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- Review of the updated definitions and concepts of spinal lesions in axial spondyloarthritisPublication . Massignan, Â; Knabben, MM; da Silva, TB; Hohgraefe Neto, GSpinal imaging may support the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis when typical findings are recognized in an appropriate clinical context and it can also indicate disease activity. In May 2022, the definitions for inflammatory and structural spinal lesions in axial spondyloarthritis were updated and validated by the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) working group. The aims of this paper are to demonstrate and describe imaging findings of the spine in patients with axial SpA, including the latest updated definitions by the ASAS, and to show complications in patients with long-standing disease.
- The impact on productivity costs of reducing unemployment in patients with advanced breast cancer: A model estimation based on a Portuguese nationwide observational studyPublication . Vasconcelos de Matos, L; Borges, M; Oliveira, AT; Bulhosa, C; Miguel, LS; Fidalgo de Freitas, T; Cunha, R; Mendes, AD; Arede, AJ; Marques, C; Costa, DA; Correia, JA; Brito, M; Fontes e Sousa, M; Guimarães, T; Cardoso, FThis study aimed to characterize the employment status and work-related conditions of patients with advanced breast cancer (ABC) in Portugal and quantify the productivity costs of premature abandonment of the work market while evaluating strategies to promote employment. The analysis was based on a cumulative incidence model for estimation of ABC prevalence and on a cross-sectional study characterizing the employment status of patients with ABC. This study was conducted in Portuguese hospitals, between Nov2021-Dec2022 and included patients diagnosed with ABC for at least 6 months, aged 66 or less and consenting for a self-answered questionnaire regarding work status. A total of 2151 working-aged women were estimated to have ABC in 2019 in Portugal, with productivity costs amounting to 28,676,754€ over 2019-2021. 112 patients from 9 hospitals were included in the study, average age was 52yr, 48 % had a postsecondary educational degree level and 87 % reported having a paid job at the time of diagnosis, mostly full-time. At the time of the study, only 38 % of the patients maintained the job status. The remaining were unemployed (51 %), on medical leave (25 %) or retired (24 %). Stop working was a personal choice for only 5 %. A subsidized part-time employment regimen, despite increased government costs, would allow a reduction in productivity costs, leading to a positive balance of 2,431,329€ over the same period. This study suggests that the majority of patients with ABC abandon the labor market before the age of retirement. Flexible work arrangements would benefit the patient, the government and the society.
- Can the free/total psa ratio predict undetected intraductal carcinoma and cribriform pattern at biopsy?Publication . Bernardino, RM; Yin, LB; Lajkosz, K; Cockburn, JG; Wettstein, MS; Woon, D; Nguyen, DD; Sayyid, R; Leão, R; van der Kwast, T; Fleshner, NBackground: Intraductal carcinoma (IDC) and cribriform pattern (Crib) of prostate cancer are recognised as independent prognosticators of poor outcome, both in prostate biopsies and radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens. Objective: This study aimed to determine the predictive value of Free-to-total PSA ratio (FPSAR) in identifying missed IDC/Crib at the time of biopsy as compared to the final surgical specimen. Materials and methods: Patients who underwent RP between January 2015 and December 2022 were included in the study. Predictors of a false negative biopsy were examined using a multivariate logistic regression. Associations between true positive/true negative/false negative biopsies (for IDC/Crib) with FPSAR as primary outcome parameter were determined using Chi-squared test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: This study included 639 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between 2015 and 2022 (Table 1) and had available FPSAR- at the time of biopsy. The median age was 63.0 years (IQR: 58.9-68.0). The median serum PSA before RP was 7.0 ng/ml (IQR: 5.3-9.5). Among the 639 patients, 177 (28%) had Crib, and 97 (15%) had IDC on prostate biopsy, with 54 (9%) patients having both IDC and Crib. Concerning Grade Group distribution at biopsy, there was: GG1 in 62 patients (10%), GG2 in 428 (67%), GG3 in 102 (16%), GG4 in 28 (4%), and GG5 in 19 (3%) patients. On multivariate regression analysis, the following were associated with lower odds of a false-negative IDC/Crib biopsy: Percentage of pattern 4 ≥ 10% at biopsy (odds ratio [OR] 0.17, 95% CI 0.10-0.29; p < 0.001); higher Gleason score (grade group 4/5) on biopsy (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.16-0.91; p = 0.03) and higher percent of positive cores at biopsy ≥ 33% (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.29-0.88; p = 0.02). FPSAR ≥ 0.10 was not an independent predictor of a false-negative IDC/Crib biopsy (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, our study's findings suggest that FPSAR is not a reliable biomarker for identifying IDC/Crib status at the time of biopsy. Further research is needed to identify biomarkers or combinations of biomarkers that can improve the diagnostic accuracy for these aggressive variants of PCa. Our study that involved 639 patients shows that FPSAR is not a good marker for detecting aggressive types of PCa, during a biopsy. More research is needed to find better markers or combinations of markers that can help diagnose these aggressive forms of prostate cancer more accurately.
