Addressing Challenges to Enhance Clinical Research in Portugal: Insights from the OncoT3 Expert Group Delphi Study.

Introduction Over the past decades, clinical research has evolved significantly, driven by advances in regulatory frameworks, technological innovations, and methodological approaches. In Portugal, while there has been progress - such as increased regulatory alignment with European standards and the adoption of digital trial management tools - various challenges remain. These may include, among others, limited access to funding, slower patient recruitment rates, and regulatory hurdles that can delay trial approvals.

The Initial Journey of Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer (PaCTO Project): A Nationwide Survey among Portuguese Specialist Physicians.

Introduction: We aimed to characterize the initial healthcare journey of metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) patients in Portugal, including healthcare provision and factors affecting therapeutic decisions, namely BRCA mutations testing.

Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional, web-based survey using a convenience sampling approach. Portuguese oncologists and pathologists that routinely work with mPDAC patients from the different geographical regions and settings were invited to participate in the study via email (December 2020).

The role of community pharmacists and pharmacies in physical activity promotion: an interdisciplinary e-Delphi study.

Background: Physical activity has a key role in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. Community pharmacists are an accessible source to provide brief advice to people on how to be more physically active. Nonetheless, there is a limited understanding of stakeholders' perspectives on their role in promoting physical activity, to inform policy and practice.

The Effects of Benralizumab on Lung Volumes and Airway Resistance in Severe Eosinophilic Asthma: A Real-World Study.

Introduction: Add-on biological monoclonal antibodies such as benralizumab (anti-IL-5Ra) are recommended by international guidelines to reduce exacerbations in severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). However, few studies have assessed the impact of these therapies on lung function-related outcomes. Our goal was to evaluate the effectiveness of benralizumab on lung function, including lung volumes and airway resistance, in SEA patients in Portugal.

Pharmacists' involvement in physical activity promotion in community pharmacy: a systematic review.

Background: Physical activity (PA) promotion in healthcare systems is one of the priority areas highlighted by the World Health Organization, which recognizes that progress has been slow largely due to a lack of awareness and investment while requiring a system-based approach. Community pharmacies are one of the health structures that are more easily accessible to populations, thus constituting an ideal venue for developing health promotion activities. This research aimed to describe PA-enabling interventions developed in community pharmacies by pharmacists.

Effects of inpatient creatinine testing frequency on acute kidney injury identification and staging: a historical cohort study.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a multifactorial condition often induced by drugs commonly used in hospitals. Identifying and staging AKI necessitates frequent monitoring of renal function.

Aim: To assess the impact of real-world hospital practices regarding serum creatinine (SCr) testing on the identification and staging of AKI, and its implications for adjusting drug doses.

Physical activity promotion in the community pharmacy: An opportunity for an expanded role?

Background: Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for the development of chronic diseases, and it is increasingly prevalent in the Portuguese population. Pharmacists' role in promoting physical activity (PA) is still not well established, although health promotion is foreseen by law in Portugal. Competing tasks and location where the pharmacy is embedded can hinder this promotion in their daily practice.

Experience and Learning from the COVID-19 Pandemic in Portugal: Perceptions of Community Pharmacy Professionals.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, community pharmacy (CP) professionals were among those who experienced the greatest risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2, which forced major adaptations.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to describe the changes implemented in CP professionals during the pandemic, understand the perception of professionals about their experience, and explore changes to remain.

Methods: An observational and cross-sectional study was conducted via an online questionnaire (June-September 2020).

Correction: The Meaning of Lymphadenopathies During Adjuvant Durvalumab After Chemoradiotherapy for Lung Cancer: Thinking Beyond Disease Progression.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.7759/cureus.26729.

The Meaning of Lymphadenopathies During Adjuvant Durvalumab After Chemoradiotherapy for Lung Cancer: Thinking Beyond Disease Progression.

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the mainstay of treatment for many malignancies. With this new strategy, relevant immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been reported, some of which can be mistaken for disease progression. To better illustrate the current challenges in diagnosing and managing a patient under adjuvant ICI treatment, we present the case of a 67-year-old female patient with stage IIIB unresectable, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated, non-small-cell lung cancer who was initially treated with chemoradiotherapy, followed by immunotherapy with durvalumab.

Adiponectin, Leptin, and IGF-1 Are Useful Diagnostic and Stratification Biomarkers of NAFLD.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease where liver biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis. Here we aimed to evaluate the role of circulating adiponectin, leptin, and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels as non-invasive NAFLD biomarkers and assess their correlation with the metabolome. Leptin, adiponectin, and IGF-1 serum levels were measured by ELISA in two independent cohorts of biopsy-proven obese NAFLD patients and healthy-liver controls (discovery: 38 NAFLD, 13 controls; validation: 194 NAFLD, 31 controls) and correlated with clinical data, histology, genetic parameters, and serum metabolomics.

