Carlos Zagalo | Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa (original) (raw)

Papers by Carlos Zagalo

Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine

Introduction: The concentrations of some chemical elements may differ between healthy and disease... more Introduction: The concentrations of some chemical elements may differ between healthy and diseased tissues. The knowledge of these differences is pivotal to understand the metabolic processes involved in both physiological and diseased states. The aim of this study was to evaluate the elemental composition of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in the bone of rats subjected to glucose intolerance and/or infrasound.Materials and Methods: X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was applied in the concentration determination of Ca and P in samples of Wistar rat tibiae. Tibiae from glucose intolerant, non-intolerant, exposed and non-exposed to infrasound rats were analysed.Results: There was a significant decrease in bone P concentration in glucose intolerant rats compared to non-intolerant animals. Similarly, the Ca/P ratio was higher in glucose intolerant animals. There were no significant differences for bone Ca concentration in both studied groups, nor between animals exposed and non-exposed to...

Objectivo: Avaliar o risco de lesão do nervo laríngeo recorrente (LNLR) na cirurgia da glândula t... more Objectivo: Avaliar o risco de lesão do nervo laríngeo recorrente (LNLR) na cirurgia da glândula tiroideia, seguindo a técnica de dissecção extra-capsular com exposição dos nervos laríngeos recorrentes (NLR), sem monitorização contínua do nervo. Desenho do estudo: Retrospectivo. Material e métodos: Foram consultados retrospectivamente os processos clínicos de 65 doentes submetidos a cirurgia tiroideia entre 01 de Abril de 2007 e 30 de Julho de 2007, no Serviço de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do IPOFG de Lisboa. Resultados: O total de paralisias das cordas vocais, incluindo paralisias temporárias e permanentes, foi de 3,77% dos NLR ex- postos. 2,83% (75% do total de paralisias) foram paralisias temporárias. A incidência de paralisias permanentes foi de 0,94%. Conclusão: A técnica de dissecção extracapsular da glândula tiroideia, com exposição dos NLR, mesmo prescindindo da sua monitorização, é o procedimento de eleição para diminuir o risco de disfunção pós-operatória do nervo, conseg...

Histology and histopathology, Jan 9, 2015

This paper is aimed at identifying putative morphological changes induced in the rat's trache... more This paper is aimed at identifying putative morphological changes induced in the rat's tracheal mucosa by chronic hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment or chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). Tracheal samples were obtained from three groups of 11, 12 and 13 adult Wistar rats. The first group was submitted to 20 sessions of 100 min-long HBO treatment; the second group was submited to eucapnic CIH for 35 days; and the third group was not submitted to any CIH or HBO therapy. Four proximal tracheal rings were collected after sacrifice and neck dissection of the animals. The samples were processed for both light microscopy and morphometric analysis. Inflammatory leukocyte infiltration was evaluated by a semiquantitative method. Unpaired t test and Bernoulli distribution were applied to evaluate statistical differences in the data collected from the three groups. Both CIH and HBO promote an increase in the thickness of the epithelium and of the basement membrane of the rat tracheal mucosa,...

Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc

We investigated whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatment is able to cause any changes in the na... more We investigated whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatment is able to cause any changes in the nasal peak inspiratory flow (NPIF) values of patients submitted to this therapy. NPIF was measured in a group of 13 patients who were submitted to at least 10 sessions of 75 minutes long HBO2 treatments over a period of 20 days. HBO2 was prescribed to the patients to treat hearing loss, diabetic ulcers or chronic inflammatory disease. Three timings were chosen to perform the NPIF measurements: during HBO2, five minutes before and five minutes after the treatment. For NPIF evaluation, the highest inspiratory flow of three inspirations was recorded. To search for statistical differences between NPIF measurements at the three different timings of the HBO2 treatment, we have analysed the data using the repeated measures ANOVA test with the Epsilon lower bound correction for the F ratio. NPIF values were significantly higher when the patients were inside the HBO2 chamber when compared with NPIF...

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive B-cell malignancy with very high proliferation rate, mor... more Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive B-cell malignancy with very high proliferation rate, more common in males than females. Here, we describe a case of Burkitt's lymphoma in a 24-week pregnant woman with cervical and abdominal involvement. The common genetic event of virtually all BL is a reciprocal chromosomal translocation involving the proto-oncogene MYC and one of the Ig gene heavy or light chain loci. Supportive treatment was administered until early delivery, after which the patient was treated according to protocol LMB96. Pregnancy and tumorogenesis share some important events such as immunologic tolerance, angiogenesis, and editing the host immune response. Little is known about the relationship between these events in pregnancy and in tumorogenesis.

Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia, 2014

Prosthetics & Orthotics International, 2015

Background: Mandibular reconstruction has been experiencing an amazing evolution. Several differe... more Background: Mandibular reconstruction has been experiencing an amazing evolution. Several different approaches are used to reconstruct this bone and therefore have a fundamental role in the recovery of oral functions. Objectives: This review aims to highlight the persistent problems associated with the approaches identified, whether bone grafts or prosthetic devices are used. A brief summary of the historical evolution of the surgical procedures is presented, as well as an insight into possible future pathways. Study design: A literature review was conducted from September to December 2012 using the PubMed database. The keyword used was “mandible reconstruction.” Articles published in the last three years were included as well as the relevant references from those articles and the “historical articles” were referred. This research resulted in a monograph that this article aims to summarize. Results: Titanium plates, bone grafts, pediculate flaps, free osteomyocutaneous flaps, rapid ...

International Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2001

We report a cytohistologic and immunohistochemical study of 2 cases of papillary thyroid carcinom... more We report a cytohistologic and immunohistochemical study of 2 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma occurring in a thyroglossal duct cyst. The patients were a 21-yearold woman and a 48-year-old man. Needle aspiration cytology smears were consistent with papillary thyroid carcinoma. The Sistrunk procedure was done. Papillary carcinoma was found within a thyroglossal duct cyst. In 1 case, the tumor spread outside the cyst. Follow-up was uneventful in both patients (2 and 9 years, respectively). Our results would indicate that papillary carcinoma of thyroglossal duct cyst, though indistinguishable from its thyroid homologue, has a more indolent course and could therefore be singled out as a clinicopathologic entity. Needle aspiration cytology reliably assists in planning patient management.

Dermatologic Surgery, 2011

Bone, 2014

This paper assesses the magnitude of Pb uptake in cortical and trabecular bones in healthy animal... more This paper assesses the magnitude of Pb uptake in cortical and trabecular bones in healthy animals and animals with altered balance in bone turnover, and the impact of exposure to Pb on serum markers of bone formation and resorption. The results reported herein provide physiological evidence that Pb distributes differently in central compartments in Pb metabolism, such as cortical and trabecular bone, in healthy animals and animals with altered balance in bone turnover, and that exposure to Pb does have an impact on bone resorption resulting in OC-dependent osteopenia. These findings show that Pb may play a role in the etiology of osteoporosis and that its concentration in bones varies as a result of altered bone turnover characteristic of this disease, a long standing question in the field. In addition, data collected in this study are consistent with previous observations of increased half-life of Pb in bone at higher exposures. This evidence is relevant for the necessary revision of current physiologically based kinetic models for Pb in humans.

European journal of anatomy, 2009

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of several path... more Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of several pathologies, namely in vascular diseases. It is generally considered to be innocuous, with few restrictions. Thus, patients subjected to HBO therapy breath saturated oxygen at an elevated pressure. Since the respiratory mucosa comes into contact with this altered inhaled air, we decided to use light and electron microscopy to investigate whether chronic HBO therapy causes significant changes in the nasal mucosa. For this, we obtained biopsies of the anterior portion of the lower nasal turbinate from two groups of 9 individuals under direct visual inspection. The first group had a diagnosis of tinnitus and was subjected to 15 sessions of 100 min-long HBO treatments, and the latter group comprised healthy volunteers not subjected to HBO therapy. The samples were processed for light and electron microscopy. We found that the turbinate mucosa of the HBO-treated group showed a moderate infiltrati...

Rhinology, 2008

OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify potential morphologic changes induced in the nasal mucosa by hyper... more OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify potential morphologic changes induced in the nasal mucosa by hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment. STUDY DESIGN Biopsies were obtained from two groups of 9 individuals: the first group had a diagnosis of tinnitus and was submitted to 15 sessions of 100 min-long HBO treatments, and the latter group consisted of healthy volunteers not submitted to HBO therapy. METHODS Small biopsies of the anterior portion of the lower nasal turbinate were collected with the help of a Hartmann forceps under direct visual inspection. The samples were processed for light microscopy and morphometric analysis. Inflammatory infiltration (neutrophils and lymphocytes) was evaluated by a semiquantitative method. Unpaired t test and Bernoulli distribution were applied to evaluate statistical differences between data from the two groups of samples. RESULTS Samples of the turbinate mucosa of the HBO-treated group showed a significant increase in the thickness of the epithelial basemen...