- Climate Change, the Environment, and Health: A Call to ActionPublication . Campos, L
- Recomendações para a Redução do Impacto Ambiental dos Inaladores em Portugal: Documento de ConsensoPublication . Campos, L; Rosa, P; Carreiro Martins, P; Xavier, B; Leuschner, P; M. Marques, MI; Albino, J; Robalo Cordeiro, CThis consensus document addresses the reduction of the environmental impact of inhalers in Portugal. It was prepared by the Portuguese Council for Health and the Environment and the societies representing the specialties that account for these drugs' largest volume of prescriptions, namely the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology, the Portuguese Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, the Portuguese Society of Pediatrics, the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine, the Portuguese Association of General and Family Medicine and also a patient association, the Respira Association. The document acknowledges the significant impact of pressurized metered-dose inhalers on greenhouse gas emissions and highlights the need to transition to more sustainable alternatives. The carbon footprint of pressurized metered-dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers in Portugal was calculated, and the level of awareness among prescribing physicians on this topic was also estimated. Finally, recommendations were developed to accelerate the reduction of the ecological footprint of inhalers.
- Infection on Frail Patients in the Intensive Care Unit: Insights From the PalMuSIC StudyPublication . Correia, I; Fernandes, S; Bernardino, M; Gonçalves Pereira, JBackground: Along with population aging, frailty is also increasingly common in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, the impact of frailty on the infection incidence, the risk of multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms, and the potential benefits of broad-spectrum antibiotics are still poorly studied. Methods: This is a multicentric, prospective, observational study collecting data for 15 consecutive days of all consecutive adult patients admitted in each participating ICU. Exclusion criteria included admission for less than 24 hours or failure to obtain informed consent. The Clinical Frailty Score (CFS) was calculated both by the doctor and by the nurse in charge, and the patient's next of kin. Patients were considered frail if the mean of the three measured scores was ≥5. This is a post hoc analysis of the PALliative MUlticenter Study in Intensive Care (PalMuSIC) study. The Hospital de Vila Franca de Xira Ethics Committee approved the study (approval number: 63). Results: A total of 335 patients from 23 Portuguese ICUs were included. Frailty was diagnosed in 20.9%. More than 60% of the patients had a diagnosis of infection during their ICU stay, either present on admission or hospital-acquired. This included 25 (35.7%) frail and 75 (28.3%) non-frail (p=0.23) patients diagnosed with infection. In 34 patients, MDR microorganisms were isolated, which were more common in frail patients (odds ratio (OR): 2.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3-5.6, p=0.018). Carbapenems were started in 37 (18.1%) patients, but after adjusting for frailty and severity, no clear mortality benefit of this strategy was noted (odds ratio for ICU mortality: 1.61, 95% confidence interval: 0.49-5.31, p=0.43; odds ratio for hospital mortality: 1.61, 95% confidence interval: 0.61-4.21, p=0.33). Conclusion: Frail patients had similar rates of infection to non-frail patients but were more prone to have MDR microorganisms as causative pathogens. The use of empirical therapy with large-spectrum antibiotics should be based on microbiological risk factors and not simply on the host characteristics.
