Browsing by Author "Martins, C"
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- Characterization of B cells in healthy pregnant women from late pregnancy to post-partum: a prospective observational studyPublication . Lima, J; Martins, C; Leandro, MJ; Nunes, G; Sousa, MJ; Branco, J; Borrego, LMBACKGROUND: B cells play a role in pregnancy due to their humoral and regulatory activities. To our knowledge, different maturational stages (from transitional to memory) of circulating B cell subsets have not yet been characterized (cell quantification and phenotype identification) in healthy pregnant women. Thus, the objective of our study was to characterize these subsets (as well as regulatory B cells) from late pregnancy to post-partum and to compare them with the circulating B cells of non-pregnant women. METHODS: In all of the enrolled women, flow cytometry was used to characterize the circulating B cell subsets according to the expression of IgD and CD38 (Bm1-Bm5 classification system). Regulatory B cells were characterized based on the expression of surface antigens (CD24, CD27, and CD38) and the production of IL-10 after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. RESULTS: Compared to the absolute counts of B cells in the non-pregnant women (n = 35), those in the pregnant women (n = 43) were significantly lower (p < 0.05) during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and on delivery day (immediately after delivery). The percentages of these cells on delivery day and at post-partum were significantly lower than those in the non-pregnant women. In general, the absolute counts and percentages of the majority of the B cell subsets were significantly lower in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and on delivery day than in the non-pregnant women. However, these counts and percentages did not differ significantly between the post-partum and the non-pregnant women. The most notable exceptions to the above were the percentages of naïve B cells (which were significantly higher in the 3rd trimester and on delivery day than in the non-pregnant women) and of CD24(hi)CD38(hi) regulatory B cells (which were significantly higher in the post-partum than in the non-pregnant women). CONCLUSION: According to our study, the peripheral B cell compartment undergoes quantitative changes during normal late pregnancy and post-partum. Such findings may allow us to better understand immunomodulation during human pregnancy and provide evidence that could aid in the development of new strategies to diagnose and treat pregnancy-associated disturbances. Our findings could also be useful for studies of the mechanisms of maternal responses to vaccination and infection.
- Ectopia cordis: a case reportPublication . Dias, G; Santos, AV; Martins, C; Ferreira, AP; Fonseca, JIntroduction: ectopia cordis is a rare congenital malformation, with an estimated incidence of 5 to 8 per million live births. It is defined as a malformation in which the heart is located in an extra-thoracic position. Ectopia cordis may occur as an isolated malformation or associated with other anomalies such as omphalocele, congenital heart disease or integrating Cantrell syndrome. The size and location of the defect influence the prognosis. Description: we report a case of a 24-year-old nulliparous woman, with no relevant family or personal history, in which the prenatal fetal ultrasound, performed at 21 weeks of gestation, revealed a defect of the anterior chest wall with exteriorization of the heart. Discussion: fetal echocardiography revealed a severe congenital heart disease. The parents decided to continue the pregnancy, after being duly informed by a multidisciplinary team. Delivery occurred at 37 weeks of gestation but the female newborn died one hour afterwards. Pathological examination confirmed the sonographic findings.
- Impact of Labor on Peripheral Blood Maternal T-Cell Subsets and on Regulatory T and B CellsPublication . Lima, J; Martins, C; Nunes, G; Sousa, MJ; Branco, J; Borrego, LLabor is thought to positively influence immune system development in the offspring, but studies investigating the impact of different modes of delivery on maternal immune system cells are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of labor on maternal peripheral blood T-cell subsets and on the recently described regulatory T and B cells. METHODS: Cross-sectional study comparing the absolute counts and percentages of peripheral blood T-cell subsets (maturation and activation profiles) and regulatory T and B cells between healthy pregnant women who delivered their newborns via elective cesarean (no labor; n = 14) and those who had a spontaneous vaginal delivery (after labor; n = 18). The cells were characterized using flow cytometry. RESULTS: We found that compared to the women who had elective cesareans, those who had spontaneous vaginal deliveries had significantly ( P < .05) lower absolute counts of B cells (median [cells/μL]: 146 [interquartile range, IQR = 49] vs 192 [IQR = 65]) and natural killer-like T (NKT-like) cells (median [cells/μL]: 154 [IQR = 125] vs 224 [IQR = 117]) in the peripheral blood. No further significant differences, particularly in regulatory T and B cells, were identified between the study groups. CONCLUSION: Labor does not seem to have a major impact on maternal peripheral blood T-cell subsets or regulatory T and B cells.
