Structural and vascular assessment of the optic nerve head and macula in chronic Chagas disease.

Chagas disease (CD), a parasitic infection, may have ocular repercussions in its cardiologic form, since a history of heart disease of other etiologies already has been established as a risk factor for neuropathies and maculopathies. The aim of the present study was to investigate preclinical structural and vascular optic nerve head (ONH) and macular parameters in patients with chronic CD. Nineteen patients with CD and 19 healthy subjects were evaluated with optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, and Laguna ONhE® software.

Impact of obesity on iron metabolism and the effect of intravenous iron supplementation in obese patients with absolute iron deficiency.

Obesity and iron deficiency (ID) are widespread health issues, with subclinical inflammation in obesity potentially contributing to ID through unclear mechanisms. The aim of the present work was to elucidate how obesity-associated inflammation disturb iron metabolism and to investigate the effect of intravenous (IV) iron supplementation on absolute iron deficient pre-obese (BMI 25.0-29.

Echinococcosis: An Uncommon Cause of Thoracic Pain.

Echinococcosis is caused by larvae, the metacestode stage of the tapeworm , and poses a public health issue in many developing countries. It generally affects a single organ, most commonly the liver or lungs, and rarely involves multiple organs. We present the case of a 24-year-old Indian man living in Portugal, who was admitted to the Emergency Department with left-sided thoracic pain radiating to the back.