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Biomedical subjects

V Gonçalves

Publications and source records attributed to V Gonçalves.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Comparison of the efficacy and tolerability of solifenacin succinate with or without previous use of trospium chloride.

Overactive bladder syndrome (OBS) is described as urinary urgency with or without incontinence, usually with increased daytime frequency and nocturia in the absence of another identifiable pathological process. Nowadays and despite other alternative therapies, the mainstay of OBS is still the pharmacological approach, mainly with anti-muscarinic drugs. To compare the efficacy of a 30-day solifenacin succinate (5 mg OD) treatment with or without previous medication with trospium chloride, a prostective open, two-arm, parallel group study was conducted for 5 weeks in 40 patients with OBS. The primary endpoint was patient self-assessment of improvement after 30 days of medication. Secondary endpoints included the reduction of the daily number of voids and urgency or involuntary leakage episodes. Adverse reactions and therapeutic stoppage were also evaluated. To be included in the trospium chloride treatment group, patients were required to have been treated with such drug for 1 to 6 months before the present study. Evaluation and efficacy assessment were accomplished using a 3-day bladder diary and an urgency severity scale (USS). Safety assessment was done by recording all the patients' complaints after starting medication. A total of 40 patients were enrolled for this study, 19 without previous medication and 21 who had already tried trospium chloride. Two patients from the non-previous medication group were excluded. Globally, there was a statistically significant reduction for the USS (2.73-->1.73), the daily number of voids (9.5-->7.0), of urgency episodes (9.1-->4.0) and of involuntary leakage episodes (3.6-->1.0) over the 24 h. Six patients had no improvement, four from the previous trospium chloride group and two from the non-previous medication group. Three patients reported side effects, two cases of dry mouth and one case of constipation. One patient dropped out of the treatment due to an unspecified intolerance. Solifenacin succinate 5 mg seems to be effective concerning patients' self-assessment of improvement and decrease in the mean number of daily voids, urgency episodes and incontinence episodes. This was reported both in patients who have already been medicated with trospium chloride and those who have never taken any kind of medication. Regarding side effects, solifenacin is quite well-tolerated in both groups.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

[Burch colposuspension].

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the subjective success rates, and complications, of Burch colposuspension. DESIGN: A retrospective review. SAMPLE: Fortynine women undergoing surgery - Burch colposuspension - for genuine stress incontinence, between 1994 and 2000, were reviewed. METHODS: Choice of surgical procedure was made on the basis of clinical and urodynamic findings and physician preference. The subjective cure rate was determined by means of historical report and defined as no or occasional stress or urge incontinence (< one episode per week). Clinical follow-up started six weeks after the surgical procedure and continued for one to seven years. RESULTS: Thirty-six (73.5%) of the 49 women submitted to Burch colposuspension were subjectively cured of the stress urinary incontinence and three (6,1%) had improvement with mainly urge incontinence, while ten (19.2%) operations failed (n= 52). CONCLUSION: Burch colposuspension is an effective and safe procedure for women with urinary stress incontinence (even after retropubic continence surgery).

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Novel MLH1 mutations and a novel MSH2 polymorphism identified by SSCP and DHPLC in Portuguese HNPCC families.

Mismatch repair genes MSH2 and MLH1 are the two major genes implicated in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. For the past years, we have successfully searched for mutations in both genes in affected Portuguese families, by SSCP and DNA sequencing analysis but because of the advantages that DHPLC offers, we have established conditions in our laboratory to use this new method. While screening for mutations by both methods, in 35 individuals belonging to HNPCC Portuguese families, 4 novel MLH1 mutations (c.307-1G>C; c.1023delG [p.R341fsX366]; c.2154_2155delCA [p.H718fsX721], c.2154_2155dupCA [p.I719fsX782]), an unclassified variant (c.-28A>T) and one silent MSH2 polymorphism (c.2766T>C) have been identified.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed2000

AIDS does not alter the total number of neurons in the hippocampal formation but induces cell atrophy: a stereological study.

