Browsing by Author "Azevedo, J."
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- Increased red cell distribution width in Fanconi anemia: a novel marker of stress erythropoiesisPublication . Sousa, R.; Gonçalves, C.; Guerra, I.; Costa, E.; Fernandes, A.; Bom-Sucesso, M.; Azevedo, J.; Rodriguez, A.; Rius, R.; Seabra, C.; Ferreira, F.; Ribeiro, L.; Ferrão, A.; Castedo, S.; Cleto, E.; Coutinho, J.; Carvalho, F.; Barbot, J.; Porto, B.BACKGROUND: Red cell distribution width (RDW), a classical parameter used in the differential diagnosis of anemia, has recently been recognized as a marker of chronic inflammation and high levels of oxidative stress (OS). Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genetic disorder associated to redox imbalance and dysfunctional response to OS. Clinically, it is characterized by progressive bone marrow failure, which remains the primary cause of morbidity and mortality. Macrocytosis and increased fetal hemoglobin, two indicators of bone marrow stress erythropoiesis, are generally the first hematological manifestations to appear in FA. However, the significance of RDW and its possible relation to stress erythropoiesis have never been explored in FA. In the present study we analyzed routine complete blood counts from 34 FA patients and evaluated RDW, correlating with the hematological parameters most consistently associated with the FA phenotype. RESULTS: We showed, for the first time, that RDW is significantly increased in FA. We also showed that increased RDW is correlated with thrombocytopenia, neutropenia and, most importantly, highly correlated with anemia. Analyzing sequential hemograms from 3 FA patients with different clinical outcomes, during 10 years follow-up, we confirmed a consistent association between increased RDW and decreased hemoglobin, which supports the postulated importance of RDW in the evaluation of hematological disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows, for the first time, that RDW is significantly increased in FA, and this increment is correlated with neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and highly correlated with anemia. According to the present results, it is suggested that increased RDW can be a novel marker of stress erythropoiesis in FA.
- A nonsense mutation in the LIMP-2 gene associated with progressive myoclonic epilepsy and nephrotic syndromePublication . Balreira, A.; Gaspar, P.; Caiola, D.; Chaves, J.; Beirão, I.; Lima, J.; Azevedo, J.; Miranda, M.Abstract The main clinical features of two siblings from a consanguineous marriage were progressive myoclonic epilepsy without intellectual impairment and a nephrotic syndrome with a strong accumulation of C1q in capillary loops and mesangium of kidney. The biochemical analysis of one of the patients revealed a normal beta-glucocerebrosidase activity in leukocytes, but a severe enzymatic deficiency in cultured skin fibroblasts. This deficiency suggested a defect in the intracellular sorting pathway of this enzyme. The sequence analysis of the gene encoding LIMP-2 (SCARB2), the sorting receptor for beta-glucocerebrosidase, confirmed this hypothesis. A homozygous nonsense mutation in codon 178 of SCARB2 was found in the patient, whereas her healthy parents were heterozygous for the mutation. Besides lacking immunodetectable LIMP-2, patient fibroblasts also had decreased amounts of beta-glucocerebrosidase, which was mainly located in the endoplasmic reticulum, as assessed by its sensitivity to Endo H. This is the first report of a mutation in the SCARB2 gene associated with a human disease, which, contrary to earlier proposals, shares no features with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease both at the clinical and neurophysiological levels.
- Patient-physician discordance in assessment of adherence to inhaled controller medication: a cross-sectional analysis of two cohortsPublication . Jácome, C.; Pereira, A.; Almeida, R.; Ferreira-Magalhães, Manuel; Couto, M.; Araujo, L.; Pereira, M.; Correia, M.; Loureiro, C.; Catarata, M.; Maia Santos, L.; Pereira, J.; Ramos, B.; Lopes, C.; Mendes, A.; Cidrais Rodrigues, J.; Oliveira, G.; Aguiar, A.; Afonso, I.; Carvalho, J.; Arrobas, A.; Coutinho Costa, J.; Dias, J.; Todo Bom, A.; Azevedo, J.; Ribeiro, C.; Alves, M.; Leiria Pinto, P.; Neuparth, N.; Palhinha, A.; Gaspar Marques, J.; Pinto, N.; Martins, P.; Todo Bom, F.; Alvarenga Santos, M.; Gomes Costa, A.; Silva Neto, A.; Santalha, M.; Lozoya, C.; Santos, N.; Silva, D.; Vasconcelos, M.; Taborda-Barata, L.; Carvalhal, C.; Teixeira, M.; Alves, R.; Moreira, A.; Sofia Pinto, C.; Morais Silva, P.; Alves, C.; Câmara, R.; Coelho, D.; Bordalo, D.; Fernandes, R.; Ferreira, R.; Menezes, F.; Gomes, R.; Calix, M.; Marques, A.; Cardoso, J.; Emiliano, M.; Gerardo, R.; Nunes, C.; Câmara, R.; Ferreira, J.; Carvalho, A.; Freitas, P.; Correia, R.; Fonseca, J.Objective: We aimed to compare patient's and physician's ratings of inhaled medication adherence and to identify predictors of patient-physician discordance. Design: Baseline data from two prospective multicentre observational studies. Setting: 29 allergy, pulmonology and paediatric secondary care outpatient clinics in Portugal. Participants: 395 patients (≥13 years old) with persistent asthma. Measures: Data on demographics, patient-physician relationship, upper airway control, asthma control, asthma treatment, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and healthcare use were collected. Patients and physicians independently assessed adherence to inhaled controller medication during the previous week using a 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Discordance was defined as classification in distinct VAS categories (low 0-50; medium 51-80; high 81-100) or as an absolute difference in VAS scores ≥10 mm. Correlation between patients' and physicians' VAS scores/categories was explored. A multinomial logistic regression identified the predictors of physician overestimation and underestimation. Results: High inhaler adherence was reported both by patients (median (percentile 25 to percentile 75) 85 (65-95) mm; 53% VAS>80) and by physicians (84 (68-95) mm; 53% VAS>80). Correlation between patient and physician VAS scores was moderate (rs=0.580; p<0.001). Discordance occurred in 56% of cases: in 28% physicians overestimated adherence and in 27% underestimated. Low adherence as assessed by the physician (OR=27.35 (9.85 to 75.95)), FEV1 ≥80% (OR=2.59 (1.08 to 6.20)) and a first appointment (OR=5.63 (1.24 to 25.56)) were predictors of underestimation. An uncontrolled asthma (OR=2.33 (1.25 to 4.34)), uncontrolled upper airway disease (OR=2.86 (1.35 to 6.04)) and prescription of short-acting beta-agonists alone (OR=3.05 (1.15 to 8.08)) were associated with overestimation. Medium adherence as assessed by the physician was significantly associated with higher risk of discordance, both for overestimation and underestimation of adherence (OR=14.50 (6.04 to 34.81); OR=2.21 (1.07 to 4.58)), while having a written action plan decreased the likelihood of discordance (OR=0.25 (0.12 to 0.52); OR=0.41 (0.22 to 0.78)) (R2=44%). Conclusion: Although both patients and physicians report high inhaler adherence, discordance occurred in half of cases. Implementation of objective adherence measures and effective communication are needed to improve patient-physician agreement.