Inflammatory bowel disease and cardiac function: a systematic review of literature with meta-analysis.

Background: Morphological and functional cardiac involvement is rarely described in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) but there is evidence that they have an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events despite the lower prevalence of traditional CV risk factors.

Objectives: Our systematic review and meta-analysis examined the relationship between IBD and cardiac function, namely the incidence of heart failure (HF) and subclinical echocardiographic changes.

Data Sources And Methods: Two medical databases, PubMed and Scopus, were systematically searched up to September 2022 to identify all studies reporting HF and/or echocardiographic changes in IBD patients.

Much More Than a Stroke: Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy Type 2 Revealed by Ischemic Stroke.

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy type 2 (EDMD2) is a rare autosomal dominant neuromuscular disorder caused by LMNA gene mutations and characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness and significant cardiac involvement. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with sudden-onset, left-sided hemiparesis and dysarthria. Initial imaging was unremarkable, and symptoms transiently improved, suggesting a transient ischemic attack.

Aggressive Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma of the Rib With Early Skeletal Metastases: A Diagnostic Challenge.

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MCS) is a rare, aggressive subtype of chondrosarcoma characterized by biphasic histology, often misdiagnosed due to its rarity and histological resemblance to other small round cell tumors. It predominantly affects adolescents and young adults. We report a 27-year-old male presenting with a progressively enlarging, painless mass in the right inframammary region, initially attributed to muscular strain.

A Rare and Aggressive Case of Malignant Insulinoma.

Insulinomas are rare pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) characterized by autonomous insulin secretion leading to hypoglycemia. Malignant insulinomas are defined by the presence of metastases and present significant therapeutic challenges due to limited treatment options. We report the case of a 69-year-old woman with a two-month history of neuroglycopenic symptoms, including morning headaches, blurred vision, palpitations, and sweating, which were alleviated by sugar intake.

Stay Away From the Cold: An Unusual Case of Cold Agglutinin Disease Presenting as Recurrent Transient Ischemic Attacks.

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a rare autoimmune hemolytic anemia caused by cold-reactive IgM antibodies leading to complement-mediated hemolysis. While CAD-associated venous thromboembolism is recognized, its role in arterial thromboembolic events, particularly ischemic stroke, is poorly defined. We report an 84-year-old woman who developed acute onset upper left extremity weakness following exposure to sub-zero temperatures.

Determinants of cost-effectiveness results of biological therapies for severe asthma: a systematic methodological assessment.

Objectives: To assess the associations between cost-effectiveness analysis' (CEA) methodological characteristics and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio outcomes and conclusions, in biological treatments for asthma.

Study Design And Setting: We included CEAs comparing biological treatments to standard care, in adults with severe asthma. We performed a search in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science (September 2022).

Aortoesophageal fistula as a rare cause of upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

An aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) is an exceedingly rare and life-threatening cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, particularly in patients with vascular prostheses. Endoscopic findings in such cases are scarcely described. We describe a 73-year-old male admitted to the emergency department with hematemesis and altered consciousness.

Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among European Healthcare Workers and Effectiveness of the First Booster COVID-19 Vaccine, VEBIS HCW Observational Cohort Study, May 2021-May 2023.

European countries have included healthcare workers (HCWs) among priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination. We established a multi-country hospital network to measure the SARS-CoV-2 incidence and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among HCWs against laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. HCWs from 19 hospitals in 10 countries participated in a dynamic prospective cohort study, providing samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing at enrolment and during weekly/fortnightly follow-up.

KIT TOOL-S2 for the Portuguese Healthcare Professional: A Psychometric Analysis.

Introduction: Literacy of health professionals on patient safety aims to prevent and reduce risks and adverse events in healthcare.

Objective: The objective of this study was to translate, adapt, and validate for Portugal of the World Health Organization Questionnaire to Assess the Implementation of the Multiprofessional Guide.

Methodology: Following the cultural adaptation process, we carried out a psychometric analysis on a sample of 300 health professionals.

Ectopic Craniopharyngioma Recurrence: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Craniopharyngiomas are tumors of the central nervous system, typically located in the sellar/parasellar region. Despite being benign, they behave aggressively due to their propensity to invade nearby important structures, making total resection challenging. Distant spread of craniopharyngioma is a rare but significant complication.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the treatment of late-onset hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Introduction: Hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) is a common complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), characterized by inflammation and bleeding of the bladder. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been shown to be effective in the treatment of radiation-induced HC. However, the optimal treatment for HC after allogeneic HSCT has not yet been established.

Perspectives on Creating a Chronic Pain Support Line in Portugal: Results of a Focus Group Study among Patients and Healthcare Professionals.

Chronic pain (CP) patients frequently feel misunderstood and experience a lack of support. This led to the creation of support telephone lines in some countries. However, there is no scientific data grounding their development or evaluating their performance.

Can we predict the risk factors for switching due to ineffectiveness in the first year of therapy with bDMARD in patients with rheumatoid arthritis?

Introduction: Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) have improved the clinical course and quality of life of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, some patients failed to respond or have an insufficient response to bDMARD early in the course of the treatment.

Objectives: To determine the percentage of RA patients who need to switch due to ineffectiveness in the first year of treatment and to identify specific baseline features as possible predictors of switch due to ineffectiveness in the first year of treatment.

Left ventricular thrombus routine screening with contrast echocardiography in patients with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction: is it worth it?

Background: Left ventricular (LV) thrombus has a higher incidence among patients with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) when compared to other types of acute myocardial infarction and is associated with worse prognosis. The management of LV thrombus diagnosis remains challenging. Contrast echocardiography (transthoracic echocardiography, TTE) has shown potential in improving the accuracy for its diagnosis, thereby influencing treatment strategies concerning antithrombotic/anticoagulation therapy.

Prognostic Scores for Mortality in Invasive Mechanically Ventilated Burn Patients.

Introduction: Managing burn patients is a challenge requiring a multidisciplinary team with the ability to predict complications and act early to avoid them. There are few studies characterizing the population of critically ill burn patients in need of ventilatory support. This study aimed to describe the population of burn patients in need of invasive mechanical ventilation support and assess in-hospital mortality and the factors associated with it.

Femoral Head Reduction Osteotomy for Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease Sequelae: Case Report.

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) commonly causes sequelae in the hip joint morphology. A common variant is an oversized, nonspherical femoral head, associated with a short femoral neck and elevated greater trochanter, which leads to femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). The innovative Ganz technique for surgical hip dislocation opened up new treatment possibilities for FAI, including LCPD sequelae, without increasing the risk of avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Cap Polyposis-A Rare Cause of Rectal Bleeding in a Young Woman.

Cap polyposis is a very rare clinical entity, with only few cases reported in the literature. It is a benign disease, characterized by inflammatory polyps of the gastrointestinal tract. A 35-year-old woman was referred to our Gastroenterology department due to rectal bleeding.

Preconception counseling impact in pregnancy outcomes in patients with spondyloarthritis.

Introduction: Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of chronic inflammatory diseases, often affecting women in reproductive age. These diseases can have a significant impact on the reproductive health of women. Preconception counseling and medication adjustments have shown to reduce flares and improve pregnancy outcomes in women with rheumatoid arthritis.