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Browsing by Author "Fonseca, J.E."

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  • Expansion of activated cxcr5+icos+ tfh cells and plasmablasts induced by seasonal influenza vaccine is impaired in anti-il-6r treated rheumatoid arthritis patients
    Publication . Romao, V.C.; Agua-Doce, A.; Polido-Pereira, J.; Barros, R.; Lopes, I.P.; Seixas, M.I.; Saavedra, M.J.; Sacadura-Leite, E.; Rebelo-de-Andrade, H.; Fonseca, J.E.; Graca, L.
    Objectives: To investigate the importance of IL-6 for the in vivo differentiation of human Tfh cells, taking advantage of influenza vaccination in patients under anti-IL-6R therapy.
    2018Conference object Open access Show more
  • Protective effect of an ERAP1 haplotype in ankylosing spondylitis: investigating non-MHC genes in HLA-B27-positive individuals
    Publication . Bettencourt, B.F.; Rocha, F.L.; Alves, H.; Amorim, R.; Caetano Lopes, J.; Vieira Sousa, E.; Pimentel Santos, F.; Lima, M.; Porto, G.; Branco, J.C.; Fonseca, J.E.; Bruges Armas, J.
    OBJECTIVE: The association of non-MHC genes with AS has been recently suggested. We aimed to investigate the association of the ERAP1, IL23R and TNFSF15 regions and the susceptibility to and protection from AS in HLA-B27-positive individuals. METHODS: A total of 200 unrelated AS patients and 559 healthy unrelated subjects, all HLA-B27 positive, were tested. Twenty single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were investigated in and near IL23R (nine SNPs), in ERAP1 (five SNPs) and in TNFSF15 (six SNPs). RESULTS: ERAP1 rs30187 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.5, P = 4.7 × 10(-3)] had the strongest association with AS susceptibility. A protective effect was found in three of the ERAP1 SNPs: rs17482078 (OR = 0.7, P = 2.8 × 10(-2)), rs10050860 (OR = 0.7, P = 2.3 × 10(-2)), rs2287987 (OR = 0.6, P = 1.3 × 10(-2)). The ERAP1 haplotype rs17482078/rs10050860/rs30187/rs2287987-CCTT showed an association with AS susceptibility (P = 6.8 × 10(-3)) and a protective effect was identified in rs17482078/rs10050860/rs30187/rs2287987-TTCC (P = 3.1 × 10(-2)). Significant association with AS susceptibility was found in one IL23R marker (rs1004819, P = 4.3 × 10(-2), OR = 1.3). No associations were observed in the TNFSF15 region. CONCLUSION: The identification of a new protection haplotype in ERAP1 and the lack of association of the TNFSF15 region can provide new insights into the understanding of the mechanisms underlying the susceptibility to and protection from AS.
    2013-09-17Journal article Restricted access Show more
  • Vasculitis-like syndrome associated with Borrelia lusitaniae infection
    Publication . Lopes de Carvalho, Isabel; Fonseca, J.E.; Marques, J.G.; Ullmann, A.; Hojgaard, A.; Zeidner, N.; Núncio, M.S.
    We report the isolation of Borrelia lusitaniae from a 13-year-old female child presenting with a vasculitis syndrome. The patient was treated with doxycycline, 100 mg bid for 20 days, and is in remission after a follow-up of 2 years. These results should alert clinicians to the fact that B. lusitaniae may be pathogenic in humans, highlighting that patients may be seronegative or present with minimal positive antibody titres and clinical signs that are not specific for Lyme borreliosis. In order to prevent the occurrence of more serious disease manifestations via timely treatment, the analysis by molecular methods may be a useful approach when antibody titres are uninformative.
    2008-12Journal article Restricted access Show more