Journal of Surgery and Research

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant condition that predisposes to a variety o... more Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant condition that predisposes to a variety of primary neoplasias, having a wide presentation spectrum. Studies have suggested that the risk of developing benign and malignant tumors in NF1 patients could be approximately 2 to 5-fold higher than what is expected in the general population. We present the case of a 52-year-old caucasian man with NF1, recently diagnosed with a retroperitoneal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST). The patient had already been diagnosed with a Pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and a Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) in the past. Here we discuss the rare concomitance of these three neoplasms in a NF1 patient, as well as the clinical presentation and proposed oncological pathways linking NF1 to each of the neoplasms presented by the patient. To the best of our knowledge a similar set of tumors in a NF1 patient has never been described in literature.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urological malignancy. Despite early detection and surgica... more Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urological malignancy. Despite early detection and surgical treatment, some lesions recur late at distant sites. The most common dissemination sites are lung, bone, and liver. Skin metastases are not common, and the incidence and clinical manifestations are poorly established in the literature. We report here the case of a male patient with an isolated scalp cutaneous metastase of RCC, 7 years after radical nephrectomy. An excisional biopsy was performed and confirmed metastatic RCC.

Annals of Medicine

(2021) Profiles of elemental concentrations in human: contribution of X-ray fluorescence to discr... more (2021) Profiles of elemental concentrations in human: contribution of X-ray fluorescence to discrimination between healthy and diseased tissues and prediction of alterations in tongue carcinoma, Annals of Medicine, 53:sup1, S26-S27,

Acta Médica Portuguesa

Introduction: The Portuguese experience in microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck afte... more Introduction: The Portuguese experience in microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck after oncological surgery is scantly described. The primary aim of this study was to characterize the use of microvascular reconstruction after head and neck tumor resection in a Portuguese tertiary oncological centerMaterial and Methods: The authors retrospectively evaluated 114 microvascular free flap procedures performed for head and neck reconstruction after oncological resection in a department of Head and Neck Surgery of a Portuguese tertiary oncological center. Patients were operated on from January 2012 to May 2018. Data on patient demographic features, tumour characteristics, perioperative complications, postoperative aesthetic and functional results, survival time and time to recurrence were extracted.Results: Most tumours mandating microsurgical reconstruction were mucosal squamous cell carcinomas (85%) and were located in the oral region (95.6%). Around 45% of the patients had a ...

Annals of Medicine

Introduction: In recent decades, hydrogels have gained increasing interest as potential cartilage... more Introduction: In recent decades, hydrogels have gained increasing interest as potential cartilage replacement materials. Among these, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels have shown to be very promising candidates due to their biocompatibility, high degree of swelling, and elastic and rubbery nature, which allows them to mimic the natural tissues [1]. The properties of PVA-based hydrogels can be tailored by adding different compounds. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of adding two distinct crosslinking agents to the polymeric mixture, on the microstructure, water content, hydrophilicity, and mechanical behaviour of PVA hydrogels. Materials and Methods: Four types of materials were prepared using a PVA aqueous solution (7.75% w/w) containing two different crosslinking agents: glyoxal at 0.2% and 1%, and glutaraldehyde at 5.95% and 11.9% (where the percentages indicated refer to the mass of the crosslinker relative to that of the PVA). The mixtures were poured into Petri dishes and dried at 37 C (4 days) and then at 60 C (2 days). The surface morphology of the samples was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after they had been lyophilised for 48 h and coated with an Au/Pd layer. To determine the equilibrium water content (EWC), samples hydrated in pure water were weighed, dried at 60 C until reached a constant weight, and weighed again. The water contact angles were determined in hydrated samples by the captive bubble method. To evaluate the mechanical properties, compression tests were performed with a texturometer on samples placed in an aqueous medium, using a test speed of 0.1 mm/s until a force of 5 kg was reached. Results: The results showed that all materials are non-porous and have a similar surface morphology. The hydrogels crosslinked with glyoxal present higher EWC values (69.1% and 69.7% for 0.2% and 1% of glyoxal, respectively), while those with glutaraldehyde have an EWC of 52.8% and 41.5% for 5.95% and 11.9% of glutaraldehyde, correspondingly. Concerning wettability, all samples are hydrophilic and exhibit a water contact angle <55. The modulus of elasticity of materials prepared with glyoxal is lower (1.1 À 1.4 MPa) than that of those done with glutaraldehyde (6.2 À 9.3 MPa), but their toughness is higher (0.67 À 0.45 MJ/m 3 vs 0.22 À 0.27 MJ/m 3). For gels crosslinked with glyoxal, the dissipated energy assumes values between 17 À 22% and for samples prepared with glutaraldehyde, it is negligible. Discussion and conclusions: In conclusion, the nature and amount of crosslinking can determine the properties of PVA hydrogels. Glyoxal-containing materials have a greater water absorption capacity, are less stiff, absorb more energy, and exhibit a lower elastic recovery than glutaraldehyde-containing gels. Overall, glyoxal-crosslinked hydrogels have EWC values and mechanical properties closer to those of the natural cartilage, and therefore should be preferred as potential substitutes of this tissue.

