Monocytes in the Characterization of Pain in Palliative Patients with Severe Dementia-A Pilot Study.

In assessing and managing pain, when obtaining a self-report is impossible, therapeutic decision-making becomes more challenging. This study aimed to investigate whether monocytes and some membrane monocyte proteins, identified as a cluster of differentiation (CD), could be potential non-invasive peripheral biomarkers in identifying and characterizing pain in patients with severe dementia. We used 53 blood samples from non-oncological palliative patients, 44 patients with pain (38 of whom had dementia) and 0 without pain or dementia (controls).

Atherosclerosis: The cost of illness in Portugal.

Introduction And Objectives: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Portugal and atherosclerosis is the most common underlying pathophysiological process. The aim of this study was to quantify the economic impact of atherosclerosis in Portugal by estimating disease-related costs.

Methods: Costs were estimated based on a prevalence approach and following a societal perspective.

CODAP: A multidisciplinary consensus among Portuguese experts on the definition, detection and management of atherogenic dyslipidemia.

Introduction And Aims: Atherogenic dyslipidemia is an important contributor to residual cardiovascular (CV) risk, but it is underdiagnosed and undertreated. This study aimed to assess the opinion of Portuguese experts to generate a consensus concerning the diagnosis and treatment of atherogenic dyslipidemia, as well as to contribute toward standardization of clinical practice in this disorder.

Methods: The study consisted in the application of a questionnaire to an expert panel, following a modified Delphi methodology.

A Severe Presentation of Drug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus.

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus is a rare condition associated with the exposure to certain drugs capable of triggering an autoimmune disease similar to systemic lupus erythematosus. Although there are no available diagnostic criteria, clinical and serological findings and its temporal association with the initiation of the suspected drug are important to establish the diagnosis. The withdrawal of the drug usually resolves the symptoms.

Superior Vena Cava Syndrome: An Uncommon Presentation of a Rare Colon Carcinoma Metastasis.

Introduction: Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is caused by obstruction of the superior vena cava due to vascular compression by a mass or intrinsic obstruction. The authors describe SVC syndrome caused by an isolated metastatic mediastinal mass from a resected primary colon carcinoma.

Case Report: An 81-year-old woman was referred to the hospital with swelling of the neck and upper left limb, dysphonia and dysphagia, associated with an involuntary weight loss of 16 kg.

endocarditis of a native mitral valve.

() is a rare cause of endocarditis, although is a common causative agent of bacteremia. An 89-year-old woman presented with recurrent episodes of fever and persistent bacteremia with 3-month duration, despite antimicrobial therapy. At first, a urinary tract infection was diagnosed and later a mycotic aneurysm of the abdominal aorta was found and required an endovascular repair.

Remitting Seronegative Symmetrical Synovitis with Pitting Oedema as the First Manifestation of an Adenocarcinoma of the Caecum.

Unlabelled: Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema (RS3PE) is a rare syndrome that affects the elderly. Although the aetiology is not fully understood, it has been related to multiple diseases including cancer. We present the case of an 80-year-old man with a full spectrum of signs and symptoms compatible with RS3PE: sudden onset of bilateral polyarthralgia of the metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints, oedema of the dorsum of the hands, increased inflammatory markers and seronegative rheumatoid factor.

Arousal changes and delirium in acute medically-ill male older patients with and without dementia: a prospective study during hospitalization.

Previous research has characterized the prevalence, natural course and outcomes of delirium superimposed in dementia but much less is known about the relation between preexisting dementia and the emergence of altered arousal (such as drowsiness, obtundation, stupor or agitation) during acute medical illness. This study aimed to determine the natural course of delirium and abnormal arousal states in acute medically-ill older patients with and without prior dementia during hospital stay. Observational prospective study in an acute male geriatric ward.

Statin combined with exercise training is more effective to improve functional status in dyslipidemic older adults.

Background: Exercise training (EX) and statins are first-line therapies to manage dyslipidemia.

Purpose: This study aims to analyze the effect of EX and statins on functional status and cardiovascular risk (CVR) in dyslipidemic older adults with comorbidities.

Methods: Participants (n = 981) underwent one of 3 conditions: (a) multicomponent exercise training (EX; n = 298; 74% females); (b) statins (ST; n = 178; 65% females); (c) combined therapy-exercise plus ST therapy (ST+EX; n = 505; 79% females).

Functional status improves in hypertensive older adults: the long-term effects of antihypertensive therapy combined with multicomponent exercise intervention.

Background: The increasing prevalence of functionally-limited hypertensive individuals highlights the need for interventions to reduce the burden of hypertension-aging-disability and to maximize the chances of healthy aging.

Aim: This study aims to compare the effects of multicomponent exercise and different pharmacological treatments on functional status and cardiovascular risk outcomes in hypertensive older adults with comorbidities.

Methods: Participants (n = 96) engage in a 3 days/week multicomponent (aerobic + resistance) exercise program and for one of the following three conditions: (1) thiazide-related diuretics (TDs; n = 33, 69.

Antihypertensive monotherapy or combined therapy: which is more effective on functional status?

Background: This study aims to analyze the effects of anti-hypertensive monotherapy and combined therapy on functional status, and cardiovascular risk outcomes in older adults.

Methods: This longitudinal non-randomized cohort study, involved hypertensive older adults (n = 440) aged 60 or more years with comorbidities. Participants underwent a community exercise training program and one of the following 2 conditions: i) use of daily mono-dose angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi; n= 232); ii) combined therapy including ACEi plus other class agent (Combined; n= 208).

Exercise training improves functional status in hypertensive older adults under angiotensin converting enzymes inhibitors medication.

Background: The study aims to analyze the effect of three types of treatment on functional status, and cardiovascular risk outcomes in hypertensive older adults with comorbidities.

Methods: Participants (n=418) underwent one of the following 3 conditions: i) multicomponent exercise training 3 times/week (MEX; n=116); ii) angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors used mono-dose daily (ACEi; n=70); iii) combined exercise and ACEi drugs (ACEiMEX; n=232). The trial was completed by 82% of the participants (n=342): MEX (n=90); ACEi (n=66); ACEiMEX (n=186).

A socio-demographic study of aging in the Portuguese population: the EPEPP study.

The increase in life expectancy (LE) observed in Western societies, has resulted in a steep rise of older population. This stresses the importance of the research on aging, to better adequate health and social care organization and improve the quality of life (QoL). The aim of the EPEPP-1 (abbreviated from the Portuguese name: Estudo do Perfil de Envelhecimento da População Portuguesa) study was to characterize the socio-demographic components of the elderly Portuguese population in order to disclose factors that could play a role in the aging process and in the elderly QoL.

Effect of physical exercise on lipid metabolism in the elderly.

Purpose: To assess the effect of regular physical exercise on plasma lipids and apoproteins in an elderly group.

Material And Methods: Sixty-three old people of both sexes, aged between 65 and 94, were randomly distributed between a test group (n = 31) and a control group (n = 32). The test group followed a program of physical exercise for eight months, with intensity of 60% to 80% of heart rate reserve, consisting of three weekly sessions, on alternate days, of 60 minutes each.