Although cognitive dysfunction is a common finding in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) its pathogenesis remains controversial. Given the involvement of the hippocampal formation in the processing of cognitive information and the scarcity of quantitative studies in this brain region, we have examined, using stereological methods, the hippocampal formations of AIDS patients. The study was performed in ten AIDS patients and ten age-matched controls. All cases were male. The Principle of Cavalieri was applied to estimate the volume of the layers of the dentate gyrus and of the CA3 and CA1 hippocampal fields. The fractionator and the nucleator were used as estimators of the total number, and mean somatic and nuclear volumes of the neurons in the cell-containing layers of all hippocampal subdivisions. No cell death was detected in AIDS patients but the global volume of their hippocampal formations was significantly decreased due to the reduced volume of its layers, mainly the cell-containing layers. Furthermore, the somatic and nuclear volumes of the neurons in the hippocampal formation were significantly decreased in AIDS patients. No correlation was found between the estimates obtained and the presence or absence of neurological involvement. Our results show that neurons in the hippocampal formation of AIDS patients display marked morphological changes, despite the maintenance of their total number. These alterations are likely to lead to dysfunction of the hippocampal circuitries and, thus, might contribute to explaining the dementia features which occur in this condition.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1995

[Pregnancy in women with neural tube fusion defects. Report of 3 cases with different clinical course].

The advances in surgical technique for closure of myelomeningocele and its complications, mainly neurogenic bladder, have resulted not only in a increased lifespan and a better quality of life for these patients, but also a progressively higher number of women are reaching childbearing age and becoming pregnant. The reports of pregnancy in these women are still sporadic. In spite of that, obstetricians must be aware of this situation in order to manage it accordingly. In the course of these pregnancies major complications seldom occur. However there are problems (high-risk of neural tube defects in the offsprings, urinary tract complications, muscular-skeletal disorders and psychosociological problems) that should not be ignored and that may influence the prognosis of these pregnancies. The authors present three case reports with different outcomes.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Tubo-ovarian abscess. An analysis of 20 cases].

The authors make a 3-year retrospective analysis of the tubo-ovarian abscess cases admitted to the Gynecology Ward of Dr Alfredo da Costa Maternity Hospital. In the period studied (1991 through 1993) there were 20 such cases. The incidence in nulliparous patients was 25%. A significant percentage (30%) of the patients had recently undergone uterine instrumentation. A prior history of pelvic inflammatory disease was obtained in only 15% of the cases. In the IUD users the incidence of unilateral and bilateral abscesses was identical. Most patients (85%) became apyretic within 48 hours of instituting intravenous antibiotics. In most cases (90%) the patients underwent surgical therapy. The mean time elapsed between instituting antibiotics and the surgical procedure was 3 days. There was one case of intra-abdominal rupture of the abscess. Intraoperatively, an appendiceal abscess was found in 3 (15%) patients. In 30% of the cases a total hysterectomy with unilateral or bilateral adnexectomy was performed. One of the 2 (10%) patients treated solely with medical therapy presented abscess recurrence one month after hospital discharge. Although the management of tubo-ovarian abscesses has become more conservative it still includes, in most cases, surgical drainage or extirpation after appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Abscess↗
PubMed1993

Acute tuberculous perforation of the small bowel during antituberculosis therapy.

An acute, free perforation of a tuberculous ileal lesion occurred in a 25-year-old man during antituberculous therapy. The increasing incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and the rarity of some of the related symptoms and complications, as presented by this patient, emphasize the importance of an early diagnosis. This case report also points out the importance of obtaining endoscopic biopsy material for bacterial culture, even if an apparently normal mucosa is seen, for the diagnosis of tuberculous intestinal disease.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Coma of vascular aetiology: evaluation and prognosis.

The authors have done a revision of 450 patients admitted during the last 3 years to the emergency service of the Hospital de S. José with the diagnosis of CVA. In this retrospective study were included the patients of greater than or equal to 3 degree of the RLS/85 coma scale, the diagnostic being confirmed by CAT, angiography and/or autopsy, and simultaneously evaluated by the Glasgow coma scale. The studied population was grouped into: SAH; ICH with or without ventricular drowning, cerebellar haematoma, brainstem haematoma, ischaemic CVA. The factors of vascular risk: diabetes and hypertension, the age of the patients and coma level were correlated with the degree of cerebral disability of discharge in all patients. The following factors are clearly related with bad prognosis: coma of degree greater than or equal to 4 in the RLS/85 scale; ischaemic aetiology; intraventricular haemorrhage.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Liposarcoma of the heart. A case report.