Cureus

Introduction The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of inflammatory blood markers in t... more Introduction The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of inflammatory blood markers in the management of early-stage (T1-T2) oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) of the tongue in patients with a clinically negative neck. Materials and methods We undertook a retrospective chart review of 102 patients with early-stage OSCC of the tongue, subjected to tumor resection and elective neck dissection. Based on postsurgical histopathological examination results, we divided our cohort into pN+ and pN0 groups. Afterwards, we analyzed the role of pretreatment inflammatory blood markers in predicting occult neck metastasis. We also evaluated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) association with the depth of invasion (DOI) of the primary tumor. Results We found a significant association of NLR (p=0.001) and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (p=0.011) with neck status on univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that only NLR (p=0.02) was an independent risk factor for occult metastasis among inflammatory blood markers. Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis and Younden’s Index determined the NLR value of 2.96 as the most adequate cut-off value for neck status prediction. NLR values of pretreatment workup also had a significant association with the DOI of the primary tumor (p=0.018). Conclusion Our study supports the role of pretreatment NLR in predicting occult neck metastasis in early-stage OSCC of the tongue. It also sheds some light over the potential of NLR as a predictor of the primary tumor’s DOI.

Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine

Introduction: The concentrations of some chemical elements may differ between healthy and disease... more Introduction: The concentrations of some chemical elements may differ between healthy and diseased tissues. The knowledge of these differences is pivotal to understand the metabolic processes involved in both physiological and diseased states. The aim of this study was to evaluate the elemental composition of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in the bone of rats subjected to glucose intolerance and/or infrasound.Materials and Methods: X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy was applied in the concentration determination of Ca and P in samples of Wistar rat tibiae. Tibiae from glucose intolerant, non-intolerant, exposed and non-exposed to infrasound rats were analysed.Results: There was a significant decrease in bone P concentration in glucose intolerant rats compared to non-intolerant animals. Similarly, the Ca/P ratio was higher in glucose intolerant animals. There were no significant differences for bone Ca concentration in both studied groups, nor between animals exposed and non-exposed to...

Objectivo: Avaliar o risco de lesão do nervo laríngeo recorrente (LNLR) na cirurgia da glândula t... more Objectivo: Avaliar o risco de lesão do nervo laríngeo recorrente (LNLR) na cirurgia da glândula tiroideia, seguindo a técnica de dissecção extra-capsular com exposição dos nervos laríngeos recorrentes (NLR), sem monitorização contínua do nervo. Desenho do estudo: Retrospectivo. Material e métodos: Foram consultados retrospectivamente os processos clínicos de 65 doentes submetidos a cirurgia tiroideia entre 01 de Abril de 2007 e 30 de Julho de 2007, no Serviço de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço do IPOFG de Lisboa. Resultados: O total de paralisias das cordas vocais, incluindo paralisias temporárias e permanentes, foi de 3,77% dos NLR ex- postos. 2,83% (75% do total de paralisias) foram paralisias temporárias. A incidência de paralisias permanentes foi de 0,94%. Conclusão: A técnica de dissecção extracapsular da glândula tiroideia, com exposição dos NLR, mesmo prescindindo da sua monitorização, é o procedimento de eleição para diminuir o risco de disfunção pós-operatória do nervo, conseg...

