Enhancing Lung Cancer Care in Portugal: Bridging Gaps for Improved Patient Outcomes.

Lung cancer has the highest incidence and cancer-related mortality worldwide. In Portugal, it ranks as the fourth most common cancer, with nearly 6000 new cases being diagnosed every year. Lung cancer is the main cause of cancer-related death among males and the third cause of cancer-related death in females.

The impact of nintedanib and pirfenidone on lung function and survival in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis in real-life setting.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown cause that is associated with radiological and/or histological features of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). A mean survival of 2-5 years was reported previously to the advent of antifibrotics. According to clinical trials, nintedanib and pirfenidone induce a significant delay in functional decline, with a favorable impact on survival.

An In Vitro Evaluation of the Potential Neuroprotective Effects of Intranasal Lipid Nanoparticles Containing Astaxanthin Obtained from Different Sources: Comparative Studies.

The intranasal route has been suggested as a promising alternative to improve the direct transport of molecules to the brain, avoiding the need to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In this area, the use of lipid nanoparticles, namely solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), has been highlighted as a promising strategy to improve the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In this work, formulations containing SLN and NLC that were loaded with astaxanthin that was obtained from different sources (astaxanthin extract (AE) from the algae and pure astaxanthin (PA) from the fungi ) were prepared for nose-to-brain administration, and comparative in vitro experiments were performed to evaluate the biocompatibility of the formulations with nasal (RPMI 2650) and neuronal (SH-SY5Y) cells.

Mortality risk prediction with ILD-GAP index in a fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis cohort.

Background: Fibrotic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (fHP) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Interstitial lung disease-gender-age-physiology (ILD-GAP) performance in fHP outside the initial cohort was never performed.

Aim: To assess the ILD-GAP index's ability to predict mortality in a Portuguese cohort of patients with fHP and analyse whether other clinical variables add value.

Predictive value of common genetic variants in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis survival.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, fibrosing interstitial pneumonia of unknown etiology. The role of genetic risk factors has been the focus of numerous studies probing for associations of genetic variants with IPF. We aimed to determine whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of four candidate genes are associated with IPF susceptibility and survival in a Portuguese population.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis as a complication of chemotherapy: A case report.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare and recently described distinct pattern of lung apical fibrosis involving the upper lobe parenchyma and pleural dome. PPFE has definable and reproducible clinical, radiological and histopathological criteria, which allowed its classification as an independent interstitial lung disease. Several factors have been associated with PPFE, such as chemotherapy, especially with alkylating agents.

The Role of Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis and Decision Algorithm for the Management of Pneumothorax after Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsy.

Background: Pneumothorax is one of the main complications of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC). Chest ultrasound (CUS) is a radiation-free alternative method for pneumothorax detection.

Objective: We tested CUS diagnostic accuracy for pneumothorax and assessed its role in the decision algorithm for pneumothorax management.

Insights on chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis' treatment: Factors associated with a favourable response to azathioprine.

Background: The use of immunosuppressive and antifibrotic agents for the treatment of chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP) appears promising, but there is still no evidence supporting the clinical decision regarding the implementation of each specific pharmacological strategy.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with CHP and treated with azathioprine (AZA) were retrospectively selected from a single centre for Interstitial Lung Diseases. Baseline clinical data, as well as functional, imaging, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and histology features were assessed.

Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy in smoking-related interstitial lung diseases.

Background: Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) is an emerging technique in the diagnostic approach to diffuse parenchymal lung diseases. However, the role of TBLC in smoking-related Interstitial Lung Diseases (ILDs) is still under discussion.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to describe our experience with TBLC in diagnostic work-up of patients with smoking-related ILDs.

Impact of Azathioprine use in chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis patients.

Introduction: Systemic corticosteroids are widely used in chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP); however, there is not much evidence to support their use, besides being associated with significant side effects. Azathioprine (AZA) use is common in CHP, although not prospectively tested in randomized controlled trials. Our objective was to evaluate the lung function trajectory of CHP patients after AZA initiation, as well as to assess the safety profile of this drug.

Diagnostic yield and safety of transbronchial cryobiopsy in sarcoidosis.