The authors report a tumor of the heart in a 33-year-old man. Preoperative diagnosis was of a cardiac myxoma. Upon operation, the tumor was revealed to arise from the right atrial free wall, occupying most of the atrial and ventricular cavities and causing a noticeable enlargement and obstruction of the tricuspid valve as well as the mentioned cardiac chambers. A smaller part of the tumor was placed on the outside of the right atrial wall, and implants of the tumor in the distal part of the aorta, extending backward to the bifurcation of the pulmonary artery and its branches, were also observed. Histological examination showed a myxoid-type tumor with light and ultrastructural features of liposarcoma. The patient died 13 months after surgery with regional extension of the tumor.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Hodgkin's disease with predominant infradiaphragmatic involvement and massive invasion of the bone marrow. A necropsic study of nine cases.

The authors report the results obtained in the necropsic study of nine cases of the so-called acute, visceral form of Hodgkin's disease (HD). Most of the patients (six men and three women, ranging from 42 to 74 years of age) lacked peripheral lymphadenopathies and had fever, weight loss, abnormality of hepatic function, and pancytopenia. Mixed cellularity was diagnosed in two, diffuse fibrosis in four, and reticular subtype of lymphocyte depletion in three cases. Despite the predominant infradiaphragmatic involvement, supradiaphragmatic lymph nodes were involved in six and tonsils in three cases. Spleen and bone marrow were involved in eight cases and the liver was involved in seven cases. In four cases there were also lesions in other extralymphoid organs. The involvement of the bone marrow was widespread and showed concurrent myelofibrosis and/or other signs of hematopoietic disturbance. There was a close relationship between the presence of vascular invasion (seven cases) and the extent of HD spread. It is concluded that despite its peculiarity, this form of HD fits the classic model of unicentric origin, lymphogenic contiguous spread, and hematogeneous dissemination, and should not be identified with any particular histologic type of HD.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Cellophane perinephritic hypertension in the dog: some biochemical, hemodynamic and pathological characteristics.

Perinephritic hypertension was induced in mongrel dogs by cellophane encapsulation of one kidney and simultaneous contralateral nephrectomy. Systolic blood pressure began to rise before diastolic blood pressure and both reached maximal values 3 weeks after surgery, their levels becoming stable thereafter up to the end of the study (20 weeks). Cardiac contractility, measured by the index dp/dt/P40 (rate of rise of isovolumic left intraventricular pressure at a developed left ventricular pressure of 40 mm Hg) was not altered during the evolution of hypertension; heart weight and left ventricular thickness were increased. Plasma renin activity markedly decreased in the chronic phase and plasma urea and creatinine levels rised initially in a moderate but significant way, thereafter remaining stable. The structure of the wrapped kidney remained normal 20 weeks after surgery, when microscopic arterial lesions were seen in other organs. The comparison of the evolution of this hypertensive model with other more commonly used renal experimental hypertension types allows us to conclude that cellophane perinephritic hypertension in the dog must be considered as an individual entity.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Pathological findings in one of two siblings with Sjögren-Larsson Syndrome.

The clinical features of 2 new cases of Sjögren-Larsson syndrome are described. Histopathological examination of the skin in 1 of the cases revealed an ichthyosis vulgaris, which does not agree with the clinical and genetic classification. In the same case, a neuroblastoma was the cause of death, and neuropathological examination showed a symmetrical demyelination of some ascending and descending long tracts in the medulla and spinal cord.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Latent thyroid carcinoma at autopsy: a study from Oporto, Portugal.

Thirty-nine (6.5%) latent thyroid carcinomas were found in 600 thyroid glands removed at autopsy in Oporto Medical School Laboratory of Pathology. The prevalence of latent thyroid carcinomas was significantly higher in women (sex ratio 4.3:1) and in elderly people (p less than 0.005) and appeared to be independent from the existence of another malignant neoplasm. The mean thyroid weight and the concurrent thyroid pathology of patients with thyroid carcinomas were not significantly different from those of patients without them. The study of cervical lymph nodes in the first 400 autopsies did not show any significant difference concerning histologic pattern, number of germinal centers and sinus histiocytosis between patients with thyroid carcinomas and those without them. Further investigation is required to evaluate the role of host factors on the peculiar characteristics of latent thyroid carcinomas.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Nucleolar abnormalities in human papillary thyroid carcinomas.

The nuclei of 17 occult and common papillary thyroid carcinomas were studied with an electron microscope. In most of the nuclei, numerous clusters of large interchromatin granules were seen. Nucleoli with a microfibrillar cortex and segregation of their components were observed in some tumors. Dense RNA containing microspherules were found in altered nucleoli and in complex nuclear bodies. These ultrastructural features seem to reinforce the advanced involvement of a disturbed RNA metabolism in human papillary thyroid carcinomas.

Carcinoma, Papillary↗