Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2015-07"
Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Histiocytic sarcoma; case report of a rare disease in a kidney transplant recipientPublication . Ventura Aguiar, P.; Dias, C.; Azevedo, P.; Silva, H.; Almeida, M.; Pedroso, S.; Martins, L.; Dias, L.; Rodrigues, A.; Viscaíño, R.; Cabrita, A.; Henriques, A.BACKGROUND: Histiocytic sarcoma (HS) is a rare hematologic neoplasm with a few hundred cases having been described to date.
- Increased CSF Aβ during the very early phase of cerebral Aβ deposition in mouse modelsPublication . Maia, L.; Kaeser, S.; Reichwald, J.; Lambert, M.; Obermüller, U.; Schelle, J.; Odenthal, J.; Martus, P.; Staufenbiel, M.; Jucker, M.Abnormalities in brains of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients are thought to start long before the first clinical symptoms emerge. The identification of affected individuals at this 'preclinical AD' stage relies on biomarkers such as decreased levels of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and positive amyloid positron emission tomography scans. However, there is little information on the longitudinal dynamics of CSF biomarkers, especially in the earliest disease stages when therapeutic interventions are likely most effective. To this end, we have studied CSF Aβ changes in three Aβ precursor protein transgenic mouse models, focusing our analysis on the initial Aβ deposition, which differs significantly among the models studied. Remarkably, while we confirmed the CSF Aβ decrease during the extended course of brain Aβ deposition, a 20-30% increase in CSF Aβ40 and Aβ42 was found around the time of the first Aβ plaque appearance in all models. The biphasic nature of this observed biomarker changes stresses the need for longitudinal biomarker studies in the clinical setting and the search for new 'preclinical AD' biomarkers at even earlier disease stages, by using both mice and human samples. Ultimately, our findings may open new perspectives in identifying subjects at risk for AD significantly earlier, and in improving the stratification of patients for preventive treatment strategies.
- Estimating glomerular filtration rate in kidney transplantation: Still searching for the best markerPublication . Santos, J.; Martins, L.Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. The evaluation of graft function is mandatory in the management of renal transplant recipients. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), is generally considered the best index of graft function and also a predictor of graft and patient survival. However GFR measurement using inulin clearance, the gold standard for its measurement and exogenous markers such as radiolabeled isotopes ((51)Cr EDTA, (99m)Tc DTPA or (125)I Iothalamate) and non-radioactive contrast agents (Iothalamate or Iohexol), is laborious as well as expensive, being rarely used in clinical practice. Therefore, endogenous markers, such as serum creatinine or cystatin C, are used to estimate kidney function, and equations using these markers adjusted to other variables, mainly demographic, are an attempt to improve accuracy in estimation of GFR (eGFR). Nevertheless, there is some concern about the inability of the available eGFR equations to accurately identify changes in GFR, in kidney transplant recipients. This article will review and discuss the performance and limitations of these endogenous markers and their equations as estimators of GFR in the kidney transplant recipients, and their ability in predicting significant clinical outcomes.