Histology and histopathology, Jan 9, 2015

This paper is aimed at identifying putative morphological changes induced in the rat's trache... more This paper is aimed at identifying putative morphological changes induced in the rat's tracheal mucosa by chronic hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment or chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). Tracheal samples were obtained from three groups of 11, 12 and 13 adult Wistar rats. The first group was submitted to 20 sessions of 100 min-long HBO treatment; the second group was submited to eucapnic CIH for 35 days; and the third group was not submitted to any CIH or HBO therapy. Four proximal tracheal rings were collected after sacrifice and neck dissection of the animals. The samples were processed for both light microscopy and morphometric analysis. Inflammatory leukocyte infiltration was evaluated by a semiquantitative method. Unpaired t test and Bernoulli distribution were applied to evaluate statistical differences in the data collected from the three groups. Both CIH and HBO promote an increase in the thickness of the epithelium and of the basement membrane of the rat tracheal mucosa,...

Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc

We investigated whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatment is able to cause any changes in the na... more We investigated whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatment is able to cause any changes in the nasal peak inspiratory flow (NPIF) values of patients submitted to this therapy. NPIF was measured in a group of 13 patients who were submitted to at least 10 sessions of 75 minutes long HBO2 treatments over a period of 20 days. HBO2 was prescribed to the patients to treat hearing loss, diabetic ulcers or chronic inflammatory disease. Three timings were chosen to perform the NPIF measurements: during HBO2, five minutes before and five minutes after the treatment. For NPIF evaluation, the highest inspiratory flow of three inspirations was recorded. To search for statistical differences between NPIF measurements at the three different timings of the HBO2 treatment, we have analysed the data using the repeated measures ANOVA test with the Epsilon lower bound correction for the F ratio. NPIF values were significantly higher when the patients were inside the HBO2 chamber when compared with NPIF...

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive B-cell malignancy with very high proliferation rate, mor... more Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is an aggressive B-cell malignancy with very high proliferation rate, more common in males than females. Here, we describe a case of Burkitt's lymphoma in a 24-week pregnant woman with cervical and abdominal involvement. The common genetic event of virtually all BL is a reciprocal chromosomal translocation involving the proto-oncogene MYC and one of the Ig gene heavy or light chain loci. Supportive treatment was administered until early delivery, after which the patient was treated according to protocol LMB96. Pregnancy and tumorogenesis share some important events such as immunologic tolerance, angiogenesis, and editing the host immune response. Little is known about the relationship between these events in pregnancy and in tumorogenesis.

Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia, 2014

Prosthetics & Orthotics International, 2015

Background: Mandibular reconstruction has been experiencing an amazing evolution. Several differe... more Background: Mandibular reconstruction has been experiencing an amazing evolution. Several different approaches are used to reconstruct this bone and therefore have a fundamental role in the recovery of oral functions. Objectives: This review aims to highlight the persistent problems associated with the approaches identified, whether bone grafts or prosthetic devices are used. A brief summary of the historical evolution of the surgical procedures is presented, as well as an insight into possible future pathways. Study design: A literature review was conducted from September to December 2012 using the PubMed database. The keyword used was “mandible reconstruction.” Articles published in the last three years were included as well as the relevant references from those articles and the “historical articles” were referred. This research resulted in a monograph that this article aims to summarize. Results: Titanium plates, bone grafts, pediculate flaps, free osteomyocutaneous flaps, rapid ...

International Journal of Surgical Pathology, 2001

We report a cytohistologic and immunohistochemical study of 2 cases of papillary thyroid carcinom... more We report a cytohistologic and immunohistochemical study of 2 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma occurring in a thyroglossal duct cyst. The patients were a 21-yearold woman and a 48-year-old man. Needle aspiration cytology smears were consistent with papillary thyroid carcinoma. The Sistrunk procedure was done. Papillary carcinoma was found within a thyroglossal duct cyst. In 1 case, the tumor spread outside the cyst. Follow-up was uneventful in both patients (2 and 9 years, respectively). Our results would indicate that papillary carcinoma of thyroglossal duct cyst, though indistinguishable from its thyroid homologue, has a more indolent course and could therefore be singled out as a clinicopathologic entity. Needle aspiration cytology reliably assists in planning patient management.