- Clinical Outcomes and Patient Satisfaction of an Enhanced Depth of Focus Intraocular Lens Targeted for Mini-MonovisionPublication . Campos, NPurpose: To assess the clinical outcomes, the rate of spectacle independence, and patient satisfaction of an enhanced depth of focus (EDOF) LuxSmart™ IOL targeted for mini-monovision in patients who had undergone bilateral cataract surgery. Methods: Twenty patients underwent bilateral LuxSmart IOL implantation with the non-dominant eye targeted for -0.50 diopters. Best-corrected distance (CDVA) and uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (UIVA) at 66 cm, uncorrected near visual acuity (UNVA) at 40 cm, and defocus curve were assessed. Patient-reported visual function was inquired by Catquest-9SF, and the rate of spectacle independence in all daily-life activities was calculated. The presence of photic phenomena was evaluated. A p-value lower than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean IOL power was +21.50 ± 4D (16.5-26D), and all were non-toric. Thirty-seven (92.5%) eyes were within ±0.5D of predicted target. The postoperative MRSE was 0.06 ± 0.42D and -0.45 ± 0.22D in dominant and non-dominant eyes. Every patient achieved distance binocular vision better than 0.1 logMAR. The non-dominant eyes showed lower CDVA (p<0.001). The UIVA was higher in non-dominant eyes (p<0.001). Binocular uncorrected near visual acuity was 0.12 ± 0.1, and uncorrected near visual acuity was higher in non-dominant eyes (p<0.001). LuxSmart IOL provided a sustained visual acuity of 0.3 logMAR or better between +1.00D and -2.50D. A total of 25% of patients reported frequent halos and glare. Despite achieving higher degrees of satisfaction, seven patients (35%) denied total spectacle independence in their daily-life activities, particularly for activities requiring continuous near vision. Conclusion: This study shows that LuxSmart EDOF IOL in mini-monovision strategy performs well for distance and intermediate vision. Although visual acuity for near also achieved very good results, the considerable rate of spectacle dependence, in particular for near, and the rate of photic phenomena do not support this IOL to be safely implanted in patients desiring spectacle independence at time of cataract surgery
- Topically Applied therapies for the treatment of skin disease : Past Present and FuturePublication . Brown, M; Williams, A; Chilcott, RP; Brady, B; Lenn, J; Evans, C; Allen, L; McAuley, WA; Beebeejaun, M; Haslinger, J; Beuttel, C; Vieira, R; Guidali, F; Miranda, MThe purpose of this review is to summarize essential biological, pharmaceutical and clinical aspects in the field of topically applied medicines that may help scientists when trying to develop new topical medicines. After a brief history of topical drug delivery, a review of the structure and function of the skin, routes of drug absorption and their limitations is then provided. The most prevalent diseases and current topical treatment approaches are then detailed, the organization of which reflects the key disease categories of autoimmune and inflammatory, microbial infections, skin cancers and genetic skin diseases. The complexity of topical product development through to large scale manufacture along with recommended risk mitigation approaches is then highlighted. As such topical treatments are applied externally patient preferences along with the challenges they invoke are then described and finally the future of this field of drug delivery is discussed with the emphasis on areas that are more likely to yield significant improvements over the topical medicines in current use or would expand the range of medicines and diseases treatable by this route of administration. Significance Statement This review of the key aspects the skin, its associated diseases and current treatments along with the intricacies of topical formulation development should be helpful in making judicious decisions about the development of new or improved topical medicines. These aspects include the choices of the active ingredients, formulations, the target patient populations preferences and limitations and the future with regards to new skin diseases and topical medicine approaches.