Introduction: Transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) is an endoscopic technique proven to be useful in diagnostic approach to interstitial lung disease (ILD), but its role in sarcoidosis is not fully established. The aim of the present study was to assess the diagnostic yield of TBLC in sarcoidosis and its safety profile.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients, evaluated in a tertiary hospital ILD outpatient clinic, who underwent TBLC in the diagnostic work-up.

Pleuroparenchymal Fibroelastosis in association with Connective Tissue Disease: a new interstitial pneumonia to be aware of.

Pleuroparenchymal fibroelastosis (PPFE) is a rare and recently described interstitial pneumonia. It consists of progressive fibrosis involving the pleura and subpleural lung parenchyma, predominantly in the upper lobes, with defined and reproducible clinical, radiological and histopathological criteria. No effective treatment has yet been shown to modify the natural course of the disease, which vary greatly in the literature.

Diffuse smoking-related lung diseases: insights from a radiologic-pathologic correlation.

Cigarettes are well-recognized risk factors responsible for the emergence of a variety of pathologic conditions affecting both the airways and the lungs. Smoking-related lung diseases can be classified as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and several types of interstitial diseases, such as pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis, bronchiolitis, desquamative interstitial pneumonitis, acute eosinophilic pneumonia, and interstitial fibrosing lung diseases. The evidence of combined lower lung fibrosis and predominant upper lung emphysema is renowned as a distinct clinical entity, named combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema.

Pulmonary Sarcoidosis: Prognostic Factors at Diagnosis in Patients from North of Portugal.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disease that affects the lungs in more than 90% of the patients. It is associated with a variable clinical course and considering all the different forms of disease presentation, there are an absence of reliable clinical prognostic markers that can predict the outcome at diagnosis.

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate prognostic factors at diagnosis in a population of sarcoidosis patients from Northern Portugal.

Diagnostic Yield of Computed Tomography-Guided Transthoracic Lung Biopsy in Diffuse Lung Diseases.

Background: Accurate diagnosis is essential for successful management of diffuse lung disease (DLD). Histopathology may sometimes be necessary. Surgical lung biopsy, the gold standard, carries a risk of morbidity and mortality.

Pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor: report of 2 cases with radiologic-pathologic correlation.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is a rare benign tumor that affects most commonly children and young adults. In the lung, it comprises less than 1% of all neoplasms. The authors describe the clinical, radiological, and pathologic features of 2 cases of incidentally discovered pulmonary inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors.

Influence of emphysema distribution on pulmonary function parameters in COPD patients.

Objective: To evaluate the impact that the distribution of emphysema has on clinical and functional severity in patients with COPD.

Methods: The distribution of the emphysema was analyzed in COPD patients, who were classified according to a 5-point visual classification system of lung CT findings. We assessed the influence of emphysema distribution type on the clinical and functional presentation of COPD.

Epiploic appendagitis: an entity frequently unknown to clinicians--diagnostic imaging, pitfalls, and look-alikes.

Objective: Epiploic appendagitis is an ischemic infarction of an epiploic appendage caused by torsion or spontaneous thrombosis of the epiploic appendage central draining vein. When it occurs on the right side of the abdomen, it can mimic appendicitis and right-sided diverticulitis; whereas when it occurs on the left side of the abdomen, it is often mistaken for sigmoid diverticulitis. The purpose of this article is to review the diagnostic imaging of this entity.

Nonoperative management of omental infarction: a case report in a child.

Omental infarction is a rare entity in children that is usually diagnosed during surgery for suspected appendicitis. We report the clinical case of an obese boy presenting with abdominal pain and right-sided tenderness without fever, anorexia, or leukocytosis. Abdominal ultrasonography suggested omental infarction, and computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis.

Etiology and patterns of pediatric mandibular fractures in Portugal: a retrospective study of 10 years.

Objective: To determine the pattern of occurrence of mandibular fractures in the pediatric population in Portugal.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective study reviews the records of patients 18 years of age or younger from the 10-year period 1993 to 2002. Age, gender, anatomic site, cause of the accident, weekly and monthly variation, location and type of fractures, presence and location of associated injuries, treatment methods, and complications were reviewed.