Flexible, Electrochemical Skin-Like Platform for Inflammatory Biomarker Monitoring.

Addressing global challenges in wound management has greatly encouraged the emergence of home diagnosis and monitoring devices. This technological shift has accelerated the development of new skin patch sensors for continuous health monitoring. A key requirement is the creation of flexible platforms capable of mimicking human skin features.

Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Radiofrequency Thermal Neuroablation for the Treatment of Adductor and Rectus Femoris Spasticity.

Spasticity is a very frequent complication of spinal cord injury (SCI) that can limit activities of daily living, reduce the quality of life, and augment caregiver burden. This problem has many treatment options that should be selected according to the clinical and functional scenario.  This case study presents a 60-year-old female patient with complete spastic paraplegia after a spinal stroke.

A Case Report on a Young Male Taking Methylphenidate With Fasciculations and Dysphagia: Correlation or Causation?

Concurrent fasciculations and oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) can be presenting signs of motor neuron disease (MND); however, there are other causes for OD (neoplasms, surgery, and gastroesophageal diseases, among others). Fasciculations (anxiety, benign, or iatrogenic) are an uncommon side effect (<1%) of methylphenidate. A 30-year-old male noticed fasciculations in both gastrocnemii, reporting gradual cranial progression, culminating in diffuse fasciculations with facial involvement.

Good Bronchial Hygiene Reaches the Left Lung: Successful Extubation in a Tetraplegic Patient With Spinal Cord Injury.

Ineffective coughing affects bronchial hygiene and is a major contributor to respiratory complications after spinal cord injury (SCI). Mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MIE) therapy increases inspiratory and expiratory flow to assist bronchial secretions clearance. We present a case of a 67-year-old cervical SCI patient with lung infection and partial atelectasis in the lower left lung, associated with difficult ventilator weaning.

Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor use in cardiogenic shock complicating myocardial infarction: The Portuguese Registry of Acute Coronary Syndromes.

Introduction And Objectives: Cardiogenic shock (CS) complicates 5-10% of cases of myocardial infarction (MI). Whether glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (GPIs) are beneficial in these patients is controversial. Our aim is to assess the prognostic impact of GPI use on in-hospital mortality and outcomes in patients with MI and CS undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Polymyalgia Rheumatica After ChAdOx1 nCov-19 Vaccine: A Case Report.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is an inflammatory rheumatic disease characterized by severe pain and morning stiffness, mainly affecting the shoulder girdle. A 75-year-old woman, previously healthy, received the first dose of ChAdOx1 vaccine and two weeks later started with pain in the shoulder and pelvic girdles and knees of inflammatory characteristics, accompanied by morning stiffness (about one hour), anorexia, asthenia, and activities of daily living (ADL) dependence. She started analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with no improvement.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on ST-elevation myocardial infarction admissions and outcomes in a Portuguese primary percutaneous coronary intervention center: Preliminary Data.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to significant changes in healthcare systems and its impact on the treatment of cardiovascular conditions, such as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), is unknown in countries where the healthcare systems were not saturated, as was the case in Portugal. As such, we aimed to assess the effect on STEMI admissions and outcomes in Portuguese centers.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, observational, retrospective study including all patients admitted to our hospital due to STEMI between the date of the first SARS-CoV-2 case diagnosed in Portugal and the end of the state of emergency (March and April 2020).

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic on ST-elevation myocardial infarction admissions and outcomes in a Portuguese primary percutaneous coronary intervention center: Preliminary Data.

Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to significant changes in healthcare systems and its impact on the treatment of cardiovascular conditions, such as ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), is unknown in countries where the healthcare systems were not saturated, as was the case in Portugal. As such, we aimed to assess the effect on STEMI admissions and outcomes in Portuguese centers.

Methods: We conducted a single-center, observational, retrospective study including all patients admitted to our hospital due to STEMI between the date of the first SARS-CoV-2 case diagnosed in Portugal and the end of the state of emergency (March and April 2020).

Brief descriptions of the principles of prominent methods used to study the penetration of materials into human hair and a review of examples of their use.

Consumers are attracted to the latest fashion trends and different looks. This drives the search for novel hair treatments. Some chemicals present in hair treatment products can penetrate the hair shaft.

Specific Therapy for Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis: A Systematic Literature Review and Evidence-Based Recommendations.

Background The emergence of specific therapies for transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (CA) warrants the need for a systematic review of the literature. Methods and Results A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A systematic search was performed on MEDLINE, PubMed, and Embase databases on November 29, 2019.

Predictors of Fabry disease in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: How to guide the diagnostic strategy?

