'Sleeping with the enemy': a cross-sectional study on psychological and emotional violence among couples living in Portugal during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate psychological and emotional violence in relation with sociodemographic characteristics and anxiety and depression symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic in a sample of Portuguese residents.

Methods: A cross-sectional online study using snowball sampling collected data on demographics, socioeconomic factors, mental health (anxiety and depression symptoms) and couple psychological and emotional violence. The study spanned three months and included 519 individuals aged 18 or above in a relationship since January 2020 or earlier.

Lung Injury Risk in Traumatic Brain Injury Managed With Optimal Cerebral Perfusion Pressure Guided-Therapy.

Introduction: Management of traumatic brain injury (TBI) has to counterbalance prevention of secondary brain injury without systemic complications, namely lung injury. The potential risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) leads to therapeutic decisions such as fluid balance restriction, high PEEP and other lung protective measures, that may conflict with neurologic outcome. In fact, low cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) may induce secondary ischemic injury and mortality, but disproportionate high CPP may also increase morbidity and worse lung compliance and hypoxia with the risk of developing ARDS and fatal outcome.

Anxiety and Depression Symptoms During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cluster Analysis of Individuals Living in Portugal.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is an illustration of how a physical illness can damage people's minds. In this regard, the goal of this study was to see how different sociodemographic and behavioral factors were linked to anxiety and depression symptoms in a group of individuals living in Portugal.

Methods: Between November 2020 and February 2021, a cross-sectional, snowball online study was conducted.

Influence of psoriasis lesions' location and severity on psychosocial disability and psychopathology. Observational study and psychometric validation of the SAPASI Portuguese version.

Objectives: The psychosocial impact of psoriasis is well documented. However, the contributing role of clinical disease characteristics is not satisfactorily explored. This study aimed to validate the Self-administered Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (SAPASI) to a Portuguese population (SAPASI-PT) and to perform its cross-validation, assessing how the results will generalize to an independent data set, with the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), in order to assess the influence of psoriasis' severity on psychosocial disability and psychopathology.

Does the Vehicle Matter? Real-World Evidence on Adherence to Topical Treatment in Psoriasis.

The influence of the vehicle in topical treatment adherence remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of the pharmaceutical dosage form on adherence to topical treatment in psoriasis patients, taking into consideration the mechanical features. The adherence was evaluated in a sample of 102 psoriasis patients, followed for approximately 45 days.

Evaluation of drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment outcome in Portugal, 2000-2016.

Treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), which is usually less successful than that of drug-susceptible TB, represents a challenge for TB control and elimination. We aimed to evaluate treatment outcomes and to identify the factors associated with death among patients with MDR and XDR-TB in Portugal. We assessed MDR-TB cases reported for the period 2000-2016, using the national TB Surveillance System.

Transcranial Doppler-derived indices of cerebrovascular haemodynamics are independent of depth and angle of insonation.

Continuous measurement of cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) using transcranial Doppler (TCD) and arterial blood pressure (ABP) monitoring enables assessment of cerebrovascular haemodynamics. Further indices describing cerebrovascular function can be calculated from ABP and CBFV, such as the mean index (Mxa) of cerebrovascular autoregulation, the 'time constant of the cerebral arterial bed' (tau), the 'critical closing pressure' (CrCP) and a 'non-invasive estimator of ICP' (nICP). However, TCD is operator-dependent and changes in angle and depth of MCA insonation result in different readings of CBFV.

Reactive hyperemia correlates with the presence of sepsis and glycocalyx degradation in the intensive care unit: a prospective cohort study.

Objective: To investigate whether reactive hyperemia measured by peripheral arterial tonometry correlates with markers of endothelial dysfunction and may be used to identify sepsis in critical illness.

Methods: A prospective study was performed using a cohort of critically ill patients. Endothelial dysfunction was assessed on admission by quantifying reactive hyperemia-peripheral arterial tonometry and plasma levels of endothelin-1, soluble E-selectin, endocan and syndecan-1.

Peripheral arterial tonometry as a method of measuring reactive hyperaemia correlates with organ dysfunction and prognosis in the critically ill patient: a prospective observational study.

Predictions of mortality may help in the selection of patients who benefit from intensive care. Endothelial dysfunction is partially responsible for many of the organic dysfunctions in critical illness. Reactive hyperaemia is a vascular response of the endothelium that can be measured by peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT).

Portuguese Society of Gastroenterology Consensus on the Diagnosis and Management of Hemorrhoidal Disease.

Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is a frequent health problem with considerable repercussions on patients' quality of life. However, much of the clinical practice related to HD is based on knowledge without scientific evidence and supported largely by empirical experience of the physician who deals with this pathology. As in other countries, the goal of this consensus is to establish statements supported by solid scientific evidence and whose purpose will be to standardize and guide the diagnosis and management of HD both in the general population and in some particular groups of patients.

A nationwide study of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Portugal 2014-2017 using epidemiological and molecular clustering analyses.

Background: Increasing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) incidence is a major threat against TB eradication worldwide. We aim to conduct a detailed MDR-TB study in Portugal, an European country with endemic TB, combining genetic analysis and epidemiological data, in order to assess the efficiency of public health containment of MRD-TB in the country.

Methods: We used published MIRU-VNTR data, that we reanalysed using a phylogenetic analysis to better describe MDR-TB cases transmission occurring in Portugal from 2014 to 2017, further enriched with epidemiological data of these cases.

HIV screening of tuberculosis patients in Portugal: what are we missing?

Background: Knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status is essential to effectively manage both tuberculosis (TB) and HIV infection. This is why the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends routine HIV testing in all TB patients.

Objective: To determine the number of TB patients with unknown HIV status in Portugal and to identify the factors associated with unknown HIV status.

Immigrants' access to health care: Problems identified in a high-risk tuberculosis population.

Introduction: Immigrants may utilize health care services differently than other residents and may also have a greater risk for tuberculosis (TB).

Objective: Identify barriers to healthcare access by immigrants, factors associated with these barriers, and discuss strategies that may reduce these barriers.

Material And Methods: Anonymous questionnaires were given to immigrants at National Immigrant Support Centres between 2015 and 2016.

Baroreflex Impairment After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Is Associated With Unfavorable Outcome.

Background And Purpose: Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is characterized by important changes in the autonomic nervous system with potentially adverse consequences. The baroreflex has a key role in regulating the autonomic nervous system. Its role in SAH outcome is not known.