Margarida Maia, PhD,  science writer—

Margarida is a biochemist (University of Porto, Portugal) with a PhD in biomedical sciences (VIB and KULeuven, Belgium). Her main interest is science communication. She is also passionate about design and the dialogue between art and science.

Articles by Margarida Maia

Family in China Has Two vEDS-causing COL3A1 Mutations

A family in China was found to carry two mutations causing vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (vEDS) over multiple generations, a study reports. The mutations interacted such that their effect was beyond that of each mutation alone. “This is the first report of such a combination ever described to cause vEDS…

Newly Found vEDS Mutation Causes Severe Joint, Muscle Involvement

A new mutation in the most common gene causing vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (vEDS) — COL3A1 — was found to lead to severe involvement of the joints and muscles, a case study reported. The findings provide insight into mutations causing the disease and expand clinicians’ understanding of “the phenotypic spectrum…

New Aytu Advisory Board Working to Advance AR101 for vEDS

Aytu BioPharma has formed its new scientific advisory board, which will work toward advancing the global development of AR101 (enzastaurin), an antitumor agent with the potential to treat vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (vEDS). There currently are no approved treatments for vEDS, characterized by thin, translucent skin that is easily bruised, and…

Pain Perception Training May Help With Back Pain in Hypermobile EDS

Weekly rehabilitation sessions mixing mild exercise with cognitive training for pain management may help in relieving lower back pain in people with hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS), a pilot study suggested. Its researchers call for new approaches in rehabilitation, like neurocognitive rehab sessions, that focus on a patient’s perception of…

Case Study: Check for vEDS in Patients With Pneumothorax

Doctors should consider the possibility of vascular Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (EDS) when seeing a patient with recurrent pneumothorax — the presence of air in the space between the lungs and the chest wall — that’s resistant to conventional therapy, according to a case report. The report described a 19-year-old man…

Indigestion Common With Joint Hypermobility Syndrome for Reasons Unknown

Joint hypermobility syndrome, including hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS), is present in a large proportion of people with functional dyspepsia — a common gastrointestinal disorder also known as indigestion without an underlying cause, a study showed. The presence of joint hypermobility, however, does not significantly prevent the digestive system from working…