Dermatologic Surgery, 2011

Bone, 2014

This paper assesses the magnitude of Pb uptake in cortical and trabecular bones in healthy animal... more This paper assesses the magnitude of Pb uptake in cortical and trabecular bones in healthy animals and animals with altered balance in bone turnover, and the impact of exposure to Pb on serum markers of bone formation and resorption. The results reported herein provide physiological evidence that Pb distributes differently in central compartments in Pb metabolism, such as cortical and trabecular bone, in healthy animals and animals with altered balance in bone turnover, and that exposure to Pb does have an impact on bone resorption resulting in OC-dependent osteopenia. These findings show that Pb may play a role in the etiology of osteoporosis and that its concentration in bones varies as a result of altered bone turnover characteristic of this disease, a long standing question in the field. In addition, data collected in this study are consistent with previous observations of increased half-life of Pb in bone at higher exposures. This evidence is relevant for the necessary revision of current physiologically based kinetic models for Pb in humans.

European journal of anatomy, 2009

Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of several path... more Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of several pathologies, namely in vascular diseases. It is generally considered to be innocuous, with few restrictions. Thus, patients subjected to HBO therapy breath saturated oxygen at an elevated pressure. Since the respiratory mucosa comes into contact with this altered inhaled air, we decided to use light and electron microscopy to investigate whether chronic HBO therapy causes significant changes in the nasal mucosa. For this, we obtained biopsies of the anterior portion of the lower nasal turbinate from two groups of 9 individuals under direct visual inspection. The first group had a diagnosis of tinnitus and was subjected to 15 sessions of 100 min-long HBO treatments, and the latter group comprised healthy volunteers not subjected to HBO therapy. The samples were processed for light and electron microscopy. We found that the turbinate mucosa of the HBO-treated group showed a moderate infiltrati...

Rhinology, 2008

OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify potential morphologic changes induced in the nasal mucosa by hyper... more OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify potential morphologic changes induced in the nasal mucosa by hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment. STUDY DESIGN Biopsies were obtained from two groups of 9 individuals: the first group had a diagnosis of tinnitus and was submitted to 15 sessions of 100 min-long HBO treatments, and the latter group consisted of healthy volunteers not submitted to HBO therapy. METHODS Small biopsies of the anterior portion of the lower nasal turbinate were collected with the help of a Hartmann forceps under direct visual inspection. The samples were processed for light microscopy and morphometric analysis. Inflammatory infiltration (neutrophils and lymphocytes) was evaluated by a semiquantitative method. Unpaired t test and Bernoulli distribution were applied to evaluate statistical differences between data from the two groups of samples. RESULTS Samples of the turbinate mucosa of the HBO-treated group showed a significant increase in the thickness of the epithelial basemen...

Journal of Surgery and Research

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant condition that predisposes to a variety o... more Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant condition that predisposes to a variety of primary neoplasias, having a wide presentation spectrum. Studies have suggested that the risk of developing benign and malignant tumors in NF1 patients could be approximately 2 to 5-fold higher than what is expected in the general population. We present the case of a 52-year-old caucasian man with NF1, recently diagnosed with a retroperitoneal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST). The patient had already been diagnosed with a Pheochromocytoma (PHEO) and a Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) in the past. Here we discuss the rare concomitance of these three neoplasms in a NF1 patient, as well as the clinical presentation and proposed oncological pathways linking NF1 to each of the neoplasms presented by the patient. To the best of our knowledge a similar set of tumors in a NF1 patient has never been described in literature.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urological malignancy. Despite early detection and surgica... more Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a common urological malignancy. Despite early detection and surgical treatment, some lesions recur late at distant sites. The most common dissemination sites are lung, bone, and liver. Skin metastases are not common, and the incidence and clinical manifestations are poorly established in the literature. We report here the case of a male patient with an isolated scalp cutaneous metastase of RCC, 7 years after radical nephrectomy. An excisional biopsy was performed and confirmed metastatic RCC.

Annals of Medicine

(2021) Profiles of elemental concentrations in human: contribution of X-ray fluorescence to discr... more (2021) Profiles of elemental concentrations in human: contribution of X-ray fluorescence to discrimination between healthy and diseased tissues and prediction of alterations in tongue carcinoma, Annals of Medicine, 53:sup1, S26-S27,

Acta Médica Portuguesa

Introduction: The Portuguese experience in microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck afte... more Introduction: The Portuguese experience in microsurgical reconstruction of the head and neck after oncological surgery is scantly described. The primary aim of this study was to characterize the use of microvascular reconstruction after head and neck tumor resection in a Portuguese tertiary oncological centerMaterial and Methods: The authors retrospectively evaluated 114 microvascular free flap procedures performed for head and neck reconstruction after oncological resection in a department of Head and Neck Surgery of a Portuguese tertiary oncological center. Patients were operated on from January 2012 to May 2018. Data on patient demographic features, tumour characteristics, perioperative complications, postoperative aesthetic and functional results, survival time and time to recurrence were extracted.Results: Most tumours mandating microsurgical reconstruction were mucosal squamous cell carcinomas (85%) and were located in the oral region (95.6%). Around 45% of the patients had a ...