- Home Ultrasound: A Contemporary and Valuable Tool for Palliative MedicinePublication . Monteiro, AC; França de Santana, T; Morais, M; Santos, C; Aurélio, J; Santos, I; Cruz, S; Vázquez, D; Ferreira Arroja, S; Mariz, JThis narrative review explores the application of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in palliative care and its feasibility in home care settings. POCUS has the potential to streamline diagnostic strategies without patient transfer to the hospital, expedite timely symptomatic relief, and reduce complications from specific palliative interventions. The advent of handheld ultrasound devices has made it an attractive diagnostic and interventional adjunct in acute palliative care. POCUS has gained widespread acceptance as part of routine care in emergency medicine and intensive care, guiding certain procedures and increasing their safety. The modernization and miniaturization of ultrasound equipment have made ultra-portable devices available, allowing for better-quality images at affordable prices. Handheld devices have the potential to revolutionize everyday clinical practice in home-based palliative care, contributing to important bedside clinical decisions. Palliative care patients often require diagnostic examinations in the last months of their lives, with CT being the most frequently performed imaging procedure. However, CT imaging is associated with high costs and burdens, leading to increased suffering and impaired quality of life. Clinical ultrasound, a dialogic imaging modality, offers a safer and more efficient approach to palliative care. POCUS applications, which are cost-effective, non-invasive, and well-tolerated, can be used to improve patient satisfaction and diagnostic understanding. POCUS is a valuable tool in palliative care, improving diagnostic accuracy and reducing the time to diagnosis for various pathologies. It is a standard of care for many procedures and improves patient safety. However, there are limitations to POCUS in palliative care, such as operator-dependent examination variability and limited availability of trained professionals. To overcome these limitations, palliative care physicians should receive mandatory training in POCUS, which can be incorporated into the core curriculum. Additionally, ultrasound teleconsulting can assist less experienced examiners in real-time examinations. The literature on POCUS in palliative care is limited, but research on patient-oriented outcomes is crucial. POCUS should be considered a supplement to good clinical reasoning and regulated radiological evaluations.
- Influence of the rotator cuff tear pattern in shoulder stability after arthroscopic superior capsule reconstruction: a computational analysisPublication . Antunes, M; Quental, C; Folgado, J; Ângelo, AC; de Campos Azevedo, CObjectives: To assess the ability of the arthroscopic superior capsule reconstruction (SCR) in restoring glenohumeral stability in the presence of different preoperative patterns of irreparable rotator cuff tears (RCTs). Methods: A computational musculoskeletal (MSK) model of the upper limb was used to simulate isolated SCR and to estimate the stability of the shoulder. Four patterns of preoperative irreparable RCTs were modeled: Supraspinatus (SSP); SSP + Subscapularis (SSC); SSP + Infraspinatus (ISP); and SSP + SSC + ISP. The muscles involved in the irreparable RCT were removed from the MSK model to simulate an irreparable full-thickness tear. In the MSK model, the muscle and joint forces were estimated for a set of upper limb positions, from four types of motions (abduction in the frontal plane, forward flexion in the sagittal plane, reaching behind the back, and combing the hair) collected in a biomechanics laboratory, through inverse dynamic analysis. The stability of the shoulder was estimated based on the tangential and compressive components of the glenohumeral joint reaction force. The comparison of pre- and post-operative conditions, for the four patterns of irreparable RCTs, with the healthy condition, was performed using ANOVA and Tukey's tests (statistical level of p < 0.05). Results: In the setting of an isolated irreparable SSP tear, SCR statistically significantly improved stability compared with the preoperative condition (p < 0.001). For the irreparable SSP + SSC pattern, a statistically significant loss in stability was observed (p < 0.001) when SCR was applied. For the irreparable SSP + ISP and SSP + SSC + ISP patterns, the postoperative condition increased shoulder stability, compared to the preoperative condition; however, the improvement was not statistically significantly different. Conclusion: Isolated SCR for irreparable RCTs extending beyond the SSP does not statistically significantly improve the stability of the glenohumeral joint
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