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V Araújo

Publications and source records attributed to V Araújo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Squamous and/or glandular differentiation in urothelial carcinoma: prevalence and significance in transurethral resections of the bladder.

BACKGROUND: It is controversial if urothelial carcinoma of the bladder with squamous and/or glandular differentiation is a more aggressive neoplasm than conventional urothelial carcinoma. DESIGN: A total of 165 transurethral resections of the bladder were reviewed. A group with squamous and/or glandular differentiation was compared to a group without this finding. The chi-square test was used to assess the association of the groups with stage (TNM, 1997). RESULTS: Of the total of 165 transurethral resections of the bladder, 153 (92.72%) were conventional urothelial carcinomas and 12 (7.27%) showed squamous and/or glandular differentiation. The distribution according to stage was 84 (54.9%), 35 (22.9%) and 34 (22.2%) for the group without differentiation and 0 (0%), 3 (25%) and 9 (75%) for the group with squamous and/or glandular differentiation, respectively for stages pTa, pT1 and pT2. Tumors with squamous and/or glandular differentiation showed a significant statistical correlation to higher stage at clinical presentation (p < 0.0001). There was no significant statistical relation according to age (p = 0.8433), sex (p = 0.5672) or race (p = 0.3137). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that urothelial bladder carcinomas with squamous and/or glandular differentiation are more aggressive neoplasms. There was a significant statistical correlation between tumors with this differentiation and higher stage at clinical presentation.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed2001

Echocardiographic patterns and prognosis in heart failure.

BACKGROUND: There are many variables with prognostic value in patients with heart failure (HF). Those related to left ventricular function are among the most important. Recently, the evaluation of the patterns of ventricular filling by pulsed Doppler echocardiography has been studied as a variable with prognostic value. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic value of echocardiography variables (diastolic and systolic) in patients with HF. These variables were analysed in respect to hospital admission for cardiovascular reasons or death. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated 157 consecutive patients with HF and included 110 patients who were in sinus rhythm. The mean age was 68.2 +/- 0.9 years. HF was ischemic in 52.7%. Patients underwent echocardiography examination within the week of reference. The patients were grouped according to left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction (LV ejection fraction < 40%). We also classified patients in two groups according to the presence of a restrictive pattern in diastolic transmitral flow profile. Finally, we classified all patients in four groups according to their systolic function and diastolic pattern: Group I--systolic dysfunction and restrictive ventricular filling pattern. Group II--systolic dysfunction without restrictive ventricular filling pattern. Group III--without systolic dysfunction with restrictive ventricular filling pattern. Group IV--without systolic dysfunction without restrictive ventricular filling pattern. The events were death or hospital admission. The mean follow up time was 625 +/- 55 days. We did a statistical analysis and for all tests a p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We found impaired LV systolic function (systolic HF) in 73.6% and restrictive ventricular filling pattern in 45.5%. During the follow-up 41.8% died or were admitted to hospital. Patients with systolic HF had lower admission free survival rate. Patients with restrictive ventricular filling pattern had lower admission free survival rate than those without. Group I had lower admission free survival rate than Group II and Group IV. Group IV had a higher admission free survival than all other Groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results support and expand previous observations that diastolic function variables, such as the pattern of ventricular filling (namely the restrictive) have independent prognostic value in patients with HF.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

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Bacteroidaceae Infections↗
PubMed2000

Clinical significance of brain natriuretic peptide in patients with postmyocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Risk stratification after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) includes the evaluation of left ventricular (LV) function. Natriuretic peptides, and particularly brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), emerged as a potential marker of ventricular function and prognosis after AMI. HYPOTHESIS: Brain natriuretic peptide levels are related to ventricular function, either systolic or isolated diastolic, and can give prognostic information in patients surviving AMI. METHODS: In all, 101 patients were enrolled. An echocardiographic (M-mode, two-dimensional, and pulsed Doppler) evaluation was performed and blood samples for BNP measurement were obtained. Clinical events were recorded during 12 months of follow-up. RESULTS: A negative correlation between BNP and LV ejection fraction was observed (r = -0.38; p < 0.001). The BNP levels were higher among patients with LV systolic dysfunction than in patients with isolated diastolic dysfunction (339.1 +/- 249.9 vs. 168.0 +/- 110.5 pg/ml, p = 0.001). The latter had higher levels of BNP than those with normal LV function (68.3 +/- 72.6 pg/ml, p < 0.001). The BNP accuracy to detect LV systolic dysfunction was good (area under the ROC curve [AUC] = 0.83) and increased when isolated diastolic dysfunction was also considered (AUC = 0.87). Brain natriuretic peptide had a very good accuracy in the prediction of death (AUC = 0.95) and the development of heart failure (AUC = 0.90). CONCLUSION: These results extend previous evidence relating BNP to systolic function after AMI. Furthermore, a relationship between BNP levels and diastolic function was found. Brain natriuretic peptide had a very good performance in detecting the occurrence of an adverse event. We conclude that BNP can detect high-risk patients and help select patients for more aggressive approaches.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

Characterization of the cellular component of polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy.