Limitations and perceived delays for diagnosis and staging of lung cancer in Portugal: A nationwide survey analysis.

Background: We aimed to identify the perception of physicians on the limitations and delays for diagnosing, staging and treatment of lung cancer in Portugal.

Methods: Portuguese physicians were invited to participate an electronic survey (Feb-Apr-2020). Descriptive statistical analyses were performed, with categorical variables reported as absolute and relative frequencies, and continuous variables with non-normal distribution as median and interquartile range (IQR).

Portuguese Consensus and Recommendations for Acquired Coagulopathic Bleeding Management (CCBM).

We aimed to determine how Portuguese physicians handle major bleeding. We also aim to establish global diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations to be followed in clinical practice by using a step-wise approach of evidence generation. This study followed a three-step process: a steering committee desk review, a Delphi technique, an expert panel meeting.

Reducing oral corticosteroids in severe asthma (ROSA Project): a nationwide Portuguese consensus.

Introduction And Objectives: We aimed to build a national consensus to optimize the use of oral corticosteroids (OCS) in severe asthma in Portugal.

Material And Methods: A modified 3-round Delphi including 65 statements (topics on chronic systemic corticotherapy, therapeutic schemes, asthma safety and monitoring) was performed via online platform (October-November 2019). A five-point Likert-type scale was used (1-'strongly disagree'; 5-'strongly agree').

Epidemiology of Transthyretin Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy in Portugal: A Nationwide Study.

Background: Transthyretin-associated familial amyloid polyneuropathy (TTR-FAP) is a rare, hereditary, progressive and neurodegenerative disease. We aimed to study -TTR-FAP epidemiology in Portugal.

Methods: National, observational, prospective and retrospective, case identification of adults with TTR-FAP.

Effects of economic recession on elderly patients' perceptions of access to health care and medicines in Portugal.

Background In view of the current financial and demographic situation in Portugal, accessibility to health care may be affected, including the ability to adhere to medication. Objective To evaluate the perceived effects of the crisis on elderly patient's access to medicines and medical care, and its implications on medicine-taking behaviour. Setting Community pharmacy.

Measurement of dijet angular distributions and search for quark compositeness in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV.

Dijet angular distributions are measured over a wide range of dijet invariant masses in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV, at the CERN LHC. The event sample, recorded with the CMS detector, corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 36 pb⁻¹. The data are found to be in good agreement with the predictions of perturbative QCD, and yield no evidence of quark compositeness.

Search for pair production of second-generation scalar leptoquarks in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV.

A search for pair production of second-generation scalar leptoquarks in the final state with two muons and two jets is performed using proton-proton collision data at √s = 7 TeV collected by the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb⁻¹. The number of observed events is in good agreement with the predictions from the standard model processes.

Search for pair production of first-generation scalar leptoquarks in pp collisions at √s = 7 TeV.

A search for pair production of first-generation scalar leptoquarks is performed in the final state containing two electrons and two jets using proton-proton collision data at √s = 7 TeV. The data sample used corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 33 pb⁻¹ collected with the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The number of observed events is in good agreement with the predictions for the standard model background processes, and an upper limit is set on the leptoquark pair production cross section times β² as a function of the leptoquark mass, where β is the branching fraction of the leptoquark decay to an electron and a quark.

Dijet azimuthal decorrelations in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV.

Measurements of dijet azimuthal decorrelations in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV using the CMS detector at the CERN LHC are presented. The analysis is based on an inclusive dijet event sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 2.9 pb⁻¹.

Measurement of the B(+) production cross section in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7 TeV.

Measurements of the total and differential cross sections dσ/dp(T)(B) and dσ/dy(B) for B(+) mesons produced in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=7  TeV are presented. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 5.8  pb(-1) collected by the CMS experiment operating at the LHC.

Measurement of the isolated prompt photon production cross section in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV.

The differential cross section for the inclusive production of isolated prompt photons has been measured as a function of the photon transverse energy E(T)(γ) in pp collisions at √s=7  TeV using data recorded by the CMS detector at the LHC. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 2.9  pb(-1).

Search for stopped Gluinos in pp collisions at square root s=7 TeV.

The results of the first search for long-lived gluinos produced in 7 TeV pp collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider are presented. The search looks for evidence of long-lived particles that stop in the CMS detector and decay in the quiescent periods between beam crossings. In a dataset with a peak instantaneous luminosity of 1×10(32) cm-2 s-1, an integrated luminosity of 10 pb-1, and a search interval corresponding to 62 hours of LHC operation, no significant excess above background was observed.