Background: Fabry disease (FD) is a treatable cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). We aimed to determine the independent predictors of FD and to define a clinically useful strategy to discriminate FD among HCM.

Methods: Multicenter study including 780 patients with the ESC definition of HCM.

Impact of previous coronary artery bypass grafting in patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome: Current trends and clinical implications.

Background: Among patients presenting with an acute coronary syndrome, those with previous coronary artery bypass grafting are a particular subset.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of previous coronary artery bypass grafting in acute coronary syndrome patients and to identify the current trends in their clinical management.

Methods: We performed a cohort analysis of patients prospectively enrolled in the Portuguese Registry of acute coronary syndrome between 2010-2019 with known previous coronary artery bypass grafting status.

Fragrance Retention in Virgin and Bleached Caucasian Hair.

Human hair, when bleached, undergoes oxidation of melamine granules and its structural proteins. This work aims to compare fragrance retention in both virgin and bleached hair, taking into consideration the interactions between fragrance compounds and hair before and after chemical modification. The bleaching process of straight dark brown Caucasian hair was carried out using a 4.

Acute Non-Rheumatic Myopericarditis: A Rare Complication of Pharyngitis.

Unlabelled: Acute non-rheumatic streptococcal myopericarditis (ANRSM) is a rare complication of an upper airway infection by streptococcus group A in developed countries. Cardiac involvement in bacterial infections must be adequately treated because it can lead to long-term complications. This case report describes recurrent ANRSM in an 18-year-old man, which illustrates how difficult and challenging the diagnosis of this disease can be.

[Prognostic implications of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure in acute coronary syndromes with left ventricular ejection fraction of 40% or over].

Introduction: There is still debate concerning the impact of left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) on long-term prognosis after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Objective: To assess LVEDP and its prognostic implications in ACS patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥40%.

Methods: We performed a prospective, longitudinal study of 1329 ACS patients from a single center between 2004 and 2006.

Left ventricular end diastolic pressure and acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Data is lacking in the literature regarding the prognostic impact of left ventricular-end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) across acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Objective: To assess LVEDP and its prognostic implications in ACS patients.

Methods: Prospective, longitudinal and continuous study of 1329 ACS patients from a single center between 2004 and 2006.

Predictors of adverse outcome in a diabetic population following acute coronary syndromes.

Introduction: People with diabetes are at increased risk for heart failure (HF), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and death following acute coronary syndromes (ACS). It is important to recognize the most powerful predictors of these events after an ACS as early as possible, in order to address them more aggressively. This is particularly important considering that various studies have shown that this population is undertreated in the setting of ACS.

Ischemic versus non-ischemic cardiomyopathy--are there differences in prognosis? Experience of an advanced heart failure center.

Introduction: Previous studies have associated heart failure (HF) of ischemic etiology with worse prognosis compared to HF from non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. HF treatment has evolved significantly in recent years. Has this evolution had an impact on this prognostic gap?

Objective: The aim of our study was to compare patients with advanced HF--nonischemic versus ischemic etiology--in terms of baseline characteristics, treatment, and in-hospital and long-term prognosis (including death, heart transplantation and hospital readmission).

Invasive strategy in non-ST elevation acute coronary syndromes: risks and benefits in an elderly population.

Introduction: Age is an important prognostic factor in acute coronary syndromes (ACS). An invasive strategy has been shown to benefit many non-ST elevation ACS populations; however, there is some controversy regarding patients who are more susceptible to procedure-related complications, such as the elderly, an under-represented population in the studies on this subject.

Objective: We aimed to compare the in-hospital and long-term prognosis of elderly patients with non-ST elevation ACS treated with either invasive procedures or a conservative strategy, and to characterize the patients selected for an early invasive approach.

Impact of renal function on mortality and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events following acute coronary syndromes.

Background: Renal failure patients have a dismal prognosis in the setting of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Several studies have shown that this population is undertreated, benefiting less frequently from cardiovascular agents and interventions. The aim of our study was to evaluate patients hospitalized for ACS who also presented renal dysfunction, identifying baseline clinical characteristics, treatment options and prognosis.

Impact of previous insulin therapy on the prognosis of diabetic patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Objective: To determine whether previous insulin treatment independently influences subsequent outcomes in diabetic patients with ACS (acute coronary syndromes).

Subjects And Methods: 375 diabetic patients with ACS, divided in 2 groups: Group A (n = 69)--previous insulin and Group B (n = 306)--without previous insulin. Predictors of 1-year mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were analyzed by Cox regression analysis.