- Metastização atípica de adenocarcinoma mucinoso do cólonPublication . Tomás, R; Aleixo, I; Martins, C; Dias, W; Nunes, VDoente do sexo masculino, de 70 anos de idade, com diagnóstico de neoplasia do cego foi submetido a hemicolectomia direita em 2002. A histologia da peça operatória revelou adenocarcinoma bem diferenciado do cego com componente mucinoso (estádio C de Dukes, pT 3 pN 1 pM x G 1 , margens cirúrgicas sem tecido neoplásico). Posteriormente foi submetido a quimioterapia adjuvante. Em Janeiro de 2007 o paciente foi submetido a cura cirúrgica de hidrocelo, tendo sido identificada intra-operatoriamente uma massa testicular volu- mosa de consistência dura, o que determinou a realização de orquidectomia direita. A histologia da peça operatória revelou tratar-se de uma metástase de adenocarcinoma mucinoso com provável origem gastro-intestinal. Em Março do mesmo ano procedeu-se a excisão do cordão espermático e linfadenectomia, tendo o exame anatomo-patológico revelado múltiplos focos de adenocarcinoma mucinoso com provável origem cólica e margens cirúrgicas sem neoplasia. Foi realizada laparoscopia exploradora que não evidenciou implantes peritoneais ou lesões intra-abdominais suspeitas. Em 2008 e novamente em 2009 foi submetido a excisão de metástases cutâneas ingui- nais à direita. Iniciou radioterapia em 2009 após surgirem metástases paratesticular direita e na rafe perineal.
- Modelo de intervenção em saúde pré-escolarPublication . Almeida, I; Corte, A; Rato, C; Silvestre, A; Grande, M; Gil, G; Martins, COs autores desenvolvem neste trabalho um modelo de intervenção em saúde escolar, reforçando a vantagem da realização dum exame global de saúde no final da idade préescolar. Foi feito um levantamento dos objectivos gerais pedagógicos definidos para a educação pré-escolar, dos objectivos da Educação para a Saúde Pré-Escolar e reflectiram sobre a intervenção adequada e articulada em crianças com necessidades educativas especiais, não só no que concerne a necessidades específicas resultantes do tipo e grau de deficiência, mas também na prevenção de outra problemática emergente. Um desenvolvimento harmonioso apela à precocidade da intervenção educativa e à necessidade de se realizar acções de educação para a saúde no jardim de infância.
- Pentalogy of Cantrell: the complete spectrumPublication . Martins, C; Serras, I; Santos, AV; Braga, A
- Regulatory T Cells Show Dynamic Behavior During Late Pregnancy, Delivery, and the Postpartum PeriodPublication . Lima, J; Martins, C; Nunes, G; Sousa, MJ, et al.Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical immunomodulators during early pregnancy by preventing maternal T-cell activation against fetal cells. However, how populations of maternal Tregs vary during and after pregnancy in humans is still unclear. Therefore, we investigated Treg subsets in the peripheral blood of pregnant women from late pregnancy through the postpartum period. To accomplish this, the following circulating Treg subsets were analyzed in 43 healthy pregnant women and 35 nonpregnant women by flow cytometry during the third trimester, on the day of delivery, and postpartum: CD4DimCD25Hi, CD4+CD25HiFoxp3+, and CD4+CD25HiCD127-/dim. Additionally, the expression levels of the transcription factor Foxp3 in CD4DimCD25Hi Treg were analyzed. We have found that CD4DimCD25Hi Treg subset significantly decreased in the pregnant women on the day of delivery relative to the third trimester ( P < .05), and that all Treg subsets significantly increased postpartum compared to the third trimester and the day of delivery ( P < .05). Moreover, the Foxp3 expression ratios within the CD4DimCD25Hi Treg subset decreased during pregnancy and until delivery compared to those measured in the nonpregnant women and significantly increased postpartum compared to the third trimester and the day of delivery ( P < .05). Thus, despite their established role in offering immunoprotection to the fetus in early pregnancy, the number of circulating Tregs also varies from late pregnancy to the postpartum period. Our results offer an explanation for the possible effects of pregnancy on the clinical outcomes of some autoimmune diseases during the postpartum period.
- Twin reversed arterial perfusion (TRAP) sequence: an acardiac fetus.Publication . Martins, C; Santos, AV; Miranda, M; Granja, C