Annals of Medicine

Introduction: In recent decades, hydrogels have gained increasing interest as potential cartilage... more Introduction: In recent decades, hydrogels have gained increasing interest as potential cartilage replacement materials. Among these, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels have shown to be very promising candidates due to their biocompatibility, high degree of swelling, and elastic and rubbery nature, which allows them to mimic the natural tissues [1]. The properties of PVA-based hydrogels can be tailored by adding different compounds. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of adding two distinct crosslinking agents to the polymeric mixture, on the microstructure, water content, hydrophilicity, and mechanical behaviour of PVA hydrogels. Materials and Methods: Four types of materials were prepared using a PVA aqueous solution (7.75% w/w) containing two different crosslinking agents: glyoxal at 0.2% and 1%, and glutaraldehyde at 5.95% and 11.9% (where the percentages indicated refer to the mass of the crosslinker relative to that of the PVA). The mixtures were poured into Petri dishes and dried at 37 C (4 days) and then at 60 C (2 days). The surface morphology of the samples was analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after they had been lyophilised for 48 h and coated with an Au/Pd layer. To determine the equilibrium water content (EWC), samples hydrated in pure water were weighed, dried at 60 C until reached a constant weight, and weighed again. The water contact angles were determined in hydrated samples by the captive bubble method. To evaluate the mechanical properties, compression tests were performed with a texturometer on samples placed in an aqueous medium, using a test speed of 0.1 mm/s until a force of 5 kg was reached. Results: The results showed that all materials are non-porous and have a similar surface morphology. The hydrogels crosslinked with glyoxal present higher EWC values (69.1% and 69.7% for 0.2% and 1% of glyoxal, respectively), while those with glutaraldehyde have an EWC of 52.8% and 41.5% for 5.95% and 11.9% of glutaraldehyde, correspondingly. Concerning wettability, all samples are hydrophilic and exhibit a water contact angle <55. The modulus of elasticity of materials prepared with glyoxal is lower (1.1 À 1.4 MPa) than that of those done with glutaraldehyde (6.2 À 9.3 MPa), but their toughness is higher (0.67 À 0.45 MJ/m 3 vs 0.22 À 0.27 MJ/m 3). For gels crosslinked with glyoxal, the dissipated energy assumes values between 17 À 22% and for samples prepared with glutaraldehyde, it is negligible. Discussion and conclusions: In conclusion, the nature and amount of crosslinking can determine the properties of PVA hydrogels. Glyoxal-containing materials have a greater water absorption capacity, are less stiff, absorb more energy, and exhibit a lower elastic recovery than glutaraldehyde-containing gels. Overall, glyoxal-crosslinked hydrogels have EWC values and mechanical properties closer to those of the natural cartilage, and therefore should be preferred as potential substitutes of this tissue.

Cureus

Introduction The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of inflammatory blood markers in t... more Introduction The purpose of this study was to clarify the role of inflammatory blood markers in the management of early-stage (T1-T2) oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) of the tongue in patients with a clinically negative neck. Materials and methods We undertook a retrospective chart review of 102 patients with early-stage OSCC of the tongue, subjected to tumor resection and elective neck dissection. Based on postsurgical histopathological examination results, we divided our cohort into pN+ and pN0 groups. Afterwards, we analyzed the role of pretreatment inflammatory blood markers in predicting occult neck metastasis. We also evaluated neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) association with the depth of invasion (DOI) of the primary tumor. Results We found a significant association of NLR (p=0.001) and monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (p=0.011) with neck status on univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that only NLR (p=0.02) was an independent risk factor for occult metastasis among inflammatory blood markers. Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis and Younden’s Index determined the NLR value of 2.96 as the most adequate cut-off value for neck status prediction. NLR values of pretreatment workup also had a significant association with the DOI of the primary tumor (p=0.018). Conclusion Our study supports the role of pretreatment NLR in predicting occult neck metastasis in early-stage OSCC of the tongue. It also sheds some light over the potential of NLR as a predictor of the primary tumor’s DOI.