In order to characterize the cellular component of the polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma (PLGA) of the salivary gland, a morphological and immunohistochemical study was carried out. Thirty cases of PLGA were studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry and five cases by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The expression of cytokeratins (CKs) 7,8,10,13,14,18,19, vimentin and muscle-specific actin (MSA) was investigated through the streptavidin-biotin method. The majority of tumor cells stained for vimentin, CKs 8, 18 and 7. CK 14 was positive in most cells of the papillary and trabecular sub-types. Although the expression of CKs 8,18 and 14 varied among the tumors sub-types, a straight relationship between each histologic pattern and the CK expression could not be delineated. MSA was reactive in only three tumors while CKs 10 and 13 were not detected in any tumor studied. The absence of MSA and the expression of CKs 8,18 and 7, in most of the tumor cells, lead to the hypothesis that myoepithelial cells are not the major cellular component of the PLGA. TEM revealed cells exhibiting microvilli and variable amounts of secretory granules, some of them suggesting an excretory activity. The presence of CKs 8,18 and 7, added to the secretory granules, indicates that PLGA originates from cells located at the acinar-intercalated duct junction.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

p53 and MDM2 expression in odontogenic cysts and tumours.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this report was to assess p53 and MDM2 expression in odontogenic cysts and tumours, as they are known to play important roles in cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The expression of p53 and MDM2 proteins was determined immunohistochemically in 51 formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded specimens of odontogenic cysts and tumours. RESULTS: No positivity to p53 was found in the cases studied. MDM2 expression in ameloblastoma was higher than in radicular cysts, but lower than that observed in odontogenic keratocysts. No difference was observed between MDM2 expression in radicular cyst and adenomatoid odontogenic tumour. The clear-cell odontogenic ameloblastoma presented strong immunoreaction to this antigen. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that MDM2 overexpression may be involved in the pathogenesis of some odontogenic lesions.

Gene Expression↗
PubMed1999

Genetic risk factors in acute coronary disease.

OBJECTIVE: We investigate whether each of the following: HPA-1, Factor V Leiden, prothrombin gene variant and the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR) mutation, are risk factors for acute coronary disease in Portuguese patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 100 blood donors and 52 patients with an established diagnosis of myocardial infarction or unstable angina were evaluated for genetic risk factors, by determining HPA-1 genotype, Factor V Leiden, Prothrombin 20210 variant and MTHFR mutation. RESULTS: We found a prevalence of 2.0% for Factor V Leiden, 5.0% for the Prothrombin 20210 variant and 66% for the MTHFR mutation in blood donors. These values are similar to those found in the patients (1.9, 3.8 and 58%, respectively). We found that 28/100 controls had the PI(A2) polymorphism, a frequency statistically different from that in the patients (23/52). This difference was even more pronounced in patients less than 60 years old (27/96 vs. 13/24). CONCLUSION: Factor V Leiden, Prothrombin 20210 variant and MTHFR mutation do not seem to represent risk factors for acute coronary disease. However, the PI(A2) polymorphism could have a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. The presence of multiple genetic factors, more than single ones, could influence the development and outcome of myocardial infarction and unstable angina. Larger studies are needed in order to have a better insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms of this disease, along with its prevention and the development of new treatments.

Activated Protein C Resistance↗
PubMed1998

[An increase in renal dopamine production after the administration of radiographic contrast agents].

Renal vasoconstriction and anti-natriuresis conditioned by radiographic contrast agents (CA) may be antagonised by the administration of exogenous dopamine. However, the influence of CA on the activity of renal synthesis of dopamine has not been studied. This study assessed the daily urinary excretion of dopamine, its precursor. L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylaline (L-DOPA), and its metabolites (acid 3, 4-dihydroxyphenylacetic, DOPAC; homovanillic acid, HVA) 24 hours before and 48 hours following administration of a non ionic and hyposmolar (lopromide) CA in patients (n = 10; average age 61.3 +/- 4.3 years) submitted to coronary angiography. Urinary excretion of noradrenalin, a marker of sympathetic activity, was also assessed during the same period. The deputation of creatinine (Ccr) and the urinary excretion of sodium (UNa+) lowered after the administration of the CA (Ccr, 79.2 +/- 10.2 vs 72.2 +/- 9.6 ml/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.05; UNa+, 112.8 +/- 9.6 vs 61.7 +/- 25.1 mmol/24 h, p < 0.05). On the contrary, the urinary excretion of potassium increased in the period of 24 h following the administration of the AC (31.7 +/- 5.2 vs 103.8 +/- 10.8 mmol/24 h, p < 0.05). There was an increase in the urinary excretion of dopamine as well as noradrelalin during the 24 hour period following the administration of the CA (dopamine, 1260.2 +/- 196.8 vs 1571.5 +/- 170.2 mmol/24 h p < 0.5; noradrenalin, 186 +/- 36.6 mmol/24 h, p < 0.05). On the contrary, the urinary excretion of L-DOPA lowered after the administration of the CA (115.4 +/- 25.5 vs 80.5 +/- 13.2 mmol/24 h, p < 0.05). These results conditioned an increase in the dopamine/L-DOPA ratio in the urine, after the administration of the CA (12.2 +/- 1.5 vs 22.2 +/- 4.5 mmol/24 h, p < 0.05). In conclusion, the administration of CA is accompanied by an increase in the renal production of dopamine which, in these conditions, may act as a compensatory natriuretic hormone.

Adult↗