH and norepinephrine, although both agonists act through separate receptors and exhibit different transduction mechanisms.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1990

Carcinoma of the vulva. Clinicopathologic factors involved in inguinal and pelvic lymph node metastasis.

Eighty-five women with vulvar squamous cell carcinoma were subjected to radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal and femoral node dissection or to radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinofemoral and deep pelvic node dissection. The association between lymph node status (metastatic or not) and several parameters was analyzed: tumor location, size and clinical stage; tumor thickness, histologic grade and mitotic index; blood vessel, lymphatic and perineural infiltration; and lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltrates. There were no metastases to the pelvic lymph nodes without previous inguinal lymph node involvement. Unilateral vulvar carcinomas did not have contralateral metastatic nodes when there was no ipsilateral nodal involvement. Lymphatic vessel infiltration showed a statistically significant correlation with inguinal node metastases (P less than .05). No correlation was found between lymph node metastasis and tumor size, clitoral invasion, tumor thickness, histologic grade, blood vessel and perineural infiltration, lymphocytic and plasma cell infiltrates, and mitotic index.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Microlaparoscopy in gynecology: analysis of 16 cases and review of literature.

Microlaparoscopy represents the development of endoscopic surgery towards a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The advantages include fewer surgical complications, faster return to daily activities, more comfortable postoperative recovery, and satisfactory aesthetic results. The possibility of performing surgery under sedation may result in shorter hospitalization, lower hospital costs, and easier anesthetic procedures. The authors report their preliminary experience with the use of microlaparoscopy, using optics and 2mm instruments, as well as a review of the literature since the introduction of this new technique. The report of these 16 cases demonstrates that microlaparoscopy is a feasible technique with satisfactory results. On the other hand, this new technique requires precise indications and a training period for the development of the skills necessary for performing these surgeries.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Rectal endometriosis].

Colorectal endometriosis is a relatively rare entity that may have a wide array of clinical symptoms and radiographic findings. A 42-year-old female patient with rectal endometriosis treated with danazol under CA 125, CA 19-9 and estrogen monitoring is described. The treatment was successful and the patient underwent excision of reproductive organs without colorectal excision.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Retention of knowledge. III--Gynecology program].

The authors present the result of an educational investigation of knowledge retention concerning a Gynecology program. The research was developed by comparing the marks obtained in the fourth, fifth and sixth years. The examinations had the same content but were not identical. Between the fourth and fifth year, the loss of knowledge observed was -45.0% +/- 1.4% (average +/- standard error) and was not influenced by the time between the two examinations. The examinations between the fifth and sixth years indicated a gain of knowledge of +72.8% +/- 11.1% (average +/- standard error) and was influenced by the time between the two examinations.

Education, Medical↗